Maura lay on the floor of her yoga room enjoying the pull of her hamstrings and back. She breathed a content sigh as she repeated the sun salutations routine and tried to remain focused as she heard Jane shuffle down the hall toward her. Maura's usually unwavering concentration was completely diminished by the presence of Jane Rizzoli. Even if Jane was quiet, she seemed to demand attention. Years of Maura's yoga, studying, and ignoring her senses so she could read all went out the window at the mere thought of Jane. It was both troublesome and invigorating.
"Do you have any magic yoga to make me less cranky? I can't find your coffee and my secret stash of instant is missing… again," Jane complained in her morning husk as she walked into the room. Maura straightened up from her stretch and smiled slyly at Jane.
"I have just the thing, come here." Maura waved her over and Jane eyed her suspiciously before following the order, though Jane's steps her slow and calculating. "Okay, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart…" Maura instructed Jane and moved around so that they stood face to face. "Good. Now, hold your arms out and reach to the sides of the room." Jane followed the orders and closed her eyes to wait for more instructions, but instead, Maura took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Jane's middle in a tight embrace, causing Jane to laugh.
"You goof," Jane teased before she reciprocated the hug.
"Did it work? Are you less cranky?" Maura asked with a grin as she enjoyed the feeling of Jane's muscular arms around her.
"...Yeah," Jane admitted before she kissed the top of Maura's head before pulling out of the hug. "… but I still need coffee!"
"It's in the cupboard where it normally is, but it's hidden behind a few new canisters of tea I had shipped," Maura explained and Jane nodded before she walked to the door. Jane paused in the doorway and looked back at Maura with a grin.
"Hey, Maura?"
"Yes, Jane?" Maura admired Jane's dimple.
"Thanks for the magic yoga."
"Anytime." Maura smiled before she continued her routine.
"I'll start breakfast," Jane offered, and then she was gone again. Maura had extra trouble focusing and breathing for the rest of that morning's yoga session. After breakfast, they realized that they hadn't made any plans and Maura took the opportunity to convince Jane to help with the gardening in the back yard. Jane complained that she had better things to do than pull plants out of the dirt, but when Maura asked what those things were, Jane remained quiet, eventually agreeing to help (though not before heaving a great sigh).
Jane and Maura knelt a few feet from each other weeding the flower and vegetable gardens that Maura and Angela liked to keep, while Jo Friday enjoyed a nap in the sunshine.
The garden boxes had been painted a bright teal, which Maura thought was tacky, but they were in her back yard and the colour made Angela too happy for Maura to argue against. She even began to like the half dozen gnomes that Angela had snuck in, even though they weren't something Maura would have ever chosen for herself.
Maura made quick work of her section and went to get the hose so that she could begin to water the plants. As she began to spray the vegetables, something hit her in the leg but when she looked down she didn't see anything but a speck of dirt on her beige capri pants. She wiped it away and continued her task until she felt it again a few moments later. She looked up at Jane in confusion and narrowed her eyes at the mischievous grin plastered on Jane's face. Now privy to Jane's antics, Maura kept a close eye on Jane. Sure enough, after some time had passed, Jane plucked a weed from the pile next to her and threw it directly at Maura's thigh.
"Jane, stop it," Maura tried to speak sternly but her voice wobbled with the strain it took not to laugh.
"Don't know what you're talking about… I'm just weeding all these little pests," Jane said innocently before she held up a weed.
"You are a pest," Maura teased and Jane gasped in mock offense before she openly threw another bit of plant toward Maura. "Jane, I'm warning you." Jane simply raised an eyebrow and smirked before she flung an entire handful of plants in Maura's direction. Maura, having none of Jane's nonsense, raised the hose toward her and gave the best warning glare she could muster.
"You wouldn't dare," Jane defied and Maura raised an eyebrow at her.
"Care to test your hypothesis, detective?" Maura threatened, aware that Jane was never one to back down from a challenge. Sure enough, Jane pursed her lips for a moment before she continued her projectile barrage of plant life. Maura squeezed the trigger on the nozzle and soaked the front of Jane's navy blue tank top. Jane gasped at the cold water and then looked at Maura with her mouth agape. Maura bit her lips as she waited for Jane's reaction with bated breath. There was a pause in which neither seemed to know what to do before Jane broke the tension.
"Oh, it is so on, Isles."
