AN: In Season 3 it appears that Maura has known Jane before Hoyt. She has met Jane while the latter was in the drug unit, therefore prior to being transferred to homicide. I know that is a deviance from the book, as most of the show is.
So this led me to wonder what the interaction was between the ladies when Jane was pinned to the floor. How did they become friends / stay friends? Why will Jane let her guard down for Maura, even when she pushed Korsak aside?
That is what I am going to explore with this attempt. I am sure there are people that can do much better with the idea, and I am more than willing to give it to somebody more capable.
And it seems to be a standard statement: I do not own any characters in this story or in any of the chapters that may or may not follow.
CHAPTER 1
Maura went tense when the morgue doors burst open revealing Detective Rizzoli. Jane Rizzoli may be the most recent addition to the homicide division, but her attitude outweighs the more experienced detectives' attitude combined. She was very impatient and aggressively demanded answers. Answers Maura cannot give until the relevant test results became available.
"So, Dr Isles? Anything you can tell me?" Jane snarled?
"I am about to start my autopsy." Maura offered reasonably.
"I can see the obvious, Doctor. Do you think you may begin today still?"
"Well, Jane, you have asked a question with an obvious answer. I am only trying to be polite." Maura obediently bent over the body.
"It is not polite to use my first name without my permission, Dr Isles." Jane barked.
This only unnerved Maura more. Generally she is the last one to ignore etiquette, being socially inept, it gave her safety. There were rules that she could follow as she could not always read the social ques. However, everybody called Jane Rizzoli by her first name. Her fellow detectives even talked of her by her first name. And Maura has picked it up.
"I am sorry, Det. Rizzoli." she apologized with a lump in her throat. She forced her hand still and then proceeded to make the Y incision.
Ever since Maura met her, Jane was insulting. When Maura offered to pay for the hooker's coffee and doughnut, the "hooker" rejected her. A few months later, the "hooker" was introduced to the medical examiner as Detective Jane Rizzoli. Nothing has improved since. As a matter of fact, it only got worse.
Maura hates guessing. If she was to hypothesize, Det. Rizzoli is using her to build credit amongst her peers. As the only female homicide detective, it is no easy ride for her. Her male counterparts will stop at nothing, especially because she is a female. Maura have some protection as she is not a cop and a female. Although, Det. Rizzoli did not owe her male-female courtesy. She could torment the pathologist and thereby get points with the other detectives.
Maura is well aware that she is called the Queen of the Dead. She often wondered if this name was not with compliments of Det. Rizzoli.
"O for fuck sakes." Jane interrupted her thoughts. "Was there not anybody more incompetent to fuck up my cases than Dr. Death here?" The sarcasm was practically dripping from her voice.
That was it. Maura disliked confrontation, but she will not allow her professional integrity to be questioned. She put the scalpel down and took a few steps back.
"Excuse me, Detective?" she questions with her one eyebrow raised and her hands on her hips.
"What?" Jane barked.
"You just accused me of being incompetent."
"If the shoe fit . . ." Jane shrugged.
"No, Detective Rizzoli, my shoes are not in question here. They do indeed fit. However I have had it with your attitude and disrespect. I will inform your superiors of your abuse. Now, please leave." Maura coldly said.
Jane looked at her blankly.
"I am waiting, Detective?"
"Okay, okay, I am sorry." Jane apologized with her hands raised in mock.
Maura only glared at her. Jane lowered her head, and pinched her nose with her left hand. She took a deep breath and look at Maura sincerely.
"I do apologize, Dr Isles. I was out of line and disrespectful." Maura just looked at her, not willing to give. "Please, just tell me if a scalpel was used?" Jane asked meekly.
Maura step to the table again to evaluate the incision at the neck. Although she wanted to remove Jane with force from her lab, she also knew that there is a serial killer on the loose and any arguments will need to wait.
"Yes, Detective, it appears that the coronary artery was cut with a scalpel." she relented.
"The same as with the other victims?" Jane asked.
"As you are aware, I have not yet completed my autopsy, so I will just be guessing. Although, Detective, it is not an unreasonable conclusion to be drawn and I will inform you if the evidence indicates differently." She sighted.
"Thank you, Dr. Isles." Jane rewarded her with a smile – something that was never directed to the doctor. "And I am truly sorry for my behaviour."
"I am not changing my mind of reporting you, Detective. Can you please leave now?"
"I am not expecting you to, but I was a jerk and am still sorry." Jane said and left the morgue.
Hours later Maura was contemplating whether to submit a formal complaint against the detective. On the one hand the Detective antics became intolerable to work with, but Maura also felt that her apology was sincere. She has set a border, but would the border remain if she does not carry it through? Will Jane treat her with courtesy if she didn't lodge the complaint, or will she disrespect her even more if she does?
TBC
