Disclaimer: Rizzoli and Isles belongs to TNT, Tess Gerritsen and Janet Tamaro - Not us. We are just playing in their universe.
A/N: Hi from gt2012 and faefan – Thanks for stopping by and checking out the story. This is not our first fanfic but is a first in the Rizzoli and Isles fandom and a first attempt at co-writing a project. We will be working around the world of the series but mostly AU and of course Rizzles is the end game . Language and violence are up a bit in this story. Please enjoy and let us know what you think.
Our story begins…..
"Well things didn't go exactly as you predicted, did it Rizzoli." Jane said to herself as she thought back on the last six months of her life. She gave herself a moment to find the humor in that thought, and wasn't surprised that she couldn't locate any. When the special operations training was pushed on her, Jane could have fought it, could have kept her life just as it was. Deep down Rizzoli knew that had been the problem. She didn't want to the status quo, she had wanted a change. Maybe it was that or the timing, the company, or even the training opportunity itself that had been so in line with what the detective felt she needed in her life. Jane remembered with a sigh that she had resisted the idea, she should have trusted her gut but … well she had let her thoughts… feelings… ahh hell… whatever it was, cloud her thinking and she just made the decision to leave.
In true Jane Rizzoli style, when she made up her mind the detective threw herself into the whole idea. Sensing her excitement Jane's family, Maura, Korsak and Frost, even Cavanagh had encouraged her. If she wanted it then take the opportunity and run, they were behind her all the way. Jane had wanted it and did run with it. In fact, she ran half way around the world. Unfortunately, about two days into Jane's little life adventure, her whole world had been turned on it's ear and she had been hanging on by her fingernails ever since. Now sitting in a C-130 military aircraft on the way back from Afghanistan in a state of complete confusion, Jane fought the urge to rage. The detective touched the unopened letters in her pack and swallowed her concern as she stared into a very uncertain future.
Six Months Ago
"Rizzoli! The chief wants to see you and me in his office now." Cavanagh yelled from his office. Korsak bent down the edge of his paper and Frost looked up from his computer. "Jane, is there something you want to tell the class?" asked the older man. Frost smiled but said nothing as Jane looked at the both of them. She did have a habit of stretching police policy, but there was not a better detective in Boston than Jane Rizzoli and everyone knew it.
"No," she said carefully as if she was thinking about it, "Damn, I hate this." She grumbled as she stood and walked to Cavanagh's office. Jane didn't even get close to the door before the captain came out in a rush. He tossed her the keys as he began to shuffle down the hallway. Rolling her eyes as she turned to follow the rapidly moving form of her section chief, she called, "Why yes, I'll drive." The men at their desks laughed and waved as Jane stepped out to catch her boss.
Twenty minutes later it was Cavanagh on the virtual run to catch up with Jane. "Hey Rizzoli, hold up damn it." She spun on the spot and he almost smacked into her. "Jane," he said sounding less like her boss and more like a friend, "You don't have to do this." He moved in closer, "the union could help. I mean this is way above and beyond. A trip overseas…" Jane growled and the man put up his hands. "I am just saying this is really over the top." Jane nodded, still not talking and walked out the door on the way to the car.
Throwing open the doors to the BPD, Jane was on the move. She hit the stairs and was approaching the Medical Examiner's Lab at full speed. She threw open the doors so hard that Susie Chang let out a squeak of surprise. Jane tilted her head to the side and the ME assistant made some feeble excuse and ran for the door. Jane marched towards Maura's office. She was about to enter when she heard her friend's voice.
"Dr. Travers I am so flattered… Yes, it would be my honor to…. Sorry I can't. I have to get permission to leave… No, no there is no one special keeping me tied here." Maura's voice was happy and full of excitement. Jane froze on the spot as she heard the last line, "no one special keeping me tied here." It shouldn't have bothered her, but it did. The detective knew that Maura wasn't seeing anyone but Jane felt taken back anyway. Jane must have made more noise than she thought because Maura looked over and smiled sweetly in her direction. "Oh, Dr. Travers my friend Jane is here and … yes and I will be calling you back as soon as I know. Thank you again… yes good-bye. The doctor carefully replaced the receiver and then shot up from her seat with a yell.
Trying to hide her surprise and amusement, Jane watched as the medical examiner started doing a victory dance and then held her hand up to Jane in what could only be understood as a fist pound request. "Jane, are you going to leave me suspended?" asked Maura, her eyes were sparkling and the smile on her lips was infectious.
