Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that are from the TV series or the books, apart from the characters that I make up.
Operation Isles
Chapter Three
The next few days consisted of Jane having daily meetings with her team of security, sitting at her desk filling out tedious amounts of paperwork and trying to avoid the aggravating doctor that still edged her way into the Lieutenant's subconscious when Jane wasn't concentrating on keeping her off her mind. Jane pretended that the blonde didn't affect her as much as she did, however whenever Jane got a hint of Doctor Isles' perfume or when Jane walked down the corridor and saw a rush of curls run towards the operation theatre, she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and had to physically shake herself from the imposing feelings. Going home wasn't any easier, her Ma insisted she get a man for herself so Angela can get her precious grandbabies. Jane told her that she had already got a grandchild; TJ, and Angela replied with "Well it would be nice to have more." Jane and her Ma had had this conversation multiple times over the years and it always ended with frustration and agitation from both of them. "Or you know, if you find a female suitor you could always adopt or there's IVF." Jane had expected this much from her Ma and only sighed and left to go to her room and continued her search for small apartments in the area. Jane kept in close touch with Detectives Frost and Korsak to get any information on the hospital attack and every time she asked it was always the same answer, "the lead was a dead end."
Jane had become a sign of safety at the hospital for the patients and the less stubborn of staff and had even started to form fondness for the patients who always wanted reassurance and a chat when Jane went on one of her patrols.
At the end of the first week of her new job, Frankie, Frost and Korsak invited her out to the local watering hole, The Dirty Robber. The guys said that Riley was going to be there and although Jane had hooked up with her months ago she needed the break and anyway Jane missed the place. She and the gang used to come here whenever she came home for a couple of months and they were all regulars. When Jane entered the bar she was happily greeted by the bartender and asked for her usual beer, him saying it was on the house.
Grabbing her beer she spotted her brother and the two detectives and waved at them. Walking over she had a spring in her step, something about this bar brought back good memories of laughter and friendship and that seemed to put Jane at ease and made her feel more relaxed than she had in months. As the Lieutenant sat down she was welcomed with cheers and slaps on the back by the male occupants on her table. Sitting next to Frost they all began to enter into easy conversation involving the latest football scores and how the detectives were missing out on baseball, basketball and American football. "We have cricket, why would we need baseball?" Frankie and Jane both gaped at Korsak and promised to take them all to Boston and bring them to one of the Red Sox's games. "Only if we can take you to a rugby match." Frost added, earning a smile and shrug exchanged between the Rizzoli siblings. The conversation flowed and the subject was changed, Jane thought it was a good idea to bring up the news that she was excited about. "I have been searching since I got home and I've only just found it." Jane took a swig of her beer, emptying it as she watched the guys turn their heads towards her.
"Found what, Rizzoli?"
"I bought my own place! It's a flat and it's not big but it's enough space for me and Jo Friday." At the news the boys cheered and clapped the Lieutenant, noting everyone in the crowded bar of their presence. All heads were turned towards them and eventually after realising that it wasn't very interesting the occupants of the bar turned back to their own conversations. Jane laughed with the guys and realised that both Frankie and Korsak was looking at something behind Jane and before the Lieutenant could turn around she felt a tap on her shoulder, looking behind her she saw that Riley was standing there with open arms, smiling. Jane got up and quickly hugged the girl, receiving an unexpected kiss on the lips; if Jane wasn't in as good as a mood as she was at sharing her news then she would have prevented the kiss or told Riley off for it, however Jane was too happy to care.
"I hear you got a new place. The means more privacy, if you know what I'm talking about." Riley said not too quietly, as they sat down; most of the bar probably heard the woman who was clinging to Jane and kissing her neck. Jane only rolled her eyes and overheard Frost whisper,
"Yeah I think the whole bar knows what she's talking about." Jane glared at him and then rolled her eyes at the woman clinging to her, Frost laughed and then covered it up with a cough as Riley looked up at him. After the table got settled again the conversation started up again, Riley taking Jane's ear in her mouth and biting not too gently, making Jane cringe slightly in pain.
