A/N: Hey guys! I'm so sorry it took so long to update this. I've had some serious writer's block lately, and you wouldn't believe how crazy college has been... I hope you stick around and give this story a chance! This chapter's a little shorter than the last, but I hope you still love it. Reviews/comments are always welcome! *A friend just found a spelling error in here, so I'm updating this. Oops :( *

Frost and Korsak exchanged nervous glances as Maura searched Jane's face to figure out how her friend was really feeling at this news. For a split second, Maura thought she saw a look of pain and fear, but that was quickly replaced by a determined look. "We'd better get back to BPD," Jane stated, "We've got work to do, guys." The others nodded in agreement. "I'll call Frankie, give him a heads up that we're coming in," Frost said. Jane and Maura trudged back to Maura's car in silence.

"Hey, let's stop for some coffee on the way back, shall we?" Maura asked Jane as they settled into the car. Maura was driving now. Jane hadn't even attempted to drive this time, and had gone straight toward the passenger door. Jane was lost in her own world of thoughts, swirling around her head, clanking into each other. Her body was on auto-pilot when her friend's voice snapped her out of it.
"Huh?" Jane asked, not sure what Maura had said. Maybe she had asked her a question, Jane didn't know.

"I asked if you would like to stop for some coffee on our way back."

Jane could see the worry so plainly written on Maura's face.

"Yeah, coffee would be great, Maur," Jane replied, allowing a smile to form on her face. She reached over, took Maura's hand, and held it in her own. "Thank you," Jane said. Maura looked over at Jane, and decided that Jane's smile wasn't completely forced. At least, not as much as she thought it might have been. Her stomach gave a little flutter when Jane held her hand, and Maura felt a smile break out on her own face.

They drove the rest of the way to the coffee shop in a comfortable silence. Jane had planned on letting go of Maura's hand relatively soon after she first grabbed it, but realized it might be the only thing that was currently keeping her rooted in reality. While they drove along, Jane realized that Maura definitely had become an anchor in her life, and Jane was grateful for that fact. She was starting to realized that maybe Maura meant more to her than she had thought. Some of her thoughts about her best friend were certainly more than "friendly," she couldn't deny that, and those thoughts had been increasing as of late. But Maura couldn't feel the same way she did, could she? Maura couldn't lie, so how could she keep a secret like that so well for so long? Jane looked over at the beautiful woman next to her. She decided Maura looked happy, but she also appeared to be in thought. "What is going through that wonderful mind of yours, Maura Isles?" Jane wondered to herself.

Not that Jane could have known, but Maura's thought were along the same line as hers. The butterflies in Maura's stomach had still not subsided. She had experienced these feelings before, times when Jane's fingers brushed against hers while they were working, when she and Jane had hugged. Really, any physical contact, or sometimes even the right look, from Jane could set her stomach fluttering. Although she had never really had a best friend before, Maura knew enough to realize that these things weren't just feelings caused by simple friendship. No, something else was going on here. Maura had fallen for her best friend, that much she knew. But she was afraid. Afraid that Jane didn't, wouldn't, or couldn't feel the same way, and afraid that she wouldn't be able to keep it from Jane much longer. Maura couldn't lie, and especially not about something as big as this. She looked over at Jane as they parked at the coffee shop, and her eyes met Jane's. For a moment, they both stayed there, looking into each other's eyes and smiling at the other. It felt like they were the only people in the world, and everyone else just fell away. In this moment, it was just them, and time was frozen. Jane's glanced down at Maura's lips before she could consciously think to do so. Panicking, she cleared her throat. "How about we get that coffee?" Jane's voice was a little higher than normal, and as she heard herself, her face started to flush.
"Yes, the coffee," Maura started quickly, noticing Jane's embarrassment. They both exited the car and made their way inside.

They waited in line, side by side, the easy silence falling over them again. Maura was watching Jane, trying to gauge her friend's emotions. Maura had always been able to read Jane well. Now, it seemed, Jane was trying to keep the worry off of her face, but sometimes she would slip up and it would show. Jane turned to Maura, "What you gonna stare at me all day?" Jane teased, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"You caught me, Jane," Maura responded, "I just can't get enough of your beautiful face!" Maura's tone was light and playful, so Jane laughed along with her. She also thought the doctor's words might have some truth to them. Jane didn't know it yet, but she was right.