AN: Thank you for the reviews, faves and alerts in my previous chapter.

AN2: Happy Holidays everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own R&I.


Chapter 7


She went back to her apartment that early in the morning after her impromptu conversation with Constance. It wasn't really her intention to go but she felt the need to so she went instead. Her apartment was still dark but she didn't bother turning on the lights. She walked directly to her bedroom, laid down and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Every words Constance said to her came floating in her mind especially that particular sentence where the older woman said that she knows that she will always keep Maura safe; which is really ironic because there were lots of times that Maura was in danger because of her. Because of her. That echoed in her mind which she tried hard to shake off. Sure she was trying to keep her best friend safe but there are still things that she couldn't control and it makes her really frustrated. But then again, why does she feel that she needs to protect her? She can protect herself after all. She's a grown up woman. A well grown up woman. Not some kind of a teenager going through puberty and doesn't know what she wants in her life. But still, why does it feel that she was born to protect this very woman? Why?

Mixed up emotions and so many whys in her life danced around her mind like they were mocking her. She was trying to have a peace of mind but her thoughts won't leave the hell out of her. She grunted and buried her pillows on her face out of frustration. Still in her position, she tried to calm her breathing until it evened out. She closed her eyes and let her thoughts finally subside.


Maura crouched on the floor feeding Bass. But her mind wasn't on what she was currently doing. Lots of thoughts always come to her mind since the day she got abducted. It's as if her mind, started to have its own mind also, wandering everywhere from light thoughts towards dark thoughts without her permission. She couldn't help it. That's why she decided to get back to work on Monday. Without doing her job or doing anything as a distraction, her mind will always drift off to that horrible incident. And she must fight it. She must not let it get the best of her. She never felt at ease since it happened, not when she's with Jane, she felt safe. Jane. Her mind focused on her detective friend who disappeared in the morning without waiting for her to wake up. The act was very unlikely Jane that's why her mind started formulating hypothesis why she did that. Jane wasn't the kind of person that never say a word where she's going to Maura. Maura always knew her whereabouts. But not this time. She suddenly left without telling her and didn't even leave a message, notes or text. But yeah, maybe Maura doesn't need to always know her plans or whatever. She's just used to knowing all that's why it bothered her a lot.

But what bothered Maura the most was Jane's behavior lately. She's kinda aloof, guarded and spaced out. Her grumpiness started to lessen which also bothered her. Yes, she doesn't like a grumpy Jane but this time it's different. She must admit, she rather have the grumpy Jane who complains about everything all the time, than the Jane she's having now, who seemed to be troubled and unusually quiet and have a lot of pent up emotions inside. She wanted to know everything. She wanted to ask. But she's too afraid because there's only two response she could get. It's either Jane will deny everything and say that everything is fine, or she will just shut her out. And it will only hurt her. And she couldn't handle that. Because right now, she couldn't even handle her own emotions since her abduction.

Since Maura's abduction, Jane started showing signs of change. She became too protective. Yes, the detective is a very protective person especially with the people she loves. But this time, Maura didn't just notice her being protective, Jane appeared to be hurt, worried and lonely also. From time to time, Maura always catches her staring off into space as if she's putting a pieces of puzzles together. Sometimes, she's absentmindedly doing something like stroking Jo's fur but her mind was far off into space. And there's also a time when Jane looks at her, there were too much protection, affection and love in the detective's eyes. She couldn't really figure it out. She doesn't have a lot of time analyzing what Jane was displaying in front of her because she herself has conflicted feeling towards her best friend also. But she must talk to her. She knows it. She couldn't let the incident change the confident and stubborn detective. She must confront her. And she must do it sooner than later before she knows it's too late because she knows that Jane is blaming herself. She must protect her also. If not physically, then she must at least protect Jane's heart. Her heart. Her best friend. Her detective. Maura closed her eyes as the thoughts flash in her mind and something stirred up within her stomach. When she opened her eyes, their pets Bass and Jo were already in front of her as if they're sensing her distress. Bass slowly moved towards her side while Jo settles on her lap softly whimpering. She patted Bass' shell while stroking Jo's fur.

"I'm too worried about her also." She said to the animals.


Jane woke up startled when she heard her phone rang loudly. She sat up and fished her phone beside her. It was Korsak calling. "Rizzoli." Jane answered with her signature voice whenever she answers phone.

"Jane, you might wanna come down here in BPD."

"Why? Something happened?"

"We got a lead from the other suspect who wanted you dead and was working with Maura's captor."

Jane was stiffened a little. This is the best news she heard so far and now she's eager to go back to BPD. "You got him?"

There was silence on the other line for a while. "It isn't actually a him but her."

"So it's a woman, then."

"Yeah and we need you to look at her profile so we may know if you know her."

"Okay. I'll be there in twenty."

After Jane hung up, she didn't waste any more time. She grabbed new clothes from her drawer and walked towards her bathroom to have a quick shower. After that, she put the new clothes on and drove herself to BPD without even having breakfast first.


Jane found Nina and Korsak inside the bullpen once she entered. She immediately approached them without greeting them first. She's on full detective mode once she learned the progress on Maura and her case.

