Author'sNote:Guess it's time to address one of the elements not everyone was happy with... but I'll wait until you've had a chance to read this chapter... :)

DISCLAIMERS: For full disclaimers see Chapter 1. I do not own Rizzoli & Isles or any of the characters.

All constructive comments, opinions and suggestions are welcome so please read and review...

Chapter 6

Jane's experience with IA had left her really shaken and as she made her way back to the Homicide Division she was still trying to process it and sift through the numerous unanswered questions the investigator had painfully and painstakingly raised. She had relived the last couple of days so many times over the last god knew how many hours, that instead of pulling it into focused detail it had blurred into a fuzzy nonspecific haze with only one or two points of blood pounding distinctiveness.

If only she could concentrate and weren't so bloody tired, she felt wasted. The hours spent with Internal Affairs had definitely pushed her to a new level of fatigue, one she didn't think it was possible to feel and yet still put one foot in front of the other.

She had asked Maura once how long a person could go without sleep and Jane was convinced it wouldn't be long before she reached the point when she would start having hallucinations. At least her headache had dialled down a notch, unless it was more that everything else had raised its game and was consequently masking its true level of intensity.

She entered the lift and checked her phone again out of habit.

She was still peeved they had requested she deactivate her phone to prevent unwanted distractions and interruptions during the meeting and had reactivated it the moment she left their offices, unsurprised to note several messages including one from Maura but she just wasn't ready to face anyone just yet and knew if she responded it would open the door to a conversation she wasn't prepared to have.

She was sorely tempted to simply bail out and head home but she knew she would never live it down if she tried to duck out of her ma's planned 'surprise'. The trouble was she knew for certain she would not be good company right now and although she felt bad and a little petty for potentially keeping everyone waiting, she reasoned they would likely all have a good time whether she was there or not.

She also knew as tired as she was she wouldn't be able to sleep and considered how unfair it would be on her neighbours to subject them all to her late night vacuuming again. Her only other option was out of the question as well, there would be no seeking solitude at Maura's place as Jane knew Maura would most likely be waiting at the party with the others.

Frustration nipped at the heels of her confusion and growing despair.

She had to do something, anything to achieve a state of mind suitable for public consumption.

In keeping with the hour the office was virtually deserted. Arriving back at her desk she wistfully noted the coffee she'd foolishly left behind poking out above the stack of files Frost must have prepared for her, a sticky note attached to the top complete with smiley face, reminding her she wasn't going to get out of her birthday celebrations. Like she didn't know that already; wasn't her fault IA was like a dog with a bone. Still the note made her smile.

She looked at her watch. It was late, really late.

She jiggled the mouse and her monitor came to life with the password screen. She remembered booting up prior to her meeting with IA and being called away before even accessing the system. Entering her password she waited for the software to load and started shuffling through some of the files to see where her input, signature or both were required to finish the report. She decided maybe by combining productivity with something routine it might help to still the churning waters of her thoughts enough to let her face her family and friends.

She worked steadily for over half an hour, the files moving from one side of the desk to the other as she processed them, before she noticed the characters on the screen were starting to blur.

In a futile gesture she rubbed her eyes.

She couldn't put it off any longer.

The monotony of her task had at least settled her mind and, although she was beat, she felt reasonably steadied and stable enough to face the inevitable.

Closing down the various applications and programs she waited until the computer shut down and then switched off the monitor.

With a different sort of dread she grabbed her jacket.

'Okay, here I come,' she thought half-heartedly, 'Yay.'

~/\~

It was so late when Jane finally made her way through the doors of the Dirty Robber she was wondering if technically it could actually still be considered to be her birthday. Unperturbed by the dark and intending to pre-empt the moment of surprise she spoke into the darkness, "Okay, yeah, yeah." When the expected jolt of shock still didn't happen she continued with an unenthusiastic, apathetic, "Surprise."

Nothing.

The bar remained shrouded in shadows. Confused Jane looked around the gloom in hopes that maybe they were playing with her, lulling her into a false sense of security. After all, she had kept them waiting.

"Hello?" she tried again.

