A/N: The new story! This is what you've been waiting for! As recommended as usual, read the other 'Protégé' stuff to understand everything. Welcome my wonderful readers!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rizzoli and Isles because if I did then I would totally send Doctor Pike away. I hate him with a passion as much as I hate Hoyt (scary). It all belongs to TNT and I just own the story and the original characters.

"Elementary, my dear Watson." - Sherlock Holmes

Ch. 1: Welcome Home

He walked onto the stage and looked out into the distance. It was empty but at one time, he used to fill the place with hundreds of people every night. Now, he was going to give it all up for something else.

Something more valuable.

As he continued to look out, he heard footsteps and turned around. "Listen, let's talk about this," he stated softly.

"I don't think so."

Suddenly three shots went off and a loud thump came as the body hit the stage.

"This is Victor 9-5-0! I have been made and I am foot pursuit going down Maple," I shouted in my phone as I chased after the suspect. I was dressed in jeans and a simple gray shirt with my brown leather jacket over them and my black hair tied back in a ponytail. The sound of my medallion and ring echoed against my chest with my badge while my heart was racing as I ran. You would think that I would be physically fit for all this running especially working three years on patrol and a year and half in the Drug Unit.

The suspect glanced over his shoulder and I shouted loudly, "Boston Police Department! Stop fuckin' running!"

"Fuck you," he shouted back at me.

Why must they always say that, I thought about it. I watched as the suspect went down the alleyway and I shouted into my phone, "He just went down an alleyway at Jacobs. I need a unit to cut them off and I meet them there!"

"We are going to meet you right there, Marx! Keep running!"

"Richie, if you are not there, I swear that I will kill you," I growled under my breath. I quickly moved pass the alleyway and I noticed that a fence was about to get in my way. "Oh Hell," I mumbled before I charged at the fence, climbing over it and landing on the other side to see the suspect about to run into the cruisers that were approaching.

I watched as my partner came out of one of the cruisers while I reached the edge of the street lamp, pulling out my weapon. The suspect was about to turn around and run until he noticed me as I stated, "Now get on the ground."

The suspect sighed, dropping onto his knees on the ground. I let out a loud sigh as I pulled out my handcuffs tossing them to my partner, Richie Owens. Richie worked in the Drug Unit about a year now with me as well as worked with me in patrol. He had short sandy blonde hair and a small beard that I teased him about with brown eyes. He wore almost the exact clothing like me except he had no leather jacket on but a plaid button shirt.

"Good run, Marx. I should make you do that more often," he complimented.

I rolled my eyes and sarcastically said, "Thanks."

"You should go faster next time, ya know."

"Whatever," I answered as I flipped him off as I pulled out my reading glasses and placed them on. I pulled out my phone, looking at today's date. The particular date seemed to be familiar to me but I wasn't sure why it seemed important. Lately, things had been hectic with me leading several investigations, which pissed the Lieutenant off. I so desperately wanted to leave the unit after my three-month investigation with me going deep undercover.

It was torture and I didn't ever want to be away from my family ever again.

I had placed my papers in for the homicide division finally but it was going to take forever.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing," I answered as I closed my phone then looked at Richie, "but you're taking the runner back."

"But-"

"No buts, Richie. I ran about a mile right now and I'm exhausted."

"Old lady."

"Fuck you," I laughed.

My name is Kris Marx Rizzoli- Isles but I don't use my Rizzoli-Isles last name unless it was outside of work. Anyways, I am Kris Gabriel Leo Marx and I am a twenty-four years old detective in the Drug Unit. My parents are Detective Jane Rizzoli-Isles and Doctor Maura Rizzoli- Isles who adopted me at age sixteen. I am also an older sister of five-year-old twins, Alessa Emily and William Matthew. I was very tight with my family but in the recent months, due to my undercover operations, I had not much time to see them.

I ran my hand through my hair then I heard my phone beep. I crossed my fingers hoping that it was someone else and not my Lieutenant who was a prick. I took in a deep breath as I pulled out my phone to see a familiar number. I opened it to see a text message as it stated, I missed u this morning.

