Chapter 7

It had been a long day. Mr Kahlid the father of the dead young girl had given them nothing. He was smart but he didn't like being questioned by a woman, certainly not a woman like Jane. Jane had hoped that that, that she might frustrate him enough for something to slip, give something away but he stuck to his story. Jane had spent hours going over and over that day with him but they still had nothing, they had to let him go.

So now Jane was tired, stumped and really not in the mood for her bachelorette party. At least she knew what was coming; the usual routine for this kind of occasion was drinks starting at the Dirty Robber, a couple more nearby bars and a strip joint, which was normally Jane's cue to leave.

Jane had changed into some jeans and a fresh black sweatshirt before heading over to the Robber, if she was going to be subjected to this rigmarole she wanted to at least feel comfortable. It crossed Jane's mind that Maura would not approve of her casual attire and for a moment Jane wondered what stunning ensemble her friend would pick out. What is appropriate attire for your best friend's bachelorette party when you are trying not to end up sleeping together despite a string of hot as hell encounters? Jane was confident that when it came to fashion, Maura would know even this.

As Jane reached the bar she could hear the unfamiliar sound of the deep pounding bass of music vibrating through the walls and spilling out into the street and realised that a live band must be playing tonight.

As Jane opened the door she recognised the song "Islands in the stream" Dolly and Kenny, it occurred to Jane that this was a little cheesy, even for the robber, but she didn't think much of it as she headed straight for the bar, barely registering the scene on the makeshift stage where the band were set up.

It wasn't until Jane had the beer in her hands and the bottle almost to her mouth, that she took in the sight at the far corner of the bar and let the beer hang in mid air as did her jaw. Jane was so transfixed that she didn't notice the anyone approaching her until she flinched as she felt the hand on her shoulder.

"Hey sis!" Frankie chirped up happily.

Jane continued to stare, dumbstruck as the song played on. As the duo on stage hit the chorus and the Dolly wannabe shook her chest at her Kenny, Jane squeezed her eyes shut and slammed the untouched beer down onto the bar.

"Frankie please, please tell me that I did not just witness our mother shaking all that God gave her at Korsak. On stage. In here. Just now." Jane opened one eye hoping to find she had imagined the whole hideous thing. No such luck.

Frankie laughed and as the song ended began to clap loudly. "There just warming up." He assured Jane as he put his fingers into his mouth to let out a long loud whistle.

"What the hell is this?" Jane asked taking a long suck from her beer.

"Your party!" Frankie spread his arms out looking excited. "We got a band and they do like half their own stuff and then half the time karaoke! You can get up and if they can play it, you can sing it!" He nodded as he spoke, clearly very happy with himself.

Frankie saw the cringe on Jane's face and reigned in his enthusiasm slightly. " You will love it when it gets going and Ma promises to leave by nine thirty so she won't be cramping your style."

Jane's eyebrows rose as she nodded at him sarcastically. "Oh no, wouldn't wanna cramp my Karaoke style!" she rolled her eyes.

Frankie put his arm around Jane's shoulders and steered her toward a large shabby looking group loitering at the end of the bar and directed toward the stage.

Jane caught sight of Maura before she reached the group and as if Maura sensed Jane watching her, the Doctor turned to lock eyes with her friend. Maura looked stunning as always, dressed in a simple dark green fitted dress and Jane thought that though Maura stood out as lovely amongst this assortment of suited and slightly worn men, that even in a crowd of the most beautiful women the world had to offer, Maura would be the one to catch her eye. There was something so welcoming, sincere and warm about her which was unusual for such a strong, independent and accomplished woman.

Jane held Maura's gaze until she was distracted by the sight of Frost who had gotten up on stage and was now strutting his stuff to a Stevie Wonder song. The group cheered when Jane finally reached them and Frost took this for encouragement and started to wiggle his butt in their direction.

"Signed, sealed, delivered, I'm yours!" Frost pointed a finger at Jane.

Jane chuckled "There is no chance in hell of me getting up there." She gestured to the stage with her beer bottle before taking a drink.

"Come on Jane, it looks like fun." Maura smiled, nudging Jane's shoulder gently with her own, careful not to spill the wine she held.

Jane smiled despite herself, looking sideways at Maura as they stood side by side facing the stage.

Frankie ducked his head between the two and spoke to Maura. "You're up next Maura!" He pulled the thumbs up sign to her and then was gone.

Jane arched a brow at Maura "You sing?"

Maura held her head up proudly. "I was in the choir at school." She said defiantly.

"Really?" Jane tried to keep her smile under control.

"Yes, well it was compulsory to be in the choir but I was told I have a very pleasant singing voice." Maura defended herself.

Frost finished his song with a flourish and signalled to Maura who turned and held her wine glass out to Jane before stepping towards Frost and taking his hand to be pulled up on the stage.

Maura straightened up her dress, pulling it down a little before taking the microphone from Frost and approaching the middle of the stage looking a little less confident than she had only a moment ago. Maura seemed a little startled when the drum roll began behind her and almost missed the first line of the song.

"Never know how much I love you," Maura sang quietly as she seemed to be testing out the Mic. "Never know how much I care, when you put your arms around me, I get a fever that's so hard to bear."

Jane watched Maura gain a little confidence as the song went on and she began to click her fingers in time with the music and the sway of her hips, her voice getting stronger and yet more sultry with every line. Jane noticed the noise level in the bar had dropped considerably and looked over her shoulder briefly to see almost every eye in the place was on her friend. Jane was drawn back to Maura's performance, this was just a little too Jessica Rabbit for Jane and she started to feel a little hot and tense but could not look away, she was enjoying the show way too much.

Jane wasn't sure if it was just the intensity of the song or if Maura was really giving her the "look at what you're missing" eyes but either way it had the same affect and when Maura finished the song, fading out with "What a lovely way to burn, what a lovely way to burn." Jane hoped nobody else had noticed her blatant arousal and Homer Simpson style drooling.

Maura was helped down from the stage by no less than five gentlemen (using the term lightly) but cut her way through them to return to Jane's side and casually rescue her wine glass.

Jane grinning dumbly, dug around in the depths of her brain to try and recapture the ability to speak, which had momentarily escaped her. "Nice song." She managed.

"My mother used to sing it, she loved Peggy Lee, said she was a guilty pleasure." Maura said fondly.

Jane nodded "I know something about those." She said quietly, finishing her beer.

"I used to think the song was about infectious mononucleosis." Maura added seriously.

Jane frowned "I dread to ask."

"You know, caused by the Epstein- Barr virus, Filatov disease." Maura looked at Jane expectantly but only received an uncertain smile in response. "Known colloquially as the kissing disease."

It finally dawned on Jane. "Mono!" She repeated the lyrics to the song in her head, nodding now and chuckled. "Fever, when you kiss me." Jane continued to nod "I get it."

Maura smiled widely. "That's why we are best friends; you always get me Jane, even if it takes a minute."

Jane looked quietly at Maura a crooked smile on her face. "I'm going to the bar!" She declared and fled as she heard Frankie burst into The Police and "Every little thing she does is magic!".

A/N- Hi guys, I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, although I spent ages changing songs around and nearly had Maura getting her Joan Jett on with "I love rock and roll". Check out the next chapter for more bachelorette night shenanigans! Thanks and please review!