A Collective Crash

The Daredevils lost tonight's game against Maine, 0-3. Maine took the lead already after two minutes and dominated the first period. The Devils were never really close, and clearly missed their two RWs Rizzoli and Wallace who were both a healthy scratch for this game. Coach Landers wouldn't say why the two wings (4 points total in last 2 games) were sidelined tonight. Rizzoli had just played five games and was expected by everyone to start.

According to sources, Wallace and Rizzoli got in a fight in practice Monday and were internally suspended one game each by coach Landers. They were both at the game, Rizzoli with stitches over her eye, and Wallace with a broken nose. None of them wanted to make a comment on the rumors.


Jane stared out the window at the dark skies from her horizontal position on her couch. She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. They had lost again, third game in a row, and this time the press couldn't blame the lack of her and Wallace. Jane was disappointed with her own effort (she barely called it an effort) and having dozens of questions about the fight thrown in her face after the game wasn't really helping at all. The last three days had been awful in every way; she had to sit through one of her mother's lectures ("you don't solve problems with your hands!"), she had to watch her team lose without her, and then lose again with her, she still didn't understand why she had told Maura about Denver and therefore avoided the doctor. Nothing seemed to be going right, and their upcoming trip that included a game in Denver was all she could think about.

"Hey, stop sulking and drink." Danielle gave Jane's shoulder a nudge and handed her a cold bottle of beer.

Jane accepted the bottle without taking her eyes off the sky. Danielle went over to the opposite end of the couch and swatted at Jane's feet. "Move… and start talking."

"Okay, you need to make up your mind, should I drink or talk?" Jane asked sarcastically as Danielle sat down.

"Both. Drink, then talk."

"About what?"

"Let's see… maybe the hot doctor that you're obviously pining over… or your return to Denver… whatever you like."

Jane scowled at her friend, but didn't really expect anything else than sarcasm and straight to the point with Danielle. Still she hesitated and stalled by taking a long sip of her beer. "Okay, fine…" she finally muttered and sat up, crossing her legs underneath her. "What do you want to know?"

Danielle scoffed. "Really? Everything, my friend!"

"How about we narrow it down to one subject first?"

"Fine. Doctor dimple."

Jane sighed and took another long sip. "Alright… I guess that's the better of two evils, so go ahead with your questions or whatever."

"You're falling for her, aren't you?"

The words fired like a machine gun, and Jane almost spat out her beer. "What? No, I'm not!" She stared back at Danielle who didn't budge. "I'm not" she repeated. "I'm barely over the whole disaster in Denver…"

"Well, they do say the best way to get over someone is to get-"

"Don't!"

"-under someone new…" Danielle finished with a grin.

"Forget it" Jane sighed. "I'm not falling for her, I'm not gonna sleep with her, end of story."

Danielle didn't seem too convinced and tilted her head. "So why did you tell her about Sarah?"

"I don't know! Okay? I just blurted out the first words, and then it was too late. And yeah, it felt good to tell her, but I don't know why."

"You think she's hot, you tell her about Sarah and Denver…. I'd say you felt good about telling her because you want to get to know her. And you want her to know you. Now, why's that?" Danielle drummed her finger against her chin, faking some deep thinking.

Jane rolled her eyes and didn't bother to answer. She focused on the bottle in her hands instead and started peeling off the label.

"Why don't you just talk to her one day, ask her if she wants to grab a coffee or something. Like friends" Danielle suggested.

"Why would I do that? And why would she want to do that?"

Danielle's head fell back while she groaned loudly. "When did you get so insecure?" she complained when she raised her head again. "Where did my arrogant and cocky friend go? The one who always says how no one can resist the Rizzoli charm? You really can't see why I think you're falling for her?"

"I'm not falling for her" Jane replied firmly. "And you have seen this woman! She's a freaking fashionista, she actually shows up to work in a dress, or a skirt, high heels and shit. No woman like that would be interested in a bum like me."

"Okay, you're starting to sound like you've just lost your kitten or something… it does not look good on you, Jane!" Danielle smiled before a small piece of crumbled paper was thrown at her.

"And why in the hell are we just assuming that she's gay? She's too damn beautiful to be gay" Jane added and placed her beer on the table. "I'm never that lucky."

Danielle crossed her arms over her chest and smiled while she studied her friend. She knew Jane was upset about the game and the fight. "Jane, can I say something without you yelling at me and storming out even if it is your apartment?"

The question got her a firm look. "Do I have a choice?" Jane asked.

"Not really" Danielle smiled. She waited until Jane sighed and seemed to relax. "I get it. Maura is hot. Even I can see that. Hell, I'd even do her if I was gay." Just like she predicted, Jane glared at her. "But listen to yourself, you pout about her being too beautiful to be gay, that you're never that lucky and no woman like that would be interested in you. And at the same time you claim that you're not falling for her. Do you see why I don't believe you?"

Jane was silent and stared at the bottle in her hands. She knew it was a good question, cause her actions lately didn't match her words. "I get it, okay?" Jane sighed. "But I'm not sure I wanna do anything about this stupidly hot doctor. I don't want anything to mess up my game, and at least I learned something from Denver; don't get too involved."

