Disclaimer: Rizzoli and Isles and its wonderful characters do not belong to me.

Just a quick note to say I've read all your wonderful reviews, positive and not so positive and I must say I understand the feelings of indignation dredged up by what Maura has done. I must also say that I too cannot stand Ian. But then that's based on personal opinion and the fact that it's always going to be Rizzoli and Isles for me rather than Isles and Faulker. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.

Thank you SkyGem88 for your encouragement. I can assure you, I have not let it deter me.

To BYW - in answer to your question as to why Frost and Korsak were both at the scene of the accident, it's simply because Jane was there and they got a call that her car was involved and what with being partners and everything, they had to make sure she was ok but I probably should have made that clearer. Sorry about that. I loved you review despite the miscommunication on my part.

As for the rest - Raging Falcon, RavenSkyAngel, Palestra etc - I shall leave you with the rather cryptic message that all will eventually become clear. I'm certainly not evil enough to make Maura that heartless. (and I shall just leave it at that because you will find out what really happens in that month below).

I'm afraid I'm not a person of many words but I do thank you all for your support and for reading and following the story.

Now, on to chapter 2!

Chapter 2

Jane walked through the door of her apartment, wincing as she tossed her keys onto the kitchen counter. She felt like she'd been hit by a 2000 pound tonne truck.

Oh wait, one did.

She snickered to herself at her own joke. Her ribs burned with every step she took, every movement she made, her whole body ached and she was starting to feel a headache coming on. God, I need a beer, she thought. Sucking in a breath, she bent down quickly to grab one, gasping at the throb in her side as she let it out. Quickly and swiftly, she popped the cap off taking a quick swig as she felt the liquid course through her system, its purpose not only for the physical pain she felt but also the emotional she'd shut off from her mind.

She turned to see Jo Friday sitting in the hallway between the kitchen and the apartment door, her head cocked questioningly. Momentarily forgetting about her own pain, she stooped to pick up the small dog who whimpered slightly before casting a beseeching gaze to the door. Jane sighed. Was there anything Maura didn't have a lasting effect on? Traitor, she thought, you're supposed to be on my side. Instead she's got you wrapped round her little finger too.

"She ain't comin' girl." Hearing the words, Jo Friday thought it was the right time to turn her puppy dog eyes on her owner as if pleading for her to fix it, whatever 'it' was.

"Hell, no. You want to see her, you're on your own," she said, unceremoniously dropping the dog. There were only so many beatings a person could take before their will power to stay afloat of it all gave in. The accident was just the cherry on the top. Perhaps her mother was right. Perhaps she should be doing something safer, something which guaranteed her a longer life span, that it, if her Ma would stop winding her up so royally. She 'plopped' down as much as a person with two broken ribs and a bruised body could letting out a sigh of relief as she sank deeper into the years old couch.

Peace and quiet.

Not for long though. Of that much, she was certain. She'd give her mother 1, maybe 2 hours tops before she found out and would come over screeching and fussing, two things Jane hated most, though she had to give credit where credit was due as according to Frankie, her mother had made it her business to be present every time Ian had come round, pottering round the kitchen like she owned the place, making tea for the three of them whilst explaining the benefits of that panda poop gunk which had apparently made the Australian turn slightly green before plopping a plate of green goop in front of the man. Even Tommy had decided to join in the fun by self-inviting himself on every plan the man had tried to make with the ME which admittedly hadn't been very many. She could count on one hand or more specifically, two fingers number of times the two had 'gone out' together with Tommy reporting that the blonde looked decidedly relieved about his presence there. As he'd recanted his tales to his sister, with slight exaggeration she was sure, especially the one where he'd accidentally tripped and flicked his ice-cream cone down the man's shirt, she couldn't help noticing how Tommy wasn't that much different from the boy she'd grown up with. Nor could she fail to draw the comparison between her brother and those chaperones women used to have to take with them whenever they went out with a man so that it would preserve their 'innocence' and ensure that nothing untoward would happen between them and their suitor. She chuckled once again.

Oh, when the Rizzoli's caused trouble, they really did cause trouble.

And yet, she couldn't help but feel thankful for the closeness of her family and the way they were always there for one another; they had each others' backs. They'd been there for her when it had mattered and her split with the small blonde had showed her as much.

God, Maura...

She closed her eyes, one arm slung over as she tried to block out the pain that came every time she thought of the ME and that fucking Ian locking lips but the image came unbidden every time. The way she'd felt her world closing in on her, the sinking realisation she'd had when it occurred to her that she'd never really had her at all, that she'd just been bidding her time till something better came along. She'd always thought it had been too good to be true, always wondered what the ME saw in her. Now..she knew. The ME was like caviar to her crackers; too good for her. And then seeing them together...the other shoe had dropped and she'd realised she'd never stood a chance. Not really.

Her Ma had thrown a fit when she'd found out and she'd had to all but restrain her from going over there and confronting the woman.

