"As soon as we go inside I want you to do your homework," Jane Rizzoli said as she and her daughter Alex pulled into her ma's house for Sunday dinner. Jane pointed towards Alex's book bag that she had put in the backseat.
"You lied to me Alex. I looked before I came to pick you up at Crissy's house. Your Algebra homework isn't done like you told me it was.."
"Awww man. Come on ma.I was going to do it. Honest I was. Can't I do it when we get home?"
"I don't want to hear it. You are the one that put off your homework until the last second, not to mention lying to me. I should ground you. The rule has always been the same Alex. Homework…"
"First before TV, electronics, or friends. I know ma. That rule hasn't changed in seven years," twelve year old Alex finished with an eye roll as she unbuckled her seat belt. She grabbed her book bag from the back seat and threw it over her shoulder and was inside her nona's house before Jane could reply.
"Don't act so shocked. She acts just like you."
Jane looked over to see her younger brother Frankie standing at the open window of her car.
"More like she acts just like you at that age," Jane said before rolling the window up and climbing out.
"You really should do something ya know. Kids like to push their limits."
"I'll just ask ma what she did with you," Jane said with a smirk.
"You mean you."
Jane was about to head inside when Frankie called behind her.
"Want to do a quick one on one before dinner?" She turned to see he had retrieved the basketball and was standing there holding it, waiting for a reply.
"Nah. No thanks. I should get in there and help Alex with her homework."
"Yeah right. You and I both know you can't do seventh grade Algebra. You're just afraid I'm going to kick your ass," Frankie said, tossing the ball towards his sister who barely managed to catch it with her arms, her left hand occupied by her cell phone, her right holding a bottle of water and her keys. She let the ball drop to the ground.
"At Least let me take my stuff inside huh?"
After Jane ran inside and dropped her stuff on the front entry way table in her ma's house she returned to the driveway for some one on one with her brother.
"Alright Frankie, loser buys drinks this week at the Robber," Jane said as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail.
"You're on Janie." Frankie passes the ball to his sister who shoots a basket without even moving. "One point for me," Jane says with a smirk.
Frankie shook his head. "We will see who's laughing when it's over," he remarked, passing the ball back to Jane. They played for well over an hour before Jane started to lose. She took a crackpot shot and made it.
"Finally!" She said with a huff as she blocked Frankie.
"You're still down by ten Janie."
"Yeah well, I'll beat you someday," she replied. Frankie faked right and then left realizing Jane wasn't going to just lay down and let him win.
"You beat me at everything, can't you just let me be better at something?" Frankie asked as he began to back into his sister, effectively backing her towards the goal.
Jane laughed. "I can't let you beat me, you gotta work for it." Just as she said that Frankie spun around, his arms coming up to shoot when he heard the sickening crack of Jane's nose.
"Oof," Jane said as her hands flew to her nose.
"Shit, you alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good."
Frankie put the ball under his arm and grabbed Jane's hand. "Come on, let me see."
Jane moved her hand away from her face. "I'm good Frankie."
"No, no that's definitely not good. Come on, let's get you some ice. Tilt your head back." Frankie guided Jane into the house. He quickly gave her a towel to wipe her bleeding nose as he grabbed her a bag of ice.
"Here. let me take a look," he said, putting the ice in Jane's hand.
"Alright, but don't touch it!"
Again Jane moved her hands for Frankie to take a better look. "Ooo. Yeah, that's broken."
"It's broken?" Jane asked as she placed the ice in a towel and put it on her nose just as her ma came into the kitchen.
"On my good towel?!" Angela remarked as she set her laundry basket down. "Let me see," she demanded. Jane moved the towel and ice from her nose.
"Aah! What happened? God, why is it that you manage to turn every Sunday dinner into a circus?"
"Wha, me?!"
"Yes you!" Angela says as she grabs some paper towels to give Jane in place of her good kitchen towel.
"It was my fault ma," Frankie said.
"Yeah, it was his fault." Jane remarked in protest.
"Oh, I know you didn't mean to do it Frankie," Angela says as she pats Frankie's face.
"So this is my fault?" Jane shook her head in disbelief.
"Look, I tell you all the time not to rough house with him. By the way, your phone hasn't stopped ringing. Uh, someone, I think Bird? Bird keeps calling you," Angela said, as she shifted her focus to getting dinner started.
"Detective Crowe?" Jane asked, making her way to the front entryway where she put her phone. "You answered my phone? Why didn't you just tell me ma?"
"Because you were having so much fun."
Jane rolled her eyes. Her cell began to vibrate just as she was about to place it on the counter. Angela went to say something but Jane held up her hand.
"Rizzoli."
Jane listened as she was filled in on where her next case was by her new partner,Barry Frost. "I'll be right there," she said as she hung up. She kissed the side of Alex's head who was sitting at the dining room table doing her homework.
"I'm sorry, but I gotta go. Behave for Nona and I'll be back as soon as I can to pick you up okay?"
Alex nodded. "Okay ma, be careful. Love you."
Jane smiled. "Sure thing kiddo. Love you more." She remarked as she picked up her keys, badge and gun.
"Your dad and Tommy will be here any minute,"Angela protested.
"Ma, I told you I was on call."
