Bass squelched his meal, offering her no response aside from the noise of his dining. “You’re probably right.” She continued. “It would be messy.”

“She’s doing really well though.” Maura drained her wine glass before pouring another. “She came with me to the coffeehouse a few blocks down… Eat some greens.” She pulled herself up, adding some more broccoli to his platter before settling back down and pulling the jersey over her knees.

“I think she’s getting it, she seems different but the same.” Bass regarded his new culinary addition before nudging it to the side in the search for more strawberries. “It’s like she’s found that part of herself she thought she lost, I could see it in her eyes.”

Bass lifted his large weight from the floor and plodded slowly around the large platter, knocking into his confused owner as he did so.

“What should I do Bass?” Maura asked again, knowing that the reptile wouldn’t answer her. “Do I tell her how I feel about her?” Bass looked up at her, strawberry juice and pips around his mouth. “Tell me what to do?” She stared at the tortoise, searching his ancient eyes before he turned, and plodded slowly away from his keeper.

“You’re wrong.” She told him, “I won’t walk away from her, she’s the only real thing I’ve known and I won’t lose that.”

-/-

Jane sat on the sofa, snapping her rubber band violently against her wrist, leaving a deep purple bruise. She stared at the sheet of paper in front of her and read and re-read the words she’d written.

‘Pick up the phone!’ she told herself sternly, her arm following the instructions before her anxiety had a chance to take control. Dialling the number, she gritted her teeth, sending electric pain through her jaw.

Maura heard the phone ring and sighed sadly. Since it was her house phone rather than her cell, she opted to ignore the call. If it was another case, they would call her cell. Part of her wished for a call from the precinct, something complex that she could lose herself in for a few hours, if not days. She didn’t want to abandon Jane at this critical junction but with her own feelings clouding her thoughts, she couldn’t help but think Jane would be better served without her.