Hello! Apologies for being away so long, things have been pretty tough recently and I am glad to have found my mojo to want and be able to write. Anyway, hope you like it.
As ever, I own nothing, the characters are not mine.
Enjoy.

Dr Maura Isles had always prided herself on being physically fit. Years of running, yoga, fencing and horse-riding had always kept her in shape and toned the perfect hourglass figure that she had. At this precise moment though, the last thing she felt was fit. Her lungs burned from the frenetic activity, or at least Jane's lungs burned.

Maura had always watched the lean detective from afar, observed the ripple of each of the groups of muscles as they contracted and relaxed, silently longing to feel the combination of soft womanly flesh and the taut muscle underneath. Jane had a stamina that Maura envied. Right now though, that endurance was being heavily tested.

"Come on Janey, stop letting me win."

"I'm not, I assure you."

She wasn't, she really wasn't; she just couldn't seem to make Jane's body move how she wanted it to. It was almost as if it was Maura's hand/eye co-ordination that was present in Jane's body. The science of this whole situation was fascination, but as Frankie nimbly de-possessed her of the ball and sent it soaring through the hoop for a further three points, this was not the time to contemplate it. She was losing and badly.

"Jane, the last time you let me beat you was just after Nancy Shapiro dumped me. What is it?"

"It's nothing."

Thank goodness Jane was the one who would break out in hives when she lied and not her, she thanked whatever this was temporarily.

"You wanted my advice for the Detective's exam Frankie, let's talk about that ok?"

Frankie eyed his sister. Something was most definitely off with her today. Despite the fact that she was yet to score a hoop, she just didn't seem like herself. He was worried. He loved and looked up to his big sister. Perhaps Maura would know what was wrong. He knew enough not to push it, over the years he had been on the wrong end of that fiery Rizzoli temper.

"Ok. So what advice do you have Yoda?"

He watched as a look of confusion passed over his sister's face.

"Yoda? What do you mean?"

Frankie took the ball and stared incredulously at his sister. He felt a panic start to bubble inside himself. He started the bounce the ball, attempting to soothe himself with the rhythm of the motion.

"Seriously? You'll ask me who the Goonies are next?"

"Are they something to do with your exam?"

The ball bounces higher and harder, Frankie becoming concerned for his sister, who looks like her, but seems like..."Janey, is something wrong? Has something happened to Maura?"

"W-what? Maura? No! Why? Why do you ask?"

"Ah, jeez Jane, you know why. Is it Ian? Is she seeing him again?"

Ian? Why would Ian's presence upset Jane so much?

"Ian? No, she isn't seeing anyone right now."

"Oh good. I know you hate that guy."

Hm, well that is certainly news to me.

"Frankie, why would it matter to me if Ian were back in town?"

Maura's feels a clammy hand clasp itself to Jane's forehead.

Seriously Jane, you're starting to worry me. Are you feeling unwell?"

"No, I'm fine. Frankie, answer the question."

Frankie removes his hand from Jane's forehead, convinced at least that she does not have a fever. He reverts to bouncing the ball.

"Because of, well, you know."

"No, no Frankie, I don't know. Please tell me."

"Well, because of how you feel about Maura."

"And how do I feel about Maura?"

Science has always grounded Maura. She considers herself a student of all the sciences and really should be paying attention to Newton's Laws of Motion, right about now.

"You're in love with her Janey, always have been."

The words keep echoing as if they will disappear if she thinks of something else, the words repeat but are replaced by synapses firing messages to the central nervous system. Pain. Tears sting the back of Jane's eyes as Maura processes the flow of blood from her nose.

"Oh, holy shit Jane, your nose. I think it's broken."

At hearing the words that Maura had longed for, she had turned towards Frankie, only for the ball to smash her or rather Jane's nose.

"Quick, here, press this to it."

Frankie tore off his shirt and passed it to Jane for her to use it to stem the bleeding.

"I need to re-set it. Here.""Oh, wait, shit, no. Oh God Jane, you've been hanging around Maura too long. Here, let me take you home, you need some ice on that."

"Thanks Frankie. Can you take me to Maura's?"

Sure Jane, of course. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it was an accident. Oh and the only advice I was going to give you is to be yourself."

Frankie smiles at his sister, even through the pain she thinks of others.
The journey to Maura's is quiet, with Maura reflecting on the information she has just learned. She had often felt the spark of something between them. She had thought that in the early days something would happen between them; she felt it now, but whereas she felt that they were dating each other, they just never crossed that line. She supposed that is why she only ever really dated for sex as she had needs that needed to be met and Jane never seemed interested and Maura just refused to catch the common cold when sex could keep it at bay. This though, this information changed everything.

As they walked to Maura's door she just had to know.

"Frankie, can I ask you something?"

"Of course, you are my big sister, you don't need to ask."

"When you said I am in love with Maura, you don't mean as a friend right?"
Frankie chuckled. He unlocked the door and walked through.

"No Jane, I definitely don't mean as a friend. The way you mean would make a sailor blush."

Maura followed Frankie into her house only to be greeted by Angela shrieking.

"Oh gawd, my baby! Frankie how could you?"

"Relax ma, it was an accident."

"Janey, come sit here. Frankie, get your sister an ice pack."

"Already on it ma."

"Poor baby. Do you need to see a doctor? Where's Maura? Ring Maura."

Maura places Jane's hands on top of Angela's. She glances down at the scars that mar Jane's flesh; a symbol of her bravery. Now it was time for Maura to be brave.

"Ma, I need to ask you something."

"Jane, you're scaring me."

"Here you go Janey, your ice pack."

Maura takes it on reflex.

"I need you to tell me the truth. Both of you."

"Ok, we promise, now out with it."

"Do you both think that I am in love with Maura?"

"Oh jeez, Janey, is that all? You had me worried for a second there. Oh, you're serious. Sweetie, we love you. I know you have always struggled against it, being a tomboy and working in a male environment, battling against being called a dyke. And me, your mother, I raised you as a good Catholic, but it is ok. God loves you and we your family love you. Maura loves you too sweetie, but she won't wait forever. You are my daughter and I love you. I will always love you no matter what. I already see Maura as a daughter. I would be proud to have her as my daughter-in-law."

The sincerity of Angela's words and the realisation that they both feel the same way is overwhelming, as Maura starts to cry. Angela bundles her into a bear hug.

"My baby! A doctor!"

A review would make me smile.