A/N: I've been rewatching the series from the beginning and anyone who says Rizzles isn't real is lying. Seriously? This show and their relationship are truly gifts. Anyway, thank you all so much for reading! I welcome any and all feedback.
Jane headed down to Maura's office a little after nine that evening. She had tried to get her friend to go home and get some sleep hours before, but Maura refused. She had found blood that didn't belong to the victim and was so upset that she'd missed it before that she wouldn't rest until Jane brought her a DNA sample from their number one suspect.
Jane was ninety-nine percent sure that Ted Nichols, a collector for Zimmerman's bookie, was the killer. She'd had him in interrogation most of the day, and though he wouldn't give anything up, he had motive and means and a history of assault charges. The bookie himself had a solid alibi and made the point that killing Zimmerman wouldn't get him his money, but he was sure to mention that Ted could be a brutal enforcer. He all but insinuated that the younger man had killed before. Ted Nichols was cocky, claiming he didn't need a lawyer because he didn't do anything wrong. He even offered a DNA sample, confident he'd left behind no trace evidence. Jane was ready to make the match and put this guy away for good.
Maura was lying on the couch in her office, eyes closed, massaging her temples. Jane touched her forehead with the back of her hand, checking for fever, which caused Maura to open her eyes. "Still have that headache?" Jane was more than a little concerned.
"I can't seem to get rid of it, no matter what I try to do." Maura sat up, bringing on another dizzy spell. Combined with the constant nausea, this was a recipe for disaster. "I'll be right back."
Jane watched as Maura ran to the bathroom, wishing she could do something to help. When she came back, they headed to the lab. It didn't take long for Maura to confirm that the DNA found on Zimmerman's body was indeed a match to Ted Nichols. Jane called up to let Frost know he could officially book Nichols for the murder.
"Now," Jane turned to Maura after hanging up with Frost. "Will you let me take you home?"
"Yes, Jane," Maura nodded gratefully. No place in the world sounded better at that moment than the comfort of her bed.
They went back to Maura's office to collect her things and lock up, but as soon as Jane hit the elevator button to take them to ground level, their phones both started ringing.
"Rizzoli."
"Isles." Maura sighed as hope for rest dwindled away with every word on the other end.
CMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCMCM
Jane drove them to the crime scene, arguing with Maura the whole way.
"Maura, you look exhausted. Please let me call in another medical examiner. You don't have to do this."
"I'm fine, Jane. It's been a long day and I'm tired. You're tired, too. Should we call in a different detective?"
"That's not the same and you know it."
"It's different because I'm pregnant? You don't think I can do my job anymore?"
"Point taken. Of course I think you can do your job. I'm just worried about you and want to make sure you stay safe and healthy. What you do is dangerous and stressful."
"I'm not a cop, Jane. Being a medical examiner is not dangerous. The people I deal with are dead."
Jane laughed out loud. "You may not have a traditionally dangerous profession, but you attract danger, Maura Isles. You can't argue with me on that."
"I won't argue with you," Maura agreed, "but I'm still going to do my job."
They pulled up to the crime scene and parked in the alley right behind the barriers. Despite any and all protests, Jane helped Maura out of the car. They walked side by side to where Frost and Korsak were standing with a few uniforms. Upon seeing the body lying in the alley next to a dumpster, Jane and Maura both paused for a moment a few feet away. The girl couldn't have been more than fifteen years old.
There was a collective deep breath as they both pulled on gloves. Maura moved closer and got down next to the body. She brushed the girl's dark hair off of her face. The girl wore a short denim skirt and a red crocheted crop top over a black bra. Her face was caked in makeup, done as if she were a punk beauty queen– pretty, but dark eye makeup and lipstick. Her eyes were closed and there was an obvious gunshot wound in the middle of her forehead. It took all of Maura's strength not to show the emotion that welled up inside her as she looked at the little girl. Someone's daughter, shot to death in an alley. Maura tried not to think of the horrors she had been through that night before death had taken her. She knew all of those things would be running through Jane's mind nonstop in the following days.
"Let's get her back. I want to do the autopsy right away," Maura said, accepting Jane's outstretched hand to help her stand.
