**Disclaimer I do not own R&I**

Ian had invited her over for tea and some lunch over at where he was residing, or how could it could come.

He finished his work and said goodbye to Maura's mother and wanted to continue their conversation.

He got there on time just as she had. She was always punctual and for this he was grateful.

"Hi! So sandwiches are efficient I suppose?" He asks.

"Anything will suffice." She answers

"May I be frank Maura?"

"Tell me what's on your mind!"

"Well you are beautiful and I really do think it would be a shame for such a pretty face to depart such a dreary and quaint life."

"You flatter me Ian I do not have any intention of upsetting you by doing something along those lines."

"Well to be honest I am happy you are not leaving. Not leaving me."

This was going to be the difficult part. He notices her hesitation, her pause.

He looms over her at this point.

"This is not about you though you see. It is just not emotionally healthy for me to go back to a life with no options." She responds trying to be rash.

"Still, you are here that means something." He probes her.

Obviously he means in that she is in his room.

"That is because you are my friend." She tries to be lucid.

"I see."

"I hope you did not misinterpret anything. I tried to make sure this could not be the case you see."

"Misinterpretation, I guess everything is in the eye of the beholder." He emphasizes the word everything.

"I am sorry Ian." She had to be blunt with the man. "I didn't come back for you."

He looks as if he was wounded. There is betrayal in his eyes, hurt. She injured his ego.

"They why come?"

"For my mother, to aid and be where I am needed."

He is livid now. She never knew he could be so quick to anger. This is not Casey anger, clouded with PTSD. This is pure testosterone anger.

This is a man trying to fulfill a need. She sees it from the second his facial expression changes.

"Is that so doctor?" He looms and looks at her evilly, lustfully. "Because I think you want more than that."

He pulls her hair takes her lips in his own.

She pushes him, tries to fight back.

She has to get out. She tries to remember some techniques that Jane taught her but it had been so long.

She hits him in the eyes. She escapes but barley. She takes the jeep to the clinic.

She is just happy she decided to drive them to Ian's or she may have not been so lucky to get away.

He could have hurt her. He could have taken her right then and there if he wanted.

She does not want this thought to consume her.

He had been so well behaved. Maura felt so stupid. He was what Jane would have called a scumbag. Oh how she missed her.

She could not deal with all of this emotionally. It was too much, too late, and too soon.

That is when Hope appears.

She sees what a compromised position the other woman is in.

"Maura! What- what happened?"

"I-Ian." Maura gets out. She is still finding it difficult to breathe. "He, he tried to take me."

"Oh Maura."

Her mother held her in her arms.

"It's alright. It's alright. There there, it's not you. He's an animal."

"I want to go home. I just want to go home."

"Go honey. Go. I told you, no hard feelings. My door is always open. I'll take care of Ian. If you come back, he will not be a problem anymore, of that you can be sure."

"What will I do? Where will I go?"

"Oh honey, you have the Rizzoli's. You have your job of that I am positive. You have your house. You have your life! Do not let me hold you back."

"Frost."

It was all she could make out.

"Go for his funeral. Come back if you want. It is your life darling."

"Won't you need help?"

"Send supplies if possible. It's a compromise. It would be nice if you could stay until Carlin came but don't fret yourself, don't make a fuss. Please, not on my behalf. I already owe you so much. I hope, I hope he didn't ruin it all for you."

Maura looked on in shock. She shook her head.

"Thank you so much. I promise. I'll be back."

"Don't keep promises you cannot keep now, or I will hold you to them."

Hope gave her daughter one last hug.

She called her house. She called Angela. She figured that the kind heated woman would not be able to turn her away and would pick her up.

She knew even though Jane had been able to track down her work but not even she would know her land line and would the matriarch would not know it was her.

It rang. It seemed all seemed to take forever. Time slowed down.

"Hello?"

It was Angela. Oh how she even missed her sweet voice.

"Angela?"

"Maura? Oh Maura! How are you? Oh Maura! I didn't think you would call!"

"Is Jane around?"

"Oh, no." was the quiet response.

Maura felt better at this fact. She just wanted a ride. She did not want to bother Jane, most likely busy with Casey.

"Good I wanted-"

"I could wake her! She took a few weeks off, you see. You know about Frost don't you?"

"Don't go through the trouble."

Maura in this moment realized they must be staying in HER house. Is it possible to feel so cast off and unwanted?

"I'm, I'm coming home Angela. I don't know for how long, but after Frost, I figured it was time. That's why I am coming. I have to face my past, my demons, I want a proper goodbye. He was a wonderful man."

It wasn't all a lie. She just didn't say the whole story. It seemed as if Africa were just a bit tainted itself now.

Meanwhile Angela realized her Italian strong willed daughter must have called. She beamed. Jane had grown up so much, and she felt nothing but pride in this moment. Pieces started falling together. Pieces started coming back.

"Honey why did you run?"

"I just couldn't handle it all you see. I am sorry I left you all so, suddenly, and without warning."

"There has to be more."

Maura looked down. It was times like this she wished she were not so transparent.

"Maura, do you love my Janie?"

She could not answer that. Not at this moment, not ever. She could not say it after everything that happened. The woman had already gained a son and there was nothing more to it. At least she had found pure bliss, pure happiness.

"I really must be going. Could I trouble you to pick me up?"

"Oh no trouble at all!"

"It is so appreciated."

They share details. Maura would be on the soonest flight possible. It would not be too much longer. She would be in her bed. She would be in her kitchen. She would walk her streets. At this moment she was happy she let the Angela look after her things. She would trust the woman to take care of anything. She again started to wonder if there would be room for her if Jane and Casey were there also, after all she had offered as a good confidant would. She would find out soon enough, even though she dreaded it all.

Meanwhile, Angela Rizzoli had hatched a plan. If these two didn't get a little push, nothing would ever happen. This was perfect, and she knew just how to play it right.