Chapter Text
Chapter 1
"Good morning Maura, Ma." Jane said as she came into the kitchen. She had slept over at Maura's house the night before because they had stayed up late, watching a movie. Thankfully, they didn't have a case they were working on right now and although they were both still on call, they were able to relax a bit this weekend.
"More like good afternoon." Angela replied with a huff. She was fixing herself a sandwich to go. She had a shift at the Dirty Robber that started soon.
"Sorry Ma, but that guest bed is so comfy, I couldn't get up." She replied and kissed Angela on the cheek.
“Sounds as though you could use a new bed Jane." Maura commented with a dimpled grin in her friend's direction. "I believe the one in the upstairs guest room is a Saatva. I bought it for when mother comes to visit. I can help you pick one out if you'd like." She offered, knowing full well Jane would decline. Her best friend had a habit of not accepting help, even from her inner circle.
"I have no idea what a Saatva is, but my mattress at home is perfectly fine. It sounds like adopto mom is fancy." Jane's tone held sarcasm, but the smile she threw Maura let the other woman know she was just teasing her.
"Adopto mom, as you like to refer to her, is used to a certain je ne sais quoi, so yes, you could say she is fancy, but Mother is coming around." Maura loved that Jane had a nickname for both of her mothers. She had just recently met her biological mother, Hope, and things had started off pretty rocky with her, but had finally started to settle and they had been spending more and more time together. That's when Jane had come up with the nicknames for them.
"Goodbye girls. See you in a few hours." Angela said, giving Jane a kiss on the cheek.
"Bye Ma. Have a good shift." Angela left and Jane and Maura were alone. "What should we do today?" Jane asked, grabbing some coffee and a muffin. Maura rarely ate them and Angela was watching her figure, so they were special, for when Jane was there.
"We could go to the Boston Museum of Art. They have a new display that I've been wanting to see." Maura suggested, not surprised at the eye roll Jane gave her in return.
"We finally have a semi free Saturday and you want to spend it in some stuffy museum? Boring!" Jane complained.
"Fine, what would you like to do?" Maura pouted.
"I would love to curl up on the couch and watch movies, and order pizza." She said and proved it, by running over to the couch and flopping down. Maura giggled at her friend.
"We rarely get time off. We should go take a picnic to the park, or go for a walk. Sunshine has been known to have healing properties, as long as you wear sunscreen." The blonde explained, trying desperately to convince her friend that a day out was genuinely needed.
"Okay, but only if you promise to come back here and have pizza while we watch a comedy movie on Peacock." Jane smiled and stood, stretching her arms over her head. The t-shirt she had on, one of many she kept here to sleep in, rode up her lean torso a few inches, showing off her smooth skin. Maura found herself gazing at the exposed skin, her breath catching and her professional detachment dissolving into a static-like hum beneath her ribcage. She had come to the conclusion a few weeks ago that she had a girl crush on Jane. She had asked her younger sister, Hope's daughter, Cailin, if there was such a thing for women who were straight, and Cailin had confirmed that it was possible. Especially for two women who spent the amount of time together that she and Jane did.
"You good Maur?" Jane asked, looking at her friend in confusion.
"Yes." It wasn't a lie, she was good, just confused. She couldn't lie or she'd break out in hives, so she had been dealing with this girl crush as if nothing was different. So far, it was working.
"Okay, I'll take your word for it. What time do you want to head out?" She wasn't convinced that everything was good with Maura. The woman had been acting off for a few weeks. Usually, she told Jane everything, but lately, she'd been mostly avoiding talking at all.
"Well, it's noon now, so let's say in the next thirty minutes? That will give you time to go get dressed."
"Alright. I'll be back." Jane replied and headed up the stairs, leaving Maura alone with her thoughts. She was already dressed in her khaki colored, knee length shorts and blue sleeveless blouse. All she had to do was slip into her sandals before they left. She spent the next thirty minutes concentrating on what to put into the wicker basket and not on that tiny sliver of smooth skin Jane had exposed. She'd seen way more than that plenty of times. The woman very rarely ran in more than a sports bra and jogging shorts. Why was this small exposure causing so much desire to fill her inside? She was suddenly very warm and it had nothing to do with the temperature in the house.
