A few weeks later and Jane found herself in exactly the same position she was in the day she met Maura. Minus getting hit by a car that is. Frost was hot on her heel as they chased their suspect through the streets. Jane cursed under her breath when the man turned a corner, getting lost in a sea of people. They skidded to a halt, their eyes darting around trying to locate the man.
"Do you see him?" Frost shook his head, his breaths coming out in short pants.
"No. But he was wearing a blue jacket." Jane snorted, watching all the people around them.
"Yeah, so is half of Boston apparently. Looks like we didn't get the memo though." She ran a frustrated hand through her hair, kicking at the ground.
"Damnit! I can't believe he got away." Frost turned to look at his partner, a sly smile on his lips.
"Well, at least you didn't get hit by a car this time." Jane glared at the younger man, punching his arm.
"Shut up Frost." She turned her eyes back to the crowd. "Wait… I think I see him." She craned her neck, pointing where he was to Frost.
"That's him! Let's go." Just like that they were off again, making their way through the crowd.
Apparently the guy thought he lost them and took his sweet time getting away, trying to stay as nonchalant as possible. Jane grinned as they caught up to him, drawing her weapon.
"Timothy Gray! Put your hands in the air and get on the ground!" The man froze in his tracks. Slowly but surely, he pulled his hands out of his pockets and raised them in the air. Jane shared a look with Frost, the grin still plastered on her face.
"Feels good to be back." Jane sighed as she sat down, planting her feet on her desk. Korsak shook his head, lowering his reading glasses.
"No cars around this time?" Jane glared at the older man.
"How is that joke still funny?" The sound of heels made her look up, a smile appearing when Maura walked in.
The honey blonde returned the smile and stopped in front of the Detective.
"I heard about your bust today." Jane stood up, stepping closer to Maura.
They had come out to everyone at work. Jane had expected comments to be made and she hadn't been disappointed. But to her surprise it had gone as quickly as it had come and everything had gone back to normal. The Detective couldn't be happier about that and even Maura had admitted to her that she was relieved.
"Yeah, are you proud of me?" They kept their work and privacy separated, but that didn't mean they couldn't flirt a little. Besides, most of the men didn't even seem to mind, some of them even encouraging the couple.
Maura smiled coyly. "Maybe a little."
"How about we celebrate tonight?" Maura raised her eyebrow, shaking her head in the process.
"No celebrating tonight. We have that family dinner remember?" Jane groaned as she remembered.
"I forgot. Do we really have to?" The Detective sounded like a five year old and Maura smiled at the sight.
"It was your idea. You wanted me to get to know your family Jane. I have already started all the preparations so there is no going back. Besides, your mother is probably already at the house." Jane nodded, rolling her eyes.
"I know. I just… I was kind of hoping for a quiet night in." Maura smiled at her girlfriend, taking her hand.
"Then we'll just kick them out early." Jane laughed, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You're starting to sound more and more like me." The honey blonde shrugged innocently.
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Definitely not."
"Good. But we should go. We don't want to be late." Jane sighed once more for extra effect, before grabbing her things and walking out with Maura. Throwing a 'good night Korsak' over her shoulder, the two waited patiently for the elevator to arrive.
They arrived at Maura's place about thirty minutes later, a delicious smell filling their nostrils as they walked in.
"Damn Ma, that smells good." Jane placed her weapon and badge in a drawer Maura cleared out just for that. Jane smiled watching as the honey blonde walked over to Angela to help the other woman out.
She wasn't nervous about the family dinner. Maura already met Frankie at the station. And even though it was brief, he liked her instantly. And she didn't have to say anything about Angela. The only thing that bothered her was that Tommy would be showing up. She hadn't really talked about him to Maura. Not until the honey blonde had asked about him a few days ago.
"Jane?" The Detective looked up from a magazine she was leafing through.
"What is it?" She saw the nervousness in Maura's eyes and turned her full attention towards her girlfriend.
"Why don't you ever talk about Tommy?" Jane cocked her head to the side, contemplating the best way to answer this.
"Well, Ma told you about what happened with the priest and everything right?" She continued at Maura's nod. "I guess after that we just weren't as close. I mean, we weren't always all smutty with each other and everything, but he's still my brother y'know? So, after everything happened and he got sent to jail I just… I was just done. I had gotten used to being let down by him. He would come to me to ask for money to start a new life. He kept coming up with excuses and I kept giving him money. But every single time he ended up going back to his old friends and breaking the law. So… after he got sent to jail after drinking and hitting the priest, I told him that he shouldn't show his face again before he got everything right. And that he wouldn't be able to count on help from me."
This would be the first time she would see him again. It was because of Angela pressing her to invite him, telling her that he had indeed changed. She had yet to see if her mother was right. But right now, she still had some time before the rest of her family showed up.
"I'm gonna go take a shower." Maura nodded, a smile adorning her features. Jane sighed, her shoulders slumping as she stepped into the bathroom. It was going to be a long night.
Frankie was the first one to arrive, bringing flowers for Maura. The honey blonde accepted them with a smile, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Jane was busy setting the table, trying to keep her nerves at bay. She was hoping furiously that Tommy wouldn't be screwing anything up. But she had a sinking feeling that those hopes would be crushed.
Minutes later, the doorbell rang. Jane's head snapped up and she swallowed thickly. A hand on her arm brought her gaze from the door to the honey blonde beside her. Maura smiled gently, trying to tell Jane that she was there and that everything would be okay. Jane smiled gratefully.
