Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles

Chapter 6

As soon as Maura left the apartment, Jane began rationalizing.

I couldn't say anything right then, it's late and we have to work in the morning.

I was tired of the emotional conversation—Maura should know I'm no good at that kind of stuff.

I don't want to tell my best friend that I'm in love with her when I have a bowling ball-sized dent in my foot.

Then, finally,

Screw it.

Jane jumped off the couch and hobbled, as fast as her gimpy leg could carry her, out the front door and down the stairs. Wincing as her bare feet hit the cold sidewalk, she called out to Maura, who was halfway down the block just unlocking her car.

As soon as Maura noticed Jane standing on the steps of her building she immediately closed the car door and walked back the way she had come.

"Jane, what is it? You're going to hurt yourself—why didn't you—"

"Maura," interrupted Jane as she took her friend's hand, "Maura, it's late and you're already here, why don't you just stay tonight?"

Maura looked at her quizzically for a long moment. Jane wondered what emotions and thoughts Maura was reading in her face, but she decided that she didn't care.

"Of course I'll stay, if you want me to," said Maura tentatively.

"Yeah, I—I—I'd like it if you stayed," stammered Jane in a low voice. "But if you'd rather not . . ." She dropped the doctor's hand and pretended to look at something in the street.

Maura ignored Jane's attempt to play it cool. Smiling, she took Jane by the arm and led her back upstairs.

Within just a few minutes, both women had changed into pajamas, brushed their teeth, and collapsed into Jane's bed. It had been a long day, and Jane found she could hardly keep her eyes open. Turning toward the center of the bed, she again reached out and took Maura's hand.

I can't stop touching her. I just can't.

"G'night Maura," she whispered softly, with closed eyes.

"Good night, Jane," whispered Maura back.

Jane fell asleep quickly, so she had no idea that Maura remained awake for quite some time, just watching the detective and holding her hand.

When Jane opened her eyes the next morning, she felt two types of pain—an ache in her foot, and another type of ache when she realized that she was alone in the bed. Rolling over to look at the clock, she immediately noticed a glass of water on her bedside table along with a bottle of acetaminophen. She smiled as she imagined Maura leaving them there for her, knowing that her foot would probably hurt when she woke up. Then she heard the shower running and her heart jumped as she realized that Maura hadn't left yet.

Sitting up, she downed a couple of pills and waited for Maura to get out of the shower. Her thoughts wandered to the previous night. She was fairly certain that Maura had feelings for her, but she still wasn't sure if she was ready to do anything about it yet.

What am I so afraid of?

Maura's the only one that I go to when I am afraid—how can I be afraid of her? Of . . . us?

Jane heard the shower shut off, and soon Maura came out of the bathroom wearing yesterday's jeans and an old sweatshirt. Toweling her hair, she noticed that Jane was awake.

"Oh, good, you're up. I texted Frost about your foot and he said he would cover for you if you need to be late. I'm just going to run home and finish getting ready—I hope you don't mind that I borrowed this sweatshirt."

"Yeah, that's fine. Thanks for telling Frost. And thanks for the tylenol."

Maura looked at her sympathetically. "Does it hurt a lot this morning?"

"Not too bad." Jane yawned, and Maura approached the bed.

"Here, let me look at it." Maura sat on the edge of the bed and pulled back the sheet to reveal Jane's swollen and bruised foot. "It doesn't look too bad, but you should probably try to ice it before you leave. Do you want me to talk to Cavanaugh and see if you can have the day off?"

"For this? The guys would never let me live it down. It'll be fine."

Maura narrowed her eyes at Jane, but she didn't argue. Still sitting on the edge of the bed, she began to trace patterns on Jane's bare leg.

Looks like she can't stop touching me, either. Jane grinned at the thought.

"Jane—" Maura paused, still moving her fingers lightly across Jane's skin. She looked up at her friend. "Jane, when you bought new clothes a few weeks ago—were you doing that for me?"

Jane's immediate instinct was to deny it. "What?" She snorted slightly. "No."

Maura interrupted. "I mean, did you buy new clothes because I was teasing you about yours? About you having no fashion sense?" Maura stilled her hand, squeezing Jane's calf muscle lightly.

