Thanks for reading and reviewing… Until next time.
Chapter 35- Day after Day
The smell of coffee tickled at the outer edges of Maura's consciousness as she swam up from the depths of sleep. The temptation to stay buried under the flood of images from the night before had her burrowing deeper into her pillow before a stronger whiff of coffee pulled her back to wakefulness.
"Ummm…I knew this would get you moving." Jane watched as Maura's eyes twitched before finally opening. She smiled down into the hazel/green that still held the fog of sleep as she climbed up onto the bed next to Maura who was still curled up in the blankets. "I guess I could drink it myself…" Jane sighed heavily in mock annoyance when Maura sank deeper under the covers.
"I'm up…I'm up…" Maura pushed herself up on her elbows. Her sleep mused hair framed her scrunched up face as she fought back the bright light that streamed into the bedroom. "What time is it?" She held her hand up in an effort to block the blazing stream of light that pinned her down with its brilliance.
"Just after eight…" Jane shimmied up towards the head of the bed to lean against the wall of pillows. "I thought I'd let you sleep in…" She couldn't hide the smirk as she took a sip of the coffee that Maura was now coveting with her sleepy eyes. "You want?" Brown eyes peered over the rim of the coffee cup, a dark eyebrow raised in question.
"What I want, we haven't got time for…so, I'll just settle for the coffee." Maura took the cup, sighing in contentment when the warm liquid slid down her throat.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're insatiable?" Jane asked as she pulled Maura to rest between her legs, offering herself as a soft spot to lean against.
Maura settled back into the comfortable spot that Jane offered, resting her back against Jane's front. She took another sip of coffee before turning to look up at Jane, a serious expression on her face. "No…never…"
Jane regarded the serious look in Maura's eyes and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm not complaining Maura…in fact I seem to find myself feeling the same way." Brushing away a few strands of hair, Jane leaned down to place a quick kiss on Maura's neck. "I can't seem to get enough of you…" She whispered against the skin just below Maura's ear. "But…we just don't have the time it would take for me to show you…" Jane pulled away to look down at Maura.
"The coffee is good…not your usual instant standby…" Maura took another sip in a lame attempt to change the subject.
"Yeah well…I had a little help." Jane couldn't stop herself from running her fingers through Maura's sleep tousled hair, the silky feeling of soft strands brushing against her hand caused her to shiver.
"And who pray tell helped you?" Maura leaned into Jane's caress, reveling in the feeling.
"That would be Captain Adam…" Jane sighed into the comfortable weight of Maura's body against her own. "He showed me how to use that fancy coffee maker you have in the kitchen…you know, the one that requires a degree in rocket science…" There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone, but not enough to hide the playful teasing.
"I think you mean the galley…" Maura muttered around the rim of her coffee cup.
"Galley…?" Jane cocked her head to the side and raised an eyebrow in question.
"Galley means kitchen in nautical speak…" Maura sighed at the enticing aroma that continued to tickle her nose.
"And what's nautical speak for 'you're being a smart ass…'?" Jane complained.
"Funny Jane…I suppose I should get up and get dressed." Maura pondered the idea as she took another sip of coffee. "This is really good…" She leaned her head back so she could look up at Jane who was smiling down at her with an expression of pride mixed with adoration.
"I don't wanna let you go…" Jane let out a heavy breath as she tightened her hold on Maura. Leaning her cheek against the side of Maura's head she was ready to forgo any plans they may have had, that is until the sound of Carly and Ryan making their way down the hall caused her to cringe. "But alas…I do believe that we are about to be interrupted."
Setting the coffee cup on the night stand next to the bed, Maura moved to stand up but the commotion outside the door caused her to stop and roll her eyes at Jane.
"I don't care…" Carly's impatient voice carried through the closed door.
"Give them a minute to get ready…" Ryan's voice was quieter, but still loud enough to give warning to anyone who might be listening.
"Decent or not…here I come…" Carly shouted as she tried to turn the locked handle. "Hey…come on you guys! We're burning daylight here…" She pleaded.
Jane couldn't stifle a chuckle as she stood up to take Maura in her arms again. She gave her one last kiss on the forehead before releasing her with a little push towards the bathroom. "Oh well…Frankie and Cindy are here too…" A pause had Maura looking up at her in question. "Um…Frankie brought Tommy…I hope that's okay…"
The sheepish smile on Jane's face caused Maura to laugh. "It's more than okay Jane. I'm glad we're going to spend the day together."
