A/N: Thank you one and all for your heartwarming support. It truly means more than I could ever express. Like all fanfic writers, I do this for the enjoyment and love of writing and sharing it with others. Knowing my little idea brings joy to others? Just amazing. I apologize I cannot thank you all individually as I have multiple fics getting kudos daily. But to all, a big hug from me to you! And yes, this chapter takes the crime from s1 e6 "I Kissed a Girl" because I'm not a crime fiction writer. Also, for my own sanity, Frost is not here and instead, Det Riley Cooper. She will take our current triangle and make it a rather interesting square ;) Enjoy!

It felt like the second the last case wrapped, another fell into Jane's lap that night. Their victim was a woman in her mid 30s, professional dress, found in the alley of The Merch. Korsak looked up to Jane and smiled. "Maybe you'll run into some people you know."

"This is business, not casual," she shot back.

The older detective chuckled. "You can ride over with Riley. Dr. Isles is already on scene."

"Good to know, Master," Jane gave a flourished bow and her best grin to her mentor-turned-boss.

"Get on out before you get a note in your jacket, Rizzoli," he teased.

She grabbed her blazer, knowing Riley would already be at the car. 'She's gonna want to drive. I just know it.' Sure enough as Jane got to the car, Riley was in the driver's seat with the engine going. Now wasn't the time to argue so Jane grabbed the passenger side door and got in.

"Hope you don't mind?" She asked with a smile. "I thought it would be fast."

Jane shook her head. "It's fine. Let's just get there."

Riley nodded and hit the gas. "Korsak said Maura's already there?"

"Yep, that's what he said and he's never wrong. Maura's always on time." As Jane looked over she could see a little grin on Det. Cooper's lips. "Somethin you care to share, detective?"

"Hmm?" Riley pretended not to know what Jane was meaning.

"Come on. That little smile when I said yes, Maura would be there. You like her, don't you?" Jane asked flatly.

Riley thought to play off the question. "She's a likable person, Jane. You're a likable person, when you want to be."

"Don't play dumb. I mean like like as in you wanna know what kind of panties she wears," Jane shot.

"Well, given the lack of a pantie line at times, I'd suggest there are days she wears none," the younger detective pointed out.

Jane felt something boil inside her. Was it purely an anger to defend her friend's honor? No...there was something more to it and Jane couldn't allow herself to think on it further. "Regardless, Cooper? She's straight. No need wasting your time."

Riley shot a little glance to Jane. "You're really so sure about that, detective?"

"Of course. She's my best friend. She tells me everything. Too much, sometimes, really."

Cooper was far from convinced. "So you think how you two are is um...just normal, best friend behavior? Because I've seen here undress you more times than I can count. And the eye-sex?"

Jane waved her hand. "Whoa. Again, Maura is straight. Whatever you think you're seeing, you're not. Just focus on the case, Det. Dirty Mind."

"Alright." With that, silence fell over the car.

Fortunately and unfortunately for Jane, they were at the crime scene. She knew Riley would be checking out Maura any chance she got. Might even find reasons to be overly 'helpful' and stand closely by.

"Jane," Maura looked up.

Jane came over, putting on some evidence gloves. "What have we got, doc?" She looked at Maura. "Looks like she was dragged here," Jane pointed out as she went to look at the victims personal effects.

"It's all been photographed and logged into evidence," Maura stated.

Jane crouched down, seeing the woman's wallet. "Katie Randal, 32. ATM's here. We can scratch robbery. Did you find what was used to beat her?" She asked a random cop on the scene.

"Not yet," he replied.

Maura opened the bodybag showing more of the victim. She stopped, noting the victim's skirt. "Vintage. She had a flare for clothes."

"She was sexually assaulted," Jane pointed out.

"Reddish-brown stains on the thighs and external genitalia," Maura noted. .

"I hear an echo," Jane teased.

Maura gave her one of her cute, 'oh really,' looks and Jane quickly refocused back on the case.

"She's married. Her pager's totatled."

Maura corrected. "It's not a pager. It's a glucose management system; insulin pump. She was diabetic." She looked at the victim's hands, specifically her fingertips. "Huh. Yep. Needle sticks. She probably had to check her glucose level five to ten times a day." She reached inside the victim's purse and found a small journal. "She kept careful records. Her last glucose reading was over 400."

Jane looked over. "Is that good or bad?"

"It's extremely high," Maura explained.

Still unsure, Jane requestioned. "Is that good or bad?"

"Bad. She wasn't getting an insulin. She probably had slurred speech, trouble walking," Maura further explained.

"Explains why there's no defensive wounds. She couldn't fight back. The murder weapon has a rectangular edge on it," Jane called out to Riley.

