Hey Rizzles fandom. I'm back and all in one piece (missing an internal organ). I did have this story planned and half written but I'm old school (pen and paper) and my mum accidentally chucked it while I was in hospital. I considered not bothering to rewrite after some of the feedback from my last story but I figure... I like writing and I love Rizzles and I've got stories, you don't have to read if you don't like it.
So here is Rizzoli & Isles, Survivor edition. It's mostly going to be like Survivor All Stars (Rob and Amber anyone?) but I've changed some things, such as where it is and Jane and Maura are on different tribes to start. There is a lost of background from previous seasons which will be revelled. All character I've used have been pulled from the show. Hope you enjoy :)
Disclaimer: Don't own Survivor, don't own Rizzoli or Isles :)
The overwhelming thunder of a helicopter filled the area, blocking out every other sound. A radio clicked to life with rough background static.
"Boat one, check."
"In position."
"Boat two, check."
"In position."
"Boat three, check."
"In position."
"All boats move out."
The familiar Survivor voice of host Jeff Probst took charge. "Hidden in the central Pacific Ocean is the island nation of Kiribati. Amongst Kiribati's islands are the stunning Line Islands, which is where Survivor, second chance: Revenge, Rebirth and Redemption will take place. For the first time in Survivor history, Survivor's fifth season, previous Survivors will be coming back for a second chance at the prize. Survivors that we have loved from the Australian outback, Africa, Thailand and the Amazon will be returning. You loved them, hated them, cheered for them and booed them. They all have something to prove and something to lose. Welcome to Survivor, second chance: Revenge, Rebirth and Redemption."
Jane kept her chin to her chest, surveying her 'tribe members' subtly from the corners of her eyes. She'd re-watched all previous seasons, researching, studying, profiling, all contestants that had ever played the game and could be returning with her. So she knew each person sharing her boat as well as a detective knows a perp, and she was a detective.
Across from her sat Casey Jones, Survivor Thailand, the third season. He had played a good game… he hadn't seen the double cross coming. Next to him was Nina Holiday, also from Thailand. Nina and Casey were talking closely, an air of familiarity surrounding them. They hadn't been on the same tribe or the same alliance but they had been betrayed by the same person who had gone on the win the game. On Casey's other side was Sean Cavanaugh from Survivor's first season, the Australian Outback. Jane remembered that season the most, more than her own. She watched reruns religiously, almost as much as she watched Red Sox games. Jane had been floored when a second season was announced, sure that after the incident of the first season that the show would disappear, only to be mentioned in hushed tones; an incident that Sean had deeply been a part of. Jane could read in the clench of his jaw that he was anxious about returning to the game. She promised herself that she'd help him, just as he had tried to help the girl from his own season.
To her left sat Barry Frost. He had been in Survivor's most recent season, Survivor the Amazon. Jane was trained to identify patterns, find evidence, see reason, and as she thought of the way that Barry had made it through to the final four only to be blindsided by an alliance that had lasted the entire season, she realised that every person on the boat had something in common, something vital. Each of them had been deceived in their first seasons by those they'd trusted. Survivor, Second Chance: Revenge, Rebirth and Redemption. This must be tribe Revenge. To confirm her assumption Jane glanced to her right. Susie Chang, also from The Amazon. Also backstabbed.
Jane jumped to her feet as the boat bumped against the sandy shore. She was the first over the side of the boat, hitting the water with a splash. She reached a hand up and started helping people down. A thick pole with a map attached by a machete adorned the beach, the only thing in sight other than the abundance of trees. Casey reached the pole first, taking charge and yanking the machete to release the map. With no instruction or discussion he started to lead the new tribe through the thick forest. Jane rolled her eyes and hung to the back, letting the macho man take over. She raised a suspicious brow as she noticed Barry and Susie hanging towards the back with her.
"Jane Rizzoli, right? I'm Barry Frost."
"I know," Jane returned, being careful to control her features. She knew Susie and Barry and she also knew that out of everyone in this tribe, she'd want them and Sean for her alliance. That didn't mean she was going to be the one to say it, this was a game of careful strategy.
"Right. Well, call me Frost."
"I'm Susie."
Jane gave the pair a slight nod, remaining silent and letting them speak.
"I watched your season," Frost seemed to be the more confident of the two. "I want an alliance. You, me, Susie."
Jane nodded again, slightly bigger this time. "Sean's our fourth."
