Chapter Text
General Casey Jones pushed through the people milling around the event. Excusing himself as he slowly made his way to the bar, his eyes searching for a certain brunette.
Not finding his quarry just yet, he ordered a scotch and scanned the room. He had got good intel from an old friend that Jane would be at this gala. After accepting his drink, he positioned himself at the end of the bar so that he would have the best view.
The minute he saw her, his breath caught. Jane had always fought him about wearing dresses and he never understood why. The deep burgundy gown she was in was absolutely stunning. Obviously, her mother or Maura had helped her pick out because it fitted her figure flawlessly. Her curly hair was piled high on her head and she had actually put effort into her appearance, applying a tasteful amount of makeup while maintaining her natural look.
The most exquisite thing about the brunette tonight wasn’t what she was wearing or how her hair and makeup were done. No, what truly drew the man in, as well as everyone else in the room, was the look in her eyes and the flush to her cheeks. There was just something about the way she looked tonight that made her absolutely radiant.
Smiling to himself, he realized it was anticipation and love. His friend must have alerted her that he would be attending as well. Apparently, she was just as excited to see him as he was to see her. Stepping away from the bar, he slowly began making his way toward her, not wanting to miss the look on her face when she finally spotted him.
A moment later his breath hitched at the force of seeing her face go absolutely radiant when she saw him. She began to walk toward Casey, her gaze never wavering as she approached. Keeping his pace slow, he wanted to make her come to him. Wanted her to submit to him and put herself where she belonged, on his arm.
This go around he wouldn’t be taking no for an answer. Her job was fine and all, but it was time for her to stop screwing around and become an appropriate wife. The room was becoming more and more crowded and she had made very little progress toward him due to the sheer number of people when he was jostled from behind.
Taking his eyes off the prize for a moment to avoid stepping on unsuspecting feet, he heard a female voice offer passing apologies as a suit arm disappeared in the crowd. Once he had righted himself, he looked to regain a visual on his target.
Jane must have been intercepted by someone she knew and was now speaking animatedly to a man, one that appeared to be shorter than her based on the occasional glimpse of a tuxedo jacket clad shoulder he spotted through the growing throngs of people.
Casey was unconcerned that this intruder would pose any threat to him. She obviously anticipated being with him tonight and had really pulled out all the stops. All those things he had always asked of her to do, as a woman was supposed to, she had accomplished this evening. Dress, heels, makeup, hair attended to, and the beautiful expression on her face as she interacted with even the most inadequate of people. Yes, she would make a fine General’s Wife.
Jane’s brother, Frankie bumped into him while he was impatiently waiting for her to continue making her way to his arm. “Hey Casey. I didn’t realize you were back in town. How long are you here for?” The General and Frankie never had developed a rapport and now wasn't the time so Casey made the decision to quickly shut down the conversation.
“I am not in town for very long. I came to surprise Jane and wanted to ask her to move with me to DC. I think she has lived this life long enough. It is time for her to become a wife and mother with someone who is worthy of her. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to go see a man about a horse.” He pushed away to return to the bar, the snort from the taller man not even registering.
Someone behind him mumbled something about a funeral, but he paid them no mind as he settled in once again. It was about time for Jane to end the conversation she was having and give him some attention.
His eyes returned to her as she laughed whole heartedly, a slight blush on her cheeks from the warmth of the room and her merriment. She softly laid a hand on a tuxedo clad arm to make a point. The General could feel himself heat up as jealousy began to rear its ugly head, but just like that the people between them seemed to part and he released an enormous sigh at the realization that the person was actually Maura.
Jane had always had a soft spot for the strange doctor. She was attractive in her own right, though tonight not so much. She must have worn a tuxedo in jest at Jane. Like the Doctor’s other clothing, it fit well and was of a known designer, yet he still had difficulty finding the appeal. Her blonde hair was down and perfectly coifed, as always. The shirt matching in color to Jane’s gown, the low cut allowing a bordering on inappropriate amount of cleavage to be displayed. She was undeniably a woman, but he simply preferred femininity.
Truth be told, he was relieved that Jane had chosen appropriate attire for this gala. It would be one less fight he would need to have with her.
Tired of waiting for her and knowing that women can talk with their friends for hours, Casey pushed away from the bar to claim his prize. Apparently, Jane still had some stubbornness in her. He wasn’t concerned that it wouldn’t disappear with time.
A hand on his shoulder caught him just as he pushed away. It was Detective Vince Korsak, Jane’s former partner. “Got a few minutes for a drink, General?”
