AN: Here's a long one. Thanks for reading so far, hope you continue to enjoy it, and keep your eyes open, I'm moving all my fic here from other fandoms, and you can be sure I'll play with Jane and Maura again! Again, thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
Jane lifted the glass to her lips, the stout bitter, like her mood. She leaned forward, elbows on the bar, Korsak at her side. She looked up for what felt like the thousandth time as the door to the bar opened, sighing her relief as Frost and Maura walked in. "What took you guys so long?"
Maura moved to her side, heels crunching the peanut shells on the floor and dropped an evidence bag on the bar, signaling to the bartender. "Several shots of whiskey, please." She motioned to the three detectives surrounding her. "And a glass of chardonnay."
Jane reached for the bag, a scalpel and sheet of paper inside. Turning it over, her blood ran cold. Written on it in what appeared to be blood, were the words 'I am Jack'. "Where did you get this?" She nearly shouted in her panic.
"The message was tacked to my door with the scalpel. It appears I should listen to your intuition more often." She accepted the glass from the bartender gratefully, swallowing a large sip and sitting on the stool next to Jane, Frost holding it steady for her, taking up a position behind them.
Jane nodded. "I'm glad you're staying with me tonight. Looks like I'm sleeping with the gun by the bed." She picked up a shot, tossing it back and slamming the glass down on the bar. "Maybe I should have Frost stay, too?" Jane looked at Maura questioningly, her posture tense.
Maura shook her head, eyes pleading with Jane. "No, this time I'm certain. I'll be safe with you." She swallowed hard. I just need to be alone with you.
Jane watched thought patterns pass across Maura's features and nodded. "Okay. I'll have a patrol sit watch outside, though." She picked up her beer and drained half the glass.
Korsak patted Frost on the shoulder. "We can take care of that, right pal?" He chuckled as Frost spilled some of his beer on his tie and glared at him.
"Sure, Korsak. Anything to help out Rizzoli and the doc." Frost grabbed a napkin from the bar, rubbing at the wet spot on the silvery blue strip down the center of his chest.
Jane smiled, momentarily taken aback by fondness for her partners, former and latter. "Thanks guys. Listen, don't mention this to Frankie if he comes in, okay? He'll only tell Ma, and…"
"Tell Ma what?" Frankie tapped her on the shoulder, handing her a shopping bag. "Ma said you should have some hot dinner… it's not so hot anymore, but you know."
Jane shook her head and sighed, turning on her stool to face him. "I swear, Frankie, if you tell her… The serial's targeting women who look like Maura." She lowered her voice, eyes boring through her little brother.
Frankie's eyes widened and he looked protectively at Maura. "You want a bodyguard tonight?" He stood up a bit straighter, hands resting on his belt, one on his service piece, one on the radio.
Maura smiled affectionately at him and shook her head. "Thank you, no, I'm alright. I'm planning to stay with Jane tonight." She sipped her wine, shifting on her barstool, an elbow resting delicately on the edge of the bar.
Frankie nodded. "If you guys need anything… I'm on night tonight, so just call." He raised his eyebrows, insistence behind his words.
"Thanks, Frankie. Hey, uh, there is something, actually." She reached behind her, picking up the baggie. "Can you enter this for me? Here's the case numbers." She scribbled them down on the back of a business card and handed them both to him. "It was on Maura's door when she and Frost went to get her clothes."
Frankie's eyes widened and he nodded, accepting the card and baggie. "Whoa, this is no joke." He pocketed the card and folded the top of the bag very carefully, sliding it into his jacket's inside pocket. "I'll go take care of it right now." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Be careful. I love you."
"Thanks, man, I love you too." She watched him walk out and leaned back against the bar, picking up her pint and gulping the other half down in a swallow. "Who's up for darts?"
Jane let them into her apartment, weapon drawn, walking through to the bedroom, checking the bathroom and closets. "Clear," she called, holstering her gun and making her way to the front room again, boots echoing softly on the wood floor.
