I am later than previous days but I am here, with the Chapter 004 Rewrite.
After noticing there were some details missing that would give more insight on the situations in time I added more, explaining things for them to make a bit more sense.
This chapter has been expanded with 1800 words from the original, I hope you enjoy.
The women had received the needed approval for Jane to accompany Maura to Boston.
The agent was happy, excited even that Maura wanted her to come along. Yet she was terrified. It had been almost two years since she had last been in Boston or had contact with any of her relatives and friends there.
Jane used to work at the Boston police department as a homicide detective, it wasn't long before the job started to take a toll on her personal life. The brunette received untraceable death threats and experienced multiple break ins at her home during her last period there. The person that broke in or the people sending death threats remained anonymous to her till this day, the Secret Service stepping at the perfect time.
The agent got offered a training program with them with the promise for her to have a stable job once she finished, they had even found her apartments to move in to as soon as she wished – Jane couldn't say no to that.
And she didn't. She packed her bags and besides a couple of short calls she practically disappeared from Boston.
Jane knew it was a low-blow from her, but she was unstable at the time. Her mother and father fighting for their marriage, the department overrunning with cases causing the then detective to run overtime daily. The death threats, unwelcome notes and surprises at her apartment when she finally got home again? It became too much, she needed an out and this was it.
Of course she had missed Boston, but she also knew that her family now knew who she was and where she was – what had happened. Everyone knew, it would be hard to stay undercover at the city she once called home.
''Ready?'' Maura asked, sitting across from Jane with her hands folded around a book.
The blonde received nothing but a small nod in return.
The First Daughter wasn't stupid, but it wasn't until she was laying in bed her first night at the House that she had put one and one together. While Jane was home that night, she had read up on the agents files and noticed there wasn't much available on her background. There were no previous work places or studies noted, but it said she originated from Boston.
See, Maura herself had lived in Boston for a short while – barely half a year ago. The police department there had an unsolvable case they needed her help with. She worked hard for her medical titles, and staying out of the spotlights allowed her to proceed in that career.
In Boston she stood out, her knowledge and train of thought often excluding her from the masses until a particular family met her and took her under her wing.
It was the family Rizzoli.
She wanted to investigate further but knew it was too early in her relationship with the agent to ask any questions about it. Her memory recalled the Rizzoli matriarch talking about how she had lost her daughter, not having seen her in months. It added up with the time Jane had spent in Washington – of course she could be far from right, after all she had no concrete evidence that the agent across from her in the plane belonged to that family but the woman had acted strange enough to confirm her suspicions.
X X X
It was silent in the private jet, neither of the women speaking for about half an hour until the husky voice of the agent broke the silence.
''So, Beacon Hill, huh?'' Jane asked, her eyes flickering to Maura who had burrowed herself in to the book she had brought along on the trip.
The brunette wasn't one to interrupt people when they were busy but she was nervous and it had gotten quite lonely to stare at the back of a book.
A pair of hazel green eyes peeked over the edge of the book upon hearing the brunette speak. Maura lowered her reading glasses slightly so they rested on the tip of her nose a bit and she could properly see Jane.
''Yes, Beacon Hill.'' she responded, eyeing the agent further. It seemed the nerves had gotten to the brunette once again – maybe this was her opportunity.
''What is the matter with you, Jane? You were acting strange from the minute I mentioned Boston.'' she added, receiving the same confused look from Jane she had gotten earlier that day in the library only it was now followed by a quiet chuckle.
''I told you already. I'm not a fan of planes.'' Jane said, gripping on to the armrests of her seat a bit tighter. She lied, of course. It wasn't the first time the brunette had been on a plane and she wasn't one to be scared of heights.
Maura now put her book down on the table in between them, putting her glasses down next to it. Trying to hide her curiosity she asked,
''Are you sure it isn't anything else?''
Jane gasped in disbelief, trying to play it off. ''What? Yes, I'm sure. I'm just not a fan of heights is all.'' she defended herself, giving the blonde a small smile – receiving a smile in return.
