Maura and Jane went their separate ways when they got back to the ranch, the veterinarian deciding to avoid Mason, too, by accompanying her father to another ranch stead to inspect a horse he was thinking of purchasing. Sitting in the front seat of his F-150, Maura was quiet as her father drove, watching the outside world whirl by as she stared out the window.
Ryan glanced over at his daughter and smiled. "You and Jane seem to have hit it off quite well. What did you do today?"
"We did." Maura nodded. A little too well, she thought. "We went for a ride on a crotch rocket." She smiled just thinking about their day. "I've always wanted to ride one and she rented one so I could."
"I hope she stays a while. Jane is a great worker and she seems fond of you. Its nice to see you smile as big as you do now."
"What? I wasn't smiling very wide before?" Maura asked as she glanced over at her father, the hint of a smile on her face.
Ryan smirked. "Not like this. I know you two are just friends but... hell I think soldier girl is better for you than Mason ever was or good be."
Maura pressed her lips together tightly and was silent for a moment. "Would you really be okay with me dating another woman?"
He glanced over at his daughter. "Has it... has it gotten to that point, Maura. I thought you two were just friends."
"We are... It's just..." It wasn't a topic Maura really wanted to discuss with her father, but she couldn't lie without breaking into hives or hyperventilating. "Complicated. It's just complicated right now."
"Complicated? Hm." He started. "So, Do you think if the two of you started a relationship that you would be happy?"
"I'm already in a relationship." She replied, propping her elbow on the window's edge and resting her head in her hand as she looked over at her father. "But, hypothetically speaking, yes. I think I'd be happy if Jane and I ever went down that path."
"Then I wouldn't mind it." He smiled softly. "And you may be in a relationship now but, I can see you're not happy with him. Something is going on between you two that you aren't telling me." Ryan placed his hand on Maura's knee. "I don't think you and Mason will last if you really want my opinion."
"Well, you did raise me. I do value your opinion." Maura smiled softly. If she were honest with herself, she hadn't been happy with Mason for a while now. Maybe it was time for a change. "Things are a little rough right now, but I'll be happy. You'll see."
He nodded. "Alright.. I'll be waiting."
Jane had been working for hours working to repair the wooden fence. No one had suggested she do it, but she had found a few boards were rotted. So she took one of the company trucks and got some lumber. The soldier didn't see Ryan's truck pull in but Jake did and the moment he saw Maura he charged to greet her.
The veterinarian bent over to pet him, a big smile spreading across her lips as she rubbed Jake's head and neck. "Hey there, boy. Jane keeping you busy? Hmm?" She glanced up at the brunette and gave her a sweet smile too. "Looks like you've been hard at work. As usual."
Noticing Jake had run off, Jane walked after him. In her usual tank and jeans, with her tan work gloves. Pulling those off she smiled brightly. "Of course. Gotta earn my keep around here. So did you two end up getting the horse?"
"You more than earn your keep here." Maura said sincerely, standing up straight. "And we did. Mr. Maynard will be bringing Derecho over here tomorrow afternoon." She walked up to the soldier and gently took her hand in her own, palm up, looking over her new tattoo. "The glove isn't rubbing it too much, is it?"
"If I say it is, will you kiss it and make it better?" Jane asked in a low voice with a smirk planted on her lips.
"Maybe." Maura said mysteriously, grinning. "I'm going to head inside and start dinner. So why don't you take it easy for the rest of the day and come inside to keep me company?"
"Mm maybe I will." She grinned and followed Maura inside and straight into the kitchen.
"So, tell me about this horse."
"There's not really a whole lot to say. He's young. He's strong. And he's fast." She smiled as she glanced over her shoulder at Jane. "Maynard is just getting too old for the business." The blonde got out the ingredients she needed and got them started on the stove before turning to the brunette. "So, tell me more about you and Jake. You said he's saved your life multiple times."
