26. Us Against the World

And the crowd goes wild!

The full-time buzzer can barely be heard above the rowdy sound of Boondocks' student body of supporters all on their feet, cheering from the bleachers like it's the WNBA finals. Their basketball Captain proudly double-high-fives her hard-working team-mates before calmly, but quickly, shaking sweaty hands with the opposing team. It's all part of the routine; Coach Korsak has it drilled into their thick skulls, "A sore winner is worse than a sore loser. True sportsmanship is 50% athleticism and 100% grace."

When it's time to shake the other team Captain's hand, Jane gives a slight nod and says, "Good game."

Unfortunately, the other girl isn't so gracious or discreet, snorting in Jane's face. "Fuck you, Rizzoli."

Standing eye-to-eye with the slightly taller girl, Jane hopes she heard wrong. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," she answers, bumping Jane's shoulder and walking by with a stink-eyed glare. If looks could smell…

With the excess amount of adrenaline still pumping through her veins, Jane doesn't know whether to go punch her lights out, make her see stars or laugh in the girl's face. "Sore loser," she mumbles under her breath, watching number twenty's retreating back get swallowed up by the masses. She rolls her shoulders, suddenly feeling tense.

"Jane! Jane!"

She looks up, searching out the owner of that voice, and she can't help but smirk. The change is instant when she sees familiar strawberry-blonde locks bouncing around in excitement as her girlfriend waves at her with much enthusiasm.

Girlfriend. It still feels weird for Jane to think of Maura (or anyone) in those terms. She kinda likes it, of course, especially in moments like these. Girls never used to care enough to even find out where Jane's true talents and passions are, let alone come out and support her, but Maura does all of that and more even though she couldn't care less about the actual sport.

Jane shakes her head, finding her so cute, and mock-waves back at her girl with as much enthusiasm. Maura gestures to meet her outside before Jane is yanked in the direction of the change rooms by several team-mates.

When she gets there, she sends out a quick text and immediately hits the showers, itching to be clean and with her friends to unwind after another long week over burgers and fries or whatever's good. And Maura, of course. Especially her.

The girl in question feels the vibration of her phone just as she reaches the hallway, with Barry and Suzie close behind. She fishes it out of Jane's letterman jacket-pocket to read the text. She knows it's Jane before she even looks.

J: 'I can't wait to kiss you.'

A slow smile crawls from one corner of her rosy lips to the other before her teeth gently grasp her bottom lip, blushing. This always happens. It's like Jane is navigating their new relationship status on nothing but pure instinct, saying almost whatever pops into her head whenever, and although at times she may be a bit crass or silly, she's always honest. It's acts like these that just shoot their way straight to Maura's heart. And Jane doesn't even know what she's doing, which makes it all the more endearing. Coupled with the image of her sweating it out on the court, Maura can't help but shiver then sigh.

"Uh-oh. I know that smile. What has Romeo done now?"

Maura quickly puts her phone away before trying, but failing, to look her best-friend in the eye with a straight face. Slowly and demurely she says, "I don't know what you're-"

Suzie whines, "Out with it already. Before you pass out again."

The day Maurzie solidified their best-friendship and picked out a portmanteau, it became an unwritten rule that they would share absolutely everything, especially anything pertaining to their love lives. For moral support as well as good old-fashion gossip, and so far, Jane has been a constant on Maura's lips. Jane this; Jane that. It was adorable for all of five minutes before Suzie realized what she'd gotten herself into.

"Jane sent me the sweetest text."

"I can't believe what you've done to my best-friend," Frost cuts in.

"She's still the same Jane. Just…"

"Sweeter?"

"For lack of a better word… yes."

"You should call her your sugarmama then. I dare you." They laugh as Frost starts to sing Sweet Jane before being promptly hushed with a few pecks on his lips.

"Okay, I'll stop," he relents with a playful grin, not really minding that particular attention.

"So, what did she say?"

"That she can't wait to kiss me," gushes Maura.

"Aww…" coos the other girl before turning to her unsuspecting boyfriend, slapping his arm, "Why can't you be more like Jane?"

Frost's mouth hangs open, hand rubbing the offended limb. It actually hurts. "You're kidding, right?"

The girls laugh at him. "Of course I am."

Maura turns around at the distinct tap on her shoulder. "Ja-"

"Sh…" she breathes against soft lips, bending to wrap her arms around Maura's waist. "No talking until you kiss me."