The sound of footsteps hovering outside her door brought the Detective out of her daydream. She listened closely for further noise, drawing the conclusion that it wasn't her mother since she'd just have barged her way in like she usually did. But then the footsteps didn't move away. They remained outside. And it was starting to freak the brunette slightly. She got up carefully, picking up her gun before making her way over to the door. She heard a knock; once, then twice. Then came the jangling of keys as one of them slid into the lock.

The element of surprise, Jane thought. That was the best way to take em'. Cautiously, she put her hand on the doorknob and just as it turned, she flung it open, gun up, finger on the trigger. The person on the other side only saw a gun pointing at them as both their arms went up in surrender. Jane would have chuckled taking in the Doctor's stance if she hadn't been so tense.

"Christ, Maur. Really?!" She lowered her arm glowering at the ME.

"I'm sorry! But I knocked. I swear I did. Twice! And when you didn't answer, I became worried so I used my key and..." she trailed off noting her ramble and how the brunette's scowl was in full force. "I...I came to see if you were ok," she murmured meekly taking into account the Detective's rather shambled appearance.

"Well, now that you've seen me, you can go away again," she harrumphed. She made a move as if to shut the door in the ME's face but Maura was quicker, putting a hand out to block it.

"Please," she said. "I'd like to talk. I've some things I'd like to say and you to hear."

Jane crossed her arms. "I'd have thought your silence has said enough." Maura winced at the comeback but she was determined to make her wrongs right. Somehow. She took in the caked blood at the side of Jane's forehead, the way she held her arm cautiously over her ribs as if she were protecting them, as well as her heart.

"Has anyone had a look at that?" she asked, indicating to the wound on her head. The question was enough to throw Jane for the loop and for the ME to slip in past her, medical bag in hand. Jane just stood there stupefied at the woman's audacity to just waltz in uninvited.

"Well, just come on in why don't you," she muttered. She stalked over to the fridge to grab another beer given that her first one had gone warm and lost its buzz. Maura opened her bag bringing out a needle and thread, some cotton buds, antiseptic and an ace bandage. She nodded for the Detective to sit which she did, albeit somewhat reluctantly before setting to work on the injuries in question. The Detective just sat there in stony silence scowling all the way. Once she was finished, she put everything away. She couldn't put it off any longer.

"You shouldn't be drinking that," she indicated, nodding to the bottle in Jane's hand. Or maybe she could.

"Yeah, well, there's a lot of things people shouldn't do but do so anyway," she rasped.

Maura visibly swallowed at the comeback. She deserved that.

"What do you want, Maura?"

"You," came the whispered admission.

"And what if it's too late for that?"

She didn't want to think about that; didn't want to even contemplate that scenario because to do so made her heart ache. It made her feel like she was being ripped to shreds. "I made a mistake, Jane. A huge, huge mistake and I know you don't trust me right now - "

"Did you sleep with him?"

"What?"

"I asked..if you slept with him," the brunette ground out.

"No! Of course not!"

"Why not? Was it because my family were hovering around so you two didn't get an opportune moment? Or was it -"

"I didn't sleep with him because I didn't want to!" Now it was Jane's turn to be surprised.

"What?"

"I didn't want to! "

"Yeah?! Well you have a damn funny way of showing it after you practically threw yourself at him!"

"I didn't throw myself at him!" she shouted back, "That night, I was having the most gorgeous time of my life with my girlfriend when the doorbell rang and I answered it and when I did, he just swept me off my feet before I even had time to react! And before I knew it, he was kissing me..."

"And before I knew it, you were kissing him back!" She slammed the bottle on the counter so hard the glass broke spilling what was left of the liquid on the top of the counter before it ran down the side and on to the floor. The Detective was breathing heavily, her temper and emotions having gotten the best of her. She'd never been a violent person, not even after Hoyt but something about the dashing Australian whom Maura had once declared as being the love of her life got to her. It got underneath her skin and seeped within her pores, poisoning everything.

For her part, Maura couldn't recall a time when she'd seen the Detective so angry, so outraged. That had been her doing. There was no one to blame but herself.

If I could just get her to listen...

"Jane, please." She reached out a hand to the brunette who pulled back as if she'd just been burned. "Just hear me out. Please. Five minutes of your time, that's all I'm asking..."

"You didn't exactly spare five minutes to think about me did you? To think about me. To remember that you were going out with me. So tell me, Maura, why I should spare five minutes for you," she sneered.

"Because I don't love him...I love you..." The silent plea in Maura's words gave the Detective pause. She could literally hear her mother's voice next to her saying if she didn't forgive, she'd never be able to move on. And if neither of them were able to, what was left of their relationship, working anyway, would eventually crumble, meaning one of them would end up leaving, move away, and for the life of her, she couldn't contemplate never seeing Maura again. It would simply hurt too much.

"You've got two," she said, before turning and stalking into the kitchen to grab a fresh beer, leaving the ME standing there stunned. Two minutes wasn't nearly enough time for her to say everything she needed to say. How on earth was she supposed to convey her feelings and thoughts in that amount of time? she thought beginning to panic.

