Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Rizzoli & Isles. The characters belong to Tess Gerritsen, Jan Nash, Janet Tamaro, and TNT. I am in no way profiting from this. It's just for fun.
I know, I did it again... I've been trying to update this but I've been really busy. Not to mention I typed this whole chapter out two weeks ago and accidentally deleted it, then had computer problems. Ugh... Well I hope the wait wasn't too bad for you guys. As stated in the last author's note, I made some additions to a few of the earlier chapters. Between 1-8, but I won't touch a single chapter after 12. Just the early ones... Any changes and/or additions will be noted in that chapter, if any. So if you're interested, go take a look at them and let me know what you think.
Thank you to the last guest who reviewed chapter 34, I'm glad you and your friends are enjoying the story that much. You've certainly made my day!
Some of you may have noticed, I posted a new story. It's called "Time Between Us" and it's an AU about the Terminator movies. So check that out if you're interested. :)
I posted this from my phone, so there may be a few mistakes. Just let me know and I'll fix them.
When Dreams Become Reality Ch. 35
"Then what happened?" Maura asks her colleague and good friend, while passing a box of tissues her way.
"I called Alex and told him what I did, and hid the phone behind my apartment building." Susie breaks out into more tears. "I'm sorry! I know what I did was wrong, but I had to. It was the only thing I could think of that would save Jane. We had no idea where she was-"
"Susie!" Jane cuts in. "Try and calm down. None of us are mad at what you did. Especially me, you saved my life. I'm forever grateful to you."
"But I broke the law, didn't I?"
The tall brunette woman thinks for a moment before answering. "No one has to know you did."
"Jane..." Maura places a hand on her wife's leg. "You know as well as I do we can't cover this up."
"Maura's right." Frankie speaks up for the first time since the Senior Criminalist's confession a few minutes ago, then glances at Susie. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by that."
"No, it's ok. I think Maura's right, too." Susie agrees, stunned that Jane would be willing to do that for her. "I want to come forward to the FBI, I was just so scared after the investigations and all... I would never want you to jeopardize your career and freedom."
"Honey, the cop in you would hate yourself for that. As much as we all love her, if this gets out and people know we knew and tried to hide it... We'd all be going to prison. You don't want that." Maura's words were true and Jane knows this, but it does nothing but make her more angry.
In a flash, Jane gets up from the couch and paces a small distance in the living room. "I know that! I just... Susie saved my life by calling Doyle and I just want to help her."
"You would've done the same for me." The young woman offers Jane a smile, which calms the injured detective.
"Yeah..."
"Maybe we can help her still, just in a different way."
Three heads turn towards the sound of Maura's voice, all have hopeful eyes.
"How?" Jane asks, sitting back down beside her.
"I can call Gordon, our family lawyer. He's one of the best attorneys this country has ever seen, he's never lost a case."
"That's a great idea, Maur."
"I don't know if I could afford-" Susie begins, but is cut off for the second time in a few minutes. This time by Maura.
"Susie, this is how we can help you. You're family, I don't expect you to pay for Gordon. Please let us help you, it's the least we could do after what you did for us."
Biting her lip while silently contemplating a response, Susie finally says "Alright... If you say he's the best, that's definitely what I need."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you. I can't afford a good lawyer and this will be really helpful." She looks at her watch and says "I should be going, it's getting late. We'll talk about this in the morning?"
"Why don't you stay here?" Maura offers, wanting her friend close to make sure she's going to be ok.
"Yeah, we have an extra room Constance used to sleep in when she visited before she bought a new house." Jane throws a thumb in the direction of the guest bedroom. "I think it would be a good idea for us to stick together anyway, what with the Feds watching us."
"I suppose you're right... Thank you. I'll call Alex and tell him what I'll be doing tomorrow. He'll want to be at the station there for me."
"You can use my office to call, if you'd like some privacy... Frankie, please keep an eye on your sister."
"You got it." The younger Rizzoli detective chuckles.
"Hey!" Jane laughs and with a slightly defensive tone asks "Why do I need a babysitter?"
