Title: Uprising 4/8
Fandom: Rizzoli and Isles
Pairing: Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles
Spoilers: No...not really
Rating: R to NC-17
Disclaimer: I don't own them. I'm just playing around with them for a while.
Summary: Jane and Maura have come to a crossroads concerning their relationship. Maura decides to push things along her own way.
I hope you all enjoy. I know had a blast writing it. These guys write themselves I tell you I just do what they tell me. Also, if you are interested in reading my published work check out Forever Mine at L-Book ePublisher. Please let me know what you think. Show me some love and always leave feedback.
The next few days whizzed by Jane in a blur. Life went on around her; through her and passed her while she contemplated her own existence. She stood near her kitchen sink peering around in disgust. Her apartment had eaten itself and regurgitated the remains, but that was a battle for another day.
The last bottle in Jane's hands hissed as she unscrewed it and poured its contents down the sink, releasing the smell of hops. It frothed angrily as it completed its descent. This sure as hell wasn't helping, and I'm tired of looking like shit in the morning.
Jane snatched the sandwich and glass of milk off the counter before making her way back to the living area where the television blared. Jo Friday thumped her tail as Jane took the seat on the couch she had vacated long minutes before.
Jane took a monster bite from her sandwich and stared at the television with eyes that saw nothing. Her dilemma was clear. She had to be absolutely sure of who she was before even thinking about exposing herself to anyone in her world.
Maura was right. It took balls, and at the moment hers were the size of peas.
She leaned back and sighed. She was kissing another woman. What's the point? The sandwich suddenly tasted like sand, and the hole in her chest throbbed.
Jane lacked the experience the redhead obviously had, and Maura was barely talking to her. She threw her meal back on the saucer and guzzled the milk.
What was the point?
The point was, Jane realized, was that she was lonely, achingly so. Maura had filled a void that had been present in her for as long as she could remember. There was friendship, laughter, loyalty, understanding, and recently passion so intense it had nearly singed her eyebrows. It was everything Jane ever wanted, and now there was only a huge gaping maw.
Impulsively, Jane reached for her cell phone. Looking at the time, she discarded it. Maura would still be awake. Her thumb caressed the number one, the medical examiner was the first on her speed dial. She would be awake unless she had company.
Jane swallowed the lump in her throat as images bombarded her of Maura writhing under or over someone else. She groaned and rubbed at her eyes. She was tired, and extremely sick of being that way.
She had to do something that much was obvious. The idea that sparked caught fire. Jane did not stop to examine it for sense or even possibility. She simply pushed the number three. The phone rang four times before it was picked up.
"Should I be scared that you're calling me this late?"
"It's only just after ten." Jane said.
"Your point?" Frost asked.
"Don't have one. I need to do some research and you were the first person I thought of to help."
"Okay, now I'm really scared." He muttered.
Jane chuckled. "Maybe you should be, but you're gonna come anyway because we're friends."
"Oh are we now?"
Jane sighed. "You know we are. I'm an asshole."
"You said it. I didn't."
"You can say it if you want." Jane added.
There was a few seconds of silence.
Frost laughed. "Nah, s'okay. Looks like you've been beating yourself up enough. So, about this research?"
Jane reached for her laptop. "Give me a minute to look something up." She went to Google and almost smiled. Maura. Maybe I can… "Okay, meet me at Blue in about thirty minutes?" She rattled off the address.
"Blue? What the hell is that?"
"No questions. You already agreed. I'll see you in thirty." Jane pressed the end button.
She hopped up and over the couch tearing the ratty t-shirt off her body as she went. A few seconds later, Jane stood in front of her closet, pulling out a pair of black jeans and an equally black form fitting top. After struggling to get in the jeans she put on the shirt. Running into the bathroom, Jane applied a coat of lip gloss and pushed a brush through her hair. Her hands were shaking, but she ignored it. It was the first sign of distress, and Jane wanted nothing to do with it tonight.
Jane grabbed Jo's leash and her leather jacket on the way out.
Jo Friday pranced around her feet. "I have no idea what I'm doing girl, but I'm gonna do it anyway." An inkling struck her as she knocked on the neighbor's door. She should have looked in the mirror, but the clothes matched and to her that was all that mattered.
Nearly twenty minutes later, Jane pulled up at her destination, parking behind Frost's car. Jane opened the door and could read the tension in his body from where she was now standing. He walked toward her. .. his gate purposeful.
"No…no, and NO! You deliberately didn't answer your phone because you knew I would be pissed!" He poked at Jane's chest.
"Frost, calm down."
"I will not. I will not! You brought me to a gay bar." He whispered the last little bit.
"It's a lesbian bar."
"It's the same thing!"
