"When your down and troubled and you need some love and care"

"Nice work Janey" Frankie gently punches his sister on the shoulder. "Another murderer heading to Walpole thanks to you."

"Come on Frankie; you blew this case wide open when you found the murder weapon." Jane punches her little brother back and smiles. Both Jane and Frankie turn as Frost locks cuffs on their man and hands him over to Frankie for processing.

Frost taps Frankie's shoulder as he leads the perp away, "drink at the Robber when you're done?"

The bad guy is not being agreeable and Frankie is struggling a little as he answers Frost, "Sure; let me get this tidied away and I'll see you there."

"How about it Korsack, Jane, want to have a drink at the Robber with me and Frankie?" Korsack's in but Jane has something else on her mind.

"You know what Frost; Maura's been a bit off the last week or so. I'm going to go fill her in on how all this went down and see how she is." Jane looks at her two partners, "yeah, so no I'll see you both tomorrow."

Jane's relieved to have put this case behind her. As she drives back to the station it frees her to give a little more thought to what's been going on with Maura. She's been through some pretty heavy stuff in recent times. Her father was shot by me; Jane recalls and shakes her head at the memory. She's found her biological mother and half-sister and that is still an emotional struggle for her. Then to top it off a guy she had feelings for turned out to be a serial killer and Maura was nearly one of his victims.

Jane's been with Maura through all of this and despite their issues when Jane shot her father, she and Maura have been tight since they reconciled. Jane smiles at the thought; they are closer than they've ever been. In the last couple of weeks Maura has not been the usual quirky Maura. Not enough for anyone else to notice but then again Jane knows Maura better than anyone else in their lives. Jane's drawn from her thoughts when her phone rings.

"Rizzoli"

"Hi Jane it's me" Maura responds.

"Hey Maura, I was just on my way to see you; you still at work?"

"Actually Jane I've finished for today I am just about to leave. I heard about your arrest, it must be a good feeling?"

"Yeah it is; it's always a good feeling when you get a bad ass off the streets. What are you doing; do you want to catch up?"

"Jane" Maura pauses. Jane becomes concerned but waits for Maura to continue. "Jane can I meet you at your place; I… I need to talk to you."

"Sure; is everything OK?"

"I think so but I want your opinion; I'll see you at your place in fifteen minutes."

When Jane gets home she changes into her favourite sweat pants and tee-shirt. She replaces her worn and dedicated boots with her favourite pair of socks. Back in the kitchen she scans her fridge and cupboards to see she has nothing to offer Maura when she arrives. Jane shrugs and opens a beer. What's she worried about Maura will bring her own; she always does. She knows Jane too well.

Jane looks through her peep-hole when there is a knock on her door. She can't help but smile; she can see a much skewed image of Maura with her trusty reusable shopping bag at her side. Maura smiles at Jane as she enters, "I brought a few things I hope you don't mind?" Jane mouths along to the exact sentence Maura uses every time she arrives at short notice and brings her own refreshments.

"I was counting on it Maura; unless you want beer and coco puffs I have nothing to offer you." Maura laughs at her friend. Jane however is on high alert, Maura seems bright enough; in fact almost perky but there is something still a little off about her.

"I brought Somerset Cheddar and some Black Monukka Grapes to nibble on" Maura explains as she empties the content from her bag. "I have lean prime beef strips and an array of Asian vegetables for a stir fry I'm going to whip up for us later and the pinnacle of the evening will be sharing this bottle of Belle Vallee Grand Cuvee 2003 Pinot Noir."

"I'm on beer but do you want me to open the wine for you?"

"Yes please!" Maura knows her way around Jane's apartment as well as her own home. Within minutes she has the cheese platter ready and is sitting at Jane's lounge waiting for her glass of wine.

"Here we go." Jane hands Maura the wine and tucks herself up on the lounge as well. After a long sip from her beer she starts the conversation. "This is nice Maura; we haven't done this in ages what's been going on?"

Maura washes down some cheese with her wine before she responds. "Ian's in town Jane; he has been for the last two weeks."

"That's it!" Jane's relieved. "I've been worried about nothing; why didn't you say anything?"

"He didn't want me to tell anyone and to be honest I was nervous if I told you; you might want to alert the proper authorities."

"Come on Maura I'm a homicide detective and he's the love of your life and as you point out his only crime is to take drug supplies that are about to be destroyed to poor countries in Africa where they can still be put to good use." Jane gives her friend an intent look then laughs "so how's it been?"

"Well firstly I'm not helping him this time. I told him it could come between you and me and I didn't want to be in that position." Maura gets a twinkle in her eye and her face lights up as she continues "but we've been in just about every other position you can think of." She giggles like a teenager as she pops another grape into her mouth.

