OK. Here is chapter two. Thank you for the lovely reviews on Chapter 1. I am actually looking forward to this story. I hope you like the chapter. :) Please read and review, reviews make me write faster, unless I am stuck, in which case I'll let you know.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of therse characters except Erica, and I promise I will put them back as soon as possible.

"Maura! NO. Leave her alone Hoyt, you have me, leave her out of this." Her body was soon wracked with sobs as tears began to stream down jane's sleeping face. "NO Maur, stay with me. please stay with me. I can't lose don't leave me."

Her whole body was shaking and Maura cuddled closer into her embrace flipping them so Jane could hear the steadyiness of her heartbeat.

"Shhh Jane I'm right here. I'm ok. I'm right here."

Jane shot awake almost catching Maura's chin in the process.

"maura!"

Maura immediately wrapped her arms around the burnette from behind.

"I'm right here Jane. I'm safe its ok."

Jane turned to her panic evident in her eyes as she took Maura's face in both of her hands allowing her fingers and eyes to assure her heart that Maura was ok. Finally satisfying herself she laid her head down on Maura's shoulder and passed out to sleep again.

Maura spent the consecutive weeks after that night studying her friend. Occassionally she stayed over to help Jane cope with her nightmares. They all ended the same way, with Jane waking up screaming out her name and dissolving in tears. In Maura's mind it was about time to address the nightmare and what it was specifically about. Tonight would be that night. She missed her friend, she missed the sense of humor, the laughter, the teasing, Jane was just so un Jane like right now. Grabbing her iphone she typed out a quick message.

Maura: Dinner tonight?

Jane: Absolutely, I was on my way to the market anyways I'll pick some stuff up.

Maura: Good I'll see you in an hour or so.

Hoyt had been dead for awhile and it bothered Maura that Jane was still having nightmares to the propensity that she did. Sighing she looked back at her computer and began to finish her medical report knowing Jane would be looking for it in the morning.

Jane was at the spupermarket browsing the wine section wanting to make her final decision for her meal with Maura, looking at the time she swore, grabbed a bottle of wine and rounded a corner very quickly. She cursed as she felt herself connect with a very solid body. Acting on instinct she grabbed the other womans arm and caught her before she fell. Laughter accompanied her efforts when she turned and met the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

"Erica?"

" Jane Rizzoli,well fuck me. Excuse me it's Detective Rizzoli. How are you Jane?"

Jane squealed and setting down her basket felt herelf enclosed in the strong arms of an old friend.

"God I havn't seen you in ages. When did you move back?"

"Last month, I've been meaning to call you, but I've been a bit busy."

Jane looked over her.

"Look, a friend of mine I would love for you to meet is coming over for dinner, would you like to join us?"

Erica smiled and nodded.

"I would love to but the wines on me."

Jane laughed and together the two women headed to the check out counter. They chatted amicably and agreed that Erica would follow Jane home in her own car. Jane pulled into her apartment and met Erica outside. Together they walked into Jane's apartment and setting the bags down on the counter Jane began to cook. The two fell into an old rhythm as Erica opened the bottle of wine, let it air for several minutes and then reaching around Jane who stood at the stove grabbed two wine glasses. Jane smiled at the memories and at the strong body behind her. Erica then grabbed a cutting board and knife and began slicing vegtables, Jane raised an eyebrow and then chuckling softly she looked softly at her friend.

"So how you been Erica? It's been so long. Still get in the cage at all?"

Erica laughed.

"Yeah actually became a proffessional on some levels. I own my own pad now. I actually just signed a huge contract with the FBI to train some of their guys. I was hoping to get a contract to do that with some of you. Care to be my dummy Jane?"

Jane laughed.

"I don't care how proffessional you are, I can still kick your ass in the cage babe."

Realizing she let the babe slip out Jane grimaced until she heard Erica laugh softly.

"I would say we've had a 50.50 winning ratio. Tashana asked me about you the other day."

Jane laughed and shook her head.

"shanana and her upper cut, shit took me out everytime."

Erica laughed.

"Until you learned to duck you wench."

Jane laughed.

"Touche. Touche."

"You married babe? With anyone?"

