Blue
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles do not belong to me. No infringement intended and no profit will be made from their use.
A/N: I saw that in December R&I is bringing back Agent Dean as a love interest for Jane. I know they're going to keep insisting that Jane is straight and I know in the books Jane gets together with Dean, but couldn't she at least have an interesting love interest? Agent Droopy Dog Dean has to be the most boring character on television.
Maura went upstairs to her bedroom although she wasn't remotely tired. She was surprised mostly, surprised by Jane's revelation, but mostly surprised by her own reaction to it. Although a large part of her simply wanted to jump into Jane's arms the rest of her was angry and confused.
Maura could hear Jane moving around downstairs. Jane. It was always Jane. Since the day Jane had swaggered into her life, they had been inexorably moving towards tonight. Despite both of their best efforts they could not stay away from each other. And tonight was everything Maura had sought to avoid: confusion and complicated emotions.
Jane had hidden so much from her. There were times when Maura thought she felt a mutual attraction, but Jane had never indicated she had even the slightest romantic interest in women. And now Maura found out Jane had recently been sleeping with women. Maura might not always interact well with people but she certainly could usually read them. Jane was so frequently an enigma, though. It was probably what drew Maura to her, but right now it just made Maura angry.
Because in the end Maura did want to be with Jane. It had always been Jane. But Maura didn't think she was ready to take that step now. She had spent all her time pushing those feelings deeper inside because Jane hadn't given her any indication that they would be reciprocated. Or had she and Maura hadn't recognized it? That also bothered Maura alot, the idea that she could have missed something so crucial.
In the morning Maura was no closer knowing what her next step would be. She found Jane in the kitchen eating a bowl of cereal. Jane started to speak but before she could say anything Maura said, "I need more time to think about what you told me."
"Maura, I told you I don't expect anything from you."
"It's not that simple. You can't just tell me something like that and then say, oh don't worry about it. I think you deserve some sort of response, I'm just not sure what my response is yet. But...do you think it's possible for us to just spend a normal day together like we used to?"
"I was going to work on the cases but yeah, okay. Did you have something in mind?" Jane asked skeptically.
"Yes, but don't laugh."
"Okay."
"Will you take me to the shooting range and teach me to use a gun?"
Jane snorted. "Really? Why?"
"Because if I'm going to be around you a lot it seems like something I should know how to do."
Jane frowned and slumped her shoulders. "Wow, that's just a terrible thing to have thought about."
"No it's not, it's practical," Maura said defiantly.
"Nope, still terrible. I don't want you to think about me like that. Being around me isn't supposed to be dangerous."
"Please?"
"Okay, if that's really what you want to do. But the police shooting range is outdoors."
"That's okay."
After breakfast Jane and Maura cleaned up and then got dressed to go to the shooting range. Going out the door, Maura handed her keys to Jane and said, "Here, you drive."
"Really?"
"I don't know how to get there and if you're going to make me do the evasive driving thing like yesterday, I'd prefer that you just drive."
"Okay." Both women got in the car and Jane said, "Uh, little help. I don't know how to start your new space-age car."
"Just push the Start button."
"Ah, of course." Jane drove through the city and after they got onto 93 South Jane said, "There's someone following us."
"Are you sure?" Maura asked and started to look around.
"Yup. Don't turn around, use your visor mirror. See the blue Ford Explorer?"
"What should we do?"
Jane thought for a moment. "It looks like there's only one guy in the car and we don't know if he's just watching us or wants something more. We could continue on as though we didn't notice him and see if tries to follow us all the way out to the shooting range, but it could be deserted out there and then it will just be us and him. I could just keep driving, he's gonna run outta gas way before us. Or I could stop somewhere. We're close to the South Shore Mall. We could see if he tails us there and then if it is busy enough we can try to lose him. What do you think?"
"Are you suggesting this is my decision?"
"If I was alone I would go for confrontation, but I'm trying to keep you out of danger, remember?"
Maura was indignant. "I'm not some delicate flower that needs protecting," she said angrily.
"I didn't say-" Jane started.
"So you can stop treating me like one."
