Hope you enjoy this one…leading up to Valentine's Day. And who will win the bet? Thanks again for reading…I hope you continue to enjoy…

Chapter 22- I Will Always

"Hey Rizzoli…you get to second base yet with that cute, little blonde?" Someone shouted across the dugout.

Ducking her head with her jaw clenched, Jane reached into her gym bag to retrieve her glove. She did her best to ignore the conversations carrying on around her, but there was one voice she couldn't ignore.

"Wouldn't you like to know…let's just say I'll be rounding first and sliding into second sometime this weekend." Frankie called out.

Jane cringed as she tried to concentrate on the menial task of digging through her bag. The hoots and holler's of her teammates was enough to make her want to leave them to their boasting and ribbing each other. As she tried to slip around a few bulky bodies that had begun to crowd her, she stopped when someone slapped her on the back.

"What about you Jane…any homerun notches on your belt?" Matt, the catcher asked. He was short and stalky, not quite reaching Jane's height as he reached up to hold onto her shoulder. His dark eyes were twinkling playfully as he smiled up at her waiting for her to respond.

"Look Matt…a lady never kisses and tells…" She put her hands on her hips, giving him a cocky grin.

"I don't see any ladies here…" He laughed as he slapped her heartily on the back again. His strength had her taking a step forward, bumping into Frankie who hadn't seen her standing next to him.

"Sorry Jane…" Frankie turned the same shade of red as his shirt. "I…um…didn't see you standing there."

"S'okay Frankie…but I don't think Cindy would appreciate you talking about her like that." She raised an eyebrow at him in silent retribution.

"Yeah…um…" He stammered.

"Look, I know…you're just being a guy, but I really don't want to hear about your sex life…got it." She slapped him lightly in the chest with her glove before pushing past him to take the field.

"'Kay…" Frankie mumbled as he watched her leave, a small smile on her face. He let out an exhale of relief seeing that she really wasn't mad at him.

Jane could feel the weight of hazel-green eyes following her as she headed out towards left field. As nonchalantly as she could, she tossed a smile over her shoulder at Maura who was sitting on the bleachers trying not to look too interested. When their eyes met, both felt the same electricity pass between them. As Jane had predicted, their time together had taken a huge hit. Time alone was nearly nonexistent at this point, leaving them both slightly on edge.

The grace of the long, lean body that stretched out on the grass had Maura slightly breathless as she watched from her perch on the bleachers. She had a text book in her lap that she was trying to concentrate on, but Jane's presence was too much of a distraction. In her gray sweatpants and red and white long sleeved baseball t-shirt, Jane held a commanding presence. Her hair was pulled back in a long pony tail and an old Red Sox cap sat upon her head. Maura's eyes swept across the fit form appraisingly as she let out a puff of air in frustration causing her bangs to flutter up and away from her forehead.

"Hey…looks like you have an admirer…" Giovanni plopped down next to Jane on the ground where she was stretching.

"Yeah…?" Jane glanced over at Maura, giving her a shy smile.

"Yeah…but the wolves are starting to sniff around, ya know." He leaned forward across his legs giving Jane a sideways glance.

"What?" She looked over at him, twisting slightly at the middle as she continued to stretch. The sudden tension she felt stiffened her body making it difficult.

"Got some of the guys asking about her…like if she is dating anyone and stuff." Giovanni shrugged his shoulders at Jane as if she should have expected something like this to happen.

Jane looked over at Maura. The blonde head was bent over a book, but Jane could see her trying to watch what was happening on the field, particularly what Jane was doing. Knowing that Maura was watching made those butterflies flutter around in her stomach.

"Donknow why you're surprised Jane…Maura's hot…" Giovanni said as he tossed her a baseball, an eyebrow raised in challenge.

"Gio…please…I get it, more than you know…" Jane sighed as she caught the ball.

"I'm counting on that…" He smirked causing her to turn red when she realized the implications of her words.

"Really? Are you trying to make me mad?" She stood up, taking several paces away from him.

