Author's Note: I am SO sorry for the wait, guys. Things haven't been that good with me and it's affected my writing. I do apologize. This chapter was going to be longer, but It got too long so, I shortened it. Here's the next installment, and I do hope you enjoy. c: You guys are amazing, by the way. I knew I had to get this out since some of you were messaging me. I love you all! -hugs tight-
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Dr. Abigail Reese. Of course she's a Rizzles shipper!
Chapter Nineteen
Jane's head shot up at the Irish Mobster's name. She opened and closed her mouth, closely resembling a wide-mouthed bass as it gasped for breath and flopped on the dock, desperate to be back in it's underwater environment.
"Close your mouth, Jane it's not at all flattering and highly unattractive." Maura said curtly.
Jane immediately snapped her mouth shut and swallowed. After a beat of Maura staring Jane down, the dark haired brunette sighed and ran a hand through her unruly curls. She then proceeded to tell Maura how the delivery boy had given her the piece of paper with Doyle's message on it, and everything that went down after she left Maura.
"So, I really did have an…altercation with my car… I needed something to hit and my car just so happened to be there…" Jane finished sheepishly.
She fidgeted as Maura stared at her long and hard before letting out a resigned sigh. "That wasn't a very smart thing to do, Jane. You could have seriously injured your hand." Honestly, she couldn't really be mad at Jane… At least not for long.
Looking up, Jane shifted. "So-So, does that mean you're not mad at me?" She asked hopefully.
Maura raised a brow. "No-Well, I-I'm a mixture of things. I feel betrayed, patronized and just generally angry with you, Jane." The ME said honestly as she watched Jane nod solemnly. Maura sighed as she stared a Jane for a beat, hard face lightening. "But, I can compartmentalize. You thought you were protecting me by keeping this from me. You didn't want me to have to worry or get hurt." She looked to Jane as if waiting for conformation though she didn't need it; she knew how Jane worked.
Swallowing, Jane nodded. "Yeah. I-I'm sorry, Maura. I just-I didn't want you to get hurt and-" She paused, looking positively grim. "And you did anyway, it's my fault. I'm sorry, I'm so-" Maura cut her off.
"Jane…" She began, facial expression changing from slightly miffed to sad and deflated. "No, that-that wasn't your fault." She said resolutely. When Jane tried to protest, Maura shook her head. "No, Jane…No. That probably would have happened if you were there or not; besides, I'm okay." She offered a small smile.
Jane sighed and scrubbed her face tiredly with her hands. Just as she was about to speak, there was a knock on the door and then a frazzled looking Dr. Reese stepped in. Both woman brought their gaze to the young ER head as she shut the door behind her.
"Detective Rizzoli, Dr. Isles. How are my two favorites?" She asked with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Ready to be in my own bed, but generally I'm okay." Maura replied with a soft smile.
Jane smiled a half smile and took a seat in the chair that was adjacent to Maura's bed. "Doc, you look rough, you okay?" She mused as she looked at the doctor's wrinkled pink scrubs and the messy bun of blonde locks. Jane had become rather fond of the young doctor.
Dr. Reese leaned against the foot of Maura's bed and stifled a yawn. "I'm good. Just tired. I've had a long shift and it's finally starting to get to me." She replied as she straightened once again and looked over Maura's chart. "Anyway, I've come to check up on you one last time before I discharge you."
Maura's smile widened and her eyes brightened at the prospect of being able to leave. Jane grinned as well, happy with the news. A decent bed and sleep were calling her name. "I feel fine, doctor. I think I'm well enough to leave." Maura said.
Chuckling, Dr. Reese nodded. "I think so too. I'll get the nurse to get your discharge papers ready. Is there anything you need before I go?" The ER doctor asked, moving slowly to the door, but keeping her eyes on Jane and Maura.
Maura shook her head softly. "Thank you, but I'm fine."
Jane stood up and grabbed her cell. "I'm gonna make sure everything is alright at your place." she said as she moved to stand behind Dr. Reese who was opening the door. "Be right back." Jane added before the door closed.
The detective flipped open her cell phone and looked through her contacts, but before she could focus on the task, she felt a gentle hand on her arm.
"How long have you guys been together?" Dr. Reese asked, watching as Jane glanced from the hand she had placed on the taller woman's arm and back to her face.
Jane's brows furrowed as she registered what the doctor had asked. "Wha-what? Oh, oh, no. We're-we're not together." she said awkwardly.
The young ER doctor raised her brows in surprise, but she then smiled knowingly. "Really? Huh, well it's pretty clear you guys have feelings for each other. You should just go for it." She said, smirking.
Jane's mouth dropped open. "What? She-I-We're just good friends." She said, voice rising slightly.
