Sorry for the long break but we're back in action.
Enjoy.
Maura and Jane had fallen asleep together on the couch, the blonde's body partially covering the brunette's when they awoke. As soon as they were showered and dressed, the two headed to the clinic together, the doctor leading the former soldier to where Jake was recovering.
Jane walked in and went right to Jake's cage and opened it up. Kneeling down, she gathered the war dog in her arms and hugged him. "Hey buddy." She kissed his head and smiled.
Jake licked Jane's cheek and then laid down in front of her, resting his head in her lap.
"He's still pretty worn out. Which is to be expected. I'd like to keep him one more day for observation." Maura said from behind Jane.
"That's fine. He deserves some rest." She smiled and stoked his back and head slowly. "I know with you he is in good hands."
Maura smiled and knelt down next to Jane to pet Jake gently. "The best. I'm good at what I do. Plus Jake is family. I'll be up front and admit he'll likely get a little more of my attention than any other critter in here."
"Good. He loves you." Jane smiled sweetly. "Me too, by the way."
Maura glanced up at Jane and smiled brightly. "I love you, too. Both of you." She chuckled and then scratched behind Jake's ears.
Jake sighed contently and Jane kissed Maura's cheek. "Let me take you out tonight. A date."
Maura's hazel eyes met Jane's chocolate. "Is the location a surprise or do I get to know where we're going?" She smiled slyly. She'd almost asked about Jane keeping her distance, as planned. But Maura didn't want the soldier to shut herself off again. She wanted Jane to stay with her more than anything.
"It's a surprise. It wont be fancy or anything but I think you'll like it." She smiled and took Maura's hand, her thumb moving over the top slowly.
"I don't need fancy. I've enjoyed every date we've gone on so far." She smiled and kissed the corner of Jane's mouth. "You can stay back here and spend some time with Jake if you'd like. I need to start making my rounds."
Jane smiled and nodded. "I'll stay back here for a bit then I gotta get ready for tonight." She smirked.
Maura cocked a brow and tilted her head slightly, a grin on her lips. "Sounds like quite the undertaking. Now I'm really looking forward to it."
The brunette grinned. "It has a couple of stages. But I think you'll have fun." She smiled brightly, looking up at the blonde with eyes full of love.
"I think so, too." With one last kiss to Jane's forehead, Maura left the room to get to work, a huge smile still on her lips.
Jane left about an hour later, making sure to tell Maura bye then went off and made some arrangements for dinner and fun for the two of them. By the time Maura got off work, Jane was waiting for her, leaning against a crotch rocket with a smile. "Ready?"
Maura smiled and stepped close to Jane, running her fingers along the lapel of her leather riding jacket as she leaned into her. "I am. Have I mentioned yet how sexy you are in this jacket and on that bike?" She winked.
Jane grinned and leaned into her. "Mm I don't think you have. Wanna remind me?" she whispered against Maura's lips.
Maura tugged on Jane's jacket to close the distance between them and then kissed her deeply for the first time in more than a week. "I'll show you just how much I love you in that jacket on the bike later." She said softly against her lips.
"Mm baby." The soldier's hands ran down to the blonde's ass and squeezed. "Can't wait...but first, we have dinner to get to."
Maura bit her bottom lip at the contact and then nodded, reaching around Jane to grab the helmet off the bike. "Let's get going then." She pulled the helmet over her head, a dark shield covering her face, and once Jane was situated, climbed onto the bike behind her.
Jane was happy to have Maura's arms around her the whole way there. Finally pulling into a parking space in front of a Mexican Restaurant called 'San Jose', she helped her off the bike, Jane then got off herself and pulled Maura's helmet off then kissed her nose.
Maura smiled warmly and smoothed out her helmet hair before grabbing a hold of Jane's hand, her thumb brushing over the scar on the back, and walking toward the entrance. "Good choice. It's the best in town."
"Yeah it is. I stopped by to eat before I came to the ranch that same day." Jane grinned then it faded slightly. Choosing this place was appropriate.
"So I never did hear the story of how you got started at the ranch. Did you hear about the job opening in town or just happen upon us?" Maura asked as she held up two fingers to indicate how many was in their party, the hostess guiding them to a table.
"I actually just happened upon the place. Jake and I were tired and we picked it. We would be out of the way if we could sleep in the stables for the night but then I asked if there was job opening and I got both. Might as well work where we slept."
"I've never really been one to believe in fate, but... it seems that's what brought you here. I'm glad you just happened upon the ranch." Maura reached across the table and took Jane's hand in her own again. "I know we've had some rough patches, but you're the best thing to ever happen to me."
