Title: Pink Elephant 1/3
Fandom: Rizzoli and Isles
Paring: Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles
Rating: R to NC-17
Summary: Jane's eyes are forced open concerning her feelings for Maura. This is my first R&I fic but so not my first dabble in fan fic. Hope you enjoy.

With a flick of an elegant wrist, Jane's car went silent. She peered at the familiar house across the street. The only luminosity was the security lights glaring in warning. It radiated the image that its occupant had long since given in for the night.

Jane knew it was all an illusion.

She knew the woman ensconced inside extremely well. When dealing with science, Maura was a veritable font of knowledge and it usually exploded from her in complicated glory. When dealing with emotion, M was introspective, quiet and intense as her brain tried to analyze and catalog feelings she was unaccustomed to.

In other words, Maura was stewing.

Jane ran a resigned hand through her hair and sighed. Maura had a lot to stew about. Of all things, her father was an Irish mobster, and he too dealt with death in a precise analytical way. During the whole ordeal, Jane thought she was going to become a permanent fixture at the medical examiner's home. She had been there to provide laughter, a shoulder, and even protection. Every free minute between them had been spent in survival mode, and Jane had committed every moment to memory to replay during the lean times.

Another sigh burst from her lips.

Korsak was right.

"Damn him!" Jane's voice huskier than usual invoked a concerned whimper from her passenger.

"S' okay Jo. Mommy's a mess."

Jane ignored the bark of acknowledgment and brought her thumb to her mouth nibbling on an already frayed nail. It had been a very stressful week. She scoffed. There had to be a stronger word. M would know. The thought was a further segue to re run the conversation that refused to leave her… the conversation that led her here.

After a long tired stretch, Jane rose from her chair. She grabbed the brown leather jacket and threw it over her shoulder like an afterthought.

Jane peered at her ex-partner as he hen pecked away on his computer. She smirked at the sight of it – a grown man scared of a harmless little machine. "I'm outta here. Don't stay too long."

Korsak glanced up as she passed his desk, "Uh huh." He paused and squinted at his monitor. "Gonna go check on Maura?" His tone was teasing, and he stretched out her name as if singing it.

Jane rolled her eyes. "Already called her," she mumbled grudgingly.

"What?" He asked loudly.

"You heard me, ass!"

Korsak chuckled, "You should go check on her anyway."

"We probably need a break from each other."

"Bet she wouldn't say that."

Tired and irritable Jane shifted from one foot to the other. "I do have a life outside this place and all of you." Jane gruffed.

Bushy eyebrows rose. "Uh huh."

"What?" Jane threw her hands up in exasperation.

"You coulda lost her ya know. This was a very sticky situation." Korsak tone sobered.

Jane's jaw clenched as her hands balled into fist. "Yeah, but we didn't. Thanks to you. Don't know if she woulda forgiven me if I made that call."

"That coulda her in that chair. It coulda been those other guys sending a message."

"I know that! What the hell Korsak?"

"You need to tell her that's what the hell Rizzoli!"

Jane deflated and felt her mouth drop open.

Korsak took it as consent to continue. "There's a pink elephant in the room every time you guys are together. When she turned up after her 'kidnapping…' " he clawed at the air. "It was big enough to squash a god damned continent." Korsak crossed his arms over his chest and looked at his ex partner expectantly.

"Do I need to report you for getting in the evidence lock up? I know there's some good blow in there, but I didn't know it was that good." Suddenly nervous, Jane shoved a hand deep into her jean pocket. Her heart thudded against her chest and cold sweat trickled down her back. Some part of her endeavored to be oblivious to the subject matter of this conversation, but the larger part knew exactly where it was headed.

Korsak stared at her as he brought his cup of coffee to his lips and sipped loudly. "You should tell her."

Jane's cringed at the sound. "Look, can you dumb it down for me a bit? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm as hot blooded as any other young buck in this squad room, and I gotta tell you Rizzoli, it's getting painful to be in the same room with you two."

