Jane took a step forward trying to meet Maura's eyes. She took another still searching while the doctor set her jaw fighting further embarrassment. As she took a third step Maura looked down while raising her hand.

"Jane stop," She did, looking down her shoulders fell.

Breathing deeply her head rose as she took a defiant step closer.

"Jane, I said stop."

Eyes still trained to the floor she could see the detective's boots. The rain fell heavier now, wind whipping around anything and everything, it was deafening, yet the silence between them was louder. Maura was shaking now, all control over her emotions gone. Openly sobbing her hand covered her mouth, but she still wouldn't look up.

Removing her hands from her pockets she needed to act before her own resolve failed. Taking the final step to close the gap she cradled Maura's elbows in her palms. The doctor's head snapped up, her eyes glistening from her own torrent. She shrugged away from the touch placing the candle on a nearby ledge.

"I said,"

"I know what you said Maura," She reached forward again, hoping her offering would be seen as a lifeline.

Maura sniffed loudly her hands gripping her own head shaking,

"No! No, no, no, you don't know!"

Each word punctuated with closed fists landing weakly on Jane's chest. The taller woman wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight reaffirming grasp.

"You don't know, Jane, how could you,"

Her cheek rested atop the blondes head, "Tell me Maura, make me understand."

Maura's forehead rested on her chest, the cold damp jacket alleviating the feverish heat her outburst had caused. Her own arms pressed between them restraining her from further assault.

"Let me go Jane," her voice was weak, tired.

"I can't Maura, don't ask me to." A hand buried into the blonde's hair holding her against her.

"Please," She felt warm droplets slowly make their way to mingle with her own.

Jane closed her eyes forcing them away, and let her hands drop to her sides as she took a step back. Maura's own hands wrapped around herself to try and replace the heat she so drastically lost. She looked over to her friend, her head bowed but unmoving in the tides of the storm around.

Stepping away from the safety of the porch Maura raised her hand to cup a frozen cheek, her thumb landing on silent lips.

"Don't make me leave," She still didn't look up, gaze locked to the ground

"I don't think I can let you stay,"

Barely a whisper she moved closer to the detective resting her head to the frigid dampness of Jane's jacket. She wanted those arms to grasp her again, fill her with some warmth in spite of everything. Jane didn't move, the hand still on her face offering some protection from the elements.

Vainly Maura had tried to hide in her chest, her guise broken when Jane's hand mirrored her own bringing their eyes together. A calloused thumb meeting swollen yet impossibly soft lips. In contrast she moved to meet the gesture, welcoming the touch.

"Whatever I did, Maura, please help me make it right."

With her free hand she covered Jane's, carefully removing it from her face. In a split second Jane's heart and mind filled with thoughts of the worse, she was sending her away. Yet she had not dropped her hand, instead wrapped her fingers around and gently tugged. Wordlessly she followed the doctor into the dark house welcoming the shelter.

Closing the door behind them, in the gloom she registered Maura motioning to her to stay put. The doctor disappearing with a tiny flame into the house, she tried to follow her with her eyes until the light was gone. Bending down she fought with her boots, feeling the pain the cold and wet had wrought on her feet. She tried to comb her hair away from her face yet her hands had frozen tightly allowing little movement.

The time felt like hours before Maura had returned, she had shed her own soaked clothes in favour of a large robe. She carried a towel and a small bundle of clothes in her arms. Without a word she grasped Jane's hand and brought her into the low light of the living room. Placing the items on the sofa she began to busy herself with lighting the fire, it wasn't long before the room was blissfully filled with warmth.

Jane still stood in the centre of the room; her clothes drenched clothes pulling at cold skin. The smaller woman moved to face her; shaking hands grasped the lapels of the jacket and began to peel it away from the detective. Neither spoke, but she was grateful she did not meet any resistance. She dropped the garment to the floor before her fingers returned to the buttons of Jane's shirt. She paused awaiting response, but when she received none she began the process of removing it.

Her mind was both full and vacant at the same time, instead opting to stare over Maura to the opposite wall. She had stood her ground and now here she was being undressed by fire light. Any other time this would have been gratefully received if only in her nightly dreams. But it was real, she could feel everything, she wanted to embrace it, but she was drained. She couldn't fight anymore, she wanted nothing more than to crumble and try and regain her strength.

She didn't resist against deft hands even when her shirt was removed from her slacks. Standing still, locking her joints to allow her just to stand was exhausting enough. Her eyes closed when the warmth of the towel was draped across her shoulders, allowing her to hide herself away.

Maura hesitated when she had reached the final item, she had to remove the slacks else Jane would continue to freeze. She looked up to her face to see her eyes closed while she wrapped the towel around her. Slowly she unbuttoned the top of the trousers straining her ears for sounds of resistance. As none came she pulled the offending clothing away, relieved when in turn each foot lifted so she could remove them fully.

Taking a free hand in hers she led Jane to the fireplace and gently to the floor in front of it. The sound of the crackling filling the room, the heat of the fire allowing frozen muscles to release their tension. Jane sat cross legged wrapped in the towel relishing the respite. Maura had gathered the small pile of clothes and had kneeled beside Jane; she placed them onto her lap. She offered Jane a flannel top of the pyjamas, enjoying the tiny smile from the detective.

Maura looked away as Jane pulled the towel from around herself before she took the offered clothing. Pulling it over her head she revelled in the greatest comfort from such a simple source. Standing Jane took the bottoms and quickly put them on before joining Maura back on the floor.

"Thank you," she whispered over to her friend.

Maura turned back to face her, her own face still sullen grief clearly filling it. Jane didn't need to speak; she opened her arms beckoning her closer. Sniffling she shuffled closer into the welcoming embrace. Burying her head back under Jane's she felt arms with renewed strength wrap around her.

"Jane..." Her words failed as she felt a warm hand weave into her hair. Her eyes closed as Jane moved her head to place a kiss atop her own.

She felt Maura relax into her arms as she watched the fire dance. She soon felt herself gently rocking in place listening to steady breaths in her arms. She wanted the moment to last forever. Nothing else mattered, just this, entwined together. She couldn't help the onset of futile tears; she let them fall silently less she wake the woman in her arms. Quietly she wiped them away, trying to steady her own breaths.

She gasped when a warm hand cupped her cheek; her own hand met it, holding it in place.

"I didn't mean to wake you,"

"You didn't," Maura used her thumb to wipe the tears away from Jane's face.

Resting her head on the detective's shoulders she used her hand to bring Jane's face dangerously close to her own. The brunette's eyes closed as their foreheads rested against each other.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," Jane's words barely heard in the silence.

"You didn't", closing the gap she met Jane's lips with her own.