Chapter 13

Boston Medical Centre was located in the historic South End and apart from being an impressive hospital it was also the primary teaching affiliate for Boston University School of Medicine. Maura had insisted she'd come with Jane and Frost. Jane suspected it had everything to do with Maura wanting to keep an eye on her, and making sure she wasn't overexerting herself, even though Maura said she had done a variety of her medical rotations there and she merely wanted to go and see how things had changed.

They walked into the Dermatology building and Jane looked around. Posters announcing that the department would soon be moving to a newer site riddled the walls, accompanied by posters warning people and informing them about a variety of skin diseases. Simply looking at them made Jane itch and she nervously scratched the scabs on the back of her hands.

Maura had approached the front desk and talked to one of the nurses, explaining to her why they were here. The red haired woman spoke with what sounded like a Philly accent and picked up the phone, pressed a button and waited for someone to answer. She said something Jane couldn't quite hear. Her eyes were fixed on Maura, who was leaning against the desk and she tried to imagine her walking through these hallways, in her designer dresses and white doctor's coat. Somehow the image didn't stick.

"Dr Johnson will be here shortly. He is currently with a patient. Please take a seat," the nurse said and as Jane walked past the desk her eyes were drawn to the name badge. Loraine. The corners of her mouth twitched and she sat down in between Maura and Frost, who seemed even more uncomfortable than Jane.

"Relax, these ones are actually alive," Jane hissed through clenched teeth and her partner sent her a dark look. She smirked and looked at Maura, whose eyes longingly wandered around. Jane wondered how much she'd give for a place as well lit, well aired and up to date like this compared her dimly lit, rather smelly and occasionally drafty morgue. The light in here almost felt natural compared to the horrific artificial lights in Maura's morgue.

"What made you decide to become a pathologist?" Jane curiously asked Maura and the brunette looked up. "Surely well-lit corridors, windows and fresh air are far more appealing? Imagine, you could have been working here."

"I would not have met you," Maura said and Jane pulled a face. There was not a trace of humour in Maura's voice. She was dead serious. "Not to mention that all these patients are alive."

"Oh yes, I forgot. You're afraid of people. Live ones, anyway," Jane answered and Maura simply arched her eyebrows but her hazel eyes twinkled. "What rotations did you do here?"

"Internal Medicine and Psychiatry," Maura answered and her voice trailed off. "An interesting time."

"Psychiatry," Frost echoed and pulled a face Jane assumed was supposed to be funny though she failed to see the humour. "I can see why that would be interesting. All those schizo's."

"You should try working with you," Maura answered without looking at either Jane or Frost. Her voice was flat and serious. "And to think some of those patients had serious issues. I have seen far more severe cases walking around at Boston PD."

"Thank you, Maura," Jane answered dismissively and looked up when a door opened somewhere. A few seconds later a tall, slightly pale man appeared. He was wearing one of the typical white doctor's coats, with pencils tucked into his breast pocket and a stethoscope around his neck. He could not have been a bigger cliché if he had tried. Underneath the coat he was wearing a pair of old, faded Levis and a simple black buttoned shirt. Jane's eyes wandered up and encountered steel blue eyes and a friendly smile.

"Dr Marcus Johnson," he introduced himself and stuck out his hand. His eyes had fixed on Jane. "Detective Rizzoli?"

"Yes," Jane answered quickly and shook his hand. It was a firm handshake and she resisted rubbing her hands when he let go. She glanced at Frost and Maura, the latter was staring at Dr Johnson with what Jane could only describe as loathing. "These are Detective Frost and Dr Isles. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice." She took the court order from her inner pocket and sighed. "I am never a fan of doing this like this, as I do understand the importance of doctor-patient confidentiality but..."

"We can talk in my office," Dr Johnson answered and gestured for them to follow him. Frost was right on his heels, clearly eager to leave the waiting room and eerie looking posters. Maura held back and Jane looked at her.

"What?" she hissed and Maura shot her a look.

"He was checking you out," Maura whispered through clenched teeth and Jane almost felt her jaw drop.

"No shit, Sherlock!" she answered and grabbed Maura's arm and they quickly caught up with Frost and Dr Johnson.

Maura turned to Jane before stepping into the office and hazel eyes met dark brown. "I don't like it."

