"Jeeze Ma, will you stop fussing?" Jane fumed as her Ma was busy straightening her collar and wiping her down to remove any of Joe Friday's stray hairs.

"I just want you to look your best Janie, it's so exciting."

"That's not how I would describe it Ma, you know I hate these sort of functions."

Angela looked at her, bursting full of pride. Despite the danger of Jane's job, Angela knew that she was good at it and she loved it when Jane wore her full dress uniform. She looked so smart.

"Well you have to go Janie. All of Boston's finest will be there and some special invited guests from what I can gather."

Jane growled her disapproval. She hated functions like this. She did not want to spend her evenings schmoozing with the upper echelons of the Justice system. Fortunately she and Korsak were on the same table, so at least that was someone she could talk to. Frost had managed to get on a table with Cavanaugh and would spend all night trying to propel his career. Good luck to him.

"Well I wish I wasn't invited. They had better have some decent beer, that's all I'm saying."

Angela swiped her shoulder.

"Don't you get drunk and embarrass yourself. Or me. Or your brother."

"Ow! Ma! I can handle my liquor and I don't intend to stay long. Trust me. I will be eating dinner and staying for an hour then grabbing a cab home. Speaking of which, we should get going. Are you still ok to give me a lift?"

"Yes Janie. Let's go." At least her daughter was sensible enough not to drink and drive. It was one less worry.

The drive over was quiet as Angela carried on with her train of thought. She knew she nagged, she just wanted her to be happy. She heard the rumours about Jane's sexuality and she didn't care, yes she was a Catholic, but in her eyes love was love. To find someone you wanted to spend your life with was hard enough and if you found that person, well what did it matter about gender? She thought she had that with Frank and look at her! No, she just wanted Jane to be happy. She loved these sort of events as the men could see how beautiful her Jane really was.

"Ma? Ma?!"

"What Jane?"

"I said we're here, lemme out. Thanks for the lift. See you later."

Jane waved and bounded out of the car and up the steps of the building two at a time. Might as well get this over with.

She entered the great hall and looked around her, the room was already full of her colleagues and big wigs. She had to admit it, but in those uniforms they all looked good. She found what she was looking for and headed straight towards the bar.

She nodded at the bartender. At least a free bar was one good thing about tonight.

"Hey. What can I get you?"

The man nearly tripped over himself to get to Jane. She didn't struggle for attention, male or female. She just wanted a beer.

"I'll have a Goose Island please."

"Coming right up."

He poured the beer into a schooner and set it in from of Jane.

"You know I finish at eleven."

Jeeze, couldn't she even get a goddam beer in peace? She smiled sweetly at him.

"I'll bear that in mind."

She headed towards the table list and just as she did a woman in a beautiful black gown who was quite beautiful and made Jane's breath catch in her throat stepped back onto Jane's foot. Jane managed to only spill her beer on herself and not on this beautiful woman.

"Oh man, look where you're going."

"I am so sorry I. Oh Detective. Here let me clean you up."

Her. Why was it her?

Jane scowled. Perfect, now she had not only spilled perfectly good beer and would have to back to the lecherous barman but her suit was wet and it had been the one person in the world she never wanted to see again.

"I got it." She drawled, stomping off to the nearest bathroom.

Jane removed her jacket, rinsed it in the wash basin and was drying it under the hand driers when she saw Maura enter the bathroom.

"I am sorry about your jacket."

"So you said. It will dry, I will just smell like a brewery again, but then I guess I should be used to that, shouldn't I?"

Jane's usually husky voice was more gravelly than usually. There was something about this woman that stood her hairs up on end. She felt out of control when she was near her.

Maura frowned."I am sorry about that too. It is most unlike me to be so insulting. I just thought we were getting along and then your demeanour changed."

Jane frowned at the woman.

"Why are you here? Why are you everywhere?"

"I am a guest."

"Well why did you accept? You knew I would be here. Did you plan on talking to me or avoiding me? The latter might have been better."

"Why are you so obtuse? I have apologised and I planned on getting to know you better. It is difficult being a woman in a man's world, as you well know. I thought perhaps we could start over."

Jane grabbed her jacket and turned to exit the bathroom.

