A/N: Great reception! Thanks for everything! I've forgot to mention about the fact that I changed a bit of the Casey situation.

Disclaimer: Read Ch. 1


"Now we sit through Shakespeare in order to recognize the quotations." – Orson Welles


Ch. 2: The 'Play' Date

"Tell me we got something," Jane inquired as she entered BRIC to see Frost and Nina at their computers.

Nina turned in her chair and replied, "Fingerprints from AFIS came back. Your victim's name is Elisabeth Williams who is a up and coming lawyer over at Jacobs and Sanders Law Firm."

"We did background checks on her to see if there were sudden financial changes," Frost explained, gesturing toward the computer. Jane looked over at the computer to see no odd transactions popping out at her. "As you can see, she's your average person."

"Anything else come back," Jane asked. The two shook their heads and brunette sighed, running her hand over her face. "We need to look into the firm and see if she's got clients that had issues with her then hit her home since it's close by."

"We're already ahead of you," she turned to see Frankie and Korsak, who was holding a pair of car keys.

Jane glanced at her watch, seeing that it was already three in the afternoon. "Okay, let's head out now cause I have something else to do in the evening," Jane informed the guys.

Frankie and Korsak raised an eyebrow in surprise while Jane walked by, grabbing her blazer then placed her coat over it. "Oh yeah," Korsak commented. "What are you doing later this evening, Janie?"

"None of your business," Jane replied as they walked to the elevator.

Frankie smirked, "Is it that play with Maura that's happening tonight?" Jane turned around with a suspicious look and Frankie clapped, "Knew it!"

"Who told you," Jane mumbled then raised her hand, stopping Frankie from answering. "Never mind. I know who told you."

"You know Ma can never hold a secret," Frankie commented.

Korsak chuckled until Jane glared at him causing the old man to act like he was coughing. He then asked, "What play?"

Jane looked at the two men then retorted simply, "Julius Caesar…"

"Et tu, Brute," Korsak quoted with his hand raised.

"Oh shut up," Jane grumbled as they exited the elevator.

R&I

"Can't believe that we need a warrant for those idiots," Jane commented as the manager unlocked Elisabeth Williams' apartment door.

They stepped in, placing crime scene gloves while Korsak replied, "What do you expect from lawyers?"

"Yeah but it gets us nowhere and we have to wait until a judge signs off."

"Unfortunately, lawyers as suspects sucks like Hell," Frankie retorted as they began to look around.

The apartment was pristine with white walls with bookshelves and blue sofas. "I hope there's a lead here," Jane informed her brother and partner as she began to walk around the apartment. Her eyes wandered, taking the book titles, which were unrelated to the script that they found.

She then traveled to the bedroom and began to open up drawers. "There's no indication that anything happened here. No force entry, messages on her voicemail since Tuesday this week which are asking where she's at," Korsak announced as he walked into the bedroom.

"We found her today which is a Friday."

"I found her calendar book and it just says that she got work," Frankie added as he stood at the doorway.

"Found her laptop," Korsak pointed to the desk. "I'll take this back to Nina and Frost." He then looked over at Jane who continued to look through the drawers, prompting him to ask, "Why are you looking through the drawers?"

"She was found wearing a white nightgown. I'm seeing if it's part of her clothing or not."

"And it's not?"

"Nope. She got boy shorts and tank tops."

"So this prick changed her," Frankie commented.

"Probably but it doesn't indicate that she's in a relationship or anything. We need to make phone calls and see if we can find anything out," Jane suggested.

Frankie and Korsak looked at each other with Korsak commenting simply, "Looks like we are doing an all nighter."

"Looks like it."


Jane returned to Headquarters by six, which gave the detective only one hour to get dress and ready to meet up with Maura. These were one of those moments where Jane Rizzoli needed a miracle at the moment. As she was racing to grab her keys then back into the elevator, Nina walked into the elevator at the same time.

"Whoa," Nina stated as Jane pressed the lobby button relentlessly.

"Sorry," Jane huffed as she pushed a curl from her forehead.

"What's the rush about?"

