A/N: Okay so My Muse is back and wasn't terribly happy that I pushed on without her so she felt it was necessary to take a step back and remember what brought this story on in the first place and we compromised and we are going to look back while moving forward. PS I did change Chapter 12 from my note to its chapter but I don't know if it alerted all of you fine followers so you might want to check.
I keep getting notes about ratings and other things so I had to update it to an M category because the idea of sex is 13+ rating which I thought I had with T but apparently T for teen means 9+. Doesn't make sense but I'll go with it if I can keep writing. Other than general description of nudity, any graphic details were left out in respect for these characters and the actors who portray them.
MJ- this chapter is exclusively for you for being such a great sport and is 100% Genuine Muse. An extra-large order of Rick Castle channeling with a heavy side of Rizzles and a touch of Caskett.
Z- I got thanksgiving on the way, buddy.
Jane threw the file down on her desk and plopped her head in her palms. I heard her take in a deep breath and let it out in a huff. The stabbing of David Clinton was frustrating her. After a few moments she stood up from her desk and walked over to stare at the murder board. She stared at it for a long time.
What was she thinking about? It was my only question. More often than not I had an idea about that when it was Kate standing there. But Jane was still a mystery to me in so many ways.
You would think that after living with us for nearly four months, I would have some idea about what went on in Jane's head but more often than not, her eyes didn't show anything but pain. I know, I know, c'mon Rick, master story writer, show me some insight into the mind of Jane Rizzoli.
Well, I could tell you all about how her heart was broken and how much she misses the one she loves but I've only had a few weeks to see her outside of our home. So many aspects of her being a detective are still hidden from even my keen eye for detail.
I glance around the bull pen. Taking in what all the others are doing.
Esposito is on the phone running down the alibis of our top two suspects, the potentially jealous wife and the possible mistress. Kevin Ryan is on the computer searching records for the background info Kate want's on our vic and suspects. Both detectives are so engrossed in their tasks that they haven't even noticed Jane get up.
I glanced over to Kate, who was looking through the autopsy report but in tune with her partner to a truly unsettling way, at least for me anyway, she was staring at Jane while she held a pen to her beautiful lips.
Wow, how amazingly sexy she can look when she's deep in thought. Her outfit is casually sexy today, as usual. Those tasteful black slacks that almost seem to be too tight without actually being too tight and that red sweater she loves so much that molds beautifully to her body. Damn she's gorgeous.
Oh, oops. I'm off track again. Sometimes I can't help myself. Worse part is that Kate just caught me staring. I can see the appreciation behind that scowl she's showing me now but I know she doesn't like me staring when were at work.
I turned my attention back to Jane. As it does seem to happen more often than not, Jane is dressed very similarly in black pants and a blue sweater but the overall affect doesn't have that thing for me all that much. Oh I know she's beautiful but… she's just not Kate. But it does have an effect on others as I can see a uniform in the break room eyeing Jane rear from the break room as well as another detective who is having an intimate moment with Jane's legs over the top edge of a file from across the room. I'd best intervene here before Kate does. The last time wasn't a pretty sight.
I put my notes down and grab Kate's, Jane's and my own cup and head to the break room. As I pass the detective, I reach out and pull his file up higher. He glares at me until I glance back at Jane.
He knows I caught him then and he returns to doing actual work. As I get to the break room I watch the uniform who has been stirring his coffee for the last ten minutes finally pull the spoon out and drop it in the sink. He nods at me.
"Hey, Mr. Castle." He says cheerfully, "How goes the case?"
Oh how easy this is, "It could go a lot better. I have an idea about a new book though."
He smiles, he thinks I like him, "Oh yeah. Is it good?"
Yep, he's on board, "I think so."
Wait for it, "So tell me." Gotcha!
Oh this is going to be fun, "So it starts off with a murder. Nikki Heat has a hard time identifying the body because it's barely recognizable." I start to fill Kate's cup, girlfriend first and all that, "All the fingers are cut off and the body's teeth have been pulled out so she relies almost entirely on DNA. Turns out the body is a cop." Kate's coffee is ready so I set up Jane's next because I am chivalrous like that.
He leans in, "Really, the Vic's a cop?" Oh he's taking it, I just need to up the ante here.
"Yeah, a patrolman who likes to hang out with Detectives because he had dreams of being one of those guys who investigates crimes instead of just filing reports and booking perps."
He smiles, let's just sweeten the pot a little more, "Sounds like a guy who'd make a difference, shame he gets offed before he gets there." Yep, he's definitely in.
