Jane followed behind Maura on shaky legs. She found herself white-knuckling the railing of the staircase as they ascended Maura's home. She bit her lip shyly as she realized that she would likely be quite sore the next day.
She clutched the opening of where the fabric of the robe met, modestly. Her nerves and prudishness had returned in full force even though it had been mere minutes ago when she was sprawled open for Maura to plow into her. Get it together Jane, she coached herself.
The halls were immaculately decorated– unsurprisingly. Not one artificial flower or Live Laugh Love in sight. Instead, there were paintings sparsely draped on the walls. Jane didn't even try to read the heavily voweled names signed on the artworks.
She peeked into every room while trying to keep up with Maura's pace. Maura. Jane blinked rapidly. Maura was stark naked now. She questioned whether Maura had actually fucked her brains out to the point where it took her this long to register this fact.
It was only when silk-covered Maura's gorgeously curvy ass that Jane realized they had in fact reached the master bedroom and were standing at the entrance to her walk-in closet. She cleared her throat and started looking around the room.
It was intriguing. Her domain. Standing in Maura's bedroom. She felt a sudden urge to explore every bit of it in hopes of unraveling a bit more of the mystery that is Maura Isles.
And yet she felt out of place. Like no one was truly meant to see where Maura embodied the fashionista extraordinaire each new morning. One particular corner of the room stood out to her.
A bay window with a bookshelf built into the bottom and a cushioned saucer chair faced toward where the sunlight would stream in during the day. The perfect combination of stylish and cozy. Just like Maura, Jane thought. "So, you really like Anne Rice huh" Jane read, squinting at a series of books within the shelf.
"Never pegged you for a Disney fan" she added with a shrug.
Maura grew bright red and started retreating toward the door. "I- it's not... No one ever comes in here" she added hurriedly. Jane's eyes widened. She's never heard the well-rounded doctor stumble like that before.
Jane fought. She really did. But she couldn't help the smirk that was slowly spreading across her face. For once Maura was the flustered one. "What's it about then?" she asked innocently, nodding in the direction of the books.
Jane's fun was short-lived when Maura's expression became neutral once more and the nerves were gone from her voice as she spoke again. "BDSM erotica, set in a medieval fantasy world... I especially appreciate their vivid imagery" she added in a husky tone.
Now it was Jane's turn to be flustered as Maura stared her dead in the eye.
She searched her spotty brain for a witty remark about how if they were friends they could read each other's favorite books but none came. Instead, she clasped her hands nervously.
Maura retrieved something from her nightstand drawer. "This way," she said and exited the room. Jane followed quietly. They came to a standstill at a closed-door in the farthest end of the second floor.
"If you feel overwhelmed at any point and would prefer to back out of our agreement I would understand." Jane got a look of confusion. "You haven't signed anything yet and I assure you I wouldn't bare a grudge if the contents of this room alarmed you"
Maura's words sent a shiver down her spine. What's behind that door? A homing beacon to the mother ship? Jane had only barely rid her mind of the last thought when another popped in her mind… Put the lotion in the basket. She doesn't do well in serious situations but she managed a smile and nod instead of what would have been an untimely joke.
With that Maura twisted the key and pushed the door open. Jane entered the room on gelatinous legs. Her mouth fell open slightly. For once Maura wasn't spewing factoids and anecdotes. She stood silently watching Jane as she slowly made her way around the room.
Red leather as far as the eye could see. The walls. Even the bed at the center of the room that also had no sheets. The rest of the room wasn't empty. Far from it. Fine wooden installments held various objects.
Jane carefully trailed her fingers over the ones that seemed to call out to her.
Some of them were easily recognizable. Whips. Another thing that seemed to be a stick that a jockey would use on a horse, Jane thought. Every object appeared to have been carefully grouped and organized according to category.
Bondage in general appeared to have its own little corner in the room with a variety of soft ropes, belts, leather cuffs… the list goes on. The rest of the room would hardly seem as intimidating to Jane so long as this area did not come into play.
Other items weren't so obvious. Completely foreign to Jane in fact. "What's this one?" She asked in a cracking voice. Maura's features lit up as she spoke for the first time and Jane picked up the object.
"Electrocution rod"
"You can't be serious?" Jane snorted. When Maura merely tilted her head in all seriousness Jane carefully returned the object to its hook.
Another long moment of silence went by as Jane examined the collection of chokers that were displayed on something that looked a lot like a fancy coat rack.
