Friendly Fire Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I don't own the show or the characters from the show. Melinda McDaniels, however, is mine and everybody seems to hate her...
A/N: The response to this story and the last chapter in particular has been incredible. I appreciate the feedback, comments, suggestions and messages I've received. Keep 'em comin'. Good or bad, I want to know what ya think.
Melinda kept her hold tight on Maura, despite the fact that Maura wasn't struggling, fighting or even speaking. They both listened to the ringing phone until it stopped and when it did the silence was even louder. "How many times do you think she'll call tonight?"
"I don't know. I don't know what's going on with her. If she's hurt, or if she needs me." Maura was suddenly angry. "She's called twice, something's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong. We saw her at the hospital, she's fine. She's just pissed." Melinda stared down at Maura, almost daring her to respond. When she didn't, Melinda placed a quick kiss to her lips. "Rizzoli is pissed that I am here with you...like this."
Maura's attempt to avoid another kiss only frustrated Melinda. "Melinda, please. I don't want our first time together to be like this."
The room was suddenly silent as Maura's words seemed to pull Melinda from the angry state she had suddenly found herself in. Melinda released Maura's hands letting her own then fall onto Maura's chest. "Your heart is beating so fast, Maura. I scared you. I'm sorry."
Maura quickly exited the bed as soon as Melinda allowed her to sit up. She made her way out of the bedroom hoping her heart rate would slow just a bit. The guilt of not being available to Jane, especially after all that had happened tonight, was making it hard to breathe. Maura looked up as Melinda entered the living room. "Melinda, I think we should say goodnight."
Melinda took a few steps toward Maura, only to stop when Maura took the same amount of steps backward. "Please don't be afraid of me. I didn't mean to get so crazy, but things were going well for us until Rizzoli called. Then all of the sudden, you changed your mind. I don't understand, Maura."
"I'm not even sure that it was Jane that was calling. I am the chief medical examiner, I have an obligation to be available." Maura found that expressing at least a little anger was helping calm her nerves.
"You're right. You're absolutely right and I apologize." Melinda moved closer to Maura, reaching for her hand. "Can we just forget tonight and start again."
Maura smiled nervously. She had kissed Melinda and she had led her into her bedroom. Yeah, Melinda got a little crazy when she thought Jane was calling, but up until then she had wanted to be with Melinda as well. "I...I'm not so sure this is a good idea. Obviously you have a serious issue with Jane and..."
"Maura, I can handle Rizzoli. It will all work out, but right now I need to know if you want to be with me." Melinda tightened her grasp on Maura's hand as she spoke. Her eyes locking onto Maura's and not letting her look away.
"I'm sorry, Melinda. I just think right now is probably not the best time to begin a relationship." Maura held her breath as she watched Melinda process her words.
"I see the way you look at her, you know. I know you have feelings for her." Melinda held onto Maura's hand, refusing to let her walk away. "She is clueless, Maura. She has no idea how to take care of you and I'm willing to bet she doesn't care about you in that same way. It's obvious."
"Please let go, you're hurting me." Maura's words caused Melinda to smile, unnerving Maura even more.
Melinda took a step closer, completely in Maura's personal space. She turned Maura's hand slightly causing enough pain for Maura to stand still, her eyes pleading, almost begging. "I don't want to hurt you, Maura. Do you understand?"
Maura only shook her head, not trusting her voice to speak.
"I want us to be together. I can take care of you, love you in ways that Rizzoli can't. She doesn't want you, Maura, but I do." Melinda moved in so that her lips were close to Maura's ear. "It would be a shame if Rizzoli were hurt because you decided you didn't want to give us a try."
"Melinda, what are you saying? You wouldn't..."
"Shhh." Melinda moved so her lips were nearly touching Maura's. "It's dangerous being a cop. Rizzoli is a little wild, she tends to take unnecessary risks sometimes."
"Melinda..."
