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: I greatly appreciate all of your reviews! Again, the rating will change as the story progresses. -DKC
Slow and Steady – Chapter 3
Jane had just put on her pajamas and was pulling back the covers on her bed to crawl in when there was a knock on her front door. Looking at the clock, the detective was surprised to hear a knock at after eleven on a Wednesday night. She turned on the hallway light and walked toward the door.
"Maura?" Jane said, surprised to see her best friend at such a late hour. She was even more surprised to see the always put-together doctor in yoga pants and a camisole with a jacket draped over her.
"Can I come in? I didn't wake you, did I?" came the answer.
"No, I was just getting ready for bed," Jane said, motioning Maura in and closing the door behind her. "Are you okay?"
"I…" Maura stopped and turned toward Jane in the semi-darkness of the entry. "Can I stay?"
"Oh, Maur. Of course. Always. Are you not sleeping?" she reached for Maura's hand.
The soft side of Jane only came out with Maura. When Maura nodded, Jane's heart broke a little for her friend. Having lived through years of nightmares, she was sympathetic to anyone dealing with that hell. Jane knew that in the aftermath of the Rockmond incident, her friend was battling that particular hell. Jane began leading Maura to the bedroom, shutting off the hall light as she went.
"Here," Jane said, taking the jacket from Maura and placing it on the chair in the corner of her bedroom.
Pulling down the covers on the other side of the bed where her friend would be sleeping, Jane wondered how it had come to the point that she and Maura had their own designated sides of the bed regardless of which bed they were sharing. Maura crawled into bed and watched as Jane went around to the other side, crawled in and shut off the bedside lamp.
"Thank you," Maura breathed as she settled in.
"I'm always here for you," Jane responded.
"I know. I just don't always take advantage of that," Maura said.
"Don't think of it as taking advantage. Just think of it as simple as asking for a glass of wine or a ride to work."
"I'll try that," Maura said as she turned over, her back to Jane.
"Jane…I…could you…" Maura stammered.
Jane knew her best friend well enough to know that she was asking for comfort. She knew Maura well enough to know that it was one of the harder things for her to ask for. She simply slid closer to Maura and wrapped her left arm around her and pulled her back tight to her chest.
"Thank you, Jane," Maura whispered.
"Rest, sweetie. I'll be right here."
….
Jane woke to an amazing sight. She was on her back with her arm around Maura. Maura's head was resting on Jane's chest and their legs were tangled, but that wasn't what had Jane's attention immediately upon waking. Just under her t-shirt was Maura's hand. That perfect hand rested on her upper abs. It was taking everything in Jane to keep her body under control at the sensation.
Slowly the doctor began to wake. She sleepily looked up at Jane, thankful for a full night's sleep for the first time in weeks. Then she realized where her right hand was. She felt the smooth, soft skin of Jane's abs and twitched rather than explore the skin with her fingers, as she so desperately wanted to. She looked at her hand and then up at Jane.
"Sorry," Maura offered, starting to slide her hand down Jane's abs to remove it from under the brunette's shirt.
"Don't," Jane rasped, placing her hand directly over Maura's to keep her hand in place under her shirt.
Jane held Maura's hand on her abs, the thin t-shirt the only thing separating their hands. As Maura relaxed, she couldn't resist the urge to rub her fingers over Jane's tight, perfect abs. She made figure eights across Jane's abs, noting the increase in Jane's heartbeat and the shallow breaths the woman beside her began taking. There was no question that Jane was aroused. And knowing that about her friend was extremely arousing. Maura's hand traveled lower. Maura knew she was circling Jane's transverse abdominis muscle, but to Jane it felt as if she were getting awfully close to the drawstring of her pajama pants.
"Ummm?" Jane half moaned, half questioned.
Maura moved her hand back higher and stilled.
"I should go home and get ready for work. Your alarm is going to go off soon," Maura said.
Jane took a deep breath and nodded.
"You might have a dress in my closet," Jane volunteered.
"I'll need my purse," the doctor said, letting go and scooting backward out of bed. "I'll shower at home and get ready there."
Jane sat up, suddenly missing the closeness of Maura and wondering what the hell that was with Maura's hand under her shirt.
"I'll see you at work?" Jane asked.
"Yes. Would you like to meet me in the café for breakfast?" Maura was slipping on her shoes and picking up her jacket off the chair where Jane had left it last night.
"Sounds good," Jane smiled.
"I, umm, I needed a night of sleep more than you know," Maura said, looking at the floor, suddenly ashamed of how vulnerable she was.
"I am here," Jane insisted. "Whenever and for whatever you need me."
Both women couldn't help but think about all of the possible things Maura might need Jane for. Maura shook her head out of her reverie and walked out Jane's bedroom door. When Jane heard her apartment door open and close she collapsed back on her bed and her hands immediately fell to her abs. The feeling of Maura's hands drawing patterns there would not leave her any time soon.