A/N: Thank you so much for all of your comments. I promise your questions will be answered soon. Jane and Maura still have plenty ahead for them to figure out. Oh, and an extra special thank you to whichever lovely reader nominated me for Best New Author and this story for Best Angst/Drama for the Rizzles Fan Awards. Those nominations really made my day, so thanks again. In fact, I think I'm still on cloud nine and I can't stop smiling. That's how excited I am. :)
Maura Isles Rizzoli was pensive. She still had the divorce papers hidden in the drawer of the nightstand in the guest bedroom. Maura knew it wasn't the best hiding spot for the papers, but she was more concerned with close proximity than how well they were hidden. While lying in bed, Maura made a habit of reaching into the nightstand and pulling out the papers. This habit of hers was masochistic, but it made the situation all the more real for her. She was brought to tears each time she looked at them, but whenever she had second thoughts, she looked at the photo of Jane kissing another woman and all of her doubts were set aside. Her wife had been unfaithful and, although she wasn't out to make Jane suffer, she still wanted their marriage to be over. The sooner the papers were served, the sooner she could get on with her life. There would be no dating other women in the immediate future because she wanted time to heal. Her vows were sacred to her and she wasn't quite ready to experience an emotional or even sexual relationship with a woman who wasn't Jane.
When Maura woke up the next morning, the papers were still neatly laid out on the other side of the bed. There were no wrinkles on them and everything was still in place. Throughout her marriage, Maura had become used to sleeping on one side of the bed and that habit still hadn't broken. The papers were on what would—no, what should—have been Jane's side. It was yet another reminder for Maura of how alone she was. Jane was still fast asleep, so it wasn't at all difficult for Maura to sneak out, their divorce papers in hand.
When it came down to who was going to serve Jane, Maura now had only one person in mind: Tommy Rizzoli. Even before Maura had become a Rizzoli, she and Tommy were 'close,' to say the least. It was an awkward situation the two of them had been in, but even while Tommy had eyes for her, she still only had eyes for Jane. Jane had been her world from the beginning and Tommy had grown to understand that and see her as a big sister no different than he saw Jane although he (and the rest of the Rizzoli clan) was always nicer to Maura.
They had agreed to meet at a coffee shop near Park Street. The meeting could have been held at a more secluded location, but Maura wanted to be somewhere crowded. Being in a crowded location prevented either of them from having an emotional outburst. Tommy was unaware of their separation let alone the divorce papers and Maura hoped they could be two rational adults without Maura crying or Tommy showing any anger toward his sister.
"Dr. Rizzoli," Tommy said, knowing Maura had loved hearing her married name. The two of them shared a hug and Maura tried her hardest not to cry. He had said her last name, the name she loved and thought she would be keeping for the rest of her life.
"Thank you for meeting me here," Maura said awkwardly as she clutched the envelope that held the papers.
"Where's Jane?" Tommy asked. "You two never do anything without each other."
Maura cleared her throat to prevent herself from crying. "Jane and I are separated."
"Well, she's not here right now, so you're separated," Tommy responded, trying to make light of the situation.
"Tommy," Maura pleaded. "This isn't easy for me."
"Who else knows?" he asked.
"You're the only one who knows," Maura informed him.
"What about Ma? What about Frankie?" Tommy asked. "Ma's world will be torn apart when she hears this. How can the two of you keep this from the family?"
"Jane and I will find an appropriate time to tell everyone," Maura reassured him.
"So, why are you telling me then?" Tommy asked, knowing Maura had a reason for telling him other than he was family.
"I consider you to be a friend as well as my brother-in-law," Maura began.
Tommy saw right through her explanation. "You want me to serve her, don't you?"
"I would appreciate it," Maura said as she averted her eyes.
"You want me to serve her because you couldn't have Ma or Frankie do it," Tommy began. "I'm the one she isn't close to, so you chose me."
There was no more being strong for Maura. The tears she had held back were now pooling in the corners of her eyes. "Your sister cheated on me."
"No," Tommy insisted. "She couldn't have. That's not Jane. Jane's honest and she always does what's right."
"There were pictures," Maura informed him. "Jane is capable of cheating and she cheated. She betrayed my trust and there's no way I can get back to where we used to be."
Tommy looked at Maura in disbelief. "I'm sorry for being an asshole," he said as he touched her hand. "I'll give her the papers, but I know that's not Jane. Jane doesn't cheat. She loves you. You're all she talks about even when me and Frankie tell her to shut up because the game is on. She talks about you during Red Sox games, during Patriots games, during Celtics games, during Bruins games. Jane used to know sports and know stats on her favorite players, now all she knows is you and she imagines you in different jerseys. She even started a sentence with 'Maura did the cutest thing…' and then she went on about something you did. Frankie and I tuned her out, but she still kept talking. Now you're telling me that that woman cheated on you? I can't believe it."
"Tommy," Maura said, completely frustrated.
"Give me the papers," he insisted and Maura was relieved when she relinquished the papers to him. There would be no more obsessing over them.
"Thank you," Maura said and attempted a smile.
"I'll serve her the papers," Tommy began. "But she's my sister and I want to talk to her. I know something isn't right about this and I need Jane's side of the story. You're a smart woman, Maura, the smartest woman I know. Don't you think talking to Jane and getting the whole story is better than rushing into a divorce? You two haven't been separated long. Ma caught you two making out at the barbecue not even three weeks ago and now you're getting divorced? Jane loves you, Maura, and she would never cheat on you. Just talk to her."
Maura had had enough. She knew asking Tommy was a bad idea and their meeting confirmed it. Tommy was a Rizzoli and she knew his loyalty was still to Jane even though Jane had cheated. Jane was his blood and Maura knew it was his right to react the way he did. Maura had nobody and once their divorce was final, Maura had a feeling she would lose the entire Rizzoli family. She imagined Jane having another wife someday and maybe even having children with this woman. This new woman would attend family functions and spend holidays with them while Maura had nobody but Bass to keep her company. The thought was just too much for her. She decided to take a walk in the park until she knew she was emotionally ready to even be under the same roof as Jane.
