A/N: I hope folks are still with me…
"Jane?" Maura's first thought upon waking was Jane. She felt groggy, lethargic from the anesthesia and pain medication. "Jane?"
"Shh…I'm here hon, I'm here." Jane pulled her seat closer trying to hide the pain such a movement caused. Korsak had forced her to get checked out and the cracked rib was an unpleasant reminder that a member of the Boston Police Department had shot her in the back. Thank god for vests.
"Hurts…" Her face was bandaged heavily and the painkillers were wearing off.
Kissing her forehead Jane pressed the button for the nurse to come in. She just wanted Maura to relax and stay safe. She had checked in with her mother and knew that her brother and Frost were doing better. The plastic surgeon that had worked on Maura had assured her that the scarring would be minimal given that they were able to get to the injury so quickly. The only concern was the risk of infection as with any surgery and the possibility of some sensory damage around the area of her injury.
Maura closed her eyes listening to the soothing words coming from Jane, but she also heard something else.
Opening her eyes, "Is evrythin kay?" She couldn't speak clearly with the bandages so she tried again. "Everythin okay?"
Jane's smile eased her worry, "Yeah hon, everything will be just fine." She had made Korsak call Doyle to make sure there was someone keeping Maura safe while she was gone. This whole sordid affair was going to end, today.
Relaxing at Jane's words, Maura let herself relax, drifting off even as the nurse came in.
"Detective?"
"She was complaining about the pain but" seeing Maura sleeping peacefully, "she's asleep again. Sorry."
"That's alright," the nurse moved to the IV line and adjusted it. "This should help, she'll be in and out of it for a few hours yet if you'd like to come back later." The nurse looked her up and down, "you may want to change before she sees you."
Looking down, Jane saw the brown stains that covered part of her shirt and jacket, Castillo's blood. God what a mess. "You're probably right. I'll be back"
Pushing open the door she ran smack into her mother.
"Dammit Ma!" Jane groaned as she tried to keep herself steady. A cracked rib did not help one walk with a cane she was finding out.
"I'm sorry honey, how's Maura? Did she wake up?"
"Yeah, she did. Will you keep an eye on her for me? Korsak, Joey and I have a bit of a mess to clean up." She caught her mother looking her over and stopped her before she had a chance to say anything. "Don't…I know how it looks but its not mine."
"Vince said you had to be checked out…"
"I'm fine ma," grabbing the older woman's hand she squeezed it tightly. "Its almost over ma, I know who is behind all of this. This ends today." Releasing her hand she walked down the hallway leaning heavily on the cane. Her body was tired, her spirit felt battered, bruised, but she was still walking.
Angela whispered fiercely as she entered Maura's room "God, watch over my Janie, please…"
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Joey Grant stopped talking when he saw Jane come around the corner, she looked like crap but he saw the determination in her eyes and knew that this was coming to a head, soon.
"How's the Doc?" Korsak asked.
"Recovering." Looking around she didn't see anyone approaching. "Vince, how's Cavanaugh?"
"He'll survive, the bullet didn't hit anything vital since…"
"Yeah I know, it was meant for me." Looking at Joey, he looked down at his feet, uncomfortable with Jane's glare. "Joey you know more than you've told us and I want to hear all of it, now."
He opened his mouth to object and snapped it closed when he saw the look on her face. "Shit"
"What do you mean he knows more?" Korsak grabbed him by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"Slow down Korsak, let him go." Jane placed a hand on his arm. "I'm sure Joey wants to explain and tell us everything."
Letting him go, Korsak shoved him once more for good measure. "Well?"
Joey looked into Jane's angry eyes and swallowed. She was keeping a grip on her temper that was for sure. Who knew any of this would ever get this far.
Korsak's phone went off, as he was about to speak, stepping away he answered.
"Well?" Jane looked at Joey and tried not to show her disgust. He knew. He knew all along who was behind everything. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Jane I…"
"No! I don't want to hear that shit Joey." Her raised voice was attracting attention and he dragged her into the empty waiting room.
"Dammit Jane, lower your voice…" he looked around and saw that Korsak was still on the phone outside the waiting room surreptiously keeping an eye on him. "Do you realize what this could mean?"
Jane paced in front of him trying desperately to keep herself from cracking him in the head with her cane. The man who was pulling Joey's strings was a puppet himself and she knew, she knew that Joey knew it.
"The District Attorney, Joey? Fucks sakes, how many have gone free?" She stopped in front of him. "Why did you pretend to help us?"
"I wasn't pretending Jane. Dammit don't you understand? They didn't just threaten you, they threatened my mother Jane and yours." Punching a wall he turned to look at her, "I tried to keep you safe, I tried, after the car accident…"
"That was no accident." She said, remembering the after-effects of that event.
"The only way to keep you safe was to stick with you."
"What have you told them?" Jane asked hoping the betrayal wasn't as deep as she believed.
"Nothing Janie, no really I swear. When you wouldn't back off they cut me off, from everything." Waving a hand around the room, "I didn't know about all this, I just…I just knew who I suspected it was."
"You never…said…ANYTHING!" Hand on her back she realized she overdid it. "Fuck…" she sat down heavily and took a breath. Not as deep as she would have liked but enough.
"Jane…" Joey moved toward her.
"Leave me alone Joey, leave us alone…" She turned away from him and was surprised to see the approval in Korsak's eyes.
