Disclaimer: Don't own R & I and not for profit. Although some of the information about the Kennedys in this chapter is accurate, Lisa Kennedy is a fictional character made up in my mind and is in no way associated with the real Kennedy family.
A/N: According to the show, Maura went to Boston Cambridge University. Since there is no such place, I decided that in my FF, she went to Harvard instead. I am posting both Chapters 7 and 8 today. As always, I'm immensely grateful to all who have reviewed and very much appreciate future reviews. Hope you enjoy..…
PS: Had a little technical difficult tonight with loading the chapters...my apologies. Also, I just noticed that anytime I used Italics that the words were running together even though there were spaces between them before I uploaded. Wish I would've caught it earlier...things like that drive me crazy :-)
Chapter 7: Distance (Christina Perri)
Korsak walked down to the Division One café to grab a cup of coffee and talk with Angela. He had noticed…..everybody had noticed… that Jane and Maura were not speaking. It had been over a week and they still were not speaking. Frankly, he was over it…..one way or another, this had to stop because the tension was driving him crazy. When he would ask Jane about it, she refused to talk, telling him it was none of his business. When he would go down to the morgue to ask Maura what was going on, she would instantly get upset, start to cry, and leave the room. Something had to give. He realized that he wasn't a woman and, therefore, not really in tune with their emotions but the estrogen around the place from all the turmoil was driving him to drink…..more than he already did! He was a problem solver….that's what he did…..so he was damn well going to figure out a way to solve this particular problem too. He decided to enlist Angela's help and wanted to bounce his thoughts off of her.
"Angela, what the heck is wrong with Jane and Dr. Isles? I realize things have been rough with them for awhile now but this has gotten way out of hand! Frost and I can't take it anymore! There has got to be a way to fix it. Jane refuses to even go near the morgue. Luckily, there hasn't been a homicide in the last week or I would really be scre….um, I mean in a pickle." He didn't like to use foul language in front of a lady….especially Angela Rizzoli. He hoped one day he would get up enough nerve to ask her out to dinner or a cup of coffee or something.
"I know…. Jane won't talk to me about it either. If you ask me, I think it has to do with that Lisa woman….who by the way, I haven't even met yet." She poured them each a fresh cup of coffee before returning the pot to the burner. She then sat down across from Korsak. "Maybe Dr. Isles has started to realize that she likes Jane as more than just a friend but this Lisa is in the way. You know Vince….girls can be funny sometimes in their emotions."
"Tell me about it…that's an understatement!" Korsak said while rolling his eyes. "But if what you say is true… if Lisa has driven a wedge between them… why wouldn't Jane just end it with Lisa? I mean, after all that Jane and Dr. Isles have been through, I would think Jane would choose her hands down."
"Well, I wish I could answer that but who knows." Angela said while shrugging her shoulders. "I just don't understand the younger generation….they are so complicated!"
Korsak shook his head in agreement. "So, you got any ideas about what we can do…to help fix this?" At this point, Korsak would try just about anything.
"Not really… although…hmmm," Angela paused as if she just got an idea.
"What?" Korsak wanted to know what light bulb just went off in Angela's head.
Angela suddenly felt inspired. "Vince…..I think it's time that I meet this Lisa….tomorrow night in fact. Are you free?" Angela wanted Korsak there for support…plus she secretly kind of liked him…..in a non friendly sort of way and wished he would ask her out to dinner or coffee, or well… something.
"Yeah, I'm free…whatcha have in mind? Korsak's curiosity had been peaked.
"Don't worry…...I'll give ya the details for your part later…..just leave the rest to me…be at Jane's apartment at seven o'clock tomorrow night….sharp." Angela started to get very excited about her plans. "I'm going to invite Frankie and Tommy also."
Jane was sitting at her desk typing away on her computer when her office phone rang. "Boston Homicide, Rizzoli." Jane answered in a monotone voice. It was her mother….damn! She wished she had caller ID on her work phone. "Hi Ma…What's up?"
"Jane, I've decided to make dinner at your apartment tomorrow night for you and the boys. Frankie has an off day tomorrow and we hardly ever have a chance to get together anymore as a family." Angela decided this was a good pretense to get Jane to agree to the idea. For effect, she added a little extra whining in there so Jane would feel guilty if she tried to refuse the offer.
