RIZZOLI & ISLES

Before & After: On The Run

myIllusion (ggdogsdottir)

Title: Before & After: On The Run

Jane & Maura

Author: myIllusion

Fandom: Rizzoli & Isles

Pairing: Jane Rizzoli/Maua Isles

Rating: PG–13(Part II will be NC–17)

Disclaimer: I don’t own the Characters

This is my first fan fiction so constructive comments are welcome and appreciated.

Before & After: On The Run

myIllusion (ggdogsdottir)

JANE

She was sprinting down the trail at break–neck speed. The rain was cold, it pelted her body in a furious rhythm that echoed the patter of her footfalls. At some point during Jane’s run, the downfall turned into sleet– blurring her vision and making the path treacherously slick. She pressed on with icy calm, using the inconvenient storm as one more chunk of fuel to stoke the fires of her simmering rage.

Overhanging branches, with streaming rivulets of slushy rain conspired against her; slashing at her face, bobbing up and down–seeming to laugh, as she ducked and dodged to avoid their malevolent onslaught.

She could only run. Run and hone the jagged edges of her fury into a cold, merciless, uncompromising weapon. Her mind plotted while her body moved on auto–pilot. Jane trusted her natural agility, her ability to move along and evade the hazards of the trail with a confident indifference.

She was running with a purpose, a focus and a mission. She would run to the trails end and desperately, hopefully, arrive in time.

Maura.

Random images of her friend tumbled through her mind, spinning in kaleidoscope fashion, urging her to move faster.

Maura, offering to share her lunch and smirking like the devil when Jane asked if it was from the “dead person fridge.”

Maura…animated, giddy with excitement while waving a gross wormy thing around with tongs– it was some kind of parasite she had just pulled out of stiff. She then proceeded to explain–with reverence and great detail–the genetic evolution and adaptability of the blood sucking monster. Even Jane had lost her lunch that time.

Maura, undercover at the lesbian bar … but barely covered…. the image of Maura poured into that dress, or rather–bursting out of that dress–seemed to be in the forefront of all the other images. This nagged at Jane, but not enough to wholly distract her because the immediate need was much to frantic and dire.

Hoyt. Fricken Hoyt, had somehow (from prison) arranged to have Maura kidnapped. Arranged to have her stashed out here in the woods and had conveniently set Jane up. She knew she was running straight into a trap at full speed, literally, and yet, she had no choice. Hoyt would have Maura tortured and quite possibly murdered, unless Jane showed up at the scheduled time and place. She had no time to notify Frost or Korsak, nor was she permitted to. The directions had been very specific.

Earlier that day, a bicycle delivery man dangling a manila envelope between his teeth, pedaled up to the stoop as Jane was entering her apartment building. The guy was wearing a navy hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and no helmet; which Jane noted immediately because protective headgear was required by the companies that used cyclists to do deliveries.

He skidded to a stop right in front of Jane. He wore dark sunglasses, which were unnecessary as it was nearly dusk; the sky was tinted murky gray with only the memory of blue, the air was chill and thick with the scent of impending rain and, Jane thought, foreboding doom.

The cyclist nodded at Jane and said: “Rizzoli?” It was definitely a question. He was making sure to mark the right person for his delivery. The detectives acute sense of intuition had signaled a red alert before the guy even muttered her name. Everything she observed, in the four or five seconds that elapsed upon his arrival, had sent a knowing chill up Jane’s spine. The chill that said: this is so wrong, this is trouble with a capital T, this is going to ruin my night.

Jane nodded at the cyclist, knowing he knew she was “Rizzoli,” but he still required the confirmation. He carelessly tossed the envelope to her, forcing her to lunge forward and fumbling to catch it, while he sped away on his bicycle.

Asshole.

But Jane knew. Jane knew every aspect of that little scenario had played out exactly as it was choreographed. She dreaded opening the envelope, knowing it held some ugly truth that could not be denied, nor delayed and she dare not wait. She ran her fingers through her dark unruly tresses, scanned the neighborhood as inconspicuously as she could under the circumstances, and flopped down on the stoop.

Jane shook the envelope so it’s contents settled near the bottom and then tore it open across the top edge. She peered inside and was completely undone by what she found. A “5 X 7” photograph of Maura in the very same outfit Jane had seen her wearing not three hours ago. Maura. She had been hit, at least once by the look of an ugly purple bruise on her cheek. The photo showed her bound to a chair with duck tape, her head dangling listlessly and seemingly unconscious.

The envelope included a map and a note.

Dear, sweet Jane.

Did you think I had forgotten you so soon after our last little game?

Follow the map and you will find your friend.

You have two hours if you opened this package when you received it.

One hour to drive and one hour to run.

I know you can run Jane.

When your reach the destination on the map you will find Dr. Isles.

Remember what I said to Dr. Isles when she interviewed me? She won’t be killed Jane, but she will be hurt…if you do not show up on time.

Don’t call any of your little friends. My friends will know. Come alone Jane.

It’s all about you Jane.

One last thing. Take your cell phone out of your pocket and smash it on the sidewalk in front of your apartment. If you do not do this my friends will know and Dr. Isles will suffer because of you Jane.

No time for calling friends anyway.

If you take the time to run upstairs and get your running shoes you will have to hurry… the clock is ticking Jane.

Run, run, run.

Two hours Jane. If you arrive late…it will not go well for Dr. Isles.

The moments from the time Jane opened that envelope were a blur to her. A frantic, hysterical ransacking of her apartment. She gave herself five minutes to change into sweats, put her running shoes on, stuff her guns, ammo, a very illegal silencer, night vision binoculars and a hunting knife into a back pack. She grabbed a warmer jacket and basically, just dumped Jo Friday’s kibble all over the floor while trying to pour it into her bowl. She took no time to hug or kiss the dog and was barely able to keep from trampling her while stomping through her apartment to find the things she needed. She picked up her phone thinking she could get a quick call in to Frost– to let him know what was going on but, of course, her line had been cut. She didn’t have the time to deal with the explanations anyway.

Jane broke every speed limit on the way. Getting out of the city was the hardest part and she knew she was being tailed by Hoyt’s accomplices, but was to distracted to actually be sure which car behind her was the tail. The light was bad, it had started raining and she was having a terrible time keeping any kind of focus, except to follow the directions of the map and the instructions of that diabolical note.

Jane sped through every red light except for one. Almost certain the tail was several cars back she a took a risk that she would not be seen. In the lane next to her on her left, she noticed a passenger in the car on his cell phone just as they were pulling up to the red light. Fortunately, he was smoking so his window was open. Jane lowered her own window, un–holstered her Glock and pointed it at the guy. The light was still red and she yelled, “hey buddy”– he looked over at her and his eyes grew very big.

“Toss me your cell phone or I’ll blow your head off.”

So…Jane had a phone. The guy was really very cooperative. Jane didn’t have the time to do all that explaining about being a cop, and that this was a police emergency. She would deal with the illegalities of her actions later, if she was still alive.

The problem with cell phones is you never really learn any ones phone number. You just program your phone with all your contacts when you set it up– then you never actually have to punch the number in because you just select a name when you want to call someone. Ugh. So it was when she tried to use this strangers phone–she could not remember one single phone number.

Maura would. Maura could recite every single phone number on her contact list and many, many more. Just thinking of Maura put a spike in Jane’s adrenaline rush, which was so high already she was in a constant state of near hysteria and intense focus.

Hoyt had taunted her: “It’s all about you Jane.”

But for Jane, it was all about Maura.

Something inside her felt crushed to think about Maura being hurt. She wanted to rage, lash out and smash things. When she glimpsed that photo of Maura; her beautiful, brilliant, gentle, and yes, sometimes annoying friend–when she looked at that photo her heart froze into solid ice. Her anger was a ball of white hot fire: nothing would stop her until Maura was safe and she would stop at nothing to make that happen.

Jane shouted out loud while pounding on the steering wheel of her car, “Stay out of my fucking way assholes–I’m coming to get you.”

After exiting the freeway and speeding down a road with freezing rain– she could not recall a single phone number.

She dialed 911.

“This is officer 299 I need a secure line.” She didn’t want to take the risk that Hoyt’s men had a scanner and was grateful that the department had set up this alternative for undercover officers and sensitive cases. After being transferred she took a deep breath and said: “This is detective Rizzoli. I have a 14588(kidnapping). I need you to patch me through to Detective Korsak or Detective Frost immediately.”

Korsak answered.

Jane said: “Korsak listen. I don’t have time to explain, so just listen. Hoyt had Maura kidnapped. He’s got her up somewhere in the Northwest, past Medford along the Mystic…it’s in the woods at a rental house or a cabin. He sent me a map and directions and I’m on my way up there…”

“Jane, why didn’t you call for back–up? Again?…you are doing this again? withou…”

“Korsak NO… shut up and just listen. He’s on a fucking time schedule. I only have an hour and twenty minutes left to get there. I got a head start and I need to get there first. If anyone shows up before me they will kill her. Hoyt set this up because he new I would come. If I don’t get there on the time schedule he has allotted they will kill Maura and flee the scene. If I get there on time…I’m guessing they will take me and Maura somewhere else–to a second location.”

“Jane…what the fuck?…”

“KORSAK! This was set up a long time ago and it’s very sophisticated. I had no time to do anything but get in the car and go, I had to steal a phone off a guy to get this call through and this cell phone is going to die because it doesn’t have any charge left. l’m going to give you a general location… don’t send anybody in until after 8:30. I have to be their by 8:00, anything that’s going to go down has to happen after I get there or Maura doesn’t have a chance. Do you understand Korsak? It’s the game that’s important to Hoyt. And me. If I break the rules Maura will suffer the consequences.”

“Okay Jane…calm down…stay cool. Give me the location and Frost and I will take it from there– we’ll get a helicopter on standby and all the back–up that’s needed to flood the location after you get there.”

“No… Korsak…Christ!!! Be ready… but, absolutely do not move until after 8:30, I mean don’t get anywhere near the place or they will know and Maura and I will both be dead…I’ll try and call you but I have to turn this phone off to save the battery.”

That was earlier in the evening.

And now, Jane was running.

The trail head was an ugly maw. A giant mouth that swallowed; intimidating by it’s depth, the darkness seemed eternal and alive with malice. Initially, she was manic with anticipation, she needed to be moving and everything was taking too much time. Jane forced herself to be calm while perusing the map that Hoyt provided. Once satisfied, she strapped herself into the backpack and charged into the depths of a wooded trail that was seldom used– it slithered along the Mystic River like a deadly serpent.

The trail was dark but the moon was waxing, it created an ethereal glow, which filtered through the trees and cast a dappled luminescence. Her pace at the beginning was much to fast. Her mind was screaming, “slow down Jane you’ll crash and burn before you get there,” but her body paid no heed. High on adrenaline, fueled by anger and fear, she raced through the forest like a maniac. Slowly, ever so slowly, she managed to regulate her breathing, she steadied her pace and calmed her thoughts.

Jane had an hour to run…so Hoyt had said. She assumed he had calculated how long it would take her, personally, to run the trail. He probably also allowed for her increased adrenaline–she figured his calculations were dead on.

The fucker.

After the first couple of miles, Jane settled into her pace and mapped out her game plan. Hoyt had been right–it was “all about Jane,” as far as he was concerned. He was a sociopath. As such, he cared for no one except himself. Therefore, he did not care about the people he manipulated into helping him toward his goal. They were pawns.

His goal was to move Jane all over the chess board, forcing Jane to play this game with him. He captured Jane’s Queen and was moving in for a “Check Mate.” But his “friends,” his accomplices, had no idea they were pawns– no idea they were disposable pieces in a diabolical game. Hoyt was still in prison so he could not possibly take part in this evenings events personally. Jane knew what Hoyt’s accomplices did not know: that they were lambs for the slaughter.

And, God help her get through this, but that was what she was going to do: move in for the kill. That was her only choice. She knew it with a certainty and so did Hoyt. He wanted her to do this. He wanted her to lose that part of herself that valued human life. The part that he could never understand and never would. He wanted her to be like him, he had set her up, and he played her emotions perfectly by stealing Maura away. How did he know? How could he know that threatening Maura would make her nearly insane? And it did. What did he see when Maura interviewed him at the prison? How could he possibly know how much Jane cared about Maura by that one interview?

Jane was maybe a hundred yards away from the the cabin, panting heavily, with ten minutes to spare before the appointed deadline. Her mind was clear now that she understood what she had to do. There was one man guarding the back door with a rifle. She circled through the woods on the right side of the cabin to get a better vantage point. With her binoculars she could see only one vehicle, an SUV of some sort. She focused the binoculars on the windows and could see at least one other person moving inside through the translucent widow shades.

It was as she suspected. There would not be a gang of kidnappers waiting upon her arrival. There were just these two guys, Maura, and maybe a third person that she hadn’t seen yet– but probably not. Hoyt wanted her to succeed so he made certain that she would. Jane hated that she felt relieved by this knowledge…considering what she was about to do.

The sleet had turned to snow as Jane was skulking through the trees on the right of the cabin. She was grateful for the snow as it made her sneaking easier, quieter and the visibility more difficult for the guard– who was staring out at the trail. He was obviously waiting for Jane to run up and surrender herself. Jane was sure that’s what Hoyt had told him would happen.

Jane attached her illegal silencer to the illegal Beretta she had stowed inside the back pack. She moved toward the cabin like a deadly cat stalking it’s prey, treading very carefully–stepping over branches that would crunch and give away her location. She had two minutes left before Hoyts deadline was met. Jane didn’t even need to clear the tree–line before taking her shot. The guard toppled over without so much as a grunt. She got him in the back of the head and he went down with a thunk and whoosh. The rifle he was carrying made a clattering sound when it hit the ground. Jane sprinted from the trees and positioned herself beside a cord of wood, which was stacked against the cabin wall.

Just as she was hoping, the other man inside came out to see what made the noise. He started to say: “Jerry? what the fuck is going on? It’s almost time and that bitch had better get here becau…–” Sphisst.

Sphisst, is the sound a gun makes when fired– if it has a silencer attached to it.

Jane shoved the body of the guy (who was not Jerry) out of her way and slipped inside the back door. Everything was quiet. The back entrance was not lit so Jane crept through a small hallway into the kitchen, which only had a night light plugged into an outlet. She could see a small table with four chairs in the center of the tiny room. Counters and cupboards wrapped around the room in a sort of pleasant symmetry, juxtaposed to the old fashioned sink, an ancient refrigerator and a modern stove that looked pregnant in an otherwise sedate room.

Jane waited perhaps a minute, looking through the kitchen into the entrance to the living room. A gloomy yellow light emanated from there, casting shadows into the narrow hallway that connected it to the kitchen. She thought she could hear a television with the volume turned down very low, but other than that soft hum–she heard no other sounds.

Considering this lack of movement in the other room, lack of noise throughout the rest of the cabin and lack of time remaining–Jane decided to act. Ah fuck…what the hell, it’s now or never(silent thoughts). If there was someone in there, whatever they were going to do to Maura–they were going to start at any moment, and she did not want to take the chance of being too late.

She slinked through the kitchen, gun raised and ready, peered into the living room and there was Maura. Her arms and legs were bound with duck tape, which fastened her to an old wooden chair. Maura was conscious and alert, her face was bruised on the left side where she had been slapped or punched and Jane felt a flash of rage erupt and overwhelm her senses. She charged into the room intending to “finish” whomever else was part of this charade.

She hadn’t expected a child. In her haste to get to Maura she neglected to scan the entire room before rushing up to her friend, who had only enough time to say: “Jane, behind you.” Jane felt the butt of a rifle digging into her lower back.

She lowered her gun to her side as she turned around slowly, astonished to see a young boy–he was wielding a 22 caliber rifle. The child looked terrified but determined so Jane backed up slowly as the boy was waving the gun back and forth in front of her stomach.

“Get back.” His voice was steady but his hands were shaking, which made Jane incredibly nervous.

She glanced at Maura who seemed very calm for all she had been through. The smile Maura delivered Jane was filled with warmth, relief, and strains of worry. Jane lost herself for a moment in the depths of Maura’s hazel eyed gaze– specks of green intermingled with amber gold…her grave intelligence….

“Jane, this is Ronnie–he is currently the only person present if you disabled the other two…”

Ronnie jerked his glare back to Maura, but kept the rifle pointed at Jane, his hands were trembling even more than they had been. “Shush,” he said to Maura, his face was red and there were tears streaming down his cheeks. “Shush Maura…my uncle is coming back an’ then I won’t be the only one here.”

The boy was so young, Jane thought he couldn’t be more than eleven, twelve at the most. His hair was dark and curly and his face was speckled with freckles. This was seriously fucked up. Considering what the boy had said about his uncle returning, Jane decided to take a chance on disarming Ronnie–who had not even told her to drop her gun.

Very slowly she put her hands out to her side to let the boy know she was taking him seriously, she squatted down and placed her Beretta onto the floor. Ronnie nodded in silent approval at Jane. She continued to move cautiously, she didn’t want to startle the boy––she maintained eye contact with him while she stood back up to her full intimidating height.

The boy took a deep breath and lowered the rifle a little, not by much–it was more of a subconscious act of relief, thinking that Jane was not going to cause him any trouble. At that very instant, Jane lunged at him, intending to grab the barrel of the rifle and yank it out of his quivering hands. She didn’t think she telegraphed her intentions in any way, but Ronnie stumbled back and away from Jane, flailing his arms and waving the gun uncontrollably in several directions.

And then he shot her.

Jane was aware of a hot, needle like pain in her side. She instinctively pressed her hand on the hot spot but didn’t really think the boy had managed to hit her–until she saw the blood all over her hand.

And then she was pissed.

“aaaaaaww…Fuuc..Fu… Fu..dge…. you little …. ugh…” Fudge?

Jane had bellowed out: “Fudge,” and then she started to laugh.

