A/N: Rizzles? ish? I don't know.

Disclaimer: Don't own characters, not making money, etc.

Maura walked behind Jane as she made her way to her desk. For the last four hours she watched in the van as Jane and the other two detectives flirted with and tried their best to get DNA samples from each prospect. On more than one occasion Maura, Frost, and Korsak had to try very hard not to burst out laughing at Jane's flirting. It was just so out of character for Jane to act so forthcoming.

"Man I am starving!" Jane complained grabbing her duffle bag from under her desk. She turned to Maura. "You want to go to that 24 hour Diner down the road?" Jane smiled at Maura's nod. "Good. Let's go!"

A few minutes later Jane found herself sitting across from Maura at a booth in the diner. Her mind kept drifting towards what everyone had been saying. Maura was the only one that was willing to stand toe to toe with Jane when she was in one of her moods. Maura was the only one that could get her to relinquish her tight grip of control. She ran a marathon with Maura even though she hated running. She drank wine and ate healthier and went to those smarmy functions with Maura even though she didn't care for the people. Maura was different; she was always different to Jane. And Maura had changed too. She drank beer and wore pants more than she used to. She watched sports and got along with her family. She looked at Maura. She noticed the way the florescent light shined down on her hair, the fact that she still smelt better than nice after hours of being inside a cramped van astounded her. She knew Maura's quirky little habits would be annoying in anyone else but in Maura they were somehow endearing. And as much as Jane teased Maura about them she secretly loved the fun facts the doctor randomly spouted out. Maura looked up from the table, her eyes holding Jane's. Jane felt her breath catch in her throat. She could get lost in Maura's hazel green eyes.

"Jane, you're staring." Maura said quietly with a slight smile unable to look away.

At Maura's slight smile Jane felt something inside her uncontrollably shift like a tectonic plate throwing everything she thought she knew off balance. "No I'm not." She said with a small grin of her own. They were interrupted from saying anything further by a waitress. After their orders were taken Jane found herself once again staring at the woman sitting across from her. She watched Maura take a small sip of her water. Maybe all those speculations weren't wrong? Maybe there was something there that she had never seen before?

Maura could feel Jane staring at her but she was lost to her own thoughts. She was still thinking about Jane in that bar.

Jane had just finished talking to one of the guys at the bar when Detective Mathews' voice broke through the static in her headphones. "Damn, Rizzoli I didn't know you could flirt like that."

"Hey," Maura could hear the indignation in Jane's voice. "Just because I don't date, doesn't mean I can't get a date."

"Man if I wasn't married…" Detective Mathews trailed off. Maura could hear the slight laughter in his voice. He was teasing.

"What're you talking about? You're wife's a total babe." Maura had to do a double take at the grainy screen just to make sure that the person that said it was Jane.

The offhanded comment threw Maura for a loop. She knew it was probably nothing. She knew people had a tendency to say things like that all the time. But Jane was rarely ever one of those people. As she tried to work through what 'total babe' meant in her mind their food came.

"Maur?" Jane said across the table catching her attention. She had an easy grin on her face. "Just ask me the question already." Maura still looked hesitant. "Okay, look. Honest hour for however long we're sitting here. Consider me an open book. I won't shut you down or out."

"Can I get that in writing?" Maura's smile brightened at Jane's laugh. This was their normal. This was how things were supposed to be. She felt the tension roll off her shoulders. For the first time in months she finally, finally thought they were going to be okay.

"You know," Jane made a show of patting the pockets of her leather jacket. "I don't have room for a pen and paper in this getup. Will a pinky promise suffice?" She grinned offering her left pinky finger across the table. Maura locked her pinky with Jane's. "Good, now spill."

Maura took a small sip of her water as she tried to figure out how to word what she wanted to say. She put the glass back down. "You said Detective Mathews' wife was a total babe."

Jane raised her eyebrows at Maura. That was not what she was expecting. "She is." Jane laughed. She turned her eyes to Maura. "But I'm thinking that's not really what you wanted to know." She paused before looking away again. "If that's your way of asking if I'm a lesbian the answer is no." She bit her lip as she tried to figure out the words she wanted to say. "I mean I've had relations with women. It's a short list. Like a very short list. I date men but there have been women in the mix." She grabbed her fork shoveling some eggs and toast into her mouth. Jane blushed a deep red. She completely avoided looking at Maura.

