Chapter Sixteen

"Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions, seems still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth."

Someone was making coffee. Maura stirred and looked at the woman in bed with her. Sound asleep, Jane looked exhausted and drained, but had a sweet smile. It had been the second night sharing a bed since the possibility (inevitability) of dating had entered their lives. To Maura's delight, it had not made sharing a bed with Jane any more awkward.

Carefully, trying not to wake up her friend (girlfriend?), Maura slipped out of bed and pulled on a robe. Coffee after a long dinner talking about who and what they were, and what they meant to each other, had been exhausting. Since today was an off day for everyone, Maura was looking forward to a lazy time of friendship.

In the kitchen, she found the somewhat familiar blonde head of Gail Peck making breakfast. Gail was dressed in clothes that were clearly Holly's. Some sports related sweat pants and a comfy flannel top looked very out of place on Gail. That spoke to Gail's presence being somewhat unplanned, as Maura was certain Gail would have brought some clothes over.

"Hey, you two eat eggs?" Gail held up the carton of eggs.

"Yes, but Jane's asleep."

"Yeah, so's Holly. Okay. Eggs." She cracked two more and added them to what looked like an omelette mix. It did not look like enough for four. "Jane likes pancakes?"

"Who doesn't?" Maura smiled at the peculiar domesticity from Gail. It was unexpected. "Coffee?"

"Help yourself."

Maura poured coffee and watched Gail go about chopping and setting up food. She wasn't entirely surprised that Gail was there, and it made Jane's smirk that night a little more sensible. They'd returned from dinner not long before midnight to a quiet house. The alarm had not been set for the night, and a glass was still on the coffee table. While Maura had puzzled at the scenario, Jane had laughed and said it was fine.

"I have you to thank for dinner last night, Gail."

The blonde looked up and smiled. "Worth it. You and Jane sort things out?"

"We are."

They had talked for hours about their friendship and the risks involved in becoming romantically involved. Jane's concerns were a little more practical, surrounding her inexperience with women and her lack of female friends in general. But they both admitted that their feelings were somewhat less than platonic. The question left was could they remain friends if their relationship exploded?

They still didn't know that answer. But as Jane put it, it was a risk worth taking for the one person who got her.

As Maura understood it, the decision came at the push of Gail's, telling Jane she'd been there.

Gail looked pleased. "I like you two, and trust me, that means something."

"Oh?"

"I hate people. And shared experiences. And touching."

An oddly specific collection of hates. "Oh, that's why you worry that you have ASPD?" When Gail was silent, Maura elaborated. "Antisocial—"

"Antisocial personality disorder, yeah I know. Who told you that?"

"No one," said Maura, guilelessly. "You don't actually display any of the signs, you know."

"And you can't lie," muttered Gail.

"Who told you that?"

They shared a look of mutual respect for the other's observational skills. "Touché." Gail smirked and shook her head. "My family are all criminals, Maura."

"That sounds more like a career path than a genetic predisposition. I'm afraid you just have too much empathy for others to be considered a sociopath, Gail."

"Ouch." And Gail laughed. "That... actually makes me feel better."

"You love Holly."

"True."

"You care about her."

"Tends to go with, yeah."

"My point," said Maura gently, "is that you clearly have the ability to connect to people, and the desire. Thus, your family's tendencies towards criminal activities are more likely to be related to your fears than anything else."

Gail paused her beating of the eggs. "My fears."

It wasn't a question, but Maura treated it like one anyway. "Being surrounded by people who don't share your same beliefs and dreams, who try to force you to be like them, caused you to retreat and no longer share them. You were raised to believe that those values were worthless, which meant when you finally had someone who felt as you did, you pushed them away. After all, that was how you were raised."

With a sigh, Gail put down the bowl of eggs. "I don't recommend you do that to Jane."

Maura sighed. "I try not to."

"Holly won't talk about that stuff with me, which y'know I was a brat the last time she tried."

"Perhaps you should broach the subject?"

"After you two head home, probably, yeah."

Somehow, Maura felt like Gail actually would. She watched Gail busy herself with cooking for a while before deigning to ask, "How are you?"

Gail glanced over. "Hell of a loaded question, but I can be psychic." She put one finger to the side of her head. "Gail, how are you after shooting and co-killing someone?" Closing one eye and smirking, Gail said, "Do you know, I'd never shot anyone before?"

She took a seat on a stool. "Does it change things?"

