Here we go! Chapter 10! Enjoy :-)
I DO NOT own NCIS, Rizzoli & Isles or anything relate to it.
Jane yawned as she trudged into the Squad Room, her backpack slung over one shoulder and a cup of coffee in hand.
"Good morning Jane," said McGee seated at his desk.
"What's good about it, Tim?" replied Jane, groggy as she threw her things down, flopping down into her chair.
"I take it you aren't in a good mood this morning," said Tony.
Jane cut her eyes at Tony.
"Didn't get much sleep last night?" asked Ziva.
Jane ran her hands over her eyes. "No."
"You've been coming in here for the last month complaining of not sleeping well. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just got a lot on my mind."
"You still aren't obsessing over this Hoyt copycat are you?"
"We have no leads and are nowhere close to finding any."
"We will find him, Jane."
"When? When we find the Ross' bodies?"
"You might want to stop obsessing over this guy, Rizzoli, you're turning into Gibbs," said Tony.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means for the last month you have been mean, irritable, grunting a lot, plus you seem to be becoming best friends with coffee," stated Tony.
Jane looked at the cup in her hand.
"What can we do to help get your mind off this case?" asked Ziva. "How about we hit the gym? Punching things often helps me clear my mind."
Jane looked at Ziva. "Why does that not surprise me?"
"Because she's a ninja," said Tony, making ninja hand movements.
"Look, I'm sorry I have been so unpleasant lately, I will work on it." Jane tapped the keyboard to her computer only to find her fingers attached to the keys. "What the...? Are you serious?"
Tony, Ziva and McGee laughed.
"Thought we would help you work on your unpleasant mood. The classic superglue on the keyboard trick. Always good for a chuckle," smirked Tony.
"I'm not laughing!" Jane tried to remove the keyboard from her fingers with no luck. "I work with a three over grown children!"
"And you make four, Rizzoli!" said Gibbs, rounding the corner.
"They glued my hand to my keyboard, Gibbs!"
"I sure they did it in love, Rizzoli. All this goofing off better mean that all my work is done!"
"All my reports are done," said McGee. "Sitting on your desk."
"As are mine," added Ziva.
"Working on it," grunted Jane, trying to remove her fingers from the keyboard. "As soon as I unstick my fucking fingers you will have it."
Gibbs looked at Tony.
"I'll get to work on that today, Boss," said Tony.
"I have a conference in MTAC. Try to refrain from gluing anyone else to their computer while I'm gone," Gibbs headed for the stairs.
Jane snatched her keyboard plug from her computer before heading for the elevator, mumbling to herself.
"Why do I get the feeling we are going to pay for that later?" said McGee.
"Because we are," said Tony.
Jane pressed the elevator button rapidly, still mumbling to herself. The doors slid open to reveal Grant standing inside.
"Morning Rizzoli," smiled Grant.
"I thought they sent you back to the Hoover Building?"
"No, you just wish that they would," Grant looked down at Jane's hand. "You got a little something on your hand there, Jane."
"Shut the hell up, Grant," spat Jane as she moved Grant aside to get on the elevator.
Kate sat at her desk enjoying a fast food breakfast sandwich when her attention was pulled to the disgruntle sounds of Jane Rizzoli coming down the hall. She looked up to see Jane standing in her doorway with a computer keyboard stuck to her hand.
"Here I was a well-respected Boston homicide detective and I gave that all up to become Special Agent keyboard hand all so you could go off and live happily ever after with your immature husband and his NCIS minions!" spat Jane.
"Super glue again?" asked Kate.
Jane held up the keyboard. "What gave you that idea?"
Kate laughed.
"Don't laugh. It's not funny."
"I'm sorry."
"Tell me you have something to get this off?"
"Acetone will do the trick but unfortunately I don't have any."
"Of course! Who just keeps acetone laying around?"
"Do you even know what it is?"
"No."
"It's an organic compound often found in nail polish remover."
"Why couldn't you just say that?"
"Abby might have some in her lab. I can call and see."
"Please!"
Kate picked up her phone, dialing. "Hey Abby, it's Kate. I was wondering if you had any nail polish remover in the lab that Jane can use? No, she isn't taking her nail polish off," Kate looked at Jane's hand. "Okay, thanks." Kate hung up the phone. "She's bringing some down now."
"Thank you," Jane flopped down in the uncomfortable orange chair in front of Kate's desk. "Geez, did you have to bring these uncomfortable chairs from your old office?"
"If you find it so uncomfortable, go sit on the sofa!" Kate attention went back to her breakfast.
"I don't think I have ever seen you eat fast food before."
