Maura only ever went to the Café in the building early in the morning for two reasons. One, no one was usually there. And the few individuals that would occasionally be there never took notice of her. They were mainly the cops who had worked the night shift and were a little more than eager to leave the precinct. Two, Angela Rizzoli was a great conversationalist.

The blonde had never intended on having any sort of relationship with Angela, the woman was loud….and of course, had children. But it came as a surprise to Maura; that Angela was so very accommodating. Once only had the elder woman gotten personal with Maura. After that conversation Maura had stopped going to the café, until the day she absolutely needed something to eat. And unlike the predictions she'd made, Angela merely stuck to general topics.

And it had been like that ever since that day. They spoke of the weather, Boston in general, work, the BPD, cooking, and a few other books they were both familiar with.

Angela might have been loud and nosy and generally unstoppable, but she was perceptive and considerate. She had, naturally, asked Maura if she was married or had children. Maura's answers had been clipped and pained- never really even answers - and they had never spoken of it since. It wasn't that Maura did not particularly want to share about her personal life, Angela had concluded. It was that there was so much pain that speaking about it was nothing short of self-inflicted torture. So to spare the woman, they just had general conversations, intentionally skirting around any heavy topics.

That morning when the medical examiner sauntered into the café, it was to find Angela on the verge of a breakdown.

''Is everything alright Angela?'' Maura asked as she briskly made her way to the small table where Angela was muttering to herself, pacing and crying.

Yes, they were on first name basis now.

''She's going to kill me one of these days'' came the defeated response.

''Who?'' Maura queried as she hesitantly placed a comforting hand to Angela's shoulder.

This was never her department. She was used to being on the receiving end of comfort, what with all those years of failed pregnancy, and lack thereof.

''Jane. She's been taken to hospital. Can you believe it?'' she gasped, wiping at the stream of tears. Frankie was taking too long for her liking. Waiting did nothing but surge her worries.

Maura could believe it. It honestly wasn't the first time that she'd heard of the detective being taken to hospital. Jane Rizzoli was a regular there apparently. Maura just hadn't ever had to be confronted with the task of comforting one of Jane's loved one's during those episodes.

''Is she alright? Do you know what happened to her?''

''Not the details'' Angela sniffed, throwing Maura a grateful smile. She was very fond of the blonde. ''I'm waiting for Frankie. He'll take me to the hospital to see what's happening. They said she wasn't conscious when she was taken away'' Her voice broke with each word.

''It's probably the initial shock from the unfortunate accident that happened. Is there anything I could do to help Angela, anything at all?'' Maura asked out of politeness, she was pretty damn sure there wasn't a thing that she could do.

But imagine the surprise, when Frankie walked in a second later, and Angela looked at Maura with suddenly bright eyes – pleading ones though.

''Ma, lets go'' Frankie said walking towards the two women. ''Morning'' he offered to Maura. They never talked. Frankie was too shy, and had a small crush on Maura. And he very clearly knew the medical examiner was WAY out of his league. Maura just hadn't the faintest idea what she'd ever say to him if they in fact had to converse.

Luckily, they were never faced with that problematic challenge.

''I don't…I don't know how long we'll be at the hospital. I know Frankie is working all day and Tommy….well, he's Tommy'' Angela paused. Maura was watching her with uncertainty, entirely unsure where the conversation was going – Frankie shared the same confusion. ''Jane was supposed to get the children today. They finish early, at one. If we aren't done, maybe you could….you know, just pick them up and bring them to the hospital''

''NO!'' Maura and Frankie said in unison – for different reasons. Children + Maura was a no no for the blonde. She wouldn't know where to begin and what to do with herself. And Frankie, he knew Jane would absolutely disapprove of a near stranger watching her kids. It just wouldn't do.

The two looked at each other, each wondering what the reason for the other saying no was.

''I couldn't Mrs Rizzoli'' Maura stated firmly, using formality to….she didn't know. Maybe it was an attempt to create boundaries and make sure Angela knew she couldn't force this on Maura.

''It's alright Dr. Isles'' Frankie assured, ''its only eight in the morning, we'll figure something out''

Angela knew, from experience, that they wouldn't be done by the time the children's bus got home.

''I don't wanna leave my Janie alone Frankie. And I don't know who will watch them when they are brought to the hospital'' Angela began to sob, already fearing the worst for her daughter. She had a reason to be scared. She knew when all of Jane's issues began, and her dangerous career only made things worse.

''Like I said Ma, we'll figure it out. Can we go now?'' he was starting to lose his patience.

Maura couldn't work that morning. She couldn't concentrate for more than ten minutes at a time. She wasn't anything of Jane's, but that didn't mean she wished her any harm. And Maura also cared deeply for Angela, and she had seen the anguish the woman held as she left for the hospital. And then Maura thought of what she'd done- immediately after offering her help she had declined the first opportunity to be of use to Angela. The woman hadn't asked for much. Only picking up two seven year olds and dropping them off at the hospital. That couldn't be so hard. Could it?

