The Boxer and The Doctor
Chapter 3
After Jane left Maura and went home, she didn't sleep at all. Well okay maybe a few hours but she tossed and turned. She really liked Maura and wanted this to work out. There was just something about this woman that was different than anybody she had ever met. Sure, Maura was a doctor but that wasn't it. Jane felt automatically comfortable with her like they had known each other for quite a while when in reality she just literally met her.
Jane had several classes today. She had finished her Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and was working on her general education classes as part of the University Transfer Program. She worked at the grocery store about twenty hours per week. This money was paying for her college classes and she was saving money for the police academy. The police academy would cost her $3,000 and it was due seven days prior to her academy class start date.
Her parents had told her they would pay for half of her college classes and provide more money if they could. They knew Jane was saving for the police academy. Jane was being very responsible with her money. She didn't waste it. She ate all her meals at home and really didn't go out and splurge. She only bought new clothes when she needed them. All her extra money went into her savings.
She would be turning 21 in a few months and would be able to join the academy at that time, so she wanted to make sure she had her money for the academy. She didn't want to come this far and blow it financially right before her academy time was in sight.
She was looking forward to her date with Maura. She was so thankful they were having dinner at Maura's. She didn't have to worry about money. She did have to worry about what she was going to wear though. She wore her best clothes last night. She came to the conclusion that Maura liked her already so she was just going to be herself.
When she got home from school, she took a quick shower and then threw on a pair of blue jeans and a nice button up shirt over her undershirt. She put on her Converse Chuck Taylor high tops and made sure her hair was somewhat situated and not too wild. She grabbed her leather jacket as she went out the door. She put on her best smile and drove to Maura's. Her eta was 5:20. She didn't want to be late.
Maura's car was in the driveway when she pulled up so that made her happy. It was 5:20 she took a chance and knocked on the door. Maura answered the door and looked so beautiful. Jane looked her over from top to bottom and then back to top. "You look spectacular in those black scrubs. Thank you for inviting me to have dinner with you." Maura moved so Jane could come in as Maura gestured for Jane to enter.
"You look very nice and comfortable." Maura told Jane.
"I hope that is a good thing!" Jane exclaimed as she looked at Maura for confirmation.
"Oh yes, comfortable is great. I love it. I love that you feel confident that you can just be yourself around me and not feel like you have to impress me. I feel comfortable with you and it pleases me that you are comfortable with me." Maura stated.
They had managed to walk into the kitchen and Jane had wanted to kiss Maura when she entered but Maura was talking and she didn't want to interrupt her. So, once they got to the kitchen Jane wrapped her arms around Maura and pulled her into a hug and kissed her. Maura loved Jane's ability to just be herself. She saw what she wanted and she went for it. Maura broke the kiss first and took a step back and smiled at Jane as she reached and grabbed Jane's hands and held them out in front of them. "As much as I would love to continue kissing you, dinner is in the oven and I must get our salad ready." Jane frowned at the word salad and Maura noticed it. "I take it you don't like salad?"
"Correct, I am not a fan of salad. I am more a meat and potatoes type of girl." Jane smiled as she told Maura this.
Maura smiled back and said, "Well, I guess you don't have to have salad if you don't want to, but I would like a salad with our dinner. Can you chop some celery for me? Maura reached over and grabbed the cutting board and the knife.
After Maura retrieved the celery from the refrigerator Jane responded, "Yes, I can do that for you."
"Great would you like a beer or a glass of wine?"
Jane smiled and said, "Yes, a beer would be great."
"Okay but just one. I know you are under age and I would hate to contribute to the delinquency of a minor." Maura laughed as she ran her hand across Jane's abdomen.
"Ha, ha, you are funny Maur." Jane smirked at Maura as Maura continued to laugh lightly.
"How is your nose feeling today?" Maura asked as she reached up to touch Jane's face so she could get a better look at her nose.
"Fine doc. The swelling is almost gone and the bruises on the eyes are changing colors each day. People give me funny looks and I just tell them 'you should see the other guy' and they just walk away."
"Well in a few weeks the bruises should be totally gone. It looks like your nose has healed fine. I wouldn't recommend breaking it again though."
"I kinda have no control over that. It is sometimes hard to block all the punches, and every once in a while one slips through. I am good but even good boxers get hit." Jane explained.
"Dinner will be done in about 20 minutes would you like to maybe watch something on TV?" Maura offered.
"How about we sit on the couch and go back to kissing, I rather enjoyed that?" Jane winked at Maura. Maura just gave her a huge smile.
"You like to say what you feel don't you?" Maura said as she grabbed Jane's hand and led her to the couch.
"What can I say, I know what I want and I want to kiss you right now."
"Well, you are in luck because I want you to kiss me right now." They sat down on the couch and Maura leaned in and started kissing Jane. Jane quickly deepened the kiss and they continued to kiss until the timer went off. Dinner was done. Maura started to move so she could get up and Jane stopped her. She didn't want to stop kissing her. "Jane, I have to get up so dinner doesn't burn."
"I don't care about dinner, I care about you." Jane said as she looked adoringly at Maura.
"That is nice Jane, but I don't want a fire in the kitchen. Come with me." Maura started to rise and this time Jane let her. Maura reached for Jane's hand and took her with her. Jane wrapped herself around Maura as they walked awkwardly to the kitchen. Maura wasn't use to walking with a body wrapped around her. Jane didn't want to let her go.
