A/N: Hey everyone. This is a longer chapter, since I hadn't updated in a while and also because I didn't want to cut this in two. Some more of Maura in here, and, well, I think that the way things are going this qualifies as an AU, I'm not sure.

I hope you like it.

And, of course, please review :)

Love ya!

I can finally move without wincing at every step.

In all honesty, I'm uncertain if I'm happy or not that it's pretty much over with. I was staying at home for a few days - it was my single option besides doing paperwork only - and I couldn't see Maura through the day. And yet I can't complain, for she made up for it every evening. I'm not a fan of being nursed and ran after and taken care of as if I'm made of glass. It makes me feel incompetent. Weak. But what Maura was doing fell in a completely different category. Sometimes she was simply sitting at my table doing work on her laptop. Her presence kept me up and lively. Sometimes we were watching movies. The vibrations of her laughter reached every cell in my body, and urged the injury to heal. Sometimes we just sat there and talked, about nothing and everything. And her words were my painkillers.

Now I'm waiting for her to pick me up so we can take a short walk, some form of an exercise for me after long passive days. I find it's more comfortable to move in my sneakers than barefoot or just in socks, as I only did since I got hurt. I don't understand why, but I'm sure Maura can tell me. Later, she does. It has to do with weight distribution and pressure. I don't remember well because I don't focus on the content. I focus on the melody of her voice as it eliminates the last remnants of pain. Half an hour in the walk I realize it's all gone. And I feel great.

Regardless of how adamantly I claim I am fine, at the end she insists she walks me back up the stairs to my place. Don't take me wrong, I want her there. But I hate watching her leave.

I use a curtsey to dramatically demonstrate I was capable of reaching my place on my own. She gives me that smile where she tightens her lips which is Maura's substitute for rolling eyes.

"Okay, try not to do any... stunts!" she tells me, still smiling.

"I'll be fine."

"Well, see you tomorrow then." I watch how her hair glides as she turns.

"Stay." I say before I can stop myself. I wonder how desperate it sounded.

She faces me again. "I'd like to, but I have some work to catch up on." Cause I was taking all of her time lately. "And you're feeling fine, right?"

"I could still slip and fall in the shower." I mean it as a joke. I smirk, but she doesn't find it funny. She tilts her head to me, and I don't know if it's an apology or honest regret or a sign of compassion or sympathy or else. My cheeks drop on their own and I try to get them up again. "Yeah, you're right, I shouldn't keep you."

"Jane, you know I'd stay if I could do it here, but I don't even have my laptop with me and-"

"You could use mine." There's that thing again, where my brain loses control of my muscles. Did that doctor totally screw my motor control up or something?

She does the head-tilt again. I've gone too far.

"I'm sorry, I know your notes aren't even here." I try to laugh it out. "Go. Really, go. I'll see you tomorrow." I do my most convincing it's okay smile. "I do actually need to take a shower and all that."

A couple of minutes later I'm standing in front of the mirror in my bathroom, about to begin the routine. I need to work out but I fear it will be pushing my luck. A quiet voice in my head informs me that if I get hurt again, I could use her healing some more. But a louder voice frowns at the word "use".

So I don't.

Strip. Enter. Shampoo. Wash. Rinse. Gel. Scrub. Rinse.

The water soothes me. Her scent even more. But my body is not fully at rest until her name escapes my lips again in a silent moan. I lean my back on the tiles. Such an enchanting rush, but always followed by a hollow feeling in my chest.

I walk out of my bedroom in shorts and a bra and she walks in the same room with a purse, two folders and a laptop bag.

My look is doubtlessly projecting questions since she can't wait but explain.

"I can work here... now." It sounds like it should be followed by a question mark. Huh, as if she'll ever be unwelcome here!

"Okay." I grin like an idiot. "Italian or Chinese?"

"Surprise me."

"Jane, do you have my reports on that last case we closed?"

"I thought you emailed them to me." I call from my couch.

"I think so too, I just can't seem to find them amongst all the files here."

"Want me to check?" I bring my computer to the table, open my email and search around. "These here?" I point the screen towards her.

"Yes, thanks. Could you leave this for a minute?"

"Of course."

I pat her shoulder as I leave yet cannot recall what reasons I had to do that. It's become a subconscious act, stealing touches.

The fridge makes that annoying sound as I open its door, freeing its load by a beer bottle.

The second my butt rejoins the couch she speaks again and I jump as if someone set me on fire, which means, a little too hastily for her not to notice. Here's why:

"Oh, Jane you just got an email from someone named Grace."

We know each other's passwords and use each other's devices all the time. Hence, to her, history suggests no reason for me to react in such manner and practically fly back to her. But if there's the tiniest chance she even accidentally opens any of the emails between me and Grace and takes one quick glance, I could lose her. I don't want to lose her. I can't stand to lose her. I can't live if I lose her.

