A/N: Thank you for your reviews! I know I'm way behind schedule but I got sick really bad. I have time but it's been like pulling teeth because being sick makes me have writer's block. However, I finally got something. So here's the new chapter.

Disclaimer: Read Ch. 1


"Alternate history fascinates me, as it fascinates all novelists, because 'What if?' is the big thing." - Kate Atkinson


Ch. 8: What If?

I looked at Korsak who nodded to open the box then I nodded also in agreement. In one quick flick, she opened the box and our eyes widened in surprise with Korsak cussing, "Oh shit."


Maura's POV

"So, is it real," Kris inquired as she looked over my shoulder as I observed the stone. Kris and Jane called me immediately and requested that I would come down to the morgue because they found something. When I arrived, Kris showed me a ring box to open it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

I glanced over my shoulder and stated, "I'm not sure, Kris. However, you are in my space a bit."

"Oh. Sorry," Kris sheepishly smiled as she backed away from me a bit.

I smiled at her before I placed the ring underneath the microscope. "I'm not an appraiser," I informed them as I looked through the scope.

"You know your diamonds, Maura," Jane retorted.

"Again, I'm not an appraiser but-"

"Is it real or not, Maur?"

I looked at the ring then I looked back at them. "It looks to be a real diamond and not cubic zirconia but, I can't confirm it," I told her. Suddenly, I noticed a smirk formed on Kris' face as she took the ring as I asked, "What are you doing?"

"Checking if it's real," Kris retorted.

I watched as she walked over to my glass desk. My eyes widened as I warned her, "Kris Marx do not do what I'm thinking you're going to do." Suddenly, there was a loud screech and I cringe a bit as before she pulled it up and examined it.

Then she looked at us and smiled, "It's real."

"You had to confirm this by scratching my desk?"

Kris looked at me for a moment then at Jane before she nodded, "Yes." She placed the diamond down before she looked over at Jane and stated, "I wonder why Valentine has that ring in the safety deposit box?"

"Payoff?"

"To who?"

"Maybe to Dylan because he's dating Allie and also he's helping with the play's finances," Jane pointed out. Suddenly she frowned, "But at the same time, he was making a deal with Ben. I'm confused."

"You and I both," Kris replied. I touched my chin for a moment then noticed Kris looking over at me with a curious look in her eyes. "Anything you wish to share with the class, Maura," Kris inquired.

I removed my hand from my chin. "Oh I'm not so sure and also it's not in my field to guess," I told them.

"Let's call it a hypothesis," Jane retorted.

Kris nodded in agreement before I took in a deep breath and sat down. "Well, maybe you need to see another connection or maybe there's another connection we're missing," I told them. "What do you have so far because maybe if you think it aloud," I suggested to them.

"Valentine goes bankrupt and Dylan decides to help with the finances," Jane started.

Kris rested back in her chair before she continued, "Then they start the show and soon Ben joins. Valentine makes a deal with Ben for buying the…song." I watched something flash across Kris' eyes as she snapped her fingers and shouted, "That's it!"

"What's it?"

"The contract," she suggested. She then looked over at me and asked, "Past me the evidence bag with the contract inside." I grabbed the evidence bag and passed it to her while she placed some gloves on. She opened the bag and pulled the contract as I watched go over the whole contract quickly.

"How does she do that," Jane wondered quietly.

"Practice," Kris retorted. I then watched her pull out her reading glasses, placing her finger on a certain line, saying something to herself then she flipped to the last page with her eyes widening.

"Kris, did you find something," Jane inquired.

"Yes, I did. I found our missing link," Kris replied as she pointed toward the last page of the contract making Jane and I to look at the paper.

Jane and I looked at it for a brief moment before Jane looked back up and asked, "I don't get it. I just see a signature."

"But who's signature?"

I looked at it then I noticed it. "It's only Valentine's signature," I pointed out.

Kris nodded, "This contract is incomplete and there might be a reason."

Jane scratched the back of her head and pressed her lips together. "Ben never signed it," Jane realized.

"Bingo," Kris pointed out. She pointed to a line, "This line is the whole agreement for the song but read it."

Jane looked at it again and read, "I forfeit all rights of this song to whomever and once I signed this contract, it's final and I have no say afterwards." She let out a loud whistle and pointed out, "That's some contract."

"Yeah, no loop holes. However, look at how many spots that is there."

I looked down and I counted before I said in surprise, "There are three."

"Three's a magic number but follow me on this. Valentine wants to buy the song from Ben and Ben's about to agree until he finds out that Valentine is not actually getting the song. It's the person who's financing the show itself and it's compensation."

