“Good evening Charles.” She offered a half smile as he held the door to his home open. “I appreciate this. Really.” Stepping into the tastefully decorated hallway, she felt as out of place here as Jane did at all of the gallery openings she’d dragged her to. “I just didn’t know where else to turn.”

Charles guided her into the living space, offering her a seat and a tumbler of malt whiskey before sliding into his own well-worn leather recliner. He watched as she sipped the drink slowly; ice clinking softly against glass and echoing in the silence.

“What happened Maura?” he asked when she made no effort to speak.

Looking up at him, Maura’s eyes swam with tears; she had no idea where to start. “I had a fight with Jane.” She ventured eventually, her voice so small Charles nearly missed it. “I can’t do this anymore.”

Charles frowned. He’d known Maura Isles for almost fifteen years and in all that time, he’d never heard her so defeated. Sitting stoically, he waited for her to continue, having learnt that she would in her own time.

“I can’t do this job without her.” Maura sipped her whiskey, her nose crumpling up with each taste. “She’s accustomed to the work place banter, the assumptions about us….” Her voice trailed off and she stared into the amber liquid as if searching for an answer.

“What assumptions are those?” Charles asked softly, his own voice dropping to match hers.

“And it’s not like I didn’t try and help her, she always puts her own needs ahead of mine.” Maura sidestepped the question smartly, the last thing she wanted to do right now was get into her feelings for Jane. “I’ve tried to be there but she’s so angry or stoic. I just don’t know who I’m going to see each day. I just want my Jane back” A sob bubbled in her throat at the admission and she slid the tumbler onto the side table before holding her head in her hands.

“Oh Maura.” Charles crossed the expanse between them and settled on the couch next to her, a strong arm wrapping gently around her shoulder. “She’s going through a lot.” He rubbed her back gently as he spoke.