A/N: Well hello readers! Thank you for coming back or if you are new, welcome! Now, people who are new to the series…I'm going to tell you now, YOU WILL GET LOST IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE OTHERS. So please read every single Protege Series book. PM me or if you are guest leave a question and I'll try my best to answer next chapter. It is very important for you to read all of them. But, now, I present to you all: "Protege Series: Dangerous Game."

Takes place about eight to nine months after "One Song Glory."

Disclaimer: I do not own "Rizzoli & Isles". Property belongs to TNT, creators, etc! Also the "Death is only the beginning" is from the Mummy (1999), always gave me the chills. I only own Kris Marx and anyone else who is not in the show. Oh, I own the story and grammar mistakes (which should only be a small amount) as well!


"Know this: this creature is the bringer of death. He will never eat, he will never sleep, and he will never stop." -Ardeth Bay, The Mummy (1999)


Ch. 1: Death Is Only The Beginning

A shot rang out with two bodies hitting the ground. "Fuck," I cussed loudly as I drew out my gun looking around. Silence filled the streets until there was a loud yell came. I turned, placing my gun in its holster before I sprinted but it seemed time slow down as I ran over to them.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

I slid over seeing the blood pouring out of the wounds while I heard the mutters of 'no' echoed.

This wasn't happening.

This had to be a dream. But it wasn't, it had been a cold nightmare that has been going on since we got this case. We were warned; every single one of us that we had targets on our backs but no one expected this, not even me.


Jane's POV-Several weeks ago…

"When I said that we had a sting to do, it didn't mean to place me undercover," I heard her complain loudly through her mic.

"Relax. My god, you whine a lot," I told her as I smirked while Frost and Korsak chuckled quietly.

"I got that from you."

"Just focus," I ordered, trying to hide my laughter. She huffed loudly as she crossed her arms over her chest. We running a lead for a murder case with our murderer killing women he met in random bars. At first, we thought they were random because the women were nothing alike until we found a very interesting detail.

Our youngest detective suggested an undercover job expecting me to do it but I caught her in her game. She was now the bait which she wasn't all too happy about especially dressed in a really high black leather skirt, fishnet stockings, a slick leather jacket with a white crop top.

Oh yeah, I was enjoying this to the max. I tried to hold back my own chuckle but it released causing a grumble. "Laugh all you want. Next time, I want Frost to see how it feels to wear this get up," she snapped.

"Oh hell no, Kris Marx," Frost retorted with wide eyes.

"Then don't make fun of me, Barry."

Her name was Kris Marx Rizzoli-Isles but most people knew her as Kris Gabriel Leo Marx. She is Maura's and my twenty-four year old daughter who we adopted when she was sixteen. She was also an older sister to my now six year old twins, William and Alessa. She was the youngest detective in the Homicide Division which I was proud of and was currently a month away before she marries her long time girlfriend, now her fiancé, Doctor Gabriella Rodriquez.

I can simply say that Kris was busy as ever.

I noticed a smirk cross my daughter's face. It was one that she developed over the years and I was very proud of it even though it shined occasionally at me. "Lose the smirk, Kiddo," I told her. Kris' smirk faded a bit as she resumed to look around then I asked, "Anything yet?"

"Nothing so much," she answered. She let out a sigh and stretched out with us hearing small cracks. "Maybe it's a bust and if it is, I need to get out of these clothes and meet up with Gabriella immediately to talk with the final plans with the damn wedding planner," she stated to us.

"Last minute wedding stuff, Kris," Korsak inquired.

"Yeah and the wedding planner insists that I'm there. Gabby has been cooperative with me for the last eight months but with this last month, she needs me to be there with these last minute details."

"You can always elope."

"And get killed by Nonna, Grandma, Maura, and Gabby," Kris asked back.

"Yeah?"

"Hell no."

Frost looked over at me and asked, "Are they that crazy?"

"We're talking about my Ma," I replied.

"True," they agreed.

"I think this is a bust, guys…"

At the sound of those words, a man came in who looked like our description. "I don't think so," I retorted. Kris looked over at the door and soon her posture straightened causing me to ask immediately, "You see him?"

"You mean the giant that just walked through the door?"

"Yup."

"Lovely...I can't believe I'm dressed like a...a..."

"Hooker?"

Kris frowned and mumbled, "Soooo hate you."

"Love ya too."

We watched as Kris continue to observe the man before he stopped, walking. He began to scan the room before he looked toward Kris. He continued to gaze at her until his eyes widened suddenly. "Kris, you've been made," I shouted.

