Author's Note: I'm sorry in advance...

Trigger Warning: Graphic violence.


The sound of the doctor's front door clicking caused Jane to awake. She instantly wondered what time it was. The light humming she could hear outside was undoubtedly coming from her mother. She must have just dropped by. The detective's dark eyes climbed upwards to watch the sleeping form in front of her. They were still spooning closely, the sweet floral smell of Maura's hair invading her nostrils. The warmth radiating from the doctor caressed her insides, forming its own blanket of comfort. She didn't want to move but she didn't like not knowing the time. Daytime naps always made her feel disoriented, you just never knew how long you'd slept.

"Maura?" the detective asked quietly. With no response she leant forward and peppered her shoulder with light kisses. "Maura, honey?" she rested her chin on her shoulder as she awaited a response. Maura's nose twitched slightly but didn't wake up. Jane sighed happily, rolling her eyes. She knew that the doctor slept deeply, it was quite a lost cause to be fair.

The detective decided to lean over Maura and retrieve her phone from the coffee table. She found that one of her arms was pinned beneath the doctor, still cradling her soft stomach. She wriggled her fingers lightly, amused to find them almost completely numb. She leant across and managed to pick up the phone without squishing the other woman too much.

Jane read the contents of the screen to find that it was 8:40pm and she had two new messages. She groaned and rubbed her eyes. Probably Ma, she could just read them later. She raised her eyebrows with realisation as the time she'd read actually sunk in. "Whoa, Maura, wake up. We slept for hours," Jane squeezed Maura's belly slightly with the hand still present on it.

The doctor awoke and looked around groggily for a few seconds, quickly remembering where she was and how they'd come to be there, before meeting her eye. "Hey," she said quietly, her sleepiness still evident in her voice.

"Hey, it's like half eight, we slept for hours," Jane replied from behind her, resting herself back down. The medical examiner outstretched her arms with a yawn and looked up to the kitchen.

"What's all that?" There was a bag on the island counter and a couple of tubs containing food by the fridge. Jane followed her gaze.

"Ma; going overboard as ever. I think she just dropped by a couple of minutes ago. I heard her leave."

The doctor smiled softly at the woman's kindness. Angela was one of the most caring people she had ever met; the woman's first thought always to look after others, far before herself. "Why didn't she wake us?"

She rolled over to face the brunette, almost nose to nose.

"We must have looked tired. Urgh," Jane groaned. "She must have seen us all snuggled up. I bet she thinks she's onto something."

"Isn't she?" Maura smiled with amusement.

"Well, yes…" Jane smiled, leaning in. Their lips met delicately, smile on smile before melting together. It was soft and personal, simply proving adoration.


He stood, waiting. The sweatiness of his palms was beginning to overwhelm him. He rubbed at his hot face aggressively, trying to relieve some of the heat from his flushed cheeks. How had this become his life? Maura Isles. She was the reason for his whole world turning upside down. The woman who had used him, taken from him, and then dropped him. Just like that. Like that was okay. It simply wasn't.

Nathan Reid exhaled, stress leaving through hot breath. Was the closet this hot or was it just him? He regretted his choice of hiding place; the bathroom would have been far cooler. But which to choose from? The wealthy Doctor Isles had many. He'd already seen two. Suddenly, he smirked to himself. Who cared? Justice was going to be served tonight.

He felt the cool metal of the gun against his hip, indenting into his skin. How long to wait? He needed the perfect moment. Making an entrance would be the best part. Just like the entrance he'd made when he'd first met the endearing doctor; he'd seen her, those golden curls cascading down her back and had been mesmerised instantly. The officer had never seen a woman so beautiful, alone at a bar nonetheless. He'd approached her with the dark charm he knew would intrigue her, the mysteriousness that always captivated strangers. He'd tried his hardest to be the man she wanted, desired, and it succeeded.

