A/N: Quick clarification… Witness protection can continue for as long as deemed necessary. It's not just to hide people away. It's a protection service given on local, state and federal levels. So to the question as to why Rebecca is still around, there you go. Plus love her or hate her, she and Jane have become friends. Call it a form of Stockholm syndrome if you must, but that's the way it is. :)
Again… Rizzles is endgame. I didn't say how long the game was, but we're only in the top of the 4th. ;)
Thanks for all the follows, reviews and favorites! I enjoy reading each and everyone.
Two weeks had past since Jane's surprise return. She'd sat for her tests, had her physical and was waiting for her range qualification test before she could return to active duty. Sean had given her her job back that first Sunday during dinner, provided she could re-certify. In the mean time Jane had helped her mother out with a few projects around the house and her and Rebecca had gotten moved into the guest house. Rebecca had decided to loan herself out on the case she'd been in town working on when she'd heard about Frank Sr.'s death. Jane was spending her days at the robber surrounded by fellow officers all day, so Rebecca had been satisfied that Jane was safe. She'd been busy most of the time they'd been back at the local marshals office, which kept the weird looks Angela gave them whenever they were together, at bay. Everything had been quiet since the murder of Frank and his fiancé. It set Jane on edge. She knew enough to know that serial killers could lay dormant for years and she wanted nothing more then to catch this guy. She could only hope he would get bored and resurface soon.
Jane hadn't seen Maura since the funeral and it pulled at her the few times she pulled into the station and didn't see her car parked in its designated spot. The two times she'd gotten brave enough to venture down to the morgue, Maura was no where to be found. Jane had decided to let Maura have her time to process, that eventually they would run into one another on the job and she'd be able to ask Maura to have a drink so she could explain her side of things. She felt that if Maura would hear her out, they would be able to repair their friendship. The problem was getting in the same room with Maura.
Jane shook off the guilt that once again threatened to suffocate her and hit the button to head down to the gun range. She smiled as the familiar elevator opened and she stepped inside. She wasn't alone, and she recognized the woman in the elevator, but only slightly. She leaned back against the wall and tried to place the face as the woman looked up from her file. 'Awe man… That's…'
"Jane!"
Jane straightened up and looked the other woman over.
"That's me." Jane replied smartly. The other woman recovered quickly.
"I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Doctor Laryssa White."
Jane gave a small nod and extended her hand. "I'm Detective Jane Rizzoli."
"Oh, so you are back then?"
"Obviously I'm back…" Jane let the sentence trail on.
"I'm sorry, I meant back at BPD." Laryssa knew the other woman knew what she meant but played along.
"Not officially, but give me an hour and I will be."
"Good for you."
Jane nodded again and leaned back against the wall crossing her arms, sizing up the doctor. The elevator dinged and Jane looked down to see they'd arrived at her floor. She paused to wonder where the Doc was going when she caught the familiar floor illuminated. Of course, she's here to see Maura.
"Nice seeing you again Jane." Laryssa called out as Jane exited the elevator. Jane was tempted to turn around and flip the woman off, but she knew she couldn't get anymore black marks in Maura's book.
Jane re-qualified with flying colors and headed back up the elevator to see the captain. As she knocked on Sean's door she caught Korsak coming into the pin.
"Jane!"
"Korsak!"
Sean opened the door then and smiled quickly before gruffly turning to Jane. "Rizzoli, get in here."
Jane winked and waved to Korsak. She felt like a kid at Christmas time. By the end of the day, her life would be her own again! She sat down as Sean sat across from her. He reached into the top drawer and pulled out a badge and a service weapon. He placed them on the desk and smiled at Jane. She looked at them waiting for him to say something before she reached for them.
"It's good to have you back kid. If you ever do that to us again, most of all to your mother, don't bother coming back. Okay?"
Jane looked at him to see if he was joking and was met with a stone cold face. She realized then that he wasn't joking. She swallowed thickly.
"Sir, you know I had no other choice that was presented at the time. I couldn't risk all their lives, again."
"I know. But if something happens to you, I'm as good as dead when your mother gets a hold of me, so you better stick around. Understood?"
"Understood."
Sean moved the badge and gun across the desk and smiled as Jane anxiously took it.
"Welcome back detective Rizzoli."
Maura struggled as she worked through her anger the first few days after Jane reappeared and she repeatedly told herself that she had now moved past anger. She knew eventually they would have to talk, but Maura was content in her ignorance. She didn't want to hear the excuses. She figured Jane had played dead for what she felt was a noble reason, but Maura was tired of Jane always running. She ran from her feelings for everyone and her problems if they interfered with the people she cared for, even though she couldn't tell them that she cared. Maura felt like stepping back into Jane's world would only cause her pain again sooner, if not later.
She'd laid awake late at night after Laryssa feel asleep and let the truth surface in the darkness where she could hide it. She had been mad when she thought she had missed an opportunity when Jane had been alive. But when she'd died and Maura had moved on, she'd done so because there was no other option. Now Jane was back. Now she was afraid that if she let go of her protection, her anger, the old feelings she had would return. She again couldn't believe the conundrum she was in.
