Wow... you guys are frickin' awesome! Thank you for all the encouragement. I've tried to get this out before xmas so our girls can be reunited. Hopefully some of you are still interested over the festive season to read it! ;)

A special thanks to zo. I can't reply to your reviews but you're another of my constant reviewers and I forgot you last week. Thanks again. :)

Hope this is worth the read... I think it is! (but I'm slightly prejudiced, lol.) See what you think.

Tj. xx

The plush leather seat just wasn't cutting it anymore. Maura's back was stiff, and she felt uneasy, no matter how she positioned herself. She longed for the end of the day having played her part in what was now a long-winded process of negotiation.

Three hours ago Jane had reminded her of who she was, where she truly belonged, and ever since her day had become a rather surreal experience. She began to realise certain things that'd never occurred to her before, and it was triggered by that one simple phone call.

Somehow, very simply, Jane had managed to shine a torch on the fact that Maura no longer needed to align herself with expectation. Her life didn't revolve around false pretence and mere acquaintance. She had so much more than that now.

Sitting amongst the stuffy suits, as Jane would call them, she felt suddenly grounded. An epiphany of sorts was happening inside of her; an acceptance of her own rather unique identity, knowing that those who mattered most loved and appreciated her choices, and those who didn't, were not near enough in heart to alter them.

Smiling very discreetly to herself, she zones out the droll legal proceedings and shifts to pull out her phone. To anyone in the room she holds the same air of professionalism, while on the inside, she's madly rationalising her behaviour to stop the blush from hitting her cheeks.

'You could arrest some of these people for their dealings, Jane. xx'

A moment later her phone vibrates an answer.

'Sorry babe, not my jurisdiction. J. xx'

She can't quite suppress her laughter, and all eyes suddenly fall upon her. She swallows, clearing her throat and raising her glass of water in excuse. "My apologies, please continue."

And even with that and the odd looks from her mother, she can't quite bring herself to relinquish her connection with home.

'I laughed, Jane. Out loud!'

Second reply:

'My little rebel! Feels gd dnt it?'

Wanting to laugh again, she drinks her water with large gulps. She signs off.

'You're quite right. Mother's looking at me oddly. I must go. Xx'

Her phone buzzes a final reply…

'Jst flash your b-ful smile swthrt. And blame me if she asks. J. xx'

Of course, she would think of everything. Ever the protector was her Jane.

It was late… or extremely early, whichever way you chose to look at it, and Maura couldn't sleep. Old anxieties and misunderstood feelings had raised their ugly heads. She'd had to struggle through dinner, and had managed with enough grace for no-one to notice, but now she couldn't settle.

She reached for her phone, remembering past conversations and hoped she wasn't venturing too far. It took a few heart wrenching rings to be answered, but eventually, she heard that one of kind, raspy voice.

"Rizzoli…"

"Hi Jane, it's me…"

Her voice wakes her detective fully, and Jane leans up on her elbow to check the time.

"Hey… sweetie… what ya doing?" she coaxes.

"I'm attempting to put into practice your offer of phoning anytime."

"Oh... okay, good… you not sleepin?" She rubs her face.

"No… it seems I can't when I'm longing to be with you."

"Aw, M…" The initial resonates until it resembles a low hum. "So tell me the worst of it. Is it your mother, the boardroom, or somethin' else that's got you so rattled?"

"It's nothing." But she answers too quickly, and her heart clenches with a familiar deception. "Or rather… it's… nothing new."

"M-hm… and what's the 'nothing new?'"

"I can't say…"

"Is it your mum?"

"No…"

"Your dad?"

"Jane, my parents are fine."

The detective sighs, noting the deflection of her question. "I wish you'd quit side-swiping my concerns."

"I'm not... That is, I don't mean to."

"Then what is it? What's the thing that's bothering you the most?"

"I'm just feeling uncomfortable and I not certain... it's as if I'm seeing things, behaviours that I hadn't realised existed before."

"Who's behaviour?"

She hits a tender spot and there's a long pause.

"Maur? Honey, you still there?"

