AN1: Thank you, everyone, for the reviews, alerts, and faves of this story. I really appreciate them all.

janeandmaura05: I know Jane needs to confess her feelings or vice versa because yeah I agree they could lose each other for being so stubborn but I have plans on how they're going to cope with it. Thanks for the review and for sticking for so long :)

Barbie7088: I understand if you're already getting tired of Jane's negativity and that Jane has to grow up and talk all about it with Maura. But she has reasons and I hope that reason will make clear things up for you from the next chapters. Thanks for the review :)

lisagayle713 and Rain: Thank you for appreciating my story so far. Thanks for the review :)

AN2: I'm sorry for the wrong description of Holocaust thing in the previous chapter. There was a mistake and someone corrected me for it. Thank You.

AN3: I know this story was maybe taking longer than what we're expecting but I want the characters to take their paces according to what I have in mind. But I promise it will get better. And maybe some of the readers were already finding this story boring, so I apologize for that. Anyways, Happy Reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own R&I.

Chapter 11

Monday came faster than Jane thought. She spent the night thinking about the Sands case and mostly about Maura. The latter topic was the real reason she only got two hours of sleep. And while thinking about her blonde friend, she managed to clean her entire apartment to her surprise. Who would've thought that an unsettling feeling would cause the Detective to be a cleaner? She did it to distract herself, to stop entertaining this overwhelming feeling towards her best friend. She must stop feeling it or everything will get awkward between them. But when she woke up this morning. she found it impossible. And it made her frustrated.

Korsak entered the bullpen, surprised seeing Jane already on her desk. He noticed the distress on his former partner's face. "You're back." Korsak said but Jane didn't hear her. He frowned and moved in front of Jane. "Jane?" Jane looked up and smiled weakly at Korsak.

"Korsak." Jane muttered.

Noticing Jane's appearance for the first time, Korsak shook his head. "Wow, Jane. You look like hell."

"Gee thanks, Korsak. You've been there?" Jane replied unenthusiastically.

"Yeah, a lot of times."Korsak smirked. "You're back early. I thought you'll stay with Maura till she feels better? Don't tell me Crowe did get on your nerves that's why you cut it short?"

"No, Korsak. Actually, Maura will get back to work also. She'll start working again today."

"Oh. Isn't that too soon? Doesn't she need some time for recovery?"

"Well, she said she needed a distraction. And you know her. Stubborn as hell."

Korsak chuckled. "Like you."

Jane sighed. "So what did we find out about Alice Sands?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Not that much Jane. Except for the fact that she was already released six weeks ago. When I got back to BPD after we went to the city jail, Nina and I worked on her address, unfortunately, she wasn't residing in any of her address we found. She's off the grid Jane." Korsak told her.

"What? You searched her house? And you didn't even bother to tell me? What happened to you'll keep in the loop?" Jane hissed.

"Jane, look. I'm sorry. We did what we thought was best. And the reason I didn't tell you was because I know you were distracted."

"So you were thinking I wasn't capable of doing my job? Is that it Korsak?"

"Jane..." he trailed off.

Jane waved off what Korsak was about to say then sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I just had a rough night." she said as she rubbed her eyes with her hands.

"Looks like it. Are you having trouble sleeping?"

"Nah. I'm fine. So what do we need to do?"

"Same old. Same old. Keep digging." Korsak said and sat on his chair.

Jane nodded. After logging in to her computer, she immediately checked her email. Scanning all the unread emails, she frowned as she spotted an email sent by an unknown sender. She clicked it open then froze when she read. If she needed coffee to keep her awake the entire day, it looks like she won't be needing any when she read the email from the unknown sender. The email will keep her awake the entire day, weeks or worst months. She felt her heart beats faster than it ever did before. She never knew that one email will make her feel this way. Then one person came into her mind. Maura.

She stood up and literally ran outside the bullpen. She didn't even bother to take the elevator downstairs. She ran down the stairs to the morgue or the office of her best friend. She felt her hands became sweaty, all her muscles tensed as her heart was hammering hard in her chest while her feet carried her downstairs to the Medical Examiner's office. She had to see Maura. She needs to see with her own very eyes that she's okay. She had to know if she's safe. She has to...

When Jane reached Maura's office, the ME gave her a warm smile but froze when she saw the look on Jane's face. "Jane? What's wrong?"

Mouth hanging wide open and heart hammering hard inside her chest, Jane took two long strides towards Maura and wrapped her arms around Maura's waist, tightly. She didn't think, she just acted on herself. The moment she saw the ME, she knew it was the right thing to do.

