A/N:
Hello Darlings, hope you enjoy the update. I am hoping to write a bit more before school starts back up again in a couple weeks but as always thank you for sticking through my abysmal uploading time! Some items to note, this chapter does contain a bit of smut so if you are not into that you may want to skip the second scene. This officially makes the work rated M and I am considering more scenes like that so let me know what you think. I've got a good chunk of chapters left to write for this story so we will see both cases wrapped up and some Rizzles relationship drama play out. Hope you guys are doing well and look forward to continuing this with you. - E
Chapter 4:
"Jane! Maura! Girls, are you alright?"
Jane felt herself wince as the shrill call of her mother's voice rang out from the kitchen. It was almost 10am and the exhaustion had settled, her mother was the last thing she wanted to deal with. Between waiting for a flight and Boston morning traffic, there was little patience left in her body.
"Yeah Ma, just really need to get to bed."
Jane dropped Maura's heavy suitcase unceremoniously in the hallway as she made her way to the too bright kitchen. She didn't have time to react to the bone-crushing hug before her mother's small frame pushed her aside to envelop Maura in the same tight grip. She was still processing when her mother began speaking Italian under her breath.
"If I get my hands on that woman… That Devil, she's going to regret the day she messed with my girls."
Angela's horse voice was thick with tears, but Maura didn't seem to mind. Jane watched as the woman melted into her mother's arms at her words. Things had been tense since they had decided to announce their romantic status to her family, but deep down she was still a Rizzoli and that meant more than any sexual orientation ever could.
There were times that they fought over the technicalities and Jane was left to comfort a hurting Maura, this moment however just proved that if anything Maura was a welcome part to this family. She felt grateful to her mother that even though it wasn't what the Church approved of, she still fought through that emotion to make she her and her partner were loved and safe.
"Janie, come on. Let's get you girls something to eat first."
"Really Ma, we need to sleep first. It's been a long night and morning and both of us are exhausted."
Her mother glared at her. The weight of Catholic guilt about to swing like a hammer.
"But…"
"No buts. Look, I will make you a concession. No breakfast, but how about you come over for dinner. I'll even help cook, without complaining."
Angela gave her a disapproving look before glancing back at Maura who was fiddling with her necklace. It was clear that Maura was ready to alone.
"Fine… let's do 6 and I'm inviting the boys."
Jane rolled her eyes but conceded with the promise of desert satisfying her annoyance.
It took ten minutes of fussing before her mother finally slipped out of the back door to retreat to the guest house. Jane leaned against the now locked back down and let her eyes close. The weight of the previous day settling into her bones. Maura had made her way upstairs already which left her alone for the first time in hours.
She hadn't really processed anything up until that point since the adrenaline had kept her moving without thinking. The envelope that she had slipped in her pocket earlier that night began to dig into her thigh, so she pulled it loose. The blank white stared her down as she tapped it slowly against her free hand. It was slightly heavily and she hadn't noticed the slight budge of an item before. The want to open it and start her own type of hunt was strong, but the siren call of the comfort of her girlfriend and a warm bed was playing tug of war with her emotions.
She walked into Maura's office and placed it decidedly next to the sleek monitor. Whatever was in there she knew required a fresh mind, and no amount of will power would change that. Her fingers rapped against the soft wood next to it before she left to climb the stairs up to one of her favorite places. It would wait.
Jane felt her heart pounding. Her eyes opened to the afternoon sun peering in from the hastily drawn curtains as she struggled to understand why she was awake. There was no fear that usually accompanied a nightmare, and if she had it her way, she'd be asleep for another eight hours. Then she felt it, the feather soft touch running along the waistband of her shorts and the pressure of lips on her neck.
There was no controlling the raspy moan that slipped past her lips as she relaxed into the sheets. Her arm tightened around Maura's waist encouragingly as she felt her soft hand move up her chest. She thanked whatever lucky star she knew that she had forgone a bra in favor of her old BPD t-shirt as Maura's quick hand began to tease her nipple. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to keep herself quiet.
Maura's voice rumbled softly against her neck sending shivers down her back.
"Hi darling."
"Hey gorgeous-"
The slight nip at her collarbone had caused her voice to crack, stopping her in her tracks. There was a slight chuckle in response as she felt the sting of fingers pinching her tight nipple. Maura had barely touched her, but she was eager and ready. She let her hand slip under the silk sleep shirt and up and down Maura's back as the smaller woman pressed endless kisses down her neck.
Jane wanted to flip her over and trace the now familiar path down the doctor's body, but she knew that Maura needed the control now. So, she allowed the pace to be set, gave herself over to the woman that had her wrapped around her fingers, and allowed the comfort of knowing that she was the only one that knew Maura like this.
"Are you sure babe?" She did not want this to be interrupted, but she also knew they had family coming over, and emotions were high right now. She had no idea what time it was, but her thoughts were cut short.
