"Jane sat worrying the label on her cold beer. She remembered being told peeling the label off was a sign of sexual frustration. But never put much store by that. Tonight her mind sat musing on whether it felt worse to have feelings for someone who wasn't interested, or to meet an astonishing woman, who said she might be interested, but not be able to do anything about it. And was it just that she, Jane, was forbidden that lead to Maura appearing to have an interest? Or was Maura looking for a bit of a dalliance to the rough side? Jane smiled wryly at her condensation covered beer bottle. Professional qualifications might mean she moved in slightly different circles now, and had more money than her family had had as she grew up, but when it came to mingling with people in the circles Maura moved in, she would always be a plumber's daughter. She looked at the beer, and thought better of it. She needed to get off the couch. Time for a run? Or time for a shower? Maybe cold shower, though having had a few of those in the last week, she still couldn't really see how they made much of a difference.

...
"Dr Rizzoli"
"Jane, it's Maura"
"Maura, how are you?"
"Generally good, Jane, and this afternoon, particularly good. I just got word from BPD that they have arrested Matthew Svensson in relation to the murder of Andrew Svensson"
"Oh wow, so Nathaniel is in the clear"
"well there are some formalities and technicalities to go through yet. They are dropping the charges against him. Then we need to get the order to place him at the correctional facility removed. Then get Child welfare to find somewhere else for him to live. Due to the early arrest, all the things that normally should have been in place aren't. But yes, it looks promising he will soon be released. I was phoning to ask if you have any professional advice on how to deliver the news to him? Or if you thought it appropriate, you could accompany me to let him know. You know, have expert medical advice on site, just in case it is needed".
Jane couldn't decide if Maura was joking.
"I guess the key advice, Maura, is don't promise anything you can't deliver on. If you aren't certain the charges will be dropped, don't say they will. If you don't have a time-frame for release, just be honest. I am trying to think how he might respond to the news. I don't think he really knows what happened himself. I think keep things matter of fact. Explain clearly to supportive staff at the facility what the situation is, so he can re-check facts with them later as he has time to process. And Maura, well done. You could have left this as an apparently straightforward case. You need to be less harsh on your instincts. They seem quite good to me"
"So Jane, would you like to come with me?"
"I think this is your news Maura, you give it"
"How about a celebratory dinner after? I promise I will remain entirely professional until we both have our professional duties discharged. I just want to share this with someone"

….
Jane watched Maura walk up to the small bistro Maura had given her directions to. In the half-light she figured she could sneak a few glances up and down the lawyer, who was wearing a wrap dress that draped across her figure. As she got closer, Jane could see it was a deep teal colour. Jane wondered how it could be considered decent, but then realised there was little skin showing, and the dress alluded to what was underneath….maybe it was more Jane's brain having difficulty remaining decent.
Jane agreed to a glass of "what you're having" to toast the new arrest with, but otherwise thought it best to steer clear of alcohol for the evening. She focussed on enjoying dinner, and finding out more about Maura's family travels. When Maura asked about her family holidays, she was upfront about the fact she had not travelled out of Massachusetts prior to graduating. Maura graciously commented on how wonderful it must be to have so much extended family within the state, and asked more about her Mother, Father and siblings. They got back to the topic of Maura's family
Jane smiled proudly at Maura "so who will you call tonight?"
"Tonight? Why would I call someone tonight?"
"I guess I was just thinking that you have just saved a teenager from years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. I am sure your family will be so proud"
"I don't think my parents will see it as any more that competently doing my job Jane, why would I inconvenience them with a call?"
"Really Maura? Really? Because I think 9 out of 10 defense attorneys would have plead that kid out, if that is the correct term. Just tried to get the kid the best they could and walked off. You chased what you thought was right. Because of you, Nathaniel has a chance at life. For sure, it will be difficult. His parents murdered. The family business probably destroyed. But a free man. And I think the scary bit for me is, that beyond serving the time, without the Uncle ending up confessing, Nathaniel was so traumatized, I don't think he knew whether he did it or not. Innocent, he could have lived his life thinking he was at fault. I have no idea whether it is worse to be falsely imprisoned and know that, or falsely believe you did something awful you didn't. Anyway, you saved him from both those possibilities. So, I raise a toast to you, Maura"
They chinked glasses, and Maura gazed at Jane with a look that started at adoration, and was quickly turning to something else much more intense, before Jane averted her eyes and loudly cleared her throat.
"early clinic tomorrow. I'd best be off. But Maura, I am proud of you, and I think you're amazing"
"Thank you Jane for coming out with me. And all your help. Prior to you agreeing to get involved, I could sense things were wrong but not find a way forward"
They smiled warmly at each other, before Jane grasped Maura's hands, squeezed them, and said
"please, keep me updated" before walking away.

