Flameout – Chapter 17
Maura arrived at BPD at 7:45, she was to start her new job as the Chief Medical Examiner at 8 AM. She met Frost in his office. She greeted him with a hug, she was happy to see him. At 8:05 AM Frost introduced her to the homicide staff.
He had been in charge of the homicide department for the last five months. He remembered what it was like to be a young homicide detective and how he was not looking forward to working with a new medical examiner. He remembered thinking how he would have to learn all of their ways of working a crime scene. Somehow, he knew that Maura would be strict with the rules and she wouldn't take any shit from any of his detectives.
Maura was driven by procedures, she liked things to be done in the proper order. He had noticed when he was in Syracuse, that she had checklists that she used to make sure that everything was taken care of. She didn't want anything to slip through the cracks.
Frost didn't tell Maura that Jane was going to attend the introduction meeting. Jane was Frost's supervisor, she needed to observe how he handled introducing a new team member. They hadn't had a new detective since Frost took over the department, so the new medical examiner was the first new employee that Frost would have to introduce to the homicide department. They knew that the Governor needed to fire their current Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Pike, a long time ago, so all the detectives were looking forward to working with a new medical examiner.
Over the years, Jane and Frost had talked with their lieutenant many times and he politely reminded them that they "have to deal with Doctor Pike until a replacement could be found. He works for the governor and is not a BPD employee."
Now that a replacement had been found, Doctor Maura Isles was replacing Doctor Pike as Chief Medical Examiner. After talking with the governor, Doctor Pike decided to retire, he told the Governor, "I don't want to work for a woman." The governor gladly accepted his request for an immediate retirement, he even handed the form for Dr. Pike to fill out right then. He didn't hesitate letting Dr. Pike go after seeing Maura's resume. The pile of complaints against Doctor Pike were contained in a thick two-inch file.
The governor was happy that Maura wanted to overhaul the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. He was working on coming up with a new budget to meet all the requirements for new personnel and equipment that she had requested during their meeting.
Maura's introduction was cut short as dispatched called stating there had been a murder. Sergeant Frankie Rizzoli and his team were called into action. Maura quickly left the bullpen and went to meet her team in the morgue. This was her first murder scene and she wanted to be present. She rode in the morgue van with the technicians. They were not use to having the medical examiner ride with them. Maura wanted to see how everything went at the crime scene, she had an assistant medical examiner that would walk her through how the team functioned at a crime scene.
"If you don't mind, I will perform the autopsy." Maura instructed the assistant medical examiner, who she was sure she would promote to medical examiner before the week was over. She needed to see him in action and get a grasp on how they did things before she made any changes.
Maura was back in the office by 9:30 and started the autopsy a few minutes later. The AME was right at her side. He was amazed with the speed that Maura conducted the autopsy and how thorough she was. He had been watching Doctor Pike for almost two years now and he never saw Doctor Pike go into so much detail during an autopsy. He was happy to be working with Doctor Isles.
It was 1 o'clock and Jane hadn't heard from Maura. She knew she had gone out into the field to observe her first crime scene. Frankie had filled her in. Jane had wanted to go but she needed to let Maura find her place at BPD. It was hard for her but it would be best for Maura and that is all that Jane wanted. She wanted Maura to feel at home at BPD.
Jane went to Maura's office and saw her sitting at her desk still in her scrubs. Jane found that Maura was quite attractive when she was wearing her black scrubs. She actually found Maura attractive in everything she wore. Maura smiled when she saw Jane leaning against the door frame. Maura did not know that Jane was holding a lunchbox. Jane stepped forward and said, "Good afternoon, Maura."
"Hello, Jane." Maura promptly replied.
Jane then asked Maura, "Have you had lunch yet?"
"No, Jane, I was a little preoccupied with the autopsy and paperwork and haven't had a chance to have lunch yet."
"I have another question to ask you."
"Okay, what would you like to ask me?" Maura asked with a smile.
"Would you consider being my girlfriend? You don't have to answer me right now, but I wanted you to have some time to think about it. You can let me know later today, maybe at the end of the workday."
"Jane, I don't need to think about it. I know my answer already."
Jane looked a little concerned not knowing exactly what her answer would be. She was hoping that Maura would say 'yes.' Wishing she would say 'yes.' "Okay, well what's … what's your answer? Jane said with a little stutter. She was nervous. She really liked Maura and wanted to be in a relationship with her.
