RIZZOLI & ISLES

Ad Vitam

m (author18)

Rizzisles Fic: Ad Vitam

Author: m

Fandom: Rizzoli & Isles

Pairing: Jane Rizzoli / Maura Isles

Rating: R

Word Count: 2900

Summary: Jane and Maura head off to Santa Barbara for a much needed vacation. Work eventually finds them.

Disclaimer: Maura, the Rizzolis, Grant and Frost are not mine. The rest of ‘em (whenever/wherever they show up) are though.

Ad Vitam

m (author18)

“So, this is Los Angeles,” Jane murmured as she squinted into the shimmering heat hovering just above the concrete of the 405, noting with detached interest the way the searing waves seemed to flow effortlessly under and around the vehicles practically parked on the freeway. “Not too impressed.”

Maura laughed beside her. “Don’t be such a Bostonian Jane. Los Angeles is a perfectly fine city.”

“It’s freaking LA,” Jane scoffed. “It’s a dot on a map that all true Bostonians love to hate. Stupid Lakers,” she murmured.

“Just look out the window and enjoy the view. Traffic allowing, we have a two and a half hour drive up to our hotel and I don’t want to listen to you bitching the whole way,” Maura suggested only somewhat playfully. She had every intention of enjoying herself on this trip and if Jane didn’t stop whining soon she was going to lose it.

“Enjoy the view,” Jane grinned. “You’re so right. Hey, Maura!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm and mock enthusiasm. “Look at this traffic! Isn’t it spectacular?”

Maura glared at the brunette. “You’re lucky I love you.”

Jane smiled and leaned her head back on the headrest. “I know baby. Wake me up when we get there.”

* * * * *

Maura enjoyed the drive, even with the epic traffic conditions, she was pleased to be back in Southern California and once they hit the section of the 101 that ran parallel to the Pacific Ocean she reached over and gave Jane’s shoulder a good shake to wake her up.

“I don’t wanna go to school today Ma,” Jane grumbled, swatting at the hand on her shoulder.

Maura smiled as she took a good look at her girlfriend. “I know you’re awake,” she purred, running a finger down the side of Jane’s cheek and across her soft lips. “Your breathing isn’t slow enough to signal a sleep state.”

Jane opened her eyes and smiled. “Can’t blame a girl for trying. I was enjoying listening to you sing with the radio.”

“You were awake the whole entire time?”

“Mmm,” Jane murmured noncommittally.

“Why were you pretending to be asleep?” Maura pressed.

“Traffic makes me nauseous.”

“For real? I don’t remember you ever mentioning that before.”

“No,” Jane smirked. “I was resting my eyes. And my lips. And, well, really, everything. I have big plans for when we finally get to the hotel.”

Maura laughed loudly. “You are amazing.”

“Well,” Jane drawled, “I don’t want to disappoint.”

Maura’s voice dropped an octave into the realm of silken sex. “Oh, trust me, you never disappoint.”

Jane licked her lips as her breath hitched in her throat. She could listen to Maura read the phonebook with that voice and get off on it. “Drive faster,” she husked.

“Yes Miss Daisy,” Maura smiled, turning her attention back to the empty stretch of highway as she floored it.

* * * * *

“Wow,” Jane breathed, pushing her sunglasses up onto her forehead for an unobstructed view as she climbed out of the car. Their hotel was right on the beach, a sprawling off–white stucco building dotted with black wrought iron framed balconies and surrounded by a virtual grove of palm trees that were swaying gracefully in the gentle onshore breeze.

“You like?” Maura smiled as she handed the keys over to the valet and headed up the steps to the historic Hotel Mar Monte.

“Yeah,” Jane grinned. “What’s not to like?”

Maura tilted her head invitingly. “Wait until you see the inside then.”

Jane took one last look at the beach before turning and capturing her waiting girlfriend’s hand. “Alright. Impress me.”

Maura chuckled under her breath and nodded her thanks at the bellman holding the door for them as she led Jane into the grand foyer. She’d always loved this hotel with its rustically classic old California style terra cotta tile floors, stucco walls, hand painted tiles fronting the stairs, and exquisite hand hewn exposed beams lining the ceiling. The hotel epitomized every feature of the classic Californian architecture that she absolutely adored.

“Wow,” Jane murmured as her eyes travelled over the casually elegant lobby. “Okay, I’m impressed.”

Maura smiled knowingly and left Jane to explore the lobby while she went to the front desk and checked in, quickly breezing through the required initial heres and sign theres before being handed two electronic key cards and directions to their room with the assurance that the bellhop would meet them at their suite shortly. She smiled her thanks at the concierge and went in search of Jane, eager to see what the stunning brunette thought of her favorite hotel in Santa Barbara; and, if she was being completely honest, even more eager for Jane to uphold the promises she’d made as they were driving through Ventura.

She found the lithe brunette in the empty ballroom, gazing thoughtfully out the large square paned French doors toward the mighty Pacific Ocean.

“What do you think?” Maura whispered, genuinely curious as to the thoughts bouncing around Jane’s head.

“It’s amazing,” Jane smiled. “Are we all checked in?”

“Yes,” Maura nodded slightly. “Shall we go on up?”

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Jane murmured as she leaned in close to press a tender kiss to the blonde’s temple before grasping her hand and twining their fingers together. “Lead the way.”

Maura laughed softly and, tugging gently on Jane’s hand, led them out of the ballroom and down the hall toward the elevator, Jane gallantly taking the lead and calling the car before wrapping Maura into a gentle embrace. “I love you,” Jane murmured into blonde silk as she closed her eyes and breathed in deep the fruity smell of Maura’s boutique shampoo.

The elevator ride was too short for them to get up to any trouble and it was mere moments until they found themselves standing in front of the door to their suite, a politely disengaged bellhop standing beside their door with their bags.

“Ma’am,” he nodded towards Maura. “Ma’am,” he greeted Jane.

Jane gaped at the young man in disbelief. Did she really look old enough to be considered a ma’am?

Maura took one look at her girlfriend’s face and had a pretty good idea where her thoughts were going so she assumed the initiative and handled the bags and tipped the young bellman for his help, allowing Jane the opportunity to wander aimlessly into the suite, her face clouded with awe and a certain amount of indescribable nervousness.

Maura watched the play of emotions on her lover’s face, wisely choosing to wait until they were alone to find out what was going on.

“Thank you so much,” Maura smiled somewhat distractedly at the bellman who had just finished setting their suitcases inside their suite.

“My pleasure ma’am. Enjoy your stay at the Hotel Mar Monte,” he excused himself with a smile and a curt bow, closing the door quietly behind him as he left.

Maura waited a couple beats before flipping the deadbolt and turning toward Jane who was standing out on the balcony looking out on the ocean.

“Are you okay?”

Jane turned from the balcony. “Yes. Just, well, gobsmacked. This is a long way from Southie,” she said appreciatively. “I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere this fancy before.”

Maura smiled, understanding dawning on her as to why Jane looked like a fish out of water. “Yes, it is definitely a long way from South Boston. Thank you for agreeing to let me bring you here. This is one of my favorite places to vacation, I so wanted to share it with you.”

“Well,” Jane ducked her head embarrassedly. “You know…”

“What do you think?” Maura murmured, changing the subject as she slid in closer to Jane and wrapped her arms around the statuesque brunette’s waist.

“It’s almost as beautiful as you are,” Jane smiled, brushing the back of her hand across the blonde’s cheek.

“You’re such a sweet talker,” Maura breathed into their shared air before leaning in to kiss Jane softly.

Jane groaned at that first touch of soft lips and tightened her grip on the blonde, pulling her in closer as Maura moaned softly, her lips parting enough to allow Jane access, the brunette’s talented tongue wasting no time taking the lead and dominating their kiss.

“Mmm,” Maura moaned as the need for air forced them apart.

