I don't own Rizzoli and Isles, but I wish I did.
A/N: Thank you all for your kind reviews, pms, etc. It makes writing this so much fun and gives me tons of ideas. I'm sorry for any mistakes I make.
The rest of winter break flew by as the two women prepared for the upcoming semester; Jane's team had won the tournament and was already prepping for the State Championship that was scheduled for the first week of February. Jane argued that one could never be too ready.
New Year's Eve was fun for the two women as they celebrated with friends and family. Maura being Maura insisted on observing a New Year's Day tradition of eating blackeyed peas that she learned from Southern friends she met in medical school. Obviously, Maura wasn't a superstitious person, but she did enjoy history.
"Jane, it's believed to be a tradition that has its origins in the Antebellum South. It is believed that when Union soldiers raided Southern homes, they pillaged everything except blackeyed peas. The soldiers thought that the peas were only fit for animal consumption. As a result, Southerners believed that they were lucky because it saved them from starvation. In observance of this belief, Southerners eat blackeyed peas on New Year's Day to ensure prosperity in the new year.
"Whatever you say, Maura," Jane smirked as she ate a spoonful of peas. To be honest, they weren't that bad since Maura indulged in adding as much bacon to the dish as Jane wanted. The brunette could get used to this tradition.
R & I R & I R & I
All the teachers were happily munching on the breakfast PTSA provided for their first day back from break.
As usual, Mr. Talbert was waxing on about the upcoming semester and what to expect. He reminded the faculty about upcoming observations and introduced the new intern. After thirty minutes of his endless droning, everyone was chomping at the bit to get out of there.
Jane followed Maura to her room; it wasn't too long ago that they had visited it with Constance.
This reminded Jane to talk about Constance's donations with the doctor.
"So, apparently your mother is wanting to donate 250,000 dollars to the school. I don't mean to be nosey Maura, but how can she afford that?!" Jane always knew that discussing money with anyone even your own significant other can be a touchy subject at times, but she just had to know.
"Honestly, Jane, our family comes from very old money since we were one of the founding families of the city. Apart from that, Mother is an accomplished artist whose works cost upwards to 50,000 dollars a piece."
"Wow. I had no idea." Jane ran her fingers through her hair.
"Yes, when Mother finds a cause she believes in, she jumps in with both feet."
Then quietly she added, "When I was younger and learned that I was adopted, I thought that was the reason Father and Mother took me in."
The two women had briefly discussed Maura's adoption before, but Maura never went into much detail about it.
Jane reached out and cupped Maura's face in her hand. "You know that's not why they adopted you. They love you."
Maura smiled, "I know that now, but as a child I didn't."
Jane pulled Maura into her arms. "I love you, Jane. Thank you for always making me feel special."
"That's my job," Jane pulled back to look Maura in the eyes before she kissed the doctor.
Usually, tender moments end with a hug and a kiss and that's it but not today. Maura deepened the kiss and pulled Jane's body as close to hers as possible.
This caught Jane by surprise, but she let the doctor set her own pace. They nearly reached the point of no return when Jane pulled away.
"Maura, we're at work. We need to cool it." The brunette was trying to catch her breath.
The doctor stepped back into Jane's personal space before she whispered in her ear, "Jane, there are no students in the building, the door is locked, and I'm wearing a skirt."
So much for my rule.
R & I R & I R & I
The two women emerged from Maura's room in time for the 10:00 meeting for new teachers and their mentors.
Maura's skirt was slightly wrinkled but not enough to be noticeable to anyone but herself. Luckily for Jane, Maura caught the lipstick smudge on the her neck before anyone saw them.
The two walked into the library only to find Kellie Thomas sitting there with the new intern. A look passed between Maura and Jane. The couple took the seats as far from the woman as possible, but they made sure to introduce themselves to the intern first.
Kellie's intern, Joshua Davis, didn't look much older than the students he'd be teaching. In an effort to look older, he had grown a beard that could have passed as a goatee at best. He had a stockier frame but was by no means overweight. With his dark brown hair and broad smile, one would consider him attractive. Jane smirked knowing that the teenage girls would fawn over him. The same thing happened to her, but thankfully, she was already in her mid-twenties when she started teaching. Granted, that didn't stop the boys from falling all over themselves to impress Maura, who was only thirty-three. Jane sighed. Teenagers. They're so predictable.
Another thought occurred to the brunette, he'd better be careful since he had Kellie as a mentor. She probably won't be the best influence on him. Jane decided to keep an eye out for the young man.
