Jane rested her cheek on the side of Maura's head, inhaling the sweet scent of her honey blonde hair whilst drawing circles on the bare skin of her back. She kept her arms firmly around the fragile woman feeling her shake in her arms, as she knew if she let go Maura could easily collapse, even Jane knew she had had far too much alcohol especially for someone who wasn't used to drinking that much. Maura's skin was beginning to feel cold, she may have been hot enough earlier to take her blouse off but it was autumn now and the nights were growing cooler, even within the warm confines or Dr Isles house. After a few more minutes of them standing pressed together in the kitchen, Jane pulled back slightly and looked closely at Maura.

"Maur" her tone was gentle and patient.

"Let's get you to the couch, okay?"

"Mm" Maura mumbled not lifting her head off of Jane.

"Okay" Jane said making the decision for the both of them that it was time Maura sat down, they couldn't stand here all night, as much as Jane was enjoying it. She released the doctor from her cradle and began to guide her towards the couch, an arm supportively holding Maura around the waist. Maura shuffled along slowly beside Jane wishing she could be more helpful to the detective but she simply had no control over herself at the present.

"Alright" Jane said as the finally got closer to the couch "here we go, nice and slow" she helped Maura lower herself down onto the couch then grabbed a neatly folded fluffy blanket and draped it over her to keep her warm.

"I'm gonna get you some water" Jane said once Maura was comfortably settled "and maybe a shirt"

Maura gave her a small grateful smile, immediately feeling better as the hug of the blanket began to warm her. Jane went back into the kitchen taking a moment to gather herself she leaned with both hands on the sink, holding her up. She realised how empty her arms felt now that Maura wasn't occupying them, it felt strange almost as though a piece of herself had been detached. Her lips were still tingling from the kiss as well, the supple and loving feel of Maura's lips on hers was a unexpected delight, that entire encounter had been unexpected but somewhat wonderful yet Jane still felt conflicted. Obviously, Maura was her best friend and she had never foreseen her best friend ever doing something like that ever, but she had clearly been missing the signs. How long had Maura been holding onto this? Jane sighed as she began to fill up a glass of water, she was supposed to be marrying Casey, but after that, after Maura releasing so much built up emotion and feeling onto Jane she wasn't sure of anything anymore. There had been something urgent about the way the medical examiner had kissed her, as if it were her last few moments on earth and she didn't dare to waste them, as if she was losing her chances rapidly. Jane couldn't deny that it had felt good, amazing in fact, an electric thrill had powered through her body making her feel more alive than she ever had before. She had wanted to kiss Maura again, just to be sure she hadn't been dreaming, in the shock of the moment as the small woman had lurched towards her Jane had frozen unable to move or react, all she could do was feel the energy and emotion coming from Maura. She hated herself for not kissing the M.E back, it had quickly made it's way to the top of Jane Rizzoli's Regret List.

She took the glass of water into Maura, pausing before entering the living room silently observing the gorgeous woman on the couch sit there nervously picking at the pieces of fluff from the blanket. She is an absolute mess tonight, Jane thought with a tiny smile playing on her face as she looked at Maura, but she is the most beautiful mess I have ever seen. Jane handed Maura the glass of water and she quickly began to gulp it down.

Jane watched for a moment before turning to get Maura a shirt.

"I promise not to mess up your closet" she smirked as she dashed up the stairs and into the doctors extensively large closet. She looked around lost at all the different sections Maura had overly organised, turning in several circles before spying a basket sitting beside the shoe wall of Jane's clothes that she had left here. Rummaging through the basket she decided if they were her clothes Maura couldn't get mad at her for messing up the arrangement of the neatly folded shirts and odd socks, she pulled out one of her grey BPD t-shirt's, then turned abruptly with a smile on her face and went back downstairs.

"I thought you might be more comfortable in this" Jane said holding the folded t-shirt out to Maura who cautiously reached a hand out and took it, as if she were being passed a ticking bomb. But as soon as she realised what it was she flushed a deep shade of pink and tried to hide the smile that was trying to form.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Yeah" Jane shrugged nonchalantly as Maura pulled the top on and Jane pretended it wasn't a big deal to see the adorable medical examiner wearing her favourite t-shirt.

