Author's Note; I am so sorry for the wait. My life has been total shit. I'm not going to get into the details because I know you really just want to read and I already tried to explain once but but the internet failed when I tried to save and I don't feel like re-typing everything. I don't have the patience. So if you please, enjoy this chapter, and let me know what you think? And let me say, I enjoyed writing RageJane. Because I feel like that sometimes...Anyway, enjoy.
Disclaimer; Yeah...
Chapter Twenty-One
The call came as soon as they stepped through the door. Maura headed into the kitchen to clean out the continents of the tote, while Jane bent over to unhook the dog's leashes, simultaneously answering her phone. "Rizzoli."
The voice on the other end caused her to freeze mid-motion into putting the leashes on the hooks by the door. "Detective," The voice seemed a little out of breath. "You better come to the docks…before I kill them."
Jane finally came out of her trance as she spoke in an incredulous tone. "Doyle?" She pulled the phone away from her ear to see the number on the screen was blocked. It was then she noticed that she had garnered the attention of Maura who's expression she could not read, as she moved across the room to stand next to Jane; leaning into her friend and trying to listen in on the call.
Jane held the phone between both of their heads as the voice on the other end spoke again. "Hurry up, detective…" And before either of them could react, there was a click, and a dial tone.
When Jane pulled the phone back, both women stared at it silently for a moment a myriad of different thoughts and emotions rushing through them.
Seeming to come to some sort of decision, Jane broke the silence. "I have to go." She said brusquely, making a move to grab her keys, badge and gun.
Maura, however wasn't having any of it as she quickly gripped the detective's arm. "Jane…" She said in a serious tone.
When Jane slowly turned her head, Maura gasped quietly at how dark the detective's eyes had gotten, they were almost black and the emotion behind them was something she had never seen before or perhaps it had never been this…intense; a mixture of determination and pure, unadulterated hatred shone back at her, though her face expressed barely any emotion. The only indication was the hardening of Jane's well defined jaw and the way her lips were thinly pressed together. Her body was tense and rigid, as if she were barely containing her rage.
It took a moment for Maura to find her voice, her grip on Jane's arm never waning. "Where are you going and what did Doyle say?" She asked, surprised that her voice came out as strong as it did. She could almost see the gears turning in Jane's head, for once Maura wasn't oblivious to the internal battle that her friend seemed to be having with herself.
After a beat, Jane's shoulders slumped slightly and she sighed in resignation. "Maura," She started, voice raspier than usual. Clearing her throat, she continued. "I'm… I'm gonna go-" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Call Vega and meet her at a location where-where supposedly Doyle has left the remaining O'rourke brothers…" She waited for…for what she wasn't sure.
Maura visibly tensed, face going ashen as she snatched her hand back as if she had been burned. It made Jane wince and her stomach churn. After a few moments, Maura recovered, schooling her features and swallowing the large lump in her throat. "Are they-" She let the sentence hang there, unable to finish it.
She didn't need to finish it, because Jane was quick with a response. "I don't know," she answered honestly. "But that's why Doyle said to hurry-before-before he…kills them." Shifting uncomfortably, Jane gently placed her hand on Maura's arm, causing the ME to jerk with a start, eyes wide and fearful. "Hey, you okay?"
Maura shook her head. "No. D-don't go. Don't…don't leave m-me…" She let out a shuddery breath and looked up through tear blurred eyes at Jane, making the detective completely deflate and in one quick motion, Maura was wrapped up in Jane's arms.
"I have to, Maur." Jane said quietly, voice thick with emotion. "I gotta make-"
Again, Maura shook her head, pulling back slightly to look at Jane. "No, no you don't, what if-what if something goes wrong, Jane? What if-"
This time, Jane was the one who interrupted, a sad smile on her face. "You don't like the phrase, 'What if'. Dr. Isles does not believe in speculation, she believes in facts." She said, trying to lighten the mood.
It didn't help though as Maura's eyes just filled with more tears and she looked away, backing out of Jane's safe embrace. "Jane…," The ME began, forcing the lump in her throat back down before she brought now hardened hazel eyes to meet Jane's darkened brown ones. "The fact is that, those two…" A pause and another shuddery breath, "Monsters they-they hurt me, and Paddy Doyle is a Mob boss. The fact," She emphasized the word for a second time as she continued, "Is, that-I can't-I can't lose you too."