Confused from what just had taken place, Maura rubbed small circles on Jane's back. She knew by then that her friend was in great distress. She just didn't know what happened and what made the detective barged into her office like that. But whatever it was, she felt warmth when Jane wrapped her arms around her.

Silence got the best out of two. Both trying to calm their nerves through the heat emanating between them. Jane closed her eyes and let the scent of her friend travel through her senses even to her veins. She clung to the ME tightly and buried her face on the side of the blonde's head, smelling that signature smell coming from her friend. Maura continued rubbing circles on Jane's back thinking that it will soothe her tensed best friend let alone calm her. She let silence filled them but when it got overbearing and the silence became deafening, she broke it.

"Jane? What happened? Tell me." Maura asked softly. So soft that when it reverberated in Jane's ears, the detective felt like she threw herself on a bunch of soft pillows.

The response Maura only got was the tightening of Jane's grip around her waist. It wasn't that she hated being close to someone. But it's Jane. Her best friend. Her detective. So she didn't mind because Jane is allowed to hold her like this. To hold her in whichever way she wanted. The only person she let her that close to her. The only person she's willing to let her guard down with. And the only person she's willing to submit to with all the things she has. Even her own heart. But she needed answer now. She needed to know what was going on in that detective mind of her best friend. And she wouldn't be able to decipher what's going on just by holding Jane back against her own lithe figure so she slowly detached herself from her friend to look at her properly. She was surprised seeing her best friend's eyes closed. The expression plastered on Jane's face was soft and angelic. And it made the ME wanting to kiss those thin lips that were tightly shut.

Instead of leaning forward and capturing those inviting lips with her own, she cupped the detective's face with her hands urging her to open her eyes for her. Jane was still and tensed at first when she felt Maura's hands on her face but eventually relaxed as she leaned on the touch. Both felt shivers down on their spines.

"Jane. Hey, look at me sweetie." Maura said as she caressed Jane's face, both thumbs stroking the dark circles under the detective's eyes that were resulted by those sleepless nights. Maura could tell she was the reason why Jane had those and it sent ache in her heart.

Jane's eyes were glassy once it was opened. Maura noticed it and wanted to wipe those unshed tears in her eyes. But she stilled her hands on its place and preferred to look at those chocolate brown eyes intently. Maura could tell that Jane was fighting hard not to choke and shove her sobs back.

"What happened Jane?"

Studying the face of her best friend as if memorizing its features like it will be gone when she looked away, Jane held the other woman's right hand and brought it to her lips and kissed it softly. "I just needed to know... I just needed to..." she trailed off as her voice faltered that was usually confident when speaking.

Frowning, Maura moved forward towards her friend. "You just needed to what? Tell me Jane. What is it going on your mind?"

"I just had to see you. I just needed to know you're safe." Jane finally said.

"But I'm safe Jane. See? I'm here." Maura replied.

Jane nodded. She slowly removed Maura's hand on her and let them fall on their sides while she still held them. "I'm sorry for barging in like that." She smiled a little but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"It's alright. But can you tell me why? I'm worried about you." Maura said.

Jane sighed and moved backwards then shook her head. "It's nothing. This is just me being weird."

"Jane..."

"I'm fine Maura." Jane sighed again. "I need to get back to work."

"Jane..."

"I'll see you around Maur." With that, Jane stepped out of the ME's office and strode back upstairs. She didn't even bother to glance back at her best friend.

Jane, Korsak, Frankie, and Nina were all gathered around Jane's desk. Learning the contents of the email that was sent to Jane, her colleagues especially Frankie were alarmed. They all know that it came from Alice Sands. And they're worried about Jane. But Jane wasn't worried about herself. She's more worried about Maura because Alice Sands know that using Maura against her will do her great damage. And the email says it all.

"I pinged the computer that was used to you this email but unluckily it was shut off immediately. And it did not ping when you sent back an email to the computer." Nina said.

Jane sighed. "Well, I don't actually expect that she'll take it easy on the house." Jane stared at her computer and her gaze darkened upon reading the email again. She's becoming frustrated and she wanted that Alice Sands suffer behind bars for the rest of her life.

"We have to put a uniform outside your apartment, Jane." Korsak offered.

Immediately, Jane glanced at the older man. "No. You're not doing that Korsak. Have the uniforms to be on guard at Maura's but please instruct them not to be noticed by Maura. And don't let Maura know about this. Especially you three. And of course, don't tell me either."