"Probably could have except for being dead." C'mon, call my hand. Please?
"So how does Nikki figure out who did it?" Oh, you raised your bet? I love it when they really play into it.
"Well she gets some help from a good detective friend from another precinct." A quick and obvious glance at Jane and he's all in.
His eyes gave him away, he's almost whimpering at the thought of Jane in one of my books, probably dying to read the hot, steamy parts. Time to close the hand.
"Turns out it was the friend who killed him."
He stared at me with that dumb blank expression that said "I don't get it."
"I don't get it." He said. See what I mean about predictable stories? "Why did the other cop kill him."
I smiled as I filled my own cup, "Because he got caught staring at her ass for twenty minutes and she takes that kind of personal. You see, she's a real piece of work. Amazing at her job but damn does she hate it when people have eye sex with her body parts. Guess this guy was just one too many." I smiled as I headed out with the cups.
Did I just hear a gulp behind me? A quick peek over my shoulder revealed the uniform making a fast getaway to the elevator.
Oh, how much fun it is to screw with people. Jane's Boston reputation followed her up here and even though I know that she's hurt, everyone else sees her as "The hard ass bitch from Boston" and it just makes me want to jump up and down like a little kid with how much fun it can be chasing away those few unfortunate ones who just can't keep it to themselves.
I know, it's not my usual form of entertainment but with Kate so focused on Jane, I've felt just a little neglected with her attentions. Besides, it was Kate who told me to run cover for Jane and how could I pass up a request like that? Free reign to screw with cops, who wouldn't want such a gift?
I set Kate's coffee down on her desk and put Jane's next to it. She gives me that eye and I know that she seen the uniform duck out in a hurry. She looks to the coffees and nods her approval. It was subtle but from that nod I know that I'm going to get laid tonight.
Don't get me wrong, I like Jane and I'll do whatever I have to and whatever Kate wants me to do to help her but in truth, I finally have a relationship with Kate Beckett and I have to share her with Jane Rizzoli. Jealousy doesn't look good on me and in truth; I never really felt it before I met Kate.
Yeah, that other detective she was with for a while. That was when I first felt it, really felt jealousy. I know it's dumb.
I've heard the stories about Jane and her boyfriends but when you hear the stories she tells about Maura, you know there's something there. Oh you didn't talk about it then because you worried that Jane would become all Black Widow from the Avengers on you and kick the shit out of you. Now you don't mention Maura because you just don't want to see that haunted look in her eyes. I'm starting to love Jane, just like Kate does.
When she's not crying and when she's felling more like herself, her sarcastic whit is always top notch, and it's pretty clear to those who do know her that underneath the whole red white and blue shield, there is a soft, kind, and caring heart that is one of the most beautiful I've ever had the privilege of seeing. It's hard not to love Jane for that.
Oh you doubt me. You think she's all hard core all the time. Come by my place and see her with my daughter, if that doesn't bring a tear to your eye, than you're a cold hearted SOB and we will find where you put those bodies.
Oops, I'm off topic again. Where were we? Oh yeah, the murder board, gotcha.
I could see the pulse pounding in her slender neck. I probably would have missed it except that it made that scar there under her jaw jump noticeably. Yeah that was another thing about Jane, don't stare at the scars. Yeah, my head still hurts from that mistake.
Kate stood up from her desk and carried over the coffee. It was just a delicate hand on the shoulder but it made Jane jump slightly. She sucked in a relieved breath when she saw Kate was next to her. Kate raised the cup in offering and Jane took it with both hands, grateful for her partner's thoughtfulness.
Wait! What?
A look from Kate with that knowing smirk again. Damn, I just got played, again. Didn't I come up with the idea for coffee? Let me look back a page… sure did! Damn, she's good. See that's why I love Kate so much, she makes me think in ways no one else does. No wonder she cleans us authors out when she plays poker with us.
Yeah I'm all over the place today. Lack of sleep mainly.
Kate stands side by side with Jane.
"I don't get it." She said finally. All eyes turn to her.
Kate frowns, "What?"
Jane turns to her and points to the victim's mistress, "I don't know but this really bothers me. Why would she kill him? Deanna Flowers was getting everything she wants. David Clinton files for divorce so he's committed to leaving Dana Clinton and most of his personal things were moved into the girlfriend's apartment. Sure they've had a rough go at it for a while but why would you kill a man who was leaving his wife for you?"
"Maybe he was seeing someone else on the side." Ryan called out. "You know, how did Deanna know that David would be faithful when their relationship started on the side in the first place?"
