A/N: Been a lot of heavy stuff going on so I made it light hearted for a while. Enjoy. Oh anyone up for girls night at Maura's?
Z: Yes, The Darker side of Jane has limits and it will rock her hard when she finds it. But it's something that we touch on but I am kind of wondering if I'm over doing it a bit. I see her in a similar light as Painkiller Jane but no she's not immortal, just a different take on the same old story of using bad to do good. But remember that almost all of her training has been a distraction, like the TV character does whenever she gets stressed or frustrated. Every time I set a goal for ending this we fly right passed it, I have an idea but naturally another one wants to come in behind it.
M: got it all worked out.
MJ: um, hi.
Detective Barry frost stared at his computer, trying desperately to get the machine to reveal some new information on the case he and Detective Sergeant Vince Korsak had been working on for a week now. Korsak was reviewing the ME report Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh had delivered an hour ago. He looked at the murder board again and shook his head. He plucked his glasses of his face and tossed them down on the desk and rubbed at his eyes.
"What's up, old man?" Barry said, not taking his eyes off the computer screen, "You stay up too late watching wheel of fortune?"
"Beats that American Idol crap you kids watch." He barked as he leaned back in his chair, "All that new age music gives me a headache."
He turned to his sergeant, "Oh and that stuff you have growing mold in your tape deck is better?"
"Hey, show some respect." He said, "The Doobie Brothers are still a hit in Classic Rock."
Frost shook his head and leaned back in his chair matching the older Detective. "So you think she's going to come back?"
Korsak rolled his eyes, "God I hope she does, and soon." He flipped at the stack of files on his desk, "I remember this being a lot easier with her around."
Frost eyed his own stack of files with a hateful glare, "Yeah. Never seemed like we were this backed up before she left."
Korsak grunted, "I hate to say it, but she seemed to have the whole thing figured out before we did."
Frost nodded, "She had great instincts."
They sat for a second before Frost smiled, "And when you put Jane and Dr. Isles together on a case..."
Korsak grinned, "The case damn near solved its self." They laughed as the elevator dinged.
Figuring it was Cavanaugh returning from whatever meeting he had been to, both Detectives dug in to their jobs to look busy. Until they heard the clap of two sets of boots. Frost glanced up at Korsak who was also looking at him. Neither one breathed as the boots came closer.
"Hey, I'm looking for a young black guy and his illegitimate crusty Old Man." A familiar voice called out from behind the wall.
Korsak called out before he looked. "Try missing persons. One floor up."
Jane Rizzoli stepped into the bull pen and smiled. "I've never seen a sorrier looking pair of Detectives in my life."
As Kate Beckett joined her Korsak grunted, "And I've never met a cockier loudmouth in all my years on the force."
Korsak stood up and came around his desk with a huge grin behind his gray goatee. He wrapped his arms around her and she had to hunch over his ample belly to hug him back. He patted her on the back and stepped back to look her over.
Jane seemed leaner than he remembered but definitely healthy. Her clothing was of a far better quality than the Walmart duds she used to wear and he couldn't help but think that New York had been good to her.
"You look good, Jane" He said.
"And you look like you always have," she grinned, "I figured Frosty over there would have whipped you into shape by now."
He patted his belly, "Hey, round is a shape."
Frost came up and hugged her too, "We missed you around here, Jane."
"I missed you guys too." She said.
Korsak addressed the tall well-dressed detective behind her, "Is that Detective Beckett I see behind you?"
Kate held her hand out and Korsak gripped it lightly She shook Barry's hand too, "Hello Detective Korsak, Detective Frost."
"I always knew you were going to steal my partner away." He said but he smiled, "Heard you guys made a hell of a dent in murders down there."
Kate smiled, "We just do our jobs."
A chuckle came from Korsak. "Boston's finest detective in the NYPD," He turned to Jane, "Never figured you'd go there."
Guilt washed over Jane at her sudden departure to New York. She hadn't told anyone anything other than Cavanaugh that she needed a leave of absence. Seeing his top detective emotionally shattered he never asked any questions and signed her out. She was certain that her mother had told him all she knew later but that was a conversation for later. Right now she owwed these two men an apology.
She groaned, "Look guys, I'm sorry, okay."
"Sorry for what?" the older detective said.
"For bailing on you guys." She said, "I'm sorry but I was really messed up for a while."
"Jane," Frost stood and gripped her shoulders. "We get it. Frankie already explained everything and we're not mad at you for running for cover."
She shook him of and tried to look indignant as she poked him in his muscular chest. "Hey, I didn't run for cover. I took a leave of absence to work out personal issues."
