A/N: I am so sorry for the delay with this chapter. I had a hard time writing this bit, especially the last, as I tried very hard to keep the characters in character as much as possible. This chapter was a big one, and I would really appreciate the feedback on this one. I read through to catch my errors, but I wanted to get it up quickly for you, so if there are mistakes, I apologize. Also, please note the rating change. I do not own any characters, they belong to TNT, Tess, JTam, etc. Enjoy, and PLEASE review! xx
The medical examiner sat with her legs pulled up underneath her on the couch in her living room, a glass of deep red wine dangling precariously from her fingertips. Her eyes stared, unfocused, as they began to blur. Maura didn't notice, her mind was elsewhere.
"I'll always be here to catch you, Maur." What did Jane mean? Could that…is it possible? No. Maura shook her head of blonde curls, to no one in particular. Do not let your emotions dictate your ability to analyze a situation, Maura. Jane has just missed your friendship, that is all. And I have missed hers, but somehow it doesn't seem like it's enough. Maybe Jane could grow to love me as I love her? Shaking her head again, Maura took a sip of her wine, and as the bittersweet liquid stained her lips, she ran her tongue over them, savoring every last drop. I wonder what Jane's lips taste like. No, no, she is back at her apartment with Dean. Together. Dean knows what her lips taste like. She felt a solitary tear squeeze out the corner of her eye before it made its way down her cheek. Maura couldn't hold back the tears anymore as more followed the first, and mages of Dean and Jane kissing and making love swam behind her eyes, his rough hands sloppily palming her. The glass of wine slipped out of Maura's grasp as she unthinkingly brought her hands to her face.
"Dammit!" Maura cursed, standing up quickly in her rush to clean up the dark colored liquid that was slowly spreading throughout the cushion of the couch. A reddish brown stain. That is definitely not blood. She smiled through her tears as she remembered her and Jane's deal for her to determine whether or not a reddish brown stain was in fact blood. Selecting the hydrogen peroxide from underneath the bathroom sink, she poured some on a sponge and walked back over to the couch and began to blot at the stain.
"No Jane, this is definitely not blood."
Jane went up to her apartment door and turned the handle, not bothering to fish for her keys as she knew Gabe didn't lock the door after he returned. She shut the door, taking extra care to lock it behind her. Jane kicked her shoes off near the closed door, and she ran a hand through her hair as she shuffled to the kitchen.
"Gabe?" she called out, the hair on the back of her neck prickling just slightly as there was no reply. The light in their bedroom was on, and she craned her neck to catch a glimpse inside. "Gabe?" Jane asked this quieter this time, while carefully and silently walking sideways, one leg crossing behind the other as she reached the drawer where she kept her firearm. Sliding the drawer open, taking care not to make any noise, she located her gun and pulled it down to her side. Grasping it tightly in both hands, she sidled up to the bedroom door. Quickly she spun into the room, aiming her into all corners of the room. The light underneath the door of the master bathroom door was shadowed, as if someone had stepped near the door, and she scooted into the corner near the door. Suddenly, the door flung open, and Gabriel Dean jumped back a few feet as he took in the sight of Jane poised in the corner, a Glock pointed at his head.
"Jesus Christ, Jane! What the hell is going on?" The man adjusted the towel wrapped around his waist, as Jane relaxed and put her gun down at her side.
"I'm sorry…I didn't know you were home. I didn't see any of your stuff around, and you didn't answer."
Gabriel ran a hand through his hair and sighed as his irritability faded. "It's okay Janie, I'm the one who should be sorry. I went straight to the shower after I got off the case. We went through so many back alleyways today, I just felt like a used Swiffer duster." He laughed awkwardly, sensing his girlfriend's tension, before sitting on the bed in silence, pulling on his glasses.
"Don't call me Janie." Jane mumbled, almost inaudibly, glancing up from the floor to him before exiting the room. His shoulders slumped in defeat as he raised his legs up onto the large bed, picking up the newspaper on the nightstand. Padding back through the kitchen, Jane set her gun down in the drawer, her heart still racing from the encounter. Grabbing her cell phone from the counter, she located the name she wanted and sent off a text.
I missed you.
Maura stood in her bathroom, washing her face and going through the long steps of her nighttime beauty regimen. A buzzing noise sounded from her bed, and she finished putting on the last dabs of moisturizer before making her way over to her bed. Sitting down with one leg underneath her on the bed, she picked up her phone.
I missed you.
Maura sighed, with the happiness of getting Jane's text came a dull twinge of ache. She smiled sadly and typed out a reply.