"No way, bro." he shook his head as he picked up his coffee cup, "First, you couldn't trust someone like that but I doubt she would have even thought about that and even if you did. Backing out would have been a lot easier. It's a poor motive for murder."
Kate look at him, "You have a better one?"
Oh here we go. Story time.
Esposito came over and leaned against the edge of Kate's desk. "I know we have an alibi for the wife but she's still my favorite for the crime. She's losing it all, the husband, going back to Jersey to live with her mother to raise a six year old. It's a better motive to me."
Jane scoffed, "It's a motive to kill the girlfriend, not the husband. Killing a leaving husband is a crime of passion, she'd have to be pretty cold blooded to get served divorce papers, go to court twice and then stab him sixteen times while he's carrying the last box of his things. Hell, the rent is paid up and so are the utilities. She makes more than enough to get by without him and still afford the expenses for rearing a child."
"So do you have a theory?" Kate asked.
"No and that's what bothers me." She held her arms out at the board, "This is all pretty cut and dry without any real motive. Both have had plenty of opportunities but not when he turned up dead so why did someone stab him sixteen times?"
I sipped my coffee, "She's right. It does feel like were missing a key character from this story."
"Story?" Jane glared at me. I felt like I was underneath Superman's X-ray vision for a second there, "This isn't one of your brainstorming sessions, Castle. We're trying to solve a murder here."
Kate smiled as she met Jane's eyes, "He's actually pretty good at this Jane. I wouldn't count him out just yet." She walked back to her chair and sat down. Jane stared at her for a second before she turned to me.
"Okay, what's your idea?" She said, her voice was almost pouting.
I smiled, here we go, "Well, I don't know who actually killed him but just by looking at what we have right now it seems like this story isn't very good."
Jane glared at me then. Is that my blood boiling? Sure feels like it.
"I think you've been hanging out with this writer too long, Kate." She said, "You're a brilliant detective so I can't see how a writer telling his stories is helpful."
Ryan laughed quietly as Esposito covered his grin.
Jane glared at both of them, "What?"
Esposito looked to Beckett, "I think it's time, Kate."
Ryan nodded, "Yeah, it's time to introduce her to the Castle Theory."
Jane looked around at each of us and… was that a growl? Kate turned her chair away from her desk and leaned back, her cup cradled in her hands. She looked at me and me alone. Oh she wanted a good one. I can do that.
As I stood Ryan jumped up, "Hold on." He went back to his desk and grabbed his coffee too before parking it in my chair. "Sorry, didn't want to interrupt."
I nodded and turned toward the murder board. Pictures of Deanna, David, and Dana. The autopsy report, crime scene photos. It only took a second to get it all down.
"I agree with you, Jane. We're missing something." I leaned in closer to the image of David and his wife. "Something subtle." Moving up to the picture of Deanna Flowers, "Something we haven't even thought about yet."
My voice had gotten lower, slower. "A girlfriend." It was more than a whisper but not much.
Jane scowled. "Deanna…"
"Not Deanna Flowers." I said as I turned toward her, "A girlfriend or maybe a best friend would make a better story."
I'm looking right at her now, "We've all gone through those rough times, haven't we? Some we can handle on our own, some we need to take comfort in a friends support." A quick but this time not as obvious glance to Kate. It caught Rizzoli's attention. It would be more of a challenge but I think I can get her. I just hate to make this personal but it's a thin line I have to walk sometimes. "But do you really know what your friend is thinking about and how well do you really know her? How well can anyone know someone else?
"You know she's there for you when your heart gets broke, when something bad happens. She'll run out in the middle of the night to come get you because your date was a creaper or a perv." I start to walk around the group. "Your pretty sure she thinks you're dumb or naïve for dating that guy. But she comes for you anyway. And she always has, and you don't mean too but you take advantage of that. Reliability, she's your anchor, your shelter."
I make my way slowly around Jane, "She's your best friend in the world the only one you can ever count on."
As I ease over to the murder board I keep it going, I know I'm in dangerous waters. The similarities I'm describing are too close to Maura for her comfort. I know Kate will make me pay for this later, so much for getting lucky. "Maybe she warned you that he was no good, but you didn't listen. You were in love and that was really all that mattered. Until the day he leaves. Faced with raising his child on your own you have a choice to make, do you go home or do you stay? Your best friend tells you to come home and she offers to come and help you pack up.
