Well I knew it would take me a bit longer to get this chapter up but I hope that I didn't keep you guys waiting too long! I really hope you'll enjoy this chapter and I hope it will get you excited about the things to come!
As always thank you for reading! -J
Chapter 6- Blind Date
"No, no way Frankie. It's not happening," Jane told her brother one Wednesday afternoon, shaking her head as she brother pulled up a chair next to her desk.
"Aww come on Janie," Frankie begged. "When's the last time you went on a date? You need to get out more, you work all the time. Don't you think it would be nice to have a social life for a change?"
"I have a social life," Jane argued glaring at her brother.
"I'm not sure hanging out Mia counts Jane," Frankie pointed out. "She's four. You need to hang out with some people your own age."
"I hang out with Maura."
"Maura doesn't count either. She's your friend," Frankie replied. "Unless there's something you're not telling me?"
"What? No!" Jane was quick to reply, feeling her cheeks flaring despite her best efforts to control her reaction, praying her brother didn't notice, not really wanting to hear his teasing.
"Exactly! That's why you need to let me set you up," Frankie said, not paying enough attention to catch his sister's reaction, simply continuing with his begging. "Come on, I'm telling you, you'll like this one."
"That's what you said last time," Jane rolled her eyes. "What makes you think I'm going to trust you after that?"
"Okay so maybe the last one was a poor choice," Frankie admitted with a shrug. "But I swear this one's different. I really think you'll like her."
"Who will you like?" Maura, who walked up behind the pair, overhearing the end of their conversation, said making Jane practically jump out of her chair, not hearing the doctor approach.
"Oh…uh…it's…" Jane stuttered uncomfortably.
"The woman I'm trying to set Janie up with," Frankie interrupted oblivious to his sister's awkwardness. "You see I met this girl who I think would be perfect for Jane so I want to set them up on a blind date but Janie here refuses to go," he explained. "Which I think is pretty ridiculous considering she never dates."
"Oh," Maura replied doing her best to hide the surprise on her face as she quickly attempted to recover. "Well why don't you want to go Jane?" She asked, turning to the Detective who was watching her carefully.
"I don't like blind dates," Jane shrugged, her eyes falling to the desk in front of her when Maura attempted to meet her gaze. "Plus Frankie has the worst taste."
"That is not true," Frankie argued. "Come on Janie just give it a chance."
Sighing, Jane pinched the bridge of her nose, frustrated by the conversation and hating that Maura was now involved as the honey-blonde waited for her response, watching her with curious eyes.
"I…well…" Jane bit her lip, not knowing what to say.
"I think you should do it," Maura interjected, Jane's head turning her way in surprise. "I mean you might like this woman," she continued. "I can't see what harm one date could do."
"Thank you Maura!" Frankie practically shouted, throwing his arms in the air in celebration.
"Oh all right," Jane groaned, not really seeing a point in arguing anymore. "I'll go alright. Now get out of here," she said to Frankie who was grinning from ear to ear, satisfied that he finally won.
"I'll text ya the details later," Frankie called as he headed for the elevators; Jane shaking her head as she leaned back in her seat, turning her attention to Maura.
"Thanks for the help there Maur," she said as Maura took a seat in the chair Frankie left behind.
"Well I'm sorry but I just thought that Frankie had a point," Maura shrugged, unable to recall Jane going on a date of any sort in the time that she had known her. "Who knows maybe you'll have a good time."
"Doubtful," Jane huffed, watching as Maura busied herself smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in her dress, something she tended to do when she was uncomfortable. "You okay there?"
"Hm?" Maura hummed, looking up to find Jane raising her eyebrow questioningly. "Oh well…it's just…" she stuttered, sighing before finally deciding she might as well be honest. "I just didn't realize that you dated women," she said, feeling her cheeks flaring. "I mean you never told me."
"You never asked," Jane shrugged, trying to remain nonchalant "Does that bother you?"
"Well obviously not," Maura rolled her eyes in Jane-like fashion. "You know I was engaged to a woman Jane," she said. "I just thought that was something you would have told me. I mean we are friends."
"Yes we are," Jane nodded, not missing the hurt look on Maura's face, immediately feeling guilty. "I'm sorry Maur," she sighed. "Of course we're friends. I don't even know why I didn't tell you. It just never came up," she continued. "Forgive me?" She said, giving the blonde her best puppy-dog eyes.
Shaking her head, Maura was unable to hold back her smile. "I guess I can do that," she laughed, making Jane smile.
