A/N: Yes, I know. You've been waiting forever. Sorry. And I know it's kind of short, especially considering the last chapter and all of its antics. Sorry again. I'm kind of lacking ideas to take up time until we find out who the winner is. So maybe you guys could help me out and supply some ideas with the reviews? Shout-outs to meribu and Gemini1179 for their intuitive comments. ;) For now, Enjoy.
Personal Effects
Detective Badass and Doctor Smartypants pulled up to the crime scene and immediately went over to start investigating. It was a good thing Maura's espresso machine worked fast. Maura headed straight to the body for examination, and Jane headed to Korsak and Frost for debriefing. It didn't look like either of them had gotten a lot of sleep that night either. After she was debriefed, Jane walked back over to the body for information from Maura.
"Cause of death is hemorrhaging due to severing of the femoral artery," Maura stated, anticipating her best friend's arrival behind her. At seeing the detective's incredulous look, the doctor quickly revised her statement into layman's terms. "Someone cut a deep gash into his thigh. He bled internally first, and then out," noting the amount of blood surrounding the body. She turned to one of her assistant techs. "I authorize removal of this body. I'll be waiting for it in the lab." Maura turned to go to the car, and leaned against its hood. That was something she'd never do if it weren't so early, and if she was even remotely lucid. Apparently she was always in M.E. mode, but when it came to personal effects, even Maura Isles couldn't escape the day's hours and lack of sleep. Even if her espresso machine worked quickly.
Jane trotted over with a curious look on her face. "Maura, are you okay? You'll ruin your Jimmy Choos, not to mention your 'whichever designer that is' dress." It may have been in a mocking tone, but both women were surprised that Jane was able to correctly identify the shoes. That was enough to snap Maura into lucidity, at least a little bit.
At hearing Jane, Maura quickly righted herself, a little startled for forgetting such a thing. "You're right. I forgot, I guess." She smiled. "I think I just need some more coffee." So to the station everyone went; for coffee and for evidence.
XXXXX
The rest of the morning and afternoon rolled around; it looked like a pretty much open-and-shut case. The bloody knife had been left at the scene with the killer's fingerprints on it, for which tests had returned relatively quickly. The murder was clearly a crime of passion, with little to no forethought. Frost and Korsak had picked up their suspect and left him to Jane for interrogation. Of course she would be the interrogating detective. She was the most intimidating, after all. Even if she was a girl. A confession came with very little work from Jane herself, though. It was evident that the man was very guilty- both physically and emotionally- and he just wanted to be done with everything. Maura had even joined Frost and Korsak in the viewing room- after her lab work, that is- because of the small amount of time everyone knew the questioning would take. All she could think about was how predatory Jane looked. It suited her.
Once the man had been booked and placed in a cell by some uniforms, the foursome retreated to the bullpen for some humor and teasing, at pretty much everyone's expense. Each of the detectives had their own arsenal of jokes about the other. Korsak was teased about his cat obsession. Frost, about his computers fascination. Jane joked with Maura about her shoes, and everyone took it upon themselves to put in their two cents about Jane and her lack of a social life. Especially Frankie, who had come up a little later after his patrol shift's end to hang out with his sister.
Of course, this reminded Jane that they still had a pinball challenge going on. "Yo, Frankie," she called. "Did you bring the pinball game today?" Everyone's heads snapped to attention at the mention of their wager, and Frankie nodded his head. He then turned to leave to retrieve it from his car, and Jane proceeded with her jokes. "So, how much time is Old Man Korsak going to log here, Maura? More than Frost?"
Korsak decided to interrupt with his opinion. "A two year old can get a better time than Frost, Janie."
"But that wasn't what I asked. I asked if you could beat Frost." The junior detective chuckled at this. He and Korsak always liked to rib each other, and when Jane was included in the teasing, everything that came out of her mouth was funny. It was their non-alcoholic way of unwinding.
Before Korsak could get another word in, Frankie returned with the game in hand. He handed it to Maura, who in turned passed it to Korsak at his desk. She pulled out the stopwatch from her lab coat; it hadn't been moved since Friday. Once Korsak had been given the signal to begin by the doc, Frost couldn't tear his eyes off of the game. Jane couldn't take her eyes off of Maura and the stopwatch.
Korsak stumbled a little, and the ball fell. Frost called out a 'stop' to Maura, and she paused the stopwatch. She relayed the time to the group. "Thirty-seven seconds, Vince. I guess you have got the better of Frost for now." She smiled, and Jane laughed at her attempt at a joke. "Set the ball again, and I'll tell you when you can start."
