~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ch2, Counting Coup
The latest murder victim was a thirty-five year old man. He had been abusing his wife. This history of abuse went as far back as 6 years, which was also incidentally as long as the couple were married. The wife had clocked in countless visits to the emergency room in that time, and the police had been called repeatedly. Today, her husband had come home from his overnight shift at work with whiskey breath and fire in his eyes and he started in on her. She had had enough and bashed his head with an iron skillet. It wasn't until six o'clock that night that Jane and her partner were able to track their murder suspect down at her mother's. Her eyes were nearly swollen shut from his punches. She sat on her mother's couch in tears and willingly confessed to what she'd done to him. She'd bashed his head with that heavy cast iron skillet at least a half-dozen times and held her wrists toward Jane for her to place the handcuffs for the arrest.
Jane reluctantly cuffed her and took her into the precinct. As Jane walked her to processing, she placed a card into the woman's hand. The business card belonged to a criminal defense lawyer who might be able to do something for this woman. "Here, call this guy. He's good. I'm sorry for what your husband did to you. And I'm sorry it came to what it did." Clearly, to Jane, this was self-defense. The law may have seen her as a murderer, but Jane didn't always see just black and white anymore. There was more gray to things than she'd seen in the past.
It was nearly seven o'clock before that case wrapped up and Jane remembered her date, well not really a date, it was something Maura wanted to do for Jane to celebrate her heroics, but in her dream life, tonight was her almost-date with Maura. She had only an hour to prepare and she still had no idea what to wear. The truth of it all, she'd rather just spend a night in with Maura.
She dialed Maura's number and she picked up right away. "Hi Jane, are we still on? I heard your case was running late."
"Well, that's why I was calling Maura. I'm not really up to a big event tonight. What did you have planned anyway?" Jane could always count on Maura to read her mind when it came to nights like this.
"Jane, if you're tired, going out doesn't matter, we can celebrate another time. But would you like to come over instead? We can order in and we can watch something on the television or something on NetFilms. You choose."
"It's NetFlix, Maura. And yeah, that sounds a whole lot better to me than having to get dressed up and go out tonight. I can be to your house around eight then? Is that ok?"
"Wonderful Jane. I look forward to seeing you. I'll have the food delivered at eight as well. Is Middle-Eastern ok? Chicken Shawarme, with the usual?"
"Yeah, Maura, that sounds good to me. Thanks, Maura. I'll bring the beer. I'll be there in a bit. See ya. Bye."
"Goodbye, Jane."
Jane drove home to shower the day away and make herself halfway presentable for Maura. Maura went online to select a delivery service through the BostonRocket website but she decided that website has absolutely no value and should be shut down. Under her breath, Maura spoke, "This site is awful. I mean, why waste a perfectly good name on such a garbage website?" She found another resource. Finally, she called the restaurant where she'd booked their reservations and cancelled.
Both women prepared for the visit, they were just happy that they could spend some time together. It didn't matter what they did. It was time they spent together that mattered, to both of them.
Maura kept finding herself more and more drawn into Jane's family life. With Jane's mother living next door and the many meals they spent together with Jane's mother and brothers around the dining table, Maura was grateful for all that Jane had given to her life. To Maura, Jane was truly an amazing, loving and caring person. Jane may put off a rough and tough persona, but Maura liked to think she could see beneath those layers. And she liked what she saw. She sometimes allowed herself to consider what dating Jane might be like. Maura had feelings for Jane but she dared not share that and risk putting this delicate life they'd constructed in peril. Maura could be happy with life as it was. Her yearning for Jane aside, her life was pretty perfect.
It was nights like this though, when they were both alone together and quiet, that she allowed herself that tiny fantasy. Maura thought to herself how the Native American Indians did a thing called Counting Coup. Counting Coup refers to the winning of prestige in battle by the Plains Indians of North America. Warriors won prestige by acts of bravery in the face of the enemy, and these acts could be recorded in various ways and retold as stories. Any blow struck against the enemy counted as a coup, but the most prestigious acts included touching an enemy warrior with the hand, bow, or with a coup stick then escaping unharmed. On these nights with Jane, Maura came dangerously close to harming the delicate balance, of getting too close, of revealing too much. Always a delicious and dangerous game and so far, she'd touched the enemy and escaped unharmed. But even Maura admitted she lost tiny pieces of her heart to Jane each night they spent like this. Maura could not stop her attraction to one Jane Rizzoli.