"One minute 50 seconds," the Detective called out, "and if you stand there any longer, you'll only end up with less." The words seemed to snap her out of her reverie and she felt herself moving towards the Detective. She took in her defensive posture, the fact that she stood at the other end of the counter, arms crossed, right leg over leg, eyes showing no emotion whatsoever. Her body language screamed for Maura to stay away and so she did, taking up post at the other end. She had no idea where to start but she figured anywhere would be good right now considering the amount of time she had. She decided to start with what she hoped would make the Detective less defensive, less angry. She took a deep breath eyes cast downwards.

"I didn't sleep with him. Nor has he stayed over. Ever. And since that night, I haven't kissed him either." She looked up. "You have to believe me on that."

Jane snorted. "I don't have to believe anything that comes out of your mouth," she retorted defiantly.

"No. No, you don't. But you know I can't lie. And I wouldn't. Not to you." The Detective refused to make eye contact with her.

"Anything else?"

I don't want to hear this. I can't. Please leave.

Yes.

Gathering what was left of her courage, she went on. "You're right. I did kiss him. But not for the reasons you think. Rather, it was for all the wrong ones. I know you don't want to hear this but I want you to know that I didn't kiss him because I was still in love with him. I just saw him and all the past feelings, the ones I never realised I hadn't let go of just came flooding out. I got caught up in the past...when my future was standing right behind me..."

She stepped closer to the Detective.

"But that's all they were. Past feelings. I think subconsciously, I knew that. I just wasn't willing to let go. Ian is..was familiar. What we had back in Africa and every other time he's come round was just sex and I wasn't ready to admit that because well..I guess it was because all my notions about what love really was would be proved to be wrong and for them to be wrong...and I know I'm probably not making sense right now but..." she started wringing her hands anxiously, "I'm never wrong! And for me to be wrong would lead me to question what we have," she said gesturing between the two of them. She searched the depths of Jane's eyes to see if she was making sense, to see if she understood what she was saying but they gave away nothing. They were just...blank. Emotionless. "But that's all they were. Past feelings."

She took another step towards her.

"I realised I'd never really made my peace with how he left the last time, that I'd never really let go. Till now. Till this visit. But at the same time, I want to say you were never just filling a void till he came back. You weren't simply there to make up for whatever lack of affection I ever received, the lack of love I had when I was growing up. I truly do love you. Differently. More intensely. But it is love. And I've spent the past few weeks examining and re-examining my feelings and all these jumbled thoughts I've had swirling around in my head, and the one thing they've always landed on without fail was...you." She was halfway cross the kitchen now. "My past, my present, my future. It's all been filled with you. And it scares me. That the one person I love so much and who used to to love me so much in return, could no longer be a part of it. And you wouldn't believe how grateful I am to your family - Angela, Tommy, Frankie, even Frost and Korsak - for butting in whenever he came round or tried to take me out because it meant I was never alone with him and I could never treat it as a date even though that was what he was doing. It was simply, three people getting to know each other. As if they were acquaintances. "

She'd made it three-quarters of the way across the room.

"I love you, Jane," came the tortured whisper. "And I'll do anything you want if at the end of it all, you can forgive me. For how badly I've betrayed you, lost your trust, and your love."

But I still love you.

"I'm not asking for us to get back together. I would however like for us to try and be friends again. Somehow. Somewhere along the line." She studied the Detective wondering whether her words had somehow penetrated through a piece of the Detective's armor. "Because even if I lost you as a partner," she gulped at the thought, fear coiling deep within, "as a lover, you are the only friend I have and I don't want to lose that. Of course, if you decide otherwise, then I'll respect your decision but I hope...I hope it won't come to that?" Jane was looking down at the floor. "Jane?" No response. Maura sighed to herself. Her head hung in defeat, her arms by her side. Tears filled her eyes.

Perhaps this was it for them.

She walked back to where her medical bag and purse had been set aside. "I'll leave you alone now. I know what I've said is a lot to take in so I'll just leave you to it," she said picking up her things. She walked over to the door turning once more to see if the Detective would send some sort of acknowledgement that she'd heard her, understood her plea, tell her she wouldn't give up on them but she was met by silence. Hand on the doorknob, she opened it. Just as she was about to close it behind her, she heard it.

"Hey, Maur?" She turned slightly in anticipation, the Detective's eyes finally locking with hers.

"Yes?"

"I'll see you at work tomorrow?"

"Ok." And as she turned to leave and shut the door behind her, she couldn't help that small flicker of hope.

Perhaps everything would be alright.

Ok that's it for the second chapter! It took me almost 3 hours to write, I kept cancelling and slotting in things so many times I lost count but it's here. :)

I've technically written a third chapter, an epilogue of sorts. But I'm not sure whether to upload it or not. I don't know. What say you, rizzle shippers?