Jane's eyes float from Maura's face down to the doctor's hands, which are uncharacteristically restless tonight. She reaches her hand out to still Maura's fingers, afraid that if she lets her fidget anymore, she's going to cause irreparable damage to a cuticle.
"Hey," her voice is soft as she lowers her head, trying to goad Maura into looking her in the eyes. It's the same gentle timbre she reserves for the interrogation room when she has the difficult task of interviewing a traumatized child. "Maur…it's going to be alright." She gives the doctor's hand a compassionate squeeze and smiles at the smaller woman, a crinkle creasing the corner of her eyes as she tries to reassure her friend.
Maura takes a breath and tries to relax. Her hands still under the weight of Jane's fingers, but the nervous energy just travels north to her mouth, where she unconsciously chews on her lower lip.
Jane's eyes instinctively flick down to the doctor's lips for an instance before she snaps her gaze back up to the troublesome hazel eyes trained in on her.
"Jane, what am I going to say to her?" The words are rushed and the pitch is too high. This woman, who is normally so composed, even when face-to-face with a serial killer, is starting to crumble right before Jane's eyes at the prospect of meeting her biological twin.
"Sweetie, it will be fine." The detective tries to stave off the inevitable panic attack that Maura is on the verge of having if she doesn't start to calm down soon. And she'll be damned if she's going to let that happen on her watch.
So much is riding on this meeting. It appears as though Anna maybe the one bright light left on Maura's biological family tree, untainted by the Doyle family heritage that has stained the other members of her family.
Each time a piece of the family puzzle has been revealed to Maura in the past, she's been let down: Her father, Patrick Doyle, is a mob boss. Her mother, Hope, brushes into her life long enough to ask for and receive her kidney for Cailin. And what thanks does she get for that? They hadn't so much as contacted her to see if she was doing okay after the surgery.
It pisses Jane off how poorly Maura has been treated by her biological family. She can't help but be a little skeptical of this sister, too. She's always been protective of Maura. Deep down she was glad when Maura had asked her to accompany her to this meeting.
Maura slides her hands out from under Jane's and rubs at her temples, trying to relieve some of the stress.
"Thank you so much for coming with me, Jane." She garners up enough energy for a small smile. She takes a small sip from the glass of wine on the table. She promised herself earlier that she would only have enough to take the edge off her nerves. She pushes the wine glass across the table to where Jane's beer sits, untouched. She silently slips her hands back under Jane's on the top of the table.
She smiles again at the warmth she finds in Jane's touch.
"Anything you need, Maur. You know that." Jane nods, happy that Maura entrusts her. "Did you let her know that I would be here with you?
"Yes. I texted her to let her know that you would be here, as well." Maura starts to turn towards the front door of The Dirty Robber when she hears the hinges creak, signaling someone's entrance. At the last moment she turns back around to look at Jane, panic clearly visible in her eyes.
"You look. I can't…I'm too nervous." She shakes her head, golden locks flipping around her shoulders.
Jane grins. It's cute, how anxious the medical examiner is about meeting her sister.
Jane cranes her neck to look around Maura and notices as two men make their way through the door.
"False alarm." She takes a small sip of her beer and places it back on the table next to the doctor's wine glass.
A thought strikes her, "Hey…how am I going to know it's her? I mean…is she going to look just like you?"
Maura cocks her head in thought, "I have no idea if we are identical or fraternal twins. I suppose we could look nothing like each other." She taps her lips as she thinks, "But I don't think we'll have any problem figuring out who she is. I told her it was quite possible that we would be the only two women at a table in here." Maura looks around the establishment. Even though they had attempted to make it into an organic restaurant, it was still predominantly a cop bar, filled with single men commiserating over the work day. Usually Jane and Maura were the only women in the place on a weeknight.
The door opens again and Maura stiffens. Jane looks, sees an off-duty uniform enter and shakes her head at the doctor. Maura leans back into her chair, relieved.
Jane taps her fingers on the back of Maura's hand, "Hey, what are you so nervous about, anyway? She can't be any worse than any other member of your family."
The doctor nods sadly in agreement. "You're probably right. She was so nice on the phone. I just have so much hope this time, Jane." She takes a deep breath and tries once again to relax. "She told me on the phone about growing up in the Northwest with her parents and a brother, and it just seemed so…so normal. Like how I always envisioned it would be if I ever found out that I had a sibling."
