DISCLAIMER: I do not own this show, the books, or these characters. I only borrow them.

Chapter 29

Monday Jane followed directions as stated. She came in at noon, left at four, and sat at her desk for most of those four hours. Not that she would tell anyone, but she was glad for the shortened days as her healing stomach protested being tensed to sit for even that long. Not much happened while she was at work. Frost and Korsak kept pouring over their notes, but they got no further on their case while she was in at least.

Tuesday Jane was still glad to be back at work, even if her partners and boss seemed to time her whenever she would walk away from her desk. She tried to put them off that by claiming she was leaving for 'female reasons,' but that just meant that they sent a female into the restroom after her rather than just barging in themselves as they did the previous day if she would take too long.

Bored of the paperwork that Korsak kept dumping on her desk, and that she put back on his with her own new paperwork just to piss him off, Jane started searching her computer for similar murders to the ones her colleagues had been working. She was hoping to find something, anything, that might help: similar murders in a nearby state, similar MO in the past, but she was not expecting what she found. A Boston Globe article mentioned the attempted rape of a college student, and the gruesome injuries that she sustained the previous week.

"Frost!, Korsak!" Jane's excited voice had both of her partners looking up from the notes on their desk and toward Jane who was pointing at her computer screen. Even the lieutenant stepped into his office doorway wondering what the commotion was about. She felt sorry feeling happy about someone injured in a local hospital, but it could be the break the case needed...and the girl could have been dead instead. "There's a 24 year old female, Beverly Stewart, in Massachusetts General Hospital. The Sexual Assault Unit in the Family Justice Division thought it was an attempted rape gone bad which is why we haven't heard about her as she was drugged with rohypnol and was partial naked when she was found, but she was found late on the evening before Mr. Clark was found in the alley, she was shot in the head, and missing a finger."

"Shit, and she survived?" Korsak couldn't help the brief glance toward Rizzoli's hands knowing that there was another female in the Boston area who would have hand injuries that would always remind them of their ordeal.

Luckily for Korsak, Jane was standing up and so missed the brief glance. She grabbed for her blazer and was about to follow the guys as they hurried to the elevators when a gruff voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Rizzoli, sit." the lieutenant said, pointed to Jane's desk.

She wanted to comment that she wasn't a dog, but now was not the time to tick him off. "I've been here for four hours now, so I should be leaving." She thought she had him because those were his own words, but she should have known better.

"I know you want to try for longer days, so how about a test run. At least one more hour, and don't move from that seat." Seeing Jane open her mouth to talk and knowing her tricks, he added, "Not even if you are going to piss yourself." He fought not to smile seeing Jane pout as she sat back down. Knowing how to make her day, and pout even worse, he said, "And then Dr. Zucker will be in house...you can have your first session then." He hurried into his office and shut the door before he couldn't help himself. A grin spread across his face and a deep belly laugh broke out. That made his day...hell, his year. He needed a good laugh after the last couple torturous months.

Jane put her elbows on her desk, and her head in her hands. Wondering how the possible good day could go down hill so quickly.

About fifteen minutes later the elevators dinged as it opened and Dr. Isles stepped out. She was looking impeccable as always in a navy dress that just caressed her knees as she walked. The three inch navy heels had Jane wondering how her friend could walk so elegantly. Her wavy hair was left down and flowing over her shoulders; it bounced a bit as she walked which reminded Jane even more how her friend always looked ready to walk the Paris runways. However, the manila folder in her hands showed all that Maura was here for more than just small talk. She looked around at the two empty desks, "Where are the detectives?"

Jane really wanted to point out that Maura finally asked a stupid question as one was right in front of her, but she knew what Maura was really asking 'Where are the active detectives?' "Frost and Korsak went off to Mass. Gen. as there is a patient with similar victimology. It's amazing and a bit scary that someone can be shot in the head and still survive."

"Not at all. Medical knowledge and quick responses have greatly improved. Even in 1848 a man, Phineas Gage, survived an accidental lobotomy. He worked in railroad construction and the blasting powder went off early causing the tamping rod to go through the frontal lobe. Even then, within two months he was walking and talking like normal; however the ventromedial region of the brain was damaged and so planning, moral judgment, and emotional control were gone. After the accident he was brash without a mental filter and violent at times, he would say what he thought without any of the usual compassion most people would employ."

Jane couldn't help joking, "So if his wife asked 'Do I look fat in this?' he would say 'Yes, Dear.'"

"Yes, but without the dear as emotions are attached to that word."

"That's ironic...he survives to die alone and destitute because of his injuries."

"No, what's ironic is the death of Charles Drew."

Jane just looked at Maura like she was crazy. Maura often forgot that most people had no clue what she was talking about as they didn't know enough trivia to be able to do well on Jeopordy. Hell, Jane would be lucky to remember to word her answers as a question.

Maura noticed the almost glazed look on Jane's face. She saw the look often, and knew it meant she needed to clarify her statements. "The doctor was a blood bank pioneer who suggested the use of plasma over blood at times of war because it could store for longer periods of time and was less likely to cause reactions from the transfusion over compatibility issues. He fell asleep at the wheel one night and was in a car accident, and, even with transfusions, he bled to death...hence ironic."

Jane rolled her eyes with the last comment. She understood how ironic once the story was told so she didn't need the final nearly 'duh' comment. For a moment she wondered why she was getting so annoyed with something that was just Maura being Maura, and then she had her answer. Dr. Zucker walked into the bull pen. It had nothing to do with her friend and everything to do with the man who walked into her lieutenant's office. She did not want to talk with him, but she knew she had no choice in the matter...at least not if she wanted to keep her job.

Maura saw the intense look of annoyance on Jane's face as her gaze followed the man's walk into the side office. She knew Jane hated talking about her emotions...to anyone really, but Maura was starting to see how it would be helpful to talk to someone about feelings as she was left with only Korsak or Bass to talk to about her feelings and loneliness regarding losing Frankie. It would have to be even worse for Jane losing her brother as they had known each other much longer. "He's not the enemy, Jane. Just talk to him." With that she walked back toward the elevator so she could retreat to her safe haven. Glad that Jane couldn't see the lone tear that trekked down her left cheek.

All too soon Jane was sitting in a small seldom used interview room with Dr. Zucker. She made sure to sit down first so that her back was to the one-way mirror. She knew that no one would sneak a peak at this meeting, but she felt better anyway not facing the mirror...yea, that was it, the mirror. She folded her arms even though she knew she shouldn't have as he now knew for sure she was on the defensive and closed-off. Silence hung in the air...she was not going to speak first.

Finally the psychologist asked a question, "How are you doing being back at work?"

So that's what they were wondering, how she was doing in the building where she was taken hostage. "I'm doing good. I can walk in the front door and past where I was shot no problem. I can even walk up the stairs and not flinch if that is what you are asking?" She couldn't help the venom that was lashed in her tone. "I see where...crap, what was her name?" She paused racking her brain for a name of a girl she had only talked to briefly, but who she promised to keep safe. Her vision focused in on that blood stained scene on the stair landing. Her voice went quieter, "I promised to keep her safe..." She fought the tears that wanted to spill down. She hated talking to Dr. Zucker. He saw her weak after Hoyt, and he would see her weak now if she couldn't get her emotions under control, but it was a lost cause at the next thought. "I promised to keep him safe." It was said even quieter than before.


AN: Sorry for the short update and the long wait...learned not to add to chapters later so it will be a little longer than 35 to Jane learning about Maura and Frankie since the chapters will probably be shorter for awhile. I promise the wait will be worth it...I need to have Maura work through wanting to tell Jane for awhile but not knowing how. Thanks for still reading if you are :D