"Yes."
"Yes, really?" Jane questioned, she was a little surprised after doubting herself.
"Yes, Jane I would love to be your girlfriend."
"That's great. Thank you!" Jane replied as she stepped closer to Maura. Maura then noticed that Jane was holding onto something.
"What are you hiding behind your back Jane?"
"Well, just lunch. I was hoping I could convince you to have lunch with me."
"Really, what did you bring us?"
"A salad for you, and a fluff-n-nutter sandwich for me?"
"What else did you bring for you? Maybe something a little on the healthy side." Maura knew that Jane didn't eat that much healthy food. Jane had been eating or just about to eat when they had facetimed during the last six months. Plus, she remembered that very unhealthy burger that Frost had snuck into Jane's hospital room.
Jane didn't know that the nursing staff reported all such infractions to Maura. Maura didn't let on but she needed to know what Jane was eating as it might affect her results from her medications.
"Well, I brought a little salad for me." Jane said as she reached into the lunchbox and pulled out the tiniest bowl Maura had ever seen. Sure enough, when Jane took the cap off there was a little bit of salad in that tiny tiny bowl. Maura just shook her head from side to side while she smiled at Jane.
Suddenly, Jane stepped back and pushed the office door shut and locked it. The blinds on the office windows were already closed. She then moved so that she was standing right in front of Maura. She pulled her up and into a hug followed by a quick kiss. "Jane, we are at work." Maura stated as she pulled slightly away from Jane.
"I know Maur, but I had to give my girlfriend our first kiss as an official couple." Jane explained as she smirked at Maura.
Maura tilted her head to one side and then pulled Jane into her and gave her a very passionate kiss. "This is what our first kiss as a couple should feel like." Jane was stunned, she didn't expect Maura to kiss her so passionately at work. Jane just didn't want to wait until after work to give Maura a kiss. "Now, we cannot be kissing at work, we must sit down later and go over some ground rules for our relationship and work."
"Yes, I think that is fair." Jane replied as her stomach made a noise announcing that it needed to be fed.
"It seems we must now eat our lunch before your intestines make additional sounds."
"Sorry about that. If I don't eat my stomach lets me know. When my brother, Frankie, hears my stomach, he says it is time to feed the beast."
Maura laughed as Jane pulled Maura over to the couch so that they could sit down and eat their lunch. Maura enjoyed spending time with Jane. "Please, come by tonight for dinner with me and the children. We can tell them that you are now my girlfriend. I don't want to keep any secrets from them."
"I would love to have dinner with you and the children again. What is on the menu for dinner tonight?"
"I am not sure, I will probably have take out. Skye only works certain nights for me now that we are back in Boston. She is busy trying to find an apartment. I have been thinking of offering her my guest house. It is a nice little two-bedroom place. Being on call, it would be nice to have her close."
"That makes since. What time should I come by for dinner and conversation?"
Maura smiled, "Whenever you want but we will probably eat at 6 PM."
"I will be there, do you want me to bring anything?"
"Just your charming self."
Jane grabbed up their garbage and put it back in the lunchbox she had brought down with her. "I better get back upstairs before Gen sends out a search party." They both laughed as Maura walked Jane to the door. She kissed her goodbye before she opened the door and let Jane out.
Jane arrived at Maura's around 5:30. Maura and the children were just exiting the car. "Jane!" Charlie shouted as he ran to her and gave her a big hug followed closely by Bella. "I didn't know you were coming over tonight."
Jane quickly asked, "Is it okay, if I joined you guys for dinner?"
Charlie and Bella both smiled at her and grabbed a hand and escorted Jane into the house leaving Maura behind. Jane turned to look at Maura, "Shouldn't we help your mother. I think she has dinner to bring into the house."
Charlie looked at his mother and quickly replied, "Oh yes, sorry mommy."
"It is okay, Charlie, can you help me with the bags though?"
"Yes, mommy." Charlie said as he quickly moved over to the car to help his mother. Jane and Bella walked hand-in-hand over to Maura to offer their assistance. Jane gave Maura a quick kiss on the cheek and whispered 'hello.'
"Hello Jane, thank you for coming over and joining us. I didn't get the chance to tell the children that you were coming over."
They managed to get all the bags into the house. As the children went to the bathroom to washup, Jane pulled Maura in for a proper kiss. She had missed Maura, even though it had only been a few hours.