The idiotic, perverse part of her brain that monitored what Maura would and would not approve of (language Jane), would not permit her to swear at the kid who had just put a bullet through her side. She was a little out of her mind and started to giggle. She could hear Maura’s frantic voice calling her name and Ronnie just stood there with a shell–shocked look on his face.

Fear and confusion swept across the boys face as he realized what he had done–entirely by accident, which was apparent by his look of frozen anguish.

Giggling is not an appropriate response to being shot. Ronnie wasn’t quite sure what was happening until Jane lunged at him again, but this time–she got her hands on the gun and ripped it out of his hands. She shoved him out of her way, took two long strides and retrieved her Beretta from the floor. She haphazardly stuffed the Beretta into her backpack while keeping an eye on the boy.

Jane took a deep breath, winced at the now burning pain in her side and grabbed the boy by the collar, she shook him roughly and growled: “get Maura out of that chair and be careful removing the tape.”

“Please don’t hurt him Jane,” Maura whispered as Jane looked into her friends eyes. Jane, gentled by Maura’s calming tone and heartfelt plea, simply nodded to reassure her friend.

She glanced at the boy who was hastily unwinding the duck tape, tears were streaming down his face again, he was sniffling and muttering: “I didn’t mean to,” and Jane realized that at an earlier point in this evening; she had every intention of executing every person in this house–except for Maura of course.

Having the child in front of her, crying, unmistakably caught up in something he should never have been a party to–made her furious, and…so sad. She was immensely relieved that she hadn’t ruthlessly shot the boy like she had the other men. What if the boy had been the look–out at the back door instead of inside the house?… Jane didn’t know what she would have done. Could she have just shot him down like she had shot Jerry? Is that what Hoyt intended?…to make her murder a child?

Her thoughts were interrupted by Maura’s voice. The tone was pleading and filled with frantic worry, suffused with an urgency that Jane had never heard before.

“Jane, you need to apply pressure to your wound. JANE, PRESS YOUR HAND OVER YOUR WOUND–YOU ARE LOSING TOO MUCH BLOOD.”

“Huh” , Jane looked back at Maura who was almost freed from the chair–not realizing she had wandered off in her mind–until she caught the worried look on Maura’s bruised face.

And then, Maura was crouching at her side looking at her wound and mumbling about it being a “through and through,” but it was bleeding too much. Jane couldn’t seem to focus all of the sudden. A part of her just wanted to grab Maura and hug her, hold her close and not ever stop. She was so relieved that, other than the bruising on her face, Maura seemed to be uninjured.

She needed to think. They needed to get out of here before Ronnie’s uncle came back with whoever else he might have with him. She needed to think and Maura kept poking at the hole in her side, and it was really starting to hurt.

“Maura stop…please…it’s okay.” Jane brushed Maura’s hands out of the way and stomped back over to Ronnie, who was now sitting in the chair that Maura recently vacated. Snatching the duck tape off the book shelf it had been placed on, she leaned over and proceeded to truss the boy up in the very same fashion that Maura had been bound.

“We need to get out of here–NOW.” She grabbed the boys rifle, and looked over at Maura who was kneeling on the floor in a puddle of her blood.

“Yes we do Jane, but first we need to staunch that wound or you will bleed to death.”

* * * * *

MAURA

The flight from the cabin had been tortuous. Jane was sliding into shock from the blood loss, the dehydration from her run and, Maura concluded, the overwhelming stress of this days events.

Maura’s mind had not been idle during the hours she had been bound to that chair. Her photographic memory categorized and filed every item in the cabin that she could see; organizing the information, sorting and grouping objects together into an itemized list of things she would need should she escape.

After convincing Jane to allow her to bandage the gunshot wound, she ransacked the cabin in much the same way that Jane had torn through her apartment earlier that day. She poured whiskey from a bottle of Jack Daniels into Jane’s wound to disinfect it. There were no medical supplies on hand and Maura knew the alcohol would burn, she knew it would cause Jane great discomfort, but she also knew that it was necessary. Maura was merciless in her reasoning and therefore, was prepared for Jane to be unreasonably angry with her.

Jane had yelped in pain and swore at her. Maura closed her eyes and pretended not to hear the stream of colorful language that spewed from her friends mouth like an erupting volcano.

“Christ Maura, Jesus, what the Goddamn hell, holy fuck fuc… fudge…” and Jane started to giggle again.”

Maura bound the wound with torn pieces from a cotton bed sheet to create a makeshift field dressing. She sat Jane down on a chair in the kitchen and stuffed her into one of the men’s down filled coats that she had found, zipping it up snug and pulling up the hood to keep Jane as warm as possible. She found some bottled water in the refrigerator and begged Jane to drink it while she prepared for their excursion.

After a frenzied but unsuccessful hunt for the keys to the Ford Explorer in the driveway, she had even resorted to searching the pockets of the very dead men behind the cabin: Maura concluded that the only way she and Jane could get away safely; was to take the trail by which Jane had arrived upon. A very grim conclusion, but once she had made this decision her actions were swift.

Maura grabbed a down sleeping bag and stuffed it into its sack. She retrieved the duck tape, a flashlight and some bottled water out of the refrigerator. She snatched some candles off the mantle and the box of stick matches along with the rest of the torn cloth from the bed sheet. All of these things went into the stuff sack with the sleeping bag. She tied this bundle to the straps of Jane’s backpack. She found a lighter jacket in the bedroom for herself–it would have to suffice as the warmer jacket was needed for Jane. Her own coat had been left in the lab when Hoyt’s men had taken her. Maura hoisted Jane’s backpack onto her shoulders, picked up Ronnie’s rifle and eased Jane out of the kitchen chair.

They departed the cabin at the rear entrance and wandered into the night. Maura chose not to look to at the two immobile figures on the ground, she had dismissed them from her mind after her fruitless search for the car keys. Thinking about them (and why they were dead) would only complicate her immediate need, which was to get Jane to a hospital. The bodies were covered with snow and would soon be two, white, unremarkable mounds. She felt a pang of remorse for leaving Ronnie bound as she had been but, ultimately, it had been a logical decision.

The snow was falling thickly, dancing swirling patterns onto the now white ground. What had been a chilling rain earlier had turned into the first heavy snowfall of the winter. Maura thought it breathtaking to look at, enchanting even, but utterly inconvenient under the present circumstances. Thank God she had worn slacks to work and sensible shoes for once. Jane had teased her earlier that day.

“Oh my God, who are you? and what have you done with my friend Maura?”

“Very funny Jane… today is Friday, so it occurred to me I might take part in a modern work place custom.”

Jane snorted, flashed that insufferable smirk and said: “Welcome to the Tribe.”

She then elbowed Barry Frost in the ribs and snickered, laughing at her own joke. Barry hadn’t known what to do. Should he laugh with Jane or reprimand her for making fun of “Dr. Death”? Maura was delighted by his wide eyed confusion and also by Jane’s unfettered glee at her expense.

Maura cherished Jane’s unrelenting honesty, her transparent sense of humor but mostly–her sincere and loyal friendship. Maura did not make friends easily. Maura’s world was orderly, her thinking was linear and literal and defined by established facts. Jane was the only person in Maura’s life who cared enough about her to say “Maura no…just NO,” when her “wikipedia mouth” had run away with itself.

Jane would say: “Sweetie, I have no idea what you are talking about, stop speaking geeky genius dialect for a second and use fewer and shorter words…please?”

Maura smiled with these thoughts as she guided Jane through the snow and onto the trail Jane had emerged from just a half an hour ago. Jane was slipping in an out of altered states. She described in detail to Maura how she came to be at the cabin at the appointed time. Described in detail her feelings and reaction upon receiving Hoyt’s instructions.

Unfortunately, for Maura, these details were scattered like confetti on a very windy day. The order by which Jane disclosed the information bounced along the time line back and forth with many curious sidebar comments. Maura categorized these free associations in a very special file in her mind marked: “Jane’s Uttered Nonsense.”

Maura would not forget a single word of Jane’s soliloquy. She would recall the words as well as tone, inflection and the various contexts by which these words could be applied. Later she would sort and categorize, ultimately arrive at a hypothesis, or at the very least a theory, that might explain some of the wilder notions Jane had been espousing to her. Analyzing this information now, however, would be irresponsible of her. She needed to get Jane to the hospital.

Her decision to take the trail seemed like the safest option when they left the cabin. The driveway in the front of the house led out to a well traveled road that accessed most of the residents along this route. Maura felt the risk would be to great as her kidnappers would be returning from that direction.

Ronnie had told her earlier in the evening that his uncle was coming with a van to take Maura to a “better house,” and that she shouldn’t worry because it was “kinda like a hide an’ seek game” they were playing. When Maura asked if his uncle was bringing any friends to play in the game as well, Ronnie explained the rules to her.

“What kind of game would it be if there wasn’t two teams Maura? My dad an’ Jerry an’ me is on one team, an’ my uncle Roland an’ another guy Paul, an’ another guy Skeeter is on the other team. When they get here they get to take you away an’ hide you…. an’ then…. we have to wait awhile an’ figure out how to find you again. Simple, right?”

Ronnie had patted Muara’s knee, grinned wildly at her before offering her another sip of bottled water. The boy had been incredibly sweet, but sadly obtuse. Still, his treatment of Maura had been gentle, kind, and she was much relieved that no harm had come to him.

“Jane, can you tell me anything about this trail? Are there houses along the path?”

“Umm…nope.”

“Jane, you must have seen something while you were running along this trail, are there other cabins back here? Someplace we could find someone to help us, or borrow a phone?”

“Umm… all I did was run Maura, run and run andrunandrunrun run….andthinkabout… shooting those fucker…erjerks….butthere’s …um… theresacellphoneintheback…pack.”

Jane’s words were running together, her breathing was erratic, she was stumbling more frequently and her body was becoming listless. Muara had pulled Jane’s arm over her shoulder and was carrying most of her weight as they plodded along. This was serious. Jane could not continue to walk and Maura could not carry her.

“theresacellphoeintheback…pack.”

“There is a cell phone in the back pack.” Maura deciphered.

With this new information Maura made a decision and accelerated their pace–she wanted to get Jane as far along this trail as she could before Jane collapsed. Her eyes scanned both sides of the trail as she propelled them forward. The wind, which was mild earlier had started to gust and howl. That was not good, Jane could not survive outside in a snowstorm with a gunshot wound. She desperately searched the depths of the forest on either side of the trail, looking for anything that could provide a shelter to hide and protect them. Then she would use the phone to call for help. But she had to get Jane settled someplace safe first, they could not stay outside exposed to the storm, nor to the men who would be hunting them.

And just as she was starting to really get frightened she saw something about fifteen yards off the trail. She spotted the massive trunk of a fallen tree. The decaying process revealed the hollow within a portion of it’s trunk, new vegetation and smaller trees had sprouted up around the cylindrical mass providing a natural camouflage.

Maura pulled Jane along through that last little barrier of brush and woods. She spoke to Jane in a low, calm voice trying to infuse a sense of assurance and safety to her tone. “Okay Jane, were going to stop for a little while…everything is fine now. I’m going to make us a little camp and then call Frost to come get us.” Jane mumbled something that Maura could not decipher, but she was relieved that Jane was still conscious enough to respond at all.

She then deposited Jane on the ground, propping her in a sitting position against the massive log. The trail behind them was thick with snow, causing Maura to revise her earlier opinion of the storms inconvenience. The tracks that she and Jane left behind were almost indistinct and would soon become invisible.

Circling around and behind the giant log, Maura dropped Jane’s back pack onto the forest floor. She dug inside the stuff sack of the sleeping bag and pulled out the flashlight she had take from the cabin. She covered the lamp with some (not all) of the extra rags she had brought for Jane bandages. This provided the light she needed but dimmed it’s brightness significantly. Waving the flashlight up and down the length of the dead tree Maura discovered an opening near the center on the back side.

She got down on her hands and knees; pulled the sleeves of her coat over her hands to protect them from the debris, and the cold, and cleared a space within and around the hollowed trunk. She found some scattered branches, on the forest floor and covered the top of the opening to prevent the inside from filling up with snow. The space inside was narrow but would suffice to fit Jane’s long body and if she was careful, she could squeeze in along side her friend.

Maura ran her hand along the bruise on her face, feeling along the ridge of her cheekbone and up beside her temple. She knew she had a concussion. The blow that Ronnie’s (now dead) father had delivered had knocked her out completely.

When she regained consciousness her head was throbbing and for a brief time her thoughts were chaotic and disordered. Eventually, her head cleared and she put her fears aside about the possible damage to her skull. Her more important need at that time had been to survive, to plan… but now, she felt a dreamy lethargy easing it’s way, creeping, blunting the sharpness of her innate brilliance. She pinched her wrists to keep herself awake, brushed herself off and circled back to the front of the log to collect Jane.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks, she could taste the salt as they rolled along the side of her mouth and dripped onto the sleeping bag that she was zipping Jane inside of. She was unaware that she had been crying until she tasted the salty drops. Maura propped Jane’s head upon the snug sack and elevated her legs with the backpack hoping to prevent further blood loss from the wound. With that done she leaned over and pressed a soft tear stained kiss on Jane’s forehead.

Jane was in and out of delirium at this point but managed to become momentarily lucid as one of Maura’s tears dropped onto her mouth. She reached out with her hand and tenderly wiped a tear off Maura’s cheek.

“Don’t cry Maur…don’t be sad…I don’t like it when you’re sad…it hurts…” And then she drifted off again.

Maura crouched beside her friend in the crowded space inside the hollowed log, she stroked Jane’s brow and smoothed the tangled locks of hair. After finding the cell phone in the pocket of the back pack Maura resisted the urge to call for help immediately. She wanted Jane settled and safe inside the cover of the log fortress. Now that task had been accomplished, she flipped the phone open, powered it on and punched in the number of Jane’s partner–Barry Frost.

Just as the first connection was being made she heard muffled voices on the forest trail. She closed the phone to hang up and then quickly powered it off. She sunk down next to Jane and watched and listened. She watched Jane for any signs she might start to mumble so she could cover her mouth, and she listened intently to the sounds coming from the trail. She could just make out what the men on the trail were discussing.

“I tell you they came down this trail Roland… I know it, I’m not the best tracker in the world but I could see some tracks out the back door. I didn’t see none out the front door.”

“Yeah, well, I ain’t gonna search all night Paul. I got a bad feeling about this and that Maura chick works for the cops. And did you forget already what happened to Jerry and Mal? Jeeze! I’d just rather let it go and get the hell outta here before we’re over–run with swat teams with happy trigger fingers.”

“They can’t have gotten far… Ronnie clipped one of ’em with his 22… she was pretty bad off if the blood we saw counts for anything. I think we can catch ’em up an’ grabbem back. I want my money after all this shit.”

“Yeah well, you can’t spend it if yer dead Paul… we’ll go a little ways yet, but then I’m turning back.”

Maura let out a deep breath as the men proceeded down the trail past the makeshift shelter she and Jane were hiding in. She let five more minutes go by before trying the phone again, resisting the urge to use Jane’s favorite swear word F@#*! Instead she said “Fudge.” Darn, the battery was almost dead, the signal was strong but Maura knew she would have to make the best use of this call.

Frost picked up on the first ring.

“Barry this is Maura.”

And then she waited through a very long pregnant pause because she could not find the words to begin explaining the extraordinary circumstances that she and Jane were in. Barry broke the silence for her.

“Maura? Thank God where are you? Where is Jane? We just dispatched a swat team and a back–up team of twenty…”

“Barry… wait, I can’t tell you where I am because I was unconscious when I arrived… but listen. This phone has no charge left. Jane and I escaped and we are out in the woods, hiding. Jane’s been shot and I have a concussion.”

“That’s okay Muara, I understand… leave the phone on and we will find your location by triangulating the signal.”

Maura sighed as the phone started to beep at her.

“… um.. ..Barry, the men who kidnapped me are searching this trail. This isn’t Jane’s phone… you’ll have to find out who it belongs to…”

“I can do that Maura, my phone has stored the number…just leave that phone on and we’ll come find you.”

“But Barry, (beeP) there is almost no charge left. How long will it take to get a tech guy to set this up for you?”

“Oh…okay, you’re right Maura. Turn the phone off for half an hour and then turn it back on. Leave it on once you’ve powered up again but turn the sound off–don’t forget that part Maura. You don’t want those guys to hear it ring or beep.”

Maura shivered, she felt she was losing her grasp on the situation very quickly. The only thing keeping her focused was Barry’s calm, reassuring voice.

“Alright Barry… half an hour…we’re in a log Barry, off the trail…I found a sleeping bag so we can keep warm…Jane’s lost a lot of blood and she’s in shock(beep). I better hang up Barry.”

“Wait, Maura– what do you mean? You’re in a log?… Maura? Maura?” The connection was lost.

Maura turned the sound off on the cell phone and powered it down. She started to shiver violently. The temperature had dropped and she was starting to worry about hypothermia. Not just for her but for Jane. She unzipped the sleeping bag and climbed inside with Jane. She wrapped her arms around her friend, twined their legs together and performed a tug and roll–shifting Jane’s position on top of her body. Jane needed the warmth that Maura’s body could provide her. She zipped them up together and willed herself to stay awake for thirty more minutes.

Holding Jane in her arms while waiting to turn the phone back on was, Maura decided, the sweetest thing. Certainly not ideal circumstances. Jane was nearly unconscious, was in shock and may die if Frost and Korsak couldn’t find them soon. But, it still felt good to hold her. She kissed the top of Jane’s head, tightened the embrace and whispered into her ear.

“Please hang on Jane…as long as I’ve got you, you’ll be okay…. don’t let go Jane… hang on to me…I won’t let you go Jane… as long as I’m holding you… you’ll be safe… I love you Jane… I won’t let you go…”

Jane’s breathing seemed to steady itself and her body relaxed and settled more comfortably on top of Maura.