"Is Tommy coming?" Jane had no desire to be around her low life….good for nothing…
Jane's thoughts of her brother were interrupted by Angela's answer. "Of course he is dear, he's your brother isn't he? Why wouldn't he be there?" Angela thought Jane's question was ridiculous.
"No reason Ma, never mind." Jane would rather chew on rusted nails than explain to her mother what was going on between her and Tommy. So, she would just have to deal with it somehow.
"Oh….and please invite Lisa….I would like to finally meet her Jane and I'm sure your brothers feel the same." For Angela's idea to even have a chance, Lisa had to be present.
"Fine Ma….I gotta go….I got work to do." Well, Jane thought….I did say it was time for the family to meet Lisa so…. no time like the present. Jane immediately called Lisa after hanging up with her mother. After confirming that Lisa was good with the plan, Jane hung up and returned to her typing.
Gravity (Sara Bareilles)
Next day….
When Jane arrived home from work, Frankie and Angela were already there. Frankie was sitting on the sofa watching TV and drinking a beer. "Heya little brother, how's it going?" She reached over the back of the sofa and ruffled his hair. He jerked his head away. Frankie hated that his big sis still treated him like he was five sometimes. "Damn Ma, something smells good, Manicotti?" Jane asked as she opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer for herself. She looked around and didn't see Tommy…..she was holding out hope that he couldn't make it.
"Jane….watch your language…..and yes it's Manicotti." Angela said as she hit Jane on the leg with a dish towel.
Jane looked at Frankie in confusion, "What'd I say?" Frankie just shrugged his shoulders and went back to watching television.
"Where's Lisa?" Angela wanted to confirm that nothing had changed and she was still coming.
"She's running a little bit late…she got caught up at the office at the last minute." Just as Jane was explaining this to her mother, there was a knock on the door. "That's probably her now." Jane opened the door to find Korsak…..and Maura standing in the doorway. Holy shit! Jane spun around and looked at her mother directly in the eye with a pointed what the hell Ma!
"Well, are ya just gonna stand there or are ya gonna let us come in?" Korsak couldn't help but be amused at the surprised look on Jane's face. However, he hoped for his sake that Jane never,…..ever,..….found out that he had any part of this diabolical plan…..ever.
Jane stepped aside so Korsak and Maura could enter. As Maura walked in, she looked at Jane but stopped short of making direct eye contact with her. She handed Jane a nice bottle of merlot without saying a word.
Jane reached out her hand and took the offered wine, muttering "thank you" as her only response. She watched as Maura went over to greet Frankie and Angela and noticed that she looked beautiful as always. But the hurt and anger she felt towards Maura quickly snapped back into place. She turned and gave Korsak a hard look, who decided at that very moment to start picking imaginary lint off of his tie. She barely got the door closed before there was another knock. She opened the door to now find Lisa standing in the doorway. Maybe she should just kill herself now…..
"Hey gorgeous," Lisa walked in and gave Jane a kiss on the lips. She too had a bottle of wine in her hand. Jane, still holding the bottle from Maura, now reached out to receive Lisa's bottle. Good grief!
Maura couldn't help but watch as Lisa entered Jane's apartment. She had to turn away though, when she realized Lisa was about to kiss Jane. What in the world am I doing here? How did I let Korsak talk me into this? Right then and there, she had the overwhelming desire to become invisible and slip out the door.
Jane looked at Frankie…..Frankie looked at Jane….please help me, Jane pleaded with her brother with her eyes.
Frankie stood up and asserted himself. "Everyone, allow me to make the introductions. Ah….Lisa… hi….I'm Frankie, Jane's brother." Frankie walked over and shook Lisa's hand before continuing. "Ya know Korsak." Korsak and Lisa nodded their heads in greeting. "I believe you've also met Dr. Isles." He gestured towards Maura.
"Yes… briefly, during the Merch trial I believe….. nice to see you again Dr. Isles." Lisa said as she shook Maura's hand. She could've imagined it but she thought Dr. Isles grip seemed awfully tense. Maura spoke not a word….just simply nodded.