"Don't you dare run...oh fuck, he's running and I'm going…" Frost bolted quickly out of the room while Kris chased after the murderer in the leather boots while I heard her grunted through the microphone, "Gabriella is going to kill me."

R&I

"Move your ass," I ordered as Frost placed the suspect in the back of the cruiser. As the door shut, Frost let out a loud sigh before I asked, "Where's Kris?"

"Right here." I looked over to see Kris walking over with her removing the awful leather jacket and looked over at me. "I can't feel my feet with these damn shoes."

"I can't believe you ran in them."

"Please tell me you have my clothes," she pleaded to me.

I shook my head, trying to hide my smile as I replied, "No…"

Kris frowned. "Ha. Ha. Glad you enjoy my torture," she said dryly.

I smirked at Kris before I looked down at my watch. "Aren't you supposed to be at a wedding appointment right now," I asked her.

Kris' blue eyes widened as she placed her glasses on then cussed, "Oh shit." I shook my head and tossed my keys to her causing her to kiss my cheek. "Thank you. Love you. Bye," Kris shouted before she jumped into the car, driving off.

Poor Kiddo.


Gabriella's POV

"Miss Rodriquez, is your fiancé always late to appointments," asked Elizabeth, Kris' and my wedding planner. We were standing in the middle of a foyer that lead to the venue that Kris and I planned to have the reception at. We were about month closer to the wedding date and all I really wanted was make sure that the last bit of details were set. I glanced down at my watch biting my lower lip while she continued, "Thirty minutes late and I'm surprised that you're not mad."

I could hear the annoyed tone as I rolled my eyes. "Kris' job tends to make things a bit off but I'm fine with it," I replied.

"And what was her job again?"

"A homicide-" I then heard the doors opened quickly and the loud clicking of what sounded almost like heels. I then turned to see a woman dressed similarly like a…hooker causing my eyes to widen as well as the wedding planner's as I finished my answer, "Detective."

Kris fixed the leather jacket while she tied her hair back into a ponytail. "I know. I'm late and I'm so sorry," Kris stated as she walked over to me.

I continued to stare at her before I asked softly, "Do I need to ask?"

She knew I was referencing to her current attire for she cringed. "I'll explain later," Kris retorted while a harsh blush was creeping up her neck.

I gave a small smile as I pushed her glasses back up her nose while I gestured for Elizabeth to start walking around. Elizabeth still seemed to be in shock before she shook her head and began to explain about the venue.

I looked over at Kris, noticing that she was trying to duck her head. I laced my fingers with hers, feeling her engagement ring against my skin. I smiled and leaned in, whispering, "I think I have some spare scrubs for you."

"You are a saint," Kris replied.

R&I

"So you had to dress up like a hooker," I asked with a small laugh as Kris and I entered our apartment.

Kris rolled her eyes, tossing the car keys on the table and the bag that held the hooker clothes. "It's because I'm the youngest," Kris sighed. She ran her hand over her freshly cleaned face while she asked softly, "What do we have left now?"

I walked over to her and took a seat on her lap as I replied, "The vows."

"Oh…"

"What?"

"Can I just go with the standard words?"

I shook my head, kissing her lips softly. "You agreed to write your own vows like I am," I informed her as I pulled back.

Kris looked down, "I'm not good with words."

"Liar," I chuckled.

"Why Doctor Rodriquez? Me? A liar," Kris laughed back.

"Krislyn…"

"Gabriella," Kris retorted saying my full name back. She then looked and said, "I feel like I'm not going to write good vows and I want them to be perfect for you."

"You know what I want?"

"What?"

"Just something you would say."

Kris gave in, hugging me then rested back on the sofa while I rested my head on her shoulder, "I can't believe we have just a month left."

"A month until I'm officially Mrs. Gabriella Anna Marx Rizzoli-Isles." I noticed Kris gave a small frown while she linked our hands together with our engagement rings touching as I before I asked, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I gave her a knowing look making our eyes lock which caused her to look down shyly. "Do you really want to take my last name," she inquired.

"Yes, I would. Why would you ask that?"

"Nothing wrong being a Marx but, you know, I just…"

I watched as she began to run her fingers along one of the scars. Adrian, I realized as I stopped her hand from tracing the scar. "I want to have the last name of the person I fell in love with," I informed her. "I don't think about who had the last name previously. I just know that I want to be with you."

