Disclaimer-As always, the characters do not belong to me at all. I just visit, take them out to play, and give 'em back when I'm done.

Author's Note-Thank you all for all the wonderful reviews so far and thanks for following this incarnation of our lovable duo. Again this is based on the coupling of Jane and Maura from my previous story, Promises-Hope you enjoy and as always, reviews are very much welcomed.

Crowe was gone by the time Jane and Frost got back with the ice for Korsak.

"Hey Janie" as he put the ice on is hand.

"Korsak you don't have to fight my battles for me you know"

"I know Jane"

"I can take care of idiots like Crowe without any help."

I know Jane"

"I…" sitting there with the ice on his hand and grinning sheepishly at her, she realized that he wasn't going to argue with anything she said right now.

"Thanks Korsak"

Waving his good hand in a dismissive gesture, "no prob kid, he had it coming"

Jane's only response was a grunt of assent, as she sat back down to review the files Korsak had given her. Crowe and his comments had distracted her from what she was doing. One of the witness statements she had read, was bugging her. The case was a botched robbery from a computer store that had gotten one person, shot. They were still in ICU and it was touch and go. It was obvious from the video footage that the perp knew where to gain easy entry. The video they had recovered from the scene had shown him coming into the store and walking around it for a few days prior to the shooting. He had gained entry though through the service/delivery entrance in the rear.

Jane tapped her pen on the desk reviewing the testimony of the primary witness again. She described the perp's actions very clearly and the video bore out what she was saying, but there was about a 50 second gap when he was not on camera and neither was the victim. From the video footage, it looked like he had pushed her into the bathroom, but if his motive was robbery, why do that? Why not get into the storeroom and take what he could. It didn't sit right with Jane and this guy was still at large. The shooting victim had the other pieces of this puzzle but there was no guarantee she would be waking up anytime soon.

"Anything?" Startled she didn't realize that Korsak had come over to her.

"Hmmm…no, not yet, just…Can we bring in the witness, the girl in the storeroom, again?"

"Sure, I guess, you want to try to interview her?"

"Yeah something about what she said is bothering me"

"You think she's involved?" said Frost, who had walked over to check out what they were talking about.

Pensive, Jane was tapping the pen now on the side of her head while she looked through the information she had

"Don't know yet" Frost and Korsak knew that look. Jane was onto something but she didn't like to discuss things until she was sure.

Korsak cleared his throat, "well let's see if we can't see her today, I'll give her a call."

"Thanks Korsak" leaning back in her chair she ran her fingers fiercely through her hair before asking, "So, where did Crowe go?"

"Apparently Cavanaugh sent him home, he, uhm…, overhead some of what he said and didn't appreciate it" Frost said.

Surprised that Cavanaugh was being so supportive she just shook her head, "What the hell is his problem with me?"

"Jane, seriously?"

"First you're a woman, which messes with his whole women's place in the world ideal, next, you're a detective, and quite frankly a damn sight better detective than him. But most importantly you never feel the need to justify who and what you are." Frost looked at Jane very seriously as he spoke. He had always looked up to Jane and being partnered with her had been one of the best things that ever happened to him.

"You are who you are and you've never pretended to be otherwise. If he's threatened by you, that's his issue not yours."

Frost was so earnest and adamant that Jane had to smile; he was a good guy, and a good partner, even if he did encourage Maura to do things to make her crazy a little too much.

"Thanks Frost" surprised and just a bit embarrassed by his conviction, she put her head down to review her paperwork some more when Rihanna's S &M was heard throughout the squad room. Fumbling with the papers that were on her desk, she grabbed for her phone as every eye turned toward her. Sound effects were the norm for Rizzoli but an actual song? And Frost? The smile on his face was wide enough to fit a truck through, he knew who it was.

"Maura!" she said through gritted teeth, "did you change my ringtone?"

"Yes, don't you like it? I thought it was much better than the death march you had for me before." The happiness and pleasure in Maura's voice could be heard through the phone but Jane was embarrassed.

"Maur! You can't do things like that without telling me." She wasn't angry but she was miffed at the snickers she was hearing in the squad room.

The silence on the phone told Jane she had screwed up, "shit I hurt her feelings" she thought.

"Maur?"

"Yes Jane," the previously buoyant voice was subdued.

"Aw hon, don't be mad, I'm sorry, its just…I wish you'd told me."

"I know, I wanted it to be a surprise…"

"Maura? Are you crying? For god's sakes woman this isn't anything to cry over!"

The emotion in her voice was obvious but "I'm not crying, not over something so clearly inconsequential…I…have to go now."

"Maura wait! What did you call for?" exasperated Jane tried desperately to fix what she had done.

"Nothing…" Quietly, Maura said, "I was listening to oldies in my office and a song made me think of you."

"Maura?"

Sighing deeply on the other end, Maura just said "I just called to say I love you," And hung up.

Looking at the phone in her hand, Jane knew she was an idiot, a grade A idiot. How could she get upset over something so trivial, especially when they had just spent that quality time together?

"Ugh!" putting her head on the desk, she banged it a couple of times before looking up to see an expectant Frost.