"Jake is trained to do a lot and sniffing out bombs is one of them. I happened to be patroling the perimeter with him. Someone had put our landmines in my path a few hours earlier. He could smell it and my foot was right over one before he jumped in front of me, stood up and pushed me backward. Jake showed me what I was about to step on."
"Well, then, he's become my second favorite guy." Maura smiled and leaned against the counter top, arms crossed. "You said that you'd received a Purple Heart. How'd you get hurt?"
Jane pulled up her tank a little, sweat still glistening on her body, and showed Maura the scar right above her hip. "I was in a hostage situation... They had broken Jake's leg and already killed one of my men. They went after my dog with a gun and everything after that was a blur, really."
Maura didn't even think. She stepped closer and reached out to run her fingers over the scar gently. "So you saved each other." She said as she looked up into the brunette's eyes. "You really are amazing, Jane. There's not many people who would step into the path of a bullet for a human being let alone an animal."
Jane smiled. "Thank you, but I owed Jake my life." Her fingertips ran up Maura's arm slowly. "So, what would you like to do tomorrow?"
"I have to work. But when I get off, we could go for that ride we missed out on last week." She said softly, not bothering to put any sort of distance between them.
"I'd like that." She smiled then took Maura's hand, looked around then kissed her knuckles lightly. Eyes locked to hers.
Maura smiled softly and then brushed the backs of her fingers against Jane's cheek, cupping it gently. She was about to speak again when Ryan walked in, the blonde dropping her hand and stepping back from Jane. "Hi, Dad. Dinner's almost ready."
Ryan saw but simply smiled. "Good, I'm starved. Smells good."
Jane smiled and turned to speak to him. "I hear you have a new addition, Sir. I look forward to meeting Derecho."
"Good. Cause I figured you could be the one to handle him." Ryan smiled as he walked past the two to the fridge to grab a beer. He popped the top off, took a long swallow and then turned to his newest ranch hand. "You've done nothing but great work since you got here. I appreciate it, Jane."
The soldier's jaw dropped. "R-really?" She smiled. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down." Being trusted with a new horse, that was more than likely a very pretty penny, was a huge honor to Jane. "I really like working here, Mr. Isles. I may stay longer than planned. Jake seems to like it too."
A crooked grin covered Ryan's face, the man knowing exactly what it was about his ranch that Jane liked. And he didn't mind one bit. "You can stay as long as you'd like. I know I could always use a worker like you. And I don't seem to be the only one who enjoys having you around." He winked at his daughter.
Jane looked to Maura and smirked. However that smile dropped from each face when Mason walked in and hung his blazer up on the rack. "There's my girl." He grinned and walked right in front of Jane to pull Maura into his arms and kiss her lightly.
Ryan noticed that the soldier went tense the moment Mason walked in the room.
He couldn't really blame Jane. Mason put him at unease, too. Sighing, Ryan started to head for the living room, gently clasping Jane's shoulder as he did so. "How about you grab a beer and join me in the living room? We can try to finish up that baseball game that's on before dinner."
"Yes, sir." Jane did as suggested and went to the fridge, grabbed a beer and joined Ryan in the living room. Sitting down at the end of the couch, she took a swallow of her beer and sighed.
"It appears you feel much the same way I do about a certain someone." Ryan noted, peeling his eyes away from the game to glance over at Jane.
Jane gave a weak half smirk. "I'm not a fan." She looked over her shoulder then back at Ryan. "Especially after I saw his hand print in the form of a bruise on her wrist."
"What!?" Ryan's voice boomed.
Maura was at the stove finishing up dinner, Mason hovering. "Soo, how was your day?" She asked, keeping conversation simple as she had a lot more on her mind.
"It was fine. I've been thinking a lot. I really want to take you out tonight after dinner. Maybe get some wine and watch a movie at the drive in theater. I know how you love that."
"I do love that." Maura nodded, trying to decide how exactly she wanted to go about things with Mason. Their relationship had been rocky for awhile now, and Jane's presence was only stretching the distance between them. But, she also didn't know the soldier very well. And Jane was probably going to leave. "As long as I get to pick the movie." She smiled over at her boyfriend.
