Hey guys guess what? Chapter 14 is done. It is long I didn't feel like I should cut you short when there is only one more chapter left in Life Support for me to write. I want to tell you to go to my profile and vote on which fanfic you want next without your vote it may be awhile before I put out anything. Thank you so so much for reading, please please review tell me what you think, don't forget to keep an eye out for the Final chapter in the next couple of weeks and as always enjoy!
Chapter 14: Closure
Korsak and Frost stood in the middle of the chaos around them. Maura kneeled next to the male victim. Her hands in the latex gloves moved across the multiple wounds on the victim as she examined him before he was moved and taken to the morgue. The injuries that both of the victims had endured were extensive and gruesome. The male victim they found was 26 year old Ben Yates. His left ear had been completely removed and from the amount of blood present it was safe to assume that the removal had been done before he had died. The woman had been identified as Yates' fiancée Kelly Hunt. Her life, like 25 others, had been cut short by the Ripper. She had suffered it was no longer even speculation, the Ripper enjoyed making his victims wither in pain for as long as possible.
The blood soaked carpet was another reminder of how badly the detectives and Maura had failed to protect the people of Boston yet again. Twenty-six dead and two injured over the past two years all by the hands of one man and that was only in Boston. There was no way for them to know how many people died at the hands of the Ripper over all of the states he had tormented over the past years. The Ripper had gone all this time without getting caught they were starting to dread that he would go on much longer without getting caught. He left no evidence, not a single shred of evidence at any one of the crime scenes. The detectives were left with nothing. Both Korsak and Frost felt like they would soon give up on the case. Even with Jane back it seemed futile to continue. It was starting to show in Maura too. She had her wife back but Jane was so wrapped up in the case it made Maura more determined to close the case but she could see how pointless the chase was becoming.
The scene wasn't going to offer them anything more than what they had already gathered. Korsak and Frost went to find the person who had found the bodies to get their statement since they had been shaken up when the detectives had first arrived. Maura rose from her spot next to the victims, pulled off her gloves and headed out the front door following the detectives. It was mid-afternoon, the sun was high in the sky and a light breeze brought the trees to life. Maura looked away from the peaceful scene to her right and turned to her right where a growing crowd of onlookers and reporters stood. All of them tried to talk to Korsak and Frost as they passed by but were shot down without so much as a glance from the detectives.
Maura walked down the front steps as she headed towards her car that was parked on the curb. Reporters shouted at her trying to get her attention as she walked by but she refused to even so much as look at them. She was completely focused on her car. Maura hated reporters because of how much they twisted any information given to them. She wasn't about to give them any more fuel for their fire. Cavanaugh had to handle the press when it came to the case. Maura only gave them grizzly information that could never be used in a story and on more than one occasion she had cause reporters to run out just before they threw up their lunch. The details of the Ripper case were not for the faint of heart. At times the details were even too much for Maura. She had never seen someone with so much disregard to the human life.
XXXXX
Zach pushed himself over the six foot privacy fence that surrounded the Rizzoli-Isles house hold. He landed in the yard with a small thud. He surveyed the area before he crossed the yard to the porch. The sliding door that led into the house was locked forcing Zach to go to his back-up plan. He pulled his lock-picking kit from his back pocket and quickly went to work with the lock. Thirty seconds later he felt the lock give and he was able to slide the door open. He stepped through the door as he wrapped his kit up and stuck it in his back pocket. Detective Rizzoli and Dr. Isles would be gone for at least another hour and a half, giving Zach at least an hour to go through the house and see if he could find anything. There was a lot of house he needed to search, he knew that he would never be able to go through all the rooms but he knew he could go through the most important.
He started towards what he assumed was the study. His assumption was right on the far side of the room was a desk. Zach quickly went over to the desk. He looked around the desk, it was littered with papers, a few pens, a half-eaten bagel and a photo of the detective and the doctor on what Zach assumed to be their wedding day. Shaking his head he started sifting through the papers looking for anything he could find on the Ripper. A growl rose in his chest when the papers wielded nothing. It took all of his strength to refrain from throwing all the papers onto the ground in a sudden fit of rage. He noticed a closet door off to the side and decided to look in it on the chance that Detective Rizzoli kept the files in there. Not only was he disappointed and angry when he saw there was nothing but junk in it, he was surprised that Dr. Isles had a bad little habit of buying things she obviously didn't need. Zach slammed the closet door angrily before he left the room. From the study he went to the room he assumed was the detective and doctor's bed room.