"Jane?" Maura questioned at the look in Jane's eye, and suddenly Jane was running toward Maura and reaching for the hose. "No, Jane! No!" Maura protested and sprayed Jane some more in an effort to slow her movements. Jane approached anyway and they fought over the hose, chased each other around the backyard, and sprayed one another when they were able to wrestle the hose back. Jo joined in on the fun and barked, wiggling her entire body in excitement as all three of them got muddy and full of grass. Eventually, likely in an attempt to both shield herself and regain control of the hose, Jane ended up on Maura's back with her legs wrapped around Maura's waist as she reached for the nozzle, both women with semi muddy and damp clothes, laughing hysterically.
"Maura?"
She looked up at her name and saw her mother and Angela standing at the gate of her back yard with wide eyes. Angela gaped at them, but Constance's hands were still folded primly in front of her, though their grip was stronger than usual.
"M-mother, hi," Maura stuttered, knowing how odd she and Jane must look. "... We were just… gardening," Maura offered and Jane burst out laughing. Maura started chuckling too as Jane slipped off of her back.
"Jane!" Angela admonished. "You got Maura all dirty! Do you know how much those pants cost?" Maura chuckled at Angela's whispering because everyone could hear her quite clearly.
"It's fine, Angela. I'm going to the dry cleaners today anyway," Maura tried to defend Jane but apparently did not do a well enough job.
"Ma! She started it!" Jane accused and let go of the hose to point at Maura.
"I did nothing of the sort!" Maura chuckled out.
"Uhh, which one of us sprayed the other first, huh?" Jane retorted.
"I warned you several times, Jane, it's not my fault you refused to take me seriously," Maura teased back and Jane pouted. Maura's eyes flickered down to Jane's mouth and she smirked. She felt compelled to try to kiss that pout away.
"Well, darling, I was wondering if I may have a word with you?" Constance interrupted. Jo Friday bounded toward Maura's mother, wagging her tail and body excitedly, getting the hem of Constance's suit bottoms slightly wet and dirty. Jane ran over and snatched her dog from the ground before any more damage could be done.
"Off Jo Friday! Nice to see you again, Mrs. Isles, sorry about that..." The amusement in Jane's tone was clear and based on the way Angela raised her hands to her hips, it did not go unnoticed by Angela either.
"Let's go, Missy, I'll help you clean up so you don't get dirt all over Maura's good towels," Angela started to tug on Jane's elbow and Jane rolled her eyes.
"See ya, Maur." Jane grinned over her shoulder and Maura chuckled and looked after the women leaving towards the guest house. Constance nodded politely to them. Maura stared at the way Jane's wet shirt clung to her skin, accentuating the pull of her trapezius.
"Shall we move to the kitchen?" Constance broke Maura out of her trance.
"What? Oh! Yes, of course, Mother." Maura gestured toward the back door and glanced down at her wet and muddy outfit in panic before she followed her mother into the house. Her mother had never seen Maura in such a state and Maura was anxious about what comments she might receive. She twisted the ring she wore as she followed her mother into the house and looked at her reflection in the hall mirror. If she wasn't so worried about what her mother was thinking she might have laughed at herself. Her pants were muddy, her shirt was damp in odd areas and her hair was a disheveled mess with a few bits of grass and leaves in it. She kicked off her muddy shoes and followed her mother deeper into the house, electing to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary because nothing really was. Not by Maura's standards.
"Would you like something to drink?" She offered her mother in as casual a tone as she could manage.
"...No, I'm fine, thank you." Constance waved off. Maura got the distinct impression that her mother had something to say and after years of trying to gain her approval, Maura knew that it was nothing good.
"I thought you were in New York lecturing about abstract impressionism until the end of the school year," Maura questioned her mother and then realized how rude the statement might appear. "What I mean is that I wasn't expecting a visit but I am glad you're here."
"As am I. Apparently, you have big news to share?" Constance prompted but Maura had no idea what she was talking about so she stared in confusion until her mother continued. "The Isles family are public figures, darling, did you think our publicists wouldn't inform me of the story about you and Jane?"
"Oh!" Maura chuckled. The interview with Kitty. Of course. "That was a misunderstanding. I simply didn't know how to respond to the question during the interview, I'm sure people will forget about it soon," Maura tried to argue but her mother waved her off.
