Author's note: thank you very much for all the reviews and messages; don't be worried, there won't be much angst (and no big drama either).

Chapter Two

Maura sat on her bed and let the tension of the travel vanish. She closed her eyes. The torrential rain was hitting hard against the window of her bedroom, the wind was blowing loudly. She had left a Bostonian heatwave for a gloomy Oregon. The contrast couldn't be any sharper yet it was exactly what she needed after what had happened at Logan International.

She had spent most of her flight trying to find an explanation to Jane's move. In vain. Nothing in the past few weeks could have led to this kiss, to the urge it had raised as her friend had unexpectedly captured her lips. As a matter of fact, their life had taken a very monotonous path lately and she had seen her business trip to Oregon as a great occasion to have a break from an eventless routine.

Now everything had been put back into perspective.

It had burnt in this indescribably way that always seemed to lead to a powerful sentiment of addiction. It had been a while since the last time someone had kissed her but as much as she had kept on saying that she didn't miss it, Jane's kiss had suddenly made her realize that the truth couldn't be any different.

She missed the tenderness that emanated from a relationship, the warmth of a human touch and all the things that it could elicite. But most of all, it had highlighted how lonely her life could be.

A quiet knock on the door made her jump. She stood up and walked towards it. William Montgomery – thirty-five years old, from San Diego – flashed her a bright smile. He was holding a bottle of wine.

"I know it's late but how about a little glass in the living-room? Emily's in charge of the fireplace. We should have heat in no time."

Maura cast a brief glance at the bottle before nodding appreciatively. She wasn't in the mood to socialize with people but since she would share the house with five other medical examiners for the next month she could hardly turn down the invitation. She didn't want to sound impolite. Her labyrinth of incomprehension would have to wait. Anyway she doubted that it would vanish within the next hour. No. Jane's kiss was engraved on her mind and still weighed on her lips.

The mere thought was enough for her to feel a strange sensation in her lower stomach.

"What an excellent idea. Let me just grab a shawl."

The house was located in the small town of Delpoe Bay which was a twenty-minute drive from Newport. It was the very first time that she wouldn't stay at a hotel while on a business trip. Having a kitchen at her disposal was a nice idea. She simply hoped that she would get along with her roommates. She hadn't had to share such a small place since college.

They crossed a corridor that was plunged in the dark. The wooden floor creaked under their feet and they could hear the ocean blow its strength outside. A storm was coming.

By night this place was quite intimidating, so far from the reassuring quietness of Beacon Hill.

"Maura Isles... Maura Dorthea Isles. I've read your latest article about the importance of autopsies in developing countries. It was excellent." Vera Watson – a blonde from Nevada – raised her glass of wine as Maura and William walked into the living-room. "I'm more than glad to have the chance to spend some time with you, here."

Maura's cheeks began to burn. She tried to hide the embarrassment stirred up by the unexpected compliment behind a curtain of blond curls and sat down on the couch where Matthew Barnes – a medical examiner from Michigan – was sitting. She then gladly accepted the glass that William held out to her and took a long sip of it before giving Vera a semblance of reply.

"How's the fire going, Emily?" Emma Carrington - from Vermont - approached the fireplace and bent over to check the logs.

Emily James was the youngest of the house. She was twenty-eight years old and seemed to have a brilliant future ahead of her. She was working for the chief medical examiner of New York City and had often been mentioned in several renown medical publications. Maura was quite looking forward to working with her. She was impressed by her capacities.

"Everything's under control, Emma. It's the first time I come to Oregon and nobody had told me it would be like standing under the Niagara Falls! What a downpour we're having."

The comparison with the infamous Canadian spot made everyone laugh and helped Maura to relax. Perhaps sharing a house with a few colleagues would actually turn out to be a good idea. It would be a lot less impersonal than the loneliness of a hotel room and the constant presence of people around her would keep her mind busy. This way she wouldn't lose herself in wonders and dealing with the aftermath of Jane's kiss would be easier.

The aftermath.

