So. Yeah. Here I am again. I know, how boring! As I said, I'm growing so fond of this story that I just can't stop writing! I'm sure I will have to slow down eventually, but for now it's like I have fire in my fingertips!
(C'mon, have mercy, that's Italians for you :P)
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 7.
It was a typical winter night in Boston. Outside, the city was trapped in its freezing weather. The streets were empty and dark. From her window, Jane could still spot two or three brave men on their way home after work, all wrapped up in their coats and scarves, in order to protect themselves from the crispy air, trying to reach their cars without dying of hypothermia.
The wind was blowing furiously.
There wasn't anything about that evening that could be referred to as "typical", as far as Jane was concerned.
In an ordinary day, she would already have arrived at her flat.
In an ordinary day, she would have collapsed on her couch, tired after having worked for hours.
She would have probably ordered a Chinese take-away, maybe Maura and her would have eaten it together, watching some incomprehensible documentary on the TV, without truly following it. (They would have been chatting instead).
Maura –like always- would have complained about the low quality of the food, and Jane about how boring the documentary was. They would have ended up falling asleep on the sofa. Jane would have missed her from the very moment she was gone.
But today wasn't an ordinary day.
Jane was still in her office, at her desk, doing some paper work.
Everyone else was gone already, but she couldn't leave. It would have meant she would have had to face Maura. And she wasn't prepared for it yet.
After speaking with the lieutenant, she managed to avoid her the whole day.
As time passed, she was growing anxious: Jane knew that Maura wasn't stupid, she must have sensed her distance. They usually met up outside, and Jane wasn't going to show up, so Maura would have searched for her inside.
Jane switched off her phone. But avoiding Maura Isles was more difficult than climbing the Everest…
Jane heard someone knocking on the door. She immediately knew it was her, but she decided to stay silent: maybe Maura would have thought she was at home already?
But Maura knew better than that.
"Jane. Honey, please open the door. It's me. And I know you're there, I can see your car is still parked outside".
"Damn it". Jane grumbled, then approached the door in order to open it. She did what she had to, and without even watching or welcoming her friend, she returned at her desk.
"Hi". Maura's was uncertain. She stepped in the office, but didn't had the courage to actually reach the desk. She decided to keep her distance, worried to upset her friend.
"She is so nervous, what's happening to her?"
"Hi. What do you want?".
It was hard to be that cold and detached, but Jane was doing for Maura.
"I've been waiting for you outside for a while now, but you haven't shown up…".
There was no answer from Jane.
"I just thought that maybe…tonight could have been a Chinese night at yours? I haven't seen you all day…". Maura insisted, gaining confidence.
"I've been…busy. And I still am. I think we'll have to postpone, I'm sorry".
"Do you think you can fool me this easily, Jane Rizzoli?".
So, Maura went straight to the point, huh? Jane was surprised: she thought she might have been more subtle.
"I don't know what you're talking about".
"Jane. I know you, I know you're avoiding me. What happened with Cauvaghan? What did he say? I spoke to him this afternoon, but he refused to tell me anything about your morning meeting. He said it was up to you whether to tell me or not. You haven't been suspended, right?".
Maura was so sincere in her worry that Jane couldn't remain silent anymore. She felt the urge to comfort her.
"No, I haven't. Still here. He punished me with some boring paper work, for a month or two. He was too kind. I deserved a lot more".
"Don't say that". And with those three words Jane knew Maura was still feeling guilty about what happened with Korsak. The fact that she thought it was her fault made Maura even more adorable to Jane's eyes. She had to change the subject, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to stick to her plan.
"Remember. Cold and distant. For her"
"What about you?". Truth be told, she was eager to know what happened.
"I haven't been suspended. It went all smooth, actually. He just need my written version of the facts. They will question Bryan tomorrow. I don't think they will give us the case, though. It's too personal".
