Chapter Two
Launceston, Tasmania
Maura opened her front door and instantly found her eyes wandering from head to toe and back up again. Freshly polished black shoes, navy pants, black equipment belt, a light blue shirt that cut off just above the elbows and a navy blue tie were amongst her first assessments, but then her eyes rested on the octagonal shield above the left breast. It was gold and blue with Tasmania Police wrapped around a golden lion in the middle of the badge. Her eyes shifted to the right breast and the golden name tag. Hazel eyes lifted to green and a smile curled across her lips, "Senior Constable Wilson."
Gabby shifted nervously on her feet, one hand holding her blue and white hat and the other fidgeting nervously with her auburn hair, which was tied back in a bun, before finally dropping habitually to the holstered Glock 17 on her belt. "Doctor Isles," she tried to play it cool, but Maura's burgundy dress accentuated every supple curve of her body. "Damn you look good."
Maura smiled politely at the compliment, "Thank you. May I ask what brings you here at eight in the morning?"
"Turns out my presence is required on campus today, so I thought I would see if you wanted a ride?" She smiled sheepishly, feeling very much like a teenager looking for any opportunity to spend some time with her crush. There was just something about Maura Isles that brought out the best and sometimes the worst in her. Mostly the worst were her thoughts of Maura teaching a class in that dress, that deliciously tight dress. She suppressed the urge to question the doctor on her choice of clothing and forced her eyes straight ahead, not allowing her gaze to linger any lower than on twinkling eyes.
"On one condition," Maura proffered, entirely aware of the affect her dress was having on the police woman in front of her. "That you come straight here after your shift," she stepped in closer to Gabby and straightened her tie, "Wearing your uniform."
Message received loud and clear. Gabby grinned, "Nothing I can say here is going to be appropriate Isles, so I'm just going to accept your terms and wait for you by the car." She turned and retreated hastily down the path and out the gate to the street where the marked car was waiting.
Maura chuckled and retrieved her black purse and shawl, which matched her heels. She had been dating Gabby for a month and the woman had been nothing but honourable and respectful and quite frankly she was sick and tired of it. Seeing Gabby in her uniform had melted all her resolve in regards to allowing things to progress so slowly. She made a mental note to share this revelation with Jane, and smirked a little knowing that her best friend would undoubtedly get very uncomfortable with the idea.
There was of course the small fact that she had never mentioned her interest in women to Jane before either, and that she had been reluctant to even mention the fact she was dating anyone until Jane had caught her red handed the weekend before. She frowned; perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to discuss the arousing affect of a uniformed woman with Jane. It would be better to first let Jane get used to the idea of her best friend dating a woman before going on to mention the sudden infatuation with the uniform.
Her mind settled on that she locked up behind her and joined Gabby for the ride to her workplace, the Launceston campus of the University of Tasmania. She was participating in a research project on the effectiveness of forensic sciences in the criminal justice system, while also teaching several classes on forensic investigation for the forensic studies department.
"So, I think I should tell you about Melissa." Gabby said once they had departed the centrally located premises on route to the university campus in the northern suburbs. Her eyes remained firmly planted on the road as she waited for a response from Maura.
"Is there more I need to know other than the fact the two of you used to be an item?" Maura asked curiously, but not wanting to push the topic too hard. It was something she was more than happy to wait on, not that she felt any deep need to know. Everyone came with baggage.
"For a start we're still friends, even if she was completely out of line last weekend. That's probably not going to change, and I figured you deserved to know that from the beginning." She stole a sideways glance at Maura, who revealed very little with her calmness.
"I see," Maura said thoughtfully, "So the end of your relationship was amicable?"
Gabby fought back some bitter laughter, "Oh hell no Isles, but she's fragile and regardless of everything that has happened between us I can't help but wanna make sure she's alright, ya know?"
It wasn't something Maura could understand, as she just didn't have the social experience to draw upon. All she had was Jane, and they were the best of friends and she couldn't imagine a situation where Jane could hurt her, yet alone a situation where two people with a seemingly close bond chose to sever it and yet remain so entwined in one another's lives. "I'll be honest Gabby, I don't really understand; but that is because I have very little social experience to draw upon to extrapolate any resemblance of understanding."
