AN: Sorry for the inconvenience with the last update of this chapter. Hopefully this works, if not please let me know!

Chapter Nine

Shit, shit, shit. Jane thought as she ran to the elevator, quickly hitting the up button to make her way up to the cafe. She desperately needed a strong cup of coffee. She ran out of the elevator and literally bumped into a patrol officer.

"Watch where you're going, Janie." he said.

"Frankie! Hey! What's up?! Gotta go, bye!" she rambled, pushing past him. She grabbed the largest cup they had and quickly filled it with coffee.

"Jane, are you okay?" Frankie asked, coming up behind her. He had never seen his tough sister so panicky.

Jane could only nod. Her breath was coming in short gasps, on the verge of hyperventilating, and her face was pale. She felt like the room was spinning and was on the verge of either having a major panic attack or fainting.

"Okay, Janie, come with me." Frankie said, grabbing her arm and pulling her outside. He sat her down on a bench in the park across the street. "Okay, breathe, then tell me what's going on."

Jane took a deep breath. "You meet the new medical examiner?"

"Yeah. Saw her at the crime scene. She's cute. Why? Did she do something to you?"

"No! God no! And she's not cute, she's absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous."

"Is that what this is about? You have a crush on the new M.E.?"

Jane rolled her sleeve up, holding her right arm in front of his face. "Frankie, her name is Maura."

Frankie's eyes got wide. "Shit! You mean the new M.E. is your soulmate?!"

"I don't know! Maybe! I got this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach when we met. I mean, it could be a different Maura. How many Mauras are there in the world? Why the fuck does this whole soulmate thing not give you a last name?!"

"Jane, you need to calm down. You have to work with her. Maybe you should talk to Ma about this."

"Hell no! I've barely spoken to her since I came out. She wouldn't understand."

"You know that's because Pop won't let her."

"She chose HIM over me! You know what?! I'm not getting into this right now! I have a case to solve!" Jane stormed back over to the precinct without a second thought.

After working the case for two weeks, they finally caught the killer.

"Hey, Jane, what do you say we grab a drink at the Robber?" Korsak asked her.

"Yeah, I could go for a beer or two." she agreed.

"Why don't you invite Doctor Isles? She's new, she could use a couple friends."

Jane's panic began to set in. She hadn't had time to think about Maura since the day of the autopsy. She wasn't sure if she was ready to her yet. As if on cue, Maura walked into the bullpen.

"Doctor Isles!" Korsak greeted her. "I was just telling Jane we should invite you to grab a beer with us."

"Thank you, Detective Korsak. But I'm really not a beer drinker. And I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Nonsense! You wouldn't be intruding! We want you there! Right Jane?"

"Uh, yeah! And you don't have to get a beer." Jane agreed. In truth, she had only been half-listening to their conversation. She desperately needed to know if Maura was THE Maura. She wished she could talk her her Ma about this. Is it possible to have someone's name and they not have yours?

"Jane? You ready to go?" Maura asked her.

Jane nodded, got up, and they made their way to the Robber.

The next day, Jane was sitting at her desk when she heard the telltale click of heels. She smiled to herself at just the thought of seeing Maura.

"Hello, Jane!" Maura greeted her cheerfully. "I brought you a cup of coffee!"

"Aw! Isn't that sweet?! Lezzoli's got her girlfriend bringing her coffee!" Detective Crowe mocked her.

"Shut it, Crowe." Jane responded through clenched teeth. She was used to the teasing by now, but Maura didn't need to be dragged into it.

"What are you gonna do about it, dyke?"

Maura gasped. "Detective Crowe! I'm appalled at your language! I find that type of language highly offensive! Not only is that an awful and offensive slang word, but you're assuming Detective Rizzoli is a lesbian. And I believe that's because of your stereotypical, preconceived notions that all women who are the slightest bit masculine are gay! I happen to know many women more masculine who are not gay, and many who are very feminine and are gay! How can you stand there and insult not only Detective Rizzoli, but the entire LGBTQ+ community?! You are homophobic, sexist, and just plain ignorant! And I for one am personally offended by-"

Jane grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the bullpen before she could continue. She kept pulling her until they were outside and sitting on the same bench where two weeks ago Jane was pulled by Frankie.

"Maura, calm down. It's okay."

"No, Jane! It's not! How can he even talk to you that way?! That is workplace harassment and he should be reported!"

"It really doesn't matter to me."

"Well it matters to me! I personally find it offensive! And implying you are gay really isn't-"

"I AM gay." Jane cut her off.

"Oh. Well, shouldn't it offend you more?"

"No. Crowe's just an asshole. And no one here knows that I'm a lesbian. I mean everyone assumes because of stereotypes, but like I've never actually told anyone. Well, except my little brother Frankie, but he's just a patrol officer. I think Korsak has an idea because we've gotten pretty close and he seems to know me pretty well. I mean, I don't talk about my personal life, but there's really not much to tell. Now, why don't you tell me why you're personally offended by me being called gay."

"It wasn't that you were called gay. It's that you were called a dyke. That kind of language is highly offensive to me."

"Yeah, but why? I mean, yeah allies are cool and all, but not many would completely lose it when someone called someone else a dyke."

"Well, Jane, I suppose it's only fair since you told me that I tell you. I personally identify as bisexual, but I definitely have more of a preference to women. I would probably be a four, maybe five, on the Kinsey Scale. The good thing about men is that they're easy. I can have a one night stand, no feelings attached, and they get the same. Women tend to be less in to that, but I have seen my fair share who will. I mean, men may be easy, but nothing compares to the softness of a woman, as you surely know. The soft lips, the tender touch, and watching women come undone underneath you is unbelievably-" Maura cut herself off, blushing furiously at her over sharing.

Jane laughed. "Hey, it's okay, I understand." God, what I wouldn't give to feel her come undone underneath me. Or have her watch me come undone.

Maura shook her head. "Sorry. I tend to over share or ramble, especially when I'm nervous."

"Why would you be nervous around me? I'm just plain, old Jane Rizzoli. Nothing special here."

"You really don't know? You're gorgeous, my friend."

Oh my god! Abort mission! Abort mission! She's into women and she thinks I'm gorgeous! Maybe she likes me! Maybe my name is on her wrist and this is her way of telling me! I have to see her arm!

"Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to maybe come to my house tonight? We could order in takeout and watch a movie. I mean, I really want us to get to know each other better."

"Sure. I'll bring the food and you pick the movie. Just text me your address and I'll be there. Seven?"

"Perfect." And Maura smiled that beautiful smile that made Jane melt.

Tonight I'm going to find out if she has my name on her wrist.