Author Note: Thank you to everyone who has commented, it's always nice to know when people are reading my story - and it's lovely to hear from those who are enjoying it.

"Thank you for coming," Jane said, wrapping her hands around a cup of coffee in front of her.

"I nearly didn't." Maura sat back in her seat, the Boston Police Department cafe buzzed around them. "But I think we have a lot to discuss. How is Nina?"

"Pissed."

"I suppose that's understandable," Maura said. "I'm not sure I'd be happy if mine and Nina's positions were reversed."

"I didn't mean for you to find out that way," Jane said, reaching out and placing a hand on Maura's. She felt Maura tense under her touch and pulled away. Long before things became complicated she had treated Maura that same way, even as friends. Adjusting would take time. Even with the months apart.

"I know."

"I wanted to tell you, I wanted to tell everyone. But she's scared of how people will react, at work."

"How long have you been together?" Maura asked, a smile forged across her face.

The phony happiness bothered Jane more than Maura knowing that they were never going to be together. She didn't want to lose her completely. As selfish as that made her, she couldn't bear the thought of living in the same city and not having her as a friend.

"Officially, less than a day."

Maura frowned, her voice wavering. "And unofficially?"

"Months."

"How many?"

Jane gritted her teeth and pushed the coffee cup between her hands a couple of times. She stared into Maura's eyes. All she could see was the hurt she'd caused. The hurt she couldn't fix by asking Maura to be her friend again. Then the hurt she felt over the last few months flooded her. The nights she'd woken up to an empty bed, the days she'd been so distracted by her sadness that she made mistakes on cases. The tenderness that Nina provided when she'd needed it the most. In many ways it had always been more than just sex, but it took her life to be upended once more for her to realise that.

"Would it really help you to know how long we've been together, Maura?"

"I guess not," she whispered, turning her attention to the line of people waiting for drinks.

"Look, I called you because..." Jane's voice trailed off as her cell phone started ringing. A moment later Maura's follow suit and Jane was filled with a sense of nostalgia. "Rizzoli."

"Isles," Maura said in turn.

Jane stood up as she finished her call. She picked up her coffee cup and stepped out from behind the table.

"I've gotta go, there's been some issues with a case," she said, holding her phone up like she needed to explain

"I'll come with you," Maura said. "I guess the governor heard I was in town. They want me to help out."

"Oh."

"If it's a problem, I can call them back," Maura said, her eyes filled with a sense of hope that Jane couldn't tear down.

She waved a hand in front of her. "It's fine. Let's go."

They stood by the elevator, waiting for it to arrive. Jane tapped her foot on the ground, impatiently staring as the number went up instead of down. She glanced across to Maura, then back up at the number which didn't change. The atmosphere was strained.

"I'm gonna walk," she said, heading for the stairs. She opened the door to the stairwell before realising Maura was following.

"I could use the exercise," Maura said, causing Jane to scoff.

"Look," Jane said, the situation was becoming laughable. She walked up the stairs beside Maura. "You haven't told anyone about me and Nina, have you?"

Maura cleared her throat, her voice terse. "No. I said I wouldn't."

"You didn't, exactly," Jane said, reliving the previous night's conversation with Nina in her head.

"If you don't do something about Maura," she said, pacing back and forwards, her bare breasts bouncing as she moved.

"Would you just sit down," Jane said, smirking. "You're turning me on."

Nina glared. "Now is not the time, Jane. Maura knows."

"She said she wouldn't tell anyone."

"Are you sure?"

Jane shrugged. "She nodded."

"You need to make her stay quiet."

"What do you want me to do, kidnap her?" Jane rolled her eyes, a smirk sneaking onto her lips.

"Just stop." Nina sat down beside her and pulled the bed sheet around her shoulders. "I told you I'm not ready for this."

"I'll sort it," Jane said. "I promise. She won't say anything."

"Do you think I would do that to you?" Maura asked, shaking her head as they turned the corner onto the next flight of stairs. "I'm not vindictive, Jane. I wouldn't purposefully hurt you like that. Or Nina."

"But you could," Jane said. "If you wanted to."

"Does my word count for anything?"

"Actually, no, Maura," Jane said, reaching for the door handle and pulling it open. "I thought you were going to come home and you told me you weren't in a letter. That's the kind of thing that loses my trust."

Maura sighed. "I didn't do that to hurt you."

"I didn't sleep with Nina to hurt you."

"No, you didn't," Maura said. "But you're hounding me now like I wouldn't respect your wishes."

Jane stopped. She shook her head and gritted her teeth. "I just need you to tell me that you will not tell anyone about us."

"No, Jane," Maura said, her voice level as she spoke. The elevator beeped beside them. "I won't tell anyone that you and Nina are in a relationship."

The words lingered in the air. Maura clasped a hand over her lips as Jane turned her head to the elevator doors, wide open. Inside a number of uniformed officers stood beside Korsak, Frankie, and Nina.

"I'm sorry," Maura whispered, her voice dissipated into the silence.

"You and Nina are what?" Frankie asked, stepping out, his mouth wide open as his eyes travelled between his sister and colleague. Korsak stood silently beside him, a crease between his brows.

"Nina," Jane said, her voice small and pointless. She stared into her eyes, begging her to forgive what had just happened, but a look of shame and disappointment lingered on the surface. She tried to speak again but no words came. When Nina shook her head, Jane knew that it had been a mistake having the conversation with Maura somewhere so public. When she walked away, Jane felt her heart break.

"I'm so sorry," Maura repeated, tears glistening in her eyes, before she ran off in the direction of the restroom.

Frankie disappeared into the squad room, shaking his head. The elevator load of uniformed officers had disappeared in various directions. Even if Jane wanted to contain the mess that had exploded in the police department, she couldn't. Korsak stood, a look of sympathy and confusion in his eyes.

"I," she tried to speak, but no words came.

"We have a case to solve," Korsak said, sighing and walking towards the squad room. Jane felt a small tug of her lips, and followed him. At least someone was treating it like business as usual.