Friendly Fire Chapter 17
I don't own Rizzoli and Isles or the characters. I do however own Melinda McDaniels and...uh...yeah.
Jane slammed into her captain's office just as he put down the phone. "Rizzoli, calm down."
"I need to find her, sir. You have to let me off suspension. Postpone it, I don't care. I have to find her." Jane talked fast and paced even faster. Her breathing was shallow and her side was screaming at her. Her pain was nothing compared to her anger and Sean Cavenaugh was quick to settle her down.
"I said calm down and that is a direct order!"
Jane stopped at her boss' tone and used her hands to pull her hair back from her face. "Sir..."
"Listen to me. I know what happened. We are getting an official statement from Dr. Isles now." Sean couldn't help but feel for Jane, but he had to keep his authority for he knew how Jane could be. Intense wasn't even the word and he had never seen her quite this angry.
"I have to find her." Jane's voice was low and raw.
"No. Do not make things worse. You are on suspension period. This is a domestic at this point." Cavenaugh held his hand up when as expected Jane prepared to protest. "I am hearing what you are saying. Korsak has made progress on the possibilities of her being involved in Jeff's murder and so forth."
Jane fought to keep her composure. She wanted to scream, she wanted to punch something. "She attacked Maura intentionally to get me to come for her."
"Okay, that is exactly what you are not going to do. You want to do something, go to the hospital. Go check on Dr. Isles and stay with her. Get her home safely. Let us take care of McDaniels...once we find her." Sean crossed his arms waiting for Jane to protest again.
Jane hung her head with her hands on her hips. She was tired, so tired and she was hurting. Hurting in a way she had never known.
"Jane?" Cavenaugh waited until Jane looked up at him. "Stay with her. Make sure you have your weapon."
Of course Jane would have her gun with her, but the fact that Cavenaugh mentioned it meant he truly was hearing her. "Captain, I..."
"I mean it, Rizzoli. Get her home and stay with her. If McDaniels shows up, you call it in. Do not go looking for her, you are on suspension. Am I clear?" Cavenaugh stood in front of Jane, insisting she answer.
"Yes, sir."
Sean cringed at the way Jane sounded. "You could use the rest as well. I mean it, stand down on this."
Jane walked out into the squad room. She glanced at Korsak knowing he would be informed where she was headed. She knew her hands were tied so to speak and she would have to wait until Melinda was found before she could do anything. All Jane could do was hope Melinda came to her, or Maura.
The walk into the hospital was tough for Jane. She wondered what she would say to Maura, how she would react to seeing her wearing Melinda's rage. If she would even want her to stay with her. She had her orders, but ultimately the decision was Maura's if she wanted company at all. Jane asked and was directed into the emergency room where Maura was resting in a bay not far from where Jane had been earlier.
Jane stood taking in Maura who rested comfortably with her eyes closed. The bruising on her face was more pronounced and the swelling was just as bad if not worse. Jane could only image how bad the bruises were on the rest of her body that she couldn't see. "Maura?"
Maura turned her head, slowly opening her eyes. "Jane. I asked them to call you."
"Why? Has she shown up here?" Jane made her way closer to Maura's bed. "Maura, please let me help you."
"No. She hasn't come here. Jane..."
"Maura, please. You have to report her. We will find her and stop all this." Jane's voice cracked and it was all she could do to keep the tears away.
Maura closed her eyes again and Jane wondered how much pain medication she had been given. "Jane, I have reported her, but it doesn't matter. She is the police. She knows how to do this and get away with it."
"I am the police. I am your friend, Maura and she will not get away with this." Jane picked up Maura's hand, relieved when Maura wrapped her fingers around her hand. "I want to stay with you when we leave here. Okay?"
Maura nodded, trying but failing to get a deep breath in. "We are waiting on the x-rays, but I think two if not three broken ribs."
Jane didn't trust herself to keep the anger from her voice, so she just squeezed Maura's hand.
"Jane, what if she shows up?" Maura's voice was weak and Jane could hear the pain she was in.
Jane leaned in close, her mouth almost touching Maura's ear. "Then I will kill her."
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Jane drove Maura home, her attention everywhere at once. She was nervous, yet anxious for Melinda to show. She locked the door once they were inside and immediately checked every room as a precaution. She checked every window as well relieved Maura didn't question her actions.
"Let me help you." Jane could barely keep her eyes off Maura's face as she helped her into her bedroom and then onto her bed. "Tell me what you need me to do."
Jane watched as Maura finally lost her battle with composure. She felt helpless as Maura buried her face in her hands. She could barely breathe, let alone cry. Jane sat down on the bed, gently pulling Maura's hands away from her face. "I'm sorry, Jane."
"Shhh. Maura, no. I'm not angry at you. Could never be." Jane held both of Maura's hands with her own. "Let me help you change so you can sleep."
Maura nodded as she sat upright, slowly unbuttoning her shirt. The slow movements were hard for Jane to watch but she waited until the expression on Maura's face asked for her help. The dark bruises that were revealed on Maura's abdomen were too much for Jane as she was quickly on her feet.
"I have to go find her. I can't let her get away with this." Jane grabbed her gun from Maura's dresser where she had placed it for easy access.
"Jane! Please!" Maura's voice stopped Jane instantly. "She told me she knew you would come for her when you found me. She told me she will kill you and make it look like your fault."
"Maura, I can't just do nothing. Look at what she's done to you." Jane walked back over to where Maura was trying to stand. Jane put her hands on Maura's shoulders to stop her from moving.
"Jane, please don't leave me here alone." Maura's voice shook and it was enough to get Jane to sit down on the bed again with her.
