See Ch 1 for disclaimers…

Jane pulled open the door and Maura brushed past her on her way to the kitchen. When she turned around Maura was standing by her island shaking her head. "Well hello to you too."

Maura pointed to the various chunks of cake in and out of the baking pans. "You didn't save some of the mix to flour the pans with like I told you, did you?"

Jane walked over to her recycling and rummaged around until she stood back up with a box in her hand that she shoved against Maura's chest. "I followed the directions."

Glancing over the back of the box, Maura pointed to Jane's baking pans. "Those are not non-stick. For the type of pan you used, the small type right here directs you to grease or flour the sides to assist in removing the cakes from the baking pans." Squinting lightly she continued to compare the box to the results. "You do realize that the recipe calls for 10 inch pans and those are only 8?"

Jane tossed her hands up. "A round baking pan is a round baking pan!"

Maura let out a sigh. "Baking is a form of chemistry. Ingredients put under the right conditions present a predictable result. Surface area is one of those factors. If you change one part of the equation you must make adjustments elsewhere. Such as baking time and temperature."

Jane leaned against her counter and folded her arms. "So a tiny, itty, bitty inch ruined my cake? Come on, no way."

Moving closer to the chunks of cake, Maura looked between the baker and her masterpiece. "Two inches and no, you most certainly ruined your cake. Leave inanimate objects out of this." She analyzed the remains. "Whatever were you doing to it?"

Jane picked up the open frosting can and pointed to her laptop. "Google told me the easiest way to fix a broken layer was to put it together with a scum coat of frosting."

"Skim coat and I believe they were intending the repairs to be minor" Brow furrowed Maura compared the shape of the pan to the frosted chunks. "I think you're missing some."

Shrugging Jane pointed to the pans. "Some was too wet I think so I dropped a few pieces when I whacked one of the pans on the counter to get the cake out. Jo got to them faster than I did." Putting a hand on her hip Jane sighed. "Stop looking like that at me. I had it under control."

Maura took her time critically looking over every inch of batter speckled, blushing, detective as she slowly shook her head. "Go look in a mirror and then come back out and say that again." She tapped her shoulder. "Scoot out of my way. You have limited counter space to work in."

"I don't need to look in a mirror!" Jane held her ground and pointed at the pile on the counter. "This cake is fine!"

Maura looked exactly to where Jane was pointing, snorted lightly and pursed her lips, waiting.

Jane followed Maura's glance down at her own arm. The coating of powder from when the mixer had practically exploded earlier, the dots of wet batter from when the oil had combined in as she frantically fumbled, unable to turn the speed down fast enough. Finally she focused on the crumbling mess of undercooked cake at her fingertip.

She looked back up. Maura was standing there patiently. Small twitches of a smile threatened to break free from the corner of her mouth. Jane slowly pulled her arm back and stepped aside. "What do you need me to do?"

Patting Jane's hip, Maura pointed to the cake. "Dispose of that and clean up while I prepare the batter." She scanned the countertop. "Where is your mixer?"

Crouching down Jane grabbed Maura's calf for balance as she hoisted up the new mixer in its box.

"A low wattage hand mixer?" Maura took the white box out of her hand in disbelief.

"Hey leave my mixer alone. It was the only one left at the grocery store." Jane wrestled the box away and pried the mixer out. "Look at it, worship it. It is new, shiny and white. It even has multiple speeds."

The defeated sigh was out before she could stop it and Maura grabbed the mixer. "I must really like you to be doing this right now and I'm getting you a stand mixer first thing tomorrow."

Rolling her eyes, Jane grabbed her cake off the counter and tossed it with a satisfying thump in the trash. "If buying me a mixer makes you happy, have at it. I needed a new place to toss my keys anyhow." The pinch to her bicep caught her off guard. "Hey ow!" She gave a half hearted glare as she left the kitchen to clean up.

A few minutes later in fresh clothes Jane lounged against her countertop, watching Maura as she stood over the stove, vigorously stirring as she added ingredients into a pot. "What are you making?"

Crouching down so she was level with pot rim Maura added the thermometer, studying the reading before adjusting the heat and stepping away. "The buttercream frosting." She whisked the eggs together. "It will need an hour at least to set up while we make the rest of the cake."

