A/N: WOW! We are so overwhelmed by the love this story has received in just 24 hours! We decided to post the next chapter now because we love you all so much! From now on, we will be doing weekly postings on Friday nights.
Please let us know what you think of this chapter in the reviews! This one gets a tad angsty, and you find out why Jane and Maura have strayed from each other! *dun dun dunnnn*
Happy reading!
DISCLAIMER: Nope. Still don't own them. Damn.
Maura threw the orange slice down on her plate, grabbed her clutch and fled the room as quickly as her six month pregnant self could muster. She heard the tell tale click of heels growing closer and closer until Jane Rizzoli stood in front of her, wild hair and wild-eyed.
"How- what- with- HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?" Jane stammered, her eyes unmoving from Maura's pregnant form.
"Eloquent as always," Maura replied breezily. "In need of an anatomy lesson, are we?" Maura flipped her hair over her shoulder, slowly advancing on Jane.
But Jane stood her ground. Instinctively, her left hand shot out to Maura's stomach. As she felt the hardness of her belly, her eyes flickered up to meet Maura's. She was eternally grateful to all things holy that Maura didn't pull away or move out of her reach. Instead, hazel eyes softened and Maura's hand came to rest over Jane's.
Jane opened her mouth several times before she finally squeaked out, "With who?" Jane hated how desperate that sounded.
Maura's eyes flashed with anger. "You have NO right to ask me that, Jane Rizzoli. You-" her voice broke as she carried on. "You left me. You left me all alone. You walked out on me. You refused to take my calls. Our friendship could have withstood a one night stand but it couldn't withstand your stubborn refusal to talk to me about it. You have no right to know what is going on in my life anymore. No. Right." Maura pushed past Jane, tears streaming down her face.
Jane winced, feeling physical pain in reaction to Maura pushing her away. She grabbed Maura by her arm and stopped her. "Maur, please-"
Maura jerked her arm away from Jane, and stopped Jane dead in her tracks with one look. "Do not 'Maur please' me, Jane. I have thought a million times over what I would do or say when I saw you again. How many times I wanted to disregard your attempts to cut me out of your life. But now that you're standing in front of me, I can't even stand to look at you. All those years," Maura choked back a sob, "Those years I spent loving you, the years you loved me back, to be treated that way. I deserved better than that, Jane." Maura straightened and squared her shoulders, but not before she met Jane's gaze.
What Maura saw reflected in Jane's eyes almost gave her pause. Sadness, anger, and so many other emotions were written on her face, but not one was strong enough to forgive Jane for leaving her alone that morning. Maura spun on her heel and exited the venue, leaving Jane Rizzoli standing all alone, tears streaming down her face.
Jane sat staring out the window at the beautiful Boston sky, holding a beer bottle, pouting and nursing a wounded ego. Frankie stepped up beside her, offering her another beer, which she gratefully accepted.
"I'm not trying to pry, Janie, but I'm guessing that whatever happened with Maura didn't turn out so well?"
Jane responded with her signature glare, but Frankie was undeterred. "You could say that," she responded tersely.
"C'mon Janie, it's me. You have to talk to someone, and you and Maura are- well..." Frankie trailed off.
"Maura and I aren't friends anymore?" Jane finished his sentence for him, and Frankie's heart broke a little hearing how small it made her sound.
"Look, I don't know what happened but I do know that I love you and I love Maura, and I would do anything to help you mend that fence. Any fool can see how much you've missed her. And I know she misses you. Hell, she basically took a month off when you moved to Virginia," he offered. "I didn't think we were going to convince her to come back at all."
Jane's head shot up. "What? She was going to resign?" Jane asked incredulously.
Frankie nodded, taking a long draw of his beer. "Said she thought of packing up and leaving Boston all together, but couldn't quite bring herself to go through with it. Jane, you know nothing would ever change between us, but I have to ask you something and I don't want you to get mad, okay?" Frankie was staring a hole through Jane.
She sighed audibly. "Yes." Frankie opened his mouth, but Jane responded with another, "yes, Frankie. God, you don't have to ask it."
"Are... were you ashamed to tell us? Were you afraid we wouldn't support you?" Frankie asked and Jane swallowed. Her throat suddenly felt dry and restricted, and Frankie could tell she was taking very labored breaths. His warm hand on her clammy shoulder drew her back into reality.
Jane glanced over at him, tears filled her eyes and one lonesome traitor spilled over and slipped down her cheek. "I- I'm not… I'm not gay, Frankie." She whispered. "There's never been someone, another woman, like Maura. But I'm not gay," she added.
Frankie let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Is this what all of this is about? You aren't gay but you love Maura?" Jane nodded meekly.
Frankie shoved his hands in his pockets and shook his head from side to side in disgust. "I can't believe you would- why would you even care? Is this about what other people think?" Frankie raised his voice a little, garnering the attention of Nina and Korsak.
Korsak approached quietly, motioning to Frankie to keep it down. Frankie lowered his voice, "Jane, I have spent my whole life looking up to you. You're one of the bravest people I know in this world. I can't believe that you would let something keep you from being happy. It just doesn't make any sense."
"You don't think I know that? You don't think I spend every damn day well aware of the fact that I fucked up? Lost the only person I've ever truly loved, that has ever loved me back?" Jane's hands drew into fists.
Frankie and Jane were in a staring contest of sorts when Korsak cleared his throat. "Jane, it's a beautiful night, let's take a walk." Korsak winked at Frankie who threw his hands up and walked away.
Korsak stole a glance at Jane as they walked down the long corridor, surrounded by ceiling-to-floor windows. They walked in silence for a few minutes until Korsak led them to a padded bench. Jane slipped the heels from her feet and groaned at the dull ache in her arch. How Maura wore these damn things every day, she'd never understand.
"It's been different since you left, Jane," Korsak began. Jane blew a curl out of her eye, her palm holding her chin up.
"It's been hard on me, too, Vince," She threw back. He nodded in agreement, but continued.
"Well, see… that was your choice. I have Kiki. Your Mom has Ron. Frankie has Nina. But Maura, well, she's been alone. And from the minute information she's given me, that isn't her choice. At all. It's hard to navigate this world alone, even for the strongest person. We weren't made to exist by ourselves." Korsak always had a way of putting her in her place without making her feel defensive.
"I know it isn't my business, but what happened tonight kind of made it everyone's business, you understand?" Korsak implored, and Jane hung her head in shame.
"Yes, I know it did," she relented. "I want to tell someone. I'm- I knew, I know- it would kill my Ma. She wanted this perfect man for me, the wedding she could tell all her friends about, and most importantly, grandchildren. How was I..." Jane broke off, looking back toward the reception venue.
Korsak sat in silence for a few moments, and when it was clear she wasn't going to continue, he offered his final advice. "The way I see it, is that your Ma found the perfect man, had a beautiful wedding, and not only does she have TJ, but Frankie and Nina's kiddo soon too. See how that all played out? Everyone else has chose happiness, Jane. That's what it is, a choice. You loving Maura had no impact on anyone else's romantic relationships. But it was your refusal to admit to it that has ruined so many friendships," Korsak patted Jane on the back.
Jane took her rental keys out of her clutch. "I can't be here anymore, Korsak. I need to be alone."
Vince shook his head. "When are you going to stop running, Jane? We all love you for who you are, you just haven't accepted yourself. That is something that no one can do for you." Korsak got up at that and walked back to the venue.
After having returned to the city where she grew up to be surrounded by all her family and friends again, Jane Rizzoli had never felt more alone.
Comments, suggestions, REVIEWS please!
-R&K (:
