Hi! Chapter 2 came super quickly, and is a bit longer! Hope you like it :)
Thank you so much for the huge feedback on chapter 1! I hope this one meets your expectations.
"I'm Dr. Maura Isles, the new Chief Medical Examiner." The young woman smiled politely, shaking Angela's extended hand.
"Oh, so I'll see you often then! I know exactly what to thank you with!" Angela happily announced, suddenly turning around and disappearing behind the double doors.
The doctor stared at the place where the woman was standing almost two seconds ago, completely confused. What happened? Where did she go? Did she scare her off, like usual?
Jane got this as her cue to introduce herself, and thank this stranger for defending her mother.
"Don't mind her. She's usually hyper in the morning." The detective joked lightly, earning herself a small, shy smile from the petite woman.
"I'm Detective Jane Rizzoli, very happy to meet you Dr. Isles. And thanks for standing up for Ma. That was very cool."
Maura smiled again, unsure of what to say. She always was clueless about socializing with people. That's why she chose the dead branch of medicine. Not having to deal with live patients made it so much easier.
"So, where are you from?" Jane continued the conversation, not noticing the turmoil going on inside the doctor's head.
'Come on, Maura, this one is simple! You can answer this question! Come on!'
She remembered the exercises her psychiatrist gave her to use when she felt overwhelmed by the social activity around her.
She breathed in and out slowly, then managed a small "France".
Jane almost didn't hear her, but grinned nevertheless.
"Oh, fancy."
The doctor nodded wordlessly. Talking to this man about politeness seemed so easy earlier, and so did the small conversation with Angela. But that was about how much she could manage in social events. And this wasn't even a social event.
'Damn you, Maura. Not even a conversation?!'
She lowered her eyes to the ground in a moment of self-hatred, then looked up at Jane again, her eyes cold and void of emotion.
'What the hell just happened?! She was just smiling a second ago!' Jane thought, completely scandalized.
Without a word, the doctor turned on her heels and went back to Angela to get her coffee and croissant, thanking her with a forced smile, then got out of the cafe, her blue heels clicking and clacking on the cold floor.
"See Jane, that's an education I tried to force into that hard head of yours." Angela scolded her, like usual.
"Ma, come on!"
"The young lady did the right thing! Be kind with her, it's her first day." Angela glared at her daughter, who glared back for a while, then sighed, defeated.
"Okay, Ma."
She then turned to Frost, who was already sitting on their usual table.
"This new M.E is the BOMB!" The young man whispered loudly, apparently excited that their 'new guy' was actually a girl.
"Yeah, but didn't she seem… I don't know, off to you?" Jane said suspiciously, sipping her coffee.
She bit into her chocolate donut, and almost moaned at the heavenly taste.
"Yeah, but hey, maybe the nerves of the first day?"
"Yeah, maybe. But that was really cool of her. To defend Ma like that."
"Well, she's French." Frost joked, and they both chuckled, continuing their breakfast with useless chatter, the subject often coming back to the new M.E.
Meanwhile, Maura entered her office in a rush, and closed the door after her.
She closed the blinds and locked the door, then let herself slide against the wood of the door, until she was on the floor.
She put her head in her hands and sighed, sobs wanting to come out badly. She swallowed harshly, and wiped her eyes, willing the tears to stay at bay.
'Finally an opportunity to have a friend, and you blew it. Bravo Maura. Bravo. Well done.'
She took a shuddering breath. She wanted to remind herself that it wasn't her fault that she was socially inept, but still, she hated herself for letting it take control of her.
She was mean with the detective earlier, who was just trying to be friendly.
She was able to introduce herself to Angela, and to scold that rude man. Why couldn't she hold a simple conversation with Detective Rizzoli, who really seemed genuine and friendly?
She inhaled and exhaled deeply, steeling herself, then she got off the ground, unlocking her door, but she kept it closed, along with the blinds.
She sat on her desk, staring at the croissant Angela gave her. That woman was so sweet. The perfect mother, she assumed. She sighed slightly. It wasn't like she knew what a perfect mother was like.
