A/N: Alright, everyone. *checks wristwatch* It's about that time. What time you ask? Rizzles. I apologize for any geographical errors I have made concerning Koh Samui.

It's hot. Really hot. But the temperature isn't the only cause of my current discomfort. It's also humid. Really, really humid. I feel like I'm walking through a wall of water as we hike through this thick jungle.

Maura woke me up this morning with breakfast and a happy smile. She said she had been doing some research on the island's geography and found a 'fascinating location' that she wanted us to visit today. Supposedly, it wasn't too far of a trek from our resort.

I was in favor of the adventure. She wouldn't give me details about our destination, which is starting to get annoying, only told me to put on my swimsuit under comfortable hiking gear.

Her own attire for the day made her look a little like an extra in an episode of The Crocodile Hunter. But, of course, she still managed to make it fashionable and sexy. I asked her when Steve Irwin would be joining us, only to receive a confused look followed by an explanation of the events leading to his death.

Some things never change. And I'm completely okay with that.

After retrieving two backpacks from our luggage and loading them with necessities, we were off.

I'm following Maura through heavily wooded terrain. My eyes are glued to our 'path' as I try my best to not trip over rocks, brush, and roots. The land becomes more and more vertical the further we hike.

I'd be annoyed by our current endeavor if Maura didn't seem so excited about where she's taking me. She's acting like a child with a first class ticket to the North Pole.

If it makes her this happy...it can't be that bad.

I'm not sure how long we've been at it, but I do know that it's long enough for sweat to stain through my shirt and my hair to stick to my forehead. Considering the conditions, that's not saying much.

My concentration is disrupted as I suddenly crash into the back of my best friend; nearly knocking her to the ground. I grab onto her elbow and steady her.

"Geeze, Maur! Put on your hazard lights next time you stall in the road! You alright?"

She laughs; more than likely at my flustered appearance than my statement.

"Listen. Can you hear it?"

I stand still and keep quiet.

Now that she mentions it, I can hear something. A faint rushing noise is coming from somewhere in the distance.

I give her a questioning look.

"We're almost there."

I try not to show my relief. It's not that I haven't enjoyed being with her; it's just really, really hot...and humid.

As we continue on our way, the noise gets louder. I'm trying to think of where I've heard that sound before.

I can see a break in the seemingly endless vegetation not too far in front of us. By now, the rushing has become a full blown roar...and it hits me.

Waterfall.

Sure enough, as soon as we clear the canopy of the trees, we come to stand at the edge of a large pool with a waterfall pouring into it.

The water looks amazing. It's crystal clear and has an emerald hue.

The fall appears over a shear face cliff. It has to be nearly twenty-five feet high. The cliff continues to one side, but the other side is a steady slope that starts at the top of the waterfall and descends to the rocky beach we are now standing on.

We both just stare for a few minutes.

"It's beautiful."

Yes. Yes it is beautiful. But...I bear witness to a much more stunning sight on a regular basis.

We open our packs and remove several items. It doesn't take very long for us to set up a kind of camp on a smooth flat rock that gently slopes down and disappears into the pool. We spread out two towels and Maura sets a few folded ones at one end as pillows, creating a place for us to comfortable lay.

But for now, apparently, she has other ideas.

"Let's swim. That journey was quite warm."

I laugh and start to voice a sarcastic remark, but then I turn to face her.

Maura is removing her hiking clothes to reveal a two piece swimsuit. The color reminds me of the green flecks in her eyes.

I'm suddenly very thankful for the heat; it's been a real pain, but at least I can blame my blush on it.

Her body is a work of art...it's wonderfully toned...yet enticingly soft...I can't help but wonder how good it...

"Aren't you coming in?"

I snap out of my musings to see Maura already waist deep in the heavenly looking liquid.

I take off my own gear and strip down to my black swimsuit. Mine is also a two piece, but the bottoms are a lot less...stringy than Maura's.

Once I'm free of my sticky, sweaty clothing I get ready to walk into the water. Maura has swum out further into the pool and I catch sight of a rock overhang that is fairly close to her current position.

I dash over to the ledge, leap off, and successfully cannon ball right next to her.

I am met with an annoyed glare as my head pops back out of the water; but my friend's voice betrays her amusement.

"Really, Jane?"

I laugh in response.

"Don't tell me you wanted to keep your hair dry or something."

She looks a little miffed.

"No! I just hadn't planned on being attacked."

I roll my eyes as I shift my gaze to where the water cascades from the cliff.

"This is pretty awesome."

She looks up too.

"I came across it in one of the island's travel guides. Locals will often come here and jump from the ledge of the cliff; the pool is more than deep enough to land in safely. It's said to be a very liberating experience."

I look at her with a doubtful expression.

"Yeah, I bet it's liberating...right up to the point where you bash your head on something and die."

She chuckles and continues to tread water beside me. She lifts a hand out of the water and points.

"See how the rock face recedes into the cliff after the edge? You wouldn't have to jump very far away from the side to be safe."

I look back up.

"...I guess so."

