"Tell me what we know so far."

Maura breathed a sigh of relief as Jane switched her focus.

"I'm here to help, Maura. Solving these things… it's what we do best."

"So, our victim Rachel Maloney was poisoned. I don't know what with, but I know she died a painful death."

"Can you get the autopsy report?"

Maura nodded. "I've been promised. I'll follow up tomorrow."

"Okay. So Rachel died the night before she was due to speak at a conference. In Bedford. In a hotel."

"Yes, and I don't understand why she was there. She had to have been meeting somebody; it wouldn't make sense to stay there otherwise."

"And she had been a witness to another murder, which is why she was a CI."

"Martin Richards. His mother and her first husband were both employed at Bletchley; I don't have the details, but he's our Mercurius connection. Well, his mother's first husband, but he's been dead a long time."

"And the FBI found planted evidence in Martin's house from all sorts of operations. So he's a big link. What do we know about him?"

"Not much."

"Would you be able to request his autopsy report as well?" Jane asked, her mind working quicker than it had in over a month.

"I can try."

Jane's phone rang in her pocket. Picking it up, she couldn't hide her smile as she answered just as she always had.

"Rizzoli."

"Jane, it's Agent O'Neill."

"Oh, hello sir. I… I wasn't expecting to hear from you. How can I help?"

"Quit the bullshit, Rizzoli. I have eyes everywhere and I know you've gone to Oxford. Dr Isles is already there, so I'm pretty sure you're not just taking a vacation."

"No… no sir."

"Jane, I'm working alongside the British police on this. It's an international operation but we've got nothing. No new leads, no communications from any of the suspects from the Martin Richards murder."

"Sir, have you picked up any communications about Mercurius? It… it's a machine Martin Richards' father built at Bletchley. Just a hunch, but it could be connected."

"Not that I know of. Look, I've spoken to your old bosses. I know I can't keep you away from this; but please promise me you'll stay safe."

"I will, sir." Jane took a moment to acknowledge the informal approval from the FBI. "Thank you, sir."

"Keep me informed, Rizzoli. If you find anything, let us know."

"I will."

"Excellent. And Rizzoli?"

Jane took a breath. "Yes, sir?"

"Agent Davies sends his regards."

/

"So, where are we now?"

Jane forced herself to focus on the case, ignoring the repeating voice of Agent O'Neill in her head as the pair made their way back through the city towards her hotel. Maura, of course, had overheard his comment, but was choosing not to say anything.

"I need to see some autopsy reports. Harriet was going to email a professor friend from the university again and ask if he knew anything about Mercurius. He knows more about this stuff than any of us. I don't know if she's heard back from him. I haven't spoken to her since…"

Jane nodded in acknowledgement. "Since I arrived?"

"I should probably go back and speak to her. I'll let her know about Agent O'Neill. Would… would you like to come back and meet her properly?"

Jane shook her head. "I should probably head back to the hotel. I haven't slept since leaving DC. Plus, you guys need time to talk."

"Okay. Well, I'll call you later?"

Jane nodded. "Of course. I'll be around."

They didn't hug. Not really. In Boston, when they saw one another every day, it wasn't necessary to embrace one another to say hello or goodbye. But here, in a foreign country, in the middle of the street, their arms found one another.

Maura breathed deeply, taking in Jane's familiar scent and allowing it to wash over her body and relax every muscle. "Thank you for coming. It… it means a lot." Her voice was stoic and honest.

Leaning down, Jane pressed a subtle kiss to Maura's hairline.

"Always."

As she watched her friend walk away, Maura's brain resumed its lightning-fast pace.

"Focus", she whispered to herself as her legs carried her out of the city and up the hill towards Harriet's house. "One step at a time."

/

Harriet was sat quietly reading on the couch when Maura entered.

"Where's Jane?"

Maura pulled off her shoes and removed her jacket before joining her friend in the living room and answering her question.

"She's in her hotel. Jet lag finally caught up with her."

"Did you talk to her?"

Maura sat heavily on the armchair across from her friend.

"About the case?"

"About what happened."

"I… no."

"Maura" Harriet's warning stare burned as she caught Maura's eyes. "You need to talk to her."

"I do. But not now. You need me. Rachel needs us."

"As soon as this is over, you need to talk to her. It's not healthy. You can't live like that."

"Harriet?" Maura watched as her friend lowered her paper to meet her gaze. "Do you… regret what we did?"

Harriet shook her head and smiled. "Not at all. But it's out of our systems now. I'll be honest, Maura. I enjoyed it. I know you did too. But I can walk away knowing it didn't mean anything for me. And, judging by the fact that you called me Jane the entire night, I'm going to assume that you feel the same."

Maura flinched at the sound of her friend's name. Gathering her thoughts, she answered.

"I… I do."

"Cup of tea?" Harriet rose from her seat, placing a friendly hand on Maura's shoulder.

"Yes please."

Allowing herself to sink unceremoniously into the soft armchair, Maura sighed heavily. Her shoulders slumped as she allowed her body to respond to her exhaustion, her confusion, her helplessness.

Too exhausted to get up and ease her discomfort with some yoga poses, Maura simply sat and stared. For one night, she rationalised, it was easier to ignore the world and switch off.

Just for one night.