Disclaimer: This is AU. I do not own any of the characters from Rizzoli and Isles.
Rating: M – for later Chapters
Co-written with Kim!
The Orphanage
Chapter 01
Maura felt nothing as she was driven to the home for kids that didn't have any family. She didn't have any left. It had been a long year waiting for the last family member to die, knowing that she would have no one left to take care of her. She hated being alone, but not as much as she hated not having a single place
As she stepped out of the car, she was handed her suitcase and then ushered inside.
A nun stepped towards Maura, a faint smile over her lips.
"I am Sister Winifred Callahan." She told the young brunette and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I am sorry about what happened. It must be very frightening for you." She said in compassion.
A black boy walked up to Maura and smiled at her, his white teeth showing.
"You are very pretty." He told her. The nun smiled at the black boy.
"That's Barrold. He is a very polite boy." She told Maura.
Maura smiled at the boy and then looked up at the woman who was speaking to her.
"I knew it was going to happen. It was just a matter of time...I am not sad, just in need of a place to stay...for a while, until I turn 18..." she said and then smiled back at the boy again.
"Maura," she said to him, introducing herself.
"Nice to meet you." He said to her. He was way younger than Maura. He was only nine years old. He took her hand and his dark eyes met hers.
"Come, I show you where you can sleep." He told her eagerly. The sister smiled at them.
"That's very kind of you Barrold. You can show her around." She suggested.
Maura took his hand and was lead off with him. Her suitcase was left with the nun. Maura was pulled inside and she looked around briefly before being pulled up the stairs and down the hall. The place was clean and that impressed Maura. She came from a wealthy family, but so far none had been found that would be able to take her or wanted her.
"Thank you, Barrold..." she said softly.
"Actually I prefer being called Barry..." He told her, almost in a whisper.
"But Sister Callahan insists to call us by our full names. All of us. No one likes it actually but no one is brave enough to tell her. No one but Jane, well Jeanette." He told her and pushed a door open, exposing a big room with loads of beds in it.
"That's where all the girls sleep." He told her.
Maura made a face and then shrugged as he spoke to her. Her name was Maura full or not. She stared into the large room where all the beds were and sighed.
"Are there no private rooms," she asked Barry with a concerned look. "I am not used to a lot of people...Should I talk to the lady that came out to get me?"
He shook his head. "There are no private rooms, no." He said and walked inside the room, passing beds. He stopped in front of a bed and pointed at one.
"This is your bed." He told her. He swirled around as he saw Jane entering.
"She is new here. Her name is Maura." Barry told Jane immediately as she approached.
Jane eyed the girl in her rather posh clothes. She looked so neat in her clothes and her hair so nicely brushed. Jane's own hair was a little mess and curly. Her clothes looked like it had been worn from other girls before. A pair of jeans that looked too big on the skinny girl, only held up by a belt. Her shirt too big and hung loosely from her body.
"Hi, I'm Jane." She said to her.
Maura stared at her bed and then turned when Barry introduced her to another person, Jane. She smiled a bit and although the girl wore clothes that didn't fit her, she had a face of an angel. Maura stared at Jane as she approached and didn't really say her name again because Barry had said it for her. She swallowed and let out a deep breath.
"Are there any private rooms?" She asked her as well, not really believing the younger boy.
Jane snorted a laugh. She didn't need to ask the blonde if it was her first time at a orphanage because she could tell it was.
"If you'd be a nun, then yeah. Sister Callahan has a room to herself and so does Sister Grace but that's it." She said to her. She eyed the blonde again.
"How old are you?" She wanted to know.
Jane saw Maura's face changed at the fact that she was going to be stuck in a large room at night. She folded her arms over her chest and looked up from her the floor to Jane's face.
"I just turned 16 two months ago," she said. "I don't have any family here...no where to go...This was where the social worker sent me. I needed a safe place to be, I guess," she said.
"Well blondie, looks like you are stuck here for two more years, unless someone adopts you. But don't get your hopes up. it's been ages one of us got adopted. They prefer babies." She told her and shrugged her shoulders.
"And to be honest, I don't even wanna be adopted anymore. I just wanna be 18 finally and then leave this place." She said. Barry's lower lip quivered.
"But you can't leave Jane...I don't want you to leave." He said in a whiny voice. Jane looked at Barry and flashed him a dimpled smile.
"Hey buddy, I ain't leave you anytime soon, okay?" Jane ruffled his hair.
"How long have you been here, Jane," she asked when Jane was done talking to the little boy. Maura was hopeful that it wasn't long, but something in her stomach told her that it was a very long time. Behind Jane, someone brought in Maura's suitcase and placed it by her. She thanked them before she looked back at Jane.
