Learning to Co-Inhabit
Jane was making the bed when Maura called her from the bathroom. Jane threw the last pillows on the bed and hurried to the bathroom. That was Maura's irritated voice – again. Sufficient to say Maura was not her normal sunny self.
"Yeah?" Jane asked from the door.
"What is this?" Maura asked, pointing to the sock lying on the floor.
Jane rolled her eyes. "Geez, Maura. It is a very difficult question, but it looks like – I don't know? – a sock maybe?"
Maura closed her eyes, silently counting to 10. "Yes, Jane. A sock laying on the floor and not in the laundry basket it is supposed to be in."
Jane glared at Maura and decided not to start an argument. Therefore she obediently bent down, picked up the offending sock and placed it in the basket.
"Thank you." Maura walked out of the bathroom. "Jane!"
Jane rolled her eyes again, animatedly signalling at herself in the mirror. Unfortunately for her this silent tantrum took too long and Maura came to the bathroom to drag Jane to her latest offense.
"Are you making fun of me?" Maura demanded icily.
Jane jumped at being caught. There was no way that she could explain this behaviour, so she demurely folded her arms and tilted her head.
"No dear." She sighed and followed the Medical Examiner to the master bedroom.
"Do you call this bed made?" Maura asked disgustedly.
Jane adjusted to skew pillow. "Yes, I do."
"I should have known: If I wanted something done properly, I need to do it myself." Maura sneered and pulled the bedding of.
Jane wanted to interrupt, but her phone buzzed before she could think of something to calm her girlfriend down. A body was found and both ladies had to set differences aside to attend to the case.
It was one of those cases. One of the prime witnesses in a high profile case was shot between the eyes. None of the detectives believed that it was unrelated. Other witnesses were frightened and the pimp on trial was smug. Time was of the essence. Jane was chasing leads the next few days, with little time for sleeping, eating or anything else.
Jane made an effort to check in with Maura when she was able to do so. Like always she used Maura as a soundboard. If the Medical Examiner could be convinced, the evidence was airtight and would stand in any court. At work, things were still normal between them. They both made an effort to maintain professionalism at the head quarters.
When they finally cracked the case, arrests were made and the syndicate was broken, the detectives were sent home for some well deserved rest.
Jane headed over to Maura's house. It would still be a couple of hours before the Medical Examiner would be home, but Jane let herself in with her keys. She reached the couch, removed her boots and carelessly tossed them over her shoulder. She then stretched out on the couch and Jo jumped on her chest. Jane was well aware that she neglected the dog the last few days and she tried to make up by scratching her head. Within minutes both the dog and her owner was asleep.
Maura had to work later than usual. She was not in the best of moods by the time she got home. Seeing her girlfriend's boots hurled across the lounge did nothing to improve her mood. She shook Jane awake rather harshly. Jane nearly fell from the couch when she woke up abruptly.
"What the hell?" she asked startled.
"Your boots!" Maura said exasperated. "You are supposed to take them off at the door and leave the neatly in the coat cupboard. Not threw them around: it is not only creating disorder, but it is a safety hazard!"
Jane shook her head, still trying to wake up. With a yawn she stood to pick up her boots, bringing them back to the couch.
"The cupboard, Jane!" Maura scolded. "Is it really that difficult or am I being unreasonable?"
That was the final straw. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Jane demanded angrily.
"There is nothing wrong with me. You are the sloth! I am not your maid Jane Rizzoli."
"Do not give me that bullshit." Jane pointed a finger to Maura. "I always do everything you asked me to do. I try to take initiative. But nothing I do is good enough for you. What do you expect from me?"
"I expect you to behave like a decent human being." Maura's eyes were blazing. "This is a house, not a pig stile.
"Now I am not a decent human being." Jane sneered, throwing her hands in the air. "When I got here, Maura, I was tired to the bone. I have been working this case constantly for days. I know you are a cyborg, but really? Am I not allowed now to be tired now?"
"Jane, I fail to see how it can conserve more energy throwing your boots around than to remove and place them in the cupboard at the door. Besides, your bones can't be tired and there is no need to call me names."
Jane groaned loudly. "That is not point I am getting at, Maura. This whole argument could not wait until I've catch up on some rest? Is the boots really your highest priority now? It cannot cause a rebellion in your house and convince everything else to cause chaos."