"Okay, but this isn't your battle. We're being followed because of me."
"It's my battle now. He must have been watching my house to be following us now. Let's go to the shooting range. If he follows us there, it's your call what we do."
Jane exited the highway and drove through the streets of North Quincy towards the road to Moon Island where the BPD shooting range was located. While driving she had formulated a plan. "Okay, we're still being followed. Here's what we're going to do. We're about to get on the causeway to Moon Island. It's almost a mile long and surrounded by water on both sides. If he follows us on the road, I'm going to confront him there. When I get out of the car, I want you to get in the driver's seat and be prepared to drive away if anything goes wrong. You'll be more helpful if you are safely away than there and in danger. Agreed?"
Maura nodded seriously. "Yes."
"Alright, here we go, hold on." They reached the causeway, a narrow strip of land with a two land road to Moon Island. When they hit the road Jane sped up. When she got a little past the midway point to the island, she slammed on the breaks and spun the car around. She drove back towards their pursuer, who was so surprised he slammed on his brakes. Jane stopped their car a little past his stopped car, and in a flash jumped out, pulled her gun and opened the driver's side door of his car.
Pointing her gun in his face Jane said, "Hands up and step out of the car." He complied and she reached in and turned off his car. "Keep your hands in the air and move away from the car," Jane directed him until he was standing in the middle of the road ten feet from their cars. "Where's your ID?"
"Wallet is in the center console. Hurts my back if it's in my pocket."
Jane gave him a look but reached in and grabbed the wallet and removed the license. "Bernard Sullivan of Lynn. What do you do Bernard."
"I'm a private investigator. My license is also in the wallet."
Jane verified that it was. "Why are you following us?"
"I was hired to watch your friend and report on her daily activities. Nothing more than that."
"Who hired you?"
Bernard was silent.
Jane revealed the badge on her hip. "Are you aware that I'm a police officer?"
"Shit. I am now."
"I can arrest you right now for harassing a police officer. You could lose your PI license. Or you can answer my questions and then be on your way. Who hired you?"
"Robert Petrozelli."
"Did he say why you were supposed to follow her?"
"No. He just wanted a daily report."
"Did you ask why?"
"He made it clear that any questions I had wouldn't be answered. And the customer is always right, right?"
"How long have you been on this job?"
"About a week."
"Okay." Jane tossed the wallet in the car and moved away from it. "Get in your car, turn around, drive away, and let Mr. Petrozelli know that your assignment is over. If I see you again, ever, I will arrest you."
Jane watched as he returned to his car, turned it around, and drove away. When he was out of sight she went to the passenger side of Maura's car and got in. Maura had an unreadable look on her face. "He was following you. Do you know anyone named Robert Petrozelli?"
"No, I don't think so."
"He didn't seem to know who I was so I don't think he knew anything other than his job was to follow you and report on your movements. There must be someone who is supposed to be following me too. Unless the idea is just to harass you to upset me."
"It's okay. It must mean that we, or more specifically you, are getting close to something." Maura started the car and turned it back around towards the shooting range.
"You still want to learn to shoot?" Jane asked.
"Of course. You know that if someone thinks they can intimidate me to get to you they're wrong."
"Yeah, I'm beginning to get that."
Jane got them checked in at the shooting range. The day turned out to be pleasantly mild for December and it reminded Jane of the last time she had been out here and how different things were now. How different they were from what she had planned. Jane led Maura to where they could shoot and showed Maura the basics of how to use the gun and then shot a few rounds to demonstrate appropriate stance and arm positioning. Now all of the pain from being shot was gone, Jane noted.
Jane handed Maura the gun and watched as she replicated what Jane had shown her. Jane adjusted Maura's hips and arms a little bit and then stepped back and gave Maura the okay to shoot. Maura lined up the sight and pulled the trigger. When the bullet hit the target just off the center bulls-eye, Maura turned to Jane with the biggest smile she'd seen in a long time. Jane smiled equally big in return.
A/N: I don't know anything about guns or how to shoot them. I'm pretty sure cops wouldn't be allowed to use their service revolver for target practice or allow anyone else to use it, but what hell, it's fiction.