Prologue: The year….1996

"Damn you, Jo!…Open your eyes!"

Somewhere, in the dark that was her mind, Jo Polniaczek heard the demanding voice calling her. She tried to comply, but, her lids were so heavy and it was much easier to leave them closed.

"JO! …Jo…Please!"

The voice was a bit clearer this time and the NYPD detective did her best to clear her head, focus and open her eyes. Jo was getting closer…she could feel it when…

"Damn it Jo! Don't you dare leave me again!"

The voice was clear to Jo now. It was angry, accusatory, demanding and… Jo's eyes fluttered open and, when she was able to focus, she found herself looking into warm, soft brown eyes, with green and gold flecks, that were filled not only with tears, but fear as well.

"Jo? Jo, can you hear me?" Blair begged, choking back the sobs she was trying to keep at bay.

"B-Blair?" Jo murmured, her voice tinged with concern and confusion, her mind was still fuzzy. What happened? Why was she?

"Shhh..Joey," Blair said softly. She could no longer stop the tears from running down her cheeks. "Don't move. I've got you."

Only then did Jo realize that Blair was holding her in her arms. The detective was finding it hard to breathe, but the tears on the blonde's face bothered Jo more than her own discomfort. She always hated it when Blair cried. She didn't notice Blair's hand, covered in blood, pressed against the wound in her left side.

"Blair…don't.." Jo tried to lift her hand to touch the blonde's cheek, but, a horrific wave of pain sent the brunette overloaded her head and sent her spiraling towards the darkness again. She could hear Blair begging her not to leave her, but, her last thought before slipping back into the blackness was how they ended up here.

Chap 1

About a month earlier…

With loud music blaring in the background, Jo was letting out her frustrations on the heavy bag that hung in her personal gym. There was more than just a 'sheen' of perspiration on the brunette's toned body, she was sweating - her tank top and shorts…soaked. She'd started out on the pro-climber, moved on to the free weights and was finishing up her workout with a brutal, yet deliberately choreographed, attack on the big bag.

After graduating from the police academy, Jo had trained for six months at a MMA gym and, since then, made sure to incorporate the training drills she'd learned into her regular routine. In fact, she still made the time to stop at the gym a couple times a week to train with the guys there. A couple of them, on more than one occasion, tried to talk her into joining the women's division of the sport. She'd always laugh them off, saying that she liked her face the way it was.

So focused on the target before her, Jo didn't hear her name being called until the music stopped and she heard the loud "JO!" She turned to see her friend of the past fourteen years, and roommate for the past five, standing next to the sound system with a frustrated and partly angry look on her face.

"Nat?!" Jo shouted at the dark red-haired girl. "What are ya doing?"

"Trying to get your attention obviously," the girl answered sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Your captain is on the phone." she offered in explanation.

"Yeah?" Jo asked as she turned back to the bag, the resentment in her voice evident as she began pounding the bag. "What's he want?" she asked between hard shots to the bag.

Natalie flinched slightly each time Jo hit the bag. If there was one thing Natalie Green knew for sure, it was that she never wanted to be on the other end of one of those blows and she felt sorry for anyone who ever would be. Nat imagined Jo was picturing her captain's face in front of her at that very moment. She swallowed hard, wishing she hadn't answered the phone. "He wants…" she paused briefly as the brunette gave a particularly vicious kick to the bag, and amended her wording. "…would like you to come to the station," When, after a tense moment, Jo failed to answer, Nat asked warily, "What do I tell him?"

Jo paused for a moment and then walked over to the phone, taking off one of her MMA gloves as she did. "Polniaczek." she said gruffly into the receiver and then listened. Seeing the tension in her friend's posture, Natalie took a small step back. "I'll be there in twenty." Jo said and hung up without waiting for a response.

Natalie moved over to help the intense brunette remove her other glove and the tape on her hands. "You think he's going to re-instate you?" she asked, all air of annoyance gone and replaced with genuine concern.

"Don't know…" Jo answered shaking her head. "…doubt it."

"Well then why would he…?" Nat stopped what she was doing and her eyes grew wide. "You don't think he's going to fire you?" she asked in disbelief. "He-he can't do that," she stammered, her own anger rising a bit. "After what you…"

"Nat, calm down," Jo said, cutting her off and then placing her hand on the other girl's shoulder. "I won't know til I get there."

