A/N - A big thank you to those that have reviewed and commented on the story so far. I haven't had a chance to reply to all of you that commented on the last chapter yet, but I'll be doing that soon-ish!

This chapter's a long one. I hope you all like it. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it.

Chapter 6

Jane Rizzoli was no stranger to getting drunk. Who didn't enjoy a few too many drinks once in a while?

Sometimes though, it's better to go home and wallow. Otherwise you end in a bar somewhere making an ass of yourself.

Having started her drinking early, Jane was well on her way.

At that moment she stood on top of the table in her usual booth at the Dirty Robber, holding her beer aloft to the other merry patrons.

"Beer is my friend!"

An agreeing cheer rang out among her fellow (mostly) unknown drinking buddies. A few officers who had called it a night were dotted around the bar, laughing at the normally composed Detective Rizzoli.

Turning her head to face the beer she whispered conspiratorially, "You'll never hurt me, will you." She placed a doting kiss on the side of the sticky bottle.

"All right Rizzoli. Down you get!" The bars owner Murry, called out. Walking towards her, arms outstretched to help her down.

Arms flapping, Jane called back. "Bah! Away with you! I can do this."

"Away with me?" The bar owner raised an eyebrow. "Fine. Whatever kiddo. But you sue me when you fall on your ass, and I will not be happy. Your mother might just end up hearing some of the things you get up to in here."

Eyes widening at the low-blow threat, Jane shakily stepped down onto booth bench seat. "HAH! Told you."

In celebration, Jane started a victory dance.

Her drunken body rebelled at the sudden jerky motion and she swayed forward. Balance lost, she tumbled off the bench and fell flat on her face. Beer bottle wedged between body and floor, digging into her side, fluid spilling out and soaking into her clothes.

"Owww." The drunk detective groaned. "I'm fine. I'm fine." She called out. Face still planted on the sticky bar floor. The handful of concerned onlookers went back to their drinks. A few of her fellow officers snapping a quick picture on their cell phones.

"I never thought I'd be the one picking you up off a bar floor. How the mighty have fallen."

Jane's head tilted up to the familiar voice. "What're you doing here Tommy? S'past your curfew." She slurred out.

"Murry called Frankie. Said you needed to go home. Frankie's working, so here I am. Unless you wanted Ma to come get you? I can go. Send her to come get you." He stood up as if to leave. A grin on his face.

"Don't you dare!"

"Well then. Stop kissing the floor and get your ass up."

Jane rolled over and up into a sitting position, still clutching her almost empty beer bottle to her chest. She rubbed her now sore ribs, where the bottle had been wedged. Looking down at it she said "You lied to me. You hurt me." She put the bottle on the ground and rolled it away. Giggling slightly to herself.

"Jesus Jane. It looks like you pissed yourself."

Looking down at her drenched pants, she had to agree, except… "Unless I can piss upwards, I don't think people will get the wrong impression." The stain also covered the lower half of her shirt.

Jane lurched to her feet and stumbled towards the exit. Catcalls and cheers following in her wake. As she reached the door Jane span around. Tommy slamming into her.

"Whoa! Watch it sis."

"Did you know the average pH of urine is close to neutral? But that it can vary between 4.6 and 8?"

Tommy blinked a couple of times. "Uh, no. Can't say I did."

"Huh. Me either."

Tommy shrugged and followed his hastily retreating sister out into the cold night air. With November's arrival the temperature was starting to drop.

"My head never used to be filled with useless facts." Jane rambled on. "Pee was just pee. Hehe. Peepee."

Tommy couldn't help but laugh at his big sister, giggling at the word 'Peepee.' "Come on Janie. In the car."

The drive back to Jane's was a short, but illuminating one.

"So how come you're out drinking alone sis? Maura working late or something?"

Jane grunted.

"That a no?" Tommy asked. His eyes fixed on the road.

"She's on a date. A D. A. T. E. Date. It's all fun and games for Dr. Isles tonight. Probably inviting him in for "coffee" as we speak." Jane made a disgusted sound and started tapping the passenger window.

Tommy ears perked up at the news.

"Maura's dating again?" He'd been smitten with the beautiful doctor ever since he met her.

"So she tells me."

"So you think if I asked her out she'd say yes?" Tommy, oblivious to his sisters pain, carried on. "I know you wanted me to back-off when I hadn't been out that long, but I've settled in a bit now."