Jane looked at Nina for a moment, contemplating if she should tell her until finally, she answered, "I'm suppose to pick up Maura at seven to take her to the play at BCU but, I'm running late right now. I still got to get home and get dress then zoom all the way to Maura's and I know that I might be late." She then glanced at her watch and sighed, "I'm definitely going to be late."

"No, you are not." Jane turned her head toward Nina. "You and I are heading toward my place cause it's only fifteen minutes away from Maura's place."

"But what about clothes, Nina?"

Nina waved her hand and retorted, "I got this handled. I have an idea but you got to trust me on it."

"Okay…"

Confused of what was going on, Jane followed Nina out into the lobby and to the parking lot. In her unmarked, Jane followed Nina all the way to her apartment. As she entered, Jane chuckled inward for it was a bit noticeable that Frankie was definitely dating Nina for there was several of his jackets and his stuff mingled with Nina's items.

"Take a seat, Jane," Nina said. Jane took a seat and looked around curiously while Nina walked toward the bedroom. "So where are you two going," Nina questioned from her bedroom.

"Showing of 'Julius Caesar' at BCU and possibly, a real late dinner."

"I think I got something that might work," Jane heard Nina state then the sound of footsteps reentering the living room. The detective turned to look at her colleague and her jaw dropped at the sight of the item in her hand.

"Nina," Jane gaped at the sight. She shook her head, as she expressed, "I can't take this."

"Please girl, you take this and run. It was a Christmas gift from my grandma and she always buys a couple sizes smaller."

Jane stood up from her seat and took the item in her hand. "You sure," Jane questioned one more time.

Nina smiled and nodded, "Jane, come on and let's get you ready!"

R&I

"Maybe I should tell her today, Bass," Maura stated to her dear pet as she crouched down to place some food for him. The tortoise popped his head out and seemed to give Maura a questioning look to her as she continued, "I mean tell her how I feel. It might change our friendship for the best or even the worst."

The tortoise took a bite at his food then looked at Maura. "We've been dancing around this. Surely, she has feelings for me," the doctor continued, "She doesn't know that I catch her gazing at me or how she treats me differently than the others. Maybe, we have a chance now especially with Jane declining Casey's advances …and my mistakes with suitors. She would have gave up her job for me too."

Maybe Bass knew or just Maura placing the facts out, all of these statements were true.

After Maura's incident with Dennis, Jane kept a close eye on her. The detective even blamed herself for not protecting Maura from going to jail. But Maura didn't blame Jane but praised Jane for getting her out the right way. She learned that Jane would have gone so far as give up her job for her; an idea that the detective didn't take lightly.

It was going good until Lieutenant Colonel Casey Jones returned. Well, rephrase that, he reappeared magically and failed to inform anyone even Jane. For a couple months, Jane and the Colonel were talking to an extent but they weren't serious.

Suddenly, he disappeared and Jane just took it as an end.

So when he reappeared, Jane wasn't too please at the fact that he kept her in the dark. He said it was for her own good cause he got injured in combat. His explanation was to protect her but that wasn't enough for Jane. She wanted to help him at first as a person who was dating him but eventually, she was just trying to help him as a friend.

But Casey pushed back and disappeared, trying to do a risky operation. Jane tried to stop him but he shoved her kindness away. About months after that, he returned and was walking but it angered Jane that he returned.

He tried to fix it and explained he wanted it to do this because he cared. Maura wanted to shout 'bullshit' but she was a lady and let Jane handle it, which she did. Jane deleted his number and avoided him in every shape possible; declining flowers, phone calls, possible bump-ins.

It wasn't until the idiot even went so far as to try to ask Maura to talk to Jane for him. She refused because A: he treated Jane horribly and B: Maura might have been jealous of him as well. When she told Jane about that, Maura watched Jane take her cell phone and called Casey, stepped outside Maura's house and yelled at him to lose her and Maura's number, don't bother to come to BPD, to bother Korsak…just don't bother.

Casey was terminated.

For Maura, she felt bad (a little) and she wondered back then why she felt so irritated with the Lieutenant Colonel. She wasn't sure what she felt for Jane but she knew it's been there since the beginning. However the true realization didn't happen until the detective jumped from a bridge to save a framed man.

It was in that moment that Maura realized that Jane was her everything.