"Who's up for a next round?" Jane wanted to get away from Riley for a minute or two, the guys lifted up their almost full bottles and Jane shook her head, disappointed in their speed; the Lieutenant was obviously used to the men and woman in her squadron that could down a pint of beer in two seconds. Walking confidently up to the bar, she heard Frankie and Frost wolf whistling her and turned around and gave them her middle finger, mouthing the words "Fuck you too." The Lt. got to the bar and gestured to the bartender,
"Hey Jane, what can I get you? The usual?" Jane winked at him and motioned to the bottle behind him,
"Two Jägerbomb shots, man." The bartender raised his eyebrows and reached up for the bottle of Jägermeister and a can of red bull, he placed the shot glass and bottles in front of Jane and as she gave him a quizzical look he shrugged and said
"Last time I made you one of them you called it a pussy drink so now you can make it as strong as you want." Jane laughed at him and lifted herself up from the barstool and leant over the bar giving him a quick kiss on the cheek and winking at him as he laughed and walked off to serve another customer. Jane poured herself a strong shot and added the red bull, quickly downing the drink, slightly cringing at the burning sensation down her throat. While she poured the second shot she looked around and was suddenly met with the same hazel eyes that had overwhelmed her thoughts all week. Jane hadn't realised that not everyone had turned back to their own conversations after turning their attention to the noisy table and now the pair of hazel eyes were trained on the Lieutenant as she slowly drank her second shot, making sure to keep eye contact. Those eyes suddenly looked down and the Lieutenant smirked until she realised that the doctor was with someone.
That someone was a tall man with stubble that covered his lower face and neck, the longer Jane looked at him the more she realised that she had met him before. Doctor Isles seemed to force her eyes up and after glancing at the Lieutenant turned her attention but to the man sitting in the bar stool next to her. The familiar man had obviously been talking due to his large hand gestures however he had not realised that the doctor's attention wasn't on him for the full length of his talk; Jane analysed the man and got the impression that he wouldn't have noticed Doctor Isles' lack of interest due to the conclusion, made by Jane, that he expected the attention. Suddenly Jane realised that she had met this man before, he was a doctor who worked in the villages around the area of the base that Jane was held. The Lieutenant had shared conversations with this man and had even given him direct orders which went along the lines of, "Oi, pain in the ass, get out of my way or you will have a pain in the ass when I stick my rifle up there!"
Jane had disliked the arrogant man then and those feelings were still present now. Jane decided to make things a bit interesting for the icy doctor and her distasteful choice of a date, who thinking for a moment Jane remembered his name to be Ian. Jane knew that she was going to act like an ass but the doctor had gotten on her nerves at the beginning of the week and Jane's temper wouldn't let her refrain from the act she was about to commit.
Motioning for the bartender to meet her at the other end of the bar, Jane got off her stool and sauntered over to the couple. Standing right behind them, Jane made note that Dr Isles had yet to realise that she was there, she smirked as she noticed the doctor look up in the direction that Jane was and look around to try and spot her. Getting the bartender's attention Jane made her presence known by talking over the two, "Yeah I'll have another one of those." Jane could see the doctor tense in front of her as the blonde realised that the person that she was looking for was right behind her. As the shot was passed over the two people, Jane made sure to reach over and bump into Ian, "Hey, sorry man." She hadn't been too gentle while bumping into him and the doctor noticed this. Ian looked round at Jane, squinting his eyes.
"Nah, it's fine- Jane? Er I mean Lieutenant Rizzoli?" Suddenly Ian stood up and gave her a pathetic excuse for a salute. Jane only scoffed at him and gave him a relaxed salute.
"Still getting in my way, pain in the ass." Ian smirked and Jane wanted to wipe that smirk off his face, but was interrupted with Dr Isles' slight intake of breath. Jane turned around and did a victory dance in her head when she saw the look on the normally calm Chief Medical Officer's face; Dr Isles' face was slightly red and her eyes and mouth were wide open.
