A/N: I don't even know where this came from, but Jane would make a good Bond don't you think? Hope you enjoy! If you'd like me to continue, reviews would be much appreciated.
Disclaimer - I don't own any of the characters. I don't own Rizzoli and Isles or the James Bond series. These are just my ideas and words.
The air was thick with cloying heat and a lingering fog of cigar smoke. Despite the hazy cloud emitted from the cigars, the lights were bright and yellow tinged. The bulbs were enveloped in large circular chandelier frames that had an art deco edge, they were both curious and unappealing at the same time. Jane leaned back against the marble-top bar and flippantly observed the juvenile drunk behavior of the socialites and businessmen scattered amongst the room. In a sober state their riches and grand display's were something to be seen, however after a few too many cocktails they had become far less impressive and their presence had dwindled down to that which would be seen in any old dirty bar.
Jane wasn't born from this lifestyle, yet found of late that a significantly greater portion of her time was spent amongst these people. She had learned to fit in, to blend seamlessly into the crowd. In their eyes, she was one of them, however unaware they were that she had been hired to be there. She was an intelligence officer in the Secret Intelligence Service; Jane Rizzoli, codename Jane Bond, code number 226. She had been specifically picked for this job for two reasons, firstly she was incredibly beautiful with long dark curls that cascaded delicately down her back, a lean, thin frame and deeply intoxicating eyes almost as richly brown as her hair. It wouldn't be hard, with looks like that, to fool people into believing she was the wife of an entrepreneur or the daughter of a model and a businessman. Secondly, as a woman she was unassuming. Who would suspect that of all in the room she would be the one to be a secret agent?
She pushed past a handful of rowdy gentlemen who tried to catch her attention and made her way over towards the heart of the casino. Men were chuffing through roulette and poker, their women placed loyally at their side. Jane forced a smile and successfully managed not to roll her eyes at the naive doting wives, girlfriends and mistresses who to Jane seemed almost more pathetic than the men they were with.
She straightened her floor-length, rippling black velvet dress and sat at the only empty spot at a blackjack table. The man across from her, Monsieur Dean, was her target for tonight. He too had once been an intelligence officer in Italy, however he had crossed the government by becoming a double-agent and selling political and economical secrets to the Russians. After spending two years in federal prison, he had been successful in appeal. A lack of substantial evidence set him free. He had spent the last five years dealing in underground drug rinks and brothels, supported by his personal ties to Russian mobsters. Jane knew his act, all his tricks and his way. She had spent months studying him and now here they were, sitting across from one another in a French casino. She was there to beat him, to publicly disgrace him in front of clients and potential investors. Blackjack was her game.
He smiled at her, the corners of his lips upturning so grotesquely that it was hard for Jane not to look away. The woman to his left glared at Jane, obviously intimidated by her appearance and astonishing confidence. Monsieur Dean had already made over a million within the past hour, he played well but with arrogance. His poker face was sly and easy enough for Jane to read, she soon knew what every slight facial twitch meant for his game. She played with coolness, face deadpan bar a slight flicker of devilish excitement within her eyes whenever the game was called in her favor. It didn't take her long to surpass Monsieur Dean and garner three million. She had won. Surprisingly to Jane, Monsieur Dean did not take to losing as she would have expected. Yes, he had clearly been embarrassed but rather then turning cold or fleeing, he abandoned his henchmen and the woman at his side to introduce himself to Jane. He found himself fascinated by her, she was truly an enigma. A woman who could play as a man.
"Enchanté Mademoiselle, congratulations on a fine game. Gabriel Dean, pleased to make the acquaintance of someone with skills even more honed that my own." His voice was throaty from years of cigar smoking and alcohol abuse, and as he took Jane's hand and bowed slightly, she noted the strain on his face from an apparently dormant back injury. He smiled sickly as she instinctively pulled her hand away from his to release his grasp.
"Bond, Jane Bond" she nodded a polite response.
"Well Jane Bond, I wonder if by chance you would be interested in accompanying me to a gathering at Le Simeon's villa later this evening? I'm certain that many there would be just as impressed as I with your blackjack talent."
"Thank you for the offer, Monsieur" she exaggeratedly fluttered her eyelashes "However, I am unable. Perhaps I shall see you soon though. I often dwell in casino's waiting to make my mark on unsuspecting players"
"And tonight I joined them. I see, Mademoiselle Bond. Have a good evening, I certainly do hope I will have the pleasure of seeing you again one day soon". He kissed her hand, his lips were stone dry against her skin. She hated having to pretend to flirt with men such as him, it took all of her effort not to gag at his touch.
