Friends and More
"Rizzoli, what are you so happy about?" Korsak grumbles across his desk when he sees Jane rushing to get her reports done and smiling while she did it. "You have a hot date or something after work?"
"Ha! It's none of your business, Korsak." Jane said with a glare.
"Oh, so it is a hot date! Hey, Frost, she does have a life, you owe me 20 bucks!" Korsak gleefully yelled out in the bullpen. Frost shot Korsak a glare just as Maura walked in the room.
"Damn, I was sure that I would win. Rizzoli eats, sleeps and breaths the job. Who would have ever thought she made time to get laid. I will pay up next week, Korsak." Frost finished what he was saying and turned in his chair that is when he saw Dr. Isles raise an eyebrow. "Um, sorry Dr. Isles, Korsak and I had a friendly wager." Frost, said embarrassedly.
"I see, and I understand it had to do with Jane's sex life or lack thereof?" Maura questioned seriously with her head titled as if in thought.
"Hey, enough all of you! My personal life is off limits, but if you must know, my friend Sheila from the academy is visiting Boston this week and she is meeting me for dinner at Boxers Steak House, so I need to get out of here on time for a change." Jane barked at them all with a glare. "So, if you all are done speculating on my life, try and get one of your own and let me get back to work." Jane yelled while putting files in her desk drawer.
"Jane, I think it's wonderful you have a friend visiting. How long will she be here?" Maura asked after walking over to Jane's desk.
"Couple weeks, she is here for a convention and called me to see if we could hang out like old times." Jane smiled. "I didn't realize how much I missed her until I heard her voice again. We had some good times in our day, being the only two women recruits in our class." Jane said with a long distance look as if remembering back in time. She then caught Maura starring at her and glanced nervously at her watch. "I better get going. See ya later, Maura." Jane smiled got up and grabbed her purse from the bottom drawer of her desk along with her car keys and zipped past Maura.
"Goodbye, Jane." Maura said to herself since Jane had already run off. She couldn't help but feel a little sad that Jane shared a close friendship with someone else. She was hoping that Jane would want to go to dinner with her, but she would have to have another at home Thai take-out dinner with Bass. Then she heard Frost ask her a question.
"Hey, Doc, Korsak and I are going to the Robber for beers and burgers, want to join us." Maura, became excited. She was never included in the guys' outings without Jane. She answered almost too quickly.
"I would enjoy that very much, gentlemen. Let me just grab my bag and keys and I will join you back her in 5 minutes." Maura practically ran from the room with a huge grin on her face. Going out with Frost and Korsak saved her from a night of loneliness. As promised, Maura was ready to leave in 5 minutes. She even promised to buy the first round of drinks at the Robber. Tonight was going to be a fun night for her.
It had taken Jane approximate 25 minutes to maneuver through downtown traffic to get to the Steak House. She was going to be late, but she knew Sheila was rarely on time either. Jane went through valet parking to speed up parking and headed into the restaurant. As luck would have it, she was the first to arrive. After she was seated she asked the waiter for a whiskey straight up and waited. She didn't have to wait long. Sheila arrived 10 minutes later. When Jane saw her come into the dining room she immediately recognized her. It looked like she hadn't aged a bit. Sheila made her way over to Jane's table and smiled, "Jane, you look as gorgeous as ever!" Jane got up and hugged Sheila tight.
"Sheila, you haven't aged!" What the hell, that isn't fair!" Both were ecstatic to see each other.
"Oh I have aged plenty, believe me. I just use hair dye, good wrinkle cream and exercise a lot to cover it." Sheila said with a grin. The woman looked like a shorter version of Jane. She had long brown hair and chocolate-colored eyes. The only difference was the way she dressed. She was in heels and a dress, whereas, Jane was in her usual black boots, slacks, and suit jacket.
"Would you like a drink," Jane asked.
"Damn straight, I would. I see you still drink that rot gut stuff," Sheila said while glancing at the tumbler in front of Jane.
"Yeah, you know me; old habits are hard to break. As I recall though, you had no problem with this rot gut graduation night. I believe you polished off more than three fourths of a bottle by yourself." Jane laughed.
"Yikes, don't remind me. I paid for that night for a week. I was so sick. I can't even stand a sip of the stuff today. Sheila said.
"Well you never could really hold your liquor, my friend." Jane smiled back.
"Ouch, that's not fair, Jane. You know the reason I drank so much that night. I was heartbroken." Sheila whispered with a serious look. Jane didn't mean to turn the conversation to this topic and she could have kicked herself for bringing it up.
"I'm sorry, Sheila. I didn't mean to dredge up bad memories. Let's talk about the good stuff. Jane grabbed Sheila's hand and smiled.
"Ahh, don't feel bad, Jane. It is in the past. Besides, I consider the relationship I had with you as the "good stuff," it just wasn't meant to be in the end I knew that your career was your primary focus. I'm just glad we are still friends." She squeezed Jane's hand and smiled.
"Me, too, Sheila." Jane said with a sad smile.
"So, you seeing anyone now that you are a big bad detective, Jane?" Sheila asked after they ordered their dinner.