"Yeah? Me Too…" The relief she felt was evident in the tone of her voice.
"Hey…I hear you talking in there…" Carly continued to talk to the closed door, her voice slightly muffled as she pressed her face against the wood.
"Alright, alright…" Jane threw her arms up in the air and headed towards the door. "Go on with ya…get ready…or we're gonna have a mutiny on our hands." She pointed towards the bathroom and grinned as she watched Maura disappear.
"Sorry Jane…I held her back a long as I could…" Ryan said when the door opened, an embarrassed smile on her face.
"Whatever…" Jane growled as she pushed past Carly and the smirk that greeted her when she opened the door. Turning around, she gave Ryan an apologetic smile when she realized how harsh her voice must have sounded.
"What?" Carly looked from Jane to Ryan shrugging her shoulders. "Captain Adam said he needed everyone on deck to go over the safety precautions."
"Did you ever think that maybe Maura already knows all of that stuff already?" Jane griped.
"Be that as it may…you don't." Carly griped back as she pushed Jane down the hallway.
Ryan stood back and shook her head as she watched Jane and Carly push each other playfully. There was an air of excitement around them so strong it was hard to contain. The moment Frankie, Cindy, and Tommy had arrived, her usually stoic girlfriend reverted back to something like a little kid on Christmas morning. The image of a carefree Carly so filled with life and enthusiasm made Ryan realize how much more she fell in love each and every day.
"Maura!" Tommy shouted when he saw her come up on deck. With open arms, he rushed to give her a hug. "Thanks so much for letting me come along." His boyish charm matched Jane and Frankie's but his roguish good looks seemed more similar to Ryan than the dark-haired, dark eyed traits of his older siblings.
"Happy to have you…" Maura wrapped her arms around Tommy. It was then that she realized that he was now taller than she was. It had been a month or so since she had seen him any longer than a passing moment. When she pulled back to smile at him, she couldn't help but notice how much he looked like Angela. His soft hazel eyes danced with a light that matched his mothers in color and intensity. His hair was the color of sand, not quite as light as Ryan's sunflower yellow, but also not anywhere near the dark color of his brother and sister. Another difference that didn't escape Maura was his stocky, more muscular build so very unlike Jane's tall, lean figure. If she didn't know better, she might have assumed that Jane, Frankie, and Carly were siblings and that Ryan and Tommy were brother and sister.
"This is so cool…" He gave her quick squeeze before releasing her quickly. He didn't want to instill the wrath of his sister for being too familiar with Maura. He could see over Maura's shoulder that they were being watched and the casual smile on Jane's face told him that she was happy.
"I'm glad that Frankie brought you. It's nice having all of you guys together." Maura glanced over her shoulder to give Jane a quick smile. She couldn't see Jane's eyes behind the reflective sunglasses she was wearing, in fact the only thing she could see was her own reflection looking back at her. It surprised her to see the happy expression mirrored back, the windblown hair and carefree smile was something she didn't identify with herself. In fact, she realized she actually looked like a teenager and for the first time she actually felt her age. The burden of having to always be in control lifted off of her shoulders whenever she was around Jane. She could feel Jane's eyes on her, especially when she saw the easy smile on Jane's face in response to her moment of contemplation.
"You better get over there…" Tommy gave Maura a gentle push towards Jane. "I don't wanna get on her bad side before we've even left the harbor." He winked at her as he turned his attention to Ryan and Carly.
Jane was sitting at the bow of the boat, or as she would have called it, the front. She still couldn't quite grasp the concept of calling left, right, front, and back the nautical terms that Maura insisted on using. An easy smile creased her lips as the wind pushed through her dark hair that fell into her face proving it was still unruly no matter what she did to tame it. She had watched Maura make her way on deck and her breath caught in her chest at the casual, yet impeccable outfit she was wearing. Only Maura could make something as casual as khaki shorts and a scoop neck t-shirt look like it came from a designer magazine. It was the light brown pair of docksides that rounded out the outfit only to be topped off by a Red Sox baseball hat causing Jane's stomach to twist slightly at how cute she thought Maura looked. She watched Maura greet Tommy and was pleased to see how comfortable they seemed to be with each other, also taking note how Tommy made sure not to monopolize Maura's time. When Tommy turned his attention to Carly and Ryan, Jane couldn't help but notice the wistful way that Maura was looking at her so she opened her arms in invitation causing her stomach to flutter again when Maura smiled back at her.