"And this is our Ma, Angela." Frankie finished with the last introduction. "Our brother Tommy is running late….as always." He explained to Lisa as he rolled his eyes. Lisa couldn't help but release a small laugh. She just knew that she was going to like Frankie.
"Very nice to meet you." Angela said as she took Lisa's hand. She eyed Lisa up and down while giving her the once over. Hmmm, Angela thought to herself….. Lisa's build and hair were similar to Dr. Isles…Lisa dressed extravagantly, like Dr. Isles…..Lisa held a prominent professional position in Boston, also like Dr. Isles…..interesting…..Angela was very interested to find out if there were more similarities between Lisa and Dr. Isles. Her motherly instincts told her there were…..
"So, Ms. Kennedy, tell me, are you in any way related to the famous Kennedys of our area?" Angela asked.
"Please…. call me Lisa," she said with a smile. She dreaded answering Angela Rizzoli's question but she really had no choice. "…..and yes, actually I am. My father is Joseph Patrick Kennedy the second."
Lisa's response caused Jane to look up in surprise…she had no idea. How has this not come up in conversation yet? Because you never asked Rizzoli! She inwardly cursed herself.
Sooooo…..Lisa comes from a wealthy and influential family as well…also like Dr. Isles, check! Angela decided to press for more information. She raised her eyebrows in expectation for Lisa to continue.
Realizing that Angela was looking for more information, Lisa continued, "I'm the oldest…..and at the time….the illegitimate child of him and Sheila Brewster Rauch. I was born in 1976 but my parents weren't actually married until 1979. I have two younger twin brothers, Matt and Joe."
Jane quietly contemplated the family similarities between herself and Lisa…..both were the oldest of three children and the only female….both had younger brothers. Yes, there families were similar….….except for the fact that Lisa came from a famous family dynasty…..….who are powerful…..…. politically influential….and very rich….Nope, never mind, families not alike at all!
Angela continued, "So, um, Lisa, where did you go for your college education?" Angela just knew it was going to be an Ivy League university….
"I graduated from Harvard Law School," Lisa answered.
A mother's intuition is always correct, Angela thought smugly. Harvard University huh?...just like…..…wait for it…..…..wait for it…Dr. Isles! In just mere minutes, Angela discovered that though Lisa was beautiful, smart, successful, and nice…..she, unfortunately was just a substitute for the original… for the one that Jane, her Jane, really wanted. Now, she just had to figure out a way to….. one, get Jane to realize it…two, get Dr. Isles to realize it… and three, get Jane and Dr. Isles together once and for all.
Angela knew that getting Jane and Dr. Isles to finally admit their feelings for one another and be together was not only what was best for them….it was what was best for everyone around them! They were driving everyone mad with all the push/pull they did constantly! Angela decided it was high time that all of this craziness ended once and for all!
Another knock at the door….Frankie went and answered it this time. It was Tommy.
Jane looked up…..just when I thought it couldn't possibly get any worse. Jane was certain that she was currently paying dearly for every misdeed she had ever done in her life and that the angels of heaven and hell were laughing hysterically at the moment…..
After Frankie introduced Tommy to Lisa, Tommy glanced over at Maura but she refused to look, or for that matter, speak to him. This did not go unnoticed by Jane, who was confused by Maura's body language.
At the first chance Jane got, she grabbed Frankie by the arm and pulled him into the guest bathroom. "What the hell is going on?"
"Why ya asking me? I'm as surprised as you are….I had nothing to do this Janie." He said with his hands up in mock surrender. Whoever was responsible for this plan, Frankie knew he would've never touched it with a ten foot pole. As soon as Jane had confided in him that she witnessed Maura and Tommy kissing, he didn't expect to see his siblings in the same room together in like maybe…forever. Not to mention that nnnoowww, Lisa and Maura were also in the same room together. He felt really, really bad for his sister.
"So what am I gonna do? This is ridiculous!" Jane said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Well, I guess you could just go with the flow and see how it all turns out. Who knows….maybe everybody, including you, will get along and it'll be okay." Frankie didn't believe it for a second but he said what he could to try and make Jane fell better.