At the police station

Jo took a deep breath when the 'ding' announced she'd arrived at the designated floor. Jo released the breath as the elevator doors opened to the squad room that she hadn't set foot in for over three weeks. Jo felt a small wave of relief when she lifted her gaze and saw her partner, Rafael Gallo looking at her.

Gallo was a handsome, light-skinned man of Italian and Hispanic heritage. He stood 6'2" with wavy dark hair, a muscular build and, although he was 12 years Jo's senior, he always had a ready smile for his partner. They'd met when Jo was at the academy and he lectured in one of her classes. He'd been impressed with Jo's intelligence and her eagerness to learn at the time and had kept up with her career. When, after her stint working undercover, she was made a detective, Gallo had asked to be partnered with her. That had been almost four years ago now and he didn't regret a minute of his decision. They'd been in their fair share of close calls, but Jo always had his back.

Gallo couldn't help but smile at Jo's, 'I couldn't care less' appearance. She was wearing a well-worn brown leather jacket, a man's long sleeve white Henley, 'Cuz they fit better', faded jeans and black boots. The brunette's hair ran just past her shoulders and had a 'wash and go' shaggy look to it. Her motorcycle helmet hung loosely in her hand.

"Hell must've finally frozen over, for you to be here Polniaczek." he said with a teasing gruffness in his voice as he stood and leaned against his desk.

"Couldn't have…you're still on the job Gallo." she teased back, setting her helmet on his desk and reaching out to shake his hand.

He frowned, dismissing her hand and pulled Jo in for a hug. "Miss you around here…how ya doin?" he asked with genuine concern as he let her go, and looked into her eyes.

"Eh..I'm okay," she said with a small sigh, looking up at him. "I've passed my anger management class." she said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"That's a good thing, Jo. It gets you one step closer to bein back here." he said encouragingly.

Jo nodded in agreement and smiled. "I know." she said with hopefulness. Rafe Gallo was more than just her partner, he was her mentor and friend. Jo knew Rafe thought she'd gotten a raw deal and had tried to go to bat for her, even though the deck had been stacked against her, but, she appreciated it none the less. Jo's smile faded and her body stiffened, when she glanced around and noticed the other detectives 'eyeing' her.

Seeing the change in her posture, Gallo followed her gaze over his shoulder. "Relax Jo," he said, turning back and touching her arm. "Most all of them are behind you. Those who aren't…are clueless. Forget them."

Jo relaxed at his reassuring tone. If nothing else. Jo knew that Gallo had her back, just like she had his. "So…what's up?" she asked, nodding towards Captain Caldwell's closed office door. Jo tried to peer through the one window, but the blinds were half-closed and she couldn't see much.

Rafe shrugged. "Don't know. Some rich dude, with a hot lookin' blonde trophy on his arm, and some muscle came in looking for the Cap. They were in there for a while, then…next thing I know…Cap is trying to get you on the line and wasn't at all pleased when you didn't pick up." he added grinning slyly.

"Yea..well.." she shrugged. "I do got a life." she answered, returning his grin with one of her own. She looked at the office again. "Still…rich dude.." Jo's voice was serious. "What the hell they want with me?" she muttered, a bit put-off.

Rafe shook his head. "No idea, partner." He was just as much in the dark as Jo was.

Jo nodded again, then walked over to the captain's door, leaving her helmet on Rafe's desk with the unspoken understanding that he'd watch it for her. Letting out a determined sigh, Jo knocked on the door, then entered at the brusque…"Come in"…closing the door behind her.

As Jo had headed for the captain's door, a rookie detective stepped up next to Rafe and both men watched her walk into the office. "Pfftt…so that's the 'hero' Polniaczek…she doesn't look that tough," he said, unimpressed by what he saw. "I thought she'd be taller." the younger guy said sarcastically.

"That 'hero'…" Rafe began, in an irritated tone. "..is a hell of a lot tougher than she looks. And…" he turned to look at the younger detective. "…she can kick your ass from one end of this squad room to the other."

Feeling disrespected that Gallo didn't think he was a match for Jo, the young man defended his bruised ego by commenting on the brunette's absence from work for the past month. "Well…at least I'm not dumb enough to get suspended for excessive use of force on a suspect. I heard it was some wealthy guy from the Upper East Side, no less." the detective sneered.

Rafe had heard enough. He turned and stared hard at the smart-ass in front of him, causing the younger man to take a step back. "Yea…she did, Brennan," Rafe scowled at him. "But..what you didn't hear was that the son of a bitch was abusing young girls…girls under the age of eleven, and he'd been doing it for a while. The guy was just lucky she got to him first," The older detective finished forcefully,and then paused to let his words sink in. Rafe glanced away briefly as he considered something and grinned slightly. "Come to think of it…" he turned his attention back to the young man. "…he would have been better off if it was me that got to him first."