Her choice of word slightly took her aback. Perhaps there didn't have to be any consequence to it. It was just a kiss. Nobody had died. It had even been quite pleasing. Why did she have to assume that it owned the shapes of a terrible cataclysm? It was a detail, one that could easily be seen as insignificant.

A cell phone vibrated on the small and worn out coffee table. William immediately grabbed it and went to lean against the kitchen counter that was only a couple of steps further.

Maura wrinkled her nose. She hadn't sent any text message to Jane. Not just yet. She usually did as soon as her plane landed on the tarmac but the current context was such that she needed some time to find the right words. It was a bit delicate. Was she supposed to pretend that nothing had happened? Jane would probably prefer this option.

"I'm sorry." William offered the group an apologetic smile. "I got married two months ago and it's my first business trip since the ceremony so my husband's freaking out a bit." He quickly typed a message then set down the electronic device on the counter. "You must know what I'm talking about, Maura."

Within a few seconds, five pairs of eyes were staring at a very confused and embarrassed Maura. Obviously everyone was waiting for her reply.

"I am not married. There must be a mistake." She shook her head a bit too vehemently. "I ahem... No, I am not."

William frowned – surprised by the answer – then dismissed his mistake with a nonchalance that made Maura green with envy. William was joyful and seemed to be going with the flow rather easily.

"Oh. My bad, Maura. Maybe you'll find the rare pearl in Oregon...! Unless you've found this person in Boston already, of course, and getting married is just not an option yet." William winked then burst out laughing.

...

3am. Maura had sent her a text message at 3am while she had safely landed at 9pm in Oregon which meant midnight in Massachusetts. And it wasn't a lie. Jane had actually checked online whether the plane her friend had taken had been delayed when she had been surprised to not get a text message.

Of course she knew why Maura had postponed it. She wasn't stupid. It was related to this incomprehensible – confusing – kiss. It had put Maura in a delicate situation, one that she hadn't asked for in the first place. Jane had all the reasons in the world to now feel guilty.

The night had been agitated, first because of the absence of message and then because she had lost herself in an endless series of scenarios about what Maura may have been doing during this three-hour gap.

Had she stayed in her bedroom staring at her cell phone as if it were some venomous object?

Unable to fall back asleep, Jane had got up around 5.30am. She had walked straight to the kitchen to prepare some coffee. The day would be long. Outside of stopping by her apartment, she had nothing to do. There was also a Skype session with Maura but something told her that her friend would try to avoid it at all cost which was understandable enough.

At 6.45am – bored to death – Jane went to grab her dog's leash. Walking Jo Friday was a good idea. It would get her mind busy. Besides it was still early and the temperatures were somewhat bearable. They were supposed to reach the 100°F in the afternoon.

"What an early bird you are, Jane!"

Mrs. Maklowski. Jane swallowed hard. She had barely made a couple of steps outside that Maura's gossipy neighbor already interrupted her for a pointless little chat.

"I have a busy day ahead of me."

A complete lie but then she could hardly imagine herself spilling the beans to some bored lady who seemed to have a penchant for spreading gossip in the neighborhood. A urging kiss in the middle of Logan International would have made Mrs. Maklowski's year though, Jane was sure of it.

"You're so nice to take care of your girl friend's house while she's out of town. Maura's a precious girl but I'm sure you know that already, don't you? What a lovely relation the two of you have. It's so nice..."

Jane froze and swallowed back a moan of despair. Girl friend. That was not the kind of word she had hoped to hear right now, not after what had happened. She nervously tightened her grip on the leash and desperately looked around for an escape. Was she getting paranoid or Mrs Maklowski's remark regarding the friendship she had with Maura was slightly ambiguous?

Within five minutes and after another shamefull lie, Jane resumed her walking. She had nowhere to go but didn't want to head back home already. The house reminded her too much of Maura for the moment.

She let Jo Friday guide her through Beacon Hill absentmindedly until she found herself in front of a small cafe where a lovely sign on the door said that dogs were allowed. It didn't take her long to push the door and walk in.

When in doubt, caffeine was always welcome.