"It's Dylan," Jane snapped her fingers. "That's why Eddie tried to find the song because Dylan wanted it. The lead is just a bonus for him."

"Now, I have a reason to bring him in," Kris replied.

"I'll go pick him up," Jane stated as she pulled her phone to text Korsak and Frost.

As Jane walked away, I noticed that Kris was still standing there. I looked at her quietly while Kris continued to look down at the contract. I continued to gaze at her for a brief moment before I returned my gaze back toward the evidence. "You know there was a time where I thought that I could be something better," Kris informed me quietly.

"Kris," I whispered when I looked up at her and touched her hand.

She looked over at me and smiled softly. She gave my hand a gentle squeeze as she whispered, "I used music to reassure myself that I wasn't...Adrian. It killed me to look at my reflection and I would see him. I wanted to be something better so I can find myself."

"And now," I inquired.

"I'm better but I feel lost again."

"Lost? About what?"

"This is my world and I love it. But glancing back at my past, I wonder if I took a wrong step along the road? You know? What if I just stuck with the program?" I bit my lower lip then gestured for her to follow me out of the lab.

We entered my office as I closed the door and went over to grab a small photo album. As I handed it to Kris, I watched as she flipped it open. I watched as her eyes widen for a moment before she glanced up at me. I smiled, "I knew you were special the moment you came in my life."

"Mom…"

"Just listen," I pleaded to her. I sat next to her as I watched her gaze at photos of her growing up before her eyes. "I think about those moments too. About how if you never came into our lives, what would happen, and I can't see it."

"You can't?"

I shook my head and answered, "I can't see it because our lives would be a different world without you." Kris shrugged it off and I retorted, "If you didn't come into our lives, Jane and I would never gotten together. You would never have Aly and Liam. Gabriella would not be around."

"Price would be alive," Kris retorted quietly.

I looked down at the photo that Kris was looking at and it happened to be a picture of Price and Kris with Jane. I took the photo in my hand before I nodded, "He could have but so would Adrian. He would still be hunting you down. Kris, if you didn't choose a certain path, none of this would have happened."

I watched as Kris glanced up at me and asked quietly, "I thought you never guessed?"

I looked over at Kris to see a small smile ghosting her lips. I cupped Kris' cheek, making her look at me and I smiled at her seeing the kid like look in her eyes. "I don't," I retorted, "but what I told you is a definite fact. Our lives could never be the same without you."

Kris rested her head against my shoulder. I hugged her and kissed the top of her head as I whispered, "I would never be the same without you."


Jane's POV

"Hey," I called out to Kris as she entered the bullpen. She looked at me and I gestured over my shoulder, "He's in interrogation right now."

"That's good."

I shook my head, "It's not because he got a lawyer very quick."

"Fuck," she cussed. She then rubbed her chin for a quick second until she informed me, "We must tread the line very slowly, Ma." I nodded in agreement while Kris picked up a file before she rolled her sleeves up. We walked over to the room then entered with Dylan standing up suddenly and his lawyer trying to pull him back down.

"Why am I here," he demanded.

"Down Dylan," the attorney warned.

"Shut up, Baker."

Kris and I took a seat as I said to his attorney, "You should control your client, counselor." Baker pulled Dylan back into his seat while I continued, "You're here because we have some inquires."

"You could have asked them at his home. Not in an interrogation room," Baker argued.

"On the contrary, when it involves a double homicide, it's necessary," Kris retorted. We watched Dylan gave a somewhat surprise look while Kris opened the file, placing photos down of the crime scene then finally of the contract. I watched, as Dylan didn't express any of his emotions toward the first couple of pictures until the contract popped up.

"Something familiar," I inquired.

"Don't know what you are talking about," Dylan answered.

Kris and I noticed the denial crossing his face. Kris smirked a bit before she leaned in and asked, "You wanted the song didn't you?"

Dylan was about to retort before Baker placed his hand up and answered, "My client doesn't have to answer that."

"It's just a simple question. It looks suspicious if he doesn't answer." Dylan looked away while Kris raised the photo up, "I used to be a protégé and I know how things work around Dylan."

"I should have known that you were one of them," Dylan muttered. He looked down at the photo and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I knew about the contract and it's because I helped make it."

"Dylan, I advise you to stop talking," Baker told him.

"No, please continue," I told him with a smirk.

"I knew his song would give me a chance to make it big. So I tried to gain through Valentine but when Ben found out that I was one of the signers, he refused to sign it. I didn't do anything wrong."

"Actually you did. You can be considered an accomplice to Eddie's breaking and entry," Kris retorted.

"You have no proof and we are done here," Baker retorted.