Jane, who had her arms crossed and had been leaning against the doorframe, met the celebratory knuckles and said with a smirk, "Leave you suspended? It's hanging Maura, and by your reaction there will be no more unsupervised viewing of athletic events with my brothers, Maur. They are rubbing off on you." Maura laughed at the remark. Jane continued, "So are you going to tell me about that call or did you just need to yell and dance for some other reason?"
"That was a little much," the ME said with a blush and the look that crossed her face told Jane she was reconsidering her actions. Jane felt a little catch in her heart. After all they had been through she hated to see that the doctor still had moments when she doubted her behavior around Jane. They were best friends and it shouldn't still be that way. Maura said quickly, her face calmer as if she had decided that she had not embarrassed herself. "I have been asked to do a series of round table events over the next three months. Dr. Travers, who was on the phone, just invited me to join the group."
"I take it a round table is not something at a Renaissance Faire but more in the line of…" Jane was cut off by Maura's raised eyebrow.
"No, they are events when those invited join together at a university and are presented with a world issue, recent discovery or scientific development and we discuss it in the round." said Maura.
Jane knew that "those invited" had to be people at the top of their field, well respected and admired. She also knew that the events were for more than a few college kids. These would be events that high ranking peers and other intellectuals would attend. Smiling proudly, Jane loved it when Maura was recognized for her work. Her best friend was an amazing woman. "Well, that's too bad. I love the turkey legs at those fairs," Maura laughed again at Jane. "No really Maura, this is a great thing." Jane saw in the eyes of her best friend that Maura knew she meant it.
"I have to be on the run for three months, it will be so much traveling. Dr. Travers asked me if I had anyone…" This time Maura was cut off by Jane.
"I will be traveling too." The voice of Jane Rizzoli sounding more sure than she actually felt.
xxxxXXXXXxxxx
The sudden shaking of the plane brought Jane back to her current situations and out of her memories. It was only turbulence but that didn't keep Jane from scanning the plane in suspicion of something worse. This was so unlike how she had started this incredible cluster f**k that had consumed the last six months of her life. How was she ever to regain any semblance of normalcy? She had always prided herself on being in control. Yes, she had lost it a few times. Jane had a temper and didn't have a problem speaking her mind, she was Italian for Christ-sake. Jane wasn't so sure this time, panic started to cross into her thoughts. God did she even have a job? Was there any chance of regaining what she had before she left? What about her family, did they even know she was alive?
Since the beginning of this whole fiasco, Jane had tried to focus on the job at hand, keeping thoughts of her family tucked neatly away so her heart would not break. Before all this had happened, Maura had tried to help her with this compartmentalization stuff. God, Maura… her best friend, Jane couldn't help but smile. Thoughts of Maura always affected her this way deep down she knew that… Jane stopped herself. There was just so much jumbling and mixing in her brain, she couldn't open herself up to thoughts of Maura just yet.
"One step at a time, one step at a time" Jane started to repeat to herself. Thinking back to the big galoot that had started her saying this mantra, Rizzoli just closed her eyes and let the small smirk grace her face. Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, she said to herself, "Get yourself home safe first, everything else can wait." The detective touched the pack and letters again, Jane thought maybe she was wrong not to open and read them now, but it had been so crazy just getting on the plane. The letters were more valuable to her than gold. The thought of losing one or breaking down in front of the crew as she read them was unacceptable. Shaking herself, "Keep your head in the game Rizzoli, this is still not over, stay focused you can do this."
The fifteen hour flight had seemed more like fifteen days. Jane had been in what the others had called "lock-down mode" for months now; all emotion suppressed, senses on high alert and forced confidence on level ten. Her stress levels were maxed out and she was basically running on survival mode. Maybe that is what made her realize that something was wrong even now. Ever since she had literally been thrown on the plane things had felt off. Rizzoli could feel her gut telling her something was wrong. As much as she tried to ignore it, Jane could not force herself to relax.
Traveling in a C-130 is not the same as a commercial flight, there is no first class. In fact, this plane was a cargo plane and passengers were a second priority. She had been forced to take a seat only a few yards back from the crew. The fold-down chair was positioned along the side of the huge cavity that served as the hold for large crates and returning equipment. Jane tried just to blend in and not draw attention to herself. The crew had picked up on her need for solitude and had left her alone. That is why when the young soldier spoke to her, she jumped. "Sorry Ma'am, wanted to let you know that we will be landing in twenty minutes." Jane nodded her thanks. Laughing to herself that he called her Ma'am, Jane thought of about how she should have some choice words for this slight, but was just too tired to fire back.
