Again, thank you all for reading and the nice reviews. It made my day.
Enjoy this chapter.
T73.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The red hair police officer laughs loudly as she and Liz make their way to the parked car and shakes her head.
She and Liz had graduate from Academy the same day like the younger Rizzoli, they also were in the same class. "You mean, Will Hanley, like your boyfriend Will Hanley?"
Liz rolls her eyes and groans. "Will isn't my boyfriend, Leslie. He is my -" She shrugs and makes an dramatically gesture with her hand. "I don't know what he is."
"Lover?" Leslie Barrington suggests.
Liz' shoulders slump, but she places her right hand on gripe of her gun. "Yeah, maybe. He and I haven't defined whatever it is that we have. The point is, he is working for my Ma now, but I don't want to call it off."
"Is he that good." Leslie asks amused and chuckles as the other woman shoots her a glare. "You know, I don't know why you still live with your parents. The first thing I did when I got this job, I moved put of my parents house."
"My parents respect my privacy for most of the times, and I do have a great relationship with them." Liz replies and puts on her gloves. "I mean, how many persons can say that when they're living under one roof with their parents."
"Only those who has one floor of the house almost for themselves."
"Shut up." Liz chuckles and knocks on the window of the driver's side.
The other woman shrugs and turns the corners of her mouth downward. "I'm just saying." She furrows her eyebrows as no reaction is coming. "You think another drunk cabby?"
Liz slowly nods. "Probably." She answers and knocks again on the window. "Please turn the window down. Boston Police."
"I'll check his medallion."
"All right." The other woman says and rounds the cab with eagle eyes. She takes a deep breath and furls her brows as something strikes her odd. She goes back to the driver's door and pulls the handle to find the said too open.
Liz jumps as the cabby's still buckled body tumbles out of the car. "Holy shit," she breathes.
Leslie is in no time at her side and frowns. "Should I call an ambulance?"
The younger Rizzoli checks the driver's pulse and exhales slowly through her mouth, shaking her head. "He's dead."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Liz is standing at the cab and chews with a deep frown on the inside of the cheek. She knows who probably is coming and take the case over, and she is not in the mood of that kind of confrontation right now. She looks up and curse her job decision as her mothers are ducking under the police tape, with Frankie and Hanley in tow
"Play it cool." Leslie whispers.
"Thanks for the advice." She whispers back.
Jane keeps an straight face and wrings her hands. She probably looks a little longer at her daughter, but they have time for that talk later. Now, all of them have to stay focused. "What do you got?"
Liz sighs relieved. "Officer Barrington and I got called here because the cab stood here since five in the morning. I knocked and said out loud who we are, but the deceased person didn't react."
Maura looks up as she is about to examine the body and smiles proudly. She is more than glad that her daughter didn't call the dead a victim right now.
Jane nods and looks at Hanley, who is already looking through the driver's cabin. "What does the taxi meter say, Hanley?"
"Uh -" He replies and frowns, and Liz closes her eyes. "Twenty-one bucks."
"That's not pretty far," Liz states.
Jane glares at the young woman and snaps, "Thank you, Officer. We'll take it from here."
Liz is about to protest before she remembers on which end of the food chain she is. This is the hardest part of her job, that her Ma sometimes treat her like the other police officers, or even worse. And today it seems to be worse. But she learned fast not to take it personal. "Can I help you with anything?"
Jane scowls at her daughter. "Yeah, you can get me a triple latté, extra hot. Two sugar, one cream."
Maura gasps and glares at her wife. "Jane!"
"What?" Jane barks back.
Maura huffs and looks at Liz. "I don't need anything, thank you."
Frankie isn't really sure what to do and looks at his sister and her wife. He rolls his eyes and regrets it instantly as he says, "For me the same as usually."
Hanley holds his breath as everyone looks at him and then he shakes his head. "I am good thank you."
Liz snarls and turns on her heels to get the two orders.
Leslie follows her friend hot on her heels. "Suddenly I am not jealous of you anymore ."
Liz huffs and shakes her head.
Jane feels bad but somewhere she has to blow off steam. She looks at her wife and frowns. "Was it murder?"
Maura laughs humorless and turns beer attention back to her task.
Jane looks at Hanley and frowns. "What can you tell me?"
Hanley freezes for a moment and then he clears his throat. "The man's name is Randall Novak, fifth-four."
"Probably a robbery that gone wrong?"
Frankie shakes his head and looks at his sister. "Money is still there and I found this in the glove compartment."
"A pepper gun."
"Whatever happened," Hanley says and frowns. "He didn't need it or reach it in time."
Jane sighs heavily and looks at her wife, "Maura, what do you say? Murder, suspicious death, or did he die of an heart attack?"