Kate swallowed. "I don't know what it is but it's like I'm always hungry and for the craziest things! I would never eat these things before I got pregnant but now it tastes like the best thing on the planet."
"I think they call those cravings."
"No, cravings would be my sudden affinity for Cheetos, bacon and anything chocolate."
"So I guess chocolate covered bacon doesn't sound so bad anymore?"
"No, that is still disgusting!"
"Well, if you need a fix for your craving, I still have my candy drawer in my desk."
"Oh, I know! You are out of fudge clusters by the way," Kate took another bite of her sandwich, looking at Jane. "Are you okay? You look like something is on your mind."
"Do you think I'm turning into Gibbs?"
"In what way?"
"Ziva, McGee and Tony seem to think that since we found out about this apprentice, I have been acting like Gibbs. You know, being irritable and what not."
"I can see that."
"You agree with them?"
"You have been a bit moody since you found out but that is to be expected given your connection to the case."
"You're connected to this as well and you're not "moody"."
"That's because my moodiness has nothing to do with the case."
Jane laughed.
"You need to focus on something else, something positive. Have you been meditating? Come over tonight and we will do some yoga."
"I don't want to do yoga," whined Jane, playfully. "Can we just eat some ice cream and watch an action flick?"
"And you claim Tony is immature. Fine, have it your way. It will probably be more effective seeing as how you always fall asleep during child's pose anyway," Kate opened her laptop, scrolling through the screen.
"What are you doing?" Jane got up, walking to the other side of the desk to see what Kate was looking at. "Baby clothes? Don't you think it's a little early for that?"
"I'm eighteen weeks, I figured it wouldn't hurt to do some window shopping."
"You have fifteen items in your cart," Jane pointed her keyboard clad hand at the laptop nearly hitting Kate.
"Would you watch where you are swinging that thing?"
"Sorry."
Just then Abby happily walked in carrying a bottle of nail polish remover. "Okay Jane what are we unsticking this time? Your fingers or your butt?"
Jane held up the keyboard. "Fingers and let's not bring up the butt incidence."
"You were the one who jumped up on the counter spilling that bottle of super glue."
"Don't remind me."
"You were lucky I had an extra pair of pants laying around."
"Yes, those plaid pants with studded suspenders went great with my blazer!"
Abby laughed as she examined Jane's hand. "Kate, do you have any cotton swabs?"
"Yeah, we have some in autopsy," Kate got up and entered into autopsy returning with a handful of cotton swabs.
Abby took the swabs from Kate. "Thanks! Have a seat, Jane."
Jane seat back down in her chair as Abby got to work on removing her fingers from the keyboard.
There was a knock on Kate's door.
"Come in," said Kate.
"Hey girls!" exclaimed Angela walking into Kate's office all smiles.
Jane whipped her head around. "Ma?"
"I was in the neighborhood, thought I would stop by," Angela caught sight of Jane's hand. "Oh! Jane, what happened to your hand?"
"Tony, McGee and Ziva put superglue on her keyboard," answered Abby.
"My, you all sure like playing tricks on each other around here! Didn't you get your bottom super glued once?"
"How did you get down here, Ma? Who let you in?" asked Jane, annoyed.
Angela lit up. "I got a job!"
"A job? Where? Not here!"
"No! You know that little bistro across the street?"
"The one that has been closed down for six months for a health code violation?" asked Kate.
"Yeah, that's the one! You are looking at the new store manager!"
"Are you serious?" questioned Jane.
"Yes!"
"Angela, are you sure you want to work at that place? It has a bad reputation, no one ever goes there," said Kate.
"I've heard but I think I have what it takes to bring it back to life! I mean look what I did with the Division Cafe! With my new ideas and new menu in place, you guys are going to be going there all the time! In fact, that's how I got in here! I talked to Director Vance and the bistro will be allowed to deliver food within NCIS! It's like we will be working together again!"
Jane stood up, some of her fingers still attached to the keyboard. "Just hold on a minute! You want to explain to me why you went and got a job here in D.C.? I thought you were going home?"
"I am going back to Boston, just not right now."
"Then when? You got a job, Ma! You ask me you are trying to settle here! Why are you procrastinating on going back home?"
Angela put her head down.
"What's going on, Ma? Why aren't you trying to go back to Boston?"
"I don't like being there anymore, okay!"
"What? Why?"
"I don't know? It's like ever since you girls left, Boston hasn't felt like home. Nobody needs me anymore. But here, with you and Maura, it feels like old times. I like it."
"What do you mean no one needs you, Ma? Frankie and Tommy are still there, they need you."