Jane grimaced.

"Just broke up actually."

Erica smiled sympathetically and caught the hand that reached for the vegtables squeezing it gently.

"What happened?"

"He cheated. I mean I guess I should have seen it coming. I watched him train her enough that I should have just seen it, but I was falling in love with him. They always say Love is blind."

Erica smiled wanly and took her hand and pulled her into a tight hug. Jane relaxed for a moment, enjoying the feel of the embrace that was all to farmiliar and bit back the sudden rush of emotion. They pulled apart when Jane heard the door click and Maura walk in.

Maura was looking forward to seeing Jane and having dinner with her, hoping to coerce her into bringing out the old Jane she loved so well. She walked in to see Jane being embraced by a stunning Italien woman,her short curly black hair falling at about her jawline. A surge of jealousy filled Maura at the trust Jane had in the person who was now holding her and a sudden rush of confusion as she realized she knew this woman. Jane hearing the door click closed open her eyes and a smile caressed her features as she pulled away from the woman.

"Maura! Glad you're here. This is an old friend of mine who recently moved back to Boston. This is.."

"Erica Smart. Wow, Jane you do get around." Stepping forward she took Erica's hand. "Nice to meet you in person, my name is Maura Isles, chief medical examiner for Boston PD."

Erica smiled and for a moment Maura felt her breath catch in her throat, shit this woman was beautiful.

"Nice to meet you Maura Isles. As you already know I am Erica Smart."

Jane looked back and forth between two of her best friends.

"Wait how do you two know each other?"

"Miss Smart here is an incredible MMA fighter and owns a Martial arts studio downtown, I was taken by a FBI friend of mine to a class of hers."

Erica laughed her blue eyes dancing with mirth.

"Yeah and a nasty black eye is what I got for my troubles to teach you. Dr. Isles here has a mean left hook."

Maura chuckled and caught the look of pride on Jane's face.

"Again for the millionth time I'm sorry."

Erica laughed.

"And for the millionth time stop apologizing, the incredibly expensive bottle of wine makes up for it, a gesture entirely unnesccessary. I enjoy beautiful women knocking me up."

Jane almost choked on the sip of wine she took and then shaking her head just laughed.

"I forgot about your mouth there love."

Erica chuckled.

"Ah must not have done my job right the first time then for you to forget about my mouth."

Jane laughed again her brown eyes twinkling as she met the slightly amused and confused eyes of Maura. Pouring a glass of wine she walked over and hugged maura gently.

"Thanks for coming. Dinner is almost ready."

"Wait Janey when the hell did you finally learn to cook? Last time we ate together you burned dinner."

Jane laughed.

"And you complained all night long."

"And I made up for it with that mouth that you have so readily forgotten."

Jane growled.

"Indeed you did. Indeed you did, bitch."

Erica saluted her.

"Wench."

Maura sat back and watched as the two women interacted, it was incredibly clear that they had been friends for a long long time. Jane was completely at ease with her, a side of Jane no really saw. She watched as Erica got up and set the table pushing Maura back into her seat telling her to relax. Like a choreographed dance the two women moved around the kitchen together instictually knowing when and where the other would be. Maura's mind contemplated the scenario. Where would Jane have met the beautiful Italien? They had obviously known each other a long time. She watched as Jane made some sarcastic remark and Erica reached right for her ticklish spot, knowing exactly where it was, and keeping her arms around Jane knowing exactly where she would squirm to, protecting her and keeping her safe. Maura knew she should be jealous, but in so many ways it was utterly fascinating. Never in all their time as friends had she seen Jane so at ease. She watched Erica smile as she had Jane pinned between her two strong arms and backed up against the stove. Jane's eyes were dancing and there was a moment where a thousand words seemed to be spoken all at once and then Jane broke eyes contact grabbing Erica' arm and twisting it behind her back she face pinned her to the counter, slapped her handcuffs on the MMA fighter so fast that Erica found herself in a tight spot. It was a practiced move, Jane having assessed her weakpoint and moved in for the kill. Almost as if they had done it before. Coming back out of her musings Maura laughed when Erica pulled herself up from underneath Janes grasp.

"Oh my God you did not just handcuff me."