She watched as he turned away from her and left the room, his henchmen and woman following close behind. She had succeeded in embarrassing him and in removing him from the casino. She felt safe in the knowledge that at least for tonight, none of the other morally corrupt souls within the building would risk investing or partnering with him. He had been beaten in his self-proclaimed best game after all, and by a woman no less. She knew that information would travel fast amongst the gossipy whispers of the bored surrounding women to their husbands who would then share it with other businessmen they associated with. It would be a fast intensifying ripple effect which would significantly damage Gabriel Dean's reputation. She wondered how Le Simeon would react when he found out, Jane guessed that he would not be impressed to be hosting a loser within his house.
She smiled to herself, feeling satisfied in completing her task. There were still of course many more corrupt men for her to deal with, many much worse than Dean, however she felt they could wait until tomorrow. Tonight she would have a small dose of freedom. She sauntered back over the bar, decided on having a martini before departing the casino in search of somewhere more her style. Dozens of eyes followed her as she made her way over, assessing the beautiful strange girl who nobody knew.
"Dry martini on the rocks, shaken not stirred"
Jane leant back against the bar, drink in hand, resuming her earlier position. She was finishing her drink when she walked in. A woman, in a shimmering royal blue dress. With hair the color of soft caramel and piercing green eyes, she was a vision. Jane found her appearance thrilling and realized that she had forgotten in those moments to breathe. Her presence was simultaneously intense and delicate. She was artfully composed, yet moved gracefully throughout the room. Jane had never felt so drawn to a person, let alone one she was yet to meet. As the mystery woman departed her entourage and made her way over towards Jane and the bar, Jane felt her knees weaken and was forced to steady herself against a lonely bar-stool.
Within seconds the woman was beside Jane, who could not help noticing that she was even more beautiful in closer proximity. She smelled of gardenia and white exotic florals. She was devastatingly feminine yet incredibly assured. Jane was instantly infatuated by the woman who was studying the drinks list with peculiarity.
"Try one of the martini's" Jane spoke considerately, leaning over to guide the woman to their location within the drinks list.
"Thank you, I shall. Dry martini on the rocks, please..." She was pleasant, well spoken with excellent elocution. Her voice was steady yet soft and creamy like thick honey. She was definitely an American, like Jane, yet she was far more pronounced with a slight European flair.
"Shaken, not stirred" Jane finished, the bartender nodded in understanding "It's much smoother" she said, turning back to face the smiling woman.
"Maura Isles" she said, extending her hand.
"Jane Ri...Bond, Jane Bond..." she replied, correcting herself as she almost divulged her true name, gently taking Maura's hand and shaking twice. She couldn't help but notice that both of their hands lingered a second longer than necessary. Maura politely ignored Jane's stumble of words, ending their handshake to pick up the martini now waiting on the bar for her.
"What brings you here, Mademoiselle Isles?" Jane smiled, taking the last sip of her own martini.
"Just Maura, please. My family..." she gestured towards the group of people she had separated from who were now engrossed in roulette "...are here for business. I had nothing better to do on a Friday evening, so I decided to accompany them. Little did I realize that their destination would be casino, and I am not too interested in gambling. How did you come to be here, Jane?", she paused, "I hope you don't mind that I, in return, call you Jane?"
"That suits me perfectly, Maura. Similarly to your family, I came for business, however that is done now and I do not care for gambling either"
"Do you know the city of Paris well, Jane? Perhaps there is somewhere more suitable for us to speak, rather than a place where we are both clearly uncomfortable?" Maura face was warm and her tone inviting. Jane's heart beat quickly, but she managed to keep a calm demeanor.
"I do know of a bar not far from here, it is dark and small but the drinks are good and it is almost entirely deserted"
"Let's go" Maura replied assertively, completely sure in her choice. She detested casino's, they had always felt tacky to her, and through experience she had learned that often the people who frequented them were sly and venomous. She hoped that she wasn't wrong in her judgement of Jane not being one of those people. She found the brunette incredibly attractive, not only in her appearance but in her presence also. She seemed to instinctively control and dominate the room, without being aware of it. And her appearance, well, she was towering with slender legs that extended far beyond her own, and a frame that was slightly less womanly than Maura's however still retained a grace and feminine elegance. Jane's face reminded Maura of those within great classical portraits such as Leonardo Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa' and Raphael's 'La Velata', although she did not entirely resemble them, to Maura it seemed as if her face were worthy of existing within art amongst them.
Maura finished her martini within two large gulps, complimented Jane on her suggestion of the drink, and followed her out of the casino towards the valet. She felt completely at ease with Jane, she didn't deem it necessary to tell her family that she would be leaving as she doubted they would notice, and she felt that she could trust Jane. She couldn't explain it but as she slid into the limousine beside Jane, she felt both excitement and complete comfort, and it were as if they had known each other not for a few minutes, but a few lifetime's.