Pulling into Jane’s parking space, Maura nudged the detective gently. “Jane, we’re back.” She whispered, reluctant to wake her from such an obviously peaceful sleep. Jane groaned and snuggled herself into her seat. With a new respect for Angela Rizzoli and how difficult it must have been to wake a teenage Jane, Maura got out of the car and fetched the grocery bags, leaving Jane to sleep a few minutes longer.

“Come on Jane.” Maura had taken all the bags into the apartment and returned, hoping Jane would have woken of her own accord. “Time to get up.” She shook Jane’s arm gently.

“Don’t wanna let go.. “ Jane mumbled, a small smile spreading over her sleeping face. “You don’t know why…” she broke into song in her sleep. “but you’re dying to try, go on and kiss the girl.”

“Jane!” Maura shook her, harder this time. “Wake up!”

“What? I’m up!” Jane sat up quickly, forcing herself forward only to be slammed back into place by her seatbelt. “Why are you killing me?” she struggled against the restraint before realising she was sitting in her car. “Oh.”

“Why are you singing Disney songs?” Maura asked. She couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice.

Rubbing at her face, Jane frowned at her. “Huh?” she stepped from the vehicle, rubbing the exhaustion from her face. It had been an exceptionally long day for Jane Rizzoli and in truth, it was barely lunchtime. “Disney… what?”

“You were singing kiss the girl.” Maura told her, thankful for having caught the film after falling asleep on the sofa and leaning on the remote in her sleep,  changing the channel in the process.

“I was?” a deep red blush shot across Jane’s face and her eyes dropped to some discarded gum on the floor, studying it intently. “I don’t know.” She said, turning and heading upstairs without another word.

Maura watched her leave, her mind returning to the morning’s conversation. ‘Could you live knowing you might have let the best thing in your life walk away because you were too scared to take a risk?’ With her mind set, Maura Isles followed her friend upstairs.

“I’m going to bed.” Jane announced as Maura closed the door to her apartment. “I’m dead on my *****.” She kicked her shoes off and headed to the bedroom. “Thanks for today.” Her words were cut off by a huge yawn but she paused, leaning sleepily on the wall and looking at the doctor with curious eyes. Maura noticed the blush that had appeared in the garage was still heavy on her cheeks.

“Will you be here when I wake up?” she asked.

Maura shook her head slowly. “I need to spend some time with Bass.” She explained, her weak smile disappearing as Jane’s face fell. “Plus, I have groceries to take home too.”

“Oh, ok.” There was a pause and even Maura could feel the anticipation in the air. “But I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Maura nodded. “Of course you will, now go and have a sleep, you look exhausted.” Jane was too tired to argue and smiled, long dark hair dropping into her eyes as she turned and headed to her bedroom.

Maura had intended to head straight home, instead she made herself some coffee and put Jane’s groceries away before settling down on the sofa with a legal pad and pen. If she was going to take the biggest risk of her life, she was going to word it properly. With heavy snores coming from the bedroom, she began in the only way she knew how.

‘Dearest Jane.’