Chapter 4: Turning the wheels
A/N: I am so sorry for not updating sooner. It's just, I've been pretty afraid of starting to write this chapter, so I put it off. Then I forgot about it for a few days. Yeah. Anyway, I'm still not entirely pleased with the result, but maybe that's just because I have such high expectations. Tell me if it's any good?
"…and it was so vivid! I mean, what if I dream something like that again? What if it doesn't stop at that? God, this is just what I needed right now!"
The young man suddenly bursts into laughter, startling some of the customers in the café. Jane punches him in the arm, glaring at him murderously.
"It's not funny, Frankie! I was right there in her bed and I was dreaming about that!"
This only makes him laugh even louder. The brunette aims to punch him again, but he raises his arms in apology and manages to partially sober up.
"I'm sorry, Janie, but that was too good! You know, it's not a crime to dream like that about the person you're in love with. I'm sure Maura would agree."
"WHAT? What the heck are you on about, Frankie? I am not-"
Frankie raises his eyebrows at his sister, daring her to continue her sentence.
"Okay, fine. Maybe… Maybe I am… inlovewithher."
"So, what's the problem, then?"
"God, Frankie! We are not together, and Maura doesn't know how I feel. Well, I hope. Besides, I'm sure she doesn't feel the same."
For the second time, the man bursts into laugher, falling out of his chair in the process.
"Bwahahah-OW! Oh, Janie, you didn't just say that! You can't tell me you don't see the way Maura looks at you."
At Jane's confused blink, Frankie finally understands what has been going on.
"Ah, so that's the problem."
"What? What problem? What are you on about?"
"Look, sis, it's simple. Both you and Maura have been practically doing the same thing, though I have to say, Maura is subtler. You know when you stare at her when she isn't looking?"
At Jane's slight nod and blush, Frankie continues.
"Maura does the same thing when you're not watching."
The brunette's eyes widen, her mouth opening and closing not unlike a fish, her head shaking left and right in disbelief.
"Yup. You've basically been hiding your feelings from each other. And why? Because you thought the other didn't feel the same."
Jane's phone rings, taking her out of her reverie. She suddenly sits up from her chair to answer her phone, for the umpteenth time attracting the attention(and annoyance) of the customers.
"I gotta go, Frankie. Maura found something. Korsak went to investigate a lead, and Maura is waiting for me in her office with the rest of her findings."
The tall detective ruffles her brother's hair and starts walking away, muttering a "thanks" over her shoulder, leaving behind a very amused Frankie.
Maura is angry. How can Jane act like there's nothing wrong after all we've been through together? Does she not know that if she hurts, I hurt? Does she not know that I constantly worry about her? The speed with which she finishes her tests on the suspected murder weapon surprises even her, so she decides to redo them, just in case. After half an hour she is done, discovering that even in the state she was in, she did everything perfectly.
The honey blonde makes a quick decision: she will go upstairs and bring the test results directly to the detectives and while she is there she will try to talk to Jane.
The elevator dings. Maura, appearing perfectly calm and collected, makes her way to the bullpen. She is surprised not to find Jane sulking at her desk, instead being greeted by detectives Frost and Korsak.
"What's up, Doc?"
The younger detective is hit squarely in the forehead by a crumpled paper ball.
"Frost, enough with the "Doc" jokes already. They aren't funny anymore. Got anything for us, Dr. Isles?"
"Vince, I told you to call me Maura. And I don't mind Barold's attempts at humor. They're quite appreciated. Yes, I have found matching DNA on both the murder weapon and under the victim's fingernails. I can say for certain that this is our killer's DNA."
"You hear that, Frost? Your attempts at humor are appreciated. Ha!"
The younger detective reddens at the use of his full name, but remains determined not to let Korsak's teasing get to him.
"Yeah, yeah, Korsak! Like your knock-knock jokes are any better. Thank you, Maura. This helps a lot."
The medical examiner hands each detective a copy of her autopsy report, turning to Jane's desk to leave the third copy there, but deciding otherwise.
"Detectives? May I ask where Jane is?"
Frost and Korsak share a look, the latter clearing his throat, clearly meant as a sign for the younger detective to speak. Frost glares at the older man, but his stare falters and he turns to Maura.
"Oh…uh, well Jane went to the café downstairs, I think. To get some coffee?...Ahem, to get some coffee."
"Thank you, Barold. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go see Jane."
The medical examiner walks with purpose towards the elevator, fully determined to find out the reason for her best friend's peculiar behavior.
The elevator dings, and Maura takes a deep breath before stepping out. She quickly makes her way to the café, only to be faced with the sight of a very agitated Jane talking animatedly with her brother. Gesticulating wildly and yelling, most likely. As much as she feels she shouldn't eavesdrop on a conversation between siblings, something tells her to stay.
"…and it was so vivid! I mean, what if I dream something like that again? What if it doesn't stop at that? God, this is just what I needed right now!"
Ah, so she is bothered by a nightmare.
Maura is barely able to finish that string of thought before she is startled by the sudden burst of laughter coming from Jane's brother.
What could possibly be funny about a nightmare? A nightmare is no laughing stock.
"It's not funny, Frankie! I was right there in her bed and I was dreaming about that!"
So the dream has something to do with me? Still, why would Frankie laugh? I don't understand. Clearly, I have missed an important part of the conversation.
Maura decides that staying will only confuse her more, so she returns to the bullpen, finding that Korsak went to investigate a promising lead. She explains her findings in detail to detective Frost, which gives him an idea.
Back in her office, the medical examiner checks the clock and assesses that Jane would have had enough time to finish her conversation.
"Hello, Jane. If you have the time, I would like to see you in my office. I have the autopsy report ready for you. Detective Korsak has already left to investigate a lead, and your partner is doing the same from his desk. Thank you. Yes, I'll wait for you here. Goodbye."
A/N: Oh, by the way, tuxjim expected Jane to talk to Frankie(even though he wasn't his only choice). I see people expected Jane to talk to Frost. Yeah, no. Jane doesn't do personal with her co-workers(Maura is the exception). They can't see her weak. And certainly not over something like this. She knows she'd get endlessly teased about it. Frankie, though, she knows she can talk to. He gets her. That's how I see the whole thing, though. Doesn't mean it's right. Especially since I haven't watched Rizzoli&Isles in a while(I really have to refresh my memory before the 25th of February). Oh, and I hope you liked this chapter!