I know, Jane. I've missed you as well, more than you can imagine.
Sliding back against the pillows she had propped at the headboard, she tucked her bare legs under the covers and slowly settled herself down into the soft mattress. Reaching over to turn off the lamp, Maura closed her eyes, clutching her phone to her, as if it was her lifeline to Jane.
Seconds later, her phone vibrated, the screen lighting up, and Maura squinted at it.
If it's how much I have, I bet it's a lot . Don't forget, dinner at my apartment tomorrow at 6pm. Be there, or I'll have to come arrest you. There was a wink after that sentence, and Maura shuddered as the image of Jane pushing her flush up against the wall flashed through her mind. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as the image brought forth waves of fantasy. Maura felt the dull ache between her legs and slowly ground herself against the mattress, trying to ease the growing heat. All thoughts of a reply slipped from her mind as she rolled further onto her stomach, pushing her phone to the side and slid a hand between her stomach and the mattress. It had been a long time since she had any sort of physical release. Moving her hand down further, she closed her eyes as she brought her fingers to the nerve endings in her sensitive folds that were quickly becoming wet.
"Hands behind your back." The detective's gruff voice barked out as she snapped the medical examiner's delicate wrists into the cold metal restraints she kept attached to her. Maura whimpered quietly as the sharp sting of teeth rippled through her neck and throughout her body. "That's it Maura, be a good girl. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you…" As Jane read Maura her rights, she dragged her off to the honey blonde's bedroom, one hand holding her fastened wrists and one hand wound tightly around her, roughly grasping at her breasts through Maura's blouse.
Maura slowly began thrusting her hips forward, not allowing her hand to move, wanting to make the waves of pleasure last. Her abdomen tightened in random spasms, and she jerked her hips each time.
"Get on the bed." Maura complied, shaking legs managing to clamber up onto the king size bed, and before she could draw herself to a sitting position, Jane was behind her, whispering in her ears. "On your knees." Maura trembled at the rough tone in the brunette's voice, and managed to draw herself up on quivering knees, her cuffed wrists preventing her from balancing on her forearms, so she turned her face into the pillows. Jane positioned herself behind the smaller woman, and Maura felt her hands release from the cuffs.
"If you're a good girl Maura, you can keep these out." Jane drew herself up flush to the backside of the medical examiner, and pressed her fully clothed body against the length of Maura. Strong arms wrapped around her before roughly ripping open the top buttons on her blouse. Calloused hands slipped inside the ruined top, fingers slipping between the cups of her bra and finding the pointed tips there. Jane palmed them roughly, feeling Maura's nipples hardening under her touch, and she slowly began thrusting her hips forward into Maura's ass.
"Uh…oh, Jane." Maura's mouth parted, her breath coming in gasps as she pressed herself backwards to meet Jane's thrusts. She felt as if a fire was spreading from her insides out, and she whimpered as Jane broke the contact between them. She felt her skirt being yanked up to her hips, and she heard Jane's intake of breath.
"Oh Dr. Isles…no panties? You have been a bad girl. It's a good thing I arrested you when I did. Now…let's see about your sentencing…" Jane trailed her fingers up, following the trail of fluid that had dripped a track down the inside of Maura's thigh, until they brushed across her naked sex, and Maura was glad she had foregone her panties that day.
"Jane…mmm….please." Maura's voice was pleading, and she could feel her arousal seeping down her thighs, and Jane chuckled.
The dark haired woman brought her hand lazily up, tracing patterns on Maura's bare backside before leaning forward, pressing up against the blonde again, trapping her hand between the two. "Maura, darling, do you really want me to fuck you with your skirt pushed up to your waist like a slutty schoolgirl?"
"Yes…oh god yes Jane." Maura was almost in tears, the throbbing of her core pulsing through her body, and between the two women, Jane brought her hand between Maura's legs, spreading them further apart. Her fingers danced up to the woman's soaked center, pushing slightly and sliding through her folds, provoking a desperate whiney moan from the woman beneath her.
"Maura Isles, I hereby sentence you to 25 to life, to be served in bed at my mercy." With those words Jane plunged two fingers inside Maura, who cried out and thrashed forward so violently, Jane almost lost her grip on her hip.
Maura's fingers moved frantically over her throbbing clit, thrusting her hips desperately against her hand. The heat was reaching up her neck, and she felt that slow burn rising between her thighs. She bucked violently as her orgasm overtook her, crying out Jane's name softly into her pillow, as her body continued to writhe and jerk against the bed, and she felt her leg twitch against the now damp sheets, a mixture of her own sweat and fluids. Maura settled herself into her pillow, trying to calm her erratic breathing, and her body slipped unobjectedly into subconscious.