Each drawer on the bedside dressers was searched and slammed before he moved onto the next. The dresser against the wall was gone through, all it held was Jane's shirts, some of her pants and underwear. Zach grinned apparently the detective was a fan of boyshorts. Dr. Isles on the other hand much to Zach's amusement was a fan of the thong. Zach pushed the clothes back to their place and moved on to the closet. He groaned as he entered the walk-in closet. Dresses, shoes, blazers everything but a box of files there was nothing there. He stormed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen/dining room area. Again he saw nothing. His blood started to boil. He had broken in to get information he didn't have only to have that detective screw him up by taking the files with her. Zach wanted to throw something, he wanted to hit something or someone, anything to get his anger under control. Just as he turned around a blinding pain surged through his head. His vision started to blur as he lost his balance he cried out in pain as he pressed his hands to his head and crumbled to the ground. He rocked himself back and forth as he tried to fight through the pain. It took three minutes for the pain to subside and by that time he heard a car pulling into the driveway. He was on his feet almost instantly. He ran towards the door he had used to come in. With lightning speed he slid it open then shut, completely forgetting to lock it. A few seconds later he was across the yard and vaulting over the fence…
XXXXX
"Korsak sent me down to get your findings," Jane told Maura when she pushed through the doors to the morgue. "Whattya got for me?"
"It depends you wouldn't be lying to me would you?" Maura inquired.
"What could I possibly gain by lying to you about Korsak sending me down here?" Jane asked.
"I don't know, fifteen minutes in the morgue when you should be at your desk perhaps?" Maura turned it back around to Jane.
"Hey I'm still in the building. There is nothing that says I can't be down here besides you," Jane stated. "So come on tell me what you found."
Maura sighed as she walked back over to the body of Ben Yates. Jane followed her so they were standing across from each other.
"Cause of death for both victims was exsanguination, much like the other victims. Also like the others she died nearly an hour after him. Ben Yates' ear was removed peri-mortem whatever was used appears to have a jagged edge. The cut wasn't clear and most likely caused severe pain," Maura began. "One thing that was different that I found was burn marks on Ben Yates' hands and feet, but only on his fiancée had no burns."
"What were the burns caused by?" Jane asked.
"Judging by the size and shape of the burns it was most likely a cigarette," Maura answered.
"CSU didn't find any cigarettes at the crime scene," Jane said. "The Ripper could have taken them with him. He's never burned his victims before… at least not here… But without DNA that doesn't do much for us. Is there anything else? You know something that will actually lead us to a person?"
"There was one thing," Maura said holding up her pointer finger. "I took scrapings from under Kelly Hunt's nails. I found skin scrapings possibly from the Ripper. I gave the sample to Suzie she should be running it through CODIS soon."
"You found DNA? Kelly Hunt was able to fight her attacker and get DNA evidence? Why didn't you start with that Maura?" Jane asked her voice rising in the excitement.
"Because I can't say for sure it was the Ripper's once we get results you'll have a name and Korsak and Frost can take it from there," Maura told her.
Jane couldn't contain her excitement, this was the break they had been waiting for in the case. Actual DNA evidence that could lead them to the Ripper so they can finally throw him in prison. Jane hated that the break in the case came at the expense of another life. What Kelly Hunt had done in her last hour of life could possibly save countless others from the same torture she went through. Jane took it personally that she wasn't able to remember the Ripper's face. If she had the past eight victims would still be alive.
"How long until you get the results from CODIS?" Jane asked.
"You know how long DNA takes to run Jane," Maura reminded her. "It will be a few hours Jane. You'll just have to wait it's not going to hurt anyone the Ripper has been waiting a week between murders we have time."
"Not if he knows we have his DNA Maura," Jane argued. "He could be on the run by the time we get the results back he could be gone."
"Jane calm down Suzie is working as fast as she can," Maura tried to comfort her wife. "He won't get away this time."
Jane shook her head the Ripper wasn't stupid, if he knew Kelly Hunt had scratched him he knew they had his DNA and if he knew that he was long gone. When she looked up Maura was next to her. Maura had pulled off her latex gloves so she could put an assuring hand on Jane's arm, she squeezed Jane's arm slightly before tilting her head to try and get Jane to meet her gaze.
"Look at me Jane."
When Jane met Maura's eye Maura could see how tormented she was about losing the Ripper when they were so close. It was clear to Maura that Jane blamed herself for the deaths of the most recent victims. She was alive and now that she was awake she felt she should have already caught the Ripper and spared the eight victims from their fate. Maura knew that it killed Jane and it would continue killing her until the Ripper was behind bars.
"Jane no matter how long it takes to get a result from the DNA we will get him. There is no way that Korsak or Frost would let him get away. I know this is hard on you it's hard on me too. I hate seeing you like this."
