A/N: Slowly but surely working my way through this. Thanks again for all the support :)
"Hey, slow down, tiger." Ian lowers the drink from Maura's mouth. She lets out a small cough and a sputter, feeling a bit dizzy for a moment. "You want to tell me why you're drinking yourself to oblivion?"
She looks up, and he follows her gaze, long and hard, as it lands on Dell, her lips close to Archie's ear as he leans up against the kitchen counter.
"I'm invisible," Maura speaks softly through her clenched throat. She launches herself into a further explanation, because the vibration of her vocal cords keeps the rest of her body from collapsing as her emotions assault her. "I might as well evade her visible spectrum, neither reflecting or absorb—"
"Maura." Ian cuts her short.
She sucks in a breath as Dell's betrayal impales her.
"I'm going to be blunt for a moment, and I do hope I don't offend you." He pauses. Maura looks down at her feet. "Yes, you are invisible to Dell, but you let yourself be. You let her have the upper hand – you allow her to walk all over you." His words sting, but she cannot deny them. "If you want her so badly, if you are so certain she is worth all you have invested in her, then go claim her. Give her a reason to notice you."
She's angry, hurt, and swimming with emotions, but his words, coupled her with inebriated state, trigger a latent fury. She steps toward Dell, who is gleaming in the muted lighting, alluring and elusive. Maura touches Dell's arm, gently, but without hesitation. Dell pulls her lips away from Archie's neck, her eyes glazed with intoxication.
"Maura, doll, can I have just a moment with Archie? Then I'm all yours." Her voice is sweet and commanding, and Maura nearly submits. But she doesn't move, inhaling a breath as she watches Archie's hand slide up Dell's back. And then she snaps. Maura steps between the pair, roughly separating Dell from Archie's lazy grasp.
"Maura," Dell speaks again, though her voice has lost much of its authority.
Maura kisses her, fast and sloppy, eager and possessive. She feels Dell's tense limbs melt against her. "I want you," Maura tells her. "I want you now, and I want you always."
Dell's eyes lock with hers, and for the first time, she knows she has fully captured Dell's attention.
They're a tangle of limbs as they migrate down the hall, abandoning Archie without a second thought. Maura's not sure who's leading, as their bodies pulse in tantalizing rhythm. They end up in Ian's room, pressed against his futon.
There's a break, a heavy pause, and the warmth radiating between the pair leaves Maura's head spinning.
"Fuck me," Dell whispers, gruff and primal. They've shared many kisses, many heated moments of frantic passion, but never this. Never has Dell so intimately belonged to her. She imagined it'd be different - a soft, thoughtful moment leading into a delicate climax. Not drunk, not quite so crude, but she'll take what she can get. And right now she has Dell pinned beneath her body, trailing tiny, damp kisses along her jaw. She reaches past the waistband of Dell's pants as she's consumed by a delightfully prideful moment as Dell's body reacts to her touch.
There's a moment of fear, a hint of trepidation, but Maura barrels forward, because, after all, this is everything she has ever wanted.
XXX
She wonders if she's showing too much cleavage.
She turns in the mirror, admiring her reflection. She wears a slimming red dress and just a touch more makeup than she would wear to work. Just the right amount, she decides, letting her gaze rest on the slightly exposed crests of her exposed breasts. She blurs the line between classy and provocative masterfully.
She has plans with Jane to do dinner and a movie tonight, a casual affair for which Maura knows she doesn't have to fret over her appearance, but cannot help but to do so. She hardly spends a moment not curious as to what Jane feels toward her. The trip to the Bed & Breakfast was a strange solidification to their friendship. Maura finds that she's falling easily into a friendship with Jane, and every moment of it is wonderful, though every moment leaves her wanting more.
She applies a dash of red lipstick just as her phone buzzes loudly against the vanity top. It's Jane, and her stomach is immediately floppy.
"Hi," she answers, a bit breathy.