"Ready to go?" Jane asked, causing a small yip to leave Maura's lips. "Why are you so jumpy?" She asked with a small laugh.
"You startled me, and yes, I am just about ready." Maura turned and started to force a smile, but it turned genuine as she saw her best friend. Jane had put on a pair of jean shorts that highlighted her long legs, and a Red Sox t-shirt. Her curly, dark, hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail, but little ringlets had managed to escape to frame her face. Even in street clothes the woman made Maura's mouth go dry.
"Sorry hun. Didn't mean to. Hope you put some meat in that basket." Jane pointed to said basket.
"You know I would never forget to pack what you like." She popped a dimpled grin.
"Unless you were trying to force me to eat better." Jane retorted but smiled back.
"It’s only because I worry about your health. Coffee, sugar, carbs, and beer does not make for a good diet Jane Rizzoli!" She scolded. Jane just laughed and had the urge to grab a beer from the fridge, but since she was on call, that was a no no. Instead, she grabbed the picnic basket and headed out.
"Your driving isn't good for my health either. Come on, we'll take my car." She retorted.
"Jane...Jane wait! I wasn't finished, I needed to add the raw broccoli." Maura called after her, but it was too late. The sounds of the car door shutting could be heard. Next would be the honking of the horn if she didn't hurry.
*****
The weekend had been amazing. They hadn't caught a case and Jane had stayed over. Maura loved that they had gotten to spend time together, especially when they had been watching a documentary after Jane's comedy last night and her best friend had put an arm around her, allowing her to snuggle in close. They had done that many times, seeking comfort in the familiarity of each other, but Maura had picked up on it more these last few weeks and it definitely did things to her insides that she didn't want to think about. She needed to let off some tension and find a guy to slack the lust that she was experiencing, but she hadn't met anyone that she found attractive since Garrett had moved to follow his daughter and her mother.
Sunday was always full of fun and people. The Rizzoli's made time for a family dinner and Maura hosted. She'd even invited Hope and Cailin this week. It usually consisted of Jane, Frankie and Nina, Angela and Ron, Sargent Korsak and Kiki, and even Tommy, Lydia, and T.J. But today, Tommy and his family were on vacation. Angela came bounding through the door, full of excitement.
"I'm so excited that we finally have a Sunday where no one has to worry about murder!" Maura was in the kitchen, gathering the ingredients to make dinner. Jane had run home for a fresh change of clothes, but would be back before dinner.
"Actually, we are still on call." She reminded the older woman, then watched her face fall. Sometimes she hated that she was so literal. "I'm sorry Angela." She said and patted her shoulder.
"It’s okay." Angela replied and got busy beside her in the kitchen. "Are you excited about your mother and sister being able to join us?"
"I am looking forward to spending more time with them." She smiled. It was really nice to have her biological mother and sister in her life. They continued talking and cooking for the next several hours until Jane came in the door.
"Maura! I thought I explained to you why it's important to keep your doors locked!" Jane exclaimed, coming into the kitchen and setting down the case of beer she'd been carrying. Just because she couldn't drink, didn't mean others couldn't. She placed her hands on hips, her hair down and in a cloud of curls around her face.
"You did, but I knew you'd be coming back, likely with your hands full. Getting to your key would have been difficult and I was trying to make it easier." She defended herself.
"Thank you, but your safety is more important." Jane sighed, walked over and brushed a strand of blonde hair back from the other woman's face, making sure the woman saw the concern in her eyes.
Maura cleared her throat and stepped back. "You're...right. I'm sorry." She stumbled over her words, not sure how to respond exactly.
"Don't be sorry, just be safe." Jane said and dragged a hand through her hair.
"Jane?"
"Yeah Ma?" Jane asked, eyes never leaving Maura's face. Something was going on, she just couldn't put her finger on it yet.
"Will you taste this? It needs something, I just don't know what." Angela said, trying to get Jane to walk away from Maura. She knew her girls and blood or no blood, Maura was her girl. Something was going on between the two of them and it was making Maura uncomfortable.