"Are you going to get hit on?" Jane asked.
"I-" Frost sputtered the deflated. "Uh.."
"Okay then. What's the problem?"
"The principal of the matter?" Frost's tone was confused.
"You said you would because we're friends."
Frost groaned. "That was low…even for you." He sighed. "Why are we here? What possible research could we be doing?"
Jane could feel the hot flush seep into her face. She was suddenly relieved that it was dark. "I wanted a drink, and I, um, needed someplace safe." She said hoping her voice held conviction.
Frost threw his hands up. "Oh please. Have you looked at you? You're in shark infested waters here, girl."
"That's why you're here. To run interference."
Frost sputtered again. "What? I'm supposed to be your boyfriend or something? No one is going to buy that."
"I know that. I'm your hag. You're here to be supportive because I have a broken heart."
"Oh my God! You've been smoking something haven't you? Meth kills, Rizzoli, and you get these pock marks on your face." He pointed an accusing finger at her and his eyes were wide with incredulity.
"Frost."
"What?" His voice was accusing.
"Please? I need this." Jane whispered. She pleaded with her eyes.
Frost breathed out forcefully. "Will it help you not look like something somebody spit out?"
"It could."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?"
Jane dropped her gaze. "Not yet."
"I guess that will have to be good enough." He ran a hand over his head and looked down at himself. "Good thing I didn't wear a suit." He glanced at his partner. "I can't believe I'm doing this." Frost leaned forward. "No one. Hears. About. This."
Jane held up her hands in supplication. "Not even Korsak. I promise."
"I've never done this before." Frost added.
"How hard can it be to pretend to be something you're not?" Jane asked, understanding the irony completely.
"Hmm."
Jane stood outside of the bar and took a deep breath. She had done her research on the place the few minutes she had and decided it was the perfect place to cut her teeth. It wasn't huge. It didn't have strobe lights and a million gyrating bodies.
Other women walked around her, entering with no fear.
Frost tapped her on the shoulder. "Should I be butch or more feminine?"
Jane bit the inside of her cheek. "Feminine. I think it would be more believable that way."
Frost muttered. "Oh, you so owe me for this Rizzoli."
"I know."
"I don't know how I'm going to make you pay but you will."
"I know." Jane adjusted the jacket across her shoulders with a shrug. "Let's do this."
She pushed the door opened and entered another world.
Or not.
It was just like every cop bar she had been to but with a lot more women. It was smoky, noisy, and pool tables lined the back. Aretha Franklin piped in from a nearby Jukebox but not loud enough to be overwhelming.
The bar was sparsely populated and Jane decided it was the proper place to start.
Frost sat on the bar stool next to her, scanning the crowd. Then, he motioned for the bartender. Jane watched in utter fascination as the scene unfolded before her.
Frost squealed at the bartender. She was tall, blonde, and had biceps to kill for. "My God, girl if I were butch I would love to look like you!" He slapped the bar and leaned forward.
The blond bartender chuckled. "Quite an entrance. This one is on the house for you and dark and smoky. What'll you have?"
"Coke," Jane said. Her face flushed with the compliment.
"With a voice like that, I bet you want Jack in it."
"Nah, I'm being a good girl tonight." Jane was shocked at the shamelessly flirtatious words that came from her mouth, knowing they were going to get a response as the people around her more than likely watched. The world did not stop; tear in half; or explode in flames. Everything was exactly the same, and Jane was still standing.
For the moment, it felt damned good.
"I like good girls," the blonde added with a wink.
"Uh, don't let her fool you, girl." Frost pursed his lips and rolled his neck. "I'll have a Bud Light with a lime and not that nasty pre-made stuff. Fresh limes please."
When her Coke arrived, Jane titled her cup toward the bartender before taking a sip. She turned away from the bar to scan the crowd.
Frost nudged and leaned toward her. "How am I doing?"
"Surprisingly well." Jane answered from the side of her mouth. "Anything you want to tell me?"
"Fuck. You."
"Uh huh, maybe we should mingle or something?" Jane asked.
"You're asking me?"
"Well yeah. You seem mighty comfortable," she added.
"So do you."
Jane felt a hand brush her shoulder. She turned and swallowed as a very curvaceous brunette stood before her.
"What do you say we ditch your tag along?"
Jane looked at Frost and raised her eyebrows.
Apparently, it was signal enough. He sashayed in front of her and put his hand in the brunette's face. "I've got feelings too, Miss and she's not here for a quickie."
The brunette caressed Jane with her eyes. "Oh, it won't be quick."
Jane's eyes widened. "Uh, what he said." She pointed at Frost.
The woman sneered at them both.
