Present Day…

I felt the cold water hit my face as I slowly opened my eyes. There he stood. I knew him from the pictures. It was a face that one would call handsome…almost angelic like. There was nothing angelic about this man.

"You know who I am?" he asked.

"I know."

"You know what I want."

"I know," I nodded again. There was no sweet-talk. No mincing words. He would cut right to the chase and let it be known this was no game. Though the black eye I was sporting, the two…maybe three broken ribs…and dislocated shoulder already told me this was no game.

"Tell me," he said leaning in close. All I could smell was his aftershave…his cologne.

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me what I want to know."

I locked eyes with him. "I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged…"

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Months before…

I opened my eyes and saw Maura standing before me, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. She was holding a cup of coffee. "I wasn't sure how you liked it…so I put a little sugar and a little cream."

I couldn't help but smile. "Perfect," I sat up and wiped the sleep from my eyes. "I don't even remember falling asleep."

"Well it was kind of a busy night," Maura said softly sitting next to me on the couch. I realized I was wrapped in a blanket.

"You looked cold," she said.

"Thanks," I nodded. I sipped the coffee. "This is good."

"There are some things in this world you can buy cheap…coffee isn't one of them."

"A woman after my own heart," I laughed.

"Hi Jane," Jenna said coming down the stairs.

"Hey Jenna," I smiled.

"I hope we were quiet enough for you," Maura said. "Jenna has a tendency to be…a handful in the mornings."

"You were fine," I winked at Jenna who smiled brightly for me.

"Jenna…can you do me a favor?"

"Sure," Jenna nodded.

"Can you go give Jane and me a moment to talk?"

"Ok mom," Jenna stood and walked to the kitchen. "See ya Jane."

"Bye Jenna," I smiled.

Alone in the living room I exhaled. I had been waiting for this since last night.

"So I'm going to swing by the station and make sure that report was filed and all is in order. Find out who those guys were…"

" You think…it was something other than a break in?" Maura asked me.

"Well there was something more professional about it. I'm going to see if I can sit in on the interviews."

Maura bit the side of her lip. "Maura is there something you want to tell me?" I asked. I could sense her nervousness.

"No," Maura shook her head. "I…I'm sure they were just out to create trouble."

"I'm glad I happened to be walking by when I did."

"Me too," Maura held my eyes. "Thank you again Jane."

"It's no problem," I said. I got up from the couch. "I should probably get going. Thanks for the coffee."

"You understand now," Maura spoke up. "Why…I couldn't go out with you…those times."

I turned back around. "Cause you have a kid?" I asked half confused half understanding.

"I just didn't think…you'd be…interested."

There it was. She knew I was interested. I couldn't help but smile.

"Sure of yourself are you?" I said. Maura's faced blushed.

"No…I mean I didn't mean it like that…"

I cut her off. "I was kidding Maura," I lowered my head. I slowly began to walk to the door but paused, as I was half way out. "Maura?"

"Yeah?"

"I am…interested…still." With that I closed the door behind me as I called out a goodbye to Jenna. I just laughed. I could do kids. I'm good with kids. An evil smile crossed by face. Oh yes. I could do Maura too.

She was very do-able…

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I sighed and slowed down my pace. "Maybe we shouldn't do this?" I spun around and looked at Frost.

"Well it's your choice Jane. This is going to be the best way to find out where Maura's been and what she's been up to."

"I know...I still feel like...like..."

"You're going behind her back?"

"Yes." I paused. "Do you think I should just wait and see what she tells me."

"This is a side of you I'm not used to seeing," Frost paused and looked to his left and his right. "Come on...sit down."

He me to the bench located outside the courthouse. "Talk to me."

"What do you want me to say?" I asked. I don't like this feeling. I don't like it at all.

"Tell me what's going on inside of there," he pointed to my head. "Or should I say there?" he lowered his finger pointing to my heart.

"I'm worried about her. Last night...she was so cared Frost. I could see it in her eyes."

"Well someone broke into her house," Frost offered. "I'm a cop and I'd still be a little freaked."

"It was more than that," I shook my head. "There was something else. I could see it in the way she was asking me questions, she was trying to play it off like something else."

"What do you think?"

"I don't know," I answered confused. "Frost?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I should wait," I looked into his eyes. "I don't think I can do it like this."

"Okay then," Frost nodded. "We do it your way Jane." He smiled. "Maybe she'll come around and tell you what's going on...but if she doesn't...at least we know there are other options."

"True," I nodded. "Thanks Frost."

"What are partners for," he smiled.

"You're so much more then that Frost...you know that right?"

"I know," he nodded and smiled. I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "You smell nice today. Is that...oh lord. Are you wearing CK1?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"You don't like it?"

"I do...I do...I just also happen to know who LOVES CK1," I winked. "I wonder if that has anything to do with why you're wearing it." The new receptionaist in the main lobby area. Frost was in love. Well, at least for this week, I thought and smiled.

"A man can dream," Frost laughed. "Someday she'll wake up and see I'm standing right in front of her."

I laughed.

"It's going to be okay Jane."

"I know," I nodded. Suddenly I felt my phone vibrate. "Oh that's me."

"Hello?"

"Jane?"

"Yes."

"It's me...Maura."

