Disclaimer: Still don't own any of the recognizable stuff from this.
AN: Thank you! All of you who have favorited, followed and reviewed this story; it means a lot to me. I hadn't planned on the scene here to turn into a whole chapter, but it kind of did. Anyway, enjoy!
Once again Maura was sitting at her desk. It had been another long day of death, and for the first time this job was becoming tiring to her. Something had to change, or she had to change, she wasn't quite sure which. Maybe she just needed a vacation. It had been at least two years if not longer since she had taken a vacation; knowing her, probably longer. The only times she'd had away from here lately had been attending a few medical conferences.
As she turned back to her paperwork the phone on her desk rang slightly startling her. It was nearly the end of the day. By now most of those who needed her would have just called her cell. "Dr. Isles," she answered.
"Ah, Dr. Isles, I am glad that I caught you. I had feared maybe I had missed you at the office. This is Dr. Tierney from Boston. Have I caught you at a convenient time? There's something I would like to discuss with you."
"Of course doctor. What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'd like you to consider coming to Boston. Permanently."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I want you to come and work in Boston. You see Dr. Isles, I've been in this business quite a while now. Sure I love what I do, just like I know you love it too, but I'm getting too old to do this. My knees gave out a few years back and it's hard to get around at crime scenes and see everything you should look at when you can't kneel. One day, sooner than I'd like, I'm going to have to give in and get them replaced. Plus, I'd like some time to have my own life. You know, get out and travel with my wife, see the world, all of that.
"So I want you to come take my job. My retirement will become official in three months and I would like nothing more than to name you as my replacement. I've looked for a long time to find someone whom I felt capable of taking over when it came time for my retirement. After having you at my conference I am convinced that person is you. You have a brilliant mind, are always studying and keeping up with current research in the field and that's the kind of person needed here. So, Dr. Isles, I want you to consider becoming the next Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
Maura's mind raced as he made this speech. Her as the next Chief Medical Examiner for Massachusetts? That seemed almost absurd. What could this man be thinking? Then again, this could be the change she needed. Had she not said just moments before the phone rang that she needed a change?
"I understand of course if you need some time to think about it, Dr. Isles. This is rather sudden and could interfere with things that you may have had planned," he stated when she didn't say anything.
Could she go back to Boston? Considering the way she had left some things the last time she had been there she didn't know for sure. However, there was only going to be one way to find out. "Dr. Tierney, of course it is something that I will need to think about, but I would like to discuss it with you further. Not by phone though, I'd rather do it in person. I tell you what; I have some vacation time coming. Let me take tomorrow to make arrangements here for that time and then after that I will catch a flight to Boston so we can discuss it face to face."
"I think I can work with that Dr. Isles," the other M.E. replied. "I'll see you in a couple of days then. Just give me a call when you get here and we will get things set up then."
"Yes, I'll be there in a couple of days to speak with you further on the matter. I'll see you then Dr. Tierney, and thank you so much for giving me this opportunity."
"Good evening Dr. Isles."
"Goodbye, Dr. Tierney. I'll call you in a couple of days when I get there." With that she hung up the phone. Honestly, she still wasn't quite sure what had just happened. Her mind quickly ran through all of the things that could cause hallucinations, but she couldn't come up with any that fit in this situation. No, this had to really be happening. She had the chance to become the next Chief M.E. in Boston. She could literally move across country and take a very respectable job, one that was coveted by Medical Examiners all over the country, and change her life. Change, a different life, was something she had wanted since the time she came back from Boston nearly five months before. This would be a major step if she decided to take it.
Maura thought back to her time spent in Boston at the conference. Could she go back there now? Going back there had been what she thought about most since she left; what she wanted, almost more than anything else, but now faced with the choice she wasn't sure. Could she and Jane work together every day?
At this point she could find out when she got to Boston. She had already told Dr. Tierney she would come and she wasn't going back on her word now. She could go to Boston and see Jane first; find out if Jane had any objections to them working together in the future and then go talk to Dr. Tierney about the job a little more. Even if Jane objected she would have to go see him, but she could always turn down the job later. She had been sidestepping, dodging, and twisting what was said for long enough now to work her way out of pretty much any situation to keep from outright lying and breaking out in hives; she could find a way.
With that settled, Maura powered down her computer and grabbed her purse. She needed to head home and decide on what to take with her to Boston. After packing she could look at flights for tomorrow afternoon or evening. Catching a later flight would give her time to go in to the office in the morning and put in for vacation leave immediately. Usually she needed to give notice a couple of days in advance, but she didn't want to wait that long. She'd take a leave of absence effective immediately if it came to that; anything so that she could get a little change right now. It excited, as well as made her nervous, to think that this time tomorrow she could be in Boston.
Sorry if you're disappointed by the fact that there's not really an Jane in this chapter. She returns in the next one, I promise. As always, I'd love to hear from you.
