Okay I am sorry! No more cliffhanger!
Thanks for all of your reviews. They really pushed me to get the next chapter written. You guys are a great audience!
I sort of just make the crime stuff up as I go along like my super awesome gang names ha ha. I do my best to research the technical stuff but I kind of just fudge it so I apologize for any inconsistencies.
And a special thanks to those who are helping to edit my story! Chapter 5 would not be possible without them.
Date Night
/
"Jesus Christ," Jane hissed as the knife cut deeply through her upper arm. Fortunately, she managed to move enough out of the way that she avoided being seriously injured. It threw the lunging man's calculations off and sent him crashing into the wall behind her. Using his stumble to her advantage, she kicked his legs out from under him, which landed him flat on his stomach. Jane shoved her boot onto the middle of his back to hold him in place.
"Drop your weapon and don't move." She growled with her gun steadily trained on him. He hesitated for a moment before the knife hit the thin carpet with a faint thump. She kicked it away sliding it under the bed. Korsak rushed in and quickly took in the scene.
"You okay Jane?" He asked worriedly.
"I am fine. He just swiped me." Jane said as she cuffed the suspect and patted him down for any concealed weapons.
"That's going to need stitches." Korsak warned. Bright red blood dripped down her to her elbow and Jane cringed as she looked upon the damage for the first time. As her adrenaline wore off the gash burned painfully.
"Shit." She winced, "Let's get him down to booking first. It'll be fine for an hour."
Korsak did not argue. He knew Jane well enough to know that a scratch was not going to stop her from finishing the job. She was like most cops, tough and hardheaded almost to a fault. Except sometimes Jane felt the need to over compensate to prove that she was just as good, just as strong as the men who dominated the field.
"Thomas Jones, you are under arrest for the murder of Christopher Williams." Jane yanked him up hard by the handcuffs. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?
"Bitch, you don't got shit on me." He tugged against his restraints.
"Yeah? Well your Bowie knife and fingerprints say otherwise." Jane shoved him out the door. "Do you understand your rights?"
"Yeah, yeah." He muttered. As they passed through the living room, blue uniforms were turning the place over for evidence.
"I got something." Someone called from the kitchen. An officer came out holding a gun carefully with gloved hands.
Jane stopped to look, "What is that? A .45?"
The portly cop nodded and she visually confirmed. Jane taunted, "Where is your normal .50 Jones? At the cleaners?"
"Fuck you." He spat and uselessly tried to shake free from her.
"I love how dumb criminals are sometimes." Jane smiled to Korsak.
"Nobody's going to say a word against Boss Jones." He said as Jane pushed him forward.
"We don't need anyone to." Jane took him down the stairs. "You left a trail of evidence a mile long. Our ME is going to nail your ass."
Her partner chortled, "Who's the boss now?"
Jones just glowered as they stepped out onto the street. The neighborhood slowly was beginning to emerge to come and watch the gang leader get carted away. A news van had pulled up while they had been inside making the arrest. A blonde reporter in a gaudy red business suit came running over with a man lugging a big camera on his shoulder.
"Do I look okay Bill?" she huffed fluffing her voluminous hair. He gave her the thumbs up and she launched into a rapid-fire speech, "This is Claire Jensen and we are on site where the notorious gang leader of the Black Cobras Thomas Jones, also known as Boss Jones, is being arrested for murdering a rival gang member. Mr. Jones do you have anything to say?"
She thrust her microphone into his face for a response. Jones simply glared and offered up expletives before Jane could force him into a police cruiser. She tapped on the hood of the car letting the officer know to drive off. The detective then turned on the reporter, "Miss, you need to get out of here."
"Detective Rizzoli, what has led you to believe that Mr. Jones is guilty?" The blonde completely ignored Jane's request now putting the microphone squarely in front of her.
"The department does not have a statement to issue at this time." She snapped and stomped away from them. She hated the press.