"Children, can you please set the table?"
"Yes," they both replied. Charlie asked, "Can I sit next to Jane?"
"I want to sit next to Jane." Bella stated a little sadly because Charlie had asked first.
"Just like last time, you both can sit next to Jane." The children smiled as they finished setting the table.
As dinner came to a close, Maura asked, "Jane, would you like to spend Christmas Eve with me and the children? I know you said that you spend Christmas Day with your family but we would love to spend part of Christmas with you."
"I would love to. I know it is short notice but can you and the children come over to my family's house on Christmas Day for an early dinner? I know my ma would love to have you and the children. She is so excited that you are in Boston. She really liked you when she met you in Syracuse."
"I would love that, thank you for inviting us."
They cleaned up the dinner dishes and went into the living room. Maura sat next to Jane on the couch and held her hand. "Children, Jane and I have something we want to tell you." Both children gathered around Maura and Jane, noticing them holding hands. "Jane and I are dating. She is now my girlfriend. I hope that is okay with you."
Bella was confused, "Mommy, Jane is a girl and you are a girl."
"Yes, Bella. Remember when I told you that love is love and it is okay to love someone and that it doesn't matter if they are a boy or a girl?"
"Yes," Bella replied. "So, you care for Jane like you did my daddy?"
"I care for Jane and that is why I am dating her. She just asked me this afternoon so this is brand new."
Charlie then asked, "So does that mean that Jane is going to be around us a lot?"
Jane answered this question as she squeezed Maura's hand, "Yes, as much as you, Bella and your mother wish."
Bella replied, "You can share my room with me, Jane."
Jane smiled at Bella and told her, "Thank you, Bella. I have my own apartment and maybe you can come see me at my apartment sometime."
"Can we mommy?" Bella asked excitedly, she really liked Jane.
"Yes, Bella, whenever Jane wants us to come over, we will see if we can." Bella loved that response and went to play with Charlie.
Jane spent Christmas Eve with Maura and her children. They laughed as they watched 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' followed by 'Frosty the Snowman' together. It was a tradition that Sam and Maura had started with the children when Bella had been born. Maura didn't have any family traditions to pass down to her children but her husband, Sam, had suggested the two movies and they had been watching them every Christmas Eve since then.
After the short movies, each of the children were allowed to open one gift and they both chose the gift that Jane had brought them. Jane had gotten Charlie several aircraft models to put together. Of course, she had included an F-16. "Charles, you can only put those together after your homework is done each evening. Do you understand?" Maura asked her son.
"Yes, mommy, if I don't have them all put together before our break is over." Charlie replied, not liking it when his mother called him Charles.
"He has a point, Maur, he might be done with them before his break is over." Maura smiled at Jane knowing that she was probably right but she had to put her foot down just in case.
"Thank you, Jane, I love them. Will you help me put them together?" Jane had a small tear appear in one of her eyes, she was touched that Charlie would ask her. Maura had seen the tear before Jane was able to wipe it away.
"I would love to Charlie, thank you for asking me." Charlie rose and walked over to Jane and gave her a big hug. Maura loved that her children were also drawn to Jane.
Jane had picked up an assortment of paint supplies for Bella, who loved to paint. Maura quirked her eyebrows up at Jane questioning why she hadn't run that gift by her first. She would have to set up a place where Bella could set up her painting supplies.
"Bella, you can only paint where your mother allows you to, okay? I don't want to get in trouble for purchasing paint supplies for you." Jane told Bella as Bella jumped up and ran over to Jane to give her a hug.
"Thank you, Jane. I love it. I love to paint. Did you know that my mommy's mother was an artist. She loved to paint also. I can show you pictures of her paintings. She also sculpted, but I haven't learned how to do that yet. I might try it when I am older." Bella liked to talk about her grandmother's art. She thought the artwork was beautiful and wanted to share and talk about the artwork whenever she could.
Jane smiled at her, "You are welcome, Bella. I am glad you like your gift." Jane had spent time on facetime with the children. They enjoyed talking with her when their mom was busy. Maura was happy that Jane was forming a bond with the children as well as herself. It made moving to Boston even easier for the children as they had Jane and Skye. In one such facetime conversation, Jane had asked the children what they wanted for Christmas and they told her.
"Children, it is time for bed, say goodnight to Jane." The children both rose and gave their mother a kiss and said goodnight and then to Jane's surprise they each gave her a kiss and said goodnight to her. "I will be up in a minute to tuck you in."