The hard look on Gallo's face caused Brennan to swallow hard as he took another small step back.

"And let me tell you one more thing…" Gallo leaned forward, leveling his gaze on the man. "..I trust my partner.." he emphasized while pointing to the office. "…with my life. As would any other detective in here," Gallo indicated the rest of the squad room. "J-just get out of my sight, Brennan." The disparaging look that Rafe gave to Brennan as he dismissed him, let the younger man know exactly what the older detective thought of him.

Jo took a small breath before knocking on the Captain Ames' door. At the brusque 'Come in' she walked into the room and closed the door behind her. Captain Ames stood at his desk, looking very unhappy. Ames was in his late 60's and had career aspirations beyond being a captain. A well-dressed man, around 60, sat in a chair in front of the desk. Jo took note of the tall, burly guy-obviously a bodyguard-standing off to the side.

"Nice of you to join us Detective," Captain Ames commented dryly, his annoyance at having been kept waiting evident in his voice. Before Jo could answer, he went on. "I'm sure you're familiar with…" he stated pointing to the man sitting in the chair.

"Yea…..I know who he is." Jo answered, cutting him off. "Why am I here?" The tone of her voice made it clear that she didn't care for the guy in the chair and she made no effort to hide the disdain she felt for him.

"Watch your tone Detective!" the captain snarled at Jo, in an attempt to rebuke her. Ames wasn't crazy about her. Sure, she was a damn good cop, but, Jo didn't play the game. She treated all perps the same, no matter what their 'status' in life was. Which was part of the reason she was currently suspended.

"Or what? You gonna suspend me? Again?" Jo challenged him. She was tired of the games Ames played. He catered to those who had money and power rather than backing his cops. She knew that if it wasn't for her reputation, Ames would have ditched her a long time ago, but, her conviction rate made him look good and he wasn't about to throw that away. Seeing Ames was about to explode, and knowing it wouldn't help her cause, Jo decided to defuse the situation. "Let's not do this…" she said shaking her head. "…how bout you just tell me why I'm here?"

"You're here…because I asked for you," the man in the suit said, full of self-importance, as he rose. "It's been a long time Joanna." he said reaching out his hand. He'd been impressed that Jo had kept the war of words with Ames from escalating without, technically, backing down.

Pffftt. Not long enough. Jo thought, at the insincere smile on David Warner's face. It infuriated her so much, Jo wanted to reach out and smack him. Instead, she chose to ignore him and his outstretched hand. "You called me in for this?" Jo looked past him and directed her question to the captain, who was still scowling at her.

"Yes," Ames said sternly. "Mr. Warner is here looking for our help…more specifically your help Detective." he said, then turned to David.

Grudgingly, Jo followed his gaze. "And, just why would you want my help, David?" she asked, the sarcasm evident in her voice. She noticed with satisfaction the flush of anger that tinted Warner's face.

"It's Mr. Warner, Detective," Ames corrected her harshly. "Remember that."

David smiled smugly. He didn't like being ignored or disrespected, especially by the likes of Jo Polniaczek.

Seeing the smug smile on Warner's face, Jo looked to her captain "People I respect…" then glanced back at David. "…I call Mister." Jo smiled to herself as David's face flushed again.

Captain Ames was getting frustrated. "Can we just get down to it? You wanted to know why you're here, right?" he directed the last question to Jo. She was a bit leery, but nodded. It was obvious that there was some kind of 'history' between Jo and David Warner, but, for the sake of his career, Ames needed to at least try to get Polniaczek to work with the wealthy businessman with as little trouble as possible. "Okay, then why don't you both take a seat?" he suggested pointing to the chairs.

David, reluctantly, backed down. He hated giving in to the rude, arrogant woman, but, he also knew, if this went his way, the smug look would be wiped off Jo's face and she'd learn her place like she had before. "Of course Captain…" he said graciously, flashing him a small smile. "..let's get to it." David didn't sit, but he did retreat a few steps.

Jo stayed where she was.

Captain Ames sat on the corner of his desk and directed his attention to David. "Mr. Warner?" Ames motioned for him to proceed.

David looked at Jo. "In the past month and a half..I have been the recipient of some angry hate mail…a couple of which have been death threats."

