Your feedback means such a lot to me. Thank you to a kind person who pointed out an error. The reverend should have been called 'Father'. It was lazy writing, and I apologise. Anyway, here we go. Enjoy, L – x

Jane felt Maura squeeze her hip firmly with a dextrous hand and pulled back suddenly, taking in a sharp breath of air.

"What – what are we doing, Maura? There's a finger on the table."

They regarded each other for a moment, eyes inquisitive and cheeks flushed, before they both burst into fits of laughter. Maura grabbed hold of Jane's arm for support and they both crashed into a kitchen stool.

"I'm sorry, Jane. But that was a very random statement, and it seemed to stimulate my right frontal lobe." Jane looked puzzled, and a little embarrassed.

"I stimulated what exactly?" She could feel her cheeks becoming even redder.

"Oh, Jane." Maura couldn't think of anything else to say. Instead, she rubbed a thumb over Jane's hand and smiled at her.

"We shouldn't have done that, Maura, I'm sorry."

"You didn't enjoy it?"

"What, no! I mean, yes. What?" Jane looked helpless and Maura felt her stomach turn.

"We can talk about it in the morning, I'll set you up in the spare room. You usually find that comfortable, don't you?"

"Very, but I told you we're staying in a hotel. I'll even pay, though don't be expecting the Plaza."

"Jane, we'll get a uniform down here, to check the house. You can even check it too, if you like. We'll set up a fort with guards if that's what you want, but it's late and I'm tired and I just want to be next to you."

Jane's breath caught in her chest and she sighed.

"I don't like it."

"I know you don't, but I refuse to leave this house." Jane's mouth dropped open.

"Doctor Isles, when did you become so stubborn?" A sly grin passed across Maura's lips.

"Would you like some tea before we go to bed?"

"I could murder a coffee."

"Hardly an appropriate choice of vocabulary, given the circumstances," Maura scolded, but she did so with a smile. "Besides, you'll never sleep."

"I don't want to sleep, Maura. I want to keep lookout."

Maura simply rolled her eyes and moved towards the stairs, gesturing with her head that Jane should follow, or else.

"As long as you're next to me, I'll feel safe." The two shared a look not unlike those they had shared before, though it seemed to take on a new, deeper meaning now that they had kissed. Jane tried to wrap her mind around what was happening, but she realised that, despite a valiant attempt to quell it, tiredness was slowly consuming her. She shook her head with a grin, and followed Maura to her room.

Too tired to undress properly, Jane simply removed her jacket and shoes and slumped on the bed. Maura, unable to sleep without carrying out her nightly routine, changed into silk pyjamas and dressing gown before brushing her teeth, tying her hair back and slicking moisturiser across her face and neck.

"It'll be morning before you come to bed," Jane's words were muffled by the pillow she currently had her face buried in but Maura still managed to pick them out from her en suite. She rolled her eyes.

"Every day that passes, my skin gets more wrinkled and less taut. I'm not one for vanity usually, but this is important."

"Maur, you're beautiful and you always will be beautiful. Just hurry up and get over here so I can sleep."

The doctor wondered if perhaps she had misheard Jane. Rather, the way she had spoken the words. Things seemed to have changed since the kiss. The air was thick and heavy; charged, almost.

She stepped slowly to her bed and lifted the covers, slipping in gracefully. Immediately, she felt a hand sneaking over her waist.

"I won't be able to sleep in this house unless I can feel you next to me," Jane explained, before soft snores began emitting from her mouth. Maura smiled and snuggled in closer.

"Andrea Simon was having an affair."

Jane stopped as she heard Korsak shout to her across the office as she walked in with a coffee in one hand and her case file in the other.

"Did the husband know? Possible motive."

"Not only did he know, but he encouraged it."

Jane's face crinkled, just as Maura entered the office. She felt her face grow hot and turned to face her computer screen, taking a long sip of coffee.

"Good morning, everyone. Jane, the second victim also received the same torture as the first. It spreads all across her back and shoulders."

Jane nodded, any embarrassment or discomfort flooding away at the thought of the pain and suffering the women must have gone through.

"You were saying, Korsak?"

"They were going through a rough patch in their marriage. He told her to look elsewhere to try and spice things up a bit. Perhaps that's what I should have suggested to my wives…" Frost snorted and Jane chuckled, shaking her head.

"Do we know who the guy was?"

"Frost and I will find out." Korsak and Frost grabbed their jackets and mobile phones, and headed out of the office.

Jane regarded Maura awkwardly.

"Look, Maura, about last night…"

"Do you regret it happening?" Maura moved to sit on the edge of Jane's desk, the pull of her dress just above her knee becoming very distracting for the detective.

"Of course I don't, Maura, but it was just very, very unexpected."

"I was trying to calm you down, Jane."

Jane swallowed the sudden lump in her throat, running a hand through her hair and frowning at the knots she found there.

"And that's all it was?"

"What do you want it to be?"

"Dammit, Maura! We've got a woman killer on the loose, who's targeted both of us, and we can't even tell each other how we feel." She smacked her palms down on her keyboard, an action which made both of them jump back from each other.

"Jane, I… Please talk to me."

Before Jane could reply, Frost rushed in, shouting for the women.

"There's been an arson attack at the church, we've got uniform down there and the FD's on their way, but the Father's still in there. Don't you have more questions you need to ask him?"

"Oh, crap. We have to get down there."

She looked at Maura and smiled, though it was slight.

"Are you coming, Doctor Isles? I'd prefer if I knew where you were."

"I have things to do here, detective Rizzoli. I'll be fine. Suzy will be with me."

"Oh, that's fine then." Jane huffed. "Please Maura."

When there was no reply, she shrugged and headed out after Frost, trying desperately to shake off the niggling feeling in the pit of her stomach.