Kris smiled gently at me. She lifted my hand, kissing it briefly before she lowered it then cupped my neck, kissing my lips. I kissed her back with the same passion as she pulled back but still remained close as she whispered, "I'm glad you know exactly what to say."

"So do you," I whispered back. I ran my hands along her shoulders while she pulled me closer. I began to kiss along her jawline while I asked softly against her ear, "Are you off?"

"For the next two…mmmm days…" Kris groaned as I found her sweet spot.

I gave a cheshire cat smile along her neck before I whispered, "I think then, Detective Marx, that we should move this to the bedroom."

"I agree with you, Doctor Marx." Kris then lifted me up with my legs wrapped around her waist, smiling happily. "I love you, Gabby," Kris whispered.

"I love you too."


Kris' POV- 3 am

RINGRING

I felt my body being shaken and I groaned loudly, turning away. "Kris," I heard Gabriella causing me to grunt in acknowledgement. "Your phone is ringing, love," she informed me.

I opened one of my eyes groggily and turned to see my cell phone in her hand. I grabbed it from her hand, glancing at the caller ID. A curious eyebrow went up immediately as I sat up and answered, "Lieutenant?"

"Marx, I need you down at a crime scene ASAP," Cavanaugh ordered me.

Gabriella handed me my glasses as I slid out of the bed, placing them on but asked, "Sir, it's my night off and how come Communications didn't call me? If there's a crime scene-"

"Kris, just get down here immediately. Everyone else is on their way."

I let out a loud sigh then asked, "Where is it at, sir?"

"2245 Capitol Ave."

"I'll be there soon," I answered before I hanged up.

I began to get dress but being half tired, I decided that I would go to the crime scene in jeans and my pajamas with a hooded jacket. "I thought you had a day off," Gabriella stated.

I looked over at Gabriella who turned on the light on her side of the bed. "I thought so too but, when Cavanaugh calls, it's something really important," I retorted as I zipped my jacket up. I walked over to her side of the bed, glancing over her shoulder to see that it was only three in the morning. "Go back to sleep, love. You don't start shift until eight and you need the sleep," I told her.

Gabriella nodded, kissing my lips gently. "Call me when you get a chance," she asked.

"Of course."

R&I

It had been raining the last couple days and I could feel it when it's an intense storm or if it was a light one. I could feel my scars tense as well as all of my other injuries as I pulled the car up to the crime scene to see two police officers standing at the front door. I switched the engine off, placed my hood on then stepped out of the car. "Detective Marx," I heard one of the officers.

"Marx, I thought you weren't going to be in today."

"Change of plans," I retorted as I pulled out my badge from my shirt. I looked at the officer noticing that he wasn't one of the normal uniform officers I've seen. He looked sharp as he stood straighter as I walked by him. "Newbie, Peter," I asked the other officer who smirked.

"Yup. Sorry if he starts to stutter, he already gawked at Korsak and the others," he informed me.

I raised an eyebrow, "Is he okay?"

Peter nodded and answered, "He wants to be a detective, ya know? He wants to impress."

I chuckled, "I remember those days." I looked back at the officer and asked, "What's your name?"

"Ryan…Ethan Ryan, Detective."

"Just called me Marx. But, I advise you that you listen and follow everyone instructions. You impress others on how you do your job, not being a fool."

"Yes, ma'am."

Ma'am, I rolled my eyes then patted the young officer's shoulder. Peter lifted up the crime scene tape, letting me slip under. I proceeded to walk in before I noticed the small group that happened to be the team. I then noticed that I wasn't the only one who seemed to be underdress especially when I saw that both Maura and Jane were wearing jeans and running shoes.

I touched Maura's shoulder. She looked over at me as I gestured to her clothes with a small smirk. She rolled her eyes and whispered, "Jane and I were called immediately saying it's an emergency."

"Nonna with Aly and Liam?"

Maura nodded then I jumped as Jane growled, "What do you mean that we are not allowed up there? We were all called by Lieutenant Cavanaugh."

I approached and touched Jane's shoulder. "Don't we have a crime scene to investigate," I inquired.

"That's what I thought but these idiots won't let us go up," Jane answered, gesturing to the officers blocking the pathway.

"We are just following orders," the officer argued.

I looked at him and asked, "Whose orders?"

"Sergeant Detective Korsak and Lieutenant Cavanaugh."

We all gave confused expressions before we heard footsteps. We all looked up to see Cavanaugh coming with a pale expression on his face. "Sir," Jane called out.