"Alright folks, let's get started because I know you all have lots to do in your classrooms today," Vince Korsak addressed the assembled group.
Jane and Maura smirked at one another.
For the next thirty minutes, Korsak described what the new teachers and their mentors could expect for the next semester. Jane was impressed with Korsak. He had even made a PowerPoint presentation for the meeting.
After the meeting, Jane approached Korsak.
"Korsak, why did you put the new intern with Kellie? She's terrible."
"I couldn't help it. There was no one else who'd take him in the English department. We didn't even know that we'd have a new intern this year. The school system just sprung it on us."
"Ugh, well I'll keep an eye on him regardless." Jane stated firmly.
"I knew you would," Korsak smiled at his favorite teacher.
By this point, everyone except Jane and Maura had left the library.
"Come on, Maura. We've got stuff to do."
Maura smirked at the brunette who blushed and whispered, "Not that kind of stuff."
The doctor laughed airily, "I know, Jane. Let's do some work in our rooms and then go grab some lunch. Let's see if Barry and Frankie want to join us."
Jane pulled the door open for the blonde, "Good idea, Maur'."
R & I R & I R & I
The first day back was always exciting for students and teachers alike. Maura's students were especially excited to see her and couldn't wait to tell her about their vacations.
A trio of girls approached the doctor. "Dr. Isles, we went to the aquarium and saw the octopus exhibit that you talked about. It was amazing!"
"Yeah, it really sucked." One of them joked.
Maura laughed, "Nice pun, Maria."
"Thank you, Dr. Isles. I try to be punny when I can." All her friends groaned.
Smiling brightly, Maura ushered the girls into her classroom. "Let's go, girls."
R & I R & I R & I
After school, Maura surprised Jane by visiting her classroom. Usually, the brunette came to Maura's room in the afternoon.
"What's up, Maura?" Jane turned away from the board where she was writing the next day's objectives.
Maura sat in the desk closest to the brunette. "I just missed you."
Jane put the cap back on her marker before sitting in the desk next to the doctor.
"I missed you, too," Jane smiled warmly. "Returning to school after winter break is always hard. It's as if you get a taste of freedom, and then it gets ripped away."
"Jane you're being a little melodramatic," Maura chuckled.
"I speak the truth, woman." Jane took Maura's hand, "How was your first day back?"
Maura beamed as she replied, "Fantastic! The kids were so excited to be back. Oh! And some of the girls went to the aquarium to see the exhibit I told them about!"
"That's wonderful, Maur'. See. I told you they love you and that you're doing a great job." Jane squeezed her girlfriend's hand.
Jane's praise made Maura blush a bright red, "Thank you, Jane. I realize more and more every day that teaching is what I want to do for the rest of my career."
"Well, you're great at it, so you should." Jane got up and moved behind her desk. She pulled open one of the drawers and retrieved a small gift wrapped package.
"Here." Jane placed the gift in Maura's hand.
"What's this, Jane?" Maura had no idea what the occasion might be.
"Well, it's a present, Maura. It's one of those things that people sometimes give their significant others." Jane said with mild sarcasm.
Maura smacked Jane lightly on the shoulder. "Very funny, Jane."
Smirking, the brunette said, "Open it, Maur'."
Slowly, Maura pulled apart the somewhat neatly wrapped paper to reveal a simple box. Laying the paper aside, Maura opened the top of the box to reveal a large coffee mug. On it the words "World's Greatest Science Teacher" were written boldly around one side. The i in the word science was made to look like a glass beaker. The opposite side displayed a drawing of a chemical compound."
"Oh my goodness, Jane! Thank you!" Maura laughed out loud and threw her arms around the brunette's neck. The doctor pulled back to look more closely at the mug. When she looked at the chemical compound again, she smiled brightly.
"This is the chemical compound for caffeine! That's so clever! Where did you find this?"
"I spent a lot of time on the internet, Maur'." Jane smirked, "You like it?"
Forgetting where they were, Maura kissed Jane deeply. "Like it? I love it!"
"Good. Mission accomplished. If it wasn't official before, it's official now. You are a legitimate teacher. This is the first of many mugs you will procure in your lifetime."
"Thank you, Jane." Maura cupped the brunette's face in her hand.
Jane leaned in and kissed Maura once more. "Don't mention it."
R & I R & I R & I
The shrill of a whistle reverberated off the gym's walls. "Girls, you're not communicating! Do it again!"
Maura could tell her girlfriend was growing increasingly agitated. The girls weren't focused and Jane knew why. All they could talk about was the new intern.
