DISCLAIMER: Still don't own, although would love to write for. Would definitely be my top Mr Burns "excellent" moment, apart from maybe being put in charge of ALL the cookies.

They walked in Jane's door at 2am, and stood facing each other in the light reflected from the street. Maura could see the knowledge that they were caught on the edge of something new in Jane's eyes. Knew they were both floundering, drowning, going down for the third time. Taking a breath, Jane reached out to toy with the ends of Maura's hair, giving her that half-smile that always managed to get under her skin, make her want against all reason and logic.

Suddenly nervous, caught in the heady space between exhaustion and extreme awareness, Maura stepped back, took measured paces through Jane's living room to sit on the couch in her usual position.

After studying her for a moment, Jane followed to sit beside her."Christ, it's been a long day."

Maura clutched at this familiar gripe, nodding her agreement. Anything to hold on. Anything to provide the illusion of firm footing in this moment when she felt anything but steady. "Yes, it has."

Jane gave her that half-smile again, mixed with understanding. "Too long?"

Maura stared at her hands, trying to find the words for how terrified she was. This bond had become more important to her than she'd ever imagined when they started to walk this road. They'd lost and found each other again and again; and every time she'd sworn she'd never risk it again. Yet here they were, playing with something neither of them could quantify, that neither one of them could hold alone. She twisted the bracelet on her left wrist, watched it catch the light from the street.

"Maur." A hand reached to cover her bracelet. She looked up to meet Jane's eyes, tried a reassuring smile. Watched concern flicker into Jane's face.

"No."

"Then c'mere." Jane's hand tugged, guiding her up and over so Maura was straddling Jane's lap, facing her. Maura settled herself against Jane, noted for the umpteenth time how strong she was, how warm she felt.

Jane smiled at her. "You know, I can't remember the last time I've been this exhausted and this wired all at once. Guess that's the thing with having a gorgeous, amazing encyclopedia in your lap. Gives you an adrenaline rush."

Jane moved her hands under Maura's shirt, raking slow lines as she spoke. Maura fought valiantly to keep focused on what Jane was saying, but with each pass across her skin another portion of her concentration switched allegiance to the sensation.

"Maur." This time Jane's voice held amusement, her eyes a wicked glint.

"Yup." She fisted her hands on the cushion behind Jane, trying not to squirm. Trying not to lose control.

"Define Newton's Third Law of Motion for me."

She frowned at Jane, suspicious. Jane just met her gaze blandly, playing her hands along Maura's lower back. Maura twitched in response, then cleared her throat. "To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction."

Jane nodded, moving her hands up to rake her nails lightly down Maura's spine. "Huh. That's interesting."

Maura cut off the moan rising her throat. Couldn't stop her hips moving into Jane's. "Why?"

"Because I've always been interested in studying equal and opposite reactions."

Maura frowned. "No, you haven't."

Jane grinned."Oh. Well ,maybe only when it comes to you. See..." Jane's hands skimmed lightly up her thighs, sending goosebumps in their wake. "When I touch you all sorts of fascinating things happen..." She drew her thumbs just under Maura's breasts. Stroked lightly back and forth, back and forth. Maura struggled to keep her head, keep her breathing normal. Lost the battle as Jane drew her touch along Maura's stomach, her ribs. Maura made a small sound, moved her hands from the cushion to Jane's shoulders. "And here..." Jane murmured. Her fingers ran down, down. Traced the line of her belt.

Lost, Maura just watched, her breathing hitching as Jane undid her belt. Stopped. Frowned up at her innocently. "Did you want to go to sleep now?"

Even feeling like she was going to leap out of her skin, like the only thing propelling her from one moment to the next was Jane's hands on her, she managed to glare at Jane. "So help me Jane if you stop..."

Jane looked far too pleased with herself for Maura's liking. "What reaction would you call that, Doctor?"

Quelling the urge to laugh, to acknowledge this woman who could look through innumerable fingerprints and still find hers, she took Jane's hands, anchored them with her own to the couch.

Watched Jane's eyes darken as she rocked slowly, deliberately into her once, twice. And kissed her, her mouth sliding teasingly over Jane's until Jane yanked her hands free and into Maura's hair, and she was gone.

The next thing Maura was fully aware of, lying under Jane on the floor, was how well they fit.

She leaned forward and traced her lips along Jane's neck, smiling as Jane's hips moved slightly in reaction. "Desire."

Jane groaned, and Maura squeaked as she traced a thumb along her ribs. "Maur. Enjoy the moment. What could you possibly desire after that?"

She smiled. "That was the reaction."

Jane pulled her head up to look at Maura appraisingly. "Yeah, well if it had been shock or horror I'd be in my nice, comfortable bed. How did I let you talk me into doing this on the floor?"

Maura's mouth dropped open. "Me? You're the one that said it would be just like yoga."

Jane's mouth twitched, and she dropped her head to Maura's shoulder, snorting a laugh into her neck. "I can't believe you fell for that."

Maura poked her. "I can't believe I fell for that. I think you mangled my brain."

Jane raised her head again, her eyes drifting down to Maura's mouth. "Is that a technical term? Brain manglement?"

Maura studied her a moment. Gave Jane a slow smile, watching Jane's eyes glaze over slightly. Pulled away just before their lips touched. "I have a point to make about Newton's Third Law."

Jane groaned. "Of course you do."

She eased herself back just enough to lock eyes with Jane. "All forces exist in pairs."

Jane gently removed the hand she had tangled in Maura's hair to curve along her cheek. "Yeah? You think we're one of those pairs?"

Maura turned her head to kiss Jane's palm. "I do."

A/N: I love the idea that Jane knows Maura well enough to seduce her with physical law. Also, thanks so much for the reads and kind, funny, lovely reviews - you guys just rock. Have a great week.