"Because you seem to get yourself in a lot of trouble when you're left alone." Maura's dimple appeared when a smirk formed, making Jane forget the sarcastic comment she was about to utter. "I'll be in the bedroom calling Gordon if you need me."
Maura and Susie stand up together and walk down the hall, going into different rooms to make their phone calls.
A moment later, Frankie plops down next to his sister, two beers in hand.
"One of those better be for me."
"You're not really supposed to have alcohol yet, least not for a couple more days." Frankie jokes before handing Jane a bottle, cracking it open for her.
"I was cleared for that today, actually. So there." Jane sticks her tongue out triumphantly before taking a sip.
They sit in silence for a few minutes before the younger of the siblings asks "Do you think Maura's lawyer could help Susie? She's looking at pretty serious charges."
Jane sits the half drunk bottle of beer on the coffee table, then pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. "God I hope so, Frankie. She doesn't deserve to go down for this."
"I know."
"What do we do?" She asks without looking his way.
"By getting her the best lawyer we possibly can, that's all we can do without breaking the law... Now we just have to be by her side."
"It just isn't right."
"Yeah, and she knew what she was getting into when she made that call. Susie is our family, and we're hers. We lookout for each other and that's what she did for you. I know you want to help, but Maura's doing just by calling that Gordon dude."
"The whole situation just sucks... If it weren't for Hoyt having some sick obsession with me, we'd never be in this mess."
He shrugs his shoulders. "Maybe, but a lot of other things wouldn't have happened either."
"Like?"
"You and Maura becoming friends, Frost becoming your partner, and so much other stuff. Look, I wish the Hoyt stuff never happened to you or Maura... But I just want you to see the good side of it."
"That's true... Maura and I may never have gotten together, or even met. Our baby definitely wouldn't exist. And Frost, I don't know what I'd do without him having my back. I guess everything happens for a reason, no matter how terrible it is."
"That's the spirit." Frankie smiles before finishing the bottle, then comments "Ya know, I'm not that worried about Susie actually."
"Why not?"
"She's strong, just like us. We can get through anything."
Jane's mind fills with many of the horrible situations she's been in over the years, especially this last one, knows her brother is right. "Yeah we can."
"I know you're not sleeping." Jane murmurs to the woman lying against her chest. The two were finally in bed, Susie just down the hall, and Frankie in the guest house with Angela. Everyone wanted to be close together tonight. Alex was welcome of course, but he was visiting with his mother several hours away. But he assured his girlfriend he would be there for her in the morning.
Maura lifts her head up and smirks. "And how do you know that?"
"Detective." Jane chuckles then says "I can practically hear your brain working in overdrive. Sweetie, you gotta relax. If not for yourself, for the baby."
"That's what I'm so worried about. Tomorrow is the first appointment, and now Susie is turning herself in. There's just so much going on and I can't help being scared."
"Hey... Stop, look at me." Jane lifts her head gently by her chin with a finger, until her favorite pair of hazel eyes look at her. "I promise you everything will be fine. With Susie and the baby."
"I love you." Maura leans up to her lips, and both hum quietly.
"Love you more, now get some sleep. We've got a big day tomorrow."
"Goodnight."
"Night, Maur."
The moment Jane closes her eyes she feels herself drift from consciousness, but a loud banging sound from the kitchen startles her awake.
"It's probably just one of the tortoises." Maura mumbles, pulling her body closer to Jane's.
"Or Jo... Better go check and see if they broke anything. Be right back." Jane kisses the soft golden tresses sprawled across the pillows, then swings her legs out onto the wooden floor. She makes her way into the hall, tip toeing as quietly as she possibly can by the guest room where Susie is sleeping. Jane hopes that she's a heavy sleeper and didn't wake from the loud noise.
Jane walks down the stairs and looks around the living room, seeing nothing out of place. Going into the kitchen, there's something broken on the floor.
Squinting though the dark and getting closer, she sees it's a small tea cup. Chills run down her spine.
"No..."
"Hello, Jane."