"I'm scared Maura. I am more than scared I am terrified because he is still out there hurting innocent people because I can't remember his fucking face. He left you alive he could take you away all the same. If he got to you and killed you it would be my fault. It was my fault a year ago I put you in danger. I have to get him Maura I have too. I'll never forgive myself if I don't."
Tears started to well-up as Jane finished talking. She wasn't often brought to tears over a case but this one was too close to her. Maura had her arms around Jane immediately trying to soothe her crying wife. Jane hugged Maura back tightly as the tears started to fall. I was rare that Jane would get emotional but after what they had gone through in the past year it wasn't a surprise that Jane would finally break.
"It will all be over soon Jane. We'll get through this…"
XXXXX
Three hours after Jane had broken down in the morgue with Maura there still hadn't been a hit on CODIS. It was getting late so Maura had told Suzie to call her as well as Korsak and Frost if there was a hit. Maura was just about to leave with Jane when she got a call about a dead body that she needed to release from a scene. Jane ended up getting a ride with Korsak instead while Maura went to the scene. As she sat silently in the passenger seat next to Korsak her mind focused on the DNA evidence. She couldn't believe how long it was taking for the DNA to match with someone.
"This traffic sucks," Jane announced.
"I could always turn on the lights and sirens," Korsak joked.
"Hey what's the use of having them if you can't use them to get through traffic every now and then?" Jane laughed.
Korsak was about to respond when his radio went off. 'All units within the area please respond Code 3. We have a possible 10-32 in a warehouse near the harbor. Suspect is believed to be armed and dangerous, proceed with caution.' Jane shot a look at Korsak. They were close to the area but Korsak wasn't acknowledging the dispatcher and he wasn't turning on the sirens.
"Korsak that's the warehouse where the Ripper attacked me flip the lights and sirens and go."
"I'm taking you home first you're not cleared for the field and you would be in violation."
"Korsak if you don't go now it could be too late. Forget about the regulations and go it could be him."
Korsak cursed under his breath as he flipped on the lights and sirens and hit the gas. As much as he hated it Jane was right it could be hours before the DNA results came through and if there was even the slightest chance this was the Ripper it may be their only chance to get him. Korsak slammed on the breaks when he arrived with Jane at the warehouse only three minutes later. When he stepped out of the car Jane wasn't far behind.
"You're staying here Jane," Korsak reminded her sternly.
"I know Korsak," Jane said. "I was going to ask why the hell Maura is here."
Korsak looked up from the trunk of his car and noticed Dr. Isles' car parked near where he had stopped. He pulled his bullet proof vest on as he and Jane went over to Maura who was just getting out of her car.
"Hey Dr. Isles what are you doing here?" Korsak asked her.
"I got a call about a DB. Right after I arrived the officer on scene called for back-up," Maura explained. "What are you doing here Jane?"
"Let's not argue about this right now Korsak was taking me back to the house I told him to respond," Jane explained and when she saw the look Maura gave her she continued. "I'll stay in the car just go."
Maura took Jane's hand and gave it a squeeze before she turned to follow Korsak into the warehouse. The only reason she was going with him was in case someone needed medical attention. She was the only medical personal there since the EMT's hadn't been called in. Jane stood next to the car for a few minutes as she waited for Maura and Korsak to disappear into the building. She had no intention of waiting in the car for whoever to be brought out in cuffs. Jane had to see for herself, she was sure that if she could get inside and see whoever the armed suspect was she would remember the Ripper's face. That was of course if it was actually the Ripper inside.
Once she was sure her partner and wife were inside she popped the trunk to Maura's car and pulled out her spare Kevlar vest. She quickly pulled it on over her head and pulled it tight. For a moment she paused with her hand on the trunk, reconsidering her plan, but she dismissed it and slammed the trunk shut. Next she walked up to the passenger side door and opened it. Reaching under the seat she pulled out a gun box and quickly loaded her back-up weapon. She slammed the door to the car and with one last glance at the two cars she headed towards the warehouse with her gun at the ready.
XXXXX
Inside the warehouse Korsak, along with six uniformed officers, Frankie and Frost had surrounded the two gunmen. Maura stood back a distance to avoid the risk of somehow ending up in the middle of the standoff. Everyone had their guns drawn and aimed at one of the two men. One of the men seemed angry and determined to get the other, who appeared to be less confrontational, to do something.
"You're pointing your gun at the wrong person!" the confrontational man shouted. "I'm Detective Zach Rodgers and that man right there is the Boston Ripper."
Guns were lowered all around but remained ready in case they still needed to use them. Focus shifted to the other man. His hand was trembling as he raised his gun towards Zach.
"That's far enough! Drop your weapon and put your hands on your head!" Korsak ordered the Ripper.
