A/N: Here it comes…. again, with this story- Buckle Up! Hope it doesn't come across as an utter fail towards all of your (dear readers) expectations. As with some aspects of my personal life, this portion of the story may likely have a "transition feel" while simultaneously having some "major discoveries!" Major "yashi washi" to Cactolith for your proofreading, editing, etc; and everything else in-between.
Slight warning: another assault takes place in this chapter/story
Some years (unknown, yet short) later…
Jane Rizzoli rubbed her eyes as she finished off the last of her drink. She wondered once more of whether or not she should order another round or just go home. Home to her fairly new apartment… well, new to her, anyway. Although it was simply a single bedroom dwelling in a historical building, it was luxurious compared to her former studio. Another plus was that it was large enough to finally allow Jane to move in her grandmother's piano from her parents' house.
Despite all of the childhood stubbornness throughout practicing and lessons, Jane secretly enjoyed the escape she discovered in the world of notes and chords, contrasting against the white and black keys, translating from the paper of stanzas and notes to the variously tightened strings housed within the wood. Even Lupine found the soft melodies generated by the instrument soothing to the wolf's emotions whenever agitated or volatile. Recorded piano playing and other so called "Easy Listening" music were not the same- neither for Human or Wolf. So, having the piano in her home now had allowed Jane and Lupine to become more calm and settled the past approximate 8 months. This was especially impressive considering neither of them could run as often as they had before Jane underwent Academy training and during her "uniform years."
However, they still ran periodically- at least twice a week- meeting with their sweet Human Friend, who also enjoyed running with the wolf. During their runs, the wolf and her Human Friend would subtly challenge each other to run or sprint faster, actually racing at times to see who could outrun the other. The lady would even occasionally try to wrestle with Lupine, which became one of the most calming things to the wolf.
Jane smiled at the shared memories between her and Lupine while playing with the now empty drink glass. Their Human Friend actually had a name now: Dr. Maura Isles… she and Jane still had yet to be "officially introduced." Even though she had "met" the good doctor a short time ago at the café in the Boston PD Headquarters Building, Jane and Lupine both had to struggle to not reveal their knowledge of her. As much as the human loathed working undercover in the "only female role" for busting various drug rings, the wolf actually enjoyed it. Lupine certainly got to stretch her senses and improve tracking skills, through which Jane gratefully could find some small measure of escape from her "hooker role." Neither of them ever had to worry for their cover being blown… until that fateful day in the Division One Café and on a sidewalk bench not too far from the building.
Now Jane was getting ready to start in the Homicide Division the following week as one of their detectives. Dr. Maura Isles was the Chief Medical Examiner whose office was in the Boston Police Headquarters' building- the same building containing the unit Jane was transferring in to. Jane hoped her human self would find the same friendship with Maura Isles as the wolf did. However, Jane suspected it would be an exercise in patience, given how their first human conversation went, with her being in full hooker garb and Dr. Isles being none the wiser about the ruse.
"Another round?" the bartender's voice intruded Jane's thoughts.
Waving her hand slightly, Jane glanced at her watch. "Naw," she pulled out some cash. "Thanks though."
Tossing the appropriate amount along with the tip on the countertop, Jane reached for her coat, which was draped over the neighboring bar chair. "Have a good night." She hopped off her seat and headed out.
Sighing at the chilled night, Jane started up the sidewalk towards home. She was going to miss the haunts of this particular sector of the city that she had been working the past few years since receiving her detective's rank. As a soon-to-be Homicide Detective, Jane likely would not be hanging out in the various pubs and other places that would be occasionally staked out by undercover cops assigned to DCU. Some places, like the one she just exited, served some great mixed drinks, too. Since the Homicide Unit and her apartment were not in the same sector, Jane felt that she would not be around much anymore.
A familiar scent caught her attention as Jane neared an alley to cross the street, likewise stirring up Lupine. Cautiously entering the alley, Jane wished she had her gun as she and the wolf combined their senses. Her head snapped in the direction as a shrill scream echoing off the alley walls into the cold night air.
Both Lupine and Jane roared a growl as Jane began running in the sound's direction as another scream shrieked out…
…Not again! Maura's thoughts raced as she struggled against her attacker. She released another shriek and a cold, keen metal blade roughly pressed against her neck and throat. The raspy voice of her attacker whisper shouted into her ear his commands for her silence as he forced his body against hers, forcing her further into the dirty brick wall, and followed up by his threat to kill her.
Struggling to smother the sob erupting from her throat, Maura felt the rapist's opposite hand move down her body, quickly undoing her long designer coat. Unable to keep herself from flinching at the man's rapid moving hands, the thug harshly pressed Maura into the wall once more. The knife's blade biting more into her skin as his retched voice uttered a few demands as he reached for her pants and belt.
Suddenly a snarling roar echoed off the nearby alley walls and the arms on the doctor suddenly left her body as something pushed her into the opposite direction. The massive black wolf landed between the rapist and Maura- its fur bristled and baring its teeth in a fierce, snarling growl.
"What the hell?!" The man shouted as he pulled himself back onto his feet, struggling to maintain his balance.