Maura had been in one of her late night thoughts when the marshals face crossed her mind and it was then that she remembered where she'd seen her from. Maura felt a new level of betrayal as she realized that Jane had known the last time they talked that she was going to disappear. She had know she'd be leaving them all and hadn't muttered a single word. Maura hadn't slept much that night. When she awoke the next morning, she had added another layer to protect herself from the wake of USS Jane.
For the most part, life continued as it had for the last nine months. Maura remained in her cloud with Laryssa in hopes of avoiding the reality that would show up at her door any day to talk. When Laryssa came home that day and told her about her run in with Jane and that she would soon be returning full time to BPD, Maura shrugged and nodded acceptance. It looked as if her time of avoidance was dwindling rapidly.
A few days later Maura had responded to a call which took her to the dock. She'd been to preoccupied with the small fight her and Laryssa had gotten into that morning, to let her mind wander to who else would be responding to the call.
Maura approached the tape and gave her credentials. As she'd turned and started heading down the dock she caught the sound of Jane's voice behind her, giving her credentials at the edge of the crime scene as well. Maura paused a beat as she realized Jane was truly back. She hated what just hearing her voice did to her, but it was involuntary at this point. The combination of that butterfly feeling running up her back and the instant weight of anger, fear and hurt settled into her heart. She berated herself for the reflex and continued on towards the scene. She had taken a handful of steps when she sensed Jane was closing in behind her. The wind carried the subtle scent that Jane had worn for years and Maura smiled as the smell reached her. Her subconscious screamed. She could feel the hesitance in Jane's approach. She continued walking, waiting to see if Jane would approach her. She began to wonder if Jane was going to say anything when she felt the hand on her shoulder. Turning, she was greeted with Jane timidly smiling, her hands now both at her sides.
"Maur… I… Hey." Jane stammered out her hello.
Maura felt as if her world was tilting. She wanted nothing more then to demand an excuse or explanation. She knew this wasn't the time or the place and had to remember that this was probably Jane's first day back on the job. She reminded herself to keep it professional and that would be all that mattered.
"Morning Jane." Maura gave a curt nod and resumed walking.
Jane fell into step with her and put her hands in her pockets. A trait Maura had noticed Jane adapted after Hoyt as a means of hiding her hands. Maura suspected Jane was doing it now because she felt self conscious.
"Maura….I… I'd really like to talk…"
"Jane. Now is neither the time or the place."
"Well when would be good then?"
"I'm not sure right now."
"Come on Maur. It's been two weeks since I've come back and we haven't spoken once."
Maura sighed. She knew she owed it to them both to hear Jane out. "Alright Jane. We can grab some lunch later today and talk then."
"Perfect!" Jane tried not to sound too excited as she hoped this would put them back on track for repairing their friendship. "I can pick us up something and meet you in the lab if you'd like?"
"It's probably best we have the conversation we need to have, away from work, don't you think?"
Jane didn't know what it was about the sentence, but it put her on edge. Maybe this wasn't going to be as easy as she thought.
"Alright Maur." Jane smiled at her and the resumed walking in silence. When they arrived at the scene Korsak met them with a curious arch of the eye brow.
He knew the women in front of him hadn't spoken since their semi explosive reunion at the cemetery. Seeing them now, he couldn't help but hope that they were heading towards some sort of stalemate. Jane noticed his raised questioning look and replied with a small shrug and a shake of her head. She headed to speak with him as Maura went to work with the body.
Their afternoon continued in relative ease. Jane was excited to spend lunch with Maura but a part of her worried about the feeling she'd had during their earlier conversation. She just wanted them to be okay. Being back had reminded Jane of all the feelings she buried. She knew they could never be together now because Maura was married, but she told herself she'd be content with her friendship regardless. Later that afternoon as Jane and Korsak sat at their desk doing paper work when Maura walked into the pit. She made a straight line to Jane's new desk.
"Jane, Are you ready for lunch?"
"Yeah, let me grab my jacket and we can go."
They decided to grab something to go and walk over to the small city park a block away to have a little more privacy. They enjoyed their food in silence. Jane caught Maura looking at her a few times and wondered if she had spilled. After checking to make sure she was food free, she caught Maura's eye again.
"What is it? Do I have something on my face?"
"Oh no. I still find it hard to believe that you're here, alive."
Jane swallowed. This was it. Time to face the music and try and repair the damage done.
"Maura, I need you to understand something. I left 9 months ago because my life and the lives of all of you were at risk. We had and still don't have anything linking these murders. This guy is dangerous. He's unpredictable and I refuse to be the reason any of you get hurt again."
"So instead of let us POSSIBLY get hurt by the killer, you went for the ultimate hurt and let us all believe you were dead?! Jane, it makes no sense! How did you think this would affect us?!"
Maura knew she wasn't ready to talk yet as she felt herself getting upset.
"All that mattered to me was that you were safe."
"We buried you Jane. Do you have any idea what we all went through? No. Of course you don't. The worst part is then you come back and expect us all to pick up as if time hasn't changed us all. It would have been better if you had actually died."