"You're not going to tell Maura about this?" Korsak asked.

"Yes. She already has a lot of things to worry about. She got back to work for a distraction. To keep her mind off of her abduction. There's no way I'm telling her about this." Jane replied.

"Even if she's involved in this? You know that she's the one Alice Sands was talking about in her email." Frankie countered.

"I do know that Frankie!" Jane almost yelled earning her some glances from the other cops. "I do perfectly do know that. But I'm telling you, this thing will just worry her more. And I don't want that to happen. She's already going through a lot of things and I don't want this to add to them. So whatever it takes, it will stay with only the four of us. And the reason why I told you this thing..." she pointed at her monitor. "...is to help me locate her. And if some bad things happen to me, you know what you will do. And that is to keep Maura safe as long as you need to."

"Fine. Whatever you need, Jane. I'll just go back and work on appointing officers outside Maura's house." Korsak said.

"Thanks, Korsak." Jane nodded.

"And I'll go back in my place to keep tracking Alice Sands down." Nina smiled at Jane.

The brunette smiled back. "Thanks, Nina. You did great."

Once Korsak and Nina left, Jane turned to her brother. "Don't you have work to do, Frankie?"

Frankie raised an eyebrow at Jane. "You're really that protective about Maura, huh? You didn't even think of yourself."

"What can I say? I always managed to put her in danger. Lots of times." She clenched her fist remembering the past dangerous encounters with Maura. Incidents that almost took her best friend's life away.

"We both know that's not true, Jane." Frankie said. "You always protect her. You always keep her safe."

"Look Frankie. I'm already annoying as I was. But seriously, I don't have time for small talk. What is it you want?"

Frankie rolled his eyes in Jane's impatience. "Jane, what are you going to do once you find Alice Sands?"

Eyes, darkening than it usually was, clenching her fist as her body tensed, Jane shook her head. "I don't know Frankie. God knows what I'm capable of considering all the troubles she inflicted on me, especially to Maura. I don't know. All I know is that she has to pay for everything she did."

"I know you won't listen to me. But please Jane, keep away from trouble. Think of us before you do things."

"I'm not dumb to do something stupid, Frankie. But I can't promise you, I won't do anything reckless. But please, just keep your mouth shut about this. Don't tell anyone. Even Ma or Maura."

"You have my word Jane." Frankie said as he patted Jane on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Frankie." Jane smiled at her brother weakly.

Maura sat in her seat as she stared at her monitor that turned black for like twenty minutes ago. Her mind is still processing about what took place earlier between her and Jane. When Jane entered her office, she assumed that it was just an ordinary thing that she visited her in her office. Just to welcome her back. But when the moment Jane wrapped her around her arms, she knew already something was off. Something happened. But knowing Jane, Maura knew also that the brunette will not tell her what that was all about.

But that's not the only thing that bothered her. She almost kissed her. She almost kissed Jane. Her best friend. The moment she looked in Jane's face, she had this urge to press her own lips to her best friend and it's overwhelming her. It's terrifying her because if it happens, it will ruin everything. It will ruin the friendship they built. It will ruin the best relationship she ever had. And she isn't going to let that happen. If she needed to bury this feeling, then whatever it takes, she'll do it. Even if it kills her. She will not risk everything unless Jane feels the same way about her. Which she knows it won't happen.

It wasn't long until someone knocked on her door. But still, deep in her thought, Maura didn't hear the knock so Kent, her new assistant came in, frowning at the sight before him. "Dr. Isles?" Kent called out but he didn't get a response. He cleared his throat to get the attention of his boss.

Maura looked up and saw Kent looking back at her with confusion. "Kent? Do you need something?"

"Uhm, I already got the DNA result of our latest victim." Kent replied and handed Maura the folder. The ME accepted it but she surprisingly put the folder on top of her table instead of studying it immediately like she usually does.

"Aren't you going to look at it?"

Maura just stared at him. Not really wanting to accept the question Kent just asked. She's the boss so no one's going to order her what to do. Startled, Kent cleared his throat again. "I'm sorry, I uh... I needed to go back to work."

Kent was about to go back to what he was doing when Maura called out to him. "Kent?"

"Yes, Dr. Isles?"

"Have you ever had this feeling..." she trailed off. Thinking if she's going to continue asking her question or not. But in the end, she still went for it.

"Dr. Isles?"