"Hey…" Jane waved Maura over to sit between her legs. "Come're…"
"Hey back…" Maura slipped into a comfortable position leaning against Jane's chest.
"I like the hat." Jane gave the hat a gentle tug, pulling it over Maura's eyes. "It looks good on you."
"Thanks…you left it in the bathroom. I couldn't find anything to tie my hair back so I thought I'd wear it. It can get pretty windy up here on deck." Maura gave a gentle shrug as she pushed the hat back so she could see again.
"You look incredible…" Jane sighed as she rested her chin on the top of the hat Maura was wearing. "It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful you look, no matter what you're wearing." The light blush that colored Maura's cheeks blended well with her already wind chapped skin but it didn't go unnoticed by Jane who only continued to smile at Maura's reaction.
"You look pretty good yourself." Maura tilted her head back to look up a Jane. The short-sleeved button up shirt that Jane wore open showed off her athletic physic under the bikini top she wore underneath, but it was the swimming trunks that Jane wore that hung low on her hips and came to rest just above her knees that gave her that androgynous appearance that Maura found irresistible. There was just the right mixture of masculine and feminine appeal that had Maura's stomach doing flip-flops. "What's with these?" She asked as she ran her hand down Jane's thigh, along the silky, water resistant material of the swimming trunks.
"Well…" Jane shifted under Maura's touch. "It seems as if it is just a little too chilly to be gallivanting around in nothing more than a bikini so I asked Frankie to bring me a pair of shorts and voilà, he brought me a pair of his old swim trunks."
"Hmmm…board shorts…" Maura mused as her fingers continued to move over the tropical print. "I like it…although seeing you in nothing more than a bikini would have been nice as well."
"Perhaps I can arrange for a private viewing sometime soon…" Jane tilted her head so she could give Maura a kiss on the cheek.
"I'd like that very much." Maura smiled when she felt Jane's lips press into her cheek.
"Thanks for doing this Maur…" Jane breathed against Maura's ear before moving to place her chin back on top of Maura's head, a safe distance away from her ever tempting mouth. "Everyone is having a really good time."
"You're welcome…" Maura frowned at the sudden loss of intimate contact. When she felt Jane settle against her from a safer distance she couldn't help but let her eyes roam over the small group scattered around them. She smiled at Carly and Ryan who were standing with their arms around each other looking out over the harbor, both with excited looks on their faces. Frankie and Cindy were sitting on the edge with their feet hanging over the side allowing the water to splash up on them, their fingers intertwined as they held hands. And Tommy was getting a lesson from Captain Adam on the finer points of sailing, both with huge grins on their faces. "Tommy looks like a natural sailor…" Maura observed before settling back against Jane.
"Yeah?" Jane gave a casual look over her shoulder to see what Maura was talking about. "He looks good…" She agreed.
They sat silent for a few moments, both content to bask in each other's company until Maura took Jane's hand in her own threading their fingers together. She didn't say anything right away as they continued to look out at the water, a cool mist dampening their skin under a warm late spring sky.
"What has you thinking so hard?" Jane leaned her cheek against Maura's as she spoke.
"My mother wants to invite you and your mother to brunch next Sunday…" Maura couldn't help but mumble the words.
"And that bothers you?" Jane pulled away so could look at Maura.
"No…maybe…I don't know…" Maura shrugged her shoulders noncommittally. "It's just that she wants us to go to the club…"
"Hummm…the club…" Jane added air quotes to the last two words. "Can't say that we've ever been to the club before…"
"Look…I understand if you don't want to." Maura shifted just enough that she was no longer leaning against Jane. "With graduation coming up…she thought it would be nice…"
"Why wouldn't we want to go?" Jane bristled slightly when she felt Maura pull away from her.
"I don't want you to feel out of place…this is definitely one of those places where people are more impressed by what you drive or what your last name is."
"I can handle it Maura…it's just brunch. The ballet wasn't so bad…" Jane reached out and pulled Maura back against her as if everything was settled.
"I'm not going to pretend in front of these people anymore Jane…can you handle that?" Maura's voice held a soft plea for understanding.