Dr. Reese chuckled at the suddenly flustered detective. She looked unconvinced. "Right. Well, you keep telling yourself that. I hope one of you, or both of you realizes how you feel. I'm gonna go get your friend, discharged." She said, emphasizing the word 'Friend'.
And with that, the young blonde doctor turned to leave. Jane just stood there, rooted to her spot. I don't have feelings for Maura… I don't know what she's talking about. I'm straight. I'm- Her phone rang and jolted her from her thoughts. "Rizzoli." She answered, voice raspy.
It was Korsak.
"I was just going to call you. Can you make sure Maura's place is cleaned up?" When Korsak agreed, Jane sighed in relief. "Yeah, she's getting discharged now. Oh, yeah. Yeah, leave her there when you leave. It'll make Maura happy to have her." She said with a small smile. "Great! Okay, thanks, Korsak. I owe ya." And with that, she hung up.
About 30 minutes later, a nurse entered with Maura's discharge papers. "Hi there, Dr. Isles. If you could just read over these and sign, I can get you a wheelchair. Dr. Reese asks that you continue with the Prozac for a week or so to be sure that your anxiety is under control." The nurse said as she pointed out the dosage and milligrams she'd be taking printed on the sheet.
While Maura and the nurse talked, Jane motioned to the door, mouthing, Gonna get the car.
Maura nodded and brought her eyes back to the sheet that the nurse was going over with her.
When Jane returned, Maura was talking to Dr. Reese and smiling and nodding. Jane's cheeks flushed as she recalled the conversation between she and the good doctor. She stood frozen for a moment before Maura noticed her in the doorway. "Jane? Are you okay? Your face is flushed." Maura observed.
Jane blinked a couple of times and shook her head to clear her thoughts. "Wha-? I-yeah. I'm fine. The car is ready." She said as she fidgeted nervously.
Dr. Reese merely grinned cheekily at her, knowing fully well why the detective looked so flustered all of a sudden; And Jane knew it too, she knew Dr. Reese could see right through her. It irked her a little bit. Actually it irked her a lot, but she still liked the sweet doctor.
"Well," The doctor began in a soft sigh. "It has been my utmost pleasure to have such a wonderful patient, Dr. Isles-"
"Maura." Said the ME with a warm smile. "Please, call me Maura."
Smiling, Dr. Reese nodded. "Maura. I wish all of my patients were as kind and fascinating as you; But, as much as I like you, I don't want to see you in my ER again." She turned to Jane and gave her another grin. "You two have certainly been my favorite to visit." She said as she glanced between Jane and Maura.
Jane looked a little uncomfortable. Her palms were sweating and she quickly ran them over her pants and tried to smile at the petite doctor. "Er, thanks." Jane said awkwardly as she met Dr. Reese's gaze. Don't say anything to Maura-please…
Maura, completely oblivious to Jane's discomfort or the apparent silent conversation going on between her friend and the doctor, smiled brightly. "You have just been wonderful, Dr. Reese. I greatly appreciate everything you've done for me, for us." She looked to Jane as she said the latter part.
"If I'm to call you Maura, you can call me Abigail…Actually, please call me Abi." She chuckled as she looked back at Maura, loosely hugging her clipboard to her chest. "Only my mother called me Abigail. Anyway, you are very welcome. I wish we had met under better circumstances" She said, a little wistfully.
Maura nodded with a small frown. "I agree. I feel I would have very much enjoyed your company in a different setting. Perhaps we could meet sometime outside of the hospital."
Abi smiled brightly. "I'd like that. I don't have many friends. None that really understand the demands of my job, anyway." She sighed softly and shook her head.
Jane just stood there, feeling as though she were observing this whole thing from inside a glass box. What the hell was going on here? Now they were chummy? Didn't Dr. Reese-Abi-JUST tell Jane that she hoped Jane realized her feelings? And now they were talking about hanging out, completely ignoring Jane. Her jaw clenched and jealousy unfurled in the pit of her stomach.
Why are you jealous, Rizzoli? Even if Dr. Reese was asking her out, which she's not they want be friends, Maura is straight, she's straight…But Maura is MY friend and they're acting like I'm fucking invisible. I mean, I'm standing right fucking here! And-
"-Jane" Dr. Reese-no ex-fucking-cues me-ABI, JUST told me that-
"-Jane… Janeee-" So, why the hell-no, maybe she just wants to be Maura's friend, I mean-
"JANE!" Maura's voice startled her from her thoughts. Jane snapped her head up to see a mixture of concern and irritation on her friend's face. Abi had at some point migrated a little closer to her, and was looking at her expectantly with a knowing look, as though she could hear Jane's thoughts.
"I-what? I-I'm sorry, I zoned out." Jane mumbled, cheeks flushing in slight embarrassment.
Maura frowned. "I noticed, I've been calling your name for 3 minutes now. Are you alright?" She asked from her hospital bed.
