Jane helped Maura out of the car and took her hand in hers. Jane continued to surprise her by the affection she showed. Maura never thought she would be so open.
"What?" Jane asked wondering why the ME was looking at her so intently.
"I like this," she said raising their interlaced fingers and kissing Jane's hand.
"And I like this," Jane replied kissing Maura. Jane felt Maura smile against her lips.
They entered the bar to find Vince in the same place he was when Jane was last here.
"Dr. Isles!" Vince called out. "Welcome home!" Angela looked up to see Maura and Jane. She smiled at Maura and went to her, kissing her cheek then hugging her. It was good to see her. She missed her girls even Jane although she still wasn't talking to her.
"How long you here Doc?" Vince asked. "Janie didn't say you were coming in."
"Janie didn't say a lot of things," Angela interjected.
"I will be here for a while," she answered ignoring Angela. Vince hugged her.
"Grab a table," he said. "I'll get menus."
"Come on Korsak," Jane complained. "When have we ever needed menus?" Jane grabbed Maura's hand and led them to their table. Maura watched as Angela scowled at Jane who seemed oblivious to her mother's antics.
"Jane, I want to tell Angela about my part in this."
"No, Maura. No good comes of that. Just let her be mad at me."
Maura sighed. "Jane no good can come from lying either."
"We aren't lying," Jane said disagreeing with Maura's assessment.
"Omission Jane. I have realized how drastically our lives would be different if we didn't omit or deflect the truth. There were many misunderstandings that could have been avoided and many nights like last night that could have been enjoyed. And you would never have spent five months doing something you hated."
"The time was good for me, Maura. I learned some things about myself I don't think I would have otherwise." Maura understood. She knew one of those things Jane learned was that she was in love with her.
"But I know that the road would have been easier with openness." Jane nodded. She couldn't disagree with that fact.
"I wish you wouldn't but I respect your need to do it."
"Thank you." Maura stood and straightened her blouse, easing the wrinkles. She walked towards Angela with purpose. She knew this wasn't going to end well but it was necessary. Jane was not going to be in exile alone.
"Angela, do you have a moment?" she asked. Jane leaned back to observe them. Vince slid into the booth.
"Doc is about to do something really crazy, isn't she?" he asked handing her the beer. Jane nodded.
"Sure honey. Vince taking a minute," she called out. He nodded.
"I'm sure glad you're home," Angela said sitting down across from Maura. "Maybe you can talk some sense into Janie. She tell you what she did?"
"That's why I wanted to speak with you."
"Oh, Jane send you over here to plead her case?" she asked loudly. Jane drank her beer. This was Maura's circus. She wasn't going to get roped into it.
"Jane does not need me to fight her battles though I gladly would. No. I came because I wanted you to know I am the one you should be upset with not your daughter." Angela shifted in the chair.
"Why?" Maura looked at her directly. "What did you do?"
"I arranged for Jane's position to be held for her."
"Why would you do that?" Angela asked doubting Maura would betray her. "You knew how much I wanted her to be safe."
"Yes," Maura answered her voice strong and undaunted. "I want Jane to be safe as well. I can only imagine as her mother how it felt every time she was hurt or in danger."
"That's right. You can only imagine because you aren't a mother. She's my baby, Maura. You had no right," she said bitterness in her voice.
"But I do understand the fear of losing her. That fear isn't yours alone Angela. It never has been. We all face it but Jane is someone special. She is gifted. The work she does brings closure to so many."
"I don't care about many. I care about one. My one. She's my one, Maura."
"Doesn't it make you proud Angela all that she has accomplished? All that she has done for this community?"
"But she is always, always in danger. That job caused her to lose her baby, my grandbaby." Jane tensed. Vince placed his hand on her forearm.
"How dare you?" Maura asked with such controlled anger she caused Angela to sit up and take notice. She had never seen Maura get worked up so quickly. "How dare you use that against her in an attempt to control her? You know how much that devastated Jane and for you to bring it up like this is appalling."
"I wasn't using it against her," she stuttered. "I was just saying."
"What Angela? What were you saying? She saved a life that day to her own detriment."
"Exactly. At Quantico, she was safe."
"Would you like to know how safe she was?" Jane chuckled. Never get into a pissing match with Maura Isles where she can recite statistics. You never ever win. Angela shook her head. Apparently, she remembered that fact.
"But she met a nice guy. She could've had another baby. You took that away," she said pointing at Maura.
"Those are all things you want, Angela. Did you ever take the time to truly listen to Jane and understand what she wants or needs?" Angela didn't answer. She wasn't use to Maura being Jane.
"In all the years I have known you, you have tried to force this lifestyle on her and take whatever joy she found in her job away. No more Angela. I love you. I do," Maura said her voice softening. "So please do not believe I don't and I know you love Jane. I have never doubted that for one moment but you are wrong. You have to stop this and let Jane be Jane." Angela stood wiping her face and walked out of the Dirty Robber.
