”Unzip me.” she had instructed. Jane had been mildly perplexed by the request. Despite her increasing feelings towards the somewhat quirky doctor, she had remained silent. Not giving them voice for fear of the rejection she was sure awaited her.

”Why?” Jane heard herself ask the question and was surprised to hear the word. Her tone was so even, balanced. A total contrast to the hurricane of emotion that swirled through her.

”You can’t go like that!” Maura told her, as though it should be perfectly obvious that the pant suit she was wearing was entirely wrong from the venue. ”We’ll trade clothes.”

Jane had objected, but Maura’s ever familiar head tilt confirmed that she had no choice. It would be the easy way, or the hard way. Minutes later, she had been stood in Maura’s insanely expensive dress and her own long black socks and boots while the doctor fritzed her with equally expensive perfume.

Maura had complained about the plain boots, calling them ’fashion homicide’ as she slipped from her Jimmy Choo’s. Jane had objected, she tried to fight it, knowing the heels would cripple her feet. Guaranteed foot homicide. Maura wouldn’t relent, she never did.

”They’re too small.” Jane whined as Maura handed them to her.

”Give them back!” Maura stated simply. She had the ability to confound and delight the detective with the simplest of actions. As Jane slipped from her boots and socks, Maura vanished briefly into the autopsy room, returning moments later with a scalpel.

She set the shoes down on her desk and set to work cutting the toes from the designer heels without a second thought.

Jane’s hands flew to her mouth as she watched the sharp blade slice effortlessly through the material. That was the moment she knew. To anyone else it was a simple act, nothing special. To Jane Rizzoli, it was an act of pure love. That was the moment she knew she would love this woman forever. As Maura Isles stood in her office wearing Jane’s suit and proudly offered the shoes to Jane with a delighted ”Voilà! Peep toes.” Jane promised herself that she would make this woman hers for the rest of their lives.

”You look sexy” Maura had told her.

”You look like…” The pause was small but noticeable as Jane had considered her next word. ”..you’re wearing my clothes.” she finished.

Tears streaked her face as she stepped into Steve’s boots.

”Do not move from here!” she ordered. ”Tag?” The young man got immediately to his feet. ”Take this.” she handed him the glock she’d found in Steve’s pack and a new clip. ”If he tries to run,” she gestured to Steve. ”Shoot him!”

Tag’s eyes were wide. ”Sh-shoot him?”

Jane nodded. ”Try not to kill him.” She glanced down at Steve as she threw the back pack over her shoulders. His face was as white as snow and he licked his lips nervously. ”But if you do?” All eyes turned to her expectantly. ”It’s no great loss.”

She turned and strode from the cave.