Their chemistry that night engulfed them like flames, both in speech and activity. That night was unforgettable for him but apparently quite forgettable for her. And seriously, she wanted the female detective? The lanky, butch woman with a voice as deep as gravel? What did she even see in her? How dare that frizzy-haired imposter think she could raise his child? There was going to be hell to pay. Very soon.


The medical examiner turned on her phone to see that there was a text from Frankie. With a furrowed brow she opened it. She only ever received texts from him when there was something urgent about a case. Usually they just ended up speaking through Jane. "Oh my god!" the doctor outburst as she finally opened the message. "How on earth is that possible?" she said desperately. She felt the phone leave her palm and fall to the couch. At least it had a cushioned landing.

"What's wrong? What is it?" Jane said worriedly from the kitchen, quickly approaching her. She'd gone over there to prepare one of the meals her mother had left. It was far past dinner time and they'd both established now that they were starving.

"Nathan's out. He made bail. How is that even possible?"

"What?! Are you kidding me? How the hell did he pull that off?" she yelled furiously. That police department were sorry excuses for law enforcement. They couldn't hold a man for more than four hours?

The doctor sat down and rubbed her temple, trying to relieve the ever-growing knot there. All she wanted was to feel safe. Was that too much to ask? If it wasn't for the threats she would have just let him be. She could get past the wrist incident eventually; she could move on and just not take his calls anymore, hoping he wouldn't want to see her or the baby either. Some men would kill for that freedom! Being stripped away of his parental rights could have been a blessing for him. She'd seen many deadbeat dads pass through their precinct. Many who hadn't wanted their children and led miserable unfulfilled lives (in their opinion) and had resorted to crime as a release. Even killing their wives occasionally, deciding they were the source of their deep upset. But Nathan had to make a threat to Jane. He had to make it truly personal. She couldn't let him terrorise Jane. She just couldn't. It was his fault he'd been in that jail cell.

"Jane, what if he is planning something?" Maura said worriedly. "You know what he said." Her brow deeply furrowed. "Now he'll be so much angrier, fired up. I don't think we're safe."

Jane rubbed at her palms angrily. She felt like she'd known the man for barely ten seconds and she was already sick death of him. It frustrated her to no end that yet another psychopath had been adopted into their lives. They had to just shake them off one by one, sometimes with a bullet. "I am not letting you feel like this. I am going to go and confront that son-of-a-bitch. I'm sick to death of him and how he is making you feel. This ends now."

The detective watched Maura's face transform to utter horror as she glanced past her. It took her merely a couple of seconds to determine why. Of course. Of course he was here. Danger was apparently a leech to the pair. It seemed that no matter how hard they tried, it was always waiting just around the corner -like now, for instance.

"That was a good speech, detective, but are you all talk? Nathan asked with a saccharine smile. She cursed under her breath and turned her head slowly. Reluctantly, she looked up to meet his eye. She was met with a cold barrel against her forehead. The gun sent a chill through her skull right down to her chest.

"I hate to intrude on family time, but aren't I supposed to be a part of this family?" he said with a fake-wounded tone, clutching his chest for unnecessary emphasis.

"You would be if you weren't such a psychopathic asshole," Jane practically growled.

Maura's eyes darted worriedly from the woman she loved to the man she loathed. "Jane," she warned her quietly. Pushing this man was like rattling a bomb. She hoped and prayed that Jane would not push him too far, however much she wanted to. Living was the true priority here. Her hands were shaking.

His dark hair was greasy with a combination of gel and sweat. It was brushed back, exposing a shiny forehead and a firm gaze. The doctor observed the light shake in his own hand. It was slightly reassuring in the way that he was afraid to kill, but not reassuring enough to make her think that he wouldn't.

Maura looked around the room in fear- afraid to look away for even a moment- seeking anything that she could possibly use as a weapon. Nothing. Of course, she sighed to herself. He must have taken all the potential weapons from around them whilst they were asleep. He'd even taken a lamp away. Why hadn't she noticed that before? His insecurity clearly made him feel that he needed some kind of advantage here.