Their lips meet eagerly, the kiss deepening at once. Maura intertwines her fingers behind a long, tanned neck before the ground disappears from under her feet when Jane lifts her up. She squeals in shock and Jane just laughs.

"Jane!"

She stops squirming once she can feel the ground again.

"There."

"And what was that for?" asks the shorter girl breathlessly.

Jane shrugs a shoulder. "For looking cute in my clothes… and being my own little cheerleader. I dunno whether to get you pom-poms or a foam finger."

"I'm sure we could reach a compromise."

"If it includes you in a cheer outfit again, I don't need convincing."

"That was for Halloween. And I'm still waiting for my treat…" she quirks a brow.

"Mmhmm… Let's go get something to eat first." Jane suggests, retreating from the moment. "I'm fucking starving."

Frost agrees, tapping his stomach, "I second that."

"Oh, get a room already you two."

The place is bustling with patrons trying to keep away from the chilly, chilly night. The chatter of groups of families and friends echoes around the restaurant over the backdrop of atmospheric music and delicious smells. My point is that it's a very public place.

"Mm… Oh God, that's so good. Mmm-mm. Fuck. Me. It's been way too long."

"Jesus, Jane. Wouldja tone it down a notch? You're making your girlfriend jealous. Of a burger."

"No, Frost. Not just any burger. This baby is phe-no-me-nal. They should name it the better-than-sex burger." She has another hearty bite and Maura doesn't supress the urge to dab a napkin on her saucy chin, shaking her head at her.

"You do realize that you're the only one at this table who would know, right?" Frost counters, getting his hand smacked when he tries to weasel a fry from Suzie's plate. He always finishes his first and regrets it.

Jane looks up at the ceiling in thought, realizing that's probably true, and shrugs indifferently. "Then trust me. It's that good."

Maura swallows her last bite of salad and crosses her arms in challenge. "I thought you said kissing me was better than sex."

"Yeah, but I can't eat you, Maur…" A beat goes by. "Hm," she tilts her head, "Well, actually..."

"You'd better not be seriously considering cannibalism. I have to draw the line somewhere."

They all laugh at that comment and Jane throws a fry at Frost, which he deems a victory, mumbling, "You guys know what I meant, right? Come on."

"And just for the record, Jane, this still doesn't count as a date."

Jane swallows her food to speak, bouncing her knee up and down under the table. "You had fun, didn't you?"

"That's beside the point. It's been two weeks." Everything with them just has to be a debate. Patience is definitely a virtue.

With an exaggerated eye-roll, "If you're already sick of dating a very busy student-athlete…"

"Don't even go there. I'm not breaking up with you until you take me out on a proper date!"

"All the more reason for me not to!"

"Ugh! You know what I mean."

Jane winks at her, feeling triumphant. "Mm-hm… Right. Things have been a little busy lately, but don't sweat it."

Maura looks over at Suzie who's wearing an 'I told you so' smirk.

Frost quirks a brow at Jane, who's doing her best to ignore him. He knows she's up to something.

"Was the girls' team wearing our old kit?"

"Yeah. Budget cuts, apparently. We were the first to suffer. And the worst part is no matter how much they wash 'em, I can still smell you."

Maura scrunches up her face at the imagery. "That can't be sanitary."

"Yeah, well, you got a thousand bucks lying around?" she jokes and Maura tilts her head, mouth poised to speak. "Kidding! I was only joking."

"But-"

"No way. I did not sign up for a sugarmama," she chuckles.

Frost and Suzie share a look and burst out laughing as Maura's patented look of confusion makes another welcome appearance. Was Jane trying to call her sweet or is she missing something?

Then some girl walks past their table. "Slut!" she fake-coughs.

Jane recognizes her as the other team Captain from earlier and she can't help but take the bait. "If by that you mean a better basketball player than you, then yeah. Guilty as charged."

The girl stops and turns around with a grin. "You probably slept with the ref anyway, huh?" she shrugs.

Jane narrows her eyes, sizing the girl up, ready to start a fight. But then she feels Maura's hand on her arm and she wills herself to just let it go. This chick isn't worth ruining a perfectly good evening. "You know what? Forget you. It was just a game and now you're making it personal."

"What? Did I hit a nerve?" she says provocatively.

Jane stands up, tired of looking up at her.

"Yeah. All of 'em. You're causing a scene in front of my friends. We were having a good time until your sorry ass walked in all sore from losing. Just turn around and walk away."

"Or what?"

"Just walk away."

The girl takes a step forward, "Or," then another, "what? Maybe if you weren't such a slut you wouldn't get what's coming to you."

