Words Unspoken

Disclaimer: I own Nothing!

Chapter 1:

"Hands are so useful, dexterous. And yours played the piano. Do they still work?"

Charles Hoyt's words echoed in Detective Jane Rizzoli's head as she unconsciously flexed her hands against the dull ache that weighed them down. She stared hard at the stand up piano in Doctor Maura Isles' living room and crossed the room with purpose. She sat down and placed her fingers on the ivory keys. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and began to play.

The music was rocky at first, as the movements tugged slightly on the scar tissue. After a few pushes of the keys, her hands and fingers adjusted to movements once again and the music began to flow. The music was soft and sad. Reflecting how she felt. Jane played until her fingers began to cramp. Uttering a curse, she balled her hands into fists and rested them in her lap.

"Jane?" Maura's voice came from behind her. Jane's eyes snapped open and she whirled around. Maura was standing inside the room, her eyes wide with surprise but shining with tears. Jane stood as Maura walked towards her.

"What? Never heard someone play that piano before? You just buy it for looks?" she snapped defensively. Maura ignored it and locked her eyes on Jane so she couldn't look away.

"That was beautiful." She said simply, "How come you never told me you could play?" the question was asked gently. Jane shrugged.

"You didn't know I was skilled at chess either." She stated. "Why does it matter?" Maura touched Jane's arm gently.

"You're my best friend. But it feels like I hardly know you sometimes. What else are you keeping from me?"

Jane walked to the window and looked out at the dark clouds starting to form. 'I knew it.' Jane thought to herself as the ache in her hands started to intensify. She flexed her hands again. "I'm not keeping anything else from you." She said even though knowing deep down it was a lie. She turned back, but found an empty room. Before Jane could utter a curse Maura returned with Aleve and a glass of water.

"I figured your hands might be hurting." She said, nodding towards the dark clouds that were coming closer. Jane murmured a thank you and downed the pills.

"I'm not hiding anything from you." Jane repeated, her lie sounding more convincing. "I'm a homicide detective, my skills on a piano has very little to do with my job skills so why would I bring it up? Now chess is handy for interrogation purposes but that's it."

Maura nodded, "Ok." She said sounding sure but she wasn't entirely convinced. Jane studied Maura, frowning slightly. A clatter from the kitchen distracted them from their thoughts. The two women entered the kitchen and found Jane's mother Angela in Maura's kitchen, pulling pots and pans out of the cupboards with ingredients for fresh tomato sauce lined up on the counter.

"Hi guys." Angela said brightly. "Tonight seems like a great night for some comfort food. Was that the piano I was hearing? Were you playing?" she asked Maura. Maura looked at Jane.

"Actually Ma that was me. I was trying to see if I could still play." She explained and was annoyed when Angela's eyes misted with tears. "Oh come on! It wasn't even that good! No reason to cry." She said with a huff.

"Jane" Angela said in her you're-in-trouble voice, "Don't sell yourself short." A hint of temper seeped through. Jane just shrugged and went in Maura's fridge for a beer. Maura always kept a supply of her favorite beer handy.

"Wine Maura?" Jane asked, Maura nodded and pointed to the bottle of red. Jane poured her a glass and handed it to her. The two women sipped their alcohol in a comfortable silence. Angela was busy making her sauce for stuffed shells.

Jane's mind still buzzed with uncomfortable thoughts. How could she tell her best friend that her latest dalliances with Dean and Casey didn't make her toes curl? That she'd begun to picture Maura's face to find any pleasure at all? That the world she knew was completely changing and she didn't know what to make of it.

"I can see your mind working." Maura said, cutting through her thoughts.

"It's working alright." Jane muttered, taking a deep drink of her beer. Maura frown and sipped her wine.

"Why won't you talk to me?" Maura pressed.

Jane waved her hand. "I can't put it into words right now Maura. It's nothing personal. When I figure it out I will come and talk to you, ok?"

Maura's eyes lit up. "Fine, I'll be waiting." She said with a smile.

Jane seriously doubted Maura would react that way if she knew what was going on in her mind lately. But she was glad it got her off the topic for a while. Angela joined them in the living room and turned the talk to how Frankie and Tommy were doing. That was an easy subject and put Jane at ease for the time being.

They enjoyed a great meal and Jane headed home to her apartment to let Jo Friday out. As she waited for Jo to do her business she decided to go to back to Merch and see it with new eyes.