Rifiuto: Non Miriena

"You can't possibly be serious, Maura! Going all the way to D.C., just to help with a case? What is wrong with you?" Jane took a sip of her wine as Maura rested her arms on the island counter. She sighed.

"I just... I need to help with this case, Jane. I... I don't know why, but I just... I do. Okay?" But all the cop did was roll her eyes and head into the living room, plopping into the sofa and leaning her head back into the cushions. Maura took a deep breath, closing her eyes. Then, she grabbed her wine glass and joined the raven-head.

"Why? Explain it to me, Maura." She met Jane's eyes, and shrugged, taking a sip of her wine.

"I can't. Not exactly. I just... I feel as though I need to be in Washington. I need to help with this case. It's almost as if... there is this... piece of me that's missing. Like it's this... part of me I can't... I can't remember." She swallowed. "I want to remember it, Jane. Whatever it is, I want to remember it. And... whatever it is... it has something to do with Washington, D.C., and NCIS."

Jane set her glass down, reaching over and taking Maura's hand. "You sure you want to do this?" Their fingers laced, and she found herself studying Maura's fingers. The nails were a soft, light pink, short and smooth, perfect for her profession. Slowly, she laced their fingers, squeezing gently. After a moment, Maura nodded.

"Yeah. I have to." She sighed and got up, tugging her hand out of Jane's. "I don't know why, but... I feel like..." She grabbed her glass and headed into the kitchen, emptying it in one swing and setting the glass in the sink. She shook her head to clear the buzz. "Meeting the team today... it felt as though... I knew them. All of them." She turned back to Jane after grabbing a box of thin mints from the shelf. "Or, at least the men. Like I'd... worked for them or with them."

"Well, you said that you have. Before, with other cases, as an examiner." Maura shook her head.

"I know, but... but not this team."

"Maybe you've met them before." Jane suggested sipping the last of her wine. Again, Maura shook her head.

"No. I'd remember them. Especially the team leader. I would definitely remember the team leader." Jane sighed, putting her glass in the sink and then taking Maura's waist. She pulled the medical examiner closer, until she could rest her forehead to Maura's. It had been nearly four years since Jane had joined Homicide, and in that time, she and Maura had gotten to be good friends.

And then those 'good friends' turned into something more. Much more.

It had taken time before Maura was willing to admit that she had feelings for Jane, but eventually, the woman did acknowledge that Jane made her feel like no man could- rare, exotic, beautiful. And Jane wasn't too proud to admit that being with Maura made her accept that she was more than just a cop, she was a woman, in love with her best friend.

Gently, Jane brushed a kiss over Maura's lips, tasting the mixture of wine and mint. She sighed, wrapping her arms around Maura's waist and pulling her closer. Silence filled the house for several minutes, before Jane finally spoke.

"Fine. You can go to D.C., but you aren't going alone." Maura rolled her eyes and pulled away, taking her box of Thin Mints and heading for her bedroom. Jane sighed, following. She leaned against the door, watching as Maura undressed; the black silk of her bra and the black lace around her black boyshorts made Jane's head spin, and after a moment, she pushed herself away from the door and sauntered over to her lover. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" She slid her arms around Maura's waist from behind and pressed a kiss to her neck. The medical examiner chuckled, and after stealing a kiss, pulled away. She removed her bra and then grabbed a light little nightgown, pulling it on before pulling back the covers of the bed.

Jane sighed, and then also began to undress until she was only in her boxers and a tank. She then joined Maura on the bed, accepting one of the cookies. They lay together, eating the last of Maura's Thin Mints in silence, before she turned the lights off and put the box in the trash. Then, she shifted onto her side, facing away from Jane, who groaned softly and reached for Maura's shoulder. "Hey, Maur, listen to me. Maura, look at me."

A moment passed, before the other woman shifted onto her other side, facing her lover. "What?" Gently, Jane reached up, brushing a strand of hair off Maura's cheek.

"Do you really need to go to D.C.?" Maura nodded.

"Yes, Jane. We've discussed this. I'm going and you can't stop me." She shifted to turn from her lover, when Jane grabbed her arm, pulling her back around.

"You didn't let me finish." One slender eyebrow raised.

"You were going to finish?" A quick glare caused her to shut up. She sighed, letting Jane continue.

"What I was gonna say, was that if you're so intent on going to D.C., then I am going with you." She watched as hazel eyes widened, and quickly silenced any protest with a deep kiss. "I'm going, Maura. If you go, I go."

"But you can't just take time off-"

"I have some vacation days that need to be used. Besides, everyone knows better than to send you by yourself, or to send you with someone other than me." Maura started to protest again, but once more, Jane cut her off with a kiss.