A/N: Well, I've decided to venture into a new fandom! I've fallen in love with this show and the characters thanks to a fellow writer. Don't worry, Mentalist Readers! I'm still writing for that fandom, and I'll update Evergreen once I figure out where I'm going with that story… I've completely forgotten! Note to all- this is why you back up stuff so you don't lose it when your computer crashes! Updates may be slow- school and job are eating up my life!

Title: Stigmatized
Author: Divinia Serit
Rating: T
Pairing: Implied Rizzoli/Isles

Disclaimer: Not mine! Just playing!

Notes: I'm playing with a variation on the pilot as I get used to the characters! In this story, Rizzoli was pulled off the Apprentice case due to the personal conflict with the case. She knows the 'Apprentice' is out there, but she has little knowledge of the case details since she and Isles are not working the wealthy couples' murders. I'm not sure how long this will be, but it will be different from the pilot although inspired by the same events! All mistakes are my own. Please forgive any errors!

Chapter 1

The skin was raised and puckered under the smooth pad of her finger- scar tissue left over from a memory better left forgotten. And yet, she couldn't stop wringing her hands. It was strange that an action which dredged up a painful wave of emotion seemed to instantly soothe her. Running her thumb over the scar once more, she stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets and flexed her stiff fingers away from prying eyes. Their expressions were full of pity, and it made her want to scream at the top of her lungs. She was a survivor. He didn't bother her. It would probably be more believable if she wasn't lying to herself.

Still. She shouldn't have to keep explaining herself to outsiders who only wanted the gory details. Strangers lingered in morbid curiosity when they realized she was the one that got away- the one Hoyt was still fascinated with. Sure, the prosecutors tried to use her and Korsac tried to shield her. She didn't need any damn protection. Hoyt was locked up. The prosecutors were gone. And Korsac… Korsac was no longer partnered with her. Not that it hadn't stopped Frost from stepping into the role of her protector.

Ignoring the whispers that echoed in the silence, she strode into the living room seeking solace in the presence of her best friend. The blonde medical examiner was crouched over a prone body-a young girl that looked like a rag doll haphazardly tossed on the floor after a day of play. Jane Rizzoli watched as her friend's eyes took in every detail as she ran a gloved finger through the girl's hair in order to get a better view of the laceration on the back of the girl's skull. Shooting her a tight smile, Maura continued to study the various incisions covering the poor girl, and Jane took that as her cue to process the rest of the scene.

Not that she could focus. A madman was loose in the city. A madman with a modus operandi far too close to another man. She tried to push away that line of thinking. She had been pulled from the case without a second thought. Conflict of interest the brass said. She was in too deep already, and they couldn't afford to have the case compromised by her lack of judgment. Never mind the fact that she was the expert on Hoyt. She was the one that could get inside his head, and she was the one with the scars to prove it. The brass could care less.

"Increased blood flow to the amygdala is often a side effect of unpleasant situations, but it keeps humans from engaging in possible harmful behaviors. It's a typical reaction."

"Is that your way of telling me it's okay to be nervous?" Jane retorted as she took in her friend's concerned gaze. "Cause I'm not."

"Right," Maura stated looking none to convinced. Letting the matter drop, she turned her attention back to the corpse in front of her.

"Multiple lacerations and contusions covering the body. The color of the bruising around some of the wounds suggests possible healing before a repeat injury. I'll know more after my autopsy."

"So we got a possible domestic violence or ongoing abuse. Any sign of sexual trauma?"

"I didn't say that, and no visible trauma. I can't give you a conclusive answer-"

"Until after the autopsy," Jane finished with a sigh.

Turning away, Jane closed her eyes for a few seconds and pushed the barrage of thoughts towards the back of her mind. She willed the tension to leave her shoulders, and she was surprised Maura had yet to comment on the shape of her bone structure impacting muscle function or whatever technical explanation she'd state. Maura was brilliant, but sometimes she was just so damn irritating. Ignoring her mind's taunting voice which sounded eerily like The Surgeon's, Jane tried to focus on the case at hand. Major Cases would handle Hoyt and his apprentice for now.

Hours later, Rizzoli wearily trudged to her car with Maura close on her heels. She felt disgusting after processing the scene and wondered how her friend always looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Running a hand through her tangled ponytail, she decided she just wanted to take a hot shower and curl up on her bed with a glass of wine. A glance towards the medical examiner told her she wasn't going to get off the hook that easily.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Maura pressed as she studied Jane with a practiced eye.

"Peachy. And my eyes are red from lack of sleep in case you were wondering," Jane commented flippantly. Maura frowned.

"Actually-"

"Maura."

"Oh. You were being sarcastic again."

"Yes. It's fine. Hoyt's still incarcerated, and it's not like I have a wealthy husband for the apprentice to come after."

Jane shook her head as Maura bit her lip to stop from grinning. At least her mother hadn't called yet. Although, she was sure Frankie would be all too happy to fill the Rizzoli matriarch in once he learned of the details surrounding the prominent murders. Waving goodbye to the doctor, Jane slid into the driver's seat with a sigh. Rubbing her palms once more, she jumped as the shrill ring of her cell phone cut through the dark silence.

"Rizzoli."

Fifteen minutes later, she was still sitting at the crime scene, and she was sure the deputy on patrol was getting suspicious by now. She had been ordered to come to headquarters in the morning. MCS had tried to interview Hoyt. Apparently, he agreed to cooperate.

He would only talk to her.

She cursed and slammed her hands on the steering wheel.

Her palms stung.