The brunette could feel her stomach turning at the sight of the First Daughters smile, bright enough that it could light up an entire room – framed by cutest dimples.
''You are not on duty here, okay? Not with me. You aren't an agent here, you aren't my bodyguard when you are with me.'' Maura spoke to Jane's confusion.
''Your father expects you to be safe out here. I am your bodyguard, even out here with you. It's my job to keep you safe, Miss.'' Jane said quietly, knowing there would be no arguing the moment she noticed the look in the hazel green eyes change to something more competitive.
''It is Maura for you if we are alone, alright? You are not here as my guard, you are here as my friend so please stop being so protective.'' the blonde sighed, looking at Jane who was looking right back at her. The agent stammered a bit when it was her turn to speak, brown eyes fixed on green.
''Look.'' Jane started, trying to gather her thoughts.
''I really appreciate the offer, of being here as your friend. But I can not let it slip from my mind that you are the First Daughter. I need to keep you safe, Maura. I am completely fine with dressed casually instead of wearing my suits. I am also fine with it if you want to go out or something, but I won't go anywhere without my badge and gun. My protocol is to keep you safe, and that is exactly what I will do. I'm sorry.'' she tried, her tone apologetic.
The agent understood what the other woman wanted and why she wanted it. It was no fun to be in the spotlights. It wasn't fun having to give up your life for the actions of another. She was a grown woman and couldn't live her life without potential danger, it was a bit to get used to.
Finally Maura answered.
''I understand.'' the woman's answer short, voice quiet before she cleared her throat and her gaze adjusting to the table. Jane couldn't help but feel bad for her.
''I can dress normally. No bulletproof gear, no suit, my badge and gun concealed. That way nobody will notice, there is nothing to notice. You can just be you, alright? But in case something happens, I have what is needed to protect you or put someone in custody, there are a lot of freaks out there and I don't want to see you get hurt.'' the agent said, hoping the blonde would look up at her. When she didn't look up nor responded Jane leaned forward and gently rested her hands on the blondes.
''Hey, look at me..'' her words quiet, her eyes fixed on Maura – hoping for a response.
Maura didn't pull her hands away, instead green eyes flickered up to lock with brown ones.
''I am sorry for going up in to my job too much. I just really don't want you to get hurt Maura.'' the brunette said apologetic.
Now hands were pulled away from underneath the agents like the touch suddenly burned. Green eyes changed, hurt flickering through the woman's gaze.
''Is that because my father told you he wants me safe or because you actually care about my well being?'' the normally soft voice now venomous and Jane was taken aback by it.
The agent withdrew her hands to her lap and frowned. Where did that outburst suddenly come from?
''It is because I actually care about your well being. I could have rejected your invitation and stayed in the House with my men and your family but I didn't. Your father knows I'm not ready for field work, he didn't tell me to do this. I am here because I wanted to be.''
Jane's words weren't a lie, none of them were. She could have said no, she could have stayed in her own world – not taking the risk by accompanying the First Daughter to Boston. Yet here she was and to be quite honest not even Jane knew exactly why she was here, why she agreed to the trip, why she tried to negotiate with the woman in front of her about the security detail.
All Jane knew is that she couldn't say no to Maura. Never had Jane given much thought to her sexual orientation, in her past she had exclusively dated men. Of course there were women that tried to shoot their shot with the agent but she never was attracted to them. Yet upon meeting Maura there instantly changed something within her, the need to spend time with her – wanting to get to know her and have her safe.
The blonde pinched her lips together before sitting back and letting out a heavy sigh.
''Then why did you agree to come here with me?'' she asked. Of course she was able to guess the answer according to what the agent had just told her but she wanted to hear the specific answer, not coated by anything else.
A shiver ran down Maura's spine at the sound of a low and hoarse chuckle from the brunette seated across from her.
Jane shifted slightly in her seat before responding.
