As her phone buzzed with Jane's reply, Maura slowly walked over to her desk and did something she was doing quite a lot of late: she stepped out of her heels, letting one fall to its side. The height and confidence she exuded when wearing them didn't suit her mood, but the lack of height and insignificance of having no shoes on made her feel better, even if it was only to make her feel more true to her misery.

'Ok' read Jane's simple reply, letting Maura know that the always reliable detective would be down shortly to lend a shoulder to cry on.

The doctor had just finished yet another autopsy of a poor soul gruesomely cut open or shot or beaten to a pulp, and yet again, she felt this weird twang inside of not having to turn to her friend and tell him "sink". She missed him. She missed his quick wit; his understanding of some things that went right over Jane's head; his smile. She missed that smile.

The void Barry Frost left would never be replaced by Frankie or any other detective that stepped in, no matter how hard they tried, so there would always be that... whatever it was, that told her: he's gone. One minute he was here trying to hold down his lunch, and the next, he was just gone.

Jane missed him too. Of course she would, and despite her attempts to strive on and be herself, she too felt the void. The desk across from hers was empty; that silly doll... action figure the only thing that occasionally made the corners of her mouth turn up into a small smile. Even then, it never reached her eyes. Tears found their way there instead.

A quick shake of her head to bring herself out, and the gentle hum of her phone vibrating as a message from Maura came through made her realise that she had work to do; that someone had been murdered, and looking at the action figure would not solve it.

'Finished autopsy. Need a hug.' Maura Isles was not a hugger. Jane Rizzoli was not a hugger. But somehow they would fall into each other's arms and cling on until something interrupted them. Sometimes they would hold onto each other for what seemed hours. They'd always hugged before, but these days, a simple moment wrapped in the other's arms seemed like the only thing that would give them enough strength to last for the next few hours.

Jane stared blankly at the doors of the elevator on her way down to Maura until they dinged open and, like a zombie, she made her way to the M.E's office. Not even the detective's usual swagger seemed to hold as much power as it used to. She gently rapped her knuckles on the doctor's door and swung it open when she head the quiet little 'come in' from the other side.

As soon as her eyes found Maura's tired figure, they stuck. She closed the door behind her back and took a step towards Maura, unknowingly being as silent as she could. Maura was facing her desk, her fingertips skimming over meaningless papers and her head dipped. She opened her mouth to say something but a shuddery sob came out instead.

Jane slipped her arms around Maura's waist and rested her head on Maura's soft-as-silk hair. In the past few weeks, this had sort have become a routine. They'd come and give each other comfort when the other asked, not a single word needing to be said. It usually finished with 'I'll talk to you later' or 'ok?' and a nod, but something was nagging at the inside of Maura saying that it wouldn't end like that this time. She had been talking to Nedda earlier that morning, and the pain etched on the other woman's face had ripped the doctor's entire being in two. She'd used all her effort not to break down and cry with her that second, to save it for later when she was alone or with Jane. But what they had discussed kept replaying in her mind all day.

"I wish I'd said it," Nedda stated almost as if she were talking to herself.

"Said what?"

Nedda looked up from her now cold coffee, her make up clearly smudged from tears. "That I love him. I had all the time in the world... at least I thought so, and now he'll never know, and I have to live with that." Maura slumped back into her chair slightly as she saw the pain that that fact had brought Nedda. Maura always thought they were a cute couple, even if she had called Jane a bitch.

She didn't know what to say to the other woman. She always prided herself on being very straight forward, never feeling the regret of not telling someone something, so she just reached across the table and took Nedda's hand in her own. She ran her thumb over the soft skin beneath, the same skin, she was sure, that had been used as a make-shift tissue for wiping away relentless tears.

Jane's grip loosened on Maura's waist as the now significantly shorter woman spun in her grasp. Before Jane could stand up fully, Maura's arms slid around her neck, pulling herself up onto her toes as she pressed her weak form against Jane's. Maura's tears dripped into Jane's hair, making it stick to her skin, so she pulled back a little. Jane grabbed the blonde's arms and pulled them down to her side, bringing her back to her flat feet before tucking Maura's wayward hair behind her ears. Jane smoothed her thumbs over Maura's flushed cheeks wiping away the remnants of the first wave of tears, then pulled her to her chest.

'I wish I'd said it'. The words kept playing in Maura's head. She tried to drown it out; tried to enjoy Jane's comfort, but it wouldn't happen. Nedda's words kept getting louder in her head until it got to loud entirely and Maura released a frustrated groan. She turned her head so her forehead was pressed against the base of Jane's neck and the voice seemed to dull. A slow breath passed her lips and danced on Jane's skin.

