Author's Note: Because the first one was so brutal…and I have a soft spot.

Perception

Part Two

Jane couldn't blink as the air around them compressed. Maura's beautiful green eyes, once so vibrant, were flat, staring into hers with cool indifference. Despair weakened her limbs, quickly followed by a wave of resentment. For Maura to have a problem months after the fact, especially after they had reached an agreement, set Jane's temper on edge.

"How fucking convenient to make me the bad guy!" Jane hissed, the words cutting through the thick barrier between them like a volcanic flue.

Maura's eyes narrowed, the skin around her mouth losing its elasticity.

Jane drew closer, embolden by the loss of control. "You agreed—you insisted, god damnit." So near she could feel the short puffs of breath against her face that emanated from Maura's flaring nostrils, heedlessly Jane kept advancing. Maura stepped back until her shoulder blades scraped against rough brick. "Answer me this…" Jane's manner was insolent. "…what changed, Maura? Why can't you just be my friend?"

A pedestrian strolled by, head bent down but eyes sliding toward them with curiosity. When his steps slowed, Jane whirled to face him and harshly told him to keep moving. The moment broke some of her momentum. She raked fingers through her long curls, taking a few fortifying inhalations. Maura took the opportunity to lean against the wall more comfortably, crossing her arms.

"You treated me like a one night stand. The next morning you crawled out of bed—no! No! You do not get to walk away, Jane."

Before Jane could respond, a familiar voice said, "Is everything alright?"

Neither woman had heard Mitch approach.

Agitation etched hard lines in Jane's face. "Yes." She cleared the huskiness from her throat. "We're fine."

He peered at Maura, the pity in his eyes like a drill to her exposed nerves. Whatever he heard was unimportant. She looked from him to Jane. The spot she occupied in Jane's life just shriveled. A bone deep sadness robbed her of fire. Escape was the only thing left to her.

She managed to utter a hasty "Actually, I was just leaving."

"Maura." Her name falling so empathetically from his lips was enough to galvanize her into action. Without deigning to acknowledge him, Maura simply pushed off the wall and began walking away.

It would have been so much better had Mitch allowed it.

"Maura, please stay. I know Jane wants you to. We both do."

Good intentions never harmed a situation more.

Abruptly Maura turned back, strands of honey colored hair whipping across her face before gently settling. "We? We?! Rather presumptuous considering you're nothing more than a vibrator, don't you think?"

"You're hurt, Maura. I get that. I do."

Jane, frowning heavily, grabbed her date's wrist. The look she gave him wasn't one of encouragement. Fraught with underlining resentment and bitterness, the mood was morphing into a realm no one wanted to visit, least of all Jane. Mitch covered Jane's hand with his own, to inspire trust or convey empathy, she couldn't tell. What he did next, however, left little to be imagined.

"Maura, I couldn't help but overhear." He smiled and took a step closer, releasing Jane's hand. "And you're…jealous. It's perfectly norm—"

"Mitch." Jane warned. "Don't."

He looked back at her with affection, the genuine wish to help clearly imprinted upon his face.

"Oh, please do." Maura's eyes shone brightly, shards of malice enhancing the green. "Your insights are quite entertaining. Did you double in pop psychology when you received your automobile salesmanship certificate?"

"Maura, damnit, just stop it!" Hardly pausing, Jane turned on her date. "And you, Mitch, just leave it. You don't know—"

Smiling at Jane, he nonetheless interrupted her. "Look, I have a gay cousin so I have some experience with this, baby."

Fury stormed across Maura's features. Jane wasn't fast enough to prevent the other woman from slashing the distance between her and Mitch. "Are you presuming to be some expert on homosexuality? You're a…car salesman, aren't you?" Maura pitched her head slightly to the left, as if considering the man before her. "You sell overpriced trophies to wealthy, egocentric men, Mitch. I don't believe that qualifies you to give unsolicited advice about my life even if your cousin is a homosexual."

Jane muttered, "Jesus, Maura."

Chagrined, Mitch didn't immediately respond. He held his palms up, a placating gesture that merely pissed Maura off more. Although he was an innocent bystander, it didn't prevent Maura from targeting him.

"No, Jane, I'd love to know what makes your boyfriend think he has something of value to offer."

"Maura! Stop." Jane snapped, tugging at Mitch's arm to pull him away. "Mitch, please, just go home."

He made the mistake of brushing her off, returning to face Maura. "Listen, we've all been where you are."

"Honestly, Jane, please tell me his dick is bigger than his IQ. Otherwise I cannot fathom what is so attractive about him."

"Damnit, Mitch!" Jane barked, forcibly wedging herself between the two. "Just go. I'll handle it."

