Just a short little two-shot I came up with. Chapter 2 should be out in a few days. Chapter 1 was written before I got sick and now I'm waiting for the fuzz to clear from inside my head before I try writing again. Rated M for second chapter.

Basic Disclaimer: Jane, Maura, Frost, Korsak, Crowe and all the other characters of Rizzoli and Isles do not belong to me. They belong to TNT and Tess Gerritsen. I only own the secret sculptures of them in my closet... I mean, what? What sculptures? *sneaks into closet* It's ok. They don't know I keep you in here, Maura... Very funny, Jane. Yes, I'm sure someone will make a coming out of the closet joke.

No, I'm not crazy. Why would you think that? :)

I blame the cold meds. I'd stop taking them but they stop the sneezing and are just way too much fun. Don't worry, unlike my NyQuil addled mind, my story does make sense.

Maura Isles was finishing up the notes of the autopsy she had just completed. The case was barely on her mind though as she let out a sigh.

"I guess Jane and I are simply destined to remain just friends. I must have misread her signals of friendship as something more," Maura sighed, picking up the folder she had just created before heading towards the elevator to deliver it to the detectives upstairs.

Their friendship seemingly had not faltered too much after Maura told Jane she thought that they would make an excellent couple almost two weeks ago. It was the subtle things that she noticed though that showed that it did impact the brunette detective. She never came down to the morgue alone any more, didn't stay over after dinner at Maura's, and no longer talked about relationships with her. It had become very awkward whenever the two of them were alone and it seemed like they would be stuck like this forever.

Jane too could feel the tension between the two of them rising. It distracted her from work almost as much as it distracted Maura from hers. In fact, that's why she was currently staring at her computer screen as she sat at her desk. It's not that she was disgusted by Maura's confession. In fact, it was the opposite. Jane knew she had feelings for Maura but she wasn't sure she could risk their friendship. Maura was the most consistent person in her life and she could not ruin that with feelings. Jane was only distracted from her thoughts when she was hit in the bed with a paper ball thrown by Frost.

"What the hell, Frost?" she barked, throwing the ball back and hitting him in the face.

"We've been calling your name for three minutes, Jane," Frost explained, putting his hands in the air in surrender. "What is with you? You've been kinda off for nearly two weeks."

"I've just got a lot on my mind. Personal stuff," Jane offered up, knowing that Frost and Korsak knew better than to push for more information when she said that. "What did you want?"

"We were asking if you had gotten the reports from downstairs," Korsak said.

"No, I haven't. Maura said at the crime scene she would bring them up when she was done, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Say, what's up with her and that cop from Vice, something Davies? I thought you would be biting her head off the way she was looking at the doc," Korsak mentioned, trying to bring up a discussion of the doctor subtly.

Anyone with eyes could see that Jane's distracted thoughts had to do with Maura. The two male detectives were pretty sure that Jane felt something for the female medical examiner but they would never ask her outright. They valued their physical manhood too much. But they were determined to get Jane to admit it to them.

"Huh. I hadn't noticed," Jane said, avoiding their eyes, trying to not let them see that it was indeed getting to her.

"Really? You're all over anyone who even looks at her for too long and you're telling me you didn't see the way Davies was undressing Maura with her eyes. I don't believe you," Frost was pushing the limits on how far he could push Jane into confessing but he hoped it would all pay out in the end.

"Ok, so maybe I did notice. And I just don't think it's a big deal. I can't try to be happy for her if someone is interested any her?"

"Maybe, yeah, if Doc wasn't so obviously interested in you," Korsak replied bluntly. He was tired of Jane beating around the bush with the M.E. Those two needed to get together already. Everyone could see they were perfect for each other.

Jane nearly spit out the sip of coffee she had just taken.

"I- uh- I don't know what you're talking about," Jane said unconvincingly.

"Oh, bullshit. Just do something before she gives up on waiting for you. One day, you're going to wake up and she's going to be engaged and asking you to be her maid of honor and you're going to hate yourself then. Especially if it ends up being Davies from Vice. What will you do then?"

