AN: Sorry about the chapter spam today :p
Jane was nothing but a huge grin as she came out of the locker room. Danielle was waiting for her out on the hall and was almost as happy as Jane.
"Three fucking goals, Rizzoli! I bow to thee" she teased.
"Shut up" Jane laughed, even though she liked the gesture. She had just played probably the best game of her career and scored three goals in barely 30 minutes. The media had been all over her before she even made it to the locker room, and for once she actually liked the attention. Everyone on the team knew that talking to the media was the thing about professional hockey that Jane hated the most.
"I have to admit, I actually doubted you would make that shorthanded goal…" Danielle continued to tease. "I mean, a shorthanded goal to complete the hat trick? Not buying it…"
Jane swatted at Danielle's arm. "You're just jealous cause you can't play. It must suck to know you'll never get your own hat trick" she shot back.
"Ha ha. Funny superstar."
Jane was about to respond when they both heard the sound of high heels coming closer. They looked towards the sound and saw Maura walk towards them.
"Jane! I'm glad I caught you before you left."
Danielle crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Maura stop in front of them.
"Congratulations on the game!" the doctor smiled and pulled Jane into a hug. "You were really great!"
Danielle snickered silently as she watched Jane freeze in Maura's embrace. Jane gave her a firm look that spoke more than any words could in that moment.
"It was just a few goals" Jane shrugged as they pulled back.
Maura's hand lingered on Jane's arm, which caught Danielle's attention. "It was more than that, Jane. You single handedly won the game. You need to give yourself more credit."
Jane once again shrugged and watched the warm touch disappear from her arm. Why did something like this have to happen while Danielle was there to soak it all up and annoy her the rest of the night?
"I am really happy for you, Jane. You deserved this" Maura continued with a sincere smile.
"Thanks, doc…" She smiled faintly.
"Now go home and celebrate tonight." Maura added a wink, and Jane had to hide the hitch in her breath with a laugh.
"Sure, I'll do that."
Once again did the doctor gently squeezed Jane's arm before she turned to Danielle. "It was nice to see you again" she smiled.
"Yeah, you bet" Danielle replied smiling under her breath as Maura walked away.
Jane couldn't help but watch Maura leave. She still found it so ridiculously cute that the doctor wore high heels at the rink. It made no sense to anyone but to the doctor herself. Jane's eyes trailed up the legs covered by white jeans, but luckily (or maybe not) Maura wore a long, black coat that hid the backside Jane really wanted to see. She rarely saw her in jeans, she was curious.
The second the thoughts went through her head, Jane looked away and sighed. She had forgotten all about Danielle who was grinning next to her.
3xRizzoli
Jane Rizzoli turned out to be the difference in tonight's game against New York. She recorded her first hat trick of the season (second of her career) and helped the Devils to a 4-2 win. She scored early in the second and third period, and sealed it off with a shorthanded goal 19 minutes into third. Assisted by Heather Thompson on all three goals, the duo certainly gave coach Landers something to think about.
"Yes, absolutely. Their chemistry has been evident since the moment Rizzoli joined us, and we've seen it in practice so many times. They have the same way of reading the game, and always seem to know where the other is going. We wanted to try Rizzoli on the penalty kill with Thompson tonight, and it certainly paid off. They are both terrific players, and I am sure they will be even better with time."
Make sure to tune in to SportsCenter tonight at 9:30 where they will discuss the topic of the day: Could Rizzoli be the key to a playoff ticket next year?
Jane turned off the radio and the car went silent. She should be excited and smug like she always was whenever the press talked about her with words like that, but tonight was different. In the corner of her eye she noticed Danielle looking at her. Jane turned her head to the window and stared out into the dark.
"She knows, Jane."
"Shut up."
"I'm just saying."
"Just focus on driving instead. I'm not gonna talk about it anyway."
Danielle sighed but turned her attention to the road. Jane had barely told her how the chat with Maura went but had not been in the mood to talk the night before. Danielle didn't try either, she knew it would just make Jane angry. But there was no way Jane was getting away without talking tonight. None of them could ignore the scene that took place just minutes ago. The smile, the hug, the touches and the looks.
It wasn't really rocket science any more.
But revealing this information to Jane could be mission impossible. Danielle knew her friend more than anyone. She knew just how good she was at playing the denial game. Jane was a master at guarding her heart and not let anyone too close.
They drove in silence to Jane's apartment, and neither of them said a word until they were safely inside. Jane went straight to her fridge and grabbed a bottle of water while Danielle waited by the door, almost feeling stupid for blocking Jane's only way out of there. "Okay, I don't care if you want to or not, but we're gonna talk" she said firmly.
"Then talk" Jane said and sat down on her couch.