"I think it suits me" Maura said looking down at the top and then up at Jane who just smiled and sat herself down on the couch pulling Maura's legs over her lap. The two women fell into silence, neither of them sure whether or not to bring up the kiss or not. Maura fidgeted with the edge of the blanket trying to suppress her nervous habit of spouting off useless trivia, not that Jane would mind. Thankfully it was Jane who spoke first, after studying the medical examiner for several quiet seconds and seeing how skittish she appeared to be she knew she had to say something, and there was really only one thing she could think of.

"Maura" she said and two hazel eyes looked up and met hers.

"Could you, uh" the focus of Maura's eyes on her own made her stumble of her words, distracted. "Could you do that again" she finally managed to say.

"Do what?" Maura asked curiously.

"Um, what you did in the kitchen."

And suddenly Maura clicked. Jane was asking her to kiss her again. She felt her body tense under the blanket as the brunette just looked at her, waiting. Maura pulled her legs off Jane's lap slowly, pushing the blanket off herself and edging closer to her until they were only a heartbeat away from each other. Jane bit down on her bottom lip and Maura swallowed a groan at how sexy she looked, taking a shaky breath she slipped onto the detectives lap straddling her legs, her arms wrapping around Jane's neck, her heart began to beat loudly against her chest again. She looked at Jane making sure she definitely wanted to do this, and Jane gave a small nod her eyes not budging off Mauras.

She leaned in so her mouth was only millimetres away from Jane's, suddenly being overwhelmed by nerves she couldn't get herself to go further. They were so close they shared the air between them, Maura could smell vanilla and cocoa her favourite two scents that belonged to Jane. Then suddenly Maura pulled back, she couldn't do it. Once was something, it was good, but twice… what if this changed everything. The first time could easily be counted as a drunk mistake but a second time, no. She just couldn't. Sitting back on the detectives lap she hung her head upset with herself for being unable to go through with it.

"I'm sorry" she mumbled under her breath barely loud enough for her to hear, but Jane heard.

"Hey" Jane said her husky voice was calming to Maura's thumping heart "it's okay" she said pulling Maura closer and kissing her lightly on the cheek, lingering before pulling away a fraction and glancing at the blonde who was visibly breathing faster than normal.

"I get it" Jane whispered.

"Do you?" Maura's voice was barely above a breath.

"I do" Jane said kissing the medical examiners cheek again, this time leaving her lips on her soft skin.

"Oh god" Maura sighed turning her head almost immediately so that Jane's lips met her own and locked together, joining, combining, becoming one so far to the point that Maura didn't know where she finished and Jane began, but in that moment it didn't matter. Nothing mattered. Jane was the only thing that existed to her.

Jane kissed the blonde with passion, not wanting to leave any part of her mouth unexplored. She kissed her deeply, so deeply she forgot about Casey, she forgot about everyone and everything. She just wanted Maura, all of her and as she wrapped her arms around the doctors torso she felt complete again, her arms weren't empty anymore. Everything she needed was there, in her arms. The taste of Maura was addictive, so was the soft tenderness of her lips and the warmth of her tongue inside her mouth filling it, making her want more.

When they finally broke away from each other they were both breathless. Maura's lips were parted, red and slightly swollen as she looked at Jane speechless. She fell back down onto the couch, her head beginning to spin again as she was quickly plummeted back into the reality of her dizzy intoxication. She reached for her water and took a quick sip, hoping it would somehow cast a quick recovery, but instead it made her stomach churn. Jane still hadn't taken her eyes off her, she looked shocked and stunned but also completely content.

"Do you get it now? You could have had me" Maura groaned leaning back into the comfy cushions behind her, unaware of the fact her thoughts were coming out aloud.

"But you were entirely oblivious, completely unaware the entire time." She sighed and shut her eyes.

"Oh Jane…Janie"

Jane lifted an eyebrow the smirk on her face growing as she watched as the medical examiner unknowingly rambled on. It was rare for Jane to be granted access to what Maura was thinking without the doctor telling her, usually it was almost impossible for Jane to know what was happening in that big brain of hers. Jane watched as Maura licked her lips, she wondered if it was the lingering taste of their kiss that Maura was somehow trying to prolong.