"I'm not asking her out. I'm not risking our friendship. She's the best friend I've ever had and I don't want to lose her," Jane answered softly

"Where's the Janie I know that doesn't take shit from anyone and who takes what she wants?" Korsak demanded. "Where's the badass detective that doesn't take no for an answer and walks around like she owns the place? Because all I see is a cowardly, girly wimp who's gonna let some vice cop take her woman."

Jane was stunned. Korsak had never spoken to her like that before. But he was right. She was suddenly so afraid of messing up that she wasn't willing to take a chance anymore. She was Jane Rizzoli. She made her name at BPD by taking risks and she wasn't going to stop this early in her life.

"You know what, old man? You're right."

"Wait, that actually worked? I thought for sure you would rip me and Junior a new one," Korsak was shocked that his blunt honesty worked. He was positive that he and Frost would have to keep nagging her to get her to act.

"Normally, I would and if it happens again, I probably will but you're right this time. I shouldn't be afraid of being with Maura. I mean if we can get over the fact that I almost killed her biological father, we could get over a relationship that doesn't work out."

Just then, they heard the elevator ding and heard the tell-tale clicking of Maura's heels on the linoleum floor. Jane would have to do this now before she chickened out. She had no idea what she would say but she stood up as the beautiful blonde rounded the corner and came into their line of view through the glass windows. When Maura came through the doors, Jane moved forward to stand in front of her.

"Hi, Jane. I was just bringing up the reports from the autopsy. It was of natural causes, no foul play involved."

Jane didn't say anything, just nodded. Wrapped up in her thoughts, Jane tried to imagine her life without the gorgeous woman in front of her. She didn't like the image that came to mind. Finally realizing that she was staring and that Maura was looking at her worriedly, Jane took a deep breath.

"Um, Maura, I-" She stopped herself. There was no way she could accurately phrase what she needed Maura to know. Maura's eyebrows further creased in confusion and worry.

Jane figured she would do what she does for any other situation she encounters unprepared. Act first and talk later. She took the two steps necessary to close the distance between them as she took Maura's face in her arms and kissed her. In the middle of the bullpen. With everyone watching. Not that Jane even noticed. She barely registered the sound of papers hitting the floor.

Maura gasped and dropped the folder she was holding when she suddenly felt the pressure of another pair of soft lips pressed against her own. For a moment, all she could do was stand there in shock. It was when the hands gripping her face moved to her hips that she finally relaxed into the kiss she had been waiting for and wrapped her arms around the lanky detective's neck. Smiling into the kiss, she responded enthusiastically. She gasped when they broke apart for air and looked at Jane with stunned but hopeful eyes.

"I think we would make a great couple too," Jane broke the silence, suddenly nervous again but forcing herself to not run.

"Really?" Maura asked with a small, eager voice.

"Yeah. Really. I wanna take you out to dinner tonight. Is that alright?"

"Yes. Yes, of course. Definitely, Jane."

"Perfect, I'll pick you up at 7:00."

"Ok, sure, um. I'm just gonna go back down to the morgue and, um, work."

Jane smiled before bending down for a shirt peck on the lips in response, secretly proud that she had made the usually composed medical examiner to stutter while speaking and to giggle and grin like a schoolgirl. She continued to stare at the retreating form of her best friend until she disappeared behind the closing elevator doors, still grinning like a fool. Turning back around to sit at her desk, Jane never made eye contact with the other two detectives who were sitting, slack jawed at the scene that just unfurled before them. Frost was the first to speak.

"Well, I would have just asked her out for a drink but I guess that works too."

Before anyone could say anything else, Detective Crowe and three other detectives walked over and handed the dark skinned man several bills of money before handing Korsak a lesser amount of money.

"Here. Whatever. Didn't know Rizzoli even had it in her," Crowe grumbled, turning around and walking away.

"You bet on me asking Maura out?" Jane demanded. "You know I expect 25% of that right?"

"We already figured that into our bets. Don't worry."