AN: Here we go chapter 3! Ill likely post once a week from here on out. I just wanted to get a few chapters posted since I am up to working on 11 at that point and have enough to be safe. Hope you enjoy the story so far, let me know in the comments what you think!
When the plane landed in Las Vegas both Jane and Maura were excited to get off and stretch their legs. Jane hadn't been to Vegas in over ten years, not since Tommy's twenty first birthday. She told Maura all about how she and Frankie brought him for the weekend "We got him a drink at the airport bar and just went from there. It was a full weekend of just liquor and clubs and gambling." She remembered fondly "I think I was hung over for a whole week when we got back home. I remember Ma screaming at us for corrupting her little boy" they both laughed at that.
"Tommy and Frankie must have loved that" Maura commented with the same smile she got anytime she got to hear about Rizzoli family memories.
"Yeah it was a lot of fun, Frankie volunteered to have his twenty first go down in Atlantic City so we both had enough saved to go all out for Tommy's birthday. It was the last big thing we did together just the three of us before I got into Vice and Frankie started the Academy"
"That's sweet"
"I still can't believe you've never been to Vegas" Jane repeated in disgust for what had to be the hundredth time that week as they finally walked off the jetway.
"No. I have never been to Las Vegas Jane. It's not that big of a deal." Maura answered her as she looked around the terminal. "Do you see the restroom?" she asked.
"I just can't believe you have managed to live on this planet for thirty six years and have never managed to visit Vegas. It's such an essential part of growing up. It's an outrage, is what it is!"
"I assure you it is not" Maura disagreed. "Who would I have come with?" She asked "What would I have done here? I don't go to clubs, I don't gamble, the odds are too much in the house's favor, and while I would love to see Celine Dion perform it hardly seemed like a good enough reason to fly here for a night. Oh! There's the restroom. Here Jane hold my purse." she insisted as she threw her stuff at the detective and darted off.
"I don't know why you didn't just go on the plane," Jane grumbled as she sat down at a slot machine outside of the restroom to wait. Digging into her pocket she found five dollars and inserted it into the slot and started playing. It took only three minutes before Jane was down to her last fifty cents, so with one more push of the button she stood up and started to collect her things to walk away when the machine started to beep continuously. She looked up and lifted her arms in the air "YES!" she cheered.
"I left you for three minutes and thirty four seconds and you are gambling?" Maura asked as she walked up behind Jane.
"Not just gambling, winning!" Jane corrected her proudly as she pulled the ticket out of the machine. "In that three minute span, while you were emptying your bladder Dr Isles, I managed to make a hundred and four dollars and twenty four cents. " she told her friend proudly holding the ticket out for her to see.
"Well done." Maura congratulated her happily. "I've never won anything before" she admitted as she followed Jane to cash her ticket out.
"You will this weekend, I'll teach you how to play all the games if you want" she offered as the game attendant paid out her winnings.
"I'd like that. I mean, I know the rules and general premise of most card games. I've just never played them before."
"I will fix that gross oversight tonight." Jane promised as they headed towards the exit.
"I guess the cab to the hotel is on me" Jane announced proudly, waving her money as they headed towards Baggage Claim. They rounded the corner and there was a man holding a sign with "Dr. Isles" written on it. "Or maybe not." Jane grumbled.
Maura looked over at Jane and tried to assess her mood. "Are you upset that I hired a car?" She asked unsure.
"I- No." Jane answered honestly as she saw one of Maura's bags go by on the belt and leaned in to grab it. "I just hate having you spending tons of money on me." She admitted.
"I'm not spending the money on you." Maura pointed out. "I hired the cars before you agreed to come, I was spending the money anyways."
"I know. I know." She picked up Maura's remaining bags and then reached over to grab her own. The driver came over with a luggage cart and collected their bags before leading them over to the short term parking area.
Jane tried to help him get their bags in the trunk but he insisted they both get in the car, making Jane feel even more awkward by holding the door open for her then closing it behind her. Maura reached over and patted her knee. "You're fine. You're on vacation, let other people do the work for a change " she laughed. It always amused her how awkward Jane made herself in these types of situations.
