The only thing Jane Rizzoli could do to keep her mind off Maura Isles was focus on the case. And even then, it seemed her only motive, her only central concern was to find a way to save the woman. As if somehow that held the key to all.
"This isn't some crackpot theory," Jane groaned.
She was seated at the empty desk they'd brought in for her in the homicide bullpen, watching as Korsak paced with hands on his hips and Frost sat on the edge of his desk. The younger detective pursed his lips and Korsak shook his head.
"You can't just go off a feeling. You can't just waste time with this because you didn't like the doctor," Korsak told her.
Jane shook her head. "It's not just that I didn't like him," she insisted. "What about the locked doors?"
"What locked doors?" Korsak asked.
Frost cleared his throat. "Jane thinks that someone let the gunmen into the ICU. And that someone could have been Hoyt."
"All the wards are locked there. The nurse's station knows better than to buzz through a bunch of bank robber looking men. And they had to count on someone coming out that door in a reasonable amount of time so they wouldn't have to wait in the hallway and draw suspicion. I think they knew someone in that hospital, someone who made sure they exited the ICU at a specific time so that gunmen could get in," Jane explained.
Korsak stopped his pacing and lingered by their investigations board. It was covered in photos and maps and surveillance shots from the hospital. Jane wrung her hands waiting for the detectives' response.
"All of these victims, all of our suspects are completely mob related. Doyle related," Korsak said. "There's been no indication…"
"How is this not an indication?" Jane snapped. "We have a missing piece and there's no reason why this can't be it."
Korsak set his heavy eyes on Frost. "What do you think Barry?" he asked.
The detective started with a heavy sigh. "I think Jane's right. I think we have a missing piece. The fact that the guy we found today was one of Doyle's men just doesn't make sense," Frost started.
"Thank you!" Jane threw her hands up in the air.
"But I don't think it's enough to start a new investigation," Frost continued. "We need to keep the focus on Doyle. We bring him in tomorrow for questioning and move from there."
Jane shook her head in disagreement, slowly getting up from the table. "Fine," she grunted. "It's not like I have a say anyway. I'm just a consultant."
"Don't be like that, Jane," Frost sighed.
"You think I'm wasting time? At least I'm coming up with new ideas. At least I'm trying. Because I'm not going to sit around while Maura is a sitting duck, put between Doyle and whatever war he's in."
"Maura?" Korsak repeated.
Jane gave a slow sigh. "Dr. Isles," she clarified. The detective slowly gathered her jacket and gave the two men a nod. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The sun was just setting on Boston as Jane drove home. She kept one hand on the door, holding up her head as it was pounded by endless thoughts.
She was more.
In all of the day's work, investigating a killer, Jane was most baffled by the short confession. Her stomach was in knots at the idea of Maura being angry with her. She remembered the hot color in her cheeks and the slam of the door. Each time it made Jane cringe.
While she was desperate for a reason to see Maura one more time, Jane settled for the long way home and took a drive past Beacon Hill. A ride that ended up with her taking two more loops to see Maura's house. She stopped by the third because she could tell she was putting the protection detail on edge.
Her own apartment held much less appeal. Upon arriving at the complex she was suddenly reminded of the last time she was there. It must have been three days ago. Now she saw the place with new eyes. With a sense of uncertainty. The last time she was in the stifling space she was throwing out her liquor and on the edge of detox. While the shakes and nausea were at least gone, her head still pounded. And more than ever, at the thought of being alone in the apartment after a long day, she desired a drink.
But she wouldn't be alone.
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli."
Her mother. Angela was in the kitchen, scrubbing the counters with some sort of foul smelling cleaning product, sending a pointed glare Jane's way as soon as she entered.
"Shit," Jane hissed. "What are you doing here?"
"I have a key. And you have been missing for four days, Jane! Four days. You get in a hostage situation, you're all over the news, injured, and you can't even manage to call me? If it wasn't for your brother I would think you were dead!" Angela shrieked.
"I wish I were," Jane grumbled.
Angela came around from the island in the kitchen, hands on her hips, face hitched in rage. "What is going on with you?"
"Nothing is going on with me, Ma!" Jane shouted back. She yanked the blazer off her shoulders, throwing it to the couch.