This new information was like a blind hill to Maura. Her head jerked up involuntarily to look at Jane who was shoveling so much food into her mouth Maura thought she was going to choke. "Oh."

Jane forcefully swallowed the food in her mouth down. "You sound surprised." She commented taking a gulp of her own water.

"We've known each other for a long time; you've never brought it up before."

"It was never relevant." Jane shrugged. "What about you?"

Maura took a dainty bite of her omelet before nodding her head. "Like you it's a short list."

Jane's head jerked up. For the second time that night she found herself looking at Maura under a new found light. Their conversation drifted to much lighter topics the rest of the night until both of their food was gone and they parted ways to go home.

…

Maura breathed a sigh of relief when one of the lab techs knocked on her office door with the lab results from the undercover operation. It was a match to the guy Jane had played a very short game a pool with before he became aggressive. Maura narrowed her eyes at the man's name. No one should ever be allowed to handle Jane like that. Maura wanted to punch him just for thinking that he could. Plus, with the news it meant Jane could make the arrest and they could go back to normal, whatever that meant, and Jane wouldn't have a need to hang out with those Violent Crimes detectives anymore. Maura put on her lab coat before walking out of the office to press the button on the elevator. She stepped into the elevator a few seconds later. If she was being totally honest the conversation with Jane two nights ago at the diner really threw her for a loop. She had no idea that women were an option for Jane.

She walked out of the elevator and into the homicide division. Jane and Frost were both sitting at their desks flipping through files. Jane grinned at the familiar sound of clicking heels. She turned in her seat. "Tell me you have good news?"

Maura nodded her head handing the file she was holding to Jane. "Your intestines were correct." Jane laughed. Maura grinned at the sound. "The last man you were with at the bar is our suspect in at least the third victim's case. His DNA was a match."

Korsak came over to read over Jane's shoulder. "Alec Miller, sure was a creep at the bar. I am not surprised by this at all."

Jane laughed. "Yeah, you're tellin' me."

"This is enough to get a warrant." He nodded at Jane before going back to his desk.

Maura looked around the room noticing that for the first time in a few days that it was just the normal faces in homicide. "Where are detectives Rice and Scott?"

"Oh." Jane turned back to her desk plopping the folder on top of it. "There was a big fight at the high school football game across town. One guy got the crap beat out of him and is now lying unconscious in a hospital room. They were next on the list for a new case. So as of now, unless we need them for anything they will stay downstairs and we will stay upstairs."

"Oh." Maura said leaning onto Jane's desk.

Silence waved through the room for a moment before Frost stood up. "Let's go to the Robber."

…

Detective and Medical Examiner stumbled into the bathroom of the Dirty Robber clumsily. The residual effects of Frost's joke about a dumb robber still hung in the air as they each laughed heartily. Maura leaned against the wall away from the sink staring at Jane. It was very rare for her to see the taller woman look so carefree, so happy. It was like she was staring at a totally different person. Happy looked good on Jane. She looked younger, lighter even. An urge rose deep inside the doctor to make Jane feel this way all the time, or at least at more frequent intervals. Maura couldn't keep the grin off her face. She didn't want to. Initially Maura thought it was strange. The detectives weren't the type to celebrate before cuffing someone but these strings of cases had been a hard, not only on a professional level but personal as well, at least where she and Jane were concerned. But now, with the win they had today from the crime lab confirming their theories, they could all use a little pick me up.

Jane looked at Maura with a face cracking grin. There was really no reason to celebrate, no reason for their hysteria. There was still work to be done and hours to be clocked and an arrest to be made. But after the week they had, the whole team needed to blow off some steam. She looked at Maura. She was proud of her and her team. It was nice having someone who wasn't a cop going out with them to drink. All the war stories and funny anecdotes seemed that much better. Maura hung onto every word. Laughing when she thought something was funny and asking questions when she didn't understand something. Every time Maura laughed, Jane felt her heart flutter in her chest. Her revelation at the diner was still completely new to her and she wasn't exactly sure what she should do about it if anything. But right now, everything was okay, for the moment anyways. Grisly murders and horrific acts of violence, the constant pressure and the danger were all gone. All that was left was her and Maura and good friends and good beer and her favorite booth in her favorite bar.