Maura looked up at her then, for the first time since she had awakened. The normal deep honey-colored eyes that met Jane's had darkened and a smile formed at the corner of her rosy lips. Maura moved to straddle Jane's toned thighs, her hands resting firmly on her toned abs. Jane let her hands settle on the sides of Maura's thighs anchoring her there.
"I am going to give you one clue detective and you tell me."
Jane felt her mouth go dry as Maura tortuously undid the buttons on her top, each release exposing more of Maura's soft pale skin. Her eyes locked onto the sight of a now topless Maura sitting in her lap, breasts freely on display. The urge to touch and taste overwhelmed her as she laid there in contentment. Sliding her hands forward, she felt Maura lean back and rest into her touch.
Jane let her fingertips glide up Maura's firm stomach to reach the swell of her breast teasing at the edge. Before she could lavish the same attention on the blonde, she felt Maura's strong grip around her hands stopping them in their place. Jane felt the mood shift then; she knew what Maura needed now. This was all for Maura, and she knew she had to be patient.
Maura's fingers intertwined with hers and she allowed the woman to guide them. Their hands traveled up the bed together and she knew better than to do anything other than grip the mattress edge and wait. This side of Maura wasn't common, but she loved when she let it out. The anticipation left her wanting, and she struggled not to cross her legs and find the friction she was starting to desperately need.
"Is this alright?" Maura's voice was low but she knew that she was safe and that Maura would stop the instant she said the word if she was uncomfortable.
Jane felt the yes leave her lips before she could think. Maura gave her a warm kiss in response, her own lips chasing as it ended. Any discomfort she was feeling melted away.
"Good. Now lie back and let me worship you."
Jane groaned at her whispered words as she settled quickly allowing the woman full access to her. She could feel Maura's heated gaze travel across her and take in what she knew was a mix of post-sleep bedhead, and clothes that had no business being on in that moment.
Her shirt had ridden up to the bottom of her breasts and she could feel the rough fabric rub against her, the stimulation making up for the lack of hands on her now. She felt Maura shift again this time to remove the offending shorts Jane had hastily thrown on earlier. There was a soft hum of appreciation as Maura evaluated her work.
Half-naked and fully exposed she knew she must have looked desperate, but she could care less. Jane's legs parted slightly to give Maura a full view of what she had to offer, and she took pride in the soft hitch of breath that Maura let out. She felt Maura settle between her legs and begin to kiss her way down the smooth angles of her body, pausing to kiss and stroke the still bruised ribs and scar, her sharp hipbones, and the soft skin of her inner thighs.
Jane could feel the whimpers and pleading leave her lips but, the only sound she could focus on was Maura's soft moans. Her body felt like fire as Maura lost against the urge to bite her thigh gently before letting her tongue drag over wet curls and up to her aching clit.
"I sometimes forget just how beautiful you are like this, and every time I see it again, I am in awe."
Maura's words sounded foreign to her as her breath fanned over her overheated core, but she could feel the blush creep up her chest and neck. Jane felt her body burning with a need to satisfy, to show Maura that she would be the one to give her this freely.
She felt her grip tighten on the mattress, knowing if she touched without permission, she would likely not get the release she was currently begging for. Maura must have sensed her internal battle because they both groaned at the first stroke of her tongue inside her. A deep and shuddering connection clicked between them as the reward was given. Maura's fingers began to stroke her entrance lightly as she began to roll her hips against Maura's face.
"Please Maur…please just fuck me already!" Her voice was hoarse and low and she knew that while she wasn't allowed to touch, her words were enough to tip Maura over the edge.
There was a pause in movement as Maura lifted her head away from her and raised a sharp eyebrow in response.
"Someone is impatient. What makes you think I am ready to move on?"
Jane's heart was racing, she had not been questioned like this before. She felt her mouth open and close without words as she struggled to find an answer for the bewitching woman before her. Maura must have taken pity on her and her unexpected question, as she felt suddenly the thrust of two skilled fingers enter her as hard lips crashed over her clit sucking greedily. Jane threw her head back as an agonizing pace was set, and she knew this was her punishment and reward wrapped in one. Her body was aching for release, but she knew that Maura would make her work for it now.
A third finger slipped into her aching core stroking deep and hard as the sound of her wetness echoed in the bedroom. Jane's thighs began to shake uncontrollably as Maura shifted to a faster pace. Jane knew the muscles of her arm must have been burning with the effort as she felt sweat dripping down her face onto her. The image of honey blonde curls cascading over her slim shoulder sent her mind spinning as Maura looked up at her though hooded eyes.
She could feel her orgasm building quickly, and under normal circumstances she wouldn't dare let go without permission. But the emotions of the day before had been to much and she felt the weight of what could have been crash into already haywire emotions. The comfort that Maura was giving her now was for the both of them to feel alive and connected.
