Facts, Just the Facts (CH 17 and Epilogue)

A Rizzoli & Isles Story

By Enginerd

Chapter 17 - Closure

After her shower, Jane found herself scrubbing her stove top. After that was done, she fetched the vacuum cleaner from the closet and started to vacuum the floor, which really didn't need it and annoyed Jo Friday, who retreated to a safe place under her couch. After the floor was done, she opened up her refrigerator and sighed. She didn't remember the last time she scrubbed the shelves and decided that was probably a good indication it was time to wash them.

Pulling out her last shelf, she placed it in the sink and sprayed it down. Hearing a knock on her door, she turned off the faucet with a sigh as Jo barked excitedly at the visitor. Wiping her hands with the dishtowel, she walked to the front door, really hoping it wasn't her Ma, who had called several times. She was not in a mood to deal with her right now. With a quick look through the peephole, she sucked in a hopeful breath and quickly unlocked the door and abruptly pulled it open, startling Maura.

"Uh . . .We need to talk," Maura said somberly.

Jane cringed uneasily, not exactly comforted by those words or the tone.

"Sure," she said, stepping back and letting her in.

Jo kept barking. "Jo! Shoo, will yah?" Jane snapped waving her hands at the dog, who barked in protest before trotting off.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you," Maura said.

Jane motioned for them to sit on the couch. Maura nodded and sat erect, on the far end, making Jane uncomfortable as she sat a cautious distance from her.

After taking a deep, focusing breath, Maura spoke. "I need to apologize for how I've behaved towards you and not letting you know what had me upset," Maura said uneasily, glancing at Jane. "It's just . . . I'm not good at sharing my feelings or concerns with someone. I know that I was unfair in not talking with you, before making a decision that affected both of us," Maura said with a cringe as Jane silently listened.

"I had worried about being hurt and in the process, I hurt you," Maura said guiltily, looking at Jane, who remained quiet, listening. "I am so sorry about that."

Jane nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"I had done a lot of thinking today. About us and my failings as a partner to you," she said, causing Jane to struggle not to interrupt, but she managed to remain quiet.

"I am afraid I am never going to be what you should have in a partner. I'm afraid you will see that and regret being with me. I'm also terrified of something happening to you and losing you. And while illogical, I acted out on those fears which in essence, was doing the very thing I was afraid of – losing you," Maura said with a frown. "I've concluded that no matter how far away I push you, I can not protect myself from the devastation I would experience if you . . . ." Maura admitted uncomfortably, then stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

"I am tired, Jane. I'm tired of letting my fears paralyze me, keeping me from the things that I want. But I'm not sure I'm strong enough to get past them," Maura said miserably.

Jane looked at her and asked a simple question. "What do you want, Maura?"

Maura looked into those dark brown eyes, finding what she had always found - understanding and love. "You. A home. A family. Everything . . . with you," Maura whispered uneasily, looking at her expectantly.

The relief Jane felt almost made her dizzy as her heart soared.

"You want what I want. And you're not the only one afraid, Maura," Jane said softly. "I'm afraid you'll see me as the big mistake," she said, prompting Maura to frown. "I'm afraid you'll realize that you could do so much better than me," she said, causing that frown to deepen. "I'm afraid I'm going to drag you into the nightmares I've lived with and that I'm not quite free of. But the biggest fear I have?" Jane said, looking into Maura's eyes. "Is that I will miss out on the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. You," Jane said, noting Maura's eyes welling up with tears.

"Oh Jane."

"What do you say. . . ," she said, taking Maura's hand and gently squeezing. " . . . we face those fears and jump into the scary unknown together?" Jane said earnestly. "Two heads are better than one. Many hands make light work. A stitch in time is a penny earned," Jane offered sagely with a shrug, making Maura laugh as she wiped the tears from her cheek.

Jane smiled at the beautiful sound.

Maura leaned towards her and kissed her tenderly. "I do so love you."

"Show me?" Jane said with a twinkle in her eye.

Maura smiled and stood, holding her hand out. Jane took it and was led to the bedroom.

Maura was in no rush as she undressed Jane, pausing for a caress here, an intimate kiss there. Jane also slowly peeled away Maura's clothes, tracing her long fingers over newly exposed areas of skin, reveling in the softness and the effect of her touch that brought bumps to Maura's sensitive skin and hardness to her nipples.

Finally, they stood without any barriers. Their bodies pressed into each other as their mouths merged, their tongues danced, and their hands roamed.

Jane led them to her bed, climbing on it with Maura, incredibly without breaking their kiss. Maura managed to roll Jane on her back and looked at her with a smile.