"Jane, I'm sure that's not necessary." Maura stepped into the kitchen, pulling plates down out of the cabinet and opening the containers. "Your mother packed parmigiana," she called out to her, sliding the metal tray into the oven and turning the dial.
"Aren't you supposed to turn it on before you put the food in?" Jane smiled, stepping into the kitchen and opening the cabinet, taking out a bottle of wine and placing it on the counter.
"Contrary to popular belief, pre-heating the oven makes no difference at all to the overall temperature of the food, or the time it takes in warming. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Placing something into an oven that is cold ensures that it warms slowly, as the oven heats up, resulting in an even temperature throughout." She opened a drawer, pulling out the corkscrew.
"Do you know everything?" Jane asked, a hint of incredulity in her amusement. "But I guess that makes a certain amount of sense." She took down two glasses, placing them on the counter near the plates. "Maur…" She trailed off, her eyes drinking in the sight of Maura like the wine being opened.
"Hmm?" Maura hummed a question, eyes fixed on her task, setting the open bottle down to breathe. She turned, looking up into Jane's eyes, her breath catching on the intensity there. "Jane."
Jane closed the distance between them in seconds and slid her fingers into Maura's hair, their lips crashing together, all of Jane's emotions pouring forth into Maura. The doctor gasped, her hands resting lightly on Jane's shoulders, surprise giving way to need as she returned the kiss with fervor.
The need for air pushed the two apart, Jane's chocolate brown eyes boring into Maura's hazel ones, her hands resting on either side of Maura's neck, fingers still tangled in honey-colored locks. "I couldn't let another minute go by… " she trailed off, her whiskey voice cracking.
Maura nodded, closing her eyes on whatever Jane may have said next. "Don't. I… it's blood, Jane. The reddish brown stain is blood." She whispered, her words almost a breath, unsure if Jane even heard her until she spoke.
"I know. I've… I've known for a little while, now." She leaned her forehead against Maura's, breathing in her scent and swallowed her own words, unsure.
"Not because of this… because of everything." Maura pleaded with Jane, unsure if she was even making sense. "After."
Jane nodded, slowly, agonizingly pulling back. She turned to the counter hands gripping the edge, staring at the faux-marble, head bowed. "I don't even know…" Maura interrupted her with a feather touch on her arm. "We can talk about it, if you like."
Jane laughed a bit, the sound raspy, like a saw through green wood. "I'm not sure where to begin." She turned, not daring to look into Maura's eyes, not yet. "But I guess so, yeah." She nodded, turning her head to look at Maura without lifting it.
Maura nodded, picking up a potholder and opening the oven door, removing the parmigiana, steam rising off of it, and setting it on top of the stove. "Help me, and we'll go sit and talk."
Jane nodded, taking out a spatula and serving them both. "I got this. Grab some forks and the wine." She smiled at Maura, watching her fondly for a moment before walking out to the living area, setting the plates down on the coffee table.
Maura took two forks out of the drawer, and picked up the glasses and the bottle, following Jane out to the couch. Sitting gently, she set the glasses down and poured half a glass for each of them. "Thank you," she said quietly as Jane handed her a plate.
"You're welcome," Jane responded, just as softly. "So… " She trailed off, staring at her plate, twirling some spaghetti onto her fork.
"How long have you felt this way?" Maura's voice cracked, and she cleared her throat before continuing. "For me, I mean. Or perhaps in general is a better way to begin?" She took a sip of wine and set the glass down, cutting into her parmigiana.
Jane sat back, plate momentarily forgotten on her lap. "I had this ridiculous crush on a woman I went through the academy with. That's the first time I actually realized, 'oh hey, I kind of like someone… and it's a girl'. It freaked me out, and I kind of… pushed away her offer of friendship. You know her, I'm sure. Carla Antonelli. She's a uniform upstairs."
Maura nodded. "I've met her once or twice. She's very pretty." She chewed thoughtfully. "When did you know you were attracted to me?"