"Nah…just wanted to give you heads up. Her being here is bound to draw some attention and since you aren't really…out…so to speak, guys are gonna notice her…and you of course…"

"Nice save there…" Jane wrapped her fingers around the leather covering of the baseball, taking comfort in the smooth feel in the palm of her hand. Pulling back, she garnered all of her strength into the throw as her arm snapped forward before releasing the ball and following through.

The sound of the ball hitting Giovanni's mitt echoed loudly across the field, drawing a few looks from her teammates. "Damn Jane…you're not pitching…" He complained as he retrieved the ball from the pocket, shaking his gloved hand to relieve himself of the sting.

"Sorry…" She gave him a sheepish grin as she caught his return throw. With a loud snap and a cloud of dust, the ball sank into her glove as she reached up to pluck it from above her head. "You suck at throwing…you know that?" She said as she threw the ball back at him.

"Yep…but I can hit the hell out of a ball…" He grinned at her. "I can catch though, that's why I'm in the outfield."

"Look…I know Maura's gonna attract some attention, but what am I supposed to do?" Jane shrugged her shoulders.

"Now that is the question…isn't it?"

Maura watched a play of emotions cross Jane's face as she played catch with Giovanni. They were talking and Maura was curious what or who they were talking about. She had seen Jane's face turn a light shade of pink at something Giovanni had said, but she quickly recovered with her trademark smirk. So caught up in watching Jane, she didn't notice someone slide into the seat next to her until it was too late.

"Hey…" A burley dark haired guy said as he pressed against her side to get her attention.

"Um…hi…" Maura blinked a few times as she did her best to move away from the bulky body that was invading her space.

"Jack…" He said holding his hand out for her to shake. "I play centerfield…" He smiled at her, his grey eyes twinkling with a little too much confidence.

"Maura…" She said as she shakily took his hand giving it a gentle squeeze before releasing it. In an effort to prevent having to touch him again, she slipped her hands under her thighs.

"You like watchin' baseball?" He leaned back on his elbows making himself comfortable as he stretched his legs out in front of him.

"I suppose…" She looked down at her open textbook hoping he would get the hint and leave her alone.

"I've seen you here almost every day we've practiced. See somethin' you like?" He tilted his head to the side to look at her.

"I'm just here to support my friend Jane…Jane Rizzoli…" Maura shifted uncomfortably at his open appraisal of her body. It was a new feeling for her, feeling uncomfortable around anyone who showed interest in her. For some reason she found it rather disconcerting to have this young man looking her over like she was some sort of prize. There was only one person she wanted to have giving her that look and it wasn't the guy sitting next to her.

"Ah…Jane." He said as if he understood, but Maura knew he didn't. "She's really somethin' out there. Hard to believe she's a girl sometimes."

"Well…um…she's definitely a girl…" Maura scowled at his comment.

"Hey… You wanna go out sometime?"" He sat up straighter so he could turn to look at her.

Nothing would come to Maura's mind as she sat there digesting what Jack had asked her, so she tried to smile and answer his question as best she could.

"No…I'm…um… seeing someone…" Her voice softened in an attempt to not bruise his ego too much although she wasn't sure why she bothered.

"Yeah…'kay…guess I couldn't expect a hottie like you to be available…" He started to stand. "But it was nice meetin' ya." With those last words, he left her alone with her thoughts.

"Hey…look." Giovanni pointed towards Maura before throwing the ball to Jane.

The ball hit her square in the chest as she whipped her head around to see what Giovanni was pointing at. Her breath left her lungs in a rush of air at the impact of the ball causing her to bend forward at the waist to try to catch her breath. "Damn Gio…" She hissed.

"Opps…sorry Jane." Giovanni walked over to her to see if she was alright. "But I thought you'd like to know that the sharks are already circling." He gave her a gentle pat on the back.

Looking up again, Jane saw the outfielder Jack talking to Maura. Her first instinct was to run over there and stake her territory, but then she couldn't without giving too much of their relationship away.

"I trust Maura…" She tried to say as watched the easy, relaxed posture of Jack as he continued to talk to Maura.