"Oh Maura, don't you worry about her," Nathan met her eye. "It'll all be over fast."

"Nathan, please," the doctor said desperately. He didn't deserve her begging, it gave him too much satisfaction, but what was left? Besides, begging had worked last time. "Nate, I know you're hurting but it's not her fault, it's mine. This isn't necessary."

"This is more than necessary, Maura. I don't make empty threats; I have an image to uphold."

"No you don't," Jane muttered, rolling her eyes. For some reason the true reality of the situation wasn't hitting her. She was too in shock to think that he'd actually do it. She didn't even have to glance down to know that her arms were violently shaking though. She was stood frozen still, head rotated away from Maura as she hadn't wanted to risk moving it away from the gun.

He pushed the gun more firmly into her head, a severe warning. "Don't test me."

Her firm gaze began to waver as she thought of all the potential outcomes of this evening. This could be her last day alive. She could never see her mother or her brothers again. She could have kissed Maura for the last time. She could never meet the baby. She panicked as the reality finally sunk in and suddenly there were tears in her eyes. Things had finally been going well for her. She finally had everything she'd always wanted and a woman she loved who cherished her. She knew things were too good. Apparently happiness was only temporary now.

"Why did you have to ruin our little family, Jane? Things were going so well for us. You just had to stick your foot in, didn't you!" his steely voice turned towards desperation the more he spoke. What the hell was this obsession? Was he in love with her or something? The detective felt helpless- if she tried to grab for the gun he would undoubtedly pull the trigger, she felt that if she even twitched he would pull the trigger.

Maura stood up slowly from the couch, raising her palms up in surrender. "Nathan, we were never going to be a family. Jane is my family," she said desperately.

"Did she get you pregnant? Does she have fifty percent of her DNA in this baby? No? Didn't think so," he snarled. He ran his free hand back through his hair. He was losing his cool. Maura wondered if she could shake him enough to have some kind of mental break down. Maybe then they could have a chance to take control of the situation. She just wished he would move that gun away from her. The doctor felt her heart beating in her throat at the same time as her eyes stung with tears.

"Please, just put the gun down. Do you think shooting her is going to make me love you? You think that killing the woman I am in love with is going to make me have feelings for you!?" Maura shouted, tears of fury flowing down her cheeks now. Please don't hurt her! Please don't hurt her! Her body screamed.

He suddenly turned and pointed the gun towards Maura.

"No!" Jane's yelled as her eyes shot up. The imprint of the barrel was still on the centre of her forehead. The doctor couldn't take this torment any longer. The tension was unbearable, the fear of the inevitable death, only grew. She wished this stupid man would just get it over with.

"Fine, shoot me!" Maura shouted, audibly sobbing. "Killing me isn't going to make you feel any better. Twenty years to life in jail and a whole lifetime to live with the guilt of killing your unborn child!"

Jane watched them both in fear. There was no way she could hurt him now without the risk of him shooting Maura in the process. He was completely in control. Her desperation was far stronger than when the gun had been directed at her.

Nathan didn't react whatsoever to Maura's words, didn't even flinch. His gaze was determined and surprisingly collected. If anything, he was gaining more power, truly coming into his element. It scared the hell out of Jane. If she kicked him, would he drop it? What if she punched the gun away? Or shouted, causing enough of a distraction to catch him off guard and make her move? Endless scenarios dashed back and forth through her mind, each with serious risk. When that risk was Maura's life it was not worth it. She wouldn't lose her based on carelessness here. They had to be smart if they had any chance of winning this.

Maura stared at the living room floor, her eyes suddenly all too vacant. She spoke without even looking at him. "If you think it's really worth it then shoot me." Her voice was eerily quiet, it seriously worried the detective. Jane wondered if she was truly losing it, had truly lost all hope. The exhaustion of being constantly pursued by danger had taken its toll and this was the breaking point.