"You need to stay here, Rizzoli," he told her immediately.

Jane gave a confused expression toward all of us. "Sir, what do you mean," she questioned back.

"It means that I want only Maura, Kris, Frankie and Barry to meet up with Vince." He glanced over to see that Frost, Frankie, and I were not moving immediately. "Move it," he barked causing us to jump and proceed to go up the staircase.

I glanced over my shoulder to see the confused expression on Jane's face while Maura stood beside her for a couple moments. When we arrived onto the next floor to see two uniform officers at the last door of the hall. We walked over and Frankie pushed the door opened and called out, "Korsak?"

"In here!"

We placed the crime scene booties on our shoes and proceeded to walk around the apartment that was trashed severally. "Vince, what's going-" I stopped in mid sentence, feeling my blood run cold. I removed my glasses in pure shock, making sure that my eyes weren't messing with me. "Jesus," I mumbled.

"Kris, where are you," I heard Maura call out to me. I looked up at Korsak who had a serious expression while Frost turned away as well as Frankie who seemed to look more sick. My voice wanted to say something and prevent Maura from entering but my voice wouldn't let me. I heard Maura's feet coming toward us until I felt her hand on my shoulder.

"Jane is throwing a fit right now," Maura informed me. "She wants me to tell you and the guys to keep her in the loop." She then noticed my gaze with my brow furrowed causing her to asked, "Kris?"

I did not answer as I placed my glasses back on. I watched as Maura looked over to see a sick Frost and distant Frankie before she looked back at me. She then looked toward the direction I was looking at and immediately, I noticed her expression turn to pure anxiety.

There were two victims.

The male victim's hands and feet were tapped together with a cut along the throat with a tea cup on the ground. Maura then looked toward the ground to see a female victim with her clothes still intact but blood pooled under body for she had two scalpels in the center of both of her hands and a cut along the throat as well.

"Oh my god," Maura mumbled.

Korsak walked over, looking visibly pale and handed two evidence bags. "This was attached to both bodies," he told me. There were one of the same paper it looked like with it torn down the middle. I brought both halves over each other before I looked at Maura with a worried expression.

"Death is only the beginning," I read aloud.


Maura's POV

"I don't like this whatsoever," Frankie informed all of us as I approached the first body.

Korsak looked at Frankie and replied, "None of us do."

"I feel like we shouldn't tell Janie."

I glanced over my shoulder and looked at Kris. She looked back at me before she retorted, "We'll tell her but first we need facts. I'm not facing Jane without some solid facts." She then looked over at me and asked, "What do we have?"

"Wound to the neck and what appears to be a burn on the neck," I informed her as I bent over to examine the wound. The burn seemed to be third degree burns but I had to observe it more during examination while the cut seemed to hit the carotid artery

"Taser?"

"No. Doesn't appear to be but I can't conclude anything until I get back to the lab."

I heard Kris move closer and I looked over to see Kris peering over her glasses with an eyebrow quirked. "Well, we'll say that it is not a possible taser. That's too much flesh burned. Approximate time of death," she inquired.

I looked over my shoulder and answered, "I can roughly say that it was a while ago but I can't give you an actual time of death until I get the body back to the morgue."

"Well, I found something," Frost stated as he entered the crime scene. He was looking away and Kris approached him while I bent down to examine the second body. "The male victim is a cop," he stated softly.

"You got to be fuckin' kidding me," Korsak barked.

Frost shook his head as he lifted the evidence bag to reveal a BPD badge. I heard Kris cuss before she asked, "Any ID?"

"Nothing yet," Frost answered.

"Okay. We can trace that badge number to an ID correct?"

"Most likely."

"Okay."

Frankie then told Kris, "I'm going to see if I can find anything to identify the female vic."

I continued to gaze down at the body but I could hear Kris' footsteps approaching me.

The victim was quite beautiful with long light brown hair with pale complexion. Her clothes were still in tact with no evidence of assault besides the two scalpels that pierced through both hands. I could feel my throat constrict until I cleared it. I then jumped as I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked over to see Kris gazing at me intently with her blue eyes expressing her worry.

"Are you okay," she asked softly. I nodded before I heard her say softly, "Mom?"

I looked up at her then back at the body before I whispered, "I thought this would have ended."

"You and I both." She looked back at the victim and instinctively flexed her hand before she asked, "Does it look like the cut to her neck could have possibly killed her like our male victim?"