"It's not Maura you need to worry about…" Giovanni said as he helped Jane stand up straight. "You don't hear what they talk about in the locker room." He couldn't hide the somewhat lecherous grin.

"You're such a dog Gio…" She gave him a not so gentle shove.

"Woof…" He answered back. "Aw hell, as much as I'd like to take either one of you out…you're my friend, so I think you ought to know some of the guys are dead set on getting one or both of you to go out on a date. It's kinda an unspoken challenge…"

"Yeah, when hell freezes over…" Jane frowned. "What am I gonna do about this? I don't think I'm really comfortable about telling people about us."

"I figured that…and I do understand…really I do." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "People can be assholes."

All Jane could do was shrug under the comfort that Giovanni was attempting to offer. She couldn't help but wonder why people couldn't just leave them alone.

"Hey Rizzoli…" Kevin, the first baseman called out to Jane as he approached her and Giovanni. "What's the story with your friend…?" He tilted his head towards Maura.

"See…told ya." Giovanni poked Jane in the side in a playful manner.

"Hey…" Jane gave him a little push as she turned her attention toward Kevin. "What do you mean?" She eyed him suspiciously.

"I mean, is she dating anyone? Think she'd be interested in going out with me?" Kevin asked without looking at Jane.

The scowl that crossed Jane's face would have sent him running for the hills if only he had seen it. Giovanni put a reassuring hand on her arm letting her know he was there to support her.

"Um…yeah…I think she's dating someone…a ballplayer from what I understand." The words came through Jane's clenched teeth.

"Really? Someone on our team?" He looked around as if he could somehow tell who it was. "I guess it stands to reason, she's here almost every day."

"Well, from what I understand this person has a bit of a temper…doesn't like people messing with her if you know what I mean." Jane wasn't lying, not really.

"Ha…if I didn't know any better I'd think you were describing yourself…" Kevin laughed before turning to her to look at her for the first time. He was a little surprised to see that Giovanni had his hand on her arm as if he were holding her back or something. "What about you Rizzoli? Find someone to keep you in line yet?" He all but smirked at her.

"You could say that…" Jane smirked back, but her eyes flashed dangerously at him.

"Yeah…whatever." Kevin looked at her with something between contempt and fear as he turned to leave.

"Leave her alone…I mean it Kevin." Jane growled low so that only he and Giovanni could hear. He turned around to give her one last dismissive look, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. With the shrug of his shoulders, he realized that he had just caught a glimpse of the famous Rizzoli temper.

"I fucking hate baseball players…they are so damn cocky. It must have something to do with spring fever." She sighed as Giovanni doubled over in laughter.

"Damn girl…call it as you see it I always say." Giovanni shook with laughter as he clapped her on the back. When Jane didn't laugh, he stopped to see her looking at him with a serious expression. "Hey, you know I got your back…I'll let you know if I hear anything."

"This is why I didn't want to play…now I've got this shit to worry about." She said as she waved her hands up in the air. "But thanks Gio…I appreciate you looking out for us."

"Anything for my two favorite girls…"

"I'm outta here…" She said tucking her glove under her arm. There was only one place she wanted to be and that was sitting next to Maura.

"Hey beautiful, this seat taken?" Jane leaned down to whisper in Maura's ear.

The smile that appeared on Maura's face was bright and welcoming. She picked up the books that were sitting next to her to discourage anymore unwanted advances making room for Jane to sit. "You done already?" She asked as she took comfort in the feeling of Jane next to her, finally.

"Yeah…I decided to quite early…wanted to spend some time with you." Jane smiled shyly at Maura as thoughts of what they could be doing if they weren't sitting on the bleachers at school floated through her head.

"I saw you and Giovanni practicing together." Maura said nonchalantly. It was a thinly veiled attempt to find out what they had been talking about.

"You fishing for info Maura?" Jane asked as she bumped her shoulder against Maura's playfully.

"I…um…was just wondering what you were talking about." Maura ducked her head in an effort to hide her slightly flushed face at being caught.

"Well….we were just chatting." Jane tilted her head to see that Maura was now looking at her feet which were propped up on the seats below them. "I noticed you had a visitor yourself."