''Well. First of all, I couldn't say no to you. I don't think anyone could with those hazel eyes excitedly looking at them.'' the brunette said, noticing a blush creeping up on the cheeks of the blonde.
''And second, I knew that if I wouldn't come along, nobody would. I know you don't need or want protection, but I didn't want to let you go knowing you would be out there alone. The house is full with staff, including my replacement. Your parents safety is guaranteed, but yours wouldn't be unless I said yes to this. And no, I haven't been assigned to keep you safe – there was nobody that told me to do this besides myself. I needed you to be safe on your trip here. Like I said, I care about your well being.'' Jane explained, giving the blonde a small smile. Maura on the other hand was beaming back at her, the smile on her face absolutely priceless to Jane.
The agent didn't think she would ever get tired of seeing that smile.
X X X
As the plane hit the ground Maura's spoke excitedly. ''We're here!'' she said, a smile on her face as she looked out of the window – forgotten that the agent was asleep across from her until a soft grunt came from the woman.
The blonde turned her look at the agent. One of the brown orbs looked at her in amusement while the other eyes was tightly squeezed shut.
''Oh!'' Maura gasped quietly. ''Sorry for waking you up like this.'' she quickly apologized in a whisper, being met by a tired smile from the brunette who now squeezed both her eyes shut and slowly opened them again.
Jane looked at the overly enthusiastic blonde in her seat and couldn't help but smile a bit.
''It's alright Maur.'' she muttered, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes with half closed fists.
The blonde tilted her head slightly at noticing at the nickname, she smiled to herself and decided to let it go by as the brunette rubbed the sleep from her eyes – which was a rather cute sight.
''Come on then lazybones.'' she now grinned, standing up from her seat as the pilots voice echoed over the intercoms to inform them they could leave the plane.
''Yeah, yeah. I'm coming.'' Jane said under her breath, a spark of amusement in her voice as she tiredly lifted herself from her seat.
Jane exited the plane first; Maura hot on her heels and giving the brunette a surprised look when she received a hand to get out of the plane.
The agent gave her a small reassuring smile, ''You know that wearing heels for a flight isn't necessary, right?'' she said amused as Maura took her hand.
The blonde shook her head with a soft laugh, Jane's face softening at the sound.
Maura stepped down the stairs and let go of the brunettes hand again.
''You don't get it, and you most likely never will.'' the blonde stated, earning a chuckle from Jane.
''You are probably right.'' the taller of the two admitted, making careful work of fetching their luggage as to not strain her injuries.
Maura noticed the brunette struggling and quickly stepped over, helping Jane unload the suitcases and put them down on the ground.
''Please be careful.'' she said worriedly.
''I'll be okay.'' Jane said softly, however very glad Maura stepped in to help her with the suitcases – her body hurt from a combination of sitting down too long in the plane, a bad posture while sleeping and lifting the suitcases.
''Where is your friend? Weren't they supposed to pick us up?'' she asked, turning to the blonde who now nodded. Jane could feel the nerves in her stomach, she wasn't ready for this – to be back in Boston again, this close to the family and friends she left behind almost two years ago without any information on her whereabouts or contact over the surpassed time. But this was as ready as she could ever get, there were no apologies good enough to explain to her loved ones as to why she just disappeared.
''He should be right outside of the hangar.'' Maura said, taking both of their suitcases and heading towards the exit of the hanger in which the pilot had parked the plane.
Jane followed her, feeling awkward without carrying the luggage herself. Upon exiting the hanger she could properly breath in the late summer air. It smelled like home, like playing basketball with her younger brothers on the driveway of their mothers house before Sunday dinners, late night chase-downs of perpetrators and celebratory drinks at the local bar.
The brunette smiled to herself, her head filled with moments of happiness as she followed Maura around the hangar. There was a black car parked, a Subaru, right around the corner like the blonde had said. The shorter woman approached the car first with the luggage and a somewhat elderly man stepped out, his short hair and beard gray. It didn't take Jane more than a second to recognize him and her heart stopped.
