Chapter 4

Jane woke up, still feeling a bit sore from last night's run. She thought about Maura massaging her and a smile appeared on her face. Jane's sadness and confusion over her feelings for Maura started to fade away. Obviously, Maura wasn't uncomfortable touching her. She was even open to expanding her sexual horizon, as she had stated at The Dirty Robber. Maybe there's hope, Jane thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone.

"Rizzoli," she answered.

"Jane, it's Korsak. Bad news. We have a third victim."

"Damn it!" Jane said. "Where?"

"You won't have to go too far. It's on your block." Jane ran to the window and saw the crime scene being marked by yellow tape across the street.

"I'll be right there," she said and hurried back to her bedroom to wash up and get dressed. Only a few minutes later, Jane arrived at the crime scene.

"Victim's name is Joanna Franklin, 39, single, professor at Boston Cambridge University. Did you know her?" Korsak asked.

"No," Jane said, looking shocked. She didn't know the victim, but this murder was a little too close to home, literally.

"No signs of forced entry," Korsak said. "Looks like he came in through the bedroom window."

"Stupid," Jane said, frustrated. "These murders were all over the news. How could anyone in this neighborhood sleep with their windows open?"

"Probably the heat," Korsak suggested.

"Still…," Jane sighed. "Where's Maura?"

"On her way. The body's inside."

Jane ducked under the yellow tape and stepped into the house. CSI's were taking pictures in the bedroom. When she saw the third victim lying on the bed with her throat slashed, just like the other two victims, Jane's hands clenched into fists. Korsak entered the bedroom and started taking notes. Maura came in right behind him and Jane's face lit up, temporarily forgetting the dead woman on the bed.

"Hey," Maura said, smiling back at Jane. "How's your neck?"

"Good, thanks," Jane said. "Not sure about hers, though." Jane pointed at the victim. Maura bent over the body and started examining it.

"Cause of death is a slashed carotid artery," said Maura, stating the obvious. "Liver temp suggests she's been dead for approximately six hours."

Jane realized she had been asleep at that time. Somehow she felt guilty and wondered if she could have saved her neighbor's life. As if Maura could read Jane's mind, she put her hand on Jane's shoulder and said: "There's nothing you could have done. She bled out within minutes." Jane was thankful for Maura's words.

"Thanks, Maur."

"I'll get the body transported to the morgue," Maura said. "I will get started with the autopsy as soon as possible." More determined than ever to catch this killer, Jane went back to Boston PD Headquarters to start the investigation on the third murder.

Jane walked into the Division One Café to get some coffee before she went upstairs and ran into her brother, Frankie.

"Hey, Janie, what's up?" he asked.

"We got a third victim, this time in my street," she told him, trying to hide how upset she was.

"What?! The case with the murders in your neighborhood?"

"Yeah, it's likely the murders are connected. All three victims lived in my neighborhood, had good careers and they all had their throats slashed."

"Oh my God, Janie," Frankie said, shocked. "You could be next!"

"Don't be silly," Jane told her brother, even though she was not convinced she had nothing to worry about. "I'm going back to work, OK? Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Frankie looked at his sister as she walked away, surprised that she was not struck down by fear.

A couple of hours later, Jane and Korsak had written the report on the third murder, notified the victim's family and scheduled a morning meeting with Joanne's boss at BCU.

"I'll go see if Maura has found anything during the autopsy," Jane said.

"Are you coming?" she asked Korsak.

"No, I'll sit this one out. Call me if Maura found something."

"OK," Jane said, a little relieved Korsak was going home early so she could have some time alone with Maura. She walked to the elevator and pressed the button. When she walked into the morgue, Maura was just finishing her examination of the body.

"There you are," she said. "I wondered when you would come down to see me."

"Korsak and I were busy all afternoon writing the report and calling the victim's family."
Maura simply smiled. To avoid an awkward silence, Jane said: "What can you tell me about the body?"

"She was in excellent health; strong muscles, expensive dental work. No defensive wounds," Maura stated.

"So she was killed in her sleep?" Jane asked, chills running down her spine.

"It seems that way, yes."

"Have you found any physical evidence? Hairs or fibers?"

"Yes, I did, actually," Maura said. "I found a dark, short hair on the victim's nightgown."

"Really?!" Jane gasped, surprised by this discovery. "Our killer's getting sloppy. Good job, Maur!"

"I'm not sure if this hair is useful, the hair follicle is still attached but it is very small. I'll try a DNA test first thing in the morning," said Maura.

"Thanks," Jane said, feeling relieved that they were finally making some progress with this case.

"How are you, Jane?" Maura asked in a very serious tone of voice, changing the direction of their conversation. For a moment, Jane wondered what she would say. She didn't want Maura to know that she was scared.

"I'm fine," she said, waving Maura's concerns away. "It'll be a matter of time before we catch this guy." Maura came in closer and looked Jane in the eyes.

