A/N: Thank you all for the positive feedback over the last few chapters. Enjoy the next installment!

Jane was only partially rethinking her decision to let Maura loose on her two nights before when she was walking a little gingerly the next time she had to go on base for work. The couple had spent the rest of their time together enjoying every inch of each other, physically and emotionally. It was great and had ended all too soon when Maura had to go back and continue her deployment. There had been a very tear-filled goodbye and watery kisses had been exchanged, but the couple was stronger than ever and felt confident that they would get through whatever came next.

Today, Jane was scheduled to meet with Korsak to discuss her position and role at Top Gun if/when Maura came onboard. Jane was a little nervous, but the image of her teary eyed wife waving goodbye as she boarded the C-130 to go back to meet her ship was enough to chase the nerves away. She had a very good reason for doing this and Jane wasn't going to let Maura down.

Frost, of course, teased Jane mercilessly as she walked around like a cowboy that had ridden too long or in Jane's case, had been ridden too long. Jane endured all the good natured teasing, knowing that it was all out of love and a little jealousy as Susie had not been granted leave to 'get herself thoroughly fucked' as Maura had. Jane felt a little guilty that she had gotten her lover back and Frost hadn't but that didn't last long the more he kept teasing her.

"Mav, what are you going to do when Maura is here all the time?" He asked with big eyes, matching his big smile. "We are going to have to get you one of those motorized scooters, just to get you around and you'll have to sit on one of those blow up donuts for extra cushion!" He burst out laughing at his own joke, practically tripping as he was rolling with each bark.

Jane just shook her head and let him have his fun. Frost was always good at lifting her spirits, even if he was being ridiculous and it was at her expense. Jane once again sent a silent prayer out thanking whomever was out there for saving Frost.

"Yeah, yeah, yuk it up Frosty, just wait 'til Susie gets back. I'm going to have to get meals on wheels to deliver to your place, you'll be so zapped, you'll be bedridden," Jane quipped, now letting out her own bark of laughter as Frost's face turned serious as he considered Jane's words.

After only a brief pause he said quietly, "but what a way to go." They both burst out laughing then and slapped each other on the back. They only stopped their laughter when they were approaching the main building and saw the discerning faces of Viper and Jester watching them approach. They adjusted their posture and saluted as they climbed up the steps, stopping in front of the senior instructors.

"Rizzoli, I believe we have an appointment in a few minutes. I sure hope you weren't planning on being late," Korsak barked, arching an eyebrow at her. Jane had to work hard to hold back a giggle, the look making him look slightly like the Wizard of Oz with his mustache.

"No, sir, I was just headed your way. Frost here was slowing me down per usual," Jane responded cheekily, again having to stifle a laugh at the glare she knows she is receiving from Frost. Korsak just shook his head as he turned and started to go toward his office, barking, "move it Rizzoli" as he stalked down the hall. Jane shot a quick smile at Frost and saluted Viper before hurrying to catch up to Korsak.

Once they were inside, Korsak dropped some of the formality and as he sat behind his desk, looked at Jane with kind eyes as he asked, "what's on your mind Mav?" Jane was thankful for the less official atmosphere, despite being in his office on base.

Sitting up straighter just to gather the confidence she needed, Jane responded, "it's about your retirement. I understand that you wanted someone qualified to take over for you and that Maura is the best candidate. I was just curious as to why you didn't tell me that you were considering her, knowing that her becoming my commanding officer would be an issue." Jane swallowed thickly upon finishing, her mouth dry from nerves, but proud that she had said what she needed to say.

Korsak watched her with a calculating stare for what felt like hours but was probably in reality only 30 seconds before he snorted a laugh at Jane. Jane was offended by the response and the look on her face only made Korsak laugh harder. Jane was none too pleased and crossed her arms against her chest, scowling at the older man's amusement.

Finally quieting down, Korsak cleared his throat, mirth still in his watery eyes, and explained, "Oh Mav, what am I going to do with you?" He shook his head at her as he lounged back in his chair, putting his feet up on the desk. Jane was even more vexed with these actions and fought against getting up and leaving, only because she hadn't been dismissed and Jane was nothing if not a good officer.

"Relax Mav, no need to get your feathers ruffled so badly. Look, I couldn't tell you because it was strictly need to know. And yes, I thought about what this would mean for you, with Ice coming back and taking over for me. Honestly, that's why it's perfect." He paused and just stared at Jane thoughtfully. Jane was so confused. She finally dropped her defensive stance and slumped back into the chair. She waved her hand indicating for Korsak to go on.

