Googlemouth has decided to completely retire. As such, she's taken down her FFN account, and she's allowed me the chance to repost what we worked on together.

Characters aren't ours. They belong to Tess Gerritsen, Janet Tamaro, Turner Broadcasting, Warner Brothers, and other assorted important people. I gain nothing from writing these stories but the fun of doing it. Please don't sue me.

This story was co-written with Googlemouth. Originally posted 6.15.2011

Tuesday, 11:20 AM

"This is Maura Isles. May I speak to Chris Koopman, please, if possible? Yes, I'll hold," said Maura, her smooth mezzosoprano voice audible through her mostly closed office door. Jane – Detective Jane Rizzoli, homicide detective for the Boston PD – didn't usually mind interrupting, but it was always possible that Maura's conversation was a very important one, or private. Rather than barge right in, Jane sat down on one of the stools that habitually stood in various corners around the room and waited for the conversation to end. A technician from the adjacent lab walked in with a file in hand and made for the office.

"She's on the phone," Jane said helpfully, catching the lab tech up short.

"Since this is for one of your cases, can I just leave it with you?"

Jane nodded, holding out her hand, and was rewarded with the file she'd been hoping to get. Having nowhere else to be, she decided to read the thing right here. If history had taught her anything, it was that whatever the lab results showed, she would need them interpreted by her best friend, the chief medical examiner of Boston. Besides, it was nearly time to break for lunch anyway, so she might as well just hang out down here. They'd promised one another that they would get out of the precinct and go grab a salad somewhere nearby, instead of just eating at their desks as usual.

As Jane visually skimmed the first page of the lab report, Maura's voice again floated out of the office. "Hello yourself, Chris. It's good to hear your voice, too." Jane didn't pay attention. Contrary to popular belief, she knew that Maura did have friends. Creepy dead people dissections or not, she was charming and pretty, and people responded to that kind of thing, at least till they found out what she did for a living. She read, not really listening to the medical examiner's conversation. She'd really like to absorb and understand at least a little of the report before her genius friend got done on the phone, so she didn't look quite so undereducated. Metha-hydro-huh? Why would anybody want something in their bloodstream that they couldn't even spell or pronounce?

"Well, yes, it has been a while. I've really missed your magic touch."

Jane's brow lifted. What did she say? Then her common sense kicked in. Maura wasn't likely to say something like that. She must have misheard. Nah. Couldn't be. Back to the report. What in the hell is tetra-whatsamatta? Substance found in wound. Hm. Probably important. Man, I should take a chemistry class or something.

"Mm, that sounds terrific," Maura purred into the phone, and from where she was seated, Jane could just look in and see her eyes closing in… delight? No, that was anticipation. "How's tomorrow night, or better yet, this afternoon? I want to come as soon as possible."

Jane's eyebrows flew upward. Say what? Oh, now you've got my attention. You been holding out on me, Isles?

Maura's laptop was already open in front of her, and she clicked on her calendar program. "Let me just make sure. Hm. An hour today, or a half-day on Saturday?" She whimpered, clicking the pen in her other hand open and closed, a classic sign of stress. "I really don't want to wait that long, but a half-day sounds like sheer bliss. Could I have you at both times?"

From surprise, Jane's expression morphed to disbelief.

A little, impatient sigh escaped Maura's lips. "I don't want to be too greedy with your time, Chris, but… Well, Paul is good, but you're the best, and you know me best. You always give me just what I need, just the way I need it. Plus, he doesn't like working in tandem, and I really think I need both you and Julie this time. I've been really needing some attention lately."

Sweet Jesus.

"Great," Maura said with a disturbing amount of cheerfulness. "Then I'll be there this afternoon for a quickie, and then Saturday for the full session with Julie as well. See you then, Chris."

Jane closed the file with a snap and sauntered into her friend's office, knocking as she opened the door. "Okay, spill."