Jane leant with her arms folded against the stone wall outside the Boston Police Department building. He'd been in there for what seemed like forever and she was starting to get impatient. This was a big day for Frost and Jane couldn't help but feel nervous for her best friend. Ever since Horatio Homer had been appointed as a BPD officer last year, paving the way for African American cadets, Frost hadn't wanted to do anything else. Jane had encouraged him of course. He was a bright kid and quick to learn. He was also one of the kindest people she knew, other than perhaps Sergeant Korsak. She couldn't think of a better candidate for the police department…
Well, maybe that was a lie, she could think of one person. One person who wanted to be a part of that institution more than anyone else could ever imagine. Her eyes glazed over as she stared at the bronze plaque hung above the giant wooden doors. 'Sicut Patribus Sit Deus Nobis, Civitatis Regimine Donata AD 1822'. For the first time Jane wished she'd paid more attention in her Latin classes.
It didn't really matter though; women weren't allowed to carry the stick. She was just wasting her time on an idle fantasy.
With a scowl she kicked her heel back against the wall and cursed under her breath. What was taking so long? The butcher's boy was clearly eying her up from across the road and it was making her feel uncomfortable. She shot him a scathing look and he scampered back inside his shop.
Finally the familiar face of her friend appeared in the door way. Before he had a chance to make it down the steps Jane had pushed off from the wall and was striding to meet him.
"So?! How did it go?" she called, rubbing her hands together nervously.
Frost paused before a giant grin spread across his face and his eyes sparkled.
"I got it Jane."
Jane let out a whoop and pumped a fist in the air.
"Go Barry!" she shouted, punching him affectionately on the shoulder and the young boy smiled even more broadly.
"That's Officer Frost to you..."
With a grin, Jane shot back, "Shut up Frost. I should have known this would go straight to your head."
"And such a good looking head it is too…"
She shoved the laughing boy before running a hand through her unruly curls. "Well congratulations Frost, but I'm going home, the smugness here is unbearable."
She turned and started to stride off down the street. Frost quickly caught up and fell into step alongside her.
After a few moments he mumbled quietly, "You know… I couldn't have done it without you Jane." He tried to catch her gaze. "I know how much this means to you… and I know you wanted to be in there yourself. So I just wanted to say thanks. For helping me…" He trailed off as dark brown eyes met his.
"Don't mention it Frost," Jane replied gruffly, her face unreadable, "you'd have done the same for me."
Frost nodded seriously before a twinkle in his eye made Jane want to push him again.
"There's no need to get soppy about it..." Jane muttered; trying to ease the suddenly emotional turn the conversation had taken.
Frost said nothing, but continued to smile at his friend. He knew Jane understood and that he didn't need to say anything else.
For a while they walked in a companionable silence, but before long they struck up a conversation on the subject of baseball. Since the formation of the first major league, they'd been able to speak of little else. The fact that they'd met over a game of baseball only served to further fuel their passion for the sport. Jane had been loitering in the park, desperate to play with the local teams assembled there. Of course, no one had wanted a girl in their game. No one except Frost that was. He'd told her to join him and together they'd thrashed every other kid for twenty blocks. From then on they'd stuck together. They made an odd team, but a damn good one as far as Jane was concerned.
Before long, the pair turned into Beacon Street.
"You staying for dinner?" Jane asked, stopping outside the large whitewashed house. "The new tenants are coming some time tonight, so Ma will be going all out."
Frost rubbed his hands together, "You know I've never been able to say no to your mum's cannelloni."
"I hope she's made enough to fill that giant head you have..."
Frost laughed and swung the front door open casually. "Well I've gotta keep my strength up now. To protect and serve and all that." He proclaimed, bowing to Jane and motioning for her to pass through.
Jane rolled her eyes.
"I can't believe they gave you the job," she grinned, slipping past Frost into the hallway, "You're actually insufferable. Now if they'd met me…"
Frost snorted and pulled the door closed behind him. "Haha, oh they'd have loved your winning personality Jane."
This time Jane didn't resist the urge and shoved Frost towards the parlour.
"I can be charming… if I want to."
"Yeah well, I'm clearly just vastly superior to you." Frost winked at Jane and pushed open the parlour door.
Jane couldn't help but smile back, pushing a hand through her dark hair out of habit as she followed him into the room.
"Shut it Frost, you know I would have got it if I'd even had a…"
Her voice died in her throat as she noticed the unfamiliar woman standing in the corner of the room.
Jane had always felt slightly uncomfortable around other women, especially those with the grace and refinements she had never managed to adopt herself. Jane could tell from the immaculate way this woman was dressed and her perfectly styled hair that she was one of those high class ladies. Jane's eyes were drawn to her expensive dress, a pale pink (she hated pink, but this shade really wasn't so bad) which complemented her slim figure, accentuating her rosy complexion. Honey blonde curls were tucked back demurely; however a few had been loosened and fell down framing her face. She had an aristocratic nose, softened by the faint smattering of freckles across her cheeks. She was clutching a book so tightly her knuckles were white, and despite her faultless posture, she seemed to want to shrink back into the wall behind her. Her nervous hazel eyes were locked onto Jane's and seemed to be reading something there.
