Thanks for the interest in this story. I will do my best to update every Sunday…I hope. Now on with the show…
Chapter 2: Study Date?
"Hey, you're Maura, right?" Jane ran her slender fingers through her sweaty, tangled hair as she looked up at the honey blonde sitting in the bleachers above her. Casually holding her helmet under one arm, she tilted her head to one side to avoid the light that was filtering over Maura's shoulders.
Maura was astonished by the striking beauty that stood in front of her. Long, midnight black hair framed the chiseled features of a Greek Goddess or at least what Maura would expect a Greek Goddess to look like. Dark eyes gazed at her from behind long lashes, rendering Maura momentarily speechless. She was afraid to blink, fearful that Jane would suddenly disappear and be replaced with Frankie.
Jane couldn't help but smile crookedly at Maura's reaction. She had seen realization set in those wide eyes when she took her helmet off and it amused her. Jane was used to surprising people, but there was something different in the way that Maura was regarding her. Jane felt pleasant warmth wash over her at the look she was receiving.
Drinking in the tall, fit figure that stood in front of her, Maura's gaze slowly moved from bottom to top until she was met with a pair of inquisitive brown eyes. She cleared her throat in an attempt to cover up her blatant ogling.
"Earth to Maura…" Jane waved her hand in front of Maura's dazed stare.
"Sorry," Maura began, blinking a few times before she continued. "I wasn't expecting…it's just…I was expecting your brother."
"Yeah…?" Jane gave Maura a dazzling smile. "Well, I guess you got me instead. I hope that's okay?"
Maura's heart almost stopped. That smile filled with bold confidence was all Maura saw for a moment, causing her to suddenly look away shyly.
Only minutes earlier she had been watching Jane run around on the field thinking she was Frankie, thinking she was a he. She had been admiring that strong body as not so innocent thoughts floated through her head. Now, Jane stood in front of her, commanding Maura's attention. When her eyes finally focused back on Jane, she felt a shiver run through her from head to toe.
"Um…yes. It is more than okay…," Maura blushed as she realized the implication of her words.
"I'm gonna go take a shower and I'll meet you in the library in fifteen minutes." Jane said with a wink as she turned towards the girl's locker room feeling a confidence she couldn't quite place. She looked over her shoulder, smiling again at a flustered Maura.
Maura felt, yet again, another blush creep across her face as she watched Jane's retreating figure. She was feeling that same flutter in her stomach as before. A jolt of desire, followed by a sudden sense of confusion had Maura fumbling to gather her books with shaking hands.
When Jane looked back over her shoulder she gave Maura a roguish grin. Maura suddenly felt as if she couldn't catch her breath. Was it that smile, that body, or that sexy wink that had turned Maura's world upside down in an instant?
Maura fidgeted nervously as she waited for Jane in the all too large, almost empty library. Sitting at a long table, she began setting out her books, notebooks, and pens. She felt a slow calm wash over her at the familiarity of the things that were laid out in front of her. Surrounded by quiet, wrapping itself comfortably around her, she sighed contently.
Knowing she was in her element, Maura sat in satisfied silence. But even though she felt slightly relaxed, something kept nagging at her thoughts. She kept replaying that moment on the football field when she realized that it was Jane standing in front of her.
Jane, in all her glory, was wearing her white padded pants and red jersey looking every bit the star football player. Maura had stared at her long enough to even note the grass stains on the skin tight pants. Jane was really a football player. Not only was she a football player, she was the quarterback. This turn of events had been a pleasant surprise for Maura, a very pleasant one indeed.
Running her fingers through her hair, Maura pushed a few strands away from her eyes. She then rested her chin in the palm of her hand as she looked out the window, lost in her thoughts. The sun had dropped lower in the sky, causing the shadows to creep across the trees that lined the front entrance to the library. As she sat there, shrouded in pockets of shade and sun, she didn't notice as Jane entered.
Standing in the doorway, Jane quietly observed Maura. She was sitting in the late afternoon setting sun as it streamed through the windows. The light reflected off of Maura's honey, blonde hair causing Jane to have the sudden urge to feel those beautiful, sun –kissed locks slipping through her fingers. She shook her head in an attempt to dismiss the impulsive desire that crept into the forefront of her thoughts.
As Jane started towards Maura, she noticed the deep look of concentration on Maura's face. It caused her to pause, allowing a moment of quiet reflection. There was something about the small blonde that had captured Jane's interest, something Jane couldn't quite identify.