"Kiss me, Maura." Melinda's kiss was forceful and Maura's balance suffered for it. She grabbed a hold of Melinda's arms to stay upright. Melinda smiled when she stepped back. "You're beautiful."
Maura tried to wrap her head around all that Melinda had just said to her. "Are you threatening to hurt Jane if I don't want to be with you? Melinda, this is all so crazy."
"Jane seems to get herself hurt, she's careless, Maura." Melinda watched Maura as the realization settled in.
Maura looked up quickly at the loud knocking on the front door. She looked to Melinda who only smiled. "It's Jane." Maura knew the way Jane knocked and tonight she knew Jane was upset.
"Rizzoli is also very predictable." Melinda held up her hand, telling Maura to wait as she reached into her jacket pocket pulling out her gun. She smiled at Maura when her eyes widened. "Relax, Maura." Melinda slid the gun in the back of her pants before pulling on her jacket, using it to cover her weapon.
Maura walked toward the door at Melinda's direction. "Your choice, Maura. It's Rizzoli or me." Melinda winked before nodding to open the door.
Maura's eyes immediately found Jane's when she opened the door, neither woman saying anything for a few seconds. "Are you okay, Maur?" Jane's husky voice was deeper than usual, a sure sign she was stressed.
"I am. What are you doing here, Jane. You told me not to call you." Maura hated what she was doing but she worried about calling Melinda's bluff.
"Maura, I don't like her. Something is off about her." Jane narrowed her eyes to search Maura's. Something wasn't right. "Can I come in?"
"It's not a good time. I...it's just not a good time." Maura turned Jane away and despite the argument at the hospital, Jane was more than suspicious.
"Okay." Jane looked down at her feet before looking back up at Maura. She reached out with her good arm, pushing the door open enough to brush by Maura and enter. Jane instantly locked eyes with Melinda who was standing directly behind Maura. "What's going on here?"
Melinda watched as Jane winced in pain as she tried to bring her arm back to reach for her gun. "Not a good idea, Detective."
Jane let her arm fall useless at her side. "Maura, is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine." Melinda reached around Maura enveloping her in a slight hug from behind. She got the look she was hoping for from Jane.
"I didn't ask you." Jane was angry and she didn't care if Maura saw just how angry she was.
"Jane." Maura tried to get Jane to understand that nothing was okay. Things weren't fine and she didn't know if Melinda was serious about her threats. "Please, Jane just go."
Jane heard Maura's tone and knew something was definitely wrong. Jane walked further into Maura's living room, letting her eyes scan everywhere they could see. She turned quickly to see the back of Melinda's jacket and the slight bulge that was her gun. "Maura, I need you to do the autopsy on John tonight. His family wants his body released as soon as possible for burial."
"Get somebody else, Rizzoli." Melinda let go of Maura and slowly made her way towards Jane. "Maura has been excused from this case, by um...you."
"Well, I changed my mind. Nobody else is available for at least a day or two and you know...the family...the family of Detective John McBride wants closure now." Jane turned her body so that her left side was facing Melinda as she approached. Jane prayed she wouldn't have to defend herself as her wounded left arm was her dominant side.
"She's not doing it, at least not tonight. Now, if you'll excuse us, Detective, Maura and I were having a nice, intimate evening together." Melinda watched as Jane shot a quick glance towards Maura.
"Maura?" Jane tried to keep her voice steady, but the way it wavered was enough to make Melinda laugh out loud.
"Goodbye, Rizzoli." Melinda walked over to where Maura stood, still holding the door open. She placed a deep kiss on Maura then for no other reason than to piss Jane off.
Jane looked away, hating the fact that Maura was letting Melinda anywhere near her, let alone letting her stuff her tongue in her mouth. "Maura, I'm not leaving until you tell me that you want me to go."
"Jane, please go. I will see you in the morning and I will do the autopsy first thing." Maura's voice forced Jane to look her in the eyes. "Please."
