N: Short one. But i broke through the roadblock on blue ice and spent the week working on that. Fingers crossed, that book is nearing the finish line! Anyway, here is the next update for our girls! I hope to update this week, but we shall see how work and life goes. Enjoy and if you love these little stories, head over to my amazon page and check out my books under the name Sydney Gibson. They're all on kindle unlimited if you have it. Free Reads! Read this update and enjoy!

Maura

My house felt painfully empty. Dark and empty. I set my bag down on the floor under the small table by the door, and took a stuttered breath. It had been a long night at the scene, and my chest ached. No matter how hard I tried to tell my mind the fight with Jane was fictional, my heart ached. Believing the whole blow out between us had been real and I was once more alone in this world.

The moment she walked away I wanted to call her and tell her it wasn't worth it. I wanted her by my side and deal with Crown together. The immediate emptiness of no Jane Rizzoli next to me was too much to take.

Walking through the kitchen I turned the lights on, hopefully shaving off the edges of emptiness with the bright yellow light. I went towards the cabinet where I kept the wine. This would be the first night in a long time I'd be sleeping alone. A thought I wasn't keen on. "God damn you, Crown. Why couldn't you choose someone else to obsess over?" I huffed under my breath, frustrated and irritated. Of all the murderers and criminals I had caught, only this one was obsessed with me.

I turned to grab a wine glass when my phone began to ring on the counter. I rushed over to grab it, frowning when I saw it was Frost. "Hello, Frost."

"Hey, Doc. I wanted to check in with you." His voice was soft, caring.

"I'm fine." I leaned across the kitchen counter, spotting one of Jane's sweatshirts hanging over the back of my sofa. "Things are on track. I'll have the final autopsy report completed by lunch tomorrow. Susie is working on the trace evidence. I believe by the end of tomorrow you'll have enough to build an impenetrable case against the suspect." I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

"Doc, that's not why I called. I know how you work. We'll have everything we need, I trust you and your team." He paused. "I wanted to check in with you, because of the um, argument I witnessed."

I let out a slow breath, moving to grab the bottle of wine. "It's fine. I'm okay." I bit my bottom lip. I was far from fine as my heart winced in pain. "I understand why she did it. It's a good plan." It was a terrible plan. I wanted Jane here, in my home with me. Not at her apartment alone with her brother, pacing and losing sleep.

"It's a crazy plan and I hope it works. I hope that bastard comes out and takes the bait." Frost sighed. "Anyway, I need to get back to work. We're overloaded here until Jane gets back on duty. If you need anything, anything at all, tell me. I'll do what I can."

I nodded in the empty kitchen. "Thank you, Frost." I hung up, slowly setting the phone on the counter. I grabbed the bottle of wine and shoved it back in the cabinet. I just wanted to take a shower and crawl in bed, sleep this day away and hope tomorrow would bring Crown out of the shadows.

The next morning, I woke up with a heavy feeling across my shoulders. I'd slept terribly without Jane and in time I gave up. I was up and ready for work by six am and decided to take a walk before embarking on to work. The morning had a stiff chill in the air as the sun slowly began to rise. The cold air felt good as it nipped across my skin. I'd decided to get breakfast at the café on the main street right outside of my block. It was a place I hoped to take Jane one of these days, but that was now on hold. For how long? Only Jane and Crown knew.

I crossed the street and was a few steps away from the diner when I heard a voice off to my left.

"Breakfast alone again, Maura? I'd say it was a shame, but we both know you're better off alone."

I clenched my jaw at the sound of Crown's voice. I wanted to panic, but knew I couldn't. I swallowed hard, clutching to my bag. This was the plan. I had to follow through. "Good Morning, Eric. It's been a long time."

He chuckled. "It has. For a moment there I thought we'd spend our lives in blissful loneliness together. Me committing murders. You solving them. Working in a perfect harmony of sorts."

"I doubt that." I turned to look at him. He wore a dark baseball cap with the Red Sox logo on it, sunglasses and a large winter coat. He was indistinguishable from any other person walking the street. "What do you want? I can call my colleagues and have them here in a moment, arrest you and begin the process of holding you responsible for all your crimes."