"Um . . . maybe," said Jane. She looked down at the hand on her leg, trying to control her breathing. Maura's fingers were very distracting.

"Well, I'm sorry for teasing you."

"It's okay, it's no big deal. I don't mind if you tease me—a little." Jane finally looked up and smiled sheepishly.

Maura returned the smile, but then suddenly she looked away shyly. "Just so you know, I think you are beautiful no matter what you wear," she said in a quiet voice.

"That's—um . . . hmm," stammered Jane, "thanks, Maura."

Maura stood up abruptly, putting her hands in the pockets of the sweatshirt. "I'll see you at work, okay?"

"Okay."

Halfway across the room, Maura turned around. "But, Jane? You really should shave your legs more often. You never know . . ." she trailed off briefly before deciding to leave it at that. "You just never know." She gave Jane a smirk and headed down the hall.

Stunned, Jane flopped back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling for at least five minutes. Then she got up and limped into the shower.

She spent a full fifteen minutes carefully shaving her legs.

Jane spent most of her day in a series of meetings and interviews revolving around an open case, but every spare second she had was filled with thoughts of Maura. In fact, she had to be careful not to let her mind wander too far—in the middle of one meeting she found herself remembering the feel of Maura's hand caressing her leg and was only brought out of her daydream when Frost kicked her under the table.

But when five o'clock rolled around and Jane had neither seen nor heard from Maura all day, she started to let her mind wander in a much more dangerous direction. She definitely wanted to spend the evening with the doctor, but they had made no plans and she didn't want to just assume that Maura would agree. She picked up her phone, willing it to buzz with a text or ring with a call from Maura.

She decided she would wait until six, and then began tackling the pile of paperwork on her desk.

At 6:05 she told herself that she would go down to the morgue just as soon as she had finished the file she was working on.

To her great relief, at 6:20 she heard the sound of heels clicking in the hallway. Soon, Maura was standing at her desk holding an ice pack.

"You haven't iced your foot all day, have you," said the doctor with a frown.

"Hello, Maura, nice to see you too," quipped Jane, rolling her eyes.

Maura pulled up a chair and gestured for Jane to put her foot up. Maura pulled off the boot and a sock before sitting down with Jane's foot in her lap.

She peered at the injury. "Jane, this looks a lot better—you actually have been icing it, haven't you?" Maura smiled brightly at the detective.

"Don't look so surprised—I can follow doctor's orders," smirked Jane.

"Ooh, and you shaved your legs too," whispered Maura as her hand snuck up Jane's pant leg.

"Maura!" squeaked Jane through clenched teeth, glancing around to see if anyone was listening. Korsak sat at his desk, but he was engrossed with something on his computer. Or at least he pretended to be.

Maura made an innocent face, but withdrew her hand and settled the ice pack on Jane's foot.

After a minute of silence, Jane quietly asked, "So what have you been doing all day? I—I kinda missed you."

"Aw, Jane . . ."

Jane made another strangled shushing sound, gesturing with her eyes toward Korsak. Maura caught the hint.

"One of my assistants was out sick today, so I had to pick up the slack. But I'm done now—shall we get a pizza and watch a DVD at your place?"

"Sounds good, I'm too tired to go out." Jane stretched and yawned, glancing over at Korsak as he got up from his desk and walked out of the room with his cell phone to his ear.

Once Korsak was out of earshot, Maura took up the thread of the conversation again. "You know, Jane," she said in a quiet voice, "your shyness about showing your emotions is one of your most endearing characteristics."

"What? I'm not—"

"Jane, just listen. No one else is here, and you don't have to be embarrassed, so I'm going to say this whether you like it or not. I know you have to act tough all the time, but inside—inside of you there's so much going on. So much that you think about, worry about, care about. I love that about you, Jane. Your tough side, and your soft side." Maura's voice dropped in pitch as she continued. "And I love that I get to see both sides. That you trust me enough to roll your eyes at me one minute and then tell me that you missed me the next."

