A:N/ Thank you all for your support on all my stories. And hello and thank you to all my new followers for this work. Thanks again. I hope you enjoy.

xxxxx

Jane had often wondered when she was a child what it would be like to get beat up by superman, thrown off a cliff by the Hulk and tag teamed by Batman and boy wonder. This morning as she slowly opened her eyes…she had her answer.

"Oww-eeee…"

"Easy," came the soft voice. "You're pretty banged up there."

"What happened?" Jane asked through half closed eyes. 'something about that voice…'

"Your Detective friends are working that out still. From what I've been told. Apparently you saved a young couple…only to be shot by the woman…who from what I understand is guilt ridden she hurt you."

"Shot?"

"Yes."

"Explains the pain," Jane slightly cursed when she tried to move too fast.

"Same Jane," came the calm tone. "Still not doing as you're told."

Jane finally brought her attention to the woman standing beside her.

"Maura," Jane said the name like could solve world hunger and cease all major war conflicts.

"Hi," Maura smiled. "I didn't think you'd remember me…it's been…"

"Never that long," Jane smiled softly. "I could never forget."

"We've managed to get some blood back into you. You did lose quite a bit. You were stabilized through the night, but your mom's still on her way."

"You called my mom," Jane rolled her eyes. "Great."

"She's worried about you. I assumed she'd want to know. It's good seeing you again Jane," Maura said honestly holding the Detectives face.

"Will you be around later?" Jane asked feeling her eyes grow heavy form the medications.

"Count on it," Maura laughed. "I'm pulling a double."

"Ok," Jane nodded feeling her hand reach out and gently touch the side of Maura's own. "Night."

"Goodnight," Maura smiled. She walked to the door and closed it behind her. With a heavy sigh she exhaled. "This is certainly Boston's way to welcome me home."

xxxxx

"Doctor," Frost said coming down the hall. "My partner! Jane Rizzoli…is she ok? What happened?"

"She's ok," Maura said softly. "She's a tough lady. She's stable now. You can see her in a bit if you'd like. She's gone into a fairly deep slumber currently."

"Thank God," Frost exhaled. He finally realized just how pretty she was and quickly wondered why he hadn't met her before. "Hi," he smiled. "I'm Barry Frost. Jane's best friend and very handsome partner."

Maura smiled. "Hi," she extended her hand. "Doctor Isles. But you can call me Maura."

"Hi," Frost shook her head. "So she's going to be ok?"

"She'll be fine."

"So…you're new here?" Frost asked curious. "I mean I've been on the force for three years now…even though I'm still considered the rookie since I got promoted to work with Jane, I haven't seen you around the hospital and we're in here a lot."

"Yes I'm new," Maura nodded. "Well sort of new."

"Sort of new?"

"Well new to the hospital yes," Maura smiled. "Not new to the town."

"Not new to the town?"

"No," Maura shook her head.

"So you've been living here all along? That's can't be," Frost smiled. "I'd have noticed."

"Well I just moved back," Maura laughed. "But thanks for the compliment on noticing me."

"Well Jane's always telling me I've got a good eye."

"For what?"

"Beautiful young women," Frost winked.

"Wow," Maura blushed. "You see something you want and go for it don't you?"

"I'm my father's son."

"I see."

Maura opted to maneuver the conversation elsewhere. "So…Jane…how long has she been on the force?"

"Let's see…four years longer than me…so eight years all together. She joined up right out of college. Got her criminal justice and went for it."

"Is she married? Kids?" Maura knew was asking personal questions…but at this point…curiosity got the best of her when Jane was concerned.

Frost snickered, "married? No…not until they…how does she say 'change the GD backwards laws,' and kid? Let's just say her Mom is all over her and the boys for that." Frost paused. "So you know Jane then?"

"Yeah," Maura nodded. "We used to be best friends when we were kids."

"No kidding," Frost laughed.

"I know. Hard to Imagine."

"Not really," Frost smiled. "Jane always has had a thing for blonds. Smart ones too."

Frost's cell phone rang. "Excuse me. Frost," he said flipping it open. "Ok. I'll be right there." He closed it and looked at Maura. "I've got to go. Please tell her I came by to see her and I'll be back later."

"Ok," Maura smiled. "It was nice meeting you Frost."

"You as well Doc," he winked and walked down the hall.

"I wonder who else I'll see today?" Maura asked laughing. "So much for first day jitters."

xxxxxxx

Oh man is my head killing me right now. Screw that. My shoulder and arm are killing me. I'd take the head ache over the shoulder and arm any day.

Oh god…I'm blind! I can't see anything! Why? Why! Why…oh. Wait. My eyes are just closed. Oh…okay. That's better.

Hospital. Okay I'm in a hospital. A cold hospital at that. Damn. It's freezing in here. I could cut diamonds. Turkey's done! For the kind of bill I'm going to get you'd think they could at least bring the temperature in the room up to like 69…hello…

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. Still a little out of it," Jane answered her throat scratchy.

"That's the pain medicine." Maura smiled. "I told you I'd be back to check on you…"

"Maura," Jane smiled. A flash of memories came flooding back. "When did you get back to the city?"

"Just over a week ago."

"And you're here to stay?" Jane asked.

"Looks that way," Maura smiled again. "I was hired as full time resident. So is this how you introduce yourself to all the new Doctors in town Jane Rizzoli?"

"Well I like to go for a typical arm fracture usually. I wait for the gun wounds till the third of fourth time meeting. Fractures help to break the ice I find."

Maura smiled. "Are you always in the habit of getting shot at?"