Maura looked a bit ashamed. "Okay, maybe I have been a little harsh tonight."
"Only tonight? Maura, you have been in this mood for weeks. It never bothered you before. I am tempted to blame it on PMS, but seriously, PMS –"
"Keep this up Detective and you will be spending the night on the couch."
"The couch?" Jane asked incredulously. " I'll do one better, Doctor." Jane started putting her shoes on.
"What are you doing?" Maura demanded.
"I am going home!" Jane snarled. "Jo? Come here, girl."
"Why don't you want to stay here?" Maura asked.
"Really? I had enough of your abuse. I am tired and just want to regroup before playing your punching bag." Jane stood up aggressively. She picked up her dog and walked out, ignoring Maura trying to stop her totally.
Jane has not been to her department in weeks. It was in desperate need for some fresh air, but for the moment she just could not care. She brushed her teeth and fell on to her bed. Tired as she was, she was too wound up going to sleep. She thought about Maura.
Jane honestly did not mind a bit of disorder. It looked natural to her, a bit homier. She was not really a full on slouch, but could live with things less than perfect. It was after all not a military camp. Maura was a perfectionist in every way, including her home. It was tiring. Yet, that is who Maura was and Jane loved her regardless. Jane was however the less than perfect girlfriend. She could try to be neater; it was not like Maura expected her to clean the tiles with a toothbrush. She can pick up after herself a bit more and learn how to make the bed with a ruler.
Jane gave up after a few hours. Although a break from Maura's ranting on cleanliness is welcome, staying in her apartment is not resolving anything. She would give in tonight and see if they can work on a resolution tomorrow.
So Jane changed in to more comfortable clothes, gathered her dog and went back to Maura's house. All the lights were already out, indicating that the doctor was already in the bed. Jane let herself in, placing her boots in the cupboard this time. She smirked when she noticed the wine glass on the counter. Obviously Maura was also pretty upset if she was turning into a sloth herself. Jane rinsed the glass and placed it in the drying rack. She wiped the excess water from the sink.
She heard no movement from upstairs. Maura was either asleep or she was ignoring Jane. Jane grimaced. She had been banned to the couch earlier, so she stretched herself out on the couch again. She fell asleep as she closed her eyes.
That was how Maura found her as she came down the next morning to put on the coffee. The Medical Examiner's heart grew warm as she saw her lanky girlfriend sprawled on the couch. Maura knew that the detective was tired, yet she came back last night. She quietly started the coffee, took out the ingredients for Jane's favourite breakfast before heading for the shower.
Jane was still asleep when she returned, despite the aroma of the coffee lingering in the air. Maura poured them some coffee and went over to the couch. She placed each mug on a coaster and then sat next to Jane on the wide couch. She stared at Jane for while and then covered her face with kisses to wake her up.
Jane smiled slowly. "I can get used to waking up like this." She mumbled and opened her eyes. Maura smiled at her and then leaned in to kiss her properly.
"Good Morning, Baby. I brought coffee."
Jane sat up and rubbed her face to become more alert. She silently took her coffee from Maura and sipped from it.
"Maura, I am sorry."
Maura put her hand on Jane's hipbone, stopping the rambling that Jane was on the verge to begin.
"I am sorry too, Jane. I have been intolerant and unnecessary critical." She said softly.
"I can . . . I will pick up after myself. That is not unreasonable." Jane offered.
Maura leant in to kiss her again. "Thank you, Honey. I will stop criticizing the efforts that you made. I want you to be happy here, I want you to make this your home."
"Dr. Isles!" Jane said with mocked shock. "Is this your way of asking me to move in?"
That earned her a shove. "Maybe, Detective Rizzoli – if we can figure out a way to co-inhabit without killing each other."
That made Jane chuckled and for a moment she put her head on Maura's shoulder.
"I need a shower."
"I will make breakfast." Maura stood up that Jane can get up.
Jane stretched a bit and then arranged the couch's cushions orderly again before leaving. Maura looked after her affectionately. She resisted the urge to correct one of the cushions and started with the bacon.
AN: There is a reason I live alone, no person in their right minds would like to live with me. The basic idea is to focus on the small irritations that could get the other partner – even (or especially) a gentle partner – agitated. It is about compromise, from both sides. I hope I portrayed it correctly.