Jane growled.

"I told you the next time you tickled me I would have the ability, practice and willingness to do so." sticking her tongue out at Erica Jane growled again and clapped her hands gleefully. "I win."

Erica swore and growled back at Jane.

"Let me go."

Jane picked up her wine glass and leaned against the counter closest to Maura with a satisfied smirk on her face.

"Nope."

"Janey.."

"No don't call me that, now be a good girl and get out of my kitchen so I can feed the bear that is your stomach."

Erica pouted and plopped into the chair next to Maura. First off Maura was ecstatic to see her Jane back. The sarcastic playful and beautiful woman back. She let her eyes linger just for a moment at the beautiful woman who was currently fixing her and Erica dinner. Her eyes traveled up the lithe body, the way the hips sashayed as Jane cooked. The way her tongue came up and licked the spoon as she tasted the spaghetti sauce. She was quite simply breathtaking. A voice interuppted her as a gentle hand was placed on her arm starting Maura out of her observation.

"Dr. Isles, Maura, are you ok?"

Embaressed that she had been caught staring Maura reverted her attention to Erica.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked how long you and Jane have known each other."

Maura laughed nervously.

"Sorry just had a long day." Erica raised an eyebrow at her excuse but left it alone. "Jane and I met two years ago. When we were assigned to the same case, I was working a different district at the time, spending half my time in New York and half my time down here. I was teaching a lot of conferances on forensics and autopsies. Met Jane at one of those conferances as she asked for my help. We've been friends ever since. I transferred full time into police work when offered the job, and we've been a kick ass team ever since."

Jane set plates down in front of them and chuckled softy.

"Yeah sometimes I have to threaten to rearrange all of her shoes in different shoeboxes for her to give me her full attention."

Erica chuckled as the fork paused halfway to Maura's mouth and she launched into a perfectly logical reason as to why the shoes needed to be in their speific boxes. Erica watched as Jane simply smirked, her elbows on the table as she listened intently and held her fork with two fingers. She had forgotten how beautiful her Jane was. It had been so long.

Dinner led to dessert, another bottle of wine and so much laughter between the three women. They traded stories of the others, and laughter ensued.

Maura took a deep breath after a recent bout of laughing so hard at one of Jane and Erica's antics that she had started crying and her sides hurt. Wiping a tear from her eyes she smiled at the two women. She could see why they got on so well. Looking at her watch she swore soflty causing Jane's head to jerk up.

"Maur whats wrong?"

"Its almost 2 Jane we have to work early tommorow."

Jane chuckled.

"Well they say time flies when you are having fun. Yeah I should probably head to bed myself."

Erica nodded.

"Early morning traning for me. It was incredibly fun ladies, we need to do this again soon."

Jane nodded and embraced her friend tightly.

"I'm glad I literally ran into you Erica."

Erica smiled

"Me too babe. Me too."

Turning to maura she offered a killer thousand watt smile.

"Maura it was a pleasure, I hope to see more of you soon."

Maura smiled and sighed into the embrace.

"Me to Erica. Me too. No moer black eyes I promise."

Erica chuckled.

"Good I was worried about that."

She pulled away and winked at Jane, offering an arm to Maura.

"May I offer to escort the lady to her car."

Maura hesitated and glanced at Jane. Jane had a goofy smile on her face and motioned her too.

"I'm fine I'll clean up, thanks for coming guys, it was just what I needed."

Maura hugged Jane tightly and softly whispered.

"Call if you need."

Jane nodded and giving her another squeeze released her to Erica's capable hands. Laughing as she closed the door behind them Jane shook her head softly, it had been so long. Sighing and looking at Joe friday she bent down and ruffled the dogs ears.

"Well Jo, looks like its just you and me."

Jo Friday barked seeming to agree as Jane moved over to start the dishes. Just as she put the last dish in the dishwasher she heard her phone beep twice. One text was from Maura.

"Thanks for dinner Jane I had a lovely time. Erica is a pistol, and I hope to call her friend soon. That is if she'll have me. -Maura"

Jane laughed and shook her head. Seeing the next text was from Erica she took a deep breath as she opened it.

"I missed you Jane..."