RIZZOLI & ISLES

When Things Go Bump In The Night

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Title: ‘When Things Go Bump In The Night’ (it’s been a long weekend, the well of inspiration is running dry, OK?)

Author: readthesubtext

Rating: Nothing too profane... I have to build up to these things

Spoilers: All episodes to date

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Femslash.

Status: One–shot. Complete @ 2,551 words

Pairing: Jane & Maura. Who else?

Disclaimer: The characters don’t belong to me, I just borrow them for my own amusement. ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ is the brainchild of Tess Gerritsen, Janet Tamaro et al, and the property of TNT.

Synopsis: Someone has to convince Rizzoli that she’s not about to become the next Ghost Whisperer, and we all want to know what happened after that impromptu pajama party, right?

When Things Go Bump In The Night

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Jane Rizzoli paced the length of her kitchen counter, wringing her hands in agitation.

“Maura, you’d better not say a word about this to anyone, OK? I know it sounds as hokey as hell. I mean, can you imagine the conversations back at the bullpen? ‘Oh hey, Rizzoli, I heard you got another case in the bag. How’d you solve this one?’ ‘Oh, a dead kid just dropped me a clue. In my dreams.’”

Maura Isles stifled a yawn and closed the lid of the Macbook she had been studying attentively, turning to face her friend with a sleepy, but indulgent smile.

“I’ll put a rush on that tox panel in the morning, but even when the results come through, I can’t guarantee that they’ll give you the answers you need, Jane.”

“And this is coming from the woman who told me I should be more optimistic?” the Detective retorted, throwing a wry smile in the Doctor’s direction. “Can’t we just go over to the lab and do the screening now?”

Maura shook her head in disbelief. “Jane, it’s three o’ clock in the morning. You’re exhausted and a few hours here or there isn’t going to adversely affect the outcome.”

“But you know what we’re looking for now,” Jane protested, “Doesn’t that speed up the process?”

“Perhaps,” Maura conceded, “If you want to go and wake up Lieutenant Grant so he can authorise the fastrack on this. Because I’ll need his permission to jump the queue… again. There is a protocol, you know?”

Jane let out a groan of frustration, sidestepping her way around the broken glass en route to the fridge. She emerged with a bottle of beer, and couldn’t hide her surprise when Maura reached for one, too.

“Seriously, you’re going to drink from the bottle?” The beginnings of a smile began to play on Jane’s lips, “And dressed like that, too?”

For the first time that night, Maura looked self–conscious. “You were the one who told me to ‘get my ass over here’ right away,” she countered defensively, “I was so worried about you, I didn’t even consider changing into something more appropriate. Why, do I look ridiculous?” she asked, and Jane snorted, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

“Let’s just say I’m not having much trouble picturing you in a pink canopy bed right now, Goldilocks.”

Maura’s eyebrows raised and, seeing the flush that coloured her cheeks, Jane cleared her throat, realising how easily her comment could have been misconstrued.

“I mean, do you make a habit of dressing like a Disney Princess when you’re off duty?” she clarified, gesturing to Maura’s feet. “Come on, pink ballet slippers? Really? I thought all of your shoes had five–inch heels?”

“I just drove halfway across town in the middle of the night, and you’re being mean to me?”

“I’m not being mean!” Jane protested, her eyes regaining some of their usual sparkle, “I’ve just never seen pajamas that… colour before. You look cute.” She shook her head, her lips curling into a self–deprecating smile, “And thank you, you know, for coming over. I was kind of… freaking out.”

“Well, that’s understandable, given the circumstances.” Maura studied her friend’s harried features, her brow furrowing with concern. “You need to get some rest,” she said softly, gesturing to the flowers strewn over the kitchen floor. “I’ll clean this up.”

Jane hesitated, her eyes roving warily over the haphazard shards of glass. “Aren’t you gonna, you know, run some tests first?”

“Tests for what?”

“Maura, that vase did not throw itself off my kitchen counter, OK? Come on, don’t look at me like that,” Jane protested, seeing her friend’s dubious expression. “This is all your fault, you know?”

“My fault?”

“Yeah, for spouting all that ‘hexed to death’ crap. It’s giving me the heebie–jeebies,” Jane admitted, massaging her temples and smiling wryly, “Right now, I don’t know if this is a tension headache or if someone is out there with a Raggedy Ann doll, sticking needles between my eyes.”

Maura burst into laughter at her friend’s droll remark. “The Cape Verdeans don’t even practice Voodoo, Jane. And besides, that’s a common misconception. The dolls are primarily used for blessings, not for curses.”

“Well, that makes me feel so much better. Thanks.”

