Jane slept for sixteen hours solidly. When she awoke she felt refreshed. She forgot momentarily where she was, but on seeing her possessions remembered that she was home. She checked her clock 14:00, wow, she really had been out for the count.
She made herself a coffee; a latte at the touch of a button, ain't technology grand and grabbed herself some fruit from the fridge. She went to her office and sat in her chair.
"Dial Cartwright."
Jane heard the attempt at connection. Since the inception of StarCommand, Earth's technological advancements had come on leaps and bounds. The missions that people like Jane led were an integral part of that; their interactions with different planets, species and anything else they may encounter on intergalactic travel meant that the teams back on Earth had machinery and weapons to deconstruct and to attempt to replicate. Jane's job was to find it, it was someone else's to try and build it.
"Cartwright."
"Good afternoon, Cartwright."
"Captain! How are you feeling?"
"I am fine thank you. Am I interrupting?"
"No, Captain, it's fine."
Jane was usually interrupting something, but her crew knew well enough that if Captain Jane Rizzoli made a request of you, you did it, no matter what you were doing. Nothing was more important than her.
"Good. I need a list of everyone who was on our last mission."
"Already in hand Captain, Vice-Captain Frost has requested."
Huh, well done Frost; tenacious, she liked that.
"I also need you to start looking at possible recommendations for a Chief Medical Officer. Actually, I need a Doctor and a Medical Examiner. I need someone clinical who can analyse, a good eye for detail is essential. Do you know of anyone?"
"Actually, I do."
"Good, let me have their details. Do you still have your key?"
"Yes Captain."
"Ok, so if I am not here when you call round, please let yourself in and put the papers on my desk. We will likely deploy in a couple of weeks. I am seeing Director Grant this afternoon for instruction."
"Affirmative Captain."
Jane was grateful that she had had the upgrade put in on her shower. She was able to stand there and keep her hands dry while the jets and spray and the robot arms washed her body and hair and then proceeded to dry her with blasts of warm air.
Normally Jane hated showering in what was in essence a smaller version of a car wash, engaging the manual override to shower herself, but seeing as she couldn't, she was appreciative of the technology.
Jane dressed in her full dress uniform. She stood back and appraised her appearance. It's no wonder that she was revered; she was a magnificent sight. She commanded respect and admiration; she made the tough decisions necessary to keep her crew safe. She adjusted the tie she was wearing. There. Perfect. Other than the hands.
She strode with confidence to her destination, revelling in the numerous people who stopped and saluted her on her way. She enjoyed the power and authority of being a Captain. It was a responsibility she took seriously, but the respect shown to her made the danger worthwhile.
She stopped at the desk of Director Grant's secretary.
"Good afternoon Janice. I have an appointment with Director Grant."
"Certainly Captain Rizzoli. Welcome home, it's good to see you. Please, take a seat. Can I get you something to drink?"
"A water, thank you. It's nice to see you too. How are the family?"
"Really well thank you. Nico starts school next month. I don't know where the time goes."
Jane smiled ruefully. "Tempus fugit."
"Yes it does, Captain. Here, let me get you that water."
Jane took a seat on the chair in front of Grant's office. She could hear the stress in his voice permeate through the walls.
"Here you go Captain. Do you need a hand, I mean help? Can I help you?"
"No." Her answer was brusquer then intended. "Thank you. I can manage."
At that moment Grant's door opened. Jane stood and saluted.
"Jane. Good to see you. At ease. Please, come in."
Jane followed Grant into his office, closing the door behind her.
"Please. Sit down. Scotch?"
"Yes sir, please."
Director Grant always kept a good selection of scotch. He took the bottle of Glenlivet XXV, filled two heavy crystal glasses with a good slug of the whisky and handed one to Jane. She winced at the touch and prayed she wouldn't drop the obviously expensive glass.
"Thank you, Sir."
She took a sip of the whisky and held it in her mouth, allowing her taste buds to become accustomed to the alcohol. She swallowed the amber liquid. God that was good, having been living in a baked bean can for the past few months; she had become accustomed to whatever grog had been snuck on board. This whisky was a show of respect from Grant, and one she intended to savour. She waited for him to speak.
"Tell me what happened."
"Sir? It's all in the report that has been filed."
"Yes, Jane, I am aware of that. I want to hear you tell me."
She took another gulp of the scotch; so much for savouring.
"Charles Hoyt attacked one of the technicians on board. I had him locked in one of the cells after he was beaten by some of the staff, I do not know who. When we landed and after the ship was empty Reid and I went to escort him to you. Hoyt had been searched and stripped and yet when we went to move him he sliced Reid's throat with a scalpel and pinned both of my hands to the floor. He escaped and Korsak freed me. I was taken to hospital where my hands were operated on."
Grant looked at her, impressed with her cool recount of the traumatic events.
"We looked everywhere for him Jane. He's gone. I'm sorry about Reid. I see you have chosen Frost as his replacement. Frost is a good man; a good choice. Are you fit for duty?"
"Yes sir. I can remove the bandages tomorrow and the stitches will be taken out next week. I fully intend to Captain the Joe Friday on our next voyage."
Grant listened intently. He couldn't afford to have his best Captain anywhere other than where she belonged. He just needed to hear her say it.
