Here we go, y'all. I've got a pretty good idea of where this is going, but comments, suggestions, and/or concerns are always much appreciated. It isn't going to be just instantaneous rainbows and butterflies, so stick with me. Thanks so much!
Maura woke the next morning disoriented and unsure if the past twenty-four hours had actually occurred. She recalled asking Jane not to leave, but seeing as she'd slept through the night, the doctor wouldn't blame Jane if she'd left. Jane had her own apartment and pet to get to after all.
Maura lay still for several moments, assessing her physical condition. She certainly felt better and more alert than she had the day before. Her head was still fuzzy and she wasn't sure if she was running a temperature, but even if she was, the medical examiner had to get to work. She'd slept late as it was. Going in to the BPD meant getting out of bed, not a task Maura was looking forward to.
She sat up too quickly, causing her vision to blacken on the edges and dark spots to appear in her line of sight. However, she'd become accustomed to these head rushes and waited patiently for it to pass, taking deep breaths to increase the oxygen flow to her brain. She stood more carefully than she'd sat up, and was rewarded by feeling fairly steady on her feet. The doctor ran through her morning routine in her head and decided to head downstairs for a glass of water and to feed Bass before getting in the shower. She wasn't sure if anyone would have fed the tortoise yesterday.
Walking into the kitchen, Maura froze and resisted the urge to rub her eyes in disbelief. Detective Jane Rizzoli, hair still damp from a shower and curling widely about her face, dressed in jeans and a Boston Homicide softball t-shirt, was sitting at her island countertop, coffee cup in hand and paper open to the sports section before her.
Jane must have registered the doctor's surprised intake of breath, because she peered calmly over the top of the newspaper. "Good morning, Dr. Isles." The title didn't sound overly formal on Jane's tongue as it had for the past several months and Maura recognized the slight tease in the detective's raspy voice.
"You're here," was all Maura could say.
"I am," Jane replied simply.
"Well I-I-I just thought you'd be gone."
Jane was starting to look a little anxious, her cocky expression drooping at Maura's reaction to finding her in the kitchen. "I can leave if you wa-"
"No!" Maura clapped her hand over her mouth, shocked at her outburst. Jane merely raised an eyebrow. "No, it's fine."
"Okaaaay. Come sit down." The brunette vacated her own stool. "I'll get you something for breakfast."
"I should really go an-a-and get ready for work. We're already late," Maura stuttered, edging back towards the stairs.
"No, you shouldn't," Jane responded.
"I shouldn't?"
"I called us in."
"Called us in?" she couldn't stop parroting the detective's statements.
"Yeah. You know, like, called in sick."
"But you aren't sick," Maura pointed out.
"No, but you are."
"Well, I, that, it's, I'm feeling much better, Jane. You didn't have to do that. I need to get back to work." Maura was a bit upset that Jane hadn't consulted with her first, but at the same time, she was touched Jane had thought to give her an extra day to recuperate.
"No," Jane disagreed. "You were running a 102 fever yesterday, Maur. You need at least a day to just relax and build up white cells or whatever. So, I called us in sick," she slammed a loaf of bread down on the countertop.
"Jane," Maura tried, not sure how to respond, if she should thank the other woman or be angry.
"Sit," Jane said again, the authority evident in her tone, pointing at a chair. And Maura sat.
It really was quite nice of Jane to take care of her, but the doctor hated to be an inconvenience. She'd striven her whole life to remain independent so that those around her didn't have to go out of their way to care for her well-being. She wasn't used to people simply wanting to help. "Jane, you really don't have to take the day off as well. I'm perfectly capable of caring for myself."
"Jesus," Jane groaned. "It's like pulling teeth with you," Maura stared at her blankly. "It's an expression, Maur."
"Oh."
"You don't always have to do everything yourself, you know," Jane rebutted. "Sometimes it's okay to let others pull some of the weight, too."
Maura didn't know what to say, so she opted for silence, watching as Jane puttered around the kitchen, pouring juice and making toast.
Jane seemed to feel uncomfortable in the silence, and began to chatter while they waited, "So, like I said, I called us in. The guys weren't too happy about another day with Pike, but, eh, they'll get over it. Korsak said to tell you, 'Get well soon.' Oh, and I fed the turtle."
"Tortoise," Maura corrected automatically and Jane gave her a devilish grin. "Thank you," Maura said softly as the detective set a glass of water and several vitamins down in front of her.
"You're welcome." The cook finished buttering two pieces of whole-grain toast and set those, too, in front of the patient.
Maura's stomach lurched at the sight of the food. She was aware of her hunger. Aware that her digestive system was still functioning, even with the lack of proper nutrients she had been providing. But the thought of actual food caused her to gag involuntarily. "I don't think I can eat this," she said aloud.