Jane almost lunges for her but Frost's strong arms hold her back. "Let it go, bro. She's not worth it," he whispers, trying to calm her down.

Jane's jaw is taut with anger and she can feel it building up inside her. "I'm warning you, number twenty! Back off," she grinds out in a low growl, staring bullets at the other girl.

Instead of backing off, she steps closer. At this point, people are staring.

"What is it with you and calling chicks by numbers and letters as if they're just cattle in a farm? Huh, Rizzoli?"

Frost briefly wonders if this one of Jane's exes but discards the thought just as fast.

"Does the name Kendra ring any bells or did you just know her as K? See, she's my cousin and she told me all about you and how you seduced her a couple of times, and then when she woke up one morning, you were gone for good. Oh, and about how you broke up with her over the phone after getting what you wanted from her. You asshole. How do you live with yourself? I hope you got the clap, slut."

A waiter comes over with two security personnel in tow.

"Jane." It's Maura. Her voice is calm, her grip firm. "Take me home."

"But-"

"Please."

Frost and Chang have already started gathering up their things and Maura has Jane's jacket, pulling her girlfriend by the elbow towards the exit.

The evening ends off on a sombre note.

You say that you're broken

I just wanna fix you

Tell me what to do

Baby, I will listen

Days that go unwritten

All the things you're missing

Tell me what to do

Maybe I can fix it, yeah

The two couples part ways outside the restaurant with Suzie and Maura hugging good-bye and Frost patting Jane on the shoulder before both getting into their cars. It's a quiet ride to the Isles home.

"Walking away was the right thing to do." Maura speaks up when Jane doesn't say anything for a long time after pulling into her driveway.

Jane remains unreadable and just restarts the engine without looking Maura's way. "G'night."

Maura's mouth hangs open and she faces Jane more fully. "No. It's not a good night."

Jane just sighs through flared nostrils and looks away.

"Not until you're alright."

"I'm alright," she has to grind the words out through her teeth with the way she's so wound up. If only Maura would just drop it.

"Lying to me isn't fair, you know that."

"Don't start, Maura," Jane warns, shaking her head, "Don't fucking start."

"No, you better not start. Don't you dare retreat. Not now," is Maura's own warning, though out of fear and desperation. She doesn't appreciate being dismissed or shut out when it really counts. If something is bothering her girlfriend, she wants to know what it is, especially if it's her fault. They're a team now, aren't they? She wants the chance to prove she can be there for Jane but Jane, the stubborn mule, won't let her.

"I don't have to pour my heart out to you every time I'm in a mood, okay? Save yourself the headache and just go inside already. Jesus!" Jane's annoyance is directly proportional to Maura's. In her head, Jane reasons that she should go cool off so she doesn't say anything she'll regret later. She doesn't really want to take this out on Maura, because as pissed off as she is, she's bound to put her foot in her mouth. But how do you say that nicely?

They're both fighting to not fight, but Jane doesn't pull away from Maura's touch when Maura roughly jerks her right hand into her lap just so Jane will finally look at her.

"I can handle headaches. What's wrong?" she demands.

"Nothing…" sighs Jane, holding on loosely to that last shred of stubbornness.

"Jane. Tell me. Please. What's wrong?" Demanding turns to pleading.

Jane cuts the engine. "Fine. Everything… I just feel like no matter what, the past's always gonna come and bite me in the ass. No matter what… And… I don't want you to have to deal with it."

Maura reaches for Jane's face, tilting her head so their eyes can make contact. "I don't care."

When Jane tries to look away, Maura doesn't let her.

"Care about what?" she grumbles.

"About who you used to be. And you never have to hide it from me either. I already know that you had a… colourful past with other girls because you opened up to me. And everyone else may not, but I do understand why you acted that way. You weren't exactly a saint but you aren't a monster either, Jane."

"Then why do I feel like one?" Jane isn't sure where all this insecurity is coming from, it could be from eating too much food, or swallowing too much truth, but it feels like shit. Had she just been allowed to get in a fight, she might have been able to feel slightly better, but now she has all these feelings swirling around and no apparent release. Except talking.

Then she realizes she's never had anyone besides Frost to do the listening.

"If you were a monster, you wouldn't have me." Maura states simply and Jane can't beat that logic.

"I guess," she shrugs.

"No, it's a fact."

The conviction in Maura's voice makes Jane's coffee browns soften and lock onto bright, hazel eyes that seem to twinkle in the dark of night. Jane slowly pulls her hand back from Maura's lap and brings Maura's hand up, kissing it soft and sweetly. "Thanks… for saying that."

