Authors Note:
All characters are not mine. No infringement intended. No commercial value.
Maura left the morgue early to drop by Whole Foods to stock on tofu chips, kale chips, nuts and organic popcorn. She also needed to stock up on her organic vegetable that Jane is slowly taking part of. After the Red Sox won the qualifying game that entitled it to enter the World Series, Jane has been excited like a child in a candy store. Everything revolved around the Red Sox' would be game schedule. Maura knows Jane wanted to catch the games live and not some dvred version. Korsak once jokingly said that he would offer a peace pact with the gangs to ensure a crime free season to ensure a no-call-in the-middle-of-game- watching-spree. The first game was due today, and the group agreed to watch it at Maura's place for her wide screen tv and all the couch space.
Maura was on the organic beer section when her phone rang a familiar tune. It's Jane.
"Don't even think of getting organic beer."
"How did you know what I am going to get?" Maura smiled to her phone and turned her head hoping that Jane will be somehow just behind her or at the end of the aisle.
"Your assistant told me you left already. Figured you would be all mother hen and prepare for later. Listen, I will bring dinner later, don't worry about it."
"But Jane, I am capable of preparing food for a party of five, its still early. You know how I doubt your nutrition value appreciation"
"My what? Listen doctor smarty-pants, it's the first game of the World Series and I would like to eat the food that I should be eating as if I am there at Fenway. No buts, okay?"
"Okay." Maura relented, smiled and walked away from the organic beer section. "Whatever you say Jane. What time do I expect you guys to be at home?" Maura caught herself saying "home" instead of "my house", somehow, there is a conjugal feel to it, as if she shared it with Jane.
"Will be probably be there around seven, Frost and I have a lead to check with that latest floater. See you later, kay?"
Maura pushed the end button and made her way to the check out counter. She decided to leave the place and go to another store that will have the regular beer for the boys.
Since Casey left for Afghanistan, Jane has not yet talked to her about Casey's offer. All she knows is that Casey asked Jane to marry him or he will go back to enlist. Casey has gone back to Afghanistan; does it mean that Jane turned down his proposal? But Maura also knows that they still keep in touch via Skype. She doesn't want to ask, although the uncertainty of the information leaves her so much discomfort in not knowing. Maura felt her world went out of axis when Jane told her about Casey's offer of marriage. She didn't know how she handled herself when Jane told her that day in the nursing home. She must have been so good at hiding her true emotions that Jane never noticed the change in her eyes at the announcement. However, ever since Casey went back, Jane never discussed the matter and it appeared to her that the lanky detective had pushed the matter to the back burner. Jane still goes on her day-to-day activities as if nothing is bothering her. They still spend as much time together as they did then. There was no disruption in their routine. Friday nights are spent at the Robber or at her place, watching movies or any Sport Center special that was dvred. Sunday nights are for dinners in her place, with Angela manning her kitchen and Jane and her brothers tasked to clean up afterwards. Maura felt like everything was back to normal, and she dread the day that that routine will be once again disrupted out of its regularity. After years of being alone, Maura felt that she somehow belonged. Belonged to whom? Was she really that deprived as a child that she longed to have a sense of belongingness to family? Or to someone? She had accepted the fact that she is different, that no one could understand her. That she is destined to be alone. However, since Jane offered her friendship and let her into the detective's family, her sense of isolation had been completely set aside.
Maura entered the house bringing with her the stuff she got from the stores. Aside for the chips and dips, she made a stop at a liquor store to stock her Sub Zero with beers and sodas. Angela was already in her kitchen, fussing about making dinner. Angela noticed Maura with her loot and hurriedly left the counter to help Maura
"Hello dear, Jane told me that the boys will be watching the first game here tonight. I was hoping to prepare dinner you'll never know how hungry these kids could be!" Angela was already giddy with the excitement of having the boys over.
Angela took the beers and soda and placed them inside the Sub Zero. Angela noticed that the refrigerator is still stocked with Jane's beer but decided to forego telling Maura that she still have a few bottles left. Angela knows how the doctor is very fond of Jane and she somehow wishes that Jane would just open her eyes and see Maura's efforts.
Maura took the chips and dips to the island counter and arranged the stocks. She will later place them in those plastic containers that she bought for the purpose. She discovered too late that with the boisterous rough housing of the Rizzoli clan require food containers made of tougher materials.
"Jane called to say that she would be bringing dinner."
Angela smirked, "Honey, you know that Jane will just bring here a cardboard box with pizza in it. I better start preparing something. You want me to do that Italian salad that you are so fond of?"
"Thank you, but I really could do it myself Angela. I'll just freshen up a bit."
Maura went to her bedroom and decided to get a quick shower before helping Angela in the kitchen. She is also excited with the prospect of an informal gathering at her place in the middle of a workweek.
Jane arrived carrying two boxes of pizza and a whole bucket of fried chicken.
"See what I told you?" Angela asked Maura while getting the boxes from Jane.
"Told her what?" Jane asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I told her that your concept of dinner is one inside a cardboard box."