"I can't confirm that," Maura rebuffed.

"Cooper? We're lookin for a 2x4."

Just as Jane called it out, Cooper held one up with a huge blood stain. "Cooper, we're lookin for an idiot."

Riley handed the wood off to a crime scene tech. "That your way of sayin you want to talk to the husband?"

Jane shook her head. "What's that say about relationships if the husbands or the boyfriends are the first suspects?"

Meanwhile, Maura found the woman's iPad and turned it on.

Cooper grinned. "Are you getting ready for an 'I Hate Men' speech?"

"I like men," Jane countered. "Just not the ones that kill."

"Jane, it may not be the husband," Maura pointed out as she handed Jane the iPad.

Looking, Jane mused. "Because she didn't have a husband."

"Anything else I can give you a hand with, Dr. Isles?" Riley asked with a smile.

Maura stood. "I'm fine, detective. We just have to get the body back to the morgue and I'll get working on a full autopsy."

"Keep us posted, Maur," Jane took off her gloves and tossed them into a garbage. "Come on, Riley. We've gotta go look for leads and notify the wife."

"If you need anything, Dr. Isles, I'm always happy to lend a hand. And I do mean anything." Riley added before being pulled off by Jane.

This time Jane got into the driver's seat. When Riley got in, she glared at the detective. "Again, Cooper, she's straight. Just knock it off. She's also a colleague. You don't fuck coworkers. It's just bad practice."

"Whoa. Someone's a little territorial," the detective pointed out. "Didn't realize I was stepping on your toes, Jane. I mean, you keep insisting you're just friends."

"We are!" She huffed.

"Then why do you care if I make a failed pass at her or not? Unless you're scared I won't fail and deep down you really have feelings for her?" Cooper prodded.

"Shut it, Cooper. Just focus on the damned case and get your nose out of my pants!"

The woman shot a glance. "Maybe if someone had more than a nose in your pants more often you'd be a little more calm. Yoga's certainly not doing it."

Taking Maura's info, especially finding the club stamp, Jane and Riley headed over to question the owner.

"Been there a lot, Jane?" Riley asked.

"Probably less than you," she shot back.

Riley chuckled. "Actually, I like a few other places better. The Merch's clients tend to be stuffy white ladies."

"Good to know," Jane replied.

The interview was routine. The owner couldn't say for sure when the victim left or if she left with anyone. The only odd thing was the woman had shown the two a flier from what appeared to be a hate group.

Jane and Riley took the flier and headed out thinking they now had a new lead in the case.

That night everyone was finally heading out. They were nowhere near closing anything. Riley was taking one last look at the victim's picture and looked over to Jane. Maura had come up to say her 'goodnight' but Riley stopped her.

"Dr. Isles? Don't you think Jane kind of looks like our vic?"

Maura looked at the dating profiles Katie had and the images and then looked to Jane.

Just then, Korsak walked in. "What's going on?"

"I was asking Dr. Isles if she saw what I did? Jane and our victim look a lot alike."

The man took a look at the pictures as well and got an idea. "That they do. It'd be a shame to waste an opportunity like that."

"What? No." Jane protested, catching on to what the duo were thinking.

"We could try and bait a trap," Riley said.

Korsak followed up. "Post the same kind of message Katie did? Attract the same kind of woman see if we get DNA?"

"How? Stick a fork in 'em?" Jane questioned.

"Buy them a drink and take the glass." Korsak answered.

Cooper nodded. "The club owner seemed like she'd cooperate. Jane could possibly, wear a wire."

Jane took a moment but then waved her hand. "No, no. I am not going to troll for lesbian dates on the random chance we catch a killer."

"You'd troll for those dates on your own, Rizzoli," Riley called after her.

Maura followed after Jane. "I know it doesn't seem ideal to you, or it's underhanded, but it could break the case, Jane."

Jane looked to her friend and tried to be gentle. "Maura, come on. How would you feel if this were a straight case as you resembled the vic so we asked you to do it?"

She thought for a moment. "In the search for justice, I wouldn't feel there was any other option. We need to find the perpetrator. Deep down, you know that."

"I know, Maura. I know," Jane sighed heavily. "Don' you have dinner plans with your sister? Get on outta here. I'm going to go grab a beer at take Jo for a walk."

"Alright, Jane. Call me later?"

Jane smiled. "Of course, Maura. Have a good dinner."

"Thank you, Jane." She smiled and headed off.

Maura pulled up to Caitlin's just after 6. She rang the bell and two excited voices shrieked.

"Aunt Maura's here! Aunt Maura's here!" They called out.

"Back, my little beasts," Caitlin teased. The children laughed and moved back. "Welcome to the zoo," she grinned as she opened the door.

