A/N: Want more of the "Lupus Amicitia" aspect of "Rizzoli & Isles"? Check out "Vuk's Vignettes"… I intend to write "Volumes I-VII" corresponding to the TV Show's Seasons.
Alison Grey-Wolfe only smiled and gave a slight nod. "Hello Jane…" her same gruff voice, which Jane Rizzoli remembered from her youth, spoke. "Still always on guard I see."
Jane let out a slight chuckle as she gently pressed her weapon back into the holster's locking mechanism. "Yeah, well as a cop… I'm supposed to."
The older woman's smile broadened, gradually revealing her teeth. The detective gasped. She abruptly turned towards Beta, who had taken unspoken and scarcely noticeable vigilance at the door. "Both of you?" Jane turned back to Al. "Both of you are like me?! You each have a wolf nature?!"
Al's eyes briefly shifted, regarding Beta over the detective's shoulder before focusing back on Jane. "Yes," her voice quietly and simply replied. "Yes, we are Jane."
The detective sighed heavily and turned to her human friend, who had taken a seat on the couch. "You knew all about this?"
Maura's mouth opened, but Al spoke up. "It was my decision, Jane." Her eyes narrowed as the werewolf detective's gaze focused once more upon her. "This is only the second time Dr. Isles has physically seen me… as a human, that is."
This time it was the ginger-blonde who gasped. "So…" the M.E.'s voice tentatively spoke as she arose and came to Jane's side. "… that massive grey wolf, Alpha… is you?"
Alison nodded and gestured towards the seating area. "Please," she perched upon the edge of the easy chair's seating. "I can truly understand the ocean of turmoil taking place within you both…" her dark eyes focused specifically on Jane, "… but most especially you, Jane."
The detective only nodded and very briefly looked down at her ungloved hands. She quickly clenched them into fists before shoving them into her blazer's pockets. "So," she returned her attention to Al, "the whole notion of seeing a massage therapist is… what? A cover story?"
Al chuckled slightly. "It's true." Her eyebrows furrowed. "How much do you remember from when I was the school's sports medicine specialist and massage therapist during your junior high school years?"
Jane half grinned. "Most of it. I've always considered those to be the best years of school."
The older werewolf smiled knowingly, causing a slight chuckle from the detective. "I still haven't learned to properly meditate like you tried to teach me," Jane turned to Maura with a rueful smile. "And in spite of her attempts, Dr. Isles here hasn't had much luck either." *1
The admission triggered mild laughter from both doctors and even Beta. Maura brushed some imaginary lint and wrinkles from her designer skirt as a subtle blush graced her face.
"Yes," the ginger-blonde suppressed another small laugh by clearing her throat. "I'm still not sure who's more impatient… Jane or Vuk."
Al nodded with another chuckled as she arose and retrieved several bottles of water. "It's because of your Vuk and you Detective Rizzoli that we're here."
"So," Jane looked towards Beta, then back at Maura, "Beta's work in the private sector is actually for you, Al? Bodyguard or security?"
The detective briefly searched her memories, trying to recall possibly having seen this mysterious, trench coat man. Without Lupine being present, Jane couldn't combine her memories with the wolf's… which would not only enable her to see the wolf's memories but also provide additional clarity and focus on the finer details to her own.
Jane sighed. Her quick memory search had yielded no results. She couldn't escape the extreme empty feeling of Lupine's sleeping presence. Even though she was separated from the wolf during their recovery from Charles Hoyt, this time it felt different. I didn't even know if Lupine was alive then, the dark, raven-haired detective sighed. Unlike now, I know Lupine's alive but I can't reach out to her. This is actually worse than the wolf being dead!
A strong hand gently clasped Jane's shoulder, startling her from her thoughts. The detective looked up. Her glazed-over eyes locked onto the concerned ones of her newly reunited friend, Alison "Al" Grey-Wolfe. The soft touches sandwiching her opposite hand caused Jane to barely realize that Maura, too, was concerned.
"Jane?" Al's voice softly inquired as she knelt down on a single knee and carefully positioned her fingertips on the left side of the detective's face. "Jane, can you hear me?" The older woman's gruff voice took on a most unusual tone. Dr. Isles noticed an unusual shifting pattern occur within her eyes.
This shifting pattern is far different than what I've seen in Jane… or even in Beta. Maura thought as she spared a brief glance toward the man in question.