I smiled, I know, love.

That was another thing.

I was not single but in a happy relationship for about five years with my girlfriend, Gabriella Rodriquez. She had recently finished med school and was currently working in Boston General in the Emergency Ward. It was a healthy balance between work and personal lives.

"Marx, you coming," Richie called out to me.

I sent a quick text sending my love to her before I closed my phone. I then turned around and began to walk over as I answered, "Yeah, I'm coming."

R&I

"It's in!"

"What's in, Richie? The new coffeemaker?"

"No, you smartass, the promotions!"

"I bet the lieutenant kissed the brass. He's still piss that I ran the last case under the Captain's orders."

"That's not it!"

"Then what, Richie? I'm trying to get my paperwork done so I can get back to my lovely girlfriend for tonight."

"Well, screw the paperwork! You're leaving."

"What? Where?"

"Why don't you read it yourself?"

Jane's POV

Her desk was usually empty because I made sure it was empty. No one was supposed to sit at her desk until she promoted. She used to drop down to help when she was working patrol but now since she promoted to detective in the Drug unit, her visits were rare.

However, this morning was very different.

When I walked into the bullpen, I looked over at the empty desk that once was occupied by my daughter to see several boxes. "Whose shit is this," I questioned aloud as I looked at the box.

"We have a rookie coming in," Frankie questioned as he walked into the bullpen.

I nodded, "Yeah and this idiot placed their shit on Kris' desk." I walked over and lifted Kris' nametag, "Don't they notice that this is occupied."

"Janie, it hasn't been occupied by Kris since she entered the Academy."

"Still…I don't like it. She still sits in it anyways," I argued.

"Jane, give this person a chance," I suddenly heard. I turned my head to see my wife leaning against the doorway. She walked up to me and glanced down at the box, "This person seems to be very organized."

"They are already on my bad side, Maur. That is Kris' desk."

"Jane, Kris hasn't been sitting there since she left and also she hasn't been able to visit us since she went to the Drug unit. You would expect your daughter to be doing the escort but no, she gets…"

"The dealer," I laughed. Maura laughed and touched my hand softly as I sighed, "I'm still telling them to move to another desk."

"Who are you telling to move off the desk," I heard.

"Some new…" I turned around and noticed a tall figure standing at the doorway. They were wearing a pair of jeans and a simple white button shirt over her leather jacket. I smiled widely while Maura quickly pulled away, walking over.

"I hope you are not planning to move my stuff off my desk, Ma. It is still my desk, right," Kris asked as she lifted Maura up in a tight hug and spin.

I chuckled, "Yeah, it's still your desk, Kiddo." She placed Maura down and walked over hugging me as I inquired, "What are you doing here?"

"You didn't hear?"

"Hear what?"

"I got promoted to Homicide. I'm officially Detective Kris Marx, homicide detective and I think I bet your record for being the youngest," Kris smiled.

I shook my head, "You're what? Twenty- three?"

"Twenty- four," Kris corrected with a small jab to my shoulder.

"You look well, Kris," Maura pointed out.

Kris smiled at the comment and it was true because when some cops became a detective in the drug unit, they changed. However, with Kris' past, Kris was not going to change but age was very pleasant to her. Her hairstyle never changed but her features on her face were more mature with her scars faded down her neck. She was about my height and her glasses were older looking, becoming wired framed and now, she wore them when reading or going onto the field.

She walked over to her desk and took a seat. She then began to pull photos out of her box, placing them on her desk once more. "Have you called Gabriella yet," Maura inquired.

Kris shook her head, "Lieutenant kicked me up here as soon as I found out I got promoted. I'm going to actually right now and then I'm thinking about a celebratory dinner for all of us since I'm back to somewhat normal hours."

"The twins will ecstatic," I pointed out.

"Oh they will be thrilled," Kris retorted as she picked up the phone. However, before she could even dial, everyone's phone began to ring including hers. She placed the office phone down and pulled out her cell phone as she laughed tiredly, "Seems dispatch knows I'm back."