I feel like-like I've lost a part of myself, and they-they took it from me, I just-it's dangerous I can't lose you, what if something happens? And it's-it's not your place to go, it's not your case, it's detective Vega's, you-I just-" Maura shook her head as her breathing ratcheted up and she began to wobble slightly, eyes closing tightly as black dots began to dance in her vision.
Jane immediately wrapped her arms around Maura's waist, her heart pounding so fast, she was sure it was tattooing itself to her breastbone. "Hey, whoa, calm down. Shhh, you're gonna have an anxiety attack if you don't stop." She said as she moved Maura to the couch.
Maura made an effort to breathe more slowly, leaning into Jane as they sat on the couch. Once her breathing was better, and she didn't feel so dizzy, she pulled back and brought her gaze to Jane's worried eyes. "Please, Jane…"
Maura's pleading eyes and fear laden voice almost made her re-think her decision to go. Almost. With another sad smile, Jane looked down at Maura almost guiltily. "I'm sorry, Maura…I-I have to go." She said, voice quiet.
Hazel-green eyes darkened and fear turned to anger as Maura backed up slightly, crossing her arms and frowning. The reply was something Jane was not expecting. "Fine." One word, one word uttered curtly; a word that said SO much more than just agreement or resignation.
Fine, Jane. Put yourself in unnecessary danger.
Fine, leave me here when I need you most.
Fine, go be a hero, go be a stubborn ass.
Fine, just fine.
But it wasn't fine, and Jane could see it. "Maura…" The detective said in a pleading tone, attempting to place her hand on Maura's shoulder, only to wince when Maura shrugged it off.
"Just go, Jane!" She snapped, turning on her heel and stalking toward her bedroom. Tears threatened to fall, but she wouldn't allow them until she was in the privacy of her bedroom.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jane watched as Ladybug and Jo Friday looked at her almost disapprovingly and then in the direction Maura had just left and after a moment, both dogs took off after Maura. A few seconds later, there was the sound of a door slamming, making Jane jump.
The detective sighed, head dropping and a hand coming to rub her face tiredly. "Fuck…" She grumbled before she lifted her head back up and stared after Maura and then turned her gaze on the door, trying to decide whether she should leave or not.
After dialing Vega halfway there and giving her directions, Jane had finally made it to the docks. Her previous rage was back as she shut her door and headed for the same warehouse she had met Doyle a couple of days before.
With her hand on her gun, she moved almost like a panther stalking it's pray; quiet, alert, stealthy, a beast to be reckoned with. As she stepped over the threshold, she wrinkled her nose at the unmistakable scent of blood and piss. Upon further entering, she was immediately met with a sickening yet to her, pleasurable sight.
Two badly beaten men were tied to chairs, their heads hanging low. Men she assumed to be the remaining O'rourke brothers. Blood and cuts riddled their bodies. In the dim light from the entrance, she could tell that each of them were both breathing and for a brief moment she wished that Doyle had killed them.
Speaking of Doyle, Jane wondered if he'd already left. As if on cue and out of nowhere, a man came out of the shadows and faster than she could blink, he punched one of the men so hard that the momentum sent his chair flying back, startling the detective slightly as she raised her gun.
The subtle noise of Jane's movements caused Doyle to recognize her presence. "Detective…" He said, in acknowledgement, not at all fazed by Jane's gun pointed at him. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood from his swollen knuckles.
At the mention of Jane, the man in the upright chair lifted his head, revealing a swollen and discolored face. "Dun't-h-have tha…b-balls teh kill...u-us, eh...D-Doyle?" He struggled to breathe with each word, chest heaving as he stared at them through swollen eyes. He let out a humorless chuckle, wincing slightly. "Yar...g-growan s-soft in...in yar old...age."
Jane's whole entire body tensed at the sound of his thick Irish accent as she remembered Maura telling her about that specific detail and everything she had gone through. Doyle just looked back at the battered body tied to the chair, showing nothing but stoicism. When he brought his gaze back to Jane, he noted the way her eyes had darkened and her jaw was set.
"Detective..." He warned, but it was too late. Jane was already stalking toward the man in the chair with purpose, her body giving off rage filled vibes. Something had snapped inside of her.