She would never know. Because she would never try. She could not do that to herself. A short while in those children's presence would be enough to throw her into a state of depression for the next week. She cared for Angela, but it was just too much the woman was asking for. Angela wouldn't know obviously, but it was too heavy a favour for Maura to partake it. She'd sooner stay and watch over Jane instead, while Angela herself took care of the children.

What did it matter anyway? She had already declined. And now guilt was eating at her. So she sat in her office, and made a phone call. One that she knew would always bring equilibrium to her.

Except today, she didn't get the answers she wished to hear.

''When did you stop being a helpful person Maura?''

She didn't miss the hint of judgement.

''That's not fair, and you know it'' she defended herself.

Who was she fooling?

''She isn't asking you to babysit, just to bring the children to her so she doesn't have to leave her daughter. And what good is it doing you anyway. You are suffocating with guilt. And I know it's going to weigh on you for a long time''

Maura sighed through the phone speaker. Her clock read 10:57 a.m, but she was exhausted already.

''What if she leaves to go and get the kids and her daughter dies while she's away''

''Don't say that!''

''But you asked for my opinion on the matter, I'm just laying out the possibilities. Imagine if that happened. The guilt will drown you, knowing that you could have given that woman those last moments with her daughter if only you had just agreed to help out with this one task''

''You know how hard this is on me''

''You are the one who talks about immersion therapy. Why won't you take your own advice? This may be good for you''

''I'll think about it. I have to go now''

''Alright. I'll speak with you later'' and the line went dead.

It's odd how we always hate it when other people make sense of things we don't want them too.

Squaring her shoulders, Maura decided that she'd take Angela up on her offer if she called again to ask. Maybe it was just a ploy to make herself feel better – less guilty. But either way, that resolution helped her begin work, albeit very late.

And as her luck had it – not, Angela rang her a little after twelve, asking if she could pick the kids for her. Given Jane's development, or lack thereof, Angela asked if Maura could watch them at the house until Frankie was off duty at five and he'd get them. Because of the nature of things, taking the girls to the hospital was out of the question. Angela and Maura ironed out the details over the phone and left the blonde to her own devices. She trusted Maura. She knew the kids would be alright under her watchful and caring eye.

Earlier that day…

''Shit,'' Jane mumbled as her hand blindly searched for the mysteriously loud alarm. This is how the detective woke up every morning – with a variation of some expletive. Without even opening her eyes she knew without doubt that she was late, she always was. It was brief moments like these that she swore to heed her mother's advice on being a little more organised. That thought only lasted a few fleeting seconds anyway. What good was it procrastinating? She was better off jumping out of bed and getting on with it.

She rubbed her face vigorously and dragged herself out of bed as fast as she could, given the simple fact that it was morning – she hated mornings, all mornings.

''Come on, up we get,'' she hoarsely yelled as she made her way into the opposite bedroom. Much like her, her children were undoubtedly still fast asleep. It was a struggle each morning. One would think that by now all three of them would have got the hang of getting things done on time. It wasn't the case however. Thirty-six years hadn't taught Jane, and seven years surely hadn't taught the twins.

''Guys, we're late,'' she said uncovering the first child, as if it was news – they always were.

Those words were like an alarm clock for Keira. She began stirring under the covers until she eventually sat up. Jane focused on her other daughter, the one that needed to be woken up by a gong each morning. ''Eva, Get up!'' she used her stern voice. Grudgingly the girl got up. Keira was already in the bathroom and Jane was straightening up her bed and trying to assemble their uniforms.

Ah…the beauty of school uniforms. Jane didn't know what she would do with herself if she had to pick out different clothes for them to wear every single school day. She was certain they would have labelled her clinically insane by now.

''Are we going to Grandma's place after school?'' Eva managed through a yarn, sock-clad feet dangling from the bed. She loved socks, it didn't even matter that it was April and the weather didn't require such state of dress.

''No! So if you thought you were getting out of doing homework forget it.'' Her daughter smiled cheekily at her, they knew each other too well. Jane had been just the same as a young girl. ''Come on start getting ready. Your sister is probably done by now''

Indeed Keira was done, the most organised of the three. It was like an anthropological study. They suddenly and easily fell into their routine. Keira dressed swiftly as she recited her times-tables. She was smart, even at seven it wasn't hard to miss. She loved science and maths, and excelled at it. Unlike her twin sister, she'd been all too happy to begin first grade last September. Eva, on the other hand, would have been more than pleased to remain in kindergarten. She wasn't daft; she just didn't particularly care for academic studies. Her favourite school days were Tuesday and Thursday, when they had P.E. Now that was her department. Anything that required physical exertion (and not mental) was her most favourite thing. Looking at the two however, one would never tell. They were identical twins, carbon copies of each other in their looks. It would take anyone days to be able to tell the two apart. Those who knew them reasonably well however, were quick to tell them apart by their hair especially. Keira liked hers down, nicely sitting on her shoulders. Eva couldn't stand it. With all the running about she did, hers was always in a ponytail.

''We have fifteen more minutes'' Jane said to her daughters as she skimmed through their book bags to make sure all was in order. She may have always been late to get out of bed, but she was super mum in plenty other ways.

Keira pulled her bowl of Cheerio's as further away from her sister as should, nearly knocking the cereal bowl off the table.