I looked back at the body, examining the cut then looked back at her. "It doesn't seem too deep into the carotid artery," I informed her.

"How much blood loss are we looking at, Maura?"

I gazed at the pools of blood on the hands. I then looked back at Kris as I acknowledged, "Her hands went through more trauma unlike you and Jane." Kris quirked at the eyebrow as I pointed toward the hand, "You see how the blade is still in the center but the cut seems to be wider?"

"The killer was moving the blade side to side besides the direct wound."

"Possibly and I will not know if she was dead before or after the hands were stabbed." Kris took in a deep breath then released it before she stood back up. I stood up also and continued, "The body also indicates that there was no sexual assault." Kris nodded then turned her body toward me. I could see the apprehensive look in her eyes as I removed my crime scene gloves and touched her cheek. "We have to tell Jane," I told her.

"Right…"

It only took a couple minutes before Jane entered the crime scene. "My God," she grumbled as she entered the apartment. "Can you believe these idiots? Really? I can't see a crime scene? I've seen everything," Jane complained as she walked toward the doorway Kris and I were at that blocked the view of the crime scene. When she finally reached us, she asked, "So what do we got?"

There was a silence causing Jane to ask, "Is it that bad?"

Kris removed her glasses, placing them on the top of her head as she rubbed her eyes and replied quietly, "Worse."

Jane gave a confused look before she peered inside. She stopped between Kris and I as she leaned back toward me as support. She then looked at Kris with pure disgust and anxiety as she muttered, "What the fuck?"

"Male victim is a cop and female is unknown."

"Fuck," Jane cussed. "Do you know who he is?"

"We found a badge so Frost is going to trace the badge number."

I watched as Jane looked back at the crime scene. Her eyes went from the male victim before going to the female victim. She then looked at the hands seeing the scalpels causing her to reflex. She flexed her hands into fists before she released them and whispered, "It's another apprentice."

"Jane, you can't assume," I told her gently.

Jane turned her head, "Can't assume? Maura, it's just like his."

"That's why Cavanaugh kept you out of the crime scene," Korsak spoke up as he approached all of us. He removed his crime scene gloves and added, "It's too close to you, Janie."

"Not going to work, Vince," Jane retorted with stern gaze.

"Janie…"

"Vince, if you kick Jane off the case then you're kicking Maura and I off as well," Kris informed the sergeant.

I raised an eyebrow at this comment. "Pardon," I questioned back.

Korsak gave a confused look before she raised her right hand, flexing it reveal the light scar. Kris then lowered her hand and told him, "Hoyt has affected us in some way but this guy is already showing signs that he isn't to key on following steps or copying." I noticed Korsak sighed while Kris touched his shoulder, "You mean well but Jane won't let it go. You know that."

"You're right but we need to be careful."

Jane nodded then asked, "What do we have?"

Kris gave the details, explaining the crime scene while Korsak returned to helping Frost and Frankie. Kris then went to her jean pocket and pulled out her phone to show the evidence bag that had the note, showing it to Jane. My wife read it slowly before she gave it back to Kris and read, "'Death is only the beginning?' What's that supposed to mean?"

Kris shrugged.

"So he does almost exact actions like Hoyt but-"

"But, it's not," Kris pointed out. "The male is almost exact in means of how Hoyt started his murders but this one," gesturing toward the female victim, "this is more toward when Hoyt later when he caught you."

"So he knows some details."

"Not all of them though because the burn on his neck doesn't look like a taser."

"I can't confirm that," I injected.

Kris rolled her eyes but continued, "The issue is that we have no identity for our vics. The apartment doesn't give us much as you can see."

We all looked around the apartment to see that there was only the basic furniture but there wasn't really any photo frames or even mail that could indicate the identities of the victims. A handful detectives and CSRU techs not able to find any identification was, as Jane would say, cold of a lead that we had.

"So we're waiting on the badge," Jane asked.

"Yup."

"Guys," Kris, Jane and I turned to see Frost entering the room as he informed us, "the badge came back with an ID."


BOOM! Long first chapter done and I bet you guys might be wondering about the beginning with the italics? Well you have to wait on that! I got to admit that the cover art for this story is my favorite. Also I found this funny how with the new foster care story line that Jane might foster a kid who wants to a doctor and my story was Maura fostering a kid who wants to be a detective! LOL crazy.

Anyway, next chapter will be coming soon but please REVIEW, PM, comment, etc! Love to hear from you! Also if you want to give a prompt for "New Adventures," let me know. Thank you for the amazing support!