"I'm too exhausting to be loved

a volatile chemical

best to quarantine and cut off"

Korsak shut off his iron as his phone began to ring. Trotting into the living room in his shorts and tee shirt, he scooped up his phone.

"Korsak," He listened for a second, "Sure, Frost. I'll be there. Yeah. Ok." He clicked off with the knowing that in thirty minutes, he would be having drinks and dinner with Jane's partner. He wondered if Frost could be trusted indefinitely. He supposed that he would find out.

Across town, Jane sat with Maura over escargot and salads.

"I still can't believe you eat snails, Maura," Jane said, dipping her bread into the garlicky buttery sauce. She sopped and ate, her snails safely on Maura's plate. Jane just liked the garlic butter and bread that was served with the snails. Maura didn't mind the extra snails either. Peas, Pods.

"Jane," Maura began, butter shining on her bottom lip, "Escargot is a French staple. The first time I had escargot, I was six. Of course I would eat this. It's wonderful."

Jane smiled at her around a mouthful of bread. Swallowing, she picked up the glass of beer in front of her and took a good swallow. A small frown graced Maura's features.

"What?" Jane asked.

"Nothing," Maura answered her, "I just think that a dry Grand Cru or at least an Italian Prosecco would go so much better than a glass of lager."

Jane thought as she sipped, "Would you rather see me drink champagne?" Maura's eyes shifted to the right, "Then just tell me. You know that I leave my culinary fates up to you, Doctor."

Maura quickly summoned their waiter and Jane was treated to almost two minutes of French conversation. Glancing between Maura and the waiter, she tried to postulate what was being said. The waiter thanked Maura and spun off to retrieve whatever had been discussed as Jane continued to dip her bread into the butter sauce.

"What was that?" She asked, "I don't speak French, you know."

Maura smiled, "Jane, of course you don't speak French. If you did, we would have regular conversations in French. Imagine. We could discuss someone's shirt right in front of them with out them knowing what we were saying."

Jane had a smile of her own, "Well, yeah. I guess we could. But that doesn't sound like the morally responsible doctor that I know."

"It would be fun." Her face grew animated, "I could teach you French. It's really an easy language to learn."

"Maybe in the next life, Chief." Jane said, watching their waiter return.

Maura's eyes widened, "Do you believe that we have more than one life? Spiritual studies have shown that-"

She was interrupted by the waiter at her elbow with a chilled bottle of champagne and two flutes.

"Madam," He said, Comme vous avez demandé. Est-ce que je dois verser un verre pour l'échantillon ?"

Maura turned her smile up to him and said in English, "Yes, please. But pour two glasses. I am quite familiar with the label."

The waiter poured two glasses and once again thanked Maura before retreating.

"So," Jane said, picking up her glass, "What are we drinking tonight?"

The doctor also picked up her glass, "Henriot Cuvée des Enchanteleurs. Commonly known as Henriot Cuvée. It's vintage is 1995. One of my favorites with classic French cuisine. Dry, yet crisp and inviting with a honey mouth feel. You will be able to feel the texture of the butter on your tongue change when you sip. Perfect for a high fat meal."

She extended her glass and Jane followed her move, glasses clinking softly. The both took their first sip. "Wow," Jane said, sipping again, "That is really good. I hope you're paying tonight."

Maura's eyes sparkled, "Oh, Jane, you know that when we dine at an establishment like this, I will always accept the check. I just like to see you move out of your comfort level sometimes." She sipped again, "I haven't had this wine in years. So good."

Jane eyed her, "How much are we talking, Maura? For the wine?"

"I didn't consult the wine list, Jane" She answered, setting down her glass to resume with her escargot fork, "But I am sure it is at least $300. Any good business should revere a good wine. Would you like some of my bread?"

At the Robber, not a vegetable or anything in French in sight, Korsak and Frost wiped the remains of Buffalo sauce and bleu cheese dressing from their mouths and took tandem swigs of beer. Frost had been quiet as Korsak filled him in on what was going on.

"So what does this mean?" He asked Korsak, "Are they going to beach her?"

Korsak shook his head, "Who fucking knows. I don't know why Sean is being like this. He is the one person that could have told IA to go to hell, but he didn't. Then he dropped in my lap. I don't know why he's doing this. The killing was justified. I mean, now you know what happened the first time. I can't tell you how it affected her. How it affected me. I lost her. Just like that. I still can't get over it."

"That makes you a good partner, Korsak." Frost said, "And I know that you two are still partners. Maybe not on paper, but you are. I'm just the guy they brought in."

"Nah," Korsak answered, "You are her partner."

"Then why does she run everything by you first, man?" He chuckled, " I'm good with what's up right now."

"I think that what really gets me pissed are the tapes," Korsak said, signaling the bartender, "I gotta listen to all of the tapes that I thought were confidential. I feel like shit, man."

The bartender approached and Korsak ordered shots of Jameson with beer backs. "I'm screwed up, drinking like a fish. I'm listening to Janie how I never thought I'd have to hear her. It's been killing me. The bartender put down shots and beers.

"You better give me two more, Jake." He said, drinking down his first, then to Frost, "Here I go again. If you can be with me on this, I'm going to tell you." Frost nodded. Korsak took a slug of beer as the bartender set down two more full shot glasses.

Korsak took a deep breath and began to tell Frost everything.