She looked from Barry to Maura. "Uh all my life actually. I don't know much. Just that I was found in front of the orphanage as baby. Someone placed me there. That's all. And no one ever wanted me. Callahan said coz I was a wild child and never listened to anyone." Jane rolled her eyes playfully.
Maura felt sad for Jane, but more for what she had been told. She shook her head.
"That's not true and very unkind of Callahan to say to you...more than likely at a young age. I find it horribly sad," she said and looked down at her suitcase, thinking for a moment. Then she dropped to her knees and opened the case. She pulled out a nice blue wrap shirt and offered it to Jane.
"Here, take this...it will fit you better because you can tie it...as close as you want...Just something to make you smile, I guess..."
She eyed Maura's clothes. They looked as good as new.
"I'm not sad about what happened, I accepted it a long time ago." She said but took the wrap shirt.
"Thanks Maura, I never owned such a nice piece of clothing before." She said and let her hand run over the smooth material.
"Good that you aren't sad about it. And you're welcome," she said with a kind smile. Maura shut her suitcase and moved to her bed before turning back to Jane.
"Well, I don't have any family now either, so...I guess that makes us the same," she said with a kind smile.
"Yeah looks like it." Jane agreed and kept looking at the shirt.
"Barry, go outside and play with your doll, okay? I wanna get changed." She explained to the kid. Barry grunted.
"It's an action figure..." He mumbled before he left the girls' bedroom.
Jane giggled after him and as soon as she heard the door closed, she simply undressed her grey shirt, exposing her small breasts underneath it, no bra. She wasn't prude. Especially since there was no privacy in the showerroom. Every girl saw the other girls naked. Jane pulled the blue wrap shirt over her head and tied it tight to her body.
"Better?" She asked he.
Maura's cheeks flushed almost instantly and her jaw dropped when the taller girl stood before her in just her oversized jeans and nothing else. God the woman had killer breasts and Maura didn't make it not obvious that she was staring. She cleared her throat when Jane spoke to clear her own thoughts.
"Yes, it looks great on you...Really."
"Thanks for that. I'll be wearing that from now on a lot. It'll be my favourite shirt." Jane told and scratched her head.
"Hey you want me to show you around a little? It's not big and you surely can't get lost but still...it's good to know where everything is." Jane said to her and shrugged her shoulders.
"Yes, I want to know where everything is," she said with a smile and stepped forward toward Jane. A million things moved through her mind and all of them were still focused on those breasts...small, but just enough to be alluring. Maura wore a short grey skirt, boots, and a light pink top with ruffled cup sleeves.
Jane didn't notice she had that effect on the blonde girl. She just grabbed her hand and showed her around. The boy's bedroom, the bathroom for the girls, the bathroom for the boys, the two bedroom's of the two nuns, the dining room, the classroom and another big living room filled with toys for younger kid. Some of the kids were sitting on the ground, playing.
Then Jane walked outside with her. There was something like a playground in the backyard and other than that just a wood and nothing really close by. Like an abandoned place.
"If you walk far enough in the woods, there's a small river and in summer I swim there alot." She told her. "I guess that's all there is."
Maura held Jane's hand and welcomed the touch from the other girl. It had been such a very long time since she had been around anyone at all. She looked at everything that Jane showed her, but what interested the most was when Jane spoke of the river and that she swam there. She smiled.
"I used to swim all the time, but not for a while now. I just didn't want to, I guess," she said and then gave Jane a soft look.
"Well you could swim at the river." She offered her. "I can show you a way there, but don't show any of the other kids. The nun's don't like seeing any of us near the woods. They say it's too dangerous." Jane rolled her eyes again.
"But I'll show you tomorrow." Jane offered and walked over to a swing and sat down, watching Maura from the distance, as she started to swing a bit, the old swing making a sound as she did so.
Maura didn't move toward the swing. Secretly, she just wanted to watch Jane. She smiled a little and rubbed her upper arms as she had them crossed around her chest.
"That sounds good. I promise I won't say a word. It will be our secret," she said and moved to lean against the bar of the swing support, while watching Jane.
Jane flashed her a dimpled smile. "So tell me about yourself, Maura. How was it living...in a family?" Jane asked curiously, her eyes never leaving the pretty blonde. Jane was glad about the fact that another girl around her own age was here now.
Maura couldn't help but smile back at the lovely brunette. Jane was pretty, in the tall exotic way. She stared at Jane.
"It was nice for a while. Then one day, they disappeared and my great grandfather was left to take care of me. He was wonderful. Then, one day...he was gone as well and I was alone for a while. I never want to feel that way again," she said and Jane would realize that unlike others that came to this place...Maura needed it.