"Freaking vultures." Jane complained as she and Vince went to her car.
"Yeah, they only feed off human misery." He shook his head. Jane got in the driver's side and Korsak settled in the passenger's seat.
"Hey, hand me the first aid kit in my glove box."
"You have a first aid kit?" He asked surprised.
"Shut up." She snatched it from him. Jane wiped most of the blood off of her arm then rolled gauze around the cut. It bled through quickly but it would do in a pinch.
"You done primping Rizzoli? We don't want to keep out guest waiting." Korsak joked.
"I'm ready if you are." Jane sneered, "Your tie looks great with that mustard stain by the way."
"Damn it." Korsak griped as he lifted his tie to inspect the damage. Jane laughed as she drove off to the precinct.
/
Maura looked at her Cartier wristwatch. It was after 5 and she still had not heard from Jane. She had sent a text almost an hour ago asking when to meet at the Dirty Robber. The detective was normally so prompt in responding to her. Maura chewed her bottom lip nervously, her mind lingering on Jane.
The doctor's revelation last night had been jarring to say the least. She did not know how she had managed to fall asleep at all let alone right next to her object of affection with the way her brain had been flying through her catalogue of emotions. A smile crept its way onto her face as she thought about waking up next to Jane. Both women had been startled at the other's proximity but Maura had not missed the tender feeling that arose when she saw Jane first thing in the morning. The detective had a comforting presence over her. It struck her as odd because she never had really been comfortable with anyone, not even her parents. Though Maura was incredibly unsure of herself, she had felt safe with Jane as they orbited around each other in the kitchen
Maura theorized that it could be her lack of knowledge in regards to friendship that had her so confused about Jane. She had never been able to develop relationships beyond that of an acquaintance or a colleague. The girls at her boarding school had been rude and insulting when she was younger. As they aged, they at least matured enough to leave her in solitude. This had left a gaping hole in her social development. Perhaps her feeling of belonging with Jane was exaggerated by the stark contrast in her feelings of alienation from previous experiences.
Though that did not explain her physical response toward the brunette. Maura had never been attracted to a woman before. Her type usually tended to be on the side of alpha males with chiseled jaws and long extensor muscles. However, there was something magnificent about Jane, something dominant and powerful, yet graceful. Maura thought Jane's body heat pressed against her with her perfectly tousled raven hair tickling her cheeks and those wiry forearms wrapped securely around her waist. It made her dizzy just to think about it. Maura sighed. It frustrated her that she could not make any definitive conclusion. She would just have to proceed like any good scientist would with more field research, starting with drinks if Jane ever answered her text.
It was now 5:32. Maura picked up her phone and sent another message, this time to Detective Korsak inquiring about plans. It was a minute later when her phone lit up and buzzed against the glass top of her desk. She read: Can't make it to drinks tonight. Jane is hurt.
Her heart stopped. Jane was injured. In her head the brunette was lying on an operating table fighting for her life. Her olive skin turned pale with class IV hemorrhaging threatening to shut down her cardiovascular system. All thoughts left her and she grabbed her bag, numbly making her way to the elevators.
She practically staggered out onto the first floor, if Maura Isles were capable of such an uncoordinated movement. Her hand grasped her purse strap so tight her knuckles turned white as she made her way down the hall. She had no idea where she was going but she knew she had to get to Jane. The doctor was passing Homicide when she ran straight into someone.
"Sorry." Maura hardly looked up to see whom she had collided with until the other person spoke.
"Careful Maur."
Her hazel eyes shot up when she heard Jane's distinct voice, "Jane!"
"Maura!" Jane mimicked her in surprise as the blonde threw herself at the detective.
"Jane, I thought…" She trailed off unable to finish her sentence. Maura just held on trying to quell all of the emotions rushing through her. She focused on the feeling of Jane's hands splayed on her back.
"Thought what?" She asked.
"I thought you were hurt." Maura pulled away to really look her over.