She watched as Maura ran her hands through her hair again, before tucking the long strands behind an ear. Her eyes however were still hidden by the shadows that slipped in past the light causing Jane to frown momentarily. It wasn't until the light pushed the shadows away from Maura's eyes that Jane caught a glimpse of the light hazel, mixed with the barest hint of green.
Jane struggled to catch her breath for a moment as she watched sunlight touch the fair skin of Maura's cheek. A tingling sensation spread across her fingertips as she wondered how soft that skin would feel if she were to reach out and touch Maura. She tried to push away the strange feelings that kept coming up when she looked at the other girl. In an attempt to show some semblance of control, she skipped across the room and jumped into the seat opposite from Maura's.
Maura jolted with a start looking up at Jane. Long, unruly hair was pulled back into a ponytail revealing the magnificence that was Jane Rizzoli. Taking in the dark eyes, high cheekbones and perfectly arched eyebrows, Maura realized that Jane was perhaps the most beautiful person she had ever seen. A t-shirt with the name of some rock band that Maura had never heard of revealed tan, muscular arms and a pair of faded Levis and Chuck Taylors rounded out the casual ensemble.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." Jane said, slightly breathless.
Jane's energy radiated off of her in waves and Maura could feel herself being carried away.
"No, um….I guess I was just lost in thought." Maura shook her head to try to drive her earlier thoughts from her mind.
Jane studied Maura for a minute like she wasn't sure what she should say next. She had noticed the way Maura had been looking at her earlier, as if she were memorizing every detail before her eyes. A small smile crept across her lips as she realized she like it.
"Okay…" Jane said, turning serious. "What can you do to help me with this?" She patted her Anatomy book.
"Well, first thing we need to do is talk about your study habits." Maura began as casually as she could. "Would you say that you spend an appropriate time studying?"
"Define appropriate." Jane raised an eyebrow.
"Every day…" Maura stated, slightly exasperated.
"Come on Maura…I've got football practice every day." Jane leaned back in her chair to give Maura a pathetic look.
"Hmm…I see. So that would be a "no"." Maura eyed Jane disapprovingly.
"Okay, okay. What do I need to do?" Jane sighed, feeling suitably chastised, not at all liking the look she was getting.
"I would suggest that the first thing we do is set up a regimented plan of study. Make an outline of the next chapter, make vocabulary cards, and then highlight your weaknesses. And study… every day!"
Jane leaned forward and put her arms on the table in front of her and took a deep breath. She knew what she needed to do and was willing to try anything Maura suggested.
"Alright, where do you want me to start?"
"I am glad to see that you are so anxious Jane." Maura said, excitement tingeing her words. She was starting to feel more at ease as their conversation moved towards something she knew well.
"You have no idea Maura." Jane said pulling out a notebook and some pens from her book bag. "If I don't pass the next test, I can't play in the first game. It's my first game as a senior."
Maura could see the hurt and worry in Jane's eyes.
"Don't worry Jane. I'll do everything I can to help you." Maura gave her a small smile. "I guess we should start by reading the next chapter. Then we can talk about it while we outline it together."
"Sounds like a plan." Jane said opening her book. She leaned over to read before looking across the table at Maura. "Thanks for your help Maura."
"You're welcome Jane." Maura smiled at her over the top of her text book, feeling the sincerity of Jane's words wash over like a balm.
Having already read ahead to the end of the unit, Maura took this time to study Jane's face. Jane was intently reading, her brow furrowed and her mouth set in a grim line. Gone was that radiating smile punctuated by dimples, replaced with a look of stern concentration.
Maura noticed something different about the Jane that sat here in the library across from her. It wasn't the same Jane that had swaggered off the football field full of cocky confidence. This Jane didn't have the same level of self-assurance. She seemed vulnerable, maybe a little lost and here she was asking for Maura's help. While she was lost in thought again, something that seemed to be happening a lot lately, she realized that Jane was watching her.
Maura had that look on her face again and Jane stopped reading to watch. Here they had just met, but Jane already recognized that pensive look on Maura's face. It was one that she had worn earlier that day and Jane could sense the deep thoughts that were going through Maura's mind. She wasn't sure what it meant yet, but she knew Maura was lost somewhere in that big brain of hers.
"You done already…?" Jane ventured to pull Maura out of thought.