…

"Jane, Jane, great news, all charges dropped"
"Morning Maura. So it all went smoothly then?"
"Yes, Nathaniel now has no charges against him. Although, he is staying at the facility for a day or two more, whilst they confirm somewhere for him to go. Child protection have found an adult cousin who sounds willing to be checked out to have him go to live with them. Can you imagine, his own Uncle made use of his Father's argument with him to frame him for murder, just for money? Anyway, the Judge was so impressed with my advocacy that she asked me to stay on to act for him in the coming months to assure his interests".
"well done, that's great Maura. So a couple of months then" Jane finished, being unable to keep the dejected note from her voice.
"oh Jane, well I told the judge I was flattered, and would remain most interested in Nathaniel's progress, but that I was expecting a number of time commitments in the coming months, and so I would have little capacity to pick up anything beyond my assigned public defense cases. Fortunately it was close enough to true, I don't think I conspicuously gave myself away"
"Gave yourself away? You're not trying to tell me you're not a good liar are you?"
"I am a terrible liar Jane, once I start, I break out in hives and…"
Jane laughed heartily down the phone
"Right, so you're Jim Carrey. The lawyer who can't lie"
"Jim who?"
"Oh, never mind Maura"
"I presume this is some pop culture reference to the dishonesty of lawyers. It makes me sad that the public hold us in such low esteem, when most people enter the legal profession with a passion for justice and integrity and honesty"
"and Maura, you embody that, and I salute you for it. But cutting to the chase, you're no longer Nathaniel's lawyer"
"ah, no Jane"
"so, you are on the look out for, ahem, time commitments?"
"yes Jane"
"can I pick you up, Friday evening?"
"please do"
….

"Jane sat looking at her dinner. She desperately wanted to enjoy being here, in this moment, eating a delicious dinner with the most appealing woman she had ever spoken to, actually on a date with that woman. A woman who had literally made her jaw drop when she answered the door when Jane went to collect her. She was in a low cut, beautifully cut Navy dress that accentuated her chest, and swept around her midriff before showcasing her hips. It stopped just above her knee, so Jane could see gorgeous calves above perfectly matched navy heels. She continued to wonder whether it was even real she could sitting opposite this kind of woman. Trying to keep focused on the conversation whislt wondering if this was a dream was hard enough, but then her mind kept running to wondering what next? How should she finish the date? Did Maura have a real long term interest in her, or was she just a curiosity to Maura or….she had not been this nervous since her first date as a fifteen year old. well maybe she was similarly nervous when she first went on a date with a woman at 19, excited about the possibilities, nervous about how people might respond. Maybe because back then, it seemed like it mattered. Getting it right. And tonight, it really seemed like it mattered, for maybe the first time in her grown-up life. Really mattered.

Jane drove up to Maura's house, parked. Politely opened the car door, nipped around, opened Maura's and escorted her to her front doorstep. She leaned down and kissed Maura politely on the cheek, and murmured "I've had a lovely time, thank you".
Maura looked up. "Kiss me please Jane"
"I, uh, just did"
"no Jane. KISS me please. We've been waiting for weeks"
"Jane leant in again, this time touching her lips to Maura's. She opened her mouth a little and felt Maura's tongue pressing in. Jane couldn't think. This gorgeous woman was kissing her back. She enjoyed it for a moment before pulling away, smiling.
"Thank you Maura, can I call you tomorrow?"
"Take me inside Jane"
"No, I don't think I should take you inside tonight. I have had a lovely time, thank you"
"Jane please, come inside"
"Jane stood, unable to process her thoughts. Maura tried again
"Please Jane, take me inside. I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, but please, let's go inside"
Jane's voice was deep and almost hoarse when she tried to speak
"Maura, it isn't you, I just…you're gorgeous, I don't trust myself to come inside tonight, please"
"Jane. I get it. I want you to come inside. I want you to want me. I want you to make good on the way you've been looking at me for weeks. Don't blush Jane, it feels wonderful to see someone look at me like that"
"I just, I just don't want you to think I just see you as a gorgeous woman. I mean you are, but you are much more than that Maura", Jane husked
"I know Jane. I don't mind you looking at me like that. I have no doubt you find me attractive, which is a lovely feeling. But it is different to how some men, and the occasional woman just ogle me. I can tell it isn't just about my physical attributes, when you smile at me when I interpret things a little rigidly, or launch in to a mini-lecture on the feeding habits of tortoises. Please, you don't need to worry about being gentlemanly around me. We've done professional. We've done restrained, and I might say I am flattered that you have clearly had to work so hard to keep yourself to yourself. But please, right now I just want you to come inside"

A/N Okay. And now I am stuck. I can't decide what Jane would do if she goes inside. I think the show implies Maura knows what she wants and feels comfortable getting it when the moment is right? But Jane - we just see the odd morning after shot...does she take charge? thoughts?