At the beginning of the flight Jane had been told that the plane would be landing at Logan International, which was a little unusual for a military flight. Not that these landings hadn't been done before but the military planes, especially the bigger ones, usually landed at Hascom AFB. She hadn't really thought about this information when she first heard it, but now it was eating at the back of her mind.
Jane grabbed her pack and buckled up. She felt the plane start to descend and make its turn into the approach. Heart beating so loud in her ears, Jane could hear it. This was it, she was finally home. The thought actually brought tears to her eyes, "Hold it together, Rizzoli," she chided herself. Jane hadn't had the chance with all that had been happening to let anyone know she was coming home. In fact, it was safer for everyone if this was something of a surprise. The plan was to call Frankie at the airport. Jane figured her Ma would have a stroke if she called out of the blue, hopefully her brother would keep a level head.
The wheels touched down and the plane started to taxi to the terminal. The young soldier returned as the plane slowly made its way to the front of the hanger. "Ma'am," Jane held her tongue again but couldn't stop the eye roll, "New orders have just come in, you are to stay on the plane until your escorts are able to take you to debrief. Just stay seated and they will be here soon," with a quick nod he returned to his station. The plane came to a stop and the engines shut down.
"Had the military found someone to meet her?" Jane thought. The hairs on the detective's neck stood straight up, red flags were flying and alarm bells were ringing in Rizzoli's brain. "No this was wrong!" Jane thought slamming her fist into her leg. "Not again," She growled. The detective was so close to being out of this mess only to have someone drag her back in again. Rizzoli had to get out of this plane now. "Think Jane, think," the detective secured her pack to her back. Motioning to the soldier, "Private, I'm not feeling well," Jane lied, "Okay if I step into the facilities?" The solider gave a shrug and pointed to the back of the plane.
Jane was on autopilot, she thought quickly how karma was really an amazing thing. The stupid training that had originally been at the core of all of this was going to save her life. Well, at least she hoped it did, it was her only hope. She thanked her lucky stars that the plane had been as full as it was. It made the search she did for an escape route less obvious. The bulk items of the hold provided the cover that was needed if she was going to pull this off. Making her way to the wheel well panels, she cussed to see they were more than bolted down, they were locked. Crouching down, Jane pulled the lock picks out of pack, immediately started on the covers.
Making short work of the locks, she did a quick check and reached to remove the panel. The bolts were tight, and she smirked as she pulled out the folded rectangular tool. She heard her best friend's voice explaining the virtues of the multi-tool but never thought the damn thing would come in so handy. With the help of a section of board from a crate and some repurposed plastic wrap to secure the grip of the plier gizmo, the bolts were loosened and the metal panel was free.
Jane felt like she had moved at a snail's pace, but she finally accomplished her goal. Once the panel was open, Jane was able to shimmy through the space and down onto the landing gear and stand on the wheel. Jumping quickly to the ground, she took in her surroundings. A flatbed truck was standing by, more than likely there to pick up some of the payload from the plane. That vehicle would provide cover and became her first target as she made to move away from the plane. Jane froze as she heard voices before she could take a step. "Hold up," was the call and Rizzoli thought for a moment that she had been caught, but the voices had carried from the front of the plane.
Cursing under her breath, Jane saw the telltale uniform of the Gisborne Security Agency rapidly approaching the area. The smug little bastards held up badges as if they had some type of authority. The cop in Rizzoli seethed at the idea. The younger of the two agents yelled out, "We have a problem and need you three to move back into the cockpit." Jane swallowed hard. Using the man's request for movement as a diversion, she ran to the truck and around the far side. Turning, Jane took in the situation.
The two pilots and the young soldier that had talked to her held a heated discussion with the agents, but were now climbing back into small door near the front of the plane. "God no," Jane thought to herself. Looking for anything to help, any kind of weapon at all, but there was nothing. She took a deep breath and readied to run at the two security agents. Rizzoli would have to explain her actions later when the real cops showed up, but that was the least of her worries.
No more than two steps out from behind the truck, Jane heard the shots and was forced to pull back quickly to her hiding spot. The security agents in their all too familiar uniforms exit the plane in a hurry. They scanned the area with guns pulled. "Damn it to hell," the older of the pair spat out. "Rizzoli wasn't in there. Look, I will pull the truck up and you hit the release for the cargo door when you hear me honk. We will call Brewer when we get the crates loaded and on the road. Maybe the bitch didn't even make it on the plane."