Jane stumbled into Maura resting her head on the shorter woman's shoulder. She was still laughing. She was in that phase of drinking where everything made her just so god damn happy. It was a dangerous phase to be in because it usually meant her filter was completely trashed. She brought her head up and stood as close as she could to Maura without actually touching her. Her hands rested against the wall on either side of the blonde's head, trapping Maura between her and the wall. She stared into Maura's eyes. A quiet voice in the back of her mind told her she probably shouldn't do this, not until she got her shit together, not until she was one hundred percent certain of her own feelings but the voice was no match for the near uncontrollable movements of her body. Maura gently placed her hands on either side of the detective's hips threading her fingers through the belt loops of Jane's slacks. She pulled Jane closer making their bodies sink into each other. Her right hand moved slowly and began lightly tracing the barely visible skin between Jane's belt and the white tank top under her unbuttoned shirt. She too was getting lost in the moment.

Jane closed her eyes repressing a moan as Maura's soft hand slid around to her lower back with the faint of a touch. It was only recently that she realized she wanted this. But now that want was a burning, all-consuming need. Forgetting boundaries and should not's, Jane lowered her head closer to Maura's. She could see the light freckles under the light makeup the ME wore. She could see the crazy color of Maura's eyes. And her lips. God, she wanted to kiss her. Jane moved closer a faint of a smile on her face.

"Jane, you're drunk." Maura said with a slight giggle. She did not remove her hand. She liked it resting just slightly underneath Jane's tank top on the heated skin of her back. The air between them was intoxicating mixed with both of their perfumes, the bitter smell of Jane's two beers and the sweetness of Maura's glass of wine.

Jane shook her head. "I'm buzzed." She moved her left hand from the wall to Maura's neck tracing up to her jaw with a feather light touch. She wanted this. She couldn't remember the last time she actually wanted someone the way she wanted Maura in that moment. Maybe it was the alcohol, but Jane wasn't drunk. It took more than two and a half beers to knock her judgment around. The alcohol may have lowered her inhibitions sure but Jane knew completely what she was doing. That wasn't a doubt in her mind.

Jane wanted to kiss the ME so hard she forgot her name. She wanted to take the doctor home and see just what those stupid yoga classes did to her body. She wanted to let nature take its course. She wanted to wake up the next morning to Maura's bright eyes and go out to her favorite diner. She wanted this now. With her defenses lowered and the beer in her system she finally had the courage to take this step, to think all the thoughts she had been pushing aside. She licked her lips, leaning closer.

"We can't take it back, Jane." Maura's voice was barely a whisper, barely a breath loud. She couldn't keep her eyes away from Jane's lips. She wanted this for such a long time. She would be completely devastated if a heated drunken kiss was all she would get.

Jane paused, pulling back just slightly. Maura was looking at her with big round pleading eyes. She wanted this too, just as badly as she did. Jane was about to shake her head. She wanted to say 'Of course we can't take it back.' Taking it back was the last thing on her mind. She wanted to cross this line with Maura. She wanted to become the ambiguous 'more than friends.' She wanted the 'South end Brownstone' and the picket fence with Maura. There was no one else. No one even compared to the doctor. If she was being honest with herself those thoughts weren't even new thoughts they had always been there hidden because she was too stubborn to look for them. She was about to voice all of this to Maura but the door to the bathroom opened. Giggling women came in wrecking their moment. Noise from the bar filtered into the tiny bathroom. Reality hit. The chip on Jane's shoulder fell along with the weight of the world. Maura dropped her hands from Jane's waist. She felt it too. Jane pushed off from the wall avoiding Maura's gaze as she moved to the sink to wash her hands. A blush crept up her neck tinting her cheeks a faint red.

After Maura washed her hands they walked back into the noise of the bar. Frankie looked at them from his spot in the booth. He didn't seem to notice their red faces or the extra distance between them. "'Bout time you two came out. What'd you do fall in?" He laughed.

"Har har." Jane smacked him on the arm. She pulled out her wallet from her blazer placing enough bills on the table to cover her two and a half beers and Maura's glass of red even though she didn't know if Maura was staying or not. "I'm gonna call it a night." She turned to Maura expectantly.

Maura was very quiet up to this point. Her mind was still reeling at what happened in the bathroom or what almost happened in the bathroom. She was so close to Jane's lips, so close to getting the one thing she had been too afraid to ask for much less think about in the daylight then she had to go and open her mouth. If she hadn't they would probably still be in the bathroom. A warm sensation traveled throughout her body at the thought of Jane's lips on hers, Jane's hands on her body. She looked up noticing everyone staring at her. Maura wasn't one to blush but she felt the full force of embarrassment hitting her face in that moment. "Oh," She squeaked. "I'm ready to leave as well." She grabbed her purse from the booth and started to dig for her wallet.

