"Jane, honestly, please, no more. I can't take any more. We have to start getting ready."

"I don't want to. Why did Grant organise this stupid meal anyway?"

"Jane, it's been four days. We haven't left the flat in four days. We have to go out, see people, see daylight!"

"Daylight's overrated, you won't see it for who knows how long when we start our mission, Maur."

"That's precisely why I need to see it now, Jane."

"So are you complaining about the last four days?"

Jane pulled Maura too her, kissing her hard between each word.

"Didn't you like spending the last four days in bed with me? And not just bed. Sofa. Desk. Shower. Kitchen table. Floor. Up against the wall. Bath."

The words brought not just a flood of memories to Maura. She shivered at the remembrance.

"No, Jane! No! I know I started this and planned to keep you here for days but dear God, I underestimated your sex drive and stamina. We have to go out or I am going to end up on someone's table."

Jane laughed. She couldn't help herself; Maura was so incredibly sexy; watching her doing anything drove Jane crazy. Watching the slightest sway of those hips, or hearing that beautiful voice, seeing the intrinsic sensuous rhythm that seemed to course through Maura meant that she couldn't resist her.

Their time spent together had been passionate, raw, wanton and yet loving. Every fibre of Jane's being ached, a reminder of their active love-making. She could tell that the passion that she and Maura felt was real. It was shared and not just a physical thing; they seemed to both naturally understand and respect everything about the other woman. It was as if their purpose in life had been to find each other; they were formidable as individuals, but together they could achieve anything.

"Fine! He probably wants to talk about the double funeral tomorrow and to brief us all on our mission. Or he could just want us to kick back a bit. So anyway. What do you want to do about us?"

"I'm not sure I understand the question."

"Maura, we're together, you're my girlfriend, I am your Captain. It could be seen as inappropriate. Do we tell them about us? I mean look at you. I run a team of red-blooded males, they're gonna hit on you."

"Why would they hit me?"

"Not hit you, Maur, hit on you. Two very different things."

Maura still didn't understand the vernacular.

"They are going to try and get you into bed, Maur. To flirt with you, try and touch you. I'd say woo you but they ain't the type."

"Do you think I am interested in sleeping with anyone else?"

"Well, no."

"Do you think that someone other than you is a good suitor for me?"

"Fuck no!"

"Jane! Language!"

"Sorry Maur. I just think maybe we should wait. It's no one else's business but ours."

"Ok Jane, I understand."

"So what time are we expected tonight?"

"19:30 for 20:00."

"Well its only 14:00 now and I'm sure you don't take hours getting ready as you look beautiful all of the time."

Maura blushed at the compliment and noticed the look in Jane's eye. The woman truly was insatiable. Maura felt her nipples harden.

Jane stalked around the bedroom, noticing Maura's obvious arousal.

"How about one for the road?"

Jane leapt on Maura, grabbing her in her strong arms, throwing them to the bed. Maura squealed, a mixture of delight and fear. Jane pinned her to the bed, drawing Maura's arms above her head, holding them there with one hand. Her other hand travelled to between Maura's legs, not asking to be invited in, but invading what she now saw as hers.

"Oh Jane please, I can't. Not again, I can't, I'm too sensitive. Please."

"Sh baby, it's ok. You can and you will."

Jane's tone was both reassuring and authoritative. She kissed Maura as she quickly built up her rhythm, knowing how and where to touch Maura. She could sense it would be a quick release and sure enough the honey-blonde cried out into her mouth, Jane hungrily capturing the sound in her mouth, feeling the vibrations resonate within her.

Jane grinned at Maura. "See, now that didn't take long, did it baby? At this rate you could fit in at least another 30!"

Jane wiggled her eyebrows.

"No Jane. Honestly, no more. Just hold me, a nap would be good."

Jane chuckled. She was tired and holding Maura was never a chore. Jane kissed Maura's hair.

"A nap sounds perfect. What time do you need to start getting ready?"

"Six."

"Perfect. Ok. Well I have two provisos. One, we sleep naked and two, I'll set the alarm."

Maura couldn't deny either of those things. She loved the feel of Jane's naked body pressed next to her, Jane holding her in an embrace.

