Friendly Fire Chapter 7
I don't own Rizzoli and Isles. I wish I did but then don't we all.
Jane returned to her desk, ignoring Frost as he watched her every move. She was careful to keep her temper in check knowing all eyes would be on her as she transitioned from lead on this case. That didn't keep the heat from her conversation with Melinda and then Maura from flooding her entire being.
"Every thing okay?" Frost was extremely in tuned with his partner. He liked to think that was his job and it was, but he was paying particular attention lately.
"Yeah, fine." Jane didn't care that her voice gave away her anger. How could Maura just decide to go out with Melinda McDaniels and then kiss her. Jane hated how she reacted with Maura, but sometimes Maura was just too good for her own good. "Frost, I need to know everything about Jeff's sister. As far back as you can find."
"Jane, we already cleared her. Spouse and/or significant other then family members. She's clear." Frost told Jane what she already knew.
"I don't like her. She really has no business being here and if it looks like rain, it probably will." Jane grabbed her paperwork and headed to touch base with the new lead detectives. It pissed her off, but the end result was what they were all interested in. To find Jeff's murderer and close the case.
Maura stopped by to see Jane before leaving, only to find her gone with Frost. She hated the way their last conversation went and had been anxious all day to talk to Jane. She knew Jane was as busy as all the other detectives and officers as they were all putting in long hours on this case. Maura decided she would touch base with Jane first thing in the morning, hopefully by then she would have calmed down some.
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"Sorry I'm early, Maura." Melinda had arrived considerably earlier than the time she and Maura had agreed on.
"It's fine. Come on in, I'll just be a minute." Maura had just gotten home and wanted to change before heading out to dinner with Melinda. If Maura was the slightest bit irritated, she never would've shown it.
Melinda watched as Maura disappeared into her bedroom calling out for her to make herself at home while she waited. She took a few minutes to scan the living room, noticing Maura's taste to be so different than what she had seen in Jane's apartment. It was clear that Maura and Jane had very little in common and that Maura was definitely out of the lowly detective's league.
"Sorry, if I took to long. Ready?" Maura hurried out into the living room, balancing effortlessly while she slid her second heel on.
"You look absolutely beautiful." Melinda took a moment to take Maura in before heading toward the door. "You said you had a place in mind?"
"I do. It's a little French place down by the water." Maura smiled sweetly at Melinda truly enjoying that fact that the New Yorker seemed to enjoy fine wine and French restaurants.
Melinda held the car door open for Maura. She shook her head as she rounded her car. All she really wanted to do was get at Rizzoli, but she was really beginning to enjoy Dr. Isles' presence. The two women rode in silence; a comfortable silence as far as Melinda was concerned until they arrived at the restaurant.
Once seated, Maura took the liberty of ordering wine and waited patiently for Melinda to start conversation. "I was thinking of heading back to New York in a few days. Things are wrapping up here as far as my family goes."
"That's too bad. I mean, I'm sure you need to get back to work." Maura was truly disappointed, but understood.
"I had hoped to see Jeff's murderer found before I left, but it seems Rizzoli is dragging her feet on this one." Melinda took a long drink of her wine, carefully watching Maura's reaction to her statement.
"No, I don't believe that at all. Jane is very professional and is giving it all she has right now. Especially being that Jeff was a fellow detective." Maura couldn't seem to keep the conversation she and Jane had earlier from entering her thoughts.
Melinda smiled at the waiter after ordering in French and smiled again at Maura as she did the same. "Maura, do you miss living abroad?"
Maura was grateful for the change of subject and easily found herself lost in conversation with Melinda. Several hours had passed by the time they were ready to call it a night and Maura felt a bit guilty declining Melinda's offer for a nightcap.
"I need to be in early in the morning, but I enjoyed the evening." Maura was nothing if not polite.
"I'll walk you up, if you don't mind." Melinda was already out of the car and by Maura's side as she began the short walk to her front door. "Listen, Maura. I know you and Jane are friends and I hope you don't think I am being to harsh on her, but this case should've been handled from the beginning by somebody else."
"That's really not my call or my business." Maura did feel that Jane wasn't given a fair shot, but the politics of the police department was definitely better handled by someone else. "Jane is an excellent detective, but the decision to pull her was made."
"Are you and Jane more than friends?" Melinda took a stab in the dark mainly to gauge Maura's reaction.
"We are close, been good friends for years. But..." Maura shook off where she was going with her comment.
"She doesn't appreciate the finer things in life...would be my guess." Melinda moved in placing a kiss on Maura's lips before she could respond. Maura couldn't help but respond to the kiss and it wasn't but a few seconds before they were inside Maura's house. The ringing of Maura's phone startled them both, causing Melinda to take a step back.
