Maura POV - The Day after New Years

Father, Mother, Jane and I were all getting ready to go to the Ballet 'The Nutcracker', I have adored this since I was a young girl and seen it live a lot of time but this time is extra special, this is the first time I am ever going with my Parents and I am also going with Jane. I am extremely excited and Jane seems rather excited as well, Mother and Father, well its hard to judge their emotions. I sigh quietly but Jane still hears and comes over, "Whats wrong Maur,"

"Nothing Jay I am excited for the ballet", That is not a lie because I am, but I can tell that Jay is dubious, luckily she doesn't press the matter "Come on tesoro lets go, and get your parents and get to this ballet of yours," Jane says with a slight smile as she grabbed my hand and we go to find my parents.

By the time Jane, had driven us to the theater that the performance was held in and had badged us to one of the best parks in the place there was only about 15 minutes left until showtime, so we all rushed through the big grand doors, I had been to this theater only once before and it was one of the most beautiful in Boston, I turn to Jane, "The Orpheum Theatre, built in 1853, and was converted from a concert hall for vaudeville in 1900, it has a capacity 2,700, It was used as a movie theater briefly before being opened again for live entertainment," I see Jane rolling her eyes, I stop talking and I lower my head with a slight blush, but Jane lifts my chin and gives me a kiss "Don't be embarrassed google mouth, I think its cute,"

"Google mouth?" My Mother asked inquisitively, I had almost forgot that they were with us "Oh, umm yes Google Mouth, its my uh nickname for Maur when ever she does her genius fun facts" Jane is still a bit nervous around my Parents

"Google Mouth, That is very sweet," I turn back to Jay and wrap my arm around her and grab my Fathers hand with my other. In the last week I have spent a lot of time with my parents, and I have become far more casual around them, and more likely to show affection. I only have Jane to thank for that she arranged for them to be here and I am growing much closer to my parents as a result.

We find our seats in the VIP area and we quickly sit down just as the lights dim, Father, Mother Me and then Jane on the inside "Ladies and Gentleman, We ask you turn off the mobile phones and you use no flash photography, Thank you" I grab Jane's hand as the curtains rise and the first cords of the music start to play.

Interval

The curtain fell as we clapped for the first half and the lights come back for a 5 minute interval. My Mother pats my hand and says that her and Father are going for a walk and get up. I turn back to Jane, I see her look at the person beside us curiously, and I lean forward to get a good look as well, I vaguely recognize her and obviously so does Jane. "Janet? Janet Mcfarley?" Oh that's how I recognize her, she is the famous Producer, "Who are you? A fan?" Jane looked incredulously at her "Jane Rizzoli, we went to High School together" When Janet still looks confused "We were in the same class together for 9 years?"

"Oh, Yes Jane Rizzoli, I remember you," She say snidely "and who is this?", she says looking past Jane at me "This, is my Girlfriend Dr Maura Isles" Jane grabs my hand and looks back at the slightly shocked look on her face "Well I wouldn't have picked you to be a lesbian," Jane stiffens and I squeeze her hand softly, "Isles, I know of the Isles family, but they are a very rich family, so how did you pick this one up, that one made me stiffen but I know not to let my anger get the best of me "We work together, She is the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She works at BPD, the same as me"

"Boston Police Department, What do you do there write out speeding tickets?" Now my parents have slipped back into their seats and the lights are fading again, Jane looks fired up to continue the debate "Its not worth it Jane,"

"Oh she talks does she," Janet says with a sneer, I feel insulted at this comment "Oh trust me, I could let her loose on you and frankly you don't want that, oh and she isn't some lowly cop writing speeding tickets at BPD, she is much better than that" Jane smirks at my sudden out burst, and I hide my smile

"Oh well then what does she do," but by now it is silent and the person in front of Janet turns around and shushes her.

the curtain rises, and I turn my attention to the stage expecting to see the Ballerina standing there about to start her dance, I was not expecting however, to see her lying on the ground surrounded by her own blood. Everyone around us gasp as me and personal from the side of the stage run on to the stage in blind panic, Jane stands up and I follow suit, "Don't touch her," Jane yells as we sprint down the isles towards the stage while we pull out our badges. The security guard tries to stop us but Jane pushes past him as she flashed her badge, I turn back to the guard "get guards to all exits and through out the audience to make sure there is no panic make sure no one can leave, MOVE" I yell like I had heard Jane yell before, and run up behind Jane "I am getting the guards to secure the area and keep the peace"

