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Chapter 3- Boston Strangler Redux

"You better bring it today Janie….Drugs have their ace on the mound," Joe said pretending to warm up his throwing shoulder.

"Don't call me Janie….and don't worry unlike you who has trouble getting to first base," she paused making sure he picked up on the double meaning, "I will hit a home run every time," she said with a smirk.

"I didn't hear any complaints getting to first base," he said wrapping his arms around her giving her neck a kiss," or second base," he said giving the other side of her neck a kiss, "or third base," he said he hands sliding down to her ass.

"I would move those hands if you want to make it out of the dugout ever again."

Joe laughed and held his hands up in defense and backed away slowly.

"All right…all right care to make a friendly wager?"

"What are you thinking," she asked interested?

"Well….if I strike you out I get a back massage…and if our team wins I get a foot rub too," he said happy with his bet.

"All right and when I get a hit off you, you give me a back massage and when we win you take me away for a weekend on the cape."

"Well that's just not fair."

"Why not?"

"You're making me want to lose the game," he said with a smile.

Jane couldn't help but laugh.

"So is it a bet?"

"Yeah, it's a bet."

"Easy out here," she heard as she approached the plate.

"Come on Jane wait for the one you like," Frankie yelled from on third base.

"Let's go Jane," Maura shouted her encouragement.

"You ready Janie," Grant teased.

"Don't call me Janie," she spat back.

"Ok Janie."

"He's calling you whatever he wants," Crowe tease from behind the plate

"And you're a traitor."

"And you're a choker."

"Yeah I'm handling your cheap cologne over here."

"Ohhh good cut Jane," Korsak yelled.

"My grandmother could have hit that ball," Crowe again needled her.

"Your grandma has balls."

Janie couldn't help but roll her eyes a little as Maura yelled from the stands. Sometimes that woman just drove her nuts but she still loved her. Thankfully some guy grabbed Maura's attention and Jane stepped back into the batter's box.

The next pitch in Jane made contact but it was a pop fly to the short stop and she was out. Jane rolled her eyes again as Joe winked at her on the way back to the bench.

"That's just one at bat," she whispered on her way by.

Maura was up next, really it should have been Korsak but try telling that to Maura. Jane was actually a little surprised when she got a solid hit, but what really shocked her was the body that fell in left field. Everyone ran out to see what was going on and she knew it was going to be a long day.

After everything was taking care of at the field they all headed back to the office to try and figure out who this girl was and how she ended up in the left field of their game. Korsak was laying on his desk when Jane walked in and asked what was going on. He had passed his sergeants exam but again was passed up. It sucked, she knew Korsak was a great man for the job but just because he didn't kiss a little bass he was passed over for other brown noser's. Then what she knew was going to be a bad day was about to get worse.

"You lost Joey," Jane asked surprised to see him in her unit and in a suit.

"Can I talk to you for a second detective Rizzoli?"

Korsak watched the two with interest wondering what was going on. Jane did not look happy at all as she talked to Joe Grant and he had a smug expression letting everyone else know he had the upper hand.

"I'm your new Lieutenant."

Jane felt like she was punched in the gut. He was promoted to Lieutenant and he didn't even tell her until this moment standing in the squad room with everyone around. Joe knew this was going to be bad but hoped she wouldn't make a total scene here.

"Right because you got juice."

And before he could say anything else she stormed out of the room. Joe knew he was in the dog house now but tried to keep it professional. He should have told her sooner but he was only told this morning that he officially got the job. He was going to tell her later since this was her day off but then a body was literally dumped into her lap and he hadn't been able to talk to her before he reported. He knew there was no way Jane would care or even let him get out the bad excuse of wanting to tell her tonight but they were interrupted so he was going to have to weather the storm that was Hurricane Rizzoli.

Jane was beyond mad. What the hell was going on? Joe was her new Lieutenant. He hadn't even mentioned going for the job let alone actually getting it. Jane was so mad she was pacing in the small confines of the elevator on her way down to the morgue. She even went so far as to punch one of the walls. The stinging in her hand immediately made her realize how horrible a decision that was. Taking a deep breath she tried to relax as she headed into the autopsy.

"You want to know what I am thinking," Maura said with a smile.

"You know it is so weird I do!"