"Hey, Maur." Jane's voice is deep and gravelly. She never tires of hearing it. However, Maura immediately notices the anxiety in her tone as she continues. "I, um, well...Casey's around tonight. And he really wants to do something. And I know that I promised you that we'd do something, but I'm feeling kind of bad completely ditching him."
"I understand," Maura answers too quickly, sinking into the comforter of her bed in a heap of disappointment. "There will be plenty of opportunities for us to get together another time."
"No, that's not what I'm saying. I want to see you tonight. I really want to see you tonight. So would it be okay if we just all went to the Robber to hang out?"
Being wanted is so tantalizing, though the thought of spending the evening with Casey makes Maura's stomach knot. However, it doesn't surprise her that the former wins. "I'll see you soon."
The bar is crowded, though Maura finds Jane easily, standing beside a brooding Casey.
"Hey," Jane smiles, sipping her beer. "I got you a glass of Chardonnay."
"Thanks." She takes a small gulp, feeling Casey's eyes boring into her, and his possessive arm around Jane's waist does not escape Maura's attention.
"Did you have a nice day at work?" Maura struggles for a conversation starter.
"It was fine. A bit busy and stressful. But good enough." Casey takes a swig of his beer. He never gives her much to work with.
"He might be reassigned soon," Jane offers.
"Nothing's set in stone." His tone is so apathetic that it leaves Maura physically uncomfortable. Casey's sour dispositions always dominate the mood of the conversation, leaving Maura feeling bitter and agitated.
"I'll be right back," she politely excuses herself. She ducks into the bathroom, dabbing on another coat of lipstick. She inhales a few gulps of stale air, poorly bracing herself for the rest of the evening. As she leaves the back hallway, entering back into the bar, she stops short as her eyes land on Jane and Casey. He's shouting at her, though she can't make out his words over the clamor of the bar. She watches through the maze of people, hesitant to intrude, wondering what could have escalated so quickly. Jane raises her hands, her expression loudly conveying her frustration. As she lowers her arms, he latches onto her wrist. Maura finds that she has unintentionally taken a few steps forward, her stance instinctively protective and aggressive. Jane yanks her wrist away, but he only grips her more tightly.
Maura crosses the bar, inserting herself between the two, her thoughts throbbing frantically.
"Maura, is everything okay?" Jane's voice feels distant, puncturing vaguely through Maura's pulsing mind.
She looks down at Casey's hand, locked around Jane's wrist, and it nauseates her. She aches with anger, brims with frustration, but a tiny voice in the back of her mind reminds her that it is not her place. She backs away, breathing in the dank air, realizing quickly that she needs to distance herself for a moment. She throws open the front door of the bar, landing against a nearby bench, processing her fury and an infuriating dose of déjà vu.
"Maur?" She looks up as Jane joins her, still feeling a bit queasy.
"Isn't Casey going to be angry that you've come out here?"
Jane waves her hand with a flourish, dismissing Maura's concerns. "I'll deal with him later - Casey being pissed off is something I can handle. But you - you being upset. That's something I'm worried about."
Jane's words are so startlingly raw and genuine that Maura feels foolish for letting her emotions get the best of her.
"I'll be fine." Not a lie. She will be. She just isn't right now.
Jane tucks a dark curl behind her ear, sighing loudly. Maura looks down at Jane's wrist, her tanned skin a bit pink. "Did he hurt you?"
"What?" Jane covers her arm quickly, rubbing at the skin a bit uncomfortably. "No. It's fine, really. And I'm tough, anyway." She edges her hand away. "I'm fine."
Maura's insides churn. She inhales a breath, forcing her words back into her throat. Instead, she says, "I don't want to go back inside yet."
"Then we won't. We'll stay out here as long as you need to. Casey needs another minute to act like a fucking adult anyway." Jane chuckles lightly, though it's strained.
Maura nods, her smile just as forced.
Jane glances up at her. "You'd tell me if there was something bugging you, right?"
She avoids the question, watching the traffic fly past for a moment. "I'm so glad," Maura begins quietly, edging her fingertips lightly against Jane's against the wooden bench, "that I met you."
Having Jane in her life may be emotionally draining, but it is worth every moment.