Disclaimer: I don't own, I rent.
Chapter Twelve
"Come Clean"
Maura directed Jane through the streets of Boston, she still hadn't told Jane exactly where they were going. After a few minutes though, the two finally pulled up to their destination.
"Uh, Maura. Are we doing what I think we're doing?"
Jane looked slightly uncomfortable, which is why Maura had been hesitant to tell her what she wanted to do. Maura gave her as much as a smile as she could before letting out a sigh.
"I haven't been in so long. I just…I wanted to come. I didn't want to come alone."
Jane gave her a knowing smile, and then walked around to open the door for her. She held out her hand to the blonde and Maura quickly accepted it, stepping out of the car. Jane dropped her hand and the two walked down the path until Maura stopped in front of two headstones.
Maura knelt down in front of them, running her fingers over the letters spelling Hope Isles. The stone just to the left read Patrick Isles.
Maura stood and turned toward Jane. "They would have loved you, you know."
"You think so?"
"I know so. They were so much different than my aunt and uncle. Sometimes, I found it hard to believe they were even related. Growing up, it was a lot more like your family. Warm, inviting, maybe a little quieter."
The two laughed at the comment and Jane gave Maura's hand a small squeeze, but left their hands entwined this time. Maura leaned against her and spoke softly.
"I really wish you guys were still here. I wish I knew what happened to you that night. I wish things had turned out differently. But I'm doing okay now. I'm happy even, most days. But I miss you guys, all the time. I love you both."
They stood there for a bit longer in silence, Jane giving Maura all the time she needed to be here with her parents. Finally, Maura turned away. This time, Maura lead Jane back to the car, her hand still holding the brunette's.
"Thank you for coming with me, Jane. I don't think I could have done that on my own."
"No need to thank me, Maura. I'm here for you, always. Whatever you need, just say the word and I'm there."
The two were interrupted by Jane's phone buzzing, signaling that she had a new text.
"It's from Sam. She wants to know if we want to meet her for lunch."
Maura gave her a nod and Jane drove off in the direction of the BCU campus.
- R & I -
When the Jane and Maura walked into the small pizza place thirty minutes later, they quickly spotted Sam sitting in a booth near the back of the restaurant.
On the drive over, Jane had explained to Maura that she, Jess and Sam used to always come here during their breaks from class, it was only a five minute walk from campus and had some of the best pizza on this side of town. Since Sam was still attending BCU, she was getting her masters degree in psychology; it was an easy place for them to meet.
"Hey guys!" Sam said as Maura and Jane slid into the booth opposite her.
"Hey Sam. Jess couldn't make it?"
"No, she's stuck at the paper." Jess had recently started working as a reporter at a local newspaper and it was keeping her insanely busy, she was constantly working well into the night and often had to continue working from home when she was finally able to leave.
"That's too bad."
"So, Maura, tell me more about yourself."
Maura was a bit surprised at her statement. She figured she was going to be the third wheel of the afternoon, observing as Jane and Sam caught each other up on their lives and looked back on all their memories of high school and college.
"Oh, well, you already know I'm studying to become a doctor. I graduate in May, and then I will officially be a doctor. I just have to complete my internship and residency, then I plan on becoming a pathologist."
"That's the one who works on dead people, right?"
Maura chuckled at her question and gave her a nod. "I want to go into forensics, help solve murders."
"Wow, that's really cool. I bet that would be so interesting. I certainly wouldn't have the stomach for it."
The two laughed and Jane smiled, happy her two friends were getting along so well. Jane knew most considered Maura to be a bit of an acquired taste, so she was a bit worried at first about how her closest friends would interact.
The three girls continued to talk for another couple hours until Sam finally announced she had to get to work. They walked outside and just as they were about to part ways, Sam pulled Jane off to the side.
"Jane, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Uh, yeah, sure," she replied, handing Maura her car keys. "You go ahead, I'll be there in a sec."
Maura nodded and walked toward the parking lot and as soon as she was out of earshot, Sam spoke again.
"You're her best friend, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, um, do you know if she…you know. If I'm…her type?"
The question shocked Jane. She had known since their junior year of high school that Sam was a lesbian. She had just started dating Julie, a girl from a neighboring school and she wanted to be upfront about it from the start. Of course no one really cared, sure some people always had mean things to say, but Jane could have cared less, as could any of their other friends.
So that wasn't the part that startled her. Never in a million years would she have ever thought Sam would be into Maura. She had never even entertained the possibility.
She was not happy about it.
"Um, you know, I don't really know. I mean, she doesn't really date much, usually only guys her family sets her up with, so we've never really talked about it."
"Do you think…do you think maybe you could find out?"
"I guess I could try."
"Thanks, Jane! You're the best. Just let me know, okay? I really like her."
Sam gave Jane a hug, which the latter reluctantly returned. Sam was grinning and there was a slight skip in her step. Jane watched her walk away before turning to meet Maura at the car.
She had no idea why, but she was suddenly struck with the biggest urge to hit something.
- R & I -
That night, Maura decided to stay at Jane's once again. After dinner, the two retired to Jane's room, both tired from their day and happy they didn't have to worry about studying for a few days.
Once they climbed in bed, they both laid in the dark, faces toward the ceiling, neither able to fall asleep. Finally, after what felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, Jane broke the silence.
"Hey, Maur? You still awake?"
"Yes, Jane, I'm still awake."
"Can I ask you something?"
"You can ask me anything."
"Okay. But you won't get offended by it or anything? We've never really talked about this kind of thing before."
"Well, I won't know until you ask me, but I doubt there is much you could say to me that would offend me."
"Okay. Um…you said you never really date anyone that your family doesn't set you up with, right?"
"I've never actually been on a real date, to be honest."
Jane sighed, feeling sad for the blonde for a moment. It seemed like such a shame to her that no one else had ever bothered to get to know her. She was truly incredible; she really wished more people would see that. Jane reached over and found her hand, lacing their fingers together giving her a small squeeze.
"You said those guys weren't your type."
"Correct."
"Is that, uh, is that because guys aren't your type in general?"
Maura didn't answer for a moment and Jane was afraid she really had offended her. It's not like Maura was anyone people would just walk up to and assume she was gay, so Jane imagined she hadn't really been asked that question before. She was about to apologize when Maura finally spoke.
"I guess you could say that is accurate." She paused for a moment before adding, "I've never told anyone that before. But yes, I am usually more attracted to women than men."
Jane gave her hand another squeeze then began rubbing small circles with her thumb. Jane didn't really know how to feel about that. Of course, she didn't care if Maura was into girls, she was still her best friend and Jane still loved her. But that also meant she might also be into Sam, and for whatever reason Jane still wasn't willing to admit to herself, she did not want that to happen.
"Thank you for telling me."
"You're my best friend, Jane, I would tell you anything."
"So you never told your aunt and uncle? Maybe if you did they would stop setting you up all the time."
"Oh no. No. Never. I will never tell them. That would not go well. They would disown me, I'm sure."
"What? They would disown you? But you're family! I know I don't really agree with a lot of things they do, but surely they wouldn't do that. I'm sure they love you in their own way, Maur."
"No, I'm sure they would. But it's not like they really need to know anyway, right? I only see them once every few months anyway, if that. It would just be unnecessary conflict."
"Well, if it makes any difference, I still love you."
"It makes all the difference in the world, Jane."
Even though it was dark, Jane could make out the edge of Maura's smile in the moonlight and she gave her hand one last squeeze before both drifted off to sleep, hands still clasped together in the center of the bed.
- R & I -
A/N: I hope you guys like it, please review! :)
