So I promise to one day write a story in which Jane and Maura are both unattached, but a buddy and I came up with this one. This is co-written with The-Guardian-Shadow. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We don't own Rizzoli and Isles... unfortunately.
After another crime solved, Boston's favorite duo sat in their booth at the Dirty Robber with a tired smile on both of their faces.
"Good work today, Maur." Jane looked across the wooden table at the blonde. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have solved it in a day and a half."
Maura smiled brightly and lifted her wine glass up to her lips for a taste, swallowing the liquid slowly before shaking her head. "That's really sweet, but it was Susie who actually helped you speed things along, not I. I just noticed the irregularity. She ran the tests."
The doctor set her glass back down on the coaster and brushed a strand of honey-blonde hair out of her face. "Nice tackle today, by the way. I'm just surprised you didn't hurt yourself."
"Such a humble genius you are." The detective chuckled. "Oh, yeah. That was nothin'. I enjoy flying off decks of houses and tackling three-hundred pound men." Jane laughed. "Even if I did get hurt I'm sure you would have taken care of me."
"Well, as far as geniuses go, I'm pretty low on the totem pole." Maura chuckled and shook her head. "While always an impressive display, you scare me sometimes, honestly. The things you take head-on. I'll always take care of you." She blushed slightly. "When you're hurt, of course."
Rizzoli noticed the blush and smiled. "Scaring you or not, I'll always be around to take care of you. Period." She smirked. "No matter what."
"I'm really glad to hear that. You are my only friend. If I lost you I'd truly be a social pariah." Maura teased and reached across the table to take a scarred hand in hers. "Jane, I-"
Maura was cut off by the sound of Jane's name coming from another set of lips, the voice gruff. "Hello, Jane."
"You don't ever have to worry about that. I'll always be here." She smiled and waited for what the blonde had to say next but looked up at the sound of her name.
"Casey..." She shook her head in disbelief. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
Casey stood at the edge of their table smiling at the brunette, Maura feeling a twinge of something she wasn't quite sure what to call upon seeing the look on his face. "I've really missed you, Rizzoli. I was a real idiot."
Jane slowly pulled her hands out of Maura's. "Yeah, you were. So what in the world changed your mind?"
"Well, when you're all by yourself just sulking around feeling sorry for yourself, you have a lot of time to think about things. And all I kept thinking about was you." Casey's eyes flashed from Jane to Maura for a moment and then back. "How about you and I go somewhere to talk?"
Jane took a breath and held it, then turned her head toward Maura. Letting it out in a sigh she shook her head. "Not right now, Casey. I just sat down with Maura and we were going to eat here. If you would like to meet up later, then sure." The brunette then looked up at him.
Casey frowned, obviously disappointed, but nodded. "Sure. We can do that. Just give me a call, Jane. I'll meet you anywhere you like. Maura," he said, looking over at the honey-blonde, "it was nice seeing you again."
"Just meet me here in an hour." Jane said then looked at her friend.
Maura's eyes locked with hers for just a moment before she looked away and Casey smiled. "Great. I'll see you then. Later, Maura."
Maura watched him walk away. "Goodbye, Casey."
Jane was still hung up on the soldier. High school crushes never die out. She sighed once they were alone again. "Lets order." She forced a smile then held up her hand to motion the waiter to come over.
After ordering she sat back in the booth. "What were you going to say before we were interrupted?"
Maura had been friends with Jane long enough to know when she was pining after someone, and she was most certainly pining after Casey now. "Nothing important." She forced a smile. "I didn't expect to ever see him again, honestly."
Jane shook her head. "I didn't either, Maur. Casey practically told me he didn't want to see me again." She took a deep breath. "Is it bad that I still want a chance?"
"Well no. It's natural to want to rekindle a romance with a once potential mate when in close proximity again. But... he did leave you pretty upset the first time. What if he leaves again?" Maura asked, still not fully able to comprehend what she was feeling.
"Three strikes he's out I guess." Jane shrugged. "I can't remember the last time I was in a real meaningful relationship." With a sigh, she compromised. "Guess if I get hurt again I'll just move on."
Maura sighed. "You could just skip the whole potential heartbreak thing and try with someone completely different. Someone you could really see yourself having a long-term relationship with."
"Yeah? Like who, Maur? Everyone else around here is too intimidated by me to even want anything. Hell even I scared Casey in school. I'm not exactly girlfriend material."
"I think you can be. I'm not intimidated by you." Maura didn't have a chance to say another word before Korsak and Frost plopped down next to them.