The ballistics, after all, had come back and of all results it had to be inconclusive. Gail and Jane's shots were clustered so tightly, it was impossible to know which one of them had actually killed O'Malley. Maura found it impressive. Holly had been disturbed. Of course, Canadian police discharged their weapons far less often than Americans, so it was rather novel.

"A lot, yeah," said Gail, and she went back to cooking. "I can't take it back. I killed someone. I mean, I know it's me and Jane did it, but it's so final." She sighed and added, "I kind of wish I'd shot Perik, and I'm more glad I didn't."

Lacing her fingers together, Maura processed that. "I take it you know the details about Hoyt?"

"Stabbing. Yikes." Gail began to measure out flour and baking powder.

"It was very personal."

"I don't know that I could do that."

"It was not easy," said Maura. "I think, sometimes, her nightmares might be less if she hadn't."

Gail sighed and shook her head. "Hasn't helped mine any," she admitted.

That figured, decided Maura. "I'm glad you and Jane have each other."

"Shit, I'm glad you and Jane have each other," said Gail, and this time she smiled.

"Jesus, Peck, stop baiting people," announced Jane, grumpy and sleepy and adorable as she came down the stairs with Holly. "I thought you said she wasn't a morning person."

Holly looked amused. "She wasn't. Why are you up, babe?" And Holly, who Maura knew to be a morning person, swooped in to kiss Gail and collect coffee.

The blonde waved at the counters. "Breakfast. Grab your java juice, Rizzles."

"No," sane Jane, very firmly. "Jane or Rizzoli." She took a coffee from Holly and sat next to Maura.

They didn't kiss. There was still a faint undercut of uncertainty between them, a nervousness about what their future held. But they were also filled with hope. Jane slowly, almost shyly, reached over and covered Maura's hand with her own.

"Good morning," said Maura, and she smiled at Jane, trying to project an aura of comfort.

Jane made a face. "Morning," she acquiesced. "You two have a good night?"

To Maura's amusement, Holly blushed. "Yes. You two?"

"Leftovers are in the fridge," said Jane.

"Nope. I ate 'em," Gail remarked.

Holly laughed and shook her head. "For someone who hates eggs, you sure make a nice omelette, babe."

Gail just shrugged and plated the omelettes for the others, and got to work making pancakes. "This hot doctor is on me about protein at breakfast."

"Your cholesterol will thank me," drawled Holly.

Their banter was well worn and cute, Maura realized. They had an easy ebb and flow about them as a couple. Beside her, Jane sighed. "You can't matchmake a couple, Ma," said the Southie Bostonian.

Of course Maura knew Jane only played up that accent these days when she was trying to bug Maura. "I'm wondering if we'll be like that."

Jane flushed a little and turned to look at Gail and Holly, who were joking about pancakes versus waffles, and did Holly even own a waffle iron? She smiled at them and then at Maura. "I think so, yeah."

Of all the houseguests they'd had, Gail was the least annoying. Admittedly, most of the guests had been Jane's relatives, whose unplanned appearances generally resulted in Maura and Jane sharing a bed, and whose personalities were larger than life. On the other hand, Gail was quiet, efficient, and tidy.

Also she didn't care if Maura and Jane shared a room. Mind, she did make snide comments from time to time.

"Remind me why you're not picking up Holly at the airport?" Jane pulled her car into the garage.

"Airports are gross," Gail replied. "Besides, I'm dead inside. Holly will understand."

"If you say so. Maura'd be pissed."

"Your relationship is young."

"Uh hello? Yours predates ours by a couple months."

Gail laughed. "You have sex yet?"

"Get out of my car! I liked you better three weeks ago!" But Jane laughed too.

It was Gail's last day at Quantico. She had come down three weeks prior for an intensive training course in profiling, along with a Mountie, a Brit, an Aussie, and a woman from Belgium. Gail and the woman from Belgium had gotten along well, while the Mountie had been somewhat distant. According to Gail, that was what happened when you arrested people across LEO groups in Canada. Polite, but frosty.

Every morning, Jane or Maura had driven Gail down for class. Every night, Gail either caught a ride back with them or someone else, depending on how long her classes went. To Jane's surprise, Gail was the most educated of the officers in the class. It wasn't just that Gail was the only one with practical experience about serial killers, she had a Master's degree in criminal science.