"Um, yeah…. I've already read it." She felt the warmth of a blush spread across her cheeks at this admission. She wasn't sure why she always felt embarrassed by the fact that she was a fast reader and always skipped ahead.
"You must be a regular Poindexter." Jane smirked, causing Maura to frown at her. "I'm just kidding Maura." Jane reached over and gave Maura's hand a light pat.
"It's okay." Maura tried not to look hurt as she bit down on her bottom lip.
"No. It's not okay. I'm sorry." Jane's earnestness was evident in her eyes. The look Maura had given her pained her for some reason.
"It's just… when I was away at boarding school, the kids used to call me Maura-the- bora."
"Not really nice friends or original for that matter." Jane said with a frown. She felt a flush of anger towards those people that had hurt Maura.
"I don't think they were going for originality Jane…and they weren't really friends."
"When I was little, I was kinda pudgy…um…you know, I had some baby fat. The kids used to call me Roly Poly Rizzoli…" Jane leveled her gaze at Maura, not entirely sure why she was sharing this bit of heavily guarded information.
"Wow, on the originality scale, I would put that kind of high. Although I am not quite sure I understand how you got that name."
"Aw, you know how kids are Maura. What can I say…I started playing sports…hit my growth spurt…and here I am today." Jane waved her hands over herself as if illustrate her point.
"And quite a growth spurt it must have been." Maura eyes twinkled mischievously as she openly appraised Jane's figure.
"Yeah, well…ya know…" Jane mumbled as her cheeks flushed a bright red. Her embarrassment was followed by a slight thrill when she saw the look in Maura's eyes. She tried to look anywhere but at Maura. "Didn't your friends stick up for you?"
"I've never really had many friends…, any friends really." Maura looked away trying to hide the sadness she was feeling again. "It's okay though…I really am quiet odd…,"
Jane was quiet for a minute as she silently contemplated her next move, not really listening to Maura's ramblings.
"Well," she said slamming her book shut suddenly making a decision, surprising Maura with her abrupt movement. "I guess we'll just have to fix that, starting with me. Consider this the beginnings of a beautiful friendship." She jumped up, extending her hand towards Maura. "Let's get outta here."
"Um…okay…," Maura said as she hesitantly took Jane's hand feeling herself being pull up from her chair.
They ended up a small neighborhood pizza place that seemed to be overflowing with teenagers and video games. Maura felt Jane take her hand as they weaved their way through the chaotic jumble of bodies that littered the sidewalk outside the restaurant. She wasn't quite sure why Jane had felt it necessary until she felt herself being jostled back and forth in the crowd. Her relaxed grip suddenly turned into a tight hold as she tried to keep up with Jane.
"Come on…Frankie works here after school. He always gives me extra toppings and all the soda I can drink." Jane tugged Maura along behind her. When she felt Maura stop, she looked over her shoulder to see Maura was deep in thought again. "What?"
"Oh Jane, pop has a very high amount of calories, mostly from sugar. It also increases your insulin levels and can lead to diabetes, not to mention the phosphoric acid and caffeine can cause loss of calcium in effect weakening your bones…," Maura rambled, causing Jane to give her a bewildered look as she reached to hold the door open. "Um…well…it's true. And carbonation will leave you thirstier…" She stopped when she saw Jane roll her eyes as she felt herself being gently shoved her into the crowded pizza joint.
Maura wasn't sure what to say or do. Her senses were in overdrive again. The sounds and smells were overwhelming. She was used to the quiet, solitude of her parents structured home. In the distance she could hear a song being played on what she could only presume was a jukebox, the neon lights catching her eye from across the room. Several people she recognized from school were huddled around the bright box, shoving money into a slot and pressing buttons. A small smile played across her lips as she watched.
As her eyes scanned the crowded room, she saw several pinball machines and video games against a back wall slightly hidden from view by the groups of people surrounding them. The sounds carried over to her, as did the smell of fresh baked pizza dough. Her eyes were wide as she tried to take in everything around her. Jane couldn't help but smile at the wonder that lite up Maura's face.
It seemed as if they were the center of attention as they made their way through the crowd. Jane let go of Maura's hand, instantly missing the warm contact. She pointed towards a booth in the back, away from the loud beeps and blips of the video games and Maura nodded her acknowledgement a she followed.
Feeling several sets of eyes on her, Maura wasn't sure if people were watching her or if they were watching Jane. She noticed that Jane was recognized by almost everyone who looked their way. Jane nodded curtly towards several people who waved at her or shouted out her name, but she never gave them her full attention.