"When I met you." She laughed at Maura's dubious look. "No, really. My first thought was 'wow, she's hot'. My second thought was 'wait, what?' I've spent the last few years trying to make sense of that." She sipped her wine, placing the glass back on the table.
Maura nodded, swallowing a bite of food, and lay her fork down on the plate. "And your particular method of recovering DNA from the bartender at Merch, was…"
Jane sat up, interrupting Maura with a nod. "Just doing the job. She was attractive, but I was single-minded that day. I needed the DNA, so I got it." She shrugged, cutting into her dinner once more.
"Did you like it?" The corners of Maura's mouth twitched as she controlled a smile. Sliding a glance at Jane, she saw her sitting, fork poised halfway to her lips, eyes closed, remembering. Maura bit her lip, amusement turning into a slightly different emotion.
Jane swallowed, lowering her fork and nodded, opening her eyes. "Yeah. I did." She set her plate on the coffee table, picking up her glass of wine and regarding it thoughtfully. "I don't make it a habit of being attracted to murderers though."
Maura set her own dish aside, and moved closer to her, taking Jane's glass and placing it next to her own. "What about Medical Examiners?" Her voice was curious, her eyes were coy.
"Apparently that's another story." Jane's eyes followed Maura's movements, watching her set the glass down. "Maura, I…"
"Jane. I'm not asking you for anything. I'm not even offering you anything. When this case is over, perhaps we can discuss it further." Maura picked up Jane's hand in her own and rubbed her thumb over the scar on the back. "I don't wish to make you uncomfortable."
Jane turned, meeting Maura's gaze and caught her breath at the depth of gold Maura's eyes had turned. "I'm a cop, Maura. There'll always be a case. If we wait until the case is over, there'll be another. And another. And sometimes you'll be a target. And most of the time I will be." She turned her hand over, clasping Maura's. "I haven't a clue in hell what I'm even doing, but I know you're one of the most important people in my life… and I know that I'm damn fucking attracted to you."
"Must you swea…" Maura's protest was swallowed by Jane's lips on her own. She slid her arms around Jane's shoulders, fingers working through dark tresses, nails scraping Jane's scalp. She whimpered a moan as she felt strong hands pushing her backwards onto the couch. Eyes slipping shut, she let her hands read Jane's body, tense, muscular shoulders and arms holding her close… keeping her safe. She pulled back against some protesting moans and opened her eyes, regarding Jane thoughtfully. "You could keep me safe."
Jane kissed Maura with a passion she'd never felt. Fire burned in her eyes until they slipped shut, Maura's fingers tracing paths of lightening. She lay her down, stretching her length along Maura's, a hand settling on her hip, the other around Maura's back. She groaned as Maura pulled back, then fuzzily realized Maura's words. "Not always. You have to know that."
Maura shook her head, smiling. "Not from them. I do know that. I work in the same building you do. This isn't the first time I've been a target… and it won't be the last. But here, in your arms… Jane…" She swallowed, for the first time at a loss for words.
Jane licked her lips, holding Maura's gaze unbroken. She opened her mouth to speak, and her phone rang. "Shit!" Sighing, she sat up slowly and looked at Maura a bit sadly. "It's Korsak."
"Language, Jane." Maura smiled and sat up, straightening her blouse. "It's alright. I believe we've both spoken volumes." She picked up her glass, sipping the wine from it as Jane answered the call. "Rizzoli."
"I did what you asked me to. I'm still not happy about it."
"I know, I know. I promise, I've got all the bases covered." Jane picked up her fork, taking a bite of now-cold parmigiana. "This is going to work."
"Alright. I hope you know what you're doing, Jane."
"I do, Vince. I swear." Jane sighed as the call disconnected, and she set her phone down on the coffee table.
"Another lead?" Maura asked hopefully, picking up her own dish and taking a bite. She chewed slowly, eyes far away. "It's Hoyt, isn't it?"
