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Chapter Four – Media Coverage

Maura always made sure to look neutral whenever she had to give an interview on a crime scene. Many different kinds of people saw her on television – from children to adults – and she didn't want the violence of the scene to show through her attire. That's why she never approached the media without taking her latex gloves off first. She liked the idea of carrying her medical bag with her but she forced a smile she hoped friendly enough to counterbalance the singularity of her job.

Yet on that day of January, the aforesaid smile froze as a journalist took her by surprise and made her little plan fall apart like a house of cards.

"I didn't know that you were a lesbian."

The statement resounded loud and clear, way too clear for the dozen of journalists to mind their own business and pretend that they hadn't overheard the remark. Maura found herself facing a whole row of faces that were now eagerly waiting for her reaction to something nobody on this street ignored.

She hadn't taken the time to check any newspaper. Had one of them published an article about her union to Jane? She knew that they were both somehow followed by journalists but outside of Paddy Doyle, media had never dared to allude to her private life so far.

"You never asked."

Her reply didn't relieve the tension the slightest bit. On the contrary. A couple of journalists seemed to make a subconcious step towards her to make sure that they wouldn't miss anything of whatever was about to happen.

Nobody was filming though. Her official interview was over and all the crews had turned off their devices.

"Indeed." The journalist smiled, not really troubled by Maura's reply. She cast a glance at her assistant then smirked. "Congratulations. Now we understand why you and Jane Rizzoli – I mean Jane Rizzoli-Isles – are such a good duo. We knew you were close but not to that point. This is a rather unusual love story. If the two of you ever feel like giving an interview... Think about us. We'd love to have the exclusivity."

Maura bit the inside of her cheek to hold back a laugh. Something told her that Jane would never accept to do such a thing. Marrying her to be a co-parent was one thing but being interviewed on national television to speak about a sexual orientation that wasn't hers was another story.

"We will think about it, thank you."

A polite smile put an end to the odd conversation and – before any journalist had time to add anything – Maura turned on her heels and walked back to her car. Luckily, Jane was still on the other side of the yellow tape talking to her team.

This was not the kind of conversation she would have enjoyed. She didn't like the media. As a matter of fact, she despised them all with a passion. Maura accepted the cameras, the questions. It came with the job and with the responsibilities she had accepted the day she had become the Chief Medical Examiner of Massachusetts.

...

The words were there – on the edge of coming out – and the more Maura tried to hold them back, the more they burnt on her lips. If she didn't manage to turn the page over the whole thing now, Jane would begin to find her attitude strange to say the least.

They were back home preparing dinner. In theory, the crime scene was far behind. Yes it was a brand new case and chances were that they would talk about it for most of the evening but the journalist's allusion to their private life kept on haunting Maura's mind. She didn't stop casting glances at Jane between two tasks in a silence that was too loud to be honest.

"Have you got... Remarks... Since we got married?" And there she went. Maura ran her tongue over her lips before swallowing hard. "I mean, has anyone told you anything in particular regarding it?"

"Like what? A joke? C'mon, I work with guys. They've always teased me one way or another. They're having a blast with our marriage!" Jane chuckled. She didn't mind the jokes. As a matter of fact, she even liked them. It was the only way her colleagues had found to show her some affection. None of them was mean. "But you already know about that. You even saw it yourself. Why are you asking me that?"

A deep hesitation embraced Maura. She had told Jane way too much to stop now and yet she wasn't sure that her friend would appreciate whatever she was supposed to add. They had never openly alluded to this 'side-effect' of their union as much as it happened to be a very logical one. One more time, they had simply pretended that nothing was there and that life was simply going on as it had always done.

"A journalist told me today that she ignored I engaged in same-sex intercourse."

Jane immediately stopped chopping vegetables. Knife in hand, she turned her head at Maura and opened wide eyes.

"Who? Besides... You don't! We don't sleep together! We aren't... You know." Jane's cheeks began to burn. Heavily. She looked down at the counter to hide herself better behind her dark curls and resumed her chopping. "What did you tell her?"

"Nothing very relevant, I am afraid. But..." Maura took a deep breath. She saw Bass on her left. Bad timing. He would have to wait a little to have dinner. "She made a point though. Two women marry each other, the conclusion only seems natural... Don't you think so?"

Jane shrugged. She perfectly saw where Maura was going and she was right yet Jane couldn't find the proper courage to admit it.

"I s'ppose."

"Does it bother you?" Out of her awkwardness, Maura seemed to have found a new self-confidence. Now that she had started talking, nothing could stop her and she would only put an end to this conversation when she assumed that they couldn't go any further. "Does it bother you that people might think you and I are lesbians?"

Jane cleared her voice but didn't reply immediately. Why did they have to share such thoughts now? She had had a long day at work and wanted nothing but to spend a relaxing evening at home with her friend. She hadn't signed up for existential thoughts. She rolled her eyes and ended up shaking her head.

"It's part of the game, ain't it? So... What I know? Be it."

...

Maura never told me who the journalist was. And so what? I would have probably never gone to find that woman to let her know what I thought about her methods as I was way too afraid to be confronted to such topic.

It is ridiculous, right? C'mon, do it. Laugh. You probably wonder if I'm not lying now because the person I'm describing doesn't really look like the one you know, the one you've been living with for the past eighteen years.

I'm not exhuberant nor anything but I've changed a lot. I've accepted some things.

Curiously, it never happened again. I don't know what Maura exactly said to this journalist but it turned out that nobody ever tried to get some more information about us, about our private life. I'm kind of glad it went that way.

I'm not ashamed of who we are but it's nobody's business. I don't see why I should talk about my family – about my couple – when I'm on a crime scene. This isn't what I'm paid for. I'm a detective, not a chatty reality tv star of some sort.

I don't know if it worked but Maura and I honestly tried to protect you from all this. We always knew that there was a possibility the media would find interest in our family because of our jobs, because of who we are. I hope you never suffered from it.

We put an end to the topic that night right after I mumbled that I didn't mind. And it was true, I wasn't lying. I had married a woman. It was fair enough that people came to some conclusions, no matter they weren't true. How could they guess that the only purpose of this marriage – or at least by then – was you? We didn't want to yell it. That would have ruined our chances to have you. Nah. We had to remain as discreet as we could and this is what we did.

I'm sure many people assumed that we were a couple, a real one. We worked together, we were best friends... We spent so much time together. We had that symbiotic relationship that only a few can understand. Nobody ever said anything but who knows what they were really thinking? Like, you know... They're together but they're not ready to make it official so they make up that crazy child plan instead. Who knows what people really think about us? But you know what? It's not important. I don't care. What others think of you doesn't have to get an impact on your life.

Just be yourself and you'll do just fine.

We totally ran away from the topic and focused on the case that night. We worked hard, really hard as if putting so much dedication into our job would be enough to sweep away our doubts. It's a hopeless thought. This kind of stuff never works. It's hard enough to fool people so... Fooling yourself? You can be sure it's gonna be a complete fail.

I never said it to Maura but her confession that night kind of haunted me for a while. I lost myself in a game of what-ifs and such. Every single time I wondered about my reaction if the journalist had made the remark to me and not to her. In front of everyone. Would I have been mortified? Would I have found the perfect sarcastic comment to make her stop her insinuations? Would I have lost my temper?

See. That's why I always say that Maura is brave. She doesn't become nuts when confronted to an unexpected yet intimate situation. She remains calm, in control. I admire her for that. If only I could be a tiny bit like her... Life would be so easier!

Maura is the best role model you could hope for in your life. And don't roll your eyes. I know you always do when I say that. I'm right. You couldn't dream of a better mother than Maura.