Jane regarded the firm set of Maura's jaw and the grim line that had replaced the carefree smile she had had earlier. Wrapping her arms around Maura's waist, she pulled Maura even closer and buried her face against Maura's neck and nodded.
When Maura felt Jane's face against her neck followed by the quick nod, her smile returned. She had been worried that Jane would want to continue treating their relationship as just a friendship in front of people. It was something that Maura couldn't do any longer and she had hoped that Jane would understand and to her surprise it seemed as if one more wall had come down.
"Do I have to wear a dress?" Jane murmured against the soft, warm skin at the base of Maura's neck. She let out a heavy sigh when she felt Maura nod in affirmation. "Hmmm…but that means you have to wear one too…" The words were whispered into Maura's ear. "And…I've got a score to settle…" She couldn't stop herself from dragging her teeth along the sensitive skin at the curve of Maura's neck and shoulder.
"You wouldn't…" Maura gasped when she felt Jane's gentle yet firm nip. "Not in front of our mothers?"
Jerking her head back to look at Maura, Jane couldn't stifle the full bellied laugh that caused her whole body to shake. The panic in Maura's eyes only made her laugh harder when she realized that Maura wasn't sure what Jane's answer was going to be.
"After what you did to me last night…I shouldn't answer that question. But…" Jane tilted Maura's hat to the side so she could lean down and place a kiss on pouting lips. "I think I'll save my revenge for when I can give you my undivided attention…but I promise you won't see it coming." With those final words, Jane dipped down to take Maura's mouth in a more demanding kiss only to be interrupted by someone clearing their throat. "What the actual fuck Carly…" Jane didn't need to turn around to see who was standing behind them.
"Sorry…but if you'd save that for a more private setting, you wouldn't keep getting interrupted." Carly tried to reason as she moved around Jane and Maura so her and Ryan could sit.
"I think maybe I should have her wear a bell…" Ryan placed her hand on Jane's shoulder and gave it an apologetic squeeze as she sat down next to Jane.
"Ha ha…" Carly waited until Ryan was sitting comfortably before taking a seat in front of her. She leaned back between Ryan's legs before resting her back against Ryan's front. Their pose mimicked that of Jane and Maura except Ryan rested her elbows on Carly's shoulders and her hands slipped through dark hair giving her a soft spot to rest her chin.
"It really is remarkable out here, thanks for having us along Maura." Ryan sighed as she tilted her head back to let the sun warm her face.
"Do you sail?" Maura recognized the wistful tone in Ryan's voice as belonging to someone who had experience.
"Uh uh…every summer since I was twelve…that is until I started college." Ryan opened one eye to peek over at Maura. She couldn't stop herself from squinting in the bright light.
"You never told me you knew how to sail?" Carly shifted so she could wrap her arms around Ryan's bent legs.
"I didn't?" Ryan cocked her head to the side so she could look down at Carly's profile.
"Nope…so you can, like do all that 'hoist the main sail' stuff…like a pirate?" Carly tilted her head just enough so she could see Ryan as well.
"Ummm…I suppose so." Ryan shrugged her shoulders casually.
"Can I ask why you quite sailing?" Maura ventured to ask even though she sensed there was something that Ryan wasn't saying.
"Guess I just ran out of time…with college and stuff." Ryan continued to look out over the water. She took a deep breath as a memory of one of the last times she had gone sailing slipped to the front of her mind. It had been something she loved to do and something she did with her first girlfriend every weekend.
"What aren't you telling me?" Carly turned so she could look Ryan fully in the face.
"Look, it was something I used to do with Becca, my first girlfriend. We met at sailing camp when we were sixteen, dated for a few years…when she broke up with me…I just didn't feel much like sailing anymore...too many unpleasant memories." Ryan tried to explain.
"Would you teach me?" Carly asked, uncertainty in her voice.
"Really?" Ryan looked down at Carly with a surprised expression on her face.
"Yes…really. I'd like you to share something that you used to enjoy with me." Carly gave her a shy smile. "Plus…we can make our own memories…better ones."
"Okay…but only on one condition…" Ryan smiled back. "You have to teach me how to make those incredible butter cookies you have me addicted to…deal?"
"Deal…" Carly turned and settled back against Ryan's chest again.
"How come you aren't sailing today?" Jane asked Maura.
"Because then I wouldn't be able to give you all of my time and attention." Maura huffed in mock indignation as if Jane should already know the answer. "Besides, I think Tommy is having a great time."