"You are sooooo bossy," Jane said with a grin.

Maura dipped down to whisper in her ear. "Well, you did say show you."

"So I . . . did," Jane moaned when Maura's tongue flicked at her earlobe.

Pressing her knee firmly between Jane's legs caused an approving moan. Fingers caressed, stroked, and teased her skin, until finally focusing on Jane's breasts. She squeezed the nipple as she slid down Jane's body, kissing a warm wet trail along the way.

Jane squirmed as her arousal grew, pooling at her sex. A jolt shot through her body as a warm moist mouth attached to her breast. A skillful tongue circled and lapped at her nipple before teeth nipped and tugged at it.

"GOD," Jane moaned, one hand grabbed her sheets as the other landed on Maura's head; her sex grew wetter and wetter at the delicious attention to her breasts.

Maura's oral attentions to her breasts were abandoned as she kissed her way down Jane's chest, to her stomach, licking, sucking, and kissing her way down until she settled between Jane's legs. Her fingers carefully pulling apart the skin around her hood, Maura blew against it.

"Uh," Jane moaned, her head turning to the side as her hands strangled the sheets. "More," she pleaded, rewarded with a tongue that lapped at her juices, dipping deep into her entrance to claim the fluid that continued to flow. "Oh…" Jane exhaled, her body throbbing as her arousal grew and grew, almost painfully.

Maura shifted her weight to one elbow as she placed her fingers at Jane's entrance, teasing it, rubbing the lips without penetrating.

"Please," Jane husked, wanting that penetration. Needing it.

Maura stopped all movement, causing Jane's eyes to fly open in alarm. She looked down at the blond between her legs to see a lust-filled gaze as Maura ever so slowly pushed her fingers into Jane.

Jane swallowed hard as she watched her lover stroke her skillfully, rubbing that perfect spot that caused her to squirm. Her arousal steadily built, climbing to the peak that was so close. So, so close, Jane thought, as her body trembled and throbbed from the tension growing within, sweat beading on her skin. So close she thought, calling out something unintelligible, just before her body suddenly grew rigid then convulsed as her climax hit, releasing a loud moan and large wave of pleasure that washed over her, through her. Then Maura's mouth was on her, licking and sucking, as her fingers continued to thrust within her, harder and harder. A second climax came crashing down, her body unable to do anything except tremble as she rode that wave.

Maura slowed her ministrations, continuing her intimate caresses as she placed a kiss on the side of Jane's thigh. She kissed her way up, tenderly brushing her lips over tingling skin until she was face-to-face with an exhausted Jane. She leaned down and kissed her.

Jane reached up, sliding her hand behind Maura's head as her other hand found purchase on her back, pulling her into the slow, deep kiss.

R&I

Blair yawned as she entered their bedroom, but quickly perked up when she found herself in Jo's arms, being kissed.

Pulling back from the kiss, Blair smiled broadly, glancing around the room that was full of candles that provided a romantic glow that accompanied the soft music playing. "When did you do all this?" she asked delightedly.

"May I have this dance?" Jo asked, stepping back and holding out her hand, which made Blair smile.

"You may," she said, slipping her hand into Jo's as they took their familiar positions and let their feet and bodies move to the music.

"Did Tracy buy out the store?" Jo asked.

"No. She knows better than to max out her credit card," Blair said. "But she will need to get school clothes when she transfers here."

"Too bad she can't just wear her Eastland uniform," Jo said as Blair turned in her arms and wrapped Jo's arms around her waist, which allowed Jo the perfect opportunity to nuzzle her neck as they swayed in time to the music.

"You could suggest that to her," Blair said with amusement.

"And have her give me the silent treatment again? I'd rather have a root canal," she said. "Do you think we're doing the right thing? Having her transfer here and not graduate Eastland?" Jo asked uneasily.

"She's the one who suggested it, Jo. And I love having her home, with us," Blair said, as they rocked to the slow ballade.

"Me too. Even if she still hasn't forgiven me," Jo said softly.

"She's forgiven you, Jo. She just had a really hard time and is scared of being scared again. We all are," Blair said honestly. Jo frowned guiltily. Blair caressed Jo's cheek and kissed her tenderly on the lips before resting her head on Jo's shoulder and swaying to the music.

"Do you think Beth is ever going to settle down? I'm worried about her," Blair asked with a slight frown, looking at Jo, who shrugged.

"If you can, I'm sure there's hope," Jo said with a smirk.

"I only flirted, Jo. I'm afraid Beth is a bit more . . . aggressive," Blair said uncomfortably with a wince.

