A/N: Hey everyone. Here is another chapter. Thanks for all the great reviews. Keep 'em coming because I absolutely love reading them. Did you like the return of Ucky Sluckey? Maybe some more of him? We'll see ;o) I hate him too. Thanks as always to artgrrl1989 for all your help. I really appreciate it. If you haven't checked out her story Origins then I highly recommend that you do. Great story. I give you chapter ten. Please enjoy and don't forget to review.
Arriving at their seats 11 and 12, row A in field box number 18, Jane and Maura sat down in silence taking in the scenery in front of them.
The Boston Red Sox were currently on the field getting in their pre-game warm-up and practicing. In the outfield players were doing different sorts of sprints and stretches. A couple players were throwing the ball around stretching their arms.
The infield was bustling with players throwing the ball back and forth, throwing grounders among other types, warming up.
"So what do you think?"
"Wow Jane, it's beautiful. Now I see why you're so enamored with this game. It's so different than watching it on television." The last sentence was more of a whisper in awe to herself but Jane caught herself smiling at the innocence of Maura.
"Alright. It's quiz time."
"I didn't know we had to take a quiz," Maura looked at Jane confused.
"No, not that type of quiz. I just wanna see how much you know about baseball." Jane pointed to the bases in the infield, "do you know what those are?"
Maura smiled because she knew the answer. "Yes. Those are bases.
"That's right," Jane pointed to each according base, "that's first, second, third, and home plate."
"Oh." Maura had an epiphany. "That's where people get the dating reference from.
Jane couldn't help from busting out laughing. "Yes. That's where first base, second base, third base, and home plate dating references come from."
"Each base is a different stage. First base is holding hands, second base is kissing, third base…"
"Maur, I know the stages." Jane cut her off before Maura could take the explanation any further.
As time started getting closer for the game to start, more people were filtering in to their seats. Jane pointed over to the opposite side of the field pointing at the big green wall.
"See Maur, that is what I was telling you about last night. That is the Green Monster."
"Well I can see now why it is referenced as a Monster. It is a rather large wall."
"Yea it is. I never understood why they made the wall so big? Maybe it's to keep visitors from hitting home runs?"
"Close but no cigarette."
"You mean cigar."
"Oh, right."
"What do you know about the Green Monster Maur?" Jane wasn't questioning her ability but was wondering how Maura only heard of the Green Monster last night and knows about it. That's right, I forgot I'm talking to google-mouth. Jane sat there prepared for her daily lesson. I don't care. It's one of her cute qualities.
"Well I did my research because something called the Green Monster intrigued me to learn more about it. The Green Monster is 37 feet and 2 inches in height. The wall is approximately 310-315 feet away from home plate which makes it a popular target for right-handed hitters." As people were coming to their seats they started paying attention to Maura's spontaneous lesson about the Green Monster.
"That doesn't really answer my question though." Jane noticed more people paying attention as she asked her question.
"Well, let me finish and you'll find out. The reason why the wall was built so high was to reduce the amount of cheap home runs being hit because of the wall's close proximity to home plate. Here's what's interesting though."
"Ooooh. What's that?" Jane mock rolled her eyes even though she loved listening to all of Maura's fun facts. Maura lightly jabbed Jane in the ribs with her elbow in a teasing manner.
"The Green Monster is the highest wall in all of the Major League, however, it is not the tallest amongst all professional fields. That title belongs to a wall in Sovereign Bank Stadium in York, Pennsylvania which is six inches taller."
Jane looked around and noticed there were many people transfixed on Maura hanging on to every word that was coming out of her mouth.
"For most of the history of the Green Monster it was called, simply, The Wall. The scoreboard at the bottom has not been there since the opening of Fenway Park. It was added in 1934 and there are still people behind it changing the numbers by hand." Maura stopped and was content on the information she was able to divulge to Jane. She was so transfixed on telling Jane about what she knew she now just realized all the people that were listening to her intently. When she finished some people started to clap and she gave a shy wave as to say thank you.
"Dang Maura. You really can catch people's attention with your google-mouth." Especially mine. Besides all that cleavage. "Okay Dr. Smartypants. Let's see if you did your research on who plays what position."
"Give me your best shot." Maura was ready for the challenge headed her way.
"Who covers home plate?"
"That would be the catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia."
"Okay. Who covers first, second, and third base?"
"The first baseman is Adrian Gonzalez, the second baseman is Dustin Pedroia, and the third baseman is Will Middlebrooks. He's covering for Kevin Youkilis who is currently on the disabled list."
Jane quirked an eyebrow in shock of how much information the ME retained in such a short amount of time. She's good. I think I'm in love. Jane didn't realize such a simple statement might become so true.
"You got it. What is the position that is played between second and third base?"
"That would be the shortstop who is Mike Aviles."