"Oh Hi Maura," I smiled. Frost just nudged me and winked. I swatted at his arm.

"Jenna and I were wondering if you wanted to join us for dinner tonight?"

"Dinner tonight?" I looked at Frost who gave me thumbs up.

"Well if you don't have plans that is...I'm sorry it's short notice..."

"No," I smiled. "It's not short notice. I'd love too. What can I bring?"

"Just yourself. How does 7 sound?"

"Sounds good." God...somehow I knew I was smiling from ear to ear.

"See you at 7."

"Okay. Bye." I hung up and looked at Frost.

"well...sounds like someone wants to say thank you for being her knight in shining armor," Frost laughed.

"Shut it," I threw him a glance. "Come on. We can go file those papers on Pattersons case."

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I knocked at Maura's door. "Hello?" came a voice from behind the screen door. "Jane?"

"It's me," I smiled and opened up. "Can I come in."

"Of course," Maura smiled. I held up the flowers I had bought. "They are beautiful."

"For Jenna," I smiled.

"She'll love them," Maura laughed. "She's been talking about you non-stop since she got home from school."

"Really?" I asked amused.

"I think she's quite smitten with you," Maura laughed. "I can't say I blame her." I felt a blush run up the side of my face. Damn.

"Jane!" I heard the cheerful voice call out from down the hall.

"Hey Jenna," I smiled. "These are for you."

"Ohhhh," Jenna took them from me. "They are so pretty."

"I'm glad you like. They're carnations. White means friendship," I smiled.

"Cause we're friends...that's so cool," Jenna laughed. "Mom can I go put them in a vase?"

"Sure," Maura laughed. "You want a beer? some ice tea?"

"A beer sounds good," I nodded.

"Glass or bottle."

"Bottle is fine," I smiled and followed Maura to the kitchen.

"So bottle is like a cop thing huh?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "No more than glass is a doctor thing I'm sure."

"We're having grilled chicken. I hope you're not a vegetarian?"

"No. I like meat," I laughed. No way..Had I just said that?

"Well the backyards this way. We're going to eat outside. It's too nice to not take advantage of it."

"I agree. Lead the way," I smiled as Maura grabbed the bowls.

"You want hand with that?" I reached down and graced the side of Maura's hand. I took the salad bowl from her. nice to see I'm not the only one who blushes. Taking the fruit bowl she moved to the backyard.

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"...and I told her that monkeys do it too. She still didn't believe me. So I showed her that national geographic channel. She shut up after that."

"Jenna," Maura said between laughing. "We don't say shut up."

"Sorry, " Jenna looked at me. "She was quiet after that."

"I bet, "I smiled. This kid was a riot. And a lot older then her age would let on.

"Honey why don't you go inside and finish your drawing for tomorrow."

"Ok," Jenna stood. "Oh Jane. I was wondering if you wanted to come to my play. I'm the lead."

"Oh well congratulations, "I smiled. "I'd love to attend."

"Great. See I told you she'd like it mom," Jenna smiled. "I'm going to save you and mom front row seats."

"Sounds great," I smiled. Jenna ran inside as Maura looked at me.

"She's kind of clingy once she meets someone."

"It's okay," I smiled. "I really like her. She's a great kid."

"She is," Maura nodded and looked at the house. I saw she had left...gone someplace in her head. I took this moment to just observe her. Slowly she came back.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yeah," Maura nodded.

It was now or never. "Maura last night...you were going to tell me something...or at least I got the impression you wanted to tell me something. You know you can trust me with anything...anything at all."

"I know," Maura nodded. "I do trust you."

There it was again. There was something on her face...something deep inside her. She was hiding something.

"If there is something you wanted to say about the break in Maura...now is the time." There. I just threw it out there.

"No. Nothing," Maura shook her head. "Do you like strawberry shortcake?"

Damn.

A beeping sound went off. Maura glanced at her Nextel. "I'm on call. Excuse me."

"I'm sorry...I've got to go Jane. Jenna," Maura called out as Jenna appeared at the door. "Jenna get dressed. I need to go to work. Come on."

"Mom," Jenna looked sad. "I thought we were having strawberry shortcake. I have my movie already too...I don't want to go to the hospital."

"Jenna please," Maura tried to reason. "I know you don't like it baby. I'm sorry. But I've got..."

"I can stay with her," I offered. I looked at Maura. "I don't mind."

Maura looked at Jenna and back to me. "Are you sure?"

"Sure," I smiled. "Go. Save lives. We'll be here when you get back," I laughed.

"I owe you," Maura laughed.

"Fine. I'll collect on another dinner sometime."

Maura just looked at me. "You're amazing you know that?" she smiled. "Thank you."

"Come on Jane," Jenna came and grabbed my arm. "We can play go-fish with my new sponge bob playing cards."

Maura laughed and grabbed her keys. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Oh man. I was falling and falling hard.

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Present Day

"Look at you," he hissed. "You're pathetic. You'll die cold and alone unless you tell me what I want to know."

Breathing was becoming more and more difficult with each passing moment.

I was trying to find anything to focus on. Brown. Brown eyes. A soft voice whispering in my ears...telling me she loves me. Telling me to fight.

"Maura..." I whispered as I passed out.

"Not even she can save you now..."

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