Title: 1: 16

Fandom: Rizzles Fanfiction; Rizzoli and Isles Fanfiction

Author: CN Winters

Disclaimers: These characters aren't mine. They belong to TNT, Janet Tamaro, Tess Gerritsen and other talent folks. I'm just borrowing them for my amusement, and hopefully yours too.

Feedback: You're welcome to email me about this fic at cnwinters71 at the yahoooooooooo thingy.

Synopsis: Set immediately after Season Six, Episode 12 titled "5: 26", Jane and the Boston police department are searching for the medical examiner who's been kidnapped by someone seeking revenge against the detective.

Authors Note: Don't let the 16 chapters fool you. They aren't long chapters. As for Rizzles it's implied, just like show's subtext, but not confirmed. I'm thinking of doing a follow-up to this tale for the Rizzles fans to enjoy. By the way, this story also features shades of the paranormal that you may find in something like the X-Files (as well as something that HAS been done in R & I). From diehard R & I fans you may also notice a few callbacks to prior episodes over the last six years. I planned to release this months before the conclusion of season six as a way to tide fans over until the season six return, however that didn't happen because it got a bit more detailed than I expect. So, instead of coming out weeks or month before the Feb 2016 return, I'm releasing it DAYS before so I apologize if it's littered with errors (I'm rushing LOL). Anyway, if you enjoy it, don't be shy. A quick note or thumbs up is always appreciated.

Warning: This fic does have violence toward women and/or gun violence, so if those are triggers for you then you might want to skip this fic. It may get intense for more sensitive readers.

Chapter 1

"I am so glad that's over," Jane sighed from Maura's sofa.

It had been a horrible ordeal. Jane was expecting it to be her mother to be taken – she was ready for it. But the days that followed after she broke down in her mothers' arms... they were almost too much to endure. Maura was gone; taken. Nothing remained except a dropped cell phone. She loved Maura. And someone took her; hurt her...because of her. She did her best to play it off. Maura, for her part, seemed to do the same. Both women just wanted to get back to life as normal.

The medical examiner walked over with a wine glass in one hand and a beer in the other. She smiled as she made her way from the kitchen to sit beside the detective. Not an inch separated them as they sat side-by-side. The doctor chuckled softly as she handed the beer bottle over to her friend.

"What?" Jane asked.

"I must admit, the balloons are a nice touch." She pointed to the bouquet of red balloons by the front door.

"Glad you liked them. It's the least I could do... really, the very least."

"You really need to wake up, detective," Maura said with a gentle smile. She reached out slowly and affectionately ran her palm down the back of Jane's head with one stroke.

"Wake up?" Jane challenged. "I'm wide awake. I know exactly what happened and I'm sorry I got you hurt. I..."

Maura then put her hand on Jane's knee and gave a light squeeze to make sure she had her full attention.

"It's not your fault," she said softly.

"It is. If you weren't important to me-."

"He would have targeted someone else – your mom, Frankie, TJ... It had to be me. I had to be the one – you know that because we're kindred spirits – soulmates if you will. And I'm the only one who can survive this."

"Well, you're home now. You're safe and... I'm going to do everything I can to keep it that way," Jane said as she rested the beer on the coffee table. She took hold of Maura's hand that was on her knee and grasped it. "You have my word."

Maura put her glass on the table too and took Jane's face in her hands.

"I love you, but your problem is your heart rules your head. But really, you need to wake up, Jane."

"What...?"

"Wake up!" Maura yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Arghh!"

Jane's eyes shot open and her body lunged forward. She looked around for a few moments and realized she wasn't in Maura's living room at all. It took her about three seconds, but she recognized she was in Maura's office instead. She had fallen asleep on her sofa. Seated at the ME's desk was Sgt. Korsak who moved quickly to his feet at her outburst.

"Anything?" Jane asked hopefully, desperately.

He didn't reply. He just sadly shook his head.

"What time is it?" she asked quickly and started to look for her phone. "How long was I out?" she added.

He looked reluctant to speak. "About four hours," he finally answered.

"Four hours! Damn it, Vince! You promised me you'd wake me in an hour!" she yelled.

"You haven't slept in three days, Jane!" he argued. "One more day and you start hallucinating! You stay wake more than that and you'll die! You'll literally DIE!"

Jane knew he was right. She knew because Maura told her that once. Maura. The medical examiner was so intertwined in her life that the last three days without her was a void Jane had never experienced. Even during their most heated argument over Doyle's shooting it didn't feel THIS bad.

She had to find her and fast. Every hour that went by made it less likely she would see her alive again. But Jane wasn't dumb. She also knew she was running on empty for the last 12 hours, but sleep wouldn't come while Maura was still gone. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly to clear her head.

"I feel helpless," she confessed in a small, frightened voice.

"I know you do," Vince sympathized. "We all do."

"All those missing person case where loved ones just vanish... How many families have we had to face over the years, Vince? How do they do it? How do they get any rest when they have no idea what happened to the person they love. I can't do that again – I can't sleep that long again. I just..."

"I know you want her back," he empathized. "We all want her back, but you can't let your heart rule your head right now. You need rest and a clear mind so we can find her."

Jane looked like she was going to rant some more, but she stopped and wore a curious expression instead.

"What did you say?" she asked him.

Korsak looked apologetic. "I just mean..."

"No. You said that the problem is my heart rules my head..."

"Sometimes it does. Yes."

"That's why..." Jane began to wave her finger. "That's why he took her. He knew my heart would take over my head. I need to think."

"He? He who?"

"Hoyte," Jane muttered. "It's Hoyte."

"How do you figure that? Hoyte's dead," Korsak reminded her.

"Because Maura just told me."

"In a dream?"

Jane nodded. "Yeah."

Vince shook his head. "Like I said, you're hallucinating. Lay down. You need more sleep," he insisted.

"No, I'm fine. Come with me," she said as she started to dart from the room. When he wasn't following quick enough, she poked her head back inside. "Get to the bullpen. I'll show you. She's right! It had to be her! Maura had to be the one!"