Jane turns around and sees her worst nightmare Hoyt, standing behind the kitchen counter with a wicked gleam in his cold stare.
"You're dead. I killed you."
"Oh baby, you can't kill me." He laughs evilly, walking around the counter. Jane snaps out of her shock and matches his steps to keep as much distance as she can. "You were always my greatest challenge, I couldn't stay away. Death won't stop me."
"Get the hell out of my house and away from my family before I kill you again." Jane threatens in a low growl, inching closer to the living room where her gun is locked away. Part of her knows it's illogical to think it could do any damage to a dead man, but the other part of her wants to protect herself and the others.
"Your family?" Hoyt gives her a puzzled expression, but it quickly changes to a knowing grin. "Oh, you mean this family."
She was about to ask what he meant, but the dead serial killer snaps his fingers. Jane follows his line of sight to where the hallway is, and out comes the apprentice Richard Hunt holding a crying Maura in his tight grip.
Jane's eyes widen instantly, and she takes a step forward but Hunt adjusts his grip on the knife at Maura's throat.
"Maura! Get your fucking hands off of her right now!"
"Take one more step, and she's dead." Hunt warns, while a terrified Maura keeps crying.
"Please don't hurt her... I'll do anything, just don't hurt my wife." The lanky woman begs, hands raised in surrender.
"Jane-"
"Quiet." The apprentice sneers, his deadly gaze trained on Jane, silently begging her to challenge them.
"It's not her you're after, just let her go. She's got nothing to do with this. Take me instead. That's what you want."
"I'm not ready to kill you just yet, but I'm afraid the good doctor here..." Hoyt takes the knife from Hunt's hands and trails it across Maura's body. "Her time is up."
"No! Don't do this!"
"Sorry, Jane. I win... I always do."
"Stop!" Jane yells, charging forward without a care of her own safety. She knows he isn't bluffing.
But she's too late, Hoyt jams the knife directly into Maura's abdomen and blood pours out instantly.
Both women scream, Maura falling to the hard floor and Jane rushing past the ruthless killers to catch her.
Jane holds Maura in her arms, desperately trying to stop the bleeding but to no avail. There's too much damage. But she refuses to believe she's lost her wife and unborn baby.
"I'll be seeing you around, Jane. So sorry for your loss." Hoyt's words barely register in her mind, and she doesn't look up to watch them disappear.
"Maura, hang on. Do you hear me?! Stay with me. Stay with me, baby. You're alright, ok?"
"Ja... Jane?" Maura's eyes flicker open as she whispers weakly.
Jane does her best to put on a smile, even through her tears. "I'm right here. You're going to be fine."
"I can't... I'm... Sorry..." Maura manages to utter through a strained breath, then her head suddenly falls to side. Her body becomes limp in Jane's strong arms.
"No! Please come back to me. Maura!" Jane lightly slaps her cheek several times in an effort to wake her, but nothing happens.
"MAURA!" Jane shoots up in a sitting position in bed, screaming loudly enough to wake the sleeping pregnant woman beside her.
"Jane! What's wrong?!"
"Oh god... It... It felt so real. I knew it wasn't, but..."
Maura rubs Jane's back, who leans into the soothing touch already feeling better just knowing she's ok.
"You had a nightmare about him, didn't you?"
"Yeah." She wipes sweat from above her brow before continuing. "Both of them. Hoyt and Hunt. It was always just me getting hurt. That I could handle, just not this."
"What happened? Will you tell me?"
"Just hold me until I fall asleep?" Jane doesn't want to talk about it and knows Maura wouldn't press her, they could talk later. After everything's calmed down.
"Anything you need."
The two lie back down, Jane held securely in Maura's comforting embrace. The Italian woman places a hand over her wife's flat stomach, then manages to fall asleep a few minutes later. This time there were no nightmares, thankfully.
While Maura is showering, Jane and Susie sit at the kitchen counter, both with a hot cup of coffee in their hands.
"You sure you wanna do this?"