''What are you doing?'', Jane asked without even lifting her head up.

''I'm not sitting next to her,''

''Because….?''

''She called me Kilo'' Keira frowned.

''What did I say Eva?'' came the warning.

''I know Mama. I was just joking with her''

''But she doesn't like it. If you call her that again you're grounded''

Keira stuck her tongue out in victory. Because everyone tended to call her 'Kie', one kid on the bus had asked her what her full name was. Upon being told it was Keira-Lauren, the boy had joked saying it should be shortened to 'Ki-lo'. Eva caught up on this 'unit of measurement reference' and used it to taunt her sister occasionally. Nothing like good old fashioned sibling bullying. Eva enjoyed getting a rise out of her twin. But Jane had now effectively put a stop to it. And the children both knew it would be the end of it. Jane was often busy, and had a demanding and draining career. In essence, she didn't have much time to spare. That being said, she wasted no time telling the kids the same thing over and over again. One time was enough, and they had both learned that from a young age.

Fifteen minutes turned into twenty, at which time they had to run to the corner for the school bus. They made it in just enough time, as always, but they had to endure the early morning mini marathon.

Once they were safely on the bus, Jane jumped into her cruiser breathing a sigh of relief as she pulled out her phone to ring Korsak – nothing would have been more horrifying than having to drive the kids to school if she'd missed the bus. It was in the opposite direction to the precinct, and with the morning rush she definitely would have been late to work.

''Shit!'' she cursed once again. She'd forgotten to put her phone on the charger the previous night.

It wasn't the first time.

''Hey Korsak, have the lab results come in yet?''

''No''

''Okay. I'll stop for a coffee. See you in a bit.'' And she hung up. Before she could proceed to the café her phone chimed. It was an unknown number. She hated those. ''Rizzoli'' she answered a bit too harshly.

''Detective?'' came a weary voice.

''Yes''

''Uhhhh, you said to call, if I uhhhh, heard something''

''Melissa! Is everything alright?''

''I don't know. Early this morning I heard a scream. I could be wrong, but I thought I should mention it''

''No, that's perfect, I'm on my way right now okay. Don't –'' And the phone powered off. ''Great,'' she sighed, throwing the useless phone on the dashboard.

A week ago, while solving the case they had at hand, Melissa had approached Jane. The woman lived in a quiet neighbourhood where one of the bodies was found, and was relaying her concerns to Jane.

''….I saw him drag her by the hair and practically throw her into the back of a van'' Melissa related.

''Did you get a good look at his face, or of the woman?'' Jane asked.

''No. It was dark. But her mouth was tapped and it all happened so fast''

''Have you noticed anything else strange? Or any other people coming and going?''

Jane was scribbling it all down quickly.

''No. It's usually quiet. And I only ever see Walter, he should be in his late fifties and has lived here almost a year now''

''I promise to look into it'' Jane assured her. ''And if you see or hear anything else call me immediately, ''she handed over her card.

At the precinct Jane had looked into it and found out that a single 57 year old man resided at the place. It wasn't an open investigation so one afternoon she had driven over to scope it out. Upon seeing the man she wasted no time in approaching him and asking a few questions. If Jane hadn't been informed of the incident with the woman, she would have found absolutely nothing to worry about.

In twenty minutes Jane had now made it to the street and parked a few houses away and walked towards the house, gun in place. There wasn't any activity in the street. It mostly appeared as if everyone was still in bed and would only start their day at about 9am. As it was, it was only quarter after eight.

Her gun was safely tucked in as she confidently made her way up the porch steps. A few knocks on the door resulted in absolutely nothing. But with the quietness of everything, and Jane's close proximity, the detective could hear some strange shuffling – very distant. Further analysis indicated that it might be coming from the basement, and so Jane – as quietly as she could – moved to the small window that was almost level with the grass. Indeed, an indiscernible noise was coming from there. Immediately, she ran back to the front door, gun drawn, and kicked it open.

Had her phone been working she would have rung Korsak, had she stopped for a second to think she would have radioed in for back-up. But as it was she had a one-track mind, thinking only of the woman held captive in there. Wild scenarios of the sort of danger and pain she might be in, running rampant in her mind.

No, there was no time to wait, she had to rescue her before she was taken away to God-knows-where, or worse, killed.

The house was neat, and appeared to be well lived in, much unlike Jane had expected. She didn't waste much time taking in the details of the rooms however, she headed straight for where she could hear very low sounds. Steadily grabbing the door knob, she twisted it and the door to the basement opened. It was dark, like any basement really. Jane took the narrow steps one at a time as she made her way down, gun drawn, trying to make out her surroundings through the adrenaline pumping in her.

Her weakness obviously, was letting her heart rule her actions. All she could think about was getting to that woman in there and saving her. Not for her own glory, no, but for the benefit of the woman in there. From a dark corner emerged a large man with a wooden plank in his hand. Jane had just enough time to make out the sound of a footstep before the plank collided with the back of her head. The pain only registered for a split second before everything went dark.

AN: Crime isn't my thing, and i'm not going to write about Hoyt either. Neither will there be any cases to solve. This particular one will wrap up VERY quickly, without getting into much detail.