He ignored her then gently grabbed her by the arms. Before he could do anything else, Maura acted. She shoved him back. "Get your fucking hands off her."

Jane reacted without thought and pushed Mitch backward, throwing a harsh warning over her shoulder at Maura. Fingers pressed into his chest, she easily held him immobile. "I'm not going to tell you again, Mitch."

Having never heard the detective's voice infused with such authority, Mitch was rather taken aback. He looked down at the woman he had tried so hard to get to know. Something heavy and poignant sank into his chest. It suddenly occurred to him that the woman, hand resting against his chest and staring at him with intense brown eyes, was still only a beautiful stranger.

"Okay, Jane." Lightly he brushed his lips against her temple, ran his fingers down her arm. "Let me know when you get home safe?"

She made a noncommittal sound, fleeting and devoid of strength. Mitch maintained his nice smile on his pleasant face, acting as if nothing had changed when, incredibly, everything had. An invisible door shut him out and, although he'd love to blame Maura, Jane was the one telling him to leave.

Alone once again, save for one or two people scurrying by, Maura and Jane couldn't look at one another, not right off. Maura hugged herself, facing the street as she watched the red taillights of a passing vehicle fade into the darkness. The sidewalk was of exceptional interest to Jane. She jammed her hands to the limit of her pockets, locking her elbows. Gradually Jane migrated closer to Maura until she stood in front of her.

"What's this all about, Maur?"

Shaking her head with her face turned away was the only answer Maura could give. Humiliation stepped in, pushing aside the anger and torment. Partially deflated, she turned away from the only person she desperately wanted to turn toward.

Jane tilted forward, her fingers hesitantly reaching out. The tips ghosted over Maura's forearm. As if stung, she pulled away.

"I can't be around you anymore."

The murmured disclosure was like an expertly thrust epee into Jane's heart, piercing her skin so rapidly she wouldn't know the extent of the damage until it was pulled out.

"But you're…Maura…you're my family."

"Then you should understand why."

Tears glistened in Jane's eyes, pooled then slid down her cheeks. She pleaded, voice rough with emotion, "You don't mean this."

"What do you want from me?!" Maura cried, swinging around, her eyes ablaze with rage and grief. She invaded Jane's personal space, grabbing her shoulders. "Why? Just tell me the damn truth, Jane. Why did you sleep with me?"

Jane's mouth opened then closed but no sound came out. Pent up energy forced her to break Maura's hold and begin to pace. She flicked her wrists, clenched and unclenched her fingers but nothing soothed the tempest raging within her. Her mind was a blank. A thoughtful and kind answer eluded her. The tension built inside, rolling toward her like an endless line of foot soldiers. Maura's question echoed, ricocheting until she could no longer find her way back to calm.

Out of frustration, Jane hissed, "What does it matter!? It's done, over, finished. You said—you promised —that we'd be friends, that it was a little experiment that got out of hand one night!"

Maura's fingers dug painfully into Jane's skin as she once again grabbed her. "Once, maybe twice would be 'an experiment', Jane. We had sex multiple times that night. " Pulling the brunette in closer, Maura whispered in a low, seductive voice, "And you didn't stop, did you? And you sure as hell didn't want me to stop either. Until it hurt more than it felt good…and even then, Jane, you wanted more."

Tears spilled out of anguished brown eyes, spiking her eyelashes and , dripping off the high cheekbones.

"I am so tired of being logical. You don't make me feel logical." The words were whispered almost tenderly. "I don't want to be noble. I don't want to be understanding. Right now, Jane…right now…" Maura's fulgent eyes looked like polished emeralds as they searched Jane's with reckless entreaty. "…I want to..." Tapering off, Maura struggled to find the words, to find the one thing that might convince Jane how tenuous their relationship had become. She briefly closed her eyes, gathering strength. When she felt calmer, she looked into Jane's tear-filled eyes. "You...you're all I want. I just want you, Jane."

By degrees, the comprehension sank into Jane. Fresh tears ran down her face. Awkwardly she wiped them away by pressing her fingertips beneath her eyes yet they continued to fall. Shattered, Jane swayed a little.

Anger contorted Maura's face. Her fingers clutched at Jane's shoulders. "Don't be a coward now, Jane. Say it! You have to say it!"

"Say what? What do you want me to say, Maura?"

They faced one another under the yellowish glow of the streetlamp, neither woman concerned with gawking bystanders at this point. Voices husky with unbridled emotion, rising and falling with each swell, their words were like weary travelers on an endless journey.

"The truth." Maura nearly sobbed, her chin raised. Tears soaked her face. "I need to hear it."