A/N: HELLO. I know it's been ages, but I hope I still have readers out there! For a little recap because its been so long: Maura is hopelessly attracted to Jane. Wow. That's really all that has happened. Also in her flashbacks she's finding herself extremely drawn to her roommate. Jane took care of drunk Maura in the previous chapter on the anniversary of her father's death. You're all caught up now. Happy reading!
She doesn't see Dell again for three days.
She nudges the few boxes of Dell's unpacked possessions to the far side of the room, breathing in the silence. She wishes it weren't so comforting.
Orientation is tedious, packed with faked smiles that leave Maura strangely exhausted. Her mouth aches from cordial conversation; her eyes burn from extended contact.
She searches for her, but she doesn't know why.
It's Monday when Dell comes back, early, as the sun crests just above the horizon, breathing a haze of pink across the sky. The bedroom door clicks open; it's just enough to rouse Maura from her slumber.
With her, Dell carries the scent of smoke and old beer. Maura peeks out from beneath her comforter with bleary eyes, keeping her breathing slowly and steady, though she's afraid her heart might give her away.
Dell strips down, shedding every last article of clothing. Her body gleams, slender curves, skin the color of lightly creamed coffee, dusky nipples, mile long legs. Maura commands herself to close her eyes, but she is awestruck, momentarily paralyzed.
Maura's sexuality is undefined terrain, though the possibilities do not frighten her. She has always viewed attraction on a biological level, packing anything sexual into familiar scientific terms. She has no blazing moral convictions, no deep-seated guilt. Relationships with boys, with men, she has found to be surprisingly simple, despite her social afflictions. They are dominated by physicality, leaving less time for Maura to fumble over her words. She is not a virgin. She remembers her first time with Garrett Fairfield not for of its noteworthiness but rather as a mere milestone.
But women.
She has managed to close her eyes briefly, but she flutters them open again, ever so briefly and she is blinded.
Women.
She closes her eyes once again, her breaths trying to keep up with her racing heart. When she opens them again, Dell is gone.
XXX
She wakes up on the couch, tangled in an afghan, the morning rays of sun slicing like piercing shards through the loosely draped windows. Maura's mouth tastes stale and dry, as she swirls her tongue against her teeth. Jane is gone, which is not surprising, but it disappoints her nevertheless. She burrows back into the couch, recalling her blurry memories of the previous night. It was dreadful. It was perfect. It was perfectly dreadful. Dreadfully perfect.
She pulls the afghan over her face, holding her breath until her body forces her to exhale.
Stupid, she berates herself. How could you be so stupid? She burrows back under the afghan, giddy, nauseous, and frustrated all at the same time.
She pokes her head back out when her phone begins to vibrate incessantly. Her heart tumbles against her ribcage when she sees it's Jane.
"Hi." Her voice is garbled, laced with gravel.
"Hi, sleepyhead," Jane's tone is playful.
Maura touches her cheeks, certain they must be on fire. "I apologize about my behavior la-"
"Maura." Jane interrupts. Maura has risen from the couch now, tugging her fingers through her tangled hair. "It was fine. I'm glad I could be there. I was just calling to make sure you were up so you didn't stumble into work at high noon today."
"I'm awake" Maura assures her. Her voice sounds a little more human now. Awake is a generous adjective; she wonders what time it is.
"Good. I'll see you soon then." She can hear Jane's smile, pressing all the way up to her dimples.
She misses her as soon as she hangs up the phone.
XXX
There's not a body to examine today, just a mountain of paperwork to complete and file, so Maura is especially pleased when Jane ambles down the stairs only minutes after her arrival.
She notices the empty examination table immediately. "Slow day down here too, huh?"
Maura nods, pushing away her paperwork as Jane leans up against her desk.
"Paperwork is a pain in the ass," Jane huffs. "Is it terrible that I wish we had a bust or a murder to solve?"
"On a moral level, perhaps," Maura answers her, unable to retaliate with sarcasm, as per usual. "But on a professional level, I'm hardly concerned." She smiles. Jane does too. Maura could spend every minute of her life scheming up ways to see that smile.
"Dr. Isles, your paperwork isn't going to complete itself." Dr. Pike has slunk up behind the two, his face contorted into a expression of permanent disdain. "As for you, Detective Rizzoli. You and I both know you don't belong in the morgue anymore unless it involves one of your cases."
Jane rolls her eyes so dramatically that it's a small wonder they don't get stuck. Maura chews her lip in obvious disappoint, picking up her pen.
"Dinner tonight, then?" Jane asks.
Maura nods happily. She can't imagine this feeling of being wanted ever growing old.
"Great. I'll see you at The Robber at seven then."
A/N: Wanted to include the dinner date in this chapter, as I do get the plot moving a bit more in that scene, but I have to work early tomorrow and need to get to bed, though I wanted to give you guys something before I lose my motivation. Please let me know if you're still interested in reading. Your support is much appreciated