Jane's tires screeched to a halt. She jumped out of the car and raced up the walkway. The banging on the front door of the FBI FOB didn't last long before Agent Shay Dorsey opened the door inviting Jane in.
"I have been waiting for you" Dorsey replied shocking Jane into silence. "Follow me" Agent Dorsey said weaving through the hallway of the house. Once inside the room Jane studied the walls that were lined with mission outlines, target photo graphs, surveillance photographs of mobsters, and a photo of Adian O'Leary with an X marked through it. "It has begun" Agent Dorsey said.
"What is your plan? You know Maura is in danger, she is out in the open right now" Jane said quickly with anger and concern in her voice.
"She is not. She is currently at BPD headquarters with O'Leary's body" Agent Dorsey responded turning a computer monitor around so Jane could see the live video feed Shay had planted in the lab.
"But she is there and you are here. How can you ensure her safety?" Jane asked.
"She is not alone Detective. I have a man in the lab" Dorsey replied.
"Who?" Jane challenged.
"That is classified" Agent Dorsey replied.
"So why were you waiting for me?" Jane asked quickly.
"She knows I did this. And if Dr. Isles is the person I think she is, she will struggle with this. She will struggle with how she may be feeling for me knowing that I could do such a thing. I am afraid that I lost part of her trust today and she is going to need you now more than ever" Agent Dorsey said.
"Let's get this straight; you don't know Maura at all. She was frightened this morning and now I know why. She is frightened of what you are capable of. You better pray that nothing happens to her during this whole thing or you will have to deal with me. I don't need you to tell me she needs me. I don't need you to ask me to be there for her and neither does she. Maura knows I am always there for her" Jane thundered. "I have absolutely no idea what she sees in you. I have absolutely no idea why she cares for you, but I will assure you that it is over. She walked into that crime scene today one person and then stumbled out a different person. You should have told her what you did before she had to witness it, before she had to perform the autopsy. I came here to warn you. If Maura gets hurt, I will kill you myself" Jane said as she walked out of the room and out of the house.
Having grown accustomed to being threatened by her assignments loved ones, Shay sat at the desk and turned the monitor back around to watch Maura. She watched as the ME extracted blood from the dead body to make a DNA match in the criminal database. She watched as the ME examined the entrance and exit wound of the gunshot blast. Shay couldn't take it anymore; she stood up and grabbed her car keys before racing out of the door.
Jane arrived at BPD and headed straight down to the morgue. She walked through the double doors not seeing Maura anywhere. Jane walked to Maura's office and knocked lightly on the door. "Come in" Maura replied from the other side.
"Maura, are you okay?" Jane asked.
"Yes, of course Jane. Why do you ask?"
"Maura" Jane said sternly causing Maura's eyes to drop to the floor.
"I do not want to talk about this Jane" Maura said quietly.
Jane walked over to Maura and placed her hand on Maura's shoulder. Maura responded by turning into the detective placing her head on her shoulder and wrapping her arms round her best friend. Jane didn't reply she just held her friend close to her trying to offer her some comfort.
"Maura" she voice said coming from the doorway.
Maura released her hold on Jane and turned to face Agent Dorsey. She walked quickly toward the FBI Special Agent stopping directly in front of her. Jane stood watching the encounter hoping the Maura would punch Shay in the face or slam her office door in her face. Maura stood there with her eyes locking on the agent as if they were having a silent conversation. After several minutes of silence Maura spoke, "Jane could you excuse us please?"
Not expecting that request Jane replied, "What?"
"Please Jane" Maura asked quickly and calmly not breaking her eye contact with Agent Dorsey.
"Unbelievable" Jane whispered as she walked out of the room bumping her shoulder into Agent Dorsey who was still standing in the doorway.
Maura waited for the elevator door to close before grabbing Shay's hand pulling her into the office and shutting the door. "I know you did this" Maura said beginning the conversation. "But I know you had to do this and you did this for me".
"That shouldn't make it okay Maura" Shay replied honestly. "I tried to tell you I wasn't the hero. I have come to terms with that, it is part of who I have become, I have to live with it, you don't".
"You say one thing but your eyes say something else. They betrayed you this morning in the bathroom. I saw the sadness, the conflict in your eyes" Maura replied gently as she brushed her hand down the side of Shay's face. "I think you should leave town Maura" Shay replied not allowing herself to believe anything Maura just said.
"What?" Maura asked quickly.
"This is going to get much worse and I want you to be safe so you should get out of town. I want Jane to go with you. I will come for you when this is over" Shay replied.
"Absolutely not" Maura responded quickly. "This is exactly what I will not allow my biological father do to my life. I will not be controlled or have to hide because of who I am. Besides, you said you could protect me. Can you?" she asked.
"It is not about that anymore Maura. I do not want you to be part of this in anyway. I don't want you to have to do autopsies on people who want to kill you. I don't want you to have to do autopsies on the people I kill" Shay replied grabbing Maura's hand and gently squeezing.
"I don't want to go" Maura replied as she wrapped her arms around Shay's waist.
"Jane said you would not trust me anymore. I can't have you witness what I am capable of" Shay said.
"Jane said what?" Maura asked pulling away from Shay.
"She came to the house and said you would not trust me anymore and that whatever you saw in me was gone. She said I scared you" Shay whispered with her head down.
"Hey, I trust you with my life. I honestly don't know why" Maura chuckled, "but I do. I wasn't scared of you, I was scared of what you would do for me" Maura said releasing the agent.
"What do you mean?" Shay asked.