"Oh...and Jane?"

"Hmm?"

As I turn to look at her, I am met with a wave of water. This is truly a day to be recorded for the ages. Maura Isles has just started a splash fight with me.

After an uncertain amount of time filled with splashing, swimming, and laughing, we both head over to our camp to take a break. Once settled on our towels, Maura pulls a few food items out of her pack. We eat and then lay back to rest.

I watch the clouds drift by and my mind begins to trip over itself. I should be completely happy and content in this moment, but I'm not. I have managed to work through a lot of anger and sadness with the help of my best friend. But now, I'm left with an emotion that is just as crippling.

I am fearful. I'm afraid of going back home and facing my friends and family. I'm worried I won't be the same detective I was before my breakdown. I'm afraid of my relationship with Maura returing to it's simple friendly nature...and I know it will, because I'm terrified of pursuing something more.

The longer I stay still, the busier my mind gets. I can feel anxiety linger in the back of my mind like an apparition. I've made so much progress on this trip, but these troubles still continue to haunt me.

I suddenly feel a little sick and have to sit up. I almost call Maura's name, until I turn my head and catch sight of her.

She has fallen asleep and looks more peaceful than I have seen her in weeks.

I know that so many of her struggles have been my fault. That fact makes me feel worse. I quietly stand up and walk the few steps to the edge of the water.

I want to be better. I don't want to be afraid or sad or angry anymore. I want my life back. I want to be the person I know I am capable of being. I want this as much for the people who care about me as I do for myself.

I can't take it anymore. All this anguish...I want it to end.

I want to be freed from it.

My eyes drift to the top of the waterfall.

I want to be liberated.

My mind stops producing rational thought as I walk over to the sloped side of the waterfall and begin to climb. I have a continuous mantra repeating in my mind.

Liberate. Liberate. Liberate.

Before I know it, I'm at the top. A fallen tree allows me to cross the large stream to the cliff portion of the rock face.

A different thought manages to take shape in my mind as come to stand at the edge. That is a really long way down...

This thought scares me, and that immediately infuriates me.

I'm done being afraid.

I jump.

Time slows down as I free fall through the air.

It is a stunning sensation. I need to scream, but I can't.

Something starts to happen in the middle of my fall. I feel an invisible entity separate from my own body. It's as if I am falling faster than it and it is rising above me and floating away into the open air.

I like it.

I realize that I'm getting close to hitting the water. I point my toes and hold my body tight and straight like a toothpick.

I hit the water feet first and plunge into the depths of the pool.

At first, I am disoriented. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be doing. It's like my mind is still five feet above the surface of the water.

Time has not yet returned to its normal continuum.

I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere and I wave my limbs around and enjoy a weightlessness that has nothing to do with the liquid I am engulfed in.

This is fun...I am happy.

However, an unpleasant sensation starts to build in my chest. My lungs start to burn. I must have been down here longer than I thought.

Finally, my mind catches up to my body. I look up toward a definite source of light and begin to ascend from the depths.

I finally break the surface in an explosive torrent and gasp for air.

I can faintly hear Maura yelling my name and splashing into the water, but I am suddenly overcome with an incredible need.

I raise my face skyward and I scream.

I give full voice to all of the pain, fear, sadness, and anger that has been plaguing my body and soul for longer than I care to admit. It wasn't just the torment of the last case, but all of the cases that I have been bottling for years.

It feels good.

It feels so good; I do it again.

This time, I yell. It is triumphant and joyful and strong...and it is liberated.

I start laughing. I laugh so hard that I begin to cry.

I start to look around for Maura. I feel amazing and I want to share this moment with her.

I find her treading water several feet away, silently watching me.

She's looking at me with the most awed expression on her face. It's like she's seen an angel appear before her very eyes and she's not sure whether to be happy, or scared.

My breathing evens out and I slowly swim over to her.

I tread water right in front of my friend and it's like I'm looking at her through a new set of eyes; like a blind woman who has just caught her first glimpse of a color wheel. She is more beautiful than I have ever seen her, yet nothing about her has changed.

I have changed. I am liberated. I am free of my fears and doubts and am not afraid to show her my love.

She's still staring at me with wonder and uncertainty in her eyes.

"Maur..."

Before my fall, I would have asked if she were okay or said I was sorry. I may have inquired as to how cool I was for jumping off a cliff...but now...

"...you're beautiful."

I'm not sure why I choose to say that, but it is completely true.

She grasps my arm and begins to pull me to shallower water. When our feet can touch the bottom, she turns around to face me.

"Are you hurt?"

Her face is an unreadable mask and her voice is smooth and even.

I almost laugh because I am the farthest from hurt than I can ever remember being. Despite my efforts, a chuckle escapes me and I smile at her. I don't even try to mask the love that I have been hiding from her for years.

"No. I'm not hurt."

The change in her is violent. One moment she's seemingly calm and the next she's shoving me and yelling.

"Dammit, Jane! I was asleep! I heard a splash and sat up and you weren't there! All I could see was the wake of your impact! It took you so long to resurface! WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! DO YOU NEVER THINK ABOUT ANYTHING?!"