“Wow,” Jane smiled.

“You’ve been saying that a lot lately,” Maura chuckled, pressing up on her tiptoes to recapture Jane’s lips, one hand sliding up the brunette’s back to tangle itself in dark silk and pull her lover in closer.

Knowledgeable hands trailed slowly over offending clothing, grasping, kneading firm flesh and muscle as tongues, teeth and lips clashed in a hungry reverent kiss full of love and unspoken need and desire. All of which, ended too soon for both women’s liking as the need to breathe once again took precedence over their need for each other.

“Woooooow,” Jane breathed, rocking back on her heels.

“Mmm,” Maura smiled, pressing the pad of her index finger to Jane’s kiss swollen lips. “You ain’t seen nothing yet,” she smiled as she pulled her lover into the room and back to their bed.

Jane smiled as she landed atop Maura, “Wow.”

* * * * *

Twilight found Jane and Maura strolling hand in hand down Cabrillo Blvd toward an intimate Italian Bistro, both women ravenous and slightly sore in places that only moderately strenuous carnal activities can tire out. They were seated immediately at a small table on the patio outside the restaurant, the white tablecloth contrasting beautifully with the sapphire blue summer dress that Maura was wearing.

“You are stunning,” Jane set her menu down and leaned in and kissed Maura tenderly.

“Thank you,” Maura blushed. “Did you decide what you’re going to eat?”

“Besides you?” Jane smirked.

Maura’s blush deepened as she knew she had walked right into that one, but was rescued from further innuendo by the appearance of their waiter.

“So, how did you ever find this place?” Jane asked over the rim of her wine glass as she looked around the brick pavered patio festooned with glittering torches and surrounded with lush tropical foliage.

“I just, stumbled upon it one trip,” Maura answered. “It’s the type of place where you’re not uncomfortable eating alone, and the food is magnificent, so I kind of fell in love with it.”

Jane’s heart broke a little at Maura’s casual reference to dining alone and she vowed to herself that, as long as it was in her power to do so, she would never allow such a travesty to happen again. “I love you,” she murmured, squeezing the blonde’s hand that was captured in her own.

After dinner they strolled hand–in–hand down the boardwalk, both women wrapped in their private thoughts as they walked under sparkling stars, making it almost all the way to the pier before turning around and heading back to their hotel for the night.

* * * * *

Jane awoke to faint rays of sunshine indirectly lighting their room and her phone belting out a familiar and entirely unwelcome tune. She dove to grab the phone before the ring started back up again, desperate to allow the sleeping beauty beside her a few more hours of uninterrupted slumber. A quick glance at the clock showed it was barely a quarter to six, which meant she’d only been asleep for a handful of hours. No wonder she was exhausted still.

“Grant? What the hell, ,” she murmured as she picked up the phone, shrugging apologetically at Maura who rolled onto her back as she stretched languorously, her perfect breasts exposed and arching invitingly as the sheet tangled around her waist.

“Janie,” Grant drawled happily. “How ya doin?”

“I’m in a gorgeous suite in a magnificent hotel on the beach in Santa Barbara Joey, I’d say it’s going pretty good. As long as you don’t take into account the rather annoyed and flustered blonde who’s laying in bed and glaring at me for answering the phone at this god–awful time of day.”

“Good, good,” he answered quickly. “Look, Janie, I need a favor.”

“I’m on vacation Grant,” Jane sighed. “Say it with me now – VAY–CAY–SHUN. What part of that doesn’t make sense to you?”

“Trust me Janie, I get it. I wouldn’t be bugging you if it wasn’t important.”

Maura swore softly under her breath and gesticulated wildly for Jane to hand the phone over. “Um, Joey – Maura wants to talk to you.”

“No! Nonononono!” he rattled off. “Please Janie don’t put me on the phone with…”

“Lieutenant Grant,” Maura growled. “We’re in California. In bed, on vacation. You know we’re on vacation because I cc’d you in the email I sent out before we left.”

“You sent out an email?” Jane asked, surprised.

Maura shot a glare at Jane who, quite wisely, shut up.

“I know Doctor Isles,” Grant sighed.

“Right, so, since I’m on vacation – which, by the way, means not at work – and laying in bed with my ridiculously sexy, incredibly naked girlfriend, I think you can drop the formalities and call me Maura. Now, what has your panties in such a twist that you felt compelled to interrupt our well deserved sojourn from reality?”

Jane bit her lip to keep from laughing at Maura’s little tirade and watched the blonde carefully as she tried to figure out what Joey was saying; the amusement on her face turning to concern as she watched Maura fall silent as she listened to Grant explain the reasons behind his call, sporadic ‘Uh–huh’s and ‘I see’s falling from the blonde’s lips as she digested what she was hearing.

“Crap,” Maura finally sighed, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger. “Yes. I see your point. What? Don’t sound so surprised Lieutenant. We’ll go have a look and I’ll call you back later.”

Jane stared, completely bewildered as to what was happening. She started to ask, but was cut off by an angry finger waved in her face.

“Yes Joseph, I understand that you owe us huge. Dinner? Sounds lovely, I have just the restaurant in mind. I hope you have a substantial amount of leeway on your expense report. I’ll call you later. Yes, your number is in Jane’s phone. Right. Goodbye,” she flipped the phone closed.

“What? The? Fuck?” Jane asked.

“Language Jane,” Maura sighed tossing the cell into the chair on the other side of the room beside the armoire and throwing herself back onto her pillow. “Joseph needs us to go over to the Santa Barbara County Morgue and have a look at a body that he believes belongs to a suspect they’ve been investigating in connection to some of the recent terrorist threats around Boston.”

“Why is he calling us? There has to be somebody here they can call,” Jane asked as she laid down next to her girlfriend and gathered the blonde into her arms.

“As the liaison between Boston PD and the DHS he has the authority to call in whatever support he deems necessary to facilitate the expedient examination and closure of investigations.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Freaking brass–kisser,” Jane grumbled. “Still, why?”

“He knew we were here and he trusts us more than some faceless stranger,” Maura explained softly. “It won’t even be an hour out of our day Jane, we can still go wine tasting and do everything else we’d planned afterwards.”

“I’d planned on ravishing you,” Jane grumbled.

“And ravish me you shall,” Maura tilted her head up and laid a soft kiss to the underside of the brunette’s stubborn jaw.

“After we have a look at a corpse.”

Maura rolled her eyes at her girlfriend’s wording, but knew the brooding brunette was correct, vulgar, but correct. “Yes. After I have a look at the body and the findings we will be free to enjoy the remainder of our vacation.”

“Do you ever get the feeling that the world is out to get us?”

“It’s what we get for being so good at what we do,” Maura sighed. “It won’t be that bad.”

“Hmm,” Jane sighed, her fingertips tracing random patterns on Maura’s stomach.

“What’s wrong?”

Jane smiled softly as she ran a finger up Maura’s exposed stomach to trace a delicate circle around the blonde’s right breast. “I dunno,” she murmured.

“What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that we’re cuddled up in this big comfy bed, gloriously naked, your delectable breasts are practically begging me to take them in my mouth and suckle them, and I really, really, really, want to run my tongue over your entire body.”

“Oooh,” Maura sighed in understanding. “Well,” she grinned, “I only said that we’d go look at their findings today – I never said when we’d get there,” she murmured, running her fingertips along the edge of the sheets that were riding dangerously low on the brunette’s hips.

“Is that so?” Jane smiled.

“Mmm–hmm,” Maura nodded.

“Well, then,” Jane propped herself up on her elbow, “I guess,” she leaned in and traced the rim of Maura’s nipple with the tip of her tongue, “we can go do some work later,” she captured the bud between her lips and sucked gently.