"Oh trust me, you won't feel alone here. As a matter of fact, you will wish to be alone sometimes." Jane said and as she finished the sentence a boy's voice was heard.
"Hey frog face." He said. Jane turned around to look at Joey.
"Joseph." Jane grunted as she saw him. "I forgot to warn you from idiot boys like him. Him and Darren Crowe. So annoying." She told Maura.
Maura looked over her shoulder at the boy that Jane spoke of. He didn't seem all that bad, but looks were deceiving. She turned back to Jane and shrugged lightly.
"I will stay away," she said with a soft laugh and then frowned at him. She didn't like the reference he was using for Jane. She sighed and shifted so that her back was against the bar that supported the swing.
"I am sure that I will wish to be alone many times…"
Joey was kicking a ball in front of him and looked at Jane, while she gave him a death glare. Soon enough Darren rushed out the house and two boys ran off to play with the ball. Jane rolled her eyes.
"They are like little kids." She told her and was swinging some more as a little girl came running.
"Jane! Jane! Jaaaane!" She screamed, rushing towards her. The girl was only 4, with blonde hair in pigtails and a pink dress that looked like it was worn for ages already.
"Lilly." Jane got off the swing and leaned down as the girl ran into her arms.
"There is a monster in our bedroom. I went inside to go get Joe and...then I saw a monster under my bed." She told her. Jane glanced at Maura and then stroked over Lilly's head.
"There isn't a monster in the bedroom, sweetie." Lilly looked at her with her big blue eyes and then looked at Maura.
"Who is this, Jane?" She asked her.
"Lilly, that's Maura. She is all new here. Say hi to her." Jane urged. The girl let go of Jane and looked up to meet Maura's eyes.
"Hi." She said and flashed a smile at her.
She smiled down at the little girl before her.
"Hi," she replied and offered the little girl her hand. Her face was soft and sweet. She looked like a little angel to Maura. Maura locked eyes with Jane and her heart skipped a beat. She shook it off a moment later.
Jane was really good with kids, since she had to take care of them all the time. Lilly shook Maura's hand and then turned to Jane again.
"Can you come with me so I can get Joe? Can you scare the monsters off?" The girl asked.
"Sure Sweetie." Jane said and got up, taking Lilly's hand.
"Come on Maur." Jane said and walked inside with the girl. They stopped at the entrance of the bedroom.
"Okay you stay here with Maura." Jane said and gave Maura Lilly's hand. Jane walked to the girl's bed and kneeled down, checking for Monsters.
"Hm they don't seem to be under your bed Lilly. But wherever you are, leave Lilly alone. She is a good girl." Jane said and got back up. She grabbed the stuffed dog toy from the bed and walked over to Lilly and Maura again and handed it to the blonde girl.
"Here you go." She said softly.
"Thank you." Lilly said and hugged Jane.
"Now go and play okay?" Jane said. The girl nodded and rushed off into the play room. Jane looked at Maura again.
"Sorry about that."
"What's to be sorry about. Kids sometimes need parental comfort...even from older children...as us," she said with a half shrug. She then offered Jane a smile.
"It's kinda a part of life...at least that is how I think. I really didn't have any siblings growing up and I am not good with people normally. I was alone a lot...so, I seem to have lost the normal socialization skills that many kids have by now..."
"Really?" Jane asked and raised a brow.
"Well, you will have to socialize here alot and trust me, the smaller kids will come to you to ask you for help. I can't even imagine how it would be growing up without siblings... I see them all as siblings. Some more and some...not so much." She said, meaning Joey and Darren.
"They visibly don't look that bad, but I will trust you that they are," she said with a small smile and then started to walk with Jane wherever she walked. Maura felt much better than she had in a long time. Being alone did that to someone...but then she assumed that there was something special about Jane.
"Perhaps I will get used to it..."
"I am sure you will." Jane told her and walked back outside with her. She walked down a path with her.
"Tell me about your life out there...what is it like? How is the world out there? I've hardly left from here. I can't remember the last time I went to town. Mrs Gilberti does the shopping for the sisters and brings all the food once a week. So we don't really get to leave here." Jane told her while she walked with Maura.
"That's horrible that you never get to leave the facility. I couldn't imagine that. I don't want to be told to stay somewhere," she said in a softer voice than before. She eyed Jane closely and then shook her head.
"I imagine it hasn't changed that much. I went to school a lot. Sometimes I ventured, well a lot of time I went shopping down town. It was my outlet..."
"Shopping huh? Wow that sounds amazing. I can't wait to earn my own money and do that. I will buy everyone here new toys and new clothes." Jane said in thoughts. She kicked a rock with her foot.