"So this is an involved cake. I'm not surprised." Jane went to the stove and picked up the spoon, dropping it a second later when deceptively strong fingers wrapped around her wrist.

"Don't you dare go near that. You introduce moisture into my sugar syrup and I swear we'll pull that other cake out of the trash." Jane was looming over her, doing her best to be intimidating. Maura met the challenge evenly and stepped into her, pushing her against the counter. "Just try me Rizzoli."

Jane waited a heartbeat or two, trying to get Maura to yield but the grip on her wrist was firm. Maura had a deceptive way of fitting against her that made it hard to move. They seemed to have complimentary angles and it was strangely invigorating. She felt herself start to blush and let out a long sigh to hide it as she pushed Maura lightly away.

Chuckling at Jane's expression, Maura checked the temperature. "I suppose this is more involved process than a traditional cake mix but sometimes working a little harder at something is worth the result in the end."

"I don't know. Boxed mix has always worked for me in the past." Jane followed Maura over to the opposite counter, watching over her shoulder as she whipped eggs and sugar together.

"Current evidence suggests that you and I have different views on what constitutes a success." Maura put the mixer aside and handed Jane a measuring cup. "Can you please measure me out a cup and a half of flour? Don't press it down."

"You and I seeing things differently?" Jane snorted. "And tonight we have Dr. Maura Isles with the late news." She finished with the flour and went to hand it over only to meet a Maura Isles full on disapproving frown.

"What is possibly wrong?" Jane handed over the cup of flour. "I didn't press it down. I scooped it out neatly and I delivered it."

Maura carefully folded in part of the flour. "You know I hate when you do that."

"Do what? Scoop cups of cake ingredients?" Jane moved behind Maura and watched her add more flour.

"Jane." Maura sighed. "Do you know how long it takes me to break down one of your clichés? It is the most maddening tendency you have. I had to sort through the metaphor of evening news and correlate it with the topic in discussion and realize you felt I was stating a known fact."

"You manage though." Jane watched the flour mix in with the batter. "Can I help?"

Maura shivered as Jane's breath washed over her ear and she elbowed Jane lightly on the stomach. "Some room here please. And yes you may help."

Jane accepted the spoon and took Maura's place at the bowl and started to vigorously stir.

"No!" Maura made a desperate grab for Jane's hip to balance herself as she darted a hand around to cover Jane's holding the spoon. "Fold it in like this." She directed Jane's hand, carefully folding in the remaining flour. "We're not at war with the batter. Steady rhythm. Use a gentle hand."

Maura's voice was low and at her shoulder, there was her warmth against her back. Jane could feel a yet another blush rising and she wasn't even positive why. Clearing her throat she straightened up. "You're making me feel like I'm molesting it. Shouldn't I at least buy it dinner first?"

Maura squeezed the hip under her hand hard. "I wouldn't know. You've never bothered to do that for me."

"Wait a second. I don't molest you." Jane spun around, spoon still in hand, batter flicking off in the process.

"You know what? If I wasn't here to witness moments like this I would believe your inability to bake a cake was a ruse." Maura looked down at her shirt and the fleck of batter speckling it.

"Shit, sorry." Jane reached out to wipe at the spots and Maura grabbed her hand.

"Case in point, now you really do owe me dinner. First because I'm here on a Friday night and secondly," Maura shook the hand in question before dropping it. "I've had entire dates that didn't get that far even after dinner at Clio."

Jane knew her cheeks were flaming hot as she turned back around. "You're feisty tonight." She poked the spoon at the bowl. "Now what?"

"Now we bake." Maura reached around and rescued the bowl from Jane's assault. "And we obey the timer." She waited for a retort but Jane was fixated on the counter. She ran her hand down Jane's bicep before giving it a little squeeze. "And while I get the first layers in the oven you order us something to eat, preferably without nitrates and scrap animal parts."

Jane spun around and found herself looking at Maura's back while she measured cups of batter out. "Come on Maura. Dinner is supposed to be edible."

"My point exactly."

A/N – Happy Friday my lovely, loved readers… should put the final tweaks on the next one by tomorrow and the rating will probably shift then. See you all back here (hopefully) tomorrow night for a date with Ch 5:)