Gabby eyed the doctor out of the corner of her eyes, trying to maintain focus on the road ahead as she drove. She recognised that there was a hint of sadness hidden in the eyes watching her. "I think that is a conversation for later, but let me try and explain my friendship with Melissa for you."
"Okay," Maura was genuinely interested.
"I've known her since I was sixteen and she was like fourteen. My best friend Rachael introduced us and we sorta became fast friends, especially since we both played softball and would spend pretty much all of Saturday and Saturday nights hanging out."
"Were you on the same team?"
"Nah, I was close to switching six or seven years ago but then the shit hit the fan." She mentally chided herself, suddenly remembering Maura's stance on harsh language. Although it appeared this time the doctor was letting it slide. "Basic gist is this, we depended on each other, were great friends, then things morphed into more when she was nineteen. We were together for three years, I thought we were solid…" her voice trailed off as the emotions that welled within her thinking about her past with Melissa became overwhelming. "But then she did something that I've never been able to forgive. But she was my friend, and more importantly I was her friend and when Rachael died… she needed me."
"Rachael, your best friend?"
"Yeah."
"Oh I am so sorry to hear that." Maura couldn't help but think about losing Jane to the permanency of death and it felt like her heart was being crushed. She couldn't fathom what it must have been like for Gabby having lost her best friend.
"It's been six years. I'd like to say it gets easier, but I dunno." She wiped roughly at the tears she felt prickle her skin, "That said Missy and I have been trapped n this cycle of yes we will and no we can't for the last six years. I can't keep doing that ya know? It's not healthy for either of us. I want her to be happy and it won't be with me 'cause I can never forgive her."
"But she still thinks you'll eventually go back to her?" Maura asked, thinking back on Melissa's jealous behaviour the previous weekend.
Gabby nodded solemnly, "Yeah I think she does."
"And what about you, what do you think?"
Gabby yanked on the wheel and tore the vehicle roughly to the left as she slid the vehicle neatly into a parking spot. She switched off the ignition and turned to look at Maura, "You don't pull any punches do you?"
"If by that you mean I can be very direct, then yes. Jane tells me I can be rather blunt about things. I just don't see any point in tiptoeing around a topic important to me."
"I think that you are different to every other woman I've dated in the past six years. Never in my life have I felt the need to speak this openly about the complexities of my relationship with Missy. If I am to be honest, and with you I really want to be that, then I have to say that I don't know… it's an unhealthy cycle that I want to break, but I don't know if I will succeed. There's just so much history there."
"I thank you for your honesty so early in our dalliance…"
Gabby stared wide eyed at the doctor, interrupting with an astounded voice, "Who says that? Dalliance?" She shook her head and chuckled, before turning her eyes back to the road, she still had to get Maura to work.
"Suffice to say, your honesty will be rewarded tonight, Senior Constable." Gabby's suitability for a long term romance was yet to be determined and Maura recognised the newly revealed information could prove an issue if that was something that she decided she wanted; however when it came down to her sexual needs, Gabby was proving more than worthy of her affection.
Monica handed Melissa a bottle of water and sat down next to her. "Damn Missy, maybe slow down a little?"
Melissa wiped some sweat from her brow before chugging down half the bottle of water she had been handed in quick fashion. "There are whispers Mon that I might be back in consideration for the national squad; I have to improve my fitness."
"Wait, seriously? How long have you known this?" Monica was astounded by the news; they had all thought Melissa's aspirations to represent Australia had all but died when she broke her leg several years prior.
"Well you know how these things go, nothing is ever for sure and so many times in the past I thought I was close, but nothing." Melissa focused on regulating her breathing as the cardio workout she had just finished had her sucking in the air.
"You know if you just moved to Victoria or New South Wales it would be easier for you to crack the team. The competition down here isn't exactly top notch anymore."
