Disclaimer: All recognizable Rizzoli & Isles characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners including, but not limited to Tess Gerritsen, Janet Tamaro and TNT. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fan fiction story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No financial gain is associated with the publishing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.

Author's Note: To clarify: This story is completely unrelated to my piece "From the Rubble." Rating will likely change as the story progresses. -DKC

Slow and Steady – Chapter 2

Family dinner on Sunday had gone by without a single word from either woman about their kiss. While neither said anything, they were both very much guilty of dwelling on it. Jane found she couldn't look at Maura without thinking of her lips. Maura found she couldn't look at Jane without thinking about what a kiss might lead to. The strange thing was that after the kiss, nothing changed. Their friendship was unshakeable. They continued with their work, their lives, the family they'd come to share and absolutely nothing changed.

"God!" Jane growled as she walked into Maura's office, closed the door behind her and leaned against the door.

"Jane?" Maura asked, looking over her reading glasses at her friend.

"Is it possible that these guys could be bigger assholes?" Jane began kneading her temples.

"Which guys?" Maura didn't move from her seated position behind her desk.

"So we've got this victim up in interrogation, right?" Maura nodded.

"She's just been through hell. Saw things no girl her age should have seen. Was treated like garbage. They attacked her for being something she certainly isn't," Jane explained, the anguish on her face clear. "And what do those pricks say? They say she's hot and can't stop talking about her legs!"

"I read recently about something called slut-shaming," Maura said, standing and making her way out from behind her desk.

"It's disgusting. And these assholes should know better. They are supposed to be protecting this girl for Christ's sake."

Maura took her reading glasses off and set them on her desk before making her way toward Jane. Jane continued to lean against the door, running her fingers through her unruly hair. Her eyes met Maura's as the doctor approached and she could see the sympathy and concern in Maura's eyes. Maura's eyes were always the first place to look for the emotion she was feeling.

"Did you say anything to them?" Maura wondered.

"I told them that they were out of line and being extremely inappropriate. I may have said I'd kick their asses if they didn't shut up," the detective answered, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.

The smile on Maura's face revealed so much. She reached a hand out to the crook of Jane's elbow, gently rubbing circles with her thumb.

"What can I do?" Maura nearly whispered.

"Ugh," Jane exhaled.

Maura pulled Jane into a hug, her arms wrapping tight around her. She was pleased to find Jane willing and accepting of the gesture. Jane nuzzled her face into the space just below Maura's left ear, between her neck and shoulder. There was a comfortable silence between them as the circles Maura had made with her thumb just moments before were now replicated in the middle of Jane's back. Jane took in a breath and the feeling of that breath on Maura's neck made the smaller woman shiver. Jane was not oblivious to the reaction. She pulled Maura tighter against her and shifted her nose so that she could take in the scent of Maura's hair. She found nothing as mesmerizing as Maura's scent. The doctor noticed the action and felt her nipples hardening. How was she going to explain this to Jane? Would she need to?

Maura was lost in her mind and Jane was lost in Maura when suddenly Jane's cell phone buzzed startling them both.

"Rizzoli!" Jane barked as she reluctantly let go of Maura. "Yeah, okay. I'll be there in a second and I can make sure she gets home."

Jane ended her call and looked at the doctor before her. The doctor was rubbing her own arms to create warmth through friction. Jane watched this movement and let her arms roam to Maura's chest. She couldn't help the slight smirk that developed on her face.

"I have to go," Jane said, disappointment written all over her face.

Maura couldn't speak. Jane turned to open the door and was nearly through it when Maura managed to get her words out.

"Jane?"

"Hmm?" she answered, turning back to Maura. Their eyes locked on one another for a moment.

"Nevermind," Maura took the easy way out.

Jane smiled and slowly walked out of the morgue, leaving Maura to wonder what had just happened and why her body had betrayed her.