A/N Tension starts to build up between Jane and Maura. Jane confides in someone. New developments in the case and Jane and Maura go for a run! Enjoy! :)

Chapter 3

At 9.00 am, Jane entered Boston PD Headquarters. "Morning," she said. Korsak was already sitting at his desk.

"Wow," answered Korsak when he saw Jane's face. "What's the matter with you?"

"Didn't get much sleep," said Jane. She felt cranky and sad because they were getting nowhere with this case and she didn't know what to do about her feelings for Maura.

"Mia Clark's best friend is coming in today for an interview," said Korsak.

"Good," replied Jane. "Susan Richard's boyfriend gave me his card. I think I'll call him in for questioning as well. As long as we don't find any physical evidence, we might as well keep talking to the victims' friends and family. Maybe that'll give us a clue as to where to look for their killer."

Jane reached for her phone and dialed the boyfriend's number. At the same time, Maura entered the room. Jane hung up the phone immediately and nervously started to rearrange the items on her desk.

"Good morning," Maura said. "I just wanted to let you know that I won't be around today. A Medical Examiner from Connecticut has requested my assistance on a case. Dr. Pike will be available, should any bodies turn up."

"Thanks, Maura," said Korsak. Jane hardly looked up from her desk, afraid her face would give her away.

"Bye, Jane," Maura said.

"Bye," Jane replied softly, glancing in Maura's direction. Maura looked at Korsak, but he just shrugged. Maura wondered if she had done or said anything to make Jane upset. Jane was usually more upbeat in the morning.

"Anything happen between you two?" Korsak asked Jane once Maura had left the room.

"Don't ask," Jane said while she dialed Susan Richard's boyfriend's number again. After working with Jane for several years, Korsak knew when to leave Jane alone. He didn't ask any more questions and began to prepare the interviews. For this, Jane was truly thankful.

It was 2 pm and Korsak and Jane had just finished their interview with Mia Clark's best friend. According to her best friend, Mia had been a straight-A student in college and was now climbing the career ladder at her law firm. She had no boyfriend, but many friends and hobbies. In her spare time, she worked out as much as she could and babysat her nephew.

"OK, we learned a little more about her personality, her routine, her friends," Jane said. "Maybe we should be looking for connections between the two victims."

"Good idea," said Korsak. "Susan's boyfriend is coming in at 3."

"Great. I'm going to have lunch downstairs and meet you back here in an hour," Jane said to Korsak.

Jane made her way to the café and found Angela behind the counter.

"Hi Ma," Jane said. "Can I get some lunch?"

"Sure, honey," Angela said. "What would you like?"

"Whatever," Jane said as she plopped down on a chair.

"Are you OK, sweetie?"

Jane thought about acting as if everything was OK, but then she realized that her mom would see right through her. Her mom always knew when something was bothering her and she was great at giving advice.

"No, not really," Jane answered.

"What's up, honey? You know you can tell me anything, right?" Angela said. Jane smiled at her mom.

"I know, Ma," said Jane as she worked up the courage to confide in her mom. "Have you ever had a friend that you suddenly started to have feelings for?" she asked carefully.

"Well… Sean and I have been friends for a long time. He comes round at the café all the time. A couple of weeks ago, he asked me out. We've been dating ever since," Angela confessed.

"I know, Maura told me she saw you and Cavanaugh at the guest house a couple of times. I figured you were dating. Good for you, Ma," said Jane as she smiled at her mother. "But that's not really what I meant," she continued. "I meant; did you ever have a… a girlfriend that you started to have feelings for?" Jane asked while looking at the counter.

For a moment, Angela stared at Jane and didn't say anything, but then she said: "No, that never happened to me." She looked at her daughter and asked: "Is it Maura?"
Jane nodded.

"Sounds like you need to talk to Maura about this," Angela said. "For all you know, she feels the same way."

"No, I can't!" Jane said while tears started to well up in her eyes. "I won't jeopardize our friendship!"

"Then you need to take some time to figure out whatever it is that you're feeling. It could be just a crush," Angela suggested.

"Yeah, you're right," Jane said, hoping these feelings would indeed be temporary.

"It'll be OK, honey," Angela told her. "Let's have some lunch first."

Jane smiled and wiped away her tears. What would I do without Ma? she thought.

At exactly 3 pm, Korsak and Jane sat down with Susan's boyfriend Matthew.

"My name is Sergeant Detective Vince Korsak and this is my partner, Detective Jane Rizzoli. Thanks for coming in," Korsak said.

"No problem," Matthew said, clearly upset. "I want the bastard who did this behind bars as soon as possible."

"We're sorry for your loss," said Jane. "Do you know if Susan had any enemies, anyone who might want to harm her?"

"No, I can't think of anyone. Susan was always saying how much she liked her colleagues. She loved her job. I think that she would have moved into the hospital if it wasn't for me."

"What can you tell me about her personality?" Korsak asked.

"She was very ambitious. Always concentrating on work, she never really went out," Matthew said.

