Chapter Text
Jane was late, and the hour was already very late. Maura was a little nervous about being at a bar alone, but even as she fidgeted another woman approached her, taking in her outfit with the kind of admiration it truly deserved.
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" she asked coquettishly, and Maura chuckled.
"I could ask the same of you," Maura demurred. The other woman's outfit was stylish, classic and fashionable. She was tall and gorgeous, with a soft smile and strong cheekbones. The dress fit her perfectly; it was a Verger which Maura had admired but regretfully decided not to purchase since she wasn't the right height to do it justice. It looked perfect on this other woman, flattering a wonderfully tall and curvy body. Maura looked her over with approval.
"Doctor Paula Rubenstein," the other woman introduced herself. Maura took the offered hand, realising she'd been looking too long, but Paula merely looked amused.
"Doctor Maura Isles," she countered, seeing the other woman's eyebrows raise.
"I thought you looked familiar."
"Have we met before?" Maura asked, worrying that she'd accidentally snubbed someone she'd already met.
"Trust me, I'd have remembered." Her voice was low and husky, but not as deep as Jane's. The hand that remained in hers was warm and friendly, and there was a pleasant thumb running over her knuckles. "No, I mean from the news. There was that serial killer." She shuddered. "You must be very brave to do that kind of work."
"She doesn't need to be brave, she has me," Jane snarled from somewhere over Maura's shoulders. Maura leaned back a little and felt the reassuring press of Jane's chest against her back, Jane's hand finding her waist and pulling Maura back into the safety of Jane's arms.
"Ah, Detective Rizzoli. Who could forget." Paula released Maura's hand and offered her own to Jane, who eyed it like she'd been offered a fish left in the sun for days.
"We've met?" Jane eyed the other woman warily, and Maura was confused by Jane's hostility to someone she didn't even know. Jane's gaze was focused on Paula's face, and the warmth of Jane against Maura's back almost made her forget to care how rude Jane was being.
"Briefly. You arrested one of my patients."
"One of your patients killed a bunch of people," Jane countered, and Maura was confused as well as dismayed. She'd been getting along so well with another woman, which was rare for her. Why was Jane acting like this?
"Perhaps I'll see you later," Paula said, directing that only to Maura, returning the rudeness Jane had offered. The event started and Jane sighed near Maura's ear.
Maura wanted to ask what was wrong, but the fundraiser had started so she just leaned against Jane, enjoying the solid warmth of her.
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Jane ducked out to the washroom after the speeches were over and Paula came over, full of compliments and approving eyes over Maura's outfit. Maura had chosen to wear the Yalas she'd had for a while because Jane liked Maura in that shade of green, and she'd worn kitten heels in the same shade with a purse to match.
"Would you like to come home with me?" Paula asked with a smirk when Jane came back, and Maura smiled pleasantly at her.
"Oh! No, thank you. I have a perfectly good home of my own."
Having understood completely, Maura beamed at Paula until she finally walked away, looking eminently confused
"Maura, she was flirting with you," Jane groaned.
"Oh really? Oh. She wanted to take me home with her for sex? Sex with me? Of course. Do you think she's gone far?"
"She's gone too far," Jane snarled. When Maura peered at the doorway Jane growled and held her. "Besides, you're coming home with me."
"For sex?" Maura asked hopefully, enjoying the frustrated little whine Jane gave her.
"No, for - ugh, Maura. For... you know. A beer. Walk the dog. Dinner, since they're only handing out candy corn."
"It's for a good cause," Maura said with a straight face. "Okay, take me home with you, even though I have a perfectly good home of my own."
She saw Jane roll her eyes, but she also saw Jane blush, and she chuckled lowly to herself.