Chapter six
''Dr Isles...'' Jane said and she let the silence linger between them before she realised she was standing in front of the door, blocking the other woman from entering. She stepped aside and Maura passed by her with a small nod.
Jane saw the Doctors soaked clothes and heard the rain outside. She reached, opening a drawer and pulled two large bathroom towels, handing them to her before she gestured to the kitchen. ''Come inside.'' She said. ''Have a cup of tee to warm you up.''
Maura's eyebrows rose as she saw the already poured cup in the sink and when she looked back at Jane it suddenly sunk it that it was the first time she saw the Detective without the gloves she usually wore. As the brunette reached for the other cup and spilled it inside the sink, extracting a new cup from the cupboard, Maura noticed that on her right hand shone a simple wedding band.
''I'm sorry to barge in like this.'' She said. ''Is you husband inside? Did I interrupt something?''
Jane turned to her blinking, confused, then looked down at her own hand, following her gaze. Maura watched the muscles of her jaw twitch before she spoke.
''I...No.'' She said. She toyed with the ring carefully as if it burned her to touch it for too long. She had put it on again without realising. She must have done that early in the morning when she left for work and she hadn't even seen it with the gloves. ''Force of habit.''
Maura cleared her throat. ''Sorry. Didn't mean to pry.''
Jane shook her head, flashing a weak smile. ''This looks painful.'' She gestured towards the bruise spreading from the Doctor's eyes to her cheekbone.
''It's okay...'' Maura looked away, then lowered her eyes to Danny who seemed to be asleep.
Jane opened the refrigator and extracted an ice pack, sliding it to her across the table before resuming her position on the stool. ''Wanna tell me what happened?'' She asked gently, her eyes honest chocolate orbs. ''How did you find where I live?''
''I asked Detective Frost.''
Jane rolled her eyes but she was smiled. Maura was never good at reading social cues but it seemed to mean that the Detective wasn't annoyed with her.
''I...'' She started. ''I was going to apologise to you, for the way my husband acted. I was going to call you and come by your place, tell you how he wasn't always like that, find an excuse for him but...'' She reached to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand and Jane pushed the box of kleenex towards her. She mumbled a ''thank you'' before continuing. ''When he came home nothing had changed. He was upset with me again. He pushed me, he just pushed me, but then he... pushed the stroller aside and it sort of... it sort of toppled over...'' She tenderly rubbed a thumb over Danny's sweet blond hair. ''Danny fell out and I got so... scared about him...'' She saw Jane watching her but she didn't see pity or criticism in her eyes. ''He could have been hurt badly if he fell to the marble floor and Dennis and I got into a big nasty fight and I...'' She shook her head. ''I told him I was going to take a divorce. Putting Danny in danger was the last straw.''
The Detective nodded. ''And he punched you.''
Maura nodded silently.
''Did he hurt you anywhere else, do you need me to take you to a hospital?'' She asked evenly.
''No...I'm... I'm fine.'' She self consciously reached to cover her left arm, where a large bruise stood out in the shape of long and strong fingers.
''Okay.'' Jane agreed. ''Is Danny alright?''
''Yes...yes he's lucky.'' She turned a smile to the boy. ''He fell on a pillow, he was really lucky.'' She swallowed before reached for her cup and taking a sip. The Jasmine was soul-warming and pleasant. ''I picked him up and left, I didn't even take my wallet so I couldn't pay for a hotel... so I just... I just drove here, I'm so sorry...''
Jane held a hand up to stop her. ''Have you spoken to your parents about this?''
''Oh God no!'' Maura laughed humourlessly. ''Mother would be very embarrassed to learn about this.''
''I see.'' Jane said. ''You're welcome to stay here as long as you need. Let me get you inside, you should get some sleep. You look exhausted.''
''Thank you.'' Maura said shyly. ''Don't worry, I'll be out of your hair tomorrow.''
She followed Jane to the bedroom protesting. ''I can sleep on the sofa though, I wouldn't like to disturb you any more than I have to.''
''It's okay, you're a guest.'' Jane offered, opening the door to a clean but cozy bedroom with a double bed.
''I insist.''
''I insist also, Dr Isles. Besides, I don't sleep in the bed anymore, I prefer the sofa, so it's empty anyway.'' She set a heavy blanket on the foot of the bed. ''You can get a dry pair of clothes from there.'' She said, pointing to a closet. ''Leave yours on that chair and I can get them into the drier.''
Maura walked around the room, examining the easel at the far side of the room, featuring a sleeping woman holding a small child. The crumpled sheets around her barely covered her nudity, exposing white, unmarred skin. The painting was unfinished. ''Is this yours?'' She asked, turning to Jane who nodded modestly, looking away. ''It's really beautiful.'' Maura added. ''I didn't know you were so talented. Who is she?''
''Just a girl. There's a lot you don't know about me, Dr Isles.'' Jane said, a mischievous smile creeping in her voice. Maura could feel that there were a lot more implied behind that obvious statement. She smiled back, endlessly grateful that Jane had not asked any more questions about Dennis. She sat down on the edge of the bed, cradling Danny and answered mischievously herself.
''Do you paint all the girls that sleep in your bed, Detective?''
Jane's eyebrows rose but then her upper lip curled in a small smile. ''Depends, Doctor, do you plan on sleeping naked?'' She chuckled when she saw Maura blush and she walked out, closing the door behind her discreetly.
She returned to the sofa and opened one of the case files she had been working on. In a local park the body of a woman had been found, encased in a statue of Aphrodite de Milo.
So, just another little chapter. My university entrance exams start on Monday, I really want to get this right -feeling nervous and scared lol- but thanks to everyone who reviewed, and a small observation, not everyone who reads/writes rizzles is gay, get your facts people, you don't have to be gay to see the chemisty when it bangs you on the head with a broom. Have fun with this! Shit is about to go down!
Love y'all
LK