Chapter 2, Episode 1

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay?" Maura asked after I changed into her silk pajamas. "I can stay with you if you like."

"Dr. Isles, I'll be fine here, go to your room."

Maura reached out her hand to my neck and surveyed my fresh wound. " I think we need to redress this. The gauze doesn't look so antiseptic to me. It may be a source of infection later on and I wouldn't want that on my watch.," she said. With that she went out of the room and got some medical supplies of some sort.

She returned a few moments later carrying some cotton, alcohol, betadine solution, medical tape and some fresh dressings. She carefully took out the medical tape holding the gauze dressing against my minor wound. I see her eyes look at my wound and I felt she winced a little.

She took a piece of cotton and formed it into a ball and wet it with alcohol. Carefully she pressed it against my lower neck.

"Aww..that hurts!"

"Jane, this is just alcohol. I need to disinfect the area before I cover it again. Be still and let me finish."

She continued cleaning my wound, after my neck she took care of the wound brought about by the flare gun. I am trying not to show any pain. I feel my heart throb faster in Maura's nearness. Her face is just a few inches away from me. I can smell her shampoo or lotion, or whatever it is that she puts on before going to bed. My head is spinning. Is it anticipation?

"O God, that really hurts! What is it this time?", I asked after I feel a burning sensation near my chest.

"It's betadine solution, it will help with your wounds." Matter of factly she said. '"I do not think your wounds will scar though, everything looks superficial to me."

"Really? Gee, thanks, that's wonderful news doc." I sarcastically replied.

"Jane, it's good that you were able to think your way out of the situation you found yourself into."

"Well, I didn't really walk into it in the first place."

"How did you get in the van in the first place then?" she asked, with a look of concern in her eyes.

"I don't know, somehow I was not thinking. When the guy I thought was a police officer told me that I need to identify a 20 year old female, I just thought it was Marissa and felt that I need to make sure that it wasn't her,"

"Marissa?"

"She's my next door neighbor. She came to check on me when this whole fiasco started. I think I waked her up when I vacuumed my place in the wee hours of the night." I look at her and saw a glint in her eyes, but it was quickly gone.

"You must really care about her for not thinking about your actions. Hmm, well, I think we should go to sleep now. It's getting late. Big day tomorrow." Maura stood up and smiling, said. "Good night Jane. Get some sleep. You really need to rest."

"What happened to the offer to stay with me?" I asked, while fluttering my eyes.

Maura smiled showing her dimples and replied, 'I think you need the entire bed for tonight. Goodnight detective." And she left the room.

I wonder if I said something wrong to drive her away like that. Sometimes, I still do not get Maura. Is it because of our different upbringing? Heck, we are so different that sometimes I wonder how we get along for all those times that we've been together. Maybe she is right, I need to get some sleep and not over think it.

I woke up to the sound of my cellphone ringing. Despite everything that happened, satin sheets and silk pajamas lulled me to sleep.

"Ma, what is it?", I grumpily answered.

"Jane Rizzoli, would you mind telling me where in the world are you holed up? I just heard from Frankie what happened last night."

"Ma, I'm okay. I'm staying at Maura's. I will go back to my place in a while and fix it up." I answered still trying to clear the cobwebs in my mind.

"This would not have happened if you have someone to take care of you." My mother went on her general tirades about me being unable to find someone.

"Ma, I am not having this conversation with you early as it is in the morning. I'll call you later..bye." and I hurriedly shut my phone. I know she will be mad at me but I am not yet ready to have this discussion first thing in the morning.

I went to the bathroom and washed my face.

I went out of the room to find Maura already preparing breakfast.

"Hey, you are up early. Did you sleep well?" Maura was already made up and looks ready to go. "I made coffee and English breakfast."

"Wow, you are a fast worker bee." I said looking at the full menu ahead of me.

"Well, I figured you need all the energy from proteins and carbohydrates knowing that you will be taking the day off to clean your place. I will also ask for a time off to help you today." She smiled, and took a sip of coffee.

