A/N Hey all. So…. I found myself in a rut with where the story was going and the more I re-read it, it wasn't going where I intended. So I did a little rewriting to get back to where I wanted. Not much has changed, the first few chapters are mostly the same, just some little pluses and minuses here and there. Be patient with me, please. The semester is winding to a close, so hopefully once winter break comes, I'll have more time to write.
Just like every other Monday morning, Jane was awaked by the sharp trill of her phone. Vibrating as violently as usual, the cell phone shook itself off the beside table just as Jane's arm shot out to grab it. A low growl came from under the warm blankets on Jane's bed. She pushed herself to reach out and grab the phone. Only her lower half remained on the bed as she finally reached the phone. With a sigh, she held it to her ear, "Rizzoli." she grunted. Operations informed her of a case, gave her the address and she hung up, dropping the phone on the floor.
A short shower and two hurried cups of coffee later, Jane found herself walking up the long sidewalk to Maura's front door. She stopped before putting her hand on the doorknob. A devilish smile crept across her lips. She quietly turned the knob, knowing the door would be unlocked, because Maura never remembered to lock the door, no matter how many times Jane told her to. Jane snuck into the large Beacon Hill home, hearing the clash of pans in the kitchen. Gently shutting the door, she stole herself against the wall. The clashing of pans stopped, and silence filled the house.
"Janie." came Angela's stern voice, "I know you're there."
Jane grunted in anger and turned the corner into the great room, "Ma! How do you always do that?"
Maura entered the room with a laugh.
"A mother always knows." Angela said, planting a kiss on her daughter's cheek.
Jane turned to the doctor, "You ready? We have a body up off the interstate."
Maura nodded, "I know. Just let me finish my coffee and we can go."
Jane eyed the coffee maker, watching the heavenly, brown juice rain down into the pot.
Maura rolled her eyes, retrieved a travel mug from the cupboard and poured some for Jane. A smile grew across Jane's lips as she gratefully accepted the travel mug. Maura poured her own and they were off.
"Be safe!" came Angela's voice as Jane pulled the front door shut.
CSRU, a dozen other cops and some other detectives had already arrived by the time the dynamic duo rolled up. Just as Jane pushed open her door, it was slammed shut by a hooded man, running past the car and away from the scene. He was closely followed by a female cop. Jane, after a few curse words, opened the door and looked back to see the cop running after the suspect, her hat having fallen off in pursuit. They rounded a bend and were out of sight. No one else seemed to notice, so Jane felt the need to run after them.
When Jane caught up to them around the bend, she saw the cop running across a field after a guy dressed in all black. She watched the cop quickly overtake the guy and tackle the shit out of him. She laughed as the guy fell.
Jane leaned against her car as the cop walked up, the suspect handcuffed and being dragged behind her.
"Nice job." Jane said a smile spread across her face, "Officer…?"
"Rizzoli." the woman said with a huff
Jane stood up in surprise.
"Jennifer Rizzoli."
"Rizzoli?"
The cop shoved the guy into a cruiser and shut the door, "Yes. Is there a problem?" The cop turned, and flipped the hair from her face.
"No." Jane noticed the ponytail hid her dark curly hair. Another officer walked up and handed her a dusty officer's cap. Jennifer took the cap and wiped off the dirt.
"Who are you?" Jennifer asked
Maura walked up, "I'm Detective Jane, uh, Dean." Jane said
Maura gave her a look, and Jane widened her eyes a bit, trying to get Maura to catch on.
"This is Dr. Maura Isles. Chief Medical Examiner." she pointed to Maura
The officer nodded at Maura.
"Uh, who's the runner?" Jane asked, pointing to the car, trying to shift the conversation.
Jennifer sighed, "We were sealing the perimeter and I saw him rummaging around in a bush so I calmly asked him to talk to me and then he went running." she put her cap back on, smiled at the two women, "Excuse me, Detective, Doctor," and turned towards the cruiser. She hopped in and the two officers sped off.
"What was that about? Detective Jane Dean?" the doctor asked, confused
Jane put it out of her mind to properly focus on the scene in front of her. As the day dragged on, her focus was waning and it started to eat away inside her. Jennifer Rizzoli? That's got to be some cousin. She thought as the they drove back to headquarters. But I don't ever remember Ma mentioning a Jennifer. Maybe she's a daughter of Constantina?