As Maura undressed, Jane set the alarm for 17:00. She fully intended to make love to Maura before they left for the meal. She too stripped off her clothes and climbed into the bed, drawing the smaller woman to her, wrapping her arms around her. Jane kissed Maura's neck.

"Enjoy your nap baby."

Maura pushed back into the embrace.

"You too."

The women slept deeply. Jane had woken a few minutes before the alarm and had switched it off; she had a much better method of waking the Doctor.

Jane rubbed her hand the length of Maura's body, savouring the touch of her skin. God she felt good. She felt Maura stir underneath her. She placed a tender kiss on her shoulder continuing to stroke the length of Maura's naked form.

Jane moved to capture Maura's ear, having found out over the last few days the reaction lavishing any type of attention on Maura's ears caused. Jane whispered softly into Maura's ear.

"Baby. Maura. It's time to wake up sweetie."

Maura started to respond to Jane's attention, again feeling her arousal surge throughout her body.

"Jane, what are you doing?"

"I'm waking you up, Maura. You need to wake up; we have to go out for dinner with the crew. I'm just giving you a nice wake up call."

Maura shivered at Jane's words; the combination of the timbre of Jane's voice and the words having been whispered directly into her ear having added to her already raging arousal.

Jane felt the shift in Maura and turned her onto her back, kissing her neck and breasts, savouring the effect she had on Maura. She moved down Maura's body, surprised by Maura's hands on her elbows pulling her up.

"No."

"No? What's wrong? Don't you want me to?"

"I do, but I want us to try something together."

Jane looked confused.

"Soixante-neuf."

Jane grinned "glad to see that time in France taught you some useful phrases."

Jane moved her position; she couldn't deny Maura anything.

"Are you sure this is ok?"

"Yes Jane, very!"

Both women set a similar pace and revelled in the sensations they were feeling and the audible validation that they were pleasuring the other. They went over the precipice together, matched in the ferocity of their release and the sharing of the experience. Jane moved to hold Maura.

"It hasn't been long Maura, but I think I'm falling for you."

"I feel the same way. It's scary and it's new but I like it. I'm in."

"Good. Now we need to get a wriggle on, sweetie, we're going to be late."

Jane rolled over out of the way of the pillow being thrown at her.

The women showered and got ready for their evening out. Jane wore a pant suit with a white blouse while Maura went for a dress that clung to all of hers curves. Jane was ready way before Maura and was whining, watching TV while she waited.

"Maura! Come on honey, I'm bored. Are you going to be any? Wow!"

Jane's eyes rested on Maura. She looked incredible. The woman was so beautiful.

"You look amazing, Maura. Shall we?"

Jane offered Maura her arm. She knew what she said, but she didn't care. She would be proud for people to know that Maura was hers.

They were the last to arrive at the restaurant. Grant bounded over to greet them.

"Jane. Maura. How are you both? How are the hands Rizzoli?"

"They're good, Sir. Healing really well"

"Good. Listen, I got everyone here because tomorrow's going to be pretty hard on everyone and I want everyone in at the end of the week for a briefing on the mission. I know I've moved the dates, but you're flying out on Monday."

"Understood. This should be good for the morale of the crew."

"Exactly Jane. Please, sit down."

Grant cleared his throat as a glass of wine was thrust into Maura and Jane's hands.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming here tonight, it means a great deal. The last few weeks have been tough; we've lost two good people, nearly three. I wanted you to have some fun before you go. Tomorrow we say goodbye to two friends and at the end of the week I intend to take you through the details of the mission.

For those you who haven't met her before, this Doctor Maura Isles. Her expertise are essential to this mission. Look around you; you are a team. Look out each other; they might save your life one day. That's a bit heavy for tonight, so eat, drink, laugh and have fun.

If you will all raise your glasses. To the crew of the Bass and a successful mission and to Reid and Cartwright, may they rest in peace."

A chorus of here here rang out through the restaurant. They were a team and in this together, whatever was in store for them. They were showing their respect for their fallen colleagues, letting off some steam and preparing for the next mission.

As they settled down to enjoy their meal as friends and colleagues, Jane had a nagging feeling about the mission. She didn't know what it was, but she had the feeling that this mission would change all of them. She just hoped it was a mission from which they would all return.