*Sorry I have been MIA for the last few weeks but I have been battling a particularly bad case of bronchitis which didn't respond to the first round of antibiotics that made me sicker in the long run. But I am finally on the mend and mostly caught up with all of the things that I couldn't do while I was sick. Thanks for being patient and I hope you all enjoy this chapter…things should be back on schedule and I should be posting on a more regular basis. Happy Spring to everyone!

Chapter 13

Will you still love me tomorrow?

Water cascaded down Jane's neck and across her shoulders as she attempted to wash away the dirt and grim from the last few days. Standing under the hot, steady stream with her hands placed out in front of her against the tiled wall, she let out a heavy sigh. She had been plagued by uncertainty since she and Frankie had parted ways and with that came an underlying sadness that weighted heavily on her mind. It had never occurred to her that while she was off playing the hero, Frankie had been left home to try and console their mother alone.

Dropping her head down so her dark, wet hair fell around her face shielding her eyes from the water that now ran down to the end of her chin, she took a deep shuttering breath. With a morbid curiosity, she watched as soapy liquid pooled at her feet before disappearing down the drain in almost the same way that the life they had all come to know had suddenly disappeared.

Hot steam filled her lungs as she took another deep breath through her nose before exhaling loudly through her mouth. The sting in her chest was a welcome sensation because it meant she hadn't gone numb with the pain she felt in her heart. With a shaky hand, she pushed her hair back and allowed the water to hit her full in the face. She winced slightly when the bruise on her cheek ached. Her muscles had been sore and full of tension when she had stepped into the shower earlier but as the hot water continued to beat against her back and shoulders she could feel the stress beginning to ebb away. The raw emotions that had twisted in her stomach now gave way to relief that was accompanied by the pins and needles that were traveling up and down her arms. Even though her energy was depleted, she felt invigorated by the thought of seeing Maura again.

Tilting her head back one more time, she allowed the water to roll down into her eyes before reaching over to turn the faucet off. As she stood surround by steam, she inhaled deeply in an effort to clear her mind. Thoughts of Maura and the things they had shared years ago floated through her mind. Images of the times they had shared their bodies, minds, and hearts flickered behind her closed eyes before landing on a moment she knew she would never forget.

Jane had been particularly moody the day she had driven her truck up to visit Maura at BU. Her heart ached because she knew it would be her last visit. Her intention had been to end things quickly and return to her own dorm to wallow in her self-pity for the rest of the weekend…alone. But whatever Gods were looking down on her in that moment had other ideas and she wasn't quite sure if they had decided to curse or take pity on her. When she pulled up in front of Maura's dorm, her eyes fell on the radiant profile of the woman she knew she wasn't ready to let go of just yet.

Maura had been sitting at a picnic table unaware of Jane's presence, a book laid out open in front of her with the sun at her back. It had been late in the afternoon and there was just the slightest bit of chill in the air as the sun dipped down past several buildings casting long shadows that seemed to flank the picnic table but missing Maura where she sat.

Jane sat in her truck watching Maura, wishing she could stop time and stay there forever. The image before her was breathtaking causing tears to well up in her eyes. Blinking a few times to try and stop the flow that had already begun, she realized that Maura would eventually notice she was there and it would break the spell. Through watery eyes, she watched Maura tilt her head just enough to allow the sun light to touch her face, giving the illusion that she was glowing. Her eyes were closed and her chin was resting in the palm of her hand giving her a relaxed look, something that had been rare as of late.

As Jane continued to watch, she suddenly made a decision. She would not allow herself to be a source of pain for Maura, at least not that day because there would always be tomorrow. With a renewed sense of purpose, she wiped the tears from her damp cheeks and took a deep breath in an attempt to slow down her rapidly beating heart. She would do her best to leave everything behind her for the next twenty-four hours as she set out to worship the woman she loved. And she did worship Maura the best way she knew how before the sun rose the next day forcing her to walk out of Maura's life and into her own personal hell.

