What a Pair - Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Rizzoli and Isles - the credit goes to Tess Gerritsen and TNT. I'm merely borrowing them for a fan fiction idea. Please read and review. Thanks.
A/N - This is set before Charles Hoyt and before Jane and Frost are partners. Also, the medical aspect may be a little bit off so please forgive.
A/N2- And thank you all so much again, this story has broken the 100 review mark and I'm so appreciative and happy that you all like it so much! Thank you!
...
Maura let out a deliberately long breath, her hazel eyes still silently drilling into Jane like lasers.
Jane tried to make light of the situation. "Um, wow, that's quite the zinger," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. It came to her immediate attention, however, that now was not the time for a joke. Isles was pissed and she wanted an answer.
"I'm waiting."
Jane thought for a moment, trying to compose her answer. She sighed. "Okay. I have two brothers. I've always had to play hardball. I've always had to fight for everything I've earned. Even though I'm a woman, I do play the game like a guy," Jane said.
"Because you're like a guy."
"Excuse me?"
"You are. You're a dominant individual. It's not a bad thing, it just seems to be how you are."
"Do you want my answers or do you just want to make them up yourself, because that's fine with me, since you have obviously already made up your mind," Jane said, sarcastically.
Maura threw up her left hand in deference as a sign for Jane to continue.
"Anyway, I want respect when it comes to my work ethic and the way I handle a crime scene. I'm motivated and driven and I always want to be first. And I'm always competing with the men. Not Korsak, but jerk-offs like Crowe and Rollins. Those guys are complete dicks."
She paused, expecting the doctor's mouth to pop open again with another annoyingly correct observation. It didn't so she opened her mouth to proceed but it turns out Maura was just a little late with her thought.
"Why would anyone not respect you? Because you're a bitch at the crime scene? You can be a strong, determined female detective without being a bitch."
Jane regarded her for a moment. "I guess I deserved that."
"You did," Maura affirmed.
Jane rolled her eyes.
"Anyway," Jane said, making it abundantly clear she wanted to move on. "Yes. I've been disrespected as both a uniformed officer and a detective."
She recounted what had gone on between her and Darren Crowe her first day in the bullpen.
Maura watched Jane's eyes and could see the anger flaring in them as she told the story.
"After that day, Maura, I decided my exterior was going to be so tough to crack, no one was going to get through - not while I'm on the job. I didn't and don't want to have to be constantly proving myself."
The fact that Jane used Maura's first name in addressing her was not lost on her - it was the first time she had done so. But as far as she was concerned, her direct question had yet to be answered.
"I get that, Jane. I do. But that doesn't quite explain why your ire was directed at me the other day."
"Well, it's not out of line to want some sort of information at the scene, it helps me begin to do my job, which is solving the case. It comes from my desire to be first. But let's not absolve you of all guilt here, Doctor. You gave it right back to me."
"Well, Detective, if you think I'm going to just stand there and take whatever you feel like throwing, you've got another thing coming."
For a few minutes, neither woman said anything - they just sipped their coffee in companionable silence.
"Look, I know it goes against how you operate but can you please try to give me something - anything - at the scene?" Jane asked, almost pleading.
"I can try. But it won't be complete and it won't be confirmed until I perform the autopsy. Which, by the way, I have an open-door policy on autopsies."
"What do you mean?"
"You can come in and watch any autopsy being done, it may be quicker than waiting for the report."
Jane nodded. "Thank you. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for acting like an ass and for disrespecting you. You know, we being the only two women, we need to kinda stick together I guess."
"I accept your apology. I apologize too for my comments yesterday afternoon."
"That's all you're apologizing for? Really?" Jane said.
"Why else would I apologize?"
Jane shook her head as a slight smile overtook her visage. She stood and stuck out her right hand. "Hi. I'm Detective Jane Rizzoli. We'll be working together and it's nice to meet you."
Maura looked at Jane's face and then down at her hand. Deciding this was Rizzoli's version of a peace offering, she raised her cuffed hand to shake the hand the detective offered. "I'm Doctor Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner. It's nice to meet you too."
Jane stared for a moment. "Really? You had to go and throw Chief Medical Examiner in there, you couldn't just stop at Doctor?"
"Well, it's my official title, Jane."
Jane shook her head. She wondered if she really would be able to hold to the deal she just made and if she'd be able to really have a solid working relationship with this woman. She also had a feeling there were going to be many more frustrating moments down the line.
...
Korsak arrived at the gym with the key to Jason Trelmer's locker. Upon walking in, he immediately recognized Lendin behind the counter. He walked past, unnoticed, as Lendin's attention was currently being consumed by some young thing flirting over the counter. Korsak felt like telling her to move on from that loser, but decided against it. He still couldn't believe that kid had the audacity to call Rizzoli "Detective Hottie" - not that it wasn't a little funny, but, Jane let him off a hell of a lot easier than he expected she would.
Upon finding the locker, he put on gloves and opened it, carefully sifting through its contents. His eyes automatically scanned to an opened envelope toward the side. He opened it, not surprised to find the note that told Jason Trelmer where to go to meet his end. He bagged the letter and the rest of the contents of the locker. Korsak slipped out of the gym virtually unnoticed, as muscle head was still entranced by the same girl he'd been talking to for the last five minutes.
As Korsak got in the car, he knew he should go release Jane and the Doc. He would maybe go check on them later and fill Jane in on the case - maybe. It could wait until Monday and he knew it probably would.
...
Two hours after having their coffee, Jane and Maura were still searching for the key.
"You know, I seriously have better things to do than play this fucking game of The Legend of Zelda," Jane said, turning over a vase to check the bottom.
"Legend of Zelda? What?"
"It's a game from when I was kid. It's about finding a damn key - it annoyed me then and it's really annoying the shit out of me now."
"Do you always talk like that?"
Jane sighed. "Like what?"
"Do you always you that language?"
Jane rolled her neck, trying to keep the frustration level low. "I would think you know the answer to that by now."
Maura nodded her head and stretched, raising Jane's left arm with hers.
"Okay, how long have we been at this? I'm getting hungry now."
"I offered to make you an English muffin before! Um, it's about eleven o'clock."
"Can't we run out and get some food?"
Jane shot her a glare. "Oh, sure, yeah, let's just get a sweater to throw over the cuffs and we can walk out holding hands."
"Okay, that's fine."
"Isles, Jesus, I was kidding. No. I'll be happy to make you something."
Maura weighed the options. "What do you have in there?" she asked, hesitantly.
"Why do you sound afraid?"
Maura scrunched up her nose. "I don't know, I just imagine you having a fridge with moldy food and spoiled milk. Like a guy."
"Like a g- what? Really? Are you serious?"
Maura burst out laughing. Jane looked skyward, shaking her head and gritting her teeth.
"You're kinda easy, Rizzoli."
"You're kinda easy, Rizzoli," Jane repeated in her best mocking tone.
"Come on, you can choose some moldy bread for your toast," Jane said, smiling and pulling Maura with her to the kitchen.
TBC