"Any hobbies?" Jane asked.

"She loved to read. And she liked going to the gym."

Jane and Korsak continued asking questions for a while. After Matthew left, Korsak and Jane went back to their desks and started to review today's interviews.

"Let's take a look at the facts," Jane suggested.

"All right. Susan is ten years older than Mia. They live in the same neighborhood, but they move in different circles. Susan had a boyfriend while Mia was single. Mia had lots of friends while Susan was kind of a loner," Korsak summarized.

"They have nothing in common, except for the neighborhood they lived in and the fact that they're both health freaks," Jane concluded.

"Yes, they both work out at least twice a week," Korsak said.

"It's a long shot, but we could investigate all the gyms in my neighborhood," Jane suggested. "Maybe an employee has seen anything out of the ordinary."

"Yes, that sounds like a plan," Korsak said. "We'll look into it first thing in the morning."

"OK, see you tomorrow," Jane said, relieved that she was able to go home.

Several hours later, Jane was on her couch drinking beer and eating pizza. She was thinking about Maura when her phone rang. Of course, it was Maura.

"Hi, Jane," Maura said. "Would you like to go for a run?"

Jane thought about seeing Maura, which made her feel excited and sad at the same time. Feeling guilty because she had just eaten an entire pepperoni pizza, she gave in. She changed into her running clothes and started the short run to Maura's.

"It's good to see you," Maura said as she opened the door. "How was your day? This morning, it seemed like something was bothering you."

"Didn't sleep well last night," Jane explained, hiding the real reason for her strange behavior this morning. "How was Connecticut?"

"It was a very interesting case," Maura said. "The M.E. seemed really nice. How's your case going?"

Maura closed the door behind her and they started their run. "Korsak and I interviewed Mia's best friend and Susan's boyfriend and we think we have a new lead," Jane said.

"That's good news!" Maura responded enthusiastically.

After a few miles, Maura started to feel tired. She looked over at Jane, who seemed to be as energized as she was when they started their run. Maura admired Jane's strength and stamina. How does she do it? Maura thought. I can hardly breathe and she just keeps on running. She's so strong.

"Come on, Maura!" Jane yelled as she noticed her best friend was falling behind. Maura smiled and bust out a sprint.
She's pushing me to keep going, to try harder and to discover my own strength. It's exactly what I need, Maura thought.

"We're almost there," Jane assured her best friend. Five minutes later, they arrived at Maura's.

"Want some water?" Maura asked Jane when they walked into the kitchen.

"Yes, please. That felt really good!" said Jane as she sat down on a kitchen chair.

"Your brain releases endorphins during physical exercise, which is causing you to feel happy," Maura explained. She walked to the fridge, gave Jane a bottle of water and started to gulp down her own bottle.

"I do feel happy," Jane said as she smiled at Maura. "And I am proud of you for finishing the run!"

"It's because of you," Maura stated. "You always push me to try harder." She looked at Jane's athletic figure and felt a gush of love and admiration. Maura wondered what she would do without Jane.

"I'm really glad you called me," Jane said. "A run was just what I needed to clear my head. My neck is killing me, though," she said as she rubbed her neck.

"Let me do that for you," Maura said. Maura walked over to Jane and started massaging Jane's neck. Jane was surprised by Maura's offer but as soon as Maura's soft hands touched Jane's neck, everything around her disappeared. She felt her heart rate speed up and tried to control her breathing. She was feeling aroused by Maura's touch.

"Mmm...," she involuntarily mumbled and closed her eyes. Maura could smell Jane's hair. It smelled sweet and fresh, even though they had just completed a five-mile run. She felt a bit confused about how good it felt to touch Jane.

"That feels really good," Jane said softly.

"Feeling better?" Maura asked after a minute or two.

"Yes, much better," Jane said.

Maura playfully tugged Jane's hair and said: "It's getting late. I should take a shower and go to sleep."

"Yeah, me too." Jane got up, smiled at Maura and made her way to the door.

"Be careful on your way home, all right?" Maura said to Jane, thinking about the killer that was still at large in Jane's neighborhood. Maura was not a hugger but she felt the need to embrace Jane.

"I will, thanks for the run," Jane said as she walked out the door.

"You too! See you tomorrow," Maura replied and closed her front door. She tried to find a scientific explanation for her unexpected need for physical contact with Jane. She felt confused but strangely excited as she walked to the bathroom to take a shower.

An hour later, Jane was at home trying to figure out if Maura's massage was just a friendly gesture or more than that. Maura wasn't usually this 'touchy' and she was sure she had caught Maura staring at her more than once tonight. Jane couldn't explain it, but she felt a vibe from Maura which made her feel excited and happy. She hung her towel on the back of the door and went to bed. Jane stared at the ceiling for a minute before she closed her eyes and thought about Maura's hands on her skin. Jane let her hand slide under the covers and into her boxers. She fantasized about Maura and wondered if what was happening inside her head could ever be real.