Hey guys. Another One. Just a little Jane time^^

Chapter 5

When Jane woke up she again was overwhelmed by the feeling of panic. The sun was streaming through the curtains dancing on her now exposed skin. After blinking several times she could clear the fog in her brain. A woman, a blond woman, a blond beautiful woman had sat next to her when she had woken up for the first time. Maura Isles, that was the name of the blond beautiful woman. She smiled to herself. She always wanted to wake up next to such a woman but not like that.

With one quick pull and the IV catheter was off her hand, she entangled herself from the white sheets and steadied herself as a wave of dizziness hit her. She had to get out of here. Panic was all so present nowadays when she was in situations she couldn't control and right now she was out of control.

She undid the bandage from her stump and inspected it. It hurt and was red but she had to ignore it right now. She needed to get out of here. Slowly she rose from the bed and hobbled over to her duffle bag. She sat down on the small chair and searched for her stump sock. When she had found it she put it on her stump and grabbed the prosthesis. She pulled the shaft over the stump and fastened it. Ready to go. It hurt when she got up but pain was something she was used to, it had become a part of her life now. She stripped down the t-shirt she was wearing, gently folded it and placed it on the table. Then she grabbed her combat trousers and lipped into them. After that she pulled over a dirty smelly tank top and put on her dress blouse. She hated it, but she had nothing else to wear. She definitely needed some money and therefore a job. She sighed and ran a hand through her unruly hair. Money, which she had enough, at home in Boston. She shook that thought off and made the bed, grabbed her duffle bag and was out of the front door before anyone in this house woke up.

When she had left the Isles' farm she had decided to follow the river further until a town would come up. She was lucky though after half an hour she crossed a street sign "Welcome to Ashland City". She smiled and decided to head into town. Maybe she could find a possibility to earn a little money.

She walked along the right side of the road when she heard someone honk. She turned around to see a police car. Ignoring it she walked ahead but the officer honked again. She took a deep breath, stopped and turned around.

A black man opened the driver side and walked around the hood. Jane looked down not to reveal her face right away. She pulled her cap further into her face.

"Is there a problem officer?" she asked grabbing further onto the straps of her bag. She could hear the man chuckle. Curious she looked up to see a handsome black man standing in front of her. If he was shocked by Jane's look he didn't show it.

"No Ma'am." he said and held out his hand to shake. "Excuse my manners." he said. "Sheriff Barry Frost." Jane took it reluctantly and shook it. "Lieutenant Jane Rizzoli." she answered and released his hand. The sheriff smiled at her and took off his uniform hat. "I wanted to ask you if you need a ride into town. It isn't common for this region that Marines wander around." Jane blushed slightly and shifted weight onto her right leg. The left one still hurt like bitch.

"Oh. That is very kind of you to offer but..." she said but Barry interrupted her. "Great." he said and opened the trunk. "You can put your duffle back in here." Jane blinked several times. She didn't want to be impolite so she nodded and put her stuff in the trunk.

The car ride was dominated by Sheriff Frost's stories about Ashland city. He had sensed after the first questions that Lt. Rizzoli wasn't one to share much about herself. The "city" was more like a town. It hadn't even five thousand citizens but Barry seemed to be very proud to be its Sheriff. It was idyll. Sweet, cozy. Typical American small town Jane thought, where everybody knew everything about anybody. She sighed. She had run off to disappear from the surface for a while and now she crashed in a gossip town. She was soon to be number one topic. The stranger, the Marine. She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed that Barry had stopped in front of the local diner.

"Let's get breakfast before my shift starts." he said and got out of his car. Jane wanted to decline but it seemed that that wasn't possible with Barry Frost. So she got out of the seat stretched her right leg and grabbed her duffle from the trunk. "Thanks." she mumbled. It hadn't even taken one minute and she could sense the glares at her back. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She had tried to flee from people and now she was about to go into a crowded diner and have breakfast with a complete stranger and without any money. At least she now could test her abilities she had learned in rehab.

Sheriff Frost opened the door and waved her through. She looked down to avoid any gazes directed at her and just followed Frost to a booth at the window. She felt so out of place like a fish on land. She put her bag next to her and let her hands folded in her lap fidgeting. Barry smiled at her. "The beacon is really good and Darcy's homemade bread is just delicious. You should try." Jane just nodded, not knowing how to even pay for a cup of coffee. A young girl walked up to them and placed to cups in front of them.

"Morning Sheriff." she flirty greeted the black man. "Ma'am" she nodded towards Jane who just nodded back.

"Morning Jenny." Frost said with a broad smile on his face. "The usual and for my friend here..." He waited for Jane's response. She looked up a lightly flushed with embarrassment. "Nothing for me. I'm... I'm a little out of cash..." she cleared her throat. Barry sensed her discomfort and saved her.

"Oh that won't be any problem, right Jenny?" he said and looked up at the young blonde. Jenny nodded. "Of course. That's the least we can do for our veterans." And with those words she turned around and was off to get coffee and breakfast. Jane flinched at the word veteran. She hated it being called that, even if it was nothing but the truth.

"I'm sorry Sheriff but..." she was interrupted.

"Absolutely no problem but tell me how are you going to go on from here without any money on you?" he asked curiously and sipped on the in meantime served coffee. Jane gulped and held on to her coffee cup as life depended on it. She looked up with a slightly pained expression.

"Well..., I... I thought maybe I could offer some help..." she trailed off let her head fall into her hands and started to laugh. Barry looked at her bemused when she looked up again. "Now you think I'm a lost nutcase." She took a sip of the coffee and leaned back running a hand over her face.

"No I don't think you are a lost nutcase." he laughed and leaned back too. "You're lucky you ran into me though. Maybe I can help you out of your misery." Jane looked at him with a questioning look.

"See we have a handyman shop here in Ash and Mr. Korsak and his son always could use some help if you're up to it. Do you have handyman qualities?" he asked and took a bite of his scrambled eggs. Jenny was used to, if Sheriff Frost had company that he didn't accomplish her. But over a female soldier. She felt a jealous sting.

"Well, my father was a plumber and before I joined..." she stopped herself. "Yes I have handyman qualities."

"Good" Frost said and took another sip of his meanwhile cold coffee. "Then..." he looked at his watch. Quarter to nine. "I'm gonna drop you off at Korsak and sons after we finished here?" he said but it sounded more like a question. Jane nodded and finished her beacon and eggs. Usually she hated breakfast, but she hadn't really eaten anything not welded in and she needed the strength. Last night she had lost consciousness due to a fever which wasn't gone completely.

When Jenny came with the bill, Sheriff Frost paid and they left the diner. Jane wasn't sure what to think of that friendly black man but she sure wasn't one to trust easily after everything she had experienced. The drove less than five minutes. The shop was also a typical small town business, with old but charming shutter and flower tubs next to the door.

"Oh and if you need a place to crush for the night..." Barry shouted before he drove off, "just come by the police station. My shift ands at sic o'clock."

Jane wanted to answer him but he was already gone. She shook her head took of her cap, grabbed her duffle bag and entered the shop. It was a small one with an old counter. On the walls hung all kind of tools for sale. In the corner stood an old mower more for decoration then selling. Jane noticed all kind of tools for sale not untypically for a small town. One shop for everything. As the door closed behind her a small bell rung and an older man with grey hair and a beard stepped up from behind the shop.

"Semper Fi." he said. "What can I do for you Marine?"

You know what to do ;-)