"Correct. Who plays out in left field?"
"The left fielder is Cody Ross."
Jane nodded her head. "What about center and right field."
"The center fielder is Marlon Byrd and the right fielder is Ryan Sweeny."
"Do you know who the pitcher is going to be tonight?"
"According to the pitching rotation it should be Josh Beckett. He, however, will not be batting. That hole will be filled by David Ortiz who is the designated hitter."
"Wow. I think you officially learned all you could about the Red Sox in one night."
"Oh no. I only learned about the Green Monster in one night. I have been studying the Boston Red Sox for a while now. You got me interested in them because I love watching the games with you and I started doing my research."
"You did that all for me?"
"Yes. Does that surprise you."
"Yeah, kinda." Jane left it at that. Woman, you make me so happy I could kiss you. Which is what I tried to do before Ma came storming in like a freakin' hurricane.
The first inning was uneventful like most baseball games but the pace was starting to pick up halfway through the third inning. Although what wasn't unusual was that it was halfway through the third inning and there were already some drunk jerks who ruin the game starting to get rowdy.
"HOT DOGS! GET YOUR HOT DOGS! FRESH BALLPARKS, GET'EM WHILE THEY'RE HOT!"
"Hey Buddy!" Jane shouted over to the hot dog vendor coming down the steps and waved at him so he could see her through the crowd of people. The jovial heavyset man came down the steps to where Jane and Maura were sitting. "Gimme two of those."
"Yes ma'am. That'll be $6."
"Man you guys get expensive." Jane pulled out her money and handed the man a $6.
"Enjoy ladies." The man started his trek back up the steps yelling his scripted speech which made Maura jump because she was not expecting him to be that loud.
Maura was holding the aluminum foil wrapped ballpark staple and was looking at it quizzically.
"You eat snails and you mean to tell me that you have never had a hotdog before?" Jane looked at Maura in disbelief that in all her life she has never had a hotdog before.
"It's called escargot and it doesn't come from different animals rejected body parts."
Jane just shrugged her shoulders and took a bite of her hotdog while Maura was still studying the now unwrapped hot dog.
One of the rowdy drunk jerks sitting behind them decided he was going to add his two-cents into their conversation. "Hey baby! I got a hotdog you can try that is 100% pure beef."
"Maura turned intrigued by the man's offer "Really? What kind is it?"
"I've got a foot long…"
Jane knew instantly where this was going and before the drunk could finish his sentence she grabbed her badge and flashed it at the man to let him know who he was talking to. "I'd advise that you keep from finishing that sentence before I haul your ass in for public intoxication."
That seemed to sober the man up some. "Sorry ma'am. It's all in good fun."
"Not when you make yourself sound like a drunk pervert." Jane stared at the man burning holes through him until he finally decided to sit down and shut up. She received a round of applause from fellow fans that were appreciative of her getting the man to finally shut up.
Jane turned her attention back to Maura. "Sorry about that. That can be the bad thing about being a beautiful woman," the words were out before Jane could censor herself and immediately started to blush before she could finish her sentence, "drunks have a tendency to be perverts."
She thinks I'm beautiful. Well you are beautiful too Jane Rizzoli. Maura herself started to blush at being called beautiful by the person who almost kissed her before they were interrupted. "Well thank you for looking out for me. You're my hero." Maura leaned over and gave Jane a peck on the cheek and started eating her hotdog like nothing happened.
Jane all of a sudden felt like her cheek was on fire and then realized that Maura just gave her a kiss. Not one like she wanted earlier but one she liked nevertheless.
It was now the bottom of the fifth inning and the Red Sox were up to bat. The score was 3-2, the home team up by one. Jane and Maura were having a blast at the game and Maura loved every time the wave was done. She would get excited and almost jump up before it was their turn.
Jane's favorite player, Dustin Pedroia, was up to bat. Both Jane and Maura were watching intently. Jane was watching intently because Dustin is her favorite player and Maura because Dustin is Jane's favorite player. The Yankee's pitcher hurled the ball towards his catcher and Dustin was a little late on his swing causing a foul ball.
Jane and Maura both got excited because the ball was headed along the fence line in their direction. They both rushed over to the fence in hopes of being able to scoop the ball up. Maura started leaning for the ball but as she did her balance shifted and started making her go over the fence head first.
Jane was quick to react and quickly grabbed Maura by the hips pulling her back over the fence with more strength then she realized she had. As Jane pulled her back up she had pulled her up close to her where their hips were almost touching and their faces only mere inches apart. Each was breathing hard from the rush of adrenaline. Jane was staring at Maura's lips and licked hers while staring.
Kiss me Jane.
Will they or won't they? What do you think? Please let me know how you liked it or disliked it by hitting the little blue button below. Thanks for reading everyone.