Susie and Frost nodded and that was the end of the conversation. It was wordlessly implied that Jane would be approaching Sean. No further discussion was needed until it came time for Tribal Council.
A few minutes of trudging through thick branches, Casey swinging a machete wildly, and they came upon a clearing. Jeff stood in the centre of the area with three large coloured flags spaced evenly in front of him.
"Welcome Survivors. Grab a spot under the Otokai flag."
Jane took a spot on the sand under the Red flag, unintentionally found herself at the front, closest to the yellow flag directly to her right. A green flag hung on the other side of the yellow flag. Jane watched as Jeff introduced each contestant to the camera in front of him. In her mind she could see it would be used as voiceover while they walked towards their flag. Jane saw movement to the right of Jeff, near where they had entered but a different path.
"Welcome Survivors," Jeff greeted again. "Grab a spot under the Kaua tribe flag."
Jane scanned the faces of each person as the exited the trees. Jeff added his own commentary.
"Giovanni Gilberti, Survivor Australia." He welded his own machete in much the same manner as Casey had but not as graceful.
"Lydia Sparks, Survivor Africa." Jane frowned. Hadn't Lydia been the first voted off from her tribe?
"Robin Jackson, Survivor the Amazon." Jane felt Frost send her a quick wave, which was returned. They had shared an alliance during their season and had stuck to it. That would be both useful and dangerous come the merge.
"Gabriel Dean, Survivor Thailand." Jane felt her skin crawl as his beady eyes openly appraised her body. No one had trusted him in his season and without an alliance he'd left early as well. Jane started piecing together another pattern. These were Survivor who'd shown… promise… but never actually got a handle on the game and had been voted out quickly. This must be tribe 'Rebirth'.
Jane couldn't prevent the smile from building on her face when the fifth tribe member entered the area. "Vince Korsak, Survivor Africa." Not only had Korsak been her closest friend during their season, but they had maintained that close friendship after the series. Korsak had been forced to leave by a medic. He'd been so desperate to continue but never had the chance. She was more than glad that he had this chance. They hadn't been allowed to discuss this series with each other because of the strict 'confidentially' agreement that had been pushed this time. Korsak met her eye and that glance was all it took to confirm an alliance after the merge as long as they both got there. Jane glanced towards Robin, Frost's friend, and back to Korsak. He nodded, understanding that she was asking him to bring Robin with him.
Jane was too focused on Korsak that she almost missed the sixth and final Kaua tribe member. Her head snapped away from Korsak so quickly she was sure she'd have whiplash.
"Doctor Maura Isles, Survivor the Australian outback."
Holy Fuck.
She felt Sean push her slightly as he moved to the front, trying to get Maura's eye contact. Jane couldn't breath and she was sure her heart had stopped. There was no way in hell that Dr Isles was here, not after what had happened during her season. She heard Sean's breath hitch when Dr Isles finally looked at him. He sent her a warm smile, which she returned with a barely noticeable flicker of her lips. It wasn't even a smile but Jane was sure it was the most beautiful smile she'd ever seen.
"The ice queen," She heard Susie gasp from behind her, nothing but respect in her tone.
"Last person I expected to see," Commented Nina.
Unconsciously Jane nodded her head in agreement. Jane made eye contact with Korsak again and nodded towards Maura. He nodded in response. He'd look after her, Jane was sure of it. Jane turned her head when she felt Sean tap her shoulder lightly.
"What was that?" He asked in a gruff whisper.
Jane knew exactly what he was referring to. She felt a slight shame for being caught but there was a deep rawness in Sean's gaze that made her answer honestly. "I told Korsak to watch her. Get her to the merge."
Sean cast a harsh eye over Jane and she felt her back straighten in reaction. He stuck out a rough hand, "Thank you."
Jane took his hand and shook once before dropping it. Again no words were needed. Sean was in her alliance. And she knew she could trust him, whole-heartedly. Jane turned back to Jeff as he began to speak.
"Some familiar faces, some surprises. Sean, you're from our first season, have you been watching since then?"
"I've been watching Jeff," Sean said with a light smirk, saying more than his actual words.
"I hear ya Sean. Frost, you're from our newest season, what's it like being back in the game with people you said you were a fan of."
"Pretty unreal," Frost smiled easily. "These are kinda my heroes, they set the pace for Survivor. It'll be good to show 'em what I've got."
"What about you Dean? Seeing any familiar faces?"
"It's going to be a very different game this time Jeff."
"It will. And two tribes will be fun… but I think three tribes will be even better. C'mon out Bomwi!"