"Good evening, ladies." Barry smiled. "How's it going?"
Brown eyes shot up to hazel ones after what Maura had said, but before Jane had time to react, she had to be interrupted by the boys. "Hey. Finally get paperwork done, I see."
"We did." Korsak nodded. "So what you girls up to tonight?"
"We're not up to anything," Maura said cooly. "Jane will be meeting with Casey later."
"Really?" Frost groaned. "That guy?"
Jane looked at him and nodded. "Yes. That guy. I'll give him one more chance and if he breaks my heart... again, I'm done with him and love completely."
"Done with love completely?" Frost raised a brow. "Wow. Intense."
Maura looked a bit like a kicked puppy at this point and was grateful Jane was too busy with Frost to notice anything that may have been off with her.
Jane shrugged. "It's never helped me out in the least bit, except for my family. It always leads to heartbreak. I don't have very many pieces left."
Korsak sighed. "Jane, you're still young. Who knows the one person that could send you to cloud nine and keep you there for the rest of your life could be in this very room."
Maura's hazel eyes studied Jane closely as she waited for a response to Korsak's statement. But Frost cut in first.
"Yeah, he could totally be over there at that bar. Perhaps Crowe is your one true love and you two just go at eachother because you have a playground sort of love."
Rizzoli narrowed her eyes then kicked Barry underneath the table. "You shut your mouth." She shook her head then looked at Maura with a sweet smile.
Maura laughed at Barry's 'ow' and shook her head. "Behave you two." Her eyes met Jane's and she smiled back.
"I'm sorry, Jane. I know you'd much rather date Maura than Crowe." Frost grinned.
There was a laugh that escaped Jane's throat. She nodded. "Yeah, I'd choose Maura over Crowe any day."
Maura sat up straight in the booth and bobbed her head. "Well I'd most certainly hope so considering."
It was Korsak's turn to chuckle. "No worries, Doc. I think Jane would choose you over just about anybody."
The doctor bit her bottom lip, eyes flashing to Jane.
Jane raised her brow and looked at Korsak. "Oh yeah? What makes you think that?" Her face blushing just a bit.
"The fact that most men drive you nuts. That most people in general drive you nuts." Korsak smiled.
"Yeah... that is true. I hate people." She shrugged and laughed it off, looking at Maura.
"Actually, there are several people you like," Maura started. "I mean, there's myself, your family, these guys..."
"Casey." Frost cut in with a kissy face.
"Maura..." Jane chuckled and shook her head. The blonde was always so literal. "And yeah, yeah, yeah. Casey too. I just want to see how things play out."
"Speaking of the devil." Frost craned his neck as he looked around Korsak's head. "He's heading this way right now."
Casey stopped next to the table again and smiled as he glanced around the table. "Detectives, it's nice to see you again."
Jane sighed softly and made Korsak move so she could get out of the booth. She left her money on the table to pay for her food. "Hi, Casey." She turned to look at her team. "I'll see you three tomorrow." She then left the Robber with him and went to stand by her car, leaning back against it. "So, what would you like to talk about? I'm sure it has nothing to do with the Red Sox."
Watching Jane walk away with Casey, Maura knew exactly what she'd been feeling all night: Yep, it was definitely jealousy.
Casey stood with his hands in his jean pockets. "Right. Not the Red Sox. This time. Jane, when I left the last time, I couldn't walk. I was feeling sorry for myself. And clearly..." He gestured up and down his body. "I can now. I thought my career was over, that I was useless, that I wasn't good enough for you. But now, now I really want to prove otherwise. I'd like for you to give me another chance if it isn't too late."
Jane looked up at him and crossed her arms over her chest. "Casey, I told you that I didn't care if you couldn't walk. I wanted to be with you regardless." She took a breath and continued. "I want to give you another chance, but are you positive you want me? I can't handle heartbreak down the road. I don't have much left to break."
Casey sighed. "I know, Jane. But back then I didn't really believe you'd be happy with me. I promise you I won't break your heart. I want you." He smiled. "I'm 120 percent sure about that."
The detective nodded her head and uncrossed her arms. "Okay... I believe you." She pushed off the side of the car and was dangerously close to him. "So, what are you going to do with the new trust you gained?"
Casey's eyes flashed to Jane's lips as he grabbed her hips to pull her flush against him. "What I've wanted to do for a long time." He crashed his lips against hers as his hands slid upwards to her back to hold her tight to him.
Jane grinned and moved her hand to his cheek before kissing him back with full on passion. After a moment she pulled back only enough to speak. "How about you stay with me tonight?"