N: This is a super short one. But I've been very busy and caught a weird summer cold that has my head all stuffed up. Thinking has become stuffy to say the least. This is a quick filler chapter to get things moving to where i think i want the story to go. Read on!

"Thank you for sending the photos, Frost. Dr. Azul is recording the autopsy for me to review later. I don't think it's best for me to immediately become involved in this case. We need to establish how Crown found out about Jane." I sat in the dark office, the glow form my laptop the only light. I'd slipped out of bed to use the bathroom and saw Frost had sent a few messages. In a way, I wasn't surprised Crown left me another body. Nor was it surprising he left a message for Jane, simultaneously leaving me one.

"We have a few patrols keeping watch over your neighborhood and I'm working on finding Crown's footprint online. I'm calling in a few favors with the organized crime guys in the FBI. I should have an idea of Crown's patterns soon." Frost sighed. "Do you or Jane need anything else?"

"Not right now. Thank you, Frost." I hung up after issuing him instructions to get some rest. I leaned back in the chair, pulling my robe closer as a slight chill fell across my skin. It had been an overwhelming night on many levels. My eyes drifted to the bedroom where Jane laid sleeping. I smiled at the thought of the night we shared and felt my heart swell.

My thoughts then drifted to how Crown could've found out about Jane. The last encounter I had with him was almost a year ago. Right after my relationship with Quinn fell apart. Crown had left one last body. It was a serial murderer my unit had been looking for six months. Crown found him and eliminated him after ensuring there was enough evidence and a forced confession by the man. While at the scene processing the evidence, I looked up and saw Crown in a police uniform standing right on the edge of the crime scene tape. He smiled, winked and gave me a small salute. He disappeared before I could signal one of the detectives.

The next morning, a bouquet of flowers sat on my desk. Sent by Crown with a note attached.

You're better off alone, Maura. I hope you enjoy my gift. Until we meet again. C.

The flowers were processed into evidence, but Crown left no trail for anyone to track him. He disappeared into the shadows of New York and I moved on. Never looking back as I slipped into my own shadow of loneliness and misery. Back then I had very little to sacrifice.

But this was no longer back then.

I stood up, closing the laptop, sending myself back into darkness. I shuffled to the bedroom door and leaned against the door frame, watching Jane sleep. She was on her uninjured side, her hand pressed against the top of my pillow. She slept peacefully and I ached for a time when we could be like this, together, in peace. "If only we hadn't chosen death as our calling." I whispered the words, pushing from the door frame to walk back to bed. I slid silently back into bed, lifting Jane's hand up so I could reclaim my pillow. She sighed, cracking an eye open.

"What time is it?" Her fingers wrapped into mine as I settled under the blankets. "Why are you wearing clothes?" She frowned at the feel of the sleep shirt I put on when I woke up.

"It's almost six a.m. and I only walk around the house nude in the summer." I smiled as Jane's eyebrows rose. "Go back to sleep. I'll set the alarm for nine. That way our sleep rhythms are back on a normal schedule. We've done a great job ruining them over the last few nights." I scooted closer to her. "What would you be if you weren't a detective?"

Jane yawned, rolling on to her back. "I'd probably be a plumber, be the son in Rizzoli and Sons." She glanced at me. "Can I tell you a secret? If I failed out of the academy, I had a backup plan of becoming a elementary school teacher. First grade." She smiled. "Little kids are the best. They are so free and honest. Plus having summers off was very enticing."

"But of course, you graduated at the top of your academy class and excelled as police officer to become one of the best Detectives in the department." I smiled. "There were a few nights in the hospital Angela would recite the history of her baby girl." I leaned over, kissing her cheek. "And if you were a teacher, I don't think we would've ever met."

Jane rolled her eyes. "What did you want to be when you grew up if medical examiner wasn't on the table?"

"An archaeologist. I actually have a degree in archaeology. I had ambitions to become one right after medical school. I was swept away by the romance of spending days in the forgotten lands of the world, digging up it's secrets. But then I saw the good I could do with the dead. Revealing their secrets so they wouldn't be forgotten." I let a slow breath. "I'm not good with people, but I want to help as many as I can in this life."

"My ma would beg to differ about how good you are with people. She swears you're a saint for handling me." Jane leaned over, kissing me softly. "And I've never met anyone quite like you."

I blushed. "Jane." My stomach twisted at the sudden thought of Crown and the message he left for Jane and I. I would have to tell her he knew I had found her. As I went to open my mouth, she pressed her fingers against my lips.

"You have your thinking face on. Whatever it is, it can wait until breakfast. I just want to lay here with you and pretend I'm a teacher and your Indiana Jones."

I gave her a strange look. "Indiana Jones? What is that?"

Jane chuckled, pulling me to lay in her arms. "Good lord I have a lifetime of things to show you, Dr. Isles."

I grinned against her chest. "I can't wait."

JANE

I left Maura in bed. She was still sleeping when the alarm went off at nine. I left her and decided to sneak out and grab us pastries and some fresh coffee from the bakery that sat at the end of her block. I felt good enough to walk on my own, and knew the fresh air would do help. Of course, I didn't leave the house without my gun shoved in the waist of my sweatpants. I even waved to the undercover unit sitting four cars behind the BMW SUV, silently thanking Frost for calling in extra eyes.