The Ripper made no attempt to drop his weapon or surrender. Korsak repeated himself twice more hoping the Ripper would comply. All guns were trained on the Ripper now. He would either leave here alive and in cuffs or dead on a gurney.
XXXXX
Jane slowly entered the room where the standoff was going down making sure to keep out of sight of the armed men and the officers. She recognized the room from her nightmares and soon realized it was the room she had almost died in. She trained her gun on the suspect nearest her. If she had to take the shot she only had seconds to make a judgement and was at risk of shooting the wrong man. She saw Korsak shouting orders at the second armed man and decided to keep her gun on the taller man. The man who Korsak was yelling at was unrecognizable to Jane. She feared that even though she could be looking right at the Ripper she may not even be able to remember.
That was until the man she had her gun trained on turned his head so she could finally see his face. She knew that face. She had seen it a dozen times in her files, Zach Rodgers was standing in front of her. It wasn't only that. Flashed from the day she nearly lost her life started to flood through her brain. That was when she saw it she remembered. Her jaw clenched as she took a step forward. Her grip tightened on her gun as she trained it on the man who had nearly killed her.
XXXXX
Zach had his gun aimed at the homeless man's chest. He had promised him a good deal if he took the fall for a crime. Zach had failed to mention the nature of the crime to the man however. He was confident that the homeless guy wouldn't do what he was told by Korsak until Zach gave him the signal. His finger twitched on the trigger as he prepared to take the shot.
"NO!"
Everyone stopped dead and turned towards the voice. The homeless man also turned towards Jane unknowingly aiming his gun at her. He didn't know what was going on any more than the rest of them. Zach however kept his eyes trained on the homeless man he had paid. He had to finish this.
It happened in an instant. Three muzzles flashed and were followed by a loud bang. Jane, Zach and the homeless man all went down at the same time. Everyone froze.
"Jane!" Maura shouted.
She ran over to her wife who had just been shot and started to look for the entrance wound. Jane groaned as Korsak and Frankie ran over to her. The uniformed officers ran over to the homeless man who was bleeding badly. Frost ran over to Zach, who was bleeding but not with a critical wound.
"He's the wrong one!" Jane mustered through the blinding pain in her chest. "Zach if the Ripper! Arrest him!"
Jane fell backwards from her sitting position when she couldn't take the pain anymore. She opened her jacket to reveal her Kevlar vest, which was now holding a .45 cal bullet right over her heart. Maura pulled open Jane's shirt to see only a massive bruise forming on her chest. She turned to Korsak and Jane's brother.
"Get her out of here," she ordered.
The two helped Jane to her feet and carried her out of the room. Maura went back over to Frost, who had kicked the Ripper's gun away and was now cuffing him. Zach had sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He would need stitches but he would be fine. The homeless man on the other hand wasn't so lucky. The bullet had nicked an artery near his heart. He had bled out without even a chance at survival.
"Frost roll up his sleeves."
Frost did and found scratches as if someone had attacked him on his forearms. Maura was sure that the DNA under Kelly Hunt's nails would match Zach. It seemed as if the yearlong terror the Ripper had caused in Boston was finally going to be over. Frost gripped under Zach's arm and pulled him to his feet. Zach cried out in pain but Frost ignored him as he shoved him forward. Maura watched as Frost started to walk him out.
"Zachary Rodgers you are under arrest for the murder of Kelly Hunt, Ben Yates as well as the other 24 victims, for the attempted murder of Detective Jane Rizzoli and the assault of Dr. Maura Isles," Frost informed him. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand your rights as they've been read to you?"
"Go to hell," Zach growled.
Frost shoved Zach forward again only this time he hit the shoulder where Zach had been shot. Zach stumbled in pain but kept walking. They were all crazy he wasn't the Ripper he had just shot and killed the real Ripper. Maura followed behind Frost as he led Zach out of the warehouse. Zach needed to be checked by the paramedics, who would decide whether or not he needed to go to the hospital. Depending on what they said Zach would either be escorted there and have a security detail placed to watch him or he would be taken to the precinct for interrogation. Maura didn't care which of the two happened as long as he didn't get away she was more concerned with Jane who had just taken a shot to the chest. She found Jane fighting an EMT who was trying to get a better look at the bruise.
"Get your hands off me," Jane warned the EMT.
"I'm just making sure there isn't any major damage detective stop fighting me," the EMT told her.
"I was shot in the chest with a .45 and I had my vest on it's a bruise I'm fine," Jane argued.
"Oh really so you've had medical training in the past few hours that allows you to make this conclusion then?" the EMT asked sarcastically.
"Is there a problem over here?" Maura asked as she came up to Jane and the EMT.