"Well, what'd you do?" he said smugly.

"I do not deserve to be married, that's what I did." Mad at herself for hurting Maura's feelings, she gathered up her files to go down and review them in Maura's office. Maybe spending a little more quality time will help.

As she was getting ready to head down, Korsak came back to let them know the witness would be in to speak to Jane in a half hour.

"Shit"

"That's okay right? You said you wanted to talk to her?"

"No, that's fine Korsak it's just…"

"Jane fucked up with Maura and needs to go fix it is all"

"Frost!"

"Damn Jane, already?" Turning to Frost, "How much do I owe you?

"What, what are you two talking about!"

"Twenty bucks Korsak"

"Hello?"

"Twenty?" "From everyone?" "Shit Frost, you're buying Friday"

"WHAT THE HELL GUYS?"

Both men looked smugly at Jane. "It was Frankie's idea, he said you wouldn't be back one week before you ended up in the doghouse with Maura, so we all took that bet."

"Are you two shitting me?" Dumbfounded she sat down looking from one to the other, "so?"

"Yup" Frost said, "I gave it a day" smiling broadly he put the twenty in his pocket and left to call Frankie.

Looking up at Korsak, she could only shake her really, "am I that predictable?"

"I wouldn't say predictable, Jane, but there are certain things you do with regularity."

"Like what?" indignant she couldn't believe what she was hearing, they bet on her screwing up with Maura, bastards.

"Like putting your foot in your mouth"

"Wha…"

"Janie look, I'm the last one to be giving marital advice, but if I were you, I'd get my ass downstairs and make up with her. Apologize and take your licks regardless of your pride and you'll be the better for it." With that, he walked away leaving her deep in thought.

Jane looked at her phone and decided to head down again to see Maura. She knew she was being an ass and it actually brought a smile to her face thinking about the ringtone Maura had assigned to her number. She hadn't forgotten the night before the wedding, or their wedding night. Stopping outside the morgue, Jane took a deep breath, she pushed the door open and went inside.

Maura was sitting quietly at her desk looking at her wedding pictures online. The pictures had come out beautifully and Jane looked gorgeous in the white suit against her darker skin. They looked happy she sniffled. She knew she was being silly and emotional but she really did think Jane would like the ringtone. Maybe it was wrong to do it without telling her, she was probably embarrassed especially after what happened with Crowe, she should have thought it through, and it was a trivial thing to fight over. She stopped. Was it their first fight? Or was it just a disagreement?

Clicking on the different pictures she touched the screen as it stopped on a picture of Jane caught in the moment. The photographer had taken a series of pictures of her while she was waiting for Maura to come down the aisle. Jane, oblivious of the camera, went from looking pensive, worried, frustrated and then in one shot; the complete joy in her face was like a physical and psychological transformation. That one picture caught Jane as open as she would likely ever be with her expressions. Unbeknownst to her, Jane had been caught at the precise moment that she saw Maura being escorted down the aisle. Maura zoomed in on her eyes, they glistened, and the smile on her face.

"Oh my…"

Maura knew Jane loved her but she had never shown this face to anyone before. For one moment in her life, Jane was completely unguarded.

Clicking on the proof, she sent it to the color printer in her office; she needed to hold it, physically.

She was holding it when Jane walked in.

"Hey" her husky voice apologetic.

"Oh Jane!" the embrace and the kiss surprised her but she wasn't about to turn it down, not when she had been the one to screw it up before. Kissing her back, Jane wrapped her arms around her, returning the embrace. The moment was intense and felt so, 'right'.

When they broke apart, Jane held her at arms length, "you okay babe?"

Nodding vigorously, Maura only had eyes for Jane. Tilting her head to one side, Jane couldn't figure out what was going on, but she knew she had been granted a reprieve from her earlier behavior. Not wanting to waste one moment with her, Jane pulled her back into her embrace and kissed her thoroughly, probingly, teasingly, until she left Maura breathless and wanting more.

"I have to get back to work, I just came to apologize and make sure everything was okay with us." Raising an eyebrow at her, Jane looked at her questioningly.

"Oh yes, everything's fine," Jane looked from Maura's face to the paper still in her hand and shook her head, whatever it was, it had apparently helped resolve their dispute.

"Okay then, I'll see you later hon"

"Jane?"

Stopping at the door, "Yeah?"

"Please don't forget your promise."

"I know, don't do anything foolish." Flashing her that famous Rizzoli grin, "Come on its me when do I do anything foolish?" With that, she left Maura standing there hugging the picture to her.

Jane walked into the interview room and looked at the woman sitting there. Lynette Hudson, 34 years old, store employee for two years in the same position, she was as tall as Jane but beefier, muscular with blond hair. She seemed uncomfortable, more than she should be and Jane wondered if her suspicions were correct.

"Ms. Hudson?"

"Lynette, please"

"Lynette then," she sat down opening the file in front of her, "do you mind answering just a couple more questions?"

"No of course not, anything to help."

"So, you say the assailant came through the service/delivery area, correct?"

"Yes ma'am"

"And you saw him?"

