A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews! I have to say a huge THANK YOU to those readers who have hung with me and taken the time to review each chapter: LOCISVU, power2corrupt, Willow008, darkemberdagger, tancredi75, celluloidtears, yankee77, Candy77, and graywolf68. I'm so grateful for you taking the time to let me know what you think. Keeps me going! Anyway, hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Don't own anything...
Chapter Eleven
Dinner was fairly uneventful outside of Jane trying her best to avoid her mother and at the same time, keep her away from Maura. She didn't miss the occasional smirk that Angela would throw her way any time the doctor would laugh at her jokes or reach for her hand. When Frank announced that he was retiring upstairs to read and get ready for bed, Jane insisted that her mother join him. "Ma, you know…you worked so hard today. It's only fair that we do the cleaning up. You should go on up with Pop and get some sleep. Right Pop? Don't you think she deserves the rest?" Smiling at her mother with angelic though mock sincerity, she wanted to take a victory lap when her dad agreed. Yes! Take that old woman! Ashes. Batting her eyelashes and waving at her glaring mother's retreating form, "Nighty night now. Sweet dreams. Alrighty then. Bye-bye."
It didn't take long to get things cleaned up and put away, leaving the two younger Rizzoli's and Maura on their own. Returning from the kitchen with a bottle of wine and a beer for Frankie, she found her brother and friend sitting cross legged on the floor next to the coffee table with the Operation game spread out between them. "Um, okay. We're playing a game?" Maura looked up at her and smiled, "Yes. Frankie said it would be much more fun as a drinking game. I've read the instructions and think I have a pretty good working knowledge of how to play. With my skill set, I feel quite certain I can win." At this, Jane predictably rolled her eyes and took her seat on the floor, their knees bumping. "Reeeeally, Dr. Death? You know I've got pretty good hand-eye coordination myself," she added suggestively, eyebrow raised. Maura narrowed her eyes in challenge, thoughts of their recent exchange in the upstairs bathroom warming her. "I think I can take you Detective Rizzoli." Frankie cleared his throat when Jane gave him his beer and they were all seated on the floor around the table. "Okay, so you get the buzz, you take a drink. Pretty simple. Let's rock-paper-scissors for who goes first." Off of Maura's confused expression, Jane spoke up. "Frankie, you go first and we'll go around the table clockwise."
Maura easily won the first game with only a few failed attempts but seeing as how Jane managed to convince her to take a few sips in between plays, her precision was beginning to falter. Buzzzzz. "Dammit! I thought I had it!" Frankie cursed and took another pull from his beer. "Oh! I'm the Specialist on the wish bone!" Maura clapped and the Rizzoli's groaned. Ignoring them, she brushed the hair out of her eyes and pushed her sleeve back, wielding the tweezers like a scalpel. All three players leaned forward in anticipation. Closer…closer. The doctor's eyes narrowed and she bit her bottom lip as she lifted the tiny, plastic bone. Buzzzzzz. "Yessss!" The two siblings high fived and Jane couldn't resist teasing. "Oh-ho! Looks like you are beginning to suck like the rest of us mere mortals there Dr. Isles." Frustrated, Maura shot her friend a dirty look. "Clearly my handicap has affected my vision which in turn…" Trailing off at the incredulous looks she was receiving. "What?"
Choking on her wine, Jane exchanged a look with Frankie who was trying unsuccessfully not to laugh. "Handicap? Really, Maur? That's what you're going with? Your handicap?" Laughing a little herself, "You do realize that it's just a black eye right? That's not really a handicap." At her friend's throaty laugh, Maura finally gave in and joined them, raising her hands in defeat and giggling. "Fine. My lack of coordination is most likely related to the amount of wine I have consumed during the course of this game. Better?" Jane winked and gestured toward the doctor's glass, a signal that she needed to take her drink. Looking between her brother and her friend, the detective rubbed her hands together. "Okay, ladies. Let me show you how it's done. This is what's called 'winning the game.'" Bumping her friend's shoulder, she grabbed the tweezers, pinching them together a few times in preparation. Her face a mask of concentration, she closed in on the last remaining piece on the board, the game winning piece. Jane had the wish bone almost completely liberated from the body cavity when she felt Maura's hand snake across her thigh and squeeze, sending her knee jerking up and banging into the table. Buzzzzz. "Yes!" Frankie jumped to his feet. "I'm grabbing another beer and then I'll show you ladies how it's done."