"Where were you? What are you doing?" Angela asked. She grew more serious, her temper slowly starting to bubble beneath the surface. It was a combination of rage and frustration and worry that the mother of three had mastered so well. "I came here every day looking for you. You haven't spoken to me in months. What are you up to Janie? Are you doing undercover work?"
"No, ma!" Jane groaned. She threw her hands out at her sides. "I'm fine!"
"You are not fine!" Angela yelled. She took a step closer to her daughter, no longer nagging but demanding with her presence. "I am your mother Jane. And you may think I'm some annoying, nagging, stupid, housewife but I know when something is wrong with one of my children. I don't worry myself at night for nothing. You think I want to stay up, staring at the phone, getting ready to call all the hospitals in town?"
Jane had heard the lecture before. It usually sent her running and this was no exception. But she also saw the desperation in her mother's face. The seriousness of the situation.
"I was with a friend," Jane told her. The statement seemed foreign and forced. It wasn't quite a lie but it still sounded strange. Maura Isles wasn't her friend. But she was certainly more. "I was recovering at their house. I didn't want to be alone in my apartment."
"You could have called me. I'm your mother! I wanted to help," Angela scolded. "Who is this friend?"
Jane shook her head. "You wouldn't know her."
Rather than lash out immediately, Angela Rizzoli blinked in rapid succession, taken back by her daughter's revelation. Jane wasn't one for friends and Angela knew that better than anyone. Outside of her brothers or a few friends from work, Jane didn't have friends. During childhood she'd throw a fit anytime Angela tried to set up a playdate with anyone from school.
"Her?" Angela repeated. "Who is she Jane?"
Jane chewed on her lower lip. Any explanation she gave wouldn't do the situation any justice. Even she couldn't comprehend what Maura meant to her, all she knew was that it certainly wasn't friendship. They couldn't have a friendship after everything they went through. A hostage crisis, detox, and now a murderer on the loose. Jane decided not to waste the words.
"I need to go," Jane told her mother.
Angela's mouth dropped in fury and confusion as Jane grabbed her blazer and keys. "Where are you going?"
"Just out. I'll be back," Jane said.
She slammed the door behind her before her mother could think to follow. She was down the stairs and out the door in such a flash that she was panting for air by the time she got to her car. Her hands were shaking. She was a hot, sweaty mess.
She needed beer and coke.
She needed Maura.
And she couldn't have either.
Jane drove aimlessly for the first ten minutes. She knew what she had to do. The necessity kept her from wanting to complete the task. Jane was never one to give in. But now she pictured no other choice. Maura's words echoed through her head. And like so many other times during the week, Jane was inspired to do right by the beautiful doctor.
There were several meetings going on around the Boston area - more than Jane could have imagined - but she still went as far as she could comfortably go. She didn't want to risk seeing anyone. And the truth was the extra thirty minutes on the drive out of town served as a safe buffer to turn back.
The meeting was in the basement of Salem Presbyterian Church. It was already in full swing by the time Jane entered, sheepishly doing her best to make sure the door closed quietly behind her. The group sat in rows of metal chairs while one person in a chair facing the rest spoke. Jane took a place in the back, already wishing to leave.
"I think the hardest thing, at least for me, was I convinced myself I didn't need help," the man was saying. He was young, probably five years younger than Jane. His head was shaved clean, but tattoos ran up and down his arms. A scar marked the left side of her chin. Jane noticed the chain dangling from his neck and quickly realized he was a veteran.
"After you see some of the things we see, it's easy to assume no one can understand. And maybe that's true. But just because they can't completely understand, doesn't mean they can't help. Because the truth is it's impossible to do this alone. That's why I turned to alcohol and drugs. I pushed everyone away," he confessed.
Jane stopped resisting the meeting and became engaged as he spoke. His story was much like her own. He spared some of the details but it was a path similar to Jane's. Perhaps, deep down, she was no different than some of the people in the room.
"When I had nothing and no one left, I came here. And while I didn't want to at first, I got a sponsor. And I slowly started to meet people here. I learned that it's much easier to care about your life and your actions, when you have people caring about you. That's why I keep coming back. That's why I'm sober. And that's why even on nights when the memories resurface, I'm comforted by the fact that I can come here," he said. He gave a brief nod to signify he was finished. "Thank you."
"Thank you, Ben," the group echoed back.
