A/N: Yes, it is me! I am back after a very long time off. I am sorry, but life has been crazy and I just couldn't find the inspiration for a story. Until now! This one won't be long. Seven chapters, but I'm just glad I'm getting back into the flow of things. Not sure how I'll be updating, but at least one chapter a week. So that would be seven weeks. Maybe shorter. But not longer. Let me know what you guys think and just enjoy the story!

It was her voice that made Jane look up from her drink. She had been there for over an hour, listening to one performer after another try and fail to capture the audience's attention. But it was that one voice that made the whole café turn quiet and listen to her. Jane had heard a lot of good singers over the years, but nothing like this. And the way the girl on stage held herself, made her even more amazed. She stood there with such confidence. As if she owned the place. Like it didn't matter what anyone thought of her, as long as she could just sing.

The song lasted way too short for Jane's liking and the girl headed off stage after a quick thank you. Jane followed her with her eyes, watching as she disappeared backstage. Gulping down her beer, Jane followed after her. She had no idea why, all she knew was that she had to talk to the girl. She moved through the crowd slowly, just as people were getting back their bearings after that amazing performance. They were talking about the girl that was just on stage, some even screaming about how amazing it was. Jane couldn't help but agree, after all it was the reason she was trying to get backstage. Which she finally did, after pushing past the last few people.

Taking a breath, she straightened her jacket and moved through the open door. There were a few performers backstage talking to each other. Some were tuning their guitars, others were going over their songs one more time. But there was no blonde girl. Jane strained her neck, thinking maybe she walked straight past her, but again, no blonde girl. Slumping her shoulders in disappointment, she was ready to turn back.

"I told you I was done after this! You can't force me to sing for you anymore Arthur!" The yelling made Jane turn around. What was going on?

"You can't just quit Maura. We have a deal, a contract. You know you can't just break it." Jane started moving towards the screaming. It didn't exactly sound like a normal argument. The blonde girl was temporarily forgotten.

"I don't care. I'm done! You can find someone else to make you money. I'm not doing it anymore." A door to the left of Jane slammed open and the blonde she had been looking for came rushing out, tears streaming down her face. Jane looked behind her to see an angry man standing there, pointing his finger at her.

"You have nowhere to go! And you know I will find you! You listen to me! I will find you!" The room had turned dead silent as everyone was wondering what was going on. They all pretended they didn't hear the argument between the two and didn't see the girl rushing out through the backdoor. Jane took one last look at the man, her stomach turning when she saw the look in his eyes. This clearly wasn't over.

Something inside of Jane told her to go after the girl. She wasn't sure what it was, maybe a pull, or maybe just the protectiveness in her. She didn't care either way. Without another thought she raced after the girl, bursting through the backdoor. Maybe she was already too late. The girl - Maura was her name - could have already gone anywhere.

Jane was surprised to find her leaning against the wall right next to the door. Gut wrenching sobs wracked the blonde's body, her head buried in her hands. Jane swallowed, not entirely sure how to approach the situation. What was she supposed to say here? It wasn't as if she knew her. All she knew was her name, that she was an amazing singer and that the guy she was working for was a total asshole. Moving forward slowly, Jane made sure to keep her hands to herself. She didn't want to scare the girl off.

"Maura?" The blonde's head shot up, her eyes wide with fear. Jane quickly reacted.

"Hey, relax. I'm not here to hurt you or anything." The blonde was still weary and Jane couldn't blame her. She was a complete stranger to the blonde and she had followed her outside. She wouldn't even trust herself. "I saw what happened in there. I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Maura looked up at Jane, confusion appearing on her face.

"Why? I don't know you do I?" Jane smiled softly, shaking her head in response. She could see the blonde narrow her eyes, trying to read Jane.

"Then why would you be concerned about me?" The taller girl sighed softly, stuffing her hands in her pockets.

"I don't really know how to answer that. I just knew I couldn't let you go out here alone. It's not really safe out here. Besides, you don't really look like you're from here and the guy said that you had nowhere to go so... He's a total ass by the way." Maura smiled sadly, shaking her head.

"That man is my father." Jane raised her eyebrows.

"Your father? Then why is he acting like he owns you?" Maura sighed, sliding down the wall. She wrapped her arms around her knees, resting her chin on top of them. She didn't know why, but she found herself answering Jane's question.

"He's always acted like this. Tonight I just couldn't take it anymore. I used to love to sing, but..." The blonde shook her head, falling silent. Jane sat down next to her, crossing her legs in front of her. She made sure to keep enough space between them so it wouldn't be too weird.

"Do you really have nowhere to go?" When Maura shook her head Jane continued. "You can stay with me." This made the blonde looked up at her, perplexed.

