The unmarked pulls into the driveway, the driver taking note that the lights are on in the house. Excellent, Jane thinks. If Maura's still up, maybe she can be talked into a documentary and some cuddling on the couch. She steps up to the door and hopes against all hope that the door is locked. It swings open with an easy push and Jane huffs.
"Maura, how many times have I told-" the detective cuts herself short, taking in the view of Maura's kitchen. The doctor is currently shimmying in front of the refrigerator, white wires trailing out of her ears. Jane resists the urge to laugh loudly, opting instead to quietly remove her boots and lean against the wall to enjoy the show.
The medical examiner twirls around and Jane thinks the jig is up, but Maura's eyes are closed as she rocks around her kitchen, hopping gracefully to the music in her ears. Jane can't help laughing and a few escape through her hand-covered mouth. She adopts a slightly apologetic grin as she watches her girlfriend open her eyes in surprise and blush lightly from embarrassment. Maura cocks her head to the side, studying the detective before a smile brightens up her whole face. She steps to the speakers in the corner of the kitchen and plugs in her music player so that Jane can hear it too.
It's an upbeat track, excellent for rhythmic movements, so Maura shakes her butt as she makes her way over to Jane. She plants a peck on the detective's cheek and then she takes a hold of the reluctant hands, pulling her detective onto her make-shift dance floor.
"Maur, no, please," Jane says pleadingly, knowing where this is leading. But Maura simply shakes her head and moves their arms to the song, attempting to make Jane copy her and do the twist. She leans in to the ear covered by unruly dark hair and whispers, "Please, Jane? Dance with me." It's so small and wanting that Jane can't find the heart to refuse her. She has a small grimace on her face, but her eyes are locked with Maura's as she moves her feet, twisting just as her partner is.
In a split-second, all her inhibitions are gone. Jane starts to take the lead, instructing by example how to cabbage patch and, surprisingly, cha-cha. They move around the floor together, touching and laughing. They spin each other a few times, but then the song comes to a drawn-out end and Jane spins Maura into a dip, placing a soft kiss on Maura's nose as the last notes waver in the sudden silence.
"Thank you," Maura says, gazing up at her best friend. Jane smiles.
"I love you," she promises in return, and lets the good doctor stand up.