Chapter 6 - Baby Steps

"Alright team listen up! We've got our first game against South Boston High on Saturday, so this will be our last practice before the actual day, okay? I know it's only a friendly to start the season, but let's treat it like a real league game. Let's show them who's boss!"

The team roared in agreement and Riley was filled with so much pride. In that moment, she could feel the energy building between each player. A smile shone on her lips as she took a moment to silently congratulate herself on picking the best team she'd had in a very long time. However, as she glanced around at her team, she noticed one tall figure with wild curly hair was missing from the line-up.

"Guys where's Rizzoli? I saw her in the hall before last period, it's not like her to be late" to practice anyway. She raised her eyebrow at Frankie, Frost and Steve waiting for them to explain.

"Oh yeah sorry Coach, Dr. Isles asked Jane to stay behind after class to go over her test, give her a few pointers on what to revise for next time." Replied Frost, and as much as she didn't want to, Riley trusted her gut instinct that said he wasn't lying, especially as the other boys were nodding in unison.

"Yeah coach, Jane was really upset about her grade at lunch, she didn't want to get benched, she's so excited for the first game!" Steve continued, "so Dr. Isles wanted to help her, you know, still be able to play."

Oh did she now? "Right…. Okay team, start the usual warm up. Five laps, then practice some footwork. I'm going to go retrieve Miss Rizzoli. We can't exactly have a successful practice if the quarterback isn't here!"

Leaving the team to their well-known warm ups, Coach Cooper sprinted across the field back to the gym, power walking through the corridors to try and pull Jane back into practice, she slowed down however when she could hear two people talking up ahead. Her feet suddenly became glued to the floor when she could finally distinguish the words coming from the classroom in front of her.

"I think we need time to think… Coach Cooper will be waiting for you Miss Rizzoli."

"Please don't dismiss me or these feelings right away okay? Promise me that when you say you're going to think about it, you actually will? Please Maura. That kiss was perfect...

"Shit…" Riley whispered. As she peered in through one of the few windows that wasn't obscured by science posters, she could see the tall figure that should be at her practice, standing between Maura's slightly parted thighs, their bodies pressed flush together, Jane's hands resting on the older woman's hips. Riley looked up into the expression on Maura's face and Riley instantly recognised the confused, fearful yet lusting look that lingered in her hazel eyes.

"Goddamn it Rizzoli. You've done it again."

Turning swiftly on her heel, Riley jogged back to practice trying to push the images of the scene she just saw out of her head, all the while suppressing the feeling of jealousy that had started to bubble up inside of her.

"Rizzoli not with you, Coach?" Steve shouted over as soon as he saw Coach returning to the field looking slightly shaken.

"She'll be here soon Steve. It looked like they were just finishing up. Frost help Steve to grab the training dummies and let's start some defence practice."

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"RIZZOLI. LATE. BENCH!" Riley shouted across the field as Jane emerged from the main school building a few minutes later, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"WHAT? WHY?" her face dropped and the colour instantly drained from her cheeks.

Riley had jogged towards Jane and stopped just short of her, not wanting the wrath of Jane Rizzoli to echo across the field, though she was sure the rest of the team were so fully engaged in practice they wouldn't notice if it did.

"I don't tolerate lateness Jane. It's the same no matter who you are, if you want to be on this team, be the best and play in every game? Then you make sure you damn well turn up on time." Looking Jane directly in the eyes, she added, "Your teammates and I deserve that commitment from you." There wasn't any malice in her voice this time, thought Jane, but it still sucked to hear her say that, especially when she had an actual reason to be late.

"Doctor Isles asked to see me about my test. This wasn't me bending the rules and not being committed. You know how much I love playing football! I told Frost-"

"Yes, Mr. Frost AND your brother AND Steve told me about your 'extra tuition' and I'm still not accepting it. Your teammates are already changed, warmed up and practicing their plays for the game next week, and you're only just arriving, what kind of example does that set if I let you join in now?" Riley's voice remained gentle, she wanted to let Jane know she wasn't being an ass purely out of spite; but because she already had two of her teammates sitting practice out for doing less.