"I'm not talking about that interview, dear, I'm talking about the story someone called Kitty Vansen is trying to put together about your long, secret love affair with detective Rizzoli. If it gets out that the both of you have secretly been together throughout these past years, it will insinuate that you were unfaithful to your previous partners and that will not bode well for the Isles Foundation," Constance explained and Maura had to fight the compulsion to scoff. Here her mother was, completely aware of the interview and possibly believing that Jane and Maura were indeed together, but instead of congratulating Maura, Constance was only worried about her own media perception. It irritated Maura to no end.
"Well," Maura began in a clipped tone, "there's very little I can do about it. With two words I convinced all of Boston that Jane and I are an item and it isn't even true!" Constance hardly seemed taken aback by Maura's outburst.
"Well, why don't you go and clear that up with this Kitty woman?"
"I can't, Mother," Maura whispered in a defeated tone. There was no way Constance would be understanding of the position she was in. She couldn't go try to clear things up with Kitty because Maura was quickly learning that there was a budding romance growing between herself and Jane… at least on her part. Trying to talk to the reporter would surely make it worse for Jane.
"I don't understand. If you say that you and Jane aren't together then you should be able to go and clear this mess up in an instant. Just inform Ms. Vansen that there are no feelings beyond friendship and this possible problem will go away," Constance reasoned and Maura stifled a sigh. Now she knew why Jane rolled her eyes at Angela so much.
"I can't," Maura repeated, glancing from her mother to the guest house where Jane was.
"Due to your inability to lie?" Constance asked and Maura nodded. "I see… so there are feelings that go beyond that of friendship but nothing has come of it?" Maura nodded again, unsure of her voice. Constance stared for a few moments and Maura felt as though she were on a slide under one of the microscopes in her lab. "Did Jane tell you she has feelings for you that aren't reciprocated?"
"What?" Maura was startled by the assumption. How could her mother get it so wrong? "N-no! She doesn't… she isn't… she's never said anything about having feelings for me," Maura admitted and Constance seemed to ponder on the words for a moment. Maura had all but admitted that she was attracted to Jane. She had to fight not to pull at the collar of her shirt as her chest heated up.
"Of course I love you darling, and I'll support you no matter who you choose to spend time with… but I just don't understand why you seem to enjoy Jane's company so much," Constance tried to reason and Maura's anger bubbled in her stomach. Perhaps she and Jane came from different backgrounds, but Maura would give all of her wealth away if it meant being rich the way Jane was. Jane was rich in familial bonds and friendships. She was rich in endless kindness and loyalty. Rich in unconditional love. Maura had yearned her whole life to meet someone half as kind as Jane. Why couldn't her mother see how valuable Jane was? How fiercely loyal and protective she was of Maura? The anger grew within Maura as she thought of Jane's protectiveness and she elected to protect Jane's image from her mother before she knew she was even speaking.
"Why don't you like her? Is it because she isn't wealthy? Because I don't care about that! Is it because she didn't like your water bottle sculpture? Because she isn't afraid of you? Why not, mother?" Maura shouted and Constance barely registered the change in Maura's tone.
"I suppose I don't see what you see in her. Why do you spend so much time with her?"
"Because she's fun, Mother. She's my best friend. She doesn't treat me differently because of our wealth and she listens to me, not out of obligation but because she wants to. She likes to hear what I have to say. Do you know how rare that experience is for me? I've always had trouble connecting… people have always been put off by the way I speak, or with the social cues I miss, but it's just so easy with Jane. She barely bats an eye when I miss something other people would see as obvious and if I really need it, she helps me understand what I missed. She's sweet to me, Mother. She jokes and teases me, but not in a demeaning way like my previous acquaintances did. She makes me so happy and it doesn't even matter what we're doing. We can be doing the most mundane activity and I'll be so grateful for her because she'll do something or say something that makes me laugh and I've never been able to connect like that with someone before. She's playful and, yes, a little goofy, but so am I and she makes everything so much better than it would otherwise be and I'm..." in love with her. Maura didn't finish her sentence because the words she was about to say took her so off guard. "I'll not tolerate anyone negatively speaking about Jane," Maura dared to stand up to her mother and stood breathing heavily after her rant, daring her mother to continue to disrespect her best friend. Constance continued to stare at Maura in disbelief for long moments before responding.