"Not by invitation…" Maura finally looked at Jane with a sad expression.

"Jack is an asshole…" Jane chimed in.

"He asked if I was interested in going out with him." Maura sighed.

"And…what did you tell him?" Jane eyed Maura suspiciously.

"We're going out next Thursday…" Maura started to say, but was promptly interrupted.

"You what?" Jane sat up straight as she looked around to find Jack so she could pound him into the ground.

"I'm just kidding Jane." Maura put her hand on Jane's arm to calm her down. "What do you think I said?"

"That you have an insanely jealous girlfriend that will kill anyone that tries to make time with you…" Jane tried to smile.

"Yes, something like that." Maura tried to smile back but something was bothering her, something she couldn't quite articulate at the moment.

"Look Maur…these guys are royal pricks…I think it's all of the testosterone and spring fever. I just don't know what to do about it. I've already had one of them ask about you and I wanted to take his head off for it." Jane sighed.

"I understand…I think." Maura gently squeezed Jane's arm.

"Do you…? I just don't think this is the type of crowd that can handle finding out about our relationship. Hell, even Frankie can't help but fall in line with those bozos…talking about getting to second base with Cindy. I'm just afraid of what we might have to deal with." Sad brown eyes held hazel-green in a steady gaze.

"I do think I understand…" Maura bent her head to keep Jane from trying to look away. "What did Giovanni say?" She had an idea that they had been talking about the same thing.

"He said he has my back. If he hears anything, he'll let me know." A small smile crept across Jane's face at the thought of their conversation. "Hey, you're not wearing a jacket…you're gonna get sick."

"I can't get a cold or the flu from being cold Jane. They both come from virus's which are easier to catch in winter because people stay indoors more, hence the belief that it being cold causes the flu and colds…" Maura started to ramble.

"Okay, okay…" Jane held up her hands in surrender. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

"Besides…I never get sick…" Maura smiled.

Maura groaned slightly as she tried to find a position that didn't send waves of pain through her aching body. Her eyes fluttered open to find a pair of dark brown peering at her from the edge of her mattress. Without lifting her head, she studied the eyes that watched her full of concern causing a small smile to crease her lips.

"Hey…" Maura croaked out, her voice rough from sleep and thirst.

"Hey yourself…" Jane whispered as she stayed crouched down resting against the mattress as she watched Maura. "How ya feelin'?"

"Like I got hit by a truck." Maura groaned again as she tried to sit up to see Jane better.

"No…don't…you need to rest." Jane sighed as she gently pushed Maura back down to rest on her pillow. Standing to her full height, she looked down at the fever flushed face, sweat matted hair, and blurry eyes, thinking that even sick, Maura was still beautiful. "What happened to 'I don't get sick'?" Jane crossed her arms raising an eyebrow in question.

"Guess I was wrong…" Maura's hoarse voice was soft as she watched Jane looking down at her.

"Well…I'm here to take care of you." Jane sat on the edge of the bed, taking Maura's hand in her own.

"Yeah?" It was the only word Maura could muster.

"Yeah…your mom called to see if I could come over and spend the day with you." Jane lifted Maura's hand, pressing the back of it to her own cheek. The skin was hot against the coolness of her face and she frowned. "When did you last have Tylenol?"

"Um…don't remember…" Maura's eyes fluttered shut. "I think my mom wrote it down on that piece of paper on the night stand." She all but mumbled as fatigue washed over her.

"'Kay…let me see…looks like about four hours ago, but you still feel warm." Jane said as she looked over the paper, trying to decide what to do. "I'm gonna go get you some water…you need to stay hydrated."

"Um….'kay…" Maura rolled her head to the side to find a cool spot on her pillow. As she settled into a position that didn't offend her aching body, she slipped off to sleep.

