Keep those hands to yourself, Missy
AN: There is a number of Fanfics available where Maura slaps Jane. The general consensus is that she was justified in doing so; therefore there is never any reprimand. I am not going to start a debate of justified hitting versus domestic violence. However, based on stereotypes, Jane is more likely to resort to violence. Not saying that she would – personally I could not let Jane intentionally hit Maura. But misunderstandings could occur and Angela is very disappointed.
I promise to delete if it cause offense.
"C'mon, Maur!" Jane whined. "I need to see this game!"
Maura moved the remote out of her wife's reach while keeping her eyes trained on the television. She seemed to be totally engrossed in the documentary, but the Jane did notice the sly smile Maura is trying to hide.
"MAURA!" Jane stomped her feet.
"What?" Maura asked presumably innocent.
"Can we please watch the game now?" Jane asked impatiently.
"But Jane," Maura whined. "This is the best part!"
Jane stared at her incredulously. "You have seen it twice already. And this is a DVD that you can watch at any time, not a live Game. You can watch it later!"
"This is science, Jane. This is making the world better, unlike a stupid ball game." Maura insisted, dangling the remote just out of Jane's reach.
"That is it." Jane pronounced and lurched at the remote.
Maura expected this and was ready to defend the priced object. Well, for a few minutes at least. Jane was really looking forward to this game for days and Maura will not deny her. Regardless of the winner, Jane would see the kick off.
Deep down Jane was very aware of it. Yet, she had a competitive streak and would not relinquish before putting in a decent effort. She wanted to have control of that remote and she will get it. Even if she was paralysed with laughter and her wife was not an easy target to start with.
Both ladies tumbled from the couch, but this did not stop the battle for control. Jane tried to isolate Maura's hands from each other and to pin Maura's free hand. Thereby she would be able to take the remote without much trouble. Maura was not making it easy for her. She was pushing Jane away, changing the position of the remote (and Jane's approach) whenever it was safe to do so.
Jane then saw her opportunity. She had lighting fast reflexes and placed herself between Maura and the remote. Maura's vision was obscured with Jane's back. As she tried to get a better visual, Jane pulled the remote from her hand rather forcibly. Unfortunately Maura just managed to peer over Jane's left shoulder. As Jane yanked the remote away, she flung her hands over her shoulder – hitting Maura on the eye.
Maura cried out in pain. Jane immediately dropped the remote to attend to Maura.
"Are you okay? I am so sorry, Maura. I did not mean to hit you." Jane apologized. She gently pulled Maura's hand away to examine her eye, guilt piercing her heart as she saw the tears running down Maura's cheek.
"Fuck! I shouldn't have rough housed. I am so, so sorry Maura. Are you okay? Do we need to get a doctor?" Jane was on the verge of panicking.
"Maybe some ice." Maura offered weakly. A punch in the eye hurts.
"Okay!" Jane responded eagerly and ran to the kitchen. She returned within a few moments with an ice pack wrapped in a dish cloth. She placed it gently on the point of impact.
"I am so sorry, Amore. I am such a fucking jerk. I –"
Maura cut her off. "It was an accident, Darling. I will be fine."
"How can you say that? Just look at you? It is all my fault." Jane ranted as Maura pulled her down on the couch.
This was not the first time that Maura encountered Jane's guilt. Knowing that nothing that she will say will pacify Jane's guilt, she gently placed her hand on the detective's neck and pulled her forward that their heads are touching. After a few calming moments, Maura moved her hand to Jane's cheek and pulled back to look her in the eyes.
"It is not your fault, Jane. We were playing and accidents happen." Maura said firmly. "I don't want to hear another word of it. Let's watch your game."
Jane shook her head adamantly and picked up the remote from the floor. She handed it to Maura, already punishing herself for the incident.
Maura sighed. "Jane, we both had fun. You don't blame the boys when you play with them and get injured. If the roles were reversed, you would not have blamed me. Therefore you don't get to blame yourself for this incident." Maura ended the discussion by tuning in to the game.
Jane settled back on the couch, but Maura knew that Jane was still berating herself internally. Leaning over she kissed Jane softly. "I mean it." Maura then lie on the couch, with her head in Jane's lap.
Jane contemplated the doctor in her lap for a moment. "Can I at least kiss it better?"
"Of course."
Jane removed the ice pack from her wife's eye and kissed the injury tenderly. "Much, much better." Maura murmured as she relaxed in Jane's lap. Jane then obediently concentrated on her game as she was playing with Maura's hair. Soon Maura drifted off.
