Hi. Yes, I know how long it's been. Please don't remind me! I feel terrible about it. I realize how annoying it is to read a story this way, so please feel free to follow and wait until I mark this story complete before reading the remaining chapters. I promise we're nearly there!
I'm really glad to finally get this chapter out. Always easier to write when Maura and Jane are back together :)
Jane wrung her hands and took a deep breath, her eyes glued to Doyle as she stared at him through the one-way mirror.
"I think we've made him wait long enough. You're good?" Cavanaugh asked, his head finally turning away from Doyle towards Jane.
Jane cleared her throat, trying to hide her nerves. "Yeah, fine."
With that Cavanaugh nodded and Jane made her way back to the hallway of the precinct, now staring at the door to the interrogation room. She closed her eyes. She couldn't believe it - after all this time trying to get over Maura and put her past behind her, Jane was here. About to come face to face with Paddy Doyle. Her curiosity leading up to this moment had previously kept her in check, but she now realized she was about to come face to face with arguably Boston's most infamous mob leader in the last ten years. Her previous years of confidence from interrogating suspects felt as if it was rapidly whisking away.
Jane rolled her shoulders back, took one deep breath, and pushed open the door.
"Detective," he said in his low growl. He gave a small smile, causing the hairs on the back of Jane's neck to stand on end.
Jane sat down as calmly as she could, awed at how immediately comfortable Doyle looked, despite being handcuffed at both the hands and feet. She responded back with a steely look.
"You were looking for me?" she stated flatly.
"That I am."
"And you figured after hiding for ten years this would be the easiest way to get to me?"
"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. You and I both know I could have had this conversation in your living room."
Jane kept herself from reacting, but she had no doubt it was true. She all of a sudden felt vulnerable knowing how easy Doyle could have gotten with her.
"And yet we're here," she stated back. She slid the empty statement in front of him. "Are you going to make this easy?"
Doyle chuckled and scooted his chair further back, allowing his legs to stretch out as best he could.
"Let's chat first."
Jane clenched her jaw. What the hell was this about? She knew you never wanted to give the suspect control over the room, but it was evident within the first two words that Doyle already had it. She stared back waiting for him to continue, afraid that he just might bring up the one topic she wanted to hear.
"I believe we have mutually beneficial interests," he said.
"We - what?"
"About a month ago I stumbled across a women. Dark blonde hair, soft curls, head buried in a book." He sighed. "Maura."
Jane felt her chest tighten at the name. Was she here? In Boston? Jane's mind ran, unable to form words.
"She stood up, and that's when I saw she was pregnant."
Jane mouth gaped opened.
"Turns out," Doyle said, adjusting in his chair, "It wasn't her. But in that one crystallizing moment, I realized what's important in life."
Jane realized she had been holding her breath. She let it out, feeling her heart still race.
"I kept her hidden - I kept her safe," he defended, "but she resents me for it."
"She resents being the daughter of a murderer and felon," Jane shot back, leaning forward. "You kept her a secret and -"
"She's still a secret," Doyle pushed back. "As long as I was out, she was going to remain hidden. I spent the last few weeks trying to figure out some other way - but the only way to set her free was to turn myself in."
Jane shook her head, unable to take it all in. "So what you think she's going to come visit you every Sunday and you'll have this normal father/daughter relationship between Plexiglas?" Jane raked her hands through her hair. "What does any of this have to do with me?"
Doyle sighed. "Like I said, mutually beneficial interests. I realize we didn't leave on the best of terms -" Jane grunted, unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes "- and you are uniquely positioned to bring her back."
"I don't understand-"
"I know they'll want her to come back and testify. And you can convince her to stay-"
"Why do you think I would help you? You're a murderer," she said exasperatedly. "You shot me!"
"Listen, you care about her. I saw it then - and I can see it now. And I know all cops are dirty, but you'll put her over the job. You'll put her over yourself. And that's what I need."
Jane's head was spinning. She could feel her heart pounding, her face flush.
"I'm willing to give it all up, as long as I can see her again."
"I - Let me get this straight," Jane said, her eyes fixed on the dull shine of the metal table in front of her, unable to process it all. "You want me to convince your daughter to testify against you. And you think that having her cement your conviction will improve your father/daughter relationship?"