"I think she's a lot more talk than you think, Princess," Jo said thoughtfully.

"I hope so. Why buy the cow if the milk is free," Blair said sagely.

"I'm sure she remembers your cow talk, Blair," Jo said with amusement as the song stopped and a radio commercial played.

"I just don't want her to get hurt," Blair frowned going to their bed and sitting down.

"I know. Neither do I. But the one I think we need to worry about is Tracy," Jo noted, sitting next to her. She took her hand and kissed it.

"Well, she did say that the consumer would still be compelled to buy the cow if the milk was really good and the cow cut off the supply to drive the demand up," Blair acknowledged, then looked at Jo with a frown.

"Exactly."

"I was hoping she was just trying to get a rise out of me," she said with a sigh, as Jo pulled back her hair and kissed her neck.

"That sounds like a very good plan," Jo said, kissing her cheek then guiding her chin towards her to kiss her on the lips.

Epilogue

"Blair, really. You don't need to camp out here while I do paper work," Jo said again as she opened up her office door.

"I'm not camping out. I have my own work to do, thank you very much," she said, patting the laptop case hanging from her shoulder.

"Great, we can be in the same room ignoring each other," Jo said as they entered her office.

"Dear Lord, Jo! How can you get anything done with this clutter all around?" Blair gasped at the filing boxes all over the room.

"Which is why I am here on a Sunday to reduce the clutter," Jo said with irritation and sat at her desk.

"You haven't even put any pictures up yet!" Blair complained, heading to the small couch, frowning as she removed two boxes to make room for her to sit.

Jo sighed and got up from her desk. She marched over to a corner of her office where several boxes were piled on top of each other. She removed two boxes from the pile and opened the lid to the third, pulling out a picture of her family, before the girls were high school age. Pausing a long moment, she stared at the picture; the smiles on their faces always reminded her of what was really important in life. Looking up, she saw Blair looking at her with a warm smile.

With a self-conscious smile, she placed the picture on her desk. "Satisfied?"

"It's a start," Blair allowed, powering up her laptop.

Jo pulled out a thick folder and opened it. After squinting at the blurry words, she sighed heavily before reaching into her desk drawer to pull out her glasses case. Donning the reading glasses, she sighed again and began to review the case.

"You finally got glasses!" Blair exclaimed.

Jo grimaced. "Yeah. I have to face the facts – my hair is getting greyer…."

"Silver," Blair countered.

". . . my skin is becoming more wrinkled."

"Laugh lines," Blair supplied helpfully.

"And my eyes are getting weaker. I don't have to be a detective to know - I'm old," she said dejectedly, pulling the glasses off and staring at them.

"Put them back on," Blair said.

"Why?"

"Just do it," Blair countered firmly

"Why?"

"JO!" Blair blurted with exasperation.

"Fine," she groaned and put the glasses back on.

Blair stared at her as she got up. "What?" Jo asked.

Silently, Blair approached Jo and swiveled her chair towards her.

"Blair? What the . . . ," Jo said, finding herself being kissed, hard.

R&I

"How do I look?" Maura said nervously, patting down imaginary wrinkles as they approached the Rizzoli's family home.

"Overdressed for a spaghetti night, Maura," Jane said bluntly. "I told you spaghetti."

"I don't think there is a prohibition on wearing a nice dress when dining on spaghetti. It's not like wearing white after . . . ," Maura countered seriously.

"Maura. If you get spaghetti sauce on your dress, don't blame me," Jane said as they entered the house.

"I just wanted to look nice," Maura said, looking down at her dress.

"You always look nice, Maur," Jane said warmly, squeezing her hand.

"But I wanted to look especially nice tonight," Maura said nervously.

Jane looked at her and smiled. "They love you already, Maur," Jane said and leaned in.

"Janie! Maura!" Angela greeted them happily, causing Jane to jump back.

"Hey girls," Frank said as he sat down on the couch next to Frankie, who waved absently at them as he intently watched the game.

"Angela, Frank, Frankie," Maura said with a nervous smile.

"Remember they already love you, Maura," Jane said softly in her ear, trying to quell her unease.

Angela looked at them curiously, noting Maura seemed a bit nervous. But Jane seemed to be helping her relax, she thought, noting Jane rubbing her back soothingly. Just like Frank would do, she considered fondly.

"Hey, Ma," Jane said. "I hope you made a lot. I'm starving," she said, making her mother beam.

"I'm an Italian mother, of course I made a lot! Help me with the salad," Angela said, turning her attention back to the garlic bread preparation.