When the air around her grew less heavy and the steam dissipated, Jane came back to the present. She pulled a towel from the hook outside the shower and wrapped it around her waist before grabbing a second towel to dry her hair. She squeezed long strands to get rid of the excess water before wrapping the towel around her head. When she was done, she looked at her blurred image in the fogged over mirror.

Even though the steam had mostly disappeared, a hot, wet humidity still clung to the air weighing her down with its intensity. She reached up with her left hand and wiped the mirror so she could see herself better and in so doing, she caught a glimpse of the scar on the back of her hand. Suddenly she felt apprehensive. What had happened to her at the hands of a mad man named Charles Hoyt haunted her every day and she had both the emotional and physical scars to prove it. Her eyes dropped down to the two scars over the top of her breasts before her gaze traveled down further to the ones on her stomach.

As she started at her refection and the reminders of those three days that remained etched into her skin, a shiver ran down her spin at the prospect of having to tell Maura what had happened to her. There had been so much more to her story than what the Boston Glove had reported, thanks to Korsak and Lieutenant Cavanaugh. But she still dreaded having to tell Maura the small details that no one else but a select few knew. The existence of several very precise and precariously placed scalpel cuts were the visible scars she bared, the scars that Maura would eventually see.

She reached up and touched one such reminder, running her index finger over the slightly raised white line that ran across the top of her right breast. She would never be able to forget the hoarse whisper in her ear that laid out a plan for her demise. "Death by a thousand cuts…" Charles Hoyt had promised as he ran his razor sharp scalpel over her tender skin, tearing it open in a fiery trail of almost unbearable pain. But she did bare it without so much as a whimper or a tear to indicate how much he was hurting her. She knew she would die before giving him the satisfaction of seeing her as broken as she had felt. Eventually she stopped feeling the pain and her body slipped into shock by the blood loss from her impaled hands. It had been after about the fifteenth cut that she lost count as she drifted in and out of consciousness. The feeling of the cold steel blade skimming across the skin along her stomach had been the last thing she remembered before waking up in the hospital.

As she continued to unwillingly relive those days of horror, her finger moved to trace along another scar, this one slightly longer than the first. Each one had its own story to tell. Each one unique in its own way and she knew she was going to have explain them to Maura. Watching herself in the mirror, she couldn't help but wonder what Maura would think of her body now that it was war torn and weathered from her experiences. Would Maura still find her desirable? Would Maura still want her? Could Maura accept her, scars and all? She let out a heavy sigh and shook her head before a brooding mood could take over. The thought that Maura wouldn't be seeing her naked anytime soon relieved and saddened her at the same time. She both dreaded and looked forward to the day she could finally reveal her whole self to Maura.

Her eyes lingered on the thin white line between her breasts. Most of the cuts had been superficial, just breaking the skin enough to draw blood but the ones that had left visible scars ran deeper, just as Hoyt had intended them to. With a new resolve, she took another deep breath and willed the tears from coming. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction. "I won't let what you did to me haunt me for the rest of my life…" Her fingers ran along the final scar over her stomach. "I own these, not you…" The words hissed out through her gritted teeth.

Frowning at her refection and the direction her thoughts were taking, she refused to allow the memories of her ordeal at the hands of a mad man taint the evening she had planned with Maura. With a renewed sense of excitement, she made the decision to straighten her hair because she knew Maura couldn't resist running her fingers through it and she would take any advantage she could at this point. With a nod of her head, she gave her reflection a crooked smile as she set about getting ready.

When Jane stepped out of the bathroom, her hair was as dry and straight as it was going to get. The ends had resisted her attempts with the straightening iron leaving gentle curls that bounced around her shoulders each time she moved. It left her looking less fierce than usual, but she had to admit that she liked the way it softened the hard angles of her face.