“Mmm,” Maura gasped, one hand tangling itself in the sheets, the other tracing up and down Jane’s spine. “Yessssss,” she agreed as sharp teeth delivered a gentle bite.

Part 2

Jane held the door to the Santa Barbara County Medical Examiner’s office open and tried desperately to tamp down her annoyance that there were there. She could tell Maura was disappointed to be working as well; but, as the world of forensic pathology was a small insular one, the blonde doctor was at least looking forward to the opportunity to catch up with a colleague.

Jane rolled her eyes as they were forced to stop and actually check in at the front desk, her attempts at suppressing her irritation failing miserably as she handed the security officer behind the counter her ID because the bastard actually wanted to call and verify that it was valid.

“I’ve always wondered this – do people really try to break into the morgue M?” she asked as she turned her back to the counter and crossed her arms over her chest.

“Well,” Maura shrugged. “You should know better than anyone that there are all sorts of crazy in this world Jane.”

“But the morgue?” Jane gaped. “Really? Just. Eew.”

“Detective Rizzoli,” the overweight man behind the counter interrupted them. “Sorry about this. A Lieutenant Grant verified your identity and told me that I should apologize profusely for holding you up here because you’re doing him a favor while on your vacation.”

“Yeah,” Jane nodded. “It’s okay,” she smiled, really wanting to be angry but knowing that the poor schmuck was just doing his job. “Can I have my ID back?”

“Oh, yes. Of course,” he fumbled around on his desk before handing it to her. “And, Doctor Isles,” he turned to Maura.

“Yes?” Maura asked, as she turned her attention away from her girlfriend and back to the security officer.

“Grant wanted me to tell you to add a bottle of wine to your dinner?”

Maura grinned. “Oh, I’d planned on doing just that. Which way do we go?”

“This way,” a voice behind them answered.

Jane turned at the voice, the surprise of it all causing her to automatically take half a step in front of Maura before she realized that the speaker was the person they’d come to see.

“Abby,” Maura smiled and put a reassuring hand on the small of Jane’s back. “It’s been too long. Thank you for allowing us to have a look at this.”

“Not like I have much of a choice,” the redhead smiled depreciatingly. “DHS has some long tentacles.”

“That they do,” Jane agreed under her breath.

“I’m sorry,” Abby smiled at Jane. “I didn’t introduce myself,” she held out her hand, “Abby Donovan.”

“Jane Rizzoli,” Jane returned her smile and shook the proffered hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Yes. Well,” Abby chuffed. “Shall we?”

“Absolutely,” Maura smiled as she fell into step beside her old friend.

Jane just shook her head and brought up the rear, figuring she’d give the old friends time to chat a bit and because walking behind Maura was the stuff really, really, good dreams were made of.

“So,” Abby turned to Jane once they were in the elevator and away from curious ears. “You know the story on this guy?”

“Just what Grant told me over the phone,” Maura answered. “Male, mid thirties, found off the coast of the Channel Islands, suspected of aiding the group that set off bombs in several different T stations. He just wants us to have a look and tell him what we think.”

“Yeah,” Abby grimaced. “Well, water does some crazy things. How strong is your stomach Detective?”

“Better than Frost,” Jane smirked.

“What?”

Maura shook her head and laughed quietly. Those immersion therapy lessons haven’t quiet worked as well as they’d all hoped.

“She’ll be fine,” Maura assured Abby.

Abby nodded and turned on her heel. “Okay then. Let’s do this,” the redhead announced with mock enthusiasm as she entered her morgue.

Jane smiled at Maura and waved for the blonde doctor to go ahead.

“What do you know?” Maura asked as she pulled a gown on and tucked her hair into a surgical cap.

“Not a lot,” Abby looked up as she snapped a glove into place. “DHS told me to wait until you got here to do the autopsy.”

“Great,” Jane drawled. “So much for an in–and–out visit,” she complained as she made her way across the room to the occupied table.

“It won’t be that bad,” Maura murmured as she followed Jane further into the room.

All three women looked up at a flurry of voices in the hallway. “No, dude, I’m telling you, McSatan is not in the…,” three young doctors skidded to a stop just inside the morgue.

“Hello Chung,” Abby smiled. “Callahan, White. Looking for me?”

“Um, no Doctor Donovan. Just, um…,” the young intern grimaced.

“Then I recommend you and your fellow interns return to your desks and finish the post–mortem notes on the cases from yesterday so I can sign off of them.”

“Yes Doctor Donovan,” the young man in front muttered as they backed out of the doorway.

“McSatan?” Jane looked over at Abby and grinned.

The woman sighed. “Just one of the perks of working in a teaching hospital and dealing with interns who are addicted to Grey’s and Private Practice.”

“Seriously?”

Abby laughed. “Seriously.”

“Well,” Maura smirked from her position beside the occupied autopsy table, “McSatan, McHottie, can we get on with this?”

Jane smiled, her mind flashing back to their unofficial date nights watching the show. Unofficial because they’d both been hiding their true feelings. And now … now she had a McNickname. Wow. “You remember that they’re the same person, right?”

“But this is real life, Detective,” Maura grinned. “So, you’re now McHottie.”

Abby looked between the two women and laughed out loud. “Maura!”

“What?!” Maura snapped her attention back to her friend.

“Well done,” Abby smiled at the blonde and nodded towards Jane.

“I’m standing right here guys,” Jane blushed and moved in closer to the table. “So, can we get to it and see what we’ve got here,” she nodded at Maura who smiled and pulled the sheet down to just above the victim’s waist. Jane grimaced at the condition of the body and looked up at Maura, not surprised in the least to see the blonde leaning in closer to have a good look at the gaping wound in the man’s chest.

“From the pattern here,” Maura observed. “It would appear that he was shot from extremely close range.”

“Yes,” Abby concurred. “You can see a bit of a burn from the powder here,” she slid in closer to Maura and pointed at the edge of the wound with the back of her pen.

Jane scanned the wound. “Shotgun.”

“You think?” Abby asked.

“You don’t know that for sure,” Maura smiled, pleased that she and Jane were falling into something resembling their usual routine.

“I’m a good guesser,” Jane grinned.

“Really?” Maura arched a perfectly sculpted brow questioningly.

“You know it.”

“Ohmygod,” Abby laughed. “You two are not flirting over a dead body right now.”

“It’s kind of our thing,” Jane shrugged as she picked up the preliminary file on the victim and turned to find a desk to sit and look through it at. “I’m going to have a look through this, you two go do your doctor thing,” she winked at Maura.

* * * * *

Two hours later Jane and Maura were back at their hotel explaining the autopsy finding to Grant via speakerphone.

“So, did you find anything?” Grant asked as Jane and Maura laid back onto their now perfectly made bed.

“Just some needle marks on his arms – everything else is consistent with what I would expect to find on a body that’d been floating around in the ocean.”

“Nothing else?”

“No,” Maura shook her head for emphasis. “Well, unless you count the gunshot wound to his chest – but I’m assuming you had that information before you woke us up this morning.”

“I said I was sorry about that,” Grant grumbled.

“Is there anything in this guys files to suggest a reason for the needle marks? Why were you looking into him, anyways?” Jane asked.

“That’s need to know, Rizzoli,” Grant sighed. “And, right now I’m not sure if you need to know. Let me pass these findings on to the agents heading the task force and see what they say.”

“So now what?”

“Now you two go and enjoy your vacation,” Grant answered. “What did you have planned for today?”

“Sex!” Jane yelled.

“Behave Jane,” Maura laughed. “We were going wine tasting,” she answered Grant’s question.

“That should be fun,” Grant tried to play nice.

“Yeah,” Jane grinned. “Because it’ll be so freaking easy for me to pick up the subtle notes to the wine like Maura’s been trying to teach me with the stench of the water–logged fish food body following me everywhere!”

“Jane,” Maura admonished.