Her eyes trailed over a collection of items that seemed far less lethal but just as confusing to her. "Floggers" Maura offered when Jane made no attempt to ask what they were. They looked like little mops with leather tussles to her.
"Designed for light impact stimulation- you're not speaking Jane" Maura added frustratedly.
Jane rubbed her face "That's because I don't know what to say" her eyes landed on the stylish metal grid suspended from the ceiling. "I'm guessing that's not in case of an earthquake?" Jane said pointing upward.
"No"
"Are you..?" Jane didn't even know what the word was that she was looking for.
"I'm a dominant" Maura offered.
When she offered no further information Jane exhaled. "Do I need a tattoo on my forehead that says what does that mean, Maura?" Jane asked frustratedly. She didn't know why she was acting so angrily all of a sudden. She was feeling a range of emotions in this moment.
"It means that I exercise control over others. Specifically… " Maura offered with her most professional tone "I take pleasure in having the power during sexual activity. Everything you see in this room, I use to inflict pleasure… it often goes hand in hand with pain"
"So you do this to other women?"
"You knew that already when we went over the contract"
"Well this- I didn't- Gaah" Jane yelled.
"Try to use your words, Jane"
"You like words so much?" Jane started pacing. "Here's some big words you'll love. This" Jane said motioning to the contents of the room. "...Is painting a mental picture. A very vivid mental picture, Maura"
"Does this mean you're refraining from our agreement?" Maura asked in a gentle tone.
She dragged her hands through her hair rapidly and sighed. "If I.." Jane sighed. "If I didn't let you- if I didn't sign then… would we still do what we did earlier tonight? Could we still have some sort of relationship?"
Maura folded her hands in her lap."No. Earlier tonight was merely a perk." Jane swallowed thickly at Maura's choice of words "One for a contractually bound participant…This is the only sort of relationship I have". She added.
She looked down at the floor. "And you're not going to tell me why… are you?"
Maura's silence spoke volumes. Jane took a deep breath. "What's this?" Jane pointed to another item and Maura looked briefly surprised at the change in subject.
"Extender rod," Maura said, taking the device off the hook and pulling at the ends of it to demonstrate what it does.
Jane opened one of many small wooden drawers to her right. "And these?" she asked pointing to small silver items.
"Nipple clamps… Jane?"
"What about this?" Jane pulled open a larger drawer, tears stung her eyes.
"Various sized strap on's- Jane you're avoiding."
She turned away from Maura and took a deep, shaky breath. She felt like an idiot for reacting like this. What were you expecting? She asked herself. It's not as if Maura was hiding this side of herself entirely.
Time seemed to creep by as they stood there in silence. Jane wished more than anything she could read Maura's mind right now. Was she angry? Irritated with her because she wasted her time? Was she already thinking about someone more willing… more 'submissive' to fill the role?
She felt a soft touch gripping her arm. "Is there anything in here that doesn't… scare you? Intimidate is probably a better word," Maura added. "If there's anything in this room you would never want to try…consider it gone".
With those words, Jane realized what she was really afraid of.
"There's nothing in this room that I wouldn't let you use on me and that scares the shit out of me"...
The next day Maura found herself distracted as she approached the crime scene. The events from the previous night were echoing in her usually clear and focused mind. Jane had asked for time.
Had I taken her in there too soon? Does she find me revolting? Oh, listen to yourself! Maura scorned her thoughts.
She had never spent this much time on a subject that seemed anything less than exhilarated at the idea of being on the reciprocating end of her extracurricular activities. Why was she so held up on how Jane felt about it anyway?
Better yet. Why couldn't she stop thinking about that kiss? That kiss and the way Jane moved beneath her when she came. She couldn't bring herself to look away from Jane in that instant if she wanted to.
She took pleasure from making women come, certainly. Even watching them do so but that instance with Jane was different. That kiss-
"John Doe. 20's. He's in good health" she stated, examining the victim.
"Yeah, except for the ice pick stickin out of his ear," Jane quipped dryly. She was being quite professional considering how things had ended the previous night.
"I'm not gettin any fingerprints in this car, I'm thinking the killer wiped it down after he killed him," Jane thought out loud, grunting when she stood back up. Maura couldn't help but grin, Jane was sore.
"He had none to leave" Maura examined the victim's fingers. "Burn scars. Consistent with acid exposure" she added.
"Ouch" Jane stated.