So, as I mentioned, it takes milliseconds for me to get back at the table, yet when I'm there I'm clueless about how to proceed. Grab the computer from her? Turn it around? Pretend it's urgent and work-related? I'll still have to explain my behavior. I don't get hives, but I still avoid lying to Maura. And even if I do, she'll see through me.

She glances up behind her shoulder where I stand, moderately surprised.

"Um, you wanna read this?"

"Uh, y- yeah. But, finish your thing first."

"I already forwarded them back to my email. It's okay."

She lifts her hand towards my laptop, suggesting I take it, but doesn't take her eyes off mine. Laser beams can't pierce as effectively as her gaze. I know she's trying to read me.

I take it and sit opposite her. A click on the bold letters opens another full "report", though much briefer than the last one. My head dives into Grace's words and I nearly forget Maura was eyeing me weirdly. I'm aware that I smirk and laugh several times. When I'm done, I notice she's not looking at her work, but covertly glancing at me.

"Go ahead." I say calmly with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" At this point she stops pretending to be working and lifts her head up to me. I try not to get lost in her eyes.

"Ask away."

She doesn't need to be told twice.

"Who's Grace?" I can't tell which one of us is a bigger failure at attempting to sound casual.

"A friend from the academy."

"Really?"

My eyebrow goes up automatically.

"Why would I lie to you?"

"No, no! I just didn't know you kept in touch with, well, anyone from the academy."

Wow. Biggest news on the planet. Jane has friends! And they are not from work. I don't want to voice my annoyance with this general attitude, especially not to Maura, so I look back at the screen.

"You never mentioned her." she tries again.

"Really?" Acting class grade - a big fat F.

I must have been very cold. I regret it. It's making things awkward.

I roll my eyes and return my attention to Maura.

"We were acquaintances for a long time, we got close right before she moved, never really got a real shot at a non-email friendship."

Maura's face brightens a little as she notes I'm in a way confiding in her. Proving that I share everything with her. Haha! Everything. As if I could.

"She didn't finish the Academy in Boston?"

"No. No, she... switched. It's been a while since I've seen her. Maybe a few years."

"Do you miss her?"

I do. I want to say it but my throat warns me my voice will break. Where did this sudden tide of emotions come from? I manage to open my mouth, but the words escape me.

"I see..." Maura whispers and drops her head back to the table.

Suddenly it's too silent in the room and I feel like the tension is suffocating me. I can feel my watch ticking. Not hear, feel. If that's even possible. I shake my head. That's your pulse, stupid!

My attention is not grabbed, but rather hauled by the strands of her hair, hanging lowly near her papers, shining bright and gold. Goldilocks. My head promptly answers to this word by compiling a film of Maura walking through a forest and entering a hut that's supposed to be plushie bears' home. Great, Rizzoli. Now use that brilliant creativity to craft a tool to clean up this awkwardness.

"I know what you mean." She starts first. "Years ago, in Europe, we started internships at the same time. I was an ME apprentice. She was in ballistics. At first I didn't like her, maybe even detested her... a little! I don't know how or why or when everything changed, but soon the time was almost up. We became inseparable, and yet still had to go our separate ways."

"Grace was one of the best friends I've had. Before you."

"Mona was the best friend I've had. Before you."

For how long have we been staring at each other, chuckling lightly?

I've lost track of time. Probably seconds. Feels like centuries.

I snap out of the spell.

"Maura and Mona," I tease. "catchy! What did they call you, M&Ms?"

Maura looks at me softly, (I almost say it's "lovingly") and accepts that I'm joking with her. She's probably done tons of research on what she says is my "coping mechanism" for serious or emotional situations. She knows I mean no harm. I love her for that.

"No. What did they call you, Gee-and-Jay? That's catchier!"

"Well, we don't have candy named after us."

Maura bursts in laughter that quickly subsides and she voices what was on my mind but felt too weird to ask.

"What do you think they call us?"

A fight from long ago comes to mind.

You know they laugh at you behind your back!

Well they call you a bitch behind yours!

"The bitch and the know-it-all? Oh my God, did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"Isles and Rizzoli! Isoli!"

"That's a couple name coining, Maura!" If only! "And why do you get to be first? No! Rizzoli and Isles. Rizz.. Rizzles!" I declare victoriously.

"Fine, fine, you win. That is catchier!"

I'm not even trying to hide how cheerful all this made me.

She laughs.

I join.

At the same time I know it's just a joke, just flirty banter, just a game.

But no matter how dead-end and desperate and gloomy the situation seems, the room is suddenly lighter, brighter, more radiant and joyous.

I can't help it.

I love her.