Music from the Heart
Description: A series of one shots based on recent (or not so recent…) popular songs. During a night of commiserating over drinks at the Dirty Robber, Maura convinces Jane to play the piano once again... Begins shortly after the events of 3.15 (A week or so later to be more precise…). Eventual pure Rizzles fluff… Rated T (just to be safe...).
Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
A/N: This is my first foray into the world of Rizzles fanfiction. It's been a while (years!) since I've written any sort of short story and I figure it's time to exercise that muscle once again. I'm trying not to list ALL of the song lyrics but it might prove impossible in some cases…
Comments are welcome and much appreciated… how else am I going to become a better writer!? Please enjoy!...
Prologue - "Hold On"
Here we go with number three… Jane closed her eyes and tilted her head back, allowing the pungent brown liquid to slowly move and burn its way down her throat. Normally she would enjoy the comfort of her favorite beer but the events of the past week, both personal and work related, had warranted otherwise. Indeed, it was the perfect occasion for "the strong stuff".
"No beer today?" The honey blonde stared with incredulous eyes as she slipped into the booth seat across from her best friend. Eyeing the empty shot glasses she continued, "I don't understand how you can drink so much of something with such high alcohol content. Honestly Jane…"
Jane glared back with piercing brown eyes. She wasn't in the mood to be scolded by her best friend. "It's easy… Just hold your breath, tilt your head back, and pray to god that it all makes it down on the first shot…"
When the blonde across from her refused to respond Jane scrunched her nose and shook her head in frustration, her wild raven curls settling randomly across her face. "Maura… You can't tell me you don't want a shot or two after our week of ex-boyfriend, bio mom begging for body parts, collapsed building drama…"
Slightly frustrated, Maura let a moment of silence pass. Frost and Korsak were right… Jane had her claws out and was itching to fight. She gazed at the woman across from her and took a deep breath, gathering the courage to ask what would seem to be the question of the day.
"You okay?"
"Are you?" The brunette softened, capturing sympathetic hazel eyes.
The blonde sighed, raising her hand to signal the waitress to bring their usual order of a bottle of Jane's favorite lager and the chalkiest red she was ever willing to consume.
"Frost and Korsak will be here after they finish up some paperwork. You guys closed a HUGE case today… One that you've been working almost 18 hours a day for nearly a week. That should warrant at least a little bit of a celebration."
"Yay… another creepy perp is off the streets. The city of Boston can rest tonight knowing there's one less hardened criminal skulking about the night…" Jane brought the newly presented ice cold brew to her lips, enjoying the familiar smoothness of its taste.
Maura pursed her lips and fiddled with the full wine glass the waitress just dropped off. Jane's attempt at sarcasm wasn't lost on her. "He doesn't deserve you…"
Another moment of silence passed between the pair, this one more awkward than the first. The ambient noise of conversations around the bar and faint rhythm of the usually ignored jukebox filled the air around their usual booth.
Jane didn't want to talk about it. Talking about it would make the loneliness real… even more real than the ache that was constantly dwelling in her heart. Deep down she knew Casey wasn't going to work out in the long run. But if there's one thing that the building collapse from the week prior had taught her, there was no time like the present to hold close the ones you love.
The lanky Italian took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled letting the exhaustion wash over her body. Her scarred hands mindlessly picked at the label on the beer bottle.
"Jane?..."
"Hmmm?" The brunette shot her eyes up from the beer bottle to meet her friend who had an amused smirk on her face. "What?"
Maura laughed to herself. Sometimes her best friend can be so oblivious. "You were humming something."
"I was?" Jane took stock of her surroundings and sheepishly grinned as she realized the jukebox had been playing a familiar song. "Oh… Sorry. I guess I just lost myself for a second."
"Oh I'd say it was more than just one second." The honey blonde teased. "You know this song."
The taller woman lightly nodded as she waited for the opportune moment to jump in to the tail end of the chorus, her gravelly voice lightly singing along perfectly note for note. "Don't you know? Things will change. Things will go your way… if you hold on for one more day…"
"Hmmm… Valiant crime fighter by day, soulful vocal soloist by night." Maura smirked. It was in these rare moments that Jane allowed her softer side to peek through her gruff exterior. "You never cease to amaze me, detective…"
"Yeah…" Slightly embarrassed, Jane paused and smiled. The bittersweet memories from her teenage years flooded her mind. "I remember listening to it in high school. I would sit in my room and imagine what it would be like if Casey and I ever got together. I guess it gave me a little glimmer of hope that Rolly Polly Rizzoli would be noticed one day, you know? I just never thought it would turn out this way…"
The brunette sighed. No matter where the conversation started, it always seemed to make its way back to the soldier who had shattered her heart. She took another long swig of her beer, willing the liquid to erase the darkness that threatened to consume her.
Looking up, Jane met expectant eyes and a soft expression. In this instant, she knew her best friend wasn't going to let her fall down the precipice that was before her. No matter what, she knew that her "LLBFF" would always be there armed with super glue to pick up the pieces.
"I meant what I said Jane… He doesn't deserve you…" Usually not one for repeating herself, Maura couldn't help but drive this point home. She wanted nothing more than to let the woman across from her know just how wonderfully special she is.
The brunette paused, pensive about wading deeper into the conversation she wasn't sure she wanted to have. "I used to play this on the piano, you know…"
For once Maura allowed Jane to deflect the subject of the conversation.
"What? THE Jane Rizzoli who rocks out to Led Zepplin while in her police cruiser played chick rock music on the piano? What next? You're going to tell me you dressed in pink frilly dresses for church every Sunday?"
"Well… yes." Jane shot her friend a playful look as the blonde fought to contain her giggles. "BUT it's not my fault! Ma practically had to straightjacket those damn things onto me!"
"You MUST show me pictures…"
"Too late, I think I burned them all…"
The pair laughed, the most genuine light-hearted emotion they had shared since before the building collapse… Since before a wounded solider and a frantic "mother" had reappeared in both of their lives.
"Oh my Detective, you're softer side is showing. Better tuck that back in before Frost and Korsak get here…"
"What? It's only a few simple chords F, C, B flat, D minor… no big deal."
Jane's eyes returned to the label that was already halfway picked off of her beer bottle. It had been so long since she had shared her musical inclinations with anyone… Not since Hoyt. Her eyes wandered to the scars on her hands that refused to fade no matter how many expensive creams and salves (things she would never admit to buying) she had tried.
"You should play again…" The ME gazed softly at the woman across from her, attuned to how self-conscious Jane could be when attention was called to the marks she bared. "I know there's some scar tissue but if you practiced, I'm sure your interossei muscles can regain their strength and agility again."
"My terrier's muscles are already strong and agile, thank you very much…" Jane quipped as she looked up, meeting the warmest hazel eyes she had ever seen. Despite all that they had both endured over the past week, she could always count on the love in her best friend eyes to elevate her spirits. "You wanna get out of here?"
"What about Frost and Korsak?"
"They can celebrate without me…" Jane stood and turned expectantly to her best friend offering her right arm. "Come on, I've had too much to drive right now and I just need some fresh air. I don't exactly feel like wandering the streets of Boston alone."
It was all Jane needed to say. Maura nodded, stood up and linked arms with the brunette. Perhaps a stroll in the crisp Boston night was all they needed to wind down from their hectic week.
A/N: Phew... well that was like ripping off a bandaid... SLOWLY. Hope you enjoyed. Trying to get the next installment up as soon as possible. THANKS FOR READING!