The rest of the meeting passed with other people sharing stories. They were all different. One was a housewife, the other a businessman, another high school dropout. So different but so similar. Jane skimmed through the books left on the chairs throughout, turning the pages of the AA big book. She studied the twelve steps and traditions in intrigue before a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Before we end the meeting is there anyone new here who'd like to introduce themselves?"
The woman was obviously running the meeting and stared toward the back of the room. Jane felt other eyes start to look at her face. She tightened her jaw.
"Go ahead," the old man next to her encouraged. His eyes were glassy and shiny as he hunched over in his seat, clinging onto a cane.
Jane shook her head at him.
"Go," he grumbled again.
"Anyone?" the woman asked.
Jane sighed. "Fine," she glared at the old man.
"You can stay in your seat if that's more comfortable," the woman smiled. She was round and happy like a school teacher.
The detective swallowed hard. She could feel a blush warming her face. Internally she cursed everyone in the room. She cursed Maura. Maura Isles, the woman who drove her to the godforsaken meeting in the first place.
"I'm…" Jane stopped. She looked at the woman. "What do I say?"
"Just say your name and why you're here," she encouraged.
Jane nodded.
"I'm Jane," she said.
"Hi Jane," the group echoed back.
She was startled slightly at the sudden attention. As the noise settled, she felt the need to fill the quiet room, as if they were still waiting for her to say more. With a strength she didn't know existed, she cleared her throat.
"I'm Jane and I'm an alcoholic. And an addict," she paused. "And I've been sober for four days."
"Thank you, Jane," the kind woman beamed.
They closed the meeting with a prayer. Jane hesitantly clasped hands with the old man seated on her right. They gave her a silver coin. It was a token for her first day of sobriety. Jane felt silly for taking it but nonetheless studied the chip as she took a moment, cooling off outside, watching the dark Salem streets.
"Sorry about Pete," a new voice said.
Jane was hoping to avoid any interaction at the meeting but was relieved slightly to find it was Ben.
"He's an old timer. He forced me to speak my first time too," Ben told her. He held out his hand. "Ben. Nice to meet you."
"Jane," she managed.
He leaned on the brick wall next to her, slowly lighting up a cigarette. "You smoke?" he asked.
"Trying not to," Jane replied. Ben gave a slow nod and watched the street with her. As the tobacco filled the air, Jane sighed. "Actually, can I have one? It's been a hard day."
"Of course. Help yourself," he said, handing her the pack. Jane went against her better judgement as she lit up, but at least she'd made it to her first meeting. Not that she had anything to prove to Maura. Not that she was at all under the woman's control.
"You served?" Jane asked him.
"Two tours in Iraq," Ben nodded. He scaled her up and down. "What happened to your arm? And face?"
Jane grimaced. "Work," she replied.
Ben's eyebrows narrowed in intrigue. "I'm guessing you're not in sales?" he asked.
"I'm a cop," Jane said. She felt embarrassed for sharing but cleared her throat. "Detective. Boston PD."
"Ah," Ben replied. Jane took another draw on the cigarette, blowing a cloud into the street. "So you fight the war at home."
"Something like that," Jane muttered. "I liked what you said in there."
Ben nodded.
They fell into a comfortable silence. Smoking and thinking, Jane flipping the plastic coin in her hand.
"You looking for a sponsor?" Ben asked.
Jane shook her head. "No," she said. "I don't know why I did this anyway…"
"Well, whatever the reason, I hope you find it again," he replied. As he crushed his cigarette on the pavement next to her, he offered a grim smile. "It will save your life. Goodnight Jane."
"Night," she muttered.
The drive home was peaceful. While Jane still felt under the weather and fatigued, she was more entranced with the meeting than the desire to drink. As she felt the coin in her pocket the only want that hit her was to call Maura Isles and tell her she'd done it. The yearning to please her, to speak with her, to make her proud was overwhelming. It nearly embarrassed her.
It was after eleven when Jane returned to her apartment. The dread was still there but not nearly as intense as before. Her body yearned for sleep. She'd probably returned to work too quickly. But the drive to close the case still hit her as she climbed the steps.
Angela Rizzoli was still there when Jane returned. Fortunately for the detective she was sound asleep on the couch. Jane shook her head. No matter how much either of them denied it, Jane clearly got her stubborn streak from Angela. While Jane still felt no desire to share her experience with her mother or even let her in, Jane did feel a slight twinge of guilt. She grabbed a blanket from her closet and draped it over her snoring mother.
