A/N- So I have been trying to update this story for the past week and every time I update it immediately gets taken down. It has come to my attention that if you use the fanfiction app, chapters 17 and 18 are available to ready there. I have been trying a couple of things to get them to update online but I have been unsuccessful.
"Jane, have you seen my pearl earrings?" Maura called as she ran around her bedroom, searching through her drawers. "They're not in my jewelry box."
"I don't know Maur," Jane yelled from the bathroom. "Can't you wear another pair?"
"The pearls match my dress," Maura yelled back. "Where did they go?" Maura continued her search through the many drawers in her room.
"Have you checked on your bedside table?" Jane asked as she peaked her head out of the bathroom.
"Why would they be on the bedside table? I always put them back in my jewelry box," Maura turned to Jane.
"Except that one night after we went to Tulula's in South Boston. That night, we had mind blowing sex," Jane smiled at the memory. "For hours, orgasm after orgasm. You were so tired you took off your earrings and put them on the side table and said 'you're going to kill me Jane'." Jane laughed as she mocked Maura's voice. "Check the side table," Jane nodded her head in the direction of the side table.
Maura went to search, she saw the pearls glistening from the floor beside the bedside table. "Jane," Maura stood putting the earrings in her ears. "How do you remember things like that?"
"I remember everything that has to do with you," Jane smiled. "Now finish getting ready. You're going to make us late."
"Jane," Maura looked at her girlfriend of five months. "We're not going together."
"Mau-ra," Jane moaned. "Why not?" Jane pouted her lips and crossed her arms. "We've been together for five months, don't you think we should tell everyone?"
"We are not telling everyone by showing up to the team's Pre-season dinner together," Maura laughed as she changed over her purse.
"But why?"
"We can tell Coach tomorrow before practice," she compromised. "But definitely not a minute sooner."
"How can I stand in the same room as you, looking like this, and not touch you?" Jane whined as she reached to grasp Maura's hips. She pulled the blonde against her. "You're going to tell me that you're not going to want to touch this either?"
"You are going to behave yourself, and I'll let you see what's underneath after," Maura kissed Jane's lips. "Not a second sooner."
"Maur-" Jane whined. "Please?"
"No," Maura laughed as she pulled herself away from Jane. "Now you go to dinner. I'll be right behind you." Maura pushed Jane to the door. "Go."
"Fine," Jane huffed as she left the bedroom and walked towards the front door.
Jane paid the cabbie and walked up steps to the hotel. She strutted up to the ballroom doors wearing black slim tailored pants, a tight violet shirt with a long V, and a tailored black blazer. She pulled the doors open and walked into a gold and red decorated ballroom. The Ringers' were beginning another season. This time, Jane was wearing the captain's armband. For that, she couldn't be more excited. Her ribs healed nicely and she was back in game shape, finally. Maura had her benched for close to a month and thanks to Katie doing two a days with her she got back in shape pretty quick.
"Jane!" Jane turned at her name. She saw Katie rushing towards her, Chris in tow. "Where's Maura?" She whispered.
Jane sighed, "she'll be here in a moment. She wants to tell Coach before anyone else and so we're not together tonight. But that dress she's wearing..." Jane took a deep breath. She was trying not to remember what that dress did to her curves.
"Tomorrow though, right?" Katie encouraged.
"That's the plan," Jane smiled. "Hey Chris, how'd she get you to this lame thing?"
"She promised sex," Chris shrugged.
"Chris!" Katie stood shocked. "You're not supposed to just blurt it out."
"That's how Maura got me to leave the house," Jane agreed. "It worked though," she laughed.
"Jane, Katie," Holly shouted as she sauntered towards them.
"Chris, remember don't say anything about Maura," Katie reminded him.
"I remember, like the first hundred times you told me," he laughed.
"Hey guys," Holly smiled as she approached them. "Jane no date tonight?"
"When do I ever have a date to one of these things?" Jane laughed. She's never brought a date, because any date she would have would be female, and she wasn't ready for that. Well, until tonight, but her date said no.
"Very true," Holly laughed. "The rookies were invited this year," Holly pointed to the corner where two kids stood and sipped on some water.