"You don't have to play Strong Detective Jane for me. It's OK to be scared." Maura took Jane's hands in hers. Feeling a bit taken aback by Maura's gesture, Jane wasn't sure how to react. Maura was always there for her, but usually she would just distract Jane with scientific facts or try to find practical solutions to her problems. But this… this felt different. Jane could feel her and Maura connecting on a deeper level. For a split second, she could see in Maura's eyes that she was feeling it, too. Then she regrouped and said: "You know me, I don't get spooked easily."

Maura let go of Jane's hands and asked: "Do you want to get dinner at the café?"

"Yes, let's call it a night," Jane said.

"I'll finish up here and meet you upstairs in a bit," Maura said. Maura watched Jane walk out the door and felt powerless. She knew that Jane wasn't OK. How could anyone be OK after three of their neighbors had been brutally murdered? Over the last couple of days, she had started to feel closer to Jane. They had been best friends for years, but Maura felt a change in their relationship. Jane was acting different around her ever since they had spent the night together at her apartment. Maura didn't know why, but she had started to feel physically attracted to Jane. She needed to be close to her. Maybe it was this case. Maybe it was all just about her worrying about her best friend being hurt. She could not stand the thought of something happening to Jane. Maura tried not to think of the worst case scenario and went upstairs.

At the Division One Café, she found Jane and Frankie and Angela arguing. Frankie had told his mother about the third victim in Jane's street.

"You're staying at Maura's tonight," Angela said determined.

"Ma, I'm a cop. It'll be fine," Jane assured her mother.

"Jane, you can't sleep alone tonight! Who knows what that creep has planned for his next victim," said Frankie.

"I have a gun!" Jane said.

"It won't be much use if you're sleeping," her mother said.

"Yes, be realistic," said Frankie. "You have to get out of that neighborhood."

"Staying at Maura's won't make a difference; her house is close to mine! And I refuse to be driven out of my own home by this monster," she said. Jane was actually more nervous about spending another night with Maura than she was about the killer. The last time they had spent the night together, Jane started to have feelings for Maura. Feelings that made her see Maura in a completely different way. Those feelings had not disappeared. She was sure that if they spent the night together, those feelings would become stronger than ever. Jane didn't want to torture herself. "I'm not going to impose on Maura just because some whack job decided he likes to kill women in my neighborhood."

Angela desperately looked at Maura for support.

"It's OK, Jane. You can stay at my place," Maura interjected. "You won't be imposing. I would actually feel safer with you there." Jane looked at Maura, saw her face and finally caved.

"All right, I'll grab a few things at home and meet you back at your place in half an hour."

It was already dark when Jane entered Maura's home.

"It's me!" she yelled.

"Hi!" Maura said while she was cleaning up the last dishes in her kitchen.

"Where's your turtle?" Jane asked while she looked around, threw her bag in a corner and sat down at the kitchen counter.

"Tortoise," Maura corrected her. Jane smiled. She loved pushing Maura's buttons and she knew exactly what they were.

"Bass is at the zoo," Maura explained. "I can't take care of him full time."

"Shoot, and here I thought we were safe from that killer with Bass around," Jane said playfully.

"Thanks for staying over. I'm glad you came to your senses and started listening to you mother," Maura said.

"Ha, she wishes," Jane said. "It wasn't Ma who convinced me, Maura."

"It wasn't?" Maura said with a questioning look on her face.

"No, it was you," Jane said.

"What was it that made you change your mind?" Jane smiled softly at Maura before she looked down at the counter.

"You saying that you would feel safer with me."

"I do feel safer when you're here," Maura said. "I know I can always count on you to protect me." She walked over to Jane, who turned to face her. She took Maura's hand and said: "You're right; I wouldn't let anything happen to you… ever." They stared at each other for a few seconds before Maura suggested they open a bottle of wine and watch a movie.

"Sure," Jane said. "But nothing scary, just pick something light and funny."

Maura smiled and said: "I'm sure I can handle that."

Twenty minutes later, they were on the couch watching a romantic comedy. They had both finished their first glass of wine.

"Now, why would she do that?!" Jane yelled at the TV screen. The female lead was crashing a wedding to tell the groom she loved him.

"Because she loves him and she wants to tell him that before it's too late," Maura said.

"Too late?" Jane said. "The guy is about to say I do! I'd say that ship has sailed…"

"Don't you get it, Jane? In the end, love always wins," Maura said, looking at Jane. Jane stared back at her. A loud bang broke their eye contact. Jane shot up from the couch, looking for her gun in a state of panic.

"Jane, easy," Maura said. "It's probably just a cat knocking over a garbage can."

With her gun in her hand, Jane checked the front door and the windows. They were all locked. Outside, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Jane felt embarrassed. She had tried so hard to hide her fear. How could Maura count on me to protect her, if I jump up at every sound I hear?! she thought, mad at herself for panicking for no reason.

"I'm sorry, Maura," she said as she walked back to the couch. She put her gun back on the coffee table and sat down next to her best friend.

