Chapter 1
"Come on, Stanley, you know I'm good for it."
"I don't know anything about you, Tiffany."
"What, really? Two dollars for a day old donut and bad coffee? Please, come on, I'll get you after my shift."
"Hah, you think you'll make that much?"
"Alright, you know what? I hope that big Mo tows your Chevy, that your crap coffee gives you an ulcer, and that you die of psoriasis. Hey, do you mind?" Tiffany exclaimed to the woman who had appeared behind her, waving some money she had just extracted from her expensive purse. "You can get your non-fat latte in a minute alright?"
Maura continued to proffer her five dollar bill; not only was she generally inclined towards helping those in need, there was also something about this woman that fascinated her. She seemed so much more intelligent, interesting, than the average... lady of the night.
"No, it's for you," she said kindly. "And given the vitamin D deficiency likely from your, uhm, from your night work, you're better off with some plain yoghurt and some leafy greens."
"I have my lice under control, thank you. But Stanley here has psoriasis."
"Psoriasis is not contagious, it's a genetic disease."
"What about rudeness? Is that genetic too?"
"I was simply trying to be nice," Maura said, frowning. She hadn't thought her kindness would be taken this way. It didn't bother her overly, though. She was rather enjoying the witty comments and eye rolls coming from the taller woman.
"Well not every hooker has a heart of gold, alright sister?"
"Apparently not, sister." Maura raised her eyebrows to accompany her remark, then handed Stanley the money and picked up the coffee and donut before Tiffany could say anything else. She took them to a table.
"Dr Maura Isles," she said, holding out her hand as soon as she had put down her purchases.
Tiffany bit hungrily into her donut, ignoring the hand. Unfazed, Maura sat down opposite her and watched her eat.
"You have very good teeth," she commented.
"Thanks," Tiffany said sarcastically. Maura smiled, not picking up on Tiffany's tone.
"Why are you at the police headquarters?"
"They were interviewing me. Got picked up."
"But not arrested?"
"I guess I was helpful. Why are you at the police headquarters?"
"I work here. I'm the chief medical examiner?"
"You're the what?"
"I work in the-"
"No, I know what it is. You just don't look like someone who cuts up dead people for a living."
"It's actually a lot more complicated-"
"Whatever."
"You needn't be so rude. I did just buy you breakfast."
"Needn't? Who says needn't?"
"I was educated in England- Anyway. Why do you have a problem with me?"
"I don't have a problem with you," Tiffany lied.
"So you speak to everybody like this?"
"Pretty much. You don't seem like a prospective client."
Maura chuckled. Tiffany gulped down her coffee and stood up.
"Thanks," she said a little awkwardly. Maura got up too.
"Well, don't go, I mean, can I give you a lift somewhere?"
"Thanks, I'm good," Tiffany said, turning on the sarcastic sweetness again.
Maura wouldn't give up. "Where are you going? Really, I have a new car, I'd love to drive you somewhere."
"I wouldn't want to mess up your car."
Maura finally began to pick up on the sarcasm. She folded her arms, and when Tiffany made to leave, Maura followed her.
They got to the steps outside the building before Tiffany turned around to yell at her new stalker.
"What the hell do you want, Dr Isles?"
Maura shrugged. "I'm a scientist. I'm curious about you."
"Well, bad luck, I don't want to be your guinea pig!"
"I don't want to experiment on you. Although in fact, most lab experiments are performed on mice, not guinea pigs."
"Oh, that's fascinating, thank you so much for telling me! Is your life really that boring that you want to follow me all day?"
Maura winked. "The dead people can get a little dull. They don't have much conversation."
Tiffany laughed before she could stop herself. Annoying as she was, there was something about the medical examiner that entertained her.
"If I agree to let you give me a lift, will you leave me alone after that?"
"It's much more likely."
Tiffany groaned. "Fine. Where is this new car?"
Maura pointed to the black sports car at the bottom of the steps.
"Really?" Tiffany exclaimed.
"I like cars."
"Can..." Tiffany trailed off.
"Can you drive it? Do you have a licence?"
Tiffany grinned and produced one, which Maura immediately identified as fake.
"I'm sorry. Like I said, it's a new car," she said, seeming genuinely sad she couldn't let Tiffany drive.
