A/N: Happy New Year! Okay that's out of the way, my goal was to start posting the sequel to Fear and All Its Beauty by January 1st. Woohoo!, I did it…now its up to you all…I hope you like it…This takes place about a year after they got married...

Jane ducked down as a shot pinged off the dumpster by her head, "Goddamit," she thought. She made eye contact with Frost who nodded. She was pinned and back up was on the way, but the shots were getting to close for comfort, and they both knew it. She had one chance. There were two shooters, both focused on her for some reason. She knew she had to move fast if she was to make it home, and that was her goal, always, make it home. She took a breath and ran toward Frost while he provided cover fire. She almost made it, almost. The bullet ripped through her side a through and through.

"Fuck!" She kept running and threw herself behind Frost.

"Shit Jane!" He turned his attention forward as he heard the sound of sirens, more than one. The cavalry was here. He fired again but there was no return fire. They had heard the sirens too. Turning to his partner he grimaced as he saw the blood along her right side. She had clamped a hand over the wound and was trying to stand.

"Fuck Frost, Maura's gonna kill me." Frost shook his head; he couldn't believe she was standing there bleeding and worried about that.

"Jane…"

"Frost I can't. I've managed to stay out of that place for over a year. I promised, no unnecessary risks. I screwed up. Oh…shit…" Jane grabbed at Frost as a wave of dizziness washed over her.

"Jane…hospital." His voice was firm and as she stood on unsteady legs he knew she wouldn't fight him anymore. He grinned as she cursed under her breath, knowing he'd won that argument.

She was right though, she had avoided going to the hospital for over a year now. The only time they had to go since she married Maura, had been for Ariana when she had fallen at the park and cut herself three months ago. Ariana and Jane now had matching scars on their left palm. The glass she had fallen on had almost gone all the way through her hand. Frost remembered how guilty his partner had felt. How she blamed herself, but it was an accident. It had taken Maura two days to convince Jane that Ariana didn't hate her. He knew their daughter wore that scar like a badge of honor.

Frost waved at the officer who came up to help. "Call Korsak will you?"

"Dammit Frost why are you calling him?" She let him get her settled in his car. Her side was on fire.

"So he can let Maura know."

"NO!"

"Jane…"

"No dammit, just take me in and get me stitched up." Seeing the look on his face she grabbed his hand. "Please Barry." She said it softly but firmly.

"The report…"

"I'm not saying don't report it I just don't want to freak them out. I don't want Maura to freak out."

"Fine, give me a minute." Frost jogged over to the responding and spoke to them quickly. Pulling out his phone he sent Korsak a text and walked back to Jane.

"All right, we're covered. You okay?" She was pale and shaking a bit, but she nodded.

"What do you think? Just get us there please." She leaned her head back and cursed at herself. Maura was not going to be happy.

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Maura looked at the clock and frowned. It was 7pm and Jane hadn't texted her to let her know she would be late. All she had gotten was a text from Korsak saying that they were tied up doing an interrogation. Something did not feel right.

"Mommy! I need help with my project…" Ariana brought over the laptop and showed Maura where she was stuck. "I can't spell it right. A..r…k…e…o…l…see, it's not coming up!"

Maura laughed as she looked at her notes. "Oh honey, archaeology…here let me spell it." Writing it out on the paper she watched as Ariana bit her bottom lip as she concentrated, just like Jane.

"Got it!" Ariana went back over to the desk to print up what she had found. She was the only seven year old in the fourth grade but her test scores at school had forced Jane and Maura to look hard at the possibility of allowing her to skip a grade and she had. She was already a grade ahead but now was two. Maura was so proud of her ability to grasp concepts and ideas that should be foreign to a seven year old but…

"Where's mom?" And just like that she brought Maura back to reality.

"She's just running a little late at work, that's all." Pulling out her phone she started to text Jane again when she heard the key in the door.

Ariana heard it too and beat Maura to Jane by a few steps, throwing herself in her mother's arms.

"Hey, you're getting to big to be doing that munchkin." Jane hugged her and looked up at Maura. "Sorry I didn't call…" Her excuse was silenced with a kiss.

"Forgiven baby." She took her by the hand and led her to her chair. "Are you feeling all right? You look terrible?"

She placed a hand on her forehead and Jane smiled, taking her hand. "I'm fine hon, just tired." She was grateful for the change of clothes she always kept at work. Frost had been good enough to bring it to the hospital for her.