"I have to take this. It's Jane."
"It's late. You're off duty. I'm right here, right now." Melinda took the phone from Maura and resumed where they had left off. "Do you want me to stay, Dr. Isles?"
Maura was reluctant to break the kiss, but did so nonetheless. "No, I'm sorry, Melinda."
Melinda was clearly frustrated and the sudden change in demeanor caught Maura's attention. "Jane calls and all of the sudden you don't want me to stay. You didn't kiss me like you wanted me to go."
"Melinda, no." Maura took the blond's hands in her own. "I just know I need to get in early. I told you that. Besides, this is moving really fast, don't you think?"
"I'm sorry, Maura. New York, everything is fast." Melinda flashed Maura a grin before turning for the. door. "Hopefully I'll see you before I leave."
"When is that?" Maura knew Jane would be pleased to know Melinda was leaving town, but she couldn't help but feel at least a little disappointed.
"Not sure, just yet." Melinda stopped before slowly turning to look at Maura. "Might depend on you."
Maura caught on to what Melinda was telling her. "Don't you have to get back to work?" Maura knew what Jane had told her about Melinda's job, but was curious as to what Melinda would admit to.
"I'm on leave. Family bereavement."
"Oh, of course." Maura walked closer to Melinda then noticing how her brother's death affected her. "Jane told me you had some problems back at your precinct?"
Melinda held her breath in an effort to control her anger at Maura's words. "Rizzoli doesn't know anything about me. Maybe if she spent more time on my brother's case and less time worrying about me, Jeff's murderer would have been found by now."
"I'm sorry for prying." Maura rubbed Melinda's arm then suddenly feeling torn between her new friend and Jane. She watched as Melinda quietly said goodnight and left her house. She thought about calling Jane back but thought better of it. She would touch base with her first thing in the morning.
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"Hold on!" Jane reached in her drawer retrieving her gun as she made her way to her door. Who the hell was banging on her door at this hour. Of course.
"Rizzoli, I think you and I need to have a talk." Melinda was quick when Jane opened her door to her. "Put that away first."
Jane motioned Melinda in and closed the door behind her. She replaced her gun briefly wondering if she shouldn't hang onto it. "Why are you here? It's after midnight."
Melinda smiled at Jane before taking a step closer to the Boston Homicide detective, instantly crowding her. "I was close to taking my relationship with Dr. Isles to the next level, if you know what I mean. Then there was a phone call interruption and she was distracted. Any idea who may have interrupted us?"
"Darn. I hate it when that happens." Jane's sarcasm wasn't meant to be hidden and she was pleased when it wasn't lost on Melinda.
"Have you found my brother's killer yet? It seems like you waste so much time worrying about what Maura is doing. Not very professional, Detective." Melinda refused to back away from Jane despite the uncomfortable stance.
"As a matter of fact, we do have several leads that look promising. If I had to guess, I'd say we'll have this wrapped up within the next day." Jane was pleased at the look of curiosity on Melinda's face. "Don't bother asking, you get nothing."
Melinda used her hand to move her hair from her eyes. "What makes you think you can tell Maura anything about my past, Rizzoli? You have no right looking into my past."
"Actually, I do. It was pertinent to the case." Jane walked toward Melinda now, armed with arrogance as she knew she had the upper hand. "When are you returning to to your job, Melinda? Do you even have one?"
Melinda glared at Jane long and hard.
"Come on, Mindy. You know how it works. I investigate, I get all the dirt. You were fired from the NYPD for sexually harrassing and stalking another officer. Female officer." Jane raised her eyebrow knowing she was provoking Melinda, but not caring.
Melinda McDaniels was not used to being challenged and took Jane's threats personally. "I know you have a thing for Maura Isles. I also know she is way out of your league, Detective."
"I am not sure how you've done this, but Maura will figure you out." Jane had no problem standing toe to toe with the taller woman.
"Oh, I think she's figuring me out just fine." Melinda smiled. "She doesn't want me to leave."
"She told you that?"
"You could say that." Melinda spoke deliberately, making sure Jane heard every word. "I intend to be with your Dr. Isles. I intend to love her in a way you are clearly not equipped to do. You would never be able to please such a woman and she is already noticing the differences."
"What is it you want? Your brother's murderer? Okay, I get that." Jane was failing at hiding the sting from Melinda's words. "You hate me, okay, I get that too. Why Dr. Isles?"
"She's beautiful, Jane. Surprised you hadn't noticed that." Melinda winked intentionally trying to piss Jane off and clearly pleased when it worked.