"Don't worry about it," Tiffany said, getting into the passenger seat. Maura walked around to get in on the driver's side. Maura glanced over at Tiffany's long, fishnet-covered legs. Tiffany hitched her skirt up another inch.
"See something you like?" she asked.
Maura smiled. "Oh, I haven't done anything like that for a long time."
"Well, it's 100 bucks, if you change your mind."
Maura chuckled. "Do you have any friends, Tiffany?"
Tiffany made a face. "Firstly, I don't need saving. Secondly, I don't need friends. Why are you so interested in me?"
"You're interesting. You're far more intelligent than you behave. I wonder..."
"What a nice girl like me is doing in a place like this? I could ask you the same thing with much more authority – you're a far nicer girl. Why do you hang around dead people?"
Maura shrugged. "I prefer them to live ones."
"Wow. That's..."
"Strange. I know."
Tiffany had actually been thinking that it was quite sad. "Maybe I like what I do," she said.
"Maybe? Do you like it?"
"Sometimes. It's like any job I guess. It has good days and- Why am I even telling you this? Also, where are you driving?"
"To my house."
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm being kidnapped?"
"You're not. But I thought you might like a proper breakfast. You can use my hot tub, too."
Tiffany knew this was a bad idea. A very bad idea. But she had seen Maura's ID, Maura had been at the precinct, and she hadn't ever had a hot tub to herself.
"I'm not working..." she said, just making sure.
"And I'm not interested. You're worth more than a hundred, though."
Tiffany laughed. "Thanks."
"You might work on your wardrobe, though."
"You're criticising my clothes now?"
"Clothing says a lot about a person, and it can be very expressive and interesting."
"If you say so."
Maura pulled into a large drive and got out of the car. She unlocked the door to her house and led Tiffany through to the kitchen.
"Being chief medical examiner pays pretty well too," Tiffany muttered. Maura opened the fridge and took out a bowl of strawberries. She took the cling film off it and put it on the counter.
"Were you in the cells all night?"
It was Tiffany's turn to shrug. "It's not the first night I've spent in a cell."
"But you must be tired."
"I am. Look, this is all lovely, really, but I should get going. I don't know why you're doing this, maybe you're just a born philanthropist, but I should go home. I don't need charity, I like my life just the way it is."
"Then why did you get into my car?"
"Because you said you were giving me a lift. I thought I was choosing the destination."
"And you are. This is just a pit stop."
"I think you've watched Pretty Woman one too many times."
"Doesn't Richard Gere sleep with Julia Roberts before he decides to help her?"
Tiffany grinned. "Yes. I suppose so. But... why do you want to help me?"
"Because... I don't know, I saw Stanley being mean to you and I liked the way you stood up to him. I just wanted to give you the money. But I find you... interesting."
Tiffany made a face.
"You really need to get out more. I... I gotta go."
She began to walk towards the door. Maura beat her to the exit.
"At least let me take you somewhere?"
"Fine. Since you brought me all the way out here, you might as well drive me back."
While she wished she could have a swim in the tub, Tiffany knew no good would come of it. There was no such thing as a free lunch; that's what her mother had always said. Her dead end mother in her one room apartment, alone since her no good father had left, and he had only been a mediocre plumber. Tiffany wouldn't be surprised if one day soon she joined her brother in prison, or her other brother, six feet under. There was no point in getting a taste for a better life.
Maura knew it was strange, knew it wasn't appropriate... But she hadn't been able to help herself. Tiffany was just so... Well her eyes were hypnotic, for one thing. They got back into the car and Maura drove to the street Tiffany named. Tiffany stopped her at a nondescript corner, a few blocks from her mother's place.
"Thanks for the breakfast, and the lift," Tiffany said, her voice gentle and sincere.
Maura reached into her purse. "Here, at least take my card," she said. Tiffany sighed, but she accepted the printed rectangle with Maura's phone number and address.
"If you need anything-" Maura began.
"I'll get it myself," Tiffany finished firmly, but she tucked the card safely into her pocket as she got out of the car.
A/N: Thanks for reading, this is my first Rizzoli and Isles fic so I hope you liked it! There will be more soon, love you, please please review xxx