Author's note: Can't believe I am writing this because I am going to receive so much hatred but sometimes, a girl has to do what a girl has to do. The L Word, first generation. Shane and Jenny, loves of my life. Couple of things: very AU. As in, Jenny is not crazy, Shane is not a womanizer, and Alice is the best friend Jenny never knew she needed. Also – mystery because who doesn't love a good mystery with a hot lesbian couple. Said couple? Shane and Jenny. Feedback much appreciated. Let's gooooo.
Jenny Schecter cursed underneath her breath as she dodged people on the busy L.A. street. Her feet propelled her forward as she made a mad dash to reach her editor's office in time for their meeting. None of this would have happened if her fucking roommate hadn't been so fucking loud in bed last night, keeping her up all night. The last thing Jenny ever wanted a picture to be painted of in her mind was of Carmen fucking some girl that reeked of booze from the club her roommate was doing her set at. True, Carmen was one of the best, if not the best, DJs in L.A. and plenty of women wanted her pussy, but Jenny needed a break from the nightly routine of Carmen and whoever the lucky lady of the night was going at it like fucking rabbits.
Or, Jenny amended in her head, she needed a good fuck too from time-to-time. Either or would suffice at this point, really. Sighing, she hurried up the marble stairs leading to her editor's office and pushed the door open, hurrying inside as she scanned her pass. Speed-walking as fast as she dared, Jenny reached Miranda's office just shy of a minute on time and took a deep, cleansing breath to settle her nerves. Then she knocked and quickly entered the office once beckoned to.
"Morning, Miranda," Jenny greeted, automatically going towards the coffee pot and pouring herself a strong cup of black coffee to help jumpstart her system since she hadn't had time to stop at Kit's and get her usual double-shot of espresso. "How's the editing coming along?"
"I won't mince words and pull any punches," Miranda began.
"When have you ever?" Jenny interrupted with a grin and Miranda chuckled.
"Fair. So, it's good work. Some of the best I've seen from you yet," Miranda said.
"But?" Jenny probed, knowing Miranda would never hand out a free compliment.
"But you're still not digging deep enough," Miranda sighed, taking off her glasses as she studied Jenny. "You're still not allowing yourself to show all of your vulnerability through your work as an author."
Jenny sighed. "Miranda, I've told you: I can't dig any deeper without fatally cutting myself open. I went go back to a period in my life that causes me to do that. I've already sat through countless hours of therapy to fix my daddy issues. Can't I just call my mother out on her homophobic bull shit and be done with it?'
"You can do whatever you want, Jenny," Miranda said. "But if you want the second book to sell as well as the first did, you got to dig deep into your closet for the skeletons you buried. You know what I'm talking about."
Jenny huffed an irritated laugh. "You're asking me to share my trauma from my childhood with people who don't know me. They only think they know me because I'm a lesbian who knows how to put a pen to paper and make sentences flow. It's uncommon, apparently."
"For rural America, it is," Miranda agreed, taking a sip of her own coffee before looking back at Jenny. "Just, think about it Jen. I can't force you to write about your past, but you've opened up with your therapist and friends; and, myself. Maybe your readers, at least some of them, will be able to relate."
"What a fucking tragic thought," Jenny muttered, eyes closing.
"Humans are tragic. We feed off that shit," Miranda laughed before ending the meeting with a hug to Jenny and Jenny making her way out of the office and to Kit's coffee house, desperate for real coffee and a cigarette.
XXX
Once at The Planet, Jenny spotted her best friend from college sitting at their usual table and headed inside, stopping at the counter to order her usual from Kit and pay, depositing a tip in the jar as well with a smile.
"Thanks, Jen," Kit sighed. "We need it."
"Anything for you," Jenny replied kindly before heading over to Alice and Bette, Kit's baby sister. "Hey, Al. Bette."
"Jenny," Alice greeted her. "Thank Pride you're here."
"Pride isn't until June, but I'll roll with it. What's up?" Jenny replied.
"Did you not catch the news this morning?" Bette asked, tone one of surprise.
Jenny shook her head, knocking back her double shot. "No. I was up all night due to Carmen's girl being over."
"Her flavor of the week?" Alice asked, cocking her head to the side curiously.
"Sorry about that, Jenny," piped up an all too familiar voice and Jenny spotted Carmen flopping down in the chair across form her, looking hungover as hell.
"You look like ass," Jenny smirked.
"Feel like it, too," Carmen sighed. "Got an extra cigarette?"
"Thought you quit?" Jenny asked, handing her one regardless before lighting her own as well.
"Yeah, well, flavor of the week was wanting a breakfast like we're some bed and breakfast," Carmen muttered.
"Tell her to pay rent and we'll talk," Jenny laughed. Then she turned back to Bette and Alice. "What was with the news comment?"
"There was a murder," Bette sighed.
"As sad as that is," Jenny said. "It's L.A. and we have murders happening here every day."
"Lesbian woman," Alice supplied.
Ah.
"Think it's a hate crime?" Jenny asked, eyes staring at her two friends.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," came a new voice and Jenny turned to spot who could have quite literally been the hottest woman she had ever come across. The woman had a full head of brunette, ironed type hair and eyes that held secrets Jenny felt like she wanted to know as well. Then again, Jenny had her own secrets.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Alice asked, looking at the other woman.
"Shane McCutcheon, lead detective on this homicide case," Shane explained.
"Have there been more murders?" Jenny asked.
"Three, all in the surrounding area, all lesbians," Shane replied. "I don't think it's much of a stretch to say this some sort of hate crime against our community."
"Our? Ballsy of you to think we're all gay," Jenny said.
"Am I wrong?" Shane asked, eyebrow quirked.
"You are," Jenny nodded, staring at her. She was cute, she'd give the woman that. But Jenny didn't date. Didn't trust anyone enough to date.
"I'm currently the superior on this case. Here's my card. If any of you ladies hear anything, don't hesitate to call me. That's my personal number as well, in case you can't reach me on the office line," Shane said, fingers brushing against Jenny's as she handed her the card. Jenny swallowed the gasp that rose up and nodded.
"Noted, Detective," she replied.
"Shane, please," Shane responded and with that and a nod at the table, Shane left, leaving Jenny to watch her through the window.
Well fuck.
Author's note: Again, fully expect hatred cause of the pairing but please, no homosexuality bashing. If you don't want to read it, you don't have to. Just be respectful, please. Enjoy! Xx (Also, wy too tired to edit this so eh).