"You-You two know each other?" The doctor squeaked out. Jane quickly downed her drink, as Ian nodded at the doctor's question. Jane became confused as she noticed that the doctor turned and looked at her elongated neck as Jane threw her head back while taking the shot.
"So pain in the ass, wanna go around of Euchre? Because I wanna see you lose like the last times we played." Jane had asked the bartender for a pack of cards and more drinks. Ian laughed and cockily stood up.
"Erm I'm going to go." Jane was confused by the doctor's want to leave as she was here with Ian.
"No, Dr. Isles. I think Ian needs all the support he can get." Jane noticed the way the doctor looked down at the ground when Jane said those words.
"Jane- you don't underst-"
"Hey, babe." Both women turned at the interruption, Riley came sauntering up and grabbed Jane around her neck, pulling her down into an open mouth kiss. Riley's tongue entered Jane's mouth, evoking a surprised gasp from the Lieutenant. Finally Jane was able to pull away to see the doctor blushing and looking right at Riley. Jane realised that Frost, Korsak and Frankie were walking towards them.
"Hey guys, I'm gonna show you a real card game. Not like any of your pussy games." Jane winked at the men and they laughed. Jane looked over and was surprised that the doctor was still staring at Riley and before the girl clinging to her arm noticed, Jane introduced the guys to her boss. They all shook hands and Frankie and Frost looked at Jane and put their thumbs up at her and winking motioned towards the doctor and then Jane. The Lieutenant rolled her eyes and before she could speak she was interrupted by Ian informing everyone that the game was set up.
As the game went on, more and more people from the bar came and surrounding them joining in with the cheering. Jane and Ian's table was filled with cards, shots and bottles of beer, as the Lieutenant looked up she realised that the doctor wasn't standing behind Ian like Riley was doing with her and instead Dr Isles was standing in the middle, looking intently at the game, Jane guessed that she was trying to work out the rules. Jane started to get tired of Riley's need to touch her as the fifth time in that set, Riley leant down and gave her a sloppy kiss on her neck.
After 3 sets, Jane had won 2 and effectively won the game. Everyone cheered and Frankie and Frost joined in with Jane's celebrations. Korsak moved over to the CMO, and as they watched the group somewhat play fighting and dancing, Korsak started to speak "So you like our Janie?" Dr Isles was taken aback by Vince's question,
"Well yes she is an efficient employee and the patients are relieved by her presence." Korsak simply looked at the doctor,
"You know that's not what I meant." The CMO was speechless at this man's forwardness however she had always preferred people who spoke their mind instead of using sarcasm to hide behind, she found the whole pretence of sarcasm confusing.
"Vince, I apologise however I wouldn't even class Jane and I to be friends, we are merely colleagues." The doctor sighed at the truth, she had never really had a friend. Always socially awkward she had found it hard to connect with anyone.
"I know, Janie's a handful, but she's loyal and protective and even soft under that hard exterior, but don't tell her I told you that." Korsak leant over and nudged the doctor, enticing a laugh from the blonde.
At the sound of the laughter, Jane turned around and noticed the blonde with her head slightly back laughing at what Korsak had said. Jane automatically smiled at the rarity of this woman who never showed much emotion to be carelessly laughing.
Jane walked over to the doctor by the bar and Korsak winked at her before going over to the guys. Jane leant over and grabbed a beer bottle, waving a £5 note at the bartender, earning a 'forget about it' gesture earning a signature Jane Rizzoli grin. The doctor watched the interaction and looked at the bottle in Jane's hand, ignoring the urge to stare at how the Lieutenant's eyes gleamed when she smiled. "You must have a very high alcohol tolerance, you've had more than your brother and friends combined and you're not showing any signs of being inebriated." Jane turned around so she was facing the doctor, leaning on the bar she replied,
"Well, Doctor Isles. Six years in the navy does that to you." Jane realised that the doctor was acting similar to the morning that they met instead of the cold and harsh woman that she had met in her office.