Jane looked at him like he just grew two more heads. "You know what….your right….I'm sure that we can all just be one big happy family! Hey…..I know…why don't we just have a double wedding? Me and Lisa and Tommy and Maura…..wouldn't that be just swell!" Jane sarcastically mocked her baby brother.
Angela knocked on the bathroom door. "Jane and Frankie, what in the world are you two doing in there? You're being rude to our guests! It's dinner time…..now get out here!"
Jane rolled her eyes and took one last look at her brother before she opened the door and accepted her fate.
Angela placed the manicotti, salads and other trimmings on the table as everyone took their seats. Lisa sat next to Jane and… as Jane's luck continued for the evening, Maura sat directly across from them. Well isn't this just cozy…Jane downed another beer. She started to wonder how quickly she could get drunk and pass out. Everyone was eating in silence until Angela decided to break it.
"So, Lisa, did you ever run into Dr. Isles while you were at Harvard? Ya know…..she graduated from there also… probably around the same time as you I would think….seeing as both of you are about the same age and everything. It's a small world isn't? The senior Rizzoli began.
Ma... don't…Jane warned with her eyes.
Angela continued however, "I mean….what are the odds that my Janie here would be romantically involved with one Harvard graduate and best friends with another?"
That question caused Maura to look at Angela, Angela to look at Jane, Jane to look at her plate of Manicotti as she stabbed it violently with her fork. Here we go….
"No….sorry," Lisa looked over at Maura as she replied to Angela's questions. "I'm afraid we never met in college…and well, I guess it is quite a coincidence that Jane's two favorite gals went to the same university…..I guess that just means she has great taste in women." She winked at Maura who politely smiled in return.
After dinner, everyone sat around either in the dining room or the living room engrossed in their own independent conversations. As Jane went to her bedroom to change her manicotti stained shirt, she thought that maybe….. just maybe…. she would get out of this evening without any fireworks. She knew it would be a miracle but it was one she very much hoped for. After changing her shirt, Jane walked out of her bedroom, down the hall, and smack into Maura who was headed to the guest bathroom. Their eyes locked onto one another. They both stepped in the same direction and then back again in an attempt to maneuver around one another. Finally, Jane hugged the wall with her back, giving way to Maura. As Maura moved past her, both were painfully aware of the physical closeness of their bodies. "Oops…sorry," was all Jane could muster out as she braced against the wall. Maura smiled a weak smile in return. She was at a loss as to what to say to Jane and frankly, she was trying her best not to break down in front of her. The invisible electrical current between them overwhelmed their senses. Maura suddenly freed herself from the magnetic force and dashed into the bathroom. Jane stood there a moment longer staring at the now empty hallway. I can't take this anymore…I have to fix it somehow, Jane thought to herself. She returned to the gathering and went and sat beside Lisa on the sofa, who, in turn, placed her hand on Jane's thigh.
Moments later, Maura returned to the living room. Her eyes immediately fixated on Lisa's hand resting on Jane's thigh. It's not fair that she gets to touch Jane anyway and anytime she wants, Maura inwardly fumed…but I can decide not to torture myself any further by watching it. Maura made the abrupt decision to leave. She quickly grabbed her purse, thanked Angela for dinner, and said quick goodbyes to everyone else. Her excuse for leaving so soon was that she had an early day at work tomorrow. Maura walked out the door. Jane looked over at Lisa in slight hesitation before deciding to follow Maura out the door and down the stairs. Angela and Korsak watched Jane go after Maura before making knowing eye contact with each other, relieved that their plan appeared to be working. At least they were going to talk now…
"Maur, hold on a sec…wait up!" Jane shouted.
Maura stopped and turned around to see Jane approaching. She couldn't help the mist that formed in her eyes. Jane stopped when she got within a couple of feet of her. Jane was close enough to see that Maura was fighting back tears…which softened her defenses. She stood there for a moment staring into Maura's eyes before she spoke. She had so much to say to her but suddenly couldn't find the words. "Thanks for the wine." That's not how Jane imagined starting the conversation off but at least she said something.
"You're welcome." Maura's voice was shaking as she responded.