Watching her brother's retreat, Jane turned and glared at her friend who was grinning widely, hazel green eyes dancing. Leaning in close, her voice a low rasp, "You are SO going to pay for that later Isles." Their eyes locked in a battle of wills, Maura maintained her air of innocence. "Jane, whatever are you talking about? I was just trying to be…encouraging." Two can play this game. Hell, I invented this game. Running the nail of her index finger slowly up the length of the doctor's thigh and back, she watched that smile fall right off her friend's face as she swallowed hard and licked her lips, eyes drifting closed. Moving in even closer, she traced her tongue around the shell of Maura's ear, nipping lightly at her lobe before pulling back, eliciting a low strangled moan from the woman next to her. Jane's voice was a contradiction of gravel and silk, full of seduction. "That's what I thought." Sitting back, she admired the effect she had on the flustered doctor; from the blush on her neck to the darkening of her beautiful eyes. What is that color anyway?
Frankie returned and plopped down on the floor taking a swig of his fresh beer oblivious to the exchange but noticing the rosy tint in Maura's cheeks. "You alright Maura? You look a little hot. I mean…well, not hot hot…not that you aren't hot… Flushed. You're sitting closest to the fire. You want me to change places with you?" Closest to the fire? You have no idea. Choking a little to find words, she smoothed her hand over her pants leg trying to stop the tingling sensation where Jane's finger had been moments before. "What? Yes. No. I'm…I'm fine." Shrugging, Frankie flashed his best smile and picked up the tweezers, snapping them together. "Let me show you girls how a man gets the job done," he joked earning a jab from his sister.
Frankie ended up winning the game and they all decided it was a good time to pile up on the sofa and watch Christmas movies. As the credits to "It's a Wonderful Life" rolled across the screen, Jane realized that both of her viewing companions were asleep. Frankie was snoring softly in their dad's recliner and Maura had burrowed into her left side, her arm linked possessively with Jane's, their fingers laced and her head on the detective's shoulder. Looking down at the sleeping doctor, Jane smiled and carefully brushed her hair aside, feeling content and uncharacteristically happy in the moment to just sit and watch her, feeling the warmth and weight of her friend against her side. Obviously, things were changing between them. The sexual energy alone could power a small city for many years to come but there was so much more than that; they were so much more than that. While she was typically a staunch proponent against change, this was one Jane welcomed without explanation or deep introspection. Unlike most of her past relationships, where at this point, she would make a concerted effort to drive the other person away, afraid he would get too close and complicate things, her life in general, she didn't want that for Maura. She wanted more. She wanted it all. Honestly, Maura had somehow managed to navigate Jane's defenses and pass 'too close' a long time ago. She was so far under the detective's skin and such an integral part of her life that she didn't think she could push the doctor away without losing a part of her own soul. Oh my God! We are Chang and Eng! She couldn't stifle the low rumble of laughter, however brief, at the mental picture brought on by her exhaustion. When Maura's brow furrowed and she stirred, Jane placed a lingering kiss on her forehead calming her back into sleep.
She had to be realistic though. Her jaw clenched. She was scared to bring Maura into her life of horrors. Even though they worked side by side, knee deep in the sewer of human depravity, she had her own demons, real and ugly, even in her dream state. If she let this happen, Maura could possibly become a target, be hurt or worse and that was unacceptable. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she sighed. Don't go there Rizzoli. You need this. You need her.
Jane was startled out of her reverie by a noise coming from the front porch. Immediately alert, she straightened and listened for any other sounds. Another thump and she slowly began to disentangle herself from Maura's grasp, gently laying her sleeping form down on the sofa with another kiss to her forehead. Crossing to Frankie, she shook his shoulder and whispered, "Someone's outside." Eyes wide, the younger Rizzoli got up quietly and followed his sister to the front door, where she peaked through the glass. Shoulders tensing, she mouthed "Tommy" and stepped out onto the front porch, closing the door behind her.
Watching her oldest brother stumble around and dig under her mother's flower pots made Jane's stomach clench and added another brick to the wall between them. "Are you looking for this?" Holding up the spare key, she wiggled it between them. Standing on unsteady feet, Tommy gave her a blinding, Rizzoli grin. If it weren't for the fact that his eyes were bloodshot and he swayed slightly where he stood, Jane thought he could be handsome. Staggering forward, arms outstretched, "Janie! There it is. Let's go inside, sis. I'm freezin' my balls off out here. Ma! Pop! I'm home!" He bellowed and fell forward, stopped by the detective's strong hands on his shoulders ushering him back. "I told you earlier, Tommy. You aren't going in there like this. I'll call you a cab but you aren't staying here." The look on the elder Rizzoli's face hardened and his eyes narrowed. "I'm not taking your charity." Jane returned his stare and smirked. "I didn't say I was paying for the cab, only that I would call you one."