Beta's eyes caught hers while he maintained his station at the door. Do not worry; she felt his thoughts gently transmit into her mind. She won't harm your friend. Some rare cases require an Alpha to communicate verbally and mentally as well.
Maura could only nod as she continued to hold Jane's hand with hers.
Your friend, Beta's thoughts added. Detective Jane Rizzoli is among the rare types of werewolves… her treatment in the aftermath of her injuries, and the reunification of the two natures requires… a unique method.
Absolute silence lapsed for several moments as Al's eyes gradually opened, remaining focused on the detective. Jane's eyes had closed after Alison placed her fingers on her face. However, the drying tear tracks on Jane's cheeks caught Maura's attention.
No, her tears aren't from my ministrations. It was Al's thoughts that transmitted into Dr. Isles' mind. It's from her being lost in thought, feeling the absence of Maicoh. *2
The medical examiner only nodded and kept the words: I understand in the foremost of her mind, hoping they could sense it.
You are far more adept than you realize, Dr. Isles. Beta transmitted to her.
Thank you, Maura replaced her previous words and the man subtly nodded his head as his eyes confirmed that he had "heard" her.
Jane slumped slightly as Al removed her hand from the detective's face. "Easy," the older woman instructed while she gently supported the younger. "Take a few long, deep breaths. Try to calm yourself."
Jane only groaned. She struggled to breathe deeply after Al's repeated instruction.
Maura noticed Beta quietly move from the door and toward the darkened area of the room. Somehow, the M.E. could sense a new presence on the door's opposite side. Quite possibly another guard, due to Beta's leaving.
"Augh," Jane grunted as she finally sat up. "What just happened?"
"You got caught up in your thoughts," Al gently encouraged the detective to sip some water. "The resulting emotional turmoil nearly overwhelmed you…"
"How…" Jane choked slightly on her water. "How is that such a big deal?"
Alison sighed. "It's because your wolf is sedated. Despite two separate and very distinct natures comprised within a single physical being, the two of you both provide balance… even strength to the other. Both natures, of you as a human and Maicoh the wolf, are so intertwined that anything effecting one of you, also effects the other."
Jane simply stared at Al while Maura leaned forward with surprised intrigue. "So," the scientist inquired, "one nature or being cannot live without the other?"
"Exactly," Alison simply replied. Although the older doctor kept her focus on the detective, the M.E. could sense her colleague also paying attention to her now. "The first phase was treating and strengthening the wolf while Jane was sedated. Now, this phase is for Jane while Maicoh's asleep."
Beta emerged from the other portion of the room. He and Al only exchanged an acknowledgement before the older werewolf gently pulled the detective onto her feet.
"It's time for that treatment to begin for the Human nature," Al softly spoke, cutting off Jane's feeble attempts to speak.
"A massage?" the detective seemed to speak in a parrot tone.
Alison smiled. "Massage is part of it. You'd be surprised how much can be corrected through proper spine alignment and treating the human body as a whole."
Maura watched them disappear into the darker area of the room. She sank down onto the couch once more with a sigh. Beta's shadow partially covered the medical examiner, causing her to look up into his concerned eyes. "Are you all right, Dr. Isles?"
Maura nodded. "Yes, I'm fine… just fatigued."
Beta returned her nod. "If need be, feel free to stretch out and catch a nap.
"It may take two to three hours for Jane to be finished with this initial treatment." Beta added as he leaned his forearms against the top of the easy chair.
The doctor only nodded her acknowledgement. I neglected to pack any reading material, Maura realized as she briefly glanced about and seeing nothing else reading material-wise. It wouldn't be a bad idea to rest for a short while, the doctor rationalized after considering how fragmented her sleep patterns had become recently. She stepped out from her designer heels and positioned the few throw pillows against the sofa's arm.
"Sleep well, Dr. Isles." Beta's voice softly spoke after Maura settled back after positioning herself properly on the sofa.
"Thank you Beta," Maura replied as her eyes closed.
Dr. Maura Isles huffed out a soft sigh as she watched the prosecuting attorney thank Detective Jane Rizzoli for her testimony and inform the judge that he had nothing further.
The judge nodded his acknowledgement and turned towards the Defense Table. "Your witness, Mr. Tolley."
"Thank you, your honor." The said attorney arose from his seat next to Charles Hoyt.
The doctor struggled to keep herself from staring, along with thinking about him… to keep from having him sense her presence.