Jane touched her arm. Maura immediately froze. Dear caught in headlights, Jane thought fighting back a grin. "I got it." It took all of her power just to keep her voice even. "Let's go." Her heart was pounding in her chest. As they left she tried to ignore the knowing look the three men at their table shot each other.

Outside the cool air hit them hard. Whatever buzz Jane had been riding on evaporated into the night. "I brought my car. I know you rode here with Frost." Maura's voice cut through her thoughts. "I only had one glass of wine over the course of two hours. I'm okay to drive." Maura knew her voice sounded hopeful, almost begging to an extent. She was not used to being in these types of situations. Though, she thought, one would probably find it difficult to find this a "normal" situation. Jane just stared into the night sky without saying anything. "I can do a sobriety test if you like, Detective." It was a feeble attempt at a joke. If it was said under any other circumstances Jane would have laughed. If it was a normal night Jane would have hopped in the car. They would have gone to Maura's house to drink more and watch movies. They probably would have fallen asleep on the couch like they had done a thousand times. But this was not a normal night. Jane did not laugh. They almost crossed a line and no matter how much they both wanted it at the time it was starting to freak her out. In fact, they got so close to crossing the line that they ended up standing right on top of it. There was alcohol involved. They almost kissed in the bathroom of a dingy bar. Jane mentally kicked herself. Maura deserved more than a rendezvous in a bar bathroom. "Jane?" The fear in Maura's voice kicked her into action.

Jane brought her eyes to Maura's for the first time since leaving the bathroom. "Yeah, sure." She walked to the passenger side of Maura's Prius. "Can you drop me off at my place?"

Maura swallowed her nerves. Maybe Jane didn't feel the same way about her. Maybe the incident in the bathroom was just the effects of alcohol and a good time. But Jane had been giving her signs ever since their talk, whether she knew it or not, that she was attracted to her. Maybe that was bias on her part though. Maybe she was reading too far into things. After all Jane was Italian. Italians were notorious for being more tactile than most people. Maybe she had been reading things that weren't there or just seeing what she wanted to see. "Of course." They both got into the car. She just hoped it wouldn't make their friendship awkward.

The silence in the car was driving Jane insane, it was unbearable. So she flipped on the radio dial on Maura's car. Classical music flooded through the speakers. Jane couldn't help the smile that formed on her face. She glanced at Maura out of the corner of her eye. The doctor seemed to relax instantly; it seemed the silence was not good for her either.

Finally Maura parked in front of Jane's apartment. She turned the radio down to an unnoticeable sound as Jane unbuckled her seat belt. Jane got out standing with her left arm on the roof of the car and her right on the door. Her head still poked inside. "I – I uh had a good time." She started awkwardly biting her lip. Jane wanted to kiss her for the second time that night. Little did she know Maura was thinking the same about her. "We have a busy few days coming up." Maura nodded. "Um. Yeah. Drive safe. Text me when you get home?"

Maura nodded her head a second time. "I had a nice time too." She smiled shyly. "I'll text you. Goodnight, Jane. Drink some water before you go to bed, it will ease the headache for you in the morning."

Jane rolled her eyes. "I told you I'm not drunk." She laughed shutting the door to the car.

Jane watched the taillights of Maura's car disappear. She sighed unlocking the door to her apartment. Jo Friday ran towards her, tail wagging so hard her whole body shook. She walked into her kitchen filling and drinking from a tall glass of water. You have no balls Rizzoli, Jane thought as she filled Jo's food and water bowls. Absolutely no balls.

A/N: I didn't write out the whole undercover thing because IRL I am a ridiculously terrible flirt and a generally awkward person so it wouldn't have been pretty. So I thought this would work better anyways. I keep having this feeling that I'm moving too fast and then I'm moving too slow and then I get all confused. So if the pacing seems a little off, I guess that's why.

The scene at the Diner when Jane had her epiphany I remember reading this quote (but I couldn't find it again) where it said something like: you see this person and all of a sudden everything about them seems different you see them in this new light. Like it sneaks up on you and catches you totally off guard. That's kind of what I was going for.

Also, the plan is to have this finished by the premiere of season three.

Thanks for reading!