Jane released a similar breath, noting the final ease in Maura. She sniffled as the last of her silent tears made their way down her cheeks. She liked the way Maura's warm breath played across her skin; like the calm waves on the shore after a storm, she thought. She wouldn't be caught dead thinking such sweet, poetic thoughts with anyone but Maura. With Maura she could be as badass or as sappy as she felt, knowing that the doctor would enjoy it or join in, even if it was in a mocking sense.

Maura could feel Jane's pulse through her skin and it was calming, but Jane moved her head suddenly and the gentle rhythm vanished. Maura moved her head in reply, pressing her forehead back into Jane's neck trying to feel that subtle thump come through. She found it again and relaxed as the pace matched her own steady heartbeat.

'That I love him' Maura's mental recorder had started up again. She rubbed her forehead further up Jane's neck and her nose began to gently press into the detective's warm skin. 'I love him.' She kept pressing until her lips softly grazed Jane's skin. The sensation made Jane's eyes shoot open, but she didn't say anything, wondering if Maura had just done it by accident or not. 'I love.' Maura pressed her lips into Jane's skin, essentially kissing her, but not actually meaning to.

"Maura?" Jane whispered, but it did nothing. Maura's heart took over and she kissed Jane's neck on purpose this time. She dropped her bottom jaw, then tilted her head further up Jane's long neck, her bottom lip sticking to the slightly flushed skin beneath it before dragging softly up until her lips came together again. Her hands came up from her side and rested on Jane's hips. As she planted another tender kiss on her best friend's skin, her fingernails raked up Jane's waist.

The tickle it caused snapped Jane back and "Maura!" 'Love.' Maura brought her hands up to cup Jane's face as she stood up onto her toes. She didn't even bother to look at Jane's mouth before she smashed their lips together. Her hands slid into Jane's hair, her lips tingling and wanting more, but before she could get it, Jane pushed her back. "Maura!"

"Jane, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I just... I wanted to... Please Jane!" She stuttered before resuming her frenzied kiss. Jane was more prepared this time, but just as her hands found Maura's waist, ready to push her back again, the blonde's delicate lips moved against hers, taking the detective's bottom lip between her own and tugging down. Jane gave in temporarily, finding her best friend's kiss to be something of a delight. Never had she been pulled into a kiss quite so tender, yet so wonting. She forgot herself, and in that moment of relent she opened her mouth slightly, giving Maura ample opportunity to deepen the kiss. She did just that, slipping her tongue into Jane's mouth.

Maura's fingers wound around the unruly strands of Jane's hair, using it as leverage to bring Jane closer, and when satisfied with the closeness of their bodies, wrapped her arms around Jane's neck. She didn't have time to get comfortable however, as Jane had gathered herself and slowly held Maura back by her waist as she pulled away. Maura sighed painfully at the loss of contact, but didn't go back for more, fearing that she'd scare Jane more than she already had.

She dropped her hands to her side, showing Jane that the kiss was over and she wouldn't start up again. Jane sighed in relief and let go of Maura's waist. She stepped back slightly, just making sure she'd have more time to react in case Maura lunged at her for another kiss. Maura read her mind and tilted her head in a questioning manner.

"What?"

"I'm not going to kiss you again, Jane."

"I know you're not going to kiss me again." She paused as her mind raced. "Again. Why did you kiss me in the first place?"

Maura sat back on the edge of her desk and looked at her bare feet. She wriggled her toes as she thought of how she should put it. "I was talking to Nedda and she said she regretted never telling Frost that she loved him."

"And he'll never know that she really loved him, but I still don't get why you ki-" Jane's eyes widened in shock. "You love me?"

"Of course I love you, Jane. And I know you love me, so don't get all freaked out on me." Maura answered with a slight chuckle to herself.

"I'm not gonna freak out." Maura cocked an eyebrow. "Ok, I might freak out, but I don't love you like that."

"I know, Jane, and I thought I didn't either." She raised her hand to stop Jane from butting in. "But Nedda's words have been playing in my head all day, and you were right there, and I do love you," Maura looked down again. "And I just wanted to kiss you."

Jane swallowed her fear and spoke up as to not seem like a cowering little child in the face of emotion. "Have you wanted to kiss me before?" Maura hesitated before simply looking up, her hazel eyes meeting directly with Jane's warm brown ones immediately. "Oh, Maur... I-" Her phone buzzed as a message from Korsak came in alerting her to a lead in their case. She read it then stuck her phone back in its holder and looked back to Maura, her arm outstretched with the autopsy report in hand. "Maur..."

"Go, it's ok."

Her voice sounded less than ok, but, "ok; I'll talk to you later." Jane grabbed the report, turned to the door and opened it before turning back to her best friend. "Thanks for the hug." And with that she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.

Maura looked back down at the ground before whispering "best hug ever", before pushing herself off her desk, forcing herself to get back to work.