Several missed shots later, Jane had had enough. "Ok, enough! Everybody in."
The girls on the team had one collective thought.
Oh shit.
No one wanted to be on the receiving end of a chewing out by Jane Rizzoli.
"Girls! Your performance is unacceptable." Jane looked each of the girls in the eyes. "You need to remember that it is a privilege to play on this team. Many people including your parents and your coaches have sacrificed their time and energy to get you where you are. Whatever's going on outside of this gym, stays outside. If you cannot get your head in the game, then leave. I had to cut many talented girls this year, and I know they'd be more than happy to take your place. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, Coach." The players all mumbled. They knew their coach was right.
"I'm sorry. I didn't hear you." Jane glared menacingly at the team.
"Yes, Coach!" All the girls shouted this time.
"Good. Now get back out there and do it right this time!" Jane blew her whistle and the girls resumed play. To their credit, they worked their hardest for the rest of practice.
After practice was over, Maura gathered her things from her spot on the bleachers and walked over to Jane. The doctor had made a habit of coming to practice to watch Jane. It gave her the chance to be near the brunette, and it forced her to grade papers.
"Jane, are you ok?" Maura said softly.
"Yeah, the girls pissed me off. We have the championships in a few weeks, and they're just goofing around." Jane dropped down on the bleacher seat closest to her. The blonde took her cue and sat down next to her.
"All the time I spend in practice watching the girls dick around makes me angry because I know I could be spending that time with you." Jane laced her fingers through Maura's.
"I know, Jane. It does make it hard for us to spend time together. It is completely logical to be upset if you feel like they're wasting your time." Maura shrugged, "And to be honest, it makes me upset, too, because I want that time with you."
Jane wrapped her arm around the blonde. "You're too good for me. You know that?"
"I could say the same thing, Jane."
The two women shared a sweet kiss before Jane stood up, shouldered her bag, and walked over to light panel to shut down the lights.
Once they walked out of the gym and Jane had locked up, Maura turned to the brunette. "Hey, I know what will cheer you up."
"What's that?" Jane quirked her eyebrow.
"A hot bath and a cold beer," Maura grinned and nuzzled her nose into Jane's neck.
Jane sighed and squeezed Maura tight. "You are the perfect woman."
Maura giggled and led Jane out the doors, "I know."
R & I R & I R & I
After their dressing down at practice, the team dedicated themselves to obliterating the visiting team at their next game. Luckily for the team, their next game was at home, so they had the student section to pump them up.
All high schools' student sections have their own traditions. Boston East's treatment of the opposing team had carried on from Jane's high school days. Actually, Jane may have been the one who started it.
At the first game Maura ever attended, she was puzzled by the number of students walking in with newspapers. She didn't have to wait long to find out why. When the opposing team's lineup was announced, the students would hide behind the papers as if they were reading them. As soon as a player's name was called, they'd all lower their papers and yell, "SUCKS!"
It wasn't the most mature thing to do, but it was a fan favorite. The opposing teams always had their own variation of the same theme, so no one took it personally. It was all for fun.
Jane's team was up twelve points in the second half when they received a series of bad calls that could have cost them their lead.
"Nuts and bolts! Nuts and bolts! We got screwed!" Again, the student body made itself known that night.
Regardless of the bad calls, Boston East's Bulldogs emerged victorious, and Jane Rizzoli was a much happier coach.
R & I R & I R & I
Jane Rizzoli had to admit that it was extremely convenient to have a doctor for a girlfriend who regularly attended her practices. If a player was hurt or Jane needed a smile from the beautiful doctor, Maura was there.
Jane was showing the team a new defensive strategy when one of her girls knocked into her a little too hard by accident. The result was a sprained ankle and a grumpy brunette.
"Jane let me look at it." Maura cradled the brunette's ankle in her lap.
"No! It's fine. Help me up." The brunette tried standing up from the bench.
"Owie Owie Owie!" Jane collapsed on the bench hugging her leg to her body.
Maura folded her arms across her chest. "Jane, let me take you to the hospital." Maura wasn't kidding around.
"There's no need to go to the hospital. I'll just ice it." Jane tried putting her shoe back on, but dropped it as soon as it touched her foot.
Frankie had stopped by the gym to say goodbye before he went home; he rolled his eyes when he saw his sister was being difficult.
"Maura, the only way we'll get her to go is if we knock her out." Frankie said in mock seriousness.
Jane's expression screamed, "You wouldn't!"
Maura considered it for a moment before replying, "Ok, go ahead."
