Chapter 3

Changed for Good

A/N: Bolded words are lyrics. Possible 'Wicked' spoilers. Read at your own discretion.

Sitting back down after the standing ovation, Jane and Maura are more at a loss of words than before. Not wanting to get caught up in the swarm of people exiting the theater, Jane gently grasps the smaller woman's arm as she braces her hands on the armrest to stand, indicating to her to remain seated.

After several moments, the detective regards her surroundings and observes that the theater has emptied enough to leave without annoyingly bumping into anyone and gets up, stretching. "Coffee?" She timidly suggests.

Mimicking the brunette's actions, Maura stands up as well. "Yes, that sounds lovely." She replies with a small smile, suddenly filled with an ounce of hope that perhaps the moment they shared earlier will result in rectifying their friendship.

Arriving at the nearest coffee shop, the women place their orders, receive their drinks, and find themselves a small table in the back.

A couple of sips and a couple of awkward glances later, the brunette is the first to speak. "That was something, wasn't it?"

"Mhm, it sure was. Very powerful and moving."

Jane only nods in response, knowing full what Maura is alluding to.

It's no secret that Maura has always been the emotional one of the dynamic duo. But tonight during the most poignant song of the show, she witnesses a very rare side to the normally stoic Detective Jane Rizzoli.

Like a handprint on my heart

And now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

By being my friend

…

Because I knew you

I have been changed

For good

As Maura digests these revealing words, a lone tear escapes down her cheek. Her story before Jane was a dull one. She went to work, performed necessary tasks, clocked out, and went back to her empty house; not once interacting with any co-workers outside of her job, not once truly living.

Then Jane Rizzoli came into her life and upended her mundane routine. Now she goes to work, performs necessary tasks, clocks out, socializes with friends at the Dirty Robber after work, sometimes grabbing dinner and a movie with her best friend, and goes back to her home; her place of residence no longer feels like a cold structure that provides shelter and extravagant necessities, but as a place where she feels like she belongs.

Because of this feisty, sarcastic, lovable detective, her story has been re-written in the very best of ways: for good.

And just to clear the air

I ask forgiveness

For all the things I've done you blame me for

Caught up in her reflection, Maura is startled when she feels Jane's trouser-clad knee brushing up and down against her bare one in quick, rhythmic intervals. Glancing over, Maura sees a distressed Jane fidgeting with her hands, rubbing her scars, her eyes fixated on the emotional scene unfolding in front of her on stage.

This sight stuns Maura because she has never seen the detective this restless.

And then it hits her.

These simple yet powerful words have penetrated the detective's tough emotional armor. But being her stubborn self, Jane won't let any tears fall and tries her hardest not to cry.

Seeing the brunette in such a state of agony, Maura breaks the unspoken no-touch, no-talk agreement and grabs her best friend's hand, holding on tight.

Though initially shocked at the sudden contact, Jane welcomes the touch and squeezes back, her eyes still trained on the stage.

But then I guess we know

There's blame to share

Now Maura's hand gently tugs at the hand in hers, silently requesting that Jane looks at her.

And none of it seems to matter anymore

At these words and the powerful harmonization of the singers, watery hazel eyes meet teary chocolate ones; communicating everything they've been feeling throughout the past months without speaking a single word.

Gazing deep into one another's eyes, the rest of the world falls away, leaving them softly smiling at one another as tears of relief stream down their cheeks.

"I can't remember the last time I cried like that." Jane confesses sheepishly.

"I can't believe how much those words resemble our situation." Maura responds, tightly closing her eyes, trying to calm down as the showdown scene suddenly comes to mind.

Noticing the change in her friend, Jane quickly scoots her chair closer to her before comfortingly holding her hand. "What is it Maur?"

Upon the contact, the honey-blonde slowly opens her eyes and focuses on the strong hand protectively covering her own; immediately feeling relaxed. It's almost as if it holds the power to extract all my heartache in one simple touch. Oh, quit being ridiculous! You know that's impossible. Maura chastises herself before taking a couple of deep, calming breaths before beginning. "I just thought of the scene where Elphaba thought Glinda was involved in her sister's death, and how angry she was at the thought that her best friend could have had a hand in such a heinous crime. Now I know they're just fictional characters and there's essentially a time limit to musicals but—" Her rambling is cut short as Jane squeezes her hand, gently conveying to her to just spit out whatever it is that's bothering her. "But it amazed me how easily Elphaba and Glinda forgave each other after all they went through. Yet there we were. Ignoring each other for months all because I was foolishly angry with you for shooting Doyle; angry with you for shooting a mass murdering mob boss! What was I thinking?!" She pauses and takes another deep breath, the grip on her hand never wavering. "The thought of losing you scares me more than anything." She finishes with a whisper.

"Even more than your phobia of that flesh-eating bacteria thingy?" Jane quips, hoping that her always ill-timed humor will provoke her friend to look up at her, which she does with a squinting glare.

"It's just…you're friendship means so much to me. Before you, Jane, I never really knew how to live. By coming into my life and by being my best friend, you really have changed me for good." Maura reveals, her eyes gazing into bottomless brown ones, finding solace.

"Me too, Maur. Me too." She smiles reassuringly. "My wardrobe has never looked better!" She admits facetiously, always the first to default to humor in intense situations.

"Oh, Jane." She tries to chastise but comes out as a weak snicker. "Well you know what? During the 'Popular' number you finally caught a glimpse of what I go through on a daily basis. It really is a hassle getting you to open up to new outfits." She jests back, letting out a more genuine laugh as she sees a look of mock hurt on Jane's face.

Once the laughter dies down, Maura is the first to apologize. "I'm sorry if you are." She states, playfully punching Jane's arm.

"Okay, but I'm less sorry." She counters, eliciting yet another chuckle from both of them. "No, we were both jerks." She expresses more sincerely.

"No, we were both assholes." Maura says with the straightest face she can muster, Jane's eyebrows almost disappearing into her hairline.

"I missed you." Maura gushes upon seeing her best friend's comical facial expression, disintegrating any residual anger that may have been left towards her LLBFF.

"I missed you too." Jane's voice breaks as she stands, pulling Maura up with her. Bringing the smaller woman in for a bruising hug, Jane snuggles her head in her neck and closes her eyes, appreciating this moment and hoping that they will never have to go through this emotional rollercoaster again.