A/N: You all still there? Yoohoo! Okay, just checking…I'm not trying to draw this out too much longer but I don't like to take shortcuts and skimp. Not fair to you guys. Anyway we are working are way toward a confrontation and the introduction of a brand new character who you will hear more from in future chapters. Say hello to Ariana.

The little girl held the broom in front of her. She wouldn't let Joey get near her even as he tried to talk to her. Joey had put his gun away and was trying to talk to her gently when Jane finally made it upstairs.

"Joey what is going…" Jane stopped short when she saw the little girl. Her dark hair was loose and wild and she looked ready to stab Joey with the broom if he came any closer. The little girl's eyes darted to Jane and her cane before staring back at Joey.

"Get away! You hurt my gammy!" Swinging the broom she caught Joey on the arm.

"Ow, shit!"

"Joey! Go downstairs with Korsak, he's waiting for…for the others." She didn't want to say it out loud. She didn't know what the little girl had seen yet and she didn't need to know that more police were coming.

With a backward glance he mumbled, "good luck." Before heading downstairs.

The little girl gave her a wary glance. "Go away." She said.

Jane could tell she had been crying by the streaks on her face and she could only imagine what she had been through and now here was Jane coming to tell this child that her daddy was dead and so were her grandparents. Jesus life sucks sometimes.

"Honey…"

"My name's not honey!" she cried.

"Ariana…your name is Ariana…" Jane said soothingly.

"How do you know my name?" stunned she dropped the broom and Jane quickly used her foot to move it out of the way.

"Your daddy told me…he wanted me to come and check on you. Make sure you're okay." Biting her lip she kneeled down in front of her. "Are you okay Ariana?"

Jane's voice was soft and gentle enough so that Ariana responded. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Jane.

"They hurt my gammy and poppi" throwing herself into Jane's arms she sobbed. "I want my daddy!"

Stunned Jane wrapped her arms around the little girl and sat on the floor with her, her leg no longer supporting her. Rocking her gently Jane let her cry, tossing in a soothing word here and there without telling her anything yet. She heard heavy footfalls on the stairs and knew they would be interrupted soon. Pulling the little girl away from her, Jane brushed the hair out of her eyes.

"Honey your daddy…"

"My name's not honey…" she sniffled and wiped her face before looking at her. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

Jane smiled; this little girl was sharp as a tack. "I'm sorry, Ariana…my name is Jane your daddy wanted me to check on you and make sure you were okay."

Ariana looked at Jane intently, her father had left a couple of days ago with the promise that he would be back. "When is he coming to get me?"

Jane swallowed before answering. "Ho…Ariana…your daddy…" she looked up to see Korsak in the doorway looking at her gravely.

Clearing her throat, "your daddy wanted me to come take care of you for a little while and you know what'll be great? You can meet my mom, she would love to meet you."

"Really? You have a mommy? I don't have a mommy…just my daddy…oh and my gammy and poppi." She twirled her fingers in Jane's ponytail. "Look! Our hair is the same color!"

Jane smiled at the little girl's excitement, grateful for the distraction. Moving to get up she was surprised when Ariana handed back her cane.

"Why do you use that? Why do you walk funny?" The innocent questions made Jane raise her eyebrows and Korsak smirk at her.

Settling herself in a standing position Jane looked down at the curious little girl. "I hurt my leg so I have to use this for a little while."

Ariana ran a hand down the cane, "I like it." Seeing Korsak in the doorway she moved closer to Jane. "Who's that?"

"This is my friend Vince. He's going to drive us to meet my mom, is that okay?" When she nodded Jane looked at Korsak. "Is that okay with you?"

"Yeah, we have some techs working downstairs and I can come back." He followed her lead and headed down the stairs with them, making sure that Ariana stayed clear of the kitchen.

"Are you sure its okay if I go with you?" Her voice was small, but hopeful.

Jane smiled, surprised when Ariana took her hand as they walked to the car.

"Your daddy wanted me to make sure you were okay Ariana, that's what I'm going to do."
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Jane sat in the back seat of Korsak's car with Ariana leaning against her clutching the only object she brought with her, a little stuffed elephant her father had given her. She could hear her steady breathing and realized that in the aftermath of it all, Ariana had fallen asleep. She didn't know what to do. She needed to call social services and let them know about her but right now Jane just wanted to give the little girl some peace. Jane leaned her head back and thought about the upcoming press conference. Things were definitely going to get uglier in a very short while, but maybe they would all have some peace after this.

Korsak glanced in the rearview mirror and over at Joey. "What do you think?" he whispered.

Turning around in his seat he watched a woman he truly cared about, who had already been through hell, comfort the child of the man hired to kill her.

"Hell if I know," Joey rubbed his nose and looked over at Korsak. "Are we taking her to the press conference?"

"To Angela, at the hospital I think…that's what Jane said…I hope she knows what she's doing." Korsak had briefed the officers on the scene and the detectives who had shown up. This whole situation was getting way out of hand and there was no way he was going to let Jane out of his sight until it was over.

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Jane watched Maura sleep. Even with the bandages, she was still beautiful. Her mother was in the cafeteria with Ariana getting her a bite to eat. Smiling at the memory of their meeting, Jane was impressed with her mother. She had taken the little girl's presence with Jane in stride and while Jane knew she had a ton of questions, she had contained herself. Angela had immediately put the little girl at ease, as Jane knew she would. They talked about elephants and mommies as they walked away, Korsak in tow. Jane had been quite firm, they were not to let that little girl out of their sight. This whole case had started with a cold case, the death of a six-year-old girl. It would end with saving one.