"Sure Ma." Jane replied and walked over. She tasted the sauce her mother spooned out for her. "It’s perfect! What are you talking about, it needs something?" She chuckled. Just as she was about to ask Maura to come chat with her, there was a knock on the door. "I'll grab it." She said.
"Hey Janie!" Frankie said, holding Nina's hand as they both came through the door. The two detectives were engaged and it was nice seeing her brother so happy.
"Hey bud. Go taste Ma's sauce. She says it needs something. I think she's crazy."
"Okay, but you think she's crazy anyway." He retorted.
"I heard that!" Angela called from the kitchen. They both laughed.
"Hey Jane." Nina waved, having no other choice but to follow Frankie to the kitchen because he wouldn't let go of her hand. Jane waved back and went to shut the door, but Korsak and Kiki were standing there, and Ron was coming up the sidewalk.
"Hi everyone! Come on in." She said with a smile. Korsak kissed her cheek as he walked by and so did Ron. Ron had a bouquet of red roses and she assumed those were for her mother. The woman loved flowers of any kind.
"Oh, Ron, you shouldn't have." Angela sounded happy and that made Jane happy. After everything her father had put them through, her mother deserved as much happiness as she could get. Hope and Cailin showed up a few minutes later and dinner was served. The conversation around the table was loud and full of laughter, but Maura still didn't seem quite like herself.
"Can we talk?" Jane asked, leaning in and placing a hand on Maura's thigh to get her attention. Maura jumped, but nodded. "Excuse us. Maura and I are going to get dessert. Anyone need more to drink?" After getting a round of no's from everyone, she stood and offered her hand to Maura. It wasn't unusual for them to hold hands or for Jane to offer her hand when guiding Maura some place, but shouldn't it have been? Grown women didn't normally behave in such a touchy feely manner. She hadn't had many girl best friends, but the ones she had never felt like this.
"What did you want to talk about?" She asked, pulling her hand away as soon as they were in the kitchen.
"Are you sure you're okay? I'm concerned about you." Jane said, reaching out to place a hand on Maura's shoulder.
“I believe my mood changes over the past few days may be related to hormonal fluctuations associated with the luteal phase of my menstrual cycle. The shift in estrogen and progesterone levels during this time often contributes to low mood or depressive symptoms.”
"Um...are you speaking English?" Jane asked, voice full of sarcasm, but eyes still full of concern. "I mean, you couldn't just say PMS?"
"No. PMS typically only happens during your menstrual cycle and mine hasn't started yet." She explained, her voice matter of fact.
"I'm not sure if you're telling me everything. What's going on?" The brunette asked, stepping into Maura's personal space.
"I told you, I'm fine Jane. Just a little emotional." Maura replied and stepped back. She turned to get the pies from the oven and hide the fact that tears were threatening to fall. She desperately wanted to confide in her best friend, but she didn't know how the other woman would react. She couldn't risk losing Jane and this wonderfully loud family that came with her.
"I guess you're not breaking out in hives, so you're not lying, but something's up. I know you too well. When you’re ready to talk, I'm here." Jane said, placing a hand on her friend's hip and a kiss to the top of her head. "I'll grab the plates." She sighed. They both came into the dining room at the same time and everyone grabbed a slice of apple pie.
"Talk later." Cailin mouthed and wiggled her eyebrows as soon as she had Maura's attention. Maura hoped no one had noticed. Conversation carried on well into the evening and it was after nine before everyone left, including Jane. Cailin hung around after, having driven separately from her mother. "So, did you tell her?"
"No, and I'm not going to. I know she cares for me, but it doesn't go beyond friendship."
"Are you kidding? That woman is totally in love with you. Mom and I thought you were a couple when we first met. The way she protects you, not to mention the way she looks at you. She..."