"Ma, we're back!" Jane called out loudly, kicking her shoes off, dropping the grocery bag off on the kitchen counter.
Angela Rizzoli turned from where she was slicing small pillows of gnocchi by the stove. "Do you have to yell everywhere you go?"
Jane rolled her eyes and Gabriel gave Angela a wink and a kiss on the cheek. "Yes, she does."
"Well, a quieter voice would work just the same."
Gabriel smiled. "Yes, I know. But she insists on the neighbors knowing she's here as well." He began pulling out the groceries from the bag, passing the Ricotta cheese over to Angela. She took it from him and smiled, before quieting the timer on the microwave oven and pulling out what looked to be the third batch of gnocchi from the oven.
"Hello? Still here! And Jesus, Ma, whose army are you feeding?" Jane began picking up the sliced gnocchi from the cutting board and moved them to a bowl and began tossing the sauce Angela had made with the gnocchi.
"Must you take the Lord's name in vain?" Angela sighed and wiped at her face with her apron. "Frankie is going to be late but he promised he'd be here, and Maura too. And it's not like you won't scarf down the leftovers."
Jane's eyes flicked to the time on the oven. 6:45. "Maura is never late. Have you heard from her?" Jane's voice hitched up a notch, concern settling in between her eyebrows. She pulled her phone from the pocket of her jeans and checked the screen. No missed calls or texts. "Damn."
Angela shook her head, her eyes darting between Jane and Gabriel. He had lifted his eyes up from the groceries at the mention of Maura's name, but dropped again just as quickly, but Angela read him like a book.
"I'm going to go outside and call her." Jane slipped her shoes back on and exited her apartment, the door shutting behind her with a resounding slam. Gabriel sighed and took the beer Angela offered him, before settling in front of the TV.
Oh yes, Angela thought, this is going to be an interesting night.
The truth was, Maura had left her house an hour ago. It only took her fifteen minutes if she hurried to Jane's, but she was in no hurry. In fact, she didn't even know that she wanted to go. She wanted nothing to do with Agent Dean, and especially nothing to do with them as a couple. It was a harsh reminder that he had what she didn't, and Maura wasn't accustomed to that. Yes, Maura Isles had money, but she had never had to resort to using that money to get what she wanted. She knew her way with men and how to handle them in order to get her way, and it never failed her. Until now. Until someone has my Jane. My Jane? She's not yours, Maura. She's his. She's Dean's. She passed Jane's apartment building again, but this time she passed, the dark haired woman was standing on the steps, her phone clutched to her ear. Seeing Maura's car, she waved with her free hand, simultaneously hanging up her phone.
Maura sighed. She was caught. And she was feeling incredibly rude to have been late, no doubt making everyone else wait. "It looks like you're stuck with this one Maura." She pulled alongside the curb, delicately placing a heeled foot on the street and stood. Before she could turn around, strong arms wrapped around her and a weight knocked her slightly off balance.
"For Christ's sake Maura, I've been worried sick! Where's your phone? Did you not hear it? Is everything okay?" Jane pulled back, letting Maura breathe. The smaller woman let out a breath, but not because of the detective's crushing grip.
"Oh Jane, I'm so sorry. My phone must have been on vibrate in my purse." Maura stuck a hand inside her Birkin purse, finally locating her cell phone. She pulled it out, and saw that she had 12 missed calls from Jane. Jane gave her a pointed look, and Maura smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry I had you worried Jane. It just took me a little longer to get ready tonight." It wasn't really a lie, it had taken her longer. She wanted to look perfect.
Jane clasped her hands and held her at arm's length. "Maura, you look beautiful." The medical examiner's face lit up as Jane's eyes scanned her body. Maura felt beautiful. She had chosen a bright turquoise dress that hugged all her curves in all the right spots. The front of the dress was pleated and fabric was gathered into rose buds that ran down the length of the dress and stopped at a split that started right above her knees and ended mid thigh. She had chosen an off white fitted blazer over top that and paired it with nude pumps. Maura knew she looked good, but Jane's approval sent her over the moon.
Jane smiled at her and tugged slightly on her hand as she led her up the stairs. "Ma's going to freak out if her gnocchi gets cold."