Maura's face is skeptical, but hopeful. She doesn't have to mention to Jane about the dead half-brother that found his way onto Maura's table a couple of years ago; his life already tainted by a life of crime at such a young age.
"Then you've got nothing to worry about." Jane watches as the door opens, this time a slightly intoxicated patron leaving the bar.
"But I do worry," the doctor's voice is quiet and Jane can tell that something else has been troubling her. She motions her hand at the doctor, prodding her to continue her line of thought.
Maura's face looks painful as she blurts out, "What if you two don't like each other?"
Jane's eyes almost bug out of her head, "What?" She shakes her head to make sure she heard the doctor correctly, "Of course I'm going to like her, Maur. She's your sister!"
Maura reaches across the table and takes both of Jane's hands in hers, "Oh I hope so. I really do."
Jane hears the door open again, and this time she can't take her eyes off the woman that emerges from behind the door.
She's beautiful.
So, so beautiful.
She watches as the woman casually strides into the bar a few steps. Can't help but notice how the features are so similar to the doctor sitting across from her. Anna's hair is just a shade lighter and a little shorter than Maura's. The golden streaks of highlights visible in her hair are due to natural sun exposure, as evidenced by the golden skin on her neck and forearms. Flesh that the detective spends more time focusing on than she cares to admit.
Jane swallows hard as she notices the familiar curves when Anna turns to her side.
The detective watches how she nonchalantly glances around, her one hand resting in her pocket as the other hand rakes casually through the flowing hair that Jane is mesmerized by at the moment.
"Jane?" She realizes that this isn't the first time Maura has said her name. Her eyes snap over to the doctor.
"Yes?" Jane licks her lips, suddenly noticing that her mouth is bone dry.
"Is it her?" Maura's voice is full of hope.
Jane nods dumbly as her line of vision returns to the familiar stranger standing in the entryway. "Oh yeah…it's definitely her."
Just then, Anna turns and sees Jane looking at her. Immediately Anna's face breaks out in a warm smile and much to Jane's dismay, her hand slips out of her pocket as she waves a hello in the detective's direction before she starts walking over to their table.
"Here she comes," Jane says as she pushes herself up out of the booth. Maura slides out as well, too nervous to turn to take her first look at her sister.
Jane thrusts a hand out as Anna approaches. "You must be Anna. Hi…I'm Jane. Jane Rizzoli." Anna grips her hand and covers it warmly with her other hand as she gives Jane a hearty welcoming shake. "It's so nice to meet you." And she means it, but her attention is immediately drawn to the unusually quite woman standing next to her.
Jane slides over next to the doctor and places her hand at the small of her back, trying to nudge her into action just a little.
"And this chatterbox over here is Dr. Maura Isles." Jane smiles at both women, trying to lighten the mood. It works; Maura takes a gulp of air and lets out a breath.
"Just Maura…please." She shakes her head, slightly embarrassed at being so knocked off her game. She can't remember the last time she was so nervous meeting someone. She recovers enough to offer her hand in greeting.
Anna beams at her, clearly moved at meeting her twin at the first time. She takes one look at Maura's outstretched hand and instead of shaking it she steps in to give her sister a big tight, encompassing hug like they've know each other for years. She speaks directly into the doctor's hair through a big smile, "God, Maura…it is so nice to meet you."
Jane watches as Maura tentatively wraps her arms around Anna at first, but then practically melts into her sister's embrace. Anna's infectious personality won't allow the doctor to remain her normal, closed-off self.
Jane can't help but smile as she watches them greet each other for the first time. She lets her eyes slide down the back of Anna, along the stitching of her shirt and then down further, her eyes glazing over her ass slow enough she has an opportunity to memorize the texture on her trousers.
Jane blinks twice when she realizes she's been staring. Her eyes flash up to the sisters, but they are too engrossed in the moment to notice. Thank God.
Anna peels her head back to look at her sister, "It's really you. I can't believe it." She finally let's go of Maura and slides into the booth. Jane motions for Maura to slide into the booth first, and Jane sits next to her so that they can both face Anna across the table.
