A few days have passed since their encounter, and Maura is getting used to being home. Angela moved back to the guest house. Many nights the doctor finds it hard to sleep, but it is easier than it has been. She drifts into a wavering slumber, dreams, memories filtering into it.
"Jane, it's alright. It's just some of the villagers." The blonde smiles into the webcam, looking at her friend's face. She seems wary of the strangers behind her friend. "Most of them don't even know English."
"If you say so. How's it been? You've been gone two months now, right?" Jane asks though she knows precisely how long it's been, as does Maura.
"It's been fun. Ian and I are having a blast, and we're helping people. Jane, I do wish you could be here." It's the entire truth; she misses the detective more than words can say.
"Yeah, I'm doing just fine here in Boston where I have a comfy bed to sleep on every night." She laughs quietly.
"It's not all bad. How are things going over there? Pike as annoying as ever?" She giggles thinking about Jane's distaste for the man. "And how's Casey?"
"Pike's slow as a snail. Slower actually. Things are okay, though. Casey's fine," the raven says the last part with a half-hearted smile.
"How about the Rizzoli's?"
"Ma's fine. Frankie's still clinging to me like a puppy at work. Tommy's doing good."
"I really miss you, Jane. Working with you. Talking with you." The doctor's eyes slant down for a moment.
"Yeah, me too, Maura," she whispers back, a small smile on her face, "Call me again soon, okay?"
"Of course." The detective closes the laptop after another moment, raising her hand to her mouth as she tries not to dwell on her best friend being in Africa. Maura's fingertips press against the screen as if Jane is still there, and she closes her eyes. Closing the laptop, she puts it away and goes to find Ian.
"But, sir…" Maura addresses Lieutenant Cavanaugh before he cuts her off.
"No 'buts', Dr. Isles. You left without any kind of notice. You're working under Pike until I feel you're ready to move up." He tells her forthright, and it's practically law.
"Yes, sir." She lowers her gaze slightly. He sends her out of his office, and she heads downstairs as inconspicuously as possible. She had decided to try for her job back, to start stepping back into her old life one step at a time. Her feet stop abruptly as she notices Dr. Pike in her chair, or what used to be her chair. "Doctor… I'm working under you for the time being." She hates saying it, just the thought leaving her skin crawling. He leans back in the chair, fingers a steeple in front of him.
"Well, well. The great Dr. Isles working under me," his voice holds a note of superiority. "I've got an autopsy to do, and since you're certain to be rusty, you can observe the present chief medical examiner at work." She grimaces.
"Of course, Doctor." Even saying that has her wanting to leave right there, but she doesn't. She needs this, and even if it kills her, she's willing to do it. She needs this. Maura turns around to leave when she sees Jane walking towards the M.E.'s office. As Jane rounds into the door, she stops in her tracks. A sigh worms past her lips, hair pulled tight behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Her voice is cold, bitter, but before Dr. Isles can speak up, Pike decides to state what he was just told.
"Dr. Isles is going to be working under me for a while, Detective Rizzoli. I hope that serves no problem for you." The man has a wicked grin on his features.
"Not at all. Just keep her out of my way." Jane leaves without saying another word.