Author's Note: Sorry for being a jerk and leaving you with that cliffie. (x So yeah, I had fun with this chapter. You're about to meet a character that...Actually exists and isn't really a character. xD They are based off of someone, but I'm not saying anymore. c: Woo! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Yeah, no.
Chapter Thirteen
Jane stood frozen in the doorway for a moment, her hand still gripping her gun while the other sleeve covered hand held a wrinkly piece of paper. "Jane, everything okay?" Maura's voice broke through her stupor and Jane quickly shook her head before shutting the door and shoving the piece of paper behind her back.
"Yeah, everything's fine, Maur. Just paying the delivery boy." She replied lamely as she picked up the bag full of food that she had set down on the table next to her gun and brought it into the kitchen.
Jane set the bag onto the kitchen counter and glanced down at the piece of paper in her sleeve covered hand. "What's that?" Maura asked from directly behind her. Jane nearly jumped out of her skin as she whipped around to face Maura.
"Shit! Jesus, Maura. Don't do that." Jane grumbled, one hand covering her heart while the other seemed to have crumpled the piece of paper up out of fright. She glanced down at her fisted hand and mentally chastised herself for ruining what could be evidence. "It's just the receipt..." She answered. Lie. Stupid lie. She hated lying to Maura, but the ME didn't need to be worried about something that could be nothing right now.
Maura stared down at Jane's fisted hand and then looked back up at her friend with a slightly narrowed gaze. Jane almost faltered under Maura's scrutinizing eyes, but she kept up her nonchalance. Finally the shorter woman nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "Okay, well... We're eating at the table, last time I allowed you to eat at the couch, I had to get the cushion dry cleaned..." She said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk.
"Hey, it was one time! I said I was sorry and I even offered to pay!" Jane replied, a small smile creasing her lips at the memory of Maura's horrified expression when she dribbled soy sauce on the cushion.
Maura just rolled her eyes and began to pull out containers full of food and get down plates, while Jane shoved the piece of paper in the pocket of her zip up sweatshirt. "Maur, c'mon... How many times do I have to tell you that eating out of the containers is half the experience of takeout?" She mused as she put the plates up that Maura had gotten out. Maura, for her part just raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and smirked.
All during their dinner, all Jane could think about was the crumpled up piece of paper in her pocket. She tried to keep her focus on the casual conversation she and Maura were having but she couldn't keep her mind from wandering back to the note burning a whole in her side.
If Maura noticed Jane's lack of focus, she didn't comment on it. "Well, that was lovely. Thanks for buying." She said as she stood up from her seat and began to gather up the leftovers and empty cartons.
Jane nodded noncommittally. "Yeah, sure. No problem. I'll be right back, gonna use the bathroom." She said as she stood up and gathered her own empty carton to deposit it in the trash on her way. Maura merely nodded and continued to clean up.
Sighing, Jane leaned against the closed bathroom door and shoved her hand into her pocket. She stared down at the crumpled piece of paper before slowly opening it and straightening out the creases on the bathroom countertop. Before she allowed herself to even glance down at it, she closed her eyes and took a calming breath.
Once she opened her eyes back up, she brought them down to the wrinkled sheet of paper beneath her fingertips, slowly taking in the short note scribbled on it.
Meet me at the docks, in the shipping warehouse.
you'll know which one, detective. Come alone, please.
-P.D.
Jane swallowed and re-read the message a couple of times before she quickly crumpled the piece of paper and shoved it back in her pocket. What the hell was Paddy Doyle doing contacting her? Why didn't he just show up at Maura's? It's not like he had any problem with that before. How was she supposed to leave Maura alone?
Heaving a sigh, Jane ran a hand through her unruly hair and groaned. She had to lie. Again. To Maura. Scrubbing her face tiredly, Jane flushed the toilet so it seemed like she had actually used the restroom and then proceeded to wash her hands before drying them on her pants and exiting.
Maura was perched on the couch, legs folded beneath her as she stared at the TV, a look of concentration on her delicate features. Jane took a breath and plopped down on the couch beside the ME, startling her a bit as she whipped her head in Jane's direction, honey colored curls bouncing lightly on her shoulders.