Even with her mouth full and her hands occupied, Maura kept her eyes on her face, seeing the battle take over. Jane watched her head tilt up again, her sex swollen lips forming soft words of encouragement.
"It's alright darling, you can let go."
Jane felt herself tighten at the words, the approval coursing through her as her orgasm followed. She felt Maura's fingers stutter in their rhythm as she came hard and fast, her eyes slamming shut as she lost her breath. She could feel her hips bucking hard into the mattress as Maura worked her down. Grazing kisses peppered her hips as they both slowed, and Jane relaxed her grip on the mattress. The emotions from her mind shattering orgasm and everything that had happened to them earlier came crashing down in hot waves through her chest.
As Jane came back to her senses she felt the hot track of tears down her cheeks, only for them to be wiped away by soft stoking thumbs. Maura had moved from between her legs to settle next to her. Jane turned her face to rest their foreheads together, her own hand coming to rest on Maura's tear-stained cheek. The silence of the room shielding them from the reality waiting for them outside. This had been different, but welcome. Jane knew in that moment it was exactly what both of them need. One taking control as the other gave it up, in a dance that neither usually played.
Jane lifted her lips to kiss the damp skin at Maura's temple, letting it linger longer than usual.
"You know, I never cared for the word love before. It was always too simple for what I felt and love is never as easy as it seems. But I realized, as I was on that plane flying to you as fast as I could there was never anyone, I truly loved like I do you."
Maura squeezed her eyes shut at Jane's whisper, her hand coming to hold the one resting on her cheek.
"I would give everything to keep you safe Maur, and loving you is the easiest thing I have ever done."
Maura buried her face into her neck then, their arms locked tight around each other.
"I love you too Jane." Maura's muffled voice came as she ran a hand through tussled curls.
Maura found Jane later that evening sipping a cup of coffee in her office. She had just seen Angela off for the night with promise to call if they needed anything, the sounds of a lively Rizzoli dinner settling back into quiet comfort. Frost sat scrolling on his phone in the spare chair behind her desk waiting. She had nearly forgotten about the envelope that was given to them until she saw it propped against her computer. Jane's gaze met hers and motioned for her to come and sit, which came unanswered as she found herself rooted to the spot.
"Figured it would be better to open it together. Like an early Christmas present."
Jane's dry humor fell flat as she plucked it from the desk. There was a small piece of tape holding it shut that ripped easily in Jane's hands. She watched from the doorway as Jane inverted it allowing a small black object fall out with a folded piece of paper. Barry looked over Jane's shoulder and grabbed it from it's discarded spot.
"Looks like a flash drive." Frost muttered as she unfolded the square.
"Jack88. That's it." Jane let the paper fall to the spot where the flash drive had occupied.
"Probably a password to whatever is on this."
Frost rifled through his bag and produced a small laptop that didn't look department issued. Booting it up he went to work inserting the drive and waiting for it to load. Maura looked between the two as they waited impatiently to see whatever was on there. Curiosity final pulled her fully into the room where she settled for standing between the two, hands clasped tightly in front of her as she bent down to look.
The small screen filled with the FBI's encryption login. Barry quickly typed the code into the blinking box and the screen went blank for a moment causing a drop of panic to settle into her stomach. The computer suddenly filled with a file folder filled with PDF documents, photos, and notes. Names that she had seen Jane working on late at night were mingled with autopsy reports and case notes. Frost scrolled though to the bottom where he let the mouse rest.
Maura looked at each of them as they looked back, if she had an educated guess to give, they were as confused as she was.
"Jane, why would an FBI agent just give us case files on the Ripper?
She knew it was a silly question, but she really didn't understand.
"I have no idea Maur."
She watched as Jane turned to tap a pen against the desk, Frost ignoring them both as he started to analyze the files given to them.
"Unless, for some reason, Hargrove isn't able to move forward with anything. Maybe red tape, or someone is preventing him from doing so."
"They're FBI, do you really think Callaway has that kind of reach?"
"Dunno Maur, but she was able to get Jennings' under her. It's a possibility."
Frost spoke automatically from his spot hovered over the laptop perched on his legs.
"There could just be something in here that they aren't able to see or understand."
Jane raised an eyebrow at that, as she waved a hand for him to continue. Maura felt the gears turning in her head.
"Think about it Jane, Maura was the one that saw the patterns in Jenning's financials. She was the one to figure out where that brick dust came from, the one that knows Callaway's tells. You were the one that got up close and personal, saw how she operated and knows how she ticks. It may be in the Fed's court but they've got nothing to play with, and Hargrove knows it."
"So why not just let Jane consult? Why the secrecy?"
Maura looked between them as they shared a look.