"What?" Jane looked up sharply, eyes wide. Her entire body tensed at the name, searing pain running through her hands.
Maura nodded, setting her dish down once more. "Croyth Hales. It's an anagram of Charles Hoyt." She folded her hands in her lap, gazing at Jane openly.
"He's behind bars." Jane's voice was flat, and she sipped some wine to cover it. "It's a coincidence."
"No it isn't. He has someone working for him, perhaps he trained someone while he was free, or found someone due for release in prison. The Ripper is his creation." Maura's tone was matter-of-fact. She reached for Jane's plate, accepting it when Jane handed it to her with a nod of thanks.
"I didn't think about the prison angle, I'll admit, but yes. You just said everything I figured out this afternoon." She sighed, a hand on her forehead. "We have six days until the Ripper strikes again, if he stays on pattern."
Maura nodded, walking back in from the kitchen. "I have a weeks' worth of clothing, and two spare dresses in my office. You're remarkably easy to predict sometimes." She sat next to Jane again, and took her hand. "Is it alright if I do this? Casual touching can sometimes be distracting. I don't wish to interrupt your train of thought."
Jane shook her head, squeezing Maura's hand. "You're fine. I'll run the prison release files tomorrow. Distraction sounds really good right now." She looked at Maura seriously and when she spoke, her voice was soft. "I only know of two people who have ever seen me at my worst. You and Vince are without a doubt the people I trust most on this planet. When Hoyt got me the first time, I turned my back on Korsak, requested another partner. I thought he'd see me as weak, because he'd seen my vulnerability." She cleared her throat a bit, and took a sip of wine to steel her reserve. "But you watched over me, you demanded my vulnerability and protected it… Maur, you're kind of my hero." Jane's eyes twinkled with a bit of amusement.
Maura raised a hand to her chest, eyes kind and glassy with unshed tears. "Jane, that's… I'm overcome." She smiled and reached for her, deceptively strong arms wrapping around her friend. "I'm well aware of the tensions that come with your chosen profession, and your determination in your duty is part of what I love about you." She swallowed, hyper-aware of her words, chosen with care.
"You… love me?" Jane's voice crack, huskiness turning to a squeak. "Maur…"
Maura interrupted her with a raise of her hand. "Jane, you are the best friend I've ever had. I do indeed love you, as I have for the past several years. Perhaps the… blood type has changed, but the fact remains that it is blood." She held on a bit tighter to Jane, then loosened her grip, letting Jane move away if she needed to.
Jane thought over Maura's words, relaxing in her hold. "Alright, that's fair. What does that have to do with what I said, though?" She shifted as Maura's grip eased, not to move away, but to sidle closer.
Maura smiled as Jane leaned her head on her shoulder. "Your vulnerability is a reminder that through your casework, you remain in control of your humanity. I've read studies on police officers who become… crime fighting machines, I believe was the phrase used. They forget about the people who surround them, and a high percentage rate become victims of suicide, either purposely by their own weapon, or through carelessness by a perpetrator. You once said we make an especially good team, and I'd like to think that extends beyond the stationhouse. When I need someone to make me feel safe, whether my frontal lobe recognizes the legitimacy of the claim or not, you are always there. I was, and still am, honored that you would let me return the favor."
Jane nodded, letting Maura's words sink in. "So what you're saying is, you're glad I let you hold my gun." She smirked up at the doctor, her arm slipping around Maura's waist.
Maura raised an eyebrow, analyzing Jane's words and body language before smirking back. "Yes, I suppose that's also true." She stroked her fingers through Jane's hair, pushing it back from her face. They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, gazes locked together in fondness and admiration. Slowly, Maura leaned in and kissed Jane softly, her eyes fluttering closed. Pulling back after a moment, she smiled. "We should get some rest."
Jane nodded, rising slowly, a hand outstretched. "Come lay with me?"
Maura placed her hand in Jane's, rising as well and nodded. "It would be my pleasure."