As Jane crept quietly back into the room, she could see that Maura had fallen asleep again. She set the glass of water down on the nightstand and then spun around to see what kind of trouble she could get into while Maura rested. A full grin filled her face when she saw what she had given Maura for Christmas sitting on Maura's dresser. The leather had a high sheen on it and the silver buckles sparkled. Walking across the room to take a closer look, Jane noticed that Maura had painstakingly kept the leather conditioned and the silver clean of any fingerprints. She could still remember the look on Maura's face when she opened it, her eyes wide with wonder as she marveled at the old fashioned doctor's bag. It was a black leather bag that Jane and her mother had found at an antique market and with some tender love and care, Jane had fixed it up. She had spent hours cleaning the leather from years of dust and dirt before buffing out the silver clasp with the help of Giovanni. When she saw it, Jane knew she had to get it for Maura. Jane reasoned that if Maura was going to be a doctor someday, she would need a bag.

As Jane ran her fingers over the smooth leather, thinking about how excited Maura had been upon receiving it, a soft moan from across the room interrupted her thoughts. Concerned eyes fell upon a fidgeting Maura as she tried to get comfortable. Maura's cheeks were pink and Jane could see that she was trying to find another cool spot to rest against her pillow. As Jane stood over Maura, watching her shift restlessly under the covers she had an idea of what she could to do to help.

It wasn't until she felt something cool against her forehead that Maura opened her eyes again to find Jane sitting next to her. "What're you doin'?"

"Something my Ma does when one of us gets a fever…uses a cold washcloth on your forehead." Jane smiled down at Maura as she ran her hand along a warm cheek. "You're still warm…but you can take something to help in about an hour."

"Guess I got the flu…" Maura sighed as she closed her eyes again enjoying the coolness against her face.

"Yeah…I'd say that you got it pretty good." Jane pushed some sweaty, tangled hair away from Maura's face. "You've been running a pretty good fever for the last twenty-four hours."

"Where's my mom…?" The feeling of Jane's fingers pushing her hair back felt funny against her fever heated face. It wasn't unpleasant, but for some reason Maura felt like she was Alice in Wonderland stuck in some sort of dream where her perception was altered slightly.

"She had a meeting this afternoon and didn't want to leave you alone…So here I am." The smile that lit up Jane's face had Maura trying to smile back.

"Can I have some water?" Maura attempted to sit up causing Jane to reach around to prop up some pillows for her to lean against.

"Yeah…I got some right here. You need some help?" Jane asked as she handed Maura the glass of water.

Maura wrapped shaky fingers around the glass, taking a few slow sips before handing the glass back to Jane. It was all she could handle at the moment when her throat tightened as the cool water burned.

"Don't you think you should drink more?" The concern in Jane's voice was evident as she watched Maura frown as she tried to swallow. "Sore throat?"

"Yeah…" Leaning back against the pillows, Maura tried to smile again. It was with much effort that she tried to stay upright because her head was pounding and her body felt like she had been run through the ringer. "I don't remember ever feeling this bad…" She sighed.

"You've got the flu Maura…" Jane tried to reason as she watched Maura shift uncomfortably. "You cold?"

"A little…it's the fever I suppose. When can I take something again?" Maura pulled the covers up higher.

"I think it would be okay to take something now…" Jane reached for the Tylenol sitting on the bedside table. "It won't hurt to take it a little early." She handed Maura two pills and the glass of water again. When Maura was finished, Jane reached down to grab the hem of her sweatshirt, pulling it over her head to reveal the white tank top she was wearing. Next she slipped out of her jeans, tossing them across the room.

"What are you doing?" Maura watched as Jane moved to the other side of the bed.

"I'm gonna keep you warm." Jane slipped under the covers next to Maura.

"You'll get sick too." Maura couldn't hide the panic in her voice as Jane opened her arms in invitation.

"It's okay…I've got my own personal doctor to attend to me. Now come on over here and let me keep you warm." Jane insisted.

"Um…" Maura wanted nothing more than to sink into the comfort of Jane's arms, close her eyes and sleep. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely…come're" Jane pulled Maura into a hug, wrapping her arms protectively around the slightly trembling smaller body.