"Don't be sorry," Maura said. "I told you it's OK to be scared." Jane was silent. She concentrated on the TV again and waited for her heart rate to slow back down. Maura knew that Jane was scared. It was kind of weird, they had worked on so many cases with female murder victims, but none of them seemed to have an impact on Jane like this case did. She thought of ways to help Jane relax. After a few minutes, Maura grabbed a blanket and covered them both. Jane smiled, slowly moving closer to Maura. She could feel her warmth. Maura put her right arm on the back of the couch, almost touching Jane's shoulder. Jane noticed this and wondered if it was a sign that Maura had started feeling the same way she did. Slowly and carefully, Jane moved closer to Maura, they were both still looking at the TV. Jane could now feel Maura's arm wrapping around her shoulder. A little nervous, but desperate to feel Maura's body against hers, Jane slowly settled against Maura's chest. It felt so nice. She could hear Maura's heartbeat.

"I'm glad you are finally comfortable enough with me to let your guard down," Maura said softly.

"Yeah, well, you know me…" Jane answered. "I don't like to show my weaknesses."

Maura put her other arm around Jane. Jane hugged her back. She had never felt safer than right now.

An hour later, the credits were rolling on the TV screen and Maura looked over at Jane. Jane was sleeping against Maura's chest, safely tucked under her arm. Maura liked seeing Jane like this. Strong Detective Jane has a soft spot, she thought. Maura was relieved that Jane had finally given up on acting tough around her. Jane had an aversion of physical contact with anyone and only hugged someone when that person was upset. Maura figured it was because Jane didn't want to seem weak or dependent. But seeing Jane seek comfort in Maura's embrace proved that something had changed. Maura looked at her for a few more seconds, cherishing the image of her best friend lying in her arms before she decided they should clean up and go to bed.

"Jane, wake up," Maura said, patting Jane's arm. Jane opened her eyes. "You missed the ending."

Jane realized she was still holding Maura. She had felt so comfortable that she fell asleep in that position. Jane quickly sat upright, rubbed her eyes and tried to look awake.

"I'm sure they lived happily ever after," she said.

"They did. Told you love would win," Maura smirked. Jane got up and started to fold up the blanket. Maura took the empty wine glasses to the kitchen. Jane followed her, starting to feel a bit nervous. Now, they had to go to bed… together. Jane realized that it really wasn't any different from cuddling on the couch, but somehow, it made her feel anxious. Probably because sleeping in the same bed was what had caused her to start having feelings for Maura. Jane walked back to the couch to grab her gun, made her way into the bedroom and placed it on the nightstand, before following Maura into the bathroom. They silently brushed their teeth. Maura noticed Jane was nervous. They avoided each other's eyes in the bathroom mirror. Maura finished washing up first and went into the bedroom to change into her pajamas. Jane lingered in the bathroom until Maura had changed. Jane entered the bedroom and quickly undressed. It surprised her when she caught Maura staring at her. She climbed into bed and settled onto the pillow, her eyes directed at the ceiling.

"I'm glad I decided to stay over," she said. "The truth is… I was scared," Jane admitted. "I was scared out of my mind. I just didn't want anyone to know because… well… I'm a detective. I'm supposed to catch the bad guys, not be afraid of them."

"Jane, you're allowed to be scared. It doesn't make you any less of a detective. I'm your best friend, you can be honest with me. You shouldn't hide your feelings."
Maura's words hit Jane like a bolt of lightning. Right then and there, Jane decided to open up. She turned on her side to face Maura.

"Maur… I need to tell you something," Jane started. "I feel different around you…" she said. "I don't know why."

"I noticed. And I understand what you mean," Maura replied. "I… I feel the same way." Maura sighed and wondered if what she was about to say was too much of a revelation. "I've been feeling the need to be closer to you, emotionally… and physically." Jane stared at Maura in disbelief.

"Really?" she said. "That's exactly what I've been feeling, it freaked me out… I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to jeopardize our friendship. I… I was afraid that I would lose you if I told you."

"You could never lose me," Maura assured her. She reached for Jane's hand under the covers. The warmth of her best friend's touch made Jane's heart melt.

"I love being with you," Jane said.

"Me too," Maura said softly while her hand traveled up Jane's arm, making Jane quiver. Jane longed for more. Maura's hand was now on Jane's face. They gazed at each other and Jane's hand met Maura's.

"It's a thin line between love and friendship," Maura said.

"It is," Jane agreed. She had fantasized about being with Maura many times in the last few weeks. And here she was, in bed with Maura… Maura telling her she's been having the same feelings. Jane wanted nothing more than to kiss Maura's lips, but something was holding her back.

"I'm scared to cross that line…" Jane admitted.

"We don't have to figure this out right now," Maura said. They were both silent for a moment. "Can I at least hold you?" Maura asked carefully.

"Of course," Jane said, smiling.

Jane passionately embraced Maura. She was glad she finally found a way to tell Maura about her feelings. She never thought Maura would feel the same way, but apparently, she did. Jane wasn't sure where to go from here, but she was certain they would figure it out. She tightened her grip on Maura. Maura closed her eyes, brushed Jane's hair away and kissed her neck. She felt closer to Jane than she ever had before. It was the best feeling in the world.