“It’s okay Maura,” Grant laughed. “I’m used to Rolly–Poly–Rizzoli’s temper. I’ll call you later if I need more help.”

“Real mature,” Jane scowled. “You can call Joey, but I’m telling you now that I won’t pick up my phone.”

“Yes you will Janie,” Grant sighed. “Because this is going to gnaw at you until you know what’s going on and solve it.”

Jane glowered impressively at the ceiling as she listened to Maura exchange pleasantries with Grant. More than anything she was pissed because she knew he was right – this case was going to bug her to no end until she knew the story behind it all.

“Baby?” Maura murmured as she moved to straddle her silent lover. “Jane? You okay?”

“I’m fine,” Jane muttered, lifting her hand to gently cradle Maura’s face in her palm. “Just … you know … gah,” she sighed.

“I know,” Maura smiled. “Not exactly the way we’d intended to spend our vacation is it?”

Jane drew a ragged breath as she felt the soft press of Maura’s lips against her palm. “No,” she husked. “But this…,” her voice trailed off as Maura began licking, kissing and sucking at her hand in earnest.

“Mmm,” Maura moaned, settling herself more firmly onto Jane’s hips. “I have just the cure in mind for our current situation.”

“And what would that be doctor?”

“I haven’t seen you naked in far too long,” the blonde whispered as she leaned in to capture the brunette’s lips with her own, moaning softly as Jane’s lips molded themselves to her own. “I haven’t felt your skin sliding against mine in what feels like forever. I so very desperately want to feel you soaring into euphoria, grasping, clenching in ecstasy around me,” she punctuated each statement with a slow possessive kiss.

“Mmpft,” Jane groaned, her hips bucking futilely against Maura, thinking that sounded like a very good idea indeed. “Wha…,” she moaned pathetically when she felt Maura pull away.

Maura smiled down at her flushed and panting lover. “I am going to take a bath and wash the morgue smell off of me,” she purred as she slid off of Jane and got to her feet beside the bed. “You coming?”

“Oh sweet Jesus,” Jane smiled, growing instantly more aroused at her lover’s words. “I certainly hope so.”

“I think that can be arranged,” Maura grinned coquettishly as she lifted her shirt off over her head. “I would hate,” she stared Jane in the eye as she slid her skirt down her legs, “to have to start without you.”

Part 3 - R version

It was nearing four o’clock when Jane and Maura finally emerged from their hotel room to attempt and sneak in one winery on the day.

“I can’t believe we spent an hour in the tub,” Maura laughed as she tossed Jane the keys to their rented Mercedes.

“I can,” Jane smiled as she pulled the seatbelt over her body and clicked it home. “I was so pruney when we finally got out of the water.”

“Mmm,” Maura smiled knowingly. “But so worth it.”

Jane reached over and grabbed Maura’s hand, slowly raising it to her mouth to press a soft kiss to the blonde’s knuckles. “Yes, three worth its, if I’m counting correctly,” she smiled.

Maura’s eyes crossed slightly at the memory. “Yesssssss.”

Jane laughed at the flush tinting her lover’s cheeks at the mere reminder of their afternoon activities. “And then there were the couple more worth its in bed afterwards.”

“Jane,” Maura laughed as she felt her blush strengthen and a fresh wave of arousal threaten to ruin yet another pair of panties. “Do you want to go wine tasting or do you want to stay here?”

Jane smiled, knowing that while she really, really, really liked the idea of staying in that they should do their best to continue with the original vacation plans. Even if hers had included lots and lots of cardio. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not,” she smirked. “I know you wanted to visit these winerys so I guess we can go get tipsy and maybe have some dinner. You know, restore some energy for later.”

“You are incorrigible,” Maura laughed.

Jane smiled. “Only when you and no clothing is involved. So, where am I going?”

“Head north on the 101 and take the exit for the 154. I thought we’d try the Fess Parker winery?”

“Why are all highways called ‘the’ whatever?” Jane mused as she merged onto the 101.

Maura shrugged as she twined her fingers with the brunettes atop the gearshift. “Probably because each freeway has its own personality.”

“They’re freeways,” Jane scoffed.

“It’s a California thing,” Maura shrugged. “Here’s the exit you want, we’ll head over to the vineyard this way.”

* * * * *

“Wow,” Jane muttered as she maneuvered their car over the winding gravel road through a grove of ancient oaks to the winery.

Maura chuckled. “Nice setting, yes?”

“Mmm–hmm,” Jane nodded as she angled the car into an open spot. “Shall we?” she asked, her left hand resting on the door–handle.

“Of course,” Maura tipped her head and smiled.

They met at the front of the car and Jane wrapped a protective arm around Maura’s shoulders, pulling the blonde in tight and pressing a tender kiss to her temple. “I love you,” she murmured, nuzzling blonde silk adoringly.

Maura sighed happily and slid her arm around Jane’s trim waist. “I love you too,” she murmured, tilting her head up to capture the brunette’s lips in a soft referent kiss full of love and adoration.

Jane smiled into the kiss, stopping their forward momentum and spinning Maura into her, her hands easily cupping the blonde’s face as she lost herself in her lover’s caress, her thumbs brushing lovingly over Maura’s delicate cheekbones as she poured her heart and soul into the kiss.

“You keep kissing me like that and we’re getting back in the car and going straight back to the hotel,” Jane whispered, her voice rough.

“Mmm,” Maura wobbled slightly on her suddenly very unsteady legs. “You too. Wow.”

“That’s my word M,” Jane smiled and pressed a quick kiss to the blonde’s forehead. “Let’s go inside.”

“What is this?” Jane asked skeptically as she lifted her glad for a better look at the liquid inside it.

“Wine,” Maura smiled.

“Quite an astute deduction there doctor,” Jane grumbled. “What type of wine is this?”

“It’s a syrah,” the girl behind the counter offered.

“It’s lovely,” Maura smiled. “Very smooth. What year is this?”

Jane watched the exchange between Maura and the girl, trying to look interested in their conversation when her mind was jumping between memories of Maura’s wet body sliding, moving, rocking against hers and the case they’d looked at that morning. She knew Mara had hoped to bring her mind back to focus on their vacation and it’d worked, but now that she was just standing here leaning against a wine counter without an active distraction her mind was spinning on those needle marks.

Maura turned to see how Jane was liking the syrah only to find the brunette’s eyes slightly glazed and her lower lip captured between her teeth signaling she was thinking about something confusing. Maura sighed, knowing that Jane’s mind was back in the morgue. The detective talked a good game and seemed to genuinely enjoy irking Grant with her childish outbursts, but she was a cop at heart and Maura knew that the mystery over the condition of the body they’d looked at was going to wreck havoc on the brunette’s mind until answers were found.

“Jane,” Maura’s voice interrupted Jane’s thoughts.

Jane focused on Maura’s worried face. “Sorry,” she murmured, and she really was.

“Do you want to leave?” Maura asked, turning her back to the bar and placing a concerned hand on the brunette’s arm.

“No,” Jane murmured. “I’m sorry. I was just … thinking.”

“I gathered as much. And from the look on your face you weren’t thinking about our new exercise regime,” Maura murmured.

“I was at first,” Jane argued weakly. “But, then my mind just kind of wandered.”

“I should have never told Joseph that I’d have a look at the body,” Maura muttered, shaking her head.

“M,” Jane sighed. “You did what was right. You are the best at what you do and he wanted your opinion. Of course you needed to go.”

“But now your mind is a million miles away,” Maura brushed the pad of her thumb over Jane’s lips. “And I wanted this trip to be about us.”

Jane mentally berated herself for ruining Maura’s mood; why couldn’t she just turn off the cop thing and enjoy the beautiful scenery and her girlfriend’s loving attention? She took a look around the cavernous tasting room, aware of the eyes discretely focused on them, and sighed as she murmured, “Let’s go outside for a walk?”

