AN: I know this isn't being updated as quick as some would like. However take this humble offering as I keep going on my brief motivation!
"You know I don't like secrets, but just promise me that you'll tell me, in time?"
She felt Maura nod against her shoulder. Relinquishing her hold she cupped Maura's sad face in her hands.
"I promise Angela."
Jane had changed into something a little more 'professional' before heading down to the station. She should at least look like a high ranking detective when she gets torn a new one on an assault charge. Parking up outside she checked herself in the mirror one last time,
"Just tell them how it went down, deep breath, better get it over with."
Nodding to herself she stepped out of the cruiser, checking her blazer was tidy, shirt tucked in, and shoes almost shiny. Confident strides hid the maelstrom in her head and gut as she pushed through heavier feeling doors. Flashing her shield to the security desk she was greeted with a confused look. She didn't really need to be here, but damage control on an impending shit storm was always better started before it began.
Heading up to her floor she may as well check to see if there were any ominous messages. The bull pen was empty except for a few stragglers in their respective offices. She quietly made her way to her desk; well no bright post-its were almost a good sign. As she flicked on the PC a booming voice made her freeze to the spot.
"Rizzoli! In my office, NOW."
Cavanaugh of all people, working some overtime had spotted her creeping around the vacant office. Her head had snapped up at the sheer volume before her brain registered what he was actually saying. All of her confident swagger gone, her mental process shattered as she walked towards his office. Her hands instantly searched for each other in a fit of nervousness. She said nothing as she walked into the room.
"Sit,"
Her head bowed she took the empty seat across from her senior.
"Why do I have to find out from downstairs that you were involved in an incident at the robber last night?"
"Sir, I don't know, I,"
"Can it Rizzoli. Because of you that sack of tripe is back out on the streets already."
Her head shot up, how could he be gone already? She went to open her mouth,
"Would you rather be raked over the coals on an assault charge? You've got too much to lose Jane, I hope you realise that before you do something else stupid."
She hung her head, he was right, more importantly she knew it too.
"I'm going to tell you something my Dad told me, Number 1, Girls Lie. And number 2, if you're going to hit someone do it where no one can see you."
She tried not to smile at the words. She was a damn lucky person, right now she could have been suspended, charged, any multitude of unpleasant things could be playing out. But here she was in a small office filled with mutual respect for the man in front of her. He had just saved her ass.
"Jane, I know why you did it. But you're a cop, you can't just go out there laying out every stuck up shmuc you find. It's a damn shame, but it just isn't done."
"Yes Sir, thank you sir." She finally looked him in the eye, fully expecting to see an expression of anger, but instead it was softer, he empathised with her.
"Now get out of here, if I hear your name once in the next 36 hours you will be on traffic for a week."
She leapt out of the chair, nodding purposefully, he outstretched his hand. She took it cementing their discussion. That would be the end of it, what was done is done. She was hoping her erratic heartbeat wasn't as audible to everyone as it pounded in her chest.
As she walked across the bull pen to the elevators she stopped dead at the incessant ringing of her cell. She had hoped Maura might have been replying but her features furrowed as Frankie's number flashed across the screen.
"Hey Frankie, what's going on? Shouldn't you be on shift?"
"Yeah I am, look we just got a call of a domestic disturbance in the Beacon Hill area,"
"And?"
"Jane, it's Maura's place!"
"I'm on my way-"
"My cruiser's outside, get your ass in gear!"
Her confident strides turned to frantic sprinting. She practically jumped down flights of stairs to burst through the door. True to his word the car was ready, blue lights already blazing. Wrenching the door open she barely had time to close it after her as the accelerator pedal hit the floor.
Maura's hands were buried in her hair as she flinched at every crash and curse. Mark had turned up at the house not long after Jane had left. She had been getting dressed and ready to leave and pick him up before he had let himself in. He sat stock still in an armchair waiting for her to descend the stairs; he had had all night to build on his anger at being humiliated.
Before she could speak he had tossed the coffee table aside sending papers flying into the air, the table crashed against the fireplace with a deafening crunch. Standing tall his shoulders heaved with heavy breaths. He could see her shaking; it did nothing to calm him. He raised an accusative finger and pointed it at her.
"How DARE you! How could you stand up for that self righteous BITCH?"
He stomped over the debris closer to her, she tried to step back but his hands grasped her biceps. His size hadn't been extraordinary, but right now she was being made to feel like a child before a titan. He shook her once and she cried out, cursing herself for allowing it to happen. But her body was betraying her; she was scared so her body reacted before she could.
Dragging her into the mess of the room Mark threw her into the chair; he turned and found the picture on the wall he had been looking for. Maura and Jane had been in their favourite booth smiling after closing a huge case; it had been the day she got Maura to 'chug' a beer with her and the boys. His hands wrapped around the frame, smearing the glass with dirty fingers.
"This? This is more important to you?" Disdain filled his face,
"This lanky DYKE you call a friend" he spat out the last word.
Glaring into the picture he raised his hand high and threw the frame across the room. It shattered when hitting the opposite wall.
"NO!" Finding some courage she jumped up beating closed fists against his chest. His hands easily grasped her wrists; she was shaking her head refusing to look at him.
"You are MY fiancé Maura, and you WILL be MY wife, but you need to learn your priorities."
His hands gripped tighter, she knew it would bruise. Trying to fight back in any manner she sucked in a deep ragged breath. She stared into his wild eyes,
"If you think that I am going through with this, then you are greatly mistaken,"
His laugh was more of a bark. Bringing his arms down he brought her unbearably close to him, she moved her face away a mask of defiance. But it was in vain, she was petrified and he was well aware. Worse still she had no way to raise the alarm, no one was coming, no one. She choked on a sob.
AN: Stick around, as a 'I'm sorry' gift another chapter will be up in the coming hour or two.