Jane looked sheepish. "I'm sorry, Maur. Yeah, I'm good. What was were you trying to tell me?"
"Are you ready to go?" Maura asked as she looked toward Abigail. Jane followed Maura's gaze and it was then she noticed the wheelchair that the doctor was leaning slightly on, trying to hide the smirk on her face as she watched Jane flounder.
"Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm ready." She said as she moved to grab their things while Abigail moved the wheelchair toward Maura's bed and watched as Maura took a seat in the chair.
While Maura and Abi chitchatted on the way down to the lobby, Jane was lost in her thoughts, replaying the conversation she and Abi had shared, and then replaying the interaction she had witnessed between Maura and Abi.
As they stepped outside, Maura stood up and turned to Abi. "Thank you so much, Abi. I appreciate it." She said earnestly.
"Of course. And hey, you've got my number." Abi said as she leaned in and pulled the medical examiner in for a brief hug. Jane's body tensed. Now they were hugging?
Suddenly, Abigail turned to Jane and gave her another knowing grin. Now she found the doctor annoying. Seriously... "It was nice to meet you, detective." Abi said as she held out her hand.
Jane reluctantly accepted the hand and was surprised when Abi leaned in close, her voice a mere whisper as she spoke. "Go for it, detective. It's obvious how you both feel." Maura raised a brow at the exchange, but said nothing.
As Abigail pulled back, she smiled brightly, gray-blue eyes filled with mirth. Jane raised a brow but nodded. "Thank for everything." Was all Jane said, giving the doctor a small smile. So maybe she wouldn't have to worry about Dr. Reese stealing Maura away from her… Wait-it wouldn't matter anyway, because I'm straight and Maura is straight, and even if she wasn't, I'd be happy for her if they-if they started to…date.
Dr. Abigail Reese smiled at her favorite non-couple and gave a soft smile and a goodbye before she turned and headed back into the hospital.
Jane sighed softly. "Let's get you home."
The car ride back to Maura's was filled with a comfortable silence for Maura, and an awkward one for Jane. Well, not necessarily awkward, but Jane's thought were all over the place and it was uncomfortable.
"What did Abi say to you?" Maura asked, breaking the silence.
Jane gave the ME a sideway glance and blinked a few times to clear her mind. "What?" She asked, trying to stall once she realized what Maura had asked.
Maura brought her gaze to Jane, observing her profile as the detective kept her eyes focused on the road. "When you were shaking hands and Abigail leaned it; she whispered something to you, what did she say?"
Jane swallowed thickly and gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "N-Nothing. She just-she was saying bye." She said lamely.
"Hmm…" Maura hummed as she studied Jane's facial muscles. "I don't believe you." She raised a brow and folded her arms across her chest. "I could call and ask."
"What? No!" Jane almost yelled. "No-I mean.." Softer. "She just said-" Jane let out an irritated sigh. "She said, Go for it." She said, forgoing the second part of that sentence.
Maura's brows furrowed in confusion. "Go for it? What are you going for? What does she mean?" She asked quizzically.
Jane tried hard to school her features and shrugged nonchalantly. "No idea."
The rest of the car ride was filled with silence, each to their own thoughts. When they finally arrived to Maura's, Jane hurried to help Maura out of the car. "So, there's a surprise inside for you." Jane said with a grin.
Maura looked to Jane and raised a brow. "Really? What surprise?" She asked, as she waited for Jane to unlock the door.
Jane unlocked the door and opened it up, allowing Maura in before her. "Go find out." she said as she shut the door.
Maura was about to question Jane further, but the sound of nails clicking against tile caused her to grin wide. "Ladybug is here?" She asked, excitedly. At Jane's nod, Maura turned to walk further into the house only to see Ladybug standing in the hall, looking alert.
At the sight of Maura, however, she was reduced to a puppy it seemed. She had gone from "Guard dog protecting her owner's home" to "excited playful puppy" in seconds. Her ears flattened and her tail wagged so hard, her whole body shook. Maura knelt down and Ladybug bounded over, whimpering and letting out a series of playful, low growls. She was apparently a very mouthy dog when excited.
Jane chuckled as she watched Ladybug's tail spin in a circle. "Careful girl, you wag that tail any faster and you're gonna take off." She said as she too knelt down to pet the dog.
Maura was talking softly to the dog and laughing at Jane's comment. Ladybug's tail did look like a propeller. "Hey girl, how would you like to stay with Bass and I, huh? Permanently."
It seemed as though the dog understood because she let out an excited yip and turned around in a circle.
Jane grinned. "I think that's a yes." She said as she helped Maura to stand.
"Good." Maura grinned. "Welcome to the family, Ladybug." She cooed softly as she patted the dog's head softly.