Danielle was silent while she went over the words she wanted to say and slowly made her way over to the couch. "First of all, she likes you."
Jane flinched when she heard the words, but didn't respond.
"There's no freaking way she's just being friendly or whatever." Danielle sat down and rested her feet on the coffee table and looked at Jane. "She didn't even wanna let go after hugging you. Even you should see the neon signs by now."
Still no response from Jane, not even a movement to indicate she was listening. She just stared out into thin air with the bottle still unopened in her hands.
Danielle carefully nudged Jane with her foot and it at least got her a look. "Something happened during your talk yesterday, and you haven't told me about it. So spill it. You know you will sooner or later anyway." She tried to make it sound like gentle teasing.
Jane looked from her friend to the well-used cushion between them. She knew Danielle was right, she would tell her everything at some point. So Jane took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yeah, she knows." She gave up on the water and placed the bottle on the table. "She asked if I got in the fight because Wallace implied I had feelings for her. And I snapped, again. Like in stupid Denver. I didn't even realize what she was saying before I was spitting out words about how I was here to play hockey and not find a wife!" Jane let her head fall against the back of the couch.
Danielle couldn't help the snort that got away.
"Yeah, I know" Jane scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Jane, but it's just so typical you to say something like that. But how did she know what Wallace said before your fight?"
Jane shrugged. "I have no idea. Wallace must've said it last week when Maura overheard her or something. It wouldn't surprise me if Wallace bragged about it."
"What exactly was the rumor?" Danielle continued, making sure to push Jane as far as she could when she first had the chance.
"Use your imagination. Maura didn't feel comfortable repeating it, so… take a wild guess."
Danielle didn't even need to guess. "She thinks you're having an affair with Doctor Dimple… What are you gonna do about it?"
Any other situation and Jane would've made some snarky comment, but instead she shook her head. "I don't know. Nothing I guess. I don't wanna let it get in my way right now, I need to focus on my game and not that asshole. I don't care what she thinks, and if people believe her shitty rumors then too bad for them. She's trashing me because I took her place, but I can't help it if coach thinks I'm better than her."
"And you are better than her, that's why you got her place." Jane's sudden chuckle took Danielle by surprise. "What?" she asked.
"You sound just like Maura…" Jane smiled. "She said the exact same thing after the fight."
"Oh god, I hope that doesn't make you attracted to me now…"
"Shut up!" Jane laughed and punched Danielle in the arm. "You're such a moron sometimes."
Danielle smirked. "I have to be to put up with you sometimes."
"True" Jane nodded. "But seriously… thanks for putting up with me. I know I can be frustrating…"
"Takes one to know one, my friend."
"Hey Jane, you're early."
Jane turned around to see coach Landers and the assistant coach enter the ice. "Yeah, I know" she smiled and waited until coach Landers caught up with her in the middle of the ice.
"Good. I need to talk to you about something. You're up for a challenge, right?"
"Of course" Jane grinned.
Coach Landers rolled his eyes, realizing how stupid his question was. "You see, I just talked to Dr. Isles, and it looks like Sharon's injury is more serious than we thought. She'll be out at least two weeks."
Sharon was one of their long time players who had hurt her knee in the game the night before. "Damn…" Jane sighed, but was excited to see where coach was going with this. She eyed an opportunity.
"Yeah. But look on the bright side, we're not chasing a playoff spot. It could be worse. Anyway, Ted and I talked" he continued and looked towards his assistant coach. "And we're shaking up the lines a little bit, which includes you on the first line in Sharon's place."
"Wow… thanks!" Jane beamed.
"Just wanted to let you know before everyone got here. And then we'll see how it goes."
Jane nodded before he gave her a pat on the shoulder and skated away. She almost felt bad for being happy.
Practice was a bit different, but just as tough as usual. Close to the end, Jane was doing her best to focus on whatever the coach told her, but an ache in her neck bugged her. Ever since she got out of bed that morning the neck had ached. She knew it was nothing serious, she'd probably just slept wrong, but it still distracted her and she tried to hide it. A sharp blow of a whistle made everyone stop and Jane turned around.
"Rizzoli, what's wrong with your neck?" coach Landers asked and approached her.
"What? Nothing. I just slept wrong last night."
Coach Landers looked at her hesitantly before he whipped his head towards the benches. "Let Doctor Isles have a look at it."
"No, coach, I'm fine!" Jane protested, but the coach just raised his eyebrows. Jane knew what that look meant, so she sighed. "Fine…" she mumbled and skated off.
She mumbled under her breath all the way to the doctor's office. The door was open, as it usually was, and she knocked gently. Maura stood by the book shelf near the door but looked up and smiled.