"It's nothing," her voice is soft, "there's nothing to worry about, Jane. I'm just tired and I'm not making any sense."

"You are actually… there's just somethin' you're not telling me."

"Perhaps we should move on. I'd much prefer to hear about you. I'm fine…"

"No, sweetie, I don't think you are…"

"I'm just tired, Jane." She squeezes her eyes and rubs her forehead. "My emotions have got the better of me… you know I struggle with deciphering my feelings."

"You're good at hiding them too."

"Wha… how can you say that?" She's getting upset.

"I'm not picking on you, Maur, I'm just saying it takes a lot before something's worth you reaching out for… which is fine, but not when you're so far away…" Something else comes to mind and she can't help mumbling it. "… and don't think I haven't noticed you've never spoken about what happened with Hoyt."

"What? Jane! Where is this coming from?" She's confused. "We've already discussed that!"

"No, I did, but you… you talked about having an extended shower."

"Yes! Because I felt disgusting and raw! Because he… he…!"

"What, M?" Jane could hear her tears, but felt it important for Maura to say the words. "He what, baby?"

"Jane, there's no need to discuss this! I'm aware of the ramifications of that horrible day. My injuries have healed and he is no longer a threat to us. I don't need to go over this!"

"Because you're doing that thing you do… you're compartmentalising, but in doing that, you're not dealing with the emotional side… You're hiding from it."

"I'm not! I..." She centres herself. "Jane, I suggest you drop this line of discussion. I am not a suspect, I am your girlfriend."

"I'm aware of that! But you're not letting me be your girlfriend. It's been 5 days of exceptionally speedy contact and now you're ringing me in the middle of the night telling me you're uncomfortable but you're okay with it... and that's bullshit, Maura! That's not you!"

"I'm fine!"

"You're angry! And that's the only reason you can say that to me without hyperventilating. Just think about it okay? You've gone back into your shell. And I'm not saying this to hurt you. I'm saying it because you and me, we live in the real world where shit happens and it takes a hell of a time coming to terms with it. It's not logical, and you can keep it tidy in a locked box where you can just forget about it! I care about you, damn it! And I'm tired of not being able to reach you... I'm tired of this… whatever it is that's stretching between us! I've had it!"

"Well, then I'd best go…"

"NO! Don't…!"

"Get some rest, goodnight, Detective."

"Damn it!... No! Maura!"

She's up on her knees. "You're hanging up on me?" And stares at her phone. "She fuckin' hung up on me!" She throws it, getting up, and yelling at no-one. "God! Son of a bitch!" But she's more annoyed with herself. "You idiot!" She paces out into the living room. "You dumb fuck, Rizzoli!" She falls to the couch. "Shit." And breathes heavy.

Little does she know that as much as she is frustrated, Maura is equally distressed miles away. The ME has no comprehension of what has just happened. All she knows is that her logic has failed her yet again.

Jane was steaming. She'd tried time and time again to get in contact with Maura but she wasn't answering her calls or responding to her texts. She'd really blown it this time, and she hated herself for it.

She'd made it to work looking like crap, and had snapped her way through the first 4 hours with Frost and Korsak feeling at a loss. Finally, Korsak stepped in, after Jane had slammed her fingers in her draw in a huff.

"Out with it," he says.

They sit in a local coffee shop nearby. It's a place they often go when needing to talk through something heavy in nature.

"Out with what?"

"With whatever's got your nickers in a knott!"

"Ugh! Nothing! I'm not talking about it!"

"You know what I think?"

"Do I wanna know?"

"You were fine when you left yesterday, so either you went out on a bad date or it's family business."

"Neither, so you're wrong old man."

"Then it's Maura."

This stumped her, and she fell silent. Her worries and concern for the spoken namesake caught her breath and shook her as she inhaled.

"So, what's going on, Janie? I'm waitin'."

She searches for what to say behind crossed arms and a clenched jaw.

"We fought," she says, "Last night."

"About what?"

She gives him a look. She really doesn't want to talk about it.