"Good thinking, I am going to get Frost and Korsak can you call CSRU and get them to come in," I pull out my phone and dial headquarters while Jane calls her partners "Hi this is Medical Examiner Dr Isles. We have a homicide at the Orpheum Theatre on Hamilton Place. I have Homicide Detective Jane Rizzoli with me. She has called in her partners however we need CSRU here and back up to secure the premise. Thank you" And I hang up just as Jane does. I look out to the audience and see lots of people crying or trying to look at the scene, I often forget some people don't see death on a regular basis like me and Jane "ahh Jane, we have lots of upset people in the audience," She looks out into the audience "Good point" She leans over to one of the stressed looking personal "Do you have a microphone, I can use to address the audience" He then leans over to another geeky looking boy who out of no where produced a microphone and hands it to Jane "Right listen up everyone, I know this is shocking and scary for some of you, but we need everyone to keep calm and quiet while we get everything sorted"

"When can we leave" Somebody shouted out

"When we say you can leave but for now you are all suspects, including staff and other dancers" some people groan and Jane rolls her eyes but I grab her arm before she can say anything crass and she turns away. I look back out and I see CSRU coming in. I lean over to Jane, "CSRU is here we can get everything photographed and I can inspect the body. I turn back and see Frost and Korsak following them down.

CSRU wastes no time getting everything photographed and I start looking at the body, she is still warm to the touch, I turn to Jane who is kneeling beside me "she had to have been killed in the interval as she was the last dancer on, and the supposed first dancer on, she has 3 stab wounds on her back, she bleed out, right you can get her out of here now," I say knowing the right people will hear and get her out.

"Jane, these people need to leave now," I say with a slight kiss to her cheek "We can't keep them here, but we need to get the names and fingerprints of everyone back stage,"

"thinking like a detective" Jane laughs "well it is my second job" I smirk, "But you are right, there is no way somebody could get back stage without being seen by anyone and definitely couldn't get to the stage without anyone seeing, but I think we need to talk to whoever is in charge, how can someone get on stage and kill someone without anyone seeing or hearing anything suspicious." But first I think we go see our little friend first" I give Jane an exasperated look but I follow her back down to her seat, I should probably check my parents, make sure they are ok.

"Mother, Father, I imagine we will be here late, don't wait up for us, looks like we are starting work early" I give them each a kiss and a hug and then lean over to Jane "well look at that Janet, I do a bit more than just speeding tickets,"Jane said with a snarky tone, "Maura?" She questions behind me and I pull her gun and phone belt out of my big bag where I always keep it, Jane slips it on and checks her gun is loaded, "I am a Homicide Detective, one of the best, She holds up her hands, "the one who got stabbed with scalpels, the one who shot herself to save her brother, yea not some lowly Cop now am I," Jane says to Janet's stunned expression, "Come on Maur, let's go solve a murder" and Me and Jane spin around and march back up to the stage, where the body has been taken away. Jane grabs the microphone and address the audience, "right you can all leave now, in an orderly fashion, but everybody who had backstage access must continue to stay here". I few people cheer and Jane rolls her eyes.

"Right Korsak can you go talk to whoever is in charge, how can someone get onto the stage without anyone noticing, or hearing her get killed,"

"Aye Aye Captain" Korsak said with a mock salute, but immediately went to sought out whoever was in charge. "Frost can you go and get Frankie and get the name and prints of everyone here but don't let them leave yet. Me and Maura will look through the Dancer's room," it had been taped off and CSRU had photographed them but Jane had yet to have a look and seeing that I am the 4th member of the tight knit Homicide squad and the other two were busy I came to help Jay with the examination of the room. "Well good to see she keeps the room in good condition" Jane says sarcastically, there is different costumes hanging up through out the room, makeup strewn everywhere along with head pieces, hair spray, bobby pins, ballet shoes, and exercise clothes were everywhere in the small room, Jane made her way across the room to what appears to be the victims the handbag and opened it up. "Bingo!" Jane shouted triumphantly as she pulled out a phone. I pull on my own gloves and go over to the dressing table, beneath the make up I find a picture, "Jane -" I say as Jane turns around the same time and said "Maur -" We both laugh "You go Jay," I say as I gesture, "Well this looks like a wedding ring don't you think, I look closer at the ring and see several diamonds on "I don't guess" I say as I pass the photo over to her "Oh so that must be who the ring belongs to, they look like they love each other nearly as much as I love you," I give Jane a kiss but keep it quick, we put the rest of the bag contents into baggies, "Come on I will get Frost to bring in the wife tomorrow, but lets send everyone home now and get home before its morning and we have to get back to work.