"Not at all Dr. Isles your wife if just a pain in the ass like always," the EMT told her. "She won't let me look at her. It's probably just a bruised sternum so she needs to take it easy but I'd still like to make sure."
"That's alright Paul," Maura assured him. "I'll look at her myself if that's alright."
"By all means go ahead," Paul stepped away from Jane. "I don't know how you can stand a hard head like her. It would drive me crazy being married to someone as stubborn as her."
"Excuse you?" Jane interjected. "I'm right here I can hear you."
Paul only grinned in response as he patted Maura's shoulder and went to see how the other EMT's were handling Zach. Maura stepped up to Jane and immediately in buttoned the rest of Jane shirt so she could get a better view of the bruising. Jane jumped when Maura's fingers ran over the black and blue area on her chest. It wasn't because it hurt it was because Maura's hands were freezing.
"Lean back I need a better view," Maura ordered.
"Is this really necessary Maura?" Jane joked, but the look Maura gave her told Jane that Maura was angry. "Maura I'm sorry."
"We're not talking about this now Jane," Maura informed her.
"Come on Maur," Jane pushed.
"Jane we will talk about your blatant disregard of your own safety as well as your inability to listen to a simple request later," Maura snapped. "Right now I need to make sure that there is no damage to your ribs, heart or lungs. So please stop talking and just cooperate."
Jane fell silent after Maura snapped at her. The only time Maura spoke to her like that was when she was beyond pissed. The last time that had happened was after Jane had shot Maura's father Paddy Doyle. They didn't talk for months after that. Jane hoped that wouldn't happen now. She needed Maura more than she would ever admit. As Jane watched Maura pushed down on Jane's sternum causing Jane to jump and grunt in pain. Maura looked up at Jane with a concerned look in her eyes. Jane only smiled and gave Maura the thumbs up to continue…
XXXXX
After the events at the warehouse Zach Rodgers was taken to the hospital to undergo surgery to remove the bullet in his arm. He would be held there for a week before he was released into the custody of Boston Homicide. His interrogation would wait until they had him at the precinct.
On the other side Jane, Korsak and Frost he been given a week of leave to recover from the warehouse encounter and prepare for the interrogation. Maura also took a week off so she could be with Jane who was recovering from being shot in the chest. The results from the DNA test had come back hours after Zach had been arrested. They confirmed that the DNA belonged to Zach Rodgers and that he had in fact killed Kelly Hunt and her fiancée. There was still a long way to go however. They still had to convict him for the murders, but also find out what other states he had killed in so they could possibly expedite him for the chance at the death penalty unless he struck a deal to be kept in Boston. The worst was over. One of the most horrific killers Boston had even seen was in custody and wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else.
XXXXX
Later the night of the warehouse conflict…
Jane shut the door behind her and tossed her keys on the table by the door. Maura hadn't spoken to her since the ambulance at the warehouse. Jane knew she had screwed up but she hoped Maura would forgive her. She hadn't been able to talk to Maura because she had left right after she determined Jane's injury wasn't major. Jane had gotten Frankie to drive her home, where she arrived minutes ago. When she entered the family room she stopped in her tracks when she saw Maura sitting out the counter with multiple tissues balled up and tossed aside near her. She had been crying for a while. Jane felt a tug in her heart. This was her fault she had hurt Maura badly.
"Maura?" Jane spoke quietly.
Maura didn't respond. She just stood up so she could turn and face Jane. They stood there looking at each other in silence for the longest time before Maura crossed the room so she was directly in front of Jane. Tears started streaming down Maura's cheeks as she stared into Jane's eyes. Her make-up that had been running before started to run again but Maura paid no attention to it. She had reached an end that she never knew she had. Jane had recovered from her attack a year ago but Maura had almost lost her again no more than two hours ago.
"Why would you do something so irresponsible and reckless Jane?" Maura cried suddenly. "You could have been killed!"
"Maura…I...I needed to know for sure…He could have killed you or someone else…you all thought it was the homeless man… he could have gotten away," Jane tried to explain.
"You put your life on the line because of another one of your gut feelings Jane. You had no idea that the Ripper was there. You had no idea that Zach was the Ripper!" Maura exclaimed.
"The second I saw his face it clicked Maura. I knew it was him I had to get him," Jane told her.
"Damnit Jane I just got you back!" Maura shouted. "I could have lost you Jane! You acted on a God damned impulse. You never once stopped to think about how your actions might result in you dying. You didn't think about how I might be effected!"
"Maura please…" Jane begged.
Maura wasn't ready to listen to Jane's excuses and without thinking she slapped Jane hard in the face. Jane was surprised to say the least. Her cheek stung so she rubbed it with her hand. Maura was crying even harder now. Jane just stood there unable to say anything.