"I always wonder what would have been if I went the other way when I came across the fork in the road. I spent a good few minutes deciding which way to go." Jane smiled and kissed the back of Maura's fingers. "I love you and you are the best thing that has ever happened to me too. I know I survived the war just so I could meet you."
Maura smiled and gave Jane's hand a little squeeze. "You belong here. With me. With the ranch. I know things will only getter better."
"Things will get better. I'm going to do what I have to to get better." She stroked her hand with her thumb. "Everything I do... is for you."
"While I love hearing you say that, you should be doing it for you." Maura said softly. "I want you to be as comfortable with yourself as you are with me."
"I know but... I was just running away from myself until I met you. You made me want to fix myself."
"I think that's what makes a couple strong. Wanting to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be for that other person." Maura said while looking into those dark eyes she'd come to love.
Jane nodded. "You're right." Looking up as the waiter came to the table, the traveler spoke in his native language as she ordered what she wanted.
Maura had ordered and the waiter had gone, she looked across the table at Jane questioningly. "I didn't know you could speak Spanish so fluently."
"You never asked." She winked. "I picked it up from a guy I was in the army with. Jorge Lopez. He was pretty cool. Didn't speak English well so working along side him, I learned to pick Spanish up quickly."
"Studies do show that the best way to learn a new language is to immerse oneself in the culture or in an environment where you have no choice but to speak that particular language to communicate." Maura smiled. "So is Jorge still in the military?" She asked delicately.
"He is. Signed up for another four years." She shrugged. "He doesn't have any family back home so the military is all Jorge really knows."
"I imagine the military has become his family." Maura said softly, taking a sip of her water.
"Yeah... there are more than a few like him." She shrugged. "If I hadn't gotten hurt I may have enlisted again."
"Do you think you could've ever gone career?" Maura asked with the slight tilt of her head.
"Yeah I do. A few people wanted me gone a bit earlier but... I'm out now and I'm-I'm glad."
"I'm not happy that you got hurt, but I am glad that you're here now. For selfish reasons, of course." She smiled. "If you had gone career, we might've never met."
"We wouldn't have met. But now that we have, I couldn't imagine my life in any other way." She dipped a chip in the queso and took a bite. "I hope you're ready for fun tonight."
Maura raised a brow. "I am..." She tried to think of what Jane could have up her sleeve. "You're just making my curiosity worse, you know? It's a little torturous."
"Good. Hopefully I picked something you've never done before."
"No matter what you picked, I'm sure I'll have a good time." Maura smiled. "I trust your judgement." That and she just loved being with the former soldier.
When dinner was eaten and the bill paid for by Jane, she loaded back onto the bike and took Maura to a place called Wild Thunder's Fun Park. Walking inside there was a huge game room. Going through to the ticket counter, Jane smirked. "Two for go-carts, please."
"I had never even really considered going go-carting before, but it looks fun." Maura grinned as she leaned into Jane, the cashier handing over two tickets. "Especially if I end up beating you."
Jane laughed. "You beat me and I will let you be on my team for Laser Tag." She laughed and took Maura's hand as they headed outside towards the go-cart track. Handing over the tickets Jane got in a red car and Maura in a yellow. A few others joined them. Sitting behind her girlfriend, Jane called out. "Hey babe, don't run into the wall!"
"Are you insinuating that I'm a bad driver, Jane Rizzoli!?" Maura yelled back, then chuckled to herself and shook her head. She tightened her belt before gripping onto the steering wheel, ready for the green light. She just had to beat that cocky girlfriend of hers.
Jane laughed. "YES!" When the green light lit up, Jane hit the gas and hit Maura's back end. The moment she had enough space out of the gate, she went around Maura and waved.
Maura narrowed her eyes at the former soldier, now more determined than ever to beat her in the race, and stomped down on that pedal. She passed a couple of other carts quickly and managed to trail Jane closely for a bit before passing her with a smirk.
"Hey!" Jane yelled with a laugh and came right back up beside her and bumped into her. "Hola sexy!" She smirked.
"Hey! No fair!" Maura chuckled, even as Jane passed her again, putting a cute pout on the veterinarian's lips.
Jane smirked and blocked another driver from passing them at the end, Jane let Maura win.
"Yeah! Take that!" The animal doctor gloated and jumped out of the cart, doing a little victory dance like she'd seen on a football game she had on one evening while giving the sports Jane loved a go. She bumped hips with Jane playfully at the end of it.
The soldier laughed and then gripped her wrists suddenly, going serious. "Yeah you won... You know what that means?"