Maura had quickly pressed herself against the wall before looking back towards where the attacker's voice came from and gasped in shock as she recognized the midnight black fur standing between her and the rapist. Vuk, her wolf friend! Vuk was here in the middle of the city? In some dark Boston alley, coming to her defense again?
The wolf's head lowered as it slowly countered the rapist's small steps, maintaining its defensive posture between him and Maura. The man suddenly charged at the wolf, which promptly countered and snapped for the wrist of the hand wielding the dagger type blade. Missing its intended target, the wolf lunged for the man's opposite leg. The thug's screams echoed off the alley walls as the beast's teeth sank into his calf muscle and swung out with his blade, sinking it into wolf's right shoulder.
"No!" Maura's cry blended with the Vuk's painful roar. Before either human could physically react, the wolf suddenly twisted its torso, snapping the blade as its rear claws slashed the rapist's abdomen, before landing on its 3 remaining unaffected feet. The animal resumed its defensive posture while keeping weight off the front right paw. The man clutching his severely slashed abdomen stumbled away towards the alley's exit and dropped the remnants of his weapon.
Maura struggled to keep herself from simultaneously hyperventilating and holding her breath. Vuk's fur gradually settled back, the wolf was no doubt smelling for any indications of lingering danger. The wolf gingerly turned towards Maura, still not bearing any weight on its effected paw. Vuk's eyes studied her friend tenderly before turning to leave and the wolf suddenly collapsed heavily upon the concrete alley floor in a cry of pain. The wolf weakly raised its head a few times, struggling to reach for its injured shoulder only to cease in exhaustion.
Maura crawled towards Vuk, struggling not to cry as she heard the moans of pain coming from her wolf friend. Vuk had saved her again, and now it needed her help. The wolf was always so strong, self-assured in its being; it was utterly heartbreaking to see her wonderful friend in such agony. Just as the doctor came within arm's reach, she suddenly stopped, her vision somehow detecting a rippling effect over Vuk's body. Quickly rubbing her eyes, Maura looked at the wolf again. Her eyes still noticed the ripple effect; equivalent to seeing heat or fuel vapors.
Suddenly, the fur appeared to be receding, growing in reverse to disappear into the body while on the animal's head it seemed to grow out longer. The wolf's massive paws began stretching out in length, oddly flattening out. The limbs along with the joints likewise changed in alignment. Maura gasped as the face began transforming along with the fur covering it receded along with the rest of the body's coat. After those several moments, which felt much longer than they should have, a long, raven-haired woman with a mild olive complexion was lying on the alley floor where Vuk had just been. The woman had a wound in her upper back near her right shoulder, matching exactly where Vuk had been stabbed.
A distant car horn startled both the injured woman and Maura out of their adrenaline fueled trances. The doctor quickly jerked her scarf from the shoulder epilates of her coat and tore a section free, using it as a bandage against the woman's wound. The woman winced and struggled to keep from crying out as Maura applied pressure to the fabric to staunch the blood flow. She wrapped the remains of the scarf around the woman's body to hold the makeshift bandage in place.
"We need to get you to a hospital." Maura suddenly found herself speaking as she removed her long coat and covered the injured woman's bare body.
"N-No," the lady stammered as she shakily began pulling herself into a sitting position. "No, no hospitals!"
The doctor gently steadied the woman as she pulled the coat around her body. "But you could have serious internal injuries in or to your shoulder," Maura protested as she helped the dark haired woman with equally dark eyes fasten the coat closed.
"No, please!" The lady emphatically said again, struggling to keep her breathing calm and eyes open. "No hospitals. I can-can't go to a hospital. You gotta un-understand…" her voice trailed off, but she remained conscious and her eyes meeting Maura's.
Recognizing the unspoken "please" in her eyes and subconsciously recognizing this woman with Vuk's eyes, Maura reluctantly nodded her understanding. "My-My place isn't too far," her voice slightly shook. "Let's get you out of here and see what I can do for your injury."
"Thanks," the woman rasped out as Maura helped her onto her feet.
Assisting her out of the alley, Maura noticed a taxi pulling up to a curb across the street. "Come on," she urged the dark haired woman as she waved her hand to catch the cabbie's attention.
Thankfully, the driver waited for them to get across the street and though he appeared to notice the doctor's near panic stricken face and the dazed, disheveled appearance of the raven haired woman wearing a designer long coat and bare feet, he paid minimal attention to them overall. He seemed to display some surprise when Maura gave him her address, yet simply nodded and put the car in gear.
The woman beside her stayed silent throughout most of the drive, struggling to keep her eyes open and Maura hesitantly reached out to take her hand into hers. The movement jolted the woman and her jaws clamped together tighter as she breathed in sharply. However, her fingers tightened their grasp around Maura's. "I'm sorry," the doctor said softly.
"No, it's okay." The woman replied, keeping her face looking forward due to her injured shoulder being nearest Maura. "My name's Jane."
"Jane," the doctor repeated, "my name is Maura. Maura Isles."
Jane smiled ever so slightly. "Yes, Doctor Maura Isles…" Maura gasped as Jane gingerly turned and looked directly into her eyes. "We've met before, but it's nice to finally be able to truly introduce myself."
A/N: Da-dum! They have met now… am grabbing my "riot gear" and hunkering down in the proverbial bunker in case anyone believes their meeting could have been better!