"Only if you pick an action movie." Mason chuckled then turned Maura around to face him, kissing her lips lightly. "I love you, Maura. I'm sorry for snapping at you the other night. Forgive me?"
"I forgive you." Maura said, slipping her arms around his waist. "I just wish we didn't fight all the time. It's getting old."
"I know, I've been an ass lately and I'm sorry. I want to make you happy. I don't want you to think you have to find someone else to replace me." He was about to kiss his girlfriend when Ryan came storming in, Jane following him trying to calm the older man down.
Ryan was red faced, stopping just a few feet from the couple and pointing at Mason. "You have the gumption to come under my roof, act like we're all good and cheery, when you're mistreating my daughter? You lay a hand on her again, you son of a bitch, and you won't be charming any other women with your smile because I'll knock all your teeth out."
"What the hell are you talking about Ryan?!" Mason slapped his finger out of his own face. He then turned to Maura. "What did you tell him?"
Maura's eyes darted from her father to Jane, a look of betrayal crossing her face before she slowly turned her gaze to Mason. "I didn't..."
"She didn't tell me anything." Ryan gently took hold of Maura's hand so he could see her wrist, the bruise barely visible but still there. "I'm talking about this." He glared at Mason.
Jane looked away from Maura.
Mason clenched his jaw. "I didn't mean to. I had gotten a little rough, trying to get the tv control back from her. I really didn't mean to hurt her sir, I swear. Maura's knows that."
"I don't really care what Maura thinks right now since she isn't expressing the best judgment. I want you gone, Mason. I don't want you at dinner. I don't want to see you again until I've had the chance to cool off."
The younger man glared at his once friend, he then looked to Jane knowing she had a part of this. Turning to Maura he took her face gently in his hands. "Leave with me, I'll take you to dinner and do whatever it is you wanna do."
Maura's mouth hung, about to reply, when Ryan cut in. "Oh hell no. She's not going anywhere with you tonight."
A rare flash of anger then crossed the blonde's face as she turned her head to glare at her father. "I'm not some teenager you can order around anymore. You can't tell me when I can or can't go out with someone." Maura began to storm right past Ryan and Jane.
Mason followed behind her and smirked in a cocky fashion toward the blonde's father before walking out of the house with her. He took his girlfriend's hand and kissed it. "Let's go eat, sweetie."
Ryan was still fuming, pacing back and forth in the kitchen. "I should've wiped the smirk off that bastard's face. How could Maura just go off with that prick?"
Jane cupped Ryan's shoulder. "She loves him. What would you do if you were in her shoes?" Jane was trying to be a peace maker. "Look, somehow Mason is going to leave this place. He'll screw up. Hopefully, not at Maura's expense, but he will. And then you can get rid of his sorry ass."
Ryan took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. "She's about fed up with him, too. She just..." He sighed. "Maura spent so many years trying to please her mother and everyone around her that she hit a point where she was just done. And ever since then, she doesn't like to be forced into anything. Which is what I was trying to do." He sighed again.
"You were trying to force her away from him? How will that work? I mean if you try to force her wont she just hold onto him harder?"
"Yes." Ryan nodded and rubbed his face. "Which is why I'm kicking myself right now. But I was just so upset." He took another calming breath and turned to Jane. "She likes you, Jane. Maybe you can talk some sense into her."
She shook her head. "Probably not... I kinda betrayed her by telling you and she knows it. There'll be a way to get him out and to get her to wisen up. Just have to be patient. But if he hurts her again... I'll go after him. I will protect your daughter."
"Thank you." Ryan turned off the stove then patted Jane's shoulder. "I can already tell you care about her, and I'm glad she has someone like you to look out for her. She'll forgive you too. She'll just need a bit of space."
With a nod, Jane placed a hand on top of his. "I do care about her but space I will give her." She took a step towards the living room. "I'm going to get Jake then head up to bed. Goodnight, Ryan." She gave him a sweet smiled and did what she had said she would.