"Oh boy," Vince said scrambling to follow her.
"Sorry Korsak," Jane called after him. Maura walked over frowning.
"That was not good," she said her hazel eyes watering.
"Oh sweetie, don't cry. That was better than good. Someone just got their bad-ass label back." Maura sniffed. Jane sipped her beer and pushed Maura's towards her.
"It just felt so harsh. I didn't have to be so harsh."
"You weren't," Jane replied biting her lip trying not to smile. She was just so cute.
"It definitely was mean, Jane. The words kept coming. I feel terrible." The tears starting to fall. Jane covered her hand.
"Honey, it was fu- freaking awesome."
"Really?" she asked unsure.
"Oh, hell yeah. You are officially my hero." Jane raised her beer to Maura.
Maura brushed her tears away. She would apologize to Angela later. Right now, she was Jane's hero. Jane stared at her.
"You'd better not apologize either Maur," she said pointing her finger at her. Maura frowned. How did she know?
"What do you mean?" Maura asked attempting to avoid Jane's accusatory glare.
"Yep. I knew it. Maur, I mean it. No apologizing." The waitress walked over.
"Two cheeseburgers with a side salad and an order of sweet potato fries." The waitress placed the fries in front of Jane. Maura grabbed one quickly, took a bite and smiled that smile she had just for Jane and Jane fell in love all over again forgetting about everything else.
Vince found Angela crying. He touched her shoulder and she turned into him. He hugged her and patted her back.
"Are you here to gang up on me too?" she asked pulling away. He shook his head and handed her a handkerchief. He had been married four times. The fourth being the charm and he knew when to speak and when not to speak.
"Why does Janie hate me? She's turned everyone against me." Angela had undergone many changes in the years since Frank left. She had re-imagined herself but one thing that never changed was how overly dramatic she could be. She knew Jane didn't hate her and she knew Jane hadn't turned anyone against her.
"She doesn't hate you. No one does," he offered in soothing tones.
"Why did Maura do what she did Vince? She knows how I feel."
"Because she loves her and wants what's best for her," he answered preparing himself for the backlash but he was tired. Both Jane Rizzoli and her mother were stubborn women. Good hearts but stubborn. If left to their own devices, this could go on until he retired a second time. No. Time to pull off the Band-Aid.
"Are you saying I don't love my daughter and want the best for her Vince Korsak?" she asked accusing him of that very thing.
"No. I know you love her. I know you believe you want the best for her but Angela think about it. When is she the happiest?" Angela didn't have to think about it.
"When she is working a case or with Maura," she answered dejectedly.
"Yeah. When she is doing the job she has always wanted to do. When she is getting justice for those who can't do it for themselves," he replied leaving any connection to Maura out. That was a topic for a different day.
"She's good Angela. Very good but you know that."
"Vince, she is my baby."
"She's your daughter, yes. But she is a grown ass woman I think is what Tommy said. I love her like a daughter and I worry too. I get scared for her but I also get damn proud."
"I never said I wasn't proud but the things she has done. Shooting herself. Hoyt. Jumping off a bridge. Vince? She jumped off a bridge." Angela said as she placed her hands over her mouth and shook her head.
"She is reckless without a doubt. She acts first more times than she should. Impulsive? No one would dispute that but if I need someone to be in the trenches I want Jane. We were partners for years. I trusted her to have my back. I trusted her to get me home every night. You don't just give that trust to anyone, Angela."
"When is enough enough?" she asked hoping for an answer.
"You want a PTA mom from Southie?" he asked. "There's nothing wrong with that but that is not Jane Rizzoli. It never has been." He took her hands in his and forced her to look at him.
"What you have is a damn fine woman with a beautiful heart who would sacrifice herself for others. You raised that. You instill that goodness in her Angela. You and your crazy overprotectiveness. Why would you keep it from the world by asking her to deny who she is?" he asked seriously. Angela's mouth opened then closed.
"Angela, you are trying to force her to make a sacrifice that is hurting her." She shook her head and closed her eyes.
"I don't want you to lose your family over this," he said gently as he took the handkerchief and wiped her face. "You need to respect her enough to let her do what she needs to do."
Angela sniffed. Vince was right. Jane had Maura. Jane had Tommy and she knew without asking that Jane had Frankie. Angela sighed. Jane always had their respect. They loved Angela but she knew both boys adored Jane. Frankie followed her in everything. Tommy wished he was Frankie so he could follow her too.
"Thanks, Vince." He nodded.
"Need to get back inside," he said.
Korsak left her standing in front of the Dirty Robber wondering how it had come to this and contemplating how to make this right. Angela found it hard to admit she was wrong but she was wrong here. She just hoped Janie would forgive her.