Several pairs of jeans and shirts lay scattered across her bed and she was glad that she had called Maura earlier to tell her to dress casual. She picked up the faded denim 501's that were her favorite and then a white cotton oxford with a black tank top to wear underneath. With a nod of her head she consented to what she had picked out and then set about to pick out what she was going to wear underneath. She started to rummage through her underwear drawer looking for her black push-up bra and panties that matched. Even though she knew there was a slim to no chance of Maura seeing what she was wearing underneath her clothes and that they matched, the fact that she knew gave her a slight boost in confidence. When she had everything lined up, she slipped her tank top over her head before slipping her arms into the freshly ironed shirt and a surge of excitement rolled around in her stomach. She buttoned up, leaving three undone to allow the push up bra to do what it was intended to do, give a glimpse of her ample cleavage. If memory served her correctly, Maura was a breast woman so why not highlight one her best assets.

With a goofy grin on her face, Jane finished getting dressed as thoughts of the times she had caught Maura admiring her favorite body part flashed in her mind. Deep down inside, Jane knew that Maura would still find her body attractive and even though she knew nothing would happen yet, she couldn't help but want to give Maura a peek of what she hoped was to come.

It had been a long, boring afternoon trying to catch up on paper work and by the time four o'clock rolled around Maura was more than ready to go home. Having spent a Saturday afternoon in her office hadn't really bothered Maura, what had bothered her were the thoughts of Jane and their impending date for that evening. She was both excited and a little afraid of what the night held for them. It had been one of the reasons she had decided to go to work in the first place. The idea of doing boring paperwork appealed more to her than the running commentary that played through her mind about why she needed to be particularly careful when it came to being alone with Jane.

She got through the day for the most part without having images of Jane chase her down. But if she were honest with herself, she'd realize the truth for what it was and that was that she couldn't stop herself from thinking of Jane, so she eventually quite trying.

It wasn't until she found herself standing in her closet trying to decide what she should wear that she realized she had somehow made it home without much thought as to how. She knew that she had driven herself, but what she didn't know was exactly when she had engaged her auto-pilot. It wasn't something she did often as she prided herself on living in the here and now but she just couldn't stop her thoughts from drifting.

As her muddled mind tried to make sense of her uncharacteristic lapse in concentration, her eyes continued to wander over the clothes hanging in her closet. She was thankful that Jane had called her earlier to tell her to dress casual because it made it much easier for her to decide. Reaching for her loose fitting khaki Capri pants and a black silk shirt with gold embroidery along the collar she carried them to her bed. With that decision made, she pulled out her black Milano heels knowing they would surely give her the edge she would need over Jane if she were to get through the evening without losing herself to the charm she knew that she had never been able to resist. With a smug smile, she glanced over the ensemble with an approving nod before heading to the bathroom to take a shower.

When Maura finally reemerged from the bathroom, she was feeling more ready than she had been earlier. Her desire to forgive Jane and push past all of the hurt they had caused each other was her number one priority. She did however, realize that she would eventually have to explain what role she played in Jane's recovery as well as her continued relationships with Angela, Carly, and Ryan, but that would have to wait until the foundation of their friendship had been rebuilt.

As she slipped into her silk shirt, a shiver ran through her body as the memory of Jane's lips moving over her neck a few days ago suddenly grabbed a hold of her. She knew her weaknesses and so did Jane. She also knew it wouldn't have taken much to break the resolve of that false bravado she tried so hard to hide behind. Thank goodness Jane had had the sense to pull back before either of them made a mistake that would have set them back. Wrapping her arms around herself in an effort to ease her nerves she let out a heavy sigh. She had wanted so much more in that moment as she stood at the kitchen sink with Jane pressed against her that an overwhelming desire had almost dissolved her common sense. With another heavy sigh she tried to push back the worry that she was about to engage in the same struggle that would surely present itself again on their date.

"Is this the same pizza parlor that Frankie used to work at when we first met?" Maura looked around at the familiar surroundings that seemed less familiar than she remembered.