"Maura." Jane looked quizzically at the doctor. "My name is Maura, not just Dr Isles." Jane understood and started to laugh. Maura looked at her with a hurt look, "You find that my name is humorous?" Jane suddenly stopped laughing, looking sincere.
"No! It's just that I knew your name. I did my homework." Jane took a sip of her beer, watching Maura's reaction. Maura seemed to be considering something as she looked off into the distance.
"Why do you insist on calling me Dr Isles if you already knew my name?" Jane smiled.
"Well, I didn't realise that you wanted me to call you by your first name, because we're not even friends just work colleagues, aren't we?" Jane replayed Maura's words from earlier earning a slightly embarrassed look from the doctor.
"You heard all of it?" Jane laughed and took a swig of her beer, before she could answer Maura, Ian walked up to Jane and leant in towards her ear,
"if you want to go for round two or maybe just a drink, call me." Jane abruptly stood back and saw the smirk and wink that was sent her way, wasn't he here with the Maura? Did he just ask her out on a date? Before Jane could respond, preferably by punching this man in the jaw, he thrust his card towards her
"No, man. I'm good." He leant closer, so close Jane could smell his musky smell that repelled her, he roughly pushed the card in her back pocket groping her ass in the process.
"Fuck babe. You're so fucking hot." Ian's breath was hot on her ear and he smelled strongly of alcohol. Jane looked up at him in disgust and when he made no move to remove his hand, Jane looked to her right and found the hazel eyes she was looking for; she expected anger in them however all Jane saw was the same emptiness and coldness that she saw on her first day at the hospital. Suddenly she realised that this bastard had moved closer to her and was now slightly rubbing his groin into her front while grabbing her ass painfully hard. All Jane could see was red and suddenly she pulled Ian's hand out her pocket and twisted it sharply behind his back, turning him around quickly. The commotion had earned the attention of most of the occupants in the bar. Ian was fighting against her, "You like it rough, huh? Oh baby I could give it to you rough." Jane twisted his arm further, earning a yell of pain.
"Yeah I bet you could." He reached his other hand round and cupped her sex through her jeans and that was the last straw, she shoved him forward, slamming his head into the bar top. "Rizzoli! You know the drill, take your business outside." The bartender said calmly as he had witnessed this many times before. Jane shoved Ian out onto the street and was followed by Frankie, Frost, Korsak, Riley and a few curious spectators. Suddenly Jane remembered Maura and turned around and saw that Maura didn't seem angry with Jane instead angry with Ian who was still shouting profanity about what he was going to do to Jane. Jane made a mistake by taking her eyes off the man, because suddenly he had rushed at Maura pinning her up against the wall, with his hands around her throat.
"Jane!" Maura was able to speak out until Ian closed his hands around her neck, cutting off her air supply. Jane didn't even think and acted on the instinct that she had used many times out on the field. Frankie, Frost and Korsak were rushing over but Jane was faster, she kicked Ian behind the knee, effectively forcing him to collapse and kicked him just under the ribcage, winding him. As she did this it allowed Ian's grip on Maura to lessen and for Jane to pull her out the way. Maura clung to Jane however suddenly Jane pushed Maura out the way and into the safety towards Korsak and the other two. Ian had started to charge at the two woman and by pushing Maura out of the way Jane put herself in the way and was tackled and pinned to the ground.
Jane heard her group of friends shout her name and as she looked over she saw Frost and Frankie running towards her and Korsak holding Maura from doing the same. Riley was standing nervously at the back, probably thinking of running away. Jane should've been watching the man above her and because she wasn't she didn't see the punch coming. A sharp pain rushed through Jane's nose and to the rest of her face, she felt blood dripping out. Jane had had enough of playing around, she placed her hands on both of his shoulders and locked them at the elbow, Ian tried to push her off put he wasn't able to push down, next Jane slid upwards placing her leg on his hip and then she moved her hands down to his elbows and then put her other leg on his other hip, Ian realised he was stuck and started to pull away. In doing so, Jane's hands went down to hold his wrists tight and she moved her legs up and kicked him hard under his chin, effectively knocking his head backwards sharply.
