Chapter 39

R&I

First things first, our people. Aldrich is standing outside Jane's I.C.U. room, and to my relief Ms. Harvey and Dr. Lewis are here too. That gives me some relief, and they seem to be okay. I pull Aldrich aside and ask, "How are Ms. Harvey and Dr. Lewis?"

"They're fine, Constance. But Harvey is bloody pissed that your daughter got the drop on her," Aldrich smirks.

"What does that mean? Are they going to press charges or not?"

"It means that they're both fine, and neither has plans to press any charges. They understand why your daughter did what she did. They might not agree with it, but they understand. More importantly, they're happy we got the detective back," Aldrich explains.

"I'd like to compensate them," I answer. I'm beyond relieved. Our people aren't going to press charges. So now all I have to worry about is the man that Maura shot.

"That's not necessary. All your daughter did was put them to sleep. They woke within the hour," Aldrich says.

"I want to talk to them, and Maura would also like to apologize," I answer honestly.

"I'll let them know. But right now, our number one priority is to protect them. Lt. Cavanaugh just came by to let us know that Paddy Doyle died. He sent Detective Korsak and Detective Rizzoli back to the Precinct so that Internal Affairs can take their statements. Once the detective is out of the I.C.U.; Internal Affairs are going to come and take her statement along with your daughters," Aldrich explains.

"That's to be expected. But I'm more worried about Paddy Doyle's family. They might want to avenge Paddy's death," I answer. Now I have something new to worry about.

"That's a possibility. Lt. Cavanaugh said that Detective Korsak and Detective Rizzoli are checking with their confidential informants to see if Paddy's family plans to retaliate against the detective," Aldrich says.

"What about Maura's so-called mother?"

"Dr. Hope Martin has been arrested for helping Paddy Doyle escape and for kidnapping the detective and your daughter. Plus a slew of other charges. She won't ever see the bloody light of day," Aldrich explains.

"Good. Did Lt. Cavanaugh say anything about the man Maura shot?" I ask anxiously. I'm praying he's still alive.

"Lt. Cavanaugh said that Maura's shot shattered the man's clavicle, but he's going to be fine, Constance. They need to take the detective's and your daughter's statements, but there shouldn't be any charges. After all, your daughter acted in self-defense. So, try to relax," Aldrich smiles.

"I think I need to sit down," I answer honestly. By the grace of God, my daughter isn't getting arrested.

Aldrich walks me to the waiting room, and we both sit down. I finally let go of the breath I've been holding since I found out that Maura ran off to rescue Jane. Aldrich puts his hand over mine and says, "We're okay. The detective is receiving the best care, and we're going to protect them. But I'm warning you; we've learned our lesson. We'll use force if necessary, but we're not going to allow them to run off on us again."

"Just don't hurt them and call me if either even attempts to run off again, got it?" I order. If either runs off again, I think my head might explode.

"Yes, ma'am."

"I need someone to drive me to the house to pack a bag for Maura and pick up dinner for her," I say.

"I'll drive you. Just for you to know, Detective Korsak's wife picked up Robbie. She said she'd take care of him for as long as needed," Aldrich says.

"I'm so grateful to her and Detective Korsak. It's one less thing to worry about, and I know the little guy is getting the best of care," I say.

"Come on, Constance, let's go," Aldrich smiles as he stands up. He holds out his hand, and as I take it, I say, "Thank you for all you've done."

Aldrich smirks, "Thank you for not bloody firing me."

I smile and answer, "You got damn lucky."

Copley Place Mall – Back Bay Boston – Sunday at 3 p.m.

I got a text from our prison mule. She has a letter for me.

She sneaks up on me from behind and makes me jump from my chair. I glare at her and say, "How many fucking times do I have to tell you not to do that?"

"It's not my fault that you're not aware of your surroundings. Do you have my money?" She asks.

Fucking 300 lbs fat mule. I wish I didn't have to fucking deal with her. She repulses me. She smells of cigarette smoke. I show her the cash, and she shows me the envelope. We make the exchange and walk away.

I open the envelope in my car, and I'm not surprised. Vic wants an update. Maybe Vic is right, and we should remind the world that Hoyt's Apprentices' are still out there.

Apartment in South Boston – Sunday at 5 p.m.

My burner phone goes off, and I answer with, "What?"

"Well, hello to you too," Carrie answers sarcastically.