"I'm thinking I know why you're making such a big deal out of that fact that Grants your new boss."

"I don't want to know what you're thinking," she said quickly retracting her previous statement.

"You like each other."

"Nooooo…..you know what the ass used to call me….frog face."

Maura couldn't help but chuckle thinking about a young Jane and Joe Grant as kids fighting.

"It's not funny I am not a frog face."

"No…it's not funny," Maura said seeing how upset Jane was getting.

"God Grant is such an ass," Jane said really frustrated with everything right now.

"You know I have an hour before dinner with my hot new guy….

"Oh it's Gnocchi night I have to go," Jane said running out the door.

With all the crap going on with Joe Jane almost forgot family dinner and she really wanted to learn how to make her grandmother's gnocchi's. Most people probably assumed she ate TV dinners all the time but she was actually a very good cook thanks to her mother.

Jane looked down at her phone as it started to vibrate. Joe Grant's name appeared on the screen and for the third time since leaving the office she sent her phone to voicemail. She didn't really care if he was her new boss and he might have wanted her for something work related. Odds are it was not work related and even if it was he could call Frost who would then call her.

When she walked into her apartment Jo Friday immediately greeted her. She had to admit she loved this little dog, although she would never tell Korsak that. Even on her worst days coming home to Jo Friday always made her smile. It helped that her family was there too. Sure they drove her up the wall sometimes but she loved them.

Her family time was cut short when another strangling was called in. She really didn't like two strangling in one day. After talking with Korsak Jane was convinced the Boston Strangler was back in action. She knew she was going to have to go to Grant and tell him where the case was headed but she really did not want to talk time him yet. They clearly needed to talk outside of work but with this current case she knew they wouldn't have time until later. Until then she was going to have to man up and make this work.

"Jane," Grant said surprised to see her in his office. "You haven't returned any of my calls."

"I think the Boston strangler is back."

"Excuse me?"

"I think the Boston Strangler is back."

"You mean to tell me after 40 years the guy is back."

"Maybe yeah."

"How is that possible detective? He's dead!"

Jane took a breath to try and relax and keep herself from jumping over Joey's desk and doing a little strangling of her own.

"No the guy that confessed is dead…what if…what if he didn't really do it and this whole time the guy who did was behind bars and now he is out."

Jane could see Joey wasn't going for it. She had never felt more frustrated in her whole life with a single person. This man was personally torturing her and professionally being a brass kissing ass.

"Track the time line…the killings stopped after he went to jail and started up two days ago."

"No…it's a different guy."

"It's the same M.O…..come on he is practically yelling I'M BACK!"

"I'm telling you these new murders have nothing to do with the Boston Strangler. I don't even want to hear that name again."

Jane gave him a death stare.

"I liked the guy better that cared more about the people then the politics. Are you the brass kisser now Joey because if this is how it is going to be we are going to have to redefine our relationship."

Joe didn't even know what to say to that. Did she want to break up with him? How had this day just gotten so out of hand? After his door slammed he knew he needed to get out of this office for a minute. Being Lieutenant was bringing new challenges he didn't think it was going to turn his life upside down. Clearly he hadn't thought through everything this really entailed.

Jane was almost glad to have this case on her desk as it gave her something to distract her from the butthead she was currently dating. She was trying to give Joe a chance but it seemed like every time he had a chance to redeem himself he proved to be a total toolbag again. First he didn't think this case had anything to do with the Boston Strangler, then he was shooting down all her ideas to go after this crazy killer and when they thought they had killer he set up a task for to go in for the arrest taking it from her.

She was internally thrilled when Joe ended up arresting the wrong man and Rizzoli got her guy in the end. She didn't however like the fact that it was an ex cop who just couldn't let go of the case so he killed again to frame the guy he thought was the original Boston strangler or the fact that Maura was held at gun point. This night definitely called for a drink.

"Hey did you ever talk to Marfin man," Jane asked sitting across the table from her best friend in their usual bar.

"Yes he called to thank me. He found a specialist…and international expert actually."

"You gonna see if again?"

"No, I don't date patient."

Jane laughed trying to hold down the sip of beer she just took.

"You don't want to date him because he has some weird ass disease."

"His limbs are a little spidery but that's not the only reason."