When she was just a few inches away from him, she stared, nostrils flaring. Her gun had, at some point made it back into her holster and she was currently clenching and unclenching her fists at her sides. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Jane spoke. Her voice was dark and low, filled with malice. "What is your name?"
The question wasn't something neither Doyle nor the man were expecting. After a moment of thought, the man answered. "Riley." And that was it. That was the name she knew to be the start of this. That was the name Maura had given her. He was the one who had caused her friend the most pain.
That name incensed her, it filled her with so much hostility, all she could see was red. She whipped out her gun so fast it surprised Riley, but he didn't show it. "You wun't kill an unarmed man..." He taunted, something that Jane assumed was supposed to be a grin appearing on his badly beaten face.
A sickening grin of her own flickered across Jane's face and she chuckled humorlessly just as Riley had before. "Oh no, no, that would be too easy..." She said darkly, and before he could answer, she slowly lowered her gun and shoved it roughly to the crotch of his pants. Instantly, panic flitted across his face, and he inhaled sharply.
Her grin turned into a sneer as she leaned in close to his face, black, hate filled eyes staring into his fear filled ones. "I want you to suffer." Jane snarled, emphasizing the word with a hard shove of her gun.
Riley let out a small yelp. "W-wait...N-no..." he pleaded, labored breathing ratcheting up.
The fear in his voice sent a thrill through Jane as she inched closer to him, her breath hot on his face. "That's right you sick fuck, beg. Beg for me to stop and let you live. Just like she begged you." She growled.
Doyle stood in the background, slightly conflicted. All through the beatings, Riley had barely made a sound, he had kept up his taunts and never broke. And now here was Jane Rizzoli, eliciting fear from him. Honestly though, he was sure if this side of the detective were directed towards him, he'd be a little scared too. Hell, he'd be a lot scared. His confliction was based on the fact that he knew he couldn't allow Jane to harm Riley, despite how much that he thought the scumbag deserved it.
"P-please..." Riley's trembling voice broke his thoughts.
Clearing his throat, Doyle took a tentative step toward Jane, hoping that in her enraged state, she wouldn't shoot him. "Detective... Don't... The repercussions are too great." He watched as her head slowly turned back to look at him, dark, vengeful eyes staring him down. If looks could kill... He thought ruefully. Swallowing, he continued. "He's not worth it. He's not worth your job or your friendship with Maura, your family..."
Because if you shoot him, detective... You will lose it all, indefinitely and nothing will ever fix it. Don't let your hatred take control of your actions. We both know that's not who you are, that's not who my daughter loves and considers her friend." Before he could say anything more, the distinct sound of sirens rang in the air, but he could tell that his speech had calmed Jane down enough that he felt confident she wouldn't do anything stupid. "I have to go. Take care of her, detective Rizzoli." And with that, the Irish mobster disappeared.
Moments later, detective Vega appeared first, gun draw. She was met with the sight of Jane still holding her gun to Riley's crotch, her grip slack and her eyes dark, but she seemed confused; hazy.
"Detective Rizzoli! Drop your weapon..." Vega said slowly.
"Get thus crazeh bitch away frum meh!" Riley yelled out.
Ignoring the man, Vega tried again. "Jane... Please, drop your gun. You're not yourself. I know you're angry, but don't stoop to his level."
Her words seemed to finally break Jane's confused state and she dropped her gun and held up her hands, backing away. "Oh god...I-I'm sorry." She shook her head disbelieving at what she had almost done. Would she have done it, had no one been there to talk her back down?
Just then a couple of unis as well as Jakes came busting in behind Vega. Vega lowered her gun and moved toward Jane who watched numbly as Jakes and the unis untied the two men, cuffing and reading them the Miranda rights.
Vega nodded to Jakes as their eyes met. "Get EMTS to look at them before you bring them in..." She ordered before she placed her hand on Jane's arm. "Hey, you okay?" Vega asked gently.
It was then that Jane realized she was crying. She swiped at her eyes with a trembling hand and took a breath. "Y-yeah. I think so." She said in a raspy voice.
"Good, we need to talk. I'll drive you to the station." Vega waited for Jane to nod before she gently led the other detective by the elbow to her car.