"Um…yeah…but…" Jane gave a sheepish grin and shrug of her shoulders as she led Maura up to the door of the restaurant. "I forgot they changed it into a Mexican restaurant…" She hesitated for a moment before stopping in the doorway and turning to Maura. "We can go somewhere else…I just thought it would be a nice start…ya know…reliving a good memory…"

"No…this is fine. I love Mexican food and I'm a sucker for a good margarita on the rocks…" Maura took one of Jane's hands giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"'Kay…I hear they have a pretty good margarita…" Jane reached over to hold the door open for Maura. She couldn't stop herself from admiring the view as she followed Maura inside. The casual look had always looked good on Maura and Jane concluded that it was a rarity these days for Maura to dress down for comfort alone. A small grin graced her lips as she recalled the moment that Maura had opened her front door and both of them stood mute at the others appearance. Jane had been right about leaving three buttons undone because Maura's eyes had drifted over her before her gaze finally came to rest on the ample cleavage that Jane made sure was visible.

"What's that smile for?" Maura tilted her head to the side in a way that indicated she was curious about something.

"Ummm…I'll tell you later…" Jane's voice was low and husky as she gently pushed past Maura to lead them to a booth in the back.

With a slight huff, Maura hesitated as she watched Jane walk away. The brief pause gave her a moment to take in the faded blue jeans that hung low on Jane's hips and the slight sway that caused her heart to race. The sway was something new, something that Maura had never seen before. It was a combination of a confident strut with the barest hint of femininity that indicated Jane was very comfortable with who she was. As Maura followed Jane to the booth, she marveled at how much each of them had changed over the years but one thing remained the same, there was still a magnetic attraction between them that caused the air to crackle and sizzle whenever they got close to each other.

"So…what'll you have?" Jane asked as she settled in the seat across from Maura. "To drink…?" She smiled when she saw that Maura wasn't quite sure what she was asking.

"Oh, I'll have a Texas gold margarita on the rocks please…no salt." Maura said as she lifted the menu up in a casual attempt to appear as if she was perusing her choices.

"I'll have a Tecate with a slice of lime…" Jane looked up at the waitress who was writing their order down. "And I guess we'll need a minute to figure out what we want to eat…"

With a nod the waitress disappeared to get their drinks leaving them alone to look over the menus. The silence between them was comfortable as if they had done the same thing hundreds of times over before Maura finally set her menu down and smiled at Jane.

"I think it's really sweet that you brought me here…back to the place where it all began." Maura's voice had a wistful tone to it as she spoke. Placing her elbows on the table, she interlocked her fingers and rested her chin there.

"Yeah? Well most people don't usually use the word 'sweet' in relation to anything I do…" Jane furrowed her brow as she continued to look over the menu.

"Yeah…well most people don't know you the way that I do." Maura laughed.

"And what is it that you know about me that most people don't?" Jane glanced up with a challenging glint in her eyes.

"That you're a true romantic…sometimes sentimental…and that there's this spot along your neck, just under your ear that makes you moan…" A wicked grin spread over Maura's face before Jane held up her hands and interrupted her.

"Hey, hey…you're gonna ruin my reputation for being a hard ass." Jane waved her hands around as if to indicate that someone might hear. She could feel her cheeks growing warm at Maura's last statement and she couldn't help but wonder what type of game they had started to play because she wasn't sure she knew what the rules were or if she could follow them.

Before Jane could say anything else, the waitress came back with their drinks and took their dinner order. Again, a comfortable silence surrounded them as they each took a sip of their drink but neither was willing to break eye contact as they did so.

"Are you going to tell me what happened to cause that?" Maura indicated what she was talking about by tapping her cheek.

"What?" Jane asked before realizing what Maura was talking about. "Oh…this…" She said reaching up to run her fingers over the bruise that now marred her cheek under her eye. "Um…I got hit with a basketball…" She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

"How did that happen?" Maura watched as Jane tipped her bottle back and took a long drink before looking at her again.

"Well…Frankie got a little overzealous and what can I say…my reflexes are a little rusty." She smirked at the memory.

"That surprises me Jane…it's not like you…" Maura started to say but stopped when she saw something in Jane's eyes that begged her not to question anymore.

"So…you remember the first time I brought you here?" Jane finally said after taking another long drink from her beer in an effort to change the subject.