Finally, Maura slipped the phone out of her pocket and powered it back on, she had no idea how much time had lapsed but she was slowly losing consciousness herself. Sighing heavily, she completed this small task– barely remembering why it was so important. Her mind drifted back to what she had been doing. Holding Jane… much more important. Talking to Jane… urging Jane to not give up…whispering to Jane…I love you.

Dr.Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli were discovered six hours later. “IN A LOG” to quote Dr. Isles by way of Barry Frost.

The search was frantic and delayed, in part, by the heavy snowstorm. The wind had finally ceased allowing for better visibility. But, initially, Barry had not been able to find the signal from the phone that Maura was using. He swore and paced for three hours, not wanting to give up. And then finally that little light lit up on his computer.

Frost had stayed behind to oversee the technical end of the search, which Korsak gleefully appreciated. He liked Barry but still had moments of possessive jealousy where his former partner was concerned. He decided he would never sneer at Frost’s geek like computer skills again.

Korsak had never seen anything so disturbingly beautiful. Jane and Maura were twined together, arms and legs and hair. Dead or sleeping peacefully in a lovers embrace? Korsak could not know at first glance. A part of his mind thought he should turn around, he was invading a private moment that was too intimate to intrude upon. Jane’s wild raven mane was splayed all over Maura, intermingling, and in stark contrast to Maura’s wavy, golden tresses. The look upon their faces was… Serene. A word he seldom had use for but it popped into his mind as he gazed upon that other–worldly embrace.

The EMT’s rushed in and spoiled the moment for him. A moment that would forevermore be etched upon his memory. Only because it was so unique. The forest was pristine. The snowfall was thick, clean and white in such a way that can only be seen in filtered moonlight. The branches of the trees were laden with heavy clumps that looked like powdered sugar. The trees cast deep, sharp shadows and the early hour of the morning only enhanced the feeling of enchantment.

This was like a twisted version of Snow White. Or maybe it was like Snow White meets Sleeping Beauty. Korsak snorted and then began to laugh out loud. He couldn’t wait for Jane to get better so he could start the teasing. He knew she would get better. She had to…no one ever died in a fairy tale.

The emergency room doctor explained to detective Korsak that if Dr. Isles hadn’t zipped them together into that bag–they would have both died of exposure. Both of them suffered from hypothermia. Jane required surgery for the gunshot in her side and Maura had a hole drilled into her head. The concussion caused some kind of swell…he was sure the Doc could explain it to him herself…if she wasn’t still unconscious. They were alive and they would recover and that was all that mattered to him.

Part 2

JANE

“You don’t understand.”

“Help me understand… it’s the only way I can help you Jane.”

Jane sighed, ran her fingers through her dark, unruly hair. It was a tic, a habit, whenever she was frustrated or upset, the gesture seemed to add an exclamation to her mood.

“I hate this….I…uh… I feel responsible. If I had shot him dead when I had the chance…no one would have questioned my motive…he had every intention of slicing my throat and watching me die. But, instead of taking care of him when I should have: I let him live.”

“And now?”

“Aaaahhhh…fuck Doc. You know why!… why the fuck are you making me say it? Because…I chose not to blow his brains out… I ended up doing that to someone else…two people. I executed two people I didn’t even know…if it hadn’t been for the fact that Hoyt was still a living breathing piece of garbage.”

“And?”

Jane laughed, in spite of herself. She gave the shrink a surly scowl and shook her head.

“Great technique Doc…you really know how to win a girls confidence…what is this Psychology for Dummies?

I thought that sitting there like a bump on a log and never saying anything was a thing of the past. Aren’t you suppose to be telling me something useful? I want to get back in the field–I’m going insane on desk duty. If you want to prevent my rapid decent into craziness, just sign my paper already.”

Jane’s anger started to smolder, she could almost visualize the flames rising beneath her, consuming her like wild fire. She shut it down. She had to shut it down if she was ever going to convince Dr. Michaelson, (the BPD’S shrink) that she was ready to move on with her life and her career.

“Jane…go back and finish. Why do you feel responsible? I am saying something now…why is it your fault that Maura was kidnapped? Why is it you killed those men to save her?”

“Umm…duh?… because I let Hoyt live when I had the chance to kill him!”

“No.”

“No?, what do you mean? Why else would I be so pissed at myself? Why else do I have these fucking nightmares?”

Jane had no compunction about swearing in front of the shrink. She actually enjoyed herself when the conversation got heated enough to actually warrant a good expletive or two. For some reason however, every time she said the word “f*@k”, she felt herself twitch–like she was doing something wrong, or embarrassing. Then she would get mad at herself because she knew, deep inside, that she didn’t want to disappoint Maura. And this would make her even angrier, causing her to shout…fuck,fuck,fuck,…(fudge).”

Dr. Michaelson sighed deeply, watching Jane pace about her office, gesturing wildly, claiming she was “good to go,” yet she looked like a wild animal trapped and caged. Her dark eyes were consumed with pain. Two pools of chocolate that threatened to swallow you whole if you dared to look too long. Jane was terrified…and stubborn. If she could only get Jane to admit…to see… to actually see what was keeping her trapped.

It was very simple really. But Jane had to find the answer for herself. She would not reveal, nor even hint at what it was that Jane was so afraid of… what it was that Jane was trying to hide from… what it was that left Jane sweating, weeping, gasping for breath as she woke from another nightmare.

“Tell me again about your dream Jane…all of it, from the beginning… and don’t filter the details. I can tell when you edit your memory of what happened because you pause for just a little too long and then you look away. Shifty! It’s as bad as a lie Jane– to leave the details out when I might be able to interpret them for you.”

Jane gave the Doc a side–eyed glance followed by an evil smirk. Damn. She had to admit the Doc was tight. No chance to slide one by without her noticing. Sigh.

“Okay…um… I have the same dream…er…nightmare is a better word, and I told you this already. Not the Hoyt dream…well, it starts out as the Hoyt dream but then it changes. Every night. Every night since I got home from the hospital.”

Jane looked over at the Doc and took a deep breath. Doc was nodding, as if to say–go ahead I know this part already…it’s a good start. Her eyes were warm and Jane relaxed. She really did like the Doc. This was just so hard…she wanted to get back to work.

She didn’t want to analyze her feelings, she just wanted everything to go back to the way it was before. Before Maura was kidnapped. Before she had the dreams. She wanted things to be the same…wanted Maura to laugh and joke and be weird and geeky with her again. Things had been strained with Maura since the hospital. Maura was different somehow. Far away. What had happened to them had changed their easy friendship, the fond camaraderie. Somehow everything got twisted and broken and she just wanted to piece it back together.

Taking a deep breath, inhale–exhale, like the Doc had shown her. Smirk. Doesn’t hurt to pile up the brownie points with the Doc(silent thoughts).

Silence…she told herself… be calm… okay…she decided to tell the part she always left out…come what may.

“I’m still here.” Doc was nudging her to move along.

“Okay…you know that after I got shot–Maura dragged us through the woods and stuck us in a hollow log to hide us?”

Nod.

“Well…I was mostly out of it. I don’t how she managed to accomplish all that she did…it’s so amazing to me…anyway…she stuffed us both in the sleeping bag and… held me…and talked to me. She never said it with her words but I could tell that she was afraid I might die.”

“She kept talking to me though, and saying: ‘stay with me Jane, don’t give up… as long as I’m holding you–you’ll be safe.’ The whole time I was in and out of consciousness…but aware, sometimes, of what she was saying…and I did feel safe.”

Nod.

“I could tell she was scared though, but she would never say that out loud. I don’t think she wanted me to be afraid so she tried act like everything was fine, but I could hear her voice flutter and shake… (sigh)…she said.. ‘I love you Jane… I won’t let you go, I love you Jane.’”

Nod.

“Um…well, in my dream Hoyt makes an appearance, but then he goes away when Maura comes. And then we’re back in that log and Maura is holding me and talking to me. All night long Maura is holding me. All night long she is talking…telling me to ‘stay with her, don’t let go’…she will stay with me. It’s really dark and cold and confusing… suddenly I start to fall, and then I’m falling away… and she’s not holding me anymore…and she says…’I love you Jane’… And then I die.”

A single tear pooled in the corner of Jane’s eye, she could feel it’s tiny weight, heavy with potential, quaking with a purpose….

“You’ve told me this before Jane, what is different this time?”

“I’ve never told you what happens when I wake up.”

Nod.

“Um…I…It seems like an eternity–when I’m falling, like hours and hours…and then I hear those words…’I love you Jane’… and then I die. And…I wake up. And I reach out and I’m looking for her. She said she would hold me. That I would be safe as long as she was holding me. I reach out and she’s not there.”

Nod.

“I feel betrayed.”

Nod.

“I know it’s just a dream…I know I didn’t die… and, I know she held me close all night long.”

Nod.

“But in the dream…I did die. And it feels so real and I can’t believe that it happened because she said…she said as long as she was holding me I would be safe.”

Nod.

“She let me go. I wake up, I’m disoriented, crying… and she’s not there… and I’m alone.”

Nod.

“And…I want her to be there.”

Nod.

Gravity.

Betrayed twice. Once by a dream, once by gravity. Jane tasted salt and felt the wet of a teardrop gone rogue with it’s potential. She wiped away it’s snaky path along her cheek and smiled at the Doc.

“Is this what you would call a break–through?”

Nod.

“Yes Jane. This is definitely a break–through.”

* * * * *

MAURA

“She won’t look at me. I attempt to make eye contact but she stares right through me. I try to make small talk, which is counter to my nature and unproductive, inefficient in all aspects…”

“Maura stop!”

Maura closed her mouth in mid sentence. Not really surprised that Dr. Michaelson had interrupted her…again. She heard the tone of those two words, a tone she had become quite familiar with, a tone that said: stop blathering.

“Sorry”

“It’s okay Maura but we’ve been through all of this before. I want to try something different today. I usually let you talk until you wear yourself out…or wear me out.

Maura nodded, agreeing with Dr. Michaelson… that is precisely what always happened and,if she was honest with herself, she was exhausted by this process. The trauma…the event, was behind her and she felt no lasting scars. The aftermath, however, was unending. The disruption of her life had been colossal.

“Today… I’m going to talk.”

“Alright…hmm… that is rather unorthodox…practical studies conclude that the majority of professionals in the field of psychotherapy believe tha…”

“MAURA!”

“Sorry.”

“Are you in love with Jane?”

“Um…what?”

“You heard me.”

“Yes.”

“See, that was easy…it only required one word.”

Dr. Michaelson appreciated Muara’s honesty. She used it as club to beat her into a corner whenever necessary. Maura was the ideal subject. She did not hide from her perceived reality. It was impossible for Maura to evade, embellish, or twist the truth in order to feel more comfortable with her life. Maura was mercilessly direct, unnerving in fact to most people who had to interact with her.

Dr. Michaelson found this quality refreshing, trying at times, even inconvenient on occasion but mostly–it was a relief to have a client who was not trying to deceive her. Most of her clients took to self–deception like ducks to water…but not Maura. You didn’t need “kid gloves” with Maura so long as you were telling her the facts. Therefore, there was a lot less excavation in the therapy process.

“And yes, Maura, I am going to try something that is a bit unorthodox, but not in the manner by which you were concerned. I am going to break my oath and breach the confidentiality of a client for a greater truth.”

“Why?” Maura was stunned. She did not want Dr. Michaelson to do this. “You’ll lose your license, your whole career…who could be so important you would risk your reputation…”

“Jane is…and so are you.”

Maura had a habit of sitting on the edge of the chair cushion during her sessions. She never sat back in the chair to truly relax, nor did she pace wildly about the room like Jane. She was always on the edge of the seat– like a runner crouched and ready in the starting blocks, just waiting for that gun to signal the start of the race. That was how Maura approached her therapy.

For the first time ever Maura sat back in the leather arm chair. She furrowed her brow and narrowed that hazel gaze at Dr Michaelson… and nodded to herself…she was being played.

“Dr. Michaelson, you are making me uncomfortable. Please state the nature of your intentions hypothetically. Refrain from using names…um… you could substitute identity with case number to protect your oath and your client confidentiality.” She nodded at the psychiatrist and offered up a conspiring grin.

Dr.Michaelson laughed out loud. A full bodied raucous guffaw that turned into snorts and chuckles. Damned…if she couldn’t see right there why Jane was so twisted up in knots over this person.

She had to fix this mess between these women. They were obviously very much in love and seriously “fucked–up” about what had happened to them. Neither woman could trust the feelings they were having because of the circumstances which enabled them to surface. She firmly believed their relationship would have evolved over a natural course had it not been for the serial killer intervening.

This was going to be tricky but now that Maura understood what she intended, she could form a treatment plan for Jane. If things progressed as she intended, Maura’s issues would be resolved as well.

“Okay Maura. I want to tell you about a subject of mine. Hypothetically. Case #117, female, mid–thirties. She has nightmares…”

Maura scooted to the edge of her chair, intensely interested by what Dr. Michaelson had to say.

* * * * *

JANE & MAURA

Jane was nervous and twitchy. Her palms were all sweaty, she ran them down the front of her jeans to slick the moisture off. Maura’s call had been cryptic, as usual, but in a weirder way.

“Hi Jane, I wanted to ask if you could come over after work? I need your help.”

“Okay, sure…is everything alright? Maura never said stuff like “I need your help.” She always had some agenda with a very big outline, which she usually shared in detail, before getting to the actual point.

“Everything is fine Jane. Please, can you come over?” Her voice was a little shaky, and soft and sounded sad.

“Yeah, sure… I’ll come, it won’t be until around seven… I, uh…have a lot of paperwork to catch up on.”

Jane scolded herself. Damn. That was an obvious lie. My paperwork has been done for a week because they won’t let me catch a new case until the Doc signs my paper. Damn. Maura knows this too. Maybe just once she won’t point out the obvious.

“Okay Jane, I’ll see you at seven…and thank you.”

Jane wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans again, fiddled with her Red Sox sweatshirt and knocked on Maura’s door. Maura startled her by opening the door in mid–knock. Had she been hovering by the entrance just waiting for Jane to knock?

“Hi” Maura, said softly, looking into her friends eyes–trying to hold her glance before it skittered off like a frightened bird.

“Hey” Jane said, and tried for a smile that was real but it didn’t quite make it to her eyes. Maura merely nodded, accepting this was all that Jane could give.

She hadn’t been to Maura’s house since before… well, since before. Now that she was here she felt a little trapped. She could feel an inner tension building that, for some reason, made her angry. That had been the wedge. The anger. She was angry with Maura–unreasonably so, and until recently she hadn’t even been able to identify the cause.

Jane had come to realize that she was responsible for the rift in her friendship with Maura. Her sessions with Dr. Michaelson were starting to pay off. She wanted to make things right with Maura, which is why she agreed to come over this evening. She just didn’t know how to begin to unravel the mess she had made.

What could she say? Sorry, I’ve been such an ass because I’m in love with you. Sorry that I can’t look you in the eye because I’m so ashamed of my behavior and terrified that I will lose your friendship. Sorry that I got you kidnapped and beaten because Hoyt knew…somehow Hoyt knew how much I loved you…so he took you from me. I’m sorry for putting you at risk.

Sorry that I am so angry at you…for making me fall in love with you. Sorry that I wake up in the night, calling out your name and you’re not there to hold me. And I’m sorry I’ve pushed you away…but I don’t want to push you away anymore Maura.

Jane sighed, ran her fingers through her wild hair, stifled the running litany in her mind so she could step into the present moment, this first attempt at healing the hurts she had thrust upon her friend.

“So, what do you need help with?” Jane asked, her husky voice had filled with gravel–she winced internally at how harsh it sounded.

Maura didn’t reply. Instead, she reached out, clasped Jane’s hand and guided her into the living room to sit on the sofa. Jane remained standing, wearing a baffled expression until Maura tugged at her hand–pulling her down to sit beside her. Maura turned to face Jane, pulling her legs up and tucking her feet underneath.

Postponing her reply for just a moment more, Maura tried once again to engage Jane non–verbally. She wanted Jane to look at her like she used to. She wanted the light back, the gleam and sparkle were gone from her eyes and the smirk was all but non–existent.

Maura was wearing blue jeans, which was curious indeed. It never occurred to Jane that Maura owned a pair of jeans, she had never seen her wear them before. The jeans were soft and faded, they looked well worn but also had that tailored look. Button fly with a low waist, custom stitching on the pockets and the way in which the denim hugged the curve of Maura’s hips was a little mesmerizing. Jane swallowed hard and bit her bottom lip, a ball of fire was uncoiling from the center of her being igniting a desire that could no longer go unchecked.

The sweater Maura wore was almost as intriguing as the jeans. A cable knit pattern in sea–foam green, it snuggled tightly against Maura’s chest and fell two inches short of the waist of her jeans. This revealed a most interesting stretch of skin on Maura’s tummy. Jane licked her lips and continued her perusal, running her eyes up and down the length of Maura, taking in the outfit as a whole.

How long had she been sitting here staring at her friends body? The oddest thing was, she didn’t want to stop. She forced her eyes to stray above the neck and drowned herself in hazel green. Jane never could determine the mutable color of Maura’s eyes. They always reflected whatever environ she happened to be part of; tonight her eyes were golden amber with specks of sea–foam swimming in their depths, like the highlights of her silky hair and the muted tone of the textured sweater.

Maura was puzzled by Jane’s rapt expression, which seemed to be fixated on her torso. At first she thought that Jane was, once again, evading her gaze. But then Jane’s tongue slipped out to run along her bottom lip, leaving it moist and shiny. Huh?…oh…Oh! Maura’s heart squeezed tight, causing her to catch her breath. She could feel the hairs on the nape of her neck tingle, chills ran up her body while liquid heat was pooling at her core.