This is the first time Jane's felt safe about sharing her insecurities and she doesn't know if she'll ever be able to pay it back.

"And thank you for not shutting me out."

"I kinda-" Jane half-sighs, half-chuckles, "never mind. You should get home before you turn into a pumpkin."

"I don't know what that means, but what is it you were going to say?"

"I just, uh… wish we could spend the night together."

Maura's face lights up in excitement. "Then come inside."

"I don't think that's such a good idea." The brunette shakes her head wearily, eyeing her girlfriend hungrily before noticing the silhouette behind one of the house's curtains.

"Why not? I don't mind your snoring."

Gasp. "I do not!"

"Well, you wouldn't know it, but I would."

Jane rolls her eyes and pecks Maura just below her ear, eliciting a contented sigh. "I'm exhausted. I'm going home."

"So you're alright now?" Maura asks to make sure.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Jane smiles at her tiredly.

When Maura starts removing Jane's letterman jacket, she stops her. "Nah, keep it. Wear it at my games."

"Okay," she smiles, "I will. Call me as soon as you get home." She opens the passenger door.

"Why?"

"So I know you made it there safely."

"You sound like Ma." Jane almost rolls her eyes, but Maura's pointed stare turns worried and Jane's a goner. "Fine. I will call you as soon as I get home," she parrots.

"Okay, good."

Maura leans down to grab one more quick kiss before shutting the door. Lingering outside the car for a few more moments with Jane looking at her expectantly, Maura looks back at Jane, biting her lip in thought before deciding on a simple "Good night."

"See ya." Jane restarts the engine once more and waits for Maura to shut her front door before driving off, wondering what that little pause was about.

Still I believe you

I just want to save you

Tell me what to do

Baby, I will listen

Run, run if you want to

And you'll find what you're after

Tell me what to do

I'll find all the answers

When Maura closes the door behind her, she leans against it with a huff. She's exhausted. Having a full life with classes, friends and a girlfriend takes up a lot of her time. She wouldn't change a thing.

She jumps in surprise when her phone rings. "Jane?"

"Okay, so I'm not home yet, but I already regret not staying over."

"Is this your way of saying you miss me?" She hears Jane's deep laughter, but no answer. "I miss you too, now focus on the road."

"Yes, Sir."

Maura hangs up, smiling all the way to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Maura, could we talk?"

She jumps, startled again. "Goodness. Mother, you scared me."

"Oh, I thought you might have heard me come in."

They lapse into an awkward silence for a minute, Constance wondering if it means they can talk and Maura waiting for her to say whatever she wanted to say. She's been avoiding her mother for long enough, and she feels calm enough to actually have this conversation.

"I see you went out with Jane."

Maura tugs on Jane's jacket and nods, acknowledging that it's the first time her mother has referred to Jane by her name. It's a small step in the right direction. "We went out with our friends to celebrate her victory. She's the basketball team's Captain."

"Oh. That's good."

Small talk was never either of their strong suits, resulting in another lapse into silence.

"Honestly, I'm not quite sure where to start," is the artist's ensuing confession. She stands awkwardly on the other side of the kitchen island with her hands clasped and Maura feels almost guilty for not reaching out for so long.

"Did you… keep in touch with my biological mother all these years?" She isn't accusatory, just curious. And it seems like a good place to start.

"Yes," Connie nods. "On and off. But we had to keep it from you."

"Why?"

A long, bracing sigh escapes rouged lips. "For your safety."

Her life was in danger after all. But it's hard to reconcile the sense of danger her mother is trying to convey after having met the woman. There was nothing scary about Nurse Martin.

"Your mo… Hope even threatened to take you back by force once we placed you in public school."

Hope. Her name is Hope.

"I don't understand. Why did she give me away in the first place if she still wanted me?"

"There are things you don't know, Maura. Things that were hard to explain for a very long time, but I think you're ready to know. Your father agrees."

Maura moves to her mother's side, desperate to hear what she knows. The dire look on the older woman's face is scaring her. "What things? Please, tell me."

They move to the living room. It's Constance's effort at stalling to gather her thoughts, but soon they're sharing a couch and her daughter's eyes are open and expectant.

"Well," she breathes out as a sigh, "When you were born, it was under extraordinarily difficult and complicated circumstances. I should start by telling you that your biological father is a very, very dangerous man. The kind of man one wouldn't want to associate with, let alone raise a child with."