"Janie" Korsak said sharply, "Relax. We understand and we got your back."
Frost grinned, "Always."
Jane smiled and hugged them both again. Korsak gripped her tightly before he let her go and looked at Beckett, "Beckett. You got a helluva partner here," he raised a beefy finger at her, "Don't let her down."
She nodded, "My life for my partner's."
Jane finished it, "with no regrets."
They nodded and Korsak grinned, "So. Where's the Doc?"
"She went down to the morgue to say hi." She said, "She'll be up in a few."
"You make an honest woman out of her yet?" Frost added.
She tipped her body in that unbelieving way she had, "Really? You're just going to put it out there like that?"
"Just wondering how things are going?" He said trying to look innocent.
Jane stared at him and Korsak, and then her eyes went wide. "You made a bet on me and Maura!" It wasn't a question and she glared at them.
"Oh come on Jane." Korsak said, "You had to know we had a bet going."
"Some partners." Jane said over her shoulder to Beckett.
Kate tried to keep the grin off her face as she said, "Alexis."
"That's different, completely!" Jane groaned," We weren't betting on my sex life and she's not my partner."
"No, she's your niece and you bet on your family." She said, "Don't get mad when your old partners do the same thing."
"Wait, Niece?" Frost said, "I thought you only had T.J."
"Alexis is my 19 year old soon-to-be step daughter." Kate said, "She thinks of Jane and I as sisters and calls her Aunt Jane."
Jane pulled out her iPhone and pulled up a picture of them curling Alexis' hair. The same one Alexis had shown Maura. She beamed as she showed it to the guys.
"Oh lord." Korsak said, "I hope she takes more after you Beckett."
"Damn," Frost said, "She looks just like Jane but… red haired and blue eyed."
"Since she's a wager enthusiast," Korsak said, "I bet we can get information out of her about our little bet."
"Oh Hell, no!" Jane shouted, "You guys just stay the hell away from her."
"Well," Frost said, "I guess we could always ask Dr. Isles."
They both looked at Jane. They wanted information and by Jane's guess, this bet had been going on for a long time.
She plopped down into her old chair and growled, "Three questions and I'm only going to answer those questions that I'd tell anyway and I'm only doing this so you guys stay away from Maura and Alexis with this crap."
Frost reached back to his desk and pulled a slip of paper out of his drawer. He handed it to Korsak who put his glasses on and pointed to something. Barry nodded and pointed, Korsak smiled and pointed at something else. Barry slapped the old man on the back.
"Jesus, they have a list." Jane said.
Beckett snatched it out of their hands and read through it quickly before handing it back.
"Do I want to know?" She asked.
"Nope." She said but she smiled, "It's pretty clean though."
She stared at the two men. "Well go on then."
Frost looked at her, "Who made the first move?"
"I did." She growled. "I kissed her first."
"Told you." Korsak laughed, "How many drinks were involved?"
"None." Jane said, "I stopped drinking a year ago."
"Damn," Korsak grimaced, "I guess that makes sense though."
"That's not fair." Frost said, "Neither one of us factored in the Frankie thing."
"Too bad, "Jane said. "Last question."
Frost leaned in and mumbled to Korsak. The old man nodded then shook his head and whispered back. Frost pulled out a wad of bills and held it up. Korsak looked at it and nodded.
"Okay," He said, "but I don't think she'll answer?"
"Guys," Jane said, "I don't have all day."
Frost nodded, "Korsak and I agreed to put the rest all on this, plus cut you in for a hundred if you answer no matter who wins."
"I still don't think she'll answer." he scoffed.
"Spit it out, Frost." She said.
"How long did it take you to realize you wanted to be with Maura to the time you were actually with Maura?"
"Try to be specific cause it's an even/odds question for us." Korsak added.
Jane stared at them both. "I'm going to let you clarify that. Do you mean when I figured it out or when I realized how long I really knew?"
They looked at each other and nodded. "The very beginning." They said in unison.
"Fine, even though couldn't admit it at the time, I started having feelings for her after I got these," She held up her hands." And I've been involved with Maura since just after Halloween, two days before Frankie and I met up in New York."
Korsak grabbed a calendar and Barry tapped at his computer, they both looked at the numbers and compared them, there was a brief argument and then Barry looked up.
"She's got to settle it." He said, "It's the only way to be fair."
"If I said weeks or months," Korsak said, "You'd choose?"
Jane laughed, "Days just to irritate you. Maura came to see me three days after I got out of the hospital and it all started six days after that. Enjoy figuring that out."