"Well because technically you, me, and Frost are all victims or witness by definition. We can't consult on a case that is directly tied to us, let alone the focus of it. If anyone found out that we had not only had access to this, but were messing around with the information it had-"
"It would cause any of the evidence to be disallowed." Maura finished for her. The final gear clicking into place.
Frost nodded before clicking the laptop shut.
"I have encryption on here that will keep them from knowing my digital signature which should keep them off our trail. I am going to run the files through a recognition program that I've been building to see if it can identify any patterns."
"When did you start building that Barold?" Maura's interest piqued.
She watched as blush darkened his skin slightly as he swiped a hand across the back of his neck.
"Actually, shortly after you figured all that stuff out on the Ripper case. I figured there could be a way to build a matrix that could identify patterns like that in real time and run a report that tells us where to look."
"That's brilliant!" Maura gave him a tight hug as he sputtered for words.
She could hear Jane faintly giggling behind her, and she turned to see Jane's hand tightly clamped around her mouth, holding back an outright laugh. Looking between them, she was lost on what was happening.
"What's funny Jane? He is brilliant."
Jane cleared her throat as Frost moved to stuff his laptop back in his bag, avoiding eye contact.
"No, I know that. It's nothing Maur, just an inside joke."
Maura wanted to press further, but was interrupted by Frost standing to leave.
"I'm going to head out and get started on this. Jane, I sent you the financials for the Brumfield case, should be in your email now. Notes highlighted on the side like normal, if you have questions Korsak and I will be in early to fill you in. See you guys tomorrow."
Maura walked Frost out to the door and waited to see him pull off before locking the house and made her way to the kitchen. Making sure everything was tided, she poured two glasses of wine from the bottle opened at dinner and made her way back to the office.
Jane had shifted into the empty seat Frost had occupied and was reading something intently on her work laptop. Placing a glass on the coaster nearest Jane, she gave Jane a quick kiss on the lips before settling into her own chair and tapped the keyboard to life.
"He's got a crush on you still you know?"
Maura felt herself blush at the omission from Jane. She still struggled with observing that behavior sometimes and she thought that was long in the past.
"You're joking."
Jane met her question with a small laugh and smile, letting her know it was alright.
Maura scoffed and turned back to her computer.
"Well, it's a good thing I like him more than you."
She heard Jane choke on her wine as the detective inhaled in shock as she drank. She offered a tissue from the box on her desk to her and resumed typing, the small upturn of her lips not leaving.
"I'm a terrible influence on you Maur." Jane muttered.
They settled back into their work routine, quietly reviewing their respective cases. Maura loved the simplicity of nights like this, the focus and comfort that encased them together as they found justice or answers for those that couldn't. The weight of the past day melted away as they typed and joked.
Jane knew she was being irrational as she stormed into the mostly empty lobby of BDP Headquarters the next day. Frost and Korsak followed behind her, knowing that she would calm down eventually. Their faces wincing as she slammed her hand on the up button for the elevator bank. She felt the constriction of frustration tighten in her chest as the elevator opened and closed after them.
What had started as a normal attempt at questioning Alan West had morphed into lawyers shutting her out and dismissing her from the building. If she could, she would have punched the smug look right off of his lawyer's creepy face. If it hadn't been for Korsak she might very well have. Being around that level of arrogance and money always left a bad taste in her mouth. Top it off with everything else seemingly happening in her life, she was over it.
The elevator opened to a thankfully empty homicide department, and she took off for BRIC. If they wouldn't let her question Alan normally, then she would find something that he couldn't shake off. The financials for W-B were on the surface level stellar, but she knew that there was something there. It was too clean for a company that in the past had, had issues with data breaches and security.
She leaned up against the console that Frost had settled into, and watched him sign in.
"What do we have on this guy West? He strikes me as the kinda guy that rides other people's shirttails."
Korsak chuckled at that in agreement as he spoke up.
"Family is old Connecticut railway money so you may very well be right on that. Roomed with Brumfield at Yale before moving here to work at one of his father's companies. Couple of society pieces in the news, but nothing stands out. Just another yuppie."
Jane nodded.
"Do we know what this guy is into at all? Secret family on the side, gambling problem, likes to, I don't know, rob banks for fun? Anything?"
"Frost said his society pages came back pretty normal for a rich kid. Vacations in France for three months out of the year, has a sailboat down at the harbor that would put the department budget to shame."
"Yeah. From what I read, it he seems to spend most of his spare time there. He's single and appears to like to keep it that way. Though he has been seen several times with James and his girlfriend of the month."
Jane sat with that for a moment. It was normal for people not to be interested in dating or a love life, but spending time as a third wheel with your best friend and their dates wasn't. She knew from personal experience it was one thing to double date, but if her feeling was right Mr. Alan West was not there for the company of his friend's companion.
"Guys maybe it's not a money thing." She led knowing they would follow. Pushing off the console she made her way towards the one person she knew would know all about Boston's Elite class.