Notes: I want to thank everyone for all the reviews, I welcome any comments and suggestions about possible directions for the story.
CH 8: Coerced Discretion
"Big night tonight Rizzoli!" Korsak said as he strolled into squad room, chocolate éclair in hand and a small white bag from the bakery in the other.
Jane grunted, and then looked at Korsak her mouth slightly agape as she watched him chomp off a sizable bite of his pastry some of the cream filling lingering on his upper lip. She laughed, shaking her head, "How do you eat that for breakfast?"
"What! In that case I won't offer you one of the extras…Hey Frost you want an éclair?"
"Hell yes" Frost jumped up from his chair and wasted no time rooting through the bakery bag like a half-starved street urchin.
"Oh..oh this is good…mmm."
"Frost, do you and the pastry need some alone time?" Jane joked.
"For this pastry…yeah, I might. Anyway, got your blues all ironed and spit shined yet Rizzoli?"
Jane cocked her head, squinting one eye and raising an eyebrow, "What is this word…iron…you speak of?"
Maura caught Jane's comment as she entered the squad room with some reports, "Did you know the electric iron was invented in 1882? Though the practice dates back much further, artistic depictions of clothes and other fabrics being ironed have been discovered in ancient Chinese archaeological finds from as far back as 1000 years ago. Maybe it's a practice you should look into Jane" she concluded with a sly smile and a wink.
"Doc, did you just make a joke?" Korsak laughed as he said it.
Maura stood her hands clasped behind her back, rocking slightly on her toes as she smiled with a gloating satisfaction.
"Éclair Doc?" Korsak asked offering the pasty bag in her direction.
"Ooh! Yummy!" Maura delicately pulled the last éclair from the bag and took a dainty bite, her eyes lighting up with delight.
"What the…Miss granola oats and organic bananas for breakfast eating a cream-filled chocolate covered pastry at 8:30 in the morning!" Jane teasingly chastised.
"But…it's from Au Beurre Chaud…" Maura said sheepishly as she took another nibble.
"I've never seen you in your dress uniform" Maura stated as her eyes roamed lasciviously over Jane's strapping form. She folded one leg under herself as she sat down on the edge of Jane's bed.
Jane smiled, "One of the benefits of being a detective, every day is casual Friday."
She paused filling her eyes with the sight of Maura in only a pair of black lace boyshorts and matching strapless bra, "Yeah, I like your outfit too Maur."
Maura laughed as she leaned back on her elbows still eyeing Jane seductively.
"Damn, Maur, you really got a thing for uniforms huh?"
"I think you look incredibly sexy."
Jane walked tantalizingly slow towards her girlfriend, "I always suspected you might have a thing for the handcuffs…" Jane placed one knee on the bed and lowered herself down pressing Maura all the way back on the bed pinning her wrists down in the process. She let her lips graze Maura's but didn't kiss her though Maura's lips parted expectantly anticipating being consumed by Jane's mouth. Instead Jane hovered just out of reach, her breath lightly teasing Maura's skin.
Two can play at this game, Maura thought as she moved her foot up the inside of Jane's leg pressing her knee into Jane's crotch. "Jane" she said breathily.
"Hmmm" Jane purred in return.
"You're going to wrinkle your uniform."
Jane's head snapped forward to the sight of Maura once again smiling proudly at her flowering sense of humor, "Just for that, no handcuffs for you later."
Maura chuckled as she popped off the bed to retrieve her garment bag and shoebox and retreated to the bathroom. She returned a few moments later wearing an off the shoulder shimmering satin bronze dress that hugged her curves and fell a couple of inches above her knees. The outfit was completed with a strappy pair of open-toed black stilettos that laced over the top of the foot with chiffon, which Maura had tied into perfect little bows around her ankles.
"I take back my previous statement, when we get home…handcuffs, baton, tazer whatever you want…" Jane said as she stared dumbfounded at the statuesque image before her, "…You look…wow…stunning."
"Your family's coming right?" Maura asked as she and Jane entered the Boston Harbor Hotel where the award presentation and reception were being held.