If that's entirely true, the scientist thought, regarding Alison Grey-Wolfe's words the previous week.
Granted there were legitimate studies on how human beings could sense another human watching them, but the results were often so broad and spread-out that no definite, real conclusions could be formulated.
"Remember," Al's cautionary words came back to the M.E.'s mind. "Even though some of the most modern studies are based on data nearly ten years old, and they may not come to a definite conclusion, it doesn't necessarily mean they are entirely untrue.
"And," the older doctor leaned closer to the ginger blonde while lowering her tone of voice. "NEVER underestimate Charles Warren Hoyt!" A low growl could be heard in the werewolf's throat as the man's name was spoken…
"Please answer the question, Detective Rizzoli." The judge's firm voice brought Dr. Isles from her thoughts.
Jane's eyes very briefly locked with Maura as she took a deep breath. "No," her voice had a hardened inflection, "no, I didn't intentionally provoke the suspect."
"Then what caused the suspect to feel provoked or threatened by you?" Hoyt's attorney asked.
Is he serious?! Maura felt herself wondering along with another, separate feeling emitting from the detective's direction.
Try to remain strong, Vuk. The scientist struggled to project towards her wolf friend.
"… my simply doing my job as a Homicide Detective." The raven-haired detective appeared to be speaking through gritted teeth.
"Why do you think Charles Hoyt targeted you?"
"Objection!" The ADA stood up. "Calls for speculation."
"Sustained," the judge ruled and turned to Hoyt's attorney. "Please stick to the established facts, Mr. Tolley."
Maura noticed the detective shift uncomfortably and a mixture of feelings somewhat make a tidal wave towards her. If only I could fake a vaso vagal syncope or seizure, Maura thought as she struggled to project calming thoughts and encouragement to her friend. Anything to cause a distraction or to put this court into a recess.
"How severely has my client's so-called assault on you effected your life, Detective-"
"Objection!"
The rest of ADA Anderson's words were lost in a massive roar and the following screams and shouts within the gallery. The judge pounded his gavel repeatedly as the screaming and shouting voices drowned out his voice. A snarling growl erupted and Maura struggled to find Jane among the scampering bystanders trying to rush for the courtroom doors.
Surprisingly, Jane Rizzoli was still in the witness stand. She had risen to her feet as her face possessed the most shocked and perplexed of expressions while her eyes seemed to remain on the M.E.'s. Maura tried calling out to her friend.
Another snarling roar greeted her ears as Dr. Isles too wondered on where the growls were originating. Everyone somehow kept looking at her. The M.E. tried asking the person nearest her what was happening. Another growl was the only sound to be heard and the person only tried to get away from her with fear and horror in his face.
What's going on?! Maura thought to herself. Why is- her sight beheld her hands… or where her hands should have been.
They were now massive paws. A snarl only sounded as Maura tried to speak and her field of vision suddenly flashed red as her focus obtained her initial target.
"Bailiffs clear the court! Neutralize the threat!" The judge shouted as Maura continued up the aisle. Or was it truly Dr. Maura Isles?
The ginger red wolf leaped in a graceful bound over the small dividing wall from the viewer gallery to the Defendant desk. Teeth flashed with another snarl and front claws slashed at Charles Warren Hoyt.
"Stop it!" A voice shouted while another voice called out a name with the word "No!" following it. However, the wolf didn't respond and literally pushed Hoyt into the floor and smashing his chair to pieces and fracturing the table.
Charles Hoyt's grey, soulless eyes briefly locked with the red wolf's sharp hazel green before it lunged. Its teeth sank into Hoyt's throat and jerked its head, snapping not only the human's neck, but also ripping out both carotid arteries.
The ginger red wolf rumbled its satisfaction as the blood slid down its throat and released a howl of victory, uncaring of the bullets burning into and through her body…
…Maura sat up suddenly with a mild scream as she awakened from the dream. Her throat felt extremely dry despite the very vivid sensations of coppery liquid sliding down her throat… the wolf's throat…
"Dr. Isles?" Beta's voice gently inquired and Maura looked up blearily at him. For some odd reason, he wasn't wearing his trench coat and Dr. Isles could see the outlines of a shoulder harness beneath his dark shirt with a zipper within the seam below his armpit. She could only conclude it was for where a gun could be removed from concealment.