Jane realised with a jolt that this woman was very beautiful and was making her feel very nervous.
Frost coughed uncomfortably somewhere to her left and Jane snapped back into the present. Stepping slightly forward, she directed her winning Rizzoli smile towards the woman.
"Hi… sorry, we didn't know there would be anyone here… I'm Jane Rizzoli and this is my friend Barry," she said waving a hand in the boy's direction. Frost gave a toothy grin. "Uh, my Ma does the housekeeping here. I guess you must be the new tenant?"
With a little shake of her head, the woman seemed to come out of her trance and her perfect manners instantly took hold.
"I'm Maura, Maura Isles," she replied, returning Jane's smile; "It's a pleasure to meet you."
She stretched out her free hand and took a step forward. Instinctively Jane pulled her scarred hands behind her back and Maura stopped abruptly. Jane felt a surge of guilt as she saw the other woman's smile falter and the hurt flash behind her eyes.
A little O sound escaped Maura's lips before she clamped her mouth shut and pulled back her hand.
Before she could apologise, the kitchen door swung open, and Angela bustled in. Maura's mask drew back up and her smile returned, a little more forced than before. Jane cursed inwardly.
"Jane! You're back!" Angela called, setting her tray of drinks down on a nearby table, "I'm sorry Miss Isles, I didn't know what you wanted, so I hope coffee is okay?"
"Please, call me Maura," Maura replied, "And coffee is perfect, thank you Mrs Rizzoli."
"Oh, well then I insist on Angela." Angela beamed at Maura. "I see you've met my daughter. I hope she didn't startle you too much coming in… she has a habit of being rather noisy…"
"Maaa…" Jane moaned, her cheeks colouring.
"Barold! I didn't see you there! How did it go?" Angela said, turning to Frost.
Frost's grin nearly split his face in two as he replied, "I got it Mrs Rizzoli – they're taking me on as a Cadet."
Angela let out a squeal and wrapped Frost up in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh I knew you'd get it! A smart boy like you."
Jane saw Maura look away at the overly expressive show of affection, clearly uncomfortable. She embarrassedly cleared her throat.
"Uhh, Ma, shouldn't we leave Maura alone for a bit. She's probably had a long journey and she doesn't want to be subjected all our family stuff."
Angela looked a bit put off, but quickly agreed. "Yes, of course… sorry Miss Isles… Maura. Please, enjoy your coffee. Dinner won't be too long. Jane, Barry, why don't you come and help me in the kitchen?"
"Thank you Angela," Maura replied, picking up the cup of coffee and watching as Jane and Frost followed Angela out of the room.
"So what do you think?" Angela asked, turning to Jane as soon as the kitchen door had swung shut.
"Maaa… " Jane drawled.
"I think she seems lovely," Angela harrumphed, striding over to the fireplace, next to which her apron hung, "A little quiet maybe, but the poor girl is all alone in a new city." She pulled it off the hook and slipped it on over her head, expertly tying the strings behind her back. Picking up a box of eggs she turned back towards Jane. "She just needs a friend here, that's all." She said, staring into Jane's eyes meaningfully.
"I'd be her friend," Frost muttered to Jane and she shot him a look.
"What? She's hot Jane."
"Really Frost?"
"Who's hot?" Frankie panted, as he came into the room, red faced from carrying the last of Maura's luggage upstairs.
"Miss Isles," Frost replied in a low whisper.
Jane rolled her eyes.
"Oh Maura?" Frankie's face relaxed into a goofy grin, "Yeah… She's hot."
"Seriously, Frankie? You're both as bad as each other."
The two boys laughed conspiratorially and Jane had the sudden urge to bang their heads together.
"God, she's been here like ten minutes, treat her with a little respect," Jane snapped feeling inordinately protective. She was all too aware she'd already hurt Maura once today; she didn't need anyone else offending her.
Frankie put his hands up, "Woah, okay there Janie. No need to bite my head off."
"Yeah, sorry Jane," Frost said with a shrug of his shoulders, "We didn't mean anything by it."
"It's just… She's a real lady okay?" Jane said, trying to explain her outburst, "You shouldn't talk about her like that."
Frankie had the decency to look slightly abashed, before Jane continued, "She wouldn't want to date your sorry asses anyway."
Frost laughed and Frankie let out an indignant 'hey' as Jane jumped away from a joking punch thrown her way.
"If you're not all too busy gossiping over there, I could really use a hand with this dinner," Angela called, throwing a look over at the trio. It was a look that said she wasn't asking for their help, so much as telling… "I assume you're staying for dinner Barold?"
"If that's okay with you Mrs Rizzoli?" Frost replied, wandering over to the counter.
"Of course Barry, any time," Angela smiled. "Jane, why don't you go and show Maura up to her room? She might want to freshen up or unpack some things… And Frankie, come over here and chop these tomatoes for me."
Jane sighed but knew her mother was not to be argued with. Turning, she took a deep breath, and pushed back out into the parlour.