Maura nodded and they both set their glasses onto the high gloss bar before strolling out French doors to the huge wrap–around porch and down rough hewn stone steps to the expansive lawn surrounding.

Jane reached down and grabbed hold of Maura’s hand, twining her fingers with the blonde’s as they walked, arms swinging slightly between them as she led them across the lawn toward one of the ancient oaks dotting the property. She stopped beside the massive tree and ran a hand over the rough bark, aware of the way Maura’s eyes were focused on her face.

“It’s bothering me too, you know,” Maura whispered, running the back of her hand over the brunette’s cheek.

Jane pressed her palm into the trunk. “I’m sorry,” she breathed, not bothering to raise her voice because she knew Maura would hear her perfectly.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about,” Maura sighed as she leaned back against the tree.

Jane felt Maura’s hands dance along her hips, allowed those deceptively strong hands to pull her in tight as she dropped her head to the blonde’s shoulder, hating herself for ruining this for Maura. “I’m sorry,” she murmured again.

“Look at me,” Maura whispered.

Jane rolled her eyes and lifted her head. “I am…”

Maura cut her off. “Stop. Jane, just stop.”

Jane sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she felt Maura’s annoyance like a slap in the face. “Okay,” she murmured, bracing herself for the verbal lashing she was sure she was about to receive. Which is why it took her a second to process the next words to come out of Maura’s mouth.

“Kiss me.”

“Sorry?”

Maura chuckled as she lifted her hand to cradle Jane’s face in her palm. “Kiss. Me.”

“M’kay,” Jane breathed as she tilted her head in closer, barely brushing her lips across Maura’s before pulling back by millimeters to gauge the blonde’s reaction before swooping in and capturing her lips in a searing kiss.

Lips moved against each other effortlessly, easily falling into a familiar dance against each other as the blonde’s lips parted automatically, drawing the brunette into her, the kiss deepening as tongues stroked against each other lazily and bodies pressed together seeking maximum contact, hands busy languorously rubbing, kneading, caressing hips, shoulders, backs and breasts.

Jane moaned into Maura’s mouth as the blonde’s hand cupped her breast, felt her eyes roll back in her head as a thumb brushed softly over her nipple. “God,” she gasped when she pulled back to gasp for air.

“Mmm,” Maura smiled.

Jane leaned in and kissed the blonde adoringly. “Now, what was that all about?”

“Maybe I just wanted you to shut up and kiss me,” Maura answered softly.

Jane kissed her again. “Really M, why?”

Maura’s eyes opened slowly, a devious little smile tweaking her lips. “I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to feel your lips moving against mine, your tongue stroking deep inside my mouth, your body pressed up tight against me, your pulse racing, throbbing under my lips as…,”

Jane groaned and swooped in for another kiss, her hips pinning Maura to the tree as her free hand slid up the blonde’s body to tenderly cup her face. “I love you,” she whispered throatily against Maura’s lips when breathing became necessary.

“I love you,” Maura husked, capturing the brunette’s lust darkened eyes with her own. “You okay?”

“Mmm,” Jane murmured, pressing a quick kiss to Maura’s lips. “Yes. A little uncomfortable, but okay.”

Maura smiled, immediately understanding what the brunette was alluding too. “How uncomfortable?”

Jane smiled as she leaned in close to whisper in Maura’s ear, “Very.”

“Very?”

“Mmm,” Jane moaned softly. “Soaking.”

“Mmpft.”

“All. Your. Fault,” she breathed, nipping gently at the blonde’s lobe.

“God,” Maura groaned.

“You have no idea.”

“Yes, yes I do. C’mon,” Maura pushed gently against the brunette’s hips. “Let’s get going.”

“Where?”

“Bed.”

“That’s like forty minutes away,” Jane whined.

“I don’t want to take you here,” Maura pushed against Jane’s hips again. “Here it’d have to be fast. I want to take my time,” Maura breathed, running her thumb over the brunette’s hardened nipple as they stepped away from the oak.

“Gawd,” Jane groaned. “What about dinner? I thought we had reservations somewhere?”

“I’m telling you that I want to take you to bed and make love to you slowly … thoroughly … exhaustively … and you’re concerned about dinner reservations?” Maura growled.

“No,” Jane whimpered. “There’s always room service.”

“Exactly,” Maura slid two fingers into the waistband of the brunette’s linen trousers and tugged against the fabric. “Let’s go.”

“You want to drive?” Jane asked as they neared the car.

“No,” Maura pushed the brunette around the back of the vehicle. “I don’t want you to have time to think.”

“I knew you had a reason for all that,” Jane smiled as they slid into the car.

“Did it work?”

“Amazingly well,” Jane groaned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

“Me too,” Maura admitted softly.

* * * * *

“Christ Maura,” Jane moaned, as the blonde pushed her up against the wall of the elevator.

“I want you,” Maura breathed against the brunette’s neck.

“Almost … at … the … room,” Jane gasped as Maura’s lips attacked her neck. “Ooooooooh,” she sighed.

“Thank god,” Maura groaned as the elevator stopped at their floor.

They stumbled out of the elevator, cheeks flushed, pupils blown, hair mussed and clothes disheveled as they practically ran down the hall toward their room. Maura fumbled with the key card trying to get it in the slot and Jane wasted no time ripping it out of the blonde’s hand and opening the door.

The door had yet to click closed before they were kissing again, each busy removing their own clothes as they stumbled together toward the bed. Jane kicked her trousers off as she climbed up beside Maura, all frenetic energy dissipating in contented sighs as skin slid across skin.

The kiss that had moments before been ravenous turned reverent as hands were finally free to touch, roam, explore familiar terrain, kneading, massaging, evoking tremors of anticipation and sighs of ecstasy as the last remnants of clothing were thrown haphazardly out of the way.

Jane groaned softly as she felt the room shift as Maura flipped them over so the blonde was now laying half on top of her. “Fuck Maura,” she sighed, her head rolling to the side as the blonde’s mouth traveled hungrily down her neck.

Maura hummed her understanding against sensitive flesh as she continued to work her way down Jane’s body, reveling in the feeling of the brunette writhing under her as she nipped, licked and sucked every inch of skin that her mouth came upon.

Jane hissed in pleasure as Maura latched onto her breast, the blonde’s tongue flicking fast and slow over her painfully engorged nipple driving her to madness. She was completely lost to everything but the sensation of the blonde working against her, the room was growing fuzzy and there was a faint buzzing in the background that grew louder and louder as she felt talented fingers dip into her center and slide home inside her. When she came it was fast, unexpected, and entirely violent - the spasms rocking through her body throwing her mind off the edge and into the dark silent abyss of euphoria.

Part 4

“Hey,” Jane smiled as she woke up to the feeling of Maura’s soft lips pressing against her shoulder.

“Mmm,” Maura grinned. “Hey. How you feeling?”

“Besides a little sore?” Jane smirked. “Hopelessly in love with you and so incredibly happy to be on vacation,” she leaned in and kissed Maura softly.

“Well, that’s good,” Maura sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Jane asked.

“Waiting for the phone to ring,” Maura muttered as she looked over at the clock.

Jane sat up and looked at the time. “Christ M, it’s a quarter to six – who’s going to be calling ….,” she was interrupted by her cell phone vibrating atop the dresser before the tone kicked in.

“Shit, Grant?!” Jane swore. “How did you know he was going to be calling?” Jane asked Maura as she climbed out of bed and went to grab her phone.

Maura shrugged and tugged the sheet up to cover her chest as she sat up against the headboard. “Just, had a feeling.”

“What do you want Joey?” Jane answered without preamble.

“Good morning to you Jane,” Grant’s tired voice replied.

Maura waved for Jane to give her the phone, which the brunette did gladly. “What did the tox report say?” Maura asked.