As opposed to tumbleweed rolling its way across a barren landscape or town, Jane picked out the faint sound of squeaking wheels and glasses clinking together. She could see movement at the far end of the bar and the outline of a figure as they reached out and switched on the lights.

With the bar revealed to her she quickly realised it was completely devoid of guests, partygoers or indeed anyone save for the dumbfounded gentleman who she assumed, putting together the presence of his cleaning trolley with her stellar deductive skills, was the janitor.

Feeling incredibly awkward she smiled and waved. "Surprise," she voiced weakly.

He simply looked back at her. She wasn't sure if it was sympathy or if he was smirking and it was all she could do to contain her embarrassment and leave the way she came in.

Well, it was late. Even the bar was closed. Why did she think they would keep the party going forever? People have lives. Other people sleep.

She wanted to curse.

There was no order to it, she just wanted to curse: at Internal Affairs for taking something so straightforward and making it screwy; at Rod Mason for being such a murdering piece of garbage and a double-crossing lowlife to boot; at Warden Price just for being a prick she despised and because he allowed a lowlife like Mason to gain access and form a bond with the biggest waste of living material she had ever had the misfortune to know...

Inevitably she cursed at Hoyt.

Heading back to her car she climbed in and rested her head on the steering wheel. After all the fuss she had made about not wanting a birthday party, the reality of not actually having one was remarkably really upsetting.

A part of her was in some ways relieved as maybe now she could finally go home and attempt to get some much needed sleep. The other part of her however felt despondent. In a complete reversal to her earlier desires she realised she wanted to spend some time with her family, she was even prepared to admit to herself she was actually afraid to just go home and try to get some much needed sleep because she really didn't want to be alone.

Maybe if the party wasn't happening she could go to Maura's, she didn't usually mind what time she turned up on her doorstep. She was sure Maura would be pleased to see her. Wouldn't she? Hadn't she said, 'I'll catch you later' when they parted company at the infirmary earlier or was that just a nice way of saying goodbye?

Doubt started to enter her thinking.

Maybe after today it would be better if she just let things be. Maura had had a tough day too.

Debating it for a while longer she decided to stop being so needy and selfish and considered Maura also needed to put today behind her and she certainly didn't need to have to deal with her insecurities on top of that as well.

Her mind made up she started the car and headed to her apartment.

This time when she wanted to curse the only person she cursed at was herself.

~/\~

Frankie, like the good son he was, had managed to get the word around regarding the change of venue to all those who had been invited and although the guest of honour had yet to make an appearance, the party was in full swing.

Maura had spent the preceding hours assisting Angela in decorating Jane's apartment. She still had reservations about how Jane would react. The indelicate random placement of horse stickers on any vertical surface coupled with the homemade garland of horse pictures strung across the dividing line between the kitchen and the lounge made no mistake that Angela had taken the theme and run with it. She had even managed to procure some horse shaped helium balloons.

Maura was beginning to think she had maybe erred with her gift and Jane really did want a horse after all.

Too late to change anything now though.

Maura glanced at her watch concerned it was too late really for anything and was apprehensive about why she still hadn't heard from Jane.

She pulled out her phone for the third time in as many minutes knowing how absurd her repetitive behaviour was and checked it again. She would have heard if anyone had called or texted, she just didn't understand why Jane hadn't texted her back. She knew her meeting had ended over an hour ago; Korsak had put in a call to one of his old pals with contacts in Internal Affairs to try and find out if Jane had left yet.

By rights, she should be here by now.

Maura was worried for her friend. She had heard the cops around her discussing the events of the day and seen the odd looks they cast at each other whenever IA was mentioned. She had picked up from them that while it wasn't unusual for one of their meetings to run this long those gathered in this room felt Jane's was particularly unwarranted.

Of course they hadn't been in the room.

They hadn't witnessed Hoyt, the master manipulator at work and they hadn't heard Jane's victorious declaration.

Maura did not doubt what Jane had done but Maura was anxious about how IA may view it and ultimately, what it would all mean for her best friend.