Maura recognized the smoke screen for what it was as she settled back into her seat and used her straw to stir her drink before taking another sip. She was quiet for a moment as she contemplated what she would say next. "Yes, I do… in fact I consider it our first date…or study date if you want to be precise."

"Yeah?" Jane relaxed against the plastic vinyl as she leaned an elbow on the table and tilted her beer back to take another drink. "I remember how surprised you were when you realized it was me under all of those pads and that helmet…"

"It was a really nice surprise…in fact it was the best." Maura grinned. "I thought I was going to be tutoring Frankie and the only reason I agreed was because I thought it might get me closer to you."

"R-e-a-l-l-y?" Jane drew the word out as she balanced her beer bottle between two fingers. "I only agreed to tutoring because I was told you'd be the one doing it."

"Why?" Maura asked.

"Well…because I wanted to meet you…get to know you, ya know…" Jane's cheeks turned a light pink at the admission.

"I didn't even think you knew I existed…" Maura gave a small frown as she recalled those early days when she spent every day alone.

"Oh…I knew you existed…the problem was trying to get your attention." Jane leaned back and studied Maura watching the subtle changes in her expression.

"I don't understand…" Maura bit down on her bottom lip as she thought about what Jane had said.

"Okay…let me spell it out for ya…there was this really shy and quiet girl in my anatomy class. She used to come in, sit down, and look straight towards the front of the room without making eye contact with anyone." Jane started to say but changed tactics when she saw Maura furrow her brow. "Look, I used to get to class early everyday…and I never, ever did anything like before you came into the picture…but there was just something about you…"

"You mean you noticed me…?" Maura sounded unsure.

"Hell yeah I noticed you. You were so cute the way you placed your folder on the right side of your desk and you text book on the left and you always laid out two black pens and one pencil at the top…always the same way every day." Jane gave a light chuckle as she recalled watching Maura go through her ritual.

"Yes, well…I just don't understand why people even use blue pens…it's just not right…" Maura began to ramble.

"You remember that you used to sit by the window…" Jane began again, cutting Maura's rambling off. "And class started right about the time the sun would come in the windows. I used to watch as the color of your hair changed from that light,dirty blonde to a dirty blonde that glowed with copper highlights." She began to fidget with the label on her beer bottle and looked away for a second before turning her attention back to Maura. "I used to wonder what it would feel like to run my fingers through your hair…it confused the hell out of me ya know…the way I felt when I looked at you."

Maura watched as Jane fidgeted with the paper label on her bottle indicating she was nervous. When Jane finished, Maura reached across the table and took Jane's hand in her own as she smiled.

"And that…" Jane took a deep shaky breath. "That dimple in your left cheek that only appears when you truly smile and mean it…" She reached over the table to run her finger across Maura's cheek. "In all the time that I watched you before I knew you, I never saw it…until that first day, when we came here."

Before Maura could respond, their food arrived and they became silent again, but this time it was a more contemplative silence. Even though no words were exchanged as they enjoyed their meals, they continued to steal glances at each other, sometimes followed by a somewhat shy smile.

"I'll never forget when you took off your helmet and smiled at me…" Maura broke the silence as she set her fork down and looked at Jane who had a surprised expression on her face. "I thought it was going to be Frankie but it wasn't…it was you, giving me that dazzling, dimpled smile. It was you staring at me with those dark eyes that held a playful yet curious twinkle…I think…" She hesitated but only for a second. "I think I already told you this before but I know I fell in love with you that very moment…"

"I don't understand how can you say that? You didn't even know me…" Jane raised a questioning eyebrow.

"I don't know what to say except that my heart knew you…it was like I had found the missing half of my soul that day…" Maura had a faraway look in her eyes as she spoke.

"The skating rink…" Jane smiled over at Maura.

"Excuse me?" Maura blinked in confusion.

"I knew that day at the skating rink…when you fell on me. It just felt so right having you in my arms…the way our bodies fit together…" Jane watched as the memory washed over Maura.

"Yeah…I wanted to kiss you." Maura said with a sigh.