"Yeah, the suspect had a knife and got me pretty good across the arm." Jane pointed to her bicep covered in a bandage with blood seeping through and turning brown, "You okay Maura?"
"I texted you and you didn't answer. Then when I texted Vince he said you could not make it to drinks because you were wounded." She said mildly breathless.
"I left my phone at my desk. I was just going to get it. Didn't Korsak explain?"
"No," Maura placed her hand over her heart, "I suppose this is why I never make presumptions."
"I'm sorry. He should've said that it was minor." Jane rubbed her arm, "I actually have to go get this stitched up while I still can."
The blonde jumped into doctor mode, "Come down to the morgue. I can stitch you up."
"Really?"
"I do it all the time."
"On dead people." Jane said doubtfully.
"It's the same thing. I won't let those butchers in the emergency room do it. Honestly though Jane, you should have gotten medical attention right away. "
"Fantastic." Jane said pleased that she would not have to pay a visit to the hospital and disregarding that she was being chided. Maura was on autopilot as she and Jane went back down to the basement. She was hardly listening to Jane who was chatting excitedly about how the case was airtight as she hopped up on one of the stainless steel tables. The doctor made noncommittal sounds of agreement while collecting the supplies. She busied herself with arranging her medical supplies and focused on keeping them neatly organized. Gently she cleaned away the dried blood and sterilized the site.
"This guy is a total creep Maura. I'm surprised the block did not applaud when he was being hauled off with the way they were looking at him." Jane laughed.
"That is great Jane." Maura took controlled breaths with each stitch she placed in Jane's arm.
"When we got to booking, Jones went from drug lord to a scared puppy in two seconds flat." Jane crowed.
Maura nodded and wrapped fresh gauze around her bicep, "These will need to come out in about 7 to 10 days."
Her voice was flat and clinical but the blonde felt her secretomotor phenomenon kicking in and the hormones prolactin and adrenocorticotropic building up. Jane finally noticed as moisture began to well up in Maura's, "Holy crap Maura, are you crying?"
She turned away as all pretense began to slip away, "I am trying not to but my amygdala and lacrimal gland have a connection that I can't really control."
"Come on. There's no crying in the Boston Police Department." Jane attempted to kid but Maura could not stop the fat teardrops rolling down her cheeks or the way that her breath came out in ragged shudders. The detective quickly walked in front of her to pull her into a consoling embrace. The medical examiner cried on Jane's t-shirt creating a wet patch just below the collar. The brunette did not seem to mind as she let Maura weep on her shoulder until she calmed down.
"I'm sorry." She pulled away embarrassed.
"What's this about Maura?" Jane asked softly.
"I-" Maura had to stop and think. "I have never had a best friend before."
"What?" Jane did not follow her logic.
"I have never really connected well with people. I feel very close to you Jane and when I thought you were seriously injured. I was so afraid." She admitted.
"Hey, I'm alright. It's just a scratch." Jane reassured her.
"A scratch that required 17 stitches." She said, "It could have been 5 inches lower and severed your brachial artery. Had he gotten your shoulder it could have been your thoracoacromial artery."
"Not to mention however many other vital organs he could have hit." Jane pointed out.
"Seven."
"What?"
"There are seven vital organs; your brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and spleen in descending order. And if you're trying to make me feel better you are not helping." Maura crossed her arms.
"Look, I'm sorry that I worried you but my job is dangerous at times."
"I know that Jane. I just want you to know how important you are too me and that I want you to be vigilant."
"I promise I will be careful, okay? You're important to me to Maura." Jane said sincerely and pulled her into another hug. Maura squeezed back barely suppressing urge to press her face into Jane's neck.
"Thank you."
"Anytime." The brunette loosened her hold but still kept an arm around Maura's shoulder, "Now, I let you cry on my least favorite shirt so I think you owe me a drink."