"Look, from where I stand your days not getting any better, so you might as well deal with somethin'."

She uncurls some, and sighs.

"I… I was just trying to help. She's over there in New York and she's not right. So, I…"

"Played detective and it backfired."

She sulks in her seat. "How'd you know?"

"Cause you're a bulldog."

"I'm a what!" She's incredulous.

"You force you're way into trouble. It's what makes you a great detective, nothing stops you, but you're dealing with the high crowd with Maura, and being a bulldog's not gonna work out."

"How very poetic of you, Korsak."

"Think about it, Jane. She's grown up in a different world from us. People in your business cause they want somethin' from you, not because they give a damn. She's gotta put on a 24/7 show. And then she's here, slummin' it with us, building a network that gives a damn if those tears are real or not, but still she has to go back to the high life, albeit intermittently."

"She's living in two worlds…"

"With different social requirements, etiquettes, expectations."

"Oh, man!" She twitches in her seat. "I am such a fuck up!" She pushes herself forward and crushes her head with her hands.

"Talk to her, Janie. Tell her it doesn't matter to you, and be patient for christ's sake!"

She heads back to the office on her own needing time to think. She's calls Maura's mobile but gets her voicemail and leaves a message.

'I'm sorry, Maur. Please… will ya call me back? I won't highlight our differences anymore. I'll just listen… I'll listen to whatever you wanna talk or not talk about, okay? I promise… I'm… I'm sorry… just call me… 'kay, Bye.'

Jane raced to the airport for pick up duties. By the end of the day she'd had word from Maura she was coming home. It was a brief and slightly awkward phone call where apologies were offered and accepted. Jane was currently waiting impatiently at the arrivals gate, thinking of ways she can prove her preparedness for understanding to Maura.

She spots her very weary doctor and moves in.

"Hey…" They make eye contact and share weary smiles. "Can I...?"

She offers a hug and Maura accepts. Her doctor leans in and her reply is muffled.

"Hi, Jane."

Maura lets her eyes close giving herself over to the detective's warmth, finally able to ignore the crowd that surrounds her. Soon however, it becomes too much and they're knocked off balance one too many times. Jane moves them off to the side and Maura takes a moment to look at her properly. They pause by the wall gently touching.

"You okay?"

"Yes… it's good to see you."

"I'm sorry, Maur…"

"It's okay... Actually, I've had time to think on the plane about what you said… and I believe that some of what you said was accurate. I do have things that I could share with you, troubling things that I've learned to hide and not speak of. Only I never realised it was so ingrained in me and somewhat abusive to my psyche until this visit."

"Well, I promised I wouldn't push, and I meant it. We'll leave it at your own pace, okay? I promise... C'mere…"

She pulls her into another embrace, and they both hum in appreciation.

"You look exhausted, sweetie."

"Thank you."

"I mean, you look beautiful, but exhausted."

"Well… it has been a long week. I would like a kiss, but I understand in this environment…"

Her words are broken by Jane's lips.

"I don't care about anyone else," her detective whispers, "I do care about you, however, and in getting you home." Jane kisses her again before moving away. "C'mon."

She guides her girl and suitcase back to the car. They head back to Maura's where the ME is most comfortable. Jo Friday and Bass greet her in the hallway, and all their familiarity and attention brings tears to her eyes.

"C'mon, sweetie," Jane says, "Let's run you a bath, and I go make us some dinner."

"I don't expect you to…"

"Noo," she extends the length of the vowel for the length of the stairs, guiding the woman up and into her bedroom. "I'm taking care of you… now, here are your personables," she puts the smaller square case into Maura's hands, "… and I expect to see your clean little butt downstairs for dinner in 30 minutes."

"Jane…" The doctor whines a little. "I feel like a child."

"No arguments." She takes Maura's face in her hands, giving her a soft and tender kiss. "I'll come back and make sure you haven't fallen asleep."

"That won't be necessary," Maura calls out as she exits.

"Oh, but I think it will be!"

Jane flies down the stairs thinking she's getting pretty good at this 'taking care of' business.

Please review. :) xx