After a quick shower and throwing on an old Boston PD shirt, Jane climbed into bed with wet hair and a tired body. She kept the plastic coin on her bedside table, not as a reminder of her sobriety, but as a close piece of Maura. All she could think of was how badly she wanted to tell her. But more importantly, how badly she had to make things right.
She woke up late.
Jane cursed and stumbled out of bed as sunlight streamed into her small bedroom.
It was a quarter to noon and she had three missed calls from Barry Frost on her phone. "Fuck!" she shouted.
As she scrambled to gather her clothes, Jane was confused by the smell of food coming from the kitchen. She tripped into the hallway, buttoning her blouse and holding shoes under her arms when she spotted Angela at the stove.
"Ma!" she yelled. "What are you doing?"
"I'm making you breakfast Janie," Angela replied.
"Why didn't you wake me up? It's almost noon!" Jane nearly screamed.
"You needed your sleep," Angela explained calmly. She put a plate in front of Jane with fluffy golden eggs and two pieces of toast. "And you also need a full breakfast."
"I don't have time," Jane said. "And aren't you supposed to be at the Dirty Robber?"
Angela shook her head, dropping two pieces of bacon onto the plate. "I took a sick day. When was the last time you had a full meal?"
"I don't know," Jane glared. She snatched up a piece of bacon, unable to resist the food. She sat down in defeat at the table. Since she was already late, Jane sighed and decided to give in. "Did you make coffee?"
As if expecting the question, Angela delivered a hot mug. She watched Jane eat for a few moments, leaning against the counter. Jane swallowed past a large bite of eggs. "You don't have to watch me like that…"
"I know you don't want to talk about it Janie," Angela sighed. "But I was doing your laundry this morning and I found this…"
Jane swallowed hard as Angela placed the plastic AA coin on the counter next to her. The detective stiffened with rage, nearly dropping her fork to the table.
"Before you get angry," Angela started nervously. "I didn't mean to find it. I just want to be a part of your life Jane. I want you to let me in. You can't do this alone, honey…"
Jane pulled in a slow breath, doing her best to not get angry. After all, Angela was making an effort. The eggs and bacon were certainly a nice touch.
"I don't want to talk about this, Ma," Jane told her. She took a few more large bites of eggs and grabbed a piece of toast and bacon. "I need to go to work."
"Jane…"
"I'm already late," Jane insisted. As Angela turned to grab her thermos, Jane swiped the plastic chip off the counter and stuffed it into her pocket.
She took the thermos, offered her mother a brief goodbye, avoided the kiss on the cheek but stayed in for a hug, and sped down to the precinct. She was filled with too many emotions to commit to just anger. The meeting had awakened something inside her; she just wasn't quite sure what it was.
After a hassle getting up to the investigations floor, Jane strode down the hall with half a piece of toast in her mouth and her coffee in the other. She found Frost outside the interrogation room, arms across his chest.
"What's going on?" she asked.
He looked up in surprise. "I thought you weren't coming," he said. "Paddy just got here for the interview."
"You want to double team it or are you going solo on this one?" Jane asked.
"I actually called for another reason," Frost smirked. "Someone is here to see you…"
"Who?" Jane asked past a mouthful of toast.
"Me," a soft voice chirped.
Jane's heart tightened as she turned on her heel, finding Dr. Isles standing behind her. Maura offered a small smile.
"Dr. Isles," Jane stammered. A few bites of toast nearly fell out of her open mouth and the detective nervously forced a hand to her lips to cover.
Maura did her best to suppress a giggle as the detective turned a bright red. "I'm sorry, Detective Frost said it would be okay if I came today," she said.
"You wanted to come here?"
"You said I could see my father," Maura managed with a shrug. "I-I-I wanted to call you. I started thinking about what you said last night and I know my reaction was inappropriate. I don't mean to impose. And I honestly think seeing my biological father in this scenario is impulsive and foolish and I'm honestly not quite sure why I think…"
"Maura, its fine," Jane told her. She did her best to keep a professional façade, though she could have sworn Barry was grinning next to her. "I'm-I'm sorry too."
The doctor sheepishly lowered her head. Jane could see her discomfort as they stood in the narrow hallway. It was a cool place, with only a window on one side, allowing them to see into a currently empty interrogation room.