"Well… I may not understand but all I've ever wanted was for you to be happy and taken care of…" Constance spoke as she approached Maura. "Perhaps she takes care of you in ways I hadn't considered... If Jane is what will make you happy then, by all means, book the family jet and use a skywriter. Let the world know how much your friendship means."
"Wh-what?" Maura was surprised to hear the sudden change of heart.
"Maura, that was the most I've ever heard you speak openly about anything. It's clear that you've got your heart and mind set on this. I raised you, darling, I do know how stubborn you can be when you know you're right… I've only ever seen you that passionate about shoes and science. It took me a long time to learn that your version of happiness could differ from my own but I do wish to support you," Constance said and a tear fell down Maura's cheek at her mother's sudden support.
"Oh, darling." Constance surprised her further by enveloping Maura in a tight embrace which only served to spur on Maura's emotional release. Constance Isles, hugging her muddy and damp daughter in the middle of the kitchen after having had their first fight. Maura hardly dared to believe it. "Darn that lacrimal gland of yours that's always making you cry," Constance joked and Maura chuckled through her tears as they let go of one another.
"Thank you, Mother," Maura whispered and Constance patted her cheek.
"I would do anything to see you happy, dear… I've just never been good at knowing what that means."
"You're doing it," Maura admitted with a smile, "you're doing it now."
"Uhh, hey," Jane walked into the room and Maura's eyes widened. How much had Jane heard? What did she know? "Just came to let you know that I'm taking Jo back home with Ma."
"Jane, darling, I was just telling Maura not to worry about the media publicity that the two of you might soon be getting…" Constance spoke to Jane and then touched Maura's cheek with a meaningful look. "I'd love to stay and spend more time with you if you're free."
"Publicity?" Jane interrupted and looked between the two other women.
"Yes. You know how reporters are. They'll throw everything out of proportion and make it seem like a scandal. I just came to warn you." Constance waved off.
"Oh, well that's... nice of you," Jane stated questioningly as she eyed Maura. Maura saw the look that Jane got when she was suspicious and protective; the furrowed brow and set jaw. It warmed her heart to see how much Jane cared. "You okay, Maur?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Jane." Maura smiled. Of course Jane would act protectively toward her even if it was against Constance. Maura was proud of herself for defending Jane. If anyone deserved it, it was her favourite detective.
"Good. Call me if you need me. Nice seeing you, Mrs. Isles." Jane nodded toward Constance and the pleasantries were returned until Jane left. Constance waited for the door to close before smiling at her daughter.
"She loves you too, you know," her mother stated and Maura opened her mouth to protest but found that she wasn't able to deny the claim. Her research wasn't finished so she couldn't be sure.
Constance left Maura's later that evening and Maura felt closer to her than she ever had before. She kept thinking back to their conversation and smiling randomly to herself at the growing connection she'd always wished for. She thought that perhaps Constance had seen how Angela and Jane acted towards each other and was trying to emulate that. It was just one more reason for Maura to be grateful to Jane. Just as Maura was getting ready to eat she got a text.
Jane: Ma is driving me crazy. We might have a homicide on our hands soon.
Maura chuckled at Jane's text, unsure of how to respond. She was still worried about what Jane might have overheard and wasn't sure how to bring it up. After much deliberation, Maura decided that if Jane had heard what she'd said to her mother then she likely wouldn't have been so calm. If she'd overheard them, then Jane would either have run away or she would have walked into the kitchen, guns blazing, irrationally demanding to know what was going on and defending Maura against her mother. Jane was a full speed ahead or run in the other direction type of person, so since there was virtually no reaction it seemed unlikely Jane had heard anything. Suddenly Maura's phone started ringing and her favourite picture of Jane flashed across the screen. She took a moment to admire the image of Jane laying on the living room floor next to Bass, trying to protect the tortoise from a very exuberant Jo Friday.
"Please tell me you don't need help hiding Angela's body," Maura joked after she hit the accept button.
"I'd help you hide a body," Jane's voice rang out in mock offense.
"I wouldn't need help," Maura joked, though it was likely truthful.
"Okay, that's the creepiest thing you've ever said," Jane laughed. "That's even creepier than the time you were gonna peel that cadaver's face off."
"You asked me to show me what she looked like before plastic surgery!" Maura argued.
"Okay, this is so not why I called."