After given the okay, Korsak started his second try. Jane and Frost traded roles. Jane paid close attention to the movement of the small metal ball, and Frost kept his eyes on the changing digits on Maura's stopwatch. The detective brought it upon himself to psych the sergeant out. "Hey, old man. You know, if you drop that ball, you'll have to get me coffee for a week." The taunt did its job, and Korsak dropped the ball again. This time, he only made it to "Thirty-one seconds. Where's your coordination, Old Man?"
"Shut your hole, Frost."
"I'm just saying, man. If you don't pass, what is it, 33 seconds this time around, I'll have beat your ass. And," he now addressed the group, "we all know that Korsak hates to have his ego bruised almost as much as Jane here." That particular comment earned Frost one elbow to each side of his ribs. One from Korsak, and one from Jane. As was to be expected. It wasn't like he didn't ask for it, anyway.
All Maura could do was stand back and try to keep a straight face. When the detectives had it out for one another- even if they were just joking around- anyone else's presence could practically be forgotten. They were all so intent on getting one joke, tease or rib in. Maura had spent enough time with her makeshift family to know this, so she just sat and enjoyed the show, trying not to laugh. It wasn't working out for the best, though.
Jane noticed Maura's giggles, and gently elbowed her in the ribs too. It was all in good fun. "C'mon, Doctor Death, let's get a move on. Korsak the Lug over here still has one more shot to try and save his pride. Start the watch over again."
Korsak started his last run and was nearing the thirty second mark when he fumbled a little; enough to miss hitting the ball with one of the top flippers. With a last second 'Hail Mary' kind of flip, though, the small metal ball hit a lower flipper and sailed back toward the top of the small plastic-encased board. It was very soon after that when Jane decided she had to cough a little. Of course, the 'elderly' Sergeant Detective was alarmed, and he missed the ball entirely. Jane called for a stop after her recovery, and Maura called out the time. "40 seconds, Vince. Looks like you did beat Frost after all. Your pride is saved."
Korsak chuckled at his win, and then shot a glance at Frost. Frost, however, was anticipating such a look and already had some kind of comeback ready. "Yeah, well, don't flatter yourself, Old Man. I still got a higher best time than you."
"Yeah? Well you're not getting any of that coffee you think I owe you."
Jane decided that right now was the best time to intervene. "Alright, ladies, break it up. We don't need a cat-fight in here. It's about quittin' time, so I'm heading out." She turned to her brother and handed him the game. "You take that and bring it back tomorrow, same time." Turning back to her partners, Jane graced them and Maura with another one of her taunts. "Do you think you can keep your panties on until tomorrow when we do the paperwork and then I play my turn?" Frost and Korsak took an appalled look at one another, and then nodded back at Jane. "Good. See you tomorrow." She grabbed her blazer off the back of the office chair and pulled it on. As she sauntered away in all her swagger, Jane called back one last set of words to her best friend. "G'night to you too, Maur!"
All four of the remaining people by the desks gaped at Jane as she swaggered away and into the elevator, a little awestricken at her arrogant, authoritative demeanor. Frankie thought it was just like his big sister to do that. Korsak thought it was very 'Jane' as well. Frost's opinion went something like They didn't have that kind of swag in Robbery. All Maura could think was Damn. Is anyone else on the verge of swooning right now? It wasn't like she had been having these thought for a long time, but as she pictured Jane going through those motions one more time, but actually making physical contact with her, Maura's thoughts quickly changed to those of Does anyone else feel like they need to go home to change their underwear?
Although Maura's mind was the only one with somewhat dirty thoughts at the moment, it was also the only one with genius level reactors. Thus, she was the first of the four to pick her jaw up off the floor and right herself. But of course, she was the only one to smooth out any wrinkles on her attire, imaginary or not. Frost and Korsak were next to regain cognitive thought.
The two detectives mumbled something about also packing up for the evening and celebrating their arrest, and Frankie headed back to his uniformed patrol buddies, board in hand. Maura was left leaning against Jane's desk, staring at the spot she last saw the detective. It wasn't like she'd never see Jane again, but Maura made sure she cataloged that moment in her mind. It would probably go in the 'Jane' compartment. Or perhaps the 'sexy as all hell' compartment. Hmm...Maybe there was a compromise hidden somewhere in there...
XXXXX
So, have we all decided that Maura's going to win the pinball challenge? Or does Jane have something up her sleeve?
Did you guys catch on to my 'cat-fight' reference to the season premier?
Also, keep a lookout for a new fanfic I'll be posting on the 19th. It's my LLBFF's birthday present.