But Ms. Jacobs' promise is hollow.

Because Ms. Jacobs isn't Ms. Jacobs anymore. She's Mrs. Ackerman now, claimed with a flashy gold ring, whisked away by a husband with a prestigious job across the state.

But what about me? Maura longs to ask, as Ms. Jacobs says her solemn farewells on her last day. Maura's ears ring with her unspoken question, throbbing until they hurt.

But she can't bring herself to speak the words, because they no longer matter.

XXX

Multi-system organ failure, most likely due to an overdose of the diacetylmorphine found in his system…

"Hey."

She jumps, because she thought she was alone. She glances up, her stomach turning a full three hundred and sixty degrees as she sees Jane hovering in the doorframe. Maura fidgets with her file, chewing on her lip to keep from smiling. She's frustrated, but Jane makes it so hard to stay that way. Jane shuffles through the door, hooking her thumbs into her pockets once again. "Sorry if today got weird. I didn't mean to ditch you at lunch." Jane speaks sincerely. Maura's chest unintentionally swells.

"There's no need to apologize," Maura assures her. It would be impossible not to grant Jane forgiveness; just one look at her face makes her knees feel weak. "I understand that you had necessary obligations."

Jane nods appreciatively, stepping closer to the examination table. She glances over at the sheet-clad corpse quickly, before finding Maura's eyes again. "So, um, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come to the Robber with me - you know, make up for that train-wreck of a lunch date?

Maura's brow furrows. "The Robber?"

Jane chuckles a little, running her hand through her hair. Maura watches the curls bounce before splay back over her shoulders. "Yeah, the Dirty Robber. It's that bar right down the street?"

The Dirty Robber hardly sounds appealing and not at all like her kind of scene, but saying no to an opportunity like this, especially one that she does not have to initiate, seems foolish. She hesitates for a small moment. "Alright, I'll come."

Jane grins from ear to ear. It puts Maura at ease, and she hates how much she has unintentionally invested in this woman. "Great. You almost ready to go?"

"Now?" Maura is a little bit startled. Spontaneity has never suited her well, and she would like the time to mentally prepare herself, as she's determined to overcome her socially inept tendencies.

"Yeah, it's past seven. I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready to get outta here," Jane reasons, pushing herself back from the examination table and beginning to edge herself toward the door. "Unless you're planning on keeping him company tonight." She nods toward the corpse, raising an eyebrow.

Maura smiles. She basks in the feeling of being wanted; it gives her the push of courage she needs. She files her charts and grabs her coat.

XXX

The bar is hazy and the air is a little bit stale, but it has a homey feel to it. Maura is glad when Jane slides into a booth in the back corner, distancing them from the small throng of people gathered at the bar area.

"Is this okay?" Jane asks, shoving a few loose curls behind her ears.

It feels like a date - the tension, the unspoken expectations. Maura wonders if Jane feels it too. "It's perfect."

Because even though the vinyl of the booths is a little sticky, even though there's only one salad option on the menu, she clings to the opportunity to immerse herself into Jane's world.

Their waitress is young, with short, cropped maroon-tinted hair. She smiles at the pair. "What can I get for you ladies?"

"A Sam Adams is good for me," Jane orders first. "You want a beer too, Maur?" Maura overanalyzes the use of the casual nickname and likes it more than she expected to.

"Actually, I'd prefer a glass of Chardonnay," Maura politely answers instead.

"Ooh, fancy," Jane teases her gently, leaning against the edge of the table, her shoulders broad as she hunches over. She has such a masculine energy about her that makes it even harder for Maura to fight her attraction to her. "Guess I didn't really peg you for a beer kind of girl, though."

"You pegged me correctly then," Maura attempts to chide in return, resting her chin against the palm of her hand. She waits a moment, afraid to let the silence settle between them, so she addresses the topic she's dreading but aching to know more about. "Today at lunch, Detective Frost mentioned that you were engaged. Do you have a date set?" The question hurts a little, but she keeps her voice casual, reminding herself that she has at least struck easy conversation.

