Jane and Maura were free with each other's houses, with each other's keys. One or the other would show up and they'd go out or stay in. If they had plans it was a given that they were free to come over at the arranged time and not to wait on ceremony. The Rizzolis came and went at Maura's, but Maura only arrived unscheduled at Jane's.
Casey put a brief spanner in those works, but that was just once, and Maura declined Jane's generous offer of an orgy because while she wouldn't mind an orgy, or sex with Jane, she didn't particularly want sex with Casey-and-Jane. Couples always got jealous. After that steep learning curve she did try to remember to announce herself when she came in the front door now, not just wandering through the the bedroom like she used to.
But sometimes she forgot. Jane's place felt like home to her too, and Jane was just as comfortable in Maura's home. Maura unlocked the door and greeted Jo Friday, heading through to check if Jane was up yet. It was the weekend, they'd had a long week and it was early - for Jane, at least.
She paused in the doorway, hanging onto the frame. She knew immediately what Jane was doing, a distant hum under the covers, and her mouth dropped open. Jane didn't notice for a moment, and Maura watched her, unable to look away from the peaceful, occupied look on Jane's face. Maura knew she should go back out and come back in and let Jane know she was here and pretend she hadn't seen anything. Maybe even knock on the condo door.
But before Maura could make a decision, Jane's eyes opened and Jane froze for a moment, meeting Maura's eyes in shock before she shot upright, fumbling with something under the covers, blushing bright red as the humming stopped.
"Jeeeezus," Jane said finally. "I need to put a bell on you."
"Boston Joe's. Jog. Seven," was all Maura was able to stumble out of her dry mouth. Jane looked over at her alarm clock. 6:52. She looked at Maura with both eyebrows raised.
"Traffic was good," Maura shrugged. She came in and sat on the bed, ignoring Jane's shooing motions. Jane buried her head in her hands, groaning. "It's natural, Jane, and I'm glad you have a way to relieve some of the tension from your work and home life."
"Well I'm double tense now, get out," Jane huffed and Maura chuckled.
"Do you need a hand?" Maura asked, her voice lowering. "With all that tension?" Maura's eyebrow quirked before her lips did, another deep chuckle coming from Maura's soft pink lips. Jane looked away from Maura's mouth, pushed Maura's shoulder and Maura got up, still chuckling, headed for the living room. Eight minutes later Jane came out in her exercise outfit, not meeting Maura's eyes. Maura wasn't sure if she'd finished what she'd started or just used the bathroom and dressed, but Jane's shoulders were still tense and hunched.
"Don't be ashamed," Maura said, finally looking worried. "I shouldn't have... I should have announced myself, or knocked and waited for you."
"Nah, you have a key and I'm too impatient to knock for you as well. Can we just forget about this?" Jane looked uncomfortable, so Maura nodded. She wondered if letting Jane walk in on her would make them even. But besides the blush on Jane's cheeks intermittently through the next work week, Jane didn't seem worried so Maura shelved the idea.
Maura was more considerate with announcing herself after that, and Jane learned not to do... that before plans with Maura. But Maura couldn't help but feel she'd missed an opportunity. She had been serious when she'd asked, but Jane's horrified face made her laugh, even if it hurt a little.
Maura hadn't expected Jane. That was her mistake. Jane was always impatient, always barging in. But at 2am, Maura hadn't expected Jane, even if they'd only finished work an hour before. If Jane had planned to come over, she would have come home with Maura. That was what they did. They didn't go home alone and then come over without talking about it. They went home together, or they went home separately, and they stayed wherever they ended up. This week they'd ended up mostly together, and Maura had some pressing issues to take care of, which she had been.
The last thing she'd expected was to meet Jane's dark eyes in her doorway when she was mid-climax. It was too late to stop; that train had left the station and after a week of neglect it would not be derailed. She could and should look away, but Jane didn't move, didn't blink, so neither did Maura, other than certain involuntary movements related to the aforementioned train. Maura felt her jaw drop open, her breath still leaving her in fits and starts; she was quiet on her own, but she was no longer on her own.
When Maura sank back into the bed Jane cleared her throat, finally realising the situation and flushing bright red.
"I - I saw the light - I couldn't sleep - frozen yoghurt - I thought you'd heard me - called from the stairs - I'm sorry."
"I'm not," Maura said, sitting up and running her hand through her tousled hair. "Get over here."