Jane looked at her watch.

"Maura, it is nearly midnight. I've got to go". She stood up, bemused at how quickly the evening had passed. She really didn't want to go, she could sit here all evening chatting to this woman about turtles, or was it tortoises; regardless, despite never having spared them a thought before, if it was what Maura wanted to talk about, Jane would listen. But she needed to get some sleep before work tomorrow. She impulsively leaned over and pecked Maura on the lips, before quickly pulling back, and apologising "Maura, I am not sure what came over me. I'm sorry. I'll keep in touch about the case".

Fortunately the weather had cleared from the earlier ran. Jane walked quickly back to her car. She soon found herself home, having not noticed much of the journey, alternating between reliving the warm feeling of sitting chatting comfortably with Maura, who was not only gorgeous, but lovely, and mentally berating herself for impulsively pecking her on the lips. She wondered if Maura might put it down to being an "Italian thing" but presumed her own previous assertions she was far from touchy feely, might count against that. But oh, those lips. How she wished she could touch them again. So soft…so. No Jane! No thinking that way. Work colleague. Work colleague who is way outta your league. Work colleague who is probably going to be unbearably awkward around you from now, due to your idiocy.

…

"Maura Isles"

"Hi Maura, Jane Rizzoli here."

"jane". Jane was convinced she heard real enthusiasm for her call, but then her mind set to reminding her Maura was immensely polite.

"yeah. I have some thoughts about Nathaniel for you. Well more feelings I guess. I am still unconvinced this is his crime. He says his Uncle was well aware of the argument as he heard his father on the phone ranting about it. It is a bit of a longshot, but my brother is a detective with BPD and if I can convince my brother to do a bit of background digging on Michael's brother, is that okay with you?"

"Jane, that would be great. Do you think he would?"

"Depends on how busy he is I guess, and whose case it is. I haven't asked him about it"

"How are you Jane?"

"Good, good. how are you?"

"Good Jane. I really enjoyed spending time with you last week. It was a nice evening"

"ah, me too Maura. Very much"

"I would say yes if you asked Jane"

"say yes to what?"

"I would say yes if you asked me on a date Jane"

"ah goodness Maura, I…oh look, I have to go, my next patient has arrived and is waiting"

Jane frantically rang off then face palmed herself. Smooth Rizzoli. Smooth as. Not. Once she calmed down from her horror at her response, and her heart stopped racing quite so quickly, she felt a warm feeling run through her body, the thought maybe she likes me a bit too, maybe there is a chance here running through her brain. But she tried to pack any more consideration of that away for the rest of the afternoon as she finished her clinic.

…

Frankie looked up from his burger "okay janie, what do you want from me? No such thing as a free beer and burger from you."

Jane outlined the situation with Nathaniel to him quickly.

"so Jane, you want me to dig around on a case that isn't mine, based on some weird hunch of yours?"

"ah, yeah, if you could. Not disrupting the case, just background checking the uncle and stuff. Just making sure there isn't someone else with a motive"

"It's not that easy Jane. We can't just use police resources to stick our noses in wherever we want, and it isn't my case. This would be like you going and fossicking through your colleagues case files."

"I get it Frankie. Sorry. Let's let it go eh?"

"look, Jane. I'm not saying no. I will see what I can do. Just don't get your hopes up eh?"

"thanks little brother"

"yeah, less of the little eh?. So anyway, how are things with you? Did you go on that date Ma was trying to set you up for?"

Jane stared at him "have you ever had a good date Ma arranged?"

"well no, but sometimes it is just easier to sit through it, rather than have her keep on and on about it"

"yeah, look I'm just not keen to date right now"

"ooh, Janie has her eye on someone" Frankie smirked

Jane blushed "no"

"yeah right. So you're not interested in dating, and you blush…..doesn't take a detectives badge to see something is going on. So do I know her?"

"Frankie!"

"Okay. I'll leave it. So, any luck getting tickets for that game?"

….

"Hi Maura, Jane Rizzoli here"

"Jane, how lovely to hear from you"

"yeah, look, my brother Frankie has some interesting news. He had a chat to the lead detective on Nathaniel's case. A guy called Korsak who I know he respects a lot, because he has talked about him before. Anyway, Korsak said he quite liked Nathaniel, and felt sorry for the kid. And he was keen to have a bit more of a look around at the case at the time, but they had several murders come in that week, and given Nathaniel seemed to have all but confessed to this one, he got told to close it out. But this week has been quiet, so Korsak agreed to have a look around. Turns out the brother, Matthew, is in a lot of financial trouble. And he had approached Michael to liquidate some of the business assets, but Michael refused. There is enough there, they are going to bring the guy in for some questioning. Might not come to anything, but worth a shot."

"oh Jane, that's wonderful news"

"yeah, well, don't get too excited yet. And I think we shouldn't say anything to Nathaniel, unless we get something more solid. But I'll let you know if it comes to anything"

"Jane, thank you. And I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable in our last phone call. I struggle with reading social cues and I mistakenly got the impression you were attracted to me and were just a bit unsure how to ask. I am very sorry. I hope we can remain colleagues, and maybe friends"

"I think you're a bit hard on yourself Maura. You are a very attractive woman. I am flattered you would be willing to be asked out on a date by me. But I don't think it would be a good idea"

"Yes. I'm sure you're right. I'm sorry"

"I hadn't finished. I mean professionally not a good idea. I was thinking about Nathaniel. I presume when this goes to court, if you need to call me as a witness, my credibility might be reduced if I have been on a date with the defense lawyer. Personally it may be a bad idea, as I have a terrible track record of dating, but if you're brave enough, I would love to ask you once this case is sorted"

"You're right Jane. I can't imagine what I was thinking. Professional obligations must come first. Can I have a brief moment of being unprofessional? I had a lovely time the other night. And from now, professional persona activated"

Jane laughed heartily. Gosh this woman was just adorable. And beautiful. And sounded interested in her. Please let this case be wrapped up quickly, before Maura had second thoughts.

….

"Oh wow Frankie, that's great news"

"Yeah, well we'll see how this works out. Still a way to go to get a confession, or some solid evidence, but it looks quite possible that Matthew Svensson murdered his brother to get control of the family business to be able to sort his debts. Leaving his nephew to take the fall."

"That's great Frankie, I can't wait to tell Maura"

"Maura? Who's Maura, Jane?"

"Ah, Nathaniel's defense attorney"

"First name basis are we? Oh my goodness. Jane, tell me I haven't just busted my balls trying to get this case re-opened because you want to get the defense lawyer in to bed?"

"FRANKIE!"

"so you don't want to sleep with Maura?"

"Frankie please! Don't talk about her like that"

"whoah Jane, sorry. You're pretty serious about her, aren't you?"

"ahh, well, I dunno Frankie"

"does Ma know?"

"there isn't anything to know Frankie. We've not even been on a date. We can't even go on a date, until this case is wrapped up. I don't want to jeopardise some teenagers whole future by compromising myself as a witness"

"Tough. Whaddya reckon your chances are with her Janey?"

"well so long as she doesn't have enough time to reconsider, she has told me she would say "yes""

"way to go. So if you do get to a couple of dates, after all I've done, I get to meet her before Ma, yeah?"

"I hope so Frankie. I hope we get beyond a couple of dates. Thanks bro, I owe you one"

"Jane you owe me more than one…but you'll keep"