Jane winked and began to escort her out of the morgue. Maura laughed, simply glad to be in her friend's presence and allowed Jane to take her away.
/
Detective Rizzoli stretched her arms over her head feeling her stitches tug in her arm. Leaning against her kitchen counter, she looked down at the offending sensation while waiting for her morning coffee to brew. She thought of how efficiently Maura had made the tidy, little sutures. The ME really had done much better than any ER doctor she had seen. Of course, she had never had her doctor subsequently break down in tears either. Maura was a unique kind of woman though.
Jane's heart had nearly shattered at the sight of the blonde crying. She had wanted to scoop Maura into her arms and kiss every tear away but she had to settle for the friendly hug. It had been painful to watch the sorrow spilling out of Maura. If she never saw that sight again it would be too soon. Jane was still struggling with her attraction to the doctor but it was getting easier; not that she was becoming immune to her quirky charm and devastating smile. She was simply getting used to the feeling of getting knocked off of her feet every time Maura entered the room.
It helped that she was getting increasingly busy with her caseload. They were preparing for Boss Jones' trial and a floater had surfaced in the harbor last night. Jane was glad for the small favor that Maura had yet to determine whether the cause of death was accidental or otherwise. It meant she still had her Saturday off, the first in quite some time. It gave her time to work on the murders that she really wanted to solve, the Putmans and the Horns. Whenever she had a moment alone, she would turn to the serial killings and hunt for an unseen clue. As more time passed, the odds of more fatalities rose. Jane could not stand for this psychopath stalking through the streets and terrorizing Boston
She pulled a thick file from its hiding place on top of the refrigerator. The detective laid out the grisly pictures of the victims on her breakfast bar. Grabbing her cursed smiley face mug, she poured herself a cup of coffee and mauled over the images, straining her eyes for some detail that she may have missed. Each victim stared back at her with his or her crimson wounds like necklaces across their throat but they said nothing to her. Aggravated, she swiped the papers out of the way and laid down her hand written notes. She read the testimonials of witnesses and family members, however nothing seemed to tie the cases together other than the gruesome way in which they were murdered.
Jane picked up the most recent annotations she had made in her thin scribble. The murder was male with a background in a medical field. He raped the wives in front of their helpless husbands before slitting the men's necks open with a scalpel. The women were taken for a 24-hour period before they were dumped at a secluded area. But how did he target his prey?
"Janie?"
"Damn it Ma! Don't you knock?" The brunette hastily gathered everything and crammed it back into the folder.
"Not when I have a key."
"That's for emergencies Ma." She emphasized her words with annoyance.
"Well for all I know it could have been." Angela Rizzoli fixed her with an angry stare while she set down a bag of groceries, "I haven't heard from you all week. What? Are you too good to call your mother now?"
"I've been busy with work." Jane defended even as she felt a twinge of guilt for not having spoken to her mother.
"Oh yeah work," Angela mocked as she stopped unpacking some bread and turned on her daughter, "Don't think I did not see you on the evening news with the gaping wound on your arm."
Jane rolled her eyes, "It was just a scrape Ma."
"And the Grand Canyon is just a hole."
"I'm sorry I haven't called." Jane said honestly feeling contrite.
"Oh Janie, I worry about you. Out on those streets with no man to take care of you."
"Jesus, I don't need a man to take care of me!" She snapped, instantly irritated again.
"I just want what is best for you!" Angela yelled back at her, mirroring her daughter's manner.
Jane sighed, glaring accusingly at her lukewarm coffee. Her Saturday morning was shot. She stashed the file back on top of the fridge and began to stalk off.
"Jane, where are you going?"
"Out." She said grabbing her keys from the coffee table.
"Jane!"
"I will see you at Sunday dinner Ma!" She called dismissively, "Lock up on your way out."