"Detective Frost thinks that maybe if Paddy sees me, he'll be more likely to cooperate," Maura spoke up.
Jane studied the woman's uncertain face. It was much less confident and scientific than the woman who captured her at the hospital; but just as heart stealing. The detective swallowed hard.
"You don't have to do this Maura…"
"He's here," Frost said.
The detective slowly turned, finding Paddy Doyle being led down the hall by a stone faced Korsak. The mob boss was just as Jane remembered. She'd only had the occasional run in with him during her days in narcotics. She doubted if he remembered her. It was impossible to tell by the permanent scowl on his face. His brows were lowered, jaw set and chin raised high with his chest. But upon seeing Maura Isles, Paddy seemed to falter.
Before Korsak could lead the man into the room for questioning he stopped to study his daughter. "Maura?" Paddy nearly gasped.
On instinct, Jane took a step to the side to cover Maura. If she wasn't mistaken she could feel the doctor move into her. Just enough for a light touch.
"What is she doing here?" Paddy asked.
The mob boss took an unconscious step for his daughter, to which Frost put a hand on his chest. "I believe you're wanted in the interrogation room," Frost said.
"Maura?" he repeated one last time.
For the first time Jane looked behind her, watching as the doctor open and closed her mouth.
It was the closest Maura Isles came to her father in her entire thirty years. But she couldn't even manage a sound. She couldn't manage a feeling. She just stared as though she'd finally seen the abyss. The only comfort was the closeness of Jane's lithe form next to her, protective and the last thing standing between her and what she feared.
Jane stayed with Maura when Paddy was led away, his pale green eyes on his daughter the entire way.
"Are you okay?" Jane asked her.
Maura stared at the floor. "I've never seen him before. Just a few clippings in the paper or on the news," she confessed.
"I'm sorry," Jane said gently. She regretted having any responsibility for the pain in Maura's eyes. The doctor seemed unable to respond to her. She simply stared into the interrogation room where Paddy took a seat across from Korsak. Despite the wall blocking his view and the mirror only serving as a one-way portal, Paddy stared back at Maura. Before the detective could say more, a sharp voice reminded her of her purpose.
"Jane? You coming?" Frost asked.
His voice startled her out of studying Maura and she straightened up frantically as if to prove her attention. "Yeah," she mumbled. Jane prepared to follow him but paused momentarily for one last glance at the doctor. "Are you going to be okay?"
Maura only nodded back.
Jane decided it was enough, though every part of her wanted to be in the hall with Maura rather than in the interrogation room. The very thought made her blush an embarrassed shade of pink. Surely something was playing on her heart if she was so willing to abandon the one passion she'd put above all else.
"I don't know him," Paddy growled at Korsak as Frost and Jane entered.
A photo of the body they found in the park was on the table between them. Paddy refused to even look down at the picture.
"We know he's one of your boys," Korsak replied. "We also know that that's your handy work. So what happened? Did he cross you Paddy?"
"Don't know him," the mobster replied.
"We have a photo of you two meeting last October," Frost spoke up. He sat in the chair next to Korsak and slowly pulled out the photograph.
"I don't remember him," Paddy said.
"Think real hard," Korsak glared.
"I can play this all day," Paddy replied.
"Yeah well your daughter can't," Jane spoke up.
The men all turned attention to the lanky detective. She stood back, nearly against the wall, arms folded tightly across her chest. Her sharp eyes drove into Paddy's face. He immediately soured at the mention of his offspring.
"What the hell is she doing here?" he nearly shouted. "What does she have to do with this?"
"You know, Paddy," Jane told him. "She was nearly killed, caught in the crossfire of your guys. Said they were there for your daughter."
"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about," Paddy growled.
"How many people know about her?" Jane asked him.
Paddy chewed on his lower lip. Frost and Korsak stayed still and silent, allowing Jane to pace behind them, narrowed in on their suspect.
"How many people know she's your daughter?"
"Just Constance Isles. I don't even think her husband knows," Paddy replied. "Maura was never supposed to know."
Jane resented him for even saying her name. "She's a smart girl. She would've figured it out," she murmured. "Who else did you tell?"
"I didn't tell anyone else," Paddy growled. "I wanted to keep her safe. Keep her away from this life."