Eyes widening and lapsing into full blown panic, Jane shouted, "No, no we are not having this kind of conversation. We. Are. Not." She pointed at him accusingly.

Not the least bit deterred, Korsak added, "It's still the ultimate fantasy you know, and the sparks and tension between you two could turn a lesser man to mush."

Jane took a deep shaky breath, recalling every long look and inadvertent touch that had left her shaken. "Mush?" Jane asked softly.

"Mush" Korsak reiterated.

Jane swallowed, weighing her options. There was running. The door was only a few feet away, but just like any good detective Korsak was a bulldog. He was not going to let go, and maybe just maybe she could lighten her load just a little bit. Resigned, Jane muttered, "I can't believe we're talking about this."

Korsak released a burst of laughter. "Frost was scared to."

Jane's head dropped in embarrassment. "Aww, jeez. He knows too?"

"Uh huh."

"I can't."

"Bigger and bigger Rizzoli. It's either going to eat you up or you're going to lose your chance."

"But-"

"Don't be an idiot. She feels the same. She doesn't smile like that for me."

Jane chuckled, "She better not."

"Uh huh."

"I'm low rent. She's…Rodeo Drive. I've never been on Rodeo Drive." Inadequacy assailed her.

"Bullshit excuse." Korsak leaned back in his chair. It squeaked loudly. "I know a thing or two about women."

Jane's eyebrows raised high on her forehead. "Really." The one word dripped with sarcasm.

"Uh huh. She wouldn't care if you drove a Yugo." He reached for his coffee cup and took another loud sip of the scalding liquid.

"That's nasty."

"Stop trying to change the subject. Why should you care if she doesn't? Use common sense. Cause I gotta tell you, I can't take it anymore and neither can Nina."

"Who's Nina?"

"The woman I'm seeing."

Jane paused. "Eww. Now that's nasty."

Korsak smiled. "Yeah, I know."

"Why don't you just take Viagra like other men your age?"

Korsak's eyes narrowed at the comment. "I'm going to let that one go." He pursed his lips. "Actually no I'm not. I have you know all I need is a hot cu—"

"Oh eww!" Jane covered her ears. "La, la la! I can't hear you. I will not be traumatized."

Smirking, Korsak waved a hand to let her know he was done. "Talk to her."

Jane sighed noisily, "Are we done?"

Korsak turned back to his computer and started henpecking. "Uh huh."

Jane peered down at her ex partner and friend. A warm burst of affection heated her insides. "Thanks. I'll think about it," she whispered softly.

"You do that."

"Damn you Korsak," Jane muttered again. She would have texted him if she thought he knew what that was. Propelled by the truth and longing no longer dormant, Jane opened the car door.

Jo Friday panted excitedly by her side as they jogged across the street. Jane stopped as she stepped into Maura's walkway. "What the hell do I say?" She ran through a thousand scenarios in a matter of seconds and discarded them all. Jane swallowed convulsively. "I have no idea. Oh God." Nerves bombarded her making her fidget.

Jane did not fidget.

Her mind was a jumbled mess, but of its own volition, her body knew what to do. Accordingly, her hand reached out ringing the doorbell.

When the door finally opened, gone were the heels, the dresses and suits Maura wore like armor. What remained was just a woman wrapped in a purple silk robe and holding a glass of red wine.

Verdant eyes held Jane's for the millionth time, and Jane got lost in them. Only this time, she did not retreat. Jane held Maura's gaze countering the intensity and vulnerability there with her own.

The air crackled around them.

Jane held back a gasp as Goosebumps prickled her skin. She watched in utter fascination as a deep flush suffused Maura's face; inched its way down the pale skin of her chest; and ended at nipples that hardened before her very eyes.

The gasp that Jane contained escaped her as her blood caught fire.

Jo Friday yipped in what sounded like exasperation, making them both aware of their surroundings once more.

M's lips lifted at the corners briefly as she brought a hand to her chest. "Hey."

Jane licked dry lips. "Hey," she rasped. The air around them was still pregnant with tension. Even Jane's fingertips tingled. Korsak was right. Bless him.