Being that Korsak was a veteran and he had always spoken to him in an appropriate manner, the General agreed to a quick drink. It would give Jane more time to spend with Maura and she could get it all out of her system before he took her away for the remainder of the night.
Vince ordered his own scotch before turning to Casey. “How long are you in town for?”
Clinking the ice in his glass, the General answered quickly. “Couple of days. Wanted to see Jane.”
The Detective accepted his drink and turned to watch the two women as well. “Is Janie expecting you?”
Avoiding the question, Casey answered. “She saw me and the expression on her face took my legs out from under me. I don’t think she’ll mind.”
Korsak looked at him with an odd expression. “She’s happy now, General. Much happier than I have seen her, well… ever.”
Casey smirked, “Well, she must have received word that I was coming tonight, because the look she gave me was pure adoration. She’s lucky I didn’t throw her over my shoulder and take her out of her that very moment.”
Vince snorted into his glass, “You sure she was looking at you?”
Frowning Casey looked at the Detective. “Who else would she be looking at? We both know there is no one better for her than I.”
The two men looked at one another for a moment. Vince letting the silence go by seemingly unaffected before breaking it. He gestured to the woman in question once more. “You sure about that?”
Casey turned to look at where he was pointing. The breath left his body and he slumped backward to lean against the bar. He had never beheld a sight more breathtaking in all his life. Jane’s chocolate eyes were almost black with desire. Her cheeks beautifully flushed. She held her right hand to her breast and the rise and fall of her breathing could be seen across the room. Her dimples the deepest Casey had ever seen, and her eyes were glistening. The General watched the fall of a single tear as it slid down her cheek. It wasn’t until that moment that he realized where she was looking.
Dr. Maura Isles was on one knee in front of Detective Jane Rizzoli. She held Jane’s left hand in her both her own. The entire room fell silent as all eyes were on the two women.
The Doctor was able to project her voice, despite the emotion in it. “Jane, you have taken something from me, and I don’t ever want it back. You have taken the loneliness and emptiness that was my life away. You have given something to me. You have given my life purpose, hope, family, and love. You have filled the gaping crevice in my soul with your warmth, joy, and strength. I have given you something in return. My heart. You have it. All of it. To hold within your own two hands and keep safe, because there is no safer place in this world for my heart than in your hands.”
Tears were streaming down Jane’s face. She had never let Casey see her cry. Even when she told him about losing their baby. Now she was openly crying in a room full of strangers. The General was helpless to do anything more than continue to watch.
Maura paused for a moment to let her words be absorbed. “Jane Clementine Rizzoli. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
The words were barely out of Maura’s mouth before Jane was answering. “Yes. Yes of course I will. You don’t even have to ask. I only have room for your heart because I have already given you mine.”
The fact that Casey himself had waited so long for an answer when Jane had answered Maura so quickly wasn't lost on the General.
Every person in attendance burst into applause as Maura slipped a ring on Jane’s finger. Jane assisted her in standing as she was still chivalrous despite their chosen attire. She then caressed Maura’s cheek as they looked one another in the eyes.
Casey gasped out loud. “Oh. My. God. She is absolutely stunning. I have never seen her look like that.”
Vince patted him on the shoulder. “That’s love, Casey. She looks like that because she is in love. She would have looked at you like that too, you know. But you blew it.”
Casey pulled away, his voice soft and dejected. “No, she never looked at me like that.”
Korsak was thoughtful for a moment. “You’re right, she never looked at you like that. But she would have. All you needed to do was accept her for who she is.” Vince gestured toward the two women. “She doesn’t dress like that because Maura asks her to. She dresses like that because Maura treats her the way a woman ought to be treated. She treats her like a lady.”
Casey Jones watched in awe when Jane pulled Maura into her and held her tightly. Maura didn’t fight to control the embrace or push for more than Jane was willing to give. She just let her be.
Korsak finished his glass and placed it on the bar with a clink. “I am going to make my way over to offer my Best Wishes. Take a piece of advice from a man three times divorced for what it’s worth. Slip out of here and go back to your life. The next time you run into a woman like Janie, treat her like a lady. Let her be who she is and love her for it, not in spite of it.”
The General finished his second scotch of the evening, watching Jane and Maura’s family and friends gather around to offer their support. He had let the opportunity to love a woman unlike any he would most likely meet again slip through his fingers because he couldn’t love her for who she was.
He decided to heed Vince’s advice and slipped out of the gala, knowing as long as he lived, he would never forget the vision of Jane Rizzoli in love.