A/N: Ah yes, back to writing, particularly for my new fandom obsession with Rizzoli & Isles. I had this idea sprung to me a little while ago, and figured I'd attempt to write it in between writing for Resident Evil: Redemption. This is Alternate Universe for RE, set in Boston with the cast of R&I. And no, there will not be any zombies. There will be a fic for that later. Without further discussion, enjoy the first chapter!
Two Sides of Me– A Rizzoli & Isles and Resident Evil Fiction
Chapter One: Rumour Has It
"So wait, wait, what's this I hear about the homicide unit getting Korsak's replacement today?" Jane Rizzoli glanced up from her desk, after hearing minor discussion between her younger brother and partner. Frost slid back in his chair, glancing over his computer screen, scrolling down.
"That's the news I heard," He replied, brown eyes scanning over the page that loaded before him. Frankie leaned down over Frost's shoulder, and his brows furrowed as he analysed the photo of the new detective taking Korsak's place.
"Detective Alice Abernathy, formerly of Detroit PD. Worked homicide for ten years, put away a lot of big time gangbangers, and solved a lot of cold cases." Frankie read off the briefing they had received about the new detective aloud. Jane got up and walked to the other two; leaning down Frost's other shoulder to get a look.
"Huh. Wonder how they wound up picking someone all the way from Detroit. Whatever happened to hiring in Boston?"
"I don't know, but – " Frost stopped himself when he caught movement at the door to the office. All three of them glanced up slowly at the new arrival: a dirty blonde woman who wore her hair in soft curls, cropped short before her shoulders stood in the doorway, leaning on the frame. She was dressed in a white button-down dress shirt with the top few left open, and low rise dark grey trousers, and black leather boots. She held a cigarette between her lips that was nearly finished burning.
"They wanted someone to come in to this department with a track record to take over for Sergeant Detective Korsak. Someone with experience and the know how to help run a successful homicide team." The woman stepped forward, and Jane's eyes widened slightly.
"You can't smoke in here." Jane said firmly, quite unimpressed as it stood so far. Even the way the other woman walked with an air of arrogance had Rizzoli inwardly twitching.
"Oh, sorry." The blonde replied, taking the stub of a cigarette out of her mouth, spitting slightly onto her two fingers before pinching the end of the butt out to toss it in one of the garbage bins without a care. Jane walked over to the woman, gauging that she was only about two inches shorter than she was.
"You must be Detective Abernathy."
"That I am, Detective…?" Alice offered a hand forward which Jane shook rather firmly
"Jane Rizzoli. That's Detective Frost, my partner, and this is my younger brother and officer, Frankie Rizzoli." Alice glanced to the other men, her blue-green eyes meeting each man's before turning back to Jane.
"Pleasure. So, once things are set in writing," Alice drawled, her voice raspy. Jane figured it was from the smoking habit if anything. She stood, thumbs in her belt hoops. "I'll be on the BPD's homicide squad."
"Yeah, you will." Jane replied, smiling only briefly at the woman. Sure, she might not have had bad intentions or anything whatsoever, but something about her just had Jane ticked. Jane was glad that for the first little while, she wouldn't be forced to work with Abernathy, not directly anyway. For the first while, she'd just tag along with her and Frost, learning of how things are done in Boston. "Listen, I'm gonna head down to the café, you guys want anything?" Jane glanced to her brother and Frost first.
"Nah, I'm good. Thanks, sis." Frankie tipped his hat as he put it on, excusing himself. Frost glanced between the two women, and shook his head, holding up his still hot cup on his desk.
"You go, we'll hold the ranch until you get back, Jane."
"Right. Okay then." Jane gave another casual glance to Alice before walking past her, furrowing her brows as she noticed the blonde's eyes giving her quite the evident once over from top to bottom as she walked by. Making a face as she left the office, the elder Rizzoli headed down to the café, spotting her mother talking to someone at one of the numerous tables. Someone she knew all too well…
"Oh, Jane, about time you got down here." Angela smiled. "I made breakfast for Dr. Isles. Would you like something?"
"Yeah, yeah sure. Thanks, ma." Jane replied, smiling as she sat down in the high legged chair across from Maura. Angela smiled at the two of them, then hurried off behind the counter to the kitchen, leaving the pair.
"You seem distraught. Something bothering you?"
"I- How could you tell?"
"The tone of your voice plus the way you walked in so apprehensively was much different than the way you were acting this morning. Clearly something has bothered you since I saw you for coffee earlier." Maura replied softly, tilting her head curiously at her best friend. Jane gave her a look, and then sighed in defeat.
"Vince's replacement came in this morning." Jane explained, fiddling with the napkin dispenser on the table. Maura continued to eat away at her plate of pancakes, honey-hazel eyes meeting Jane's. "She's uh… interesting. Walked in smoking a cigarette. Indoors. Who does that? I mean, don't tell me in Detroit they allow that!"
"Well, each jurisdiction can have its own bi-laws which can be different per state and per county."
"That's not the point! It was rude, and come on, what kind of detective smokes these days?"
"Nicotine is a very addictive substance, making smoking a hard habit to quit." Maura added between bites.
"Still! So who knows where her fitness level stands? I don't need her hacking a lung up when we're chasing down a perp!" Jane huffed as Angela brought over a plate of bacon and eggs. "Thanks, Ma." She began with a few bites to her eggs before Angela's curious glance made her stop.
"What's this detective's name? Maybe I can find out more about her if she comes down here."
"Detective…" She chewed. "Abernathy."
"Abernathy? That sounds… English or something. Is she English?"
"Actually, Angela, Abernathy comes from Scotland, in particular Perthshire. In fact, there are many different spelling variations based on the way the name was pronounced, like Abernethy, and Abernethie with a 't-h-i-e' instead. Many Scots immigrated to America and Canada in the 16th century, and one of the more renowned members of the Abernathy clan was John Abernathy who settled here in Boston in 1767."
"Thanks, Maura, I really needed to know where her name came from."
"Jane, don't be rude." Angela crossed her arms, giving her daughter a look. Jane huffed again, sipping her fresh coffee.
"No, she's not English or Scottish. She's got a raspy De-troit attitude."
"I think you're being a little harsh, Jane. First encounters and impressions usually change once you get to know and work with someone." Maura smiled. "Like you and I for example." Jane made a face, then chuckled a little.
"That was different. I was undercover as a completely different person. This woman is just… something about her, I don't like it."
"Like I said, Jane, I'll maybe get to know her if she comes down here."
"No, no you will not. You'll be nice, but you will not fraternize with my new 'co-worker'. Okay?"
"Speaking of fraternizing," called out a voice from across the room, belonging to Detective Abernathy. Her hand was on her hip, above where her gun holster now sat, wearing a dark blazer over her white shirt now, badge on her belt. "If you're done here, Detective Rizzoli, we've got a case on our hands. There's a stiff that's been tossed in the Charles River."