The dinner wasn't as bad as Maura had thought it would be. Jane had seated herself across from Maura, next to Dean, but Maura had barely noticed. She kept drowning in the warm brown eyes that would sparkle at her every time she looked up. Having Frankie there kept the mood light, as he and Jane bantered over the latest Red Sox game. Maura laughed along with them, even though she still didn't quite grasp all of the plays they were describing. She cast a quick glance to Agent Dean, who was adding his input, but his brow would wrinkle randomly, as if thinking. Maura raised an eyebrow before she even realized, and quickly recovered, stealing glances at the rest of the table. No one had seemed to notice. She eased back in her chair, resting her hands on her stomach, which seemed to be slightly more constricted by her dress than when she had started eating.
"Angela, that was delicious. You really outdid yourself." Maura praised, earning a beaming smile from Jane's mother.
"Yeah Ma, it was really good!" Jane piped in, causing Angela to squint at her.
"Don't think you're off the hook for earlier, Janie." Jane glowered at the nickname, and Angela smiled back at Maura, passing her the bowl of gnocchi. "Think you have room for seconds?"
Maura smiled politely, rubbing her stomach. "I don't think this dress has room for anything more, but thank you Mrs. Rizzoli."
Jane's eyes flicked back to Maura, roaming over where the dress snugly held Maura. At Angela's remark, Gabriel's eyes glanced up as well, but to Jane. He followed her gaze before politely excusing himself from the table. Jane broke her gaze, after realizing she had been caught staring, and followed Gabriel's form to the bathroom. Maura was an expert at determining facial expressions, and none of the expressions in the room were very subtle, except for Frankie, who was still shoveling gnocchi into his mouth before picking up his napkin to wipe his chin.
"It's Angela, dear."
Jane cleared her place at the table before starting down the hallway. "I'm going to check on Gabe."
The atmosphere in the apartment immediately changed. Frankie's head snapped up, locking eyes with Maura, whose body posture had stiffened. She corrected herself, standing up to clear the table while Angela observed from her spot in front of the sink working on the dishes. She rolled her eyes as she turned back around. Sometimes these people can be so blind.
"Gabe?" Jane called out, seeing the door to the bathroom shut. She knocked on the door after hesitating, not wanting to upset the heavy tension that had settled over their relationship.
"It's open."
Jane pushed the door open. Gabriel was standing in front of the mirror, both hands on either side of the sink. "Oh, shit, are you sick?" He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, sighing as he turned to face her.
"No, Jane, but I'm not blind. And neither is any of those other people out there." He walked over to their bed and sat down, putting his head in his hands in defeat.
Jane turned on him, raising her voice. "Really? You're going to do this now? You want to talk about our relationship NOW?"
"When else are we going to talk about it, Jane? You don't talk to me anymore, ever since…"
"NO! You do NOT get to bring that up here! I am not doing this during family dinner."
Dean's face contorted in anger. "Well when do I get to bring it up? We have to talk about this if we're going to fix us."
Jane shook her head and crossed her arms heading to the door. "I'm not doing this. I don't want to talk about this."
"Jane, we have to, we have to fix this, fix us!"
Jane sighed, running her hands through her hair. She walked over to Gabriel, taking his hands in her own. Her eyes searched his face, until his eyes looked up to meet hers. "We're too broken. I'm too broken. I don't think we can fix this."
Maura was gathering her purse, casting glances towards the closed bedroom door. She could hear voices, but she knew it was rude to eavesdrop. "Really Angela, I had a wonderful time, thank you so much."
Angela smiled sadly. "It was so lovely to have you here Maura, we've missed you." She gave the younger woman a warm embrace, and Maura relaxed into the mothering gesture. "Now are you sure you can't stay? Janie would want to say goodbye before you go." The elder Rizzoli glanced back at the door, and Maura hesitated briefly.
"You don't think we can fix this or you don't want to?" The question stung as Gabriel's tone came across harsher than he had intended. Jane winced and gave him a questioning look. "Look Jane," he said, softening his tone and placing both hands on Jane's shoulders. "I know this wasn't part of the plan, hell, none of this was part of the plan actually," he admitted. "I know you never thought she would love you back, and then the baby…" he trailed off as Jane's eyes stared distantly over his shoulder, focusing on an imaginary spot on her wall. He cleared his throat and moved into her gaze, bringing her back to him. "And then we stopped talking. I knew it was just a matter of time. Things have a way of working out if they're supposed to. She's back now, Jane. You don't have to pretend that it's me you want to be with anymore."
Jane's mind was racing but she couldn't find any words. Instead she nodded mutely, folding into the embrace he offered, but this time she felt relief.
"She loves you, Jane. You might have never thought she would, but I'm not blind. It's obvious how much she cares for you, more than a friend cares. And you need her, more than you ever needed me. It's time, Jane. It's time for everyone to stop pretending,"