Jane shook her head. "There are plenty of things in life that I don't like. Now go inside!"

Dr Marcus Johnson's office reminded Jane of an old study. The desk was made from dark hardwood and the chairs were all made from real leather. The room had a wooden floor and one of the walls was decorated with diplomas and other certificates he had achieved. The other wall was taken up by a bookcase crammed with books, magazines and notebooks. She sat down in one of the armchairs and sank deep into the comfortable leather. She suppressed a sigh as her muscles relaxed and looked at Maura, who had taken the other seat. Frost stood by the large window.

"How may I help you?" Marcus Johnson asked and he looked at Jane. There was something uncomfortable about the way he looked at her, Jane thought. At first glance he had seemed attractive but he made no effort of hiding that he clearly thought the same about her. Her gaze dropped to his hands. No wedding ring. She should have known. By now he would have registered she was not wearing one either.

"As I am sure you know Boston is currently in the grip of another serial killer," Frost began and Johnson looked at him.

"The Butcher? That's the case you're working on?" he asked in surprise. "How is that connected to my patients?"

"There is a detail that has not been given to the press, concerning the attacker's medical condition," Jane said, making sure she phrased her words carefully. "We have reasons to believe he either suffers from Hyperhidrosis or Bromhidrosis, possibly even both."

"I thought all the victims of the Butcher were dead," Johnson thought out loud and Maura sat up.

"One isn't," she answered defensively and Jane felt a sense of warmth spread through her. She looked beside her. Maura sat up straight, her hands neatly folded in her lap and her legs crossed. She looked amazing in her white dress and matching shoes. Her hair fell wavy down her shoulders and Jane realised just how beautiful she really was.

Marcos Johnson looked at Jane. She could sense his reluctance to hand over the files. All doctors were the same. It was why she did not like to serve them with paperwork. "You said you have a court order for my patient files?"

Jane handed him the paperwork and waited patiently for him to read it. When he was finished he looked up, realised there was nothing else he could do than to give in and stood up. He opened a drawer in a file cabinet in the corner and picked up a small stack of files. "The condition is rare. We treat people who live both locally and further afield, outside the state of Massachusetts." He searched through his files and put a few back. "These are all my patients with one or both conditions." He handed them to Frost and walked back around his desk. "Are you sure he is one of mine?"

Jane shrugged. "We don't know. What are the chances of someone being out there without receiving treatment?"

"Not everybody wants treatment, detective. Some of them have simply given up or don't even know what options they have. They live their live in shame and embarrassment. I don't know of anybody in the Boston area who suffers from the condition and is not receiving treatment here. And if there was, I'd probably know. If your killer suffers from the condition and he receives treatment, he will be in these files."

"Thank you," Jane answered and stood up. "I promise we'll be discreet about the patient's details and will return the files to you once have finished processing them."

"I have copies," Johnson answered and watched how Jane, Frost and Maura walked to the door. Frost was the first one outside, followed by Maura. Jane was last and she turned around when she could feel Johnson's eyes on her.

"Detective, I was wondering whether you'd like to go for coffee..." he began but Jane produced an apologetic smile and his voice trailed off, realising his defeat.

"Sorry," she answered with a smile and gestured at Maura, who was watching her. "But I have to decline..." She gave him a quick nod and then left the office. He watched her from the open door and Jane joined Maura and Frost and the three off them walked back through the hallway, through the patient waiting area and back out of the building. It wasn't until they stepped outside that Jane realised how much the building had smelt of that horrible hospital scent and she took in a deep breath of fresh air. Her lungs eagerly expanded and she then looked at Maura, who seemed rather annoyed.

"Oh come on, Maura," she smiled and pushed her lover against her shoulder. "It's not like he can read it off my face."

"Maybe you should wear a ring," Maura suggested and Frost looked from Jane to Maura and back.

"That has got to be the strangest proposal I have ever heard!"

Jane's eyes narrowed and there was a hint of worry in her voice. "Maura, are you serious?"

"Not a wedding ring, Jane," Maura answered as they walked towards Frost's car. Jane gave her a sideways glance as she got into the backseat. Maura had insisted sitting in the front. She put her seatbelt on and leant forward until her chin rested on the passengers chair and Maura's hair tickled her face. It smelt of latex gloves mixed with vanilla. It was a rather disturbing scent.

