A/N: Hey everyone! This is just a little something that came to me as I was trying to write my other stories. It will be a few chapters but I couldn't resist our ladies playing in San Diego. This started off as a slight AU meet cute at Comic Con but has kind of evolved into an ode to San Diego. I hope you enjoy!
Jane was literally vibrating in her seat. Something she had been wishing for for what seemed like forever was finally going to happen. She could feel Frankie's and Frost's amused grins aimed at her but at this moment, Jane couldn't find it within herself to care.
Why? Because after trying for nearly a decade, Jane was finally making the trip west to the biggest and most famous comic book and sci-fi convention in the world. Yes that's right, Jane Rizzoli was finally going to San Diego Comic Con International!
The three of them had been trying for years to get tickets but it seemed like you needed an act from god to be able to go. Jane had heard of people setting up servers and hiring people to try to game the online ticketing system into getting tickets and still not getting a pass for all the days, let alone one day. Jane and Frankie had hoped with Frost's computer prowess that he would find a better way but after years of trying, they had still not found any luck and just had to give it the old college try each year.
This year, they had held the ticket buying party at Jane's apartment as she had the stronger wifi signal. All three were huddled over their laptops, constantly refreshing the webpage that would allow them to be able to enter into the online waiting room. Just as it had opened, Jane had gotten a call from her lieutenant saying that she was needed immediately for a time sensitive undercover assignment. Jane had groaned, hating that she couldn't turn this down as she was so close to making detective in homicide. Just a few more feathers in her cap and she knew she would get her dream job. However, that meant sacrificing her other dream of geeking out with fellow sci-fi fans and so Jane had resigned herself that this wasn't going to be their year either. Getting dressed, she had left the boys with her laptop, login and password, just in case by some miracle they got in while she was gone.
So it was a complete shock to Jane when she suddenly started getting several frantic texts from Frankie later that morning saying she had got in almost as soon as the ticket sales started and they had secured 5 day passes for all three of them! Jane had even done a little dance in celebration when she had read the texts, causing the other sex workers on the corner to look at her like she'd lost her mind. But Jane didn't care, she was going to San Diego!
Fast forward a few months and Jane had indeed made detective in the homicide division of the Boston Police Department and had begged and pleaded with her new lieutenant to allow her to take some leave before starting her new assignment. She just needed a week and then she would throw herself fully into being the best homicide detective the department had ever seen. Jane had been granted the leave and her dream vacation was a go!
R&I
They arrived in San Diego the Saturday prior to the start of the convention. By some miracle of miracles, the Red Sox were playing the Padres just before and the trio saw it as just another sign of their good fortune. They got to see their beloved Sox and enjoy the awesome San Diego weather. Jane had plans to hit the beach and/or pool at least every day of their vacation. She was determined to go back to Boston with her best tan, grateful for her Italian blood that allowed her to get a nice bronze glow to her skin.
As their plane had started its descent, Jane felt her excitement hit a new level, the city of San Diego glittering in the sunlight out of her window seat. She had never flown in here and had not been prepared to land right in the heart of the city, the ocean shining all around. It was like a movie and Jane had to pinch herself to believe that this was real.
Because they arrived early, it had been fairly easy to navigate through the airport, get their luggage, and head to their hotel. They were staying at the Manchester Grand Hyatt which was right on the waterfront and within a few minutes walking distance to the convention center. Luck had once again been on their side as they were able to get a government rate as police officers on a suite that would allow them all to have their own beds.
When their Lyft pulled up to the hotel, all three of them looked at each other with jaws dropped. This would be their home for the next nine days?! The two towers were impressive enough but as they entered the lobby, Jane and her boys were greeted with nothing but luxury. She had seen the pictures online but they had not done this place justice.
Through the windows in the lobby Jane could see the entire harbor before them and off to the left a spectacular water slide in the biggest pool Jane had ever seen. She knew she and Frankie would be fighting the kids for turns on that thing. A sharp jab to her ribs brought Jane back down to earth as her brother was waving his hand in front of her face trying to get her attention. "Let's check in so I can race you to that slide," Frankie said with a big Rizzoli grin plastered across his face. Oh, it was on now!
They quickly checked in and were led by a bellhop that the registration staff had insisted they use to their suite on the second to top floor in one of the towers. Again, as the door opened to their suite the trio was struck dumb. Everything was so pristine and shiny and their eyes were once again assaulted with the sparking blue water of the harbor. Only the clearing a throat brought Jane back to the moment, turning to see that the bellhop had unloaded their luggage and was clearly waiting to be tipped.
Fumbling for her wallet, she quickly shoveled a bill at him that she hoped was a $20 and shooed him away so that she could go back to exploring their digs. Jane had stayed at some decent hotels over the years but nothing remotely close to this. The view alone was stunning and as Jane explored more of the suite, she felt like she could definitely get used to this lifestyle.
Jane chuckled to herself as she watched Frost and Frankie playing a game of rock-paper-scissors to see who got the bed closest to the window in the second room. It had already been decided that Jane would get the king bed in the master bedroom and she was glad because she didn't want to have to deal with sharing a room with her brother. Those days were long gone and Jane was thankful to have a door to shut between her and his snoring.
Jane quickly changed into her racing bikini that she wore when she did laps in the indoor pool back at the precinct. She didn't want to give too much of a show to anyone, just in case that huge slide proved to be too much for her usual bikini. Jane threw on a pair of shorts and her flip flops and took one last look out the window at the view. It really was gorgeous.