I was formulating a plan to keep Maura in the house all day, getting her caught up on the pop culture things she missed in her childhood. Ma was stopping by with enough groceries to last the end of times. I'd called her on my way out the door, asking her to grab the things I'd need to cook for Maura. After last night, I felt compelled to do everything in the world for Maura. Cook for her, love her, protect her and show her the parts I kept hidden from everyone else. We had the rest of the week and I was going to take full advantage of it and keep the evil of our jobs away from us for a couple more days. I knew Frost and the team could handle the newest body left by Crown. I had an idea if I kept Maura out of the scene and work, Crown would forget about her and move on. Maybe.

I sighed walking into the small bakery, soaking in the smells of fresh baked goods. My stomach rumbled as I moved cautiously around the decent sized crowd in line. I leaned on my cane, eyeballing the doughnuts I wanted and the croissants I thought Maura would like.

"The honey almond croissants are the best in this city."

I turned to look at the man standing next to me. He smiled, pointing at the case. "I recommend those and the pistachio doughnuts. They're made fresh daily."

I smiled tightly, scanning over the chatter box. He looked normal in a suit and sunglasses, briefcase in hand. Nothing about him stood out from the six other men dressed in a similar manner. "Thanks."

"Is it your first time in here? I don't think I've seen you around before?" He grinned that polite grin, but deep down I knew he was judging my ragged sweatpants and mismatched coat. "You have family on this block?"

I sighed. "You're a real nosy one, aren't you?" I motioned to the neighborhood watch flyer hanging over my head. "You the president of the neighborhood watch?"

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Not at all. I'm just curious, that's all. New people intrigue me. Forgive my intrusiveness."

I rolled my eyes and scooted away from him as my number was called. I leaned across the counter a little too much, revealing my gold badge I also clipped on my sweatpants. I hoped the guy would spot it and get the hint. I gave the kid behind the counter my order for a mixed baker's dozen and two large black coffees, when I heard.

"You are the detective. You look different than your pictures, Jane. Far more broken."

I spun my head around looking at the guy. "What the hell does that mean?" I laid my hand on my gun, ready to pull it out as my spine tingled. I squinted at his face, something was familiar about him.

The guy smirked as he stepped away. "Maura always likes the broken ones, but you're no match for her. She'll grow bored and move on after she fixes you. She always loves putting people back together and having them realize she's too odd for them, too difficult to love. Setting her free once more from the needs of these feeble humans around us." He saluted me. "Have a good day, Jane. It was lovely to finally meet you." He motioned to the glass case. "Maura especially loves the chocolate hazelnut croissants."

That's when it hit. Crown. The guy was Crown.

I went to grab him but couldn't maneuver with how packed the bakery was without letting go of my cane. "Stop." I hissed at him, but he only chuckled as he moved through the crowd.

"Tell Maura I'll be waiting for her. I've missed playing with her." He winked, turned and walked out the bakery.

I tried to chase him, but the crowd shifting forward to take his spot prevented me, along with my bum body that could barely chase a turtle right now. By the time I made the door, the guy was gone. I couldn't spot any trace he was ever on the same street. "Shit."

I ran my hand through my hair before pulling out my cell phone. Frost answering on the first ring. "Frost, get to BRIC and pull all video footage in a mile radius of Maura's house. Go back an hour from now and see if you can spot an odd looking dude in a suit hovering around her block."

"You got it, Jane. Did something happen?"

I let out a slow breath. "Yeah, I just met Eric Crown. Let's just say he doesn't have faith in my place in Maura's life."

"Oh shit. I swear I have guys hidden on her block. I'll see if they saw anything."

I shook my head, turning to see the kid waving at me to come get my order. "I don't think they would. I would bet my badge Crown is a master of disguise. A chameleon. Can you dig into his profile and send me whatever you can about how he operates?"

"Give me an hour." Frost hung up. I walked back inside the bakery, grabbed the bag of pastries and coffees the kid tucked into a easy carrier for me, and hobbled out. I made it back to Maura's house faster than I expected and locked all of her doors. I then set my gun on top of her kitchen counter and found my hands to be shaking.

I had to take a few deep breaths in and out to settle my racing heart. My adrenaline was spiking like crazy. I glanced at the stairs. I'd have to tell Maura I ran into Crown at the bakery. But before I did that, I had to come up with how I was going to protect her.

Never mind the fact his words were hitting too close to home in my heart. What if she was just with me to fix me? Put me back together? I closed my eyes as my head pounded. My own self doubt colliding with the words of a monster.

I let out a slow breath as Hoyt's words about Maura crashed into my thoughts.

That doctor of yours, her and I are the same, Janie. We don't love. We just conquer.

I clutched the edge of the counter until my knuckles turned white and my stitches creaked under the pressure. My head swam and spun.

"Jane? Are you okay?"

I looked up with teary eyes to Maura standing at the bottom of the steps. She had a soft smile full of concern on her face.

It was that look that crumbled me. I turned away, closing my eyes. "I'm not sure."