Maybe, I'll tell her tonight. After the play, if we go to dinner or even a small walk, I'll tell her. Speaking of Jane…

Realizing that Jane was about to arrive soon, she stood up and smoothed down her backless green dress then checked her watch, seeing that it was already 6:55 and it was about to be seven. She hoped that Jane wouldn't be late but when leads come in a case, she understood that Jane wouldn't let it go immediately.

She hoped that Jane would arrived on time so they can find their seats at the theater and she also wished to have some time to admire Jane's clothing, whether it's her pantsuit or even a dress.

Suddenly, she heard a knock at the door causing Maura to jump in surprise. She took in a deep breath then released it, collecting her wits before she walked toward the front door and opened it to reveal Jane.

At the sight, Maura's jaw dropped slightly but quickly, she closed her mouth at the sight of Jane.

Dressed in a slimming strapped, dark blue dress with her black coat over it, Maura took in then noticed that Jane's dark brown curls tamed somewhat to a degree with her normal wave. Maura's eyes took in the beautiful sight while Jane stood there, waiting for her. When the detective heard the door open, she was about to complain about the cold until she caught sight of Maura.

"Wow," Jane gawked, taking in the sight of even more gorgeous doctor.

"Yes, wow indeed, Detective," Maura returned the compliment. They seemed to stare at each other for several minutes until Maura broke it and said, "I'll get my coat."

"Yeah, it would be a good idea. News saying it might snow," Jane stated as she stepped in for a second.

When Maura returned with her coat in her hand, Jane took the coat and helped her in it. "Thank you, Jane," Maura smiled.

"Anytime."

They locked up then walked over to Jane's unmarked with Jane opening the door for Maura then entered her side. As they began to drive down to BCU, Maura noticed that Jane was flexing her right hand then switched and did the same action to her left hand. "Your scars bothering you," Maura inquired softly.

Jane nodded and replied quietly, "It's pretty chilly."

At those words, Maura stretched out and took Jane's right hand, rubbing the scar gently. Jane blushed a bit from Maura's touch but let Maura continue in her little ministrations. She then released Jane's hand and asked, "Better?"

Jane flexed her hand and smiled, "Much."

"I'll do the other one when we reach the theater."

"You don't have to."

"I want to."

They returned to a comfortable silence until Jane asked, "Did you complete the autopsy?"

"Yes," Maura answered. "I was going to tell you over the phone but I remembered that you were picking me up."

"So?"

"Cause of death was indeed the snapped neck. There was so much force used that it snapped."

"What about the other fractures?"

"Well, I had Drake and Susie examined the body with me and we can conclude that those happened post mortem. But there are many ways that those could have happen," Maura explained. "Drake is still looking into the database about that Shakespeare line. According to him, he saying it might be "Macbeth" but I want the actual scripture."

"But what does it mean? Why do this recreation," Jane asked as she pulled up to the parking lot for the theater at BCU.

"We'll find out tomorrow," Maura answered. She then took Jane's hand and replied, "Let's just enjoy tonight."

Couldn't agree more, Jane thought.


"You forgot to mention that it was a modern version of the play," Jane commented as they were exiting the theater later in the evening. Maura slipped her arm around Jane's, walking down the staircase.

"I figured you would like the surprise," Maura answered gently. "Did you enjoy it?"

Jane smirked and retorted, "It was definitely interesting."

Maura giggled at the comment, resting her head on Jane's shoulder. They were like this throughout the whole play or at least, they were touching each other whenever they could. Jane would lean in and whisper in Maura's ear to translate what they were saying. Maura would whisper back and giggle, as Jane would nod like she understood.

Despite being a tragedy, Jane and Maura seemed to enjoy the show with enough violence for Jane and poetry for Maura. The one thing that Jane enjoyed the most was when Maura slipped her hand into Jane's and ran her thumb along Jane's scar.

It almost felt like a date. Almost.

"So, you want to grab something to bite," Jane asked.

Maura looked up at Jane and retorted, "We could just head back to my house and I can cook. I'll make some steaks for you and I."

"If you don't mind?"

"Not at all but as long as you have a salad?"

Jane looked down at Maura to argue but could see the raised eyebrow. At the sight, Jane folded, "Fine. I'll have a salad with my steak but make mine extra meaty."