"Yeah, but don't worry I made it abundantly clear in no uncertain terms that Tommy was not invited. Not that I imagine my ex-con brother would choose to spend his evening in the company of a hundred or so cops" Jane smiled at Maura reassuringly and squeezed her hand.
The rented out ballroom was already filling with officers all decked out in their uniforms.
"Oh my God" Jane whispered to Maura, "Look at Korsak, I think the last time he wore a dress uni was several years and even more pounds ago." She chuckled as she said.
"Jane! Be nice." Maura did have a hard time not cracking a smile as she eyed Korsak in his strained blues.
"Rizzoli, a moment" Lt. Cavanaugh beckoned for Jane to join him. "Listen Detective, the Commissioner invited members of the city council, there's someone here from the Herald and a couple of the local news stations…"
"Is this your way of telling me not to get drunk and make a scene Lt?" Jane joked.
Cavanaugh glanced past Jane to look at Maura who was now standing with Frankie, Frost, Korsak and Jane's parents. Jane turned her head and followed Cavanaugh's gaze causing her jovial demeanor to fall more solemn.
"Look, you and Dr. Isles are…involved, and the personal lives of my officers aren't really any of my business what you do in your bedroom and who you do with it is none of my concern. However, with prominent members of the city and media here the Commissioner asked that I approach you about…" Cavanaugh pursed his lips and clenched his jaw his face becoming slightly red. He shifted around uncomfortably as he continued, "…about being discreet in your interaction with Dr. Isles tonight."
The request made Jane uncomfortable, but this was a request directly from the Police Commissioner, "Understood Sir."
Jane walked over to where her parents were standing, "I've got to do some hand-shaking rounds or something so, Maura you'll sit with Ma and Pop and I'll catch up with all of you at the reception."
The actual presentation by the Commissioner was relatively short, much to Jane's relief. She walked across the stage to a standing ovation from the audience and the flashing bulbs of the Herald and camera lights from the tv stations. The Commissioner motioned towards the podium and Jane's heart skipped a beat, several beats. She walked hesitantly to the microphone. I guess Korsak and the guys get their speech after all.
"I…wasn't aware an acceptance speech was expected" She laughed nervously as she said it but was rewarded with laughter from the audience as well. "I would like to thank the Commissioner and the Boston Police Department for this award, it is truly an honor to receive it and to serve this city in the company of what I'm sure is one of the finest groups of officers to be found. I would also like to thank all of the other officers and personnel that took action that day, including my brother Frankie Rizzoli and Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Maura Isles. Most of all, this belongs to the officers we lost, but who we'll never forget. Thank you."
The Commissioner returned to the microphone, shaking Jane's hand again, "That concludes our award presentation, but please join us for a reception and what looks like a nice spread of food and beverages."
After the obligatory posed photo with the Commissioner, and then one where the Commissioner insisted Frankie and Maura join them, in which Jane thought she did a deft job of maneuvering so that she and Maura were not standing together she immediately busied herself with a few interviews followed by accepting congratulations from the higher ups of the force and the city council members in attendance. It was a social event and she was the guest of honor, she hoped Maura wouldn't think her behavior odd. But her avoidance only worked for so long before her parents with Frankie and Maura in tow located her.
Maura walked up next to Jane and placed her hand on Jane's arm, "You've been quite busy!"
"Heh, yeah" Jane stiffened as she noticed the Herald photographer approaching them. She shifted in an attempt to casually separate her arm from Maura's hand but she was instantly aware that her movement had probably come across as jerking away.
"Detective, a picture of you with your family?" The photographer asked.
Jane turned away from Maura and positioned herself between her parents with Frankie standing next to their mother. Maura quietly slipped away.
They spent the car ride home in silence. Every so often Jane glanced at Maura, but Maura spent the entire trip staring out the passenger side window.
As they entered Jane's apartment Maura walked to the counter and retrieved her car keys and turned to head back out the door.
Oh shit. "Maur, where are you going?" Jane stayed planted in front of the door to block Maura's exit.
"Back to my house."
"Maura, let me explain…"
"I don't want to hear you explain, I want to go home. Please move." As Maura said it her voice cracked, tears welling up in her eyes.