"It's deliberate. Excruciatingly painful process." She held the victim's fingers up to examine them closer. "There are two hundred and fifty nerve receptors per square centimeter in fingertips"
She loved the way she could get enthralled in her work. Science and sharing knowledge never brought her anxiety nor did it make her think about it during the night when she should be sleeping.
"So it would feel like a bazillion paper cuts?" Jane asked.
That's cute. Ok, stop.
"No, scoring the skin is the initial process. The additional pain would feel like each cut was being pulled apart by a pair of tweezers and doused with acid"
Jane raised her eyebrows. "Well I think it's safe to say that this guy went through great lengths to remain a ghost"
"That's conjecture"
"Wa I'm gonna be crazy and conject with this too: There's nothing random about drilling an ice pick through his head. Someone was making a statement".
Later that day Maura had finished the autopsy and couldn't help but anticipate when a certain detective was going to come through the door.
They locked eyes when Jane entered the lab. Maura stood "Cause of death was a massive cerebral hemorrhage caused by an ice pick penetrating the brain" she deduced.
"Yeah, I figured the ice pick had somethin to do with it" Maura squinted and forced herself not to react. Jane's dry humor was starting to wear her down, the more time they spent together.
Her phone rang. The information the person was calling with on the other end made the hair rise on Maura's forearms.
"What? That's not possible" Maura pulled up the John Doe's DNA results on her screen. "Yes I'm looking at it right now" she huffed. Some individual somewhere has made a grave error.
Jane asked why she was so peeved and Maura gave her the shortened version of what the person had told her on the other end. "No I see it but it's not possible- I don't cross-contaminate my samples," she said in her coldest tone.
There's no way it's accurate. The test must have been faulty. Her breathing increased as the information sunk in.
Her parents always told her the same thing when she was younger. That the adoption was private. Still, surely she would know about it if she had a sibling even then?
"Maura?"
She gathered her thoughts and showed Jane the screen. "There're enough markers in the comparison of the- of the DNA to make… a definitive conclusion," she added shaking her head slowly in disbelief.
"It's a biological match" she heard herself say.
"Maura, come on what're you telling me? That the guy on the table is somehow related to you?"
"I'm telling you that the man laying there is my brother"...
The next few moments were spent in utter silence as Maura processed the information and Jane stood there with a dumbstruck look.
"Are you… ok?" Jane finally asked in a soft tone.
Maura nodded slowly. "Tell your face it looks pretty bothered"
"Jane" Maura said firmly before she went to move but her legs buckled beneath her. Jane caught her before she could stumble. Maura started breathing shallowly in her arms and she knew immediately that she was having a minor panic attack.
"Ok, here we go. It's ok, here… sit down" Jane cooed and ushered Maura onto the stool but she hadn't let her out of her hold completely.
She looked down at her hands "I'm fidgeting- I never fidget"
"Welcome to the human race," Jane said ending with a warm smile.
Jane started asking her about what she knew about her biological parents and for once Maura didn't change the subject or ignore it. She wanted to tell her. Having her so close and still half in Jane's embrace, she felt safe.
She told Jane about how she had started looking for her biological mother but that the files were useless or sealed by a court order. She may have wanted to know her parents but they didn't want to know her. Jane moved until she was leaning against the edge of the table and held Maura to her.
She could hear Jane's heartbeat and it instantly soothed her. Maura took a deep breath in and when Jane's scent surrounded her she forced herself to stand up and move away. It was like the spell had been broken along with the loss of contact and Maura felt like she was returning to her senses.
"I need to get back to work" Maura straightened out her lab coat.
"Wait Maur-"
"Doctor Isles" she snapped.
Jane stood up. She looked like she was about to raise her voice but she rubbed her eyes and responded in a soft tone. "No one would blame you if you took a personal day you know"
"I need to work" with that Maura walked toward her office.
It was late afternoon when an older gentleman had come down to identify his son. Maura knew that he was likely her biological father. All she needed was his DNA. He refused her attempt to get him water and blatantly cut his hand to give her a sample of his blood.
Maura was more than ready for this catastrophe of a day to come to an end. She couldn't remember the last time she had so many emotions stirring inside her. Or she didn't want to remember. It was only after she had knocked on the door with an unnecessary amount of force that she realized what she was doing and turned on her heel to head for the stairwell.