Maura came in and smiled. "Thank you, Kate." The twins began rushing to their aunt.

"Ryan? Max? Did you wash your hands?"

The girls looked at their hands and showed their mother in unison. "Yes, mommy."

Maura waved her hand . "It's fine, Kate. Clothes are meant to get dirty." She knelt down and hugged her nieces. "Hello, girls. How are you?"

Max answered first, "I'm good, aunt Maura... Ryan is being a brat though!"

"Am not!" Ryan pouted.

"Are too. You took my doll. Brat!"

"Max," Kate chided. "We don't call names. Please apologize to your sister."

"Fine." Max huffed, "Sorry, Ryan."

Ryan looked triumphant. "Accepted!"

"Ryan," Kate turned her attention. "Did you take your sister's doll without asking? And remember. mommy does not appreciate lying."

The little girl looked down. "I was just borrowing it!"

"Ryan Marie! That is not what I asked."

"Yes, mommy. I did." She finally confessed.

"Now apologize to sister," Kate instructed.

"I'm sorry, Max."

"Now hug, please. You two are sisters. Someday you're all you'll have." The girls didn't want to but they hugged at their mother's instance. "Thank you. Now please go wash up, it's dinner time."

Maura chuckled as they wandered to the bathroom. "Have you ever wondered if we would have been like that?"

Kate smiled as she got to the sink washing her own hands. "I bet we would have. Ryan reminds me a lot of you. Very quiet. Loves to read. Always asking questions."

Maura nodded. "I'd noticed. And Max is more like you as a child?"

"Well, I wasn't as rambunctious. My mother didn't allow it. Had to be the good little girl, never mess up my dress." Kate recalled.

"You and Jane would have been complete opposites," Maura smiled. "Hated wearing dresses. Always played the knight in shining armor."

"Well, I could have been a damsel in distress," Kate noted with a smile. She began plating the salad first.

Maura watched taking cues from her sisters actions. She seemed overly happy at the idea a younger Jane would have rode in to save her from something. "May I give you a hand?"

Kate waved her off. "Please, grab a glass of wine. I'm fine. Speaking of Jane, how is work going?"

"We have a new case. I'll discuss it with you further when the girls are down."

"Ah, sure. Good idea," Kate nodded as she set the plates on the table. The girls came trudging in happily, now seeming the best of friends.

"Aunt Maura? Did I show you my new book?" Ryan asked, taking a seat near her aunt.

"You did not. The last one you showed me was about Marie Curie. What is your new one, darling?"

"It's about science, this one has all of these pictures and explanations. It's got everything! It's like an encyc-... Encyclo... Um..." Ryan frowned trying to get the word out. "Those books about everything?"

"En-cy-clo-pedia," Maura slowly stated gently. "Generally they contain information on a lot of subjects at once but they aren't quite the books on everything," she smiled. "But it can seem like they are, can't it?"

"It can. Mama?" She turned her attention to Kate, "may I show Aunt Maura my book?"

"After dinner, sweetheart? Please."

Maura smiled. "Your mother made an amazing meal. Let's enjoy first. I'll be here until well after you go to bed, okay?"

"Okay." Ryan nodded, and leaned over to hug Maura. "I like having you around."

Maura smiled broader hugging her niece. "I love being around. I'll try making more time, I promise. How are you doing, Max?"

"I'm fine!" Max smiled, "I'm busy with my toys. Aunt Maura? I don't have science books, but will you come look at some of my drawings later? I know you like science, but I don't." She shrugged.

Maura moved for a moment and kissed Max on the cheek. "Do you remember I told you one time my mother is an artist? I love many, many things. And I love you and your sister equally. I can't picture my life without either of you. You don't have to love science. When I was your age, and even now, I didn't love talking to lots of people. It made me very nervous. But you're both my favorites, hands up, okay?"

Kate felt her heart swell watching how well her sister really did do with her kids. "T-that's hands down, Maura. She loves you both, hands down, the best." She clarified for the girls.

"I like the way aunt Maura said it. Hands up, mama!" Max chuckled.

"Maybe that's all. I just need to talk to children. They understand me," Maura smiled to her sister. "But now, let's get to eating before this wonderful food gets cold, right?"

She went back to her seat. "Thank you again, Kate."

Kate reached a hand for Maura's and squeezed it. "Thank you for being as amazing an aunt as I'd always hoped. If not more so," she smiled.

"I'm sitting beside of Maura!" Ryan hopped to move chairs.

"I wanna sit with her." Max pouted. "She loves me hands up, remember?"

"My loves, I love you both the same. And my darling Ryan, you're not like me. You're like you, and that is what makes you perfect," she kissed her cheek. "We'll all cuddle and read Ryan's book and look at Max's pictures soon, right?"