Maura wasn't sure if she was embarrassed or excited by the attention that followed them with curiosity as they crossed the room. It was as if everything had come to a pause as the question "who is with Jane Rizzoli" filled the room.
Taking the seat opposite from Jane, Maura continued to be distracted by everything around her. It was all so new and she didn't want to miss a thing.
"What do you like on your pizza?" Jane patted Maura's arm to get her attention. She hadn't noticed that Frankie was standing over them waiting patiently for their order.
"Um…fresh sliced tomatoes, basil…"Maura began then stopped when she noticed both Frankie and Jane looking at her in awe.
"Make it a double pepperoni Frankie and two sodas." Jane said giving Maura a raised eyebrow daring her say anything.
"Got it..." He wrote it down in his little pad of paper. He hesitated for a moment before leaning against the table. "Please tell me you talked to Cindy?"
Jane looked up at him for the first time since he had arrived at the table. She leaned back in her seat, lacing her fingers together behind her head. Taking her time to contemplate her answer, she winked at Maura before answering.
There it was again, that sexy wink.
"Yeah, I did." She gave Frankie a smirk.
"And…?" He pleaded leaning down so he was eye level with his sister.
"What did she say? Let me think…" Jane tapped her head, pretending she was thinking.
"Come on Janie!" He whined. In an effort to get her answer quicker, he grabbed her by the shoulders and gently shook her.
Shrugging out of his grip, she smiled that full, dazzling smile.
"She said she'd love to go out with you, but you need to ask her out yourself. That's where I draw the line." She waved her hands in the air, drawing an invisible line. "See…line drawn…now go get our pizza."
"Thanks sis." Frankie smiled, giving her a good natured slap on the back. "I owe ya."
Jane gave an exaggerated cough and leaned forward on the table to say something to Maura, but she stopped when she saw that Maura was watching Frankie walk away with the utmost curiosity highlighting her hazel eyes. A strange smile played across Maura's lips prompting Jane to wonder if they were as soft as they looked. Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady the nervous energy that seemed to course through her whenever she looked at Maura. The strange thoughts that accompanied that nervous energy didn't help either.
Maura couldn't help but notice that Jane and Frankie not only had the same dark, intense eyes, but also had the same dazzling, dimpled smile.
"What's that goofy grin for?" Jane asked, not sure if she wanted to know.
"You look alike, especially your smiles." Maura said. "Is he your only sibling?"
"Nah, I have another brother named Tommy. He's only fourteen though."
"How old is Frankie?"
"He's sixteen. We have a year and a half between us." Jane had a strange thought that maybe Maura liked Frankie and for some reason it pissed her off immensely, but she pushed that thought down as she tried to smile casually. "How 'bout you? Have any brothers or sisters?"
"No. I'm an only child."
"Sometimes I wish I was an only child." Jane smirked again.
"No you don't. It's very lonely." Maura said, her hazel eyes turning dark with an overwhelming sadness.
"Yeah, I suppose….but when you find your underwear in the freezer; maybe you'd change your mind." Jane rolled her eyes, hoping to make Maura laugh.
"They really did that to you?" The question was almost whispered, laced with shock and disbelief.
"Among other things…but I always get even." Jane grinned back at Maura.
Maura laughed light heartedly, relaxing for the first time. There was something about Jane that made her feel comfortable. Something that Maura couldn't quiet put her finger on. She had never felt an instant connection to anyone this strong before. Not to mention the fact that every time Jane smiled at her, she felt her world brighten.
Letting her eyes wander around the room, she noticed that everyone had gone back to whatever it was they were doing before their arrival. Maura suddenly had a strange feeling of normalcy. Sitting in this place, surrounded by her peers was normal. When she looked back at Jane, she was met with a questioning set of brown eyes.
"What are you thinking about Maur?" Jane asked.
"Can I ask you a question Jane?"
"Sure." Jane answered, slightly apprehensive.
"Why are you taking Anatomy? Surely there are other classes that wouldn't put you at risk of missing your games."
Before Jane could answer, Frankie dropped their pizza on the table. It hit the surface with a resounding thud, surprising both Jane and Maura.
"Here ya go…enjoy." He smiled down at them both but then he paused for a minute.
"What the hell Frankie?" Jane threw him an annoyed look. If looks could kill, she would have one less brother.
"You haven't introduced me to your new friend." He smiled at Maura, dark eyes flashing with curiosity.