Jane rolled her eyes, hating to be the one picked on. Why couldn't Frankie get stuck with the kitchen detail just for once, she frowned.

"Can I help?" Maura asked eagerly.

"The more the merrier," Angela chuckled as the two women joined her in the kitchen. "You know, I've always liked you, Maura," she joked, then looked at Jane pointedly. "SHE volunteers to help," she said dramatically, motioning to Maura, who found Jane shrugging and looking at her with a grin.

Hearing Frank and Frankie suddenly shout at the TV, Maura jumped. "You get used to it," Jane said, placing a hand on her forearm.

Maura eyed her skeptically.

"So how was the Benefit? Did you two have fun? I would have asked yesterday, but Janie wasn't answering her phone," Angela said, glaring at Jane with irritation.

"Ma, I was . . . exhausted," Jane said, pulling the lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and onions from the refrigerator.

"Too exhausted to speak with your own mother?" Angela countered, noting how Maura winced slightly and placed her hand at Jane's back as Jane placed the produce on the kitchen table.

"Actually, yes," Jane said and looked at her mother, who frowned.

"So how was the Benefit, Maura?" Angela said, squeezing fresh garlic through the press.

"Eventful," Maura offered, causing Angela to look at her in confusion.

"We met Lieutenant Polniaczek's wife," Jane tossed out, gauging her mother's reaction as she handed Maura the onions and tomatoes and a knife.

"Oh? What's she like?" Angela asked absently, mixing the garlic in the butter.

"A lovely woman," Maura noted approvingly, making quick work of the onions with precise cuts.

"Dresses almost as nice as Maura does," Jane said, placing her hand on Maura's shoulder.

Her stubbornly tough daughter seemed to be more touchy feely these days, Angela noted as she started to butter the bread. Maura seemed to bring out the gentler side to Jane, which was a very good thing, she considered.

"As nice," Maura countered with a smile.

"You wouldn't say you dress nicer?" Jane challenged with a grin, tackling the carrots with a vegetable peeler.

"No. No, I wouldn't," Maura said thoughtfully.

"Well, I'd have to say I strongly disagree, Dr. Isles," Jane said, prompting a pleased smile.

Angela's buttering slowed as she looked between the two women. She blinked with surprise, when she noted Jane stealing a slice of tomato and getting her hand slapped in the middle of the crime. The look the two shared was one she hadn't seen before.

"I'm surprised you would want to eat that, considering your apparent dislike of anything fresh," Maura said.

Jane grinned. "Is that sarcasm, Maura?"

"No, an observation, Jane," Maura responded confidently.

"I don't know who is spreading those vicious, vicious rumors. I happen to like fresh produce," Jane argued, holding up the romaine lettuce as if that was irrefutable proof.

"The contents of your refrigerator would indicate otherwise, Detective," Maura countered with amusement.

Jane looked at Maura a moment, trying to think of an appropriate response.

Angela couldn't help but feel like a third wheel as she saw the electricity pass between them. Jane probably didn't even realize how Maura was looking at her, Angela thought with a frown, knowing that for being such a great detective, Jane was not normally perceptive about herself. Dense, one might even say, she considered with concern.

"Ma! Maura's picking on me!" Jane suddenly said with a pout, startling the older woman from her thoughts and making Maura laugh.

"I've seen your refrigerator, Jane," Angela said with a shrug, glancing between the two briefly before focusing on buttering her bread. "It's not exactly overflowing with fresh vegetables, you know," she added, glancing up to find the pleased look on Maura's face as she eyed her daughter in amused challenge.

"Great, just what I need, the two of you to gang up on me," Jane grumbled and finished tearing the lettuce leaves and placing them into the large salad bowl.

"Maura dear, would you mind taking the salad to the table and setting out the salad bowls from the china cabinet?" Angela asked.

"Not at all," Maura said with a smile, making Angela pause. Her kids were never happy to do chores, yet Maura seemed eager to help.

As Jane started to leave with Maura, Angela noted Jane's hand at the small of Maura's back. She probably didn't even know she was doing that, Angela considered. "Jane? I need your help with the garlic bread," she blurted awkwardly.

Jane paused with a confused look. Maura smiled at Jane and left the kitchen to complete her task.

"You need my help to do . . . what, exactly?" Jane said, eyeing the baking sheet full of buttered bread ready for the oven.

Angela frowned. "Janie, we need to talk," she said, immediately putting Jane on the defensive.

"About what?" She said tersely.

"Just hear me out, will yah?" Angela said with annoyance.