"Oh thank goodness," Jane replied, wiping her brow as she pretended to be relieved, loving the chuckle it elicited from the blonde beside her. "So did you come up here for a particular reason or did you just miss me?"
"Oh of course," Maura said, suddenly remembering the file in her hands. "I have the results you were waiting on."
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Maura didn't know why it was bothering her so much. She wasn't sure why she couldn't get it off her mind; or at least she refused to admit it. Jane dated women. Jane dated women and she didn't share this detail with Maura. Normally this fact wouldn't even phase the doctor; she hardly ever shared her sexual orientation with anyone simply because she didn't really think it was important. Jane not telling her though was different, partially because Maura had shared her story about her ex-fiancé after only knowing the Detective for a few days, and yet Jane hadn't said a word after months of friendship. It stung, and after Maura had learned about Jane's blind date, the honey-blonde could think of nothing else; spending the next two days wondering what this woman would be like and whether or not Jane would really like her.
When Friday came Maura resisted the urge to visit Jane, wanting to ask questions but knowing it would only be intrusive and likely annoy Jane who didn't seem the least bit excited about her date. So in an attempt to distract herself the Medical Examiner buried herself in paperwork, breaking only for a quick lunch; only noting the time when she was interrupted several hours later.
"Well are you going to wish me luck or what?" Jane called as she barged into Maura's office, not bothering with knocking.
"Luck?" Maura quirked her eyebrow in confusion, her mind still focused on the documents laid out in front of her.
"You know…the date," Jane said slowly, waiting for the blonde to remember. "You know I'm a little offended you forgot," she scoffed. "I half expected you to park yourself at my desk all day giving me advice and asking me what I had planned and yet nothing! You didn't even visit."
"Oh…I'm sorry Jane," Maura replied, dropping her pen and focusing her attention on the brunette. "I guess I got a bit caught up in my work," she explained. "I didn't even notice the time. Are you heading out soon?"
"Yeah I'm supposed to pick Erika up in like 20 minutes," Jane shrugged looking at her watch. "I'm just gonna take her for dinner and drinks. Figured it was simple enough."
"That is the typical first date activity," Maura nodded, smoothing out the papers in front of her. "Did you bring a change of clothes with you?" She then asked looking over Jane's normal work attire of dress slacks, v-neck t-shirt and blazer.
"What? What do you mean?" Jane asked, looking down at her outfit in confusion. "Why do I need a change of clothes?"
"Well for your date of course," Maura replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I mean you can't possibly be planning on wearing that!"
"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Jane raised her eyebrow. "I think I look good."
"You look like a Detective," Maura pointed out. "Those are your work clothes Jane. You can't wear them on a date," she said standing from her seat and moving to stand in front of her desk, turning her back towards Jane. "Here. Unzip me."
"Wait? What?" Jane exclaimed. "No! Maur! What…what are you doing?"
"Helping you," Maura replied simply. "Now unzip me. You can wear this tonight," she said gesturing to the red dress that she was currently wearing.
"What? Are you…you're actually serious," Jane stuttered, as Maura gave her a pointed look, waiting for her to undo the zipper on the back of her dress. "Maura I cannot wear that!"
"Of course you can," Maura shrugged. "What you can't wear is that outfit. This is a very nice dress. I'm sure your date will appreciate it."
"Maura there's no way I can wear that," Jane continued to argue, her voice beginning to whine. "It probably costs more than I make in a month and it's…I…you're not going to give this up are you?" She eventually sighed.
"Not a chance," Maura shook her head with a smile. "Now unzip me."
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"Mommy how come Janie couldn't come to movie night?" Amelia asked Maura later that night halfway through Aladdin, another one of Jane's movie recommendations. "I thought she loved movie night."
"Aw she does sweetheart," Maura replied, running a hand over the little blonde's head. "Jane just had plans tonight, but she was really sad she had to miss out on coming here. She'll come see you soon."
Sighing Amelia seemed to accept this, resting her head against her mother's arm. "Where did Janie have to go?" She eventually asked, obviously not ready to drop the topic.
"Well Jane had a date tonight honey," Maura explained, wrapping her arm over Amelia's shoulders.
"A date?" Amelia looked up with wide, innocent eyes.
"Yes," Maura nodded, realizing her daughter was waiting for an explanation. "You see sometimes two people will go out together sometimes to dinner or maybe a movie, just the two of them because they want to get to know each other better," she explained, hoping the four-year-old would accept her answer.