Korsak walked back in then, before Jane had a chance to say anything, and before she knew it the doctor had removed the ice pack and was getting ready to leave. "Shall we meet at your place in 45 minutes or so? I'll let you get the pizza so you can get what you want on it."

"Yeah, sure, 45 minutes." Looking up into the hazel eyes that she loved so much, Jane could see hesitation and vulnerability there. Quickly taking Maura's hand before the doctor bustled away, she whispered, "thank you."

Maura smiled, looking somewhat embarrassed, but she squeezed Jane's hand before pulling away and leaving the room.

Halfway through their DVD, Jane had inhaled three large slices of pizza and swallowed down a couple of beers. Maura sat next to her on the couch, close enough that every once in awhile their arms touched and Jane could smell her perfume.

It doesn't get much better than this.

Well . . .

"Hey, can we pause it for a second? I have to, you know, go down the hall."

"You mean, use the restroom, Jane?"

"Yes, Maura. I need to pee. Is that okay with you?"

"Of course! I'm not surprised, given—"

"Maura!" Jane limped off down the hall.

When she returned, Maura had stretched out across the length of the couch.

"Hey, you took my spot!"

"I'm tired, Jane, and your couch is so comfortable." Maura showed no signs of moving.

"Well, just scooch down a little . . ." Jane edged her way back into her corner, and Maura carefully rested her head on Jane's thigh before pushing the play button on the remote.

Now this is even better.

Jane soon found it was pretty much impossible to find a place to put her left hand that wasn't touching Maura. First she rested it on the doctor's shoulder, and before she knew it her fingers had migrated to her hip. Within a few minutes, she had plucked up enough courage to begin stroking Maura's soft, silky hair. From there it was only a tiny step to running her fingers down the smooth skin of Maura's neck, to stroking a pink cheek, to tracing a finger around the shell of her ear.

Every new exploration seemed to find something softer than anything she had ever felt in her entire life.

I wonder if she can feel me shaking. I wonder if she has any idea how much I want her.

The movie ended, and Maura switched off the TV, but she showed no signs of wanting to get up. Jane continued her stroking and caressing, unwilling or unable to break the silence.

"Jane . . ."

"Hmm?"

"This feels—really nice." Maura's voice was shaky.

"You're so beautiful, Maura," whispered Jane. "So soft—"

Jane's phone rang and both women jumped. Feeling as though she had just awakened from a dream, the detective answered the phone gruffly without checking the caller id.

"Rizzoli."

Maura sat up and ran her hands through her hair before beginning to clear the remains of the pizza from the coffee table.

"Hey, ma. What's up?"

Jane spoke to her mother for several minutes before hanging up and groaning.

"I have to go Maura—Ma's sick, pop's out on a job 45 minutes away and Frankie's working. She swears she won't survive without a decongestant." Jane groaned again and rubbed her eyes.

"That's okay, Jane, go ahead. I should be getting home anyway—I have a long day tomorrow."

"Are you sure? It won't take long, I don't think."

"Yes, I'm sure." Maura shrugged into her coat and picked up her purse while Jane put on her shoes and a jacket. They walked out together, heading in separate directions once they reached the street. They had only taken a few steps away from each other when Maura turned around.

"Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"Your family—your dedication to your family—it's another thing about you that I admire." Quickly changing tone, she added brightly, "Tell your mom I hope she feels better soon."

Jane watched her friend walk away, again at a loss for words. "Okay, Maura. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, see you tomorrow.

Friday night meant drinks at the Dirty Robber, as usual. Maura had been swamped down in the morgue, and much to Jane's dismay she had hardly seen the doctor at all. As she left the station with Frost and Korsak, she received a text from Maura indicating that her friend would join them at the bar as soon as she could.

Deciding that she wanted to stay sober, at least until Maura got there, Jane had only one beer. She beat all challengers at darts, and as seven o'clock became eight and then nine, she got bored and grumpy. Korsak was telling stories about one of his crazy ex-wives when some uniformed officers in the booth next to theirs began getting a group together for some poker.

At that point Jane decided she would try to sneak out and go find Maura. She was horrible at poker, and everyone at the station knew it. Leaving turned out to be rather difficult, however, when some of the guys began teasing her.