After the class, Gail was set to go back to Canada and begin work as a profiler for the Toronto PD. Constabulary. Detective Gail Peck, Profiler. It was, Jane felt, about right for Gail after that last year.

The class was also the first time Jane and Maura had seen Gail since the whole 'incident.' That was what Maura called it. Jane referred to it as the most messy international shit show convention she'd been a part of.

For Jane and Maura, it was an interesting year. Jane had been absolved of any wrongdoing in Canada, and in return the FBI took ownership of the fuck up with O'Malley. Both Jane and Gail were exonerated and it was determined to be a good shoot. All those women as witnesses had helped.

And Jane and Maura, together, returned home to figure out what they were. That had been a bundle of fits and starts. Jane right away talked to her therapist, who was surprised and delighted. Then she'd spent time with Maura, sorting out how she felt as a them.

She'd also had to tell the FBI, who didn't give a shit if she were gay, straight, trans, pan, or any other flavour of queer. They cared if she lied about it. Of course, that meant eventually word got around and Dean found out, and he was a small ass about it. Then he sent them rainbow cupcakes. Jane forgave him for that. At least a little.

There had been kissing, and eventually sex, and Jane declared she wanted a time machine so she could go back to when they'd met and kick her own ass about being stupid. Maura had just laughed. The them they were then was not the them they were now, and the road, as rocky as it had been, was worth the travel.

After that, they'd told their families. Jane's mother had been the most frustrating, since she pretended it hadn't happened and Janie and Maura were just BFFs. Jane hadn't told her father, as that would have involved talking to him in the first place, but apparently Angela had. What a weird reunion that had been with Frank Rizzoli.

Her father was totally fine with the gay thing. And in the end, it was Frank who'd talked Angela into accepting the reality. On top of that? They'd become actual friends again! Frank and Angela went on double dates!

Honestly, Jane's life had jumped through the mirror and back a few times.

Meanwhile, according to Holly, Gail had it rough. Everyone at Fifteen division had agreed they'd treated Gail unfairly and became her friends again. The rank and file Mounties had been pissed off, even though Gail had their boss's blessings for the case in the first place. The other police divisions had been hit or miss, and Gail was not very popular for quite a while.

All that had eased about four months ago. The top brass apparently realized what they might lose when both the FBI and the Mounties made noise about considering Gail for profiling work. Jane still felt damn proud of that work. It wasn't the full truth, but it wasn't a lie, after all.

For their private life, Holly was currently renting out her townhouse and living with Gail. That was apparently going great. The extra security of the building was a relief to Holly, who admitted to Maura (who had told Jane) that she'd had anxiety attacks after Perik broke out.

Canada had no death penalty, but Perik was in isolation and under watch by vetted guards. A break out was unlikely. Luke Callaghan, having only been an accessory, got off light and was on parole. He and Steve, Gail's brother, were roomies, helping each other out. That, Gail admitted, was weird.

And now, Gail was headed back to The Great White North. After a brief holiday in the DC area with Holly, that was. They had a plan to hit up museums and historical landmarks that Jane would never admit sounded as interesting as it did.

"Hey, I meant to say," said Gail as they went inside. "Thanks."

"What for?"

"Ollie finked on you."

Jane rolled her eyes. "Of course he did. I didn't do much."

"Big Building sent me the official offer this morning. Detective, fast track for sergeant, and assigned to homicide for now."

"Staying at Fifteen?"

Gail nodded, and Jane realized she was blushing. That was adorable. "Yeah. I have to work with stupid Frankie for a while, but ..."

"Could be worse?"

"Could be Dov. I might kill him."

Jane chuckled. "That wouldn't go well."

"We were in the same class," explained Gail and Jane nodded.

They chatted a little more about what to expect as a detective. Jane, being used to teaching now, felt like this was ... perfect. Of all the cops and agents she'd worked with, Gail was the closest to her. A little desperate to be respected for what she did, but that was fading with success and support.

The best thing was Gail didn't hero worship Jane at all. They weren't quite equals, but they were on par with the other. A balance. A yin and yang of police officers. And they respected each other greatly.

For instance, Gail was frank about her work with a therapist, where Jane was still reulctuant to talk about that. They both were excellent shots (Gail had outshot Jane on the standard firing range, but Hogan's Alley had gone to Jane). One was a cop because it was the family business, one was a cop because it wasn't, and so on. Sure, Gail liked wearing a sexy dress and going out with Holly, and Jane preferred a sports game, but they clicked like friends.