"Jane." Kate said tapping at her father's watch, "It's almost time."
She nodded and turned to leave as the elevator rang. Jane was expecting to see Maura step out but instead she caught sight of Detective Lieutenant Rafael Martinez step out. He caught sight of her and smiled warmly, seductively.
Jane could have sworn his tall, muscular build was swelling up at the sight of her. She cringed inwardly as Kate stopped next to her.
"Oh wow." She whispered, "That is one fine looking man."
"He's an asshole." Jane whispered back. She forced a smile on her face as Martinez stepped closer to her.
"Jane Rizzoli," he said, his Hispanic accent thickly laid out, "I heard that you left us."
She nodded, "I did."
He stood entirely too close as his eyes ran down her body and focused on her badge, at least she hoped that was where he was looking.
"New York Police Department." He said as his eyes rose slowly back to hers. "What a shame. I was hoping to run in to you when I came back."
"And now you have." She said, again she had to force herself to be civil.
He looked over Kate but not as thoroughly as he had her, "This must be your partner then."
Kate's nerves started to wave red flags, her partner was uncomfortable with the attention. If Kate had ever had a doubt about Jane's orientation, that effectively ended it. She stepped in to cover her partner, "Sergeant Kate Beckett." She said.
"Rafael Martinez." He said as he held out his hand.
Kate took it and his touch was gentle. Kate tightened hers mannishly.
"You have a strong grip." He said, "Of course running with Jane here does that to people. They tent to hold on tight to keep from being left behind."
Jane's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. "Well we were on our way out, nice seeing you."
Jane heard the elevator ding and the telltale clip clops of familiar shoes on the tile.
"So Rizzoli." He continued, "Tell me. Are you seeing anyone in New York?" His voice oozed male sexuality and it was having the opposite effect on her.
"As a matter of fact, I am." She said, "And it's quite serious."
"Well it must not be that serious" He said. "You're all alone here in Boston."
Before Jane's awakening, she might have been tempted to pursue his flirting but now Jane was really starting to get irritated. Kate was about to step in but Maura, who was now striding from the elevator in irritation, stopped her.
"Jane," she said as she stepped right next to her lover, "Are you going to introduce your friend here?"
Jane swallowed as she thought Maura might be angry at her but her hazel eyes never left the tall Latino.
"Maura this is Lieutenant Rafael Martinez. He used to be my CO in Vice." She said, "This is Dr. Maura Isles. Shes…" A hard squeeze from Maura on her arm stopped her from identifying there status. "She was the Chief Medical Examiner when I worked Homicide here." A gentle pat out of sight reassured Jane that she had guessed Maura's want's right.
"Ah Dr. Isles." He said, "I remember you. You came in about a year before Jane here transferred to homicide."
"That's correct." She said, "Jane and I have become very close over the years. Even when I found out that Paddy Doyle is my biological father, Jane never left my side."
"She does have a certain loyalty that can be quite appealing as a friend." He said and his eyes told Maura an intent she did not like.
"True, and I am every bit as loyal to her but there is one thing about her that I don't believe you have been privy to." Maura said.
"Oh," He smiled, "I wonder what that could be." He looked over Jane as he tried to figure out what she might be hiding. He loved that kind of intrigue.
"Then let me clarify it." She said.
Kate watched as Maura slipped into Jane's arms and kissed her. Her partner instinctively wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. Jane kissed her back, grateful for her sudden and very public display. Martinez stepped back in surprise as Maura broke off the kiss and slid around Jane's embrace so she was leaning into her lover but facing the lieutenant.
Maura's look turned cold, "She's mine. All mine and you can't have her. Ever!"
Jane's arms tightened around her lover, Maura took that as an approval and cupped her hands over Jane's. She smiled at the speechless lieutenant as Jane settled her chin down on Maura's shoulder.
"Surprise." She said, "Guess the rumors were true. I'm a lesbian."
He sputtered as Kate started laughing. Korsak and Frost stood behind her. Equally amuse.
"Sorry about your luck, Lieutenant." Korsak said.
"Wow." Frost said smugly, "That's embarrassing."
Kate patted him on the shoulder, "Hitting on a lesbian cop in front of her doctor girlfriend, nice job. Doesn't BPD have sensitivity training or something?"
Maura lead Jane to the elevator and Kate followed still laughing. Martinez stared until the doors closed. Only then did he get angry.
Jane drove in to the BPD Parking garage and stopped in front of the guard shack. The guard was new and didn't recognize her so she and Kate flashed their badges and he opened the gate allowing them into the police only level. She drove down to the lower deck and parked next to the Maintenance building which was in the basement of an adjoining building across from the police station.