Jo couldn't help the slight smirk that touched her lips, but she did resist voicing any of the retorts that flashed through her mind. Instead, she looked at Ames then back to Warner. "I'm sure the feds are investigating the threats…so I don't get what you could possibly want from me."

"Yes…you're right." David agreed. "The FBI is looking into the threats," he paused for what he himself thought was dramatic affect. "What I want from you…is to act as a bodyguard."

There was a moment of tense silence in the room, before Jo let out a cold hard laugh. "A bodyguard? For you?" Jo asked, her tone equal parts sarcasm and disbelief. "Thanks..but no thanks," she said shaking her head, pleased at the irritated look on Warner's face. She looked David in the eye "I'm a cop," she said indignantly. "I work for the people of this city…not for some rich….."

"De-tective…" Ames said warningly.

Jo paused, then... "Tell me Davey…where did you even get such an idea?" she asked.

"You made quite a name for yourself a few years back, saving that dignitary and all…"

"I was just doing my job," Jo said interrupting him. "Not a big deal."

"Maybe so…" David brushed off her modesty. "…the man was of…questionable principles..shall we say…and yet you saved him. Surely you could…"

"No..I couldn't," Jo cut him off again. "That? Back then?…Was my job as a police officer…but for you?" she didn't hide her dislike for the idea. "Besides…you're already covered," Jo said as she made her way over to where the bodyguard was standing, stopping about a foot in front of him. "Ex-military? Marines? Seals?" she asked the guy who stood not only a half-foot taller than her, but probably had a hundred pounds on her. Jo caught the small surprised expression of the man as he ever so slightly tipped his head. "Right," Jo nodded, then offered her hand. "Thank you for your service…Mr..?"

"His name is Jackson, not that it matters who he is," David Warner interjected. "The point is…"

Jo ignored David and continued to hold out her hand.

"Jackson, Steve Jackson," the man replied taking Jo's hand in his own, impressed at the grip she had. He had to admit, he was a bit taken aback by the brunette when she walked in the room and didn't quite know what to make of her. Jo Polniaczek didn't look like much, but, he also knew looks could be deceiving. Steve had run a background check on Jo and was impressed with what he read. The way she'd handled herself, Ames and David Warner, since she'd come into the room, only served to reinforce his opinion. It was obvious, Jo wasn't the type to be easily intimidated.

Jo smiled warmly. "Well…thank you again, Mr. Jackson for your service. Well…your military service anyway," she said as she winked while nodding towards David. Jo grinned at the small up-tick at the corner of Jackson's mouth as she released his hand. "Ya got all the protection ya need right here," she said over her shoulder to David. "Ya don't need my help."

"I agree…I am very well protected," David answered. "But, it's not me you'd be guarding."

"It would be me, Jo."

Jo closed her eyes at the involuntary shiver the soft voice sent through her. For a brief second, she was back in Peekskill, in the house she shared with Mrs. G, Natalie, Tootie and...Blair. Jo knew the moment she'd walked in the room and got a whiff of the perfume, Aviance, who the 'hot lookin blonde' was. The brunette knew from experiences, that no other woman 'wore' that perfume the same way. It was if it was made just for the blonde. Rafe was wrong…she wasn't Warner's latest trophy, no…she was more important than that….she was his daughter. Blair. There was a time, it felt like a lifetime ago, that Jo would have done anything…anything to protect Blair….but that was then…this is now. Taking a small breath, Jo opened her eyes. "Not interested."

Steve Jackson noticed that Jo's voice was hard, but not quite as cold as it had been just moments before. Also, having caught the brief flash of pain in the brunette's green eyes before they became hard again, Jackson wondered if there was some kind of history between the two women, more than just being roommates at one time. Especially, since Blair's eyes hadn't left the brunette since Jo had entered the room.

"Mr. Jackson is more than capable of procuring someone to baby-sit your daughter," Jo said as she turned to look at David, completely ignoring the woman who sat on the other side of the room. Jo turned to her captain. "If there's nothing else?" she asked, but didn't wait for an answer. Instead, she started for the office door.

"I'm sure Mr. Jackson can find someone…" David said, stepping in front of Jo, blocking her. He wasn't going to be brushed off so easily. "..but…you know the 'underbelly' of this city better than anyone he could possibly find for the job."

Steve Jackson could tell by his boss's tone and Jo's reaction to it, that Warner was insulting the young woman. David Warner was a 'prick'…no two ways about it. Jackson had seen enough in his time of guarding the business mogul to figure that out. The problem was..he was hired to protect him. He just hoped he didn't have to protect Warner from Jo. Steve had quickly come to respect her after reading the file he had on her and in the brief time they've spent in the office together. He tensed though at the slightly aggressive posture the brunette's took.