I smiled as I met Jane's eyes, "And she does. She comes to you and when you fall apart, she holds you tight and never lets a word out. What you don't know is how much your best friend loves you. How much she missed you and wants you back in her life. Your pain is an insult to her and she wants revenge. She loves you so she'll never take it out on you but the one who hurt you? Now that is something she want's very badly."
The look on Jane's face says that she has identified with the story and is hanging on with all she has. I know she's looking for her own answers now. Now that the door is open, I think I can see inside. But let's finish what we started first.
"She knows that the girlfriend is out and that it's just him there right now. But as she gets closer to the building she sees him walking down the street. He smiles at the pretty girls and his open flirtation enrages her. He hasn't been faithful to you so why would he be faithful to that slut he's with now. Men are all like that in a way. Most of them are unfaithful and that's why she loves you so much. You've both been through it and you'd never do that to her any more than she'd do it to you.
"She stands near the alley entrance. It's been a while since he's seen her so he doesn't recognize her" Jane's look changed, I'm losing her. Maybe a little adjustment. "Or maybe he does and he's always wanted her. He's always lusted after your best friend." And she's back onboard, "It doesn't take much enticing to get him into the alley and into the dark. Inside he's thrilled at having something he's wanted for such a long time but he plays it cool. But she's not fooled. She knows how much he's wanted this. And when he pins her against the wall and starts to kiss her, put his hands on her. Her rage comes through. And she knees him in the groin. She's got the knife because she only wanted to scare him. But her anger at what he's done to you is all consuming.
"And when it's done, she takes the knife and drops it in a sewer grate on the way back to your apartment. While you are asleep, she quickly showers and throws her bloody clothes in a garbage bag and ties it up tight before she puts it by the door. The next day, she probably tells you that she's going to the market to get things to help you pack but while she's there, she tosses the garbage bag into the market dumpster so that it's not in your garbage when the police come by. After all, she loves you and she won't let anyone hurt you again."
She's staring off into the distance as are the others, all except Kate who was staring at me. She wasn't happy but Jane hadn't broken down so I snapped her out of it.
"SO!" She jumped, "Like I said. Girlfriend makes for a better story. Is it lunch time, yet?"
Jane stared at me for a second before turning to Kate, "I'm going to start digging in to our suspects friends see what we can come up with."
I'm going to kill him slowly! Jane cursed in her head as she read the hand written words in the so called Diary of Jane. And seriously, the Diary of Jane? I like the song but c'mon, Rick. You couldn't do better than that!
It was near three thirty in the morning when Jane had finally given up on sleep. She knew that she should because tomorrow was Thanksgiving and the guest list for Rick's loft had gotten considerably larger over the last twenty four hours.
After lunch with Frankie, Jane and Maura had kissed like teenagers before Maura sped off in a cab for home. Jane and Frankie had gone back to Rick's to catch up but round dinner time, Jane had abandoned him again. Not that Frankie was offended. He and Rick were becoming good friends when he was visiting and Frankie had encouraged Jane to spend time with Maura.
Jane had taken Maura out to a fancy restaurant that she couldn't pronounce and then off to a play at the Opera house that Maura had wanted to see. Ordinarily something Jane would have complained about but her attention was more on the honey blond bombshell that was next to her than it was on the play.
And like before when Jane had only intended to kiss her goodnight, the fires were started again and Jane had once again ended up in Maura's bed. Not that she was complaining but this wasn't exactly Jane's idea of taking it slow. But after a few hours of love making Maura had drifted off to sleep and Jane was left contemplating their relationship. After an hours internal debate she had come to only one single thought. She was hopelessly in love with Maura Isles to the point where it seemed wrong to even contemplate being with someone else.
Jane was hopeless and although the thought was somewhat comforting, sleep was eluding her tonight. Around two A.M. she had quietly slipped out of bed and wrapped herself in the robe Maura had bought her in Boston to keep at her Beacon Hill home. The fact that it had been hanging on the bathroom door the first night she had spent with Maura was a shock.
Maura had simply said that it hung there as a reminder of her hope that Jane would come back to her.
Jane had snuggled into it this morning and after retrieved the book from Maura's messenger bag, she promptly sat on the couch and put her bare feet up on Bass's shell. The tortoise had looked at her for a second then reclosed his eyes, apparently not minding being used as a foot stool. Jane sat in the living room and read the story of her time in New York City under the dim lamp next to the couch.
"Jane?" the soft voice echoed out of the darkened hallway.
She looked up just as Maura came into the light in her silk robe.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Yeah, baby, I'm fine." Jane replied, "Just having some trouble sleeping."