They both stood up and began to walk away before Dylan stopped and looked at Kris, "You know that he would never make it." I watched as Kris turned her head and noticed the harsh glare she was giving. Dylan smirked and continued, "I knew he liked Allie but he never had a chance with her."

As he walked out, we followed them out and entered the bullpen. The guys all looked at us as Korsak asked, "What happened?"

"He used his lawyer. It was pointless to even try," I answered.

Kris sighed, "Another dead end."

"Yeah," Frost agreed.

He looked at the evidence board, examining it before we heard footsteps. We turned around and noticed Cavanaugh observing the board. "Do we have anything," he inquired. We all shook our heads and sighed, "I have to tell you this, guys but we have other cases to focus on."

"Sir," Kris called out.

"Kris, you are good detective but sometimes we get those times where you need to place it as a cold case. You guys have no evidence and all your leads are hitting dead ends. It's time to put on the shelves because I can't keep my best team on one case."

Kris stood up. "But sir, we have evidence. There's a money trail and it's pointing to the man that just walked out and-"

"And Marx, he just left because he got a lawyer. You guys have nothing else to follow on."

"The phone."

"You can't find it, Kris. Listen, take a break and if something pops up, you can go back. But as of now, you guys need to stop because I need you guys back on the field," Cavanaugh retorted.

"But sir," Kris tried to voice.

"Marx, drop it," he ordered.

Kris sighed and nodded, "I'm sorry, sir." I watched as Cavanaugh gave a sympathetic smile at Kris then he patted her shoulder and walked off. Kris let out another sigh before she looked up at the evidence board before she gestured for the guys to start taking the stuff down. As Korsak and Frost stood up, Kris took a seat next to me and sighed, "I thought…I thought we had something."

"I know Kiddo," I said softly.

"Damn it." I patted her back gently before she let out another frustrated sigh before she heard her phone ring. Kris leaned over and answered, "Marx." I watched as her expression grew grave and she quickly stood up, "Okay…Miss Newman, calm down. How many people are in the building? The fire department is going to be there now. Just evacuate." She then hung up and pointed toward Korsak, "Get the fire department down to the theater because it's on fire."

R&I

I was driving with Kris holding on tightly as we drove to the theater. As we pulled up, Kris stepped out, running over to a crowd with her phone out while I cussed loudly, "Fuck."

"Detective Rizzoli!" I looked over to see Miss Jennifer Newman with a small crowd as I walked over.

"Is everyone here," I inquired.

"I believe so but…my god, who would do this," she inquired.

"We're not sure but we have suspects and-" suddenly I noticed Dylan pulling up with his lawyer causing me to look at Kris. She gave a pissed off expression before she looked up at the theater with a displeased look before I pulled out my phone, dialing a quick number.

"Jane," Maura answered with worry laced in her voice.

"Hey," I greeted back.

"Thank goodness, I heard you and Kris went to the theater and I heard it was on fire. I feared you two decided to run in."

"No, fire department was here before us but Kris isn't too happy." I turned away and said quietly, "Dylan just arrived at the scene with his lawyer so…it eliminates him as a suspect. Also Cavanaugh wants us to place this case in the cold case files."

"Oh no…what did Kris say," Maura inquired.

"She was trying to keep the case but Cavanaugh shut her down." I then looked up to see the flames lowering and Kris walking over. I pulled my phone down and asked her, "What's the deal?"

Kris pushed back her hair and replied, "The fire department is letting us go through the building before anything else happens."

"How much of the building was saved?"

"Backstage got most of the heat but everything else is good. We got clearance to go through but also have Maura and CSU here."

I nodded to her then pulled my phone up, "Maura?"

"I'm on my way right now."


Kris' POV

Flashback…

"Kris, chase me," I heard Liam shouted as I ran after him around the living room.

"I'm going to get you," I stated as I got up to him, lifting him over my shoulder causing a loud giggle passing his lips.

"Kris Marx, be careful," I heard Maura scold me as I placed Liam down.

I gave a sheepish smile before I felt a small tug on my pants seeing Aly looking up at me. I crouched down to her and asked softly, "Yes Princess?"

"Can you teach me to play," she inquired.

I raised an eyebrow in surprise and glanced over my shoulder to see Maura giving a small smile before she turned away. I looked back at her and replied, "You want me to teach you?" She nodded in excitement before she took my hand, pulling me toward the piano. I took a seat and she sat next to me while Liam decided to sit on the other side.

"I want to be like you," Aly expressed.

She then placed her hand over my right hand. I took the small hand in mine, seeing the perfect hand over my scar. I swallowed the small lump that formed before I nodded, "Okay. I'll show you but we'll go slowly. Okay?"