''Jane?'' the all too familiar voice asked confused, his eyes looking right past Maura as his gaze was fully focused on the brunette that was barely a few feet behind her.
The agent felt numb, she wasn't sure whether to cry from happiness or anxiety – her feet frozen yet filled with the burning sensation to run away again. The mans face brought so much comfort to her, yet is scared her to death – knowing damned well he would be angry.
''Korsak.'' she said, barely loud enough for even the man at the car to hear.
Maura was confused to say the least, she followed Vince's gaze and was met with a very – very – uncomfortable Jane Rizzoli. The brunette looking anxious, swaying ever so slightly on the balls of her heels.
''You two know each other?'' She asked, her brows furrowing when Jane slowly moved in closer to them.
The brunette nodded at the blonde.
''Yes, Korsak was my partner when I worked at the Boston Police Department. We practically ran the Homicide Unit there.'' she said, giving Maura a sympathetic smile – her head a mixture of happy thoughts to the past and a sadness that she had left it all behind.
Maura had to take a second to process it before it fell in to place, her suspicion on the agent now confirmed. She recalled her conversations with the Rizzoli matriarch one by one, the woman always bragging about her courageous daughter – working overtime to ensure safety upon the city by catching some of the most horrible killers Boston has met with.
Vince's voice pulled Maura out of her thoughts.
''However Miss Rizzoli now lives in Washington. Which nobody knew until just days ago, when we saw you got shot on national television to protect the President. I got told you were in California doing undercover work, that you weren't to be contacted. Everyone was told that, nobody was able to contact you for two years. We were all worried sick. Were you ever going to return?'' The man shot his words in to his old partners way like bullets, each word hitting Jane harder in her confidence.
The agent knew damned well she had screwed up, that there was no apologizing for her actions and as she had no defense she was visibly backing down by every sentence Vince spat her way.
Maura had followed the conversation in silence, her gaze shifting from Jane to Vince and back – seeing how Jane was practically flinching at the elderly mans words.
This was the reason why Jane had been acting strange by the mentioning of Boston. She used to have a life here and the Secret Services took it from her. Of course Jane had her own say in whether or not to take the work, but it is a hard job to decline – and there likely wasn't a doubt that Jane had her own reasons for leaving her home in the first place.
The woman had been part of the community, protecting people, bonding with citizens and building a solid future for herself before she left. Besides the obvious, Jane's anxiety started to make more and more sense to Maura. Returning here was more than just reuniting with her family and friends – which she had left on a bad notice – it was about being confronted with everything she had worked for before packing up and leaving without looking back, about not having the answers people would want from her.
''Vince, stop it.'' Maura's voice was stern, clear and to both Vince's and Jane's surprise loud enough to silence the man at the Subaru.
Korsak shook his head, ''You don't understand, -'' he began again but the blonde simply cut him off.
''She probably had her reasons, Vince. She is here with me, to protect me. My father knew Jane was the best he could send, we all know she was. So let it rest and please drive us to Beacon Hill.'' Maura said, protecting the clearly uncomfortable brunette next to her.
''Sure thing.'' Korsak said with a hurt chuckle as he placed the women's luggage in to the trunk of the car.
The agent looked over at Maura and gave her a thankful smile, Maura smiling back at her.
''Thank you.'' Jane whispered, the shorter woman giving her a shrug of the shoulders in return.
It was in that moment the brunette knew there was no returning from this, regardless of how this trip would go – she would stick by Maura as long as the woman would have her there.
The women walked up to the car and Jane held the passengers door for Maura, slipping in to the backseat after the blonde did. Maura rested her hand on Jane's knee and finally the agent could let go of the breath she had been holding in for so long.
A/N: I fucking appreciate all of you still here after all this time and reading this, joining me on this journey once again. I dont think words will be able to properly describe my grattitude.