"Riley Cooper, Survivor the Amazon." Jane saw Frost flinch as the person responsible for his dismissal approached the green flag.
"Joey Grant, Survivor Africa." Jane glanced at Korsak. She saw the worry painted all over his aging face. Jane sent him what she hoped was a brave smile. Joey wasn't as bad as –
"Emily Sanner, Survivor Africa." Jane's dropped jaw without her permission. She felt her heart speed up. For a very long second she considered walking straight out of the game, here and now. But she didn't. She picked up her jaw and squared her shoulders. The third pattern, this tribe was full of untrustworthy backstabbers. It must be tribe Redemption. Jane glanced at her other tribe members, quickly trying to guess who else could walk in.
"Cailin Martin, Survivor Thailand." Jane saw Casey and Nine flinch.
"Garrett Fairfield, Survivor the Australian outback."
Shit. No.
Jane's head whipped towards Dr Isles. She wasn't the only one. Every eye was on the poor doctor, trying to read her reaction. For her part the dirty blonde beauty only straightened her back, keeping her eyes forward and focused on Jeff, not straying towards Garrett at all.
Jane is a detective. Jane knows patterns. And Jane knew exactly what was about to happen, she knew exactly who the next name would be. She looked back to Dr Isles. Korsak had his thick hand heavily on her shoulder. Her back was still ramrod straight and her eyes were still focused on Jeff. She was amazing. Jane knew that she was strong, unbreakable, but this was something else.
"And last but not least…"
Jane took and deep breath and fought her urge to run to the Doctor that she didn't even know, had never even met.
"Ian Faulkner, Survivor the Australian outback."
A crack. Dr Isles closed her eyes. Her jaw clenched. But no tears fell. No words escaped. Her pristine demeanour was kept in place.
"See? Ice queen," Nina whispered, lacking the respect Susie had said it with and making it sound every bit its truly offensive nickname.
Jane resisted the urge to slug Nina, knowing it wouldn't win her any friends (not that she truly cared).
"You are currently in the heart and soul of Kiribati's Line Islands, one of the most beautiful places that the Pacific has to offer, also one of the most unforgiving. You are all here for a very particular reason. Kaua. You all want a chance at a redo. You made small mistakes and lost the game, or maybe you never really got into it. This really is a second chance for you. In Kiribati Kaua means Rebirth-"
"Actually, a more accurate translation would be 'renew'," Dr Isles cut in. Her eyes widened, she obviously hadn't meant to interrupt.
"Good to have you back Doctor Isles," Jeff laughed with a good humour. "Bomwi., you are basically the worst of the worst villains in Survivor history. You are cutthroat and manipulative. Maybe you are back to try to be a hero, maybe you are here to fully embrace your villainy, it's your choice. Bomwi means Redemption-"
"Actually-" Maura bites her own lip before she can continue.
With a laugh Jeff waves for her to continue.
"A closer translation for Bomwi is amends, or restitution."
Jeff continued as if the Doctor hadn't spoken. "Otokai. You are here for payback, here for vengeance, and here for retribution. In Kiribati Otokai means Revenge." Jeff is silent for a second and glances at Maura.
She smiles, "That's correct."
Jane feels a low rumble leave her mouth, unbidden.
"Alright, what do you say we get straight into the first rewards challenge? Are you ready?"
A cheer of agreement filled the area. Jeff led all three tribes quickly from the clearing and towards a beach where the challenge was set up. Crew and cameras moved between each tribe, preventing her from any attempts at speaking with Korsak. When all the tribes were again on their mats Jeff started with his usual challenge spiel.
"Want to hear want you're playing for?"
Another round of 'yeahs' sounded.
"Each tribe will have their own islands this season and all three islands have different resources. Trust me, there is definitely a good island and a bad island and that could be all it takes to give you the advantage in the challenges. First place picks their island first. Second picks second, third gets whatever is left. And if that isn't enough: winner gets flint which means fire. Is that worth playing for?"
Another cheer.
"Alright. The game is called Quest for Fire. This game was first played in Survivor the Australian Outback and again in Survivor the Amazon but this one will be a little different. Each tribe will start at the finish line in the sand. As a group you will swim out to the floating platform that is the same colour of your tribe. Otokai, red, Kaua, yours is yellow, Bomwi, for you it's green. There you will untie the ropes to undo your raft and torch. You will use the torch to lit the four floating platforms on your way back to the sand. Each tribe member must have a hand on the raft at all times. When you reach the sand you will drag the raft under a bamboo crawl. Once through the bamboo crawl you will race to drag your raft over the finish line. Ready to play?"