~/\~

Disheartened, drained and dragging her feet, Jane wearily climbed the stairs to her apartment. On the drive home she had required all of her mental faculties to simply concentrate on keeping her eyes open and the car on the road. She knew if Maura were here she would have been horrified Jane had attempted such a thing, endangering not only herself but other drivers. Her only argument, weak as it was, was how late it was and that the roads were thankfully quiet.

The journey over, her mind seemed free to wander and continue with its constant analysis of the day's events and her participation in them. Preoccupied as she was, she entered her apartment and closed the door. Alone in the darkness she allowed herself a momentary sense of relief at finally being home and switched on the light.

"SURPRISE!"

She turned to be met with a wall of sound and jumped back startled. "God Almighty!" she exclaimed trying to suck in a breath. "Gee..."

She noted all the usual suspects were there, her ma, Frankie, Korsak, Barry, some of her colleagues from the department and of course Maura. They were all laughing gleefully at her state of shock and applauding both the success of their surprise and Jane's reaction to it.

At least this time it had been a nice surprise and the shock didn't leave her totally weak-kneed and wanting to vomit.

Jane caught her breath for what was beginning to feel like the hundredth time that day and took a good look around her apartment, noticing the transformation it had gone through and hoping fervently this wasn't the beginning of her hallucinations. Horses, hundreds of horses everywhere she looked either strung across the room, stuck onto walls or as inflated helium balloons.

"Wow." She was truly impressed if not a little disturbed.

"I looked everywhere for my pretty pony," she heard her mother say, her tone apologetic but hopeful. "I hope this is okay?"

How could it not be okay? As much as the woman annoyed her at times and as much as a significant part of her brain wanted nothing more than to shut down and put this day to bed, her mother cared enough and loved her enough to insist on celebrating her birthday, her existence and her life. In short, her ma was the best. "Aw, this is fantastic ma, thank you."

"Happy Birthday," she greeted.

"Thanks."

Jane crossed to the breakfast bar, hoping the weariness in her steps went unnoticed. Maura stood as she approached to offer her a drink and Jane laid her jacket over the unoccupied stool adjacent to her so she could take it.

"Wow," Jane commented as she looked at the beverage handed to her and tapped the cans together in a toast, "Dr Finicky drinking beer out of a can?"

"A lot of it after today."

Jane understood that sentiment and tipped her head back to take a much needed mouthful.

"Although I can taste the aluminum."

The statement, delivered with Maura's patented aplomb, almost caused Jane to both inhale and expel her intake in a snort and she quickly covered her face to contain it as genuine amusement bubbled out. It was always like that with Maura, so unexpected, so informative and so honest and Jane loved her goofy take on the world.

"Hm," she agreed as she studied the offending can and for the briefest of seconds pondered how she had nearly lost this. Nearly lost what had become one of her most necessary and endearing friendships because of one man's perverted fascination with her.

Meeting Maura's eyes with her own she acknowledged, "Well I got my wish." It was a dangerous confession on the heels of the IA investigation but a fact nonetheless.

She turned to look directly at her mother and announced with little fanfare, "Hoyt's dead."

If she had been seeking approval, Angela's close-mouthed smile and definitive nod illustrated her deep understanding of what her daughter's words meant, how it promised Hoyt would never be able to hurt or terrorise any of them again.

"A gift to the world," Korsak raised his paper cup in salute. "Happy birthday, Jane."

While Hoyt's demise could be considered cause for celebration on its own a sombre mood fell over the room.

"Come here," Frankie said as he stepped forward and embraced his sister in a heartfelt hug. He had something which would really cheer her up.

"Hey," he said as he stepped back and reached around to his back pocket.

"What?" Jane asked instantly curious.

He produced a folded piece of paper which he handed to her with a smile, "Happy Birthday."

She smirked as she took the paper and unfolded it, picking up on his casual cockiness as he exchanged knowing smiles with their ma. It was the results paper for his detective's exam.

"You got a 96 on your exam?" Jane was elated. "Oh yeah, you really bombed it," she said as she swiped at him with the slip in congratulation.

Her ma was applauding as Korsak spoke up and puffed his chest with pride, "Hey, he had a pretty good tutor."