"Jane, you are probably the best damn pilot I've ever seen. Yes, ever. I'm glad that you are teaching the next crop of kids but come on, you and I both know that you are hiding out here. I know what happened with Goose was a huge wake up call to you. And that it spooked you. But Mav, you can't hide out here forever. You need to get back out there and I figured having Maura come back like this would be the kick in balls that you needed." He finished his speech with a smug smile and wrapped his arms around his protruding belly, looking like a proud papa bear.

Jane was stunned. The explanation she had just received was not anywhere close to what she expected to hear. Korsak was basically treating Jane like a baby bird that had overstayed their welcome in the nest. As Jane took a few minutes to marinate on his words, she really couldn't argue with his logic. His execution, definitely, but not his logic.

Jane had been getting comfortable hiding out at Top Gun. She had been working on her PTSD from the accident with Frost but had stopped making it a top priority the more she got into the routine of being an instructor. And Jane did like teaching but the rush of flying never went away. Her favorite part of teaching was going up in her aircraft and showing the young guns what they had to live up to. Jane let out a sigh and held Korsak's gaze.

"But what about Ice? She's a damn fine pilot, Viper. In a lot of ways, better than me. Shouldn't she be out there, not stationed here with her wings clipped?" Jane asked, defending her wife, always and forever.

Korsak just laughed. "Jane, come on. We both know that Maura is great. However, she's better at the planning and logistics of things. That makes her a top candidate for this position. We both know that she is destined to be a Captain one day, Admiral if she really wanted it. This would be the perfect opportunity for her to start that part of her career path."

Korsak looked at Jane seriously for a few moments. "You, on the other hand, my stubborn friend, are a natural. Everything about the way you fly is second nature to you. To keep you grounded," Korsak just shook his head sadly, "that would be a crime. So yeah, I did think about things and despite Maura's email over the weekend, I have not changed my mind. I will be recommending to the panel that Maura be the top candidate to replace me. I'm counting on you to convince her to take it."

Jane just sat there taking in his words. She and Maura had never really spoken about their long term career goals. They had been so focused on the near term, with Maura's looming deployment, that voicing what they wanted for their careers had taken a backseat.

Not to say that the couple hadn't spoken at length about what they saw their lives together looking like. The couple often spoke about their shared passion for flying, hoping their kids would love it as much as they did. They had spoken about what they would do once they were both retired, opening up a flying school so that they wouldn't have to say goodbye to that chapter of their lives. Through all that, though, the pair had never talked about what their remaining tenure in the military would look like, the silent agreement of both retiring after putting in their twenty years a given.

Korsak had sat in silence as Jane processed all the new information. His gaze had softened and Jane felt herself relax, resigned to whatever was to come.

"Okay, I will. But, what does that mean for me? The whole reason she is taking this job is so that we can be together. If I get reassigned, I'm probably going to get deployed, which goes against the whole point of her decision," Jane said, almost desperately. Even though she was a maverick in most things in her life, Maura was not one of them. Maura was her home and if the last few months had proven anything, it was that they each needed their home.

"There are posts here at Miramar that you could take, Jane, that would get you back in the air and not have you deployed. Sure, there would be some travel, depending on the mission, but you guys wouldn't be separated for months at a time. At most a week or two." Jane nodded her head as she heard this. She had never really looked into her other options, impulsively taking the instructor job at Top Gun thinking it was her only option. Jane could hear her wife's voice in her head about making assumptions and her impulsiveness.

"Could you help me find them?" Jane asked timidly. It was always hard for her to ask for help. She was startled when Korsak clapped his hands together loudly and hopped up from his chair. Jane scrambled to get up as well and just stood there as Korsak embraced her fiercely, shaking her a bit.

"You betcha! So happy this is all going to work out! Can't wait to see you out their Mav!" Korsak stated happily, finally letting Jane go, who was struck dumb by her commanding officers actions.

"Dismissed Rizzoli! I'm sure you have better things to do, right?" He asked with a cheeky wink that caused Jane to rush her salute as she tried to hide her blush. Yes, she had much better things to do like go speak to her wife.

A/N: Some positive news in this chapter! Now we just have to get our ladies back together! Stay tuned...