Jane was finally looking at her. Two orbs of chocolate, dark and rich and intense beyond anything Maura had ever experienced; pierced her with their vulnerability and melted her with naked desire.

The frozen moment lasted seconds… minutes… hours, years, eons…Jane had no idea. The two of them were locked in stasis. Staring. Each drowning in a singular revelation, fumbling with emotional eruptions that neither were prepared for. Her body knew what the mind would not consciously prompt it to do. And so, almost without noticing; Jane was bending down, tilting her head just so, and moistening her lips in sweet anticipation.

Jane’s lips were exquisitely soft and warm, tenderly exploring the contours of Maura’s mouth. Mapping out her desire to know the shape and texture and taste, curious and questing. She felt Jane’s tongue at the corner of her mouth, felt it gently run it’s length to the other side, nudging gently. Asking, not demanding…not yet, but Maura could feel the palpable tension in Jane’s body just as she could feel it in her own. An animal part of her wanted to grab Jane, throw her down on the floor and ravage her body with impunity. She parted her lips, allowing Jane to consume her wholly with her passion.

Jane pushed forward into Maura’s warm wet mouth, their tongues met – intertwining, caressing, dueling greedily with one another. She reached out and pulled Maura into her arms, desperately pressing their bodies together to make that first full bodied contact. She lowered Maura back onto the sofa, continuing their kiss while pinning her body with her own. Her hands had started to roam of their own accord and she slipped one underneath the hem of Maura’s sweater to explore the smooth creamy skin that had taunted her earlier.

Maura gasped into Jane’s mouth as she felt Jane’s warm hand on her bare skin. She pulled away from the kiss to bury her face in Jane’s neck and nip at the line of her jaw, her hips involuntarily thrust up into Jane, urging her forward not wanting her to stop. With her free hand Jane cupped the back of Maura’s head pulling her mouth back onto her own. Demanding…deepening the kiss as her other hand wandered over Maura’s breast, the palm massaging her nipple through the thin fabric of her lacy bra. Maura moaned from deep within, heat building throughout her body, her taut nipple straining against Janes caresses.

The passion between them had built into a frenzy. Jane pulled Maura up into a sitting position, snatched the bottom of Maura’s sweater, pulling it up and over the blonde’s head in one swift motion. Maura’s fingers were tugging and pulling off Jane’s sweatshirt before her sweater hit the floor.

They were both topless and panting heavily. Jane reached over to pull Maura back into a kiss and then she stopped herself, hesitating, placing her hands on Maura’s shoulders to peer into a penetrating amber–green. The animal lust receded for a moment and gave her pause to think of what they were doing. She wanted to be sure that Maura wanted this as much she did.

Before she could voice her concern Maura reached out and placed a finger over Jane’s lips. She shook her head from side to side–a silent no, leaned forward to seal the gesture with a soft kiss, and whispered, “No talking.” She reached for Jane’s hand, intertwined their fingers and then she stood–pulling Jane up with her. Without a word or a glance behind her, she led Jane down the hallway and into her bedroom.

Maura had no qualms regarding the seduction, she simply took control away from Jane. She pushed Jane backward onto the bed. The startled expression on Jane’s face fed the tiny surge of power she felt at having taken the upper hand. She climbed onto the bed and straddled Jane’s waist with her legs, lightly settling herself on Jane’s hips.

Maura sat for a moment, looking down at Jane’s incredible beauty, running her hazel eyes along that flat toned stomach, gazing at firm breasts with hardened nipples still encased by her bra. She allowed her eyes to roam along Jane’s collar bones, her strong shoulders, that long sensual neck– her gaze travelled back over Jane’s breasts once more, she licked her lips and glanced up to see a look of desire that mirrored her own.

Jane’s eyes were a smoldering dark ebony, she growled a low moan before snatching Maura’s wrists at either side and pulled the blonde on top of her. They met in a fierce kiss that had them both gasping for breath. Maura’s hands were tangled in Jane’s hair pulling Jane into a deeper kiss melding their mouths together. Jane clasped Maura’s hips and ground them into her own, she parted Maura’s legs with her knee and pushed her thigh into the blonde’s hot center. Maura moaned leaning into the pressure and riding the rhythm that Jane provided with hips and hands–pushing and sliding–creating a wonderful friction.

A struggle for dominance ensued but was played out like a dance. Each understanding the others need to give and to take what was wanted and needed.

Jane rolled Maura on her back to claim the top position. She slid her hand underneath the strap on Maura’s bra and released the clasp, pulling the lacy garment away in slow motion and reveling in the heavenly fullness of Maura’s ample breasts. Practically undone by the beauty within her hands she started to stroke each hard nipple with her thumbs while massaging the soft creamy mounds of flesh with her fingers. Maura arched into the touch, moaning with pleasure. Capturing a nipple between her lips, she circled it with her tongue, teasing that soft spot along the sensitive rim, circling faster and nipping the hard bud between her teeth. She took her time with Maura’s breasts. Moving from one to the other, massaging, licking gently biting creating a rhythm that had Maura writhing with need.

“Jane… please…”

Jane shifted, pressing her thigh between Maura’s legs feeling the heat at Maura’s center through the denim in her Jeans. She kissed her way up Maura’s body claiming her mouth, thrusting her tongue inside, kissing her fully– biting her bottom lip and sucking–before retracing her path down the length of that incredible body.

She ripped at the buttons of Muara’s jeans, tugging them open and peeling the denim off and away from what she wanted. She tugged off her own bra and jeans tossing them aside and buried her face in the slim silky fabric of Maura’s soaked panties. Inhaling the musky scent she shivered with anticipation.

Maura felt long fingers tracing the lacy trim along the waistband of her panties–she raised her hips to aid Jane in removing this final barrier to what she so desperately needed. Jane was kissing her breasts again and bathing Maura’s body with her dark silky hair. She felt Jane’s hand slide over her wet center, pressing down in a slow circular motion, she felt her finger slide along her wetness, teasing back and forth, the palm of her hand pressing, rubbing against her clit, while her fingers kept sliding through her wetness, “Oh God…. Jane… yes…”

Jane was biting her neck and dragging her tongue up the line of her jaw, all the while that hand was sliding, slowly teasing… Jane was sucking, biting her earlobe, whispering into her ear.

“Tell what you want Maur… tell me what you want me to do to you?”

Maura moaned with frustration, she was so close already she could feel the pressure building all throughout her body, she could feel the fire being stoked within her building, building… burning hot.

“I want… you… I want… fuck me Jane…please…I want you to fuck me.”

Jane almost came on the spot. Hearing Maura use that particular profanity, in such raw desperation…it was the hottest utterance Jane had ever heard and every nerve of her body responded–pushing her own need to the boiling point.

She pushed into Maura’s wetness with a single finger but followed it quickly with another. Maura arched up violently to meet her thrusts.

Jane slipped in a third finger.

“Yes…Oh God… Jane …yes.”

Jane pushed in and out meeting the rhythm of Maura’s bucking hips, circling her clit with her thumb. She pushed harder and faster, in and out, pulling Maura hard into each new thrust and guiding her back.

Feeling the tension in Maura’s body build to the point where she knew it was time; she curled her fingers inside, using her hips to push in deeper, finding that tender spot….

“Come for me Maur… please come…” She could hear Jane whispering from far away as her body tensed in anticipation.

Maura was on the edge of a cliff waiting to leap, wanting to fall and Jane was deep inside her. She felt the heat rising…bubbling up to the rim…snatching her off the ledge into the raging inferno. Her body quaked and trembled and shook and Jane was deep inside her. She rode the waves of pleasure to the farthest shore and Jane was deep inside her…guiding her home.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Jane was licking the drops and kissing her face while the final climax shuddered through her body leaving her spent and breathless. And Jane was still inside her.

Jane covered Maura in kisses all over everywhere, stroked her with soft loving caresses and whispered words of endearment. She gathered her into her arms and Maura wept. Awhile later, Maura raised her head to look at Jane, smiling a bit shyly – she whispered, “I’m not sad… it was just…so…”

“I know…it’s okay Maur…just let me hold you for awhile.”

Jane kissed her softly on the mouth and then on top of the head, nestling Maura’s head onto her chest. Maura settled back into Janes arms, her body felt incredibly relaxed and sated. She didn’t want to feel so tired – she wanted to touch Jane, wanted to reciprocate; make Jane feel as amazing as she did… but she was drifting off and couldn’t seem to force herself to stay awake. Jane kept rubbing her back in soothing circles, which were hypnotic to her spent but happy body.

Jane smiled as she watched Maura sleep. She turned the blankets back and tucked them both in. She pulled Maura close and snuggled up behind her spooning them together. She wrapped her arm around Maura’s waist and sighed with great pleasure. Lying there with Maura naked in her arms, completely worn out by Jane’s skillful love making… Snort. Jane laughed at herself. It was amazing though… what they had shared… Jane sighed again and drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Maura’s sweetness running through her mind.

* * * * *

Jane was so contented when she wandered into sleep…it never occurred to her she might have a dream. A nightmare.

Hoyt was there waving that scalpel in her face, gloating, taunting her. The spikes that impaled the palms of her hands were cold as ice and her warm blood was oozing from the wounds in trickles onto the ground.Then the dream folded and Hoyt faded– screaming as he was cast away into an inky mist. Maura had come.

Maura was holding her close… she was cold… her side was hurting and it was dark, but Maura held her. She spoke to Jane in gentle whispers, “Don’t let go Jane…I’ve got you..as long as I’m holding you…you’ll be safe. Don’t give up Jane…I won’t let you go.”

But then Jane started to fall away. Maura wasn’t holding her anymore and she was falling, and falling…and falling. From an echo far away she could hear, “I love you Jane.”

She was lost in a black abyss…an eternal vacuum of emptiness, drifting slowly away…she could feel her soul unravel like strands of thread plucked from a tapestry and tossed aside. Ever so slowly, piece by piece, the essence that once was Jane…dissolved into bits of nothingness and she was gone.

Jane whimpered and thrashed about the bed waking Maura from a sound sleep.

“No… no… Maura.” Jane was calling out, her voice a husky rasp of anguish.

Jane begged, “Please….Maura…don’t let me go.”

Waking herself up, completely disoriented, she reached out– frantically looking for Maura…who was right there beside her, pulling her into her arms.

“I’ve got you Jane…I won’t let you go… not ever.” She held Jane tight, rocking her back and forth, kissing her damp, sweat soaked hair, kissing her neck and murmuring assurances.

Something deep inside released it’s grasp. A dark, clinging thing with claws like spikes–it lost it’s grip on Jane and fled in fear.

Maura continued to stroke and soothe Jane…she continued the chant she knew so well.

“As long as I’m holding you…you’ll be safe…stay with me Jane…I love you Jane.”

Jane looked up at Maura’s face in wonder.

A single tear pooled in the corner of her eye, she could feel it’s tiny weight, heavy with potential– quaking with a purpose…

Gravity.

Jane tasted salt and felt the wet of a teardrop that had found it’s purpose. She wiped away it’s snaky path along her cheek and smiled up at Maura.

And whispered, “this is definitely a break–through…”

“…I love you too Maur–.”

Part 3a

Jane

“I… don’t… want… to… do… that.”

Jane grated out the words. Standing with her arms crossed over her chest, shoulders squared, she narrowed her charcoal gaze at Dr. Michaelson – pinning her to the leather arm chair with a glare that could freeze the fires of hell into exotic popsicles.

Jane could be very intimidating Dr. Michaelson reflected. She was quite impressive when she reined her anger in. No wild pacing today. No excessive use of profanity, which the psychiatrist realized, ruefully – she kind of missed. She liked Jane’s wild tantrums, only as a private entertainment, of course; not in her role as a professional seeking to help a client she had come to care for and admire.

She was very pleased with Jane’s progress. That was the rub for Jane, however, the word PROGRESS. Jane believed that she was, as she put it; “Done…healed, all better now Doc…no more nightmares – now sign my paper.” But Dr. Michaelson was not inclined to approve Jane for active duty until two more obstacles had been met and defeated.

“This is not a suggestion Jane, it’s a requirement of your treatment. I insist that you take this seriously and you can stop looking at me like you want to rip my throat out. I am not susceptible to bullying.”

Jane huffed and turned her back on the Doc. Inhale, exhale… deep breath. She ran her fingers through her midnight hair, then started to pace about the room.

“I am not going to stay away from Maura for TWO Fucking Weeks! No Fucking Way Doc.”

Ah… there it is…the anger bubbling up…she knew it hadn’t truly ebbed. The psychiatrist was expecting this reaction and had prepared herself for Jane’s adamant refusal.

“Maura has agreed to the arrangement.”

Jane stopped in mid–stride and started to sputter: “S–She…what? What in hell do you mean?… you can’t talk to Maura about me… I could get your fucking licens…”

“JANE…I did not talk to Maura about you… I talked to Maura about Maura. And Maura gave me permission to speak to you about this. She agreed that until your hearing is over: it would be best for the two of you to be discreet about your relationship. Now, I’d like you to sit down Jane. I have something else to talk with you about and I don’t want you stomping around the room winding yourself up. This is important.”

Jane didn’t like the tone of the Doc’s voice. She felt deflated all at once. Why would Maura agree to this? That really hurt. She settled into the chair across from the Doc; extending her long legs to their full length and crossing them at the ankles – slumping back and crossing her arms, her bottom lip protruded to form a perfect pout.

“There are just two more hurdles for you to leap over Jane – before your return to active duty. The first is obviously your Internal Affairs hearing. The charges are very serious, however, I believe that when the investigation is over your name will be cleared. What concerns me about this hearing Jane, is Maura’s testimony. “

Jane nodded at the Doc. This had occurred to her already. Maura wouldn’t lie. Even if she wanted to lie it was physically impossible for her – not without passing out or hyperventilating. And, Jane knew, that the IA investigator would call Maura to testify. Fuck. What a fucking mess. Jane sighed, nodded again…confirming to herself that Dr. Michaelson did, indeed, know what might be best for them.

“Alright Doc… I …uh… I’m sorry.” She smiled weakly, but sincerely, hoping to take the sting out of the earlier part of their conversation. “Please… tell me what you’re thinking about Maura’s testimony.”

“My concern is not what Maura will say or not say when she testifies. I still believe you will be acquitted of all charges. My concern is how her testimony will affect you. Will you be angry with her? The two of you have just started to mend a relationship where your trust in her was questionable. I am concerned that you will blame Maura if the outcome of the hearing results in your suspension or dismissal from the force.”

Bomb! Mini explosions fired throughout Jane’s brain like a chain of firecrackers reaching a crescendo. The larger implosion attacked her heart; squeezing the muscle in on itself, contracting with the tension of a million taut bow strings before releasing them all at once. She felt a massive shudder reverberate throughout the cavity of her chest.

Dr. Michaelson was squeezing Jane’s shoulder– hard, and whispering, “Breathe Jane…Inhale–exhale…inhale…exhale… that’s it Jane…breathe…shsssh… breathe.” Some minutes later Jane was capable of thought again. Doc smiled at Jane and nodded encouragingly,..“okay now?”

Jane sat back in the chair, took another deep breath and felt a flush rise up her neck – it spread across her face like a rolling wave, leaving a light film of sweat in it’s wake.

Hearing those words: “suspension or dismissal from the force,” facilitated the rather dramatic panic attack. Not to mention the “twisty knife” that Maura’s testimony had every potential of becoming. God this really sucked. Jane hadn’t the courage to see the picture as a whole until the Doc had so succinctly painted it for her… Ugh.

Dr. Michaelson was right on all counts. If the worst case scenario became a reality for Jane – she may very well blame Maura. Intellectually she knew it would not be Maura’s fault, but emotionally she had no idea how she would react. Jane hadn’t been rational when she was angry with Maura over the nightmares. The Doc had to lead her through that jungle of confusing emotions to get to the other side. Could she and Maura survive another such crisis? She needed to talk to Maura about this right now.

Jane sprung out of the chair. “I gotta go Doc. I have to talk to Maura about this so we can make some kind of…”

“Wait… Jane, there is one more thing I want to talk to you about before you speak with Maura. It’s important.”

The Doc was almost pleading with Jane. That’s a switch… Doc must be trying a new technique, Jane mused – but she really wanted to go see Maura. Doc’s eyes were doing that thing again. They get all warm and concerned and Jane didn’t really have a defense for that kind of expression. Sigh. Jane sat back down to hear the Doc out.

“I want you to understand why it is important for you and Maura to abstain from your intimate relationship during this next two weeks Jane. I want you to discover for certain that your nightmares have subsided. It is important for you to know that a night away from Maura is something you can survive on your own. I believe that your nightmares are truly gone. However, I don’t know that you believe that is truly the case. Until you know for sure, Maura will be a crutch for you to cling to. You need to go to sleep alone. Wake up alone… whatever the cause… and be okay within yourself if Maura is not there to hold you. You need to face this last fear alone…do you understand Jane?”

Sigh.

Nod.

* * * * *

Jane & Maura

“Why can’t we start tomorrow?”

Jane was stroking the back of Maura’s hand, gliding those long fingers back and forth, sliding up to the sensitive skin inside her forearm, stroking gently then back down again to trace the length of each delicate finger.

They were sitting side by side behind Maura’s desk, Jane was leaning on the desk with her head propped upon her fist supported by one elbow. She was watching Maura very carefully for hidden clues while stroking her hand and forearm with her free hand.

Maura reached out to pick up her pen; thinking she could make a few notes while sharing lunch with Jane, not expecting to have this conversation until the workday ended. Jane had grabbed her hand in a silent protest. Communicating all to clearly that this would not be a working lunch period for the Medical Examiner.