"I know you're scared, Maura. God, I'm so sorry." Jane placed her hand against Maura's cheek, relieved when Maura grabbed it.
Maura stared into Jane's eyes, not caring that the tears flowed freely now. "You were always good enough. I just never thought..."
"Doesn't matter."
"It does. Jane, I let her touch me when she threatened to hurt you. I let her so that she wouldn't and she hurt you anyway." Maura tried to take a deep breath but couldn't. "I called her on the fact that she wasn't related to Jeff biologically and she hit me. Jane she wouldn't stop."
"Shhh. I'm going to find her, Maura and I am going to end all of this. One way or the other." Jane used her fingers to carefully wipe away Maura's tears. "Come on, lay down."
"You too, Jane. You must be exhausted." Maura lied back against the bed and Jane couldn't help but let her eyes travel Maura's battered body.
Jane grabbed her gun, placing it on the bedside table before climbing in next to Maura. Maura was right, she was exhausted and finally allowing herself to lie down was exactly what she needed. Jane lied on her side so that she was facing Maura. "Tell me if you need anything."
Maura only nodded and Jane reached up to turn the lights off. She somehow felt less vulnerable in the dark. Almost as if she had an advantage over Melinda this way.
Jane woke up several times, a few times when she moved wrong and the pain was too much and a few times when Maura cried out for the same reasons. Each time she grasped Maura's hand just to let her know she was there.
"Jane?" Maura's voice was quiet, but loud enough to wake Jane. "Jane, I didn't know what to do."
"It's okay, Maur." Jane mumbled her words, the exhaustion evident in her voice.
Maura moved so that she was close enough so that Jane could feel her breath on her face. She opened her eyes in time to see Maura move in to kiss her. Jane quickly put her hands up so that they framed Maura's face, thus stopping her movements. The two women stared at one another, neither attempting to speak.
"Are you sure?" Jane's voice was raspy, cutting in and out with each word.
Maura didn't answer but placed her lips against Jane's. The kiss was light and friendly at first, Jane's hands still holding Maura's face. Maura pulled back, giving Jane a chance to reject her and when that didn't happen she kissed Jane with all the emotion she was feeling. Maura struggled to breathe and Jane pulled away because of it. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."
"No, Maura. It's just you're hurt and I don't want you to do something you're not ready to do." Jane guided Maura so that she was lying flat on her back, pleased to see her breathing even out. Jane propped herself up on one elbow, looking Maura in the eyes. "We'll get through this, okay?"
Maura nodded and Jane suddenly realized the disappointment in Maura's expression.
"I can't give you what Melinda can. I don't do high society. I'm a detective on city pay from a blue collar family. I could never be enough for you." Maura loved Jane's voice and in the darkened room her words only stung that much more.
"I was wrong, Jane. You have always been enough for me." Maura reached up, letting her fingers skim Jane's face.
Jane lowered herself so that she was positioned directly over Maura, careful not to let her body touch her for fear of hurting her. She kissed Maura, softly at first, but with more need when Maura responded. Jane used her hands to keep her balance so that she wouldn't hurt Maura despite feeling her move under her. It was then that she slowed the kiss down, wanting to make this very moment last forever. Jane's breathing changed and Maura opened her eyes to see Jane staring at her. "I want you, Maura, but not tonight. You're hurt and scared. I don't want you to associate me with pain and fear. Ever."
Maura slid her hands under Jane's shirt, letting her fingers trace the firm muscle that was Jane's abdomen. She had seen Jane without a shirt many times, but never had she been allowed to touch her like this. "Please, Jane."
Jane closed her eyes to Maura's touch. She loved and hated hearing her beg, but the time wasn't right and the last thing Jane wanted was for Maura to regret her in the morning. Jane lowered her mouth back down to Maura's. It would take every ounce of willpower she ever had to resist Maura tonight, but she truly believed it would be better to wait.
"You don't want to touch me because of Melinda. I understand." Maura pulled away, accepting the fact that Jane didn't want to love her.
No, no, that's not true at all." Jane forced Maura's to look her in the eyes. "I want you, Maura. I have wanted you for a long time."
"It's okay then. I need you, Jane. Tonight." Maura returned her hands to Jane's body, watching as Jane worked to control her breathing.
Jane would do anything for Maura and she wanted her to touch her; to love her. Jane kissed Maura deeply, letting her tongue explore her mouth. Jane tried to listen to Maura's breathing to tell if she were in pain, but all she could hear was her own heart beating against her chest. Jane jerked slightly when Maura's hands found her wound. She had forgotten the pain due to Maura's needs, and tried to play it off.
"I'm sorry, Jane. We should stop." Maura tried to pull away but Jane stopped her. Maura let Jane stare her down, recognizing the desire in her eyes.
"I love you, Maura. I didn't realize how much until I kissed you the other night." Jane let her lips find Maura's neck, her kisses hungry and demanding. Jane could feel Maura responding under her and the movement encouraged Jane to use her tongue to taste Maura. She found her lips again and kissed Maura now with blind passion. Jane wanted to wait for Maura's sake, but she knew she wouldn't be able to resist much longer.
Maura's hands had moved to Jane's breasts and the touch was enough to make Jane abandon any self control. She sat up on her knees, looking down at Maura finding it hard to believe they were here like this. "Please, Jane."
The sudden pounding on Maura's front door made Jane react. She placed her hand on Maura's chest, keeping her down. "Stay here. Do not move." Jane climbed off the bed, quickly retrieving her gun.
"Jane..."
"I mean it, Maura. Do not come out there." Jane listened to the knocking as it was louder, longer. She glanced back at Maura before making her way out to find out who had pulled her away from what was sure to be an incredible experience. Jane prayed it was Melinda and she prayed Maura would stay put.