"Have you ever had this feeling when you thought that you're not capable of having it only to find out that you are really capable?" Maura finally asked. On the other hand, Kent just looked at her with confusion making the ME shake her head at her own question. "Don't mind it. I'll check the DNA result now. You may go back to your work."

But Kent remained rooted to his spot. Then a smile was formed on his lips. "Like finding a true love."

When Maura heard his reply, she sat frozen on her seat and stared questioningly on Kent. Is she that obvious? "What makes you think I was pertaining to that?"

"I didn't say that you were pertaining to that. What I said was just a great example to your question." Kent offered.

Maura raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She's still thinking that she was too obvious with her previous question. "Why is that?"

"You know Dr. Isles, in our generation nowadays, people don't believe in that kind of thing. People do hookups but nothing more comes from that than the physical attraction. People get married, but gets divorced afterwards because why? There was no such thing as love. Maybe they did love each other. But that true love thing? That's hard to find. That's why when you find it, you'll be thinking that you weren't capable of feeling it, but truth is, you really are. And you know what's the funny thing is?"

"What?"

"Sometimes, it comes in a form when you least expect it." This time, Kent smiled widely at Maura. "You see Dr. Isles, that thing? That true love thing is rare like diamonds. That's why they always say, when you find it, don't let it slip away."

Maura was stunned and silent for a while. Never in her life she thought she would be hearing Kent talk about feelings. But she must admit, it did answer some of her formed questions in that big brain of hers. But what was funny is, she didn't know why their conversation turned into something like this. Did Kent see through her? Did he have a clue why she asked that question?

"Well I guess, that's a nice example, Kent." Maura gave him a small smile.

"Well, I do hope that you finally have an answer to your question. Because as far as I can see, you are capable of anything. I'll see you around Dr. Isles." With that, Kent left the ME in her office. But as it is, but Maura did have an answer from that riddled answer Kent gave her.

She let her feelings get the best out of her again. But she must not, especially when it comes about her feelings to Maura. But she still did it. Earlier, upon reading the email that was sent to her threatening her family especially Maura, she had the urge to see her just to make sure that the blonde is safe. Knowing that the ME was already at her office that time, she barged there like a hurricane and immediately wrapped her arms around her. She let her feelings do the action. And it was a mistake and she knew it. Aside from letting her heart beats more for Maura, what she did will confuse her best friend more. Which shouldn't because she already more than what she has for her best friend will complicate and ruin everything. Especially their friendship.

And now, she's sitting on a bench in Boston Common, waiting for her mother. She asked her to meet her at that place after having a meeting with Frankie, Nina, and Korsak. She constantly rubbed the scars on her hand when her mother came. The elder Rizzoli sat beside her.

"Hey, Jane, what's up."

"Hey, Ma."

"So? You called? What's going on?"

"Well, I'll be direct, I need to ask you a favor." Jane said and turned her full attention to her mother. Angela did so also.

"What is it?"

"Ma, I know these days had been hard for us. But can you watch over Maura? You're the only one I can count on since you've been living in her guest house." Jane said.

Angela frowned. This is not what she expected Jane would ask her. Yes, she didn't mind watching over Maura but normally Jane would do it. She always gets to take care of Maura after a traumatic event. But this time Jane asked for her help so it means something big is going on.

"Ma? Are you listening to me?"

"Jane? What is going on?"

"What? Nothing Ma." She lied.

"Jane I wasn't born yesterday. Something's going on. What is it?"

"Ma really. Nothing's going on. Everything's fine."

"Jane..."

"Ma really. I just wanted to focus more on this case. Now that we have a lead about who wanted me dead. And I couldn't do taking care of Maura and focusing on this case at the same time." Now that's a half-truth.

"You know Jane, I don't mind watching or taking care of Maura. Like I told you, she's like my daughter, too. But are you sure this is the thing you want? IS this what your heart really wants?" Angela asked carefully. The elder Rizzoli knew that a double meaning lies in her question and that Jane will notice it anyway, but still, she asked it.

"Yes, Ma. Please take good care of her."

"Why are you doing this Jane? You know, I know what you're doing." Angela asked carefully. Sadness is very vivid in the tone of her voice.

"Just promise me. I don't want her to get involved more in danger."

"Okay. I'll take care of her like a mother would do. I just hope that it will be enough for her because I know it won't."

"It will Ma."

Angela sighed as she shook her head in disapproval. She is very disappointed at what Jane is trying to do. But knowing her daughter, she knows that her detective daughter has reasons for it.