Maura sat down next to Jane and curled her feet underneath her robe. "Is it a case or something?"
"Nah," she said nonchalantly, "Just happens sometimes now. About once a month or so I get a bout of insomnia for a night or two. It passes without too much issue and I usually make it up soon enough."
"Insomnia has been proven to affect your ability to function during the day and has been shown as a contributing factor in depression. It can be caused by significant life stress, emotional or physical discomfort, environmental factors and medication reactions."
Jane smiled and kissed her softly. "It amazes me to know end how much knowledge you have in that big beautiful brain of yours."
She looked down at her hands, "Actually I know that one from personal experience."
She cupped Maura's face, "Tell me."
Hazel eyes med chocolate brown ones, "I… I went through a depression after you left. I spent many nights in bed, unable to sleep, because I lost you in my life."
"Maura." She breathed, "I'm so sorry, baby. I had no idea."
She took Jane's hands into hers and rubbed her thumbs over the scars. "It's not your fault, Jane. I should have told you about me years ago. Who knows it may have helped us along."
"Maybe," she said into Maura's ear, "But I don't care as long as were together now. That's all I care about. Being the one for you."
"That's all I want now, too." Maura leaned her head into Jane, "Just love me, Jane. Love me the way I love you and everything else doesn't really matter."
She used one hand to uncover one of Maura's ears and gently began to nibble on her earlobe. Maura let out an appreciative groan as her hand let go of her hand and began to slide up Jane's bare thigh.
Jane reached to cup Maura's breast in her hand but a lurch from under her foot drew her attention.
She didn't realize that she had been shifting her feet and the tortoise didn't care for the gentle rocking motion. Jane lifted her feet and Bass scooted away slowly. Maura turned her lover so she could lay with her head on the armrest and after a second to maneuver her own body between Jane's legs, she untied the belt and opened Jane's robe. Her eyes feasted on Jane's body and her heart quickened in anticipation.
She ran her hands over every scar, every muscle, and every curve. She loved the way Jane felt against her skin and now that she had it, she craved it like she never had anyone else. While Maura's hands had been occupied with the body that was exposed beneath her, Jane's own hands had been working their way up Maura's thighs to her waist where a silk belt awaited her long thin fingers.
Once it was loose Maura quickly shucked her robe onto the floor. Jane lay there in awe of the sight of Maura's nakedness. Her lover was breathtakingly gorgeous and Jane couldn't help but feel a wave of possessiveness.
Mine! Mine! Mine! All Mine! She gently pulled Maura on top of her. Bare skin on bare skin, both gasped in excitement and anticipation.
Kate collapsed on top of Rick as the last wave of pleasure consumed her. She giggled softly as she lay draped across his body.
"I was pretty good, wasn't I? He sighed.
As she lay against him panting, she resisted the urge to pinch his nipple, hard. If he was feel in half as good as she was right now, she didn't want to be the one to ruin it. She rested her head against his broad chest while he wrapped his strong arms around her. Their legs entwined beneath the sheets.
"Castle, we… have got… to work… on your… ego." She said between breaths.
He laughed softly, "A minute ago it was, 'oh Rick' now it's back to Castle." He tightened his arms some more and kissed her softly.
She slapped his chest playfully and closed her eyes while inhaling his scent. She couldn't believe she had denied this to herself for so many years, why she had been so hesitant to let him in to her heart and later let herself move into his home. This had been one of the best choices she had ever made and she couldn't even take credit for it.
Rick's tenderness had been fully revealed the day Jane had shown up looking for Kate, half frozen and very near death. He never judged Jane, never asked what happened, and he never once made a comment or joke that night. He gave unconditionally to someone he didn't know but he knew that Jane was important to her and that had been enough for him. He had opened his home to Jane and Kate had followed quickly after.
Kate's concern for Jane had pushed all of the pretenses and deflections aside. Seeing her friend so near death had stripped all of Kate's defenses away in the blink of an eye. Once she got Jane into bed, Rick had snatched her up into his arms. It was something she needed at that vulnerable moment. And when Jane cried out, he understood and let her go.
That was the moment Kate knew she wanted Richard Castle by her side for the rest of her life. Everything else was just window dressing. Jane had done that for them and she didn't even know it.
She slid to his side and laced her fingers with his, "I love you, Rick."
She looked up into his eyes and found her affection reflected back, "I love you, too, Kate."
It was a strong and fiery kiss one that added to the tingling sensation she felt on her bare skin. She curled her naked body against his and sighed contently.
Yeah, he was pretty good.