"You know that's not an option." Melissa virtually growled.
"Oh come on Missy, when are you gonna face the facts that this thing with Gabby is unhealthy. Stop giving up your dreams for her!" Monica was Melissa's best friend, and while she got along perfectly well with Gabby and even liked her, her first priority always would be Melissa. "You're twenty eight and running out of time to fulfil this dream."
"I only have this opportunity because of her; it just wouldn't feel right to get there without her." Deep down Melissa knew that she was throwing away the opportunity of a life time by not moving to the mainland to pursue her softball dreams, but she also knew moving away meant leaving Gabby behind and no matter the state of their relationship she could never do that.
"You've got the talent; don't waste it on a woman who is incapable of forgiving you and as such truly loving you." Monica argued in vain.
"Don't start this Mon; I can't deal with it right now."
"You're gonna have to deal with it quick smart. She's bringing Maura again tomorrow."
"Seriously?" Melissa stifled a groan and sucked down the rest of the bottle of water, "I don't even know what she sees in her."
Monica couldn't help but laugh this time, as she could tell her friend was grasping at petty little straws. For the first time Gabby had shown an interest in a woman of substance; but then Melissa hadn't exactly given her much of a chance to show this. "Perhaps if you spend five minutes getting to know the woman, instead of belittling her you will see what Gabby sees."
"And what do you see Monica?" She asked snidely; aware of the time that Monica and Brad had been spending with Gabby and her new woman.
"Someone you would like, if you weren't so set on hating her because she's dating Gabs."
Melissa rolled her eyes, "I highly doubt that."
"She's a freakin' doctor Missy, and she's teaching forensic investigation at UTAS. She's not Gab's usual blonde bimbo replacement. She's real, and to be honest a little quirky but in a charming kinda way."
The description her friend gave her caused Melissa a moment of fear. What if this woman was more serious than all the others? What if she actually had real competition for the heart of the woman she had never been able to stop loving? "Aw hell Mon, please tell me this isn't serious?"
Monica shrugged, "I dunno. All I know is Maura is different."
"Well shit." She stood up and slammed her first into the nearby boxing bag before stalking out of the gym.
Monica chased after her friend, "Missy, if you don't tone down your BS around Maura, you'll lose Gabby completely. So make an effort to be nice, okay?"
"Sure. Fine. Whatever." Melissa muttered as she threw her gear into the boot of her car.
Boston, Massachusetts
"You're new." Jane observed drily as she slid her weary body on to a stool at the bar.
"Observant." The athletic brunette from behind the bar replied sarcastically.
"Detective." Jane said, moving her blazer aside from where it had covered the badge on her belt.
"Touché. So what will it be detective?"
"Got any Australian beer?"
"Only Fosters and trust me, you don't want to drink that."
"That awful huh?"
"Beyond awful. The good stuff isn't so readily available here; you actually have to buy it in an Aussie pub." She flashed an immaculate toothy grin at the detective, "Tasmanian beer is the best."
Jane buried her face in her palms and groaned, "God don't mention that damn place."
The bartender slid a bottle of Blue Moon in front of Jane and offered a sympathetic smile, "Something tells me there's a story there."
Peeking out from behind her hands Jane smiled sheepishly, "I'm not drunk enough to start pouring my heart out to the bartender." She took a long draw of the beer, "Check back with me in a couple of hours."
With a chuckle the brunette said, "What ever you say, detective."
The Italian smiled at this, "Call me Jane."
The bartender offered her hand to the detective, "Hi Jane. You can call me Kelly."
Jane watched as the bartender went about her business in serving other patrons, cleaning glasses, and other bar managing things. There was something vaguely familiar about the woman but she couldn't quite place it and she knew it would frustrate her until she placed the woman.
"No one ever tell you it's rude to stare Rizzoli?" Detective Barry Frost asked teasingly as he sat down next to his partner.
Jane turned and shot him a dirty look. "Shut it Frost."
His soft brown eyes narrowed, "What's up with you?"