"You and I both know I'll be gone before you could blink twice. Their response time will be delayed since they're dealing with a dead body on the other side of town." Crown looked at me. "But don't worry, it's nothing I've done. Just a random crime with the suspect standing by. You won't be called until much later."

I turned away from his shaded stare. "Crown. Please. What do you want from me?"

"I watched you and that woman last night. Rizzoli?" He sighed. "She truly loves you, doesn't she?"

I had to swallow another lump down. "It doesn't matter. If you were there, you saw what happened."

"I did see the disagreement." I could feel him looking at me. "Do you love her? She's an interesting woman. I investigated her when I found out you'd stumbled upon another suitor in New York. She's a tough one. I cannot say that I don't admire her when she took down that foolish idiot, Charles. He was a messy man. No purpose with his kills. Always killing the innocent." Crown shook his head as if he was disappointed by Hoyt's choice of victims. "I truly believed she had been killed by him, but she survived and continued to pursue you."

I began digging in my bag for my phone. "Enough. I'm calling the police."

Crown's hand fell to my elbow, grabbing it as he pulled my hand from my bag. "You don't want to do that. I promise you, Maura." He removed his sunglasses. His cold dark eyes bored into mine.

I was starting to lose my nerve. "What do you want from me? I'm tired of this game. I'll give you whatever it is you want." I was a step away from offering myself. Anything to end this morbid game.

Crown stepped forward. "Do you love her?"

I tipped my head down, staring at his hand on my arm. "No. I don't."

I heard him sigh. "Don't lie to me. One of your most endearing qualities is that you're so pure of soul, you cannot lie, Maura." He moved closer. "I'll ask once more. Do you love this Jane Rizzoli? Look at me when you answer, Dr. Isles."

I sucked in a slow breath and made direct eye contact. "I do. I love her more than anyone else I've ever encountered in my life. She's shown me that there is a purpose to this life and interacting with humans. When I met her, my heart opened up and I finally understood what it was like to belong to someone. After almost forty years in this world, I understand love. I understand what it's like to be wanted, loved, accepted." I felt the tears run down my cheeks. "Please don't hurt her. You can have me, if you leave her alone."

Crown smiled softly, releasing my arm. "I never wanted you like that, Maura. I'm a monster, a walking piece of darkness. You're too whole for me to want to tamper with." He stepped away. "However, I don't like being played with. There may be repercussions for this ruse you set up for me. I just have to figure out what it will be." He slipped his sunglasses on. "But for now, go to your detective. If she hurts you in any way, I'll make sure she suffers far worse than Hoyt could ever dole out." He gently pushed me away from him as distant sirens filled the air.

We both glanced over my shoulder to spot a older woman staring at us, a cell phone pressed to her ear.

Crown stepped back, turning to run away. "What a shame. I've been mistaken for some common pickpocket." He laughed as he bolted, running from me and past the older woman who rushed towards me.

"Are you alright, dear? I've called the police."

I nodded once before I turned away from the woman and vomited on the sidewalk.

Jane

"Janie, can I eat the rest of your lucky charms?"

I groaned as Frankie hollered from my kitchen. I was laying on my couch, back in my tiny apartment. "I don't care as long as you buy me a new box." I shifted, wincing as the lumpy couch poked at my still very sore spots.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll pick it up after my shift." Frankie came around the corner, mouth full of rainbow cereal. "I gotta head out. You good? Or should ma stop by with lunch?"

I gave my brother a wicked death glare. "No ma. Don't do that to me. I love her, but I'm already in a shitty mood." I shifted, punching the pillow I brought over from my bed. I had Frankie take me back to my apartment after I found out I'd be sleeping in a tiny closet. I'd take my chances with a dirty empty apartment. I slept for shit last night, missing Maura and the way her warmth was an extra blanket. Never mind the way she cuddled up to me in the middle of the night. Sighing her cute little sighs of content. I groaned, punching the pillow once more. "You hear from Frost yet, Frankie?"