"What do you want, Carrie?"

"I think it's time to remind the world that we're still out here," Carrie says.

"Why the fuck haven't we made the news? We had a new kill, and there's nothing on TV, newspapers, or even online," I complain.

"Paddy Doyle."

"Fucken old man. The good thing is that he's dead," I happily report.

"I guess we should thank Rizzoli for that. But anyway, we'll give the media another week to get over Paddy Doyle. Vic wants you to remind Rizzoli and Dr. Isles that there's still in mortal danger," Carrie happily explains.

"What do you want me to do?" I ask suspiciously. This is getting dangerous for me. It's my ass on the line since Carrie has to be on her best behavior.

"We want you to rig up a small explosive and plant it under one of their S.U.V.'s. Preferably one that is parked outside their house," Carrie explains.

I love what I'm hearing. I grin, "Finally, I'm going to have some fun."

"You better not kill them or anyone else for that matter. The goal is to scare the shit out of them and remind the world that we're still here. If we pull this off, we're going to get heat from everywhere. The F.B.I., the A.T.F., and the entire police department," Carrie warns.

"I know that. Carrie, I'm not a fucking moron, you know. I'm a fucking trained special forces soldier. I know what needs to be done. And I promise you, I won't get caught," I angrily replied.

"W, if you kill anybody, we're done."

"Fine, but I won't. After, I want us to move on to the next couple. They'll be my reward for a job well done," W smirks.

"We'll see. Get started and make sure none of the components can be tracked to you. And figure out how the fuck you're going to plant it without getting caught. I'm sure Dr. Isles has outdoor cameras at her home. I doubt we'll be able to disable or hack them. Her security people are the ones that installed them. The bottom line is that we can't get caught on any video," Carrie explains.

"We won't."

"Contact me when you're ready. Don't proceed until we talk."

"I got it."

With that, the call ends. I have work to do.

Jane's I.C.U. Room – Sunday at 6 p.m.

I can't wait for my love to wake up. Currently, she's being given another unit of blood, and she's still on the ventilator. Dr. James explained that she's going to be sedated for one or two days to give her body time to heal and to try to normalize her blood volume. Then he'll remove the intubation tube.

She looks so pale, so thin, and heartbreakingly fragile.

I must protect her. I'm sure Paddy Doyle's family will want revenge. And I'll go to any length to protect her. If things get really bad, I'll plead with her for us to leave the states. At least, for a while. We can go back to Paris or anywhere she wants. I know it will be a very hard sell, but I'm not above begging if necessary.

Thankfully, I was able to speak to Dr. Lewis and Ms. Harvey.

"I'm her mother, and I need to see her!"

Fuck, Angela Rizzoli is back. Well, it's time she and I have a conversation. I walk into the hallway and quickly close the door. I order Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Martin, "Nobody goes into that room but me. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Poor Vince and Frankie are blocking her path and trying to stop her hysterics. I join them, and as soon as Angela sees me, she yells, "It's all your fault! It's your fault Jane is lying on that I.C.U. bed! It's your fault she almost got killed!"

"What do you care?! You said Paddy should have killed her! Or have you forgotten!" I answer loudly.

"I said it out of anger!"

"Well, there things you can't take back, and Jane wants nothing to do with you," I angrily answer.

"You should be the one who should leave. You're a danger to her!" Angela loudly argues.

"Enough! Leave. And if you ever hurt her in any way, I'll make your life a living hell," I threaten, and I mean it. The roof she has over her head right now is because of me. And I really don't want to have them vacate it because of T.J. He's the only reason why they're still there.

"Ma, enough! Leave, or I'll drag you out by force if necessary!" Frankie yells. Poor Frankie is exhausted, and I'm sure dealing with Angela is the last thing he wants to do.

"Angela, this is your last warning leave. If you don't leave, I'll arrest you!" Vince adds.

"You wouldn't."

"Try me," Vince coldly answers.

"I'll fucking be back, and I will see Jane!" Angela yells as she walks down the hall.

I look at poor Frankie and Vince and ask, "How can we get an order of protection?"

"We'd have to arrest her first," Frankie says.

I'm so frustrated. At the end of the day, Angela Rizzoli is Frankie and Jane's mother. And if I move against her, I'd be hurting them. I relent, "I don't want to cause her any harm, but I have to protect Jane. And Jane wants nothing to do with her. Unless that changes, I'm not going to let her anywhere near her."