"Why do they look younger and younger?" Katie laughed.
"They don't look younger, you're getting older," Jane teased.
"Holly, this is my boyfriend Chris," Katie introduced the two.
"Nice to meet you," Holly shook his hand. "Did you see Dr. Isles tonight?" Holly mentioned quickly. "She looks smokin'. I didn't see her with a date though," Holly mentioned as she looked in the direction of Maura. All eyes followed hers, and they spotted Maura.
Katie laughed quietly. Jane was right, how was she supposed to sit here and not touch that? "Maybe she's trying to get noticed by someone," Katie laughed.
"You think? Maybe Danvers?" Holly questioned. She was seriously trying to see who Maura was hooking up with. "Do you think it's a player?"
"I don't know Holly," Katie laughed. "Why are you so interested."
"I don't know. She just looks like she shouldn't be single," Holly shrugged. "Jane do you know?"
"I don't know if she's seeing anyone," Jane laughed. "We're colleagues, we don't talk about our personal lives."
"I just figured, you two seem like you're friends outside of work," Holly shrugged.
"Nope, just colleagues," Jane stated. This was getting harder and harder to pretend they're not together.
"Dr. Isles," Holly waved Dr. Isles down. The group watched as she politely excused herself from the players she was talking to and made her way over.
"Hello ladies," Maura smiled. "And gentleman," Maura reached her hand out to Chris'. "I'm Dr. Maura Isles," she spoke as they shook hands.
"Dr. Isles, this is my boyfriend Chris," Katie introduced the two.
"It's nice to meet you Dr. Isles," Chris smiled.
"So ladies, no major injuries this season, okay?" Maura smiled. "We don't want any unwanted hospitalizations," she laughed.
"Jane," Holly laughed. "She's the one you have to look out for, Dr. Isles. Always throwing her body in harm's way."
"Yeah," Katie agreed. "Jane's always throwing herself in harm's way."
"For the art of the game," Jane reasoned. "Injuries come with the territory. But, now that we have a competent doctor, maybe I'll get better quicker."
"Oh yeah," Holly laughed. "Those ribs healed real fast."
"Extenuating circumstances," Jane shrugged. She didn't want to talk about her broken ribs. It's still a sore subject with Maura. She was pretty sure Maura was still mad.
"Well, I'm going to continue making my rounds," Maura smiled and turned to leave.
"There's no need to bring my ribs into this," Jane looked at Holly. "You don't know what happened."
"I'm sorry," Holly stood shocked. "I didn't think you'd still be upset about it," Holly watched Jane sigh and walk away.
"What's up her ass?" Holly laughed.
"Her ribs were a bigger deal than just broken ribs," Katie explained.
"What happened then?"
"If she wanted you to know, she would've told you," Katie explained. "It's not my place."
Jane sauntered over to the rookies standing in the corner. "I'm Jane Rizzoli," she stuck her hand out to the brunette. She shook their hands and smiled.
"We know who you are," the brunette stuttered. "I'm Brooke Lewis, I'm a forward. Usually a center, but I can play anywhere," she shrugged.
"I'm Sarah Wright," the other one smiled up at Jane. "I play mid," she said as Katie came up behind Jane.
"Jane…" Katie rushed up to her looking panicked. "Oh, hi," Katie smiled at the two rookies.
"Katie, this is Sarah and Brooke. Sarah's a mid and Brooke is a forward," Jane introduced them.
"Right, if you guys need anything just let us know," Katie rushed out. "Jane, I've gotta talk to you."
"Okay," Jane eyed her best friend. "Anything at all," Jane smiled at the two and turned to walk with Katie. "What's wrong?" She whispered as they were out of earshot of everyone.
"Maura just ran towards the bathroom in tears," Katie whispered.
"What?" Jane looked in the direction of the bathrooms. She wanted to run straight there, but settled for a fast paced walk. She didn't want to cause any attention. She knocked on one of the bathroom doors and pulled it open, empty.
She moved on to the next and knocked lightly. She heard a muffled, "occupied," coming from the other side of the door. When Jane listened intently at the door she could hear quiet sobs escaping Maura.