She bit into the delicious pastry, and let herself drown in memories. She smiled dreamily as she remembered Paris, the crowded streets, the wonderful gastronomy, the wide and deep history.
She needed to go back there, as soon as possible. She decided that her next vacation would be there, to visit her aunt.
Her Aunt Charlotte was the only person she could consider a mother, and a friend. Since her mother died when she was only ten years old, her father sent her away to her aunt's, because he couldn't bear looking at her a second more. She reminded him too much of his late wife, even though Maura was adopted.
She opened her laptop to continue working on her second novel (she couldn't believe it when her first one got into the Bestsellers List in the NY Times), when she was interrupted by a knock on her door.
She looked up quizzically. Who would want to visit her on her first day?
"Come in." She said, turning off her laptop and sitting in a more composed posture.
An older man, probably in his late forties entered the room in a confident stride, grinning at her.
She stood up, smiling slightly.
He saluted, and grinned even wider.
"Ma'am, I am Lieutenant Cavanaugh, the head of the homicide Department. I am honored to welcome you among us."
He extended his hand, which she shook back a little shyly.
"Hello Lieutenant. I'm Dr. Maura Isles."
"I know who you are." He winked, then gestured to a seat in front of her desk.
She nodded with a soft "please", sitting down herself.
"Your reputation precedes you. Youngest Medical graduate in years, and the youngest to choose the forensic specialty and succeed in it. Are you some kinda genius?"
Maura felt her face get hot, which usually meant that she looked like a tomato now.
She cleared her throat and smiled tightly at the man.
"A little."
"Well then, I am happy that we have the best in our Department." He stood up, clearing his throat.
"Would you like me to give you a tour, and introduce you to our detectives and officers?"
"That would be lovely, thank you. I had a little trouble finding my office, to be honest." She said softly, casting her eyes to the ground for a moment.
Cavanaugh didn't seem to care about her shyness, as he strode back towards the elevator, chatting about how their labs were the most sophisticated and elaborate, "only the best for the best," he added, and she couldn't help but feel slightly more at ease with him. His cool and laid-back attitude reminded her of her Uncle Louis back in France.
They toured around the department, going into some interrogation rooms, and stopping by to greet officers. She was relieved to see that Cavanaugh did most of the talking, since her heart was beating too fast for her to talk.
They finally arrived at the room where all the Analysts and Detectives were sitting, trying not to fall asleep. Already 36 hours without a case, and they were starting to get antsy.
Her eyes immediately settled on Detective Rizzoli, who was too busy playing cards with a dark skinned man, whom she assumed was another Detective, to notice that they were here.
Korsak did notice, of course, and he stood up, out of respect for the lieutenant.
"Boss." He greeted him with a salute, then his eyes turned to Maura, who shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. Though, she didn't let it show, as she stood regally tall, her hands clasped in front of her.
"I suppose you're the new M.E?" He asked, leaning on his desk.
"I am. Dr. Maura Isles."
"Sergeant Vince Korsak." He nodded at her. She seemed a bit too young to be the chief medical examiner of the commonwealth. He shrugged, thinking that she may be older than what she looked like, for all he knew.
The two youngest detectives in the room finally halted their game of cards to look at the exchange.
Frost stood up and cleared his throat, then approached Maura with a smile.
"Hi there! I'm Detective Barry Frost, Rizzoli's partner." He gestured at his friend, who immediately stood up and approached them.
Jane grinned at the younger woman, who returned it with a small smile.
"Yes, I have met Detective Rizzoli earlier. Please, give my greetings to your mother and tell her that the croissant was exquisite."
Jane laughed. "I'm sure she will be happy to hear that."
Suddenly, Frankie Rizzoli tumbled through the door, and crashed into the young M.E, sending them both to the ground.
A perfect first impression.
Hey again! So this Maura is socially-awkward, and doesn't know how to handle most social situations. That's why her colleagues label her as the queen of the dead, confusing her introversion with coldness.
I think Jane can easily be understood, same with the other characters.
I hope you like it so far!
Reviews warm my heart and make me write faster ;)