"Quarter for your thoughts?"
Jane rolled her eyes, "Its 'penny for your thoughts'."
Maura shrugged, "All the same."
Jane just shook her head.
"Does this have anything to do with that young officer you met back at the scene?"
Jane waved it away, "Forget about it."
Jane walked into the bullpen later and sat down at her desk. she tried to look over case files, but couldn't concentrate. She walked up to the Lieutenants office and knocked on the door. Just as she was regretting the decision, she heard a quiet, "Come in."
She opened the door and saw her boss sitting at his desk.
"Rizzoli." he said, "sit."
"I'd rather stand, sir." she said, shutting the door, "I have a question." she stopped, hesitant.
"Spit it out, Rizzoli."
"Sir, I, uh, met a young female officer today…" she stopped, unsure of what to say next.
He sat back with a sigh, a smile forming on his lips, "And you call yourself a detective."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's been working here for three months, and you're just now hearing about it?"
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, getting frustrated
"There was no reason to."
"But we share the same name."
"That doesn't mean you're related to each other."
"Do you know anything about her? Where she came from?"
The Lieutenant shook his head, "I do, but I'm not at liberty to say."
"Why not?"
"Its confidential. Ask her yourself."
Jane left the lieutenants office, more confused than before. But as she stepped into the bullpen, she realized she wouldn't get anything done until she could get this off her mind. Jane spun on her heel and pushed the down button on the elevator. Reaching the main floor, she made her way down a back hallway to the officers' locker room. Jane walked into the women's locker room and looked around. An older female cop walked up next to her, "Been awhile, hasn't it Rizzoli?"
Jane smiled, "Yeah," she looked around, "I'm looking for Jennifer."
The cop smiled and pointed down an aisle before turning and walking out the door. Jane slowly walked down the aisle, looking down perpendicular aisles as she walked. She finally came upon an aisle where a dark, curly haired woman standing next to an open locker, and half nude, in her underwear.
"Rizzoli." Jane said, half turning away to give the officer some privacy.
Jennifer turned, "Yes? Oh, detective. How can I help you?"
"I just had a few more questions about the case."
Jennifer pulled on her jeans, "Of course, but, I thought I already told you guys everything. Only thing I know about the case is the guy I ran down."
Jane turned back to her when she heard the belt buckle rattle. She noticed dog tags hanging around Jennifer's neck as she slipped on a tank top. She also noticed deep scars all over her right arm and side. One scar snaked up her neck up under jaw.
Jane sighed when she saw 'J. Rizzoli' on the tag, "I lied."
Jennifer pulled on her socks, "About what?"
Jane sighed and pulled out her badge, handing it to Jennifer.
Jennifer took it with a confused look. She looked down at the name on the back of the badge, "J, Rizzoli. What's this?" she held it up, "I don't understand."
"My name isn't Dean, its Rizzoli. I was just really surprised when you introduced yourself, I didn't know what to say."
Jennifer sat down on the bench, and went to pull on her shoes, "So you made up a name?"
Jane shrugged, "I guess." she smiled. Jane sat down on the bench a few feet away, "Um, so what brings you to this unit?"
Jennifer half laughed, half sighed, "I didn't come here looking for you, if that's what you're inferring. I haven't lived in Boston since I was seven. I just moved back after my last deployment." she bent over and tied a tennis shoe, "My mother died when I was eight in a car crash, and the only thing I know about my father is that I have his last name." she tied her other shoe and sat up straight.
Jane nodded, "So you know nothing about your father's family?"
Jennifer suddenly looked very tired as she stood up, "Listen, Detective Rizzoli, I'm at the end of a double shift. Is there a chance we could do this at a different time?"
Jane nodded with a smile, "Yeah. Maybe we could get coffee?"
Jennifer shut the locker and picked up her bag, "Yeah."
And with that, Jane watched Jennifer walk towards the locker room door and out.
And I'm no closer to finding out who she is than when I came in here. Jane sighed and pulled herself off the bench, making a beeline to the elevators to go find Maura.