"What made her so special?" Korsak cut in. Jane was surprised by his question but trusted her superior. As much as she wanted to continue grilling the mobster, she knew better than to step on anyone's toes. "We know you have a son. Colin. You don't hide him away."
"Colin's different," Paddy grumbled. He seemed to nearly roll his eyes at the statement. "That boy found me. Wanted to work with me. He wants to be like his old man."
"Obviously he's not very bright," Jane muttered.
"No, he's not," Paddy shot back, catching the room by surprise as he addressed Jane. "Not like Maura. She was always too good, too smart. And you – I know you. You were undercover. You have a big red X on your forehead in my neighborhood."
"Neighborhood's not yours," Jane clipped.
"I don't want her in here," Paddy glowered. "Only thing worse than a pig is a rat."
"I never bothered you Paddy, just the scum," she replied.
"But you did it on my streets," he glared and shifted focus to Korsak and Frost. "I want her out."
"She's an investigator on this case," Frost cut in.
"Then I'm leaving…"
"You're not done being questioned," Korsak told him.
"I'm not under arrest, am I?" Paddy asked. He challenged with hands in the air, a glint in his green eyes. Korsak swallowed hard. "One of us is going to leave, detective."
"Jane," Korsak started.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jane snapped.
"Korsak, you can't…"
"Barry stop. Jane, go," Korsak demanded. He didn't even glance over his shoulder at her. He knew Jane was stubborn and furious. But if he gave in in front of Paddy, especially since he was already relinquishing some power, he would appear weak. Jane stomped the short way around the table, nearly spitting at the three men on her way.
"This is bullshit," Jane hissed. She stopped at the door to give Paddy one final piece of her mind. "I'm trying to protect your daughter. How about that, Paddy? She's an amazing, smart, beautiful woman and she's going to die because of you."
Paddy stayed cold, simply grinding his teeth. "Don't talk about my daughter."
Jane shook her head. "You're all cowards," she snapped.
The door of the interrogation room rattled shut behind her. She was breathing heavily, angry and agitated from embarrassment. She knew they wouldn't get much more from Doyle anyway but it was the principle. He'd simply done it to rattle her. To throw her off course. Perhaps Jane was getting somewhere. She had to believe she was.
As she rounded the corner back into the hallway, she quickly remembered Maura. But the doctor was nowhere to be found.
Her anger from questioning Paddy quickly drained. Without thinking she began a frantic search through the halls, peering into the many offices and corridors that tangled through the precinct. "Maura?" she called.
The searching felt as though it lasted a half hour but in reality was just ten minutes. Jane didn't even consider the possibility that Maura had simply left. Something in her was desperate to find her. And a deeper sense told her that the doctor hadn't fled.
Without much thought and working on what she could only compare to instinct, Jane took the elevator down to the basement. On days in the cybercrime unit, when she often questioned what she was even doing still with the BPD, she found solitude away from the noise and officers. During her lunch hour, she'd travel down to the cold morgue floor, comforted by the quiet.
Susie Chang, BPD's Senior Criminalist usually didn't mind Jane's presence. Sometimes she attempted a conversation but she soon understood that the detective wasn't the talking type. The other workers downstairs were primarily scientists, doctors, and biologists, so enthralled by their own work that they hardly paid her any attention.
As Jane approached the double doors, her legs locked at a familiar sight. She could see Maura inside, seated in the corner on a stool, hands neatly folded in her lap. Three corpses were out on the metal tables and while Jane wanted to pause and consider how anyone would let the doctor around such crucial evidence, she was more taken back at Maura's countenance. Jane slowly pushed through the double doors as not to frighten her.
"Maura?" Jane said gently. She felt the need to whisper in the morgue as though it were a library. "What are you doing here?"
Maura's hazel eyes were shiny with an emotion Jane couldn't detect. There was the sadness of before, perhaps the shock still lingering from Paddy. But there was something new. Intrigue. Perhaps even joy as she sat among the dead.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," Maura apologized. "I just needed some space to think and to get some air…"
"So you came to the basement," Jane said dryly.
"I know, it must seem crazy," Maura blushed. She looked away from Jane and back at the metal tables. The contented aura emanated from her gaze. "It reminds me of medical school."
Jane usually would have responded with something snarky but was too busy studying the doctor. She stayed back, arms quietly folded across her chest. After a few moments of silence, she cleared her throat. "How'd you get in here?"