Jane was not thinking about where she was going when she hopped into her old car and revved the engine into life. All she knew was that she had to get away from her apartment. As she drove she found herself subconsciously heading to the expensive coffee shop that Maura frequently liked to stop at. Jane could not keep the dopey grin off her face as she thought of the ME who was stuck doing autopsy all day. Visiting Maura was the best way she knew how to salvage the rest of the day she reflected as she pulled into the parking lot.
The quaint café was slow this afternoon as Jane walked passed the mostly empty table to the girl at the counter. She ordered a regular coffee for herself and a soy pumpkin spice latte for Maura. Jane did not know why anyone would want something pumpkin flavored in July but Maura apparently did. Every time she grasped the cup with both hands and inhaled the fragrant aroma like it was new and exciting. Needless to say, Jane considered this to be insanely cute, right on par with a basket of kittens. She also got a blueberry scone to share. Maura would be coy about eating the pastry, reciting off facts about calorie intake and sugar content before she would inevitably devour her half and most of Jane's.
The detective read the headlines of the paper as she waited for her order. The arrest of Thomas Jones was still splashed across the front page. She was skimming over facts that she already knew when a voice interrupted her.
"Detective Rizzoli?"
Jane looked up and saw a familiar looking blonde woman standing in front of her that she could not place, "Yes?"
"It's Claire Jensen, the reporter for Channel 6." She walked forward.
"Oh right." Jane said tightly.
"I'm not here for an exclusive Detective. Just a cup of coffee." She said sensing the brunette discomfort.
"Of course." Jane managed a smile and nodded.
"I think we started off on the wrong foot. I'm Claire." She extended her hand.
"Jane." She shook the offered appendage and watched as the other woman's eyes roamed up and down her body. Did she just check her out?
"Nice to meet you Jane." Claire said in a flirty tone.
"Likewise." Jane smirked back.
"So, you are off today?" The woman observed her casual attire.
"I am. You are as well?" Jane thought that she looked better in her blue jeans and cardigan than with that ridiculous power suit she had been wearing for the camera.
Claire nodded, "Yes I am."
"Do you come here often?" Jane asked not recalling seeing her there before.
"No, this is my first time here. The Starbuck's down the street is having plumbing issues and is closed for the day."
"What are the odds?" Jane truly wondered.
"So I don't know if you would be interested but, since we are both not working, would you like to go out tonight?" Claire asked, looking up at Jane through her eyelashes. The brunette considered her. She was pretty enough but lacked certain sophistication. Her blonde hair was much lighter than Maura's caramel locks and she was a littler taller. Jane stopped. She could not start comparing every girl to her best friend.
"That sounds like fun." Jane heard herself saying.
"Great." Claire picked up a napkin and dug through her purse for a pen to jot down her number. "Call me at 6 and I will give you my address."
"I will." Jane tucked the paper into her pocket.
"Rizzoli." The barista handed her the tray and a little white bag.
"See you later tonight." The blonde purred and Jane bobbed her head.
"Later." Jane left the coffee shop and made her way to the precinct. She had a date. It was not that she was unhappy about it but she still felt a little wary. She and Maura had been hanging out with each other every weekend and to not spend Saturday with her would be strange. But Jane had to remind herself it was not like they were obligated to each other. And she could not pine over the medical examiner forever. This was a good first step to getting over her feelings Jane decided as she parked out front of the station.
/
Maura stripped off her lab coat as she entered her office. She had just finished the autopsy of the man found in the bay and determined that his death had been accidental. From the looks of things he had been swimming and suffered a stroke, which in turn caused him to drown. She would finish up the paper work and then call Jane with the good news. As she began to type out her handwritten notes, Maura wondered what she should make them for dinner tonight. She had some pork chops and recipe that she was sure the brunette would like or maybe Jane would want to order a pizza. Her line of thought was suddenly interrupted.
"Hey Maur."
"Jane!" She brightened up, "What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I would visit and see how the autopsy went." Jane set down a coffee in front of her
"I was going to call you soon in fact. The drowning victims died of natural causes." Maura picked up the cup, recognizing the delicious smell of her favorite pumpkin spice latte, "Thank you Jane. How thoughtful."