"I'm sure, Jane. I'm ok with it, really." Susie promises the detective. "I don't know why, but I've got a good feeling about today. I'm still a little nervous though."
"I never properly thanked you for calling Doyle... I know none of us asked or that we had to, but thank you. I wouldn't be here right now, about to take my wife to our first doctor's appointment."
"You're welcome... And I hope that goes well, too. Want to know something?"
"Sure."
"Susie is a really really great name for a girl." She winks, making the two laugh. It feels as though a small weight has been lifted on an otherwise heavy situation. It felt good to laugh, even if only for another few minutes. The distraction was much needed.
"It certainly is." Jane laughs in agreement, but stops once she hears the knocking on the front door. "If that's the Feds..." She grumbles, getting off of the stool and walks past her wife who was descending the stairs. "Maura! Where's my gun?"
"Jane!" She tries her best to hide a smile, but fails since Jane sees it anyway. "Don't you think wouldn't help our situation?"
"Annoying bastards deserve it." Jane swears under breath, then swings open the door. "Alex."
"Hey, Jane. Good to see you're still in one piece." He leans in and hugs her awkwardly, as to avoid hurting her shoulder still in a sling.
"Thanks. Good to see you, too."
"Where's Susie?"
"Alex? Oh thank god you're here... I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't seen you before I went in." Susie comes rushing towards her boyfriend, throwing her arms around him.
"I came as fast as I could, babe... Traffic was hell, but I made it."
"We need to be going, actually." Maura announces. "Our appointment is in 45 minutes. We'll be at BPD as soon as we can."
"Ok... Thank you again, Maura." Susie tearfully replies, referring to the lawyer Maura called in from New York last night.
"It's no problem at all, I was happy to do what I could. Good luck."
"Good luck, Chang." Jane smirks at her, making the young woman feel a little less nervous.
"And to you as well. I'll be seeing you later?"
"No matter what." Jane and Maura both promise.
After a few more hugs and wishes of luck, each pair got in their cars to go to their destinations. Both parties extremely nervous for themselves and the other.
"Should I write you a prescription?" Maura asks with a hint of humor in her tone.
"For?"
"You seem to have RLS." At Jane's confused look, Maura elaborates. "Restless Leg Syndrome... You keep bouncing your leg."
"What?" Jane looks at her left leg bouncing up and down. "Oh... I'm just impatient. How many couples is Teddy seeing?"
"Just us as far as I know, we're her first ones of the day. She wanted to see us right away."
"You think that's good or bad?"
"Good, I hope."
"Me too."
Just then, Teddy finally knocks on the door and comes into the office, much to their relief.
"Morning, ladies... Jane, I'm so glad to see that you're alright. Your wife filled me in on what happened. If there's anything you ever need, please call and let me know."
"Thanks, Teddy... But all I need from you is to tell me that our baby is healthy."
The red headed woman sits behind her desk and flips open a folder. "I can do just that. I performed and reviewed the blood work myself, and everything is as it should be."
"That's great!" Jane lets out a big sigh of relief and smirks widely at Maura, who starts bawling. She gets out of her chair and kneels in front of Maura immediately. "Honey, what's wrong?"
Maura tries to wave it off. "Nothing... It's wonderful news, exactly what I was hoping for. I don't know what came over me, I'm sorry."
"Maur, don't be sorry... It's ok. Really."
"Jane's right, it's perfectly normal for you to react this way. It's still early in the pregnancy, but you may experience mood swings such as this one. Plus with your heightened stress levels, I would be crying myself even if it wasn't pregnant. Please don't apologize, it's quite alright."
"See, Maur? Everything is ok..." Jane flashes Maura her best smile, and its calming effects work right away. "So, Doc... Can we do the sonogram today?"
"I'm afraid not... The baby is too small to show up on screen at just 3 weeks. I can schedule an appointment for the 28th, that's the earliest we can see a fetus show up."
"Alright, let's do it. Sound good to you, Maura?" Jane asks, still kneeling in front of her.
"Yes, that would be perfect." Her light sniffles fade at the prospect of seeing their baby in just a matter of a couple weeks.
