Author's Note:

This fic has been difficult to write for numerous reasons. I am hopeful that you will try to stick it out and give me time to examine it at my own pace. Thanks for reading - I appreciate any and all feedback.

"I'll see you later," Jane assured. "Love you."

The timbre of her voice flooded Maura with a rush of emotion. She longed to feel the taller woman's arms wrapped around her and enjoy the sensation of her chest rumbling as she spoke.

"Wake me when you get home. It doesn't matter how late," Maura responded quietly. She heard the detective exhale quietly; pausing for a brief second as if she wanted to say something else before ending the call.

After she clicked her phone screen to black Maura wearily sat back against the couch. Absentmindedly patting the small dog curled up next to her, she stared at the blank screen of the television. It was late and she wanted nothing more than to feel encapsulated in the safety Jane's presence provided.

From Jane's desolate tone, Maura could safely assume that the tall detective didn't think she would make it home. She was in the middle of terrible case; a young mother had been found murdered and her infant daughter was missing. Maura had performed the autopsy herself earlier in the day and knew she'd never be able to erase the woman's face from her mind. Cause of death was exsanguination due to a slice through the woman's jugularis externa and trachea. The killer had left her to die; taking the baby, formula, bottles, and diapers. From the bloodstains throughout the house and the abrasions on her hands and knees; it was clear the mother had crawled after the killer as he or she made their way throughout the house to collect the various items that were needed in order to care for the baby.

They had no leads on the case and none of the homicide detectives were willing to take a break searching for the killer and the kidnapper. An Amber Alert had been issued; and Maura couldn't even watch television without seeing the dead woman's face and alert information flash across the bottom of the screen.

Maura closed her eyes and willed her stomach to settle. She tried to erase from her mind the terror and the pain the woman must have felt; profusely bleeding from her throat, choking on her own blood, knowing she was going to die and her daughter was now in the hands of a murderer.

She opened her eyes and let the breath she had been holding for far too long exhale loudly. Jo twitched at the sound and Maura placed a comforting hand on the small terrier's side. The house was quiet; too quiet. She missed the comforting presence of Bass as he slowly thumped through the downstairs although she knew he was happy in his summer outdoor enclosure in the back yard.

A ghost of a smile graced her lips before she could help herself. How many nights, before Jane, had she spent like this? Loneliness had been no stranger; nor could she ever expect it to become one. Despite Jane's constant presence, Maura still felt the same on the inside.

"And isn't that rub, as Shakespeare would write? Huh Jo?" Maura spoke softly as to not disturb the sleeping dog. "Your mommy has proven to be a knight in shining armor; yet the princess is still locked high in her ivory tower."

She shook her head sadly before getting up from the couch. Would she ever feel differently inside?

Warm arms held her firmly in place. Maura fought valiantly against the restraint; unable to comprehend that the groggy voice that protested her frantic movements came from Jane.

Try as she might, she was unable to squirm free. Her mouth wasn't covered this time, but she was terrified to call out in case no one heard. Breaking free and running down the hall to her parent's room was her only hope.

"Stop," the detective growled deep in her throat. The sound made Maura fight harder against the larger body pressed against her. Strong arms held her arms at her side and a long leg was flung over hers. She knew what was coming. Maura knew she was trapped and began to panic as she struggled to wake herself up.

"Cut it out," the voice was angry. "What's wrong with you?"

She stopped moving; she couldn't get away, and the last thing she needed was for him to be angry with her. It would just make it worse. Instead, she resorted to survival mode; turning in her captors arms and pressing herself into the resented embrace. She felt her body start to respond to the tight hold; a persistent throbbing between her legs and flood of wetness. It was this that she hated the most; the betrayal of her own body.

"That's better," the voice said; placated now. The hold against her was lessened but Maura didn't try to flee. Instead she worked her free hand down her imprisoner's abdomen and teased the entrance of his thin boxer shorts.

She felt sick as she put her hand inside. Her eyes snapped open and she awoke fully when her hand found Jane instead of what she had expected.

"Mmm, good morning." Jane spoke sleepily as she pushed closer; burying her face in Maura's hair.

Maura didn't answer; her hand frozen. She took several shaky breaths as the realization of what just happened continued to flood her with various emotions; too many for her to handle at once. She swallowed noisily as she pressed her hand into Jane again and was rewarded by a low moan.