-
Mason showed Maura a good time and took her back home with the plans of making love to his girlfriend. It had gotten heated until he noticed something on her pelvis. Brows furrowed he eyed it. "What the hell is that?"
Maura leaned back and glanced down at the inking. "It's exactly what it looks like." She glanced back up at her boyfriend. "It's a tattoo. I just got it today."
He glared up at her. "Today?" With a shake of his head he stood up off the bed. "Why the hell would you get one of those? Defile your body like that? Huh?" Mason started to pace. "She talked you into this didn't she?" Turning to Maura his jaws clenched. "She HAS got to go! What else is she going to talk you into huh?"
"First of all, I don't do anything I don't want to do." Maura said, getting up on her knees on the bed to face Mason. "So she's not going to be talking me into anything I wouldn't already do without her influence. And defile my body? Really?" She asked, tilting her head with a bit of that attitude again. "Tattooing has been practiced for centuries in cultures around the worlds, often times marking warriors and in the 1870s, wealth for the crowned heads of Europe. There's nothing wrong with it."
"You're not a fuckin' warrior, Maura. Hell you can barely lift a bale of hay around here. I don't give a shit about the history of tatts, I don't like them and I definitely don't like them on you. You look dirty. And what the hell does that shit mean anyway? Soup?"
"Yes, soup, in Japanese, that's exactly what I'd get tattooed on my body." Maura said in the most bitchy tone she could muster and climbed off the bed. "You don't like, you don't have to look at it." She picked up her discarded shirt from the floor and pulled it back on. "You can go find yourself a clean, unmarked girlfriend." She glared before heading for the living room.
"Maybe I will!" Mason groaned and got into bed, leaving Maura to sleep on the couch if she wanted.
XxX
Jane was able to take Derecho out onto the track. From the starting gate, she road the stallion at full speed around each turn and finished at record speed. Pulling him down to a walk at the line, she laughed with glee. "Damn that was Sweet!" Jane exclaimed when Brock and Ryan came into the dirt track.
"He's looking good. It's too bad you're too tall to be a jockey." Ryan chuckled and stopped to pat Derecho's strong neck. He glanced up at Jane with a smile. "You're a natural, Jane."
Brock nodded in agreement beside him, dipping the tip of his cowboy hat in a show of respect.
"Thank you sir." She smiled then looked down to Brock. She swore if she didn't have a chance with Maura she would go for for that man. He was practically perfect. However, her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Mason storming up towards the track. "Shit, what does he want?"
"Dammit. I was hoping not to see his mug for a couple of days." Ryan said, gritting his teeth.
Mason stopped a few feet from the men, glaring up at Jane. "I want to talk to you. Alone."
Jane looked to the guys and nodded once before swinging her leg over and sliding down the side of the saddle. "What?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Ryan and Brock reluctantly walked off, Mason watching until they got a comfortable distance away. And then he leaned into Jane, teeth clenched. "I want you gone. You said you weren't staying long, that you're a drifter. So go. You're a bad influence for Maura and you're ruining what we have."
Jane smiled. "You know, I kinda like it here. I like Maura, she just so happens to be my friend and you know what? She deserves better that a mean ass, disrespectful little man telling her what to do and when to do it." She got in his face. "I'll tell you one thing that you better take personally. If I ever see another bruise on that woman, I'll feed your balls to the coyotes."
"I'd never hurt her intentionally." Mason practically growled. "I just had a stronger grip than I thought. It was an accident that you blew out of proportion. Now her dad thinks I'm an abusive asshole when I'm not."
The soldier shrugged. "You just keep what I said in mind." She took Derecho's reins and started to lead him out of the track.
"Yeah, well, remember this, Rizzoli. If you keep messing with Maura and I's relationship, you will come to regret ever stepping foot on the Isles Ranch." Mason called out with a dark half smirk.
"I'm not the one ruining your relationship, Mason. You are." She said without looking back at the man. Jake was trotting beside her and she lovingly pat his head. Once back at the ranch house she tied the horse to a stake and turned the water hose on and started to bathe him once his tack was off.