Jane noticed the sudden pallor in the ME's skin tone. Nonetheless, "Just a few bites," she instructed. Maura still hesitated. "I didn't want to have to do this, but I will call down Hurricane Angela on you if I need to. She would be only too happy to force feed you all manner of foodstuffs."
Maura grimaced. She loved the Rizzoli matriarch, but she wasn't sure she was feeling well enough to handle her boundless energy and prying conversation that morning.
"I let you get away with the soup yesterday, but you need to eat something, Maur."
Maura glanced up to find Jane watching her, concern radiating from her in waves. "Just a little, okay?" Jane motioned with her hand, cupping Maura's cheek gently. "You need to get some color back."
The detective pulled away so quickly, Maura thought she'd dreamed it. But she put her hand up to her face, certain that she could feel a burning mark on her skin from where Jane's fingers had been. It was only five seconds, but it felt like ages had passed. Maura stared at Jane and when the brunette gave her an encouraging nod, she squared her shoulders, stealing her resolve, and reached for the toast. Taking small bites and chewing slowly, the doctor managed to avoid her gag reflex. Jane, seemingly satisfied, went back to the paper. She didn't seem to have been as affected by the touch as Maura had been, and the doctor wondered why she had had such a visceral reaction to the small sign of affection.
Relying on her advanced understanding of body language, Maura studied Jane's profile. To an outside observer, the detective appeared completely at ease, but Maura noticed the tense muscles in Jane's neck and back, indicating that she was holding herself upright and still out of some other discomfort. The doctor wondered if Jane was uncomfortable being around her still, and if she should address the elephant in the room, or wait to have that conversation until a later time.
Jane caught Maura staring at her. "What?"
"Nothing," Maura blushed down at her now empty plate. "Jane, I-"
But Jane caught her off, "I know, okay. We'll talk. We will. But not today." It was a question.
Maura acquiesced with a slight nod. "Not today."
Jane placed her hand on Maura's and gave a squeeze and then she picked up the plate and headed for the sink. Once again, the light touch quickened Maura's heartbeat and caused her to feel a drop in her stomach.
"I should call Dr. Pike to check in," she decided aloud, attempting to quell whatever emotions the physical contact had elicited in her.
"Oh, no,' Jane wagged a finger at her. "You're on house arrest today, Doctor. No work for you."
"But-"
Jane shut her down with a glare.
"Well then, what are we going to do today, Detective," Maura emphasized the title.
Jane smirked, "I think it's high time for us to continue your pop culture education."
Maura looked at her askance.
"Star Wars, my dear," Jane teased. "It's the perfect day for your introduction. You aren't complete until you've seen the originals. It's a rite of passage."
Maura smiled slightly. She was well aware that if she asked, Jane would watch anything the doctor wanted, even a boring, old documentary about the history of ancient medicine. But Maura couldn't help but be curious about one of Jane's favorite things, and, what the detective had so eloquently dubbed the "best trilogy, like, ever."
"Alright," she agreed. "But I need to shower first and get out of these clothes," she looked down at her rumpled outfit with distaste.
Jane snorted, "Okay. Living room in thirty minutes."
"45?" Maura asked, knowing her still aching body would appreciate the steam.
"Fine," Jane groaned. "Oh, but Maura, fist," Jane came around the island and approached the doctor. She waved the thermometer she'd picked up off the counter.
"Jane, I-" Maura was stopped by the taller woman taking the opportunity to stick the instrument under Maura's tongue. She snapped her mouth closed. They stood next to one another in silence for fifteen seconds until the beeping noise indicated a reading. Maura tried to ignore thinking about how her body reacted to the close proximity she and the detective were to one another. She tried, but she didn't succeed.
Jane took the thermometer; once again oblivious to the effect she was having on the doctor. "99.8. Oooh, you are definitely staying home today, Doc."
"That's not too high," Maura protested.
"Better get back into some pj's after your shower," Jane smirked, knowing just how kindly Maura would take to the suggestion. "It's movie marathon day," she whistled her way into the living room.
Maura was left behind contemplating the thought of actively avoiding getting dressed all day long. It wasn't right, she decided as she headed for the bathroom. It just wasn't right. Yoga pants would have to do.
All thoughts of the tension between herself and the other woman, the effect Jane was having on her body, her headache, and residual fever fled as Maura entered the steam of the shower. For the first time in months, Maura allowed the jetting water to completely relax her, happy in the knowledge that Jane was in her living room, and they were going to be spending the day together. They would have that talk at some point and then they would be friends again. Maybe it wouldn't be that easy and things would still be strained for a while, but Maura felt that she could finally, finally, relax.