I don't own Rizzoli and Isles, but I wish I did.
A/N: Thank you to everyone for your kind reviews and PMs. I'm tickled that so many people are enjoying my story. If you messaged or reviewed, I promise that I will try and get back to you in a timely manner. Also, thanks for pointing out the name mix up! Her name is Kellie. : ) I said that I wasn't sure if I'd get to post soon, but I managed to find some time so enjoy!
Jane bent at the waist to retrieve the regulation size beanbags that laid piled on the ground.
"Here, catch!" Jane casually tossed the bag underhanded to the expectant doctor.
Maura peered closely at the bag feeling the weight settle in her hand.
"Corn kernels?"
"Yep, and the object is to get that bag, "Jane pointed to the bag in the doctor's hand, "into that hole," the brunette hitched her thumb in the direction of the board.
"Hence the name cornhole," Jane said feeling very pleased with herself.
"Did you just say hence?" Maura teased.
"Yeah, I did." Jane paused and scratched the side of her nose.
"I guess I'm hanging around you too much, Doctor." Jane winked.
Maura let out an airy laugh and smacked Jane's arm lightly. "I guess so!"
Taking the beanbag from Maura's hand, Jane handed Maura her beer, "Here, hold this."
Jane swaggered over to the cornhole board and assumed the proper tossing stance.
"You see, doctor. You must bend your knees," Jane punctuated this direction with an exaggerated bend of her own knees. "Pull your arm back," Jane stretched her arm back behind her, "and in one fluid movement," Jane gracefully tossed the bag.
"Release." The brunette was rewarded with a resounding thump.
Jane then stood up straight again and reached for her beer. "Really, it's all in the wrist. Once you're a pro like I am, you can toss and hold your beer at the same time." Jane smugly declared.
As a lover of science, Maura could easily figure out the force and speed necessary to successfully throw a bag of corn through a hole, but the teenage girl in her couldn't resist.
Maura grabbed a bag, got into a tossing stance that slightly resembled Jane's, and "accidentally" threw the bag into a nearby bush. No one had to know she did that on purpose.
"Wow, ok, let's try that again," Jane had watched as Maura's beanbag whizzed by and attacked Korsak's landscaping.
"Here, let me show you." Jane grabbed another bag, walked over to Maura, and came to a stop behind her. She gently pressed her body against Maura's back to maneuver the doctor into the proper tossing position. After sliding her arms alongside Maura's, the two women let loose the bag. It sailed perfectly through the air and made it through the hole without a sound.
"Woo!" Both women's arms shot in the air and then turned to hug each other.
"Nicely, done, Doctor." Jane grinned broadly as she let go of the honey blonde.
"Thank you, Coach. I had a great teacher." Maura quickly quirked her eyebrow.
An idea came to the good doctor.
"Jane, how would you like to play me in a game?"
"I don't know how fair that would be, Maur'." The brunette tried to reason, "I mean. You're just learning, and I'm practically the Queen of Cornhole."
Jane puffed her chest out a little at the title.
"Lovely moniker, Jane." Maura snorted and crossed her arms.
"Still think you can beat me, Maura?"
"Yes, I do."
The two women had a stare down.
Jane lost.
R & I R & I R & I
"Alright everyone, the good Dr. Isles has decided to challenge the undefeated Jane Rizzoli in a game of cornhole. Winner gets bragging rights and the loser faces utter humiliation. Which outcome will it be for the undefeated Jane Rizzoli?" Frost really knew how to ham it up.
"Do I have any wagers?" Frost turned to the assembling crowd and started writing down bets.
"You don't have to do this Maura," Jane quietly said out of the corner of her mouth.
Maura indignantly put her hands on her hips.
"Are you implying, Jane Rizzoli, that I am not capable of defeating you in a contest of skill? We haven't known each other very long, but I can assure you that there's more than meets the eye with me."
Maura then swaggered, yes, actually swaggered away.
"Well, I tried to warn you. I won't go easy on you!" Jane shouted out to the blonde.
What the hell does she means there's more than meets the eye? Women, I swear.
Fifteen minutes later…
Thump! Thump! Thump!