"It's not just you anymore Jane! You have to start thinking about us when you do something like that. If I had lost you…" Maura cried balling her hands into fists before she started to hit Jane in the chest. "I can't live without you!"
As much as it hurt with Maura basically hitting her bruised chest repeatedly Jane let Maura get it all out. She cringed at each hit but never said a word or attempt to stop Maura. Not long after Jane grabbed Maura's arms and pulled her crying wife close to her. Maura continued to cry into Jane's chest as Jane ran a hand through Maura's hair while she rested her chin on Maura's head.
"Easy Maura…it's over it's all over…" Jane whispered to Maura trying to calm her. "I'm here. I'm not going to leave you again…I'm so sorry honey…so sorry for hurting you… You know I love you more than anything…"
XXXXX
Hours after Maura had broken down and spilled her feelings to Jane the two had managed to reconcile. Maura could never stay mad at Jane for long especially since she went a year without her, but she wasn't going to forget Jane's recklessness. Jane was sorry for putting Maura through everything that was clear and that was what mattered. They stood in the doorway to their room looking at each other. Maura's heart skipped a beat when Jane placed a hand on her cheek. It was the first time in a year that she had felt like she did now.
"I've missed this feeling Jane," Maura admitted.
"Let me make it up to you," Jane whispered as she leaned in close to Maura. "Let's forget about everything else for a while."
Maura looked up at Jane with her piercing hazel eyes. Jane had gotten that look from Maura hundreds of times. It was one of want and need and it was the most seductive look Jane had even seen. Jane pulled Maura into their room and slammed the door shut before Maura had her arms wrapped around Jane and had her pinned against the door. Maura kissed Jane hard and Jane responded by kissing back and sliding a hand up Maura's dress. Jane pulled Maura's leg up to her hip and continued to caress Maura's thigh. Maura caught up in the heat of passion hopped up and wrapped her legs around Jane's waist, giving Jane the opportunity turn and press Maura against the door. Jane pressed as close to Maura as she could as they continued to kiss.
Jane broke away from Maura's lips and started to kiss Maura's neck. Maura moaned in pleasure and wrapped her arms around Jane's neck. Jane let Maura's legs fall from her waist as she stepped back and eyed Maura's dress. Maura picked up on what Jane was thinking and reached behind her to unzip her dress. She let in fall to the ground before taking a step towards Jane and pulled off Jane's blazer. Maura ripped open Jane's shirt, the buttons falling to the floor. Jane smirked and pulled off the ruined shirt before pulling Maura over to the bed. Maura crawled back onto the bed as Jane followed until she was hovering over Maura. Jane leaned down and kissed Maura's neck, nipping the skin gently before she moved down to Maura's shoulder, then to her chest. She stopped when she reached Maura's breasts. A smirk broke across her face as she unclasp Maura's lace bra. Jane started gently kissing Maura's breasts as her hands crept down Maura's thighs. Maura wrapped her leg around Jane again as she pulled Jane back up to kiss her lips.
Injury completely forgotten Jane pushed herself up some so she could force Maura to sit up to keep their lips locked. Maura grasped Jane's shoulders so the two remained together. With Jane's hand on the small of her back the two sat farther up so that Maura was now in Jane's lap pressed tightly against her. Jane pushed Maura's bra the rest of the way of and promptly had her own bra removed. The two never broke their kiss. Their hands explored each other's bodies each touch filled with a desire for more. Maura broke the kiss by gently biting Jane's lip. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment. Maura's hands found themselves tangled in Jane's hair as Maura's breath became rapid. She pulled herself up against Jane so now Jane was looking up at her. Maura then leaned down and whispered 'I love you' in Jane's ear be she pulled Jane back into a rough passionate kiss she held Jane with one hand while she reached down with the other to unbutton Jane's pants…
XXXXX
One week later…
Maura stood on one side of the one-way mirror as she waited for Korsak, Frost and Jane to start Zach's interrogation. She bit her nail impatiently as the three detectives filed into the room. On the opposite side of the mirror Korsak and Frost took seats across from Zach while Jane leaned against the wall so she was positioned between her partners and the Ripper. She was taking lead on the questioning and wasn't going to go easy on him.
"Do you just want to confess and make this interrogation go really fast or do you want to be difficult?" Jane asked.
"You're insane," Zach snarled. "I'm not the Ripper!"
"We have DNA evidence that says otherwise," Jane informed him.
"Also a positive ID from one of your victims," Korsak added. "I have a feeling a jury will be more inclined to believe an honored detective over one like you."
"So how long have you been doing this Zach?" Jane inquired. "There are murders matching you motive spanning from California to here."
"I didn't kill anyone in California!" Zach shouted adamantly.