"Yes I did"

"Can you describe him?"

"I already did that," she said testily.

"Oh that's right, sorry, you did." Jane wanted to rattle her since often the only way to get someone to admit something was to get him or her angry or frustrated.

"African American, long hair braided, seemed young, early twenties, wearing jeans and long sleeve denim shirt, is that right?"

"Yes, that's right"

"And he had a weapon you said?"

"Yes a gun"

"Why didn't you go answer the service door?'

"That was Janice's job"

"Right she's the inventory manager"

"And you, I do data entry, you know, inventory, shipping & receiving."

"Ah, gotcha"

"So this assailant, you say here that he rang just a few minutes before the regular delivery was expected correct?" sometimes Jane hated this part of her job, the setup.

"Yes that's right!" "I have already told someone all of this."

"I know, I'm sorry just a couple more questions, okay"

Lynette waved a hand at her inviting Jane to continue,

"Okay then so he rings the bell and Janice goes to answer?"

"Yes!"

"So, how long have you known him?" Jane asked casually.

"Two months…wait…no…I mean…YOU BITCH!" jumping across the table, Lynette grabbed Jane by the throat knocking her off her chair.

"FUCK!" Jane got one arm up before the woman knocked her off the chair. "Shit she was heavy," she thought as she fought her off. Lynette slammed Jane's head into the floor of the interview room sending a blinding pain into her head. Stars and bits of light sprinkled her eyesight as she managed to lock the woman's leg with hers and rolled her over, elbowing the other woman in the face as she rolled her. Jane's elbow opened a gash in the woman's cheek and she elbowed her again in the face before Frost and Korsak burst into the room and pulled Jane off the woman.

"Jane you alright?" Korsak had a hold of her arm and helped her steady herself.

Shaking his hand off, "Just friggin wonderful," the movement caused the pain in her head to intensify, but she wasn't about to say anything.

"What the hell took you so long?"

"Sorry Jane, we didn't think she would react that way to being found out, I stepped out to call Frost over." Korsak was horrified at the result of his decision, "I'm really sorry"

Looking at Frost who was handcuffing the stunned, bleeding woman on the floor, Korsak shook his head. He didn't think she would go berserk like that. "Damn"

Picking her up, Frost pushed the woman out in front of him as a patrol officer showed to take her into custody.

"Get her cleaned up, we need to talk to her again," noting the gash on the woman's face, Frost said "call the EMT's, we need to get her cleared medically first."

Looking back at Jane, "You okay?"

Jane sat down heavily, "yeah, fine, just a headache"

"What the hell happened?"

"What the hell…she flew across the fucking table that's what happened!" Her voice rose with every word to match the pounding in her head.

"Jane!"

"Aw shit…hey Maur"

"Are you alright?" Maura's face showed so much concern that Jane felt guilty.

"I'm okay Maura"

Nodding to Korsak, Frost stepped out to watch the video. All interviews were recorded and Jane wasn't saying too much, but she looked positively green and he needed to know how things had gotten out of hand.

"Maura I'm sorry it was my fault, I wasn't watching during part of the interview, I didn't see what happened." Looking from Jane to Maura, Korsak realized he had let them both down.

Jane patted him on the arm, "It's okay Korsak, you couldn't have known." Her head was spinning and she was having trouble focusing but she didn't want Maura to worry, so she wisely stayed sitting. Maura sat down in the other chair and listened as Korsak told her about Jane's suspicions.

Barry Frost watched the video of the interview and marveled at the way Jane could get a person to admit shit. "Fucking amazing," the other woman's speed when she flew across the table was pretty amazing too. "Shit," he was surprised Jane was able to get a hand but the ugly crack of her head against the floor made him cringe.

"Holy …" replaying it, he listened again. "No wonder Jane looked green"

Walking back into the interview room, he watched Jane as she sat and fidgeted, Maura too was watching her.

"Jane honey, are you okay?"

"Maura I'm fine I just whacked my head on the floor" she put a hand to the back of her head and brought it back wet with blood.

"Shit"

"Oh my god Jane!" The blood and that one word brought Maura around the table in an instant. "Let me see, please" as Jane pushed her hand away, "please Jane."

"Maura its fine, I just have a headache, nothing a good night's rest and some aspirin can't cure."

"Janie come on, let Maura take a look," Korsak's anger at himself increased as he realized Jane was hurt because of his mistake.

Jane lurched to her feet with a vehement "NO" and made it just a step before she fell forward. Korsak caught her yelling for Frost or anyone to call an ambulance.

Jane felt herself falling and could here the others yell around her and crying, she heard crying, 'shit Maura's crying,' but she couldn't stop herself. As soon as she started walking forward, it felt like her head was exploding into a million little bits and the overwhelming pain had dropped her where she stood. She could hear everyone, but she couldn't see anyone, her eyes refused to open. Hearing Maura cry, Jane wondered if this meant she hadn't kept her promise to her…

Okay so at some point, this started to write itself, that's still a little weird for me but exhilarating at the same time. Reviews are welcomed and loved so take a sec after reading if you can... Hope to have the next chapter up in a day or two…