"Maura" Jane feigns shock; "that is too much information." She picks up a piece of cheese and washes it down with a sip of her beer. "So how long's he staying; hang on, where's he staying. Ma hasn't mentioned anything."

"Your mother doesn't know he's in town, he's staying at a hotel."

"Oh; he is being discreet."

"Jane it's been amazing; he's… well you know what he means to me. I'm so happy."

Jane just looks at Maura taking in all that she's saying and of course, everything she's not saying. She can read Maura like a book and she can see her friend's genuine happiness. She doesn't get it though; the way Maura is now does not correlate with how she sounded on the phone a little earlier. Maura notices Jane staring. "What's wrong Jane; aren't you happy for me?"

"Sorry sweetie of course I am it's just…"

"What Jane?"

"Maura you sounded different on the phone earlier. I got the feeling you had something on your mind. You said you needed to talk to me."

"I do… I do need to talk to you" Maura's mood changes. Jane was right after all, Maura is clearly struggling with something.

"So tell me; what's up?" Jane encourages Maura to talk.

"Ian's asked me to marry him."

After nearly choking on her beer Jane is overcome at the news. "Oh my God Maura that's wonderful. God I'm so happy for you."

Maura smiles at her friends genuine delight at her news; she continues. "That was how I felt at first Jane; but think about it."

"What's there to think about Maura; you go weak at the knees just thinking about Ian; you adore him."

"Jane he wants me to go and live with him in Africa. He has a legitimate business there now and is settled. There is a 'Doctors without Borders' base in the town and there is work for me if I go."

"Oh." Jane considers what Maura's just said. "Oh; that does make your decision a little harder."

Maura and Jane sit in silence for a moment. They are both wondering what this will mean to their friendship.

Maura breaks the silence. "So Jane; what do you think. What should I do?"

Jane is suddenly acutely aware that she doesn't want to play any part in Maura's decision. "Oh. Hey whoa there! Maura I can't tell you what to do. Only you know the answer to that."

"I've worked so hard for everything I have here Jane."

Jane can't help herself. "So there you go; if he loves you enough to marry you; ask him to stay."

"I did Jane, he won't."

Jane finds herself fighting the urge to stop Maura; to tell her she can't go. She realises she's being selfish, first and foremost she wants Maura to be happy. She takes her hands. "Maura you know I've put my career ahead of my relationships because I love my job. The thing is sometimes when I'm lying alone in bed at night I wonder if I've done the right thing. I wonder if I'll still feel this way when I'm closing in on retirement."

"Jane"

"Maura the truth is I've never felt for anyone the way you feel about Ian."

Tears spill over Maura's cheeks "I hope you do one day Jane; I really wish that for you."

Jane forces a laugh and releases Maura's hands. "It sounds to me like you already know the answer Maura." Jane stands and goes to pull Maura up. "Come on you shouldn't be here; you should be with Ian; talking to him about this."

Maura pulls Jane back to the lounge. "Wait Jane; I can leave the job. You're right it's just a job."

Jane sits again "so what's the problem?"

Maura's tears again start to fall. "Don't you care that I'd be leaving Jane?"

Maura's words are like a punch to Jane "What?"

"The thing I'm most struggling with... is leaving you Jane."

Jane fights for control; the thought of her best friend living in Africa is breaking her heart. She steels herself, she would never stand in the way of Maura's happiness. "Don't be silly Maura I'm your friend. I'll always be your friend no matter where in the world you are; you know that; don't you?"

"Do you remember you once asked me if I'd ever had a best friend before?"

Jane forces a smile "I think I called you a Cyborg; didn't I?"

"Jane I've never had a friend like you; someone I feel completely safe with. Someone I would trust with my life. I don't want to be half a world away from you."

"Maura you'll have Ian."

Maura reads Jane's struggle for control as indifference and she's a little hurt. "Oh; so you're completely OK with me marrying Ian and moving to Africa."

Jane pulls Maura up again and hugs her. "I'll always be your friend Maura that will never change and as your friend I want you to be happy and Ian makes you happy. You have my blessings Maura. Now go and be with Ian." Jane feels guilty pushing Maura away but she needs to be alone.

Maura stares at Jane. "Are you sure?"

"Yes go."

"Thank you Jane." Maura pauses at the door. "I love you."

Jane smiles "yeah, yeah, yeah; call me tomorrow OK?" She closes the door behind Maura. Leaning back on it she slides to the floor. The tears start to flow as she wonders how she will ever get by without her best friend. On the other side of the door Maura's torn; there is so much more she wants to say. She goes to knock and then decides against it. With her own tears falling she heads to Ian's.