"Don't worry about that, Maura. If this continues, I'll arrest her without batting an eye. I've had it with her," Frankie says.

Before I can answer, I see someone walking towards us. I can't believe who it is.

Gabriel Dean.

When Frankie and Vince see him, Frankie shouts, "Get the hell out! You have no business here!"

"Where the hell were you when we raided Paddy's house?! Your fucking men arrived twenty minutes after everything happened! I called you before we even left the Precinct!" Vince shouts too. Both men are furious.

"You know I was in D.C., and I already dealt with those idiots. I came to see how Jane is, and I want to see her," Dean says.

"Jane doesn't fucking want you! Now leave!" Frankie yells.

I emphatically state, "You're not seeing Jane."

"Why not?"

"Because I said so. Frankie is right. You have no business here," I coldly answer.

"Jane is my business," Dean answers.

"No, Jane is MY business, not yours. She's my love, not yours," I smugly say. I can see he's becoming angry.

"We'll see about that," Dean growls.

"No, no, we won't. Jane is in love with me, not you. She's with me, not you. Now leave," I order.

When he steps towards me, Mr. Armstrong comes around out of nowhere and slams him hard against a wall. Ms. Harvey also joins him. As they pin him to the wall, Mr. Armstrong growls, "The detective doesn't want you. She loves Dr. Isles. What of NO, don't you understand? Concentrate on your work and catching the bloody Apprentices, and stop harassing them. Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Get off me!" Dean shouts as he throws his head back, trying to hit Mr. Armstrong. It only earns him another slam into the wall again. Hard. He's probably going to have a bruised face in the morning.

"Are you going to bloody leave or not?" Mr. Armstrong angrily asks.

"Fine! Get off me!" Dean yells.

Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Harvey take a step back, grab Dean by the back of his neck, and shove him hard down the hall. When he turns around, he angrily says, "Jane belongs with me, Maura. Not you! You'll see. I'll break you guys up. I've done it before."

I don't bother to answer him. Nobody is breaking us up. But to my relief, he does leave.

"God, the crazies are out tonight," Vince says as he shakes his head in disbelief.

"Hopefully, that's the last one," Frankie says.

"I hope so too. I'm going to try to get some sleep," I say.

"Go on in, Maura. We'll keep an eye on things," Frankie says.

I smile, and as I pass Mr. Armstrong and Ms. Harvey, I say, "Thank you."

Mr. Armstrong smiles, "Anytime."

I smile and go back to Jane. I lean down and kiss her cheek and whisper in her ear, "I love you, Jane."

I kiss her one more time and go to the recliner and close my eyes. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

Boston Toy Store – Monday at 6:55 p.m.

This is going to be a piece of cake. The remote control car I chose is going to be perfect for my task. It's a little pricey, but it comes with a camera and a 2.4 GHz remote control. That gives me a range of 80 feet. They'll never see it coming. I'll be able to control the car from a distance and detonate the explosive.

I'm also going to set up a pole camera. That way, I can see the comings and going of her street so that I can choose the perfect moment. I can't afford to harm any fucking civilians because we will get an enormous amount of heat if I do. And the last thing I want is for my partnership with Carrie to end.

She sucks in bed, but at least I get my rocks off with the victims she chooses. I get my base desires met, and as a bonus, I take the Rizzoli's down a peg. I hate Jane Rizzoli and her brother because they're arrogant assholes. They think they're so good at their job. Well, we'll see if they are; a tap on my shoulder brings me to the present.

I walk up to the counter and pay for my little toy in cash. No way to trace the transaction to me, and this toy store has no cameras. So, I've covered all my bases.

It'll take me a couple of weeks to meticulously assemble the device, but I'm looking forward to it. And Carrie should be happy.

Jane Rizzoli's I.C.U. Room – Tuesday at 9 a.m.

My mind feels so foggy. I remember going to meet Paddy. I remember trying to escape when I realized that I was only bait to lure Maura to them. I remember waking up in Maura's lap. I also remember shooting Paddy and then darkness.

I moan in pain. I remember being shot in my arm, and God, does it hurt. As I slowly open my eyes, I feel her holding my hand, and then I hear her whisper, "Good morning, love. It's about time you woke up. I've been so worried."