She ignored him, instead signalling to Kelly to bring her two beers. "Thanks Kelly," she said softly as she handed over the cash to pay and slid one of the beers over to Frost. "There get that into you and leave me alone."
Frost chuckled, "Damn Jane, I wish Maura would come back. You're so grumpy without the doc." The look she shot him in this moment was enough for him to graciously accept the drink and back away slowly, "I, uh, think I'll go find Korsak. Thanks for the beer."
"Maura huh?" Kelly asked with a knowing nod.
"Not. Drunk. Enough." Jane managed, as politely as she could before finishing the dregs of her first beer and moving along to the second. Noticing the bartender was still watching her with inquisitive eyes she decided to turn the tables, "Don't I know you from somewhere?"
"I don't know detective, do you?" Kelly asked playfully, not at all worried by the turnabout. She did wonder how long it would take for the woman in front of her to figure out who she was, but figured in the mean time she would sure enjoy the banter.
Feeling challenged by the question the Italian furrowed her brow as she wracked her brain. "You from Boston?"
Kelly nodded slowly, "Sure am. Even went to college at BCU."
Still unable to place the woman Jane shrugged, "Maybe I've seen you around the place, but I'll be honest I can't place you."
"You might have seen me on TV during the Beijing Olympics." Kelly offered before walking away to serve some people further down the bar.
Oh snap! Jane suddenly remembered where she had seen the woman before. Chugging down the rest of her second beer she signalled for another and waited for the bartender to return and slide it over to her. "You're Kelly Carter, Team USA softballer… you pitched the gold medal game!"
Kelly chuckled, "There you go detective. Turns out you are observant after all."
"Why the hell are you bartending?"
"Well, with the IOC removing softball from the list of Olympic sports the US Olympic Committee doesn't give money to Softball USA anymore, as such, no stipend. These days we play for the love of the game. We need real jobs to pay the bills."
"That bites." Jane offered sympathetically.
"Sure does. Softball is my summer job though, when I am not playing for Team USA I am playing for Chicago in the National Pro Fastpitch League."
"Damn. So home for winter then?"
"Yeah, wouldn't wanna miss too many Celtics games."
Jane grimaced, "I dunno about that. Garnett and Pierce are aging, and aside from Rondo the rest of the team pretty much sucks."
"I guess, but when one has courtside seats, one doesn't skip games." Kelly finally slid the third beer that Jane had been waiting on in front of her, "This one's on me detective." She laughed heartily at the gaping jaw of the Italian as she wandered up to the opposite end of the bar to serve more customers.
Gorgeous softballer with season tickets to the Celtics, courtside at that! Damn I'd almost flip for that. Jane thought as she sucked on her third beer, perhaps life wasn't so crummy after all; Maura might be half a world away, but Kelly was right here tending bar at the Dirty Robber. Her sour mood lifted, Jane left the bar in search of Frost and Korsak; she owed them a little of the Rizzoli cheer after the bitch she had been most of the week, since she'd learned of Maura's date. And no, she didn't want to stop and analyse that fact at all.
A/N: And here is the next installment of my little playland... I may as well have called it Of Softball and Lesbians... heh heh so I am writing about two things I love a lot, softball and lesbians, oh and cops. So yeah don't bitch that Gabby is a cop, she is a character drawn directly from another universe I developed like 10 years ago and I wasn't changing the character for the sake of appeasing people who wouldn't want Maura with another cop... it only adds to the drama of it all, and that's the whole point of writing soapies.
Also for the guest who pointed out that Gabby is only 30... yeah, and in this story at the moment its 2011, which based on the rough estimate of Maura's age in the series, would place her around 35 - it is not that too far a bridge to cross. Besides, it is fiction and Gabby either will or won't be able to keep up with Maura... that's for me to know and those who stick with me to find out.
Also, no Missy will not be a physical threat to Maura. Missy and Gabby are my OTP from my universe, she's a love rival that's it... and we all want that rival so that there is someone else there to ensure our Rizzles OTP endgame.
As usual my thanks to all who read, review, follow and favourite. Be kind or be constructive.