"Tommy! Sweetheart, it's good to see you." Jane watched as her mother embraced her youngest son, ushering him inside. He was holding something in his hands, a smile on his face.
"Maura, come meet Tommy." Maura – with one last smile Jane's way – made her way over to the pair, holding out her hand to shake Tommy's, Jane immediately saw the way Tommy looked at her.
Repressing a growl, she stepped forward, coming to a halt next to Maura just as the honey blonde accepted the box he held.
"Cannoli's. I figured you might want to taste them." Maura smiled appreciatively, feeling Jane's arms curl around her waist protectively.
"Thank you Tommy, that's very considerate of you. Please, come in. Would you like something to drink?" Tommy's eyes glanced down at Jane's arm, before his eyes came to rest on his sister.
"Uhh, just a water thanks. Hi Jane." The Detective nodded.
"Tommy. How've you been?" Maura stepped away from Jane, heading to the kitchen to grab a beverage for Tommy.
"Good. Got a job and everything." Jane couldn't help but feel a pang of relief wash over her. Maybe things would turn out good for him after all.
"Really? As what?"
"A house painter." Jane bit back the sarcastic comment that almost came tumbling out of her mouth. At least he was trying. And she should be able to appreciate that.
"Well… that's good. Come on, sit down. Dinner will be ready soon."
It seemed that after this Tommy got the message that Maura was with Jane and he backed off. He let his eyes wander sometimes, but Jane couldn't really get mad at him for that. I mean, Maura was definitely something to look at. And she considered herself lucky that she got to do that every day. No holding back.
Dinner went smoothly. Jane gave Tommy the chance to tell her how his life was like now and she was pleased that he was able to turn it around. He had a job, a home, hell, even almost has a girlfriend. She was happy for him, something she let him know when he was ready to leave.
"I'm proud of you Tommy. Keep this up all right?" The youngest Rizzoli smiled at his sister, stepping in to give her a hug. She tensed for a moment, not one for hugs, but returned it nonetheless.
"I will. Thanks." She watched him go, closing the door softly behind her.
Angela and Frankie were still busy cleaning and to Jane's surprise, Maura was nursing a glass of wine on the couch, a bottle of beer already on the table. Jane sat down next to her girlfriend, raising a suggestive eyebrow as she grabbed her beer. The honey blonde pouted.
"I got kicked out of my own kitchen." Jane laughed and leaned in, kissing the pout right of Maura's face.
"That means we can relax."
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli! Get off your ass and help you mother and brother clean up this mess. You can relax later." Jane rolled her eyes.
"Ma give me a minute okay!" She heard her mother huff.
"You're so lazy. I can't believe Maura puts up with you."
"I can't believe I put up with you all these years." Even though Jane mumbled and she was sure her mother couldn't hear her, Angela still piped up.
"Not being able to understand you does not mean I can't hear that you're saying something young lady. And I've known you long enough to know you said something insulting about me. So get off your lazy ass and take over for your mother." Jane shook her head, letting out a groan as she got up from the couch. And even though she acted annoyed, Maura could still see the loving look in her eyes every time the Detective fought with her mother.
"Happy?" Angela rolled her eyes, leaning in to kiss her daughter on the cheek.
"Very." Jane smiled, but got to work, helping her mother and brother clean up the kitchen. When they were done it looked as if it was brand new.
"All right. We're done. Now I would like you two to leave and give Maura and me some privacy." Jane had her hands on her hips and used her best 'don't-mess-with-me' look.
"Jeez sis. I love you too." Frankie kissed his sister goodbye, then his mother before waving at Maura and leaving the house. Angela gave her daughter a stern look, but held her tongue. Instead, she walked over to Maura to kiss the woman goodnight and left Jane deliberately standing there. The Detective burst out laughing when the door closed behind her mother.
"I think she likes you better than me." Maura shook her head at her girlfriend, making her way over to her.
"Well, I do have a certain likable factor." Jane looked at her, watching her rinse out her glass before setting it down in the sink.
"And I don't?" The honey blonde shrugged.
"Not in the way that I possess it no." The Detective chuckled, stalking over to Maura.
"Hmm, and how is that?" Maura watched her warily, knowing the other woman well enough to know that she was planning something. That and the smirk on her face was a dead giveaway.
"Well. I'm nice to your mother." Maura started walking backwards, licking her dry lips. "And I've offered her my guesthouse." Jane shook her head, still moving forward.
"I'm her daughter. I've given her many good memories." Maura shrugged, her back hitting the fridge.
"I'm a doctor." Jane couldn't help the laugh that passed her lips. She stopped in front of Maura, grabbing the Doctors arms as she pinned her to the fridge.
"Fine. You win. What do you want as a reward?" Maura giggled as Jane's lips found hers. Their tongues battled for a moment, both moaning at the sensation. Jane ran her hands up and down Maura's arms, goose bumps appearing on the Doctors arms.
"I think you know what I want." Maura's reply was whispered and she watched Jane's eyes darken. She knew her own mirrored them.
"I think I do." Maura let out a surprised yelp when Jane picked her up bridal style and moved her through the house to turn the lights off.
"Jane! Put me down. You'll bump into something." But the Detective didn't budge.
"If I bump into something I'll make sure to give that part of your body some extra attention." And suddenly Maura wished she would bump into everything.