Frost snapped his fingers. "Burned! Now go on find some other fish."
Jane's eyes widened even more.
When the coast was clear, she muttered in his direction. "Where are you getting your lingo? The seventies?"
"Ha ha! It's not like I have a lot to go on. By the way, I told you this place would be like the lion's den for you. Feeling safe yet?"
"Shut up."
Frost took a swig from his beer. "Just so you know, Jane. I'm a detective too. Want to know what I've detected?"
"I'm sure you're going to tell me anyway." Jane's voice dripped with sarcasm, but it was laced with residual fear.
"I don't think you came here to be safe. I think this has to do with you and Dr. Isles."
Jane drained the rest of her Coke and willed her heart to stop thudding. Dammit. "I, uh, don't—"
"I am humiliating myself for you! Isn't that enough to show that you can trust me?"
Jane was silent and her body rigid. The urge to vomit was overwhelming. She peered down at her feet. Oh God. Oh God.
"I never pegged you for a coward, Jane just—"
"Yes, you're right! Okay!" Jane exclaimed in a loud whisper. She didn't like the word coward anymore. Jane released a long breath and pushed a hand through her hair.
It did not shake.
"Okay?" Jane asked.
"Okay," Frost responded. "Did you learn what you needed to from here?"
Jane nodded. "Yeah, I think so."
"You want to go?"
"You go. I'm gonna get another Coke. I'll see you in the morning."
Frost smacked her on the back and smiled. "You too partner."
Jane let herself into her childhood home. The air was already heavy with laughter and the smell of home cooked food.
It was Gnocchi night after all.
She took off her jacket, flinging it over the couch. Jane had come to many revelations the night before about what she wanted as well as how to deal with her fears, but nothing changed the fact that Maura had moved on.
Maura.
Jane closed her eyes, hoping to get through the night without the pain of regret.
"Hey, I thought I heard you! Hurry up, sis. The food's getting' cold."
"I'm coming. I'm coming." Jane told her brother, Frankie.
Last night had almost been easy, but she knew that she was not prepared to face her family. Her palms began to sweat just with contemplation. They're old school. Nothing will prepare them for this. Nothing will prepare me for it.
"Janie! Come on!" Her father bellowed.
"All right!"
A few seconds later, she was seated by her brother.
"Turn that phone on vibrate." Angela Rizzoli pointed at her daughter.
"Aww, Ma. What difference does it make? If I get a call…I get a call. I still would have to leave."
"Listen to your mother. It's the principal of the thing."
"Yeah, I'll turn mine down too." Frankie chimed in.
Jane cut her eyes at her brother. "Who's gonna call you? The Pope? You're a beat cop."
"Just rub it in why don't you." Frankie waved his hand in her direction while using the other to fill his mouth with pasta and sauce. "Ou jus wait." He stated further around a mouth full.
Jane reached over and smacked the back of his head. "Close your mouth for God's sake. That's nasty!"
"Ow. You didn't have to do it so hard!"
"Janie leave your brother alone. You're supposed to set the example." Her mother added.
"We're not teenagers, Ma. I think he's learned all he could from me."
A deep chuckle lured all eyes toward her father. "You guys never change. You're gonna be fifty and smacking him in the head."
"Yeah, hopefully her husband will have better control of her." Frankie stated and laughed at his own joke.
Jane rolled her eyes and reached for the rolls.
"What? You're not watching your carbs?" Frankie guffawed.
"Pass me the goddamned rolls, Frankie!"
"Maybe he'll send her to charm school too."
Irritated now, Jane opened her mouth to further voice her displeasure. "I think I'm in love with Maura." Her lips snapped shut and she covered them with her hand. It was the second time in as many days that she felt the need to vomit. Holy shit! Did I just say that? Jane picked up her fork and played with the food on her plate. She refused to look up.
The rolls slid her way.
There was total silence.
"She's hot." Frankie was the first to break it.
"Eh, if you like that type," Her father said.
"Janie does." Frankie wheezed.
"Bet she would keep Janie in line better than any man would." Her father added as laughter ensued.
Jane peeked from under long lashes. "Ow!" She screamed as her brother swatted her on the shoulder.
"Frankie!"
"Ma, she can take it."
"I'll sic Maura on you!" Angela Rizzoli threw her hat in the ring and added to the Twilight Zone like hilarity.
They're still calling me Janie. Jane glanced up at her family and swallowed the tears that pricked the back of her throat. Jane peered at her mother and nearly choked when she winked back at her.
Jane let out a bark of laughter. She tore off a piece of the roll and dipped it into the thick red sauce. Her laughter quickly changed to tears.
A hurdle had been jumped, but Jane was nowhere near the finish line.
Maura.