She, Kate and, Maura headed inside where they met up with Jane's car guy, Carl Andersen.
The head of BPD fleet was sitting at his desk, scarfing down a hefty breakfast sandwich when they walked in. His BPD cap was slightly askew and his beefy hands were grimy from auto work.
"Carl, one of these days you're going to have a heart attack and were going to find your legs sticking out of the hood of a cop car."
The short pudgy man swallowed his food before he grinned, "Don't bust my balls, Rizzoli, I haven't seen 'em in years so I can't even admire your handy work."
"Then I guess I should tell you that your wife's had them in her purse for about a decade."
"Yeah well that figures." He said as he took another bite of his sandwich. "I'll take you out to see them in a minute." He said with his mouth full.
She nodded and they backed out of his office.
"Nice guy you got there, Rizzoli." Kate said.
"Trust me, He's as smart about cars as Maura is about everything else." Jane said confidently.
"Jane is correct," Maura said with equal confidence, "I have found that Carl's appearance is largely to keep people from bothering him while he's at work but he is a professional who knows about the vehicles under his care."
Carl came out of his office, no longer wearing his coveralls he was in jeans and a red sox sweater. He pulled a heavy parka and a sock hat on and greeted them warmly.
"Hey, Rizzoli." He said jovially, "Dr. Isles, good to see you both."
He glanced down at the badge hanging off of the lapel of her coat. "NYPD. Damn Rizzoli, you sold out and went to the enemy, I should kick you out."
He held a hand out and Jane shook it, He did the same for Maura and then to Kate, "I don't know you."
"This is my partner, Detective Beckett." Jane said.
"Oh, the one you were with at those competition things." He said. "Then I guess I can be pleased to meet you."
Carl led them back into the parking deck and pointed out a hand full of unmarked police cars.
He stopped at one and popped the hood. "Oldie but a goodie. It's an oh six, recently did a head gasket. Came from burglary. But it's pushing 80K and starting to show it's age."
"Carl." She pointed at her car, "I'm driving an oh-six with 110K and it's not showing its age."
He glanced at the car with the NYPD sticker on the bumper. "Isn't that the one I sold you three years ago?"
"Yeah and it's been maintained on time like clockwork, you're going to have to do better than this heap." She said as she indicated the car.
"Okay, I know what you want." He slammed the hood and headed down the walkway.
"So how's David doing?" She asked him, "He still staying out of trouble?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "Just got married to a nice girl outta BCU, 4.0 with a good degree in pharmaceuticals, He got his degree last year in Engineering and they bought a house in Chelsea."
"Oh that's wonderful," Maura said, "Congratulations Carl."
"Yeah well I'm just glad he didn't turn in to a gear head like me." He said, "Still can't thank you enough Rizzoli, You hadn't done what you did, he would have ended up here in the garage."
"We're good Carl," she said as he came up to a newer cruiser, "Tell me about this one."
"Oh you don't want this one." He said. "Sure it's a twenty ten but it got hit in a pursuit ten months ago and hasn't been right since. Thinking about stripping it and sending the corpse to the scrapper. It's been in the shop more than on the road ever since we put it back together."
He pointed to another car, "This is a good one, oh eight. 75K rebuilt the lower end on it and it's getting purged so patrol can get a couple of those Eco boost Tauruses. Had a trans issue but we swapped it out with the problem child over there and it's been going like a dream ever since. Rumor has it that Martinez wants it for vice."
Jane stopped, "Yeah, we seen that he's back?"
"Yeah, head of detectives, can you believe that?" he said, "Guy can barely speak English and he runs the damn investigators."
Kate laughed quietly to herself, "Hell of a gossip line you have here Rizzoli."
"It's not gossip," Jane said, "Carl here only talks about things he knows for fact."
Maura laughed too. "But unlike me, he can lie with the best of them."
"Makes him a killer at a poker table." Jane said with a chuckle.
Kate nodded, "I like his look."
He turned on her and put a huge grin on his face, "I like your badge and your police department."
"Oh he is good, I almost believed him." She said with a chuckle.
He laughed again, "You got a good partner Rizzoli. Don't let 'em split you up."
Carl stopped at a shiny black Impala. "This one's an oh nine with 40k. V-6 front wheel drive, got that stabilitrack thing on it."
"Shit, isn't this OPC's car?" she asked in disbelief.
"Sure is," he said, "Straight from the Office of the Police Commissioner."
