Dealing with some writer's block. Not to mention college life keeps getting in the way. Let me know what y'all think. You guys are the best!
Maura spent the morning bent over the body of their third victim. The girl was young and pretty and blonde, just like the first two had been. Maura was well aware what three victims meant; there was a serial killer out there. She was determined to find something, anything, a small shred of evidence that would help Jane and Detectives Frost and Korsak catch a lead. The doctor knew what this type of case did to the detectives, Jane especially. How they would push and push and push until they found a lead and cracked the case. They were the best in Boston PD for a reason. And Maura was determined to keep up with them and to help them as much as she was able.
She was so ensconced in her work, that she didn't even hear the ding which signaled the elevator doors or the tell-tale click-clacking of Jane's boots coming towards her. It wasn't until the brunette cleared her throat that Maura jumped and glanced away from the autopsy in front of her.
"Jane!"
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."
"It's alright."
"What have you got? Anything?" Jane looked worn out, and it was only one in the afternoon.
"Not yet," Maura said sadly. Jane sighed and ran a tired hand through her curly hair. "I'll let you know as soon as I start getting results back."
Maura couldn't help her eyes from flicking up and down the detective's thin frame, taking stock of her physical appearance and how that would relate to her emotional mentality. "Did Detective Frost have any luck at the scene?"
"No, at this point, we're pretty much stalled. So, if there's anything new, anything at all with this one, we need to find it."
Maura nodded in agreement. "Well, I'm not finished yet."
"Thanks, Maur."
There was an awkward pause where neither woman really knew what to say. Maura didn't know if it would be appropriate to invite Jane to stay and observe. She wasn't sure what the proper protocol would be in a situation where two friends had only just begun to resolve their differences. Maura was less adept at such social situations, and so she decided to simply go back to work and let Jane take the lead. The silence stretched out as the doctor continued. She could feel Jane's eyes on her, but she forced herself not to look up.
Suddenly, Jane was there, by her side, and Maura could feel the warmth radiating from the other woman's body, and she could smell Jane's scent. Maura closed her eyes quickly and took a deep breathe, lavender and that natural hint of ... something. The doctor could never tell exactly what it was. Her olfactory sensors didn't have anything to compare it to. It was pure Jane. At first, the doctor had to force herself to relax at the detective's quick approach, but soon enough, she could feel her muscles let go, and she felt calmer. The brunette had that affect on the doctor, she made her feel more at ease simply by being in closer proximity.
"Maur," Jane all but whispered.
The blonde straightened and turned slightly towards the detective. Jane's brown eyes look worried, pensive.
"How are you feeling?" She put the back of her hand against Maura's cheek lightly. There was a beat, then two, and then she removed it.
Maura felt the absence immediately. Her body reacted by moving infinitesimally closer to the detective's warm figure. Jane looked embarrassed, she had a tinge of blush in her cheeks. Wanting to put the detective more at ease, Maura smiled at her. "I'm alright, Jane," and it was true. Getting lost in her work had allowed the blonde to forget the residual weakness in her body and the headache in her temples. And now that Jane was there, so close Maura could have reached out and touched her, a closeness neither had experienced much in the past three months, even her headache was forgotten.
"Good," Jane let out. "But you're taking it easy?"
Maura nodded.
"Did you eat?"
"Not yet, but Angela called down several minutes ago and is making something up for me."
Jane's gaze was searching and Maura met it with all the reassurance she could muster. There was something new in the brunette's brown eyes, something Maura had never seen before. Perhaps she just hadn't noticed it, but the doctor was quite observant and she would have seen that, what was it, expression before had it been present. Jane looked as if she were watching Maura almost ... lovingly. Was that how best friends looked at one another? Maura didn't know. She did know that it made her heart beat increase and her knees to suddenly feel as though they may no longer support her weight. She did know that she would not be opposed if Jane continued to look at her in such a manner for an extended period of time. The word forever slid into her brain, but Maura forced it out. She couldn't even be sure what that expression of concern radiating from the taller woman really meant. She couldn't be certain, and therefore, for now, she would have to content herself with trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach.
