A/N: Thank you to everyone for the reviews on my previous stories. I'm new to this, and enjoy both the positive and constructive reviews.

STORY: Takes place directly after the end of S4E9. A surprise blast from Maura's past leads to an interesting revelation about Maura (and Jane).

As Jane sat in a booth at their favourite hangout, eating her fresh green salad, she was surprised to see Maura slide in to the booth opposite her.

"What… I thought you had a hot date with BT," Jane asked, obviously shocked.

"I heard you'd be fending off Martinez," Maura replied, seemingly unbothered about missing her date.

"He tried." Jane replied, picking at her salad. "He wanted to celebrate."

"You know, I am troubled that it was a woman running this methamphetamine operation," Maura stated, pay no attention to Janes comment. "Which actually worries me," she finished, running a worried hand through her hair and down the side of her face.

"Why?" Jane asked, confused about this revelation from Maura.

"Because, it suggests I might be sexist."

"I am more troubled by the fact that she was a parole officer. I mean, she's supposed to be one of us."

As Jane continued to pick and play with her plate, Maura finally realised just what Jane is eating.

"You're eating kale," Maura stated, shocked that Jane would be eating something she had previously whined about having to eat.

"I'm… playing with kale. Does that count as a serving of dark leafy greens?" Jane replied sarcastically.

"No," Maura replied, not hiding the glimmer of a laugh at Jane's obvious deflection from succumbing to Maura's wishes that she eat healthy.

"Guess what?" Jane asked, attempting to change the subject.

"You know I can't guess," Maura replied humouredly.

"I'm gonna have coffee tomorrow," Jane stated in her usual childlike manner.

"Jane…" Maura sighed.

"And the next day."

"You're impossible!"

"I know." Jane finished, obviously pleased with herself.

"Eat your kale," Maura responded, giving up.

"Argh. Ok but I'm having French fries for dessert," Jane replied like a spoilt child.

Maura couldn't help but laugh at Jane, not really surprised.

"Of course you are," Maura replied between spouts of laughter.

Jane looked up at Maura, enjoying the sight of her best friend laughing. It was a beautiful sight, and it became part of Jane's day to always make her laugh, at least once.

"So, come on," Jane started between mouthfuls of kale, "how are things with going with BT?"

Maura's laugh was slowly subsiding as she looked over at Jane, wondering how to answer a question she wasn't quite sure of herself. Jane watched as Maura's face went from happy and laughing, to confused. She placed her fork down, giving her a questioning look.

"What's wrong with him? Does he have some kind of weird growth, or unusually long toes or something?"

"Actually, Jane, he appears to be, physically, a textbook male specimen," Maura stated.

"So… what are you doing here with me?" Jane asked, smiling. "Go do your thing, Dr Isles."

"Are you trying to get rid of me, Jane?" Maura asked, jokingly. "Oh, are you expecting a call from Casey?" she asked seriously, now realising that perhaps she was interrupting her friend.

Jane's face became one of melancholy as she picked up her fork again and resumed eating. Seeing the change in her friend's mood, Maura instantly regretted bringing the subject up. She placed her hand upon Jane's across the table, caressing it with tiny circles.

"I'm sorry, Jane," Maura stated sadly. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Jane placed her fork on the plate again and pushed her plate to the side and away from her. She looked up at Maura and exhaled deeply as she turned her hand and held Maura's more firmly, embracing the comforting gesture.

"He's just been busy, you know?" she finally explained.

Maura gave her friend a sympathetic look, but held in her opinion on the matter. She sensed that this was not the time to explain to her friend all the things that were wrong with her relationship with Casey, and instead offered her the usual optimistic and truthful response.

"I'm sure things will work out in the end," she stated, realising that the end could mean without Casey, but not acknowledging that at this juncture.

Jane gently squeezed Maura's hand in thanks, and continued to accept the comforting caresses Maura was offering. She glanced behind Maura and spoke…

"Maura… there's a nicely dressed woman over there who keeps staring at you," she stated from the corner of her mouth, letting the question form itself.

As Maura tried to turn and look, Jane quickly held her hand tighter.

"Don't look now, you'll make it obvious," Jane said in a hushed voice.

"Well how am I supposed to know who you are talking about?" Maura asked, sitting forward in her seat, removing her hand from Jane's and folding them on the table.

"You do it inconspicuously," Jane replied, glancing up again at the woman across the room.

"Well, if she's looking at me without apprehension, then I shouldn't need to be inconspicuous," she replied as she turned in her seat to see who Jane was talking about.

Jane watched as Maura turned, recognised the woman, and hurriedly turned back to face Jane with a look of anxiety on her face.

"Maura?" Jane questioned.

When she got no response she gently reached out to take hold of Maura's hand again.

"Maura, who is it?" she prompted again, glancing back at the woman who was now walking towards them. "She's coming over," she whispered, and was worried when Maura's eyes widened in fear and her grip on Jane's hand became tighter.

"Maura Isles?" the woman asked, now standing beside the table. "I thought that was you," she continued, smiling at Maura.

"Kate. Hi," Maura responded, now smiling as she looked up at the woman. "It's been a long time."

"It has," she responded, her eyes quickly glancing to Jane and their held hands, before looking back at Maura. "You don't call, you don't write," Kate finished jokingly.

"Oh, ah, I'm sorry, I…" Maura began, becoming anxious.

"No, Maura, I'm joking," Kate interrupted, and rubbed her hand gently down Maura's bicep before turning to Jane. "You must be Maura's girlfriend. I'm Kate," she stated, offering her hand.

Jane took the offered hand and shook it. She looked to Maura, wondering if she intended to correct Kate in her assumption, but Maura was still flustered at Kate's presence.

"Actually…" Jane began.

"You're very pretty," Kate interrupted as she let go of Jane's hand and glanced up at her friends who were waiting by the door. "I'm sorry, I have to go. But I just moved here, so I'm sure we'll see much more of each other," Kate finished, at looked back at Maura.

"It was lovely to see you," Maura replied with a smile.

Kate smiled back at Maura, "Yes it was."

And then she was gone.

Maura watched Kate leave before she turned her gaze back to Jane.

"Ok, what! Was that?" Jane asked, confused and amused.