"Come on…you gotta stop that you gotta stop diagnosing everyone."

"….can we just talk about your love life."

While Jane was technically still dating Joe she figured it was only a matter of time before they broke up if today was any indication.

"All right…I date two types….the type that hates that I am a cop and the type that wants to use the hand cuffs….kay watch this….three…two…one…..shizam," she said holding up her badge as seeing the guy that was about to hit on her walk away. "And he likes the handcuffs ok see."

Jane turned to see Joe Grant walking in.

"Ohhh yay."

"Good job Rizzoli."

"Yeah well while Kenney was trying to kill Dr. Isles over here I was trying to find you so you could have that arrest too."

"I owe you a massive apology, I'm sorry."

"Yeah I can tell by the nasty look on your face."

"Ohh that's not his fault he has blisters."

"Can I sit down?"

"Yes," Maura quickly jumped in.

"I'm sorry we got off to such a rough start on our first case…..and I wasn't cheating off you."

"I saw you looking at it."

"You saw me looking but I wasn't looking at your paper," he said finally admitting it for the first time.

Maura was shocked and with a big smile on her face winked at Jane.

"You know what I have an early morning….Joe you will make sure Jane gets home right."

"Yeah no problem."

Jane was giving her friend a pleading look but to no avail. Maura slid out of the booth and Joe sat back down after her.

"Just because Maura welcomed you doesn't mean I do," she said taking another big gulp of her beer. "You can take your big boy shoes and your blisters and go home."

"I can't…I promised the Dr. I would make sure you got home ok."

"Oh so now you suddenly care about me."

Joe dropped his head knowing this was coming.

"I said I was sorry Jane about today and the case. There are going to be some growing pains with this new roll and hopefully today was the worst of it."

"Ohh I haven't even gotten to today yet…let's start with why the hell you didn't tell me you were even applying for this job?"

"I put the papers in right around the time we first started dating…you know just to have them in and see where I stand in getting a promotion. There weren't any jobs at the time and while I was qualified since there were no jobs open I just forgot about it. This whole Lieutenant thing just kind of happened. I have done a couple acting jobs since then and this job opened and I was promoted. I only found out about it about an hour before you did. When I arrived back at the station it all happened and you were still out processing the crime scene."

"You couldn't have sent me a text saying hey we need to talk."

"I didn't think a text was the best way to do it."

"Oh and in the middle of the station with everyone around way? Damn Joey I felt like I was punched in the gut when you told me that."

"I am sorry…I didn't want it to come out that way at all. I thought you would be at the crime scene longer and we could talk in private."

"And how would that conversation go? Oohh by the way I am your boss now? And since I'm your boss now I am going to guess your every move and kiss more brass."

"You are right…I didn't handle it well."

"That would be an understatement Joe. I am not sure you handled anything well recently. If you want to focus on your career that is fine I get it really….we can go our separate ways."

Joe got out of the booth and slid in next to Jane. He turned towards her and took her hand under the table knowing other cops liked to come here to but needing to be close to her.

"I do not want to lose you. It took me far too long to get you in my life and I am not about to blow it over a job. I promise we can work through this….I don't plan on staying in this roll long anyway….not when we clash so much."

"You're getting another job?"

"While I think we can work through the issues we had today I know we will butt heads again and I don't want that coming between us. When another job opens up I am going to ask to be moved…besides I know with my ace detective making me look good I shouldn't have a problem," he said with a smile.

Jane smiled and gave him a gentle shove.

"You don't have to move Joey…your right we can work through this. Today with everything going on and not really being able to talk to you I just wasn't easy or open to working with you."

"I can agree with that."

"Hey you weren't a peach either."

"I can agree with that too. I was so worried about my first real case and what the people upstairs were going to think…I just stopped using common sense and trusting my good detectives."

"I believe the word is ACE detective."

"Can we get out of here?"

"Sure….besides you own me a back massage."

Joe laughed as he helped Jane out of the booth.

"You never got a hit off me."

"I hit the ball."

"Someone caught it that doesn't count as a hit."

"Well you didn't strike me out….besides if I win you have to hold up the whole deal…the massage and the trip out of town."

Jane looked back and smiled as she started to leave the bar. Joe quickly recovered and caught up to her.

"So how about that massage," he said with a smile.