It all happened in a matter of seconds and by the time Frost and Frankie got there Jane was on her feet and pinning Ian on the ground. Frost threw a pair of handcuffs towards Jane and she caught them and efficiently handcuffed the bastard. She pulled him up and due to him being slightly dazed he didn't put up a fight. Jane handed him over to Frost who placed him in the police car that had just arrived after someone had obviously dialled 999.
After the crowd died down after cheering Jane, Frankie was sworn not to tell their Ma about this and he finally left with Frost and Korsak. That left Jane, Maura and Riley. "Babe, you were so hot and I'm so proud that you're mine." Riley blatantly pushed Maura out the way and smothering Jane with kisses, not being careful with her nose.
"Ow, jheeze Riley. We slept together a couple of times months ago, I am not yours, I wasn't really ever yours, now please do me the decency of laying off." Riley was taken aback by the Lieutenant's words. Riley took a step back and slapped Jane in the already aching face. "What the fuck, Riley?!" The girl didn't answer her question and strutted off with her head held high. "She's bat shit crazy." Jane said while holding her cheek. Jane looked up and was surprised to see Maura holding back a laugh.
"I'm sorry, but it's just the fact that you just realised that." Suddenly they were both laughing. They knew that they both should talk about what happened but they were still high on their adrenaline.
"Care for me to walk you home, Chief Medical Officer Isles?" Maura shook her head at the name.
"It's only a few blocks away, Lt. Rizzoli." Jane waved her off and started walking with her hands in her pockets. She stopped and looked over her shoulder, motioning with her head for Maura to come with her. The doctor sighed and smiled, jogging slightly to catch up.
The two women walked in comfortable silence all the way to Maura's house, Jane leant against the wall next to the door while Maura unlocked it. "Thank you, for what you did for me tonight, Jane." Maura watched as Jane shrugged and gave her a wink and smiled before walking down the pathway to the front gate and as Jane opened open the gate, the adrenaline and energy suddenly rushed out of her and she felt every scratch and bruise on her body, she suddenly slumped over the gate holding her head in her hand. She heard Maura's distinctive tapping of heels on the ground as she ran over and carried some of Jane's weight by putting her arm over her shoulder. Walking her up to her house, Jane didn't miss the déjà vu.
"Haven't we already done this before?" Maura chuckled as she closed the door behind her and gently dropping Jane on the sofa.
"Yes well, I won't be undressing you this time." Both Jane and Maura started to laugh.
"Because you still haven't bought me dinner." Maura stopped laughing and Jane looked over to see a serious look on the doctor's face. "I was only joking-" She was interrupted by Maura leaning over and gently holding her chin. For some strange reason Jane thought that the doctor was going to kiss her but then she felt a sharp burning pain run through the top of her nose. "Fuck! What did you just do?" Jane yelped as she held her nose.
"Language, Jane. I should've warned you beforehand that it would hurt a little. It was a hairline fracture and I just pushed it back into its rightful location." Maura said in a calm voice, she walked over and grabbed a bottle of wine and two glasses and a wet cloth and ice to give to Jane.
"A little? Maur, really?" Maura stopped walking at the sound of the nickname that nobody had ever given her before. She smiled, placed the bottle and glasses on the coffee table in front of them and poured them each a glass. She handed Jane the glass and ice bag and sipped from her own wine glass. Jane nodded her thanks and placing the ice bag on her nose she drank all her wine in one swig. Maura gasped and Jane shrugged innocently, "the Navy," was all Jane had to say and the doctor only shook her head and sighed. "So you wanna tell me what you were doing with that arrogant bastard in the first place?" Maura sharply turned her head towards the Lieutenant, expecting Jane to be ashamed of her, however the raven-haired woman only had a look of concern and curiosity on her face. Jane's body was casually turned towards Maura, however not making Maura feel imposed on and instead allowing her to feel that Jane was just interested. The CMO sighed, sipping her wine and placing her glass on the coffee table, tucking her leg under her leg, effectively turning her body towards the Lieutenant. Jane had waited impatiently as Maura prepared herself, not wanting to overwhelm the doctor.