Jane had just wrapped up his bath and gotten Derecho back in his stall when Maura walked in, leaning against the doorway. "You looked really good out there with him. Derecho's a great specimen, isn't he?"
Jane turned and smiled softly. "He really is. You and your father made a great choice, Maura." She smiled and walked out of the stall, closing it behind her. "Look, I'm really sorry about what happened last night. I didn't mean to say anything to him it just slipped out. I'm sorry."
"I trusted you, Jane. And you let me down." Maura walked around her to open the gate and step inside, setting her medical bag down and moving to examine Derecho. "I'm an adult. I don't need you or my father stepping in to tell me what to do." She said without glancing at the brunette.
Jane moved inside with her. "I'm not here to tell you what to do, Maura." She sighed. "He confronted me today. Mason wants me gone."
"I don't give a damn what he wants." Maura replied, finally glancing over at Jane before turning her attention back to the steed. "After last night, I'm fed up with his behavior, too."
"Last night? What happened? You okay?" Jane questioned, moving in front of her friend and resting her hand on the woman's neck. "I promise none of if will get back to your father."
"Yes, because confiding in you the first time went so well." Maura said cooly and stepped around her to walk over to Derecho's other side. "I'm fine, though. He didn't hurt me. He just seems to think my body is another one of his possessions."
Jane sighed softly and nodded but then furrowed her brows. "He saw your tat?"
"Yes, and he wasn't thrilled about it. Said it defiled my body." Maura said as she ran her hands down Derecho's leg. "But it's my body to do as I please with, and I told him he could go find an unmarked girlfriend." She sighed and stood.
Shaking her head she rested her arms on the stallion's back and looked down at her. "I'm not trying to ruin your relationship with him. I'm really not."
"He's doing that well all on his own." Maura finally met Jane's gaze. "I'm not upset with you for caring about my well-being. I just wish what I'd told you in confidence hadn't been shared with my father. I don't need a knight in shining armor storming the gates to save me, Jane."
Jane walked around the horse, never breaking eye contact with Maura. "Well, what if this said knights really likes you and wants to be there for you and is willing to cherish you for who you are?" By the time Jane finished the question she was standing right in front of Maura, placing her hand on the side of the doctor's neck. Her thumb stroking her jaw
Maura leaned into Jane's touch and covered her hand with her own, just enjoying her warmth for a moment before gently pulling her hand away. "I'd say this knight could have the chance to do just that after I take some time to sort things out and get to know her better."
"Well, I'm staying around for a while longer. I like being here, mostly because of you." She smiled. "How about after you finish your job for the day, we go take that ride? I'm sure Jake would like to get some running in." She chuckled.
Maura smiled and nodded. "Alright. When I get back, we'll go for that ride. With Jake." She stepped forward and kissed Jane's cheek softly. "I'll see you in a few hours."
Jane smiled. "See you then."
Those few hours seemed to take forever but by the time Maura got home, her horse and a horse of Jane's choosing was tacked up and waiting to be ridden. Jane was sitting against the stables with Jake's head resting on her thigh, dozed off.
Maura smiled softly at the sight and squatted down in front of Jane, Jake turning his head to the veterinarian who scratched behind his ear and earned herself a pleased sigh. She chuckled and patted his side before leaning in to press a soft kiss to a small scar on Jane's forehead. "Hey, sleepyhead."
Jane opened her eyes and smiled. "Hey, beautiful. Now waking up to you is quite amazing." She chuckled and slowly got up. "Ready to go?"
Maura's smile grew wider before she moved to stand and offer Jane a hand. "I am. I saw that you already have the horses ready to go." She started for the inside of the stables. "So what'd you do today?"
"I happened to finish the fence I was working on and gave Beauty and a few other horses baths." Jane smiled and walked the gray mare out of the stables with Maura and her horse following. "You have a pretty good day?" She asked before mounting Cloud.