I am frozen. Even in anger, she is stunning. I can't speak, so I just continue to stare.

As suddenly as her temper flared, it dwindles. She sounds defeated.

"Do you not think about what would happen if...? Do you even care about...?"

My response flows out of me and I do nothing to filter it.

"It's gonna take a lot more than a twenty foot fall to take me away from you. I'm not going anywhere, Maura. I love you."

I have spent so much time and energy denying this fact from her, giving voice to it now should give me a heart attack. But it doesn't. I simply hold her gaze.

She looks into my eyes like she's trying to find an answer to something.

She must see what she's looking for because she closes the small gap between us and presses the length of her body flush against mine.

The water around us loses its significance. Right now, I am immersed in Maura. She is washing over every part of my being more effectively than water ever could.

The look on her face is almost virginal as she peers at me through her lashes. It makes me think of an inexperienced lover their first time. There is desire in her eyes, I see it now, but there is also a little fear and doubt. She is insecure and looking for reassurance. She is at the precipice and afraid to jump.

What else can I do?

I take hold of her and we go over together.

I lean in, gently nudge her nose aside with my own, and press my lips to hers. The kiss is not possessive or demanding or lustful; it's gentle and inquisitive and loving.

My hands come to rest on her hips as her arms slide around my neck. We pull back to take a breath.

I am enamored by the look I receive. She is giving me the biggest smile that I have ever seen grace her lips. It lights up her entire face like a fireworks display.

She lets out a desperate sound that is somewhere between a joyful laugh and a sob. Without saying a word, she claims my lips and I can feel her smile against them. The contact is a little more urgent this time.

Desire is a swarm of bees and I can feel it stinging every inch of my body in the most incredible way.

I slowly begin to back Maura up toward the towels where the two of us were resting just a few minutes ago. We continue to kiss, breaking apart only when we need a gulp of air. As the water becomes more shallow, the woman in front of me becomes the woman beneath me. As we ascend from the pool, she forgoes remaining upright and begins to crawl backwards. I do my best to keep our contact by hovering along above her.

Eventually, we arrive back on our towels and she rests her head on her makeshift pillow. I take the opportunity to settle my body onto hers.

I use one hand to support some of my weight, but the other I allow to roam over her slick, wet skin.

I start by cupping her face. Then, my hand slides down her neck and over the middle of her chest. It eventually comes to rest on her toned belly and I revel in the smooth skin there.

It's like she's made of fire. Every place our bodies come into contact sets me ablaze. My fingers are scorched as I glide my hand back up her body and repeat the path of my earlier caress.

Maura has her hands on my back. She massages the expanse of muscle and then lightly rakes her nails over my skin. When our kiss is not deep enough for her liking, she takes hold of the back of my head and pulls me further into her.

Just as our bodies start to find rhythm against each other, a bright flash followed by a deafening clap of thunder interrupts us.

We pull back in shock and I look up toward the sky.

How long have we been at this? I swear it was sunny just a minute ago.

I look back down to see Maura gazing at me with an expression I can't quite give a name to.

"We should head back to the villa. Rains here can cause flash flooding."

My eyes fall to her lips as she speaks. I'm not entirely sure what she's just said. My brain is overloaded with other, more important bits of information...the feel of her skin, the sound of her sighs, the taste of her...

Again, a flash of lightning...a boom of thunder.

"Let's go. It's approaching fast."

I reluctantly comply with her demand.

I slowly remove myself from her and stand. We both shiver at the loss of contact.

We don't say a word as we quickly repack all of our belongings. When we are dressed and our backpacks are secured on our shoulders, we turn to one another.

She looks a little unsure again.

I have a cure for that.

I step up to her and hook my fingers into the belt loops of her shorts, pulling her as close to me as I can. I give her a kiss that I hope conveys my devotion and support to what has just happened between us.

Another roll of thunder brings with it a torrential downpour. We both pull apart with a few squeals and quickly make our way back through the jungle.

A/N: I know, I know...'finally', right? The next chapter is going to delve a little deeper into these two's private adventures, but it won't be too explicit...at least I don't think so. I get so darn bashful with this kind of thing. Thanks so much for reading! I appreciate all your comments as well! They let me know whether or not I'm on the right track! -SJR

Side note

This is concerning chapter four 'Frustrated'. I received a few comments from reviewers who really enjoy durians. I thought to myself, 'who am I to judge something so harshly based on what someone said about it on T.V.?'. So, I went to a nearby market, purchased a durian, and brought it home. I butchered the fruit outside on my patio (no one denied that it smelled bad) and indeed, the smell was enough to make me queezy. I managed to take a good sized bite and chewed thoroughly and deliberately in the hopes of tasting a sweet quality. Sadly, it never came. Maybe I had a bad fruit...maybe the smell was just too palpable and ruined the taste...what I do know is that the fruit is definitely not for me. So, to all you who enjoy durians, good on you! I really did give it a chance!