Nodding, Amelia seemed to contemplate this for a moment before looking back up at her mother. "Do you go on dates?"
"Oh…" Maura hesitated not expecting the question. "Well yes sometimes," she nodded. "I date occasionally but…well I haven't been on one in a while I guess," she continued, realizing she couldn't even remember her last date.
"You should go on one soon then," Amelia suggested happily. "Maybe Jane will go on a date with you!"
Surprised and slightly flustered Maura didn't know quite what to say, saved from having to come up with anything by the ringing of her cell phone; checking the caller I.D. and seeing Jane's name lighting up the screen.
"I'll be right back sweetie," Maura said, grabbing her phone and heading towards the kitchen were she could still keep an eye on the younger blonde. "Jane?"
"You have to get me out of here," Jane skipped the greetings, sounding frantic. "I don't know what the hell Frankie was thinking but he's a complete idiot! I have to get out of here Maur."
"Get you out of there?" Maura repeated sounding confused. "Jane you're on a date. I think that's rather rude. You shouldn't even be on the phone. Where are you?"
"Hiding in the bathroom," Jane replied, explaining why she was speaking so softly. "And I need you to forget your proper etiquette right now and help me get out of here because trust me when I say this is the worst date in the history of dates and I cannot possibly spend another minute with this woman. Please Maur. You gotta get me out of here."
"Well what am I supposed to do?" Maura asked, completely flummoxed.
"Call me with an emergency, say we got a body, anything," Jane told her. "I don't care what you say just make up something!"
"I can't do that Jane."
"What do you mean you can't do it?" Jane repeated in disbelief, her voice pleading desperately. "Maur please. I don't care what you say I just need your help."
"No Jane I don't think you understand," Maura replied. "I can't lie."
"What do you mean you can't lie? Of course you can," Jane said. "Everyone can lie. Come on Maura please don't make me stay here."
"No Jane really I can't lie," Maura tried again, her voice serious. "I break out into hives and I've been known to go completely vasovagal."
"Vaso…what? What are you talking about?"
"Fainting Jane," Maura explained with a sigh. "I've been known to faint when I lie and given that I'm home alone with my four-year-old daughter I don't think it would be wise to do something that may cause me to pass out."
"What…are you…you're serious?" Jane exclaimed, not quite believing what she was hearing. "Well what am I supposed to…but….okay I have a plan!" She continued excitedly. "Alright call me back in five minutes and just follow my lead."
"Jane I don't think…." Maura attempted to argue before realizing that the Detective had already hung up the phone. Knowing she couldn't simply leave her friend waiting for her call, Maura sighed, checking to make sure that Amelia was still occupied with her movie as she waited for 5 minutes to pass. "Jane Rizzoli," she whispered to herself as she began dialing Jane's number into her phone. "What am I going to do with you?"
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It was a half an hour later when Jane let herself into Maura's house, finding the two Isles cuddled up on the couch, Aladdin still playing on the screen. "Well I'm glad to see you've taken my movie advice," she called as she made her way around the couch, Amelia's head popping up in surprise.
"Janie! You're here," the little blonde exclaimed, jumping up and into the Detective's arms.
"I sure am," Jane smiled, carrying Amelia back over to the couch where she plopped down beside Maura, keeping the child in her lap. "I couldn't miss all of movie night. You know it's my favourite night of the week."
"Mommy said you had a date," Amelia said, leaning back to rest against the brunette's chest, her attention focused back on the movie.
"Yes well I'd much rather be here," Jane replied glancing at Maura.
"And are you planning on telling me why I had to call you and allow you to lie to your date about me needing you here?" Maura asked with a raised eyebrow, knowing her daughter was too focused on the television to really pay attention to their conversation.
"Let's just say my brother has no understanding of my taste in women," Jane rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure he saw blonde with boobs and nothing else. It was like talking to a wall," she huffed. "I could have a more intelligent conversation with Mia. I'm never letting my brother set me up again."
"Well it was nice of him to try," Maura shrugged, leaning back into the couch and getting comfortable as Jane did the same, keeping her arms looped around Amelia's middle. "He probably thought he was being helpful."
"Yeah well…" Jane shook her head, not quite knowing that to say. "I appreciate his effort but I think I'm good being single right now," she shrugged. "I mean I'd much rather spend my free time doing this," she said, nodding towards the movie, making Maura smile. "This is all I need right now."