"Hi Jane, come in." She put down the book she was holding. "Don't you have practice?"
Jane nodded. "Yeah, but coach wanted you to look at my neck."
Maura padded on the examination bench, motioning Jane to sit down. "What happened?"
"Nothing really, just slept wrong" Jane explained and sat down on the bench.
"Let's take a look then, which side?"
Jane pointed to her left side before resting her hands in her lap. Maura stood in front of her by the equipment cabinets and Jane looked up at her when the doctor didn't move. Their eyes met and Maura smiled. "You need to take off some clothes and protective gear."
"Christ" Jane mumbled and rolled her eyes before she smiled. She took off her jersey and the shoulder padding, leaving her in her t-shirt and bra. Maura had moved behind the bench, and Jane waited for a touch that never came. She heard the doctor take a breath and noticed a tentative pause before the words came out.
"Could you take off your shirt as well?"
Jane closed her eyes but removed her shirt. She curled it into a ball and held it in front of her stomach, feeling exposed. Her thoughts went back to the first time she had been shirtless in the same office, and it almost made her laugh. Things had changed for sure. She felt the warm touches along her neck and shoulder. "Sorry I'm all sweaty and stuff."
"Do you think this is the first time I've touched a sweaty hockey player?" Maura countered. She suddenly stopped her movements. "That sounded really bad…"
Jane chuckled, thankful for the distraction.
"Okay, try to relax" Maura continued with her hands still on Jane's shoulder.
Jane took a deep breath and breathed out, fully aware of the soft hands that were touching her bare skin. She stared down at the floor while Maura's hands moved along her shoulder and towards her neck. The tip of a finger barely grazed her neck, causing her to shiver, and she let out a puff of air to conceal it. "Tickled…" she whispered and bit her lip.
"I noticed" Maura replied, barely a hint of professionalism in her voice.
Jane closed her eyes and tried to think of something completely random to make the time go faster. Maybe she wouldn't even notice how close that gorgeous doctor really was. She started going through the current Bruins roster in her head and for a short while she forgot about everything.
Jane
Hey, you busy?
Danielle
Nope, what's up?
Jane
Not much…. I got bumped up to first line today.
Danielle
Really?! COOL! Congrats!
Jane
It's just for a little while. Injury.
Danielle
But still! That's huge! What did Maura say?!
Jane
… What?
Danielle
What did she say when she found out?
Jane
Are you high?
Danielle
No, but she must've said something.
Jane
I don't even know if she knows! You're being weird…
Danielle
So she wasn't at practice?
Jane
No. And it's not like I tracked her down just to tell her!
Danielle
And you think I am weird?
Jane
You're freaking me out here. What the hell is up with you?
Danielle
You're so easy to mess with these days! I love it!
But seriously, she doesn't know?
Jane
I hate you.
And who cares?
Danielle
You care. And she would care if she knew. She'd probably throw herself around your neck because she's "so happy for you".
Jane
What's that supposed to mean?
Danielle
That she's happy for you I guess…. :p
Jane
Sigh…
Danielle
I think she would like to know… Try it. Tell her tomorrow. And if she turns into a huge smile and says how happy she is for you, you owe me a six pack.
Jane
Ass… Not sure I want to talk to you anymore. I think I'll lie down and rest my sore neck instead.
Danielle
Come on! You know I'm right.
Jane
I don't care if you're right or not.
Danielle
Yes you do. But fine, go rest your neck.
WAIT! WHAT!?
Jane
Aaaaaand there it is...
Danielle
When did you hurt your neck? Did you have to see a doctor?
Jane
Zzzzzz….
Danielle
Oh come on! You know you want to tell me about it!
Jane
Actually, I do… cause something about it all bothers me.
Danielle
*grabs popcorn*
Jane
Nothing serious about my neck, just slept wrong last night. But coach saw it and sent me to her anyway. So I'm sitting there, stripped down to my bra. She checks my neck and shoulder, says it's nothing serious but she'd like to apply heat to get the circulation going. "You can put on your shirt again, if you'd like".
Danielle
*chokes on popcorn*
WHAT!
Jane
*grabs rest of popcorn*
Danielle
*laughs* Oh my god. If you'd like?! Please tell me you replied with "do you want me to put it back on?"
Jane
*chokes on popcorn*
Hell no!
Danielle
Lol! So what did you say?
Jane
Nothing! I put my shirt back on and she placed the heating pad around my neck, looks at me and says "Let me know if it gets too hot" and goes to her desk. I had to sit there for fifteen minutes, with a whole bunch of dirty thoughts…
Danielle
Doctor Isles, you're killing us!
Jane
Exactly…
Danielle
But at least you admit to having indecent thoughts about her now…
Jane
Shut up.