Once all the bags were in the car the driver climbed in and smiled at them before pulling out of his space. "Caesar's Palace right?" he asked looking back at them.
"Yes, that is correct" Maura smiled back.
"Are you guys celebrating anything? A Wedding anniversary maybe " he suggested with a happy smile "Or just a weekend away?"
Jane and Maura looked at each other and then back to him. "No, sir, we are in town for the Medical Examiner's convention." Maura explained politely. "We're not together" she clarified.
"Oh, my apologies." He said at once "I read one name on the list and just made a bad assumption. It was my mistake."
"It's really no trouble," Maura insisted. "It actually happens a lot"
Jane nodded then remembered "Oh! Actually, the flight attendant thought we were married too!"
"She did?"
"Yeah she came by after you'd fallen asleep and told me my wife" she pointed to Maura then herself "and I were an adorable couple."
"Well, at least we are convincing LLBFFs" Maura smirked at her, making them both laugh.
The drive to the hotel only took fifteen minutes and by the time they were pulling up Jane was smiling at the way Maura was practically pressing her nose up against the window as she took in the sights along the way. "These are excellent recreations of landmarks from across the world" Maura noted as she got out of the car once her door was opened for her. "The architecture of this building is very reminiscent of early Roman structures." Maura was still talking about the building while Jane tuned her out and followed behind their bags as they made their way into the lobby on cart after being handed off from the driver to the bellhop. Jane thanked the driver and waved goodbye as she walked in the doors.
"Jane!" Maura called as she hurried to catch up with her once she realized she was standing outside alone. She looped her arm through Jane's to keep her from wandering off again as they got in line for check in "We'll just need to check in, then we can head up to our room and either rest a bit or freshen up and see what activities you would like to do before the welcome dinner at seven."
"It's up to you really, you're the one that has to come back and get ready for the dinner. So whatever you're up for is fine with me." Jane replied easily.
"The dinner is a plus one affair, I thought I'd told you that"
"What?! Maura, I didn't pack anything for a dinner!" Jane complained "All I have is jeans, shorts, shirts and flip flops."
"Well we'll just have to go shopping then" Maura told her with an excited smile.
Jane thought for maybe just a half a second that Maura planned it like this, to get her into some expensive shop in the hotel. But she had one small advantage over her best friend, having been to Vegas before "That's actually okay. There's a Ross on the strip. I can just find whatever I need there" she stayed as straight faced as possible, she knew Maura hated Ross.
"There's a R - a Ross Jane really?!" Maura complained "I'll just take you to the Forum Shops. Caesars has its own mall."
"Absolutely not." Jane shook her head. "I may be able to be talked into going off the strip to Target or even TJ Maxx but I'm not going to any stores where I'll end up spending hundreds of dollars on one shirt. And before you say you'll pay" she pointed a finger at Maura "It's the stores I want to go to, or I go to your dinner in cut off shorts, a tank top and flip flops."
Maura held up her hands in surrender "TJ Maxx it is," she relented "but I get to help you pick out your clothes"
Jane wanted to protest, but they were called to the check in counter.
"Reservation under Isles" Maura greeted with a grin in Jane's direction knowing she'd at least won that part of the argument.
"Ah, yes. M- well Dr. Isles" the man at the desk smiled in greeting after pulling up her reservation. "You're here for the Medical Convention this week. How exciting" he flirted just a bit causing Jane to roll her eyes.
"I have you down for the King suite in our Octavius tower," he explained with a smile "it's a very lovely room I'm positive you will enjoy it." He explained then noticed Jane "I can see if we have any double bed bookings available" he offered.
Maura looked wide eyed at Jane "I'm so sorry I forgot to adjust the hotel reservations"
"It's fine," Jane shrugged then looked the guy behind the desk straight in the eye "it's not like we don't sleep in the same bed most nights anyways. I'm fine with it if you are." Her smile only increased in size when she noticed the guy falter just a bit.