As Maura lay halfway on top of Jane, her head resting against Jane's shoulder, she took comfort in the feeling of Jane's arms around her. The warmth of Jane's body passed to Maura causing the trembling to subside as her breathing slowed to a steady, even breath as she started to fall asleep. As she relaxed, she could feel the Tylenol begin working as the aching abated and her throat no long felt like it was on fire. The last thing she remembered was Jane running her fingers through her hair and placing a gentle kiss against her forehead.

When Maura opened her eyes to the early morning light that filtered in through her windows, her first thought was that she actually felt human again. Reaching out for the warmth and comfort of the arms that had held her all night all she found was an empty space. She couldn't refrain from the frustrated huff as she rolled over onto her back to look up at the ceiling.

"She went home to shower and change…she'll be back." Constance said from the doorway as she watched Maura.

Lifting her head up from her pillow so she could see her mother better, Maura sighed at the sight of the tray holding a mug of what she hoped was hot tea.

"Are you feeling better?" Constance asked as she stepped into the room, placing the tray on the bedside table. "I brought you some tea with lemon and honey."

"I do, thanks." Maura propped herself up on an elbow as Constance placed a few pillows behind her so she could sit up.

"Well, you look much better. I think the fever is gone at least." Constance reached over to run her fingers through Maura's hair, pushing it away from her face. She could see that Maura's eyes were no longer glassy as she handed her the cup of tea.

"I feel so much better…" Maura said as she took the cup of her tea her mother offered her. "I guess I should take a shower myself."

"It will probably make you feel even better." Constance sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Um…when did Jane leave?" Maura sighed around the warm liquid that soothed as it slid down her throat.

"This morning…I asked if she would come back around eleven so I could get to my afternoon classes." Constance studied her daughter as she sipped at her cup of tea.

"You don't have to stay with me…I know you have a busy schedule." Maura tried to smile.

""I'm sorry I haven't been around much Maura…but I'd like to work on that." Constance looked away from curious eyes. "Also, you had a nasty bout of the flu…I'd feel much better knowing you're not alone."

"Thank you…" Maura whispered as she watched her mother shift nervously under her gaze. This was a side to Constance she had never really seen.

"So…" Constance stood up, breaking the somewhat tense moment. "Jane will be here soon and I will be back around dinner time. I'll call you before I leave the office to see what I can bring home for dinner…and of course Jane can join us if she'd like." She smoothed down the creases in her pants as she stood over Maura.

"Okay…that sounds good." Maura watched as her mother headed towards the door to leave.

"I expect you to rest today, okay?" Constance stopped in the doorway to take one last look at Maura. "I am glad you are feeling better…" She said as she slipped out of the room.

Maura let out a long sigh as she took another sip of her tea. Her thoughts turned towards the night before and Jane. It had been such a comfort to fall asleep in Jane's arms, surrounded by her warmth and strength. It was a feeling that Maura found herself craving more and more. With another sigh, she pushed back her covers, lifted herself from her bed and headed towards the bathroom and a nice warm shower.

"Hey…how're you feelin' today?" Jane peeked around the edge of Maura's door.

Maura was leaning back against her headboard with a book in her hand and a smile on her face. "Much better…thanks…" She closed the book so she could give Jane her undivided attention. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"Um…it's Saturday…" Jane said as she moved to stand in the doorway with her hands behind her back.

"I guess I kind of lost track of the days…" Maura mused as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Yeah…sorta happens when you're sick." Jane sighed.

"Well…are you going to come in or stand there in the doorway?" Maura inquired as she noticed that Jane was trying to hide something behind her back. "Whatcha got there?"

"I thought we might have a picnic…" Jane smiled as she brought a picnic basket from its hiding place. Holding it out for Maura to see, she swung it back and forth.

"A picnic…?" Maura seemed confused.

"Yeah…I know you're still not feeling great, but I thought I'd bring you some of my Ma's famous chicken noodle soup, which is legendary for its healing abilities…and I thought we would have a picnic right here…" Jane opened her arms to indicate Maura's room.

"You mean here, in my room?" The look of confusion turned to elation. "I've never had a picnic inside before."