Maura sighed. She hadn’t prepared for this conversation to happen now. Jane always did this to her – shattered her preconceived notions of schedules and protocol. Maura was flexible within the confines of her profession. It would be ill conceived to think that homicide could be scheduled, or a drug overdose or a heart attack. Death was not a considerate friend. And so, she was prepared for her phone to ring at 3:00 am. Death was the inconsistent constant in her otherwise orderly world. And then there was Jane.

Maura shivered under Jane’s soft caresses. She could feel the tingling of her nerves and a hot flush had long since worked it’s way across her entire body, making her feel light headed and heavy with arousal.

“Because, if we wait until tomorrow – we’ll go home and make love all night long… and in the morning you will ask me the same question.”

Jane smirked – she pulled Maura’s hand up to her mouth kissed the palm and then licked it.

“Sounds like a good plan to me Maur–… lets do that.” Jane leaned over and kissed her girlfriend softly, running her tongue along her bottom lip, flicking it inside when Maura released a tiny moan.

“Jane…this isn’t fair and you know it… “Maura jerked herself away from Jane’s kiss, sat back in her chair, reclaimed her tingling hand to clasp it firmly with the other in her lap.

“Please don’t make it harder by seducing me in my office…that is just cruel. I hate this every bit as much as you do… but I’m choosing to think about our future Jane. You know as much as I do that Dr. Michaelson is right abou…”

Her office phone rang loudly to Marua’s silent relief. She really did not want to have a fight with Jane at the onset of this enforced separation.

“Morgue, Dr. Isles speaking.”

A clanging bang, a scratchy metallic hum, a skill saw…she categorized the auditory information in the back of her mind while repeating, “Hello, this is the Morgue, this is Dr. Isles speaking…Hello”

“Maur…mm..Mauraaa..aa ?” The voice of a child could be heard amongst the cacophony of noise that obviously surrounded him. The voice of a very frightened child by the stutter and subsequent quivering vibrato.

Maura glanced at Jane, who was intently watching her. Maura gestured wildly with her hand to “come here.” She grabbed Jane’s head pulling it in next to hers so they both could listen.

“Yes, this is Maura, how may I help you?” There was a long pause which was filled with more smashing pounding, scratching metallic eerie echoes.

“Maura…(whimper) this is Ronnie”… and then the boy started to sniffle and sob into the phone. His voice was filled with tension and fear– it was painful and frightening to listen to. She and Jane’s eyes locked with identical saucer sized irises.

Maura didn’t have to wonder which child, by the name of Ronnie, was speaking to her. She only knew one child by the name of Ronnie and could identify his shaky voice once he disclosed his name. A flash of memory swept through Maura’s mind of the freckle faced curly haired boy, grinning with mischief while gently holding a bottle of water for her to sip from.

Marua told herself to stay calm while speaking to him. “Ronnie what’s going on? Are you hurt? Where are you?”

The boy was still sobbing and sniffling but managed to speak in sputtered broken phrases.

“I…I’m at some kk..kinda factory…sniffle…they said I had ttto call youu.. that you hhhad to be the one tto… find me….tthey’re…gonnna hurt me …. m…Mau–… click.” The line went dead.

“Ronnie…Ronnie…RONNIE…”

Maura’s knuckles turned white, she was clinging on to the receiver with a death grip until Jane pried it away from her. Jane grabbed her by the shoulders and gave a gentle shake, “He’s gone Maura… I mean…he hung up….” Maura started to tremble, her tears were spilling forth and her face had gone shockingly pale. Jane pulled her into a one armed hug, while simultaneously, with her free hand she punched in Barry Frost’s name on her cell phone.

“Frost here…hi Jane, what’s up?”

“Get Korsak and get down to the Morgue right now…bring your gadgets, your computer junk and your contact with the phone company.”

“Jane…huh? what is going on?”

“Just do it Barry… NOW…I can’t tell you on the phone but get Korsak and get down here now.”

Ten minutes later Korsak, Frost, Jane and Maura were gathered and shouting at one another.

Korsak was the first of them to think coherently once the details of that disturbing phone call had been shared. Barry was off to the side setting up his gear and listening while Korsak spouted out orders.

“This has to be done by the book Jane. We need to file a report right now. Get the Brass involved and get out there and find that kid before it’s too late. And Jane, you can’t work this case you aren’t on active duty. Not to mention that kid was…um.. is supposed testify at your Hearing.”

“I know.” Jane softly replied. She hadn’t missed Korsak’s slip any more than she missed the one she had uttered earlier. Korsak said, ‘that kid was,’ and Jane had said, ‘He’s gone.’ And Jane knew that the reality of those two “slips of the tongue,” would be the truth of the outcome when they found Ronnie. She was hoping that Maura was too emotionally distracted to notice.

“You both talk like he is already dead.” Marua accused. “Get. To. Work.” She spat at both of them. Her anger was a seething lash that snapped at the air. Jane had never seen this side of Maura and was compelled to action by the fierceness of her ire.

“She’s right Korsak, Jane countered, we might be able to get to him in time. What safe house did they have him in do you kn–” Maura interrupted Jane with one last stinging comment.

“And besides, Detective Korsak…Jane may not be able to work this case on the clock but she can ride along. I want her there… so she is going to be there. You make that happen for me Detective Korsak.”

Korsak shrugged uncomfortably, he found an invisible piece of lint on his suit to flick away before calmly replying, “I don’t think that’s a good idea Maura… it’s too convoluted because of who the boy is.” Korsak was shaking his head and meeting Maura’s glare with equal potency. Several uncomfortable, tension filled seconds passed before he eventually caved in.

There was something about the eccentric Medical Examiner that got under his skin and into his heart – in such a way that no other person had done before. He felt that way about Jane too, but it was different, somehow, with Maura. Jane was tough, a scrappy survivor and a fighter. Maura just wasn’t capable of coping with the world like that – she never would be. Jane had a family that loved her and doted on her.

But Maura seemed all alone, sometimes, and… lost. Even more so once it was revealed her biological father was a hit man. Maura had Jane now and he knew how happy they were together…but she didn’t really have a father figure. She had two fathers who were unavailable to her – both emotionally and physically. Detective Korsak cared more for Maura than her adoptive father ever could. And, he could be there for her like her biological father never would. So… he could not say no to her. He would make this happen for her.

“Alright Maura, we’ll do it your way.” Korsak nodded and met the Medical Examiners gaze, which had suddenly filled with glistening tears.

“Thank you.”

Barry Frost had been busy while the other three were hashing out the details. He had locked the trace on the last incoming call from Maura’s office phone. The location was a factory on the South side, just out of the city in an industrial park. Ten miles away. He had already briefed his lieutenant, who was rounding up a back–up squad.

* * * * *

FINDING RONNIE

The operation required little stealth. None actually. The sounds of industry, the metal scraping, pounding, clanging… the background noise from the phone call…was nonexistent. The factory loomed like a mountain over a barren, frozen field of asphalt and snow drifts. There were only two cars in that expanse of empty white lot, with a hundred yards stretched out between them. The windshields were covered with thick layers of ice and they had been boxed in with banks of snow leftover by an anxious snow plow.

A parade of unmarked police vehicles sped through the abandoned desert of white and black and gray – screeching to a halt in front of that mountain of steel, which gleamed like a fortress of pain from a horror film.

The sun was middle of the day bright – blinding with reflection from the snow. The sky was crispy blue – the kind of blue that can only be seen on the clearest day of winter. You remember, because all the days of gray fade in the brightness of that which you have been without.

This day it was a cruel blue. Because of what was found inside that abandoned factory.

Five bodies lined up in a row: Skeeter, Paul, Ronnie, Roland and Samantha – Ronnie’s mother. Each was duck taped to a chair. All of their throats had been slashed from ear to ear. Blood had gushed and pooled at the base of each chair creating a lake of vermilion.

Jane studied the boy who had shot her less than 5 weeks earlier. He was wearing a red and black checkered hunting jacket, corduroy pants and sorrel boots. All dressed up for a winter hunt. His hair was dark and curly and thick. The expressive, freckly face that she remembered – was slack in death and bore the traces of streaming tears. Would that be all she remembered of this child? He was crying when she met him, he was sobbing during the phone call and his death had been wrought with a terror she could not imagine.

Jane felt numb. Cold. Angry. Sad. Confused. And sorry. Sorry that she hadn’t shown Ronnie a kinder mercy than these butchers had. Hoyt’s ugly head had reared itself again – more perversely and maliciously than she believed even he was capable of. But not really. He had power it high places. That was the conclusion Jane had come to. This was the third attack he had contrived, directly or indirectly on Jane, from behind the wall of a maximum security prison. Who the fuck was he connected to? Who the fuck was passing the orders?

While Jane was silently stewing, she failed to notice that Maura had retrieved her murder kit from the trunk of the car they arrived in. Phone calls were made. The murder team arrived and the hours long processing of this grisly scene unfolded.

Ronnie had been right: Maura was the one to find him.

Maura was acting like an automaton. All business. Her voice was as sharp as the scalpel blade that had slit the throats of these victims. She addressed each technician formally by their title as well as every officer on the scene.

“Detective Frost remove yourself from this scene before you contaminate the evidence.” Barry was gagging in preparation for the upheaval of his lunch. But, Maura didn’t see him as a person just then. “Officer Reynolds, remove your left boot immediately and step back. Is this your first crime scene?” Maura didn’t see him as a person either.

Finally, he couldn’t stand to watch her anymore, so Korsak stepped in to shut her down.

“Maura I want you to go home and let your assistant handle this… MAURA!” He placed his hands upon her shoulders and shouted, “Look at me.” He shook her roughly, and all at once she went limp in his grasp and collapsed. He caught her before she fell to the ground and held her tightly for a moment, gently rubbing her back to soothe and comfort. “Jane” he gestured with his hand and whispered, “come get her… take her home.”

Detective Korsak smoothed a lock of Maura’s hair from her brow, speaking softly in a low tone he said: “Jane is taking you home. Neither of you should be here now. This is connected to your kidnapping and Jane’s Hearing and we can’t have the evidence compromised by either of you. Do you understand Maura?”

Maura nodded vacantly at Korsak and allowed Jane to lead her out to their car. Jane buckled her into her seat belt because she would not complete the task herself. They rode to Maura’s house in silence.

* * * * *

Jane & Maura

Jane led Maura into her bedroom, sat her on the bed to wait while she went into the bathroom to start the shower. When she returned from the bathroom Maura was still sitting in the exact position she had left her in.

“Maura?… do you want to talk about this?”

Sigh.

Gently, with patience and tenderness, Jane slowly, methodically undressed Maura. She guided her into the bathroom, undressed herself and joined Maura in the shower. The scalding hot water seemed to have a cathartic effect as Maura slowly returned from the emotionless abyss she had been dwelling in. Beneath the pounding spray of wet and steam they scrubbed each other without speaking. Each needing this cleansing ritual, this physical act with water and soap which would cleanse the surface of their bodies but never really wash away the memory or the pain.

Some little time later, Jane tucked Maura into bed and wandered naked through the house to look for Bass. She found the tortoise in the guest bedroom. Supplied with a bowl of strawberries and lettuce she sat on the floor and patted his shell.

“Okay Bass, it’s time for you to man–up. Are you even a guy tortoise?… whatever… your mom is really sad right now so you need to show a little more appreciation…eat your dinner and start moving that fat ass of yours down the hallway to her bedroom… she needs you right now.”

Jane patted his shell one last time. She snorted, “I am talking to a giant turtle… tortoise… but I will do anything and everything for her…you’re a lucky guy Bass.” Taking a deep breath, letting out a vast sigh, she strode back down the hall to be with Maura.

She slipped into bed slowly, quietly, not wanting to startle Maura who appeared to be asleep, lying on her back facing the ceiling. She snuggled up in tiny increments, until her body nestled against the sweet soft skin – she draped her arm around Maura’s slim waist and tried to fall asleep.

A little while later, she must have drifted off – she awoke to Maura crying, silenty weeping, gasping; trying not to wake Jane up by stifling her sobs. Jane reached out and pulled her into her arms. She kissed her hair, her neck, her forehead…soft gentle consoling kisses.

And then, Maura raised her head in search of Jane’s mouth. She kissed Jane with a fierceness that was shocking. Maura’s mouth was like a sizzling fire, she climbed on top of Jane and pinned her to the mattress with a force that belied the slightness of her slender frame. Jane was simply to stunned to respond.

She grabbed Jane’s arms, clamped her wrists together above her head with one hand, while her other hand was sliding between Jane’s legs.

“Maura…what’s going on… are you su…”

Jane was silenced by another fierce kiss. Maura’s tongue was soft and gentle at first then, suddenly, it was thrusting wildly in and out. She stopped for a moment to gaze at Jane. She saw the worry and concern.

She whispered chokingly, “Let me Jane… please…let me?”

That was a defining moment for Jane. The anguish and pain were evident – Maura’s eyes were large pools of liquid sorrow – they begged a need to feel something real, whole and living, alive… life… not death.

And so…Jane nodded. She became a willing, living, loving… sacrifice for Maura’s grief and passion.

Her hands moved like streaming smoke, searching…needing to fill up empty spaces, spreading out everywhere… her touch was like the flame that was it’s source – it seared away all thought or doubt.

She used Jane mercilessly throughout the night. Taking her time and again… hard and fast, bringing her to climax after climax. And then, she took Jane slowly with her mouth… dragging it out, endlessly – teasing with those soft lips, tormenting with that talented tongue… circling, stroking, until Jane was screaming, begging her to finish. “Christ…Maura… please… please…” And finally, she pushed inside her with her fingers, penetrating deeply, pushing Jane over the jagged edge into oblivion.

Part 4a

Jane & Maura: About last Night.

The early morning sunlight spilled through the window in translucent streams, its feathery warmth stroked and tickled Maura’s shapely bottom, stirring her to wakefulness in small unhurried stages.

Like a slow computer booting up: running a check list on extensions and software, performing routine diagnostics – little icons pop up on the desktop, one after another, signaling their readiness to perform. Finally, when all the little parts have been accounted for, the roll call complete; the hard wired brain of the Operating System synchronizes itself and declares itself ready: “Ta Da…”

Maura’s extensions felt gloriously relaxed. She could feel the rays of sun, filtered through the blinds in bands of heat – warming her backside, coaxing her with light caresses. “Come on Sleeping Beauty” they whispered, teasing her with golden kisses and the subtle spicy scent of musk.

She wiggled her toes and flexed the muscles in her legs. Inhaling deeply she caught another whiff of that spicy familiar scent. Hmmm… she sighed. Her cheek was pillowed on something smooth and silky warm – Jane’s belly. She licked her lips to moisten them and opened her eyes: “Ta Da…”

Everything crashed in on her at once. A flood of disconcerting images and sounds: the frantic phone call, a freckled faced grin, bright blue sky, ice factory of death, puddles of blood, sounds of metal scraping and Jane screaming, “Christ Maura…please…please.” Jane. Oh My God!

Maura sat up slowly, easing her body away from the comfortable nest between Janes legs. She sat on the edge of the bed to gaze down on her girlfriend. Jane was sleeping peacefully, her long dark, thickly fringed eyelashes were twitching and the flutter of her eyelids indicated a deep REM cycle.

Releasing a tension filled sigh, Maura relaxed, knowing that Jane would not wake for some time yet. She pushed her tangled hair back from her face, and attempted to sort through the chaotic emotions that threatened to overwhelm her otherwise structured thought process. The dominating themes seemed to be incredible sadness and grief over yesterdays events juxtaposed beside a night of abandoned eroticism.

The grief was still there tugging at her heart but it felt a little lighter. Yesterday it had consumed her wholly. Today it still hurt – but it did not incapacitate. She was capable of thought and reason and order.

She scanned the length of Jane’s nakedness, the blankets were tangled and strewn haphazardly on either side. Jane was covered in a trail of bite marks and contusions leading a curious path from the inner thigh to high on her neck– with many others scattered between them. Her wrists were bruised and Maura could see tiny, slightly oblong blue impressions.

She shuddered at the thought that she had been so rough with Jane. She remembered making most of the bite marks and felt a flush cover her body. Jane groaned and rolled over onto her belly, she reached out with her arm – found a pillow to snuggle with and mumbled incoherently.

Maura sighed, she closed her eyes to re–set her memory, allowing the images of last nights lovemaking to flow unhindered into her mind: they charged in with the force of a tidal wave, swamping her thoroughly; flooding her with emotion and stunning her with the beauty of what Jane had permitted.

Jane’s shoulder had a particularly ugly contusion, which was caused by prolonged exposure to teeth and sucking. That occurred after she commanded Jane to roll over – but Jane hadn’t moved fast enough so she flipped her over herself; pouncing on her back, sinking her teeth into Jane’s shoulder while at the same time burying her fingers inside Jane’s silky slickness. The bite mark on Jane’s hip occurred shortly thereafter, while Maura was taking Jane from behind. Oh God. Maura trembled with the memory but was simultaneously amazed at how aroused she suddenly felt.

Jane had been incredible, Maura was in awe of the gorgeous dark haired goddess she now gazed upon with adoration. Her needs had been so visceral, so wildly foreign and complicated – even to her. But Jane had opened herself completely, becoming a conduit, sluicing off the raw, pain filled emotions and replacing them with love and passion.

Easing herself off the edge of the bed she wandered to the window and glanced outside. She hugged herself tightly, and inhaled deeply, allowing the gentle beams of sun to bath her face with warmth. She drifted over to her closet searching for her favorite robe. The silk kimono was hand embroidered with the pattern of a Bengal Tiger. It’s fangs dripped blood, it’s claws were unsheathed as it pounced into the unknown. She donned the garment reverently and pulled it close, feeling the smooth silk caressing her and comforting her like a favorite well worn blanket of the past.

Jane had been initially hesitant, – she had asked are you su..? But Maura kissed her before she could finish the phrase. That last word was sure? Maura deduced. She pressed on, replaying the memories, analyzing the data collected and concluded that: although she had been the predominant partner; Jane had been an avid and eager participant.

