Rizzoli and Isles belong to Tess Gerritsen and TNT. And of course, a special thanks to Janet Tamaro for making them into the lovable characters we can't get enough of.
Just a quick one-shot where we say hello to the new Chief Medical Examiner.
-Becoming Chief-
I looked at my watch before knocking on the slightly closed door of Dr. Tierney. He had asked that I stop by for a meeting at seven o'clock this evening.
"Come in." Came his gruff reply from within.
I pushed open the door and smiled as he looked up from the paperwork on his desk. The tension on his face instantly smoothed as he reached up and removed his glasses.
"Maura, have a seat." He looked at the clock on the wall before chuckling. "Always right on time aren't you?"
I smoothed my dress as I sat down in one of the deep seated chairs in front of his desk. "You know how much I love to be punctual Ashford."
It had taken me a few weeks to become accustom to addressing Dr. Tierney by his first name. He blamed it on his Southern roots when he had first interviewed me for the open Medical Examiner's position for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts two months ago. He agreed that in a working environment I could address him by his formal title but in private he insisted that I address him on a first name basis.
"So," He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands over his stomach, "How are you liking Boston? Missing your sunny San Diego yet?"
I laughed. "I'm surprised that I'm not. It seems Massachusetts has grown on me. I think I've even started to enjoy the cold. I have a feeling that the cold winter will agree with me."
Ashford shook slightly as if he had developed a chill himself. "Not me, I think I've had enough Boston winters to last me a lifetime."
He cleared his throat before leaning forward in his chair and folding his hands on the wood of his desk. "Maura, I wanted to take the time to tell you personally before the announcement was made tomorrow morning. I've decided to retire at the end of next month."
The news didn't surprise me. I had seen the growing weariness in Ashford. I knew from our discussions over the past month that the case involving the Surgeon had been particularly straining on him.
"Was it the Surgeon case?"
He sat quietly for a minute before meeting my eyes. "It played a role. It was one of the most difficult cases I've ever dealt with. Charles Hoyt is a monster and a very sick man. What he did to detective Rizzoli..."
I waited patiently as he sighed.
"We never truly got along detective Rizzoli and I. She's an extremely blunt women, tough as nails. Of course, she has to be in that boys club called the Homicide unit. I'm afraid that she has quite a road of recovery in front of her before she'll be cleared to return to active duty."
The attack on detective Rizzoli had only taken place a week ago. The reports said she had suffered a laceration to the back of the skull with a subsequent concussion, three broken ribs and puncture wounds to both palms.
Ashford leaned back in his chair again and it creaked softly as he adjusted his weight. "I didn't ask you to stop by to only tell you about my retirement or to discuss the Surgeon case." He cleared his throat. "I actually have a confession to make."
I felt my head tilt in confusion. "A confession?"
He nodded. "I'm afraid that I haven't been completely truthful with you. It took me three longs months to convince you to interview for the open position here in Boston." He smiled at the memory. "And although I was thrilled to have you accept the open position, that wasn't the real reason that I wanted you here."
"I don't understand."
"I knew my time as Chief Medical Examiner was coming to an end. At the ripe old age of 62, I'm not getting any younger. When I informed the commission on medicolegal investigation last year they asked if I would make a recommendation for a successor."
He paused and smiled as he meet my eyes. "And I found you Maura."
"A successor?" I could barely make the words leave my mouth.
Ashford laughed. "I don't think I've ever seen you at a loss for words."
He leaned forward again. "I saw the work you were doing in San Diego and had heard how brilliant you were. You haven't disappointed me once since joining the ME's office last month. I asked that the commission on medicolegal investigation recommend you to the governor for appointment to Chief Medical Examiner last week. He made his decision this afternoon."
He stood up and walked around the desk to stand in front of me. "I'd like to offer my congratulations to the new Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."
I stood and shook the hand he had extended as he laughed.
"It's a good thing Boston has grown on you."
I could only laugh in return as my mind tried to process the idea of becoming Chief Medical Examiner in just a few weeks.
"They'll announce both your appointment and my retirement tomorrow morning. The commission was nice enough to let me break the news to you tonight so you'd have some time to compose yourself."
I could only nod as I sank back down in the chair behind me. My head snapped up as a thought crossed my mind.
"I'll be working very closely with the Homicide unit once I take over responsibilities as the Chief Medical Examiner, correct?"
"Yes, why?" Ashford lowered himself into the chair next to me.
"Maybe you should tell me more about this detective Rizzoli."
Ashford only laughed.
I swear, writing from Maura's perspective is a workout. She's so complex as a character, it's hard to get your mind in the right place sometimes to make her sound real. Hopefully I did her justice.
I'm always open for comments and criticism- good, bad... not believable, whatever. Just like to hear them (and learn from them), so don't be shy :)
I hope you've enjoyed the first two chapters, more to come soon... I promise.
Thanks for reading and review!
Fannye
