You never expected that, did you detective ?

Chapter 1

M : Jane, do you want to come over and watch a documentary or a movie tonight ?

M : Post-scriptum : I have your favourite beers. You can't say no.

J : Yep ! See ya in 5min.

Jane was relieved to go to Maura's place tonight. It would be their classic Friday night. They would put on some comfortable clothes, yoga pants for Maura and for her, the sport shorts that she kept in her best friend's drawer just in case. Then they would chat on the couch and watch TV. Of course, there would be French wine involved for the elegant doctor and beer for the detective. Those evenings were Jane's favourite ones. And this week, she particularly needed it. Indeed, she had spent the whole week solving a zombie murder case. Nothing had been normal and even Frankie had acted like a child putting on some make up and pretending to be a walking dead. Being surrounded with "alive corpses" had driven her crazy. At least the case was closed and things could go back to normal. And it started with the idea of a nice evening with her best friend. And with Maura, she knew there would be no surprises and things wouldn't be crazy: just facts and science. The only fancy things she would find there would be outfits and food that the blond woman loved so much. She rang the bell and waited for Maura to open the door, even if she would tell her every time that it didn't bother if she entered the house without waiting at the door. But Jane, unlike her mother, respected people's privacy, especially the one of this particular woman.

The doctor opened the door and Jane's face froze. The ME, the most reasonable person she ever knew, had been transformed into a zombie. She had open wounds made up on her right cheek, going down the side of her neck and also on both arms. She was decaying.

"You never expected that, did you detective?"

"Wow Maur, you got contaminated by the "Zombie fever" too?" Jane said gesturing the quoting marks with her fingers.

"Yes, Kent worked very hard to improve the formula and it took many tries to achieve the correct viscosity of flesh", she responded, letting Jane come inside. "So do you like it?" she asked with a smirk on her lips and a biy of concern marked by a brow furred.

"Nooo" Jane grumbled." Why Maur'? You work with corpses every day. You know how disgusting they are! And their situation is nothing else but tragic. Why would you even want to look like them?"

Maura looked a bit disappointed.

"Well first of all, I thought it was funny. For once that I do something you wouldn't consider as boring! Moreover, Zombies come from the Haitian culture, they have been part of our literature for centuries now and they fascinate people." She added : "Oh, and I watched myself in the mirror, I feel really satisfied with the result. Whether you like it or not Jane, I look good!" She had a I-know-I-am-right face.

"Well, I don't see the point in ruining such a pretty face of yours!" The brunette replied with a childish tone.

"Isn't it because you are scared, Jane?" The other asked her eyebrows a little bit furred.

"Naa Maur come on."

"Not even a little scared? I mean I saw how you acted this week... I saw how uncomfortable you seemed..."

"Maur I've been in many scary situations in the past. Ya know that. And this? It is none!" She was starting getting a little bit upset... What did Maura want for God's sake?

The ME stepped closer to the detective.

"Are you sure about that? Because it seems to me that you are not in your normal state..."she kept on insisting.

"Oh come on Maura stop!" She was starting to lose patience.

"Ah! Admit it! It ... what is it? It freaks you out! Is that how you say it? So what Frankie said was true, you fear zombies! "

"No I don't! It's just I don't understand the fuss about it! And how dares he? I was a child okay? 'was normal to be scared ! Can you just wash your face now? I think we laughed enough already!"

But the ME didn't want to give up like that, so she came even closer, Jane was trapped between the smaller woman's body and the kitchen island.

"Hmm I like to see badass Jane losing control for a little bit of make-up..."

"Maur', please" she implored.

But Maura had closed the distance between them. Her face was only few inches from Jane's. Her breath was brushing the brunette's face.

She said with a low and sultry voice: "If you admit you're scared, I'll stop."

She looked deeply in her co-worker's eyes and what she saw was a much different feeling than fear. It seemed stronger and much more powerful. So she leaned in a little and gently kissed the soft lips of her best friend. Jane closed her eyes and kissed her back. When their lips parted, the brunette whispered "Now I'm scared".

"Really? It's only corn syrup and gelatine."

"No Maur", she said softly, "I'm scared we've just ruined our relationship with that kiss, I mean what does that mean? What if we don't want to go the same direction? What if things between us change-"

"Jane what could possibly change? We already act like an old couple? Anybody from the BPD would agree with me."

Jane nodded but Maura saw that she wasn't convinced yet.

"Jane, look at me. Do you love me?"

"Of course I do love you Maur', why would you even ask that?"

"Then everything will be fine because your feelings are reciprocated." She leaned to kiss her again.

"No Maura I can't."

Surprise and sadness immediately appeared on the ME's face.

"Wh... Jane", she said with her voice breaking in her throat. "I know it is new and this can-"

"No I mean the make-up, I can't kiss you with that zombie face you have! I closed my eyes the first time but I want to watch your pretty face all night long whatever we'll be doing. So go wash the make-up from your body. Because that doesn't look like the beautiful woman I want!"

"Well maybe you could help me get rid of it under the shower..."