A/N: Firstly, thank you so, so much for all the feedback and votes of confidence J I really enjoyed reading your thoughts of the chapter and apprehension about the future… It's really great knowing that my story has managed to capture your imagination! If you'd like me to answer any questions directly, please do let me know in your reviews and I'll get back to you. Just a quick warning: I rated this story "M" not for sexual situations (for now, although there will be Rizzles later), but rather for graphic descriptions, violence, and use of mind-altering substances… It's been dark so far, and will continue to become darker, so I apologise if anyone is averse to such things; I just feel that many issues are dealt with too frivolously in the show… There is hope, however! Through all life's struggles it's hope that keeps us going J I hope you enjoy this chapter!

"What did you do, Jane?!" Frankie shouted as he rushed into the bathroom. After Frost's angry outburst in the squad room, which he had heard from his position beside the elevator, Frankie had decided to stay close to Jane in case she needed some help. And that was obviously the right decision as he heard a loud crash from within the bathroom.

He came to a quick stop, surveying the scene before him, as he felt the bottom drop out of his stomach to join Jane on the floor. She was curled into a quivering ball on the ground, her bleeding hand cradled close to her chest as though she was trying to protect it from further harm; around her there were shards of the mirror, and her sweat-drenched clothes were the perfect adhesive surface for them, as was her hair.

Frankie took all of this in within only seconds, and he stilled his mind as he crouched down next to Jane – slowly, as though he was approaching a cornered animal. He reached his hand outwards and placed it gently onto Jane's shoulder, preparing to have her flinch away. To his surprise, and heartbreak, she lifted her confused, terrified eyes to meet his. Her face was drenched in both tears and mucus, and her whimpers were wheezing from her open mouth.

"What did you do, sis?" repeated Frankie, with a soft and soothing voice. He got onto both knees, unmindful of the glass crunching beneath them, and wrapped both of his arms around the quivering mass on the ground. He wasn't there to protect his sister when she was taken, but he'd be damned if he wasn't there for her now, helping her to recover.

Again, Jane surprised him by answering his question: "I… Uh… I d-don't know, F-Frankie," she managed to whisper around the keening sounds issuing from her throat. Suddenly, she sat up and buried her face into Frankie's neck, something she had never done before, as though trying to hide herself from the world – Jane had never hid from anything in her life; that she should start now was a testament as to the enormity of the damage that had been done.

"Please take me home, Frankie; I just want to go home," she said quietly.

"Of course, sis, I'll just let Ma–"

"NO, no don't tell Ma! I just want to be alone, Frankie! Please…"

"I won't tell her now, Janie, but I'm gonna tell her later… I know she gets overbearing sometimes, ok all the time, but she loves you, sis… We all love you, and we just wanna help, you know? You gotta let us help…"

"Alright," Jane finally manages after a minute of silence at Frankie's pleas. Her eyes though, her expressive eyes, tell a completely different story: she wants to be alone… And she would find a way to get the space she felt necessary.

With an arm around her shoulder and another around her waist, Frankie hoisted his sister up and moved towards the door. As he removed one arm from Jane in order to pull the handle, Jane pushed away from him and continued into the corridor. Frankie shook his head, thinking she's so damn stubborn! As he exited the bathroom he noticed that Jane had already fled most of the way down the hallway, and he hurried to catch up. If she didn't want his physical support, she'd still get the support of having his presence and help near.

No one had noticed the pair walking towards the elevator and exiting the building, for which Frankie was thankful; he knew his sister hated when people saw her as less than the perfect detective. Jane, meanwhile, had yanked the passenger door of her car open and sank into the seat.

Since her mind had returned from the stupor it had been in before she shattered the mirror, her emotions had been in absolute turmoil: she flitted from one feeling to another within seconds. Confusion, terror, apprehension, panic – her brain couldn't decide what it was feeling, so instead it chose to bombard her with all the emotions at once. And that left Jane paralysed, unsure what to do. This wasn't the first time that she couldn't remember a period of time since she was released from captivity; she knew that was a bad sign, maybe a side effect of the drugs they had given her during her ordeal, and afterwards at the hospital.

Since Jane's rational brain was having such problems with reality, her reptile brain was making itself known: she found herself shying away from contact with others and longed to escape and lick her wounds; her basic survival instincts put her in a constant state of alertness and arousal. Maybe the blackouts were her brain's way of resting, since not even sleep could save her from the memories of what had happened during those 2 weeks. That's why she hadn't told anyone about them. And she definitely hadn't told anyone about the flashbacks…

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI

"Well, well, you really fucked up this time, Jane," came Doyle's voice from in front of Jane's TV. Jane quickly rushed towards the drawer where she kept both her gun and cellphone and yanked it open. It was empty.

"You think I'm stupid, Jane?" Doyle had turned his head in her direction, a smirk decorating his still-pale and lined face.