"Okay," they both said in unison. Jane loved that the children didn't give Maura any grief. They were great children and loved their mother. Jane remembered how much hell she and her brothers gave their parents when they were younger. She didn't know how Maura was able to teach her children to behave so well.
Maura and the children arrived at Angela's house at noon and Angela treated the children as if they were her own grandchildren. She asked that they call her nonna. The children weren't shy, they ran into the living room where the other children were and ignored their mother. "I guess they forgot all about me." Maura said in a laugh to Angela.
"Don't be silly dear, they just are excited like the rest of the children." Angela stated as she looked at the children all eyeing the gifts under the Christmas tree.
Jane walked up behind Maura and wrapped her arms around her and gave her a kiss on the neck while her mother wasn't looking. "Hey, Maur, I am glad you and the children are here." Jane hadn't told her mother that she had asked Maura to be her girlfriend yet, so she figured they would do that today. They didn't have to wait long to tell her as Angela turned just as Maura planted a kiss on Jane's lips.
"So, I guess the two of you have something to tell me?" Angela asked with a huge smile on her face. She had seen the way they had looked at each other in Jane's hospital room all those months ago.
Jane turned around in surprise knowing that she had been caught kissing Maura. "Well, yes, I asked Maura to be my girlfriend and she said yes."
"I am so happy for the two of you. When did this happen?"
"Two days ago. I didn't want to waste time and have someone snag her up before I got my stuff together and asked her, so I bit the bullet and asked her."
"Well, I am glad. You two are perfect for each other. So, when is the wedding and are you going to give me some more grandchildren?"
"Ma, we have only been dating for a few days. Don't rush me."
"Janie, you are almost forty. I don't think I am rushing you."
Maura smiled at Jane as Jane told her mother, "Ma, can we change the subject. Besides Maura has two children so when we do get married, you will have two more grandchildren already." Maura liked how Jane said when they get married, not if they get married.
"I already count them, you can have more!"
"Ma!"
"Angela, I don't want to rush into anything. Jane and I have only known each other for a little over six months. We have been on a few dates and decided to be in a relationship, that is enough for now."
Angela looked at Maura and after a moment of silence she asked, "You haven't been in a relationship with a woman before, have you?"
Maura felt like she was put on the spot. Jane stepped in and responded for her, "Ma, don't question Maura please. This is between the two of us. We are happy and, in a relationship, and that is all you need to know for now, okay?"
"Okay, okay, I will let it be for now." Angela turned so she could look at Jane and said, "Janie, can you get the garlic bread ready to go into the oven? We are going to eat at one instead of two."
"Yes," Jane answered and took Maura's hand and led her into the kitchen so that her mother wouldn't corner her and try to ask her more questions.
As soon as they stepped into the kitchen, Jane pushed Maura into the kitchen cabinets and began kissing her. "I am so sorry about my Ma." Jane said in between kisses. They kissed for a few minutes before Frankie walked in to get himself a beer.
Frankie couldn't resist saying, "Get a room you two." They laughed and Jane got the garlic bread ready to go into the oven. He then added, "I am so happy for the two of you."
"Thank you, Frankie." Maura said as Frankie pulled her into a hug.
"Janie, has been so happy since she met you. Everyone at the precinct is happy that you are in her life." Maura looked at Frankie questioning his comment without saying a word. "Oh, trust me, Janie is a better person now."
The garlic bread didn't take long to cook and before they knew it, everyone was sitting down for dinner. The extended family enjoyed the dinner and then opened Christmas gifts. About half an hour after the gifts had been opened, Jane, Maura and the children made their way to Maura's house. Jane had followed in her mustang as she didn't want her time to end with Maura. Jane ended up spending the night in the guest room. An hour after everyone went to bed, Maura knocked on the guest room door. Jane sat up and answered, "Come in."
Maura entered the room in her silk pajamas and softly asked, "Can I snuggle with you tonight?"
Jane didn't hesitate to reply, "Yes, I would love that." Jane, dressed in a pair of shorts and a Boston Red Sox t-shirt, quickly held the blanket so that Maura could crawl in the bed with her. They laid down together and when Maura was curled up against Jane, she tossed the blanket over her and wrapped Maura in a hug. She kissed the top of Maura's head and closed her eyes. She could get used to sleeping like this.