"No problem and that's great news." Jane was tearing a scone and setting half in front of her.
"Complex carbohydrates are high in caloric intake." Maura spouted off as she eyed the tempting food.
Jane chuckled to herself, "You don't say."
"I suppose we can just have a nice salad for dinner though." She rapidly gave into the treat presented to her taking a healthy bite, "And I know it's not my night to pick but I recently acquired this wonderful documentary about the ecological impact arising from the radically diminishing population of European eels in Swedish waters. It is highly recommended."
"Um, I can't. I have plans tonight." Jane shifted uncomfortably.
Maura paused then sighed, "If you don't want to watch it Jane, you don't have to make excuses. But if we're watching that Fast and Furious movie again, I am just going to stay home."
"No, Maura, I really can't." Jane scratched her neck, "I have a date."
"A date?" Maura asked as if she had never heard the word before. Jane nodded. The blonde felt the cold sting of jealousy course through her veins when confronted with the idea of Jane with someone else. Her physical reaction to the news came as a shock to her as she focused on remaining neutral, gripping tightly to the armrests of her chair. She had determined to slowly explore her feelings for the detective but she had not realized that those feelings might be one-sided.
"That's wonderful." She offered banally.
"If you want I can cancel. I didn't think we had plans." Jane said hurriedly.
"Don't be silly. We did not have plans. It was wrong of me to assume."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Tell me about him." Maura said even though she did not want to hear a single thing about this interloper. No, she corrected herself; it was a perfectly legitimate individual who had every right to take Jane out on a date.
"Who?"
"Your date."
"Right. Actually, it- it's a woman." Jane sputtered out nervously.
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Who is she?" Maura switched seamlessly into the different gender hoping that Jane would take that as acceptance. They had never really discussed significant others with each other before but she was not surprised to find out that the taller woman had women in her dating history.
"Ah, it's Claire Jensen."
"The weather girl?" Maura was well aware that she was the lead reporter on Channel 6 having been interviewed by her before.
"She is a journalist." Jane corrected.
"She's pretty." Maura coolly sipped her latte.
"Yeah, she is." Jane agreed carefully.
"Did you ask her out?"
"No, she asked me. We ran into each other at the coffee shop."
"How serendipitous."
"Uh-huh."
There was an awkward moment of silence as Maura finished Jane's half of the scone.
"I should get going." The detective said hesitantly.
"Of course," Maura replied cordially, "Have a fun time tonight."
"Yeah, sure." Jane waved and slipped out her office. Once the other woman was gone Maura slumped in her ergonomic chair and stared blankly at her computer screen, suddenly feeling very dejected.
/
Jane drummed her fingers against the steering wheel and watched the house numbers go by. It was just before 7 as she drove down the modest, residential street to pick up her date. And yet her mind still wandered to Maura.
Maura was the first person that she really told about dating woman, not counting Frankie when he caught her kissing Gina Lombardi in the 9th grade behind the gymnasium. It had gone well enough as far as she was concerned. She could tell that Maura had not judged her and had been interested, if only politely, but there was something off to her about the whole encounter. It seemed like the doctor had been jealous. She could not be sure but something about the smaller woman seemed to bristle at the mention of Claire Jensen. The detective did not know what to make of it but there was not time to really think about it as she directed the car left into the driveway of a ranch style home.
Jane smoothed the collar out on her white oxford button up that she had paired with her nicest dark wash jeans. Stepping out of the car, she took in her surroundings. The house was well kept with a pleasant garden bed. Nestled between the flowers was a lawn gnome that she could have considered to be fun and quirky but now was downright common in comparison to the exotic items found in Maura's home. Jane scolded herself as she knocked on the door. She promised to try and not evaluate Claire based on Maura standards.