"You're not even gonna agree with me?"

"I don't want to. It's just gonna mess me up right now."

"We're barely a month into the season, you don't think you're already too involved?"

Jane leaned forwards and put her bottle on the table before turning to Danielle. "You know me, Dani. I just want to play. I want to do what I'm good at. Yeah sure, I wouldn't mind some fun with the doctor, but I don't want a replay of Denver. I signed for two years. And it's just been one month."

Danielle seemed to consider it before she nodded. "Okay. I get it. Unless it turns out that she's your soulmate, I'll let it rest for now." She smiled and raised her beer. "Cheers?"

Jane reached for her bottle again and bumped it against Danielle's. "Sure. Although I don't trust you on the whole 'letting it rest' thing…"

"For now" Danielle highlighted and smiled.


Jane knocked on the open door to Maura's office before she entered. Maura was sitting at her desk but got up when she saw Jane. "Hi Jane."

"Hey doc. Coach wanted you to sign these, he said it was urgent."

Maura took the papers Jane handed to her and quickly looked at them. "Oh, of course." She looked up at Jane again and smiled. "Have you become his messenger now?" she teased.

"Yeah, something like that" Jane chuckled. "He was running around like a headless chicken organizing the trip, so I offered to help."

"Well, that's nice of you. How is your cut by the way, still healing nicely?"

Jane nodded and removed her hat so Maura could see for herself. "Seems like the doctor who stitched me up knew what she was doing" she smiled.

Maura just smiled before she looked closer at the cut over Jane's left eye. She was surprised to see it had survived two games and a certain amount of practice. "It does look good" she mumbled to herself. She took one last look before she pulled back. "And how are you feeling? Are you okay with the trip tomorrow?"

A sigh automatically escaped Jane's lips from the question. In just a few days she would be back in Denver, and it was not something she wanted to think about. "I guess… I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Perhaps not. Do you want to talk about it?" Maura reached out and put her hand on Jane's arm.

"No… not really" Jane answered and looked away. "I don't want to think about it. I need to focus on the Seattle game first."

Maura smiled to show she understood and retracted her hand. For a few moments it was silent between them until Maura spoke. "If you do feel the need to talk on this trip, I hope you know you can come to me. Whatever it might be."

"Thanks… I'll keep that in mind" Jane smiled softly. She was positive she wouldn't take the doctor up on her offer, but it was still nice to know it was there.

"Alright, I'll get those papers signed right away while you're here."

Maura returned to her desk, and Jane took the opportunity to look at the different diplomas on the wall. The doctor had graduated from Harvard and Jane was slightly puzzled by the year. "Hey, doc…?"

"Yes?" the doctor replied without looking up from her papers.

"I know you're not supposed to ask women this… but how old are you exactly?" Jane turned around to Maura when she laughed.

"I am 29. Why?"

Jane raised her eyebrows and let out a puff of air. "Huh… I'd never have guessed" she remarked surprised.

This made Maura lean back in her chair. "You thought I was older?"

"No!" Jane laughed. "No way… but it just didn't make sense. I mean, isn't med school supposed to take forever?"

Maura signed the last paper and gathered them neatly in front of her. "It can take anywhere from 11 to 15 years. It all depends on the field and the extra time you put into it." She watched as Jane obviously was counting and adding in her mind, and it caused her to smile. "I skipped a couple of years" she explained.

"What are you, the female Doogie Howser?" Jane chuckled.

"Should I know who that is?" Maura asked confused.

Jane shook her head when she realized Maura was not familiar with the show. "No, don't worry, it's nothing. But… how did you skip two years of med school?"

"Technically I didn't" Maura said and stood up. She picked up the papers she had signed and walked over to Jane with them. "I skipped two years of high school."

"You skipped two years of high school?" Jane repeated, slightly shocked. "Because…. You were in a hurry?"

Maura smiled and shook her head. "No, I was just further ahead of most students my age."

"In other words, you are wicked intelligent…" Jane laughed. "I see. Well, good for you. And good for us! You're a great doctor so…" She shrugged and accepted the papers.

"Thank you, Jane."

She didn't know what else to say, so Jane stood there with a firm grip on the papers and just stared at Maura. The doctor obviously didn't have anything to say either, and Jane finally drew her breath. "I… better get these back" she mumbled and raised her hand.

"Of course" Maura nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jane turned around and walked out of the office.

Yeah, and the next day, and the next… and the next.


Seattle Shut Down.

The Devils needed four rounds in the shootout to win tonight's game against Seattle. Heather Thompson scored the only goal in the shootouts, and gave the Devils a much needed win after four straight losses. The captain was happy with the win and her goal, even though it was a bittersweet win.

"My whole career started in this city, so coming back to Seattle is always special for me. But scoring the only goal tonight was both strange and an amazing feeling. We've had some tough losses lately so we needed this one."

The Devils continue their road trip on Friday, with Rizzoli's old team, Denver Grizzlies on the other side of the ice.