"Not typically no."

"Twice."

"Twice what?" Jane smiled. She had an idea where this was going,

"I looked at your files. This is the second time you've been shot."

Jane felt her face redden. "You read the files…"

"Yeah," Maura smirked. "So…how long did you get teased?"

"About a year and a half actually."

"Well I must admit," Maura smiled and bit her bottom lip. "That's the first time I've heard of a police officer shooting herself in the foot."

"Well a first time for everything."

"How?"

"Safety lock"

"You're lucky you didn't lose a toe."

"I know," Jane nodded.

"So…are you in any pain?"

"A little tender yeah," Jane smiled. "I guess I won't be the starting pitcher for the league this year."

"What league."

"We have a softball team. It's us, the fire department, and the EMT's."

"Nice," Maura laughed. "I think you're starting days are over…at least for this season."

"I was hoping to get an MVP too," Jane, snapped her fingers and did the 'aww shucks' look.

"Well there is always next season."

"Good point."

"I should be going. I've got to get to the other patients. I'm glad you're feeling better."

"How long?"

"For what?"

"Till I get sprung?"

"Thursday should be fine."

"Don't suppose I could sweet talk you into today?" Jane did the puppy dog eyes.

"No…but an 'A' for effort Detective Rizzoli," Maura laughed and left the room. Jane just watched and smiled. It was nice hearing Maura call her that.

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Present Day

I remember once my Sergeant in the academy had told me that at some point in our life we're all running from something. At the time I wasn't sure if he had directed it to me or if it was just the ramblings of a guy who enjoyed his puns and play on words. I think I get it now.

I'm sitting here looking around this room wondering yet again how the hell I got here. Oh yeah. That's right. I was thinking with my heart and not my head. Silly me. Me…super cop. There should have been a orchestra playing the superman theme followed by my entrance on a white horse declaring, "back up? I don't need no stinkin' back up!"

Where was I? Oh yeah. Everyone's at one point or another run from something…or someone. For me…it was someone. Ok well that's only half truth. For Maura it was someone…which in turn meant for me it was someone. Cause Maura's someone soon became my someone. Am I getting too far ahead of myself?

It's all too quickly come to my attention the shorter of the two is soaking in Italian hit man stereo types. Every other word out of his mouth begins with an f and ends with a g. His hair could easily supply my mustang two coats of wax giving it shine even through the tough winters. His breath…yuck. Garlic and something else that could only be compared to the smell of dog shit. Ma wouldn't be impressed at all right now. Pop would probably laugh.

"This is fucking easy," the small Italian said smiling as he looked in my direction. "We shoot her. Dump her. No one's the wiser."

"She's a cop," the cooler head of the two replied. He played with my gold shield in his hand. "Moving her would draw attention to us."

"How the fuck do we know she didn't get that out of a cracker jack box?"

"Vinny shut up," the cool man said calmly.

Vinny. Ha! I knew it!

"We might be able to use her as much as she could use us," he said walking toward me. "Isn't that right Detective Rizzoli?"

"Whatever you want," I say trying to at least reason with one of them. "Just let me go and we can you know pretend this didn't happen."

"Oh it happened. And we know that you know why. So that makes you very much a part of this little family portrait. So now the question is how much are you worth?"

"What do you mean?" both me and the short Italian asked at the same time.

"How much would she be willing to pay? How much would they all be willing to pay. See you come from money one way or another it's connected to you. And since I'm here to do a job…I don't see why we can't just also come out with a little added cash," he looked back at Vinny. "Isn't that right Vincent?"

"Whatever," Vinny hissed. "I don't like it Tony. I don't like it one bit."

"Well you're not the brains behind this. I am."

"He said do the hit and get out. Nothing about any of this other shit Tony."

He?

So now there were three men involved. And I knew who 'he' was.

He would pay.

Pay deeply.

xxxxxxxxx

7 months before…

Jane signed her name. She wanted to add, "…kiss my ass" as her middle name but good hospitals and nursing staffs were hard to find. She slowly and sorely moved down the walkway toward the parking lot. She stood outside, the fresh air feeling wonderful. She hated the idea of being cooped up. It was unsettling.

"Hey," the welcoming voice of Maura was heard as she approached Jane from behind. "Leaving us so soon?" she laughed.

"Not soon enough," Jane smiled. "You just get sprung too?"

"Yeah…a double shift actually. I didn't think it would ever end."

"Active?" Jane offered with a smile. "Really Maura? It's Boston," Jane laughed. "Listen…how about we get breakfast? Just the two of us…catch up?"

"I'd love too," Maura began. Jane's face lit up. "But I can't."

"Oh. Okay."

"Some other time maybe?"

"Sure," Jane nodded. The horn caught her attention. "Oh there's my ride." The blond waved. "See you Maura."

"Bye, Jane," Maura smiled watching the woman walk away slowly. "Hey…call me if you need anything…you know…with the pain and all."

"Sure," Jane nodded. "Thanks."

"Who is that?" Jane ex-girlfriend asked.

"Maura."

"Maura who?"

"Maura Isles."

"Isles….Isles. Where do I know that name from?"

"I'm sure I talked about her back then," Jane paused. She and her ex had remained on good terms since their break up. "Best friend growing up."

"Oh. Right."

"Come on. Let's get out of here before I fall asleep."

"You want me to take you home right?"

"That would be wonderful. Thank you again for getting me, Keri. I appreciate it."

"No problem at all Jane," Keri smiled touching her shoulder. "I am glad you called. Now let's get you home."

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