“Hello Maura,” Grant answered.

“You can skip trying to be civil and just tell me what the report said. I know that’s why you’re calling,” Maura closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as she spoke.

“Nothing concrete, showed trace evidence of Pentobarbital in the liver,” Grant reported.

“Anything else?” Maura snapped.

“I don’t know what to tell you Doctor Isles,” Grant started.

“Joseph,” Maura cut him off. “We’ve been over this. Call me Maura. I’m still on vacation with my ridiculously sexy girlfriend who is still incredibly naked. Call me Maura.”

“Sorry?”

“No, I’m sorry,” Maura sighed. “I had no right to snap at you like that. I’m going to put you on speaker phone now so you can tell both of us why in the name of God you’re ruining our vacation.”

“Sorry,” Grant mumbled again.

“So there was nothing in the tox report?” Jane asked, watching Maura curiously.

“The only thing out of the ordinary was trace readings of Pentobarbital.”

“What’s that?” Jane asked.

“Well, in it’s pure form it’s an anti–seizure medication, but it can also be a by–product of the body breaking down Sodium thiopental.”

“And that would be…,” Jane motioned for Maura to elaborate.

“Sodium Pentothal?” Maura offered the compounds more commonly known name.

Jane’s eyebrows shot up in understanding. “The truth serum?” she asked.

“Yes,” Maura nodded.

“So you think somebody was pumping him full of this drug to interrogate him?” Jane asked.

“When was he reported missing?” Maura directed her question toward the cell phone on the bed.

“Two weeks ago,” Grant answered.

“Was there anything interesting in his file?” Jane asked.

“Work history,” Maura extrapolated. “Anything to suggest that he had access to information that others might consider valuable?”

“Well,” Grant sighed, “there’s not a whole lot in there. Prints ID’d the vic as Robert Polk. Thirty six, male – obviously – retired Lieutenant Commander US Navy. Previous posts include Pearl Harbor, Pensacola, Guam and somewhere in Australia,” he shared.

“Pine Gap,” Maura supplied. “It’s an international base. The CIA likes to run the majority of their Southeast Asia ops from there.”

“How do you know…,” Jane started. “Never mind. Right, so our guy had contact with the CIA at some point in his career.”

“What was his specialty?” Maura asked.

“Not listed,” Grant answered. “Which, more than likely, means special ops.”

“Fun,” Jane drawled sarcastically.

“He retired in 2006,” Grant continued. “Took a job with a consulting firm based out of Los Angeles.”

“Consulting in what?” Jane asked.

“Network systems security,” Grant answered.

“Why didn’t the truth drug show up?” Jane asked, still trying to wrap her head around the chemistry.

“Because the body burns it off fairly quickly. It’s a short acting drug, it gets metabolized out of the blood stream and into the musculature fairly quickly.”

“Exactly,” Grant sighed.

“So, let’s just assume that he was interrogated while under the influence of this drug. What could he tell?” Jane asked. “Why was he under the umbrella of your investigation?”

“I need you two do a favor for me,” was Grant’s response.

“No?” Jane asked hopefully.

“Not the answer I need Janie. Maura’s been requested to come in and consult. Can you guys just go down to Westwood and chat with the lead agent on the case? He can fill you in on all of it.”

“Um, no,” Jane tried again.

“Why us?” Maura asked.

“Because there’s been a new development in the last twenty–four hours that I don’t really like and your particular field of expertise just became very valuable Maura. I can bring you in as consultants so that your costs will be expense–able.”

Maura looked over at Jane who just shrugged and reached over to cover the handset. “We can tell him no M,” Jane murmured. “We’re on vacation. We don’t have to work. We can tell him no.”

“And do what Jane? Sit here and try to not think about it? You know you’re going to think about it. Hell, I’m going to be thinking about it,” she sighed. “Besides, I’m curious as to why they need me in particular.”

“What do you want to do?” Jane whispered, ducking her head to capture’s Maura’s eyes

“I don’t think this is about what we want anymore,” Maura brushed the pad of her thumb over Jane’s lips. “If they need me to come in and consult you know I have to do it.”

“Hello? Are you there?” Grant’s muffled voice interrupted them.

Jane pulled her hand off the phone. “We’re talking Joey and you don’t need to hear this part. Just sit tight,” she snapped before recovering the handset. “What are you saying M?”

“Let’s go talk to his guy in LA and see what they’re looking at. As the head Medical Examiner for the city of Boston I am on contract as a consultant with the FBI so I should at least go and see what is going on.”

“Okay then,” Jane leaned in and kissed Maura softly. “Tell him we’ll go down and talk to them.”

* * * * *

“Déjà vu,” Jane smiled to herself as they slid down the Sepulveda Pass into Westwood. “You ever get the feeling like you’ve been somewhere before?”

“Har har,” Maura pretended to laugh.

“Wish we’d been able to make it more than a day on vacation,” Jane sighed wistfully. “You chose a magnificent location M, it was beautiful up there.”

“Thank you,” Maura smiled shyly. “Perhaps we’ll go back sometime and conveniently ‘forget’ any and all communication devices at home.”

“I like the sound of that,” Jane smiled as she steered the car through the wrap–around off–ramp. “I didn’t realize Wilshire was such a big street.”

“Mmm,” Maura nodded. “Major thoroughfare. It’s always busy down here.”

“You’ve been here before?”

Maura nodded. “Yeah. Did a guest lecture series at UCLA one summer, remember?”

“Oh yeah,” Jane nodded.

“The federal building is just up here on the right,” Maura pointed at the tall white building. “Parking structure is around back, just hang a right at the signal.”

“You got it,” Jane smiled.

* * * * *

“Yes,” Maura smiled at the security guard. “We’re here to meet with Drew Lander.”

“Regarding?”

“I don’t think she’s supposed to tell you that,” a deep voice answered from behind them.

For the second time in as many days Jane found herself acting the protector and stepping between Maura and an approaching stranger.

“Drew Lander,” he smiled and held out his hand. “Nice to meet you two. My partner Bryn West is upstairs in the conference room waiting for us.”

“Jane Rizzoli,” Jane shook the agent’s hand.

“Maura Isles,” Maura did the same.

“Charmed,” he smiled. “Bryn is quite excited to meet you Doctor Isles, ever since she heard you were coming in to consult she’s been running around like a chicken with her head cut off.”

“Oh really?” Maura smiled.

“Apparently she sat through a lecture series you did at UCLA when she was a senior – you made quite the impression.”

“Wait,” Maura cocked her head thoughtfully. “Bryn West, you said?”

“Yes,” he smiled.

“The daughter of…,” Maura’s voice trailed off as Drew started laughing.

“Exactly,” he grinned.

“Oh,” Maura chuckled. “Is he mad at me?”

“No,” Drew grinned. “Bryn never was one to do as she was told, he kind of figured she’d end up in the Bureau.”

Jane looked between the two of them. “Who? What? Why?”

“She always had a quick mind for this type of thing,” Maura ignored Jane's outburst.

“She’ll be pleased you said that,” Drew grinned as he motioned them onto the elevator before him. “So, if you don’t mind I won’t be telling her – she’d be impossible to live with!”

Maura laughed. “Whatever you feel is best Agent Lander.”

“It’s Drew,” he smiled.

“Right,” Maura nodded.

Jane’s head was bouncing back and forth between Maura and the FBI Agent like she was watching a tennis match. “Should I be jealous?” Jane leaned in and whispered in Maura’s ear.

“Don’t be silly,” Maura murmured.

* * * * *

“Detective Rizzoli, Doctor Isles, thank you for coming in,” they were greeted by a short brunette as soon as they entered the conference room.

“Nice view,” Jane whistled as she looked out the floor–to–ceiling windows toward Santa Monica.