"Maura?" Jane asked with perplexion. It was well after hours and she was wearing soft grey sweatpants and a long-sleeved raglan shirt. Beer in hand. "Sorry. Doctor Isles" Jane corrected and suddenly Maura felt ridiculous. Which in itself was ridiculous to her.
I shouldn't be here, Maura sighed and walked toward Jane.
"I sent his blood samples to the crime lab but I have no doubt that… This man is my father" Maura said as she paced Jane's living room, holding a mugshot of the man that came to identify his murdered son.
Jane sat on her sofa, her eyes followed Maura. "Since when do you jump to conclusions?"
Since I met you! Maura yelled internally. "Since I found out who I really am-"
"Maura"
There's no use in denying the evidence, she thought.
"Look at this. Stabbed. Shot. Shot. Shot" Maura pointed toward the file on Paddie Dayle. "He introduced himself as Selsi- That's Isles spelled backward," she said in a raised voice.
"I know you keep saying that," Jane said softly.
"He was toying with me from the start! While he was staring at his murdered son"
"Come on. He came to say a final goodbye to Collin and… he knew that you wanted a DNA sample so he gave you some off his blood" Jane said in a pleading tone. "That's a guy with balls"
Maura looked at her with perplexion. "Come on, your defending a stone-cold killer"
"No I'm-" Jane got a blank look on her face. "Yes, I am. And. Um. I'm gonna… stop now. Look if it makes you feel any better these were all bad guys he killed"
"He said Collin was too much like him… what about me? Look what I do for a living. I'm around more death than he is". Where the heck is all this coming from? She's not your therapist Maura! She yelled internally.
"But your not the one doing the killing. Muara, listen to me you are in danger. As long as he's out there" she said firmly. Guess I can add fear into the amalgamation of feelings. Good grief, Maura thought.
"He's not gonna kill me," she said with approximately ninety percent certainty.
"Gah Maura! Whoever killed Collin will not hesitate to kill you if they figure out who you are. I don't think you're appreciating the seriousness of your situation" Jane stated pointedly, her voice sounding hoarse with the sheer exhaustion of the conversation.
It all just became too much for Maura. "Oh, I appreciate the seriousness of my situation. I've been appreciating it all. Day Long" Maura quipped. She felt a stray droplet fall from her eye and judging by Jane's face she was probably crying but she was too worked up at this moment to realize it.
Jane found her hand and pulled her to the couch next to her. "Does anyone know you're here?"
She wiped a stray tear from Maura's cheek. Her hand remained there.
Maura inhaled deeply to ground herself. Jane's touch felt so warm, Maura inadvertently leaned into it. She opened her eyes to find warm brown ones looking back at her. "No. I- I don't know why I came".
"I'm glad you did" Maura pulled back and started looking for a tissue. Jane handed her a kleenex.
"I don't know why I'm acting so emotionally," Maura said, straightening out her posture. "And you asked for time I- shouldn't have come" Maura went to get up and Jane reached out to stop her.
"Hey! You found out you had a brother and that he was murdered on the same day. Your biological father is one of the most notorious mobsters in Boston and your life is in serious danger because of it– I think you've earned the right to feel overwhelmed… You don't always have to be so damn stubborn Maur" Jane's tone was firm, almost scolding but her words impacted Maura.
She was so used to being on her own. Every interaction with Jane was like new territory.
"You're staying here tonight.-"
"Jane"
"I don't wanna hear it Maura" Jane stood up and took her self phone. "I'm having units stay outside tonight-"
"I have to get home. I need to feed Bass I-"
"I'll get Frost to feed your turtle, he won't mind."
"Tortoise" Maura corrected with an exhausted chuckle. "I don't think he likes me all that much" Maura said softly.
"Bass? He tell you that?"
"No!" Maura said defensively. "Detective Frost"
"Well he'll do it if I ask him"
"Why are you doing this?... Last night you-"
"I've never seen anything like it, Maura… That room it– I didn't know-" Jane cut herself off and moved to the window to peek out. "I have some clothes for you to sleep in. You can take my bed"
Maura wanted to protest. Even though she would do it to anyone else in a similar situation, she didn't want to put Jane out. She didn't feel like she deserved Jane's kindness. But her tone didn't suggest that there was room for a debate on the matter.
Thank you so much for all the great feedback! I may jump points of view a bit more but I just wanna know whose pov do you guys like best (J OR M)?
Also please bear with me with the new plotline with Paddie I won't just follow the original Cannon- I have some twists coming ;)