"Maura….Frankie, Frankie…Maura." Jane said picking up a piece of pizza.
"Hey, I suppose you're gonna help keep our quarterback in the game." He gave Jane a small shove causing her drop a pepperoni in her lap.
"Real smooth Frankie." Jane wiped the offending pepperoni away from her jeans, gathering napkins to blot at what would surely turn into a grease stain.
"I intend to do my best. Do you play on the team too?" Maura asked.
"You betcha. Someone's gotta to watch Jane's back." He beamed at his sister, pride evident in his smile.
Frankie gave Maura an exaggerated bow before heading back behind the counter.
"Seriously…? Where were we...?" Jane wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Oh, you asked why I was taking Anatomy. Well, I want to be a homicide detective for the Boston Police Department. I was told that a strong background in biology and anatomy would help me, not to mention it is a pre-requisite for the junior college I applying to. So there you have it."
"A police officer…?" Maura asked as she placed a piece of pizza on her plate. She picked up her knife and fork only to stop when she realized she was being scrutinized.
Jane arched an eyebrow at her and shook her head.
"Really Maura…? Put the knife and fork down."
"Why Jane…?" Maura looked confused, still holding the offending utensils.
"You have to use your hands to eat pizza. Like this." Jane illustrated by picking her piece up and folding it over and taking a bite. "See?" The expression on Maura's face was priceless and Jane almost choked. "What?" She asked as she continued to chew around a mouthful of pizza.
"My hands…? They might be dirty." She looked at her hands. "Did you know that there are approximately 1,500 germs per square centimeter on the human hand consisting of about 150 different types of bacteria?"
Jane stopped mid bite and looked at Maura, her eyes as big as saucers. She swallowed her bite of pizza and put the slice down on her plate.
"Really….? Way to ruin a nice pizza." Jane said wiping her greasy hands on a napkin.
"Sorry Jane. Is this the way you do it?" Maura tried to smile as she picked up the slice of pizza and folded it over, taking a bite. She wanted to do whatever she could to feel like a normal teenager and she figured that following Jane's lead would be a good start. Jane smiled as she picked her piece up, continuing to eat.
"Um…Maura, do you do that often?" Jane gave her a sideways glance as she posed the question.
"Do I do what often?" A puzzled looked crossed Maura's face.
"You know…just randomly spout off weird facts and stuff…?" Jane asked with a small smile.
"Oh…I'm sorry. I've been known to ramble from time to time. I didn't mean to…sometimes when I get nervous…I…"
"No, no…don't apologize. I didn't mean anything by it." Jane tried to back pedal, essentially stopping Maura from rambling on. "I guess I just didn't know how smart you are. Anyway I think it's kind of cute…" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she had let slip. "Um, in a kinda nerdy way…" She quickly added.
Maura watched Jane struggle with her words as yet again another blush bloomed across her cheeks. This was the second time that Jane had blushed in her presence, something that hadn't gone unnoticed by either of them.
"Homicide… huh?" Maura asked deciding it was time to change the subject. "Why… ?"
"Well," Jane thought for a second as she set her pizza down again preparing herself for the long story.
"There was a family that lived next door to us when I was a kid. I was pretty good friends with their daughter, Becky. We used to do everything together back then. I guess I was about seven or eight." Jane paused as if she was trying to remember, a wistful expression on her face.
"Anyway… one night the police showed up at their house and my parents went over. I wanted to go, but they made me stay home to watch my brothers." She nodded in Frankie's direction before taking a shaky breath. "I could see outside the kitchen window and into their living room. Becky and her mom were crying and so was my mom. My dad looked really upset while he talked to a uniformed police officer."
Jane paused, giving herself a moment to rein in her emotions. She saw the concerned look Maura was giving her and tried to smile. For just a brief moment she closed her eyes as the images passed through her mind.
"I stood there for almost two hours watching their lives unravel in front of me. I knew what ever had happened was bad. Becky came to the window and I could see her looking out. There were tears running down her face and she seemed so alone in that moment." Jane shivered before continuing. "I don't know if she ever saw me watching, but I wanted to run to her, put my arms around her and tell her that everything was going to be alright." Jane stopped and took a deep breath, biting back the bitter tone her voice had taken. "Of course everything wasn't alright."
Maura reached across the table and put her hand on Jane's hand. Maura's warmth brought a comfort that Jane had never known she had craved until that moment.
"What happened Jane?"