Jane sighed. "Look Maur, I don't want to do this anymore, ok? I'm sorry that I stormed out on you after I saw you and Tommy kiss. I have no right to dictate to you who you can and cannot be with….I was a jerk. I miss my best friend, ya know?" Jane's words caused Maura to let the tears flow. Jane's eyes also became moist and her throat constricted as she fought her own release of tears. "I miss you….. not being a part of my life…I wanna fix it…please? I don't care if you and Tommy end up together…I just need my best friend back, ok?" Jane longed to touch Maura but didn't trust herself at the moment. She was feeling exceptionally raw and exposed…. deathly afraid that she wouldn't be able to hold back and control her feelings if she did touch her. "So, can we move past all of this and go back to being best friends…..please?"
Maura allowed Jane's words to flow through her. She just wants me as her best friend…..nothing more. She's really not in love with me anymore…I'm too late….
"Jane, Tommy and I are not together….. nor will we end up together." Maura really needed to make this perfectly clear to her.
Well then, why were you kissing him? Jane thought to herself. Leave it along Rizzoli…..it's not important. "Okay, okay, whatever…either way…it doesn't matter anymore to me. I'm gonna support you no matter what, ok? I'm going back to being the best friend you deserve."
Maura continued to look down at her feet as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She remained quiet.
"Are we good? Are we ok?" Jane ducked and lowered her head to capture Maura's eyes and then visually raised Maura's head up so she could maintain eye contact between them.
Maura finally raised her head and met Jane's gaze. "Yes Jane, we're good…..I very much wish to move past all of this…I miss our friendship."
Jane released a deep breath…..Thank God! "Wanna come back inside?" Jane offered.
"No, no thank you…..I really am very tired and would like to just go home." Maura omitted that she just couldn't stomach anymore Lisa and Jane moments.
Jane was slightly disappointed. "Oh…..well, okay…careful going home….see ya tomorrow?"
Maura nodded as she spoke, "I will….and yes…..see you tomorrow. Good night Jane."
Jane watched as Maura got into her car and pulled away. She then turned around and headed back up to her apartment. Even though she felt better that she had made peace with Maura, her heart still ached for other reasons she chose to deny. Get over it Rizzoli!
When Jane walked back into her apartment, everyone seemed to be wrapping it up and saying goodnight. She overheard her mother telling Lisa that it had been nice meeting her.
Frankie walked over to Jane and touched her arm…"you ok?"
Jane turned her gaze towards him and shook her head. "Yeah, Yeah…..I'm good…..thanks Frankie…..for everything." Jane believed that Frankie was the best brother anyone could ever hope for…. and more than made up for having another brother like Tommy.
"See ya tomorrow Jane." Korsak said as he walked out the door, followed by Frankie, Tommy, and their mother. Jane didn't bother to acknowledge Tommy as he walked past her. That left her and Lisa alone, standing in the middle of the room. Jane didn't like the look she saw on Lisa's face and knew that a very uncomfortable conversation was looming on the horizon.
Lisa's innate directness once again presented itself. She looked hard into Jane's eyes before she spoke. "Care to share what's going on between you and Maura Isles?"
Jane stood there in silence for a moment wondering just how much, if any, she should tell Lisa.
"I thought that the two of you were just friends." Lisa continued with eyebrow arched.
Jane remained silent a moment longer before responding. "We are."
"Really? Hmmm…..well, it sure doesn't seem that way. It seems an awful lot like jilted lovers going at it. What gives?" Lisa was trying to remain calm as she spoke but when Jane didn't respond, her frustration grew. "Jane? I need to know where you're at emotionally…..okay? Is it with me or is it with Maura? Because….I'm starting to fall for you…so, if I need to walk away…let me know now. It'll still hurt… but it's going to hurt me a lot more later…. if I continue to fall in love with you…only to have you leave me for Maura in the end."
In frustration, Jane ran her fingers through her long raven tresses and sighed. "Honestly Lisa…I don't know where I'm at." Jane finally answered in exasperation. She was so confused and conflicted.
There was a long pause between them as they continued to stare at each other "I see...…well then, how bout you call me if and when you figure it all out." Tears welled up in Lisa's eyes. "I may or may not still be here." With that, Lisa gathered her stuff and left.
Jane stared at the closed door. Fuck me!