See Ch 1 for disclaimers…

DOUBLE POST TONIGHT – 5 & 6 (end)

A few hours later Jane was sitting in her car with her phone in hand. She winced a little when she pinched her bottom lip between her teeth as she chewed at the surface, replaying the whispered words. She rubbed her upper arm, remembering the tingle.

Did Maura mean call her tonight? Jane had spent the entire time since Maura had left trying to figure that out. Probably not by the way she was dressed. By Jane's estimation, that wasn't an outfit for a casual night out. That was an outfit designed to make an offer. It wasn't blatant but at least to her it was loud and clear.

And why use the word "plans". What did they have planned? Why not simply say they had dinner reservations or whatever like almost anybody else would do? Maura never randomly said anything. That had a particular meaning. Damn if Jane knew what it was though.

With a small groan, Jane rested her head against the back of the seat and closed her eyes. Maura possessed a unique ability to be ambiguous at the best of times, tonight she was downright maddening.

Hitting the power button on her car radio Jane cracked an eye open as the time illuminated. Half past 10. Bug Boy was probably cruising past second base at this point. Jane flipped the phone around in her hands. Finally she put it down before grasping the steering wheel and turning the key. The engine roared to life. She sat there tapping the steering wheel with her fingers before letting it go with a sigh and picking the phone back up.

Jane slid the unlock bar on her phone and the electronic glow illuminated the interior of the car and stared at the phone app. Maybe Bug Boy wasn't rounding the bases and she'd catch Maura before her night got busy. Not that it looked all that promising to her at any rate. For fuck's sake the guy was wearing a pullover sweater in a club. It would probably take him hours to work up the balls to take on Maura.

Which would also make him an idiot.

So really, she was doing Maura a favor if she called tonight. No sense in Maura wasting her time with an idiot. Nope, thinking about it, Jane was rather sure he probably hadn't worked up the nerve to even kiss Maura. What kind of long term ability did a guy like that have to keep Maura happy? She deserved more than that. So in this situation, calling would be the best thing a friend could do. No point in Maura wasting her effort on a guy that was destined to be future disappointment.

Nodding to herself, Jane hit Maura's name and listened to the phone ring until voicemail picked up. She didn't bother to leave a message as her stomach twisted thickly.

Well that answered that question.

Maybe a pullover sweater was the key to a guy getting a guided tour of Maura's bedroom. Her throat constricted and she let out a short breath.

What the fuck was wrong with her?

Jane rubbed sweaty palms on her thighs and remembered she was still in the dress. She plucked at the surface. Sooner she was out of this thing, the sooner she could put this awful night behind her. Tomorrow the entire debacle would be a story to deflect at the precinct and life would go on as usual. That made sense. Sitting in her car debating calling Maura and getting upset when she didn't answer did not.

Shifting the car into gear Jane was backing out of the parking spot when her phone buzzed with a text. Putting the car back into park she picked the phone up. She wasn't sure what to make of the words. Jane read the words again, muttering them aloud "Finishing up here. Porch light is on."

With a sigh Jane returned her head to the back of her seat. Finishing up? Finishing up with what? They had only parted a few of hours ago. Surely the guy had better technique than that. And if he didn't, she was pretty fucking positive Maura did. She shook her head. She did not want to go there. One hundred and ten present sure she didn't want to go there.

And face to face meant that Maura would want to talk about the wonderful attributes of Bug Boy and she was not in the mood for that. Guy probably kissed like a leech or something. All sucking slime with a potential for blood loss. It was gross to think about.

It also meant Maura wanted the whole sordid tale of why she was up on stage tonight and wanted to analyze Jane as she shared it. Her long night just got longer.

Jane sat up with a smile. But then again, having a discussion in person also meant one other thing.

Bug Boy was apparently not sleeping over. She had totally called that right. She was going to point out to Maura that she needed to date someone with a little more backbone. Insects didn't even have skeletons as far as she knew. Idiot probably tried to impress her with his butterfly collection or something equally stupid. Insects were hardly going to set the mood.

That thought made her pause. But this was Maura. Maura would actually probably like looking at his bug collection. Might even find it intellectually sexy or whatever beautiful mind crap she prattled on about. The only collection Jane sort of had was random sports memorabilia. And she only had that because there had to be something on her apartment walls.

It took a moment, but when Jane realized she was sitting in her car, comparing herself to Maura's latest boyfriend, she hit her forehead against the steering wheel and stayed there. Again, what in the hell was wrong with her tonight?

This night needed to be over. Yesterday. And the faster their little bonding session was over with the faster this whole night could be history.

With that blissful thought Jane put the car back into drive.