Before Maura could retort, their phones started to ring suddenly. Jane sighed and Maura lifted her head up from Jane's shoulder. "Rain check," Maura asked the detective.

"More like snow check."

"I thought the saying is 'rain check' though?"

Jane chuckled as she pulled her phone out of her coat pocket, "It is but it's snowing, Maur…" She then answered, "Rizzoli."

Maura looked up as she pulled out her phone out with a wide smile as snow began to fall. "Isles," she answered.


"Whoa, looking good," Frost complimented as Jane and Maura approached the crime scene.

"Thank you, Barry," Maura smiled.

Jane gave him a quick nod then asked, gesturing to City Hall, "So what do we got?"

"You know Keith Patterson," Frost asked as they were walking.

"Yeah, he's that meathead that wants to be mayor next year. He was making a big deal about doing budget cuts on the department."

"Well, look what happened to the meathead."

Jane turned her head toward the crime scene to see Maura bent down next to a stabbed body. "No one saw this," Jane asked as she looked around the open area. His body laid at the steps of city hall with his body covered in stab wounds with blood trailing down the staircase.

"There was barely anyone here except the pedestrians walking," Korsak answered as he approached. "According to pedestrians, they saw a hooded person approach the councilman and suddenly, they heard a loud cry of pain and looked over to see the councilman bleeding to death," he read from his notepad.

"Jesus," Jane mumbled.

"Upon examination, I can see there are about ten stab wounds on his back," Maura indicated, pointing to the stab wounds. She then gestured for Jane to crouch down and help rotate the body to the front to reveal several more stab wounds.

"Shit," all three detectives cussed while Frost began to step back, feeling his stomach curl.

Maura looked up at the three and scolded lightly, "Language." Jane rolled her eyes and watched as Maura glanced back at the pool of blood then back at the body, commenting, "I will do the autopsy in the morning."

Jane moved closer as Maura stood up then whispered in Maura's ear, "I'm sorry that the night didn't go as plan."

Maura turned her head and smiled, "It was still nice despite everything."

"Jane, you got to see this," Frankie called out while holding his flashlight.

The two women looked at each other and began to walk where Frankie was. As they approached the alleyway that Frankie stood at, they could see that his face was pale. "Frankie," Jane called to her brother as they reached him. She was about to ask what's wrong then she faced the wall with Maura, raising her phone light up. "What the hell," Jane mumbled.

"Bring another flashlight over here," Maura shouted to a crime scene tech. Korsak with the tech approached, lighting up the wall to reveal the wall painted with red letters. "Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard. It seems to me most strange that men should fear; Seeing that death, a necessary end, will come when it will come," Maura read aloud. She looked at Jane quickly and stated aloud, "That's a line from "Julius Caesar"."

"Is that paint or blood," Frankie questioned.

Maura stepped forward, used a cotton swab then placed it in an evidence holder. "We'll find out as soon as I get back to the lab. Also I want pictures of this," she mentioned to her tech.

"Look," Korsak pointed behind them.

Everyone shinned their flashlights behind them to reveal another set of red letters. "Tisk…tisk…another body already. I find my new foes lack the wit to keep up. I found it much easier with the dear Devil…hope you can figure out what might happen next," Jane read. She took in a deep breath and exchanged looks with Korsak and her little brother before she looked at Maura.

There was worry in her best friend's eyes and Jane wasn't sure what step they had to take next.


"Fortune's fool..."

There was a loud gunshot that followed after and eyes snapped opened fast with her sitting up, breathing heavily. She glanced over at the clock to see that it was barely seven in the morning then looked over to see that the other side was empty.

She stretched out and slipped out of the bed, grabbed her robe then walked out of the bedroom into the kitchen to see a hot cup of coffee on the table. She took the cup, taking a quick sip of it then made breakfast before she noticed that on the table was a newspaper with the headline: "Death of Councilman".

She began to read it tiredly then noticed the name 'Detective Jane Rizzoli' immediately. At the sight, she tossed it aside and stabbed her omelet. "I see that you read the paper," she heard then felt a kiss on her forehead.

"Yup."