“It’s okay,” the brunette laughed. “Bryn West, nice to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Jane shook her hand. “Jane Rizzoli.”

“Hello again,” Maura smiled as she took the brunette’s proffered hand.

“Doctor Isles,” Bryn grinned. “Thank you so much for agreeing to come down and help us out on this one. It’s nice to see you again. Father said to tell you hello.”

Jane shot Maura a ‘what the fuck’ look which Maura promptly replied to with an ‘I’ll tell you later’ stare.

“How is the Senator doing?” Maura smiled as she walked around the large table to take a seat.

“Still the same,” Bryn laughed. “You know, working his ass off in Washington and then coming back here to bug me.”

“Yeah,” Drew murmured before being quickly silenced by an elbow to the ribs from Bryn. “Sorry,” he muttered.

“So,” Jane drawled as she lowered herself into a chair next to Maura. “What’s the story here? “

“Well,” Bryn sat down across the table from Maura, “Lieutenant Grant filled us in on your hypotheses from the tox report on our latest vic and you’re right, as usual.”

“Latest vic?” Jane’s brows shot up. “How many priors?”

“Three,” Drew answered as he spread some glossy eight by tens out on the table. “We got interested in the first place because the MO is the same.”

“All shot at close range by a shotgun and dumped in the ocean,” Jane murmured as she fingered through the pictures.

“Exactly,” Bryn nodded. “And all are former intelligence officers.”

“So they all showed trace levels of Pentobarbital?”

“Yup,” Drew nodded.

“So what’s the story?” Jane asked as she looked askance at Maura who was busy examining the autopsy photos on the previous victims.

“The consulting firm he worked for is called Kinsey Consulting – they specialized in Network Systems Security which basically means that they’d hack into your mainframe and then tell you how they did it so that way you could guard your network better.”

“So he was a hacker?” Jane asked.

“A legal hacker,” Bryn clarified. “Companies pay Kinsey Consulting rather obscene amounts of money to see if they’re secure or not.”

“Do the employees have to pass some kind of a background check?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, they run a thorough background check on all employees. Including AFIS.”

“Wow,” Jane murmured. “But what does this have to do with Boston?”

“Kinsey Consulting has a contract with the city of Boston,” Drew told them.

“That’s where I recognized the name from!” Jane thumped the table. “They were the ones brought in to consult on the security of the T–stations after the first failed bombing.”

“Exactly,” Bryn nodded.

“He worked the project?” Jane asked.

“Yes, him and these three men,” Drew waved at the photographs.

“I’m confused,” Maura held a hand up.

Three sets of eyes turned to stare.

“Not about this,” she waved distractedly to indicate the conversation that they’d just been having. “I know Grant wants us to consult, but we’re not really needed. Why are we here? Why do you need us?”

“Because,” Bryn sighed and ran a hand through her short brown hair. “We just found another body, in the same condition as the others but this one wasn’t in the water.”

“Where did you find it?” Maura asked, instantly intrigued.

“An abandoned warehouse in the valley,” Drew answered.

“What about Dmitry Varek?” Maura asked.

“Who?” Jane looked at her girlfriend.

“The local ME. He’s quite good,” Maura explained to Jane quietly. “Why do you need me?” she asked the agents across the table.

“Because the body we just found belongs to Doctor Varek,” Bryn answered.

Part 5

“The ME on the case was killed?” Jane looked at the agents, doing her best to appear calm. “And now you want Maura’s help?”

“Yes,” Drew answered, looking at Jane like this was the most obvious conclusion to reach. “Of course.”

Maura looked over at Jane and saw the barely veiled anger and panic that would have been invisible had she not known her so well. “Could you give us a second?” the blonde turned to the FBI agents who were the focus of the brunette’s anger.

“Um, yeah,” Drew nodded. “Bryn, let’s go get a soda. You guys want anything?”

“No, thank you,” Maura answered for the two of them and smiled politely until the door closed quietly after them.

Maura leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs and her arms as she appraised her lover.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Jane grumbled.

“Like what?” Maura asked softly.

“Like you’re diagnosing me. Don’t do it.”

“Then tell me what’s wrong so I don’t have to,” Maura offered.

Jane sighed and sat back in her chair. “I don’t want you involved with this M.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Jane sat back up, incredulous.

“Yes, why? How is this different from any other case we’ve worked together on before?” Maura argued.

“You did not just say that,” Jane grimaced. “You want to know why this case is so different Maura?”

“Yes,” the blonde nodded. “I do. Why is this different?”

“Whoever is behind all this killed a doctor M. Not just any doctor, the freaking ME who was on the case.”

“Yes, and…”

Jane stared at her girlfriend. “You’re serious,” she murmured. “You really don’t get it.”

“Get what?”

“I don’t want to lose you,” Jane stared into her girlfriend’s eyes entreatingly. “Is that enough of an explanation? I can’t lose you.”

“Why would you lose me?”

“Because there’s some fucking psycho running around killing ex–CIA types and Medical Examiners!” Jane practically yelled. “How the fuck am I supposed to protect you from that?” she continued, her voice dropping to a more appropriate level.

“Jane,” Maura sighed, sitting up and covering the brunette’s hands with her own. “We’ll be fine. We can do this. They want my help and I need to help them.”

“What about me?” Jane pressed. “What if they don’t let me stay with you?”

“Jane,” Maura leaned in and kissed her girlfriend softly. “They wouldn’t have let you in the room in the first place if they weren’t going to allow you to assist on the investigation. I’m sure Joseph made it clear to them that if they wanted me then I would require your assistance.”

“I will not leave you,” Jane swore. “If they don’t…,” she started before being cut off.

“Shh,” Maura kissed Jane again. “It’ll be fine,” she ran the back of her hand over the brunette’s jaw.

“I’ll go and fetch the Fibbies then,” Jane grumbled resignedly as she pushed herself up out of her chair.

“Hey,” Maura rose with her.

“Hmm?” Jane mumbled.

Maura just smiled and pulled the brunette in for a tight embrace. “I love you,” she whispered against Jane’s ear.

“I love you too,” Jane sighed.

* * * * *

“So, what do you think?” Jane murmured as she leaned in over Maura’s shoulder to look at the autopsy report for Varek.

Maura shrugged. “Same as the body in Santa Barbara, just no water damage. But the needle marks and the shotgun wound are consistent.”

“Nothing else stands out?” Jane asked softly.

“No,” Maura shook her head. “It’s consistent. All of it,” she answered Jane before turning her attention to Bryn and Drew. “Can I have a look at Doctor Varek’s body?”

Bryn looked at Drew who shrugged. “Assuming that by asking you’re planning on agreeing to help us with this, I don’t see why it would be a problem.”

“Yes, of course,” Maura answered quickly. “Right, Jane?”

Jane sighed and nodded. “Yes, of course.”

* * * * *

“So,” Drew groaned as he dropped into the empty chair beside Jane as Maura and Bryn made their way into the morgue. “You don’t want to help us do you?”

“It’s not that,” Jane told the agent honestly.

“Then what is it?”

“I don’t want her hurt,” Jane waved in the direction Maura had disappeared to.

“We can protect her Detective,” Drew said.

“I didn’t even bring my gun,” Jane worried aloud. “I left it in the lockbox in my dresser in Boston. How am I supposed to protect her if I don’t have a gun?”

“You really care about her, don’t you?” Drew appraised the moody brunette beside him.

“Yeah,” Jane answered curtly, recognizing too late that she was letting too much emotion show around the agents. Crap. So much for the mini–lecture she’d gotten from Grant on the way down about how the Fibs make the military look relaxed with the whole ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ thing.

Drew watched Jane try and regain control of herself and knew immediately what was going on. “I got an extra service weapon at home,” Drew offered. “I’ll call Spence, he’s our boss, and let him know that I’m lending it to you for the duration of your involvement in this matter. We’ll get the serials taken care of and you’ll be good to go. Sound good?”