The harsh words from six months ago came back to her in a rush, "Detective Rizzoli this is war. Everyone between us and what we want is a casualty waiting to happen." Bile rose in her throat, she had been what Gisborne wanted and the two pilots and the young soldier had got in the way. Fury burned in her gut, and she tamped it down in an effort to control herself.
The pair split and Jane was forced to move quickly. They were willing to kill and while she could take them out, now was not the time. Before the older agent reached the truck, Jane reached up and cranked the passenger side mirror to reflect at an odd angle. When he got in the truck to move away, he would not be able to see down that side of the truck. Locating a baggage cart about fifty yards away, Jane started running low and fast. She had to get to cover or her efforts were for not. Moving to the far side of the bulky luggage filled cart, Rizzoli paused and waited. The sound of the truck horn echoed in the air, Jane could not help but look back through the various bags to see what they were going to pull off the plane. The explosion knocked her to the ground.
Although stunned, it took her only moments to regain her senses. Jane's adrenaline was through the roof. Her saving grace had been the boundary of luggage between her and the blast. The cart had taken the majority of the damage and protected Jane from any debris. If she had been just that much closer, no amount of baggage would have made a difference. The sirens were blaring and her presence was going to cause problems. If she knew Gisborne then he would have a plan for this. The bastard had a plan for everything. Grabbing the cart to pull herself up, Jane picked her route. With a deep breath, the detective ducked her head and ran though the shadows. She may still be at war but at least she was in familiar territory. Jane Rizzoli was back in Boston and soon she would have her answers. Who was trying to kill her and why?
xxxxxXXXXXXxxxxxxx
The phone call buzzed in the silence. Maura Isles rolled over and picked up the device. It was early and that meant that something was wrong. Telling herself to take several deep breaths, she answered the phone. "Dr. Isles." It took no more than two minutes and she replied, "Yes, I'll be there. We will need everyone on hand. Thank you." Where others might need several minutes to get their head in the game, the ME knew exactly what she needed. Dressed in less than ten minutes, Maura moved down stairs stopping only to pick up her go bag and purse. Punching the nine digit code into a newly installed alarm system box, Maura turned off the lights and then opened the door and stepped outside.
"Good evening Dr. Isles. Are you in need of assistance?" The deep voice made Maura jump and she swore she heard a chuckle in the back of the throat of one of the men who were standing in her courtyard. They were large imposing males and Maura figured that their testosterone levels were artificially elevated through some type of steroid use.
The Gisborne Security jacket logo was reflecting the porch light from the guest house. Angela had made a point to leave the light on every night for the last six months. For Maura, the light had become a beacon of all that she had lost, what everyone had lost. Maura frowned at the two men and anger flashed in her eyes, "What have I told you about being on my property?" she snapped. There was a whip-like crack to her voice and the men who had been doing the intimidating were now looking unsure of themselves.
"Dr. Isles, we have our orders to…" the agent started again.
Maura stepped up into his personal space, "I am the one that gives the orders here. So let me say this one more time. You don't come on to my property unless invited. Your employer knows my feelings on this matter and I have no doubt what so ever that if I ask for your heads, he will hand them to me on a platter. I have crime scene to get to and you need to get the hell out of my way." She moved forward and the men scrambled back with mumbled apologies.
Reaching her car, Maura was never so glad to have a push button start as she would never have been able to get the key in the ignition, she was shaking so badly. Maura missed her Prius but the power of her new Aston Martin Vanquish felt good. With a moment to remind herself of the traffic laws, she pulled away towards the airport. As she headed down the road, Maura focused on what she had learned from the phone call. She was facing an explosion at the airport, a military cargo plane had blown up about five minutes after landing and there were bodies on site that needed her attention.
Letting her mind switch gears, the doctor willed herself to think like Jane. Maura smiled at the thought of the woman she missed so much and her attempts to channel the detective's thought patterns. "What would Jane be focusing on first?" Maura asked herself. It had been months now that the doctor had found the need to try mimic Jane's expertise to help at various crime scenes. It had not taken long for the doctor realized how much her world changed with the absence of Jane in her life both professionally and personally. The gaping hole that Jane Rizzoli's absence left needed to be filled. Maura had no illusions of being able be all that Jane had been, but it didn't mean she couldn't try. The last six months had been hell for everyone and it had been up to her to step up and try to hold together what little of her world was left.