"What do we got?" Jane asked firmly to the two.

Korsak handed her the file they gathered about the other's suspect's profile. Jane studied the file silently then looked up back at them. "Alice Sands?"

"Yeah. She belongs to the military family. Do you know her? We might tie her up with one of the cases you handled that probably pissed her off."

Jane shook her head in negativity. "No. I don't know her. I don't recognize her."

"Well, if this helps, her maiden name is McFadden. Sands is her last name when she got married." Nina cut in.

Something clicked in Jane's head like a bulb that lit up. She looked down at the file again, stared at the photo attached to it then back to Korsak and Nina. She finally figured it out. She finally figured out who Alice Sands is.

"What? You remembered her?" Korsak shot an eyebrow.

"I think I do." Jane locked her gaze at Korsak. "She went to the Academy, same batch as mine. But she dropped out before we even graduated."

"Did you had a misunderstanding with her during those times you were in the Academy?" Nina asked.

"What? No. We barely even talked. I don't know her personally. We got different sets of friends." She looked down at the file again. "She has multiple charges?"

"From the looks of it, yes." Korsak shrugged. "She was a patient of Joe Harris, that's how they got to know each other and formed the plan."

Hearing the dead man's name made Jane clenched her fist as she remembered what the bastard did to her friend. "Alice Sands is actually in jail. You can go there if you want to know." Nina said, interrupting Jane's horrible thoughts.

Jane nodded. "I'll go there."

"I'll go with you. I'll just get my stuffs." Korsak said and rounded to his desk.

"By the way, how's Dr. Isles doing?" Nina asked, concerned.

"She's doing fine. Thanks Nina." Jane smiled a little.

"Tell her to get better quickly. We missed her here. We missed her presence as well as yours." Nina smiled at Jane.

"I will."


They were about to go out of BPD when Jane heard someone talking about something that made her stop. She looked ahead and found Detective Crowe having a talk with one of the officers.

"You know, I think Dr. Isles is just using her condition to get to Jane." Crowe said. His back facing Jane.

"What do you mean detective?" The officer asked who is currently unaware of the existence of Jane behind Detective Crowe.

"I mean, I think she's faking that she had this big trauma to get into Jane's pants. Or vice versa, maybe Jane took the days off to get to Dr. Isles."

That's it. Jane had enough. She grabbed Crowe by the shoulder as she spun him around. She was about to punch him on his face but Korsak immediately caught her wrist preventing her to make something temporary damage on Crowe's face that will permanently put her position at risk.

"Jane stop it. He's not worth it." Korsak said.

Jane was trembling in anger. She really wanted to hit Crowe on his face and make a damage that he will never forget. But Korsak's grip was too tight on her wrist. She couldn't move it. Crowe was shocked, not knowing that Jane was just behind him who unfortunately heard the dirty conversation he was having. His face turned from shock to fear from the way Jane was giving him a murderous look. He had gone too far. He knows it. He did really pissed Jane Rizzoli off. On the other hand, the officer Crowe was talking to earlier practically left the scene the moment Jane spun Crowe around. He was too afraid to the female detective.

Still hand clutched on Crowe's shoulder, Jane dug her nails deeper to make a mark on the other detective's shoulder. Crowe winced in pain. She finally managed to get her hand back from Korsak's grip and this time, Jane pulled Crowe using his tie tightly. Too tight he couldn't breathe.

"Never talk about Maura that way!" Jane said through clenched teeth.

"Jane..." Korsak said.

"What?" She almost hissed at Korsak. "You heard him talk bad things about Maura."

"Yeah I did. And as much as I don't like hearing those things too, but Jane we still have a case to solve. And this fool was eating up our time."

Jane turned to Crowe once again. "Listen to me Crook! I don't care about what you think of me. I don't care about what you say about me. But never ever talk shit about Maura again. Do you hear me?"

Crowe was still stunned at the sudden turn of events. He stared at Jane but couldn't utter a word. "Do you understand?!" Jane shouted not caring about the audience they were having.

"Yes I do."

Shoving Crowe out of her way, she walked outside BPD with anger still boiling inside of her. Korsak watched her leave then turned to Crowe. "One thing you need to know. Never ever mess with Jane Rizzoli's family."


Once settled in the front seat of the car, Jane clutched the steering wheel too tight that made her knuckles turned white. She's still trembling out of anger. Hearing those things from her co-workers make her rage in fury. Yes, she's been hearing a lot of rumors about her and Maura because of their closeness but she never paid attention to them because as she saw fit, what they have and what they're doing is none of their business. But hearing that coming from the mouth of his co-worker who was supposed to be one of those people that must understand the situation, the effect it will cause to people made her want to punch or kill someone. She couldn't control her anger. They don't know what Maura's going through. They don't the effects the incident was having on Maura. They don't know that she's greatly suffering from trauma. If only they could see her right now. Maura almost died at the hands of Joe Harris and her co-workers were making fun of the doctor's situation. What the Hell is wrong with those people? Out of frustration and anger, Jane punched the steering wheel until she felt pain on her knuckles. Korsak immediately caught her wrist before she even manage to hurt herself more. Jane breathed in and out heavily as she tried to calm herself down.