"Wait, what!?" Jane threw her arms up to fend off any attack.
Instead, Frankie wrapped his arms around his sister and kissed her on the head.
"C'mon, you're going to hospital." Frankie scooped her up bridal style and proceeded to leave the gym.
Jane shouted to Frost (who wisely avoided joining in the conversation between the two women), "Hey, can you finish up here?"
"Sure, have fun at the hospital!" Frost teased.
If students weren't present, Jane would have waved goodbye with her middle finger.
"Girls, make sure to give Coach Frostie a hard time!"
"We will!" They shouted back.
It didn't take long to load Jane into the car; Maura had informed the brunette that she'd be sleeping alone for next two weeks if she caused any problems.
That immediately shut Jane up.
"Thank you, Frankie. Your sister has quite the stubborn streak."
Maura sat in the back of the car with the brunette making sure that she kept her foot elevated.
"Tell me about it!" Frankie agreed from the front seat.
Sulking, Jane whined, "You know, I'm right here!"
Maura condescendingly patted her girlfriend's hand and winked, "We know."
Jane huffed and settled back into her seat. "I hate you, both."
"You'll thank us later, Janie." Frankie grinned and returned his attention to the road.
Maura leaned closely to the brunette's ear and whispered, "If you're a good girl, I'll reward you."
At least for the rest of the car trip, Jane was on her best behavior and only whined occasionally.
R & I R & I R & I
Jane's badassness was knocked down a few notches by the huge boot she sported for the next couple of weeks, but no one outside of family and friends had the guts to say anything to her. Except for the new intern, that is.
Jane was in the teacher lounge grabbing a soda when Joshua entered the room. "Hey, Jane! I heard about your accident. You feeling any better?"
Jane hadn't decided if she liked the new intern or not. Sometimes, he came off as a dick, but she wrote that off as the kid was trying to fit in with the other male teachers. Other times, he was easy enough to be around. Jane had the sneaking suspicion that he aspired to be a coach more than just a teacher.
The kids liked him well enough and he was doing a decent job with teaching considering Kellie was his mentor. He took over teaching two of Kellie's sections, so the kids in those classes were relieved to have him instead of her.
Regardless, up to this point something about him rubbed her the wrong way. Today was a gold star example.
"Yeah, I should be out of the boot in a couple of weeks. Thanks for asking," Jane bent down to retrieve the soda that had fallen from the machine.
"I was surprised to hear that you were taken out by one of your players; I mean, aren't you like a legend around her?"
Jane gritted her teeth, "I wouldn't call myself a legend, but accidents happen. I'll see...,"
Joshua cut her off before she could finish, "Well, it's no wonder you got knocked over. Wasn't it that big girl (I think Sara is her name) who took you out?"
"What do you mean by big girl?" Jane rounded on him.
Obviously, the kid missed the menacing tone in Jane's voice, otherwise he wouldn't have said anything else.
"She's the fat girl. Honestly, I'm surprised she's on the team." Joshua stuck his hands in his pockets and laughed as he said that.
It was decided. Jane didn't like him. He was on his own from here on out.
Sorry, Korsak.
Fuck the boot, Jane's badassness came back in full force.
"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Jane's nostrils began to flare. No one talks about a kid like that.
"Sara? She must be on the team for some good reason. Come to think of it, I bet her size makes her a decent defender."
Jane rounded on the unsuspecting intern, "Joshua. I suggest you stop talking right now because I want you to listen to me very, very carefully."
Joshua seemed a little confused but nodded that he understood.
"Don't you ever talk about a student like that again. This isn't a locker room where you're messing around with your buddies like you did in high school. You are a teacher. These kids look up to you, and they would be crushed to hear you talk about them that way. You should be ashamed of yourself."
Jane stared him down for a moment before she finished.
"I will not hesitate to tell your mentor or administration or even your school if I hear you speak that way ever again. Do you understand me?"
Sufficiently cowed, Joshua squeaked out, "I do."
"Good," Jane pulled open the door and stalked off into the halls.
Rather than learn from Jane's dressing down, Joshua swore to make Jane pay for speaking to him like he was a teenage boy.
R & I R & I R & I
January flew by and February was fast upon them. This meant it was time for the State Championship.
"Don't worry, Maura. It'll only be a couple of nights. Three at the most if we make it to the Finals."
"I'm sorry that I can't come with you, Jane. I'm at a point in the unit where I shouldn't leave the kids. It's material that is too important to leave for subwork."