R&I
Maura woke up first the next morning. She went to the en suite bathroom to use the toilet and gasped as she saw her face in the mirror. She had a very pronounced black eye, one that she would not be able to hide completely with make-up. It is going to be a very long day. Jane would be distraught if she saw this. All Maura's effort the previous night to calm Jane down would be in vain.
After washing her hands, Maura headed down stairs to start a very strong pot of coffee. She was still setting up the machine, when Angela came in from the guesthouse.
"Good morning, Sweetheart." Angela greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning." Maura greeted as she made the final adjustment.
Angela gasped as Maura turned to face her. "What happen to your face?" she asked concerned.
"Jane hit me."
Jane appeared in the kitchen before Maura had a chance to elaborate on her explanation.
"Morning, Ma!" Jane greeted as Maura turned away to hide her face from Jane for the moment.
Angela just looked at Jane incredulously, before slapping Jane through the face.
As the slap echoed through the room, Maura turned around shocked. Jane rubbed her face upset. "What the fuck was that for?" she demanded angrily.
"If you think for one moment that I would idly stand by while you assault your wife, Jane Clementine Rizzoli, you are sorely mistaken."
Jane raised her hands defensively. "Ma, it was an acci –"
She is however cut off with a second slap, even harder as the first one. Before Jane could react, Maura planted herself firmly between the Rizzoli's.
"Don't hit her again!" She informed Angela coldly as she pushed the older woman away. Maura breathe deeply. "Jane did not mean to hit me, Angela." Maura said more calmly.
"That is what the abusers always say." Angela retorted angrily. "I saw it on Oprah."
Maura felt Jane moving behind her to talk to her mother. She put out an arm to keep Jane behind her.
"You don't even know the circumstances." Maura objected.
"There is no excuse!" Angela snarled.
"You are absolutely right, there is no excuse for hitting another person – and you are by no means excluded from that, Angela." Maura scolded sternly. "Let us sit down and discuss this as adults."
Angela glared at them for a moment and then sat down with a huff. Maura guided Jane to the opposite site, ensuring that she was out of Angela's reach. Not willing to leave the two Rizzoli's alone; Maura reached over and took an apple.
"This is a talking apple."
She was interrupted by Jane: "Really."
Maura glared at Jane and then continued to explain. "You – both of you – are only allowed to speak when you have the apple. Understood?"
Jane made a noise that could perhaps be an agreement. Angela nodded curtly. She learned long ago not to cross her daughter in law. Maura beamed at them, sitting down as well.
"Good. Since I have the apple, I will begin. Angela, Jane did not mean to hit me and she is already feeling horrible about it." Angela wanted to protest, but Maura raised a finger to silence her. "You of all people should know that Jane will never raise her hand intentionally against me." Maura chuckled a bit. "We were wrestling for the remote when this happened. As Jane won the remote, I my face was in her line of movement. I was behind Jane and she could not see that I changed my position."
Angela was looking at booth woman incredulously. Jane shrugged as Maura looked at her, silently giving consent that Angela may have the next speaking turn. Maura slide the apple towards Angela.
"You were rough housing?"
Both women nodded shyly.
"Jane, what did I tell you about that?" Angela demanded.
Jane rolled her shoulders: "Our house, Ma. Our rules." She answered before Maura interceded again.
"I guess that resolves it then." Angela stood up, already planning the breakfast.
"Ahem!" Maura interrupted. Angela was looking at her innocently. "Don't you think that you own Jane an apology?"
Jane looked as if she just wanted to disappear. Angela looked that she wanted to argue, but she knew Maura better.
"I am sorry, Baby." She said as she hugged Jane.
"It's okay, Ma." Jane said embarrassed, before breaking away to go upstairs.
Maura prepared an icepack and went after Jane. She found Jane slumping on the bed.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she handed Jane an icepack.
"Like the biggest coward ever." Jane grumbled as she sat up.
"Why would you feel like that?"
"I was hiding behind my wife's back?" Jane was genuinely horrified with the state of affairs.
Maura sighed. The Rizzoli's and their pride be damned – she had enough to deal with today. Be it as it may, it will not solve anything to get involve with an argument with Jane now. Maura pressed her own cheek against Jane's still hot cheek.
"You were not hiding; I intervened – just like you do when my parents attack me. As your wife, it is my job to protect you. That is not up for discussion. You and I both know that you would have allowed your mother to continue slapping you until she decided it is enough. Even if I did condone hitting, you did nothing to deserve this. Finally, since we are both injured, I think we should spend the day kissing it better."
The last sentence elicited a smirked from Jane. "That would not look suspicious at all."
Maura just smiled brightly. "Do you really care?"