"Maura," Jane pleaded, praying that the sound of her voice would drag her back to reality. The gun was still facing her, two metres away, if that. It was ironic that she'd used the same tone Maura had used with her before.

Nathan watched Maura, her sudden disinterest clearly confusing him too. "Since I've clearly lost your attention, I think we should get the ball rolling." Without a second of hesitation, he turned sideways and hit Jane's head hard with his gun. She fell to the carpet and put both of her hands on her left eye in pain.

"Jane!" she screamed, lunging towards her.

Nathan pointed the gun towards Maura. "I wouldn't if I were you," forcing her to desperately pause in her movement.

Her face crumpled and she stared at him, then to her, a hand covering her mouth. Jane opened her already swelling eye and watched him from the ground. Maura wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to wrap her up in her arms and shield her from this monster before them. This is all my fault, Maura thought desperately, self-hatred beating down to her stomach like a sickness. A single hand came down to cradle her stomach, hopefully soothe her baby. There were three lives at stake here. She would not lose her baby. If it were possible she would give her own life before that of her foetus daughter.

The officer looked down at Jane smugly. "Just to make sure you don't try anything shifty detective-" He raised his boot-clad foot triumphantly over her leg and stamped on her bare ankle.

She screamed in pain. "You sick bastard! Get the fuck away from us!" She shouted. She instantly brought her knee up to her chest so that she could try to cradle her leg. The level of pain radiating from it was ridiculous.

Maura started crying. "Just leave her alone! She's never done anything to you! Please stop hurting her!" She screamed.

"But I am rather enjoying this," Nathan said with a smile. He took a step closer to Jane and kicked her ankle where he had just stamped.

She hissed in pain, squeezing her leg tightly, just trying to form any kind of distraction from the searing pain she was feeling. It had to be broken; without a doubt.

Maura couldn't take it anymore; she ran forward and lunged as roughly as she could at Nathan's front. He dropped his gun and fell to the ground in surprise. Instantly she began to pound his face with her fists. She channelled every ounce of fear and anger for Jane's injuries into adrenaline, and then punches.

"What the fuck, Maura!" he yelled between blows. His nose was bleeding and already beginning to bruise as she pounded his face all over. In a spare second he managed to grab her neck and roll her over. He used her shock as an opportunity to remove one of his hands and punch her hard in the jaw.

She struggled and aimed kicks the best she could but her efforts were fruitless as even when she did manage to get him, it had little impact on his built up body. At least he wasn't fully on top of her; at least the baby was still alive as far as she knew. He hadn't hurt her. Not yet. Thank god, Maura thought. Tears were blazing down her reddened cheeks as she hit and kicked his body as much as possible, mostly missing as she couldn't see properly.

Jane dragged herself over to them, scraping at the carpet with her fingernails. She seized herself forward with her good leg and tightly put her arm around his neck, yanking as hard as she could. It mortified her to see Maura looking so desperate and starved of breath. The detective tried her absolute best to choke him but he was stronger than she'd anticipated and he managed to peel her arm away with just his free hand. As she fell backwards, he managed one solid kick to her abdomen, resulting in her flying back and slamming against the wall with a loud thud and outcry.

Meanwhile he still had one of his hands pinning Maura down by the neck. She struggled and scratched his wrists as deep as she could, open wounds emerging there. She slipped one of her hands away from his wrists and reached out next to her, fingers scrabbling closer and closer to what she desired.

"You really thought you two would win this, didn't you?" He laughed. The veins on his forehead were so raised they looked as if they were about to pop out. His teeth were gritted and his eyes watered. All the pain and adrenaline was finally catching up to him as he stared into Maura's eyes with determination. His initial aims of the evening had completely gone out of the window. How had it been distorted into killing the woman he loved? He didn't have time to think about it now. It was now a matter of him or them.

Maura coughed desperately, her face growing deeper red with the lack of oxygen and her veins pulsing desperately with all of the pressure. She grasped the gun and brought her arm back to herself quickly.

~BANG~