“Jane – ”

“I know, I know, I sound like a crazy person,” Jane interjected, folding her arms around her waist in a familiar gesture of self–comfort, “It’s just… after the whole Hoyt thing… I could use one night without feeling like there’s a monster lurking out there whose mission in life is to torment me to death, you know? I know it’s part of the job description, but I just – ”

She trailed off when Maura abruptly closed the distance between them, holding out her hand.

“Come on. This can wait until morning. Let’s go to bed.”

Jane raised her eyebrows, her restless features finally relaxing into an easy grin as she allowed Maura to take the beer bottle from her hands and usher her towards the hallway. “Are you propositioning me again, Dr Isles?”

Maura tried to ignore her visceral reaction to the flirtatious lilt in her friend’s tone. “As I recall, you were the one who dragged me out of bed.”

“Yeah, but don’t feel like you have to babysit me. I’m a big girl. Jo Friday might not be much of a guard dog, but I’ve got my gun, I’ll be fine,” Jane reassured her, but her bravado rapidly depleted when she saw Maura’s concerned expression. “Or you could always, you know… stay.”

Maura nodded, feeling a pang of empathy when Jane dropped the pretence and shot a pathetically grateful look in her direction. The Detective flicked on her bedroom light, gesturing for Maura to stand by the door as she gingerly approached her bed.

“OK, stay there. I’m just gonna make sure – ” Jane abruptly trailed off when she heard Maura stifle a snort of laughter.

“Hey! They put snakes in my car, Maura. A whole bunch of ‘em,” Jane reminded the Doctor, slowly pulling back the covers and breathing an audible sign of relief when she was greeted by an expanse of crisp, white linen. She lifted the pillows with a little less reticence, and then turned to Maura with a sheepish smile. “OK, looks like we’re all clear.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to check under the bed?” Maura asked innocently, biting back a smile when Jane half–heartedly tossed a pillow at her.

“Hey, it pays to be cautious. Especially when bastards like Hoyt start ransacking your apartment.” Jane’s expression darkened, and she unconsciously began chewing her lower lip, “I know it was just a dream, but for a minute there, I thought Jo Friday – ” she trailed off, swallowing audibly. “I should never have adopted that damn dog in the first place.”

“Come on, Jane, she adores you, and you obviously feel the same way.” Maura hesitated, studying her friend searchingly as she fluffed up the pillows on her side of the bed. “You’re not really allergic to her, are you?”

“No,” Jane admitted, but her abrupt tone clearly indicated that she wasn’t willing to elaborate. “Make yourself at home,” she said instead, gesturing to the bed before she disappeared into the adjacent bathroom.

Jane’s bed was significantly smaller than hers, and Maura’s pulse jack–hammered against her throat when she eased her way beneath the covers and found herself encompassed by the lingering scent of the Detective’s perfume. “It’s just Jane,” she reminded herself quietly, but that didn’t stop her stomach from flipping when the brunette emerged from the bathroom looking like a cover girl for the appealingly rumpled, or quell the prick of moisture on her hands when Jane climbed beneath the bed sheets, leaving scant room between them.

“So,” Maura finally exhaled, willing herself to take measured breaths, “You didn’t call Lieutenant Grant tonight? I’m sure he would have relished the opportunity to be your Knight in Shining Armour.”

“Seriously?” Jane turned to regard her friend with an incredulous expression, “The thought never even crossed my mind. Besides, that guy can’t go anywhere without an entourage. He would’ve called Frankie, Frankie would’ve called my mother, and the next thing you know my whole freakin’ family would’ve been staking the place out. Besides, I don’t need some guy swanning in here and subjecting me to all that macho bullcrap,” Jane nudged her friend’s arm companionably, “I’ve got you.”

“And a night light,” Maura observed, unable to suppress a chuckle when she saw the Mickey Mouse–themed LED inhabiting the nearest plug socket.

“And a night light,” Jane echoed, her body convulsing with laughter when their eyes locked across the expanse of pillows. “God, I am such a wuss.”

Maura shook her head, her smile gradually fading into a look of earnest intensity. “Jane, you’re the bravest person I know,” she assured the Detective, impulsively squeezing her arm. She hesitated for a moment, ducking her head. “And what you’re feeling now, it’s perfectly natural. I mean, I haven’t been sleeping all that well, either. Not since…”

Jane’s expression quickly evolved into one of concern. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because… I didn’t want you to think I was weak,” Maura admitted quietly. “You face that kind of fear every day, Jane – you’ve been through hell, but you still hold it together. It seems stupid of me to fall to pieces thinking about the what–ifs.”

“Maura, no,” Jane objected, her eyes roving over her friend’s embarrassed countenance. “You didn’t sign up for this shit, OK? You were never supposed to be in that position. Besides, we both would have been screwed if you hadn’t nailed Lahey with that scalpel. You couldn’t have handled it any better than you did.”