Which brought her to a final analysis: if Jane was going to be upset about the evenings foray, it would be because she never got a chance. Maura had slapped her hands away at every attempt and overpowered her with sheer will and need. Filing this information away for future reference, she permitted herself a tiny smile and padded off to the bathroom to make some preparations.

Jane awoke to the rich smell of coffee. Her eyes fluttered open slowly to glimpse the steaming cup nestled on a tray on Maura’s bedside table. There was a carafe and croissants with butter and strawberry preserves. Maura was settled in an armchair beside the table watching her with moon sized eyes. She was wearing a Jasmine colored Kimono, it was opened in the front displaying her loveliness unabashedly.

“Hi.” She whispered and smiled shyly at Jane.

“Hey.” Jane countered and sat up slowly in the bed, grabbing the pillows to prop herself up against the headboard.

“Why are you sitting over there?…,….,…TIGER” Jane asked, her husky voice was thick and sexy, she had allowed the smirk to emerge slowly before topping off the question with the new pet name.

Maura’s face immediately flushed pink and her shy smile turned into an open grin.

“Come here.” Jane patted the bed beside her. The tone was demanding yet playful.

Maura climbed onto the bed intending to sit beside Jane but was immediately pulled onto Jane’s lap. With a supporting arm around her waist, Jane lazily cupped Maura’s breast with her free hand, and then began to stroke and caress her. She peered into hazel green eyes, searching intently for signs of distress.

“Are you okay?” she asked softly.

Maura nodded, and swallowed hard. Jane’s wandering hand glided up to her cheek, stroking it tenderly before grasping the back of her head and pulling Maura’s mouth onto her own. The kiss was soft and searching and tender – it lingered on the teetering edge of sweet or passionate but neither of them could decide how far to push just yet.

Jane scooted Maura forward and settled her between her legs, pulling her back to rest against her chest. She slid her arms around the slim waist, pulling the kimono out of her way, she began to gently rub Maura’s stomach in swirling circular motions.

“Do you feel better this morning?” Jane whispered into Maura’s ear and kissed her cheek.

“Yes…” Maura hesitated, feeling nervous and awkward, which was not, necessarily, an unusual sensation for her – but it was when it came to her interactions with Jane. “…um…Jane…about last night…I…uh… thank you.” the last part was whispered so softly that Jane would not have heard, if her cheek had not been pressed up against Maura’s face.

“I’d like to say your welcome Maura but I should be thanking you…I think I set the world record for multiple orgasms…” She chuckled and paused for a moment trying to find the right words to ease Maura’s worry, she simply said: “I love you Maura.”

Maura’s eyes filled up but Jane could not see them. She did not want to start crying again, all she wanted to do was be held and feel warm and safe within Jane’s arms. Not trusting her voice to reply to Jane’s declaration, she nodded instead and allowed herself to relax in Jane’s embrace.

“I saw him you know… Ronnie. I saw him last week in the Internal Affairs office.”

Jane’s heart did a flip. Why hadn’t Maura mentioned this? Don’t get mad Jane, she cautioned herself… just let her talk and you can ask her questions when she’s finished. Jane continued to caress Maura’s smooth stomach, gently massaging with reassuring strokes. She nodded her head and nudged Maura’s cheek, urging her to continue.

Maura fiddled with the sash of her kimono, running it through her fingers nervously before continuing.

“I… ah… they called me over there under the pretense that I had to sign some formal papers for my testimony. When I arrived, I was told I was mistaken and rather abruptly dismissed. As I was leaving the office, Ronnie was being ushered through the door by a detention officer from the Juvenile facility… He…um..he was so thrilled to see me…as though I was a long lost relative. He shouted, “Maura”, – and threw his arms around my waist…”

“…I returned the hug of course… but the detention officer was having none of the delay so he cut our reunion off by dragging the boy away by the arm. Ronnie shrugged him off and ran back over to me, and said: ‘I’m glad you got away Maura, even if my dad didn’t…I… unn… I know that wasn’t your fault.’ And he reached out and pressed the flat of his hand on my cheek and patted it gently– smiling wistfully. He was then escorted over to a group of men – one of whom is a lawyer I am familiar with.”

That peaked Jane’s interest. What lawyer? But she made herself be quiet. She made herself be the Detective, and a good Detective listens when the perp is singing.

Maura sighed deeply, “Jane…I didn’t tell you about seeing the boy because I didn’t want it to upset you. We’ve both been worried about this Hearing and I knew his forthcoming testimony was the source of your frustration… as well as my testimony, of course but…–”

“No Maura… hush… I don’t want to talk about that right now. I just want to lie here with you and hold you… lets just be together right here and now… okay?” Maura nodded and whispered in return, “yes, Jane…okay.”

Jane was still rubbing her stomach but her hands had started to creep, they eased their way slowly north to settle under the swells of Maura’s fulsome breasts. Her fingers slowly stroked the underside of each creamy mound and Maura squirmed with the gathering tension.

Jane was kissing her cheek and breathing softly next to her ear, she whispered, “You know what Maur–, I didn’t get my turn last night.” Her hands were so warm and they were moving so slow – she was doing that on purpose. Maura’s body had been surging like a reckless tide for the better part of the morning and Jane was going tease her.

Jane smirked into Maura’s neck before biting down hard on it and sucking on her pulse point. Her hands grazed across distended nipples eliciting a moan. Maura’s hips started to heave but Jane pushed her back down with one hand.

She said: “No…I want to touch you..I want to go slow for you…I want you…to… ‘let me’… go slow for you.”

Maura whimpered, but she relaxed again as Jane continued to run her hands up and down the length of her torso.

She ran her hands down along the side of Maura’s fleshy hips, then slid them up along her ribs, then over and across her smooth soft stomach. Up and over aching swollen nipples, squeezing the creamy mounds. Sliding one hand up to caress each collar bone and gliding up to her neck. The other hand went south to graze over that intricate place between Maura’s legs. Gliding along creating a rhythm, a pattern of movement and tactile sensations.

Jane’s mouth was on her neck, kissing and biting, she trailed her tongue along her jaw, nipping along it’s line. She kissed her with warm and wet and soft lips, and then she kissed her hard – thrusting her tongue, claiming her possessively.

Again and again Jane’s hands followed the trail, each time lingering longer on Maura’s breasts and thighs and the wetness between. Their bodies locked together and began an undulating rhythm, which surged and rocked like an open ocean wave. Heaving and rolling up and down, all the while Jane continued that intricate pattern of caresses with her hands.

Jane’s fingers slid into a slippery hot wet, she stroked up and down, pressing into Maura’s clit with her palm, while sliding through the silky wetness with her fingers. She shifted Maura’s hips to rest a bit higher on her waist then plunged her fingers inside. Maura’s hips writhed and bucked to meet Jane’s thrusts, panting and gasping her need.

“Jane … hurry… “

“I’ve got you Maur–,” Jane husked, her fingers buried deep inside, she thrust in slowly and then pulled out, then in again, so slowly and then out again sliding them through silky wet before plunging deeper and faster and harder and faster and deeper…

Maura’s body was a living flame, every nerve caught fire, and every place that Jane touched seemed to steam and hiss, striving to escape the mounting pressure. “…please …. Jane…please… oh God…”

Maura could feel the pressure building, she could feel Jane underneath her, riding with her… up and down together…Her body gathered itself like a wave coming into the shallows, she felt the unstoppable force, rising up into a crest… and… like a massive breaking wave…she exploded into climax on the shore…–

The moment was so intense she could not describe it… even if she found the words to do so. A tender balance had been found. Lying back, relaxing into Jane’s embrace she felt whole and complete in a way she wouldn’t have thought possible after yesterday’s events. Jane was an intuitive genius. She understood people – what they thought, what they felt and what they needed…and she had given that to Maura. A new and loving memory by which to start this day.

Some little time later she murmured, “I’m okay….now.” the tears were trickling down her cheeks, which she had become accustomed to – it happened every time that she and Jane made love. Jane finally, let her go and allowed her to roll over. She pulled Jane’s face up close, looked into those rich chocolate orbs – so filled with tenderness and whispered “…I love you too.”

Maura gently tended the various bite marks and bruises that covered Jane’s body. After close inspection she was relieved that she hadn’t broken the skin while ravaging Jane throughout the previous night. She was sponging an antiseptic rinse, scented with lavender, onto each love bite as a precaution against infection.

“You didn’t really think you could sit there on that chair, in that kimono thing, flashing your amazing tits at me and …–”

“Jane!”

“Jane What?”

“I hate that word.”

“What word?” Completely flummoxed, Jane was almost positive she hadn’t used the “F” word in that sentence.

“Tits… it’s so crude.”

Jane snorted, then laughed out loud.

“You hate the word Tits?… what do you want me to call them? Yours are so amazing it doesn’t matter to me. I could call them Thelma and Louise if you want?” And she smirked at that idea, “But really Maura… a Tit by any other name …”

“Jane!”

Their eyes met and sparkled, and the laughter bubbled up, sending them into hysterics – rolling onto the bed in fits of giggles.

* * * * *

Schemes: Jane, Maura, Korsak, Frost.

“So Hoyt’s lawyer is in the same firm as Bishop…so what Jane that doesn’t prove anything.”

Korsak shrugged his shoulders and continued to wander around Maura’s living room swinging his arms back and forth like a child .

He left his shoes at the door and Jane thought he looked extremely uncomfortable in stocking feet. Maybe it was because he had one navy sock on and one black sock but hadn’t known that until Maura pointed it out to him. Korsak was colored blind, he couldn’t differentiate between blues, greens, purples or grays, and if the color was a dark shade he just saw it as black.

Maura launched into one of her encyclopedic monologues, siting the statistics of color blindness in males as opposed to females, defining the underline cause – something about cones and rods…. blah, blah, blah…. and Jane retreated to her secret universe imagining the off camera voice of Charlie Brown’s teacher.

None of them had the heart to tell her to “can–it” today, certainly not after the way she acted yesterday at the crime scene. So… Barry, Vince, and Jane all assumed that “deer in the headlights” gaze and pasted politely interested smiles on their faces.

Maura, perplexed but pleased, by the lack of interruption – started, “fast–talking,” in an effort to stockpile the information before someone noticed she was spinning out of control. She became more animated with each pathetic detail.

And, Jane thought…God, I love her. Allowing herself a huge grin, she strode over to Maura and kissed her soundly on the mouth before pulling her into a giant hug. Maura’s speech fizzled on the spot – her eyes widened in surprise by Janes public display. She gazed at Jane with open affection, her hazel eyes the color of Bourbon with tiny slivers of mint swirling within.

“Get a room already.” Barry interrupted the women who looked as though they were about to float away. He shook his head but smiled at them anyway. “Can we get back on topic now?…Please?” He was wearing blue jeans and a pinstripe button down shirt, looking more relaxed than Jane had ever seen him.

He sat on Maura’s sofa comfortably, appreciating the simply stark elegance of Maura’s home. Every item had it’s place. Maura collected beautiful things because she appreciated the craftsmanship required to make them and each object was painstakingly displayed for optimal admiration. Barry was less intimidated by the extravagance than either she or Korsak, which left her with of feeling of some kind of “weird” that she hadn’t figured out yet. But it wasn’t a “bad weird” so she didn’t worry about it.

“Korsak please sit down you’re making me nervous.” Jane directed him to the armchair across from her while Maura settled on the sofa next to Barry. Korsak huffed but settled himself in the chair. Maura had mixed a giant pitcher of Mint Juleps earlier, which Jane thought an odd choice of drink for the middle of winter but decided not ask her about it just then. They sipped the odd concoction while peering over the rims of fine cut crystal glass.

“Okay, it’s hardly a coincidence that Hoyt’s lawyer and Bishop are partners in the same firm. Bishop was representing Ronnie and the rest of that Group of Five that we discovered in the factory yesterday. This is a big fricken mess that just blew up in our face if you haven’t noticed Vince.”

Korsak shrugged again, while playing with the buttons of his cardigan sweater. Something was bothering him today. What the fuck is all that fidgeting about? Jane wondered, but held that in momentarily while she waited for Vince to get involved in this discussion.

“Alright Jane, I know you’ve got something on your mind so why do you just spill, you don’t have to work out a whole argument…. just lay it out flat. What do you want to do? Because I am really tired of cleaning up after that bastard and don’t give a fuc… um… darn what we have to do to put an end to this.” Korsak rolled his eyes in an effort to distract himself from the near disaster of almost saying “Fuck” in Maura’s home.

Jane met Korsak’s intense glare and nodded with appreciation before turning her attention to her partner.

“Just how good a hacker are you Barry?”

Barry’s dark brown eyes blinked at the question but he knew where she was going. “Well… um…. I’m not as good as Lisbeth Salander, but…no one is. I am good though. Depends on what you want me to do. And Jane… it is illegal and… um… we are the cops after all.”

“Who is Lisbeth Salander ?” Maura asked with big eyes full of curiosity. Korsak snorted, Jane groaned and Barry’s jaw dropped open.

“She’s a famous hacker… I’ll tell ya later Maura.”

“Barry… I … um…. I want you to hack into Bishop’s computer and Jacobson’s as well. I want to know who Hoyt has under his thumb… or …. even… who might be using Hoyt?, which sounds kind of crazy but I think it’s possible. Something bigger than we know is going on and Hoyt is not the main attraction… he’s just the freakin’ sideshow.”

Barry’s eyebrows were about to take flight and Korsak grunted. “Figures” he said. “You aren’t asking too much are you Jane? A lawyers computer?… two lawyers computers?…is that all?” Piece a cake, right Barry?”

“Hmm…it’s possible to do.” Barry replied airily, “It could even be easy depending on the type of security they have set up at their offices. I’ve hacked into a lot of places just logging in as a guest, guest passwords are easy to break down and once you’re in… it ‘is a piece a cake’ to get into the office intranet… I could try the easy way first and if that doesn’t work I know some people who know some people.” Frost nodded to himself, deep in thought and not at all uncomfortable with what Jane had proposed.

“Really?…cool…great. Then when can you set it up?” Jane asked, wanting to get started right that minute.

Jane looked at Barry with new pair of glasses and they were not rose tinted. She hadn’t really asked him what he did in his free time but now she was getting a very vivid picture.

Korsak was muttering under his breath and shaking his head but he hadn’t outright objected.

“Tomorrow Jane. And you are coming with me. We have to go down to where their office is located to tap into their server from outside the building. I have to use my private gear not the junk from work and I’ll need a look–out… you can come too Korsak… uh .. that is if you want to.”

Korsak got up and started pacing again before declaring, “Hell yes I’m going with you two… who the fuc…, heck is going to keep you outta trouble if I don’t come? Every time Jane goes somewhere she comes back with a new scar.”

Maura stood up silently, glided over to where Vince was pacing and placed her hand on his shoulder forcing him to stop. She stood up on her tip–toes and placed a kiss on his cheek, then patted it softly, before striding off again to collect the empty glasses. “Thank you, ‘Beauty’ he quipped, and Maura arched her eyebrow at him, but followed it with an indulgent grin.

He laughed, enjoying his joke. Jane had threatened to beat him bloody if he ever called her “Snow White” again, but Maura seemed to take it in stride. She told him once that she would prefer “Sleeping Beauty” to “Queen of the Dead” on any day. Suddenly his pent up stress was gone, he exhaled a happy sigh and returned to the conversation with Jane and Barry.

After shoring up the details the two men got ready to leave. Jane stopped Korsak after Barry started heading out to the car.

She cleared her throat nervously but looked him squarely in the eye. “I never did thank you for ditching the Beretta and the Silencer. I am so glad that you were there to find us instead of Barry. Don’t get me wrong, Barry is a good partner but he never would have thought that far ahead. Thanks Vince. I really owe yah!” And then she hugged him hard.

Korsak’s eyes filled up with tears. He shrugged dismissively, but returned her hug with a force that knocked her wind out, and murmured in a choked up voice. “I’ll always have your back Jane, ALWAYS.”

* * * * *

Amateur Spy Night.

They decided to take two cars. Korsak drove separately so he could position himself as a” look–out” for the look–out. He parked his car a block away. Barry gave them each a tiny “Star Trek Communicator,” which slipped inside his ear like a hearing aid – the little gadget enabled them to have three–way communication on a private frequency. It only worked over short distances though – but that was all that was needed. God that kid was a real geek. The thingy seemed to work though, because he could hear Jane and Barry’s conversation quite clearly.

“Is it working? Why is it taking so long Barry, Christ you got in a half an hour ago.”

“Almost done Jane… I’m sending the data from both computers to a new location…there are a lot of files here Jane… I don’t have time to pick and choose so I’m sending everything over.”

“You are fucking blowing me away Barry, I knew you were a real computer nerd but I had no idea you were so sma…–”

ScRRrrr, ssssssssss. bang. Shattered glass.

“Get the Fuck outta the car Rizzoli…you ain’t gonna make it this time… move it, we’re going for a ride…. You too, loser…” BANG. The sound of a gunshot. Thunk. The sound of a fist hitting flesh.

And that was all that Korsak heard. He ran down the street and arrived just in time to see a sedan screeching away. Barry’s passenger window was shattered. He checked inside and found Frost’s laptop with a bullet hole directly in the center of its display.

Part 4b

Jane & Barry

The two Goons were having an argument. Jane could only wait for them to finish before attempting to reason with them. She was in the back of a Sedan, hands and feet bound together with duck tape – of course. Didn’t anybody use good old fashioned rope any more? Barry was out cold sprawled on the seat next to her.

After Marty shot the computer, he slammed his right fist into Barry’s head, the sound of the crunch and splat still rang in Jane’s ears. They hadn’t touched Jane. Other than jamming the gun into her ear (to get her out of the car) and screaming threats about death for certain if she didn’t ride along quietly, they chose to ignore her.

