Jane was out of breath. All she could hear was heavy breathing and a pounding in her ears. She closed her eyes and attempted to steady her breaths and quiet herself. She began to ring her hands as she normally does when she feels nervous, occasionally rubbing the scar tissue on the backs of them. In order to calm herself down, she thought of things that could distract her momentarily. She let her mind wander to her family. She thought of her mother who, while being the most annoying person Jane knew, still brought a smile to her face. Then she thought of her brothers. Tommy was just getting into a new job working as a receiving associate at a Boston warehouse. It was good for him; good money, and good labor to keep him busy. Jane shook her head and thought, a busy Tommy equals a safer Tommy. Her brother Frankie was working an overnight shift somewhere. She had stopped listening to him while he was telling her where… She racked her brain to try to recall why she wasn't listening to her brother.
They had been at Jane's apartment much early that day. Jo Friday had just jumped onto the counter and snatched a piece of toast from Frankie's plate.
"Jane! Your mutt is stealing my food!" Frankie yelled, and his expression went from anger to fury when he realized his sister was on the floor laughing while simultaneously patting Jo on his little shaggy head while the dog chopped on Frankie's breakfast.
Jane had laughed for a few minutes, mostly at the look on Frankie's face. When she began to control herself, she hoisted herself back onto her feet using the counter and came face to face with the very perplexed face of Dr. Maura Isles.
"Maura, Jesus!" Jane almost screamed. "What the hell, do you not knock anymore?"
Maura's response was an adorable half-smile. "I did", she said with a raise of her eyebrows.
"Oh."
"Should I even ask what is going on?"
"Uh… Don't worry about it, Frankie was just here making my morning interesting."
"Yeah", muttered Frankie as he gathered his things to leave. "Now I gotta see Ma for breakfast at the Café." He glared at Jane, and then at Jo Friday on his way out.
"Bye Frankie… um… sorry!" Jane called after him.
Jane poured herself another cup of coffee and offered a cup to Maura. She shook her head.
"Jane." She appeared a little distracted
"What's up?" Jane asked in the middle of a sip.
"I came to pick you up. Something… weird is going on down at the station."
"Well, what is it?"
"I- I'm not… entirely sure. I just- I can't find anybody. Korsak, Frost, no one is upstairs. Is there something I'm missing?"
"Not that I know of…" Jane thought for a minute. "Um, no, we better head down there." She rushed into her room to get ready.