"Chief was too kind about that too. I insisted on having the case. He said he trusted me, but I'll have to tell Korsak everything that happens. He will be following me 24/7. Quite annoying if you ask me, it's like having a full time babysitter, but it could have been a lot worse".
"Well then. So, come home with me Jane. Seems like we'll have to work pretty hard tomorrow".
Maura smiled at her, it was like going home with her was the best thing of her day, and Jane heart started bleeding at the sight.
"About that. I don't think we should work together on this case anymore. Actually, I've been thinking about calling Dr. Spike…".
Jane had imagined that Maura would have argued about her decision. She had expected her to shout. What she never imagined she would have done was to suddenly start crying and sobbing in front of her.
"What…what are you talking about? You…you don't want me as your medical examiner anymore? I don't understand…".
Jane stood up and approached her. She could see tears in her hazel eyes.
She couldn't resist seeing her in that state, not even for a minute: she hugged her, and began stroking her hair gently.
"God damn it, she is more important than my stupid pride."When they connected, Jane felt like electricity running through her body, and wondered if Maura could feel it too.
"No. Please, Maura, don't cry. It's not like that. I know you are the best. We all know. But you're too involved in this shit. And I'm too involved when it comes to you. I can't function, I can't…what happened yesterday…it just can't happen again, and if somebody's going to hurt you, I know I will panic and react just like I did in that bathroom. I can't loose my job. I can't loose you, either. God, it's complicated. I'm…too weak when you are concerned".
Maura shivered. Jane's words hit her like a train: she was confused by her hot an cold behaviour, but at least she was hopeful again.
"Why didn't you just pop up in my lab today? Why are you avoiding me? We could have talked about it, like two grown up women".
"I know. It's not easy. Please don't make me say it out loud".
"Say what?".
Jane freed herself from their hug and went back to her desk.
"How can I work with you when I…".
"When you?".
"When…". She just couldn't say that. She couldn't lost Maura's friendship over a stupid crush…
"Jane. Is there something you have to tell me?".
Maura's eyes were looking at her, and Jane was so electrified by her that she had to say it.
"The truth is…Maura, the truth is…
You make me come undone".
Jane knew Maura was trying to say something in response, but she didn't let her. She had to finish what she started.
"You see, I was taught how to be a good cop, how to act fast. I know the procedure. I'm rational and impulsive at the same time. I'm like a well-oiled mechanism".
"I know you're the best in what you do".
"That's the point. I'm not, as far as you are concerned. You saw what happened yesterday. You were in danger and I stopped being the balanced, brilliant detective I usually am. I was just a frightened little girl and…I fucked it up. I really screwed it badly. The thing is…the thing is…".
Jane was now mumbling, trying to find the right words to express her feeling, possibly without scaring Maura to death and make her run away like Jane was some kind of creepy monster.
But Maura wasn't scared at all (well, she was scared for other reasons).
She reached her behind the desk and Jane immediately stood up.
No more words were needed: Maura silenced her by gently brushing her lips with a finger.
Then, Maura closed the distance, and their lips connected. It was brief, but enough intense to defeat any army.
It was an atomic bomb.
It was a jump from a high cliff, and Jane felt butterflies erupting in her stomach.
It felt like home, it smelled like brownies and it sounded like a hot breeze that make your skin say thank you for the longed warmness.
It was like Christmas, Easter and New year all put together.
Then it was over, and all that Jane could see were Maura's eyes that looked like melted honey, all that she could feel was her hot breath still lingering on her mouth.
"Now, please, can you make it clear for me?". Maura whispered, asking for some kind of certainty.
Jane brushed her nose with hers in a tender gesture, looking her straight in the eyes.
"The thing is…I may be…actually I think I already am…what I' trying to say is that I'm in love with you, Maura".
Time for the big step, huh?
What do you think? Will they last? Jane's so paranoid :P Ahaha.
You know reviews are always welcomed! They are "like Christmas, Easter and New year all put together!". :P