“Whyd you shoot the computer Marty?”

“Cuz I hate fuckin’ computers.”

“We shouda took it with us.”

“They didn’t say nothin’ about takin’ no computer asshole.”

“They didn’t say nothin’ about shootin’ no computer, did they Marty?… and besides you moron you shot it in the screen so you didn’t even kill it… the brain part is on the bottom… on the whachmacallit… the mother somethin’.”

“Whatever Jake, and don’t call me no moron.”

“You called me an asshole so I can call you a moron if I want.”

“Sorry.”

“Whatever.”

“Whaddaya got against computers Marty?”

“Didn’t you never see Terminator?”

“Yeah so what… it’s just a stupid movie.”

“No it ain’t… that shit’s happening already and pretty soon we’ll be havin’ droids and shit walkin’ around takin’ over our lives. I ain’t gonna be around all that shit…”

“Whatever.”

The idiots had pulled into a wrecking yard after clocking Barry and shoving both he and Jane into the back of the Sedan. They hadn’t even driven half a mile from Bishop’s offices so Jane assumed this was a scheduled detour. The delay enabled them a moment to better secure their prisoners. After taping Jane and Barry up they proceeded to have the most inane discussion Jane had ever heard. She did manage to glean a bit of information from the monosyllabic grunts.

These guys had nothing to do with the security on Bishops law firm. They would have taken Barry’s computer instead of shooting it if they were part of the law firms security detail. That meant they were probably some more of Hoyt’s unending crew of misfit losers…who were walking dead men. They just didn’t know it yet. Even if they succeeded, and served Jane up on a silver platter … they would still end up with their throats slit and be two more notches on Hoyt’s belt. Which left Jane with an opportunity to have a discussion with these morons. Hopefully they would listen to her.

* * * * *

Korsak

Korsak may have been slow in his initial response but he got it together fairly quickly. He jumped into Barry’s car, which still had the keys in the ignition, and took off after the Sedan. A part of him was screaming at himself to call for back–up. He knew that he should but he had promised Jane and Barry. They both insisted that, if things went south, they needed to handle it amongst themselves.

They, all three of them, had stepped over a line they could never come back from if Korsak called it in officially. So, he ignored his instincts and followed that Sedan which he didn’t actually catch up to. He knew he was getting close because all of the sudden he could hear Jane’s voice. Her Star Trek thingy was working again.

“What is this place?”

He could hear Jane’s husky voice loud and clear so he slowed down and pulled over. He didn’t want to drive out of the range of reception for the “transmitter” he thought that was the right word and gave himself a mental pat for thinking of it.

“Are you dumb or what? It’s a fuckin’ wreckin’ yard. My big brother owns it…er… shut up we ain’t talkin’ to you anyways.”

That was all Korsak needed to know. He could see the place from where he was parked. “Casey’s Salvage.” A big yellow sign not two hundred feet away. He got out of the car, un–holstered his Smith & Wesson, and proceeded on foot – hoping he could get there before they started moving again.

“I may be dumb but not as dumb as you Marty. How does it feel to be a walking talking dead man?”

“I said shut up bitch or I’ll shut your face up like I did you loser friend.”

“No you won’t.”

Jane sounded so cocky. How could she do that? Korsak wanted to whisper to her to shut up but he didn’t know if it would make a little buzzy noise or something that those guys might hear.

There was a long pause in which nothing could be heard except for Jane’s breathing.

“You won’t touch me because you were told not to. I bet if I show up with even a scratch you won’t get your money. Am I right? I’m guessing you were told you could rough up Barry a little but not kill him. Just make sure I got good and scared. Right? That’s what all that ‘you ain’t gonna make it this time Rizzoli’ bluff was all about. And because I know all of this is true I also know the two of you won’t live to spend a pen…”

“How bout I just shoot your buddy in the knee then, Rizzoli… will that get you to shut up? After all, you seem to know so much… it won’t kill him… it’ll be just a little more roughin’ up, whaddaya think about that bitch?”

“No…don’t… please, okay… I’m done. Don’t hurt him anymore.”

Korsak let out a silent sigh of relief that Jane had backed down. He was just outside the gate of Casey’s Salvage. The place looked deserted. There were dim, orange tinted security lights spaced at intervals around the perimeter, but the light they cast was dull and the details around their puny glow unformed. Tall piles of murky leaning rubble was what he saw, as he eased his way past the open gate, which was unattended.

The sky was navy black but he could see Orion on the low horizon. “Orion is a Winter Constellation.” Maura had told him one evening when he was walking her out to her car after a late shift.

“This far North it can only be seen in the Winter months, but near the equator it can be seen year round. A warrior hunter with a bow who pursued the Pleiades and was eventually slain by Artemis. He was placed in the sky to honor his courage. This is the Greek myth, which is the popular version. The Polynesians used the three bright stars of his belt as guides to navigate the ocean in their outrigger canoes…” And she had gone on and on and on… but he had enjoyed listening to her talk about the stars. Her voice had gone all wistful and dreamy, which surprised him – he had always thought Maura too literal minded to appreciate the mystery and romance of a myth.

Why was he thinking about this right now? Korsak shook himself. He needed to find that Sedan, and Jane and Barry.

* * * * *

Jane

Korsak’s heavy breathing and muttered stream of profanity seemed to drop out of the sky into her ear when the gsm (thingy) went back on line. She almost yelled out loud she was so startled. Knowing Vince had to be very close for her to hear him she asked Marty, who seemed to be the dumber of this duo, where they were.

She knew she could get a response that would be helpful to Korsaks search. And she quietly thanked the heavens that he hadn’t called in for back–up. Or she hoped he hadn’t.

Jane managed to piss them off so bad that they threatened to knee–cap Barry. That shut her up. She decided to wait and hope that some of what she said to them was sinking in, and it was only a moment or so later that she got her wish.

“Stay put BITCH,” Jake growled at her. He shoved Marty on the shoulder and jerked his head as an indication that he wanted to step outside and have a discussion.

As soon as the car doors were closed and the men outside, she whispered, “Korsak.”

“Jane?”

“Yeah, shssh… We’re on the East side of a wrecking yard, Casey’s Salvage, behind a smaller out–building of some sort.”

“I’m already here Jane. What’s going on? Where are those guys?”

“They’re just outside the car… don’t do anything rash if you can help it…I think I got them worked up…they’re talking… I’m going to try something…”

“No Jane! I’m almost there.”

“It’ll be a distraction Korsak… they won’t hurt me… it might give you the chance to catch them by surprise.”

Korsak let out a big sigh… “okay Jane… I guess I have to trust you. I can see them now, I’m behind a pile of crushed cars, just thirty feet away.”

“You’ll be able to hear… when it goes down Vince. I got my switchblade. I’m going to cut myself loose and grab the smart one from behind when he gets back in the car…get ready Vince.”

Jane had always carried a switchblade in her boot. The knife was illegal, just as the Silencer, and the Beretta she had used to kill Jerry and Mal – Maura’s kidnappers. Silencers were illegal as a general rule. The Beretta was illegal only because it was Jane’s back–up weapon and she didn’t have it registered. The switchblade was like the Silencer. Never legal. The knives were outlawed because of the prevalence of their use in Gang related deaths.

She had always carried the knife in a custom sewn leather pocket on the inside of her boot. Some laws were better than others and Jane drew the line to suit her own needs. She never looked back when it came to the safety of her family or those people she loved.

The dynamic duo had taped her wrists in front of her body instead of behind, so it was easy for her to reach the concealed weapon. She flipped it open and sawed the tape off of her feet restraints first. She then held the blade between her knees and freed her hands. She was careful to make sure it looked as though the tape was still binding.

She whispered, “Get ready Vince, they’re coming back in.”

“I’m right here Jane.”

Jake laughed overly loud as he pulled the car door open and climbed back in on the drivers side. Marty tried to duplicate Jake’s assurance but came off sounding like a snorting pig.

“Okay Rizzoli, we’re gonna finish that ride now…shut up and you and your little loser buddy will be just fine.” Jake started the car, while Marty snorted nervously, and glanced back at Jane with a worried looking grin on his stupid face. Maybe he wasn’t the dumb one after all? Jane mused, while waiting for him to look forward so she could pounce.

And pounce she did. A split second after Marty turned away she had that blade nestled tightly against Jake’s jugular vein.

“Don’t fucking move or you’re fucking dead asshole.”

Marty squealed instinctively and retreated to the safety of the passenger door. He had his back pressed against it when Korsak pulled it open, tumbling him onto the cold icy ground.

Korsaks Smith & Wesson found purchase on the center Marty’s forehead while Jane’s nifty switchblade carved a light line of crimson across Jake’s throat.

Jake hadn’t moved or squirmed, but Jane was so filled up with tension that the pressure got the best of her and she cut him just a little. Enough to make him piss his pants. Gross.

Poor Barry was still unconscious in the back seat.

“What are we gonna do with these assholes Jane?” Korsak asked, after they had the two men bound securely (more duck tape) and seated in the back of their Sedan.

“We’re going to use them.”

“If you two have half a brain between you, you will listen to me.”

“First off.” Jane held up her index finger. “Whatever kind of payment you were promised, for snatching me and Barry, was a lie. Your payment would have been a scalpel blade from ear to ear. And that is a payment you will receive, even yet, from your employer. Success or failure makes no difference to him. Once you have accepted a bargain with him you have signed your life away. I’m going to give you a wibsite URL. That’s an address on the internet. If I was you Marty, I’d swallow your fear of computers, just this once, and have a peek at what your boss has done to all his other helpers.

And Jane continued to explain in great detail how and why they should leave town. But she also explained, in great detail, why they should keep in touch with her if they wanted to live. She gave Jake specific instructions of when to place that first call. She was ninety nine percent certain that he would.

They left Jake and Marty taped up in their car. She and Korsak confiscated their weapons but left them their car keys, Jane’s cell phone number and the URL to Maura’s private file on Hoyt’s handiwork. She knew they would, eventually, wiggle out of the duck tape restraints. And she knew, as much as he didn’t want to… Jake would make that phone call.

They carefully settled Barry into the back seat of his car and headed for home.

* * * * *

Jane, Maura, Vince, Barry, Frankie, Jo Friday and Bass.

Barry groaned. He started to wake up the minute they left Casey’s Salvage behind.

“We have to get him to the hospital Jane.”

“I know.”

After Maura’s kidnapping the seriousness of a concussion was not lost on her. What she really wanted to do was just bring him home and have Maura look at him, but that would only piss her girlfriend off. Maura couldn’t do an x–ray, or treat him if he did have a serious head injury. So… they went to the hospital and made up some story about a bar fight.

Barry was admitted. He had a hairline fracture to his jaw, a ruptured eardrum and a concussion. The doctor said he had to be kept awake for twelve hours to make sure he didn’t have a serious brain injury, they didn’t want him to slip into a coma or something like that. Korsak offered to stay with Barry for the first six hours so Jane could go home and explain things to Maura.

3 Days Later

Jo friday had her butt in the air, her little tail was wagging at full speed, and her head was low to the ground, resting on her forepaws. An excited little low grrrrrrr could be heard as the little terrier, nose to nose with the tortoise, was once again trying to get Bass to play with her.

Bass had gotten used to the attention from Jo Friday and only rarely retreated into his shell. For some reason, he couldn’t make Jo Friday understand that his legs really didn’t move that fast so he could not chase her around the room like she wanted him to.

Jane smiled at the two creatures, wishing humans could do better. If a dog and a tortoise could become friends anything seemed possible.

“Thanks Frankie, for taking care of her for me, I owe ya.” She slapped her brother in the back of the head just to prove how much she appreciated him.

“Oww, Janie… you don’t whack a guy when your tellin’ him thanks… but your welcome anyways.”

He rubbed his head with feigned indignation but managed a smirk that was very much like his older sisters.

They had ordered Pizza for lunch and were just finishing so they could get down to the business at hand. Frost was out of the hospital and doing fine. His ear would heal on it’s own over time, as long as he kept it clean and covered. He was pouting about the pizza because he couldn’t have any. The doctor told him the hairline crack on his lower jaw would heal as well, as long as he was careful of what he ate over the next couple of weeks. Maura had ordered him Minestrone soup and a huge Caesar salad, with a stack of pepperoni on the side. He may have pouted but he polished off his lunch.

Korsak cleared his throat and took a sip from his water glass, he wasn’t drinking beer like the rest of them. Maura had a glass of wine, but Korsak was sticking to water today, which Jane found almost impossible to comprehend. The man was never known to turn down a beer.

“Okay, so… let’s get started. I’m going to lay everything out and then we are all going to pick it apart and put it back together so we can make some sense out this mess.”

They were all seated at Maura’s dining room table. Except for Bass and Jo Friday – who had taken the opportunity to charge around the living room, completing four laps in a wide circle. Her little feet were sliding out from under her on the corners – she stopped all at once and skidded to a halt right in front of the un–startled tortoise. Bass really was impressed, but he didn’t know how to let Jo Friday know…after a moment of thought he retreated inside his shell, thinking Jo might feel better if she thought she scared him. The dog whined and flopped on her side to lean against the giant shell, snuggling up close to take a nap.

Jane and Maura sat side by side, Frost and Frankie sat across from them and Korsak was at the head of the table taking the lead.

Maura had provided an easel with a giant sketchbook for Korsak to write his list on. She had the capability of setting up a full on power point presentation but thought that Vince would be more comfortable with doing this old school.

Hoyt’s Accomplishments from Maximum Security Prison. Isolation Unit.

1) 3 failed attempts to lure Jane to a second location.

Lola, Maura’s kidnapping, Assault on Barry and Jane kidnapping attempt.

Potential Resource Witnesses: Marty_? Jake__?

2) Murder of 5 witnesses associated with Jane’s hearing & Maura’s kidnapping.

Ronnie, Samantha, Roland, O ’Moyle. Paul Stevens. Ian (Skeeter) Shanahan.

Collateral Damage from Maura’s kidnapping: Mallory O’Moyle, Jerry Clarke.

3) Hoyt’s Lawyer = Andrew Jacobson. Partner at Jacobson, Bishop & Pierce. Law Firm.

4) O’Moyle’s, Stevens, Shanahan Lawyer = Lawrence Bishop. Partner at Jacobson, Bishop & Pierce Law Firm.

5) Computer Files – Cross References. In progress.

6) Hoyt’s Contacts: ?

7) Who is Hoyt blackmailing? Who is using Hoyt?

Potential List of connections based on cross referenced files.

Lt. Gov. Astin

IA Inspector Daniel Foley

Ass.Police Chief Randall Hardy– Narcotics

Mayor Robert Hannigan

Johnny “Big Mouth” Stone

Korsak wrote the list with a big fat sharpie marker, it squeaked the whole time he was writing and it took him forever but while he was plodding along – each of them was reading the information and processing it singularly, fitting it into sequences that would be varied. But pooled together their ideas may coalesce to form a pattern that might make sense.

Korsak grunted when he finished writing.

“Okay everybody this is what we got so far. A lot of questions but not to many answers. Barry and Maura are still sorting through the hundreds of files that he stole the other night.”

The first thing Barry had done upon his release from the hospital was go home and log on to his private server. He was certain the file transfer had been completed at the very moment that Marty shot up his lap top.

“Everyone is going to have a job.” Korsak announced, “Maura and Barry are already working on the files. Frankie, you’re a beat cop but consider this your first (unofficial) investigation. You’re going to find out anything you can about the O’Moyle family – who contacted them in the beginning? How did they get caught up in this thing with Maura’s kidnapping? “

“They lived up North of Medford – not too far from that cabin they had Maura in. You go up there and act like a regular guy. Hang out it the bars, listen to gossip. You know what I’m talking about?”

Frankie nodded excitedlly, his eyes were as large as saucers.

Jane interrupted at this point.

“Vince. I don’t think I want Frankie in on this part of the investigation. If Ma finds out she’ll kill me. Besides, I don’t want him getting hurt, he should have a partner with him for something like this.” She was shaking her head back and forth getting more determined to squash this idea.

“Janie, you gotta let me do this. I want toooo. We can’t bring this thing into the department so you have to have the people who are close to you do the work. Let me Janie…please.” His puppy dog eyes and his whiney voice always seem to work for him in the past, but he looked at his sister and saw that stubborn cast to her gaze and knew he wouldn’t win with his usual schtick.

He got up from the table, crossed his arms and stared her down. Glare for glare. Two sets of dark chocolate eyes locked in a duel.

“I’m a grown man now Janie, I’m going to do this and you aren’t going to stop me. You’re my sister and Family comes first. This ain’t about some stupid John Doe case. This is Family Jane, and you… are not… the… boss…of… me. Not on this one.”

He sat down while Jane was sputtering and said to Korsak: “I’m on it Vince.”

Maura watched the whole exchange with veiled amusement. Oh my, she thought, Frankie had just turned Jane’s whole world upside down. Unfortunately, for her, she reflected – she would have to listen to a tantrum tonight.

Korsak droned on ignoring the apoplexy Jane was still having over Frankie’s declaration.

“We only got eight days left until Jane’s Internal Affairs Hearing. I don’t know why but I have a feeling this whole thing is going to snowball around that Hearing. It’s all tied up in Hoyt’s plans for Jane. Whoever he has a hold over is going to get desperate and try something else – or is going to be ordered by Hoyt to try something else.”

“We gotta beef up our security until then.” He glanced around the table making eye contact with each of them… resting his gaze on Jane.

“I want to bring a couple extra guys into this, to watch the house at night and escort you and Maura to work Jane. You are still on desk duty so you won’t need a minder during the day.”

“A ‘minder’?” Jane bristled. “I need a ‘minder’ now? Thanks a lot Vince… that really..”

“No… no… Jane, I … um… I didn’t mean it that way.” But he snorted anyway and chuckled to himself.