"This isn't fair Riley! You do this and you've screwed up the whole team morale for the first game. I'm getting changed and I'm getting on that field. You're not stopping me from playing." Jane could feel herself getting more and more agitated by the minute, anger was bubbling up inside of her and she was struggling to control it. She somehow managed to keep her voice low, knowing full well the consequences if she was heard calling her coach by her first name. She knew she sounded like an ass but she just couldn't stop.

"Jane for God's sake, I saw what you were doing in that classroom." Riley hissed.

Jane's face dropped. Fuck.

"Don't you tell me you weren't bending the rules when you were pressed up against her, thinking of anything but football and your teammates." To the untrained eye, the two looked like they were about to butt heads, but Riley knew they had to break eye contact and move away and they'd better do it quickly. Jane's anger had started to dissolve, and a sense of fear and loss at the thought of not playing began to set in. When Riley saw Jane uncharacteristically drop her guard, she took a deep breath and continued.

"Fine Jane. You can join in, but just this once. Only because I want more than anything else for this team to have positive vibes to start their season. But I swear, if you put practice second to your hormones again you will be benched not only for one game, but for however many I see fit do you understand?" The conviction in Riley's voice scared Jane, causing goosebumps to erupt all over the surface of her skin. Jane had been putting her feelings first, Cooper was right. From now on she needed to work on re-balancing her focus; more on football and less on the constant throbbing that was between her thighs.

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"TOUCHDOWN! YES RIZZOLI! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"

As Jane did a lap of honour around the field nearly thirty minutes later, she couldn't have felt more alive. She finished receiving her last high five's and took a deep breath. Every second she spent on that field, she knew she belonged out there. Until yesterday no feeling came close, was it really just yesterday? Except now when she closed her eyes, a certain honey-blonde with the sexiest body she'd ever seen, flooded her thoughts.

"Nice to see you listened to me for a change. Good job." Riley smiled as Jane came near her, raising her hand for a high five from the brunette. As their hands met, Jane thought she saw something flash across her coach's eyes, something she hadn't seen for almost a year and it unnerved her.

Why now?

Goosebumps covered Jane's arms as she felt a shiver run down her spine; and the hairs that were now standing up on the back of her neck made her feel uneasy. Jane laughed nervously in agreement, "Gotta keep on your good side coach." Luckily she caught Frost's eye over Riley's shoulder, using that opportunity to get away by darting around the smaller frame of her coach.

"Yo Jane, you gonna tell me what's going on?" Frost asked quietly, grabbing the opportunity to ask while giving his teammate the last high five of the team.

"Um… I do. But I can't…. right now." She added, seeing the confusion spread across her best friend's face. "You wanna go grab a slice of pizza?" By changing the subject Frost knew Jane was nervous. She trusted him with her life, but was she ready to admit to him just exactly what was going on with her? Especially when she didn't really know herself.

"Sure Jane, we can have a chat just me and you okay?" He smiled reassuring her, "I'll drive? See you out here in 20… but er, Frankie won't let us go for food without him."

"Reckon we can lose him?" Jane asked her eyes lighting up.

"Jane." Frost warned.

"Fiiiiiine, we'll babysit him."

As they walked back to the lockers to take a well-earned shower, elsewhere in the building Maura had just finished marking the last few pieces of work from her junior class. She looked around at her classroom and realised just how much she couldn't wait to transform it. She imagined when the peeling paint would no longer be an eye-sore and the windows opened properly without sticking. Her order for more up-to-date posters than the faded ones on the walls had been cleared this morning by the headmaster, however the ones she had brought with her were already strategically placed around the room (along with a few reminders about the consequences of late homework).

Pleased with her initial progress she quickly decided that was enough for one day when she heard her stomach rumble. Checking her watch, she realised it was already 5pm. She had took substantially longer marking than usual, thanks to the memory of a certain Italian that had been running through her mind for the last ninety minutes. Turning off the lights and locking the door, she made her way towards the carpark when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"Doctor Isles! Hey!" turning around to face a very sexy, albeit freshly showered and rosy-cheeked Jane Rizzoli, Maura couldn't help but melt at the sight. Her head was fighting hard to block out the powerful emotions her heart was beating out. She sobered up quickly however, when she noticed Jane's younger brother Frankie and best friend Barry Frost tagging along too. Regaining her professionalism, she greeted the group with her best smile.