"I'm not sure I was ready to accept that yet but the moment sure opened my eyes. I had been having feelings for you from the start and I didn't really understand them at first." Jane leveled her gaze at the hazel-green eyes she had come to love so long ago. "Thank you for being patient with me…"

"There were a few times I wasn't sure you were going to come around but then you'd give me that look…" Maura leaned back to allow the waitress to remove her plate.

"What look was that?" Jane's voice was low as she watched her empty plate disappear.

"The one that made me weak at the knees. It was like one minute you were filled with this unshakable confidence…almost cocky and then the next you would seem so vulnerable and afraid. It wasn't until the fear disappeared from your eyes that I realized we had a real chance. I know it was hard for you to come to terms with our attraction to each other…but I knew you'd come around." Maura placed an elbow on the table and rested her cheek against the palm of her hand.

"I did come around…in more ways than one…" Jane couldn't stop herself from smirking as she winked at Maura.

"No fair…you know what that does to me." Maura tried to sound perturbed.

"What? Still…?" Jane asked innocently even though she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Always…" Maura tilted her head to regard Jane. "What say we get out of here and finish this conversation at my house over a glass of wine?"

"I'd say lead the way…" Jane grinned at the idea of being alone with Maura even though she had promised herself not to let things go too far, at least that is what she told herself as she paid the bill and followed Maura out the door.

The ride back to Maura's had been quiet but they had held hands, fingers intertwined like two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together. Each woman was lost in thought about what was to come, both knowing that if they weren't careful they might cross the line that had been drawn as a precaution.

When they finally arrived, Maura went to the kitchen to get them glasses of wine leaving Jane to wander around her living room. It hadn't been her intention to snoop, but she couldn't help but touch and look at the relics of Maura's past…a past that hadn't included Jane. Her eyes wandered over African statues, shelves of books, and trinkets she couldn't quite identify until she saw the turntable and a shelf filled with vinyl records.

"Hmmm…." Jane moved to the shelf and ran her fingers over the spines of the records reading some of the names as she went. "The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Donna Summer, Prince…" Her fingers continued to move across the wall of vinyl until she found one very familiar to her. "Carole King…Tapestry…" She hummed softly to herself. Glancing over her shoulder to see if Maura was back yet she found she was still alone so she pulled the record from its resting place. Flipping it over, she read the names of the songs that she knew every word to. Carefully, she removed the record from its jacket and slipped the shiny vinyl out into her waiting hand. She gripped it by the edges and gently blew across the grooved surface to make sure there wasn't any dust. With slightly shaky hands, she set the record on the turn table and placed the needle over the song she wanted to hear. It was at that precise moment that Maura entered carrying two glasses of wine.

A familiar melody filled the room as the crisp notes of Carole King's piano filled the space between them. Turning around, Jane reached to take the glasses from Maura's hands before setting them down on the coffee table. "Dance with me…" Her voice was soft as she took Maura's hands in her own and pulled until their bodies were touching.

Maura couldn't resist as arms slipped around her waist. Slowly they began to sway to the words that Jane sang along to.

Tonight you're mine

Completely

You give your love so sweetly

Tonight the light of love is in

Your eyes

But will you love me tomorrow

Jane's soft whisper against Maura's ear had her shivering in both fear and excitement. The gentle sway of their bodies followed along to the hypnotic melody and caused Maura to lay her head against Jane's shoulder. It was Maura's way of giving permission for Jane to take the lead as Jane continued to murmur words into her ear.

Is this a lasting treasure?

Or just a moments pleasure

Can I believe the magic of

Your sighs

Will you still love me tomorrow?

And then came the words that pierced Jane's heart as she remembered the last time they had made love, the day before she walked away. She stopped moving and it forced Maura to look up at her as the words washed over them both.

Tonight with words unspoken

You'll say I'm the only one

But will my heart be broken

When the night meets the

Morning sun.