"Really? Tommy, Frankie, and I used to have them all the time on rainy days…what did you do on rainy days?" Jane moved to place the basket on the end of Maura's bed.

"I would read…" Maura frowned as she thought about the lonely days she had spent as a child.

"You want to sit on your bed or on the floor?" Jane asked.

"I think maybe the floor." Maura answered not quite sure she could bring herself to eat in her bed.

"'Kay…let me lay out the blank and then we can have a picnic." Jane beamed as she spread out the blanket on the floor in front of Maura's bed.

"So…chicken noodle soup." Maura said as she poked around in the basket to see what else Jane was hiding.

"Yep…soup for you, fluff-n-nutter sandwiches for me and tea to drink and Carly made us some macaroons." Jane reached for the basket as Maura moved to sit on the floor next to her.

"Sounds good…" Maura leaned against her bed as she watched Jane pull the food from the basket and arrange it on the blanket in front of them.

"I promise, once you have some of my Ma's soup, you'll feel so much better. I don't know what she puts in it, but us Rizzoli's swear by it." Jane said as she took out the thermos and poured the soup into a bowl before handing it to Maura.

"Thank you…" Maura smiled as she took the small bowl. "Um…this is good." She smiled as she took her first taste. "I can already feel it working its Rizzoli magic on me."

"Hey…I thought I was the only Rizzoli that could work magic on you…" Jane pouted as she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Well, you did bring it to me. That counts for something." Maura laughed as she watched Jane nodding and grinning around a mouthful of fluff and peanut butter.

"That was wonderful…thank you." Maura sighed as she leaned back against Jane, resting her head in Jane's lap.

"Glad you liked it." Jane said as she ran her fingers through Maura's hair, letting the silky strands slide across her hand.

"Um…that feels good." Maura closed her eyes as she enjoyed the feeling of having Jane close to her. She was beginning to feel tired again.

"So…" Jane started to say but stopped as she nervously cleared her throat causing Maura to open her eyes to look up at her. "What do you wanna do for Valentine's day?"

"Valentine's day…I guess it's next week, isn't it." Maura watched Jane carefully to see if she could get some idea what was making Jane so nervous.

"Um…yeah…actually it's a week from Monday." Jane looked away, biting down on her lip as if something was bothering her.

"What is it Jane?" Maura pushed up on her elbows so she could see Jane better.

"It's just that I have practice that day…and I wanted to do something special for you." Jane turned sad eyes to Maura.

"How about we have a nice dinner together?" Maura asked.

"It might be late, like around eight before I can make it." Jane sighed.

"That's okay Jane…we can have dinner on the boat." Maura reached up to place a palm on Jane's cheek. "Look, I know we haven't had much time together, alone…" Her thumb lightly traced along Jane's bottom lip. "But we can at least have one evening, away…"

"I'd like that…" Jane grabbed Maura's hand and kissed the palm. "I don't think I can stay the night though with it being a school night and all…"

"That's okay…at least we can be alone for a little while." Maura smiled at Jane's raised eyebrow.

"Yeah…and what pray tell will we do with that alone time?" Jane tried to act like she didn't know what Maura was talking about.

"Oh, I'm sure we can make wise use of our time together…I can be pretty resourceful." Maura quipped.

"Yes…you are definitely resourceful." Jane grinned at the thought of how resourceful Maura could be.

"Okay, so it's settled…you'll meet me after practice and we will have a nice evening in." Maura laid her head back down in Jane's lap, closing her eyes as she relaxed.

"'Kay, sounds like a plan." Jane resumed running her fingers through Maura's hair.

"And don't think I forgot about our bet…" One hazel-green eye popped open to peer up at the sheepish look on Jane's face.

"How could I…" Jane tried to smile even though she had a sinking feeling that she was going to be forced to spend a night in a dress at the ballet.

"Jane…?" Maura whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for taking care of me." Maura sighed as Jane bent down and placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

"I will always take care of you Maura…" Jane leaned back, sinking into the comfort of Maura's presence. "No matter what…I will always take care of you." She whispered as Maura drifted off to sleep.