"Good evening Miss Rizzoli" then turning her head towards the boys, "Frankie, Barry, it's nice to see you. Did you have a good practice?"

Frankie hadn't had much contact with Maura yet, which resulted in a stammering mess of a boy when he tried to reply, luckily Frost jumped in.

"Sorry about him Doc, he er-got hit in the head… twice."

"Practice was great though!" Jane interrupted, wanting the attention to focus back on her, "I made some great passes, and Coach seems to be really impressed with how the team is working together."

With Frankie still drooling, Frost started chuckling at how much Doctor Isles seem to affect both of the Rizzoli siblings, noticing this as well, Maura blushed.

"You seem very pleased with your performance Jane. I can't wait to see you in action, I'll notice if you live up to your expectations." Maura winked at Jane, hoping the boys wouldn't notice the effect it had on brunette.

"Yeah you could say Cooper has a soft spot for you Jane. Letting you still join in practice when you were late, no offence doc!" he added, not wanting Doctor Isles to feel guilty. "Remember when she had me benched for wearing the wrong socks to the game? Still blame her for why we lost that one." Frost laughed, but noticed Dr. Isles visibly stiffen at the mention of Riley's name, and instantly wondered if it had something to do with what Jane was keeping from him.

"Nah she doesn't Frost, come on. I just told her how it was. Anyway who'd want to bench the star player?" It was her turn to wink at Maura before she continued, "We were just going to grab some pizza…" Jane stalled, her confidence momentarily failing, "You could-er come if you like? You know… if you wanted to?"

Frost and Frankie stared at Jane in disbelief, not catching how the intensity of the gaze between the two women didn't falter for a second. She is ridiculously cute when she's nervous. But you can't do this Isles. Those dimples will not get the better of you.

"If it wasn't wildly inappropriate Jane, I would love to come with you." Maura bit her bottom lip slightly, hating the fact she couldn't just arrange to meet with Jane after school like she would anyone else of potential significance.

Breaking eye contact with the brunette, she remembered the boys were still looking at her dumbfoundedly, "I do wish the three of you a lovely evening. Jane before you go, could you quickly help carry this to my car for me please?"

"Yeah sure!" Cue Frost and Frankie holding on to each other for support from laughing too hard at Jane's eagerness. She followed the clacking of heels on the concrete floor to Maura's shiny new Mercedes and helped her unload the box full of exercise books into the boot.

"So…have you had a chance to think?" Jane asked nervously, wanting so much for the answer to be yes.

"You mean since an hour ago when you were between my thighs and had your tongue in my mouth?" Maura smirked at the effect she was clearly having on Jane.

"My, my you're getting good at the whole sarcasm thing Dr. Isles." Jane leaned closer to Maura, her body moulding to the slender shape of the sports car.

"Truthfully though Jane, I have been thinking. I can feel the attraction between us and my god I can't deny the effect you have on me when you smile, or come close to me, or say my name… but my head is telling me no too loudly at the moment. I'm sorry. I just can't think of a way this can be possible."

But Jane wasn't going to take no for an answer,

"I have an idea… why don't we start slowly? I give you my number, we text and get to know each other outside of school. Get to know me as Jane the potential girlfriend. Not Jane Rizzoli who aces your quizzes in class."

With a flash of her famous Rizzoli smile, Maura hesitated once more and Jane decided to push her luck.

"Please Maura just take this." And handed Maura a piece of paper.

"How long have you had your number written on this?" She asked coyly, shifting her body to become closer still to the young brunette.

"Since about 9.07am yesterday." Jane admitted with a cheeky smile. Softly hitting Jane's arm Maura pocketed the paper.

"I have to say Jane you are persistent. Now stop flirting and go and meet your friends! Maybe, and just a maybe you'll get a text later tonight." With a final wink, Jane watched every mouth-watering curve of Maura disappear into the driver's seat. As she walked away, Jane heard her phone beep signalling a text.

Please try and at least put something green on your pizza? For me? ? M xx

Erm no, green? Gross! J xx

Jane! You have no idea how many nutrients are in greens that you need at your age! M xx

Maybe you'll just have to come with us to make sure I do it won't you? J xx

Nice try Jane, enjoy ? M xx

Okay so, my PGCE is taking over my life but I hope to be able to update more now I'm finally on placement! Thank you for all of the continued support! F xx