Maura's joyful expression turned grave, too, as she lowered her head slightly and raised both brows in questioning. "No..."
Jane pushed her against the pillar before a smirk crossed her face. "You win a kiss." Leaning in, the brunette kissed the doctor. A kiss full of love and lust.
Maura was taken a little by surprise, not knowing exactly what to expect when Jane first pushed her up against that pillar. But the veterinarian poured just as much emotion into the kiss as her girlfriend did, her hands coming to rest on the brunette's sides. "Mm." She smiled afterward, against Jane's lips. "Best prize ever."
She smirked. "Best loss ever." Jane laughed and kissed her nose lightly. "Alright... have you ever played laser tag before?"
Maura shook her head. "No. Despite growing up on a ranch, I was never really a tomboy. So I've never engaged in any games like laser tag." She grinned.
"Well, time to change things." Taking her hand, Jane smiled. "You'll get a taste of what it was like to be on my team in the army."
Maura laced their fingers together as they walked. "I hope my lack of skills aren't too disappointing then." She smiled softly.
Jane shrugged. "It's okay. I'll have fun saving that sweet ass of yours." She chuckled and kissed the back of Maura's hand. Once in the Information and Gear room, he couple strapped on two plastic vests with blue lights then sat down with two other teams of two. A couple in red and a couple in white. They were informed with the rules of the game then sent out into the dark wooden maze of a room. Each going to their own teams recharging places.
Maura peered around the wall, trying to catch any glimpse she could of their opponents, gun ready. "So what's the game plan?" She asked quietly as she turned back to her girlfriend.
"Stay low and stay close to the walls. See anything white or red, point and shoot. Only way we can win is to get as many hits as possible on the others." She whispered back. Jane slipping back into army mode.
Maura studied Jane for a moment before nodding, crouching low as instructed and heading out. It was dark, the air filled with fog from the machines. And even though it was just a game, Maura's adrenaline was pumping. She spotted one of the red vests then aimed and fired, hitting him, an audible frustrated sigh escaping his lips as the blonde smirked.
Jane patted her shoulder with a grin. "That's my girl." Looking over the wall of the bridge they were on, Jane spotted a white and silently aimed and shot her right in the chest. The sound of the gun and the vest making her chuckle. "Lucky for them they don't sound like real guns."
Maura just nodded, covering Jane's back. The noises associated with the game may not have sounded like real gunfire, but the veterinarian didn't want anyone sneaking up on her soldier just in case. Spotting the white vest's partner aiming at her girlfriend, Maura gently took hold of Jane's forearm and pulled her down into a squatting position. "No biggie. Just saving you from enemy fire." She chuckled.
"Thanks babe." Jane grinned and kissed her lips briefly. Pulling back she saw a Red coming up at the top of the bridge and in one swift motion Jane fired twice, making him go back to his recharge post.
Maura smirked as she watched Jane and then slipped around the wall, getting one of the white vests again. She had no idea laser tag could be this fun. And she loved watching Jane move. By the end of it, they'd beaten the other teams pretty badly, Maura beaming as she stood next to Jane afterward, while they worked to get their gear off.
Jane looked down at her and grinned. "That was fun and you had some amazing skills back there." She hung up her vest and pulled Maura close. "I was honored to have you on my team."
"Well I learned from the best. I just studied you closely before springing into action." Maura smiled as she hugged Jane tightly, glancing up at her. "Thank you for bringing me here. I've truly had a lot of fun."
The brunette hugged her and smiled sweetly. "I've had fun too baby. I love you."
"I love you, too, Jane." Maura said softly and leaned in to kiss her. "So what's next on our agenda?"
"Next is absolutely anything you wanna do. Small or big, I'll make it happen."
"You've already made so many things I wanted to do happen." Maura noted as she ran her hand down Jane's chest, her gaze then meeting the former soldier's. "How about we just go for a ride on that bike in the countryside?"
"Sounds great to me." She smiled and walked out of the Fun Park and back to the motorcycle. Helping Maura with her helmet, she then put on her own and got on. Once Maura was too, she started to ride off into the countryside.
Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's middle and closed her eyes for a bit as she just enjoyed the closeness of her lover, her front pressed against Jane's back and her cheek resting on the brunette's shoulder blade. Once she had opened her eyes, she sighed contently as she enjoyed the sights.
The couple spent the rest of the night there and headed back to the ranch around 3 am. Slipping into bed beside her, She pulled Maura into her arms and rested. Today was perfect with the woman she loved, but tomorrow was going to be completely different. In more ways than one.
Dun dun dun
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