"Trust me, I understand," Jane smiled before adding, " I'm a teacher, too, you know." Jane winked at the blonde so that she knew she was kidding.
"I know. I'm just going to miss you is all." Maura gave Jane her best puppy dog eyes.
Jane wrapped her arms around the doctor in a hug, "I'll miss you, too."
"We are worse than our kids, Jane." Maura rolled her eyes at the truth of that statement.
"Yeah, we're pretty gross." Jane snickered.
"Well, I better get going," Jane looked over her shoulder at the idling school bus.
Maura gave the brunette a quick peck before whispering in her ear, "Make sure you open your suitcase when you're alone. I left you a surprise."
Jane's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Really, Doctor?"
"Yep, now go." Maura popped the brunette on the rear.
"I love you!" Jane called out.
"I love you back!" Maura waved.
"AWWWWWW!" All of the girls teased Jane when she hopped on the bus.
"Very funny guys! Do it again, and I'll make you ride the bench!" Jane teased back.
"AWWWWWW!" The girls called out again.
Jane grinned at the girls and plopped into her seat next to Frost.
This is going to be a long trip.
R & I R & I R & I
It wasn't until late that the team arrived in Springfield, the seat of the State Championship that year. The trip shouldn't have taken longer than two and a half hours, but a tractor trailer flipped on the interstate delaying their arrival for another two hours. The girls were grumpy, tired, and hungry, so after a quick dinner at a nearby diner Jane issued a mandatory lights out at 9:30. Games started early the next morning, so the girls needed to be in top shape.
Jane had totally forgotten about Maura's surprise when it came time to open her suitcase. When she saw a sealed envelope resting on top of her clothes, Jane couldn't resist ripping it open immediately. Out tumbled a handwritten note and another envelope. The note read, "Jane, I thought I'd give you this sexy picture to keep you company if you get lonely. Good luck with the championship!"
More than a little excited, Jane opened the last envelope and removed a picture of Maura…
dressed up like a grandma doing the granny shot.
Jane smiled and shook her head.
I have the weirdest girlfriend.
Jane pulled out her phone to Facetime Maura.
"Really, Maura?" Jane held up the picture of Granny Maura.
The doctor's grinning face lit up the screen. "What? You don't like it?"
"You're too much, you know that?" Jane chuckled.
"I thought you'd appreciate the humor," Maura's eyes twinkled.
Jane's bright smile convinced Maura that she was right.
"Go to bed, Jane. You have a big day tomorrow." Maura said softly.
Stifling a yawn, Jane agreed, "You're right. Good night, Maura. I love you."
"Good night, Tiger. I love you, too." Maura winked before hanging up the call.
Jane looked down at the picture in her hand and shook her head again.
How'd I get this lucky?
R & I R & I R & I
The girls played so well that they made it to the final game on Saturday. Maura, Frankie, and Angela drove over to Springfield to surprise Jane, Frost, and the girls.
The surprise did the trick because the brunette and the team were in high spirits going into the first half of the game, but that's when it happened. Two of Jane's best defenders collided with one another trying to recover a loose ball. Of all the freak accidents to happen, this was one of them.
The two girls hit each other so hard that one broke her nose and the other suffered a concussion. With their best two players out, the team struggled to recover their composure, and the opposing team was just too strong.
After the game, Jane reiterated how proud she was of their hard work that season, and they should hold their heads high because of everything they accomplished.
R & I R & I R & I
By the time they made it back to Maura's house, Jane was beyond exhausted. She walked straight through the door and threw herself on the couch.
"Beer wench, fetch me a beverage," Jane tiredly called out.
"Beer wench?" Maura chuckled and quirked an eyebrow.
"Ok, love of my life, fetch me something in an amber tinted glass," Jane amended.
Laughing Maura retrieved a beer and placed it in her girlfriend's outstretched hand.
"Are you glad the season's over?" Maura proceeded to take off Jane's walking boot and other shoe before resting the brunette's feet in her lap.
"I am, but you know what starts week after next?"
Maura thought for a moment before her heart sunk. "Track?"
"Yeah, track," Jane groaned.
Jane took a long pull of her beer. She never thought she'd say this, but she knew it was going to be the right move.
"After this year, I'm going to pass the torch to someone else for coaching track. I can't handle doing three sports every year. I'll volunteer to help out, but I don't want the responsibility any longer."
Jane reached out and grabbed Maura's hand. "I have other things that I'd like to do with my time."
Maura smiled back, "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure." With that, the two women settled in for a relaxing Saturday night on the couch.