"Tommy…"

He carried on unaware.

"I mean, she's really hot. And a great person too. I know she's your friend Janie. I swear I won't mess her around." Tommy looked over at his sister, and nearly swerved off the road when he saw the murderous look in her eyes. He pulled the car straight and turned onto her street.

"Tommy. No." Jane ground out. Voice dangerously low. Fists clenched, she tried to reign her anger in. It had been a hell of a day. She didn't want to end it doing something she'd regret.

"Who made you the boss of Maura's love life? I can ask her out!" He sounded pissed.

"Will this fucking day never end?"

"What?" Tommy pulled up in front of Jane's apartment building.

"I was talking to myself genius. And I'm too drunk to be having this conser… convert… Dammit! To be talking to you. I said no Tommy. Do us all a favour and take the hint."

Jane jumped out of the car and punctuated her point by slamming the car door.

William Chesterfield sat opposite Maura Isles, losing himself in the story he was trying to charm the doctor with. Maura sat there politely listening, doing her best to smile, nod and laugh in all the appropriate places.

Try as she might, she just couldn't engage herself with the admittedly charming man. Tall, classic dashing good looks, and a body clearly well looked after. He was a perfect physical specimen. He was a gentleman and any woman would be lucky to have him. It's just that he wasn't Jane.

Maura had spent the evening doing her very best to not think about her friend. That last broken look on her face, etched in all it's agonising glory in her mind. However, when all you desperately want is for the person opposite you to be the someone you're trying not to think about, it makes things a little difficult.

"Are you okay, Maura?" The sound of Williams voice cut into her thoughts.

"Excuse me?"

"I asked you a question. To be honest you've seemed a little distant all evening. Is everything okay?" Nothing but concern radiating from her date, Maura felt guilty. It was a feeling she was becoming far to accustomed to lately.

"If I'm honest. I had a difficult day at work. I probably should have cancelled, but I didn't want to let you down." She smiled apologetically at him.

William reached forward and took her hand.

"Maura, I've been trying to get you to come to dinner with me for months. A rain check would not have put me off."

"You have been quite persistent."

"You're a hard woman to get a date with, but you're worth it. I was so pleased when you called. What made you change your mind?"

Maura froze. How was she going to answer this without lying?

"It's a woman prerogative to change her mind."

William laughed a deep throaty laugh. "Indeed it is."

He chuckled a little more to himself, then asked "You want me to drive you home? If you need to relax, the last thing you need is date pressure." He motioned for the waiter to come over. "We can do this again, sometime when you're not so stressed."

"You honestly don't mind? I really am sorry, William. "

"I know you are Maura." Handing his card over to the waiter, he quickly settled the bill.

"Come on. Let's get you home."

Pulling up in front of her house. William got out of the car and rushed round to the passenger side door, opening it up and offering his hand to help Maura out.

Reaching her front door, Maura was nervous. She could ask him in. Sex was proven to reduce stress, but the idea of inviting anyone into her bed that wasn't a certain grouchy detective seemed wrong. No matter the positive side effects sex could bring.

"I would invite you in, but honestly I really just need to go to bed."

"That's quite alright Maura. I hope you can unwind, and get some sleep." He leaned forward to kiss her goodnight, but she turned her head at the last moment, so his lips met her cheek.

"Goodnight, William."

"Goodnight."

Maura watched him walk back to his car, then let herself in.

Wandering through her home, there were signs of family life everywhere. An unfinished Chess game sat awaiting her next move. Freshly made cupcakes sat on the kitchen counter. Jane's sensitivity training certificate was pinned to her fridge door.

In her bedroom, although she couldn't see them, tucked under the pillow closest to the door was a Red Sox jersey and shorts. Left there the last time Jane had stayed over.

An overwhelming wave of sadness swept through Maura. Made all the worse by knowing she was responsible for it.

At this very moment she could be snuggled into her extremely comfortably sofa, Jane's arms wrapped around her. A blanket draped over the both of them. Jane would have a beer and she'd be enjoying a glass of one of her favourite wines. They'd be watching some cheesy film on DVD. Jane explaining the jokes she'd inevitably fail to understand. It would be comfortable, warm and loving.

Instead she was here alone, in a quiet house with only a Tortoise for company.

Maura paused. Brow creasing in concern. She hadn't seen Bass when wandering through the house.