"It's a welcome party with your first homicide case."

Kris wiggled her nose but answered, "Marx."

R&I

"Man, this place is big," I pointed out as we entered the Boston Amphitheater. "How can anyone find the stage properly?"

"With practice," Kris answered as we finally reached the stage. She climbed up first and stuck her hand out to Maura, "When I was a protégé, I came here once in a while because I was force too. Funny, how this place changed over the years."

"Bring back memories?"

"Yeah, how bad I had stage fright," Kris chuckled as she pulled Maura up. She then took my hand and helped me up before we all turned and Kris' smile dropped.

I noticed this and looked over with my jaw dropping at the sight. There was blood everywhere and Frost seemed to be green as he with Korsak and Frankie were canvassing the area. "Holy shit," I cussed. I walked forward and gazed at the stage flooring before I asked, "If this is a crime scene, where's the body?"

"Look up," Kris gestured with her eyes looking up. Maura and I looked up to see the body hanging upside down with three bullet holes in his torso. "Hangman is coming down from the gallows and I don't have very long…" Kris hummed.

"Kris," Maura scolded gently while Kris and I laughed quietly as I patted her back.

The team was together again.

Maura's POV

"I think this might lead up to the rafters," Kris gestured toward the door. She opened the door and walked over onto the catwalk with Jane following closely behind.

"You did this all the time," Jane questioned.

I shook my head and retorted, "Jane, you are exaggerating. Kris only did this once in a while, right?"

I watched as Kris smirked at the question and I let out a sigh knowing that Kris had done this multiple times. We approached the body with Kris pulling out her latex gloves and began to untie the rope from the railing. The body slowly began to swing like a pendulum, lowering the body down to me.

As the body touched the ground, I observed the wounds. "How long has he been dead, Maura," Kris questioned.

I gave a confused look at the sound of my name escaping her lips. It had been a while but then I remembered that Kris didn't call us 'Mom' or 'Ma' unless we were not working. "According to the liver temperature, he's been dead for several hours but I'll know more when we return to the lab."

"Three gunshots to the body," Jane stated.

"I have not confirmed it, Jane," I argued.

"Maura, it's obvious what killed him."

"I rather hear a cause of death after examination," Kris informed Jane. She looked at her with a knowing look as she continued, "It better be safe than sorry because I know if we don't get the right cause of death, we might look at the wrong angle."

"So you think hanging him as significance?"

"In a theater? Yes, I believe so," Kris retorted. She looked up and showed the rope as she informed, "In Leroux tale, The Phantom of the Opera, the Phantom used the Punjab as a warning as he killed people."

"I feel like I'm sitting through a college lecture. What's the point, Kris?"

"I forgot how impatient you were," Kris retorted with an eye roll. I giggled quietly with Jane glaring at me while Kris answered, "The point is that it can be a warning for others."

Jane nodded then looked down at me, "At least it's blood."

"I can't confirm that. It is a reddish brown stain for now."

"Maura…"

"Jane…"

It was almost the same old tune as Jane rolled her eyes, mumbling as she returned down to the stage. I glanced up at Kris as she looked around the area before she inquired, "Is there any identification on him?"

I went into his pocket, pulled out his wallet and handed it to Detective Frost. He opened the wallet and announced, "His name is Benjamin Monroe and on his license, it says that he's twenty eight."

"Name sounds familiar for some reason."

"You crossed paths," I inquired.

Kris shook her head, "Just sounds familiar but don't know where."

"Wonder why he was here," Jane pondered. I gave a curious look at her before I heard Kris's footsteps. Jane looked at her and asked, "Why would you be here?"

"Not sure why I would come at the nighttime though," Kris stated. She stood center stage, tapping her foot before she asked, "Do you know if there were any shows going on at the time?"

Frost glanced down at his Ipad. "Actually yes," Frost confirmed. He handed the Ipad to Kris with Jane and me approaching her to look over her shoulder. "Looks like a musical was coming here and they were setting up," he explained.

