You were just trying to do your job.

He was just a paramedic—young, cocky, trying too hard with the charm as he handed you the report. Maybe he hovered a second too long. Maybe his eyes dropped a little too low.

Whatever it was, Jane noticed.

"Got the vitals?" she asked, stepping between the two of you with surgical precision. Not aggressive, just... there. Blocking his view. He took the clipboard right from his hand.

“Already gave them to her,” he said, nodding toward you.

“Yeah, well, I’m lead on this scene. She reports to me.”

Your eyes snapped to her. Since when?

Jane didn’t look at you. She kept reading the clipboard like it was the only thing that mattered. "You're done here, thanks."

The paramedic blinked, muttered something, and walked off.

Only when he was out of earshot did you lean in, eyebrow raised. “I report to you now?”

“In the field,” she said coolly, glancing around. “Chain of command. You know how it is.”

You crossed your arms. “That sounded an awful lot like a territorial growl, Detective.”

Jane turned just slightly, finally looking at you with that glint in her eye. “Did it work?”

You bit your lip to keep from smiling. “Define ‘work.’”

She smirked. “He’s not coming back, is he?”

You rolled your eyes, walking ahead to where Maura was already waiting. Behind you, Jane fell into step, just close enough that her arm brushed yours.

Still professional.

But just barely.