There was a knock at the door. Maura thought to herself, let the games begin and with a hint of a grin she called out, "Use your key, Jane. I'm in the kitchen." Jane heard Maura's voice from the other side of the door and let herself in. She removed her snowy boots at the door.
She carried some beer and one bottle of wine to the counter where Maura was preparing to plate the food that had just been delivered. "Oh, Jane I see you've brought wine. I actually would like you to try something tonight. It is called Frangelico. We can have some after dinner. Have you ever had it?"
"I don't know, maybe. Can I see the bottle?"
Maura handed Jane a bottle that looked like a little monk with a rope around his waist. "Well, this is different." Jane turned the unusual bottle in her hands.
"Frangelico is a hazelnut liqueur produced in Italy. It is made from a type of hazelnut that grows only there, the Tonda Gentile hazelnut is known for it's larger size and sweeter flavor. Will you have some with me?"
"Sure, let's eat and get this show on the road. "
"Jane, I thought you didn't want to go anywhere tonight, I would have dressed."
"No, Maur, I meant, let's go sit and have dinner and start the movie."
Jane selected something that the two of them would enjoy and they finished their meal enjoying the film and the company. After they were both finished, Jane paused the movie to take the plates to the kitchen. She returned with the Frangelico and two glasses.
"Ok, Jane, just pour an inch into each glass. It tastes so good you'll need to watch your intake."
Jane sipped her drink. "Wow, that is good. What did you call this stuff, Franchesca?"
"Frangelico. The hazelnuts are toasted and distilled with alcohol, then married with other flavoring preparations including cocoa, coffee, vanilla according to the secret recipe passed down from the monks that lived there in the 18th century." Maura gave a sideways glance toward Jane. "Take your time. Just sip it slowly. Let the sweet, sensual flavor roll over and around your tongue. Breathe in a little to allow the essence to saturate your taste-buds so you can savor the nuances in the subtle fragrant palate."
Jane felt a rush run through her body. "Maura, I don't want to have sex with it. Gah, the way you talk sometimes. I do like it though. It makes me feel warm." Jane looked up to Maura, eyes wide. That's not what she meant. "I mean the Frangelico. I like the Frangelico. It makes me feel warm." Jane turned her head away from Maura and rolled her eyes. How did she manage to stick her foot in her mouth so often around Maura?
Maura knew perfectly well what she was doing and stayed on her game. "Jane, that is precisely what it should do. Smooth and flavorful, the liqueur should rouse your senses and make you feel like your insides are on fire with the richness and distinctive properties of this very special spirit."
"I might like this more than beer. Well, maybe not that much, but with you, it's perfect." Jane had a sparkle in her eye as she looked at Maura. Maura realized she got Jane to admit that something was better than beer. She gave a little chuckle.
Maura enjoyed when Jane was so unguarded and relaxed. They both settled back and shared a large blanket on the couch with their feet tucked under and finished the movie.
A few drinks later, Jane needed to go find the bathroom. As soon as she entered the small downstairs powder room, she stepped into a puddle of water on the floor and soaked her sock. "Damnit, what the hell?"
"What is it Jane?"
"Maura, why is there so much water on your bathroom floor?"
"I don't know, Jane. Is something leaking?" Maura stood up from her place in the living room to investigate. Jane was reaching to pick up Bass' water bowl that somehow had been turned upside down.
"It's fine Maura, it was Bass' water bowl. Since when do you keep it in the bathroom? I already cleaned up the water, mostly with my sock." Jane grumbled.
"Oh, I forgot, I had to put Bass in the bathroom while the carpets were being steam-cleaned today. I have an idea. Go back to the couch. I'll be right there."
Jane still hadn't done what she needed to do, "Give me a minute and I will." Maura left Jane in the bathroom and scaled the stairs to get something from her closet.
Jane walked back to the living room, she hated the feel of a cold wet sock. She sat at the couch and poured another glass of Frangelico. It really did taste good. And it really did warm her up. Jane's face felt warm and she could feel the alcohol in her. She knew she should stop.
