AN:

*Peeks head out*

*Waves nervously*

Well hello there, readers. It's been... a while. I'm sorry. I have not forgotten about you or this story, but life kind of got in the way, as I am sure many of you understand.

I don't know if any of you are still interested, but I've got a peace offering for you... this chapter! If you still want me to continue this story, please review and let me know and I'll keep going. The updates will be a lot quicker, I promise.

Coffee with Maura.

Why was that so exciting?

"So, Maura, you're the expert on this one," Jane began as she held the door for Maura and they walked into the late afternoon together. "Where's the best spot to get coffee in this place?"

"Oh, Jane, no; I'm not an expert!" Maura stopped short and turned to look earnestly at Jane, "An expert is someone with a vast catalogue of experience and extensive knowledge about a particular subject, called so only after rigorous peer review. In order for someone to be classified as an expert it takes—"

Jane chuckled good naturedly and held up a hand to stop Maura's panicked ramblings. "Hey Smartypants," She said, "Don't worry. It's a figure of speech. I meant that since you have been at this school for three years longer than me, it would make sense for you to know where we should go to get coffee." Jane began walking again, down the path towards University Square

"Oh," Maura blinked. Pink tinged her cheeks. Looking at it, Jane found that that might just be her new favourite colour.

What? Pink?

Don't be ridiculous.

"Jane?"

Jane blinked in confusion and looked up to meet Maura's eyes; green today, with brown flecks. Scratch that last bit—that was her favourite colour.

What the fuck?

Wait, shit, she's saying something.

"Sorry Maura, what was that?" Jane swallowed, hoping Maura wouldn't ask by what it was that she had been distracted.

"I was saying that I do not frequent cafés, as I spend most of my time on campus in the library. I lived off campus for the last three years, and made my own coffee in my apartment."

"Oh, well… why did you move into residence this year? Isn't it mostly first years?"

"No, the 18th and 19th floors of our residence complex are reserved for mature and graduate students. In fact, the lay out is entirely different. We have apartments as opposed to dorm rooms, so it is entirely likely that I will continue to prepare my own coffee, despite the proximity of cafés and other establishments."

Something weird was happening in Jane's stomach again, but it was decidedly less pleasant than when Maura had agreed to get coffee with her. Was it… disappointment? She cleared her throat.

"Well, you know, you don't have to come out with me if you don't want to."

Maura stopped short again, staring at Jane with wide eyes, "No! That isn't what I meant to convey, Jane. I am very pleased to be having coffee with you."

Jane released a breath that she had not even realized she was holding. "Good. Perfect. Okay. So. Where are we going?"

Jane had been leading them towards the centre of campus, but now that they had reached the South edge of the Square, she didn't know where to go.

Maura bit her lip, "I really don't think I know enough about the cafés on campus to properly recommend a particular establishment, Jane."

Jane couldn't help but smile at the seriousness of Maura's concern as she scanned the buildings on the edges of the Square. "Don't worry about it Maur, we'll figure something out." The nickname slipped out before Jane even realized what she was saying and her eyes darted back to meet Maura's, worried that she would disapprove. On the contrary, Maura looked thrilled. Jane smiled and looked away again, trying to quell the storm of something in her stomach.

Just as she was about to give up she saw and swinging wooden sign on the side of an academic building on the East side of the Square. "What's that?" She asked, nodding towards the sign, "The Dirty Robber; sounds… interesting."

Maura looked a little hesitant as she replied that it was a bar and grill that did indeed serve coffee.

Noting Maura's discomfort, Jane shrugged her shoulders and said: "We don't have to go there if you don't want to, you know."

Just as Maura opened her mouth to answer Jane heard the ringing of a cell phone and noted the brief flash of disappointment that crossed Maura's face. Maura bit her lip and looked up at Jane remorsefully, "I'm sorry," she sighed. More than a little confused at Maura's reaction Jane shrugged and waved her hands, gesturing for Maura to answer.

Maura retrieved her phone from her purse and, without looking at the caller ID, brought it to her ear, "Hello?"

Jane was standing close enough to hear the voice on the other end of the call, a very suave, very male voice. "Hey, babe."

For a moment her heart stopped and Jane was awash with an unfamiliar emotion. She quickly and pointedly replaced it with annoyance. She could practically hear the guy's self satisfied smirk.

Ugh.

Jane bit her lip and tried to shove the thoughts from her mind, this feeling didn't make sense either.

Yeah. Why do you even care, Rizzoli?

Jane blinked and tried to refocus on the girl in front of her. Maura was still standing in there with her phone up to her ear, presumably talking to her... her boyfriend.

Of course she has a boyfriend. She's smart, sophisticated.

Beautiful.

Why does it even matter? Why do you even care?

Jane adamantly ignored the hot coils of... something in her stomach. Was she getting sick or something?

She was suddenly brought back to the present by Maura slowly lowering her phone and clearing her throat. "That was Garrett," Maura said quietly, her voice conspicuously absent of the kind of excitement that had saturated it previously. "He's my—we were seeing each other last year, and he's just returned to town. We're to have lunch together. I'm terribly sorry Jane, could we have coffee another time? I agreed to meet him without knowing when he would get here," Maura shook her head regretfully, "I don't... well, I wouldn't usually... have other plans, you see."

"Hey, no need to explain," Jane replied barrenly. Maura's eyebrows seemed to wrinkle in concern at her tone, but Jane barreled on, "I get it. Just, uh, call me if you want to get coffee some other time."

"Jane—" Maura began, but Jane began to back away, shaking her head.

"You should go." She stumbled only slightly as she turned away, leaving Maura standing alone in the path, book in one hand and cell phone in the other, a rueful frown on her face.

It wasn't until Jane had reached her room again that she realized that Maura couldn't call her; they hadn't exchanged numbers. With a groan, Jane flopped onto her narrow bed, buried her head in her pillow, and tried very hard not to think about what had just happened.

Tried very hard not to think about the tangle in her stomach.

The tangle that she suspected—feared—might be...jealousy.

What the fuck, Rizzoli?

So. That's that. Please review if you want more.

(Also don't worry. Garrett is very, very temporary.)

Lots of love,

R&D.