Jane looks startled, as if she didn't expect the conversation to land on this topic. "No. Not yet," she speaks, almost a little anxiously. "There's a chance he might get deployed again, so we figured it'd be best to wait."

"Military?" Maura asks, daintily sipping her wine.

"Yeah...army," Jane clarifies, spinning her bottle cap on the table. "He was over in Afghanistan for almost a year the last time."

"That must have been difficult for you," Maura speaks sympathetically. The wine stings her throat. This conversation is harder than she expected it to be, and she hates herself for feeling so horribly selfish and pitiful. "Have you known him long?"

"Yeah, we've been dating since senior year of high school...been a little rocky here and there, but he's a good guy." She states the facts and nothing more. The lack of affection in Jane's voice surprises Maura, but then of course, Jane is not an overly sensitive individual. She tries to be happy for her.

Jane speaks before Maura can continue her interrogation. "But enough about me...I'm an open book, but you, on the other hand. You intrigue me." Jane takes a lazy swig of beer, grinning as she leans forward, the interest sparking back to her face.

Maura is floored. "I intrigue you?"

"Well, yeah," Jane cocks her head, as if surprised that Maura can not see her own appeal. "You're smart, you're pretty...and so damn reserved it almost frustrates me." She laughs a little.

"There's honestly nothing noteworthy about me," Maura protests lightly, though her stomach is turning delighted somersaults. Maura marvels at the sudden change in atmosphere.

"I refuse to believe that. I mean, the schooling you've gone through is impressive in and of itself. You're anything but ordinary," Jane lavishes her with compliments. Maura fights the urge to hide her pink cheeks.

"Thank you," she mutters quietly.

"'Thank you' is all I get?" Jane huffs lightly in frustration. "Here I am, dying to unravel the mystery of Maura Isles, and you continue to taunt me with enigmatic silence."

"Okay, fine then," Maura sits up a little straighter, not sure if it's Jane's goading or the slight buzz from the alcohol that gives her the courage to speak so easily. "Ask me anything you'd like."

Jane chews on her lip, leaning back against the booth. She leans forward again as she speaks, a smile on her lips. "What made you want to cut open dead people for a living?"

The question surprises Maura, but it pleases her, because it's not difficult to answer. "I was particularly adept when working with the cadavers in medical school, but as you can probably imagine, my bedside manner was atrocious." Jane laughs a little, and so does Maura, but she glances up, a more serious tone in her voice. "There's something comforting, working with the deceased - they'll never judge me, tease me - I can help them. I feel as though I have the opportunity speak for the dead."

"I don't know if I should find that fascinating or concerning," Jane's eyebrows arch as she gulps another sip of her beer. "Okay. Next questions. You got any siblings?"

She didn't realize that this was becoming an interrogation, but the questions are simple enough, so she plays along. "No, I'm an only child."

"Lucky you." Jane drains the rest of her beer, waving the waitress over so she can order another round for both of them.

"Frankie seems quite sweet," Maura counters, misinterpreting Jane's sarcasm.

Jane scoffs a little. "Yeah, Frankie's a good kid most of the time. It's my other brother, Tommy, who we've got to worry about. He's seventeen, and he landed himself in Juvie for six months."

"Goodness, I'm sorry to hear that," Maura eyes widen a little. "It seems quite ironic, to have you and Frankie both so invested in the law enforcement career, and to have a younger brother with such blatant disregard to it."

"Yeah, he's a rebel. I worry about that kid." Jane lets out a small sigh. She scratches her head, tousling her hair lightly. "But enough about me. Back to you." Her eyes sparkle, though Maura can't fathom why she is even remotely interested.

But she sips her wine, smiling a bit coyly as she braces herself for the assault of questions. But she hardly cares, because somehow, she has managed to make a friend. And in this moment, that is just enough.

A/N: Let me know what you think! Your feedback is always much appreciated :)