"I disagree, pizza is a complete meal and healthy too. As a matter of fact, I ordered half with the mushroom toppings as Maura likes." Jane was already on her way to the fridge to get a beer.
Maura smiled as she heard that Jane ordered her favorite pizza topping although she knows Jane detest anything that has to do with the fungus family.
"We also prepared some Italian salad and Angela made some mac and cheese."
"Sounds like a party to me" Jane quipped while drinking her beer from the bottle.
The doorbell rings, which Jane hurriedly answered while it signaled Maura and Angela to prepare the table.
Frost and Korsak made their way to the dining room and pleasantries were exchanged. Korsak thanked Maura for opening up her house for their viewing pleasure and Angela for feeding them something other than fast food.
Maura was feeling ecstatic while picking her greens and eating her pizza which Jane brought from outside. Some minutes passed before Frankie arrived and a new space at the table was created.
The conversation was free flowing with the main topic of wanting the Sox to sweep the series and have the final game played at Fenway. Through all the banters, Maura was just observing Jane and her childish excitement around her favorite baseball team. Angela, for her part, was watching Maura steal those glances at Jane. She wonders how Jane could be so oblivious to everything the doctor has been doing for her daughter.
The group then transferred to Maura's living room when the games broadcast started. Maura stayed in the kitchen to help Angela clean up, but Angela insisted that Maura should join the group in watching the game.
Before going to the living room, Maura prepared the organic popcorn and the chips she bought earlier. She then set them down in the center table while the boys were already discussing the starting line up for the Sox. Jane got up and went to the kitchen to get some more beers where she found Angela clearing up. Jane also picked up a bottle of fruit juice knowing Maura wouldn't like beer and wine doesn't seem to be an appropriate beverage while watching a baseball game.
"Ma, leave that I'll do that later after the game."
"Are you staying the night?"
"Probably, I think the game will take at least more than two hours to finish. I can stay in the guest room I guess. I'll just go to my apartment early morning tomorrow for a change of clothes."
"Oh, okay. I'll just clear these things and place everything in the dishwasher. You can finish up later. I think I'll forego the game, I have an early morning assignment for Stanley."
"Okay Ma, I'll clean up later. See you tomorrow."
Angela left and let Jane finish the work. She knew the night will drag on knowing the game will get the boys and Jane too excited to settle down.
Jane went back to the living room and sat next to Maura. Jane gave Maura the bottle of fruit juice that Maura took appreciatively. As the game went on, the Angela could hear the group's collective shouts of disappointments and excitement and wondered how Maura could tolerate the boisterous behavior. Angela knows that Jane is surely a special friend to Maura to endure such abuse.
On the third inning, Jane's phone started to ring. Maura waited for her own cellphone to ring, but it remained silent.
"Hey, quite that thing out." Frankie shouted towards Jane.
"Do we have a body?"
Jane glanced at her phone's screen and saw that it was Casey, wanting to Skype. Jane placed the ringer on silent to give in to Frankie's request?
"There. Happy now?" Jane took her phone and placed it on the table.
Maura saw a glimpse of the phone's screen and saw Casey's name flashing across it. The ringing phone was later forgotten.
After the game, Frost, Frankie and Korsak said their good byes. The guys were so happy since the Sox' won the first game of the series. Plans were made to converge at Maura's the next day for game 2. Jane tried to talk Maura out of it, but the doctor simply shut her down and told the group to be there at exactly the same time.
Jane stayed behind to help Maura clean up.
"Are you staying?" the doctor asked.
"Figured I should clean up being the ring leader of this shenanigan." Jane replied while staring to clear the table of the empty beer bottles.
Maura took the serving plates and moved toward the kitchen. She wanted to ask Jane why she didn't answer Casey's call but wouldn't know how to start.
"Was it Casey who called earlier?" the doctor finally asked.
Jane shut the dishwasher's door and fiddled with the controls before looking at Maura.
'Yeah, I don't feel like talking to him. Not yet anyway, he should know that it is Game night."
"Jane, that is.. that is.."
"That is, what? I just don't know how I feel towards him right now."
"Meaning?"
"I still don't have an answer to his proposal. Somehow, I don't know if we really, really fit. You know what I mean? The one day he shows up in my apartment, he cleaned up the place."
Maura opened her mouth to reply but Jane cut her off.
"I mean, he even did my laundry and cleaned the refrigerator for Christ's sake!"
"Don't you want someone as thoughtful and helpful as Casey?"
"Maura, if I'd wanted a wife, I'd have asked you." Jane smirked.
Maura was caught completely off guard by Jane's statement. Her heart started beating faster, and she felt her throat dry. She had to wet her lips before speaking.
"Well, why didn't you?"
"Because… I wasn't your type. Remember?"
"Because you're bossy?" Maura replied but the thumping in her heart wants her to say other things.
"I'm bossy? I was the one who cleared the plates and turned on the dishwasher." And Jane chuckled. "We should go to bed, we need to be early for tomorrow."