Jane was woken by a repeated banging on the door. She stumbled sleepily to the door and opened it to find Maura on her doorstep.

"Maura? God, what time is it?"

"10:05."

"Maura, I'm so sorry, I overslept...I."

"No, don't apologise Jane, you obviously needed the sleep."

"Please, come in. Wait? You're not a vampire are you?"

"No, but you already invited me in last night so if I were you'd have not chance."

"Well I'm asking nicely, so please don't bite me?"

"I can't promise anything, Jane."

What had started as innocent teasing had soon shifted into something a little more serious.

Maura cast her eyes over Jane's now awake form. She was wearing short red running shorts and a black tank top, exposing her long muscular legs and toned mid-riff. Maura subconsciously bit her lip; Jane really was a devilishly handsome woman. Maura imagined how strong Jane would be and how it would feel to run her fingertips across Jane's six-pack.

She definitely wasn't promising anything.

Jane was also appraising Maura. She had her hair pulled up in a bun and combined with the block heels and knitted dress looked like a classy secretary. She looked hot; really really hot! Maura's shoulders and neck were exposed and she fought the urge to bury her face in the invitingly smooth expanse of skin.

"Are you going somewhere, Doc?"

"No. Why?"

"The way you're dressed. You look ready to parade the latest fall fashion. You look beautiful."

"This is how I dress, Jane."

"What? All the time? Even when you're watching TV?"

"Yes."

Jane gulped. She didn't stand a chance.

"What's in the bag?"

"I promised you breakfast remember? How about you grab a shower and I will make a start?"

"Sounds perfect. If I time it right, you will have done everything by the time I'm dressed and ready. What are we having?"

"Pancakes."

Jane groaned in pleasure. "Marry me? Seriously. How has no one snapped you up?"

Maura blushed. "People don't usually get me. I'm the Queen of the Dead, Maura-the-borer. I don't make friends easily and lovers come and go. Mostly go. People find me odd."

Jane humphed. "Maura-the-borer? That doesn't even make sense. I don't find you odd, I find you wonderful. I have only known you a couple of days but each time I see you, I want to get to know you better. I get you. To me you are Maura-I-wanna-know-morer."

Smooth, Rizzoli. Real smooth.

Despite having just woken up, Jane moved to face Maura. She lifted her chin and placed a soft chaste kiss on her lips.

"Don't you worry about what anyone thinks. You're awesome. Except me, you can worry what I think."

"What do you think?"

"Well, I think I should shower cos I really wanna kiss you; like really kiss you, and I need a shower. So I am going to shower while you make me pancakes. I don't suppose you wanna add some crispy bacon too do ya?"

Jane fluttered her eyelashes. Lots. Maura laughed.

"You'll have to wait and see. Now scoot!"

Jane bounded to the shower. She had only known this woman for a few days, but it seemed like years. This was all entirely excitably new. Jane showered and dressed, keen to be back in Maura's company. She had seen Maura's eyes on her belly so chose a pair of form fitting jeans, a bra top showing off her washboard stomach and slung a shirt on top so as not to be too obvious.

As Jane walked back into the kitchen, she could smell bacon and smiled. She couldn't help what she did next, she just couldn't. She walked up behind Maura, wrapping her arms around Maura's waist, gently kissing the nape of Maura's neck. Jane breathed in Maura's scent; it was a mix of Maura's expensive perfume, her body lotion, coconut from her shampoo and Maura's own natural scent. She slowly kissed her, revelling in the soft moan from Maura. Jane nipped her gently.

"I thought you said no biting?"

"Only you. I can do what I like. In fact, I should do it more."

Jane punctuated her point by nibbling the expanse of skin on show to her. The pancakes started to sizzle.

"Burning."

"Oh, I know honey, I can tell."

"No. Breakfast. Burning."

Jane chuckled and released Maura. She was hungry after all. She moved to the coffee machine, making herself a coffee, seeing that Maura had made herself one. She liked that Maura had done that; she wanted her to feel comfortable. Jane took their coffees, grabbed some juice and some glasses and sat down.