"How about I run up to the café and grab some lunch for both of us? Frost and Korsak don't really need me right now. You can take a break, get off of your feet," Jane glanced down pointedly at the heels Maura had on.
"These are actually quite comfortable, Jane. They have wonderful arch support for such elevated height."
Jane snorted and rolled her eyes, and Maura couldn't help but grin at the familiar expression.
"Whatever you say. I'll be back in few."
The doctor felt a sudden twinge when Jane disappeared around from view. But she stifled the emotion and instead went about closing up the autopsy for her lunch break. Her lunch break with Jane. Maura was practically ecstatic.
Several hours later, Maura was filling out paperwork in her office, having completed the autopsy and entered the waiting period for labs to be returned, when a knock on her door caused her to look up. Jane was there, looking a bit more wrinkled and even more tired than she had at their lunch break. It had been nice to enjoy a simply moment together, sharing a meal. Maura had reveled in the attention, not having fully comprehended her loneliness during the time when she and Jane weren't speaking. Maura had managed to make the detective laugh twice, once with a story about Bass, and another with the agricultural history of avocados. She had felt a bit of silly pride in being able to take Jane's mind off of the case. But then, the meal had ended and they had both gone back to their respective work places.
"Thought I'd drive you home," Jane said by way of introduction.
"Oh, yes. I'm just about finished here."
"No rush," Jane shambled over to the couch and sat down, moving around as she attempted to find a more comfortable spot. The detective knew Jane did not approve of her office furniture, but she was more concerned with visual appeal than actual comfort. Jane was the only one who really made use of the couch anyway.
"Don't you have to stay?" Maura questioned.
Jane shook her head, curls bouncing in place. "Not tonight. We can't do anything more without your results."
"Labs should start coming in tomorrow morning."
"Good. Maybe we'll finally find something to help us catch this rat bastard."
"Language," Maura reprimanded half-heartedly. She wanted to catch the man who'd done this just as badly as Jane did. Maura stood, supporting herself on the desk, and was pleasantly surprised when the only side-effects to her change in position was a slight blurring at the edge of her vision.
"Ready?" Jane asked.
"Yes. But you don't have to drive me home, Jane. I can always take a cab."
Jane scoffed. "That's a joke right?"
Maura simply smiled in response as Jane handed her her purse and jacket.
"Let's go, doc. I hear a beer and your couch calling my name."
"Are you staying for dinner?" Maura asked, excited at the prospect of retaining Jane's company for a bit longer.
Jane paused, "If you don't mind."
"Not at all. We may have to stop at the market to pick up a few things. I'm not sure what I have in my refrigerator," Maura didn't want Jane to know how difficult she'd found it to do small things like go to the store lately.
"Mmm. I noticed," Jane said. "But, Ma said she stopped by this morning and stocked up your pantry. So we should be good to go."
"Oh, Jane. Your mother didn't have to do that!"
"Don't worry, Maur. I gave her a list of all that organic crap you usually get."
"No, Jane, it isn't that," Maura reached out and put her hand on Jane's arm as the stood in the elevator. "Your mother doesn't have to shop for me. I don' t want to be an inconvenience."
"Trust me," Jane said, as the doors dinged open and the two woman stepped out together, "My mother probably had the time of her life filling up your fridge. I wouldn't be surprised if she made dinner for tonight already."
Maura wanted to protest, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. The Rizzoli women were headstrong to a fault. She made a mental note to buy Angela some flowers as a thank you the next chance she got.