"I did." Maura smiled, climbing up on her horse. "I dealt with minor health cases today, many of the animals young and strong. It's always a good day when you don't have to euthanize a creature because its too sick."
"Well good. I'm glad you didn't have to go through that today." She smiled sweetly. The two rode for about a hour, exploring the land beyond the ranch. Through a brush of trees, Jane and Maura walked upon a gorgeous pond, hidden away from all prying eyes.
"Wow... this is beautiful." Jane whispered.
"I've always thought so." Maura said, glancing over at Jane. "It's hotter today than it has been. I'm sure your exocrine and apocrine glands have been working overtime." She smirked and dismounted. "So let's take a dip and cool off."
Jane raised her brow then slide of off Cloud. "Are you about to cross another list item off?" She smirked and pulled her tank off, standing in her bra and jeans now.
"Mmhmm." Maura nodded and unbuttoned her blouse, letting it drop to the ground before turning to face the brunette in her bra. "Hope you're not bashful." She said with a smirk, tilting her head playfully as she looked Jane over before yanking off her work boots and then unbuttoning her jeans to tug them down.
"No, just lustful." Jane mumbled as she kicked off her own boots then pulled down her jeans. Her eyes stayed on Maura. The moment the doctor stripped down to bare nothing, the soldier had a hard time breathing.
Jake followed Maura in quickly and jumped into the water. It didn't take much longer for Jane to strip completely and join them.
Maura laughed and rubbed Jake's back as he swam by her happily, the blonde's eyes greedily taking Jane's form in. She noticed a lot of scars, but didn't mind them one bit. They were a part of the soldier, told her story. "You're very beautiful, Jane."
"I'm nothing compared to you." Jane smiled sweetly and floated towards her. "You are the goddess here."
Maura shrugged a shoulder and shook her head. "I don't agree. But that is really sweet." She smiled and watched Jane get closer.
Jane smiled. "Humble too." Resting her hand on the side of Maura's neck Jane looked into her eyes. "You're the reason I've stayed this long. I wanna get to know you, all of you. And I want you to get to know me too."
"You're going to have to stay a lot longer if you want to do that." Maura said, her voice heavy with emotion. "Think you can do that?" She asked, floating a bit closer to Jane so that their noses were practically touching.
"For you?" She smiled sweetly. "I'll do anything." Jane brushed her lips against Maura's in a soft sensual kiss before pulling back slightly. The brunette's free hand ran down the length of Maura's ribs and around to the small of her back, before bringing them flush together.
Maura gasped at the contact, the blonde moving her hands to rest on the sides of Jane's neck, her thumbs setting on the brunette's jaw as she leaned in to kiss her again. The longer it went on, the more heated it became as they explored each other's mouths.
And the more they explored each others mouths the more Jane's hands wandered. Both scarred hands gripped Maura's ass and moved her thigh in between the woman's.
Maura moaned into Jane's mouth and pressed down hard on her thigh, trying to get more friction as the ache of want and need grew. She ran her hands down to cup and gently squeeze small but perky breasts, wanting to please Jane, too.
Jane whimpered against the woman's mouth and floated back enough to get one foot on the bottom of the pond to gain more leverage against Maura's core. "Mm fuck... Maura." The soldier moaned against the blonde's lips, loving the feeling of her heat on her flesh.
Maura tried to focus on Jane, but after awhile, she gave into her own pleasure, kissing the soldier fervently as she rocked against her thigh. She shuddered when she came, Jane's name torn from her lips, and clung to the brunette.
Just hearing her own named being moaned in the most passionate way possible sent Jane over the edge. Sinking into the water slightly as the strength of her leg went out, Jane held onto her new lover, burying her face in the crook of Maura's neck. "Wow..."
"Now you really can't leave anytime soon." Maura chuckled and, still breathing a bit heavy, leaned back just enough to brush her lips against Jane's. Then she looked into her dark orbs, her own eyes reflecting not just lust, but deep affection as she spoke softly. "Because I want more."
Wow that was a long one. What do ya'll think?!
Reviews are magic unicorns btw