"Bass?"

Walking back through the house checking under tables and chairs as she went. She continued calling his name, as if expecting him to call out in return.

"Bass, where are you?"

Nothing. Maura rushed out to the guest house knocking on the door. Perhaps Angela or Tommy had taken him in for some reason.

No answer.

She knocked again, growing anxious. "Angela? Tommy? Are you there?"

Maura noticed that Angela's car was gone. Walking back inside she retrieved the keys for the guest house, hoping the two Rizzoli's would understand the intrusion.

Letting herself in, she looked around, but there was no sign of Bass anywhere.

Maura pulled out her phone, and hit speed dial number 2. On the second ring Angela picked up.

"Hi Angela. Sorry to call so late. I was just wandering if you'd taken Bass to the vet for some reason? Or maybe have him wherever you are?"

"Bass? He was in the kitchen eating his dinner when I last saw him."

"Oh." Maura was starting to panic. Could feel her breathing start to accelerate. "Any chance Tommy has him?"

"Tommy's just dropping Janie home." Maura could hear the concern in Angela's voice.

"I don't understand where he could be then. I looked everywhere!"

Maura tore through the house again, calling Bass' name. Looking for any clue as to what might have become of him. Tortoise's didn't just disappear. The call still open, Maura put the phone to her ear.

"He's gone." Tear's started to fall. Bass had been her constant companion through the years. Though relationships had come and gone, she had always had Bass. "Someone must have taken him."

"Why would someone steal a Tortoise?" The scepticism clearly evident in her voice. "Maybe he got out? …No, I made sure all the doors were locked before I left. Maura, I'm sorry. I don't know what happened to him. I'll be home soon. I'll help you look for him."

"No. He's not here. Which means someone must have broken in to steal him. I left some things in my office, I might as well pick them up. I'll report his theft while I'm there."

"Then I'll meet you there."

"Thank you, but it's really not necessary."

"I don't care about necessary. I care about you. I won't pretend to understand your attachment to a Tortoise, but I know you love him. I'll see you soon."

With the call finished, Maura grabbed her purse and keys and headed to the station.

On my way to the station. Maura thinks house was broken into. Bass missing! Call me. Mom xx

Jane looked at the text from her mother for the 15th time, as she waited for the red light to change.

The message had been sent 2 hours ago. She'd been sleeping on the couch having fallen asleep midway through her hangover preventative measures ritual - 2 litres of water and a peanut butter and fluff sandwich.

She was still a little drunk, but the sleep and water had worked wonders. She had shovelled down the sandwich she had failed to eat before passing out, and had jumped straight into the car when she couldn't get through to her mother.

The light turned green. "Finally!"

She had been driving especially careful and much slower than she would have liked. But she knew she was taking a risk driving while intoxicated, even if she felt firmly in control of her faculties. She didn't want to push her luck, especially since this crappy day didn't seem to want to end.

Pulling up to the station at such a late hour, she parked out front. Certain she wouldn't catch any shit for it. The place would be almost deserted.

Walking into the building, she approached the officer at the front desk, recognising him.

"Hey Rowe. I see you've landed nights again."

"Rizzoli." He nodded a polite greeting. Jane knew of him through Frankie, but she'd barely ever spoken to the guy.

"You see Dr. Isles or my mother here tonight?"

"Yeah. I saw Dr. Isles arrive a couple hours ago. Mrs Rizzoli showed up about 20 minutes later."

"They leave?"

"Not that I saw."

"Ok, thanks!" Officer Rowe already forgotten, Jane passed through security and took the elevator down to the morgue and Maura's office.

Jane could see the office light on and stopped. She suddenly felt nervous. What would she say? "Sorry your Turtle's missing. Bye!" The two of them could barely speak these days without making the other cry. What was she thinking come here? You were thinking that she's hurting, and you wanted to help fix it.

With a deep breath Jane walked into Maura's office.

Inside she found Maura sound asleep on the couch. Her head in her Ma's lap. Angela sat there, book in hand, reading.

"Ma?" Jane whispered, not wanting to wake the sleeping woman.

"Janie!" Putting her book down, Angela gently lifted Maura's head and eased out from under her.

Jane indicated they should step out of the office.

"What's going on?" Jane asked impatiently.

