The rest of the week had been gone in a blur. The case had kept occupied both Maura and Jane to the very end of Sunday evening. Maura had to cancel her date with Guillermo, which Jane showed no emotion for when Maura had broke the news to her as they traveled to find another suspect. Nor could they rebook the date as Guillermo was heading back to Spain on Tuesday morning. The homicide eventually unveiled to be a series of murders that have been unsolved for the past three years- state wide. The solving of the case resulted in an acknowledgement of Jane and her hard work, not to mention an increase in responsibility and salary. It was hard to imagine her surprise when Val walked in with Cavanaugh on Monday morning at 10am.
"Rizzoli, Alvintzi here is shadowing you for the next two weeks. Teach her well and keep track of her progress. Report back to me after the two week period."
Cavanaugh walked away back to his office, allowing for the two women to introduce themselves. Jane's face turned into an utter scowl. It did not go unnoticed by Val.
"It is a pleasure to learn from you Detective Rizzoli." Val smiled brightly.
Korsak watched the scene from his desk, admiring the new officer in the room.
"Excuse me, one moment." Jane sat up from her desk and walked fiercely to Cavanaugh's room without knocking. She slammed the door behind her.
"What the hell am I doing letting Alvin-that non-American-Austrian officer shadow me?" Jane raged.
"Rizzoli, next time you want to enter my office, you knock. Clear?" Cavanaugh spoke in a stern voice.
Jane's face turned into further annoyance.
"Yes. Why is Alvintzi shadowing me?" Jane asked in a calmer manner, letting the insincerity ring throughout her voice.
"As I had established with you, increased pay means increased responsibility. We need more detectives like you running around. Alvintzi's got a great record. She's been in New York for the past four years and has been trying to transfer down to Boston for two of those years. It was also her preference to shadow a female detective." Cavanaugh explained slowly.
"Of course she asked for a female detective! I'm nearly the only freaken one!" Jane continued outburst.
"Well, Rizzoli, take it as a damn compliment, because that's what it is. End of discussion." Cavanaugh stood up to exit the room.
"Now, if you excuse me. I have a meeting. He left the room calmly, cell phone in hand.
After he had closed the door, Jane let out a mumble.
"With my mother."
Jane exited Cavanaugh's office and back into the bullpen to see that Korsak has taken more than a liking to Val. He was bright red and giggling at nearly everything she had said. Jane got the corner of Vince's eye and his expression changed, causing Val to look at Jane.
"Pleasure to see you back. What is on the agenda today, Jane? May I call you Jane?"
"You may not. I am Detective Rizzoli and as far as I'm concerned, you are Officer Alvintzi."
"Noted, Detective Rizzoli." Val smiled slyly.
Korsak watched the interaction from the background and nearly shuddered at Jane's choice of words. Jane sat down in her chair and booted her computer up. Alvintzi grabbed a nearby chair and placed it near Jane and her desk.
"May I help you?" Val asked sweetly.
"Yeah. See this pile of cases. Start alphabetizing them by case number." Jane grabbed a group of paper over a hundred. It was not entirely necessary to do; it did make the job of filing them slightly easier though.
"Detective Rizzoli, I assume that this will not be the majority of my shadowing. Seeing how I could have shadowed a librarian for that manner. It would be unproductive for our pay grades."
Jane inhaled deeply.
"No. It will not. I need to get a coffee." Jane grabbed her coat from the back of her chair and began walking to the elevator while dialing Maura's cell phone number.
"Doctor Isles"
"Why do you answer the phone like that if you have caller ID?" Jane asked angrily.
"It is a professional habit and for that matter, I did not look at the screen." Maura annoyingly answered.
"Can you meet me for coffee, please?" Jane breathed out.
"Rough day already?" Concern showed in the doctor's voice.
"You have no idea."
"Be there in five."
Jane entered the cafe. Fortunately for her, her mother was off. She was not in the mood to be badgered with questions for her angry state. She ordered her own coffee and Maura's coffee as well. She grabbed a table for two in the corner.
Maura came down dressed in a beige blazer with a black blouse and black dress pants. Her hair was slightly straighter than normal. She smiled brightly when she noticed Jane. She took the seat across from Jane, setting her handbag in her lap.
"What's going on?" Maura asked worriedly.
"Officer Alvintzi! That's what's going on." Jane exclaimed.
It took a moment for Maura to recall who exactly Jane was referring to.
"Oh, Val? She seemed nice. What about her?"
"She is not nice and I'm pretty sure her accent is fake. Who talks like her? And she's shadowing me for the next two weeks!" Jane put her head down as though it was the end of the world. Both her hands lay across the table.
Maura placed her hand over one of Jane's and brushed her thumb over it. Jane looked up into Maura's eyes.
"I've missed you." Jane said simply. A smile began pulling at the corners of her mouth, causing two dimples to show.
Maura showed back a smile as though the simple interaction had made her week.
"I've missed you too. This past couples of weeks have been very tumultuous, in work and outside of."
Jane nodded quietly. Catching the implication of what Maura was saying. However, Maura felt it necessary to say regardless.
"Not a lot of time to think. That's for certain." She continued.
Jane glanced up and met Maura's eyes, trying to promise her more with just a look.
"Ah, Doctor Maura Isles. It is nice to see you again." The Austrian accent shined its way through the room and reached the back of Maura. Maura turned slightly in her chair to see Val walking up to the two of them. Jane's face turned into a grimace.
"I apologize. Did I interrupt a moment?" Val nodded towards the women's hand holding.
Jane immediately retracted her hands.
"No. Nothing at all." Jane answered.
Maura cast a glare over at Jane, disapproving of her response.
"How have you been since we have last met, Doctor Isles?" Val asked sweetly, her eyes twinkling with sincerity.
"I have been busy but well. You may call me Maura. How have you been, Val?"
"Great. I have begun my journey of shadowing with Detective Rizzoli here. I am certain she will teach me more than some simple filing tasks."
Maura met Jane's eyes to say "really?", Jane returned her look with eyes a puppy may give when it is being punished.
"Maura, may I ask if you have plans this weekend?"
"She does. She will be at my place all weekend." Jane answered aggressively. Maura turned her head to face Jane's expression.
"Oh, perhaps sometime during the week then? There is a restaurant that I have been meaning to try. French cuisine. However, being in this new city has left me limited company. Not that your company is last resort, anything but. I was hoping you would like to try it with me." Val's eyes nearly dazzled as she spoke.
"Jane and I would love to try it with you. How is Wednesday evening?" Maura asked excitedly.
"Fantastic! I shall bring another guest as well." Val responded excitedly. She eyed up the detective's response as well.
A sour scowl came across Jane Rizzoli's face for the umpteenth time today.