Anna looks down at her watch and shakes her head slightly. "I'm so sorry I'm late. My flight was delayed and I had a little trouble getting checked into the hotel. I had to knock some heads around, but at least they found me a room for tonight." She winks at the women sitting across from her and chuckles at her own misfortune.
"No worries." Jane smiles. Something about Anna's demeanor makes Jane a little giddy. She thinks it's the fact that this woman, who looks so much like Maura, seems oddly different…in a good way. She's relaxed, totally comfortable in the presence of these two strangers. Unlike Maura, who is still a little painfully quiet next to Jane.
She reaches under the table and squeezes the doctor's knee, trying to get her to relax.
"Where did you fly in from?" Jane asks, trying to keep the conversation flowing while Maura still sits silently by her side.
"Brazil. I've been down there all summer. That's why I didn't get the messages."
"The messages?" Maura finally springs to life.
Anna nods, "Yeah, from a mob boss trying to requisition a kidney for his former lover's daughter." She smiles weakly and nods her head down to Maura's abdomen, "I'm guessing you beat me to it, huh?"
The same weak smile is mirrored back to her, "Yes. Yes, I did."
Anna leans forward and lightly taps the top of Maura's hand, "Well, if you ever need a spare…you know where to find me, okay?" Her smile is genuine and contagious. Jane seems to have contracted it, because a dopey grin covers her features as she watches the two women interact.
She catches herself zoning out again and clears her throat, hoping to learn more about this captivating stranger sitting across from her, "So…um…what were you doing in Brazil?"
"Ah," Anna smiles. "That's a rather long story." Her eyes float over to the barely touched wine glass and beer mug on the table. "I think I'll need a drink to get through it."
Maura jumps a little in her seat. "Oh, where are my manners? Let's get you a drink. The Merlot is a little chalky, but the house white isn't half bad."
Anna's eyes dart over to the bar. "You know," she wipes her hands along her thighs, clearly not wanting to make her sister feel bad, "I'd really rather have a beer." She turns to Jane, "Do they have any local craft beers here on tap?"
Jane's mouth drops open in surprise for a moment. Can Anna be more perfect? She snaps her jaw shut and has to blink once or twice before she can answer.
"Uh, yes…yes they do." Her face widens into a full smile. "Do you want to start out with the Pale Ale? We can work our way up the fuller beers after that if you'd like."
Anna's eyes brighten and she nods her approval, "Oh, yes. That sounds great. We have a lot to talk about. I'm not planning on leaving until we at least get to the stout."
Jane chuckles silently, "Okay. Hold tight. Lemme go get you one." Jane slides out of the booth, but pauses for a moment as she leans down to squeeze Maura's shoulder for encouragement and to whisper into her ear.
"Don't worry about me liking her. I think I love her."
With that, Jane straightens up and gives Maura a wink before she turns to head towards the bar. Maura smiles as she watches her walk away, glad that Jane is getting along so well with Anna. And what's not to love? Anna is so naturally open and warm, even Maura has started to feel her own social awkwardness start to melt away.
Anna watches as Jane makes her way to the bar to order her beer. Her eyes don't leave the detective's backside until she is halfway across the room, too fascinated by the sway of her hips and the bulge of the gun at her side. Finally, she breaks her gaze to look back to Maura.
"You didn't tell me your friend was a Greek goddess." Anna smiles, "That information would have made it easier to pick you two out in this place."
Maura laughs, "Don't let Jane hear you say that."
Anna watches as Maura checks on Jane with a quick look over her shoulder.
"So…how long have you two been together?"
Maura's hand instinctively goes to her chest, "Oh, no. We're not together. We're just friends."
Anna's head quirks in an all-too familiar manner, like there is no way she believes what Maura just said.
"No, really. She's my best friend." Maura answers.
Anna relaxes back into her seat and casually throws her arm across the booth. "Well, you must be very close."
"We are. She's like family."
Anna nods, a sad smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. She read about her sister on the flight to Boston, so she knows a little about her background. An only child of well-to-do parents, so different from her own upbringing in a middle class family with a brother and numerous cousins. She's thankful that she has Jane, at least.
"Well, how about we get to know each other a little better? I'll tell you about my crazy family in the Northwest, if you'll tell me about your family..." Her eyes flick over to the brunette as she makes her way through the crowd, a frosty pint in her left hand. "…and Jane."