"Hello." The woman in question answered.
"Hey," Jane greeted, "You look nice."
"Thanks. So do you."
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah." Claire produced her purse from somewhere and shut the door tightly.
"Do you have anywhere you in mind?" Jane asked as they got into her car.
"There is this French bistro I have been dying to try." Claire gushed.
"Great." Jane said but internally winced at her restaurant choice. She considered it to be terribly typical of the other woman. French bistros were trendy. Jane hated trendy.
She drove them there anyway and they waited a ridiculously long time to even be seated. Jane stood in the lobby, packed in with a bunch of yuppies yammering on about their frivolous lives. The detective had to listen to this woman talk for an hour about how her toy poodle was going to therapy for depression. By the time they were taken to a table, she thought her ears were bleeding. It only got worse when Jane's eyes nearly bugged out of her head as she saw the prices on the menu while Claire did not seem impacted in the very least. She chatted mildly about what looked delicious and Jane could only make vague noises of agreement.
Their pretentious waiter hardly gave them the time of day until he rather impatiently took their orders. The blonde woman completely mispronounced a complex sounding dish while Jane muttered that she would have the chicken not really caring what came out of the kitchen. If Maura had been here she would have ordered in fluent French, like she had done in Serbian when they had gone out to dinner last week.
"So, what's it like working for the BPD?"
"Hm? Oh, it's good." Jane paused, realizing how uninteresting she sounded, "I mean, I love my job. It's the best feeling in the world to collar a bad guy, you know, make the streets a safer place."
"Well, hopefully not the best feeling in the world." Claire hummed in an attempt to be seductive.
Jane smiled awkwardly and ignored the innuendo, "So, what made you become a reporter?"
The question fortunately sent the blonde into a longwinded speech about herself and how her career got started beginning with when she won her first beauty pageant when she was only 15 months old. All Jane had to do was make slight noises of confirmation. By the time the time their entrees came out Jane was ready to go home.
"Looks good." Claire rubbed her hands over her plate full of some indistinct gray mush and some red stick things on it.
"Uh, yeah." Jane looked questionably at it.
"Would you like to try a bite?"
"No." Jane said a bit too quickly, "No thank you. It's alright."
"Suit yourself."
Claire proceeded to then push her food around her plate and steal as much of Jane's chicken as possible, an act that was not endearing, especially on a first date. The detective did her best to make small talk but the conversation continued to fall flat. Initially Jane was relieved when the check came, until she opened it at least and was reminded of the prices. The bill was enormous and they did not even get any complimentary bread, which Jane was sure she saw other people had on their tables. Begrudgingly she paid for the meal since it was the gentlemanly thing to do but signed the tab rather viciously when the waiter came back with her card.
The car ride was silent on the way back to Claire's. Upon arriving at their destination, Jane dutifully walked her to her front door.
"I had a nice time."
"Me too." Jane lied through her teeth.
"Dinner was great."
"It was." Jane said. Well, her dinner was, at least whatever she managed to eat before her date had vacuumed it down.
"So…" Claire leaned in close to her. The brunette knew that she wanted to be kissed. The whole evening had been a bust but perhaps some natural chemistry would rescue the date from total failure. Jane tilted forward as well and dipped her head slightly to reach the other woman's mouth. As soon as their lips brushed, she felt it was wrong. Claire's lipstick tasted waxy and her perfume was a sickly sweet smell that put Jane off. The kiss did not inspire any sparks or butterflies or stars behind her eyes. However the contact felt good in that she could let go for a moment and release all the built up tension she held inside from her job and from being so tantalizingly close to Maura. Maura. Jane wondered what it would feel like to kiss her.
She pulled back abruptly and stepped away. The reporter did not seem to catch onto Jane's aloofness. "Do you want to come in?"
"Not tonight." Jane hovered on the edge of the stairs.
"Some other time then." She smiled, probably mistaking Jane's detachment for chivalry.