"I can see any visible wounds." Maura says clinically and looks up. "I have to perform a autopsy before I can tell you more."
Jane sighs heavily and frowns. Damn.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jane is peeling potatoes and sips her beer as she looks at her very silent wife. "I didn't mean to be mean at Liz."
"You bared at her and treated her like she is a barista." Maura says too calm.
"I treated her like -"
"You got threatened." Maura cuts her off and laughs. "Time has changed, Jane."
Jane sighs heavily and looks to the door as soon as she hears a key in the lock. "Hey," she says softly as her daughter enter the house in a long sleeve shirt and jeans. "You're late."
"Arrest me." Liz snaps and goes to Maura to kiss her cheek. "That smells great, Ma."
"It's just meatloaf with potatoes, mirepoix and creamed mushroom sauce." Maura says and smiles.
"One of my favorite. Thank you, Mom." The younger woman says and makes her way to the stairs.
Jane frowns and catches her wife's eyes. "Really?"
"Jane." Maura hisses.
"All right," Jane hisses back and sneaks up the stairs and knocks on her daughter's room until she is okayed to enter it. She frowns and sits down on then beige couch. "Can we talk?"
Liz is sitting on a small couch and stares at the screen of her laptop, shrugging. "Sure."
"You are the best thing that happened in my life, beside your Mom." Jane says straight from the shoulder and sits down next to Liz.
"Ma!" The younger woman groans.
Jane is frowning deeply and sighs. "I mean it, Elizabeth. You and Mom are the best things that happened in my life, and I am proud of you. Since the day we knew that Mom was pregnant with, I tried my very best to protect you because I love you."
Liz is clenching her teeth and closes the lid of her laptop, turning so she can face her Ma. "And why did you treat me like I am some random officer if you love me so much?"
Jane is holding Liz' gaze and her frown deepens. "I -" She pauses and shakes her head with a scoff. "I honestly don't know, Lizzy. Maybe because I realized that you are not the four-year-old who put me up to grab her Mommy and jump with her in the pool. That you are not the little girl anymore who giggled and jumped into my arms. Maybe that got to me today."
Liz is smiling warmly at the older woman and furrows her brows. "You still remember that day?"
Jane is tucking a strand of hair behind her daughter's ear and smiles as well. "Of course I still remember the house-warming party. There is not one day of your life that I don't remember, Lizzy. I still remember the day when we met for the very first time. How beautiful you were, and that hasn't changed at all." She chuckles as Liz rolls her eyes. "I can't handle changes very well."
"You don't say," the younger woman mumbles.
The Italian laughs heartily and gives Liz a playful shove. "Don't be a smart-ass."
"All right, all right." Liz laughs and takes a deep breath.
Jane is smiling broadly and pulls her daughter into a tight hug. "I am sorry that I treated you like some random officer, baby."
"Apology accepted," Liz mumbles against Jane's neck. "But, would you please stone to squeeze me like a toothpaste tube now?"
"Smart-ass," Jane whispers and kisses her daughter's head. "Come on, let's eat dinner. Mom took great pains." She furls her eyebrows as starts to buzz and pulls away. "Or I go ahead and you come down when your done with the call."
Liz nods approvingly and swallows hard when she sees the caller's ID. "I'll be down in a few minutes."
Jane nods and closes the door behind her after she left the room.
Liz releases her breath and takes the call after she is sure that her Ma isn't eavesdropping. She licks her lips and closes her eyes for a second. "Will, why are you calling?"
Jane stops at the top of the stairs and furls her eyebrows. She is thinking about to sneak back to Liz' door and to eavesdrop, but then she changes her mind and starts to walk down. She might be protective as her mother, but that doesn't have to mean that she has to turn into her mother completely. She indeed can respect other person's privacy.
Since when, asks the nagging voice in her head. She growls low and rolls her eyes.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The next morning, Liz is coming into the precinct and is greeted by Leslie with a cup of coffee. "You and your Ma are okay again?"
Liz takes the cup that is for her and smirks. "Good morning to you too." She replies and is about to take a swig of the beverage, but then she stops abruptly. "Is it from the our Café?"
"Yap." Leslie answers with a sly smile.
The younger Rizzoli turn her nose up and sips the coffee. "Ugh, I should've stopped at a coffee shop."
Leslie chuckles and arches an brow. "That one where cute barista works?" She asks and laughs with her good friend.
"Tell me more about that dude." Hanley demands as he appears behind Leslie and she jumps, and Liz chokes on her coffee.
"Jesus," Leslie laughs and looks at him. "Hey, Will."
"Hey," he replies but his eyes never leave Liz. "So, the barista."