"Mmm, my throat is sore," I groan as my eyes adjust to the light. I grasp Maura's hand tightly, and I'm beyond relieved that she's here. Maura hasn't left me, at least not yet.

"They intubated you, sweetheart. Let me get you some water," Maura offers as she caresses my knuckles with her thumb. She only lets go when I nod.

Maura carefully lifts my head and puts the cup to my lips. The water feels good going down my throat. When I finish, she carefully lowers my head and murmurs, "How do you feel, love? Are you in any pain?"

"My shoulder hurts like hell," I mumble as I try to get my bearings. I feel somewhat drowsy, and I don't like it, and the lights are so bright.

"I'll get a nurse, and they'll give you something for the pain, sweetheart," Maura says as she pushes the call button.

"What day is it?" I moan in pain. God, my shoulder hurts.

"It's 9 a.m. Tuesday. You've been asleep for almost three days. The nurse will be here soon," Maura smiles as she grabs my left hand again. Her thumb is caressing my knuckles again. The simple gesture makes my heart sing.

"Three days? Jesus. My memory is foggy. Tell me what happened. You didn't get hurt, did you? Are you okay?" I murmur.

Maura shakes her head in disbelief and says, "You're the one in an I.C.U. bed and you're asking if I got hurt?"

"You're all that matters to me. They didn't hurt you, did they?" I answer honestly.

"No, they didn't hurt me, love," Maura softly answers.

"Paddy? Hope?"

"Paddy Doyle is dead, and Hope Martin is behind bars," Maura says.

I begin to panic. The last time I shot Paddy Doyle, our relationship almost ended. So I begin to plead, "Please, don't leave me. I love you so much. Please, please, don't leave me again. I'm so sorry."

"Jane, love, I'm not going to leave you. I promise I'll never leave you," Maura promises as she squeezes my hand.

"But I killed Paddy. I'm…I'm…so…sorry. I know I broke my word and ran off. I had to; Paddy said he knew who the Apprentices were," I mumble nervously. I don't know what I'll do if I lose her.

She closes her eyes and answers, "Why didn't you ask for help, Jane?"

"Paddy's instructions were very clear, and he promised me Hoyt's fucking Apprentices. I couldn't say no. I must protect you," I groggily explain.

"He was using you to lure me, and I'm not upset with you. Paddy would have killed you if you hadn't killed him. And I can't be angry at you for running off on your own since I did the same thing," Maura answers as she bites her lip.

"You…you..ran off by yourself?" I ask in shock. My mind feels like it's in a fog. Maura Isles never breaks the rules. This can't be happening.

"Paddy texted me the following morning and told me that I either meet him in an hour or he'd kill you. I also had no choice," Maura explains.

"But, what about our shadows? I can't believe you gave them the slip," I ask in complete surprise. I can't believe she ditched Constance's team. Constance must be furious. As soon as I'm able, I'm going to have a team meeting with them if Constance hasn't fired them yet. I still can't believe my Maura ditched our shadows.

Maura bites her lip and then explains, "I only had two shadows with me when the text message arrived. I gave Ms. Harvey and Dr. Lewis a shot of Ativan. Once they were asleep, I took off to the address that Paddy had texted me. But in my defense, I left a note, and I texted Mr. Grant. I made sure the cavalry was right behind me."

"Maura, how could you? You can get arrested for assault for drugging our shadows. Are they mad?" I ask in disbelief. They could not only file criminal charges against Maura, and they can file a civil suit too.

"The same way you could, Jane. I took off to save you. As far as Dr. Lewis and Ms. Harvey go, they've forgiven me, but now they're on their guard with me. Both have assured me that the Ativan trick won't work twice. The bigger problem was that I shot a man," Maura answers nervously.

"What?!"

"I shot one of Paddy's men. Don't you remember hearing the shot? When the shot went off, you woke up," Maura explains.

"You shot someone!" I shout as I try to sit up.

"I had to. Paddy had ordered him to pick me up and drag me away from you. I couldn't leave you, Jane. Now, you need to lie down and calm down, or I'm going to stop talking," Maura says as she gently pushes me down.

"Please, please don't tell me he's dead," I plead. If Maura killed someone, we have a long road ahead of us. And unfortunately, I was unconscious, so I'm not going to be the best witness.

"The man isn't dead. Mother says that I shattered his clavicle, but he's going to make a complete recovery. Fortunately, he's also under arrest for assisting Paddy and Hope," Maura explains.