They all looked over to find Tommy listening intently to some set of instructions that Adam was giving, a huge smile on his face.
"I'm glad that things worked out between Frankie and Cindy." Maura sighed as her eyes moved over to where the two teens sat in their own private world.
"Yeah, me too…" Jane smiled when her eyes fell upon them.
"Did something happen?" Carly asked as she turned her attention back to the front of the boat and the view of water splashing over the bow.
"Just Frankie being an idiot s'all..." Jane sighed as she recalled their conversation.
"Well, glad to see he came to his senses." Ryan reached up to push her short, windblown hair away from her eyes. "Hey…I saw some stuff to make sandwiches…" She started to push herself up to stand, giving Carly a chance to move away.
"I'll come help." Maura moved to stand up as well. "I had the galley stocked so we could have lunch out here."
"I hope you've got a full galley…" Ryan looked at Carly and then Jane before glancing over at the boys. "Feeding the Rizzoli clan is like feeding an army." She laughed when both Carly and Jane rolled their eyes.
"Oh, don't I know it." Maura joined in the joke. "We've gone so far as to name Jane's stomach 'the beast' when she gets hungry."
"Don't know what you're talkin' about Ryan…" Carly reached up to lightly pinch Ryan on the side. "We've named her stomach 'the pit'…"
"Okay…okay…I guess it's fair to say that I too have the Rizzoli appetite, who can blame me though…Carly is a master chef." Ryan giggled as she sidestepped away from Carly. "But with that said…" She patted her stomach. "I think it's feeding time."
"After you…" Maura waved towards the galley before following Ryan.
"So…wanna tell me what happened with Cindy and Frankie?" Carly didn't turn to look at Jane.
"Not really…" Jane put her feet up on the railing and leaned back. "He was just feelin' insecure about things…ya know. Thinkin' that maybe she would think less of him because of his inexperience."
"Ah…the ol' I don't want to make a fool out of myself dilemma. Been there, done that…" Carly mimicked Jane's posture.
"Yeah, I guess we've all been there, done that…" Jane ran her hand through her hair to push it away from her face. Tilting her head, she regarded Carly for a minute. "I guess everyone has to have a first time…"
"So that's it then…have they had their first time?" Carly finally turned to see that Jane was regarding her thoughtfully.
"Don'know…but I suspect it won't be long if it hasn't already happened." Jane turned her attention back to the view.
"Ya know…Tommy's getting tall." Carly looked over her shoulder at where Tommy stood talking to Adam. "He really does look like Aunt Angela. He's gonna be a real heart breaker…mark my words."
"I don't think he'll ever be as tall as me though…" Jane's voice held a slight competitive edge to it.
"You're probably right about that. He's built more like Tony…more muscular and stocky." Carly mused as she too turned her attention to the view.
"I wish we were closer…Tommy and me." Jane sighed as she glanced over at Frankie and then Tommy. "But it's always been me and Frankie…" She shrugged her shoulders again. "I guess there's just too many years between us." It was a lame excuse and she knew it the moment she said it. "He's just different than us…always causing trouble and stuff…"
"Like you and Frankie don't give your Ma and Pop enough grief to last them a lifetime." Carly bumped her shoulder against Jane's.
"It's hard to explain…it's like Tommy marches to his own drummer. He's so independent…he just doesn't really need me and Frankie." Jane tried to explain herself.
"I don't for one minute believe that Tommy doesn't need his big sister or brother…" Carly frowned.
"Come on…you know how it is. You and Tony get along like me and Frankie do…" Jane couldn't stop herself from frowning back.
"Yeah, me and Tony are closer than Mia and Bella and I are. I understand what you're saying but it doesn't stop me from showing a little interest in their lives. You should try harder with Tommy…he's gonna start looking for approval from someone else if you and Frankie don't step up and watch over him." Carly tried to reason.
"What am I supposed to do? I'm leaving for school in the fall…" She glanced over at Tommy one more time. He was so much different than she was. His easy going personality attracted people to him like a moth to light. Jane almost felt jealous by how quickly he made friends. She realized they were as different as night and day. "I'll try…" She let out a heavy breath.
"Well, there's no time like the present." Carly stood and held out her hand for Jane to take. "Go find out what he's learned from Captain Adam…maybe you'll learn something yourself."