"Nope." He wiped his mouth. "You're not on the case. And after the blow out you and Dr. Isles had at the scene, everyone is gossiping about the sudden change in your relationship status. Martinez is walking around shocked and confused. He had a huge hard on for you, Janie. I think he bruised his ego shacking up with the doc."

I shook my head. "Yeah, well we did a good job then if the whole department is confused and in awe of my relationship." I closed my eyes. "If there is a relationship to be saved. I think I went too hard on Maura last night."

Frankie rolled his eyes. "I think you're good. I saw how the doc was when you were in the hospital. And lucky for you, no one at work knew you were together. Hopefully your little plan works out, draws this bastard out." He walked way, dropping his cereal bowl into the dishwasher. "I'm glad you told me what happened last night, Janie. I'll do my best to keep an extra eye on Maura until there's movement."

"I should've told you sooner. Maybe then you would've cleaned up that closet." I smirked as he gave me another dirty look. "Call me if anything happens."

"You got it."

Frankie left me in my empty apartment. Alone and without cereal. I knew I could call ma and she'd rush over with arms filled with groceries, but I wanted to be alone.

I began flipping through channels, grumpy I had a thousand less here than I did at Maura's house. Grumpier that I didn't have Maura sitting next to me, directing me to those weird nature documentaries she loved. I sighed, throwing the remote on the table. I'd hobble down to the corner store and grab snacks before holing back up in my apartment.

As I went to stand, I heard a knock on my front door. I squinted, reached down and pulled my gun from between the couch cushions before I wobbled to the door. Through the peephole I saw Frost standing with his hands on his hips. I yanked the door open. "Frost. Please tell me it's over."

He met my eyes, no smile. "Maura is at the hospital." He held up a hand before I exploded on him. "She's fine. A little shaken and being treated for shock and dehydration. It appears she was the victim of an attempted mugging this morning on her way to buy the team breakfast. An old lady witnessed it. Said Maura was grabbed by a guy in a Red Sox hat, sunglasses and giant puffy coat. They spoke for a few minutes, and Maura fought back. The guy ran when he heard sirens and Maura collapsed to the sidewalk. She won't give anyone her statement. She's waiting to talk to you." He sighed. "I got a bad feeling Jane."

I shoved my gun in the waistband of my jeans, reaching for my coat. "Take me there now." I stumbled trying to shove an arm into the coat. "This was a stupid plan. She only goes to that diner when she's sad. Ma said she'd go every day when I was in the hospital. I wasn't there to keep her safe." I stumbled once more trying to get my other arm in, and had to grab onto Frost to stay upright.

"Talk to her. I think you're plan worked. She wouldn't even talk to me, but I saw in the look she gave me that it wasn't a regular dickhead trying to snatch her Gucci purse." Frost kept a hold on me as he walked down the stairs. "I think it was Crown. But again, she won't give me a word. Just asked for you."

I nodded. "If he hurt her…"

"We know, Jane. She's your world and anyone stupid enough to fuck with your world deserves what the have coming." Frost held me closer. "Let's just pray this gets us one step closer to locking Crown up and giving you and the doc room to breathe and heal."

"Leave the prayers to my ma. I'm more of a woman of action, than hope." I stepped away from Frost as he held open the door. "Crown doesn't deserve the grace of prayers and a god watching over him."

Frost blew out a low whistle as he unlocked his car. "Remind me never to piss you off of screw with your girl." He waited until I climbed into the passenger seat, sliding into the driver's seat. "Even though we're in a soup pot full of shit, I can't wait to stand up at your wedding and give the first toast."

I sighed, gathering my wild hair into a ponytail. "You'll have to fight Frankie for that honor." I glanced at him, reaching over to pat his shoulder. "But one step at a time. I need to lock a maniac up, earn another round of forgiveness from the woman I love, then maybe take her out on a real date before we head down the road to matrimony." I waved my hand. "Get to me to the hospital before I get irritated."

Frost chuckled, starting the car. "I think we're a hundred steps past an irritated Rizzoli." He held up his hand in defense. "I'm going, I'm going."

I let out a slow breath, digging in the pocket of my coat for my phone. I pulled up Maura's number and sent a quick text.

I'm on my way.