"Maur" She said and at the mention of her name the doctors eyes flew open and she jolted upright her eyes wide with terror, clutching a hand over her mouth she wildly looked around. Jane didn't need to be told what was happening, growing up with two brothers she was very much accustomed to the look on someones face before they puked. Her eyes instantly scanned the room, she spotted a fruit bowl that was sitting on the table behind the couch, she grabbed the bowl tipping the fruit out ignoring the clattering of apples and oranges as they fell to the floor, she slid the bowl under Maura's chin just as the medical examiners hand moved away from her mouth and she expelled her stomach contents; filling the bowl.

"Gross, Maura" Jane said in soft sarcasm, but Maura didn't laugh she simply pushed the bowl away from under her chin and looked down at her hands.

"You alright?" Jane asked suddenly concerned at her friends lack of response. Maura shook her head slowly, her chest was rising and falling rapidly, her skin suddenly looking deathly white. Maura couldn't believe she had just vomited in front of Jane, after the intimate moment they had just shared she had completely ruined it. She still felt queasy, her head was still spinning circles and she could feel her hands tremble, humiliated by what had just happened she let out an uncontrollable sob, tears fell down her cheeks before she had a chance to stop herself and she struggled to regain any composure.

"Okay let's get you to upstairs" Jane said with an anxious look on her face, setting the puke bowl down and rising from the couch and holding both her hands out for Maura to take, but she just sat there as tears cascaded down her cheeks, sucking in deep shaky gulps of air.

"Hey" Jane said crouching down in front of her "you don't need to cry honey" she gently brushed a strand of hair from Maura's face tucking it lightly behind her ear.

"Everyone pukes now and then" But when Maura didn't reply, or even look up Jane sighed, it was obvious the doc was embarrassed but she had no reason to be. Jane wasn't bothered by a little bit of stomach content, hell Maura had held a dish of churned up dead person's stomach content under her nose once and asked her to smell it!

Standing up again she looked down at Maura who was once again fidgeting with her trembling hands, then suddenly she scooped the doctor up into her arms and turned around slowly to head upstairs to Maura's bathroom.

"I'm sorry Doctor Isles but you left me no choice" Jane said kissing the side of Maura's head as she carted her up the stairs. Maura was shocked that Jane had swept her up so easily, as if she were just a small child, her head pounded with the sudden movements but it was quickly subdued and forgotten with the quick kiss Jane placed on her temple, leaving that spot feeling warm and tingly.

"You're okay" Jane continuously reassured her all the way up the stairs until they were in the bathroom and Jane placed her down on the bathmat. Maura sat back down immediately feeling dizzy as she was placed on her own two feet. Her stomach was still churning and she knew it was only a matter of minutes before the next lot would be ready to come out. Jane filled a glass of water and handed it to the doctor who had slumped down on the bathmat, with her back leaning against the side of the bath. She retrieved a flannel from Maura's heated towel rack and ran it under the cool water before squeezing it out and taking a seat down next to her. Maura's tears had eased and she sipped the water slowly and unsurely, Jane watched her closely readying herself for the moment where she would have to throw herself out of the line of fire and pull the honey blonde hair back so Maura didn't have to get upset about her hair being in the toilet as well. And, sure enough several seconds later Maura lurched forward, and as if it was routine that they had practised everyday Jane sprung up gathering up Maura's hair and gently pulling it as far back from the toilet as she could then tying it up loosely, being extra careful not to hurt the doctor as she heaved up all the alcohol in her system into the toilet. Jane soothingly rubbed Maura's back as she heard the medical examiner begin whimpering again her shaky arms wrapped tightly around the toilet bowl.

"It's okay Maur" Jane comforted her "I'm right here"

When Maura had finished the second round she sat back looking drained and exhausted. Jane wiped her mouth clean with the flannel and made her sip more water.

"Feeling better?" she asked with a cute smile and Maura nodded.

"I have to say, it's strange being around a non-wordy Maura" she tried to joke and Maura gave a weak smile.

"You don't make a good mute doc" she said and Maura's eyes studied her, looking darker and tired.

Jane sat back against the wall directly opposite Maura, they looked at each other quietly absorbed in the silence. There was so much on Jane's mind that she wanted to talk about with Maura, she knew now was not the time but there were some things she just didn't want to keep in.

"I did notice" she said conclusively.

"Maybe not in the way you wanted me to, but in my own way I noticed, it's hard not to notice you I mean… you're stunning"

Maura pulled a face at the use of the word stunning, she sat on her bathroom floor with the taste of vomit in her mouth and her makeup smudged all down her face from bursting into tears in front of her best friend…again. She hardly felt stunning.