Instantly Frost weighed in, "Why are you taking all the credit?" he asked. "I taught him everything he knows." He looked at Frankie in appeal and smiling jokingly prompted, "Huh?"

"All right," Frankie agreed and they shared a handshake.

"All right," Frost beamed and the partygoers broke into laughter again.

Maura had watched the interplay between family and friends. She had been so relieved when Jane had finally walked through the door she found she was almost mesmerised, her senses trying to take in every action as she looked for clues that would enable her to decipher how Jane was really feeling and discern the outcome of her meeting with IA.

She had noticed the evident fatigue as Jane crossed the room and the weary introspection as she studied the can of beer.

Delighted she had however inadvertently made Jane laugh she waited patiently while Frankie shared his news and then saw this as her opportunity to present Jane with her gift. She had fretted over it for days, disappointed at both Angela's response to the practical idea of a sleep monitor and Jane's virtual horror at riding in a hot air balloon.

Picking up her gift she approached Jane and tapped her on the shoulder to gain her attention. A little nervous but excited, she handed her the beautifully wrapped box and quite unnecessarily stated softly, "It's from me."

"Oh boy," Angela said not having a clue what Jane's friend eventually decided on but hoping for both their sakes the gift was a good one.

Jane began to turn the box trying to guess what it could be, shaking it she said, "Well, this looks a lot smaller than Walter the thoroughbred."

Mindful of Maura's tendency to be so literal most of the time and having witnessed her apparent lack of concern regarding the value of money, as evidenced by her excessive contributions to the coffee pool or purchasing one of her mother's 'works of art', Jane was actually relieved her friend hadn't taken her at her word when she glibly answered Maura's earlier pleas to make it easy on her and tell her what she wanted. Really, what would she have done with a horse?

"I hope you like them," Maura said, her anxiety bubbling up a little as Jane opened the box and started to peel away the tissue paper.

"They're..." she removed one of the items to better see it, baffled and slightly thrown by the unexpected footwear, "...driving shoes."

"Racing shoes," Maura corrected and then launched into an obviously well researched listing of their attributes. "Fully lined with fire resistant DuPont Nomex."

"And, I need these..." Jane found herself attempting to explain why she needed them as she really didn't want to hurt Maura's feelings or embarrass her by seeming ungrateful. She searched around for a reason finding no help from either her ma or Korsak who looked as taken aback as she felt and haltingly continued, "because..."

Maura produced an envelope and handed it to her.

"Um..." putting the bright red shoe back in the box and hoping they could gloss over the unusual present she took the envelope, tucked the box under her arm and removed the paper.

Jane's tired mind read the contents in disbelief.

"Racing school?"

She quickly scanned the words again and put it together with the shoes as the proverbial penny dropped. "You're sending me to racing school?"

"Well you know, Walter's highest speed is forty miles per hour," Maura watched as Jane turned to her ma with open-mouthed, wide-eyed disbelief and then spun back to her. "And the Lamborghini's Murcielago LP640's highest speed is 211," she continued, her recitation met halfway through with a full on Jane Rizzoli body hug as Jane launched herself at her and began to bounce up and down excitedly.

Maura hugged her back and looked over at Frost who gave a thumbs-up. Still needing to be sure Maura squeaked out, "Well, do you like it?"

"Yes! Yes! Thank you so much," Jane enthused and gave another squeeze before pulling back to look at the details of her gift again. "Oh, this is so much better than a horse. Oh my god."

It had been one hell of a day and Maura's generosity and thoughtfulness managed to banish however momentary any further dwelling on it, at least while she was riding her current high. Driving school? It was perfect.

She was still tired and considering the lateness of the hour was sure her guests were too but her ma, determined to ensure Jane enjoyed the total birthday experience, was rallying the troops and called out, "Okay, piñata!"

Jane rolled her eyes, "Really, ma?"

It was definitely going to be a long night.

To be continued...

So um... I know some of you really didn't like the fact they had a birthday party and I understand that but I'm hopeful that I've managed to stitch the pieces of canon together so it makes a little more sense and I would love to hear your opinions either way. Did it work or did it disappoint?