And, true to form, when Maura led the way into her house twenty minutes later, she found a note from the matriarch on the kitchen counter, detailing the reheating directions for her lasagna. The doctor grinned as she read and then pulled out a beer for Jane and slid the lasagna into the oven. She hesitated before pulling herself a glass of water. She didn't really know how alcohol would take to her system. She was still recuperating after all. Setting the timer, she laid out some lettuce and several British strawberries for Bass and then wandered into the living room where Jane was propped up on the couch, basketball on the television. Jane smiled her thanks when Maura passed over the beer and then scooted over so Maura, too, could sink down into the cushions.
The blonde didn't attempt to make small talk, content simply to watch Jane watching the television. Jane would glance her way now and again and they would share a quick smile. This time of relaxation was important for both of the women after such a tense day and stressful case. Maura could practically see the tension falling away from the detective's body as her posture sank lower and lower into the couch. Just as Jane took the last swig of her beer, the timer went off. Maura stood, but Jane rose at the same time.
"Let me," she said. And Maura was only too happy to let the brunette handle the final food prep. Jane knew her way around Maura's kitchen as well as she did her own. And she reappeared several moments later, a fresh beer in hand and two plates of lasagna balanced on her other arm. "For you," she said with a flourish and Maura couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her lips.
"Delicious," Maura moaned.
"That's my mother, for you. Never underestimate the power of Angela Rizzoli in the kitchen."
The two women didn't speak again until both plates were empty and they were settled contentedly with full stomachs. Maura wasn't sure what to do now. Should she bring up the fight? They still had to talk about it. To work out what had happened and how to keep such a thing from happening again. But the pull of relaxation was taking over and she couldn't be bothered to bring up such a heavy topic when the air in the room was so deliciously light as it was. Just as Maura could feel herself falling asleep under the influence of the food, Jane stretched next to her and stood, turning off the tv. "Well, I should get going. I haven't been home to Jo in a couple of days. Gotta make sure she hasn't destroyed anything yet."
Maura looked up Jane, a bit sad that their time together was coming to an end. She understood, however, and didn't want to seem too pathetic. Jane took the plates back into the kitchen and Maura followed her.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" Maura questioned, hesitation evident in her voice.
"Of course," Jane said. "We'll want those labs as soon as possible."
"I'll have them on your desk first thing," Maura affirmed.
"Thanks, Maur. And thanks for dinner and the beer."
"Anytime, Jane."
Both women stood staring at one another. "I'm glad you're alright," Jane said.
"I'm glad we're alright," Maura emphasized.
"If you need anything, just call, okay."
Jane led the way to the front door where she slipped on her boots and pulled her badge and gun out of the drawer of the table Maura had placed there precisely for that purpose. It was strange, the things Maura had done around her house for Jane's convenience. The gun drawer, Jane's beer in her fridge, the sports package Maura had purchased for her cable. Those things were all Jane's.
Maura was pulled out of her revery when she felt Jane's lips on her cheek. It was a quick kiss, soft, and hesitant. And Jane kept her head down when she pulled away, allowing her long hair to cover her embarrassment at the strange show of affection. "See you tomorrow." She was gone before Maura could react. The doctor traced the place where Jane's lips had been and then stumbled towards her bedroom in a daze.
She didn't even remember going through her nightly routine or turning the lights off. It wasn't until she was curled up in bed that she realized she was laying on the side Jane had slept in the past two nights. The pillow still smelled of the brunette's shampoo and Maura buried her head into it, trying to soak up as much of the detective as she could. It wasn't normal, the feelings Maura was harboring for Jane. But they had come up so suddenly, so soon on the heels of their fight that Maura didn't want to recognize them. Voicing them to herself would make them real. The doctor wasn't shy about voicing her emotions or opinions, or attractions for that matter, but Jane was...well Jane, and Maura didn't know how the detective would react. She wasn't even sure yet what it all meant, and she knew better than to approach the detective when her feelings were still in fledgling stage. Perhaps they would stay that way. It would make Maura's life that much easier.
But still. She couldn't help cupping the cheek where Jane's lips had been. Falling asleep with Jane all around her. In her.