"Senior Criminalist Chang allowed me in," Maura replied. "She read my dissertation from Brown on bimolecular phylogenetic…"
"You went to Brown?" Jane asked.
"For my Ph.D., yes. What's wrong with Brown?"
"Nothing, I just took you for a Harvard or Princeton. Definitely, not a Brown," Jane said.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"You're just a little more stiletto than Birkenstock," Jane explained, still whispering among the dead.
Maura's perfectly shape brow furrowed. "Plenty of people wear stilettos at Brown," she replied.
"Detective Rizzoli," Susie greeted, cutting the bickering pair off. She came out of the small office nearby. "I was just telling Dr. Isles that you often come down here as well…"
"For cases," Jane clarified quickly. "I come down here for cases."
She narrowed her brown eyes on Susie with seriousness, desperate to keep her secret visits under wraps. As if to further her point, Jane cleared her throat.
"You know you could get in really big trouble for letting her down here," she warned.
"Jane…"
"It was just for a moment," Susie assured. "She was just curious. I thought someone with a shared enthusiasm for the sciences could appreciate the human form as it's examined and dissected."
"God Susie," Jane shook her head. "Maura, come on, before Pike comes and gets us all in trouble."
Without a second thought Jane offered the doctor her hand. She paused when she realized it was empty, simply hanging in the air with Maura looking at it. Jane nearly turned three shades of red while Maura was tempted to grab on. She'd nearly failed to catch herself. Usually the simple gesture wouldn't mean much. But with Jane, the prospect of the intimate hold seemed to represent much more.
The detective moved for the heavy doors before more could be exchanged. Maura followed her out silently all the way into the elevator. They rode the first two floors up quietly before Maura cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry if I worried you. I know I shouldn't have gone down there. It was just hard seeing my father. I don't know why I reacted like I did…" Maura shook her head.
"You're hard on yourself," Jane said. "We react in unexpected ways when we meet the person we could only imagine existed."
Maura wouldn't be able to remember if her heart fluttered from losing gravity in the elevator or from finding herself completely captured by Jane. She stared at the detective in awe. And while the emotions overwhelmed her and the very sight of Jane made her fill with girlish lust, Maura couldn't say a single word back.
The elevator dinged loudly as they arrived on their floor. Jane led them back to the interrogation room which was now empty. Not even Korsak or Frost remained.
"He left," Maura murmured.
Jane swallowed hard. She looked at the doctor with sympathy. "You wanted to see him again?"
Maura shook her head. "I'll just be glad when this is over."
"Me too," Jane smirked.
"Was the interview helpful?"
"Not really. Paddy kicked me out before I could ask anything meaningful," Jane sighed.
"Why is that?"
"He's not a fan of undercover cops," she shrugged.
Maura managed a smirk. The two fell into an uncomfortable silence. The doctor nervously adjusted the bag on her shoulder. "Well, I guess I should be going home," she decided. "I hope Detectives Korsak and Frost got something useful from Paddy. I don't know how much longer I can take being cooped up in that house."
"Would you like to go to dinner?"
Jane wished to grab the question and stuff it back in as soon as she blurted it out. The words had lingered on her tongue since the elevator. Without warning they jumped out, nearly betraying her. The detective looked to amend it before Maura could speak.
"I mean, just so you're not cooped up. Because I'm a cop. Still. Technically. So it wouldn't violate you being under protection," Jane stammered.
Maura nodded at each word as Jane struggled through her explanation.
"I know you may not want to. I mean, you were my doctor. And you saw me puke a bunch…" Jane trailed off, wishing she could crawl into the interrogation room and hide. Instead her mouth kept going. "Just as friends. Not that we're friends. I mean, we might be friends. Maybe when this isn't all so complicated."
"Are you finished?" Maura asked her.
Jane pulled in a breath. "I probably should be," she nodded.
"Dinner would be great," Maura said. She suppressed her smile. Suddenly the need to play coy and cool overcame her, just as it did with the prospect of other suitors. It was as if the game was starting for the doctor. Granted, confusion instantly struck her. After all, Detective Rizzoli wasn't a romantic prospect. She couldn't be.
"I'll pick you up at seven," Jane told her.
Maura nodded. "See you then, detective."