As she exited her room, she heard her brother yelling "last one in is a rotten egg!" Jane wanted to be annoyed but she really couldn't r blame him for his enthusiasm. They were all living a dream right now and she wouldn't be the one to wake them up. Rolling her eyes, Jane grabbed a room key and closed the door behind her catching up to the boys who were nice enough to hold the elevator for her.
R&I
This was the life. Jane was floating lazily in the pool, having found a couple of foam noodles, soaking up the plentiful Southern California sunshine. Despite it being mid-July, the weather was perfect, not too hot and with the sea breeze coming off the nearby water, Jane felt like she could luxuriate like this forever.
And that was her plan as she and Frankie had already worn themselves out on the water slide, having caused a big enough stir with their sibling rivalry to be reprimanded by the hotel staff. Jane chuckled to herself at the look they had received from the middle aged manager as he proceeded to remind them that they were adults and meant to be role models to the kids. They had taken their scolding but then had immediately stuck their tongues out at the retreating form, causing Frost to dissolve into laughter. Their antics were also noticed by several parents who were looking at them disapprovingly. Both Rizzolis had just shrugged their shoulders in unison and canonballed back into the pool. But, they had toned it down a bit, not wanting to get kicked out on their first day.
It was as Jane was floating aimlessly that she was startled out of her reverie by a honey coated voice just off to her side. "You really should wear sunscreen. Despite your apparent Mediterranean heritage, research has shown that even people with higher levels of melanin need to protect against the harsh ultraviolet rays, especially as you move further south and closer to the equator. Actually, more so as the spectrum of darkening is lessened by the higher levels of melanin."
Jane looked around to see where this lesson in skin care was coming from and felt her jaw drop at the vision before her. Lounging on a pool chair, sunglasses tipped down to look at Jane, was an honest to god angel. The way she was positioned, the sunlight behind her even gave her the appearance of having a halo. The woman had honey blonde hair peeking out of a large, wide brimmed straw hat, loose curls flowing down her tanned and toned shoulders, a few freckles visible. As Jane's eyes continued their perusal of the goddess before her, Jane couldn't help noticing the well filled out white bikini top that gave way to more tanned, toned skin that covered a lightly muscled abdomen. Jane couldn't stop her gaze from continuing downward, taking in the lean legs that were on full display. Jane felt her mouth water and had to swallow quickly as to not start drooling.
"Uh, um, well, thanks?" Jane managed to choke out as the woman was still gazing at her, clearly waiting for some reaction to her advice. The sly smile that started to spread across the angel's face exposed Jane to two adorable dimples that sent a pang of desire straight to her core. This woman was too perfect.
The angel, obviously amused by Jane's reaction, fully removed her sunglasses now, and Jane felt her breath catch. She was now looking into the clearest hazel eyes she had ever seen, flecks of gold shimmering with the reflection of the light from the pool water. Jane didn't know how much more she could take of this glorious creature's attention before she was drowning in her own desire.
"If you do not have any with you, I would be more than happy to offer mine. It is the best on the market, rated the highest among dermatologists in protection, but also has a very pleasing scent," the angel spoke, leaning forward toward the edge of the pool, her arm outstretched with her offering. Jane still couldn't believe her eyes and the honey coated voice that was lulling her like a siren to steer closer to her demise, which in this case was the concrete edge of the pool.
Before she realized what was happening, Jane was upended off her noodle and was coughing up water as she sprang back up, luckily in only five feet of water so that her long legs could take her back to the surface in an instant. As she surfaced, Jane heard the telltale laughter of her brother, the loud Rizzoli bark a common trait in their family.
Jane felt the heat rising in her body from both anger and embarrassment, but was momentarily stalled from killing her brother when she heard a voice, one that she was slowly beginning to crave, chuckling in delight. As Jane pushed her dripping hair out of her eyes, she was confronted with the mirthfilled face of her angel, dimples on full display as she laughed at Jane. This only caused Jane's anger and embarrassment to sky rocket and she turned lightening fast and without warning, dunked her brother hard into the water.
Jane felt satisfied to hold him under for a few seconds, successfully avoiding this attempts to come up before she was ready. Eventually, Jane allowed him to resurface and was assaulted with water spewing everywhere as Frankie made a show of trying to breath after her attack. Before he could say anything, Jane said just loud enough for him to hear, "Payback is a bitch little brother, and she's standing right in front of you."
With that, Jane turned to address the amused angel that she was dying to get to know, only to find an empty chair. There was no evidence of the woman who had so thoroughly captured her attention just moments ago and Jane, for a second, thought that maybe she had imagined her. But, thankfully on some level, her brother's next words made her feel both sane and insane at the same time.
"Janie, you don't have to be so mean just because I embarrassed you in front of that hot lady." When Jane turned her attention back to him, he was pouting fully, brown eyes wide, milking the look for all he was worth. Jane just shook her head and splashed her brother before retrieving her noodle and attempting to reclaim her sense of calm that had been so rudely interrupted.
"Whatever, punk, mind your business," Jane grumbled as she settled back and began her leisurely float around the pool. She secretly hoped that she would run in to her angel again. After all, if she was at the pool it meant she was staying at the hotel right?
A/N: Oh who could this angel be? ;-) Let me know what you think and stay tuned...