"Jane, we have received a distress signal deep in space. I need you to investigate. We need to know what happened. The mission will involve gathering scientific evidence and explaining what you find out there. The Joe Friday is a big craft and may be too big for this. This mission requires a much smaller crew, 10 as a maximum. I am recommending that you take the Bass. She is a good ship."
"But, Sir I?"
"Enough, Rizzoli. I know you love that ship, but this is the way it is. You will also be taking Doctor Maura Isles as part of your crew. She has the knowledge and skills required for this mission. Am I clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. You will leave in a fortnight."
Jane hated being told what to do. Who the hell was this Isles woman and why could she not pilot her own ship? The Bass was antiquated, as old as time. Jane gulped down her scotch, swallowing the words she wanted to say along with the remains of her drink.
"Is there anything else that I need to know?"
"Just be careful, Rizzoli. You're the best. You will need your wits about you for this one, but I have faith in you. I know you haven't met Isles before, but you will like her. I will ask Janice to set you up with a dinner; it'll give you chance to meet before you fly."
"Yes sir, of course sir. Just have Janice advise me of the details. Thank you for choosing me for this mission."
"You are the best, Jane. Prove that you are by coming home. That chest of yours could do with some more decoration."
Grant rose from his chair. Jane stood and saluted.
"Thank you, sir."
She exited the room, wondering what it was about this mission that had Grant so riled up. One thing was for certain; she needed a beer.
She made her way to the bar on campus, The Dirty Robber. It wasn't quite a spit and sawdust establishment, but it wasn't far removed. As Jane entered the Robber a hush went over the bar, broken by the scrapes of chairs as the patrons of the establishment stood and saluted.
"At ease gentlemen, ladies."
She walked to the bar. The familiar smell hit her and made her feel comfortable, this was home to her. The laughter and chatter a calming noise.
"Hello Michelle, the usual please."
That phrase was so comforting to Jane. It was as if she had somewhere she truly belonged.
Michelle set a beer in front of Jane with a wink.
"On the house, Captain. It's good to have you home. If you need anything from me, anything at all, well you just be sure to let me know."
Rizzoli, you still got it! Jane wasn't in the mood truth being told. Michelle was an attractive woman, but Jane didn't like pissing on her own stoop. She sighed and took a slug of her beer.
"Thank you. Just keep 'em coming."
Jane sat near the bar, drinking her beer, alone with her thoughts but enjoying the cacophony of noise. Her ears pricked as they picked out the melodic sounds of a woman's laughter. The sound was rich and sultry, the depth of which resonated something within her soul. Her eyes scanned the Robber to see where this sound had originated.
As soon as Jane saw her, she knew that it was from her; the vision of beauty she had seen at the hospital. The woman was more beautiful than she had remembered. The woman was sitting with a man and placed her hands on top of his. Of course, nice try Rizzoli, but a woman like that would never bat for your team. Jane gestured for another beer.
As she was ordering her drink, Jane missed the honey-blonde looking over at Jane; noticing the full dress uniform and bandaged hands. That meant that the majestic woman seated at the bar drinking beer as if it were going out of fashion was her new boss; Captain Jane Rizzoli.
Maura excused herself from her conversation with Brian; he had just lost his wife to a long battle with Cancer and she was comforting her friend. The Captain, on the other hand seemed to be seeking comfort in a bottle of beer. Maura headed towards the Captain and placed a hand on her elbow without thinking.
"Are you sure you should be drinking? I'm not sure of the specifics of any medication that you may be on, but studies have proven that alcohol restricts the effectiveness of any pain relief."
Jane turned her head to see who had dared to address her in this way. She was shocked to see the beauty from before. Jane's eyes took in the appearance of the woman in front of her. She was wearing very high heels; sexy. Her calves were perfectly sculpted, a runner. Her thighs appeared to be perfectly toned. She wore a skirt that showed her hourglass figure and a frilly blouse which made the woman look business-like and yet ridiculously attractive at the same time. Jane noted the concern on the woman's face. She really was beautiful. Jane felt bad for what she was about to do, her voice steely.
"Take your hand off me. Who on earth do you think that you are? Do you have any idea who you're speaking to? I thank you for your concern ma'am, but it is misplaced."
The woman looked shocked. "To whom you are speaking?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you have any idea to whom you are speaking? That's what you should have said. And yes, Captain Rizzoli. I am well aware of to whom I am speaking. Please, be my guest, continue to drink alongside your painkillers, but when you are in pain tomorrow and your hands are hurting you, I am sure you will remember this conversation."
The woman turned on her heel and exited the bar. Who on earth was that woman? No one had ever stood up for themselves like that before to Jane. Jane realised that her heart was racing. She didn't know who or whom, whatever, she was, but Jane knew she wanted to know that woman better. Jane left her beer and headed home; the woman was right, her hands were throbbing already. Jane might be stubborn, but she wasn't completely stupid.
As she went home and fell asleep, for the first time in a few days, her dreams were not the nightmare of Hoyt, but the calm soothing dreams of the mysterious woman. Jane hoped that she would see her again, if not to apologise. She wanted to see her again; perhaps she could ask around and find out who she was. Tomorrow. She would find out who the woman was tomorrow; little did she know that that was the plan fate had in store for her all along.