“Yeah but you’re in love with her” he said.

“And you love her, what’s the difference?” she quipped,
trying to lighten the mood.  His
answering laugh made her smile.

“I hear you JJ…I promise I hear you” walking down the
hallway in companionable silence, they headed back to the conference room.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Coffee in hand, Jane sat back on the couch in Maura’s
office.  As Maura settled in next to her,
Jane put an arm around her shoulders so she could lean into her.

“Thank you Maur.” She said quietly

“Hmmm, for what?” breathing her in, Maura relished moments
like this when it was just the two of them.

“For being you, for…for loving me,” she said pensively.

Turning to look at her, Maura put her hand along Jane’s face
and kissed her tenderly. Pulling back she looked into those dark troubled eyes,
“it will be okay you know.”

“I hope so Maura, I hope so…this case, these agents, I feel
out of sorts and I know I’m missing something but…I don’t know…I’m just
tired…you know…my soul is tired.”

Maura hadn’t heard Jane sound so despondent since she had
woken up after being shot.

“Jane look at me,” Maura forced Jane to look at her, “you
have nothing to be ashamed of.  You just
need to recharge, a hot meal, a good night’s sleep…you are an outstanding
detective.  Whatever it is you think
you’re missing, I have no doubt you’ll figure it out.”  The earnestness in her voice cut through the
darkness that had enveloped her.

Pulling her close, she whispered in her raspy voice, “I love
you Maura Isles” and with that she captured Maura lips with her own.  Maura’s eyes opened wide at the urgency in
the kiss and with her free hand she took Jane’s coffee cup and placed it on the
table, returning Jane’s urgency with her own.
Flicking her tongue into Maura’s mouth, Jane grunted with desire at
Maura’s answering moan.  Their tongues
played sweetly with each until Jane sucked Maura’s bottom lip.

“Dammit Jane!…uhh” Maura could feel herself pulsing as
Jane alternated sucking on her lip and teasing with her tongue.  Pushing her away, she put a hand to Jane’s
chest.  The wild eyed look in those dark
eyes was almost her undoing.

“We can’t,” she heard herself say. “Jane, we can’t”

Bringing her head down to rest on Maura’s, Jane took a deep
shuddering breath. “You make me crazy Maura, do you know that?” her heavy
breathing making Maura smile.  She did
enjoy the effect she had on Jane.