"Jane," all of us looked over to see Korsak entering the theater. He pointed over his shoulder where the doorway was at as he informed, "The director and the theater owner are outside wondering what's going on."

I looked at Jane and Kris who looked at me. I kissed both of their cheeks and told them, "You two go ahead while the techs continue to look for evidence with Frost and Frankie. I'll see you two when you get back and I should be able to start an autopsy."

Kris smiled, "I'll be there soon."

I smiled and Jane nodded then hopped off the stage. She began to walk then glanced at Kris, "You coming, Kris?"

"Coming," Kris shouted back.

Kris' POV

We exited the theater and entered the lobby to see a man with a woman. The woman was the first to turn as she asked, "Are you the detectives?"

"Yes, we are. I'm Detective Kris Marx and this is Detective Jane Rizzoli," I introduced.

"I'm Jennifer Newman, owner of the theater and this is Bobby Valentine, he's the director of the musical company," she stated as she gestured us to sit down in the lobby chairs. We all took seats as I observed both of them.

Miss Newman was a young blonde around my age. She wore a simple gray skirt with a purple blouse, reminding me of Maura who dressed the same way. Mister Valentine sat next to her with his hand running through his combed jet-black hair. He was dressed in a suit and tie as he asked, "Detectives, we were informed that this is a crime scene. What's going on?"

Jane pulled out her phone with the picture of the victim as she showed it to them. "Do you know who he is," she inquired.

"Oh god, it's Ben," Miss Newman gasped.

Mister Valentine ran his hand over his face, "The show is done."

I gave a confused look, "How so, Mister Valentine?"

"Ben was our composer and lyricist," he explained. He went to his pocket and pulled out his phone, showing a video to us. Ben was standing on the stage and we watched as he sang softly.

That's where I recognize him.

"It's going to devastate the cast," he sighed.

Jane leaned in, "I'm sorry about your loss but, I have to ask this. Do you know anyone who could hurt Ben? Anyone upset with him recently?"

"Everyone was upset with him," Miss Newman answered.

"How so," I questioned.

Mister Valentine sighed, "He stated that he was going to retire from songwriting. He wrote music so well and we are still in our beginning stages of the musical. Oh god…"

"What?"

He looked at Miss Newman, "Someone must call Paul and inform him that he must get the sheet music from Ben's apartment."

"We advise that you don't," Jane informed him. I nodded in agreement as she explained, "We need to look through Ben's apartment as part of our investigation. However, who is Paul?"

"Paul Savors, he's another one of our collaboration team. God, I can't believe this is happening."

I nodded, "Again, we are sorry for your loss." I stood up and handed my card to both of them before Jane and I walked away. As we were exiting out of the building toward the cruiser, I could feel Jane's eyes were looking at me. "Yes Ma," I inquired as she opened the driver's side of the cruiser.

"You recognized him," she stated. I nodded and I entered my side of the cruiser. She turned the engine and began to drive. As we drove, she pushed, "Well, how do you recognize him?"

"When I entered the protégé program, he was leaving and a lot of us looked up to him. He wrote music and lyrics like it were nothing."

"But why would he stop if he loved it?"

"You stop when you stop loving it. It becomes a chore."

"Is that why you left," Jane asked as she looked away from the road.

I shrugged, "I think it was the fact that I had done my course. However, we have long suspect list now since everyone was upset with him."

Jane nodded, "I think we should find this Paul dude."

"I think so too but let's check in with Mom about the autopsy and I need to call Gabriella about my promotion and not to expect me around for dinner." As we pulled up to a stop light, Jane looked at me and hugged me tightly then kissed my cheek. I gave a confused look as I asked, "What was that for?"

Jane blushed a bit as she expressed softly, "I'm just glad you're back, Kiddo."

"So am I, Ma."

So am I.

So, there's the beginning. I know not much happened but I needed to present the case and all. I also know that there is no Gabriella POV in this chapter. She'll pop up a bit more later into the story. But, I hope you guys liked it! I got to balance two stories since the New Adventures is done for now.

Please review, PM, comment, etc! Thank you!