Right now she just wanted to sit for a while. Thankfully the bullet had gone through the fleshy part of her right side and while it had been cleaned and stitched, it was going to hurt like hell for a few days. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

Maura watched from the kitchen as Jane laid her head back, exhausted. She looked at the way Jane was sitting and frowned. It reminded her of the last time Jane had been shot. The impact bruise had covered a cracked rib and she had sat similarly. Tapping her foot she looked over at their daughter as she finished up her project. Pulling out her phone, she texted Frost. She wanted to know the truth.

Ariana glanced over at her mom asleep in her chair. Something was wrong with her. When she had jumped on her she hadn't been herself. Biting her lip she watched as her mom texted someone. It didn't surprise her when the phone rang back.

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Maura leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Is Mama okay?" she asked quietly.

Maura sighed, "Yes honey, she's okay. She just got a little hurt at work today and didn't want to worry us."

"But we're supposed to worry Mommy, we're a family."

"I know baby, Mama just wants to protect us, that's all. Besides I'm sure she didn't want you to worry, you're her little girl you know."

"Okay…will you kiss her goodnight for me?"

"Of course I will, now sleep. I'll take care of Mama." She watched as Ariana nodded sleepily and rolled over onto her side. Turning off the light, she flicked on the night-light they always left on for her and partially closed the door.

She walked down the hallway and stopped at a picture of she and Jane at their wedding. "Jane…you have to stop trying so hard to protect us…" whispering, she looked toward the living room

Jane was still fast asleep. Frost had told her what happened and why Jane hadn't called. She understood, truly she did, but when Jane hurt, she hurt.

Maura leaned down and kissed her softly on the forehead. As soon as she started to stir, she sat down next to her.

"Jane…" she said softly. "It's time for bed hon."

Jane opened her eyes and groaned. Seeing Maura watching her she tried to sit up and hide the pain she was in. Maura just smiled at her. She knows.

"You talked to Frost." She said hoarsely. It wasn't a question.

Maura nodded, "I wish you had told me yourself, but I understand, I think. I'm your wife Jane. I know what your job entails. Let me support you, don't hide things from me, please."

"Okay…" Jane looked into her eyes and saw how much she had hurt Maura by not telling her. "I'm sorry Maur. I never want to hurt you, I just didn't want to scare you or Ariana."

"It scares me more when I don't know."

Jane nodded, "Help me up?" she said hopefully.

Maura helped her get up and steadied her. "I'm supposed to check the bandage and change it if necessary."

Maura kissed her deeply, urgently. "It's not my first rodeo Jane Rizzoli."

"Ooh I am rubbing off on you." Chuckling Jane let Maura lead her to the bedroom. After making her sit, Maura went to get the items she needed to change her bandage.

Jane shrugged out of her shirt and sighed as she looked at the bandage. It was seeping, so it was definitely going to need changed.

Maura stopped in the doorway at the sight. Even tired and beaten down Jane was gorgeous. Her torso was beautifully sculpted and her breasts. She shook off the shudder that went down her back and walked toward her.

"Here, let me do that." Maura pulled gently at the tape and held her breath at the sight of the angry wound on her abdomen. Reaching around she removed the other bandage. Fear gripped her as she ran her fingers lightly over the stitches. Because it had gone all the way through they had left a stitch off on either side for any seepage. Using her fingers she measured in with two fingers. So close. She closed her eyes, opening them when Jane grabbed her hand.

"I'm okay Maura. Look at me." Maura opened her eyes and nodded. "Okay?" Jane said softly.

"You're okay, lets get you tended to and we can get ready for bed."

"Maur…" Jane knew what she was thinking, the emergency room doctor had told her more than once how lucky she was. She was getting a little tired of hearing that. She would've been lucky if she didn't get hit.

"Maur…" she pulled her down next to her. Taking her face in her hands she kissed her. Jane needed her to know, that she understood. Maura needed Jane to know. They lost themselves in their kiss as they reaffirmed their love and their life.

Pushing her back Maura smiled, "Let's get you sorted first. If you think you have energy for anything else then…"

"Yes Ma'am," Jane's answering grin made her laugh.

NO…this will not be like Fear of course but I needed to set the tone for what's coming up. Jane was targeted, but why? And is she truly the target at all? There will be some fluff and some stuff and lots of Ariana. (mini Jane). Please let me know what you think when you can…Ciao for now

Shameless self promo- My original work, Beauty of Fear is available on Amazon, check it out ...