"Are you all right?" Beta's hand gently came down upon hers as he knelt down beside the sofa for her to see him better.
The ginger blonde felt the material separating their hands and it was then she finally realized Beta's trench coat was draped over her as a blanket. "Ah," Maura began and swallowed several times to try and moisten her mouth and throat.
Cool air greeted her skin as Beta gently pulled the coat back and pressed a glass of water into her hand. Dr. Isles sat up just enough to drink the contents. "Thank you," the M.E. handed the small tumbler back.
Beta nodded and then handed her a water bottle. The liquid inside had a dark purple color. "Drink this in small gulps," he instructed. "It's an all natural supplement. Alpha designed it herself."
"Aren't her formulas designed specifically for werewolves?" The scientist inquired as she briefly studied the dark liquid.
Some of Beta's unique denture briefly flashed as he smiled. "Most of the time," he answered. "However, Alison researches a great deal into the human body, as well as werewolf physiology. Some of her formulas have actually been made into commercial products… for human consumption and," Beta gestured to the bottle within Maura's hands, "that's one of them."
Maura sighed with a slight smile before taking a tentative sip. It was surprisingly sweet and grape flavored. *3 Her eyes turned to Beta's in surprise, eliciting a mild chuckle and momentarily displaying the werewolf's teeth once more.
"That's often the usual reaction people experience when sampling this particular supplement." His face tilted, very reminiscent of how a wolf would when studying something or being intrigued. He briefly nodded with some understanding. "There's all natural sweeteners within that formula." Beta finally spoke, triggering mild surprise in Dr. Isles. "Alison keeps anything artificial out of her formulas as much as possible. She only implements an artificiality if absolutely necessary."
The M.E. only nodded as she averted her eyes and took another slow drink from the bottle. Beta diverted his attention in a gentlemanly manner and briefly left for the darkened area of the room. While the doctor couldn't hear any sounds indicative of a door opening and closing, something had to be serving as a privacy barrier of some kind.
Dr. Isles closed her eyes briefly and struggled to focus on her breathing, trying not to pay too much attention on the haunting images of her dream. Somehow she could see the ginger red wolf both as a bystander and through the animal's own eyes as well.
Maura took another swallow… quite possibly larger than Beta had instructed, to keep herself from recalling the intense sensation of the coppery blood entering her mouth and throat. Her eyes drifted closed once more as she continued to focus on her breathing and the grape flavored supplement shake in her throat.
A/N 2 (or repeat): Want more of the "Lupus Amicitia" aspect of "Rizzoli & Isles"? Check out "Vuk's Vignettes"… I intend to write "Volumes I-VII" corresponding to the TV Show's Seasons.
As for a "Rizzles Relationship"… it is my hope to follow parallel to the show as much as possible, but anything is possible and I strive to not have too much projected "plan or timeline wise" for the overall story(ies)… Anytime I have a massive thought out plan for ANYTHING, (not just writing), often ends up being unfinished or constantly tinkering with the finished product (some accuse George Lucas of non stop tinkering with the "Star Wars" films).
***Being a strong supporter of my home country's "Constitution" and "The Bill of Rights," that same sentiment applies to readers' imaginations. Sometimes things can be written in a way to rob or ruin the fun for a reader's imagination. ***
*1: Chapter 16 of "Lupus Amicitia: Act III" where the wolf's restlessness eventually disturbs Maura's meditating. Chapter 7 of "Lupus Amicitia: Act II" where Maura glimpses telepathically from Jane/Vuk recalling Al meditating.
*2: Chapter 12 of "Lupus Amicitia: Act II" where Al visits Jane in the hospital and Dr. Isles meets her for the very first time. "Maicoh" is the Navajo word for both "wolf" and "shape shifter"
*3: A nod to one of my all-natural supplement shake that I routinely drink… grape is one of the best flavors. To my knowledge, my friend inspiring the "Al" character didn't design it, but has instructed me to drink it for my body's health.
*** Most heartfelt, "bottom of my heat" and if I may borrow a term from the TV Show: Babylon 5, "... serious as a rip in a spacesuit!" I really mean that area of my author's note. If I can find a more stronger way to convey how serious I am, I'll definitely let ya'll know! Believe me, I read all, every single one of your comments, reviews, and private messages... and please continue with reviews, questions, etc.; they ALWAYS inspire me and encourage me to keep going! Never know when a review might provide inspiration for a story chapter or moment! ***