As the final bag slid across the varnished board to fall gently into the center hole, Jane Rizzoli's winning streak had come to a very nasty and entertaining end.
OOOOOOHHHHHH!
Following Jane's unforeseen defeat, some of the spectators had lifted Maura onto their shoulders and were parading her around the backyard for a victory lap.
When they finally put her down in front of Jane, Maura couldn't help but be nervous.
"You're not mad, are you?" Maura bit her bottom lip. She hated to think that she may have angered the brunette.
"Mad? Hell no! That was awesome!" Jane wrapped Maura up in a very tight hug and twirled her around so hard the blonde's feet left the ground.
Maura hadn't felt that happy in years.
R & I R & I R & I
At last, the sun had slipped under the horizon taking with it much of the ungodly heat.
Crickets happily chirped back and forth with each other. The night was peaceful.
"Well, Maura, I think you're a big hit with the faculty," Jane said as she casually leaned against one of the trees; a beer dangled in one hand.
"You think so, Jane?" Maura sounded excited and a little surprised.
"Of course, Maura. Why wouldn't they?" Jane gave Maura a puzzled look.
"I've had a hard time making and keeping friends in my life. I sometimes struggle with social cues because I tend to be too literal. Not to mention, my job as a pathologist could be a little often off-putting to any would be friends and suitors."
"What?!" Jane gasped, "Are you telling me that someone didn't want to hang out with a beautiful woman like you because you cut up dead bodies for a living?! The nerve!"
Maura let out hearty laugh, "I know, right?"
Jane was pleased that her attempt at making Maura laugh had worked.
A quiet settled between the two.
"You think I'm beautiful?" Maura asked in a small voice.
"I mean if you were ugly, do you think I'd be hanging out with you?"
Maura gasped, "Jane Rizzoli!" and backhanded her in the gut.
Jane laughed and rubbed her stomach. "I deserved that."
"But, in answer to your question," said softly.
Maura looked up into Jane's chocolate eyes.
"Yes, Maura. I think you are very beautiful."
Angela Rizzoli's voice ringing across the yard shattered the intimate moment.
"Jane! I need you to come take your brother home!"
"Ma! Seriously?!" Jane shouted, "Can't he take a cab?"
"No! I can't stick him in some random cab with someone he doesn't know. He could end up in Roxbury missing a kidney! Besides you're his sister!"
This was so not the time for this bullshit.
Jane pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ok, fine, Ma!"
"While you're at it, take Frost, too. He's not in any better shape than your brother."
Jane had already planned on driving them home at the end of the night, but she didn't realize that her end of the night was going to be before ten o'clock!
"I'm sorry, Maura, but I've got to go. Apparently, two grown men can't handle their alcohol like they used to."
"It's ok, Jane." Maura gently took Jane's hand. Her thumb rubbed small circles on Jane's arm just above her watch.
Jane surprised herself when she didn't jerk her hand back.
"Talk to you tomorrow?" Jane asked softly.
"Sure," Maura smiled and released Jane's hand.
"Jane!"
"Geez, Ma! I'm coming!"
"Bye, Maur'," Jane waved.
Jane stomped over to Frost and Frankie and frog-marched the two to her Jeep.
"C'mon you, jackasses. If you puke in my car, I'm dumping your asses on the side of the road."
After dropping the two oafs off at their places, Jane managed to make it up her apartment stairs without collapsing.
Jane felt grimy from sitting outside most of the day, so the first thing she did when she got home was wash her hands. Removing her watch, she let the water run over through her fingers and over her wrists. Jane stared at the ugly jagged scar. The doctor's had tried their best when stitching it, but the skin was very badly torn so there wasn't too much they could do. The scar's red brown color stood out in stark contrast to her olive skin.
Jane shut off the water and dried her hands with the worn dishrag that hung on a hook by the sink.
That's when she noticed her piano sitting alone in the corner. Jane hadn't played it in years, but she religiously kept it tuned.
Tonight was the first time she had wanted to play again.
Jane sat down on the bench and lifted the long since opened cover.
Resting her fingers gently on the keys, Jane let out a deep breath and began to play.
She made it halfway through one stanza of La Vie En Rose before she slammed the cover shut.