"Very true, Dave," Jo said as she took a step forward. "So that's why I'm sure you really don't want someone…low-rent, low-class…like me…being her, your precious princess's, bodyguard." The cold harshness of Jo's words was felt by everyone in the room and, even had David Warner taking a small step back.

Any question Jackson had of a deeper connection between the girls was erased by the tone of the brunette's statement and the uncomfortable look that flashed across Warner's face.

"Didn't think so." Jo said with a cold smirk, then took a step around him and headed for the door.

David Warner had had enough of this…girl…and her disrespectful attitude. He wasn't about to let Jo walk away and make him look like a fool. David prided himself on getting what he wanted and he had one more card up his sleeve. "So…you'd rather pass up the chance to get back on the force than to help me…us…Jo?" he asked to her back, a hint of overconfidence in his voice, and an overly smug smile on his face. The brunette paused, her hand on the doorknob. Having her attention, David went on. "You know…with a well-placed word from someone in my position, you'd be back here in no time."

Jo slowly turned around to face David and Captain Ames could see the fire in her eyes. Crap, he thought. She walked over and stopped within a few feet of David. "You're…gonna put in a good word…for me?" Jo asked harshly, sneering at him in disbelief.

David smiled arrogantly as he nodded, totally missing the tone of the question or her expression. "Of course. I know how much you need this job and it'd be my pleasure to help you get it back."

Jo looked at him with contempt. "If it'd give you pleasure…helpin me…forget it," she sneered, then turned her back on him.

"Now just a damn minute!" David said angrily, as he grabbed Jo's arm, pulling on it.

Jo spun around, her eyes flashed with anger, her arm and fist cocked. "Don't you eveh touch me!" she practically growled at him causing Warner to take a step back.

The tone of her voice and her aggressive posture, had Jackson taking his own step forward. Jo noticed immediately, relaxed her stance slightly and with a look, let Steve know she wasn't going to harm his boss. Even though Jo had completed her A.M. course, Captain Ames wasn't so sure…. "Polniaczek…" he said with a cautionary tone, but Jo ignored him. She was so focused on Warner that she seemed oblivious to her captain.

"Let me explain a few things to you…Dave.." Jo said taking a small step forward, her tone still harsh. "…first of all, if I wanted a 'word' to get myself back on the force, I'da called the dignitary whose life I saved. Cuz, frankly, he's a hell of a lot more important than you," she said sneeringly. "Secondly, you still see me as some interloper who dared think she could be part of your precious hoighty-toity world. You thought I never belonged there and that I wouldn't amount to much. Well let me tell you…you know nothing of who I am or who I've become. Oh, and just so you know..I don't need this job…." she said sneeringly. "I want this job because it lets me help the everyday people out there," she said proudly. "not just some arrogant snob. So…" she took one step closer. "You can take your offer and shove it…."

"JO!" Ames said firmly.

"…where the sun don't shine!" Jo finished, then turned and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her.

David Warner stared blankly at the closed door Jo had just gone through, not understanding what had just happened and how things had gone so wrong. His confusion quickly turned to anger. He had her…she needed this job…how dare she walk out on him like that? "What the hell was that?" he asked as he turned to look at Ames. "How could you let her just storm out like that? Get her back!" he demanded.

Ames shook his head, pissed that Polniaczek had ruined this opportunity for him, but he should have known this was going to happen. The captain was stupid to think he could impress David Warner and, get Jo off suspension without appearing to give in to her. He'd forgotten that Jo could have easily gone over his head and gotten her job back. She hadn't though…because Jo played by the rules.

"Get her back now!" David demanded again.

Captain Ames shook his head. "I'm sorry Mr. Warner…" he said walking to the door. "..but it's not going to happen. Like she said…Jo doesn't need this job. That's what makes her so damn good and so damn frustrating."

"I-I don't understand. How can she not need the job?" David asked frustrated.

"Polniaczek has money, okay?" Ames said angrier than he intended. "She does not need this job…she doesn't need any job. She chooses to be a cop." Ames took a breath and let it out, attempting to calm himself. "Look…" he started, opening the office door. "…Jo Polniaczek doesn't need your help, doesn't need your money and she isn't coming back." he said holding the door open, subtly ushering Warner, his daughter and the bodyguard out the of his office.