"Fine," Jane said with a heavy sigh.

"Now I'm not trying to butt into your personal life…." Angela started, earning a loud snort.

"Since WHEN?" Jane blurted with a laugh.

"Would you just listen to me for a minute!?" Angela hissed. Jane rolled her eyes and nodded. "I think that maybe, just maybe, we've been looking in all the wrong places," Angela said cautiously, glancing out at the dinner table where Maura was setting the salad bowls.

"Looking? Looking for what?"

"Looking for someone for you," Angela said impatiently. "Get with the program, will yah? Sheesh, no wonder you're still single!" she blurted with frustration, picking up the sheet of garlic bread and going to the oven.

"Really, Ma?" Jane said with amazement. "I've told you, several times in fact, that I don't need or WANT your help in setting me up! Have I mentioned that I've told you several times?!" Jane said emphatically.

"Jane, if you'd just listen! Maybe you should consider someone who you are already comfortable with," Angela said, gaining a confused look from her daughter. Angela leaned towards her and whispered. "Maura," she said meaningfully, glancing towards the dinner table, where Maura was chatting with Frankie.

Jane's ready protest immediately fell silent as she looked at her mother in surprise.

"Here me out, Janie. She's a wonderful woman. Odd? Sure, but who isn't? You are already best friends. Clearly she has a great tolerance for your crap…or she was dropped on her head as a child," Angela offered with an amused snort. "But I can see you two care for each other. You two have something special already. Maybe, just maybe, it is something that will develop into something more. And for God's sake, let's not forget – she's a DOCTOR!" Angela preached enthusiastically, getting more excited by the idea by the moment.

"You think . . . I should date . . . Maura?" Jane said incredulously.

Angela rolled her eyes. "Don't be such a prude! We're in Massachusetts for God's sake! You two can even get married!" she preached as Jane blinked. "Please, Jane. Just think about it with an open mind. I have a feeling about this. A good feeling," Angela implored.

"All done with the salad bowls," Maura announced upon her return to the kitchen. "Is something wrong?" she asked, seeing the odd look on Jane's face.

Angela smiled. "NO! Not a thing," she said.

Seeing a big smile now emerge on Jane's face, Maura asked "What?"

"Well, my mother thinks we should…ow!" Jane said, grabbing the back of her arm, which her mother pinched, hard.

"We should get everyone seated at the dinner table, right Jane?" Angela said, glaring at her daughter. "Maura, honey, could you round up the men for me?" she asked, grabbing the back of Jane's arm to ensure she didn't escape.

"Okay," Maura said, looking at Jane, who seemed rather amused by something. Something, which she would find the details about later, Maura considered confidently, casting one last curious gaze between mother and daughter before leaving them.

"What are you trying to do?! Mess things up before you even go on a date!?" Angela blurted with annoyance, slapping Jane's arm.

"Ow!" Jane said with a laugh, holding her arm.

"I'm serious, Jane. I want you to seriously think about Maura, and not make jokes about the idea," Angela said with annoyance as she pulled the toasted garlic bread from the oven.

"Ma! It's not a bad idea," Jane allowed with a small smile, getting her mother to look at her hopefully. "It's just that…," Jane offered with an apologetic wince.

"You can get over the same sex thing, Jane. Why Annie Gladkowiski's daughter Brenda was as straight as they came, but is now happily married to LeAnn Yetterman. If she can…," Angela reported.

"Ma! It's just that I've already…," Jane countered.

"You're already seeing someone! Jane!" Angela blurted with annoyance, slapping her arm, twice.

"Hey!" Jane said, holding her abused arm.

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Angela hissed.

"We were going to…," Jane said defensively.

"When?! After you let me go on and on, and get my hopes up?" Angela blurted with irritation, shaking her head dejectedly.

"MA! Listen to me! I am already with Maura," Jane said firmly. "As in with with," she offered as clarification. "We were going to tell you tonight, after dinner."

Angela looked at her daughter a long moment, before sighing heavily. She quietly left to serve the spaghetti to her family.

Jane sat next to Maura and nervously watched as her mother finished serving the spaghetti and sat down next to her father.

Maura looked at Jane with concern. "I told her," she said simply, causing a look of alarm from Maura. Jane shrugged.

"So, Frankie," Angela said, grabbing a piece of garlic bread from the basket. "When are you going to find someone to settle down with? You're not getting any younger, you know."

The End

Disclaimer: The characters of Rizzoli and Isles were created by Tess Gerritsen and adapted for television by TNT. The characters of Jo and Blair are from the NBC TV series, The Facts of Life.