"What about your girlfriend and her little girl?" Frost asked. "It seems odd that you survived and they didn't. In some cases the survivor is found to be the guilty one."
Zach slammed his hands into the metal table and rose like he would attack Frost, but Jane was on him instantly. She shoved a hand forcefully into his chest and knocked him back into his seat.
"Sit down," Jane growled.
"I loved her! I loved both of them! I would never lay a finger on either of them!" Zach shouted. "I did not kill them! I didn't kill them! The Ripper did! That bastard took the only people in the world I cared about!"
"That must have made you angry," Jane said.
"You're fucking right it made me angry! I chased that sonofabitch down and tore him to pieces! I ended him!" Zach yelled. "I killed a lot of people and I should have made damn sure you were dead before I left cause I would still be out there ending lives!"
Zach fell back in his chair, his domineer had changed completely. He sat straight up in his chair with his hands in his lap as he watched Jane. He was completely in control of himself he appeared as if he hadn't just admitted to dozens of murders.
"You think I'm scared of you Jane? Cause I'm not. You can throw me in jail and let me rot but I'll always be there. In your head like a parasite you can't get rid of. I'm your boogeyman Jane."
Zach leaned back in his chair and smiled at the detectives. They were done with him. His confession and the DNA was enough to convict him on their own. The three detectives waved for the uniformed officer to take Zach out before them themselves left. Just as Jane was passing the observation booth Maura stepped out and grabbed her arm.
"I need to talk to you," she said.
"Alright what about?" Jane asked.
"I was observing the interrogation and I saw something," Maura stated. "I believe Zach I really do think he's telling the truth. Actually I think part of him is telling the truth."
"What are you talking about?" Jane asked. "How can only part of him be telling the truth?"
"There is a personality disorder called Dissociative Identity Disorder, you may know it better as Multiple Personality Disorder, but it causes a person to have two or more identities that recurrently take control of the person's behavior," Maura explained. "Each personality will respond to a different name, have different mannerisms, speak with a different dialect and even have memories that the other identity does not have."
"So you're saying we just interrogated two different people?" Jane asked confused.
"What I am saying is Zach really didn't kill anyone, his other identity did. You saw that sudden change in behavior his sudden burst of anger completely went away and he switched from Zach to the identity we call the Ripper," Maura continued to explain. "It makes sense really. It is believed that the disorder stems from trauma experienced by a person. It happened very rapidly and before you ask what it is switching is when on identity takes over the person's behavior and can happen in seconds or weeks it all just depends on the person."
"God fucking damnit," Jane growled shaking her head. "If Zach really does suffer from a mental disorder he can plead insanity and be stuck in a mental institution. He could get out of prison time because of this."
"Did you see how he responded to you Jane?" Maura asked. "Whoever show's up in that courtroom whether it is the Ripper or Zach they won't plead insanity. The Ripper identity would never admit that he is crazy. I can promise you he has too much pride in his work to allow himself to admit to his insanity."
"God I hope you're right," Jane muttered. "I can't take this case anymore."
XXXXX
Six months later…
It hadn't taken long for the detective's and Dr. Isles to move past the Ripper case and get on with their lives. They still had to deal with Zach Rodger's trial but once they had all testified they stayed as far away from the courtroom as possible none of them planned on returning unless they were called back. One thing they had all decided together was that instead of being there when the jury reached a verdict they would watch from Jane and Maura's house. A decision that was reinforced five months ago when Maura and Jane announced their next step forward in their life.
Coverage of the case was one the news that day and hopefully within the next few hours the verdict would come back and Zach Rodgers would finally be put behind bars for good. Everyone gathered at Jane and Maura's before the live feed was supposed to be aired. The family room was packed full with everyone so they had resorted to pulling chairs over from the dining room table. Korsak sat in the cushioned chair next to the couch, Frost was next to him with a dining room chair. Frankie and Tommy sat opposite of Korsak and Frost in their chairs they had pulled over. Cavanaugh sat next to Angela on the couch and next to Angela sat Jane with an arm wrapped around Maura's shoulders and a beer in her hand.
"So…I was told there would be food," Tommy announced.
"Who told you that?" Jane asked.
"No one there's just usually food involved when we're all over here," Tommy shrugged.
"Order some pizza's then," Jane told him. "You do have a phone."
"Jane don't be rude to your brother," Angela told her.
"I'm not being rude," Jane muttered. "How is that being rude?"
"I'm getting something to drink," Maura stated. "Does anyone else want anything while I'm up?"
They all responded no. As Maura pushed herself off the couch and started towards the kitchen Angela glanced over and noticed her daughter wasn't following so she slapped her arm.