"What? You don't even know me. I-I don't even know you!"

"Jane Rizzoli. See, now you do. And I know your name is Maura, so... We're not complete strangers. I promise not to kill you in your sleep, deal?" The grin that spread onto Jane's face made Maura smile. She shook her head in unbelief, but didn't answer right away. "Really, let me help you. I know it sounds completely weird coming from someone you don't really know and I'm not asking you to trust me… or maybe enough to stay with me, but please just think about it? It's better than any hotel, I promise."

There was a moment where Maura was mulling over her proposal and Jane hoped that the blonde would say yes. She would be surprised if she did, but that didn't make her not want to hear the words 'yes'. After a few minutes, Maura answered her.

"I can't believe I'm actually doing this but... thank you Jane. And I promise not to kill you in your sleep either." The blonde winked, causing Jane to laugh. At least she had a sense of humor. That was definitely a plus.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." Holding out her hand, Jane helped Maura up.

"Maura Isles." The two shared a smile, before Jane led the way back to her apartment.

Maura stepped into the apartment carefully, taking in her surroundings. She still couldn't believe she was actually going to stay with a complete stranger. And what was even more unbelievable was that she trusted Jane. There was nothing that told her she couldn't. She watched as Jane took of her jacket and locked the door behind them. All without a care in the world, as if she took strangers home with her every day. Who knows, maybe she did. Maura chuckled to herself, causing Jane to give her a funny look.

"What's so funny? My apartment?" The blonde shook her head, a smile still on her face.

"I was just imagining you going around at night taking random people home with you." Jane laughed.

"Then I have to tell you to stay out of the room to the left of you. Took home this guy, but he thinks it's the most normal thing to walk around naked so." Jane shrugged, moving past Maura and into the small open kitchen to their right.

"That was a joke right?" Jane raised an eyebrow, before bursting out into laughter when she saw Maura's panicked look.

"It was! Can't believe you actually fell for that." Maura rolled her eyes, trying to be mad at the taller girl. But she joined in after a second or two.

"What do you want to drink? I have water, beer, coke and... apparently a bottle of wine. No idea how that got in here." The blonde watched as Jane rummaged through her fridge. She was bent over, seeing as the fridge wasn't quite as tall as Jane was, so Maura got a nice view. She smirked to herself, before tearing her eyes away and taking another look around the apartment.

"Wine is fine thank you." The kitchen was to the right and directly across from there was the living room. There was one couch and a chair, a coffee table and a decent TV. Then there was the room Jane mentioned to the left. And two other doors to the right of that one. Maura figured it was a two bed, one bath apartment. It didn't really look that bad. Not better than any hotel she had stayed in, but still.

"Here you go." Jane's voice startled Maura and she whipped around, a hand on her chest.

"You scared me!" The taller girl chuckled, the sound resounding in Maura's head. The blonde took the glass from Jane's hands, shooting her a grateful smile.

The two sat down on the couch and Jane turned on the TV, muting the sound. It was just something to have on in the background. Take away from the awkwardness in the room. Maura looked down at the glass in her hands. As she watched the wine swirl around, she could feel Jane's eyes on her.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but I just want to say that he sounded pretty threatening. Has that happened before?" The blonde sighed sadly, shaking her head. She could feel tears pricking behind her eyes. She didn't want to start crying again.

"Not like this. He has been mad before, but he never sounded like this." Jane reached out, letting her hand rest on Maura's shoulder. She was thankful when the blonde didn't pull away.

"It's okay. He doesn't know where you are right now. And maybe he'll call in the morning and apologize." Jane knew she sounded naïve, but she had to try something to make Maura feel a little better. The blonde smiled up at her.

"Thank you Jane. As strange as this is, I appreciate you helping me out. But I don't think my father will let this go that easily. I do have a contract that ends at the end of the year. Maybe just a night away from everything will help me clear my head. It's not as bad as it all sounds. I can sing, which is something I love to do and I get to see different cities, so all in all it's not so bad." Jane frowned, not convinced.

"You told me you used to love to sing. I'm guessing he took that away from you. You don't have to be strong here Maura. You don't have to convince me of anything." She didn't know what it was, maybe it was the tone in Jane's voice, or maybe it was the things she said, but it was as if something suddenly cracked inside of Maura and the blonde broke down for the second time that night. Jane didn't hesitate as she took her in her arms.

Maura was right. All of this was strange. But it also felt right. Like you see in all those movies. Two people who meet under the weirdest of circumstances and forming a bond. And even though neither Jane nor Maura actually believed it could happen in real life, but this might just change their minds.