"No, they don't. Not like you girls. It's a boys' club up there now. Frankie is detective and is always working and Tommy is caught up in being a family man with Lydia and T.J."
"They are trying to make things work for the sake of their son, Ma."
"Yeah but I barely see them. Tommy thinks that I butt in too much when it comes to how they raise T.J., he and Lydia prefer I keep my distance. We went from having dinner together every night to once a week to once a month. I'm alone most of the time and being in Maura's house by myself, I get lonely."
"Aww, Angela," cooed Kate. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"But it's not like that with you girls. You don't mind having me around."
Jane and Maura looked at each other.
"Most of the time. Look, I never realized just how attached I was to you two until you weren't around anymore. I promise I won't be any trouble for you girls. I took the job as a full time position so I won't be in your hair. Jane, if you don't mind me staying at your place until I get some money saved up to get my own place. Perhaps we can have dinner every now and then. I need to feel wanted and I don't feel wanted in Boston like I do here!"
"Ma, stop!" exclaimed Jane.
Angela became quiet.
Jane looked at Kate who simply nodded. "I figured there was a reason for you taking your time getting back to Boston, I just wasn't sure what." Jane took a deep breath. "I know I'm going to regret this later but if you're happier here in D.C. with me and Maura, you are free to stay."
"You mean that, Jane?"
"I don't want you anywhere you don't feel you're wanted. As much as you get on my nerves, if you want to stay here in D.C., you can stay."
"I'm with Jane, Angela. You are welcomed here as long as you want," said Kate.
"I don't want to interfere. I just want to be near my girls."
"You're not interfering is interfering," said Jane.
Angela rushed over hugging Jane.
"Still not a hugger!"
Angela let go of Jane, looking at Kate. "And as excited as I am about you having a baby and the prospect of having another grandchild, I understand that there are certain boundaries that I need to respect. I know I'm not your baby's biological grandmother but could I at least babysit for you and Tony every now and then?"
Kate tilted her head. "Angela, I would never get in the way of you spending time with your grandchild."
"I can be Nonna?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
Angela smiled big as she wrapped Kate into a hug. "Thank you, Maura. This is even better! Me working across the street I can really make sure you eat and put on weight! Going to get you nice and plump!"
"I still don't want to be fattened up, Angela."
"You don't but my grandbaby does," Angela pat Kate's stomach.
"Aww, all this hugging, I want one too!"
Angela spread out her arms to hug Abby. "I hope me being in D.C. means I get to see more of you too, Abby!"
"Okay, okay, enough with all the hugs! We got work to do, Ma," said Jane.
"Of course, I have to get back to work too. I have a lot to do before the store's re-grand opening. I may be a little late tonight, Jane."
"Yeah, okay."
Angela left the office leaving the three women alone again.
Jane looked at Kate. "I told you this would happen! I said she was going to try to stay here!"
"Is it really that bad, Jane?" asked Kate.
"First Hoyt now my mother is moving in with me, can my life get any more complicated?"
"Your mother isn't really going to try to make me "plump" is she?"
"You might want to add some of those pants with the stretchy waistband to your shopping cart."
Kate's office phone rang. "Dr. Isles," she answered. "Yes, she is right here. Okay, I'll let her know," Kate hung up the phone. "Looks like things are about to get a little more complicated for you, Jane. That was Tony, they have found Tyler Ross' body."
Jane sighed. "Just great," Jane headed out the office.
"Jane, wait!" shouted Abby.
Jane returned to Kate's office holding up her hand with the keyboard still attached. "Would you please get this thing off?"
Gibbs' team along with Grant arrived at the crime scene.
"This place looks familiar," said Tony looking at the house.
"That's because it's where we found Kroy Anderson's body," stated Jane.
"He dumped Tyler's body the same place he dumped Kroy's?" asked Grant. "That's a little strange. Reusing a crime scene."
The team walked inside and was greeted by the sight of Tyler Ross' body surrounded by Metro Police officers. He was seated in a chair in the center of the room, arms and legs bound with duct tape.
"Talk about déjà vu," said McGee.
The Metro P.D. officer from the kidnap crime scene approached Gibbs. "It's Tyler Ross. My guys were instructed to not mess with the body. He's in pretty bad shape."
"We got it from here. Ducky!" Gibbs nodded towards the body signaling for Ducky and Palmer to being their work.
The team watched as Ducky examined the body sticking in his liver thermometer into the body.
"How long has he been dead, Duck?" asked Gibbs.
"Based on the decomposition, nearly a month," replied Ducky.
"Kate said he wouldn't let him live more than a few days," stated Tony.