"Then exactly what kind of a ring do you want me to wear?"

Maura casually shrugged. "We'll think about it."

Jane leant back. "I'm sure we will."

~()~

Back at the homicide department Jane and Frost made a list of all the male patients in the files and it was up to Frost to cross reference them with any possible criminal records. While he was doing that, Jane went through her pile of old paperwork. She could not quite focus and her head felt fuzzy. She searched her bag for the jar of painkillers Maura had given her and took two, swallowing them down with a cold swirl of coffee. She rested her head in her hands and sighed. Her eyes were hurting and she was tired. She had only been here for a few hours, though far longer than Maura had intended, and her body was given her clear signals it wanted to go home. To have to admit her defeat was hard and Jane sighed in frustration.

"You know, if Maura is still busy in autopsy I can drive you home if you like," Korsak said and Jane looked up.

"Trying to get rid of me are ya?"

"Nah, just trying to get rid of the miserable face you're pulling."

"Thanks," Jane muttered and stood up. "It is so frustrating."

"I know, Jane. But maybe it is better if you do go home," Korsak said and checked his watch. "Come on, you can call Maura from the car."

~()~

She closed the front door to Maura's place behind her and listened to Jo's excited paws echoing off the wooden floor and knelt down to the ground to give her dog a cuddle. Jo rolled over and Jane fussed her for some time before standing up and walking into the kitchen. She found Bass by the kitchen island and reached for one of the strawberries Maura kept especially for him. She dangled it in front of him, trying to coax him out of his shell, but there was no reaction and she left it in front of him on the floor.

"Suit yourself, you fool," she sighed and opened the fridge. She poured herself a glass of coke and walked from the kitchen to the bedroom. There she stripped off her socks and pants and lay down on the bed in just her shirt and panties, leaving the glass on the side table. Her headache had begun to subside but her body was tired and for a brief moment she allowed herself to close her eyes. The comfortable feeling of sleep almost immediately washed over her and she gladly fell into the depths of her dreams.

When she opened her eyes darkness had fallen and she sat up with a jolt. Her heart hammered in her chest and her eyes quickly adapted to her surroundings. She could make out the shape of the bedside table, the closet and the mirror. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up when she heard an unfamiliar sound and her hands automatically searched the bedside table for her gun.

Upon realising that it wasn't there panic set in and Jane slipped off the bed. She used her feet to search the floor and quickly found her pants. Her gun lay on top of it and she quickly picked it up. She made her way across the dark room towards the door, her heart beating in the back of her throat and trembling fingers reached for the door handle. The metal felt cold against her skin.

She opened the door and looked down the hallway separating it from the living room. It was dark. Jane stepped out of the room, her back pressed against the wall and slowly walked towards the living room, her gun drawn. Her arms felt sore and her muscles protested against the position but she ignored it. She reached the living room and looked around. It was abandoned. A sigh of relief escaped from her throat and she looked back over her shoulder. Just as she was about to lower her gun, another thud startled her and her head whipped back round and she bit down on her lip. With her free hand she searched the wall for the light switch and flicked it. A second lather the living room was bathing in light and Jane' eye fell on Bass, who was shuffling around the room.

"Freaking tortoise!" Jane hissed, lowering her gun.

There was a metallic click and Jane recognised the sound of a key being turned. She flicked the light switch again and the room was shrouded in darkness. She pressed herself against the wall and aimed her gun at the front door. She heard it open and a cold draft spread around the house. A shadow appeared on the wall as the outside light fell into the room.

"Jane?"

Maura's voice cut through the darkness and the lights came on. She turned around and found Jane standing by the wall, gun drawn. Hazel eyes widened in shock before she hurried across the room and took Jane's hands into her own, forcing the dark haired detective to look at her.

"Jane, what on Earth are you doing?" she urged and released Jane's tight grip on the gun. She put it down and looked at her lover. Jane's empty eyes met Maura's and the brunette searched her face. "Jane?"

"Maura," Jane whispered. "I-I thought I heard..."

"It's OK," Maura said softly and then she noticed Jane was only partially dressed. "Why are you half naked?"

"I fell asleep."

"Good. For a moment I feared it was Boston PD's new method of detaining suspects," Maura answered and wrapped an arm around Jane, leading her back the bedroom. She sat her down on the bed before sitting down beside her and gently brushed a strand of hair out of her lover's face. "You must have been so scared."