He pointed at a brand new burgundy Impala across the lot, "Bought that piece of junk and set this one out to pasture but if you want it you better move quick."
"Let me guess, Martinez." She grumbled.
"Yep, He wants to make this a buy car." He said, "All leather interior, all the gizmos and goodies. If you've got the cash I'll strip the gear and have it ready before you head back south."
Jane looked over the car. Its black paint gleamed in the dull lighting of the parking deck. She got in and looked at the inside and the more she saw the more she wanted it. She climbed back out.
"I love it Carl, how much?"
"I'm not supposed to let it go for under eighteen but for you, I'll go fifteen and acquisitions can kiss my fat hairy ass."
"Shit." She said, "I don't have fifteen thousand. How much with a trade in."
"What your old car?" He looked at it. "You know the deal Rizzoli, not supposed to take trade-ins."
He thought about it for a minute. "Tell you what. You gimme thirteen and the title to the oldie over there and we have a deal."
Jane thought about it, "God I want it but I don't have thirteen, all I have is eight."
"Can't do it Rizzoli, not even for you and you know you're my favorite cop." He said, "I'm sorry."
Jane heard a paper ripping from behind her. She turned around and saw Maura putting her check book away and she handed the check she had just written to Carl.
"Maura, what are you doing?" she asked.
"I just bought it for you." she said.
"Maur, you can't do that, baby." She whined, "I like to do things on my own."
"Jane, it's not a big deal." She said as she put her gloved hand over Jane's, "The car is obviously worth more than what Carl is asking and I agree that it is quite a deal. Since you were not expecting to find something of this quality, it is completely logical that you did not bring the asking price with you. Besides, I want to buy it for you because I love you and I know you'll be happy with the vehicle."
"Plus it'll piss off Martinez." Jane said
"There's that too." Maura said cutely.
Carl raised his eyes up from the check at Maura's words. He looked to Kate who was occupied with looking over the vehicle.
"Carl, is this car still lit?"
"Haven't gotten around to taking it all off yet." He said as he meandered over. "Have a hard time finding 'em, eh"
She nodded, "Light it up for me."
He reached in and flipped the switch. Red and blue lights flashed all over it and Kate nodded. He turned it off and shut the door, he froze as he saw Rizzoli kissing the Doc.
"I heard for years but I didn't believe it until I seen it myself." He said to Kate.
Jane looked over at him "It's recent. About a month."
He nodded and raised the check up, "I'll keep it to myself if you want. Doc just paid for the car outright, eighteen K."
"C'mon, Maura!" Jane groaned, "I just got him down to thirteen."
Maura smiled at her, "I know and it's worth it and it keeps Carl and acquisitions happy."
"Tell you what, Rizzoli, I'll make sure every scent goes into personal equipment."
Kate looked the car over again and nodded to Jane.
Jane kissed Maura and turned her attention back to the car. "Okay, leave it set up the way it is."
He hedged, "I can't let a car out of here equipped like that." He ran a beefy hand over his stocking hat. "Are you trying to get me fired just cause I don't like the NYPD?"
"Awe, don't say that Carl." She said, "Ill tell you what now, a lit car for a lit car. She held out her keys."
He looked at her, "That thing is still lit?" He shook his head, "Wait a minute, I know I stripped it before I gave it to you."
"I had it relit, NYPD regs are different." She said. "Kojak whirlybirds don't get you far on Madison Ave."
Carl looked at the car then back to Jane, "Your gonna use it officially?"
"I'll own it but yeah," she waved a hand at Beckett, "Ask my sergeant."
Kate simply nodded. "Just swap out the two way radio and the plates and were done."
Carl looked up at the ceiling, "Please don't let this bite me in the ass."
He went into the car and loosened up the radio screws and unplugged it. He held it up, "This your style of radio?"
Kate looked at it, "Yeah, same brand and model."
He ambled off to Rizzoli's Crown Vic and came back with the same radio except the Property of the NYPD sticker on the top. He reached into the car and set the radio in place and hung up the mike.
Kate pulled out her phone and called central. She listed out her name and badge number and requested a vehicle update for Jane's car. Carl headed off with Jane to the office to sign the paperwork.
Kate watched as a tech pulled off Rizzoli's front and rear plates and put them on the Impala. She then pulled the NYPD Identification plate from the dash and slid it into Jane's new car. Jane was still going to have to register the car with the DMV but for now the car was legal enough as a cruiser until they got back to New York.
Jane concluded her business with Carl and promised to call if she had any problems. Before she and Kate headed off to the precinct.
A/N: The car legality thing? Total hooey. But that's the advantage of a fictional story.