"Fantastic." Teddy beams, scribbling the information down on her notepad. "I would advise against medication this early in the pregnancy, so please try your best to stay calm. Ok?"
"I'll try. Thank you, Doctor Stephenson."
"You're welcome. Now both of you get some rest, doctor's orders."
"Yes, ma'am!" Jane replies, standing up and helping her wife her up from the chair.
"See you in a couple of weeks, you two."
The married couple say their goodbyes, then walk out of the door much happier than they were before going in. Now all that's left to face is their friend's possible criminal charges.
Gordon Hartford, the attorney for the Isles family who flew in to Boston a few hours ago on a private jet, sits alone with Susie in the interrogation room to be apprised of the situation. Maura had given him the brief details, but he wanted to hear it from the woman himself.
"Miss Chang, from what you've told me... I don't believe you have anything to worry about." Gordon informs with a strong conviction in his voice.
"You really think so?" It would be obvious to anyone that Susie was doubting him, but he doesn't take offense.
"Just sit back and remain quiet, I'll be able to handle the agents." Gordon rises from his seat and crosses the small room and opens the door, where two federal agents stood on the other side. "We're ready for you, gentlemen."
The lawyer sits back down, while the two agents sit on the other side of the table.
"Miss Chang, are you aware of the charges that will be pressed against you to the fullest extent of the law?"
"What..." Susie nervously clears her throat. "What charges, exactly?"
"Orchestrating the escape of Patrick Doyle, Jr. and ordering a hit on a deceased man named..." The agent questioning her looks down at his file. "Richard Hunt."
"But he-"
Gordon raises a hand to stop her before she says something possibly incriminating. "Agents, my client is innocent. These heinous charges will never hold up in court."
"Yeah, and how do you know that?"
"Because there was no wrong doing."
This seems to aggravate the other agent, who clenches his jaw and says "She admitted to calling the lock up facility where Doyle was, and that she informed the guard that Detective Jane Rizzoli had been kidnapped."
"Yes, and your point?" Gordon gives them a look, as if he had no idea what they were saying. Hartford is a pro, and knows he's got this. "Miss Chang here did call for Doyle, but not with those intentions. I assure you."
"She knew exactly what calling Doyle and telling him that information would result in."
"How could she? Where is your proof? Do you have a recording of this phone call?" At their loss of words, Gordon smiles smugly. "Exactly. You don't have a recording. So you can't prove her intentions. My client was simply calling to inform Mr. Doyle that his daughter in law had been kidnapped. That's hardly a crime, telling a family member terrible news he deserves to hear."
"Yes, but-"
"But nothing." Gordon won't have any of the agent's ridiculous words. "What Miss Chang did was not wrong. Perhaps you should pursue charges with the guard that let Doyle escape? Instead of harassing and threatening this young woman with life in prison for calling a family member with news. Unless you have a recording with her saying the words 'Break out of prison, find Richard Hunt and kill him to save Detective Jane Rizzoli.' Then you've got nothing, this is merely a fishing expedition. Shame on you for trying to place blame on an innocent like this."
The two agents lean back and whisper in each other's ears, a sign that shows Gordon he's won.
'Well that was fairly easy and fast, runts didn't even put up a fight.'
"Miss Chang..." The agent grits through his teeth in a forced smile that almost makes Gordon laugh. "It is in our best opinion that we do not pursue charges against you. You're free to go."
Susie blinks in shock. Just a second ago she was sure they'd slap the cuffs on her. "Wait, what? Just like that, I can go?"
"Yes." The agent begins packing up their files and other belongings.
"Will I be able to keep my job?"
"Of course." Gordon assures with a smile. "Right, gentlemen?"
"Yes. Good day Mr. Hartford... Miss Chang."
Both agents rise from the seats and leave the interrogation room, a shell shocked Susie left behind wondering how the hell that happened so fast.
"Am I dreaming?" Susie asks aloud, not really directed at anyone, but Gordon answers anyway.
"You're not dreaming, this is real. You're a free woman."