Jane crossed her arms, "No."
Maura's lip began to quiver and suddenly a stream of tears started trickling down her face. She turned and retreated to Jane's bedroom slamming the door behind her.
Jesus H. Christ. Jane followed her back to the bedroom but found the door locked, did she just lock me out of my own damn bedroom? "Really Maura! I had a lot of people I had to talk to and meet tonight, I'm sorry that I couldn't be more attentive to you…" Even as she said it she was embarrassed of her own feeble attempt to explain away her behavior.
The door swung open, "I am not an idiot! You actively avoided me all night, you didn't want to stand near me, you practically ripped your arm away from me when I tried to touch you. You promised me when we started this that you were not embarrassed of me and that we would be open. If you're having second thoughts about this I wish that you would tell me now."
Jane tensed, "Don't you think you're being a little melodramatic Maura? For Christ's sake I've told my parents, my brothers, I'm the one that's told everyone in our immediate work circle. Who have you been so open with, Maura, huh? You haven't even told your damn parents about us!" Jane had retreated into defensiveness and by the end of her rant she was all out yelling.
Maura slammed the door in her face and locked it again.
"Un-fucking-real!" Jane stomped back to the living room. She started stripping off her uniform piling it in one of the chairs until she was wearing only her underwear and undershirt. Jane retrieved a beer from the fridge and flopped onto the sofa. She guzzled half of it down angrily; trying to process who she was really angry at Jane realized she was really angry at herself. Fuck, I really messed that up.
Jane heard the bedroom door open and soon Maura emerged in her pajamas. She joined Jane on the sofa, her face puffy and flushed from crying.
"You're right" Maura said, "I'm being a hypocrite. I'm the one that insisted we be open about this from the start and I've let you bear the burden of actually making it open. Tonight, just really hurt my feelings, I wanted to be there with you and then it felt like you were embarrassed to be seen with me."
Jane set her beer down on the table, "Maur, I'm really sorry about tonight." Jane turned on the sofa crossing her legs and facing Maura, "Look at me please" she reached her hand out offering it to Maura. Maura took it and scooted back on the sofa to face Jane.
Jane looked down at Maura's hand, tightening her grip on it and lightly stroking Maura's forearm down to her wrist, "There is nothing about you that embarrasses me when it comes to you being my girlfriend. I love you, quirks and all. Can I tell you why I acted like that?" Maura nodded.
"When we first got there and Cavanaugh pulled me aside, he said the Commissioner was concerned about public displays of affection with members of the city council and media there, so he asked that I be discreet about our relationship. And clearly I overreacted and just all-out avoided you and that was wrong and I'm really sorry."
"You could have told me Cavanaugh and the Commissioner had those concerns. It wasn't like I was planning on molesting you in the middle of the reception."
Jane smirked, "I don't know Maur, you did seem pretty turned on by me in my uniform." Jane looked into Maura's eyes hoping her stab at a little mood-lightening humor was well received.
Maura laughed and looked away, "You did look very sexy in your uniform."
Jane reached out to place her hand on Maura's neck, letting her finger stroke lightly across the tear-stained cheek, "I am sorry, I won't do that again."
"Jane, I may have difficulty relating to people at times and I know that the nuances of social interaction are occasionally lost on me. But, I am aware that a significant portion of society does not approve of homosexuality and particularly as it relates to your work, I would never want to cause you any problems with the department's administration. I guess after the party at the Robber I just took it a little for granted, being able to express my feelings for you in public. In the future I want you to know that you can tell me if there's a situation where we need to be discreet. Promise me the next time, you'll tell me."
Jane pulled Maura towards her and placed a quick kiss on her lips, "I promise, and I promise that this was a very unusual occasion and I don't think there will be many more situations like this…I mean, as nice as the medal is and all I'd really rather not go for a repeat."
Maura smiled, crawling forward to wrap her arms around Jane as they both settled back onto the sofa. Maura resting her head on Jane's chest, "And I promise I will call my parents tomorrow and we'll plan to have them over for dinner."