She giggled in excitement then kissed my cheek before I felt Liam tug my shirt and asked, "Can I learn to play too?"

"You want to play piano?"

He shook his head and pointed to the acoustic guitar sitting on the side. "I want to learn to play that," he smiled.

I let out a small chuckle and nodded before I placed my pointer finger on the first key on the piano."


"Not much left of the backstage area," I heard Frost announced.

I looked away the charred piano and nodded in agreement as I crouched down to look at the burnt props on the ground. "This place can't suddenly catch on fire like that. It's too…coincidental," I pointed out. I looked around then at Jane who was walking with Maura, "Why burn the place?"

"They hated it," Jane suggested.

"But going to arson?"

"It's possible."

I nodded then looked at Maura and asked, "Did you find a place where a possible accelerant could have been at?"

"I have the techs picking up anything that maybe suspicious and reporting back to Detectives Frost and Korsak," Maura replied.

"Okay," I nodded then I began to walk further into the charred area of the building. As I looked around, I noticed how much damage came onto the building. The black ashes ran along the walls and the props that were still whole but were burnt slightly. I let my foot run along some wood, kicking it aside slightly.

"Time to get the flashlights out," I heard Korsak shout.

I looked up at the sky to see darkness taking over. I placed my glasses on then pulled out my flashlight, turning it on as I continued to look around. Suddenly, I noticed a shine coming from a small pile in the darkness. I quickly walked over to the area and I crouched down, moving some wood aside before I shouted loudly, "I found something."

R&I

"So how soon can you get it checked out," I inquired over the phone as I entered my apartment.

"As soon as Susie comes in for her morning shift, Kris. Ballistics takes a bit and you know that," Maura retorted.

I placed my keys down and my bag before I replied, "I know Mom. I just…I'm just happy that we found the damn revolver. Maybe we can find something out of this because we are going nowhere fast."

"I know but, try to sleep okay?"

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too."

I soon hung up and looked around, seeing that Gabriella was not home yet. I took in a deep breath then sat down on the sofa with a glass of whiskey in my hand. I took a small sip before exhaling a loud sigh. I then glanced over at the piano for a brief moment then I glanced at my satchel.

You are alone…

I stood up, placing my glass down as I began to walk over to my satchel. I opened it and pulled out a file before I opened it to reveal a paper. I glanced down at it for a brief moment as I shook my head, "It's his song."

It was meant to be finished by someone.

"But, I'm not him."

For Pete's sake, the music is right there…you just need the words.

I bit my lower lip before I stood back up, walked over toward the piano and sat down. I looked down at the paper as I revealed the piano keys. I ran my fingers over it for a moment before I took in a deep breath then pressed onto them. I listened as the note echoed through out my quiet apartment.

I picked up the paper to look at it for a moment then I noticed at the right top corner to see small writing. I looked at it then whispered the words in a soft tone, "I'm writing one great song before I…"

I took in a deep breath, thinking about Maura and the family. Soon, I started to picture myself in those situations before me in the darkness of my apartment.

How would the world be if I wasn't a cop but still a protégé?

My old reflection stood before me with the scars covered with long sleeves then I noticed that my right hand didn't have a scar there. I flexed my hand for a moment then continued on with my thoughts.

Would I've been same person I am today?

I thought about how isolated I was from the world, how I preferred to be alone.

Would Price be really alive?

I pictured an older Price smiling at me and I wanted to place my hand out before I noticed a darker figure in the background.

And Adrian?

Adrian stepped forward for a moment before I noticed the gun and dark look in my eyes.

What about Gabriella? Would we still have met?

I then noticed Gabriella standing so far away. She looked different as if more exhausted than usual. "Gabby," I muttered softly and the person didn't turn their head.

And my family?

I noticed Jane and Maura walking side by side but there was no wedding rings and no twins. Then I noticed Adrian moved closer to them before I quickly turned away, closing my eyes as I shook the thoughts away. I opened them to see the sheet music before me once more and I let out a soft sigh again. So many paths to choose…and yet so many unanswered questions. However, you have to forget about them. This is not about you…it's about Ben. You can focus on yourself later, my mind told me.

I closed my eyes and looked up before I whispered, "I'll find out who did this to you and Valentine, Ben. I won't rest until they are found and I won't rest until this song is done as well."


Finally! I'm so sorry again that this took so long to update but, please review, PM, comment, etc! I like to hear what you guys would think would happened if Kris took another path. It might pop up again (most likely). If you haven't checked out 'New Adventures', I did a Protégé spin on the episode 4x14! Thanks for reading!