"And it's not like we are all forbidden to leave...it's just nothing is around here. Nothing. It's a house in the middle of nowhere. And as much as I love the scenery here and everything...as much would I love to go to the city and watch people and look at all the buildings." She explained.
Maura scanned the area and then sighed.
"What about taking a taxi," she asked Jane with a smile. Jane was a lovely girl...and she could tell she had a huge heart. It was warming to finally see someone like that.
"I mean...isn't that allowed for the holding ones...like us?"
Jane raised a brow and shook her head.
"And pay the taxi how exactly?" She asked her. Jane looked around, seeing if anyone followed and when she was sure that they were alone, she grabbed Maura's hand and dragged her in the bushes.
"Watch out." Jane lead them through and then stopped stopped at a big tree. She let go of Maura and started to climb up.
"Come on, Maur."
Maura ducked to miss a few branches as Jane dragged her into the bushes, then she looked up when Jane began to climb a big tree. She laughed silently. Then she pulled off her boots and started to follow after Jane, being mindful of her clothing.
"What are we doing?"
"I wanna show you something." Jane said and kept climbing. When she thought she was high enough, she balanced on a branch until she reached the other tree and climbed over there. Then she sat down on the branch and waited for Maura.
"It's the best view, I promise. It's even more beautiful at night but it's really hard sneaking out at night without someone noticing."
Maura followed Jane's movements and then carefully balanced herself on a nearby branch from Jane's.
"Best view of what? And you shouldn't really have to worry. Are you not of age?" She asked her, curious now to know if Jane were younger or older than she was.
"Best view of the lake and the river and sometimes you see animals." She said and helped Maura to sit down next to her.
"And it doesn't matter how old you are, you are not allowed outside after 9PM. It's just the way it is." She said to her and smiled.
"But it would be fair if the older kids get to stay longer outside. I mean hello, I am not a little child anymore. After all I am fifteen and gotta help around the house. I should get credit for it, right?" Jane asked.
Maura blinked and smiled a little, more on the inside. Jane was younger than her...possibly by a few months. She herself had just turned 16. Maura adjusted on the branch and pressed her back against Jane's partial front to stay on the branch.
"It's nice...breath-taking actually," she said.
"I told you." She said smiling and looked ahead, enjoying the view. She leaned against the tree.
"It's probably my favourite spot next to the spot by the river. It's so quiet here. That's where I flee too if it gets too loud at the house. Or if I need to unwind." Jane told Maura and looked at her. "I never showed anyone that spot yet."
Maura felt honored and she smiled as she stared out into the grounds before her.
"I like it," she repeated and smiled more. She liked it more because Jane had chosen to show her...no one else...her. She smelled good this close to Jane. She smelled like she came from a rich family.
"I won't share it with anyone..."
"You better don't. Or else I won't show you anything anymore." Jane threatened with a serious face but then laughed and boxed Maura's arm gently.
"Sometimes I just sit here and read. But I already read all the books we've got at the house. It's not the best books, I'd love to read a crime book or something but...we don't have any. The sisters don't tolerate violence. Geez, sometimes I wonder if we are freaks compared to all the other people. I don't know if we know everything we are supposed to know or if there are secrets and things people should know in our age, you know?" Jane asked and looked at her. "I'm a freak, sorry." She screw up her face.
Maura gripped Jane's upper arm when she was boxed lightly. She laughed softly nevertheless.
"You are not a freak...at all and I don't think you are missing out on much. It's rather lonely in the real world...believe me, I would know..." she said and looked back forward once again.
"Just don't worry about it...but you should be allowed more freedom."
"Well three more years and I am outta here. I survived it fifteen years, I will survive it another three years." She said and shrugged her shoulders.
"But sometimes I still think I am missing out on stuff, you know. Did the sisters really teach us all about life we are supposed to know?" Jane asked in thoughts. "Guess I'll know once I am eighteen." She said and looked down from the tree, swinging her legs.
"You know, sometimes I see other people on the river...older teens. I watch them from here." She told her.
Maura looked slightly over her shoulder at Jane and then back down toward the river. She nodded.
"I am sure that you have learned what you need to know to survive and you will have friends to keep your grounded and to help you alone, right?" She smiled and patted Jane's hand.
"I guess." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled at her.
"You seem pretty cool, Maura, really." Jane pointed out and got up, standing on the branch. She turned to look towards the orphanage.
"Lunch will be served soon, we should head back."
"Yes that would be a good idea," she said with a brighter smile than before. Jane said she was cool. That meant the world to her.
She shifted and then started to climb back down the tree toward the ground. Once she was on sturdy ground again, she watched Jane as she came down before she put her boots back on.
Jane chuckled at Maura and then rushed with her back to the orphanage.
TBC
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