Jane looked over at Drew and smiled, feeling like a rather large weight had been lifted off her shoulders. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“No problem,” he smiled and chucked her on the shoulder. “Believe me, I get it. I worry every time Brynnie heads out without me.”

“So, you and Bryn, huh?” Jane arched a brow questioningly.

“Yeah,” Drew nodded.

“She’s cute,” Jane took a swig from the bottled water she was holding.

“Thank you.”

“So, they let you remain partners?” Jane asked, surprised that the FBI didn’t follow general police regs about spouses slash significant others not being allowed to work together.

Drew laughed softly. “Spence is the only one who knows, and since he’s Bryn’s godfather it’s being overlooked so long as we don’t ‘out’ ourselves to the office,” he explained. “The minute it becomes common knowledge we’ll be split up and I’ll be two seconds from an ulcer and a stress–induced heart attack. So, trust me. I get it.”

Jane offered the agent one of her genuine smiles. “I appreciate this.”

“No problem,” Drew grinned. “Like I said. I get it.”

“So,” Bryn smiled as she and Maura emerged from the autopsy suite. “I’m glad to see everybody’s still alive out here.”

“Hey,” Drew grinned good–naturedly. “We’re not Neanderthals.”

Maura’s eyes sought Jane’s, silently checking that everything was okay. Jane just bit her lip and nodded.

“Did you find anything else?” Drew asked Maura, who’d come to a stop in front of Jane.

“Possibly,” Maura nodded. “I collected a few more samples for a more in depth toxicology scan – results should be back tomorrow.”

“Cool,” Drew checked his watch. “It’s nearly four thirty now. You guys want to come over for dinner? I can barbeque.”

“Drew…,” Bryn started interrupt Drew but he cut her off by pulling her down onto his lap.

“It’s cool,” he murmured. “They’re in the same boat we are.”

“Oh,” Bryn drawled as she let her gaze travel from Jane to a very confused Maura.

“What?” Maura looked at Jane.

“I’ll explain later,” Jane whispered to Maura before turning back to the agents and smiling. “Sounds good. We’ll follow you?”

“Yeah,” Drew grinned. “It won’t be hard, this time of day. The freeway’s gonna be a mess.”

* * * * *

“Okay, you weren’t kidding about the freeway,” Jane called out to Drew as she climbed out of their rental car that she’d just parked in Bryn’s driveway. “That was a disaster!”

“I told ya,” he grinned. “Welcome to LA.”

“C’mon in,” Bryn smiled as she held the door open from the garage into the house.

“Nice place,” Jane whistled appreciatively as she entered into the kitchen that was decked out with cherry cabinets, granite counters and gleaming stainless appliances.

“Yeah,” Bryn looked around with a smiled. “Just finished renovating it.”

“You must cook,” Maura observed aloud as she took in the professional grade range.

“That’s my baby,” Drew grinned proudly as he walked over and ran an appreciative finger over the top of the eight burner Viking.

“I’m getting better!” Bryn protested with a laugh. “Haven’t set the smoke detector off in a month, thank you very much!”

“Smoke detector?” Maura asked.

“Yeah,” Drew challenged, an evil smile lighting his face. “Tell them why we just finished renovating.”

“No,” Bryn huffed.

“What happened?” Jane asked, unable to keep from grinning at their exchange.

“No,” Bryn crossed her arms over her chest indignantly.

“I’ll tell them if you don’t,” Drew threatened.

“Fine!” Bryn threw her hands up in the air. “Fine! I might have allegedly set the old kitchen on fire.”

“On fire?” Maura repeated.

“Allegedly!” Bryn argued.

“Allegedly my ass Bryn,” Drew chuckled. “Anna said the flames were massive. You should just be happy she was here with you and had the wherewithal to grab the fire–extinguisher and put the damn blaze out.”

“Hey, she totally wasn’t complaining that night,” Bryn laughed.

Jane scooted closer to Maura and pulled the blonde in tight. “Is this what we look like to people watching us?”

“Yeah, ‘cause she scored a date with the firefighter!” Drew grinned.

“Probably,” Maura murmured. “But, we’ve never set the kitchen aflame.”

“It was an accident!” Bryn threw her hands up in defeat.

“My mom traded her Buick in for a pimp–mobile one time to piss my dad off,” Jane offered. “Just be happy you got a new kitchen out of your fiasco.”

Bryn and Drew turned to Jane and stared.

“A pimp–mobile?” Bryn asked.

“Yeah,” Jane nodded, chuckling at the memory. “Total pimp–mobile. It was hideous.”

“It was a classic!” Maura cut in.

“It was hideous,” Jane repeated herself. “She was lucky I went down there and talked the schmuck into giving her the Buick back.”

“Awesome,” Drew laughed as he opened the fridge. “Everybody cool with chicken?” Drew asked as he dug around in the fridge. “I can grill up some veggies too.”

“Sounds excellent,” Maura smiled. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” Drew grinned. “Beer?”

“You’re a fucking saint,” Jane sighed happily as she took the proffered beverage.

“Language Jane,” Maura admonished quietly as she too accepted a beer.

“Sorry,” Jane grumbled.

“Hellooooooooooo,” a new voice hollered from somewhere down the hall.

Drew looked up and grinned. “Oh, you two ladies are in for a real treat now.”

“Why?” Maura asked, a hint of concern clouding her eyes.

“Just wait,” Drew arched his brows suggestively.

“Shut up Drew,” Bryn laughed. “She’s not that bad. We’re in the kitchen Anna!” she hollered.

“You two better not be going at it on the counter again,” the still faceless woman called out. “I do not want to see little Jimmy and the twins again Drew – you know I don’t do the peen.”

Jane choked on her beer and Maura just stared at Drew who was blushing and trying not to laugh.

“Oh, I didn’t realize the car in the drive was company,” the strawberry–blonde smiled apologetically as she came into the kitchen. “I thought Drew just got another new toy.”

“Hi,” Jane laughed.

“Hiya,” the woman grinned. “I’m Anna.”

“Jane,” she held her hand out. “And this is Maura.”

“Nice to meet you,” Anna grinned. “Sorry about that, you know, earlier. It was a joke … really … I haven’t seen little Jimmy.”

Jane noted the way she didn’t say she’d never caught them in flagrante and grinned. “Nice to meet you.”

“Whatcha need?” Bryn asked her friend as she handed her a beer.

“Shea is working tonight I was gonna see if you wanted to go down to Go’s for some sushi, but, well, maybe next time.”

“Shea’s the firefighter we mentioned earlier,” Bryn explained.

“I see,” Jane chuckled into her beer.

“I’m gonna barbeque,” Drew offered. “Wanna stay for dinner?”

“I don’t want to impose,” Anna shrugged. “I’ll just grab some take–out and start working on my lesson plans or something. Only got a week until school starts back up.”

“You’re a teacher?” Maura asked.

“Yeah,” Anna grinned before taking a giant swig of her beer. “High school math.”

“Christ,” Jane groaned.

“I know, right?” Bryn chuckled. “I don’t know how she puts up with the teenagers all year long.”

“Eh, they’re fun,” Anna laughed. “I just smack them around for an hour or so and then kick their asses out.”

“I never thought of it that way,” Jane chuckled.

“Jane, Maura, do you care if Anna stays and hangs out for a bit?” Drew asked.

“Nah,” Jane grinned. “The more the merrier. Hell, we’re still supposed to be on vacation anyways.”

A/N: The Fess Parker winery is a real winery in Los Olivos in Santa Barbara county. While I am not a fan of their wines (they’re not bad, they’re just nothing spectacular IMO), the location/setting of the winery is absolutely stunning. If you want to see what the winery looks like http://fessparker.com/html/winery2.html.

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