"I lived my life," Doyle said, his voice raising slightly. "I lived it by a code. I know I've got to answer for some things. But at the end of the day, she's the most important thing. Don't you think so?"
Jane's jaw dropped. This was crazy. Doyle was insane. Did he really think Jane was some lovesick teenager still pining after Maura years later? She hadn't though of Maura in ages... right?
"I also want you to protect her."
Jane's eyes shot back up at Doyle. "Protect her?"
"After the trial, it'll get it out. Who she is - where she is. No matter how tight-lipped they think they are, the news will get out. I've asked my men to be on the lookout, but I want someone close to her that can watch her if she comes back. It would make sense for it to be you. You'll make sure she stays safe."
Jane raised her eyebrows. She need to talk to Cavanaugh - she didn't know what to say next.
She pushed the blank statement back to Doyle and said, "Read it over - sign it. I'll be back in a minute."
"I'm not signing anything until I know you've done your job" Doyle said simply.
"My job?"
"Convince her to come back. Convince her to talk to me."
"You're-" Jane stopped as she heard a rap on the mirror. She clenched her jaw and gave Doyle one last look before stepping outside.
Cavanaugh stuck his head out the observation room. "This is crazy."
"I know!" Jane exclaimed, running her hands through her hair again. "I don't-"
"We should get you on a plane first thing tomorrow."
"What - you're kidding! This is - I can't." Jane stammered. Her mind continued to race, unable to form words.
"Listen, I couldn't give two shits about his relationship with his daughter. But if that makes him sign a confession... I can't believe this. Paddy fucking Doyle! This is huge," Cavanaugh said again, a grin breaking out on his face.
"But - she's - she's in witness protection. How does this even work?"
"She's in witness protection because of him. I've got a contact over there we can talk to. He can set you up to meet with her in a safe spot. As crazy as the man is, he's right. She'll be able to leave WP after the trial."
Jane's internal struggle was coming to a head. All of a sudden it felt so real - Maura. She had spent so long trying to convince herself to forget her. And now she was going to be flown across the country to see her? To convince her to come to Boston? To stay?
Jane shook her head. But would she really let her personal feelings get in the way of what was best for Maura? It had been years. Maura probably had a new life.. a job, friends... she could even be married. Jane could only imagine the amount of therapy she had to go through to deal with her father's past.
"I'm calling my buddy Korsak from WP," said Cavanaugh over his shoulder as he walked away from Jane. "Go home and pack a bag. You're getting on the next flight to wherever they want you to meet her.
Jane wiped her hands again her jeans as she stared out over Los Angeles. The plane had finally started making it's descent, and the reality of seeing Maura in just a few hours as finally starting to sink in. The last twelve hours had been a blur, without a second for Jane to sit down and really think about how she was going to do this. Whether she should do this.
She raised her tray and tried to take a deep breath. Above all else, she wanted the idea to be Maura's. This all felt too familiar - trying to convince Maura to turn in her father. Though turning in her father and at the same time trying to convince her to have relationship with him added a whole other challenge.
Feeling the soft bump as the plane made contact with the runway, Jane switched her phone off of Airplane mode. Immediately she heard the soft ding of a text message as the location of their meetup came in. A coffee shop, of course.
Jane has been instructed to wear normal clothing - no sign of a badge and nothing that would immediately label her as a cop. She knew they would bring them to a busy, neutral location, so a coffee shop was certainly an ideal location. Jane's mind immediately jumped back to their first meeting at Central Grounds.
The cab arrived sooner than she had expected. Jane stepped out, her nerves starting to show. Did Maura even know Jane was the one meeting her? Was she as nervous as Jane was? Did she know about Paddy? Jane swung open the door, for a second wondering if Maura would look so different that Jane wouldn't even recognize her.
"Jane?" she heard from her left.
It was her. Tanner, blonder, and with more freckles than she had left her, but it was Maura. She was a beautiful as ever. A large smile broke out over her face as she made eyes with Jane. Jane noticed her hair was a bit shorter, barely skimming her shoulder. The strap of her sundress had fallen of her shoulder as Maura stood up to give her a hug.
"I had no idea -" Maura said breathlessly, "- that you were the person I'd be speaking with!"
Jane felt herself melting immediately, almost forgetting what she was there for. She had prepared the first few lines of what she wanted to say while she was on the plane, but it all vanished.
"I missed you."