Friendly Fire Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters.

Melinda hurried to make it around to Maura's side of the car so that she could be there as Maura got out. She held her hand out for Maura and was pleased when she took it as she got out of the car. "Maura, I'm sure you would've gotten a call from somebody if it were Jane that was hurt."

Maura only slightly nodded as she let go of Melinda's hand and headed into the hospital. Frost was the first person she saw that she recognized and he quickly made his way over to her. "Detective Frost, tell me Jane is okay." Maura's voice wavered when she spoke and both Barry and Melinda heard the fear that colored every word.

Frost glanced at Melinda when she wrapped her arm around Maura's shoulders. "Jane was shot, but will be okay. It was just a grazing wound on her upper arm. She's getting stitched up now." Frost held out his hand to Maura asking her to come with him.

Maura excused herself and took his hand. "Is she hurt worse than that?" Maura could tell Frost was holding something back.

"No, but do you think it was a good idea to bring her?" Frost looked over at Melinda who had began to mingle amongst the other officers present in the waiting room.

"I was with her when I got the call. She made sure I got here as quickly as I did." Maura found herself slightly irritated, but knew everybody was running high right then. "Why didn't Jane call me?"

Frost shrugged, but Maura understood the gesture meant he knew why. He just didn't want to say.

"There was another detective hurt?" Maura realized now that Jane was that upset about her seeing Melinda that she didn't even want to call her to let her know that she was okay.

"John McBride. Never made it into the ambulance." Frost kept his voice low. "Jane's having a hard time with it."

Maura felt the pull as her chest tightened. "I want to see her, Frost. Where is she?"

Frost was instantly frustrated. "Dr. Isles, she said no. I'm supposed to tell you that Jane has requested another medical examiner to handle this case."

Melinda came up behind Maura, shooting Frost a look of warning. "What's wrong, Maura?"

"Jane has asked that I be removed from this case." Maura turned to look Melinda in the eye. "I'm sure she citing conflict of interest."

"I'm sorry, Maura. She's angry because you and I are seeing each other. Not very professional, in my opinion, but it really probably is for the best." Melinda hated the way Maura worked out her emotions in her head. "Let me take you home, you don't need to be here."

Maura turned and looked for the elevator. She had to run to make the next ride down but grabbed the door just in time. "I'll be back in a minute."

Frost watched Maura disappear, then turned his attention to Melinda. "What did you say to her? Where is she going?"

"To see Rizzoli." Melinda was angry and Frost began to see what Jane had been concerned with.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Frost was quick to question the blond that had managed to get under his partner's skin. "Dr. Isles and Jane are very close."

Melinda glared at Frost before stepping around him, making her way to the elevator.

Maura talked her way into the emergency room, finding Jane within a few seconds of arriving. "Jane?"

Jane was lying back on the bed, her arm heavily bandaged. "You shouldn't be here, Maura."

"Of course I should. Jane, I was worried. The information I got was that..."

"I don't want you here." Jane spit out her words and was pleased but then sorry as they pushed Maura back a bit. "I'm fine."

Maura took a few steps toward Jane letting her eyes skim her friend to see for herself that there were no other injuries. "You can be as angry as you want at me, Jane. I'm not going to stop caring about you."

Jane stared at Maura, the silence between the two enough eventually enough to make Jane turn away.

"Rizzoli, good to see you're okay." Melinda came up behind Maura, letting her hands fall gently on Maura's shoulders.

Maura watched as the anger colored Jane's face. "Once again, you have no business being here."

"I brought Maura to see you, Rizzoli. She was concerned about her friend and this is the way you treat her?" Melinda moved to encourage Maura to leave when Jane nearly jumped from the bed she had been relaxing on.

Jane winced in pain as she quickly made her way towards Melinda. "Go back to New York. It's over now. We got your brother's killer. You can leave now."

Melinda looked at Maura before returning her attention to Jane. "I think I will stay here in Boston for a while. Maura and I decided tonight that we would like to see more of each other." Melinda loved the way her words grated on Jane.

Jane pushed by both women, making her way out of her tiny room. Melinda looked at Maura, suddenly angry that Maura headed out after Jane. She followed as well, watching the exchange up close.

"You have no business being angry at me simply because I chose to date Melinda." Maura wanted to help Jane who was in obvious pain, but kept her distance as she could tell Jane was still so very angry.

Jane took a few steps toward Maura, but seemed to be at a loss for words when she was merely inches away from her face. She looked into Maura's eyes. "You really want to be with her?"

"Jane, I like her..."

"She'll hurt you, Maura. When, not if, but when she does, do not call me." Jane glared at Maura, then shifted her focus to Melinda. "I mean it, Maura. Don't call me."

Melinda put her arms around Maura once Jane was gone. "Don't let her get to you. She's had a rough night and is in pain. I'm sure she didn't mean any of what she said."

Maura offered Melinda a brief smile despite how bad Jane's words had hurt. "Could you take me home."

Melinda walked Maura out of the hospital and helped her get into her car. She knew Maura was hiding how bad Jane had hurt her and was determined to make that whole unfortunate incident work in her favor. Melinda watched Jane approach as she made her way around to the driver's side of her car.

"Not now, Rizzoli. I think you've said enough tonight." Melinda was quick to get in Jane's face and the two squared up against each other. "Besides do you really want to try me tonight?" Melinda looked at Jane's arm which was in a sling.