"Bass is missing. Maura's convinced someone must have broken in and stole him. She spoke to someone here, but from what I can gather, they didn't take her too seriously."

"Any sign of forced entry?"

"Nothing. Maura said it's like he just vanished. She was so upset. Fell asleep on me crying. Good thing that book was within reach."

Both women looked back into the office. Concern written all over their faces.

"Do you think someone really stole Dr. Isles pet?" Angela sounded both sceptical and worried.

"I don't know Ma. I'll have a look around the house. See if I can spot anything. First we need to get Maura home."

"Don't wake her. The poor thing's exhausted. Let her sleep."

Jane looked at her pleading mother's eyes.

"I can't let her sleep on her office couch all night." Chocolate eyes lit up with an idea.

Reaching into her pocket she thrust her car keys into her mothers hand. "I'm parked out front. Could you move the car round to the lot? The last thing I need is for it to be towed."

Her mother scowled slightly at her. "And what are you doing?"

Jane walked back into the office, and over to the sleeping pathologist. She smiled down at her. She normally looked so peaceful when sleeping. Now though, she wore a slight frown. Jane gently smoothed out the frown with her thumb. Looking around, she grabbed Maura's purse and keys, then bending down low, she carefully scooped up the sleeping woman. "Hurry up Ma. I haven't got all day."

The drive back to Maura's was uneventful. Jane was just glad she could sit in the passenger seat and close her tired eyes for a few minutes.

Arriving at Maura's, Jane hopped out of the car. "Ma, could you open the front door."

Angela nodded her assent and turned to the house.

It was pretty cold out. Not wanting the change in temperature to wake Maura, she stripped off her coat, shivering in the cold. Opening the rear car door, she draped it over her friend.

She couldn't believe Maura had yet to wake. She must have been exhausted. As gently as she could, she eased her out of the car, closing the door with her foot. She saw the lights flash, indicating her mother had locked the car.

She carried Maura through the house to her bedroom. Then placed her gently down onto the bed.

Poking her head out the bedroom door she stage whispered "I'll be down in a minute, Ma."

Turning back towards the bed, Jane has a choice to make.

She knew Maura would not want to sleep in her dress all night, and possibly ruin it. That meant waking her up so she could change. "Do I wake her?" Jane wondered aloud.

With a big sigh, Jane approached Maura. Rolling her slightly, she unzipped the dress then eased her back down.

She quickly grabbed a pair of Maura's silk PJ's then knelt down beside the bed.

"Maura. Wake up." Jane placed her hand on a smooth shoulder and gave a very gentle shake. "C'mon Maur, open your eyes."

A quiet moan, then nothing.

Jane leaned in close to Maura's ear. "Wake up sleeping beauty."

Maura's eyes fluttered a few times. Sleep heavy eyes not really focusing on anything.

"Wake up, honey."

Hazel eyes finally found a little focus as they landed on a very close Jane.

"Hey."

"Jane?"

"You fell asleep. You're home now. Let's get you changed, okay. Sit up. I've already unzipped your dress."

Jane got a firm grip on Maura and pulled her up. Looking at her so close, Jane could see that Maura was moments away from drifting off again.

"Hey, I need you to stay awake long enough to get these on." She waved silk blue PJ's in front of sleep heavy eyes.

Nodding slightly, Maura slid out of her dress, which left her standing in only her underwear. Jane realised she needed to get out of there. This was too much. She thrust the PJ top into Maura's hands and bent down to scoop up the dress.

Turning around to hang it up, she could hear Maura dressing. Taking a couple extra seconds, Jane turned back around to face her friend.

Maura was sliding into bed.

"Good night, Maura." Jane took a step towards the door, but was stopped by Maura's hand firmly secured around her wrist.

"Stay with me."

Jane looked down at the beautiful honey blonde. Normally she wouldn't have hesitated to say yes. Normally she would have jumped at the chance, and relished every second spent curled up sleeping next to her best friend. Things were different now though.

The form fitting dress hanging up behind her. The hair and makeup, now slightly worse for wear. They were reminders of Maura's date. Reminders that she wasn't the one truly wanted in her bed. They were reminders of what she had lost today.

Jane pulled her arm free.

"You can't have it both ways." Voice raspier than normal, Jane needed this day to be done with. "I'll sleep in the guest bedroom."

With nothing more to say, Jane walked out of Maura's bedroom. Closing the door behind her.