"You're upset."
"That's a very astute observation, Jane." Maura deadpans.
Jane leans back against the wall near the door.
"Of all the things you had to pick up from me all these years, it just had to be sarcasm."
"You do it so well." Maura shrugs.
"Tell me what's going on, Maura."
"So you're ordering me around now, are you?" The doctor shoots back, crossing her arms against her chest and slightly turning away to gaze out the window.
"I was trying to ask politely." Jane grinds out, jaw tense.
"You have a way of being polite." Maura retorts.
Jane snaps.
"Oh, you mean like how you were—just moments ago—polite enough to tell Emily to leave?" Jane's voice has risen towards the last three words.
Maura chooses to remain silent. But Jane can't help but notice how the blonde stiffens further at the drop of Emily's name.
The detective forces herself to calm down. In cases such as this one, pushing Maura only makes her more…"difficult," to say the least.
Jane finds herself trying to regulate her breathing, with much help from previous rounds of unsolicited tips on yoga and meditation that Maura had thrown her way throughout their time as friends.
She makes her way back to her chair and gingerly reaches for one of Maura's hands: the one clutching the hospital sheet. Jane's frown deepens.
In a low soft tone, she begins.
"Maura, I just want to know what's going on so maybe I can start understanding the 'why'. And from there, maybe I can finally figure out what I need to do to get my best friend back."
It gives Jane a degree of comfort when instead of pulling away, Maura slowly but surely twists her hand in Jane's grasp in order to slip and intertwine her fingers through hers.
But still, she remains quiet.
And so Jane trudges on.
"I want to know what has got you all stressed out that you nearly literally had your heart broken, Maur. Broken! Jeez. I don't say it much but I really need you to explain everything about that to me sometime in the near future. Or maybe tomorrow."
There's a small smile that briefly passes Maura's lips and Jane finds this just the encouragement she needs.
"I want to know what's going on that I feel like I'm losing you. I want to know if there's some guy to blame for this so I know whose ass to kick. I want to know why you've been walking around like…like you lost your best friend or something, because I'm RIGHT HERE, Maura! And I really want to know what's going on so I can help you. And because Ma won't take my word for it when I tell her I have no idea why you may be mad at me."
Finally, Maura slowly shifts her eyes to meet hers.
It feels like forever, but…
"I want to be mad at you, Jane. Sometimes I feel like I am. But mostly I feel like I'm mad at myself."
Jane tightens her grasp of Maura's hand but keeps quiet. She has to.
"Because how can I be mad at my best friend if she's happy?"
What? If anything, Jane is only getting more confused.
Maura fidgets with her other hand, picking at some imaginary lint on the sheet.
"You know that inter-personal skills seminar you took five months ago?"
Again, what?
"Uh…yeah?" Jane drawls out.
"And you remember that short activity the trainer gave you? The one where she showed you pictures of eyes and—"
Jane cuts her off with a nod, "—and we had to 'guess' what emotions those eyes were trying to express. Yeah."
"And you remember how you almost got every answer right except for three items?"
Jane was beginning to get an idea of where this was going but mostly felt disbelief at the possibilities.
Maura looks down at their clasped hands, squeezing hers once, as if testing the reality of her presence.
Jane doesn't disappoint and squeezes back as a form of reassurance.
"You missed the pairs that expressed desire, seduction, and jealousy."
At the last word, Maura meets Jane's gaze directly.
And Jane is floored.
-x-x-x-x-x-
"Maura! Sweetie!" Angela bursts into the room, Frankie trailing right behind her with a look of exasperation painted on his face.
Before Angela has fully wrapped her arms around Maura, the younger Rizzoli catches a glimpse of the tableau they had interrupted and he cannot help himself but wince.
"Hey! I just saw Emily heading out downstairs." Tommy comes in and joins the fray, shortly followed by Korsak and Nina. Frankie notes the tension that lines Maura's eyes at the mention of the robbery detective's name a split second before the Chief ME conditions her facial expression appear neutral.
Before they know it, chaos had descended upon the room, effectively shutting down any possibility of continuing their conversation.
-x-x-x-x-x-
"You just say the word, Janie and I'll get everyone out of there."
Jane's a bit startled at the appearance of her younger brother from behind her.
"Jeezus, Frankie." She mutters.
Frankie is tasked by the Rizzoli matriarch grab some items she'd forgotten from the car, but Jane volunteers to come along and help.
Angela is too focused on fussing over Maura that she doesn't question it, but the latter does. And with a pained smile, she watches Jane leave.
"You two looked like you were finally getting to have that talk."
Jane is quiet, introspective.
She leans against the hallway wall, two corners from Maura's room.
"Until Ma barged in."
"Yeah. Sorry 'bout that. But as soon as she heard Maura was awake, she was basically roarin' to go, Jane."
Jane shrugs.
"I was serious, Janie. I can get them outta there." Frankie is adamant. He and the rest of the BPD were unfortunately witness to the recent tension between the ME and his sister. Talk and speculation was going around, with a bit of Emily's thrown with them as well.
It was obvious to everyone that Emily was batting for the other team.
It was also obvious to everyone that Emily was seriously after one particular Rizzoli.
Obvious to everyone at least but Jane.
Unfortunately, it was also obvious to everyone else but Jane that Dr. Maura Isles did not like the fact that Emily was after her best friend.
"Jane?" Frankie prods.
Something flits across Jane's eyes and she straightens up.
"You know what, Frankie. I would appreciate it if you could get everyone out of there."
She places a hand atop his shoulder and briefly gives it a squeeze in thanks and starts walking away.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"I need to run a quick errand. But I'm giving you an hour tops to get everyone out, alright?" Jane waves a hand in goodbye and then picks up her pace to jog away.
Frankie sighs.
He sincerely hopes his sister gets a clue.
Soon.
-x-x-x-x-x-
AN: Okay. I know this particular "segment" has gone on long enough. I promise I'll do my best to end it at Broken Pt. 4.