"Maur?" Jane whispered against the door. "Let me in," she heard a click and then the door pulled open slightly enough for Jane to squeeze in. Jane was thankful they were single bathrooms. "What happened?"
Maura thrust a phone into her hand as the tears poured down her face. Jane began to read the article that was bright on Maura's phone.
Rizzoli Has a Girlfriend?
Jane Rizzoli led the league in 2019 in shots on goal and was third in assists. The Boston Ringers relied on her finesse on the field to win the 2019 Champions cup. But at what cost? Rumor has it that the minor rib fractures she sustained at the end for that game were more serious than the Ringer's led on.
Our sources show that not only Jane Rizzoli was hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but also had her girlfriend at her bedside. People have been speculating about Jane Rizzoli's sexuality since she got drafted. Whenever she was asked about it, she would never give a straight answer. But now, we have proof. Believe it or not, the Boston Ringer's new team doctor was seen at the hospital with Jane a few months ago.
The obvious plot to play down how serious the rib fractures were. A source says that Jane Rizzoli ended up with a punctured lung and spent seven days in the hospital. Even a couple of those were spent in the ICU. Her contact person, Doctor Maura Isles, came running one night when she had to be moved up to the ICU.
Are Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles the new 'It' couple?
Jane stared at the picture at the end of the article, a picture of Maura reading her something on her phone and clutching Jane's hand as she slept in her hospital bed. Such an intimate photo, on display for the world. "Maur," Jane sighed.
"I'm sorry," she cried. "I know it's not the way you wanted to come out." She wiped her tears. "I guess I'm out now too."
Jane took a step closer to her and grabbed her hands. "Maura," she smiled. "I don't care about anyone finding out about us. I cared about people finding out before I met you. I don't care anymore. All I care about is you being happy." Jane leaned down to pull her in for a kiss. "You and I will be fine."
"Jane," Maura looked up and clutched onto Jane tight. "This article just outed you to the entire world. You have to care about it more than you're letting on."
"Maur," Jane smiled. "They did it for me. I feel relieved actually. Now I can kiss you when we walk out of this bathroom," Jane leaned down and pulled Maura into another kiss. "We'll be okay. I promise you." Jane used her thumbs to wipe Maura's tears from her face.
They heard a knock at the door. "Almost done," Maura shouted from the confines of her girlfriend's arms.
"Hey it's me," Katie knocked again. "Let me in."
Jane left Maura's arms and opened the door for Katie. "Hey," Jane whispered and closed the door when Katie walked in.
"Everyone is talking about this article," Katie pointed to the article on her phone.
"Yeah, we figured," Jane laughed. She wiped the remaining tears off her girlfriends face. "We've been discussing it as well." Jane tried to smooth out Maura's makeup. Wiping off the mascara stained tears.
"So you're okay with it?" Katie confirmed.
"Saves me the energy about talking with everyone about it. Plus now I can hold Maura's hand out there," Jane smiled.
"Are you okay with this Maura?" Katie looked beyond her best friend and onto the team doctor.
"Doesn't look like I have a choice in this," Maura shrugged.
"Of course you have a choice," Jane's smile dropped. "I won't do anything you don't want. If you want to keep this relationship totally professional at work functions I'm one hundred percent behind you. If you want to make out in front of the entire team, I'll be there." Jane brushed her fingers against Maura's cheek. "I'm here for you and for us."
"So you're okay with not holding my hand at work functions or kissing me?" Maura looked up at the brunette.
"I'm so okay with it," Jane leaned down to kiss the blonde. "Whatever makes you happy."
"So we're all on the same page. No PDA at work?" Katie cut the two off. "Now let's clean the mess that is Maura's face right now. So we can get back out there in time for dessert," Katie laughed as she pulled makeup wipes and makeup out of her bag.
"Do you just bring all of this stuff with you?" Jane laughed.
"You never know what's going to happen," Katie handed a makeup wipe to Maura. "Maura your mascara is running into your lipstick."
"I'll go do some damage control while you two continue the makeup party," Jane kissed Maura's forehead. "For what it's worth, you still look beautiful." Jane pulled the bathroom door open and slammed into Chris. "Dude!" Jane laughed. "What are you doing?"