Jane shook her head, the frustration clearly evident on her face as she walked past Maura and Melinda. She stopped once outside the house, turning to look at Maura once more. "I know something is wrong. Call me if you need me. I mean it, Maura, call me."
Maura watched as Jane turned on her heel and walked off into the darkness. She hated the sinking feeling that followed. "She's knows something's wrong because of the way you talked to her." Melinda removed Maura's hand from the door so that she could shut it herself. "You're trying me, aren't you?"
"Melinda, she knows because that's who she is." Maura was now more scared for Jane than she was for herself. "Why are you doing this? Why do you hate Jane so much?"
"This really isn't about Jane. It's about you and I." Melinda took Maura's face in her hands. "Jane is good at reading body language, but so am I. You tried to tell her that something was wrong. Not a wise choice on your part, Maura."
"You can't force me to be with you, Melinda. This is ridiculous. You're threatening to hurt Jane if I refuse you." Maura was suddenly angry. "I need to talk to Jane. I need to make sure she's okay. A fellow detective was killed tonight, she's a mess."
Melinda let her thumbs gently rub Maura's face. "I'm leaving now. Go ahead and call Rizzoli if that's what you want to do." Melinda took a few minutes to stare into Maura's eyes before dropping her hands. She pulled her gun from the waistband of her pants, intentionally checking it before putting it in her jacket pocket. "Goodnight, Maura."
Maura leaned up against the door once she had shut and locked it. She wanted to call Jane, she needed to but she worried for her. Maura picked up her phone, taking a few minutes to decide.
"Maura, talk to me." Jane was quick to answer and just hearing her voice helped Maura settle down.
"Jane, I need to talk to you. I will be in early for that autopsy."
"There's no rush. I just wanted to get you away from her. What is going on, Maura? Are you okay?" Jane talked fast, Maura recognized the nervousness in her voice.
"I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight, Jane."
Jane listened to the dead air when Maura hung up, she hated where they were right now. The pain in her arm reminding her of what tomorrow would bring as far as closing Jeff McDaniel's murder case. She would have to deal with John McBride's death as well as the death of their suspect. First thing though, she would talk to Maura. She had to get through to her somehow about Melinda McDaniels.
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Jane slapped the alarm clock, it was hard to believe it was already six in the morning. Her whole body ached, the weight of yesterday still so very heavy. Jane stared at the ceiling, wishing she could remove the image she now had of Melinda kissing Maura. It angered her, but it also scared her. Melinda had a possessive hold of Maura and despite the words, Maura didn't want Jane to go. Jane hoped Maura would talk to her this morning and let her help somehow.
Jane started her car, letting the engine warm for a few minutes while she checked her phone. She thought about calling Maura, but decided to wait. She would see her in a few minutes and one way or the other, they would clear the air. It seemed colder this morning and Jane wondered if snow was called for as even the early morning sky seemed darker than it normally was at this hour.
The drive to the station was only about fifteen minutes and Jane would require stronger coffee this morning. She seemed to be having a hard time waking up as she pulled onto the familiar road that led to the Boston Police Department. Her thoughts once again of Maura. And Melinda. And Melinda kissing Maura. All intentional on Melinda's part, Jane was sure of it.
The sound of squealing tires made Jane turn quickly to her left just as she felt a searing pain in her already wounded arm. She closed her eyes as her car was spun around by the impact, causing her to lose sight of the vehicle that hit her. Jane tried to reach for her radio, but was stopped by the severe pain in her side. She looked down to see her shirt colored red with her blood and a piece of jagged metal ripping into her skin. Jane took a deep breath before lunging forward to grab the radio.
The pain nearly made her lose consciousness as she gripped her radio with her right hand. She looked around for the other car, but realized she was alone. "Officer down." Jane was barely able to form the words before dropping the radio. Jane tried to control her breathing as the pain began to consume her entire being. She closed her eyes, praying help would arrive soon.