Maura struggled to wake up, the medication they had given her finally wearing off. Blinking her eyes she was happily surprised to find Jane standing by the bed, dark eyes staring down at her.

"Uhm…Hey…" Her voice was raspy, almost as much as Jane's and the answering smile from her warmed her.

Jane leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. "Hey Sleeping Beauty…how are you feeling?"

"Better I think…is it over?" Maura could see that something was weighing heavily on her.

"Not yet, soon. I just wanted to check on you before the press conference."

Sitting up, Maura winced and allowed Jane to help her. "What press conference?" Her face hurt but she was focused on Jane now.

Blowing out a breath Jane sat down heavily. She needed Maura to know, to understand what they were about to do, in case…

"We got some information on who is behind this."

"How?" There was something Jane wasn't telling her, looking her up and down; she saw how Jane was holding herself and how tired she seemed. "You're hurt."

Taking her hand Jane squeezed it tightly. "I'm okay Maur. We got the guy who was hired to kill us." She shook her hand before continuing. "He told me who hired him before he was killed."

"Killed?"

"SWAT took him out, I'm guessing under orders," seeing the shock on her face Jane continued quickly, "anyway, before he died he gave me a name. We're going public with it. It's the only way to draw him out. He won't expect it and it's the only way to keep us all safe."

Maura's quiet nod allowed Jane to continue. "There's one more thing, I made a promise to this guy." Maura raised her eyebrows, wondering where Jane was going with this. "He asked me to make sure his daughter was okay." Jane's voice broke a little as she thought about the little girl's grandparents lying dead in the kitchen.

"Is she?"

Jane nodded, "she's with Ma…when we got to the house, her grandparents." Shaking her head she looked at Maura. "They're dead Maura." Maura sat up straighter as she heard the pain in Jane's voice, not just for herself but for all of them.

"Jane…"

"Don't say it Maur, there was something I could do, I couldv'e figured all of this out a lot sooner. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know. I spoke to your doctor; they aren't going to release you before tomorrow. They need to make sure there are no complications."

Jane stood up but not before kissing Maura tenderly.

"Where are you going?" Maura asked anxiously.

"Press conference. I hope you don't mind but I asked Ma to stay with you till I get back…that means the little girl will be with her too."

"Of course…" Maura didn't know how to respond. She was never good around children. Leaning back against the bed she let her weariness take over her body again. "Jane?"

"Hmm?"

"Be careful please…" Maura's words were full of emotion.

Jane wrapped Maura up in her arms and rocked her gently. "I will"

Maura watched her leave and wondered if she should have said anything. Jane's fever was back.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Pausing outside Maura's door, Jane wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her leg was throbbing, her back hurt like a bitch and dammit she was feverish again. All she wanted to do was crawl into bed with Maura and sleep for a couple of days but she knew that wasn't possible. Not yet.

Walking down the hallway she caught herself as a wave of dizziness washed over her, grateful that she had gotten Korsak to wait for her downstairs. He would cuff her to a bed right now if he could. Smiling at the thought she was about to press for the elevator when her phone buzzed.

Looking at the text, she looked around and headed to the room indicated.

Doyle looked her up and down when she walked in. "You look like shit Rizzoli." The woman his daughter loved looked like she was ready to fall over. This worried him.

"Thanks." Sarcasm dripped from that one word. "I'm busy Doyle, what do you want?"

"It's not what I want, its what you need. Isn't that why you had Detective Korsak contact me?" Shaking his head at her he waved to the chair. "Rizzoli sit down before you fall down."

Ignoring his suggestion, she continued to press him having forgotten that she asked Vince to get in touch with him. "What is it that you think I need Doyle?"

"Closure…you know the who and I can help with the why. Seems the DA is the grandson of Vittorio Giani."

"Giani, as in the Giani crime family from New York? Are you kidding me?" Now she did sit down.

Appreciating that she understood the ramifications he continued. "Exactly, this has all been a power move to create a substantial base here and they've done it, until now, because no one knew the connection."

"How did you?" Seeing his raised eyebrows she waved both hands, "forget it I don't want to know. Jesus."

"Exactly, my men will be positioned inconspicuously during the press conference and the word I got is that the DA plans to be present at your little press conference"

This changed some things, definitely. Exposing Joey as their witness publicly would put him in their sights immediately, but then having the DA present, she might be able to force his hand, plus Castillo's "death bed confession". Dammit she had a lot to think about and looking at her watch only about ten minutes to do it in. Crap.

She stood up and stared at him, determination blazing from her eyes. "I promised Maura this ends today Doyle and it does."

"I hear you Rizzoli and at least for now, you have my support."

Without another glance she walked out and headed to the elevator. She needed to talk with Korsak and Joey. She didn't know if she could trust the Chief and she was certain to get suspended if this all went to shit, as long as it didn't get her killed, but it didn't matter. Not anymore.

Now if you know me at all, you may know where I'm going with this…then again...I don't like to be too predictable, hence Dear Maura. Anyway, I'd love to know what you think, feelings, etc. and as always, thank you for reading, your humble bard-Honorcpt