Taking Carly's outstretched hand, Jane allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. "Yeah, yeah…" She groused. "Just until Maura and Ryan get back with lunch…you think we're bad about food…when was the last time you saw Tommy eat?"
"Well, he is a growing boy…" Carly teased. "But no…he can't be any worse than Tony…"
"Oh yeah? Just wait…" Jane laughed as she gave Tommy a nod when she caught his eye. "I would bet that he'll put 'the beast' and 'the pit' to shame…"
"Guess we'll see." Carly laughed as a multitude of nicknames passed through her mind. "Let's see if he can earn himself a nickname…"
"No doubt…" Jane smiled as she approached her brother who smiled back.
"Well that settles it…'the garbage disposal' it is…" Carly threw her hands up in the air as if she were giving up or surrendering.
"Told ya…" Jane had a proud smile on her face.
"Hey, I'm not sure I like that nickname…why can't it be something cool like the 'disposalnator'?" Tommy complained.
"Nope…sorry, majority rules little brother." Frankie laughed. "And now, how 'bout we help clean up."
"Yeah, yeah…whatever." Tommy picked up some plates and followed Frankie to the sink. "Let's hurry up though, the Captain said we could help sail Argo back into the harbor. He might even let me steer…" The excitement in his voice was barely containable.
"Well, how 'bout we head up on deck and let Adam give us some quick lessons…" Ryan smiled over at Carly. "You can join us Cindy while the boy's finish the cleanup…" She stood and took Cindy's hand, pulling her to her feet.
"I thought you already knew how to sail?" Carly followed Ryan's lead and stood as well.
"I could always use a refresher." Ryan gave Carly a little push towards the stairs leading up to the deck. "How 'bout you two?" She looked over her shoulder at Jane and Maura.
"I think we'll help Frankie and Tommy…then relax a bit…" Maura gave Jane a quick wink before smiling up at Ryan.
"'Kay…"
Jane couldn't stop herself from frowning at the idea of doing dishes, but when she saw Maura's playful wink she couldn't help but smile back as she watched Carly, Ryan, and Cindy disappear. "In fact, how 'bout we let the boys have a break…"
"You mean it Janie…?" Tommy dropped the dirty dishes into the sink and spun around, excitement written all over his face.
"Yeah…get outta here you two…" Jane hitched her thumb towards the stairs.
"But don't you wanna learn how to sail too?" Tommy stopped to look at Jane, concern written all over his face at the fun she might be missing.
"Nah…I've got Maura here to teach me…" Jane reached over the table to take Maura's hand in her own.
"Cool…" Tommy bounced out of the room and towards the stairs.
"I suppose those would be private lessons…" Frankie chided as he started past Jane.
"But of course…" Jane gave him a wink causing him to roll his eyes at her.
"Get a room why don'tcha…" He tossed the damp hand towel he was using at her.
With a sudden jerk of movement, Jane was on her feet surprising both Maura and Frankie with her speed. He yelped when she snapped the towel at him causing him to move quickly towards the stairs.
"Hey, stop that…no fair." He called out over his shoulder as she snapped the towel again, just far enough away that the 'crack' echoed through the galley.
"Off with ya before I make ya walk the plank…" Jane laughed as she continued to snap the towel in a menacing way.
"Hey…this ain't pirates of the Caribbean and you're not Black Beard…" He shouted at her as he took the steps two by two until he was out of her reach.
"Like there were any pirates in New England anyways…" Jane waved at Frankie as he clamored up the stairs and out of her reach.
"Well…actually there was a pretty famous female pirate who along with her husband terrorized the New England shore in the mid seventeen hundreds…" Maura started to say as she took her place at the sink full of dishes.
"Is that right? Do tell Professor Isles…" Jane positioned herself behind Maura, slipping her arms around Maura's waist so she could reach the sink as well.
"You really want me to tell you?" Maura asked, surprise evident in her voice.
"Of course…I love it when you go all 'nerdy' on me…" Jane reached into the sink to gather a finger full of suds before plopping them on the end of Maura's nose.
"Okay…" Maura giggled as she wiped her face off with the back of her hand. "Why don't I wash and you dry…"
"Aw…" Jane pouted. "Then that means I haveta let go of you and I donwanna…"
Maura couldn't stop herself from flinging a handful of water over her shoulder at Jane to get her to move. She couldn't stifle the laugh as she turned to find a stunned Jane, her face dripping wet, glaring at her.