Gail, who claimed she didn't do "friends" listened when Jane had called her, having a midlife lesbian crisis. That was really why they'd stayed in touch, felt Jane. If it was anyone else, Jane just wouldn't talk about it. But after she called Gail, there was a return call a month later asking about how to handle the nightmares.

At Jane's suggestion, they started making dinner. Holly, Gail surmised, would want to shower, eat, and sleep. Since Holly liked things the same way Jane did, they went with a Sicilian style pizza, and had it in the oven right as Maura arrived.

"Look who pulled up behind me," declared Maura.

Jane looked at Gail first. In the last three weeks, Jane had grown used to the myriad faces Gail made. She could be smart assed, snarky, biting, icy, and downright cruel. But when Gail was right about something? Hoooo boy, she was a slice of molten danger. She would run through people like a hot knife through butter, and smile the whole time.

Looking at Holly, Gail smiled a wide, open, happy expression. The world lit up around her. "Hey, babe," said Gail, and she leaned over the counter. "We just put pizza in."

Holly's expression matched Gail's, and she walked right over. Leaning across the counter, she kissed Gail softly. "I love you. I'm going to shower, if that's okay?" The latter was asked of Jane and Maura.

"Shower's in your room," said Jane.

"Upstairs, turn left. It's Second door on the right. There are towels in the first door..." Maura paused and looked at Gail.

"I hung her a fresh one this morning." Gail beamed and watched Holly head down the hall. "She's so predictable."

"Better not let her hear you say that," drawled Jane, and she walked around to greet Maura. Their kiss was, Jane felt, still a little awkward. Well, Jane was awkward. Maura was Maura.

The pathologist smiled. "I'm sure Gail has said far less accurate things in Holly's hearing."

"Yeah, she's an ass." As Jane spoke, Gail flipped her off. "And rude. You wanna grab a shower?"

Maura looked at Jane and then Gail. "Do I have time for a quickie?"

Both Jane and Gail snorted a laugh. "A quick shower, yeah. Just."

Seeming to grasp that the word used was incorrect, Maura nodded, kissed Jane's cheek, and vanished to their room.

Once Maura closed the bedroom door, Gail snickered. "Doesn't ever get old, does it?"

"What?" Jane frowned. Making fun of her was fine, but Jane wasn't keen on that for Maura.

"Our girls. They are so goddamned smart, and so not quite normal all the time."

"Really? How is Holly?"

Gail grinned. "She actually says 'Whoa Nelly' and 'whoopsadaisy.' Out loud. With other people around."

Okay, Jane had to admit that was funny. "But you love her."

"Kinda why. She's just..." Gail looked over at the stairs. "She's comfortable and happy being Holly. Confidence like that is really attractive. And? She actually is bad ass."

Jane followed the look. That described Maura as well. "Doesn't care if she's weird, she cares about science and making the world a little better."

"Bingo. Beers?"

"Beers," agreed Jane.

Dinner with the four was actually pretty subdued. As Holly had worked her normal day before flying down, she started to fall asleep on Gail's shoulder about half an hour into the basketball game she and Jane had asked to watch. Gail gently cajoled Holly to bed, leaving the room to just Jane and Maura again.

Curled up and leaning just a bit against Jane, Maura hummed happily. "I normally dislike houseguests," she said at the commercial. "But Gail is remarkably considerate."

"Except for the naked thing," pointed out Jane.

"Which one of us was it that had forgotten the to hang a towel?"

Jane looked down and Maura's eyes were twinkling. "I'm just saying, normal people don't walk around other people's houses, bare ass naked."

But Maura wasn't having it, and carried on. "And I'm sure Holly will be just as pleasant. She keeps her own home very neat."

"If that's a dig to clean my side of the closets..."

It wasn't. Maura sat up and kissed Jane's cheek. "I would never ask that. Nor would I ask you to organize your half of the office in any other way. I love you for who you are."

Jane blushed. "That's why I love you too," she said, only stumbling a little over her own words.

Maura smiled and snuggled (she snuggled!) up against Jane to watch the rest of the basketball game.

The world was a lot different than Jane had thought it would be. She didn't expect to have her life upended by a serial killer, multiple times, and she didn't expect to fall in love with her best friend. But right now, Jane wouldn't trade it for anything. This was happiness.

And that is a wrap! Hope you enjoyed a silly crossover I'd had in mind for the last few years.