'When you don't have any real power in a situation, bravado usually helps', Jane thought to herself before saying, "Actually, yes, I do. All the law enforcement agencies in this city are looking for you, Doyle. They probably already know you're here!" Jane knew her boasting was empty. Meeting Paddy Doyle's cool gaze, she felt the first stirrings of real fear. Help wasn't coming, she knew, and she was in trouble.

"You shot me, Jane, your best friend's father. You–"

"You aren't her father, asshole! She already has a father, and a mother!"

"My, but aren't you aggressive today?" Doyle said in a light, but razor-edged, voice. Jane found herself growing angrier by the second, although that anger was kept in check by the equally growing feeling of fear. She kept quiet, and listened as Doyle continued.

"You shot me for protecting my daughter, and for what: that FBI prick? I keep tabs on you, Jane, and I know you got… Intimate with the agent. So not only did you betray me, the person that has protected Maura for her whole life, but you betrayed Maura too. And you've put her in danger by revealing our relation; that I can't forgive."

"We had the situation in hand, Doyle, and then you came along and messed things up. But still, even after you shot Dean I wouldn't have shot you… But then you pointed your gun in our direction and I made the call that was drilled into me at the academy: protect your partner; it's a split-second decision, and it was the right one! I tried to explain that to Maura, but she just left! I've given her the space she needs, although I've checked up on her a couple of times to make sure she's safe." Jane said all of this with a level voice; she'd been in enough of such situations to know to keep calm. What had happened after she had shot Maura's da– sperm donor, had hurt Jane terribly. She truly believed that her decision had been the right one, and she had never dreamed that Maura would choose Doyle's side – the same man who had kidnapped her, held her at gunpoint; hell, the man who gave her up as a baby, choosing his "career" over his flesh-and-blood!

After Maura left, Jane found herself struggling through the days… And drinking herself through the nights. She was filled with self-doubt and an overwhelming loss. She loved Maura. And not the platonic love that one best friend has for another… She LOVED Maura. But she would never ruin the most perfect friendship she had ever had, although it seemed she already had.

"Regardless of your intentions, Detective, the fact remains that you hurt her and endangered her life. And you hurt me, Jane, and by hurting me you hurt my friends… And they want your blood. So, really, you can consider this killing two birds with one stone."

Jane swivelled around as she heard a rustling behind her, but she was too slow. A resounding thud sounded in the room, and everything faded from her sight…"

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI

That was what Jane remembered of that night, the blackness that enveloped her after being cracked over the head with the butt of Doyle's henchman's gun lasting well into the following day when she finally, although not blessedly, woke up…

"We're here, sis," said Frankie as he pulled into a spot in front of Jane's building. "Let me help you get up to your place."

Jane knew that arguing wouldn't make Frankie do any good, and was present enough in mind to realise that letting her brother help would make him go away faster. They made it up the stairs of her building, walking slowly – always keeping Jane's injured, fragile state in mind. She knew that Frankie noticed her flinch every time her clothes rubbed against her skin; that he could see the pain that was a constant in her present life.

Jane hadn't told anyone about the full extent of her injuries, and after she left the ICU she rarely consented to seeing any visitors. They were all very distressed by her isolation, but knew Jane well enough to know that going against her wishes would do more harm than good. So they let her heal at her own pace, and were there for her as she walked out of the hospital after being discharged; they were ready to band together around their friend and be the crutches that she needed to recover fully. They tried… They really did, but Jane pushed them away any chance she got. That hurt, and they became more worried every day they saw her growing more pale and lifeless. So they resolved just to be there, ready for when Jane would ask for their help.

She was pulled from her musings when the click of the lock signalled that Frankie had opened the door of her apartment. "Let me go in first and make sure everything is clear." No one was taking any chances with Jane's safety. After a few minutes, he came back to fetch his sister: "It's clear."

Jane walked straight towards the couch and dropped down into it, sighing as Frankie joined her after fetching a beer for himself and some water for Jane. She steeled herself for small-talk, and deflections from serious topics and information, prepared to act the part of the healing victim. Once he saw that she was fine – well, as fine as she could be – he would leave her, and go update his mother on Jane's condition. They'd examine her behaviour and analyse all her actions, trying to understand her state of mind and how better they could be there for her.

And Jane would finally be left alone…

So, that's that! Her first flashback wasn't so exciting but you can't know where you're going unless you know where you started J Future chapters will deal with everything she's been through and everything she's currently going through… And Maura will be back soon! With her current mindset, Jane wants to hide herself from everyone; the loss of control that she felt at Doyle's hands has her wanting to gain complete control of her recovery. Everyone wants to help, but Jane can't see that willingly giving others a hold on her is not the same thing as the forceful taking of control she experienced. But as we all know, Angela and most of the people in Jane's life are perseverant… Just how far will Jane go to get the distance she needs? Stay tuned to find out ;) I hope you enjoyed that! Please let me know what you think, and also what you expect to see in the future… It's interesting to know if it'll be the same as what I have in mind! Thanks again!