"Ow ma what the hell?" Jane exclaimed.
"What is wrong with you go help your wife," Angela told her.
"What? What for she's just getting something to drink," Jane said.
"Jane Clementine Rizzoli get off your ass and help your pregnant wife," Angela urged.
Jane glared at her mother as she rose from her seat and continued to glare as she walked around the couch and into the kitchen. Her mother shot a look back then turned around to watch the live news feed with the others. Jane came up next to Maura and wrapped an arm around Maura's growing belly. Maura smiled and leaned back to kiss Jane's cheek.
"I wasn't aware that getting a glass of water was considered strenuous activity Jane," Maura mused.
"Neither did I but your mother-in-law seems to believe it is," Jane whispered.
"She's just concerned Jane," Maura assured her. "It's her first grandchild."
"Mmm. Well I think we both know you can take care of yourself and I can take care of you as well," Jane stated.
"Oh? And what about yourself Jane?" Maura inquired.
"It's a work in progress," Jane shrugged. "Now come on we're going to miss the entire thing."
Maura smiled, picked up her glass of water and lead the way back to the couch. Jane kept her hand on Maura's back until they were able to sit down. Cavanaugh, Korsak, Frost and Frankie hadn't spoken since the coverage of the trial came on. Now they all sat there in silence as it was announced that the jury had come back and was ready to deliver their verdict. Jane's hand found Maura's and she squeezed it tightly, her heart rate rising as the seconds passed by. Maura moved closer to Jane and continued to hold her wife's hand as she placed her free hand on her stomach. Angela held Cavanaugh's hand in both of hers. She was just as anxious as everyone else in the room to hear the guilty verdict.
'It has just been confirmed that the jury has returned with their verdict…'
There was a long pause as the information was relayed to the reported. Jane reached over and grabbed Korsak's hand. He squeezed her hand in attempt to reassure her.
'Zachary Rodger's the man known to Bostonians as the Boston Ripper, accused of twenty-six murders, the assault of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Boston Dr. Maura Isles and the attempted murder of one of Boston's most well-known homicide detective Det. Jane Rizzoli has just been found guilty in a court of law…'
Jane, Korsak, Frost and Frankie all jumped out of their seat as if the Red Sox had just won the World Series. Jane hugged Korsak tightly before grabbing Frost and hugging him tightly. He hugged back hard enough to lift Jane off the ground before he let her down so she could hug her brother. This time Jane was the one who lifted Frankie off the ground. Maura had never seen Jane this happy with the exception of when Maura told her that she was pregnant. Angela leaned over to hug her daughter-in-law. Maura hugged her back. In that moment the two shared the same feeling Jane had gone through an immediate change after the verdict was announced. She was back. Jane then came over to Maura and held out her hands for Maura to take. Once she did Jane pulled her up and gave her a huge hug.
"We did it Maura," Jane proclaimed. "It's over Maura. It's finally over."
Maura had no words for the moment she just pulled away and kissed Jane. When Jane broke away she grinned. All of the pressure Jane had been feeling since she came out of her coma was finally gone. She felt free and whole again.
"Jane?" Maura asked her hand falling to her stomach.
"You alright Maura?" Jane asked suddenly concerned.
"I'm fine. I just…I just felt the baby kick Jane," Maura told her. "Give me your hand."
Jane gave her hand to Maura who promptly placed Jane's hand on the side of her belly. They waited for a minute until Jane finally felt the kick. Once again Jane's face lit up. She pulled Maura back in for another hug but this time she buried her face in Maura's shoulder. Everything was just so overwhelming at that moment. She was embraced with how emotional she was getting in front of her entire family and her friends.
"Jane don't suffocate the poor girl," Angela said with a chuckle.
"I'm fine Angela," Maura promised.
"Damnit guys now I'm crying I can't work with any of you anymore," Jane joked as she wiped her eyes.
Everyone laughed before circling around Jane and trapping her in a group hug. Angela was closest and wrapped her arms around her daughter and squeezed her in a bear hug.
"It is about time one of my kids gave me a grandchild," she teased.
"No. no. no come guys stop it!" Jane begged.
Maura stepped back from the group and laughed. It had been nearly two years since she had seen any of them so happy. She felt that things could only get better from there. Maura smiled to herself when looked down at her stomach that she had been rubbing with her hand. She and Jane would soon welcome their first child into the world. Something that may not have been happening if the Ripper remained on the loose. It was time for them to start their life without the worry of the Ripper coming back.
"Jane use your elbows," Maura advised when her wife still hadn't gotten out of the group hug turned dog pile.
All Maura got in response was Jane's hand reaching up over the heads of her captures and flipping the bird. Maura couldn't help but laugh.