Maura returned and sat beside Jane, "Here, give me your foot." Jane sat back and lifted her now sock-less foot up to Maura's lap. Maura dried Jane's foot thoroughly with a towel. "I found these wool socks at Quincy Market when they had their street vendor displays. Look, they have these little ridges around the middle. Almost like they give a little hug to your foot." She squeezed the arch of Jane's foot and slid the sock up to above Jane's ankle.
Jane barely heard a word. All she knew was that Maura's hands felt so good on her. Maura rubbed the sock to smooth it over her foot and ankle and reached for the other foot and did the same thing.
"Jane, do you like it? I actually bought these for you months ago."
Jane was mesmerized for a moment. She did like what Maura was doing.
"Jane." Maura imagined that the Frangelico was having an effect on Jane. She looked at the bottle and saw that it was nearly half gone. Jane will be feeling this tomorrow, she thought. Maura shook Jane's legs to get her attention.
"Yes, Maura, I like it, I mean the socks feel great. Thank you Maur. There is nothing worse than the feel of a wet sock." Jane's sarcasm was showing. Maura had her hands resting on top of Jane's legs. Jane pulled her feet from Maura's lap and sat up. The Frangelico gave Jane courage. She leaned over to Maura and whispered. "I never knew how nice it would feel to have you put my socks on me. That might sound silly, but Maura, that was really nice. That is the kind of thing that almost makes someone feel like they are," Jane looked down quickly and hesitated for a second and then looked back. "like they're loved."
Maura drew in a breath at the twinkling in Jane's eyes. Jane's face was so close and it would be so easy to just give her one kiss. Maura's eyes briefly went down to Jane's mouth and returned. Jane's eyes stayed locked on Maura's. They both felt the yearning in the moment. And neither acted on it. Time after time, opportunities missed. Moment after moment of chances to put it all out there. This was enchanting, excruciating torture to both of them. Maura wanted to tell Jane that she would put Jane's socks on everyday if she could, if only to make Jane feel loved. She started to think again maybe Jane was open to the idea of the two of them actually dating. But she pushed that thought aside again as she always did, tonight was not the night to discuss. Not with Jane only partially sober.
Jane wasn't as inebriated as Maura suspected and as for the closeness tonight, Jane knew that these moments were as close as they could ever get to actually being together and only served to fuel the fantasy that lived only in her imagination.
Maura believed Jane had had a bit more to drink than she should have considering she was supposed to drive home tonight. "Jane, it's getting late, would you like me to drive you home?" Then Maura said more hopefully, "Or you can stay here tonight?"
Jane snapped out of the trance she was in. "Um, yeah, I guess I did go overboard with the Frangelico. Next time watch me with that stuff, will ya? If it's all the same to you, Maura, I'd like to stay. No sense in getting out in this weather."
"Jane, I told you it would sneak up on you." she teased. Then Maura thought of the moment they'd just had sitting there together. Another close call. If Maura was counting coup tonight, she wondered if it counts if you get your opponent drunk on Frangelico?
Together, they went to get ready for bed. Jane had her own cabinet in the master bathroom at Maura's since she stayed so often. They stood there at the sink brushing their teeth, catching the other watching in the mirror. Both of them ready to laugh at the other. Most nights when Jane stayed they'd sleep in Maura's bed. They both liked to spend that time together. So, together they went to Maura's bed and lay down to sleep. "Goodnight Maura, thanks for tonight. And thanks for letting me stay." Jane was on her side of the bed.
"Jane, I am glad you agreed to stay. I didn't really want to get out in the cold to drive you home. Remember I put a glass of water on your nightstand. You should drink as much as you can."
"I probably shouldn't have had so much of that Frangelico, but it was so yummy." Jane reached over to Maura's side and found her hand. "Thank you Maura. I feel safest when I'm here with you. Goodnight."
Jane was out in mere minutes. Maura stayed awake thinking and listening to the sound of Jane breathing.
This was their life. Week after week, wedging in time together, getting close enough to be dangerous but each afraid to really express to the other why.
- Counting Coup is a real thing.
- Frangelico is good. Very very good.
- Stepping in water with your socks on is bad.
Ok then, onward we go...thank you for reading.