Tears sprang to her eyes and Maura valiantly tried to will them away. She had to maintain control; Jane could never know, she would never understand. She gently traced Jane's entrance before one courageous finger pushed inside. She felt her detective start to melt under her touch and it caused another flood of arousal to coat her own thighs. She welcomed it this time; knowing it was her true desire.

"Mmaaurrra," Jane warbled gently, still not completely awake.

"Yes, Jane?" She pushed another finger inside and felt the taller woman's breathing hitch.

"Feels good."

Maura brought her slowly to release and only did after the last and final shudder of her orgasm did Jane open her eyes; crooking one of them in Maura's direction. Removing Maura's hand, the detective straddled her; pressing her delightfully down into the mattress.

With an almost-feral grin she pushed the bottom of Maura's pajama top up. "Off," she commanded and with trembling hands Maura struggled to remove the offending garment. Jane then hooked her thumbs in the smaller woman's pajama bottoms. "These too. Now."

She canted her hips long enough for Maura to wriggle out of her bottoms. Once she was naked, the detective grinned wolfishly before taking one pert nipple in her mouth. She bit down gently and Maura moaned; her hands tangled in Jane's hair to encourage her further.

Maura had learned quickly that Jane was absolutely unable to keep her hands off of her after reaching her own climax. This morning was no different.

After a few minutes of delicious torture and Jane's refusal to touch Maura where she needed her the most; she released Maura's nipple with an audible pop. "What do you want?" Her voice was lower; almost by an octave, of its normal alto tone. She sported a mane of wild hair and an arrogant grin.

Maura's eyes flicked once to the nightstand and Jane's smirk grew wider.

"Say it," the detective demanded; her hips thrusting rudely against Maura's.

"I want you to fuck me," she demurred, never breaking eye contact.

Jane knew exactly what Maura was requesting and wasted no time reaching one long arm over to the drawer and removing the requested item. She easily pushed the smaller end inside of herself through the opening in her boxers. The other end bobbed obnoxiously against Maura's thigh as Jane leaned down to kiss her.

Teasingly, Jane rolled her hips against the smaller woman.

"Jane," Maura breathed, "please don't tease me."

"I know you hate it," Jane mocked as she rolled her hips again; the head of the dildo grazing Maura's swollen clit, "but you love it at the same time. I know you, Dr. Isles."

"Please."

"Please what?"

"Jane, please, you know what I want." Maura begged.

Mercifully, the detective took pity on her smaller partner and with one hard thrust drove completely inside of her.

The sensation of being willingly taken was one Maura couldn't get enough of. She clung to Jane like a lifeline; her fingers relishing the strength in Jane's musculature, heady on the knowledge that her detective would never harm her.

Jane's primal grunts as she thrust inside Maura were intoxicating and the smaller woman closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the giving mattress, her eyes falling shut. She felt herself drifting away; despite her reluctance to do so.

"Uh uh," Jane husked; her voice cracking. "Look at me."

Obediently, Maura was abruptly pulled back into the moment and her gaze met Jane's. She was immediately overwhelmed by what she saw there. Jane's eyes were molten chocolate and filled with both lust and adoration.

"I love you," the detective warbled as she rolled her hips in the way that Maura craved. A wolfish smile and arrogant eyes accompanied her undulating motion. She grasped Maura's hands in hers and pushed herself upwards, pumping steadily, and the sensation of being consumed by Jane had Maura welcoming her orgasm.

Spent, they relaxed into each other's embrace. Jane peppered kisses down the glistening column of Maura's lithe neck and the smaller woman smiled gently. After a few more minutes of gentle cuddling, Jane spoke.

"Hi," her low voice croaked, "that's a hell of a way to wake up."

Maura smiled bashfully in return before tucking herself back into the comfort of Jane's embrace. She wanted nothing more than to feel the detective's long arms entrap her and chase the remaining demons away.

"Oh no, you're not getting off that easy," Jane said and Maura knew she was smirking. "Well, maybe that's wrong choice of words. It certainly seemed easy." It was clear the tall detective was quite proud of herself.

Maura patted her hand affectionately. "With you, it's always easy. I'm like a polyvinyl alcohol silicone product that turns dilatant when in contact with your body heat."

She groaned good-naturedly. "Maur," she growled, "it's so early."

"I'm trying to say that I'm putty in your hands, Jane." She buried her nose in Jane's wild mane of hair and snuggled closer. Jane didn't need to know the reason Maura had woken her in such a manner; it would just upset her. It was better to play it safe; what Jane didn't know wouldn't hurt her.