"So, I wanted to talk to you about your father's funeral."

"We discussed it. I'm going, keeping my distance then going to the house briefly to say hi to my Ma then go home."

"D…"

"Emily, I'm not going over this again. We know why I'm doing all of this."

"I know." Emily ran her hands along the hunched shoulders and whispered, "I'm going to the courthouse then I'll be over for lunch at your office around 1?"

"I would like that." Emily kissed the cheek then began to walk out before she heard, "Also take the paper with you?"

The woman bit her lip as she took the paper from her significant other. She glanced down at the paper and sighed, remembering the closeness Jane and her other half had. It was before they got together as couple, before her lover's abrupt divorce, and before the damn case turned her lover's life upside down.


"A new set of Shakespeare lines," Korsak pointed out to Jane and Frost in the squad room the next morning. "Bodies that are seemed to be linked to these lines."

"Yeah, Maura said that it looks like the first murder was a recreation of Lady Macbeth's supposed insanity and death," Jane pointed out.

Frost stepped forward and asked, "But what does he mean by 'Act 2'?"

Korsak bit his lip then looked at Jane, "I'm going to ask this once but you don't think it's…" He trailed off as Jane faced him then realization hit her face as she began to frown. "Now Janie, I'm not trying to open up old wounds."

"It's not," Jane retorted swiftly. It couldn't be.

"What," Frost inquired, trying to figure out what his friends talking about.

Korsak turned toward Jane, exchanging a brief questioning look before Jane nodded. Vince then faced Frost and answered, "About ten years ago, Jane's cousin worked as a homicide detective here."

"I didn't know there was another Rizzoli around?"

"Technically she was married but used her maiden name which wasn't Rizzoli," Jane retorted stiffly.

Frost raised his eyebrows while Korsak continued, "Well, she got knee deep in a case involving Shakespeare's lines and recreations of those lines in murders. He took the title of 'The Bard' after Shakespeare's nickname and she was at it for months until the case went cold."

"The Bard disappeared," Jane added. "My cousin left the job after that."

"Do you think this Bard returned," they all turned to see Maura standing at the doorway with a file in her hand.

Jane shrugged, "That the autopsy report?"

"Yes," Maura stepped forward, handing the file to Jane. "I can conclude the cause of death is that the councilman bled to death."

"Stabbed sixteen times," Jane read on the autopsy report. "So he recreates the assassination of Caesar with a disliked politician. But I don't know how we can figure out his next step? He says he left a clue like it's a game."

"It sounds like he does believe it's a game but if I may, I heard there's a very popular Shakespearean professor at BCU. I can put out some tentacles to see if they can help us with our situation."

"Maur, we know it's Shakespeare and it's feelers."

Maura blushed then continued, "I thought I had that one but, back to the situation at hand, they might see something we are missing. It's worth a shot if I send an email right now."

Jane pressed her lips together then heard Korsak state, "It wouldn't hurt. All we are doing is checking surveillance videos and checking anything that the councilman was involve with. We are also waiting for the okay from judge to get the files from our first vic's job."

The brunette nodded then looked up at Maura, "I guess it wouldn't hurt to try. See if they can see us soon?"

"I'll try," Maura smiled before giving Jane's shoulder a light squeeze then walked off.

"Maur," the doctor turned to look at Jane from the elevator, "lunch later?"

Maura smiled, "Of course."

R&I

Dear Professor D'Angelo,

I hope as I write this letter to you that you are well. My name is Doctor Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner of the Boston Commonwealth, and I wish to ask for your assistance in a case. It involves your specialty in Shakespeare and I hope that maybe you can look into it. We need a new set of eyes, as a dear friend would say. I would be grateful for the help.

All the best,

Doctor Maura Isles

The professor gazed at the email before leaning back in their chair. They looked at the time then back at the computer before they began to type.

Dear Doctor Isles,

Usually, I do not do consultations with people outside BCU. However, due to you being alumni and also Chief M. E., I will not decline your request. I prefer to speak with you in person to discuss how I can be of service and we will continue from there. I'm available after 3pm today.

Sincerely,

Professor D. E. D'Angelo


Hope you like this chapter! I can see you guys' gears in your head going. Please review, comment, etc!