Title: Anatomy of a Broken Soul

Author: AllOverTheWorld

Author's Note: Thanks to Candy77, winegirl, B.13 and FaBbEr0oz for all reviewing.

"Maura, Maura, Maura." I say, the words echoing around the empty room as I look over at my dying friend. Her skin is pale but even behind her pallor there is an air of beauty, something I'd never really noticed until now "Why?" I ask, as if by asking this question it will suddenly bring her back to life, spring her from this unconscious state "Why wouldn't you tell me?" I ask again, but this time I'm pleading with her, pleading with her because I missed all the signs.

Her arms are battered and bruised, her face misshapen and swollen but behind it all I can still see Maura Isles, Medical Examiner, fashionista, Tortoise lover and all around genius. The tears spring to my eyes and once again I find myself battling my own emotions, trying to remain composed for her sake. As I sit there, one of her hands, held gently in mine, so I don't cause her pain, the door behind me is slid open violently and I see Donatello standing there, blood dripping from a bullet hole but it's like he can't feel it.

I jump to my feet, my hands flying to my holster but it's empty. I look around for anything that could be used as a weapon but the room is bare, not even a vase for flowers. Donatello let's out an evil laugh and pulled out something from behind his back. It takes me a moment to realize what it is but my eyes widen in horror and recognition at the sight of my gun. I'm standing between him and Maura, desperate for something to do, calling for help but I can't even hear my own voice.

I see his finger twitch on the trigger and single shot rings out…

Jane's eyes snap open and she looks around wildly, her hands reaching for her gun but it's not there. It takes her a long moment to realize that she is no longer in the hospital with Maura, they are in her apartment and Jane is currently residing on her own couch. Pushing the thin blanket off of herself and onto the floor she stands up and walks into her kitchen. Even the cool tile beneath her feet is relief, a reminder that neither her nor Maura were dead.

"Jane?"

Jane turned around, jumping slightly, and see's Maura standing in the doorway, one hand resting lightly over her stitches and the other on the door frame for support "Did my moving wake you?" Jane asked

Maura shook her head "I heard you thrashing around, I just thought I'd check to make sure you were okay."

"Yea, yea." Jane said "Just"

"Had a nightmare?" Maura asked

Jane couldn't deny it, Maura knew the signs to well "Yea." She replied, hoping that Maura's curiosity ended there.

Moving from the doorway to the island, Maura sat down on a stool "Hoyt?"

Jane should say yes, she knows that but she can't lie to Maura, not right now, not when the one thing Maura needs is honesty and a feeling of safety "No."

Maura cocks her head "What about?"

Taking a deep breath Jane says "You were in the hospital and I was saying good-bye then Donatello came in and I didn't have a gun but he did. He tried to shoot you and I couldn't do anything about it, I just stood there."

She tries to hide her emotions but Maura sees them and for the first time in a while Jane is the one being comforted. Maura's arms are wrapped around her, and even though she can barely stand she there and she whispers "I'm here. I'm alive because of you. I owe you my life."

Jane shook her head as she wrapped one arm around Maura's waist so that Maura could lean on her if she needed to "Never." She said quietly then laughed "Aren't you confined to bed rest?"

The moment broken, both women try to ignore the sudden upwelling of emotion that they are feeling as Jane helps Maura hobble back to the bedroom. After Maura is comfortable again Jane flips the light off and begins to close the door but Maura, not to be free from her own nightmare, she asked quietly "Would you sit with me?"

"Yeah, sure." Jane said as she walked back over to the bed and laid down next to Maura.

Silence falls and just before Jane drifts off again Maura whispered "Thank you."

A sharp pounding on the door startles Jane awake and she immediately reaches for her gun, that plan notwithstanding she pulled open the drawer and pulled out her Slovak gun. As she walks towards the door she sees that Maura is awake and she puts a finger to her lips. Jane walked to the door and peered out of the peep hole "Jesus Korsak!" she said as she pulled open the door "You couldn't call to give a little warning?"

"Hey, I tried, I got really worried but figured I would come over here before calling the big dogs in. Why didn't you tell anyone that you Maura got released?"

"It was later yesterday evening, I left Frost and left him a message."

"Well, he didn't pass it along. Look, I got that file on Keenan O' Shay and then some, pulled not just our file but INTERPOL as well."

"I'm impressed." Jane said then turned around to see Maura standing in the door way "Do you know how much trouble I would be if the doctor told me I was on bed rest and I was even thinking about standing? My mother would kill me!"

Maura smiled "Just seeing who was at the door." She explained

"What? You think I'd have a nice morning chat with Keenan O' Shay?"

Maura flashed her an attempt at a glare but it was betrayed by the smile that played on her lips. Korsak coughed and said "Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. I'm going to go and hunt down Frost, ask him why he didn't tell me that you guys were here."

Watching him leave Jane turned and walked over to the couch and took a seat next to Maura. Together they opened the file:

Name: Keenan Michael O' Shay

Parents: Rory and Fiona O' Shay

DOB: 08/29/1986

Place of Birth: New York City, New York

The file went on to list the twenty five hits O' Shay was suspected for doing, not to mention the multiple kidnappings and sub sequential murders he was connected to "This guy seems like a real class act." Jane muttered as they finished reading the last page "No wonder he and Donatello got along so well."

Maura nodded "He's probably a sociopath, no empathy for any of his actions. Born with it but the growing up in a mob family, surrounded by violence and death, didn't help."

"This guy's like the one man revolution, trying to bring the Irish Mob war's back in style."

"Well" Maura said grimly "He certainly chose the right family."

Eck. Not to please with this but what can I say. I start school again tomorrow so don't expect as frequent updates and I must attend to my other stories. Also I promise the next chapter will be better! My (not so question) question for this chapter (if you choose to review) is this:

Please give me an honest evaluation of my writing skills. I'm not fishing for compliment at all, I just want to know what I do well and I what I need to work on when writing.

Thanks,

AllOverTheWorld