Author's Note: I like to use 700-900 word interludes, if you haven't noticed. It sets things up for longer, and in this case, steamier chapters. More soon. -dkc

Chapter 8

Jane made her way from the elevator bay into the morgue and toward Maura's office. She was surprised to run into her boss, Lt. Cavanaugh, who was exiting the medical examiner's office.

"Detective Rizzoli," Cavanaugh said to her, nodding hello.

"Lieutenant," Jane responded in a questioning tone.

They passed one another without any further conversation. Jane turned to watch him walk out of the morgue and was completely confused. Cavanaugh didn't visit the morgue all that often and if he needed the M.E., he simply summoned her to his office.

"What was that about?" Jane asked as she entered Maura's office.

Maura was sitting in the horribly uncomfortable yet fashionable chair that Jane despised, staring off into space.

"Maura?" Jane tried again. "Why was Cavanaugh down here?"

"He came to thank me," was the simple response Jane received.

"Did he suddenly decide that you stabbing him with a tranquilizer was a good idea?" Jane walked around to sit on the couch across from Maura.

"Of course not, Jane," Maura finally looked at her friend and revealed the uncertainty in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Jane reached a hand out to place on Maura's knee.

"He wanted to thank me for getting Hope to testify and for saving him from himself that day with Paddy," Maura's eyes were clouded with a confusion Jane was not used to seeing there.

"You know that you didn't force Hope to do anything, right?" Jane's words touched on exactly what had Maura unsettled.

Seeing the look in Maura's eyes, unfocused and torn, Jane stood, walked toward the door, closed it and locked it. There was one set of blinds open that Jane quickly closed before walking back to Maura. Instead of returning to her place on the couch, Jane kneeled in front of Maura, directly in her line of sight.

"Hope is a big girl, she made her own decision. In fact, she got herself into the mess with Paddy and she did what any moral-minded individual should when called out for her mistake," Jane said, gripping both of Maura's hands as they rested in her lap.

"Was it my place to 'call her out' for that mistake?" Maura's eyes dropped to their hands. "Hell, Jane, I was the result of that mistake."

"Look at me," Jane released Maura's hand so she could tilt the doctor's chin up to look at her. "You are innocent in this. Do you understand me? None of this is your fault."

"Why are you so good at this?" Maura questioned.

"Mobsters? I've seen The Godfather," Jane's sarcasm was actually caught by Maura who smiled for the first time since Jane entered the office.

"You're good at relationship dynamics. You're good at understanding what makes people…" Maura paused.

"Tick?" Jane asked.

"Yes, and you understand families," a single tear escaped and Jane used her thumb to catch it on Maura's cheek.

"I'm not good at it, Maura. I've just had more experience, maybe? And I certainly don't understand relationship dynamics as my being single in my late thirties is evidence of."

"You seem to have a firm hold on the dynamics of our relationship?" Maura raised an eyebrow and reached a hand up to place over the detective's on her cheek.

"Are you kidding me? You terrify me!" Jane chuckled, humor hiding the brutal truth.

"Me? How am I terrifying?" Maura was surprised by Jane's admission.

"You're you, Maur," Jane's face was suddenly serious. "Perfect in every way, brilliant, gorgeous and successful. You're just…you."

Another tear escaped as Maura was overcome by the kindness of her best friend. This was the Jane hardly anyone else got to see—the sweet, tender side reserved for Maura. Maura leaned forward, angling her head just enough that her lips could reach Jane's. She pressed her lips to the detective's without hesitation; her hand leaving Jane's to tangle in her hair. What was tender and compassionate at first became fierce and passionate within seconds. Though their positions made for awkward mechanics, Jane used one arm to reach behind Maura, pulling the doctor closer. Their tongues contended, their hearts raced.

"Jane?" Maura panted as their lips broke contact for the first time.

"If you tell me you have an autopsy to do, it will really kill the mood," Jane deadpanned as she pulled Maura in again.

This time Maura, in slacks, spread her legs to allow for closer access to Jane. Jane's hand slipped down Maura's back where she was getting the leverage to pull Maura in, to the slope just above Maura's ass. Now both of Maura's hands tangled in Jane's hair.

"Jane…" Maura moaned as the apex of her thighs came in contact with Jane's abs.

The moan got Jane's attention as she pulled back and looked directly in the doctor's eyes. She saw a want there that she'd never seen before and she found herself wanting to sink deep into that want.

"Let's get out of here, Maur," Jane said as she kissed the tip of Maura's nose, stood up and held out a hand to help the doctor up.

"It's just after lunch, Jane," Maura was attempting to be responsible and serious, but her devious smile gave her away.

"When's the last time you left just after lunch?" Jane went to Maura's desk drawer to grab the purse she knew would be stashed there.

"I can't say I ever have," Maura reached for her jacket on the back of her desk chair.

"There's a first time for everything."

To be continued…