"Do you need a hand?"

"No, I am fine thank you; I don't want you ruining my hard work."

Maura dished up and brought their plates over, setting one in front of Jane and where she would sit. As her hands became free, she found herself being swept onto Jane's lap. Jane dipped her back and kissed her.

"Thank you. This looks wonderful. Almost as wonderful as you."

Maura batted Jane's shoulder.

"You are so full of it, Captain! Are you always this smooth?"

Jane barked a laugh. "I am bricking it, trust me, I don't feel smooth. You unnerve me, so I overcompensate."

Jane returned Maura to het feet and patted her bum.

"See?"

The women ate their breakfast, as if it were a daily occurrence. They were comfortable in each other's company.

"This is delicious Maur, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Say, does this mean you'll cook on the ship too?"

"Don't you take it in turns?"

"I don't. I'm the Captain. Speaking of which, we need to decide the rest of the crew."

"How about we clean up first and then go through the papers."

"Good idea, Doc."

The women tidied the breakfast things into the dishwasher and grabbed another coffee before settling in Jane's office.

"Wow. That is a lot of paperwork. What are the two piles?"

"That is for the next mission and that was for the last. I need to find out who helped Hoyt. I've also got thousands of hours of footage to get through. I need to nail this bastard, Maura."

Maura noticed the change in Jane. She slipped straight into Captain mode. Jane was suddenly cold, commanding, determined and authoritative. A shiver ran through Maura; every facet of this woman thrilled her.

"Ok, so let's deal with the new mission first. We have a maximum of ten spots. So far I am thinking me, you, Frost, Korsak, Frankie and Cartwright. After that, I don't know. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Only one; Yoshima. What roles to we need to fill?"

"Two engineers. That's it. I don't want to take ten people. I don't want to take anyone I don't trust with my life. I mean I don't know you or Yoshima but Grant says you're the best for this mission and I am drawn to you. I get the feeling you are amazing at your job because so far I think you are amazing and I know that each day I see you I will think you are more amazing."

Maura silenced Jane with a kiss. The kiss was a direct reflection of the passion that Jane's words invoked in Maura. She was exhilarated at the thought of Jane thinking she was amazing; she felt exactly the same way about her.

"Ok, so do you have any front runners for the engineer's roles?"

"Simons, Andrews, Grey, Jackson and Stark."

"Who would you pick?"

"Simons and Andrews I think. They're the best at what they do."

"So is that us? Is that the crew?"

"Yes. Connect Cartwright."

Within minutes Cartwright's voice echoed in the office.

"Hello?"

"Cartwright, I have decided on the final crew for the Bass. Can you please contact Director Grant and make the necessary arrangements. The final crew is Doctor Isles, you, Frost, Korsak, Yoshima, Frankie, Simons and Andrews. I will Captain the crew. I also need you to come by later and collect these papers. I will leave them on the coffee table. After six will be fine. Over."

"Understood Captain. Out."

Jane looked pleased with herself. Her crew was a fine one; she had no doubt that they would achieve their mission. Now to discover Hoyt's mole."

Maura and Jane were exhausted. They had spent the entire afternoon sifting through file after file, fast forwarding their way through footage; finding nothing of interest. Jane chewed contemplatively on her pen, staring at the growing pile in front of her.

"You've got red on you."

"Excuse me?"

Maura rubbed her thumb across Jane's chin and lips. "You've got red pen on you."

Jane had had enough for today. "Come on, Doc. I need a beer and some food."

"Agreed Captain, I require sustenance. Stretching our legs is a good idea also."

Jane went to the bathroom to wash her face, collected the discarded files and placed them on her coffee table, opening the door for Maura; she then changed her mind, closing it quickly and pulling the woman to her, capturing Maura's pink lips with hers. Maura's head span from the sudden kiss.

"Wow."

"Indeed. Sorry, Maura, I just had to do that. Shall we?"

