Chapter 6

Maura had made her way back into her office. She had settled down at her desk ready to do some paper work. But her mind kept wandering off to the events of last night and this morning. She took a deep breath and buried her head in her hands.

What has happened? How could the situation last evening escalate the way it had? It should have been a nice dinner with my best friend and her family and friends. Then all of sudden Jane proclaimed that she and Casey are finally trying to be together. It felt like being hit in the abdomen. Jane has talked about Casey a lot but never mentioned that they were having contact. Or maybe she has and I just blocked this out? It is possible. Still it felt like it is too early, if not too early for them then at leased for me. I have these feelings for Jane for years now. At first I thought it is something they call crush, just a brief confusion. But the more we experienced together the deeper my feelings became. Out of all the possible reactions to this situation, I decided to wait. To wait till the feelings slowly subside and then finally vanish, because this is how it should happen. The human mind is not made for life long unrequited love, evolutionary that would not make any sense. Then again falling in love with a female as a female does not make much sense either...

Yesterday I tried to argue with Jane, tried to talk her out of the Casey-idea or at least slow her down, probably because of the feelings I have. Jane questioned my knowledge about friendship and she might be right. From what I know, true friends would have reacted different in such a situation. But I couldn't help myself. I examined my actions, my feelings and my reasons and I came to the conclusion, that if I leave my love interest aside I still doubt.

I do not want to loose Jane as a friend. I need her. Her and her family and friends. She is the best friend I ever had. So I should try my best to solve this conflict and to keep my feelings at bay. Otherwise I would loose most if not all social contacts I have here in Boston. I mean, Frankie has been great last night but as soon as he and Jane make up again and as soon as he sees his sister happily involved with Casey he sure won't be interested in a friendship to me. The same applies to Angela and Detective Frost and Detective Korsak. But can I just ignore what I am feeling for her and what I am thinking about him? Wouldn't I lie by doing so? Maybe I should reduce the contact we have to give me time to calm down...

The knock on her office door let her focus again on her surroundings. She straightened herself and said: "Come in!"

The door opened and Detective Frost's head popped in. "Hey, Doc. Uhm, can I come in? There are no dead bodies?"

"There are never bodies in my office, Detective Frost. We use to keep them in the morgue."

Frost opened the door fully and made a step into the office. "Oh, yeah, right. That makes sense. But, listen, Doc! Korsak and I want to have a few drinks in the Robber after work. You wanna come?"

Beer after work at the Robber, Maura thought, Jane will be there too. That's what she and Korsak and Frost often do.

Detective Frost saw the medical examiner thinking. He cleared his throat. "Jane won't come with us. She is busy playing lovebirds with Casey."

Maura grimaced.

"Yeah I know", Frost said, "nasty, or?" He grinned. "So, what do you say?"

"I'd love to, Barry." Maura replied.

"Great. We'll call you when we head out." Detective Frost said and left the office.

Maura sank back in her chair, a small smile played on her lips. Maybe the Detectives Korsak and Frost are better friends to me than I thought. Maybe distance between Jane and me doesn't necessarily induce distance between them and me. Barry didn't seem very fond of Casey and Jane either.

Still smiling she started to do her paper work. Finally she felt that she belonged to a group, that she made friends of her own and is not only tolerated.

The next days went by in a rush. Unusual high temperatures tortured the people of Boston. And as the temperature rose the crime rate rose as well, so the homicide detectives had a lot to do, as well as the medical examiner and her staff. The work load, the lack of sleep and the heat alone forced nearly everyone into tenseness, but the still unsolved conflict between Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli affected the team additionally. The last few cases had been easy to solve, but the latest turned out to be more complicated. The autopsy had shown that the victim died from a blow on the head, but no indication of the perp had been found. Also the interrogation of family, friends and witnesses brought up no hint. That was why Jane Rizzoli nervously played around with her empty coffee cup while again going through the facts the detectives had collected by then. Jane Rizzoli had spent the last week turning between the case and a quite demanding Casey. He was nice and lovingly and sweet but she really needed some time off. And she really needed Maura back. Despite the fact, that she and Maura still had to clarify things, she needed to be somewhere where she could just let go, and that would be Maura. "I'm going down to the morgue." Jane said and hurried to the elevators. Frost and Korsak let out a sigh of relief. Maybe the doctor and the detective would solve their problems.

Jane stepped out of the elevator and was greeted by Maura Isles. "Hey Maura."

"Detective Rizzoli." Maura said.

"Oh come on, Maura. I know we still have issues and I really want to talk about this, but it can't be that bad that you address me 'Detective Rizzoli'. Where are you going?"

Maura knew as well, that there are things to talk about, but since the detective had not tried to make a move, she had decided to wait, ...again. Life without Jane Rizzoli were lonesome and she missed Jane, but it was not as bad as she thought it would be. Frankie, Frost and Korsak still were present in her life, visiting her in the morgue, asking her out to a beer or wine after work. "Sorry, Jane. We found some pieces of metal at the victims clothes. We ran some tests, and know by now that it is a special kind of alloy, but we couldn't find out where it is used, so we still do not know where the victim could have been exposed. Since he didn't work in this field it is possible that the perpetrator transferred it. That is why I'm on my way to Boston University to consult a certain Dr. Sam McMorrow, physicist, working on material science. He seems to have quite good references. So maybe it is helpful."

"Oh great. I'll come with you. I could need a change." Jane answered as she shoved Maura into the elevator. When the doors opened again Maura tried: "Jane, I..."

"Maura, I know that we have problems, and I know that I might be the reason for this and I know that we need to talk about it, but right now I just want to spend some time with you...with my best friend."

"Jane! Yes, but...!

"Oh come on Maura!"

"Yes Jane. I agree with what you said, we have problems and we need to talk about it, but I just wanted to inform you, that you might be bored during the meeting. It might be very...scientific." Maura said as they reached Maura's car.

"Nah, I think I'm able to take it." Jane said over the top of the car.

Maura grinned, she had really missed her friend. She unlocked the car and Jane and her got in. Once seated she glanced over to the detective. "And you won't even complain about the fact that I will drive?" she asked.

Jane shook her head: "No. Just happy to spend some time with my best friend." They smiled at each other.

As they left the underground garage the rain started to fall and both of them thought: Finally!