"Okay…" Maura answered, she didn't know why she was nervous but she was. She felt itchy, though not the same way hives made her itchy. It was more itchy on the inside. "Why did you call, Jane?"
"I just… I wanted to thank you for what you said to your mom. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but it means a lot to me that you defended me like that, especially because I know how much you want her approval. You just… you really had my back and it means more than you know," Jane spoke in the soft voice that she kept hidden until she was talking about something emotional or comforting someone. Tears started to prick in her eyes and she didn't know how to process the fact that Jane had indeed heard everything. Maura hadn't considered that Jane might pause at the loud voices and then give Maura a chance to stand up for herself. Jane supported Maura from afar, helping her grow without intervention, and Maura didn't know what that meant.
"You heard?" Maura whispered and Jane snorted.
"You were kinda screaming at her, Maur, I'm pretty sure the whole street heard," Jane chuckled. "Listen, we both know I'm not the greatest at talking about feelings or whatever, but I just needed to let you know how great it was of you to stand up for me like that. You're the bravest person I know."
"I'm not-"
"You are and don't argue. You're probably gonna be all self-deprecating and say that standing up to your Ma was nothing compared to what I do, but it's a lot easier for me to stand up to criminals than it was for you to stand up to someone you idolize so much. I need you to know that you're amazing and brave for doing that… okay?"
"Jane, that's… that's really sweet," Maura couldn't keep the emotion out of her voice and chuckled at the groan that she heard on the other end of the line.
"Yeah, whatever. Don't get all mushy on me."
"I believe you are the one who is getting 'mushy' in this case, Jane," Maura joked.
"Yeah, because you had my back and you're my best friend too and I love you. Now shut up about it and go feed your turtle," Jane said and then the line went dead and Maura laughed before her brain started reeling over the conversation she just had and what it all might mean.
So Jane had heard but didn't run away from Maura's strong emotions. Though Maura knew she hadn't said anything indicative of her true feelings for Jane out loud, she also knew how good Jane was at reading between the lines. Jane had an uncanny ability to hear what people said, but know how they truly felt. It was part of what made her such a good detective.
If Jane had overheard, read between the lines, and felt uncomfortable with Maura's revelation, then Maura was certain Jane would have run away.
But if Jane did read between the lines and glean what Maura had meant, and if she also secretly loved Maura, then why wouldn't Jane admit her feelings? There would be nothing to stop them from being together if Jane had been able to tell what Maura truly meant. Maura was back to square one, sure that it was impossible to know if Jane loved her in the same way. Still, Jane had made the phone call… She went to her home office and turned to her research.
Experiment Four: Defending Her Honor
Data and Analysis: Although inadvertent, it seems that this experiment has garnered positive results. In an unexpected turn of events, Jane overheard me being protective of her. The result being an openness and an appreciation that I rarely get to see. Although I remain unsure if my feelings are reciprocated, I am comfortable stating that Jane and I would make an ideal couple emotionally. We support and respect one another in ways I've not experienced before. We are closer to each other than either of us has been to anyone else.
Conclusion: Jane is likely emotionally attracted to me beyond that of a normal friendship. Though I am unsure if it is romantic love, one thing remains clear. We are compatible.
Maura was brought out of her Jane experiment bubble with a sharp knock on her open door. She stared at Angela with an open-eyed panic, glancing down at her open journal and hoping beyond hope that the curious woman would not ask what she was working on.
"Angela! H-hello, I wasn't expecting you…"
"Sorry, Janie said that you're really busy and not to bother you but I haven't seen you since I heard the news and I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that you two finally came to your senses," Angela spoke happily from the doorway with a beaming smile and waited for Maura to reply.
"What do you mean? What news?" Maura didn't understand what Angela was so ecstatic about.
"The news about you and Janie! I'm so happy you're together now. It's clear you two love each other and I just wanted you to know how glad it makes me that Jane found someone to take care of that takes care of her too. I'm so glad you're part of our family, Maura." Angela smiled with warmth from the doorway and Maura glanced at the elder Rizzoli in shock before she simply nodded.
"Thank you, Angela," was the only thing Maura could say without running the risk of hives or fainting.
"I'll let you get back to work," Angela spoke, and then she walked out of the main house leaving Maura with one question:
Why hadn't Jane told her mother that they weren't actually dating?