When they got to the kitchen Maura grabbed the hot pad holder and opened the oven. The chicken parmigiana was done. It looked perfect. Jane took a big whiff and just smiled. She loved chicken parmigiana and the smell was so overwhelming she closed her eyes in response as she took in another deep breath. Maura placed the garlic bread in the oven and set the timer.
Jane looked around and then reached into one of the cabinets to find plates so she could set the table. She found the silverware drawer and pulled out silverware for them. Maura was impressed she hadn't asked Jane to set the table she just did it. A few minutes later the bread was done and Maura brought the chicken and bread out to the dinner table. She went back into the kitchen and got her salad and two glasses so they could have some water with their meal. Aside from still being in her scrubs Maura thought everything looked great.
They enjoyed pleasant conversation during their dinner. Maura explained about how she was finishing up her residency and would soon be able to work in her desired field. She already had her job lined up at Mass Gen. Jane explained how in a few months she would be 21 and would be able to attend the police academy and then she would be a police officer. Once she became a police officer, she was going to get her own apartment.
After dinner they went back to the living room. Maura asked if Jane would like to watch a movie with her. Jane said yes, she would love to. Maura turned the TV on and hit play on the VCR. They watched 'Now and Then.' Maura had just rented the VHS tape because she wanted to see it. Jane thought the movie was interesting. Not something she normally would have watched, but she would watch anything with Maura. As long as Maura was sitting beside her, she didn't care what was playing on the TV.
As the movie played, they kept ending up moving closer and closer to one another. At one point Jane stretched and when she put her arms back down, she draped her left arm on Maura's shoulder and pulled her in closer to her. Maura smiled, Jane couldn't see her but she smiled so big her dimples showed. Jane was enjoying spending this special time with Maura. She had never felt so at ease with anyone before. Maura nuzzled into Jane's side. She had actually closed her eyes and was just enjoying Jane's embrace. She could care less about the movie, Jane was more important.
Maura let her thoughts drift to what she had thought about last night. She thought about the fact that she had dated a few men in the last year and none of them have had the effect that Jane has had on her. She was wanting to absorb as much of Jane as she could. She was like an addiction that she had to have. She didn't know it but Jane felt the same way. She wanted to spend every possible spare minute with Maura.
Maura had dated men not women. She was drawn to Jane though so she thought about it and felt that her attraction was so strong how could it be wrong. Maybe that was why her relationships with men never worked out. Maybe she was supposed to be with a woman, with Jane. She hadn't been attracted to women until Jane came into her life. Jane was confident and sure of herself, not cocky just very confident in who she was and what she wanted in life.
After Jane had left last night, she did a little internet research on sexuality and discovered the term 'sexual fluidity.' After reading the definition and seriously thinking about it and what she was feeling towards Jane she figured that is what she must be experiencing. Maura was a woman of science and she needed to know facts. She took out a piece of paper and wrote down her facts: she had never been attracted to a woman before, she had always been attracted to men, she never felt comfortable in a romantic relationship with men, she was attracted to Jane, she wanted to spend time with Jane, she wanted to be in a romantic relationship with Jane. These were the facts as she knew them.
Maura didn't freak out about this. The facts were there, they were truthful. She read the article several more times and concluded without a doubt that there was a term for what she was feeling. She felt that the term fit her new feelings. After thinking about it for a period of time she considered herself to be sexually fluid. She would need to talk to Jane and let her know. She didn't want Jane to be disappointed in her. She knew nothing about being in a relationship with a woman but if Jane was willing, she was willing to be in a relationship with Jane. They would have to take it step by step though because this was all new to Maura.
Maura looked up at Jane during the movie and discovered Jane wasn't really paying attention to the movie either. She hit pause and turned so she could face Jane. "Jane, can we talk?"
Jane looked at Maura and said, "Sure Maur, what do you want to talk about?"
"Us, or more importantly if you want there to be an us, are you interested in being in a relationship with me?"
"Hell ya, I am very attracted to you." Jane said with a great deal of enthusiasm.
Maura smiled and said, "I need to share a few things with you. I have never been in a relationship with a woman before. If you want to be in a relationship with me you will have to be patient and take things one step at a time."
"I can take things as slow as you want as long as I get to kiss you and spend time with you."
"Jane, I am serious."
"I know Maur, so am I. I can take things slow. I will be busy for the next few months with my classes and the academy. Any spare time I have I would like to spend with you."
"Are you sure? What if it is a while before I am ready for a sexual relationship?"
"Maur, I have a feeling you will be worth the wait. A relationship is not just about the sex. I mean don't get me wrong I enjoy sex but there is so much more to a relationship and I would like to have it all with you. Oh my God, you have me talking about my feelings. How do you do that? I don't talk about feelings with anyone. I've what, known you for like three days now and I am spilling my guts already, man, I must really like you."
Maura gave a small laugh, "I guess I just have that effect on you."
"I guess so. I mean I am not complaining but I do have a reputation and being a mushy feeling type of person is not part of my reputation. I mean what kind of boxer walks around talking about her feelings." They both laughed.
"I won't say a word, I promise." Maura crossed her heart and Jane leaned over and kissed her. They would figure this out together day by day, step by step.