"You don't know her like I do
You'll never understand
You don't know we've been through
That girl's my best friend
And there's no way you're gonna help me
She's the only one who can
No, you don't know how much I've got to lose
You don't know her like I do" -Brantley Gilbert
Frankie Rizzoli couldn't help the smile that filled his face as he read and re-read the letter from the Lieutenant congratulating him on being promoted Detective at the end of the week. There would be a small ceremony and a celebration and finally, finally after years of being under his sister's shadow, he would be "one of them." He would be a detective like Jane, Frost and Korsack. He would be able to work alongside them, not for them or under them. He would be able to work closer with Maura now. Frankie paused at that one. Dr. Maura Isles. The beautiful, smart Medical Examiner who stole his heart and she didn't even know it. Her smile brightened his day, the way her laugh sent his heart over the moon. He loved it when she and Jane hung out so he could have an excuse to be near her without seeming creepy. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes as the woman of his dreams filled his thoughts. They had been through hell and back together over the years they'd known each other. Between her parents, his parents, their jobs, the good and the bad… They had been there for all of it. Him, Maura, Jane, Frost and Korsack. They were a family. So was it wrong to have the feelings he had for Maura? But he couldn't help himself. He was a man after all. And she was a woman, a gorgeous woman who enchanted him every day. The way her mind worked, the way she talked nonsense medical gibberish to them (which he found incredibly adorable) the way she looked like the most breath taking woman to ever walk this earth, the level of commitment between her and Jane, the way she's grown from a somewhat cold, naïve Medical Examiner to the warm, sweet and caring friend she was to him and his family.
'A friend…' He mused to himself. If he had it his way Maura would be more than a friend to him. But it wasn't completely up to him. She wasn't even interested in him that way. She came from a wealthy upbringing, old East Coast money. He came from a family of Italian immigrants who made barely enough to get by. But he loved her. He loved that girl with everything he had and he would do his best to give her everything she deserved. But the simple fact that she wasn't even interested in him made his heart sink. But how wrong he was….
"Maura! Come on!" Jane whined at the front door. Maura sighed and took one last look at her reflection in the mirror to make sure she looked presentable. She knew Frankie Rizzoli would be at the parade today and even though she and Jane would be running there, she had to make sure her makeup and hair would be somewhat attractive. She knew it was in vain, Frankie didn't even think about her like that. But it didn't stop her from wanting him to think she was attractive. She sighed again as she brushed a strand of hair back from her face. It didn't help that she was stressed about her family. Again. It seemed like every time she thought they would be out of her life something happened; her father made a surprise appearance, her mother decided to visit the medical examiner's office, her half-sister needed a kidney transplant. But she never would've made it without the support of her friends. She smiled at the thought of how the Rizzoli's and Frost and Korsack and even Lieutenant had become a part of her closed life. She was slowly learning to open up and letting Angela be a mother figure, Korsack was like a father to her, Jane and Frost as siblings and Frankie…. Well, Frankie was a whole different story. He was the man she thought of most of her day. Her heart beat faster at the thought of the middle Rizzoli child. His soft brown eyes made her melt especially when he shot her that crooked half grin of his. She smiled softly as she absent mindedly twisted a piece of her hair between her fingers.
"Maura! Let's go! We're gonna be late!" Jane chastised as she interrupted her friend's daydreams. Maura jumped and stared at the floor guiltily. She grabbed an extra hair tie and followed her friend.
"Alright, alright!" she replied reluctantly. She stopped thinking about Frankie and grabbed her keys as she and Jane made their way out the door. They settled on a good jogging pace as they made their way downtown to the parade. The Senator and his daughter were to make an appearance and Angela was going to watch with TJ. They made their way through the streets of Boston jogging and talking amongst themselves.
"Are you calling me fat?" Maura demanded when Jane made her sarcastic comments. Jane cleverly avoided that but reassured her friend she wasn't. Maura was not amused. She knew she hasn't been easy to live or work with these past weeks but she had every right to be that way. She gave her kidney to Cailin and still hadn't heard back from her or Hope. 'At least I could get a fruit basket or something.' She thought bitterly as she and Jane approached Angela. Maura's heart jumped at the sight of Frankie in a leather jacket and a motorcycle. 'He looks good in that.' She thought wickedly. 'Kind of has a 'bad boy' streak to him.' She blushed at the thought but quickly pushed it from her mind as they approached. Frankie quietly moaned to himself as Maura jogged towards him and his mother. Her tight exercise clothes outlining her perfect curves. He tried to control his thoughts for the beautiful woman but seeing her flushed face and her slightly sweaty body jogging towards him, made it extremely difficult. Jane was the only one who knew he was expecting some sort of confirmation about becoming detective but he quickly shushed her, before she spilled his secret. He wanted to see Maura's reaction.
He glanced over at her and caught her staring at him. Maura couldn't help but notice the way his jeans settled on his hips and his shirt outlined his sculpted muscles. She blushed and looked away quickly but Frankie wasn't fooled. He knew in that moment she felt something for him too. He just didn't know what yet and wasn't going to push her but also wasn't going to forget the way her hazel eyes skimmed over his body. He puffed his chest out with pride that he, Frankie Rizzoli could make the lovely Maura Isles blush.
"Ok ok." Jane said, as she interrupted her mother. "Frankie has some news!" Frankie glanced over at Maura before delivering his news. "I'm being promoted to detective this Friday." He said. "That's why I have this motorcycle, I'm going undercover." Maura's face broke out into a smile as she watched Jane and Angela hug Frankie. She wanted to hug him so badly but she decided on a high five instead. Frankie let his eyes linger on her body as she high-fived him and walked past to inspect his new bike. Angela saw her son's eyes on Maura and she smiled slightly to herself but said nothing.
"Why don't you come over to my place and I can help you fix it up?" Maura offered politely. Frankie smiled softly as he accepted her invitation. The fact that Maura knew about cars and motorcycles turned him on more than he could imagine. He would do anything to spend more time with the beautiful doctor. They were discussing his new bike and making the most obnoxious noises but it was Jane who interrupted them.
"Hey, you two! Get a room! Preferably one that's sound proof!" she said, completely unaware of the thoughts running though both their heads. Maura blushed at the thoughts that came to mind when thinking about her and Frankie in a sound proof room. Frankie's mind went from PG to R in a matter of seconds as he thought of all the ways he and Maura could use a sound proof room. But before either could say or think of something witty, a shot rang out.
The Senator's daughter was dead.
Panic and chaos broke out through the entire downtown. All around them, people were screaming and running around. Frankie's first instinct was to grab Maura and cover her body with his, keeping her safe from any harm. He whispered softly in her ear, "Are you ok, Maura?" she nodded and he released her before anyone saw them. But the feel of her little body pressed against his was a feeling he wasn't going to forget so soon. All rationality left her as she stood dazed for a moment by the feeling of Frankie's strong arms wrapped around her. Maura stood alone looking around at the panicked people before jumping into action. She saw Frankie and Jane run off after the suspect and Angela flee for safety with TJ curled protectively in her arms.
She had time later to daydream about Frankie. Right now there was a case and a new murder to solve.