"Is none of your business." Liz states with finality.
"I thought that you would come to my place last night." He says brazen-faced and smirks wryly.
Leslie clears her throat and points at the front desk. "Um, I am going to wait over there."
Liz backs away as he steps into her personal space. "Would you keep it down, all right?" She whispers harshly. "My parents doesn't know that we … know each other."
Hanley's demeanor seems to change and he lets his eyes roam over her body. "Know each other? Yeah, I know you pretty good. I also know how you aren't wearing any clothes at all."
Liz smiles at a older detective as he passes them and she hopes that he doesn't know Jane, then she is glaring at Hanley. "Stop it! I told you on the phone that we can't do this anymore."
"Because of the barista?"
"Because you are working for my mother."
"Sergeant Rizzoli."
"Yes."
He shrugs and frowns. "Your eyes tell a different story, Liz. I know you like it when I touch you."
Liz looks away and prays that no one can her their conversation. It is true, she likes it, and she likes him. "Do you know what my Ma finds out that you and I are involved?"
Hanley shrugs again. "I am not scared of her."
Liz' eyes are dropping to his lips and for a tiny second she is about to give in. "You should be, Will."
"The worse that can, she can kick my ass and I get transferred once again."
She shudders as his thumb ghosts over her knuckles and licks her lips.
Jane comes with Maura into the building and clutch her wife's forearm as she sees the interaction between her daughter and the new detective.
Maura contorted with pain and says, "Ow, Jane! What is it?"
The Italian doesn't answer the doctor's question and walks towards Liz. "Everything okay?"
Hanley straightens up and swallows hard as he steps back. "Um, yes. Yes, everything's fine. I just asked Officer Rizzoli if she has noticed something else yesterday."
Jane is arching an brow and stares directly at Liz. "Uh-huh, is that so?"
Liz is blushing slightly and she nods vehemently. "Yeah, and I told the detective that nothing strange had caught my eyes." She pauses and raises her shoulders. "Well beside the corpse in the cab." She ducks her head and passes them in a hurry. "Excuse me, my shift starts."
Hanley clears his throat and looks into the Café. "I … go and grab a coffee."
Maura has noticed that her daughter avoided her eyes as she hurries to her Leslie, and she can tell why. She presses her lips together and glance at Jane.
"Please tell me that I am wrong." Jane whines.
Maura knows better than that and links her arm with Jane's "Come on, let's get to work."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Maura is standing in the Lab as the French door opens and she turns her head to see who is coming in. She smiles as she sees her daughter and straightens up. "Hi."
"Hey," the younger woman sighs and looks around. "You wanted me to come down. What's up?"
Maura nods slowly and takes a folder in her hand. "This is the fox screen of the cabby. Could you bring it to your Ma? I have a lot work to do."
Liz nods and opens the file. "Yeah, sure. But something is telling me that this is a mere pretense."
Maura chuckles as she sees the same expression that Jane has when she catches her. "Yes, it is."
"Why am I really here?"
"Since when are you seeing Detective Hanley?"
Liz is groaning loudly. "We are not dating, Mom."
"So it's just sex." Maura states bluntly and tilts her head to the side.
Liz is blushing violently and her eyes went huge. "Jesus, Mom!"
Maura chuckles and rounds the counter. "That is one thing you have in common with your Ma. She doesn't like to speak about sex, either."
"There is a reason why."
"Since when are you active?"
"Can we not talk about this here," Liz asks with pleading eyes. "Or at all."
"Okay," Maura agrees and nods. "we don't talk about it here, but we talk about it."
"Fine," Liz grumbles and holds the file up. "So, he died of a natural cause?"
Maura shakes her head and walks back to her task. "No, he died of an heroin overdose."
"Shouldn't I bring this to DCU then?"
"No, the injection was in his arteria carotis externa." Maura answers and gets a new pair of gloves. "And the hair analysis told me that he didn't consume any kind of drugs."
"The outer carotid artery," the officer says to herself. "That is a very unusual place for a first-time user. Why would someone kill a cabby with heroine injected in his neck?"
Maura glances long at the younger woman and she can see Jane standing there, must younger. "That is something you should discuss with Ma. I am doing the forensic work, she does the investigative work."
Liz smiles broadly and starts to leave again. "I know, Mom."
"Elizabeth."
Uh-oh, the younger woman thinks and turns around. "Yeah."
Maura puts an hand on her hip. "How did you know that I was talking about the outer carotid artery?"
Liz starts to chuckle and leaves the Lab. "You are my mother, aren't you?" She asks louder before she disappears.
Now, the blonde has a splitting smile on her lips and raises her eyebrows. "Yes, I am." She says to herself.