"Right." Both girls answered in unison.

Everyone ate the meal, chatting happily. As it finished, Kate began picking up the plates. "That was wonderful, thank you again," Maura stated as she began helping.

"Please. Like I said, I'm just happy to have another adult. I'd have made dinner anyway. Girls? Go clean yourselves up. Time for baths and the Aunt Maura will spend time with you."

They happily and excitedly left from the table running to start the bath.

"So, tell me more about this case," Kate smiled.

Maura thought as she set the remaining food on the stove and went for containers to put it in. "Well, our victim is a professional woman. 32. Married."

"Husband did it?" Kate interjected.

"You know I don't guess. However, she's married to a woman. Jane and Riley are digging. The woman was also seeing other women outside of her marriage. In fact, that's an avenue Jane is going undercover to explore."

Kate began rinsing the dishes and putting them into the washer. "How's she going to do that?"

"Well, she bares a striking resemblance to the victim. Sargent Korsak and Det. Cooper are building her dating profiles using the same information the victim did hoping to attract similar women."

Kate looked at Maura for a moment. "But she is a lesbian. So it's not really undercover, right?"

"Well, she does not use dating sites, to my knowledge."

"That one wouldn't have to," Kate shook her head smiling.

Maura couldn't help but notice how her sister spoke about Jane. "Kate?"

"Yes, Maura?"

The woman brought the now-empty serving dishes over to Kate. "This woman you have feelings for," she paused. "Is it Jane?"

Kate blushed deeply but tried to shrug it off. "What? Jane? No! Of course not."

Before Maura could point out how she felt Kate was protesting too much, the girls called out. "All done, mommy!"

"It's not Jane, I assure you, Maura. I'll be back." She went to get the girls finished and into their pj's.

"Aunt Maura! Come read to us?" Ryan called out, "please?"

Maura dried her hands and wandered into her nieces room. "Max is going to show me her pictures first and then we will, darling."

"Ugh, okay..." Ryan rolled her eyes.

Max smiled brightly, grabbing a handful of her papers. "Here you go, auntie." She grinned.

Maura took them, sitting in a small chair, one of the girls, and looking at them. "Well, this is lovely. What a good use of color," she noted. "And I see here...a house?"

"Yes! It's a house, and there is you, and Bass. That picture is actually for you. You still have Bass, right?"

"I do. I'll have to have you all over to see him. He's just as big as before. He's fully grown and like grown people, he doesn't get any bigger or smaller. I love this. Thank you," she hugged Max and kissed her cheek. "I will put it up in my office. Are we all ready for that story?"

"Yes!" Both girls exclaimed.

Maura got up and put them into the same bed this time. "This is the book, Ryan?" She picked up the one the girl was holding.

"Yes. That's it." Ryan smiled.

"I don't wanna hear about science though." Max frowned.

"I'll try and make it fun," Maura smiled. In no time both girls were fast asleep. She kissed each girls forehead and turned off their lamp. She set the book on the nightstand and headed back out to her sister. "They are asleep," she smiled.

Kate looked up from her tablet. "Thank you," she smiled. "It feels like forever since I've had a moment with them home where I could just sit and read a paragraph of my own book."

Maura nodded and sat down. "I can understand."

"So, does Jane have an idea of motive for the murder, yet?"

Slightly jarred by the conversation change, Maura took a moment. "Oh. Not totally. I found evidence the victim's glucose pump was tampered with which would explain her state of diminished capacity. "Korsak found the wife's aliby to be solid. Of course to Jane that doesn't mean a lot. Scientifically speaking it doesn't, either.

"That makes sense. In a lot of crime novels I've read, sometimes the spouse hires someone, or they have a lover who does it. That kind of thing. Lots of ways to make that Rubic cube fit. But Jane going undercover on dates to hopefully bait out the killer?" Kate chuckled. "That seems like a long shot."

"It's the best they feel they have at the moment. It could have very well been some woman the victim met up with found out she was married and exacted revenge. As you pointed out, many ways this could have happened. I don't mean to ruin anything, I am feeling a bit tired. I should probably go check on Bass as well."

Kate smiled and stood. "No problem, sis. I'm just glad you could come by. I know the girls adore you and were thrilled."

She grabbed her bag and headed to the door with her sister. "I'll try doing better at coming by. I love them so much. And they're getting so big!" She hugged Kate tightly. "I love you as well, Caitlin," Maura smiled warmly.

"We all love you too, Maura. Drive safely. Text me when you're home?"

Maura nodded and smiled. "Of course. Goodnight." It felt silly to her to an extent. She was a grown woman yet her sister wanted to be alerted she was home safely. On the other hand, it was a welcomed feeling; being cared for and loved.