"It wasn't what it looked like, actually, I don't know what it looked like from your point of view because I only saw it from my point of view. However as much as I hate assuming, I would guess that you thought that I was on a date with Ian." Maura stopped and looked at Jane for confirmation that her guess was correct, Jane nodded and Maura continued, "Ian and I met 7 years ago, it was a whirlwind romance of such. He always seemed to be coming and going, and when he went I felt heartbroken and told myself that I deserved better, however when he came back from Afghanistan I forgot all about my morals and jumped straight back into bed with him. Eventually he asked me to marry him and told me that if I said yes he would stay and work locally. I was ecstatic, and obviously said yes, wanting him to be around all the time. I was naive. After 3 years of marriage full of empty promises of leaving the field and coming home I realised that I was married to a man I barely saw. I told him that I was unhappy and lonely and he came running. I really thought we had a chance, he moved in and for months we rekindled our relationship. After those first few months, the sexual desire dwindled like it does with many couples and afterwards we both seemed to drift apart again due to having a lack of emotional connection. We both misinterpreted the sexual desire for love or at least an emotional bond. However, we both ignored the fact that we had no spark left and we carried on with the facade and acted like a loving married couple. It actually worked efficiently as we both became consumed in our jobs, until I came home early one day and found Ian in bed with another woman. It should've broken my heart but all I felt was coldness towards this man that I pretended to love. He begged for my forgiveness saying that he had made a mistake and for days I was filled with emptiness and was desolate towards him. He started to resent me and told me that I was the reason that he had cheated and I found out that he had been involved with three other woman including the one I caught him with. I turned angry and we fought for hours... he he hit me-"
Maura choked the words out, angrily wiping away traitorous tears that had fallen. Jane clenched her fists at the thought of that bastard hitting Maura, the Lieutenant placed the ice bag on the table and gently placed a hand on the doctor's leg and as Maura looked at her; Jane smiled, encouraging her to continue. "I always thought that he was a kind man who would never lay a hand on anyone let alone his own wife. I threw the word 'divorce' at him and he stormed out. After that we filed the divorce papers and he became my ex-husband in a matter of days. I hadn't seen him in months until tonight. He had phoned me at the beginning of the week talking about money and how he had none of it. I told him that I wanted nothing to do with him and he begged and begged until my stupid self gave him half an hour to talk to me in a public place."
Jane was listening quietly throughout the doctor's explanation and felt both sympathy for Maura and anger at Ian and she was glad that she had beat the crap out of him. Jane felt ashamed at herself for trying to mess with the doctor's night with her 'date' and forcing her to stay in the same room as Ian for longer. Maura realised what Jane was thinking and placed her hand on the Lieutenant's cheek, turning her face towards her own. "I'm glad you came over to us tonight, I did enjoy myself and you did save me when he attacked me and therefore I am extremely grateful towards you, Jane." Jane closed her eyes and sighed at the contact however realising that this was her boss she moved her head away and coughed.
"You're welcome, Maura. I should really be getting home." Maura quickly retracted her hand and placing both hands on her own lap.
"Oh no, Jane. It's too late and you're exhausted. Stay here tonight, I don't mind. It's the least I can to say thank you." Jane was about to refuse out of politeness, however a stern look from the doctor told her that she wouldn't be able to change Maura's mind. Jane nodded and said her thanks, Maura smiled and helped Jane up the stairs to her guest room. The Lieutenant gasped at the spacious guest room that was well furnished with an expensive and comfortable looking bed. Maura left to get some comfortable jogging bottoms and a loose fitting top for Jane to sleep in. After Jane was settled, they said their goodnights and Maura left to go to her own room.