"From the layout of that warehouse you could have killed O'Leary from any number of locations, but you chose to do it at point blank range from the front. He saw you; he knew he was going to die. You shot him with such precision that the bullet severed the spinal cord killing him instantly. He was dead before he hit the ground. I assume that was not an accident. You wanted him to be frightened to know he was going to die but you did it surprisingly humanly. You could have shot him in the chest and let him suffer but you didn't. Why is that?" Maura asked.
Shay stood silently surprised at Maura's observations.
"It is because you are not as hard as you think you are. It is because you have a heart. It is because you will do anything to protect me. It is because this has become very personal for you" Maura replied.
"And it can't be Maura. If I am going to complete this mission, it can't be personal. I have to keep my head straight." Shay responded knowing that even if Maura were not in Boston, she couldn't get her out of her mind. Maura could see that Shay didn't convince herself and didn't say anything as she wrapped her arms back around the agent.
"There is a meeting tonight. The Flanagan family and the Donahue family's are meeting to discuss O'Leary's assassination. My intel says that they both suspect the other of last night's hit. It is my opportunity to take out a large number of targets at once." Shay said holding onto Maura.
"Sounds dangerous" Maura said squeezing Shay tightly. "Are you going alone?" she asked.
"Yes" Shay replied. "You will be protected. I don't want to you to worry that you will be alone"
"I'm not worried about me" Maura replied pushing away from Shay enough to reach up and press her lips to Shay's.
"I will be fine. I will see you tomorrow" Shay said resting her forehead against Maura's.
"You have to go now?" Maura asked, "you said the meeting is not till tonight".
"I have to set up Maura. Please don't make me explain it to you." Shay begged.
"I'm sorry" Maura whispered. "Please be careful."
"After work I need you to go home with Jane. If you want to go to her apartment just let me know, either way she needs to stay with you tonight. I do not want you to be alone. I want you to call Dr. Pike to take any calls that come in tonight. I don't want you involved in this." Shay explained.
"You will come home in the morning?" Maura asked quietly.
"I will find you when I can, when it is safe" Shay replied.
Maura nodded her head in agreement to all of Shay's instructions. "Shay" was all Maura could manage to get out before her lips were met by the agents. The kiss was light at first but grew quickly with Maura parting her lips to invite Shay's tongue into her mouth. The kiss ended as abruptly as it started. Before Maura's eyes were completely opened Shay was out of the room and out of sight. Maura brought her fingers to her lips praying it would not be the last time she saw Shay alive.
Jane returned to her desk plopping down in her chair.
"Okay" Frost replied at the obvious sour mood Jane was in.
"We have a lead Jane" Korsak said entering the office quickly. "My CI said there is a meeting happening tonight. Families will be there. This is our chance to bring down some of the major crime bosses in Boston" he said.
"Let's do it" was Jane's reply before they all headed to the BRIC to begin formulating a plan.
The day passed slowly for Maura. She tried to understand her strong connection with the FBI Agent she barely knew. She only knew that there was something that drew her to Shay. It was unexplainable. As the afternoon finally came around, Maura picked up the phone to call Jane's desk. Jane didn't answer so Maura decided to get out of her office for a while. She walked to the elevator and pressed the button to take her to the homicide department. The desks of her three favorite detectives were empty. Maura stood looking around, where had everyone gone? She thought to herself. She turned to leave and noticed Frost standing in the BRIC. She walked to the door knocking gently.
"Hey Maura" Frost replied greeting the ME. She looked over at Jane, "Can I speak with you please detective?" she asked.
"Excuse me guys" Jane said.
"No problem, I could use a cup of coffee anyway. It's going to be a long night. You want anything?" Frost asked of the group. Korsak placed his order with Frost and Jane shook her head no as she exited the room.
"Long night?" Maura asked following Jane to her desk. "Something is going down tonight" Jane replied quickly still slightly angry with Maura's previous behavior. "What?" Maura asked. "I don't think I should tell you Maur. I don't know if it will stay between us" Jane replied harshly. "What does that mean?" Maura asked. "I don't want it getting back to Agent Dorsey" Jane stated. "Oh, I see" Maura said slightly hurt. Maura turned to exit. "Wait Maura, I'm sorry" Jane said reaching for Maura's arm. "That was rude. I'm sorry Maura please don't leave" she begged. "What did you want to talk to me about?" Jane asked.
"I was going to ask you to come over tonight" Maura responded.
"Shit Maura, you know I would but we got this lead and the guys and I have a plan. I'm so sorry Maura. Any other night I am all yours but if BPD can get credit for taking down some of the biggest mobsters in Boston then I need to be there" Jane explained quickly. "Wait, where is Agent Dorsey? I thought she was your bodyguard or something" Jane asked.
"BPD?" Maura replied. "You're doing what?" Maura asked. "What?" Jane asked. "You said you were taking down some of the biggest mobsters in Boston" Maura replied. "Yeah" Jane replied. "What is wrong Maura?" Jane asked.
"I have to go. Please don't do anything until you hear from me first" Maura said quickly as she rushed out of the homicide department.
Maura reached her office and fumbled through her purse looking for the secured phone Agent Dorsey gave her.
"Maura?" Shay answered on the other end of the phone.
"Shay, Jane knows. BPD will be there" Maura said quickly. "You're sure?" Shay asked. "Yes" was the last thing Maura said before the rag was placed over her mouth. She dropped the phone as she struggled with her attacker. She quickly lost consciousness and fell limp into the arms of a very strong man.