Jane looked at Maura and sighed. "I still am."

"I know," Maura whispered and softly kissed Jane's cheek. The dark haired detective turned her head and captured Maura's lips with her own before the brunette could pull away. The kiss grew in passion and Jane's arms wrapped around Maura's back, pulling her closer until they lost their balance and tumbled backwards onto the bed. Maura now lay on top of Jane and looked at her lover, slightly worried.

"Jane," she said softly and looked into her eyes. "We should..."

"Just forget about the world," Jane finished Maura's sentence and lifted herself up to kiss her again. Her hands slipped into Maura's hair and ran down her back before reaching the zip of her dress and carefully she zipped it down. The fabric slid away from Maura's skin, revealing the flesh that lay hidden underneath. Jane gasped as Maura slipped out of her dress, revealing a matching light laced pink bra and panties. She looked at her, taking in her beauty and smiled.

"You are so beautiful, Maura Isles," she breathed as she pulled her nearer and her lips gently sucked on the pulsating vein in Maura's neck. The brunette tilted her head and her wavy hair rained down her back. She shivered as Jane's fingers unhooked her bra and let it slip down her arms before it landed on the floor. Her own shaking hands pulled Jane's shirt over her head and she looked past the bruises on the other woman's skin. All she saw was the beauty with which Jane's body had been sculptured. The firm breasts, the strong muscles and toned arms. Jane was wearing a simple black bra and looked almost apologetic at the contrast it created against Maura's expensive looking underwear.

Maura gently unhooked Jane's bra and revealed the tender flesh that lay behind it. Their bodies lay entangled, almost naked and their hands began a journey of exploration and adventure. Hot lips traced, nipped and sucked at glowing skin and beads of sweat glistened on burning flesh. Nails scratched gently down spines, arms and stomachs and teeth sunk hungrily into soft, tender flesh. It was as if they fitted together perfectly.

Maura's hands cupped the swells of Jane's breasts, followed the lines of her muscles and the curve of her stomach whilst Jane's hands ran through Maura's thick hair, down her neck and shoulder blades before encountering the perfect sculptured breasts before sliding down further, dipping into the navel and following the round shapes of her thighs. Beads of sweat glistened on Maura's forehead as Jane touched her, explored her in a way nobody had ever before and her fingers dug deeply into the mattress and clung onto the sheets as their bodies moved in a simultaneous rhythm that truly made them forget about the world.

~()~

When they woke the early morning sunlight was falling through the open curtains. Jane lay on her stomach, one arm wrapped securely around Maura's waist. The brunette pathologist lay on her side, facing the darker haired woman and she was still soundly asleep. Her chest was rising and falling slowly and Jane watched her for a few moments, a smile playing on her lips. Her fingers drew circles on Maura's naked back and she gently kissed her shoulder. The touch of her lips made the other woman stir and Maura's hazel eyes opened and were greeted by Jane's smile.

"Morning," Jane whispered with a sleepy voice and her fingers slipped from Maura's back to her face and brushed some hair aside. "Did you sleep OK?"

"Wonderful," Maura answered. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I have been hit by a bus but it was worth it," Jane answered and slipped one of her arms around Maura, pulling her closer. The smaller woman rested her head on Jane's naked chest and listened to her heart beat. Jane kissed her on the head and smiled. "I could get used to this."

"To what?" Maura asked.

"Waking up with you," Jane answered and Maura smiled.

The buzzing of Jane's ringtone interrupted their cuddle and Jane groaned and slipped out of bed, naked. She searched the floor for her pants and found her cell phone in its pocket whilst swearing under her breath. When she answered and turned around she realised Maura was watching her with great amusement and pulled a face. She could only imagine the sight she looked; naked whilst on the phone.

"Rizzoli," The look in her eyes changed and Maura sat up. "OK, thanks Frost."

"What is it?" Maura asked and Jane sighed as she crawled back into the bed and pressed her cold feet against Maura's warm legs.

"They have a possible match," Jane whispered and rested her head on Maura's chest. She wasn't sure how she was feeling. Maura ran her fingers through Jane's hair as the raven haired detective listened to her steady hear beat. It was a strangely comforting sound.

"Our killer may have a name and a face."