"Janie you need me, you need my help…" Pleading with her he looked at Korsak. "They'll kill me. Hell Doyle is gonna kill me when he finds out."
Jane pushed herself to stand, "Have you told them about Doyle helping us?" If he had they were indeed screwed. Doyle was their ace in the hole thanks to Maura.
"No…I told you, when I couldn't stop you after the accident I fessed up to most of it. When Crowe went nuts," he shook his head as he remembered, "I was done with them, I knew that"
"Why though? Why didn't you say anything then." This was her friend, at one time her almost lover.
"I don't know!" he yelled at her. "Everything was happening so fast, I was scared for you, God what a fuck up. Janie don't push me away, not now, they know I haven't said anything or else you would have gone public. Please Jane let me help."
Her eyes sought out those of her mentor and friend. She was at a loss, unless.
"That's it."
"What's it?" Korsak looked confused.
"We go public." Her words were spoken plainly.
"We can't do that without proof Jane" Korsak kept an eye on Joey but was speaking to solely to Jane.
"We have proof" she said looking at Joey. "We have a live witness and a deathbed confession so to speak."
"Its not enough." Joey said quietly.
"It is if we have enough public opinion in our corner." Korsak smiled broadly.
"What?" Jane grimaced as she tried to get comfortable in the seat.
"The Chief's office called, there is going to be a press conference about the shooting and explosion at the hospital. They asked if you would be available."
For a moment Jane couldn't say anything and then she started to laugh. Unfortunately a cracked rib does not take well to laughter. "Oww, shit…" coughing she tried to stifle her laughter. She knew she must sound like a crazy person right now but she had to admit she felt like a crazy person. Only a crazy person would stay and after all this.
"Jane…"
"I'll be okay Korsak." Jesus, that hurt. "What time is the press conference?"
"Six. We have about two hours." Korsak frowned as he watched Jane get to her feet. "Where are you going?"
With barely a glance toward Joey, "We need to contact Doyle, Korsak. Plus, I need to go somewhere before the press conference."
"Where?"
Jane pulled out the photo in her pocket. "I need to go check on someone." She saw Korsak's raised eyebrows and and returned the look. "I promised Vince." She stumbled when she took a step, and looked suspiciously at the hand that helped support her. "Thanks." Jane shrugged Joey's hand off. "You're coming with us."
He just nodded. He owed her. He had lied to her again and he felt like shit about it. Joey didn't know where this was going to end, what he did know was that he was done. There was no way he would be able to continue on the force, he knew that. But Jane, he had violated her trust and he wanted, no needed, her to know that she could rely on him.
Jane leaned heavily on her cane. Her body hurt, her leg was throbbing and if she were honest with herself, she would admit that all she really wanted was to be with Maura. Screw this case and everything that went with it. But she couldn't. She was determined to see this through and she had made a promise to a killer that she would make sure his daughter was safe, and she would.
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Her stomach clenched involuntarily every time she thought about everything that had happened so far. Fear. It was unavoidable, but it wasn't fear for herself, it was fear of the unknown. What ifs, all the people that had been hurt so far.
Dammit she was scared. Big bad Detective Rizzoli was scared. Looking out the passenger side window she ignored Joey's presence in the back seat and tried to focus on the task at hand. Here she was headed to check on the welfare of a killer's daughter. He had trusted her with the information knowing that he was a dead man. She had to honor his request. At the same time she had to keep her family safe, keep Maura safe.
Korsak heard her sigh and glanced over at her. She was exhausted and hurting and still she pushed through. He truly did not know what was keeping Jane up. He had watched as she settled herself in the passenger seat and saw the way she held herself. He wanted this over for her. He wanted her safe, but she had made a promise to someone and Jane Rizzoli kept her promises.
They pulled up in front of the address Castillo had given Jane. It was a brownstone a couple of miles from the station.
Jane got out of the car before Korsak or Joey could help her. She was tired of that too. Tired of needing to lean on anyone. Looking down at the piece of paper in her hand she swallowed. The little girl's picture was in her pocket but she knew what the child looked like. All she wanted to do was make sure she was okay and then she would leave, promise kept. The press conference promised to be more eventful than even she was used to.
She led the way up the steps and rang the doorbell. When there was no answer she looked at the men with her and pressed the doorbell again. A loud crash inside startled all of them.
"Hello? Anyone home?" Jane knocked on the door again., wondering if they should force their way in. A cry from inside the house made that decision for her.
"Korsak?" She didn't need to say anything. Both Korsak and Joey had drawn their weapons. With a nod, Joey kicked the door in.
Korsak moved in and cleared the front room before moving into the kitchen, Joey on his heels. Jane brought up the rear.
"Ah shit! Jane…" Korsak's voice was shaken and she could hear Joey cursing under his breath.
The scene in the kitchen was surreal. The woman was on the floor in front of the back door bleeding from a hole in the back of her head. The man was slumped over a chair, two neat holes on his chest.
"Son of a bitch…what the hell?" Looking around the kitchen she saw the childish drawings on the refrigerator door. "Where's the girl? Joey, check upstairs."
Korsak called in to dispatch and turned to Jane. "Now what?"
"Vince we have to find her, I promised." Jane looked around and tried to figure out where she would hide. There was nothing to indicate that the child had been present when they were murdered, but something made the noise they heard. She looked at her watch. An hour, they had an hour till the press conference.
"Jane" Joey's voice called from the upper floor. "Can you come up here?"
"Jesus, what the hell else can go wrong?"
So…what say you?
