Warning: Another non-fluffy piece.
Once again, Jane and Maura find each other undercover, but this time they aren't safely ensconsed in a lesbian bar. No, this time they have had to infilitrate the girl-on-girl prostitution ring, all the while pretending they're not hopelessly in love with one another.
Have you seen the eyes these two make at each other? This battle was lost before it was even begun.
Which explains why both Maura and Jane are zip-tied and gagged on the floor, their cover unmistakably blown. They're back to back and Jane is working on freeing their hands with the small penknife she'd taken to taping to her back. She freed Maura first, just in case they were discovered, so that at least she'd be able to get away. But no one noticed the small movement so she continued to free herself.
Maria Collins stepped into the room, commanding attention as only the boss of an illegal operation can. Her red hair looked like it came from a bottle, cheap and trashy, but the cream pantsuit was top quality and the gun in her manicured hands was a very dear glock.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" Her tone was unarguably amused. "Two lovers, both of them rats." She cast an appraising eye over the detective and doctor. Suddenly she swirled, turning her attention to the small crowd gathering around the two bound women. "How shall we make them pay?"
Jesus, Jane couldn't help thinking, this chick needs to lay off the rhetorics.
"Randall, take the clip out of your gun, but leave the slug in the chamber." The armed guard did as instructed, tucking the clip onto his belt. "Very good. Lewis, you, too." She paused a beat as the action was completed before issuing further demands, "Now place the two firearms in between the two women as we withdraw behind some bullet proof glass."
The crowd dissipated quickly as the men placed the weapons as told.
"Ladies, we all know you've managed to free yourselves from the bonds you were in. The rules are simple. You take a shot at any of us and you both die. You're going to play a little game for us. One of you can leave here alive. But that person must therefore shoot the other person fatally." She halted her speech to smirk triumphantly at the expressions on the to-be victims' faces. "Remove your gags when you're ready ladies, and let the best woman win."
They reached up almost in unison to remove their respective gags before they turned to face each other. Maura has tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes, but they started to pour as soon as she saw the detective's eyes.
"No Jane, no, don't make me do this, I can't do this to you." She flung her arms around the brunette's neck, steadily ignoring their audience.
"It's okay Maura, I trust you, I love you. You'll get through this, my family will help you through this." She had to pause, the emotion threatening to spill over her carefully held together walls. But she couldn't contain it all, leaning forward and kissing Maura out of pure need. One last time. "Just do it quick, hey Maur?" She tried in vain to bring her Rizzoli-grin to her lips, the perfect accompaniment to her signature joking swagger, but it was a futile endeavour when all she wanted to do was cry.
Maura kept shaking her head, whispering "No" over and over again. Jane had to force the gun into her hands and flick the safety off herself. She stood up, bringing Maura with her, and then she stepped away, giving them distance.
"It's okay, Maur. Hit me with your best shot." And she closed her eyes, hands resting at her sides, chin slightly tilted upward. Her posture was relaxed, she'd make this same choice every single time if it was the choice between Maura living and dying. Maura would always live when Jane had the choice.
Maura's hands were shaky as she raised the barrel from the floor. She could barely see through her watery eyes and her hands wouldn't let her point the gun anywhere near Jane. The detective peeked through her lashes at the doctor who seemed frozen. She focused on the usually clear eyes, they'd turned cloudy and emotional in the stress of the situation. But then suddenly the cloud lifted as Maura found her target, hands steady. Maura mouthed the words "I love you" and then she pulled the trigger.
When the bullet didn't immediately pass through her chest, Jane dove toward Maura, tackling her to the ground and covering the smaller body beneath her own. Fire erupted around them as the stove in the corner of the open floorplan house exploded upon impact with the slug. Jane could feel fiery debris and shrapnel taking their in-flight toll on her back, but she didn't dare move. She stayed there, hovering above Maura until things stopped attacking her skin, and then she lingered a little longer to make sure the doctor was okay.
Jane pushed herself off Maura and then grabbed her hand to sprint for the exit.