DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.
Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.
Chapter 15
"I don't want you to go…" Jane whispered against Maura's lips.
Maura's bags were packed by the door, it was Jan, 2nd, and they had been making out in the sofa after lunch before it was time for Jane to take Maura to the airport.
The previous week had been a recovery of sorts.
Maura made sure Jane was back to eating and sleeping like a normal human being. They were lucky not to get too much snow, so Maura also made sure they went out for doing something outdoors every day, despite the cold. She didn't want Jane to be locked inside her shell any more than absolutely necessary. And they had taken their sweet time enjoying each other's company as a couple, kissing and making out. They didn't feel ready yet to take the next step on their relationship to become sexual, but they did take time to explore each other's territories.
"I don't really want to go either…" Maura admitted, kissing Jane's lips softly. "But we talked about that… I need to… We need some time to figure out what is next and how that next will shape up. And as long as there is a next, and it involves you and I together, I am sure we can figure out the rest." She rested her forehead against Jane's, who nodded, before kissing her deeply again.
The alarm interrupted them. It was time to go.
"I will fly right back if you don't pick up the phone, don't reply to my calls, or go back to being monosyllabic again..." Maura threatened, a serious look in her face as her eyes bore into Jane's while they were both standing by the kiss and fly spot parking.
"I promise you won't need to fly back because of that. But I do hope you fly back. Soon."
"I promise you that." Maura smiled, kissing Jane one last time before reluctantly crossing the street to the terminal, rolling her luggage, and just stopping by the automatic door to wave at Jane.
"Text me when you land. Safe travels." Jane texted, as she sat in her car, before adding an I, a heart emoticon, and an U.
The answer of a heart emoticon, a U and a + sign brought a grin to Jane's face, as she drove back home.
(…)
"Are you free for a call?" was Frank's cryptical text.
Jane had spoken to him on the phone between Christmas and New Year, and then on New Year's Eve. So it was not so surprising to hear from him this first Wednesday of the year. She was free for a call, it was the break before the last two classes of the day.
"Yes, I have fifteen minutes now if you can."
Her phone immediately rang.
"Janie…"
"Hey, Frankie…"
"Have you spoken to Maura already?"
"A brief text message very early this morning, but not since then. Why?" Jane furrowed her brows, concerned.
"I don't know details, Jane. But Kent just stopped by to say Maura had left with all of her belongings, explaining a new Chief Medical Examiner would be appointed in a month."
"God… Her term only ends in a month…"
"I know, and I found that odd. But since she didn't stop by the bullpen or anything, and I heard only from Kent, well, I thought you would want to know and that you would know how to handle it…"
"Thank you, Frankie, I will reach out to her…"
"Let me know if there is anything I can do to help."
"I will… Take care, bro…"
Jane sighed. She checked her phone to make sure, but there were no messages or lost phone calls from Maura. But the next class attendees were just showing up, so Jane knew this would need to wait another hour and a half.
As soon as the last class began walking out of the door, Jane texted Maura.
"Busy?"
She didn't want to let Maura know that Frankie had called her.
"Kinda. But will be free in 30 mins and then we could talk?"
"It is a date… xoxo." Jane replied, collecting her things, and driving to her apartment, to make sure she was comfortable at home when Maura texted.
"I am finally free. Are you?"
Instead of a reply, Jane called Maura over video.
"Hey… Are you home already?" Jane asked, knowing Maura was home at least since Frankie called.
"Yes… I have been here for a while already."
"Oh… short day at work?"
Maura chuckled, and sighed, shaking her head. "More like last day at work…" she offered, sipping from a glass of wine Jane had not seen until now.
"Last day… What do you mean?"
"Well, the recently elected governor thought one of the first acts after his inauguration was to give heads up to the people he does not intend to re-nominate."
"Why on Earth would he not re-nominate you?"
"Not everyone sees this as a technical or scientifical position. As with many other positions, it could be traded politically… And that is his intention… To appoint someone who has more political clout than I do."
"Political clout does not resolve crimes!" Jane protested.
"We both know that, my love. But he doesn't. And it is not my place to tell him that…"
"But Maura… You have the highest crime rate closure of the entire country, by far!"
"I do. But you know it is not a job I do alone. I am only as good as the detectives I work with. We achieved that together. You, Vince, Frost, myself, Frankie, Nina…"
"Still… I can't believe he made such a stupid decision…"
"He will find out soon enough. In the meanwhile, I informed him I have no intention of working under a politically appointed CME. And that given the accumulated time-off and leaves I had, I would remove my personal belongings from the office immediately and take the rest of the time off until my term is over to rest and to find a new job."
"Did you leave the office already then?"
"Yes. I packed my personal belongings and left mid-afternoon. It is a done deal."
"I am sorry, Maura…"
"I am not…"
"May I ask then what you were busy with when I texted you?"
"You might…" Maura smiled gently on the video. "I was talking to someone in DC for a few possible job offerings..."
"In DC?" Jane grinned broadly, her eyes sparkling at Maura.
"Yes… I am not sure if it will work out, but I wanted to trigger the conversations immediately…"
"I… I have never been so happy for an unfair decision before…" Jane confessed, and Maura laughed at Jane's honesty.
"Well, keep your fingers crossed… That is… If you want me to move to DC…"
"If I wa… Of course I want it, Maura!"
"Good… because I have a few interviews lined up in DC next week, and I plan to fly there to arrive on Friday night and spend the weekend with you prior to the interviews…"
"I can't wait!" Jane clapped excitedly on the phone.
"Oh, so I should not plan to stay in a hotel, then?" Maura teased.
"Maura…" Jane threatened, trying to keep a serious face, but turned into a chuckle as she saw Maura broad smile on the other side of the screen.