Maura looked between the two trying to figure out what was going on for a moment before turning back to look at him "We are fine with the King Suite. We'll need two keys and to add Jane onto the room. She will have total access to everything." She commented and he nodded and began typing information in. Jane gave him her ID when requested then looked to Maura when he asked if she wanted to add a different card for incidentals. They both understood he was asking for Jane's card to pay for the things she wanted. Maura beat her to the punch in answering "No thank you, the card I booked with has no limit so we'll be fine"
Jane actually snorted as he nodded a little too stiffly "Of course. You will be in our Octavius Tower" he informed them and pointed in the direction they needed to head in "room 14-723 has an amazing view of the pools on one side and the Bellagio fountains, as well as The Strip on the other. I hope you ladies enjoy your stay" he smiled as he handed them their keys.
Jane took them off the counter and smiled sweetly "Oh we will. Thank you." With that she wrapped an arm around Maura's waist and pulled her away from the counter.
"What was that?" Maura asked with a laugh.
"What was what?" Jane asked looking up at the signs for direction then heading to the left once she decided where they were going.
"You and the guy behind the desk seemed to dislike each other." Maura pointed out with a smirk. She didn't miss the way Jane all but peed on her leg to mark her territory.
"He was flirting with you Maur, it was very unprofessional." Jane explained as she hit the button to call the elevator.
Maura just shook her head and let it drop with a simple "Oh I didn't notice."
Jane was quiet the whole elevator ride. She didn't say a single word until Maura opened the door and let her in first "Holy Shit!" Jane exclaimed once she was standing in their room looking around. "The bed is fucking huge!" She noted and immediately headed for the window. Once she got the drapes opened she gasped "the pool looks amazing. We have to go swimming at some point."
Maura just watched her explore the room with an amused smile on her face. "The bathroom is giant too! We have a huge tub, a big shower and " Jane stopped in her tracks "two toilets... that's weird"
Maura came up behind her and put a hand on Jane's waist to look around her into the bathroom. "That's a bidet" Maura explained and Jane turned to look at her.
"I've never actually seen one...it's always seemed sort of weird to me"
"We had them in our home in Paris. Everyone does in Europe. It's very commonplace there." Maura explained. "But enough talk of toilets, we have shopping to do!" She announced excitedly and laughed when Jane groaned and dropped onto the bed.
"No I'm sorry I can't. This bed has taken me hostage and it says I have to stay here the whole week" Jane told Maura with a mock disappointed tone as she stretched out on the bed
Maura shook her head but dropped down next to Jane and sighed contently. "It is quite comfortable. I'll tell you what, we'll take a few minutes to rest while the bellhop brings our luggage then once it gets here I'll hang up my clothes then we can go"
"Oh goody I'll have an extra hour with my new best friend while you- OW!" Jane complained when Maura punched her. "Rude! My new bff doesn't hit me" she claimed while rubbing her shoulder, Maura just rolled her eyes.
"I'll make you sleep on the floor if you keep trying to replace me." she threatened.
Jane just grinned at her "I can make friends with the bathtub too" that landed her another punch to the same shoulder. "I wouldn't have come if I knew you were going to abuse me the whole time!" Jane grumbled
"I wouldn't have brought you if I knew I was going to be replaced by a bed the instant you laid on it" Maura retorted.
"It's okay," Jane whispered with a grin her face pressed into the mattress giving it a tiny pat "she just doesn't understand our love"
She caught Maura's arm this time and used it to pull her down onto the bed with her so she could get her to stop hitting her "Tone it down slugger" Jane smirked as she pulled Maura against her body, arms wrapped tightly around her body pinning her arms to her sides to keep from being punched again.
"Thanks for making me come on vacation with you." Jane said genuinely with a smile. She leaned forward to press a kiss into Maura's hair and released her just as there was a knock at the door. "Go be with your clothes" Jane grinned as she pushed her towards the end of the bed so she could stretch out more. "I don't get jealous of your clothes, you can't be jealous of my affair with this bed."
Maura was still a bit shell shocked from being held so tightly with Jane pressed up against her that she could only nod wordlessly and head for the door to let the bellhop in all while Jane watched her from the bed with a smile on her face. This was going to be a good trip.