"Standing guard. What does it look like I'm doing?" He laughed.
"Why?"
"Do you know how many people tried to knock on that door looking for you," he shook his head.
"Really?" Jane's eyes widened. "I knew it would be a big deal, but not that big," she laughed.
"The coach told me to tell you, that he wants to see you," Chris relayed the message.
"Do you know where he went?" Jane sighed. She knew she had to talk to Coach. Chris pointed in the direction the coach went.
She followed his finger through a set of double doors. The kitchen, perfect. She stepped into the kitchen and called his name, "Coach?"
"Rizzoli?" He rounded the corner standing in front of her. "What the hell were you thinking?"
"About the hospital or Dr. Isles?" Jane smiled.
"This isn't funny Jane," he stood serious in front of her. His arms crossed and stance rigid. "You're dating the team doctor and didn't think to mention it?"
"To be fair Coach we started seeing each other before she was officially the team doctor and the picture is just her sitting by her girlfriend's hospital bed," Jane explained. "I don't see how it was anyone's business about my hospital stay or who I am dating. Maura and I have been together for almost six months," Jane laughed. "We were going to tell you tomorrow."
"So you were going to mention it?" He sighed. "To me it looks like she was the reason you signed the contract."
"You know very well it wasn't the only reason I signed it. I told you that day in your office that I had a new relationship brewing. You knew there was someone keeping me in Boston," she drew on the talk in his office the day after they won the championship. "Don't pretend you didn't know there was someone in Boston," she smirked.
"You know I have to hold a press conference about this?" He uncrossed his arms.
"I figured," she nodded her head.
"This doesn't change how we see you, the shareholders included," he mentioned. "We as an organization are behind you fully."
"Thank you Coach," she smiled, feeling a bit relieved.
"If anyone gives you any trouble let me know," he patted her shoulder and left the kitchen.
At least people had her back, she thought. Now it was time to check in on Maura and confront the rest of her team. She walked back in the direction of the bathroom. Chris was gone, probably meaning Maura and Katie were too. She knocked on the bathroom door and got no response, so she walked in the direction of the ballroom. This was going to be interesting. She took a deep breath and opened the doors.
Her eyes met Maura's face first. Maura was smiling while in the middle of a conversation with Katie and Holly. She sauntered over to the three with a smile on her face.
"Jane, you stood here and told me you didn't know if Dr. Isles was seeing anyone," Holly feigned hurt.
"I did, yes," she confirmed.
"Here you are," Holly motioned between the two of them. "Dating Dr. Isles."
"Yes, that's correct;" Jane smiled.
"Since the night you guys won the championship," Maura confirmed.
"And you knew about this," Holly pointed to Katie.
"Of course," Katie laughed. "I was there."
"Was I the only one who didn't know?"
"Well, we were the only ones who knew," Chris motioned to the four of them. "Technically no one knew."
"I knew you were more than friendly with each other," Holly huffed and walked away.
"Are you ready to get out of here?" Jane asked the blonde.
"We should talk to coach," Maura smiled slightly.
"Already done," Jane confirmed. "Let's go," she reached to take Maura's hand, but remembered their conversation in the bathroom and rested her hand against her own thigh. "Please?"
"Okay fine," Maura smiled. "Bye guys."
"Bye," Katie laughed. "We'll hold down the fort."
"I'll call you tomorrow," Jane turned and walked beside the blonde.
Tomorrow was the first day of practices, two a day practices to be more specific. The pair stood at the Valet counter and awaited Maura's car. "What happened to your car?"
"I took a cab from my apartment. I wanted to leave with you," Jane smiled up at the blonde. "You still look incredible. I wish I could kiss you right now."
"What's holding you back?" Maura smiled.
"Were still at the work function," Jane huffed as the car arrived at the curb. "And it'll make kissing you up against your front door even hotter," she whispered as she opened the driver's side door for Maura.
"Jane Rizzoli," Maura stood shocked.
"Now, get in the car so I can kiss you," Jane demanded.
"You got it," Maura laughed and sat in the car.