"Cailin, stop! She is very straight and comes from a very Catholic background. She is not in love with me. She's just very protective of her family." Maura explained, but couldn't squash the little seed of hope that Cailin had planted. This was way more than a girl crush. Did she actually want to date and copulate with Jane? If her body's response to that question was any indication, the answer was yes. She wanted her best friend in a way she had never wanted anyone else. She placed her head in her hands and let out a strangled cry. "What am I going to do?" She asked her sister. Cailin smiled, shook her head and pulled Maura into a hug. She was relieved when Cailin left, because she needed some space to sort things out. She was standing at her kitchen sink, rinsing the dishes before loading the dishwasher and she noticed a white van parked on the other side of the street. White vans weren't uncommon, but it wasn't really the van that caught her eye. It was the man standing outside the van. She could swear he was staring straight at her through the window. She bent to put a dish in the dishwasher and when she stood back up, he was gone. She had an uneasy feeling about it and decided to mention it to Jane in the morning.
*****
Several days had passed and they had caught a case. Unfortunately, it involved a young teenage girl. She looked very similar to Jane, which had everyone on edge, including Jane herself. "What have we got?" Jane asked her brother, who had just walked in.
"Coffee and a whole lotta nothin'." He said, handing her the four-shots of espresso. "We know she was dumped out in the open, her throat slit. We know she has no fingerprints on file and she had no ID on her."
"So, we are seriously nowhere." She sighed and cursed under her breath.
"Sorry Janie. Nina's going through facial recognition, but nothing is popping." Frankie explained.
"It’s not your fault, I just feel bad for the parents of this girl." She replied. She was going to continue, but her phone buzzed. She unclipped it from her hip, slid her finger up the screen and it opened to her messages.
Maura
Need to see you in the Autopsy room. I've got something.
Jane
Be right there.
"Gotta go. Maura has something." Jane walked into the autopsy room where Maura was just finishing up. The girl on the table could've been her little sister, from the same dark hair to the same angles of her face. The similarities gnawed at her. She crossed her arms over her chest and worried at her bottom lip.
"Hey Jane." The M.E. looked up from her work. Her expression went from smiling to worried when she took in Jane's haggard expression and the fact that she was biting her lower lip. She only did that when she was highly stressed.
"Please tell me you have something." Her voice was low and caused Maura's worry for her friend to increase.
"Bleach at the roots of her hair and then a boxed dye, suggests that her hair was dyed recently and then there's this," she said, holding up a plastic bag with strands of hair in it, "it has damage consistent with a home perm kit. Amateur job, probably to alter her appearance."
"So either the killer didn't want her recognized or they did it to send me some kind of message." Jane replied.
"Or, she didn't want to be recognized. We have no way of knowing if it was done a few days ago, or right before she was murdered." Maura explained. "But, I also found this." She said, holding up a bag with a cheap woven bracelet. Jane walked over and took the evidence bag. Faded letters were stamped on the little metal plate. West High Champs 2026, with a small basketball next to it. That was the high school she graduated from. She also had been a basketball champ her senior year. The coincidences were starting to be less and less.
"Maura, that's where I played basketball and graduated." Her face had turned pale and her breathing shallow.
"Jane, breathe. In through your nose, out through your mouth." Maura instructed and then demonstrated. Jane sucked in air and blew it out, shaking her hands as if she were trying to wake them up. "I have one more thing. Are you okay for me to show you now, or do you need some time?" She asked. She longed to take her best friend's hands in her own, pull her into a hug, and offer comfort, but Jane would likely pull back, claiming that she was fine.
"Just show me." Her voice was low and as soon as she finished speaking, she went back to chewing her lower lip. Maura walked over to the body, put on nitrile gloves, handed Jane a pair, and lowered the sheet she had placed automatically when Jane had entered the room.
"This indicates that she recently had an appendectomy." She pointed to the right lower quadrant of the stomach, where an incision had been made and sutures had been placed. "Maybe a day or two old. The incision was precise and done by a surgeon. Boston Children's Hospital does a record amount of these, so we can check there."
"I need to sit." Jane said, stumbling.
"We can go into my office." Maura stripped her gloves off and placed an arm around Jane's waist. She walked her to her office and they sat down together on the couch. Maura placed a hand on Jane's knee. "What was it about that clue that gave you so much anxiety?"
"I had the same procedure when I was her age. They couldn't do it the quick way because it burst and there was no way I was up, moving around in a day or two. I think the murderer did it."