Frankie stepped out onto the porch and took his place next to his sister, a solid line between the wayward Rizzoli and their parents. "What the fuck is thissss? Get outta my way. I'm goin' inside." Pushing forward again, he noticed the cuffs in his younger brother's hand and his temper exploded. "Oh, you gonna' cuff me big man? I'll fuckin' run you over you pussy!" Shoving Frankie backward, Jane stepped into the fray trying to subdue her older brother, catching an elbow to her stomach that forced the air from her lungs. A shock of pain tore through her from her entry wound to the scar on her back leaving her temporarily disoriented and gasping for breath. Taking advantage, Tommy forced his way past them and into the house.
Blinking her eyes to clear her vision, Jane looped an arm under Frankie's and hauled him to his feet as they entered the house hot on Tommy's heels. Running into the den, she found her older brother leering at Maura, who was standing on the opposite side of the sofa, arms crossed over her chest and eyes narrowed. "So you are the hot chick from the hockey game. Ooops. Sorry 'bout the eye. You're still pretty fuckin hot though. Whatdaya say we get outta here and have some fun? That your Benz in the drive? Zzzgotta be." Frowning and chancing a quick glance at Jane, Maura returned her attention to Tommy and the scene unfolding before her. "Actually, I'm fine here but thank you. I really think it would be in your best interest to follow your sister's advice and leave before you wake up your parents. You've put them through enough as it is. Perhaps come back tomorrow… in a less inebriated state."
Face turning an alarming shade of red, Tommy stepped forward menacingly. "You stay out of it you fuckin bitch. What the fuck business is it of yours? You aren't family!" Frankie got to him two seconds before his sister, grabbing his brother by the arm. "Why don't you shut your mouth while you're ahead?" Grabbing his other arm, Jane wrenched it up and behind him painfully, growling in his ear, "You watch your mouth with her you piece of shit. Hand me your cuffs Frankie." With a surge of adrenaline, Tommy used his much larger, heavier body and leverage to push all three of them backwards into a side table, sending their late Nonna Romano's antique vase and a few family pictures to the floor with a sickening crash, shards flying in all directions. Jane watched as her mother's only tie to her grandmother flew apart into a hundred pieces; the destruction of an heirloom mirroring the destruction of a family. Rage coursing through her veins found her fist connecting with her eldest brother's nose, a brief satisfying crunch of bone and soft cartilage before the force of impact sent pain radiating through her own sensitive hand and up her arm.
"Angela Jane Rizzoli! Go to the kitchen. NOW!" All eyes turned to find Angela standing in the doorway, her eyes a brilliant fire of fury. Maura watched helplessly as Jane's body and face turned to rigid stone, completely unreadable except for the shaking back and forth of the hand that punched her brother. Turning on her mother, the detective's voice was low. "You are going to take his side." Keeping her gaze steady, her mother repeated her request. "Please go to the kitchen Janie." Maura ached to touch her. Reaching forward, her hand grasped air as Jane turned without looking back and stalked into the kitchen. Frank Sr. had joined the group at this point. "What the hell is going on? I gotta work tomorrow. Ange?" Shoving Tommy into a chair outside the kitchen door, Angela narrowed her eyes. "You struck your sister and your younger brother. You want to hit me now too? What's it gonna take with you Tommy? Why do you gotta do this every time you're home? "
Maura could barely register what was being said above the din in her head and the physical pull in her heart to get to Jane. She could see that the two elder Rizzoli's and Frankie were blocking the kitchen door with Tommy seated in front, looking contrite, his nose gushing blood. She needed to get to the kitchen but her manners and upbringing precluded her from interrupting this intensely personal family moment. Navigating the perimeter of the room, she thought she might be able to slip behind the human shield separating her from Jane. Stopped between Frank Sr.'s shoulder and the wall, she waited for what seemed like an eternity but realistically, was probably more in the neighborhood of a few minutes. With each second that ticked by, all she could think about was that practiced look of indifference and the stony posture knowing that it masked immeasurable hurt. She hit the wall of restraint at a hundred miles an hour, her threshold for tolerance in ruin. "I NEED to get to Jane!" She really didn't mean for it to come out so loud and demanding but when the three standing Rizzoli's looked at her and moved aside, she nodded gratefully without embarrassment. The flood of relief didn't last long though when she entered the empty kitchen. "Jane?" Looking around and feeling the immediate chill in the air, she saw the opened back door.
Jane was gone.
Poor Jane. At least she finally got to slug Tommy. Don't worry, we'll get it all cleared up. Let me know what you think PLEASE! Next chapter, some Maura and Jane one on one time.