"Really, in that outfit?" And I gave her wardrobe a look over. She is wearing designer jeans with ruffled shirt and god knows how many inches of heel.

"Ahuh." As if it was her everyday clothes. Then her cellphone rings.

"Isles."

Something tells me, there goes my extra hand.

"Can't Yoshima fill in for me? Alright."

She looked at me as if she did something she doesn't want me to know. "I'm sorry Jane, but they found a floater. I'm needed at the precinct. They're bringing in the body now."

"Oh, no problem." I said. I shouldn't push my luck so far.

"Let's just finish breakfast. We have plenty of time."

"Really Maura, it's okay. If you need to go.."

"No, I want to see you eat Jane. As I said, you need the calories for the tasks ahead."

I ate my fill and we left together.

"I'll see you later Jane, bye" as she got in her car. I took Jo Friday to my car and Maura drove in her Lexus.

I arrived in my apartment, still in disarray. I was hoping that everything was a bad dream and when I come back everything will be in its proper place. But no.

I fed Jo her doggie biscuits and placed her in her doggie cage. I don't need a dog running around while I pick everything up. So many things to do. So may things to fix. They even slashed my paintings!

I took the vacuum cleaner and started to vacuum the pillow casings thrown around. Fortunately my bedroom was spared.

Two hours into what seemed to be an eternity of cleaning I heard a knock on my door.

Forced of habit that I took a peek on my peephole before I open my door. It was Marissa.

"Hey, come in".

"I heard what happened last night. I came in as soon as I got back from the library. Are you okay?" Marissa asked me while looking at the plasters in my neck and chest.

"Umm, I'm okay. Maura says the wounds are superficial."

She approached me and inspected my wounds although it was covered by the gauge that Maura placed last night. "Maura?" she asked.

"Ow, Dr. Isles, she is our Medical examiner at the precinct." I replied.

"I'm not doing anything right now, I could help you clean this place up." She said smiling at me. Why do I feel that I've seen that smile before?

"I wouldn't want to impose, I'll be fine here." I said, although another set of hands will be most welcome.

"No it's okay, I need distraction anyway from all my readings." She said and gave me a wider smile. And then, I remembered Lara Croft. They have the same lips and smile.

"Okay, if you insist, I could use an extra hand really."

She started picking up the pieces of the books and magazines thrown around last night. Fifteen minutes into our cleaning, I heard knocking on door again.

I opened it without checking who was it first.

"Jane, I came as soon as.." it was Maura. "oh..I didn't know you have company," looking at Marissa.

"Maura, hi. I.. this is Marissa she volunteered to help me clean up. Marissa, this is Dr. Isles, our medical examiner at the precinct." Why do I feel ackward all of a sudden?

"Hi Marissa. So, you are the one that Jane thought was in trouble last night." Maura looked at Marrisa and then she turned to me and gave me an eye.

"What? I wasn't into any trouble last night," Marissa replied, looking at me confused and bewildered.

"Well, it's a long story. Remind me to tell you about it some time,' I said to Marissa trying to smile my way out of the situation.

As if on cue, my mother appeared at the doorway. "Jane, I brought some cannelloni for you." Mother stopped on her tracks upon realizing that I have company. "Hey, I didn't know you are throwing a party today." Looking at Marissa, my mother scanned her from head to foot. Then she turned to Maura and gave her a wide smile. 'Dr. Isles, good to see you here. I brought some lunch for everyone."

For the first time in my life, I am thankful for my mother's presence.

Thank you for all you reviews! I am not a medical doctor so I am struggling to fill in Maura's point of view. I do not know if I will continue to develop this story but my original plan is to make one story per episode alternately in Jane's and Maura's point of view. That way I could have my rizzoli and isles fix until the next season. I also do not know where I could catch up on Maura's background. If someone would know a site where I could search, it would be very much appreciated. No infringement intended. I do not own the characters. This is for entertainment purposes only.