"Her dad was killed by a mugger on his way home from the grocery store." Jane all but whispered, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to come. "Some asshole killed him for twenty dollars."
"Oh, Jane, that's terrible." Maura tried to search Jane's eyes for what to say next. In the short time they had known each other; Maura found that she was able to read so much in Jane's dark eyes. Deciding that silence was needed, she allowed Jane to continue uninterrupted.
"Well, needless to say, they never caught the son of a bitch." Jane's sadness turned to conviction, her dark brown eyes became passionate. "I decided that day that I wanted to do something to help. I didn't want any more families to have to go through what I saw that day. The man who killed Becky's dad was still out there…is still out there for all I know. A week after her dad was murdered, her mother packed everything up and they moved. I never found out where. Anyway, that year a police officer came to our school to talk for career day and I knew that was what I wanted to do."
"Well, I think that is a very noble thing." Maura gave Jane a small smile.
"Okay…enough of this heavy shit." Jane said switching gears so suddenly that Maura's eyes widened at the sudden change. "Tell me, what are your plans after graduation?" Jane's intense eyes turned soft again as she tried to smile back. She allowed her memories to fade into the background as she focused her attention on Maura.
"Medical School…" Maura was still slightly stunned. She was in awe of Jane's sudden change in mood. She had witnessed a kaleidoscope of emotions in the short time they had spent together. She concluded that Jane wasn't one to let her guard down. It was then that she realized she needed to tread lightly, especially since she found herself extremely attracted to the beautiful brunette.
"Well, I could have guessed that." Jane's smile was wide and full of wonder. "Very ambitious and… might I add… noble as well."
Just as Maura was about to respond, they were interrupted by a tall, muscular, dark haired boy who slid into the booth next to Jane, forcing her to move over. This sudden movement pulled Jane's hand out from underneath Maura's. Maura immediately missed the warmth and comfort.
"You look hot Jane." The boy leaned close to Jane, giving her a hungry look.
"Jesus Giovanni, get outta here." Jane said, shoving him out of the booth.
"So when are ya gonna go out with me?" his eyes raked over Jane in a way that made Maura flush with anger or was it jealousy?
"Uh, how 'bout never!" Jane said, giving the boy a sideways look, her dark eyes flashing with her annoyance.
"Well, you're not just any-body." He smirked.
"Um…do you mind? You interrupted our conversation…" Maura surprised herself when the words came out of her mouth.
Giovanni looked at Maura, noticing her for the first time. "You look hot, how 'bout you and me get to know each other better?" He smiled down at her.
"I think you mean you and I…" Maura began to ramble.
"Whatever…how 'bout we get better acquainted…" He leaned down on the table so he was eye level with a very flustered Maura. Taking this as a sign of interest, he reached over to brush a strand of hair away from Maura's eyes. "Ouch!" He cried as a Jane's strong hand grabbed his wrist, stopping him before he could reach his intended destination. Shooting her an angry look, he pulled back, rubbing his sore wrist. "What the hell Rizzoli?"
"Get outta here Giovanni, no one here is interested." Jane gave Maura a questioning arch of an eyebrow and Maura shook her head, feeling a sudden rush of relief.
"Alright, alright..." He said giving up. "See you on the field tomorrow Rizzoli." He smirked at her.
"Yeah…? Bring it on Giovanni…" Jane shouted at the retreating figure.
"Oh, I will…" Giovanni answered back as he disappeared in the crowded room.
"What a total jerk." Jane said slamming her left fist into the palm of her right hand.
"Totally..." Maura gave her a wide grin causing them both to laugh.
"Hey Janie," Frankie shouted from the counter. "Ma called and wants you to come home to get dinner started while she takes Tommy to soccer practice."
"Really…?" Jane said under her breath. "I guess I gotta go, duty calls." She gave Maura a shrug as she climbed out of the booth.
"Yeah, I really need to head home too."
"Okay, I'll go ahead and outline that chapter tonight and then we can go over its finer points tomorrow, say about the same time as today."
"Sure, that will be just fine." Maura stood up and gathered her things. She stopped and watched Jane as gathered her things as well. "Thanks Jane."
"Thanks for what?" Jane looked confused.
"For being my friend…" Maura smiled shyly.
"Any time..." Jane winked at Maura and then smiled that dazzling Rizzoli smile, dimples and all. "See you tomorrow."
And there it was again, that damn sexy wink that made Maura feel week at the knees.