“But only because you were there. When he pulled that gun on me, I didn’t know what to do, Jane, I – ”

Maura sucked in a shuddering breath when Jane took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. She met the Detective’s warm gaze with a shaky smile, surprised to find how quickly the memories retreated when Jane reached out to her. She twined her fingers through the brunette’s, and Jane moistened her lips, her mouth suddenly parched by the strangely intimate sensation of Maura tenderly stroking the scar tissue on her upturned palm.

“Can I ask you a question?” Maura ventured after a moment of loaded silence, feeling guilty when Jane shot a languid smile in her direction.

“Sure.”

“You love working with Korsak, right? So why did you ask to be re–assigned?”

The shock on Jane’s face was evident and Maura bit her lip when she felt the Detective abruptly stiffen besides her. She almost considered changing the subject, because seeing the anguished emotions playing across her friend’s features made her heart constrict in empathy, but she remained quietly attentive, watching the Detective struggle to formulate a response.

“Because I can’t look at him and not think about Hoyt,” Jane eventually admitted, confirming Maura’s suspicions with a weary sigh.

Jane withdrew her hand from her friend’s grasp, tucking her bunched fists under her armpits and staring attentively at the ceiling. “I thought I was going to die, Maura, and the only thing that got me through the pain was focussing all of my energy on not letting that bastard see me cry. When Korsak took him out…” Jane hesitated, her lips curling into a self–deprecating sneer. “Let’s just say I lost it. Korsak buttoned up my jacket and tried to straighten me out before the fire department got there, but I had to lie there, pinned to the floor, while they tried to free me. I was a snivelling wreck. All I could think about was Hoyt crawling all over me, the stench of his breath… and Korsak…”

Jane swallowed audibly, clearing her throat, “Korsak saw it all; the blood, the sweat… the piss, the tears. Now, every time I catch him looking at me for a little too long, I know he’s remembering that night and I just – I can’t work with him anymore. It makes me feel too...” Jane let out an embarrassed laugh as her eyes became saturated with tears, “Oh, crap.”

She turned away, discreetly swiping at her eyes with her sleeve, and Maura hastily blinked back tears of her own, closing the distance between them.

“Jane,” she murmured, resting a hand on the curve of the Detective’s hip. She brushed away the tumble of loose curls falling over her friend’s face and gently gripped her shoulder, willing her to turn around.

Jane hesitated for a moment, gathering the resolve to meet her friend’s empathetic gaze, but she was still taken aback by the intensity of Maura’s expression. She instinctively reached out, running her fingers along the expanse of Maura’s jaw line, and smiled softly when the Doctor gently captured her hand. Maura regarded Jane searchingly, but the question she had intended to verbalise evolved into a muffled whimper when the Detective unceremoniously grabbed the lapels of her pajamas and pulled her into a kiss that started off sweet, but quickly became searing.

“You’re very good at this – ” Maura noted breathlessly, and Jane smiled her appreciation against Maura’s mouth, capturing her lips for a second time before the Doctor had the opportunity to deconstruct her technique.

“Likewise,” she murmured, closing her eyes and humming her approval as Maura sucked lightly on her lower lip.

Jane allowed herself to get lost in the sensation for a moment; to feel the blood coursing through her veins and the unprecedented surge of arousal as Maura’s hands wound their way through her hair, tenderly caressing the nape of her neck, but by way of some unspoken agreement, they both pulled back before things became too heated, too quickly.

“OK… wow.” Jane closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the stress of the day seeping out of her, and then opened them to find Maura looking at her with an inscrutable expression. Their eyes locked in an unspoken interplay, and Jane’s burgeoning smile suddenly turned into full–blown laughter, prompting an amused, but quizzical look from her friend.

“What?” Maura demanded, her brow furrowing in confusion.

“It’s just something my mother said to me earlier – about needing to know that I’m taken care of. I don’t think this is exactly what she had in mind, though,” Jane said with an impish grin, idly running her fingers through Maura’s strawberry blonde hair.

“I don’t know, Jane. I think she’ll be happy as long as she knows that you’re loved.” Realising what her words implied, Maura blushed, and Jane shot a teasing grin in her direction.

“Loved, huh? Well, I guess you did let me kiss you without subjecting me to a full medical first. I’m gonna have to consider changing my toothpaste, though. I’ve got to start taking better care of my gums.”

When their laughter died down, Jane drew Maura into a warm embrace, breathing in the alluring scent of the Doctor’s shampoo and caressing the arm that was wrapped securely around her waist. They settled into a companionable silence, lulled by the cadence of each other’s breathing and, for the first time since Hoyt had bulldozed his way back into her life, Jane fell into a dreamless sleep.

~ ~ ~