We all took a place at the starting line and crouched, ready to start. Jane felt an arm bump hers, causing an electric shock to race through her. She turned in surprise, only to come face to face with an equally surprised Dr Isles.
"Sorry," the doctor said, truly looking apologetic.
"I'm Jane," Jane smiled, holding out a warm hand.
The doctor looked at the hand, seemingly contemplating the correct action. She eventually reached out her own hand and shook firmly. Jane felt the same tingles run through her from the contact.
"Dr Isles."
"Nice to meet you."
The doctor dropped Jane's hand and turned back towards the water, leaving Jane staring at the side of her face. And what a side of the face it was. Jane took in the high cheekbone and the straight line of her long nose. She memorised soft lips frozen in a sad straight line. She catalogued a perfectly manicured brow and long lashes. And she smirked when she saw the light blush cover a round cheek when the doctor felt Jane staring.
"Ready!" Jeff's voice cut through Jane's daydreaming and pushed her focus back into the challenge. "Get set… go!"
Jane took off, going full speed right into the water. She felt a confusing sense of pride as the doctor kept with her every stride and dived into the water in sync with her. Jane lost track of Dr Isles in the chaos of the water which was probably a good thing considering how distracting she found the doctor. Jane reached the tribe's raft first and started pulling violently at ropes. Casey and Frost hadn't been far behind her and they had the knots undone quickly.
"And Kaua takes an early lead."
Jane turns her head to quickly look at the other tribe, seeing that they had already lit the first platform. Luckily Bomwi was still struggling with their knots, the men only tightening them in their rough pulling. Jane kicked her powerful legs, hard, as her tribe fought to catch up to the excelling Kaua tribe. Otokai was still lighting their fourth platform when Kaua was attacking the bamboo crawl.
"How the fuck did they do that?" Casey growled, his muscles tensing with pulling the raft onto the sand.
"Kaua is first," calls Jeff as the tribe pass the line.
"Maura," Sean smirked in response, as if the one word explained everything.
Otokai crossed the line in second just as Bomwi hit the sand.
"Otokai is second and Bomwi comes in last."
Everyone moved back to the coloured mats, waiting to hear what Jeff had to say.
"Alright, first thing's first. Kaua, here is your flint." Jeff tossed the small metallic object towards Dean who caught it easily. "Second, time to pick islands. We have three islands, Vostok Island, Flint Island and Caroline Island. Each island was explained in detail in your survivor handbooks so I'm not going to make it easy and tell you which island is 'the best', you're going to prove why you are the best of the best Survivors. So, Kaua, which island?"
Whether conscious or not, every member of Kaua turned towards Dr Isles. Jane watched as the doctor glanced at her tribe and clenched her jaw. Jane was surprised at the fire that filled her veins. How dare they all put that on her?
"Well Vostok Island has an area of less than one square kilometre. It also has very dense flora, no cocos nucifera of the Arecaceae family, or in layman's terms, coconut trees or natural source of water. Flint Island also has dense forestry but has a much larger area with over three-square kilometres. There is an abundance of cocos nucifera but there is also a very high population of Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos, grey reef sharks, due to the narrow reef. However, there are various lagoons that could provide natural water. Caroline Island is the largest of the three. Is has a natural lagoon and wells that were built to provide for temporary settlements. It has cocos nucifera and a flat reef which would provide an abundance of protein."
No one said a word… still trying to understand what the doctor had just said.
"Maur, which island is the best?" Sean asked firmly but softly, obviously very used to 'dealing' with Doctor Isles.
"I'd recommend Caroline Island as first choice and Flint Island as the second as both-"
"We pick Caroline Island," Dean cut her off, earning a glare from Jane who'd thoroughly been enjoying listening to her spout of facts so easily.
"Good choice. Otokai?"
"You say Flint Island Doc?" Frost joked.
The doctor blushed.
"That's cheating!" Grant cut in from Bomwi.
"Shut it Grant," Korsak stepped in.
"Otokai?" Jeff asked again, obviously planning to cut out Grant's outburst in the televised version.
"Flint Island," Frost answered quickly.
"Alright Bomwi that leaves you with Vostok Island. Grab your maps; grab a boat and head to your beach. The game is on."
Tune in next chapter for the first eviction. Spoiler: It's someone from Bomwi :)