Gibbs sighed. "Let's get to work."
Jane paced back and forth down the hall as she and Kate watched Ducky and Palmer through the glass window of the autopsy door. "Why are they taking so long?"
"Why are you being so impatient?" asked Kate.
"I thought you were going to do the autopsy? Why aren't you in there helping?"
"They are taking x-rays, I can't be in there," Kate ran her hand over her stomach.
"I just want to know if the murders match!"
"So wait and you will know!"
Ducky signaled for Kate and Jane to enter the room.
"What do you have, Ducky?" asked Jane.
"We will still need to do an official autopsy but from the look of the x-ray, our cause of death looks like a severed spine," replied Ducky.
"It's the same guy. You get any finger prints?"
"We haven't even undressed him yet, Jane, let alone look for prints! You wanted to know if he has a broken neck and we gave you your answer. Anything further you will have to wait," said Kate.
"How long?"
"We have to take photos of all the bruising, do additional x-rays."
"So this afternoon? That's great! Call me if you find something," Jane left autopsy.
Late that afternoon, Kate walked into the Squad Room, dropping a file on Jane's desk. "Ross' injuries mirror that of Kroy Anderson's, he was tortured and beaten. We found what looked like a partial finger print on his arm and some debris. We sent it to Abby for analyses."
"That's good. How long for that?"
"I don't know? Sometime tonight."
Jane picked up her phone. "I'll pay for the Chinese food. What do you want?"
"I'm not waiting around for the results."
"Why not?"
"I'm tired, Jane. Plus, my back is hurting. I'm going home, you're on your own."
"I'll wait with you, Rizzoli," said Grant from his desk behind Jane's. "I'll take some Beef and Broccoli."
Jane looked at Kate.
Kate simply smiled. "Think of it as our ice cream and action flick!" she whispered before she left.
Jane looked back to Grant.
"I'll take some fried wonton too," smirked Grant.
At Kate and Tony's apartment, Kate had changed into a pair of Tony sweats and a biggie t-shirt and was now seated cross legged on the sofa with Tony behind her massaging her back. "Mmm," she moaned. "Your fingers are like magic. Leaning over bodies doing autopsies is really doing a number on my back!"
"You're on desk duty for a reason, Kate. You should have let Ducky and Palmer handle autopsies and take it easy," replied Tony.
"Things go quicker if Ducky and I do the autopsies. Plus Jane wanted the results in a hurry."
"Then Jane should be the one massaging your back!" chuckled Tony.
Kate laughed as she leaned back against Tony. "Jane's baby isn't the one causing my back to hurt like this."
"This is my fault, isn't it," Tony wrapped his arms around his wife's swollen middle.
"Yes, it is! Thank you for the back massage."
Tony kissed his wife. "Anytime."
The doorbell rang and Kate jumped up. "Oh, the pizza is here!"
Tony laughed as he watched Kate practically skip to the door to pay for the pizza, returning to the living room with a smile on her face. "Two pizzas, Kate? We could have shared."
"I don't think you understand how much I want this pizza," Kate took out a slice of her pizza taking a huge bite.
"Mushroom, pineapple, and bacon?"
"Oh yeah!"
"You aren't even going to offer me a slice?'
"You have your own."
"But I want some of yours," Tony slide closer to Kate reaching for pizza.
Kate laughed, pushing Tony away. "I'm serious, I will hurt you!"
Tony pulled Kate into his arms, kissing her cheek.
Kate snuggled into Tony's side as she continued to eat her pizza.
Kate's cellphone began to ring. "Who could that be?" she asked as she wiped her mouth and fingers to answer the ringing device. "Dr. Isles. Hey, Jane! Oh, she did? That's great! Okay," Kate looked over at Tony. "I'll let him know. Okay, bye." Kate hung up the phone.
"What's up?" asked Tony, mouth full of pizza.
"Abby was able to pull an I.D. off that partial print."
"That's great! She found our suspect!"
"Yes and she also thinks she found Penny Ross. The debris we found in Tyler's clothes matches that of a species of trees that grows out in Shenandoah."
"Shenandoah is where we found Jessica's body."
"The police out there have already been notified. The team is meeting at NCIS."
"There goes our movie night. Will you be okay by yourself?"
"Yeah, I'll probably just finish this and head to bed."
"Okay," Tony leaned over to peck Kate on the cheeks. "There's some mint chocolate ice cream in the freezer. Think you can save me some this time?"
Kate smiled to herself as Tony got up to get ready to return to work.
What do you think? Reviews and comments are welcomed and an update is coming :-)