"Maur, I've gotta run to pick up some more clothes and check on Jo Friday...And Ma. She's called about a dozen times. I sent her to my house when... When we we're at the hospital..." That wasn't a total lie, Jane did need to pick up clothes and check on her dog as well as her mother. The woman had called at least 20 times and left over a dozen messages that Jane didn't even bother checking.
Maura nodded softly. "Okay, we can-" Jane cut her off.
"I think you should stay here." Jane said, immediately regretting the words as a look of hurt and fear washed over her best friend's face. "I-I mean, I just, I think it would be best because I also want to go check on Frost and Korsak and see how-how things are going..." she stumbled over her words, scarred hands gesturing awkwardly.
Maura tried not to look hurt as she dropped her gaze to her own hands. The thought of being alone terrified her, but she wasn't about to force Jane to stay with her. She could do this, she could be alone for an hour or two. She took a shaky breath and looked back up at Jane, trying to hide the tears that so desperately wanted to fall. "O-okay, Jane." She stammered, sniffling.
Damn it... Not the tears.
"Aww, Maura. Don't cry. Please?" Jane moved to wrap her arms around the honey blonde as she fought back tears. Maura allowed her friend to hug her as she buried her face in dark hair.
"I-I'm s...sorry. I don't k-know why I'm crying. I just...I don't w-want to be alone." She sobbed quietly as she pulled back, watching as Jane too her hands and held them tightly. Maura then looked up at Jane and noted the look on her face. "And, I don't want to have a police officer outside of my house." She added quickly.
Jane deflated, but then she smiled. "Okay, I've got an idea." She said as she stood up and went to grab her phone. Maura watched her with a puzzled expression, her tears stopping momentarily. She watched as the dark haired detective stood in the kitchen with her phone glued to her ear, pacing slowly as she nodded and talked in a low voice.
Maura was only able to get a few words from the one sided conversation. Words like, Borrow,And, She. As well as, Ladybug. Wait, Ladybug? What did a beetle have to do with anything? When Jane hung up, she had a smile on her face as she returned to the couch.
"Jane...?" Maura cocked her head and raised a brow in an inquiring manner.
Jane just shrugged and grinned. "You'll see." She replied simply.
After 10 minutes of Maura trying to get Jane to break and tell her what was going on, there was a knock at the door. Jane scrambled to her feet and rushed to answer it, but not before glancing back at a curious looking Maura who was turned awkwardly in her seat on the couch, peaking over the back of it in the hopes of figuring out what Jane was up to.
Jane turned back to the door and opened it slowly before stepping out of view. Maura strained to hear the conversation, but Jane was talking quietly. When Jane stepped back into view, she was holding a black leather leash. Maura's eyes followed the leash and she immediately found a pair of chestnut colored eyes staring back into her own.
"Thanks so much, Sammy. I appreciate this." Maura briefly heard Jane's voice as her eyes roved over a beautiful dog. It had the body of a German Shepherd, however the animal's coat was all white with cream colored markings and two black patches over each eye. The animal sat beside Jane and only moved when Jane ordered her to.
"C'mon, Ladybug." Jane said sweetly as she brought the dog inside the house. "Let's unhook this leash." She mumbled as she knelt down and did just that.
Maura looked bemused as she stared at the animal before she brought her confused eyes to Jane's. "Jane...Why is there a dog in my foyer?" She asked slowly as she stood up and walked toward the sheepish looking detective.
"Maura, meet Ladybug. She would have graduated at the top of her class at the academy but since she's not a full blooded German Shepherd, they wouldn't allow it. She's trained with the best of them and would have made one hellova Police dog." Jane swallowed nervously as she glanced down at Ladybug who was looking between the two of them, tail wagging softly.
Maura raised an eyebrow and gave Jane an incredulous look. "That doesn't answer my question, Jane..." She let out an exasperating sigh.