"But, but," I begin, but Maura interrupts, "No buts, Jane. I had to save you. As it is, I barely got there in time. If I hadn't shown up, you would have bled to death, love. So no, I won't apologize for saving your life. Now I need you to be a good patient for me."

I rub my forehead and ask, "You took your pink gun? I used it to shoot Paddy, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

Before I can ask more questions, the nurse comes in. I look at the nurse and plead, "Wait, wait, not yet."

"Love, it's okay. We'll talk later. I'm not going anywhere. Sleep, sweetheart," Maura softly says as she cups my left cheek. I can feel her thumb caressing my cheek, and it calms me down. She isn't going to leave me, and that's the most important thing to come out of our conversation.

As soon as I get the shot, my eyes begin to close. I sleepily murmured, "Love you."

And I hear her whisper, "I love you more, love."

Then darkness.

B.P.D. Homicide Bullpen – Tuesday at 10:01 a.m.

"So, how's your sister?" Warren asks. Also known as Avery. I'm with Jane, I like Avery better than Warren, but he'd insisted.

"She's still in the I.C.U. Maura texted me to let me know that she woke up a little while ago, but she's in pain. So, she got her pain medication, and she's now sleeping like a baby," I say as I look through the last forensic report, I got from Kent. I miss Maura.

Dr. Lewis now goes anywhere Maura goes, and I don't blame Mr. Grant for his precautions. However, I still can't believe that Maura gave her shadows the slip. This proves she's a freaking genius, and she absolutely adores Jane. That makes me happy.

"That's good," Warren says.

"When is she being released?" Will asks.

"Don't know yet, now, can we please go back to work? I need to be at the hospital at noon with Maura's lunch," I say.

To my relief, we get back to the investigation. I'm in no mood to chit-chat.

Jane Rizzoli's I.C.U. Room – Tuesday at 12:05 p.m.

I just got a text from Frankie. He's waiting outside with my lunch. I sent Mother home to get some sleep, and she's coming back in the evening with my dinner and some more clothes. I kiss Jane's cheek and whisper, "I'll be right back, love."

She's out like a light, but I find myself talking to her. It somehow makes me feel better. I quietly walk out and close the door. I turn to Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Grant and order, "She's asleep. She's not due for any medication till 2 p.m. I'd really appreciate it if Ms. Martin can sit with her while I have my lunch in case she wakes up."

"Of course, Dr. Isles. Ms. Martin will sit with the detective, and I'll join you. Mr. Armstrong will stay here," Mr. Grant smiles.

I guess I can't blame them.

I follow Frankie to a little room in the I.C.U. floor. Mr. Grant stays outside, and as Frankie hands me my lunch, he says, "I got you a cheeseburger, sweet potato fries, and ice tea. The Dirty Robber was out of kale. I remember Jane saying that you loved the sweet potato fries."

I smile and say, "That's right, thank you, Frankie."

As I dig in, Frankie asks, "How is she? When do you think she's getting out of the I.C.U.?"

"It's still too soon to tell. She's still in a lot of pain and on powerful painkillers. Her body needs time to heal," I explain.

"But she should make a full recovery, right?" Frankie asks as he begins to rub the back of his neck. I wish I had a sibling like Frankie. He clearly loves his sister dearly.

I try to reassure him when I say, "The surgeon said she should make a full recovery, Frankie."

That made him smile and say, "Have you been sleeping? Showering? The staff here is great. If you need a shower, they'll let you use the staff one. They assured Jane that they were cleaned every day."

I can't help but grin. Frankie reminds me so much of Jane. "I've been napping, and I'll go home and take a quick shower and come back. I can't help it; I'm a germaphobe."

"Maybe you should go home at night. Korsak or I will spend the night with her. Korsak can sleep in that recliner like a baby," Frankie offers.

I bite my lip and give it some thought. But I'm just not comfortable leaving her. As it is leaving her for an hour to go shower is making me rethink my plan. Maybe I'll just shower here and hope I don't get contaminated. I finally answer, "I'll think about it, Frankie. But to tell you the truth, I'm not comfortable leaving her."

"Think about it, Maura. Jane isn't going to be happy if she sees you with bags under your eyes," Frankie points out.

I nod and finish my lunch. Frankie promises to return when he gets off work and again offers to stay with her if I want to go home. I thank him and rejoin my love.

Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.

See you soon!