The first thought to spring to her mind is that he must have been some sort of criminal. Perhaps the deadly kind.

"Were you protecting me from him?"

"No, from his enemies. He thinks you're dead."

Maura gasps, trying to process the information as it comes. How bad could this man be to be better off thinking his own child is dead?

"If he knew you were alive, there's no telling what would have become of you. So when Hope had you, she came to us for help raising you, to keep you as far away from that sort of life as possible."

Hope came to them. That makes sense now.

"Oh." Maura swallows her own disappointment. "So you didn't really…"

"Of course we wanted you, child. We were never good at showing it, but you were always our pride and joy. I just wish you knew how much we truly adore you. We wouldn't have agreed to take you otherwise."

"How did you know her? Why did she come to you of all people?"

Constance opens her mouth to answer a few times, but no words come out. Her face changes from that of guilt to sadness then back again. Whatever she's about to say must be big.

"Hope is my sister."

Maura's mouth hangs open as her eyes stay unblinking. Her mother has a sister? Her mother is her aunt?

When Maura finally looks away and doesn't say anything for a while, the older Isles continues on if only to fill the thick silence. "Half-sister, really. We weren't even close, but... Anyway, all your father knows is that Hope couldn't take care of you because she was still in College. He has no idea about your biological father."

At least she isn't the only one being left in the dark. Maura wonders if her mother would have even decided to have this conversation were it not for their falling out. But something else niggles on at the back of her mind. Did Hope ever plan to see me again, or was it an unfortunate circumstance?

"Is that why she started working at the school? To keep an eye on me?"

"That's what she says, yes."

Maura nods, staring off somewhere over her mother's shoulder. She expected it, but somehow that wasn't the answer she wanted. She wanted to hear that Hope couldn't stay away any longer and that she just had to see her and pick up where she left off all those years ago. Perhaps she isn't being realistic.

"And when she came to my installation," her mother adds, "and threatened to take you away, I was forced to take you out by any means necessary. Even if it meant you would hate me for the rest of your life. I'm so ashamed."

"No. Mother, please. I understand. I would never have let her take me anywhere."

Maura pulls her mother in for a hug, and it's such an unusual occurrence that at first Constance hardly responds. But then when she can't remember the last time they ever embraced, her heart aches for her daughter. No wonder she feels so unloved. Mrs. Isles hugs her daughter for all she's worth, trying to make up for all those scraped knees, failed junior science experiments, lonely birthdays and all the times she was too busy for her. If she had it to do all over, she would in a heartbeat. That's when she realizes she's crying.

"Oh dear. I haven't cried since my wedding."

Maura smiles recognizing her mother's bad attempt at humor.

"Lucky you." Maura sniffles, wiping her own tears. "I cry all the time."

Maura was going for a jocular tone, but this declaration makes Constance even sadder.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean for things to happen this way, honestly. I always thought you were fine. I was wrong... but I do love you."

"I know. I've never doubted it... What- What's his name? My biological father."

"Honey," shaking her head, "I don't think that's such a good idea."

"Maybe you're right." Maura forces a brief smile before getting t leave. "I think I'll go to bed now."

"Oh." Constance stands as well. "Okay, sweetheart. Try to sleep well."

Maura can't seem to get enough of hugging her mother so she initiates the contact again. This time, her mother knows exactly how to respond.

"Good night, Mom," she whispers.

"Good night, sweetheart."

Making her way slowly upstairs and down the hallways to her bedroom, then locking the door before systematically undressing and crawling underneath the covers of her bed, Maura feels overwhelmed. And that's an understatement.

And as if to answer her silent wish, her phone rings one more time on her nightstand. She lazily answers it while staring at the ceiling.

"So I just stepped in through the door, and I was thinking I'd just call my little Maurmaid. Check in before bed."

"Can we talk?"

Jane is dog-tired herself by now, but the urgent plea in Maura's voice gives her pause. Is this about earlier or did something happen after Jane left?

She closes her bedroom door and falls back on her bed without kicking her shoes off. "Yeah, of course. What's up?"

They stay up talking on the phone and fall asleep on the line, neither girl wanting to say good-bye.

Angela smiles at Jane's sleepily smiling form the next morning, oblivious to the massive phone bill on its way.

Don't know how long I've wasted my time

I only wanna lie with you here

I never thought that you'd be so blind

Say if you want and we'll disappear

We'll disappear

A/N: This chapter's brought to you courtesy of a lovely song called Say So by UH-HUH HER.