"Come on, Rizzoli, we'll go easy on you!"

"Yeah, don't you want to try to win some of the money back that we took off you last time?"

"Or are you just afraid, Rizzoli?"

Jane smiled good-naturedly and was about to give in and say she'd play a few hands, when suddenly Maura appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Jane felt her heart pound, and she was unable to stop a grin from spreading across her face.

"What are you guys talking about?" Maura asked as she approached the group.

"Oh, just how Jane's afraid to play a little poker," answered Korsak with a smirk. Jane smacked her former partner on the arm.

"What? That can't be true." Maura turned and looked directly into the detective's eyes. "Jane Rizzoli isn't afraid of anything. It's one of her best qualities."

The look on Maura's face said everything to Jane. It was challenging, it was confident, it was so damn sexy she felt dizzy. Riveted by Maura's features, Jane watched the gleam in Maura's eyes before letting her gaze wander to her lips, her chin, the edge of the low-cut top she had changed into . . .

Her eyes snapped back up to Maura's again. "That's right," she stated with confidence. "I am definitely not afraid."

Tearing herself away from Maura's eyes, she turned toward the crowd of people behind her. "Have fun, guys—I'll win my money back from you next time." Taking Maura by the arm, she led them out of the bar without looking back.

Once outside, Jane didn't waste any time. She pulled Maura around to the side of the building facing the parking lot and backed her up against the wall. Pressing the length of her body into Maura's, she hovered just inches away from the beautiful face that she loved so much.

"I'm not afraid, Maura," she whispered huskily, gripping Maura's hip with her left hand and leaning against the wall with her right.

"I know. Neither am I," said Maura, taking shallow breaths and snaking her hand behind Jane's head, burying her fingers in dark curls.

Resting her forehead against Maura's, Jane groaned out Maura's name and then their lips met. Grasping at each other, the kiss deepened rapidly. Maura leaned her head back against the wall and parted her lips, silently begging Jane to follow her. The detective complied, feeling the world slip away as she found Maura's tongue and stroked it, again and again until Maura squealed.

"I have to breathe, Jane," gasped Maura.

"Sorry—" Jane began to back away, struggling for breath herself.

"No, stay close, don't stop," panted Maura as she held Jane as tightly as she could. Then she initiated another kiss, sucking Jane's bottom lip, biting it, and then soothing it with her tongue. She froze as Jane's hand found its way from her hip to her breast, kneading it through the fabric of her shirt and gently grazing her thumb over a firm nipple. She broke off the kiss then and rested her head between Jane's neck and shoulder, still seeking as much contact as possible. "That feels so good, Jane, don't stop," she whispered into Jane's shoulder.

"Maura," Jane groaned again, "I never want to be not touching you, ever again. Okay?"

"Okay," mumbled Maura. "Can't you get any closer, right now? Please Jane, I feel like I've been waiting for this—for you—forever." She gripped Jane's hips, kneading her fingers into Jane's curves.

"Not here I can't," smirked Jane, initiating another passionate kiss.

"Jane," whispered Maura as she pulled away again.

"Hmm?" Jane began kissing down Maura's neck.

"You know we're going to have to talk about this at some point, right? Talk about our feelings, and what all of this means?"

Jane leaned back and looked her love in the eyes. "Yes. And I'm not afraid of that either." Jane grinned again, and Maura rewarded her with several more kisses.

"You have no idea what that grin does to me, Jane Rizzoli."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Shall we go back to my place and conduct some experiments?"

"I'm a scientist, Jane, what else would you expect me to do?"

Backing away from the wall, the two women turned rather unsteadily toward the parking lot. Jane stole one more kiss, and then broke away to find that they had an audience.

Frost, Korsak, Frankie, and half of the Boston Police Department began cheering and hollering. Jane and Maura reddened, and looked at each other sheepishly. Still holding hands, they beat a hasty retreat, doing their best to ignore the whistling while they walked to Maura's car.

The last thing they heard as the car door shut was Korsak's booming voice,

"Finally! Rizzoli and Isles!"

The End

Thanks for reading everyone, and for all the kind reviews!