If there were dirt to kick up, Jane would be digging her foot into it right about now as she fidgeted under Maura's glare. "Right, well... Yeah, well ya said that... you didn't wanna be alone, and that," She paused and glanced down at the dog. "That you didn't want some police officer outside your house. This is the next best thing... Aside from me of course." Jane reached down and petted the dog softly on the head, earning her a lick.
"Jane..." Maura folded her arms across her chest, and before she could say anything else, Jane cut her off.
"Maura, c'mon! Don't let her name fool you, or her sweet nature. She may not have a gun or opposable thumbs, but she's got a set of sharp ass teeth and I've seen her take down a 260 pound guy like he was a freakin' rag doll! She's trained to protect." Jane admonished, looking slightly desperate.
Maura still didn't look convinced. Jane sighed and scrubbed her face with her hands. "If not for me...Then-Then do it for her! Gees, you'll hurt her feelings. She's very sensitive about being..." She paused and lowered her voice. "Rejected..." Her eyes dropped to the dog who's tail stopped wagging immediately. "See? Look at her? Look at that face. No one gave her a chance! Just... Give her a chance, Maura..." Jane lowered herself to wrap an arm around the dog in a hug, giving Maura a set of puppy dog eyes.
Sighing Maura rolled her eyes and smirked. "Fine, alright. I only need one set of puppy dog eyes staring at me, thank you." She grumbled, shaking her head.
"Yes! Haha, see, Ladybug? She's too easy." Jane teased, as she scratched behind the animal's ear. Ladybug's tail wagged and she turned her muzzle toward Jane to lick her face. "Okay, okay. That's enough of that. Take me out to dinner first before you stick your tongue in my mouth." She chuckled and stood up to her full height.
Maura chuckled softly before she bent slightly to pet the dog, noting the festive Ladybug collar around the dog's neck as well as her tags. "That's okay, Ladybug. I understand what it's like to be rejected. We'll have fun while Jane's gone." She said softly as she petted the dog lovingly.
Jane smiled sadly, knowing that what Maura had said was probably true.
After explaining Ladybug's commands to Maura, Jane asked the ME if she was sure she'd be okay and Maura sighed and nodded. "Yes, Jane. I'll be fine. Are you sure Ladybug's owner is okay with this?" she asked as she glanced down at the dog who was laying down at Maura's feet.
"Yeah, Ladybug is a foster, really. She's been shuffled around. Her foster owner is someone I met through Korsak. I explained the situation and she agreed. Besides, Ladybug needs some one on one attention. Sammy has two dogs of her own and a canine police partner." Jane explained as she gathered her things and walked toward the door.
Maura nodded a little sadly. Poor Ladybug. Rejected from being a full fledged police dog, and now she doesn't have an actual home? Sad. Sighing, Maura looked down at the dog before she brought her gaze back up to Jane. "Okay, well... Be careful, and I'll call if I need anything." She said softly.
"You too, Maur." Jane said with a smile. She then looked down at Ladybug with a serious expression. "You take care of her, okay girl?" The dog sat up immediately, and Jane briefly wondered if she could understand what she was saying. "Good dog." Jane said before she turned and slowly exited the house.
Tearing her eyes from the door, Maura took a breath as she looked down at Ladybug. "Well, looks like it's just you and me." She said a little nervously. Ladybug just looked up at her before she moved to place her head in the ME's lap, nudging Maura's hands with the end of her snout, obviously wanting attention.
Maura grinned and began to stroke the dog's head softly. She could do this. She could be here alone. Well she wasn't alone, was she? She had Ladybug.
Authors Note # 2: So now you've met Ladybug! :D She's a real dog, though she isn't part German Shepherd. She's a lab-border collie mix and probably with a bit of Spitz in her. She's much shyer than this Ladybug in the story, but just as freaking sweet. I thought it'd be fun to add a Police Dog reject in there instead of a cop to watch over Maura. Which reminds me, I have no idea if all police dogs have to be German Shepherds. I've only ever seen GSs as police dogs, so I don't know. But in my story that's how it is. xD If you want to see what Ladybug looks like she'll be on my profile. (: I hope you all enjoyed!