"Yeah."
"Good night."
"Night." Jane jammed her hands into her pockets and slinked off the front porch. Back in her car, the radio clock's green numbers read 9:40. It was hardly time to go to bed on a Saturday night. Jane contemplated whether or not it would be worth driving by Maura's house to see if she was still awake. Considering it worth her effort she rushed to the other side of town to where the doctor lived, she was pleased when she pulled into the driveway and found the living room light still glowing dimly. She jogged up the stone path to the entrance and rang the bell with anticipation.
After a brief moment, the door swung open to reveal a surprised Maura in silky jade pajamas that clung to her body in all the right places, "Jane, what are you doing here?"
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I would stop by." She shrugged.
"What about your date?" Maura asked as she let the brunette pass by her.
"It's over."
"That does not bode well." Maura observed objectively.
Jane shrugged, "I was tired."
"What happened?"
"She wanted to go to this high-brow French restaurant where I think I spent half of my paycheck this week." Jane lamented.
"The new restaurant downtown? It received poor reviews from many reputable sources."
"I can see why." Jane groused, "Speaking of which, do you have anything to eat? I'm still hungry. She ate all of my chicken."
"Of course. Sit down on the couch. I will bring you something." Jane was too aggravated to offer her assistance as she unbuttoned her shirt and peeled the garment off her heated skin. The cool air blowing gently through the house was calming. Breathing deeply, Jane was surrounded by Maura's scent. It was heavenly. She collapsed on the sofa in her undershirt and flipped on the television to a sports channel to wait for Maura.
Shortly, the blonde came back with a turkey sandwich and a beer to consol her. Jane moaned appreciatively, "That looks so good Maura. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Maura smiled and settled on the couch next to her. Jane drank down some of her beverage and chomped enthusiastically on her sandwich. The detective discreetly watched as Maura thoughtlessly pick up her amber bottle and took a sip. Jane gulped hard on her mouthful of food, feeling jolt of delight at seeing her friend with the ice, cold beer pressed against her lips. The brunette noted that she found it completely adorable when Maura stole from her plate or glass, not like when Claire tried to share her meal earlier that night.
"Was Claire nice?" The blonde asked, setting Jane's drink down on a coaster.
Jane was startled by the question. "Um, yeah, she was nice."
"Are you going to see her again?"
"Maybe?"
"Well, do you want to or not?"
"What's with the third degree Maura?"
"I just wanted to know how you date went." The doctor withdrew from her, obviously a little hurt.
Jane instantly felt horrible. "I don't know if I will see her again but I don't really see it lasting."
"That's a shame." Maura did not quite sound sincere as she said it.
The brunette decided it was time to turn the conversation in a different direction. "Alright. Where's this Swedish Fish film?"
"It's about eels and we don't have to watch it tonight."
"No, I want to watch your foreign fish documentary."
"Really?" Maura asked excitedly not bothering to correct Jane this time.
"No," Jane then genuinely added, "But if you say it is good, I trust you."
"Jane…" Maura cooed, "That is so sweet."
"You say that now but wait until it is my turn for movie selection again." She grinned devilishly, "We are going to watch action movies until your eyes fall out."
Maura shook her head clearly not threatened and walked over to the television to set up the movie. The DVD was starting to play as Maura rejoined her on the couch. Jane nearly jumped when she felt soft fingertips graze her upper arm. The simple touch felt like she had been electrocuted.
"Your stitches are healing well. They can probably come out on Wednesday."
"Great." Jane swallowed thickly as Maura still caressed her arm. Dramatic music flowed into the living room and the blonde turned her concentration back to the TV. Jane tried to pay attention but all she was aware of was how Maura's hand had settled just above the crook of her elbow and did not let go. As far as Jane was concerned, this was far better than any date ever could be.
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What did you guys think? I realized how absent Angela was in the story so I am working on incorporating more characters in more chapters.
Reviews are love.