"No one special." A glimpse of Maura passed through her mind. The person Jane was most interested in, but who didn't have a clue and Jane would never say a word for fear of losing her dearest friend.
"How about you, Sheila? Have you found your soul mate yet?" Jane chuckled.
"Hell, no! I'm having too much fun to settle down now, Jane." Sheila laughed. There are way too many interesting women out there I have yet to experience. So, are you still in the closet?"
"Does it matter if I don't date", Jane asked with a raised brow?
"Ahh, so you are. Good to know. Don't worry my friend. I won't out you. I was just curious." Sheila took another sip of her wine. Jane was feeling uncomfortable and confused.
"Well, I haven't had a relationship with another woman since you, so I don't know if I'm comfortable dating women anymore. Maybe you were just so irresistible that I had to have you and you spoiled me for all others. Jane laughed. I don't have that problem with men. I understand them and the sex is great. I usually get off, there's no arguing that." Jane said and finished off her drink and ordered a second.
"Janey, baby, you may not be "comfortable" dating a woman, but you sure know how to fuck one. I had multiple orgasms with you, so don't try and pretend you didn't enjoy what you were doing." Sheila leaned over and whispered to Jane. "I'm not trying to give you are hard time. I want you to be happy and if you're happy with a guy, then fine, but it would be a tremendous loss for the lesbian community." Sheila raised her hand to her eyes and started to fake cry and then laugh. "Damn, it's good to see you again." She said when she stopped laughing.
Meanwhile at the Robber, Maura, Frost and Korsak were finishing up dinner and on their second round of drinks. Maura missed Jane, but tried not to dwell on that. She was listening to the detectives stories, told a few of her own and just enjoyed their company. The time flew by. The Robber was crowded, so she barely noticed an hour later when Jane walked into the bar with a woman that looked very similar to her. Jane had her back to Maura, so she didn't see her or the guys and she and the strange woman grabbed a table in the middle of the bar. Jane held up her two fingers, her usual way of ordering her beer, and the waitress delivered two promptly. Maura had a good view of the woman Jane was with. She was attractive and dressed beautifully. This must be the friend that Jane mentioned earlier. She could see the two women laughing and having a good time. She had to admit to herself she was a little jealous. She always thought of the Robber has her and Jane's place and seeing Jane with another friend here upset her a little. Maura must have been starring too long because the woman started looking back at her. Maura saw her lean across the table, say something to Jane and then smile. Jane turned around looking confused, saw Maura, looked surprised and waved. Maura waved back.
"Wow, she's hot. Do you know her, Jane?" Sheila asked after pointing her out. Jane was surprised when she saw that Sheila was talking about Maura. Not because Maura wasn't hot, she was, but because Maura was off limits.
"Yeah, she is actually a good friend of mine. She is the M.E. for the Department." Jane said back casually.
"How good a friend, I mean are you interested in her? If not, do I have a shot? She is beautiful." Sheila smiled and stole another glance at Maura. Jane felt panicked.
"We are just friends, Sheila and Maura is straight as they come." Jane said, hoping to get Sheila to back off.
"Well, you can't fault a girl for trying. How about you go introduce us? Sheila added hopefully?
"Shit, she isn't going to let this go!" Jane thought. "Okay, come on." Both women got up and headed for the big booth that held Maura and the detectives. Jane couldn't take her eyes off Maura on the short walk over. "Hi, guys. This is my friend Sheila. Sheila this is Frost, Korsak and Maura." Sheila shook all of their hands and the group asked them to join them at the table. It didn't get past Jane that Sheila squeezed in front of her to sit on the bench next to Maura. So Jane took a seat on the opposite side of the table. Jane glanced at Sheila and she gave Jane a wink and a smile and turned to Maura.
"Maura, that is a beautiful dress you are wearing. Is it a Stella McCartney?
"Thank you, why, yes it is! I just picked it up last week at this adorable boutique near the courthouse." Maura was excitedly surprised.
"Well, it is stunning. I must have Jane take me there before I leave town." Sheila stated.
"Oh, Jane hates shopping. If you are around at lunch time tomorrow, I can take you there. You don't mind, do you, Jane? Maura smiled sweetly at Jane.
"Uh, of course not, have fun. Jane said feeling sick to her stomach. "Well, it's getting late and Sheila had a long day, so we better get going." Jane said trying to get Sheila away from Maura.
"Oh, no! You just got here, Jane." Maura said disappointed. Jane could see she was getting glassy-eyed. We were just getting to know Sheila."
"Well, you all can see more of her tomorrow. Don't worry. I need to get home and feed Jo. Maura, do you have a ride, you look a little lit?" Jane asked worried. Sheila couldn't help but notice the look of concern Jane had.
"I'm fine, Jane. Just a little tired. You're right. It has been a long day." Maura said sleepily.
"Well, let me drive you home. It will make me feel better. It is no problem. Sheila can follow in my car." Jane said with a smile.
"Jane, really I'm fine, but if you insist, sure." Maura was happy to spend a few more minutes with Jane and if she had to admit it, she was a little tipsy.