"You coulda just asked…" Jane pulled away and grabbed a towel.
"I did…" Maura turned her attention back to the sink. "Did you mean what you said?" Her voice held a hint of uncertainty.
"Did I mean what?" Jane asked as she took the first dish to dry from Maura's hand.
"That you wanted me to tell you about Rachel Wall?" Maura continued to focus on washing plates.
"Who?" Jane hesitated. "Oh, you mean the female pirate…yeah…of course I did. I'd love to hear about it."
"Okay...well if legend is true, Rachel Wall is the first and only American woman to try her hand at being a pirate." Maura settled into a comfortable position, her right hip leaning against the sink as she continued to wash. "She was actually a native Pennsylvanian, but she ran away from home as a teenager and married a fisherman by the name of George Wall." She couldn't stop herself from glancing over at Jane to see if she was paying attention, only continuing when she saw Jane nod her heard. "They settled in Boston, but could barely scrape by a living so…they turned to the one constant…a life of crime."
"Crime, huh? As in pirating?" Jane asked as she reached up above her head to place a few plates in the cabinets.
"They procured a small boat and with the help of a few unsavory characters they set about preying on ships off of the coast of New England." Maura finished up the last plate, handed it to Jane, and then turned around so she could look at Jane.
"So, what was their MO…?" Jane questioned as she dried the last dish.
"MO?" The confusion was evident as Maura tilted her head to regard Jane questioningly.
"Modus Operandi..." Putting the last dish away, Jane neatly folded the towel and placed it on the counter.
"Oh…Modus Operandi…method of operation." Maura's face lit up when she understood. "Any time there was a storm, they would dress their ship to look as if they had sustained considerable damage. Rachel would then go on deck and lure other ships to them under the guise that they needed rescuing." Maura crossed her arms and watched as Jane finished up, wondering if she was still listening.
"And let me guess, they didn't need rescuing…instead they robbed them." Jane finally turned around to face Maura. She couldn't help but smile at the way Jane was watching her.
"Among other things…" Maura couldn't stop herself from frowning at the idea of what other things probably happened.
"So…?" Jane placed her hands on Maura's hips and gently pushed her against the counter. "How did Rachel Wall's story end?"
"Well…after her husband was killed in one of those storms, she took to a life of crime on land and was finally captured in 1789. Even though she admitted to everything, except murder, even her mea culpa couldn't change the minds of the authorities and on October 8th, she was the very last woman ever to be executed in Massachusetts." Maura couldn't stop herself from sighing when Jane pressed against her.
"Mea culpa?" Jane raised a questioning eyebrow.
"A formal acknowledgement that something is one's fault…I guess like a confession." Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's neck, threading her fingers in the soft, silky hair she found there.
"Well…I've got a confession of my own Professor Isles…" Jane growled close to Maura's ear.
"Um….and what would that be?" Maura could feel her heart beat faster as the heat from Jane's words brushed against her ear.
"I'd love nothing more than to plunder you right here against this sink…" Jane reached down to grab Maura's legs so she could lift her up, but before she could get any further Frankie's voice floated down to them.
"Hey Captain Ahab…you're needed on deck…" Frankie shouted from above.
"Oh…I think you'd be more like Mary Read or Anne Bonny…" Maura mused against the lips that hovered just above her own.
"What?" Jane pulled back just enough for Maura to answer.
"Mary Read and Anne Bonny were two notorious female pirates…and rumor has it they had a special friendship…although there is nothing really to substantiate that claim…" Maura began rambling to Jane's surprise.
"Hold that thought…" Jane placed a finger to Maura's lips to get her to stop. "I've got a white whale to harpoon…" She smirked before placing a quick kiss on Maura's mouth. "But I do look forward to hearing more about the lady pirates…" With a wink, Jane turned and sprinted up the stairs.
Maura watched Jane bolt from the room like lightening streaking across the sky, quick and with a lingering flash of light. She couldn't suppress the smile from creasing her lips as she thought about who might be incurring the wrath of Jane Rizzoli at the moment, but deep down she knew that it was all in good fun. With a shake of her head, she quietly followed Jane's wake up the stairs and out into the bright sunlight of the late afternoon. The familiar chaos that greeted her brought an even bigger smile to her face than before. Day after day, the feeling that she was part of a family was one she was loathe to ever give up and she hoped she would never have to.