Jane gently rested her hand on Maura's elbow and guided her out.

"It's good to see chivalry isn't dead."

As they walked to The Dirty Robber they fell into easy conversation.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, why did you choose what you do for a living? Examining dead bodies I mean?"

"I wanted to speak for them, for the dead. I give them the peace in death seldom found in life. They have secrets; I try to uncover those, to give answers. Sometimes, most times, I investigate murders; who will speak for them if I don't?"

Definitely more amazing each day.

They arrived at the bar. Jane again opened the door for Maura. She winced as the handle was stiffer than expected; the pressure causing Jane some discomfort. Maura observed Jane's pain.

"Oh, Jane, I'm sorry. Can I help you?"

"No, I'm ok, I just wasn't expecting it. A beer and a burger will help I promise. I assume this time I'm allowed to have a beer."

"Yes, Jane. You've worked hard today, I'd say that you deserve one or two."

The women ordered their food and drinks and headed towards a booth, sitting comfortably with each other; their bodies touching in an unspoken embrace.

Maura sipped her wine, content to sit in the taller woman's company.

"I've enjoyed today."

"Me too. Thank you for your help."

"I'm just sorry we didn't get you any answers."

Maura took Jane's fingers in her own. Jane looked down. Maura's words made her look back up.

"You can't help your scars Jane. They are now part of you. You're still here and I'm grateful for that. I want to get to know you, as a friend and colleague and more if I'm lucky enough. You can't make me go away, Jane. I'm not going anywhere."

"Thank you."

Maura seemed to know exactly what to say to her. Amazing, without question!

Their food arrived; time seemed to go so quickly when they were together.

"So how about you, why did you want to be a Captain?"

"I wanted to ever since third grade when a Captain came in to give us a careers talk; the medals, the authority, the respect; definitely for me. I enjoy working with people and having adventures. That's basically what I get to do. I love it. The ladies love it too."

Maura laughed. "You are such a chauvinist, Captain."

"Not as much as some. I love what I do and I'm good at it. I'm one of the lucky ones. Grant is ok as a boss; he lets me get on with it. He trusts my judgement and I trust him. A lot of people would have insisted I sit the next mission out not Grant."

"That reminds me, I'd like to change your dressings for you."

"Doc, if you want to come home with me, you just have to say! You don't need to find an excuse. But if you want to distract me again, feel free. In fact I think we mentioned something about flashing me that would help the pain go away."

Jane beamed at Maura, flashing her a cocky grin.

"Want to get out of here?"

"Yes, Jane, that was the inference."

Their walk home was quicker than the way there, both women keen to get to Jane's flat.

"Light's on. Cartwright? What are you doing sitting here in the dark?"

Jane moved to touch her friend and gasped in shock.

"Oh, God, no. Maura, she's dead. Her throat has been slashed."

Maura moved quickly.

"Don't touch a thing."

Maura was commanding and controlled, her eyes surveying the scene in front of her.

"Should we check the rest of your flat? Whoever did this could still be here."

Jane entered the code into her safe and picked up her laser gun; in future she would wear it on her person. She stole around her flat, confirming to Maura they were on their own. She moved back to the dead woman.

"It's him Maura, it's Hoyt."

"Actually, I disagree. I will need to perform a proper autopsy to confirm but the cut to her throat is not clean; it has not been executed with the same surgeon's skill that Reid's was."

"So not only is someone helping Hoyt, but he's studying under him; becoming his apprentice. Terrific."

"Jane, I need to call this in. I suggest you pack a bag, you'll be staying with me for the foreseeable future."

Maura walked towards Jane and kissed her deeply, trying to bestow the message that she would protect her. Jane thought of arguing; she was Captain Jane Rizzoli, she was tough, she didn't need rescuing. The difference was she wanted to be with Maura, she wanted to protect her. Someone had been watching her, watching them and that put Maura in danger. She couldn't protect Maura if she wasn't with her. Somehow Jane knew that she would be encountering Hoyt and his apprentice sooner rather than later.