Which sent Jane into another fit. Everyone was looking at her. Even Jo Friday had cracked an eye open and her ears had perked up at the unusual tone her person’s voice was making.

Jane pushed herself back from the table and glared at Korsak. She got up and started her fast pace, ran her hand through that gorgeous black mane – she threw her arms up in the air and shouted.

“Christ…whatever Vince…this is apparently your show but you haven’t told me what my assignment is yet??? What do I get to do? Everybody FUCKING else has a job but me.”

Oh. Oh.

Maura cocked her head to look at her girlfriend. Her lips formed a very tight line and her eyes narrowed in such a way that the usual swirling specks of green seemed to falter and stop. And then, they started to swirl again. She nodded at Jane, not in approval but understanding. She could overlook this little slip of the tongue, in light of the circumstances.

Frankie was wearing a huge smirk, that quickly turned into a frown once he realized that Maura wasn’t going to rip into Jane…not now anyways… he thought to himself but she probably would later. That made him feel better. Until Korsak dropped a bomb.

Korsak exhaled a big sigh and said: “You’re going to go see Hoyt Jane.”

* * * * *

Jane & Maura

Maura had showered and gone to bed before Jane. Jo Friday was cuddled up with Frost, who was staying in the guest bedroom. It had been decided that he would be sleeping over at least until Jane’s IA Hearing was over. He and Maura were spending hours together anyway pouring over the documents Barry had stolen.

She was curled up on her side staring at the wall when Jane climbed in beside her. Jane snuggled up from behind and spooned them together. She wrapped her arm around Maura’s waist, and kissed her neck and cheek before settling her head on the pillow and quietly asking:

“What are you thinking?”

“That I want us to have a life together without this constant threat lurking in the shadows. I want us to know what it will be like to be happy together, without being terrified that someone will come and snatch you away from me.”

And Jane couldn’t see them but she knew they were there, trickling down her cheeks in streams. Her heart squeezed tight.

“I want that too.”

Part 5

“I really can’t stay…But Baby it’s cold outside…”

“I’ve got to go away…But Baby it’s cold outside…”

Maura awoke to the husky timbre of Jane’s sultry voice singing her very favorite holiday song. The sound was coming from the bathroom, the dulcet tones floated into the bedroom swirling around Maura like a Sorcerer’s enchantment.

“This evening has been…Been hoping that you’d drop in…”

“So very nice…I’ll hold your hands, they’re just like ice…”

She didn’t know Jane could sing!

Maura drifted toward the bathroom in a trance. Lured, like an unsuspecting moth… fluttering, swooning, driving itself toward that irresistible flame. Her skin was dimpled with chills but her body felt feverishly hot.

“My mother will start to worry…Beautiful, what’s your hurry…”

“My father will be pacing the floor…Listen to the fireplace roar…”

Jane was completely unselfconcious in the shower, lathering her hair, eyes closed tight and singing with undeniable pleasure. Her voice was not loud, she was actually trying to moderate the tone so as not to disturb Maura. However; the acoustic’s of the tiled shower were exceptional – gathering together, the sweet velvety tones of Jane’s voice and sending them forth – to greet an audience of one.

The scalding hot water steamed the glass of the shower door, but she could still see Jane’s incredibly fit body – sleek and tight and glistening with the hot wet spray. Maura leaned against the doors jamb for a moment listening and watching – utterly captivated.

“So really I’d better scurry…Beautiful, please don’t hurry…”

“Well maybe just a half a drink more…Put some music on while I pour…”

Jane was rinsing the shampoo out of her hair when she felt the slight draft from the shower door being opened. Maura was joining her in the shower. Her voice faltered in mid–verse.

“The neighbors might think…Baby, it’s bad ou…–”

“Please don’t stop singing Jane.” Maura’s voice was almost a whisper but the plea was emphatic.

Jane’s eyes were still shut tight when the request was made. She felt a little shy about continuing to sing – she never sang in front of people…ever. Singing was strictly reserved for the shower – when her voice didn’t sound so hoarse. But Maura had been so sad last night, if she was enjoying this little show then she would continue it for her. So, Jane continued to rinse the shampoo from her hair and picked the verse up where she left it…not missing a word.

“Baby it’s bad out there…”

“Say what’s in this drink…”

And then she felt Maura’s hands grasping the flesh of her hips and pulling her forward. Her warm, wet mouth was kissing and licking and nipping Jane’s belly below her navel making a slow descent towards her now hot center.

“No cabs to be…haaa…”

“Don’t stop Jane…please…keep singing.” Maura whispered as she ran her tongue into the folds of that intricate place between Jane’s legs.

Jane’s legs started to quiver, the soap was clear and she opened her eyes to look down at Maura who glanced up to meet her gaze. Her hazel eyes were heavy, the lids half shut and the green was dark and dominant, gleaming with a predatory hunger.

Jane swallowed hard.

” Maura…I don’t know if I ca..ccan sing… if you are going to keep doing what you were doing.”

And Maura smiled up at her: shower spray pummeling her face, her amber hair soaked and gleaming, her gorgeous shapely body – kneeling on that hard tiled floor and holding on to Jane’s hips with a vice–like grip.

“Please try.”

She moved Jane over to the wall of the shower out of the line of direct spray, pinned her firmly against the tiles, lowered her mouth and continued that intimate exploration.

“I… I wish I knew howww…Your eyes..are…like…stt..ssta…starlight”

Jane’s voice quivered and stuttered but she tried to hold the lyrics in her mind, tried to focus on the task that Maura had given her. She willfully forced herself to stay pinned against that wall. She was suddenly so hot, so aroused that restraining her own need to touch and taste was nearly impossible.

“I…oughtt…to say…no, no, no…”

Maura’s mouth and tongue possessed Jane wholly. She kissed and then licked and sucked. She circled Jane’s clit slowly, teasing, round and round and round. Then she started stroking it lightly – long strokes, short strokes, grazing over the hard nub. Jane’s hips were thrusting to meet her and Maura clasped them tightly, pulling her into her mouth. Jane was so wet, and not from the shower… her wetness was silky and slick and tasted like…ambrosia.

“mmmind…if…I…mmove… clo..clos…closer”

Maura could wait no longer. Jane was nearing the edge and she wanted her to scream. She increased her pace, gathered Jane’s clit into her mouth and thrust two fingers deeply inside, curling them. She thrust in and out with her fingers, up and down with her tongue, sucking and flicking – matching the rhythm inside with the rhythm outside, pushing deeper, licking harder… faster… deeper…

Jane’s hips writhed and heaved – her body arched like a taut bow and Maura’s mouth and hands were pulling the string – incredibly tight, the tension building higher, tighter… harder, faster, deeper… tighter, deeper, faster, higher… and suddenly… like an arrow finally freed…Jane soared into the heavens, screaming… “aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh”… streaming like a comet mingling with the stars.

She slowly slid down the wall of the shower until she was sitting on the tiled floor, still panting heavily with Maura kneeling between her legs – smiling radiantly. She leaned over and kissed Jane tenderly, then passionately… then tenderly again.

Jane smiled weakly, defeated and spent… but happily so… and with that husky, incredibly sexy beautiful voice … she sang one last line for Maura.

“At least I’m gonna say that I tried”

And Maura burst into laughter, filled with an upsurge of joy she pulled Jane into her arms.

They toweled each other dry, eying each other with satisfaction…contentment…love… Maura felt something shift within her being. Awaking to Jane’s beautiful voice, so filled with ease and pleasure had shifted Maura’s perspective and outlook. Unlike Maura, Jane was not a slave to thought process of her mind. She was capable of letting go…she lived her life in moments of time. Time did not control those moments…and so… Jane could enjoy simple things, like a shower and a song. She could put it all aside to capture a little piece of joy…whatever the current circumstances. And…Maura realized…so could she.

A little while later, while getting dressed and ready for their appointment with Dr. Michaelson – Maura made a conscious decision. No more fear. Come what may she was going to fight like a hell–cat to protect what was hers and who she loved.

* * * * *

Jane, Maura & Dr. Michaelson

They were sitting side by side on the leather sofa in Dr. Michaelson’s office. Holding hands. Jane was garbed in blue jeans and a black turtle neck, while Maura – impeccable as always – wore dark gray slacks with a sweater of cashmere in deep yellow shades. The rich ochre color reflected in her hazel eyes – bringing to mind the golden eyed gaze of a wolf. Maura had Jane’s hand firmly entwined with her own and possessively settled on her lap.

A Wolf indeed. They make a striking couple. Dr. Michaelson mused, while waiting for one of them to start the conversation. This was the first time she was meeting with them, in session, as a couple.

Maura broke the uncomfortable quiet.

“We came to ask your advice.”

“Oh?”

“Perhaps you haven’t heard but a sequence of events has occurred, complicated events that have escalated previous matters, thus evoking this need for Jane and I to seek your council together.”

Dr. Michaelson seemed impersonal, reserved…almost cold in her manner, causing Maura to wonder if she was upset with them. She and Jane had both missed appointments last week and they hadn’t followed the psychiatrists treatment plan. Surely she would understand these circumstances.

“Yes Maura, I am aware of what happened at the factory, and there are rumors of another sort – alluding that Jane and her partner were involved in an altercation at a bar.” The Doctor shook her head disapprovingly at the latter part of the statement.

Maura looked over at Jane, who was content to sit there like a bump and allow her to carry the conversation. Jane tried to smother a grin that, Maura realized, was decidedly wicked. Jane loved to mess with Dr. Michaelson but now was not the f*&%g time. Darn her. She was so stubborn an childish sometimes Maura wanted to scream.

“I’ll get right to the point then.” Maura decided that both of them were being jerks. “We ignored your suggested treatment because we were too traumatized by events for a separation to be possible, or even helpful. After what happened at that factory I suspect we’ll both have nightmares for a long time yet.”

Nod.

“Hoyt has made another attempt at Jane’s life, which was passed off as an unfortunate altercation at a bar. In fact, Jane and her partner were taken, and Barry was beaten in much the same way that I was. They managed to escape with the help of Dectective Korsak. We have set up a small task force outside the purview of the department. We believe that elements within the department are in league with Hoyt, enabling his plots for reasons yet unknown.”

The Psychiatrist was suddenly very interested in what Maura was talking about and she quickly shed her preconceived projections. She rarely allowed herself to get emotionally attached to clients but these two had managed to worm their way in… and she realized, shamefully, that she had felt hurt by their lack of communication. It had undermined her own self–confidence as a therapist.

“You’ve got my attention now Maura, please continue, and I’m sorry… I should have known not to listen to hearsay regarding the bar fight.”

Maura exhaled deeply and smiled at Dr. Michaelson with relief.

“Jane has scheduled a visitation with Hoyt. We know you have extensive training in Criminal Profiling, especially in regard to serial killers. We want your advice on how to approach this interview.”

Dr. Michaelson looked at Jane, who was sitting comfortably, leaning into Maura, looking more relaxed and at ease than she had ever seen the Detective. Maura was definitely good medicine for Jane.

“Jane, Maura… I think this is a terrible idea. That creature will not show you his hand, he will only succeed in planting more seeds of fear and terror. ”

“No!” Jane finally stepped into the conversation. “We’ve talked this all through already Doc… you aren’t going to change our minds. The decision is made. We’re both filled up to the brim with that fear, that terror – so filled up that it’s spilled over the container and onto the floor. We’re both so saturated… it almost doesn’t scare us anymore. All we want to do is face it now… and put an end to this. What we want to know from you Doc…is will you help us?

Nod.

* * * * *

Frankie

“My dad was a mean, stupid son of a bitch and I’m glad he’s gone… but my mom and Ronnie… Ronnie was so sweet…”

The young woman wandered off in her mind to a place where a little boy was still running and playing and flashing a freckle faced grin… and then reality slapped her hard pushing a new and painful memory to the forefront of her mind… and she began to cry.

Frankie reached over the bar and gently took her hand. Squeezing in firmly while rubbing his thumb across the back in an effort to soothe.

“I’m so sorry.” He whispered. And he really was.

His heart ached for the beautiful young woman who stood across from him. She tended bar at O’Malley’s – a little corner pub in the tiny town of Havisham. Frankie had found her through a string of lucky coincidences and good solid snooping.

He spent two days in cafe’s and diners and two evenings out in local Bars. He overheard a conversation in a little coffee shop while eating his waffles and enjoying his morning “cup a joe.”

“Poor Carrie O’Moyle, she’s all alone now – Mal got the whole lot of them killed and left her to deal by herself.”

“What’s she doing now? I heard they still got the bodies of Ronnie and Sam, won’t let them go ’til their done with the investigation. Now she gotta put their service’s off and just wait.”

“Oh she’s still keeping her shifts at O’Malley’s,… she has to, she got nothin’ comin’ in but bills and debt leftover from Mal’s scheming.”

Later that evening, Frankie found himself rooted to a bar stool at O’Malley’s. He spent most of the evening making easy talk with the lovely young woman who’s whole family had been slaughtered. She was tall, like Jane he thought…but her coloring was pale. She had the freckles, and her dark curly hair had gone thick and wavy with it’s length. An older female version of the young boy who had caused Jane and Maura so much anguish and sorrow.

Frankie had turned on the Rizzoli charm earlier in the evening. He was a natural only because he was naturally charming and sincere – he didn’t have to work at it.

“Carrie, can I ask you somthin’, I don’t want to pry or make things any more painful but I’m just a little curious. If your dad was such a jerk, how come your ma stuck with him. Why didn’t she just take Ronnie and leave… like you left?”

She shrugged her shoulders, sighed and wiped the bar down distractedly while deciding what to say. She topped off Frankie’s stout for him and smiled sadly.

“Cuz she loved the bastard, even though he beat her and treated her like dirt. He was okay to Ronnie though, took him hunting and fishing. They went everywhere together.”

Frankie took a sip of beer and nodded his head in understanding. Same old same old story – he thought.

“How did your dad get messed up in that kidnapping thing anyways? I mean that’s kinda hard core, it doesn’t seem like something he woulda done. I mean, sounds like he screwed up a lot but no big time crime or nothin’?”

She sighed and served herself a glass of the stout that Frankie was drinking. It was almost closing time and the place was dead so she indulged herself. She liked talking to Frankie he was nice…thoughtful… and cute (silent thoughts).

“That asshole Skeeter got him up in that. He said he had a big contract from some bad ass in the “Underground”… whooopey… she snorted derisively…he thought he was so cool thinking he was some kinda wise guy or somethin’. Anyway… my dad mortgaged our house on some stupid fishing tour guide idea he was going to start up.. course that fell through and they were gonna lose the place unless he could come up with some big money.”

Frankie felt he was getting somewhere…he felt kind of bad doing this…asking this girl these questions…like he was using her. She already had a world of pain and he didn’t want to bring any more down on her. He really liked her, she was really sweet and pretty (silent thoughts).

He ran his fingers through his hair, shook his head to get his priorities lined up. Jane’s life was at stake here. He had to toughen up and get the information he needed. Then go home and leave this girl alone with her grief.

“What guy Carrie? You know… who was the mob guy who hired Skeeter?”

Carrie shrugged. “He never had a real name. Skeeter kept calling him ’Big Mouth.’ I laughed out loud at the loser. Who’d ever work for some asshole who called himself ’Big Mouth?’…but my dad jumped in with two feet… got himself shot dead and my mom and brother slashed to death.”

The tears were spilling out again and Frankie felt sick to his stomach. Because he had made her cry again…but also, because he knew about Johnny “Big Mouth” Stone.

The bar closed shortly thereafter and Frankie waited with Carrie while she closed up. He walked her to her car and thanked her for talking with him and then he hugged her. A hug a brother would give to a sister who was hurting. He gave her his phone number and told her to call him any time if she wanted someone to talk to. She smiled at him, wistfully, patted his face with the flat of her hand and said “Good night Frankie, and thank you.”

He never saw the guy who had been watching him all night long. The tall skinny guy who sat in the back alone. Sipping beer, looking like a regular lonely drunk. He never saw the skinny guy leave and cross the street to wait, patiently, in a pick–up truck until the bar closed…watching and waiting for Carrie and Frankie. Waiting for the cover of dark so no one would see.

* * * * *

Hoyt

He fancied himself a real live Hannibal Lecter, without the cannibalism of course. He was a master of fear, however, and that was what got him off. He liked the blood too. But the fear was where the rush was… the fear he gifted to others. Especially Jane. Jane was his work in progress, his Masterpiece. He would be remembered forever for what he would accomplish with Detective Jane Rizzoli.

Just thinking of her – her eyes – those dark deep endless pools of rich black and brown, shimmering and quaking with a passion for life. And he would have her life one day. But he could wait. He enjoyed the game he played. Slowly breaking her down into pieces, chopping away at the bits and parts of her that she believed to be honorable and good. He would make her bad. And when he was finished, tearing apart her life, shredding the pieces so that all she could feel was pain and hatred… she would beg him… beg him to take it from her.

He squirmed in his chair, heady with excitement. She was coming to see him at any moment…ah… there she is walking tall, proud… wait… she isn’t walking tall… she’s walking with her head down… that’s not right. She is a long way from being that far broken… What game is she going to play with him today? He smiled.

The doors clanged open and there she was, standing in healed black boots and Blue Jeans. That’s a switch. Where is the blazer she is so fond of. A long sleeved blouse – more black – with the top button open at the throat. That’s against the rules here. She must have just accomplished that on her walk through isolation. What the fuck is that on her neck? She has a bite mark on her neck! That is my neck. He was furious. Who was fucking Jane and leaving marks on her? That was his body to mark. He shook himself to gain some self control. She has had some help, it appears. How to rattle the serial killer 101? He smiled, knowingly… he could play this game with her. This was fun.

She took the seat across from him and he greeted her with sweet anticipation.

“Dear Sweet Jane. How very kind of you to pay me a visit.”

To Be Continued.