Disclaimer: All recognizable Rizzoli & Isles characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners including, but not limited to Tess Gerritsen, Janet Tamaro and TNT. The original characters and plot are the property of the author of this fan fiction story. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any previously copyrighted material. No financial gain is associated with the publishing of this story. No copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: "Killer In High Heels" (4x04) is truly the episode that spawned a thousand fanfiction ideas. I can't get it out of my head! Here is my humble offering, a post-ep and not my usual one-shot. Expect 4 or so chapters. –DKC
Four
"You have no idea how good it is to see you in your office doing work," Jane drawled as she leaned against the doorframe of Maura's office.
Maura looked up from the file she was reviewing and smiled at her best friend. She took her reading glasses off, resting them on the stack of files on the side table next to the couch in her office.
"Nobody would think any less of you if you went home, you know," the detective walked into the office, closing the door behind her.
Jane approached Maura, sitting down next to her on the uncomfortable couch. She found herself at a loss as to what to say to Maura. Apologizing was her first instinct, but she knew that Maura would remind her she was merely doing her job.
"Don't you find it problematic that the Commonwealth couldn't bring in a replacement M.E. prior to my returning from, well, jail?" Maura asked. "On any given day there could be ten new cases in that amount of time."
Jane leaned her head against the back of the couch, looking out the corner of her eye at the doctor.
"Luckily the chief M.E. doesn't get arrested every day," the tone of Jane's voice erased the sarcastic intent of her statement.
There was pain in Jane's voice. She couldn't get over having arrested her best friend. She couldn't get over her own mother turning over evidence that could have put Maura behind bars indefinitely. Maura knew Jane well enough to know how hard her friend was being on herself. There was nothing Maura could say that would stop Jane from beating herself up. Instead, Maura reached over and took Jane's hand.
The two women sat in silence for several minutes, hand in hand.
"I would have thrown my career away, Maur," Jane's voice cracked.
Squeezing Jane's hand tighter, Maura knew exactly what Jane was referring to. She knew that if Angela had taken the video to Jane, Jane would have obstructed justice for Maura.
"I would have thrown my career away and I wouldn't have thought twice."
Maura, already sitting with her body facing Jane, leaned forward until she was in Jane's space. She wanted Jane to listen to her and she knew that getting in Jane's space would force that.
"My entire life I have never known anyone as ethical as you," the doctor insisted.
Jane turned her head to look at Maura, realizing just how close Maura's face was to her own. She found her gaze dropping from the dark circles under Maura's eyes to Maura's soft lips.
"What does being ethical matter if it puts someone I love behind bars?" Jane rasped.
"Jane…" Maura noticed where Jane's eyes had locked and found her own breath hitching at the realization.
Jane looked up, making eye contact with the doctor. There was something there that hadn't been there before. There was always love, Jane knew, but there was something even deeper.
"I would have done it, Maur, and I wouldn't have regretted it for a second," Jane breathed, her lips oh so close to Maura's.
"I know," came the soft response as both women anticipated the touching of their lips.
"Dr. Isles?" Susie Chang knocked once before abruptly opening the door into her boss's office.
Jane and Maura pulled back, but they continued holding hands.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were in here, Detective Rizzoli," Susie knew she had interrupted a moment.
"Don't worry about it," Jane responded.
"Can I help you, Senior Criminalist Chang?" Maura managed to say, still stunned by the sudden intrusion preventing her from closing the distance to kiss her best friend.
"Did you want to start the Henderson autopsy this afternoon?" Susie wondered.
Jane looked at Maura and saw the doctor worrying her lip between her teeth. She knew Maura was being honest earlier in the lobby when she said she wanted to get back to work, but she also knew that it had been a long 24 hours and her friend needed to properly process what she'd just been through.
"Dr. Isles will be leaving early, Susie. The autopsy can wait until tomorrow," Jane informed Susie, hoping Maura wouldn't be upset with the executive decision just made.
"I will see you both in the morning then," Susie responded, slightly taken aback by Jane answering for her boss.
Susie walked out of the office, closing the door behind her. Maura looked to Jane with a curious look on her face.
"Jane?" Maura inquired.
"I'm taking you home."
To be continued…