"I will be watching you, McDaniels." Jane was close and she wondered if Melinda would take the opportunity to create distance. When she didn't, Jane decided to continue. "I am warning you. You better not hurt her."

"I have no intention of hurting Maura." Melinda spoke slowly and clearly. "I intend to love her and will. Tonight. She will want me to, considering how you turned her away. Dumb, Rizzoli. Dumb."

Jane was furious, but all she could do was watch as Melinda winked at her before sliding in behind the wheel of her car. She had made a dumb move, but the sight of Melinda putting her hands anywhere near Maura had set something off in her that she didn't exactly recognize. Jane made her way back to her own car, fielding Frost's understanding look. "Let's get back to the house. I want to put this case to bed."

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Maura handed Melinda one of the coffee mugs she had brought with her from the kitchen. She took a seat on the couch with a heavy sigh. "Another detective was killed tonight. I know Jane is having a hard time dealing with that."

"It is very tough when a brother in blue goes down. We all feel it, whether we knew the officer or detective or not." Melinda shook her head as she spoke.

"Melinda, do you think you will return to the NYPD? I mean, it seems you miss it." Maura was pleased when Melinda's expression changed with her question.

"I intend to. Just have to clear up the little misunderstanding. I was granted bereavement leave, so right now I am just hanging out. Taking care of my family and hopefully getting to know you a lot better." Melinda let her hand fall onto Maura's arm.

Maura smiled at Melinda's explanation. "It must ease your mind to know that they have found Jeff's murderer."

"You have no idea." Melinda took Maura's mug and placed it with her own on the coffee table in front of them. "I miss him Maura, we were close."

Maura liked the slower pace Melinda was giving her and welcomed her as she almost asked permission before moving closer. "I'm sure you were. I'm sorry, Melinda."

"Kiss me, Maura. Tell me you want me to stay here in Boston." Melinda stopped with her lips only an inch from Maura's as she waited for her response. Maura's response was with her lips as they met Melinda's.

Melinda knew she wanted to stay in Boston and she knew she wanted Maura. She was pleased to see that Maura seemed to want her as well. "I'm sorry Jane was so mean to you tonight. You don't deserve to be treated like that." Melinda refused to let Maura respond, she instead deepened the kiss, letting her tongue explore Maura's mouth.

Melinda moved so that her body carefully pushed Maura back onto the couch. She kept her mouth on Maura's as her hands began to explore as well. "Are you sure, Maura? Just have to tell me if you want me to stop."

Maura contemplated Melinda's offer, but decided she wanted to experience Melinda McDaniels. Jane briefly entered her mind, but Maura could only see the anger and contempt for Melinda in Jane's eyes. "I'm sure."

Melinda got to her feet, gently pulling Maura up with her. Maura led Melinda into her bedroom where Melinda wasted no time pushing Maura down onto her bed. Melinda moved with more urgency now and Maura was beginning to doubt her decision. "Melinda, maybe we should..."

"You said you wanted me, Maura. Relax." Melinda moved her hands to either side of Maura's face before kissing her hard on the mouth. The sudden ringing of the phone caused both women to jump. "Ignore it."

Maura tried to concentrate on Melinda but when the phone began to ring again she sat up despite Melinda's protests. "I really need to get that."

"You're not on the case, remember. Rizzoli asked for another M E. And you're entitled to a night off." Melinda began to kiss Maura's neck, slowly lowering her back down onto the bed.

The phone began to ring again and but this time Melinda wouldn't let Maura sit up. "Melinda, please. I have to get that. Whoever it is, really needs to get in touch with me."

"My guess is it's Rizzoli." Melinda held Maura's face in her hands and continued kissing the slightly smaller woman.

"I need to talk to her. I need to make sure she's alright." Maura was growing increasingly agitated, but Melinda kept her voice very smooth and controlled.

"She's fine. She knows I am here with you and she probably doesn't like it."

"Please Melinda. It will only take a minute." Maura tried to sit up against Melinda's hold but was quickly pushed back down against the bed.

"You said you were sure, Maura. You said you wanted me." Melinda's strength surprised Maura as she easily held her still. "Do not bring Rizzoli into this bed with us."

Maura's eyes widened at the tone of Melinda's voice. "I can't do this. Melinda, please. I can't do this tonight."

"You can thank Rizzoli for ruining what was supposed to be a beautiful evening for us." Melinda continued to kiss Maura without loosening the grip she had on her wrists. "I want you, Maura and just like I told Jane, I intend to love you...tonight."

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Jane threw the half empty beer bottle against the wall as she sat alone in her apartment. She hated how she left things with Maura. She hated how worried she was right now about Maura. She hated the fact that Melinda seemed to have control over the both of them.

Maura would've at least answered the phone to tell Jane not to call, but there was no answer. Jane tried to push the images of Maura with Melinda out of her head. She was angry, furious that Melinda was able to take her best friend from her. Jane wondered if Maura had ever thought about her in the way she was obviously thinking about Melinda. It bothered her that she felt so jealous of Melinda right now.

Jane tried to call Maura again, listening to the phone ring through her own. Something didn't feel right. Maybe it was anger, maybe it was jealously. Whatever it was, it wasn't working for Jane and she had to know that Maura was alright. She could be as angry at her as she wanted, but Jane carefully pulled her jacket on over her injured arm and headed out anyway.