"One more time?" Harriet frustratedly paced around her small office as Maura tapped the coded digits of Rachel's note into the computer.
"Harriet. You know there's nothing there. You're… you're wearing yourself down." Maura watched her friend, who continued to pace about the room like a caged lion. "You need a break from this. I… I've been where you are and you need to take care of yourself. This"- she gestured to the scrappy, scribbled notes strewn around the overworked computer on Harriet's desk- "this is enough to break a person."
Harriet shrugged. "I don't know what else to do."
Maura sighed. Harriet, she had found, was just as stubborn as Jane. They had the same fire, the same determination, and Maura knew it came from a good place.
She knew she wasn't going to be able to convince her friend to give up. And she didn't want to. But she had to do something.
They needed a break.
"Come on" Maura said, holding her friend gently around the arm as she pulled her out of the office and towards her bedroom. "Comfy clothes. Sports bra. Jacket. Sneakers." Harriet raised an inquisitive eyebrow as Maura walked down the landing to her own bedroom.
"You need a break. We're going for a run."
Throwing on the running tights and top-of-the-range shoes from her suitcase, Maura took a breath. She knew she was also guilty of letting Rachel's murder take over, but it was better than facing the reality of her own life. Her running gear, clean after Harriet had insisted on washing all of her clothes, was bought especially for Paris. For Paris with Jane.
Pulling her hair out of her face and into a ponytail, Maura did some light stretches in front of her bedroom door. If Harriet wasn't allowed to think about the murder during this run, Maura wasn't going to let herself think about Jane.
The September air was just cool enough for a jacket. As the women jogged gently away from Harriet's front door, Maura smiled at the sensation of the cold air rushing across her cheeks. "It's good to be doing this again".
Although it had been over a decade since they last ran together, the two women quickly found a comfortable pace. Term hadn't started yet and, without the onslaught of students, their route to the park was quiet. Maura followed Harriet down one of the many winding paths of Oxford's South Park, admiring the view of the city's skyline as they ran.
Their route took them through the main body of the park, across the busy main road and into Headington Hill Park on the other side. Climbing the steep hill at a jog, Harriet pointed out a bench at the top. "Just… need a minute."
Slowing to a walk before sitting down, the two women caught their breath. "You okay?" Maura asked her friend while she readjusted her ponytail. Harriet nodded and leaned back. "I feel good. This was a good idea. Thank you."
Harriet's eyes met Maura's and both women smiled, lost for a moment in one another. "You know" Harriet broke the silence, "Maybe I should call Rachel's old supervisor. He might be able to shed some light on her work. I mean, in more detail than we can. I might make it easier, you know, to share the load."
Maura nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Okay, now no more thinking about Rachel. You count your fore-foot strike and breathe, that's all. This is supposed to be an exercise in switching off. Ready?" Harriet stood to join Maura, who was already bouncing on her feet and stretching her arms.
Maura took off. "Race you home!"
Shaking her head and laughing, Harriet quickly followed.
The two women were side by side by the time they reached the turning for Harriet's street. With a quick glance, both set off at a sprint. Pushing to beat her friend, Maura used all her physical knowledge to drive her body, ignoring every ache and sign of fatigue until she got to the front door.
Harriet appeared moments later, a gleaming key in her hand. "First one to the shower wins" she said with a mischievous glint in her eye. "And I have the key." Pushing Maura out of the way, she quickly unlocked the door and stepped into the house. Maura- never one to be underestimated- powered past her and up the stairs.
At the bathroom door, she pushed her arms into the woodwork to block her friend from entering. "Nope. Not getting past" Maura laughed. "I'm winning this time."
Harriet pressed herself against her friend and pushed with her body. The bathroom door opened inwards and both women fell to the floor. Maura, still panting, laughed at the sight of the red-faced woman resting inches above her on her muscular forearms. Reaching out, Maura touched the base of the shower with one finger, her eyes never leaving Harriet's.
"I win."
Harriet's eyes darkened, swallowing Maura into their gaze. She gulped, her mouth dry, as her friend moved closer.
Her eyes were drawn down to her lips, unmoving as she reached out to cradle her hand gently around the back of her friend's head. Harriet's eyes fluttered closed at the contact. Her lips parted, moving ever closer.
As Harriet's face eclipsed hers, Maura's mind went blank. Leaning in, she gave in to her body and allowed herself to succumb to this moment. Her lips pressed against soft flesh and, quickly, she felt her frustrations begin to ebb away. Harriet leaned closer, her body now pressed firmly against Maura's as her hands travelled to rest on the doctor's hips as their lips continued to move together.
"Mmm" Harriet murmured as Maura's tongue gently grazed her open lips. Pressing into her, she let her body move of its own accord, her hips moving lower, grinding against Maura's hot centre.
"Oh" Maura broke away to throw her head back, allowing Harriet's kisses to travel down to the most sensitive part of her neck, her fingernails grazing at the sensitive scalp hidden beneath a waterfall of honey blonde curls.
"Oh"
"Oh, don't stop".
"Oh, Jane."
AN: Thank you for all the follows and reviews! I hope you guys are enjoying reading as much as I'm enjoying writing!
Please review; I will reply to any questions!