"Oh my god... I... Thank you so much!" Susie exclaims loudly, hugging the lawyer tightly, who returns the hug happily.
"It was my pleasure, a friend of Maura's is a friend of mine. Besides, those charges were ridiculous. I wouldn't have liked anyone to have gone through a trial over this."
"I don't know how I can ever repay you for this."
"It's all taken care of, no worries... Come on, let's get out of this cramped room. I believe your boyfriend is waiting outside."
When Jane and Maura walk into the bullpen and see Susie tearfully hugging Gordon and Alex, the smiles are wiped from their faces and they fear the worst. That is, until Susie runs over with the good news.
"Mr. Hartford was able to get the FBI to not pursue charges... I get to keep my job, too!"
"That's fantastic news! Congratulations, Susie!" And just like that, the couple's beaming smiles return stronger and brighter than before.
"I knew everything would be ok, I'm really happy for you." Jane congratulates as well, returning the hug the ecstatic woman gave them both.
"Jane." The curt tone of her name causes the detective to turn her head, and sees an angry Agent Dean standing behind her.
"What do you want?" She asks, matching his irritated voice.
"Nothing now... It appears that no charges will be filed thanks to your lawyer."
"Obviously, if no charges were filed, she didn't do anything wrong. So back off, Dean."
"Why should I? You people are criminals."
"What the hell is your problem?! You used to care about me, shouldn't you be happy that I'm alive? I barely made it!"
"Of course I am, but-"
"No, but nothing! You can't just come charging in here again, harassing us. We've been through hell and back, I'm not gonna let you do this. Get the fuck out of BPD, go back to Washington, and never come back."
"Or else what?"
Everyone stops in the bullpen to watch the heated argument, all are silent and too stunned to move or say anything. Poor Maura is beginning to feel nauseous from the stress again, but Jane is too enraged to notice unfortunately.
She steps into his personal space and growls "What's wrong with you? Why do you have some personal vendetta against us? Against me? I thought we left things on good terms?"
"Because you chose Maura over me!" The words shock Jane into silence, her jaw drops. "You always chose her over me. I loved you and you chose that woman over me."
"Well it's no fucking wonder I did!" Jane yells back, getting closer to him. "I will always choose Maura over you. I love her. I always did, even back then. That's why. My feelings for you, were nothing compared to mine for her. You're nothing to me and always will be."
It was Dean's turn to be too stunned for words, his face conveyed mixed emotions of anger, hurt, and jealousy. Jane thought he might even cry, but doubted his pride would let him in front of all of the detectives and patrol officers.
At this point in the shouting match, Korsak steps in before Jane takes a swing at Dean. He knows her too well, and she's at her breaking point.
"Detective Crowe, please escort Agent Dean and his men out of the building. Use force if necessary."
"No problem, Sarge... Come on, pal. You're out of here." Crowe grabs Dean's shoulder, but is shirked away in a rough and sudden movement.
"I can find my own way out." With that, Agent Dean and his two men left the eerily quiet bullpen.
"Jane? Are you ok?" Maura worriedly asks.
Jane turns to face her wife and visibly relaxes. "Yeah, I'm fine... Thanks, guys. You too, Crowe."
"Yeah well, nobody messes with Jane Rizzoli and gets away with it. That's my job." Crowe jokes at his old rival. The two still threw insults at one another, but had each other's back at the end of the day.
The room started to buzz with conversations and phones ringing, slowly getting back to normal.
"I think we deserve to celebrate. What do you say, Maur? Healthy baby, Susie isn't in trouble..."
"I say that's a perfect idea."
Phew! I finally rewrote it, and I think this was better than what I originally wrote. I hope I wrapped things up with the whole Hoyt thing nicely. It may be brought up again, we'll see... For now, I'm gonna focus on happy times. These guys deserve it after the last several chapters!
Who's happy about Susie and the baby? :D
Follow my new Twitter account XBgamer94, I'm more active on there and I'll post details about the next update. Or answer questions if you guys have any. Thanks! :)