"I'm sorry I hurt you Maura…" Jane's voice was slightly husky as the song continued to play in the background. Her fingers were trembling as she brushed Maura's hair away from her face, tucking it behind an ear. They held each other's gaze, both knowing the significance of the moment. It wasn't until Jane released Maura from her hold and turned around to turn the song off that the moment passed.

Maura watched as Jane removed the record before placing it back in its place on her shelf. The sudden shift in mood had confused her and she wondered what was bothering Jane. "I was enjoying that…why did you stop?"

"I don't know…" Jane didn't turn around but she dropped her head in a defeated way. "I guess it just reminds me of that last night we spent together. I feel like such an ass…" She pushed her hair away from her face and turned around. "I made love to you, knowing it would be the last time…and you…you didn't have any idea…we made promises to each other I knew we'd never be able to keep."

Maura could see the sadness in the dark eyes that shined with unshed tears causing her to step closer to Jane. "I liked being held in your arms just now…" She reached up to run her fingers through long, dark hair and then she touched the bruise on Jane's cheek before her hand moved down to Jane's chest, covering her heart with her palm. "And that is all that matters…the here and now, not the past."

Jane looked down at Maura's hand pressed against the spot where her rapidly beating heart lay and she couldn't help but marvel at the warmth that radiated throughout her body brought on by that slight touch.

"But…there's still so much we need to talk about, things that may change the direction we are heading." There was a sad undertone to Maura's voice as she thought about having to share her own secrets. She couldn't stop herself from running her finger down the scar she knew was hidden beneath Jane's shirt.

Grabbing Maura's hand before it could wander lower, Jane held it in her own, out away from her body. There had been something in the way that Maura's fingers had moved over the scar under her clothes that made her feel uneasy. It had almost been like Maura knew what she was doing, like she knew what Jane had hidden from mostly everyone but her mother and Korsak. "Are you setting us up to fail Maura?" Her voice cracked as she struggled to speak.

"No, no…that's not what I'm trying to do…" Maura stammered, angry at herself for confusing Jane.

"Well that's what it sounds like…" Jane's posture stiffened. "I don't understand…I've told you everything already. What could possibly change things?"

"Maybe there are things I need to tell you…things that may not be easy for you to hear, things that may change the way you feel about me…" Maura sighed when Jane released her hand allowing it to drop to her side. She had no idea where to start but she knew she needed to do something before their relationship could go any further.

"Nothing will change the way I feel about you Maura…" Jane's expression softened when she saw the fear in the hazel-green eyes that couldn't quite meet her own. "Why don't you just start at the beginning…"

"Yes…I suppose I should…" Maura bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to organize her thoughts but before she could say anything else, Jane's cell phone started ringing followed immediately by her own.

"Rizzoli…" "Isles…" They both said simultaneously.

"Yeah…be right there…text me the address." Jane said before slipping her phone back into the holster at her hip. She watched as Maura listened to what was being said on the other end of her phone.

"Yes, I'm on my way…" Maura looked up at Jane's curious expression. "Um…no, I'll ride with Detective Rizzoli…thank you…" She said before ending her call. "Is that alright?"

"Of course it is…" Jane stepped close to Maura and wrapped her arms around her and hugged tight. "We'll finish this later…okay?" She watched as Maura gave a mournful nod. "Look Maur…I promise, no matter what you tell me it won't change the way I feel about you…please believe me when I say I'm in this for the long haul…no matter what."

Maura gave a weak smile as she thought that Jane shouldn't make a promise she might not be able to keep. Fear rolled around in her stomach as she sank into Jane's hug. She would need to tell Jane everything and she needed to do it soon because it was becoming too much for her to bare. Maura realized that it would either tear them apart or make them stronger. She hoped with all of her heart that after everything was said and done Jane would understand and forgive her. As she snuggled closer to Jane the last stanza of the Carole King song came to her mind:

I'd like to know that your love

Is love I can be sure of

So tell me now and I won't ask

Again

Will you still love me tomorrow?

And Maura couldn't stop herself wondering what the answer would be…would Jane still love her tomorrow or was it too late for them to start over again?