"Well you thought wrong Doctor Isles."

With that she turned on her heels and left a very cross looking Maura Isles in her wake. As she exited the bathroom she saw Korsak seated at a half empty table. Her waved at her, signalling her over.

She moved with purpose and sat down next to her friend, grabbing one of the beers from the centre of the table. It wasn't what she would drink out of choice, but it was cold and wet. That would do.

She chatted with Korsak as the tables started to fill and noticed a fresh Goose Island being slid in front of her, she turned to see Maura walking away from her and sit down next to Korsak.

Of course, why would she have assumed fate would sit this woman anywhere else?

"Ah, thanks for the beer."

"You're welcome."

"Doctor Maura Isles, please meet Detective Vince Korsak."

"Pleased to meet you. Hey Maura Isles, aren't you the defence attorney who got Smith off?"

Jane kicked Vince under the table.

"Ow!"

"Yes Detective, the very same."

Vince looked from Jane to Maura. This was going to be a very interesting evening. Maura was definitely Jane's type. He noticed the lack of ring on Maura's hand and the way she looked at Jane, almost daring her into action. The women didn't know it yet, but they were into each other. The question was whether he should help them or let them get on with it. He figured the latter would keep his balls intact.

"So Maura, can I call you Maura? What brings you to this gathering?"

"I invited her."

"Chief. Hi."

Jane sat up in her seat. How in the hell had she ended up at the Chief's table? Perfect, now she was stuck with Maura and the Chief of Boston Police.

"Good evening Alistair, thank you for inviting me."

"You're welcome Maura. How is your Father?"

"He is well thank you. He asked if you were free for lunch on Thursday."

"I think I can manage, tell him to contact my secretary."

The rest of the night was a blur for Jane. She tried not to be captivated by this woman. Maura owned the room and everyone found her charming. Who was she kidding? Maura was beautiful and sweet and had everyone under her spell. She was exquisite and it was freaking the hell out of Jane. She checked her watch 22:50 that was a reasonable time to escape.

She stood, addressing those left at the table who hadn't headed to the dance floor.

"I've got to be up early, so I will see you all later. Doctor Isles."

The women nodded at each other. A small smile formed on Maura's lips and sent a bolt of electricity throughout Jane's body. How could something so small evoke such an intense reaction? She had to get out of here and fast. She had to forget about Maura Isles.

She practically ran to the foyer and outside into the cool fresh air. It had started raining but she welcomed the coolness on her skin. She stood with her eyes closed, her face pointed to the sky as the rain poured down.

"You know you'll catch your death out here."

She turned her head to see the bartender from earlier. Before she could even process what she was doing she threw herself onto the man, kissing him hard, aggressively taking him in, trying to extinguish the flame she felt for the woman who infuriated her so much.

"Is your car nearby?"

"Just there."

"Great, let's go."

Just as she followed the man, whose name it occurred to her she didn't even know she glanced up to the steps and saw the shocked expression on Maura's face. She had followed her and witnessed her wanton action. Jane watched as Maura ran back inside.

"You know on second thoughts it isn't such a good idea."

"Well you know where I am if you change you mind ever."

"Thanks."

Jane knew she wouldn't change her mind. She headed back into the hall, her hair now frizzy from the rain and humidity. She saw the woman she was looking for dancing with a handsome officer, her head on his shoulder. The look she had was wistful.

Jane moved over to Maura and tapped the man on the shoulder.

"Can I cut in?"

"Ah, yeah, sure." The man walked away confused.

Jane took Maura into her arms, pulling her close.

"Look, I've been thinking and how about we start over? How about we go for coffee tomorrow? Say 14:00 at the cafe near the station? I can't stop thinking about you and I think you feel the same. So how about it?"

"You're soaked."

"Well yes, it was raining. Look Maura, I am sorry. Fate seems to be putting us together and for once I am listening. Look I do have to go, but that guy outside, I was just being impetuous, it didn't mean anything. So how about it?"

"Ok Jane. Let's just meet tomorrow at two and start over."

Jane beamed at the woman. She was grateful for the opportunity to this properly. She wanted to get to know this woman, she had finally admitted that to herself and nothing would stop her from her coffee date with Maura Isles. Or would it?