"Don't give me that look" Jane playfully frowned "You're stunning even now"

Maura opened her mouth to say something but quickly swung herself around and vomited into the toilet bowl.

"See" Jane said when she was finished this time "No one tosses their cookies as gracefully as you"

"Don't" Maura managed in between dry heaves "make me laugh"

"Don't make you laugh?" Jane repeated, half surprised that Maura knew what tossing cookies had meant "But I thought laughter was the best medicine, Doctor"

Maura gave Jane a feeble shove and then returned her arm to being wrapped around the toilet.

The two of them stayed in the bathroom for the next hour, Maura had stopped throwing up after half an hour but she refused to leave "just in case" she couldn't bare the thought of puking in any of her other rooms on any of her furniture. Jane kept rubbing her back as she retched and whispering calming things into her ear, in which Maura was silently grateful for. She didn't have much experience with emesis, she had never caught stomach bugs as a child, and she wasn't a heavy drinker so it was never something she had had to deal with. She had food poisoning once many years ago when she had first moved to Boston which was in fact her first time ever vomiting, a fact that several people had been surprised by, not that she had shared those detailed moments with many people. She was grateful Jane was there, as much as she hated the state that Jane was seeing her in, the detective didn't seem to mind, she had done everything and more to make sure Maura was as comfortable as possible.

When Jane finally helped Maura off the floor and flushed the toilet several times, then placed strong smelling incense sticks beside it at Maura's request, the they made their way into the bedroom. She helped Maura into bed, astonished that she hadn't determinedly changed into her silk pyjamas. Jane fussed around for several minutes before returning and perching on the edge of Maura's bed.

"So there's water and saltines there" she said pointing at Maura's nightstand "And there's a bucket there too, just in case" She mimicked the medical examiners words with a cheeky smile.

"Is there anything else I can do, or get you?" she asked stroking Maura's legs which were warmly tucked under the soft covers on her bed.

"I think I'll be okay" she said with a thankful smile.

"You think? Does that mean you're guessing Doctor Isles?" Jane pretended to gasp and Maura let out a small exhausted laugh.

"I think you should have been a nurse, Jane" she giggled sleepily.

"A nurse huh" Jane said grinning "you just want me in one of those slutty outfits" with those words Maura blushed a deep shade of crimson.

"Jane" she said quietly.

"Yeah Maura?"

"Can you stay here tonight?"

"I was planning on it" Jane replied giving Maura an you really think I would leave you look.

"What I meant" Maura said lifting her eyes to meet Jane's "is could you stay here tonight"

She lightly patted the empty spot on the bed next to her and Jane lifted an eyebrow.

"Oh" she said. She had slept in Maura's bed several times, but tonight she knew it would be slightly different, yes Maura was going to be out like a light in only a matter of minutes, but it was still different. They had kissed. Twice. She had begin to feel a strange tug in her heart towards Maura that she had never seemed to notice before, she wanted to be near her and now the ME was asking her to stay in her bed with her. Nothing is going to change in these next few hours Jane told herself. It would be fine. They could just talk it out tomorrow.

"Of course" she answered and slipped off her shoes before climbing into bed and finally releasing all the tension she had been holding in her body, letting herself sink down onto the soft bed. She felt her eyelids grow heavy fast, she had forgotten how tired she had been before Maura had called her, finally she was getting to sleep. Peacefully and undisturbed.

A warm arm slipped over her stomach and she felt a leg press up against hers, Maura curled up against Jane comfortably giving Jane the space she knew she would want, but being close enough so that she could feel the brunettes warmth. Jane placed a hand over Maura's and gave it a few soft strokes, both women completely content and still.

Maura was almost asleep when she heard Jane whisper.

"Goodnight Maura"

"Goodnight Jane" she whispered back, but was unsure whether the words had actually managed to leave her lips as she slipped quietly into the oblivion of sleep.

Thoughts? Feelings? Emotions? Anything?

Please let me know what you're thinking!

And again I'm so shocked by the amount of people who have shown interest in this! I think I'm going to have to try and elongate it from being just a one shot...

Thank you for reading, and keep your eyes open there will be more coming soon. I promise :) xxx