Angela huffed and handed Jane a fresh bag of ice. "Here, it won't be too attractive if your nose swells up. You never know who you might run into."
"Ma!" Frankie said, his eyes wide. The things their mother said really shouldn't come as such a shock to him anymore but she somehow still managed to do just that.
"What?" Angela said innocently. "Alex needs a nice father figure in her life."
"Ma!" Jane and Frankie said in unison. Jane rolled her eyes and took the ice from her mother.
"Yes, because I met so many great suitors at work. Too bad they're all dead." Jane remarked with a chuckle as she watched Alex and Frankie try and hide their laughter.
"You," Jane says, pointing at Alex. "You get that homework done. Make sure she gets that done please ma. I'll be back as soon as I can," Jane called over her shoulder.
"Be careful Jane. Sorry about your nose!" Frankie called behind her.
"No you're not!" Jane chuckled as she shut the door behind her. You never did know what would go down at a Rizzoli Sunday dinner. This wasn't her first Sunday dinner war wound and it wouldn't be her last.
Twenty minutes later she was pulling up on her latest murder scene. It was commonplace, routine even. Jane had learned to de synthesize herself to the horrid things she saw in her job day in and out. She had to. It was the only way you could keep your sanity. Her newest partner, Frost, hadn't learned how to do that yet. She spotted him down a ways losing his dinner in the bushes.
As she climbed out of her car she could hear detective Crowe nearby. Glancing in the distance she could see he was talking to a reporter. As she got closer, she caught what he was saying.
"It's your lucky day. Let me give you the scoop. At BPD, we call Dr. Isles the queen of the dead."
"What was that Crowe?" Jane called out as she quickly walked up, closing the gap between them. Jane, at 6' 1", easily towered over nearly every cop in the department and she used it to her advantage. No one messed with her.
Crowe quickly took a step back.
"Jeez Rizzoli. It was just a joke. Go take a midol."
"It's bullying. My twelve year old knows not to bully. I would bust her butt. I guess your ma didn't do that, leaving the rest of us to raise you. You're an adult. Act like it."
"Don't threaten me with a good time," Crowe said as he winked at Jane.
"You stupid…." Was all Jane said as she lunged towards Crowe. Before she could throttle him though she felt herself being pulled back.
"He's not worth your badge Jane. Walk away." Vince Korsak. Her sergeant. Her boss. Her old partner.
"Korsak. I thought you were on vacation?"
"I cut it short."
"That bad?"
"Worse."
"Are you coming Frost?" Jane called out to her partner over her shoulder.
He walked up behind her, wiping his mouth with a napkin someone had given him. "Yeah, yeah. I'm good."
"Going back for more Frost?" Crowe said with a chuckle.
He held up his hands when Jane turned and glared at him, clearly communicating she was done with his shit.
She and Frost followed Korsak towards the crime scene. Having already received clearance, he proceeded in ahead of them. Frost had already received clearance as well,leaving only Jane.
"Rizzoli, Homicide, Victor eight two five." Jane flashed her badge to the cop keeping guard on the scene before he gave her the OK and she continued ahead.
Frost noticed her rubbing at her hands. "Your hands hurting?"
She nodded. "It's going to rain."
As they walked into the house Jane let out a low whistle. "We're not in South Boston anymore, Dorothy," she said as she grabbed some shoe covers and gloves.
Beside her, Frost began to gag again. He tried to hide his queasiness but was not successful. "If you've got this I can process the rest of the house?" He asked Jane hopefully.
"Sure, go ahead," she said with a slight smile and a show of sympathy. Korsak smirked as he walked away.
"Oh stop it. Why is everyone being jerks today?" Jane asked in annoyance.
She walked towards Dr. Isles who was examining the body on the couch of the home.
"Ten centimeters," she said to no one in particular. "The carotid artery and jugular have been transacted. What's odd is how precise it is."
At that moment the doctor looked up making eye contact with Jane, seeing her nose.
"Hairline fracture of the nasal bone above the lateral nasal cartilage. It's not disfiguring."
"Looks pretty disfiguring to me," Korsak said with a laugh which he immediately ceased when Jane shot him a dirty look.
"Would you mind popping this out for me?" Jane asks Dr. Isles, pointing to her nose.
The doctor nodded as she stood from the body, discarding her gloves, she turned towards Jane and smiled. "Can't you do something safe? Like yoga? This might hurt a little."
Jane nodded in understanding, stepping closer to the doctor. "Safe activities are boring, yoga is…." Before finishing her sentence popped her nose back into place. She would swear she went momentarily blind from the pain.
"Ow! Son of a, a little? Really? Geez!" Jane remarked, lightly touching her nose. Dr. Isles smiled slightly.
"I tried to warn you, ice it for the next twenty four hours so you don't look like you went ten rounds with Mike Tyson."
After Jane regained her composure, Korsak spoke.
"Victim is Dr. Mark Yager, thirty four. His wife Gail is missing."
"Diamond was too small so she whacked him and walked out?" Jane asks, more of a question than a statement, while she looked at the couple's photo on a nearby mantle.
"Whacked him? Really Jane?" Maura asks, looking up from the body where she had returned to examining him.
"What?" Jane asks with a shrug of her shoulders.
Korsack chuckled. "No, we found signs of forced entry."
Jane took a moment to look over the scene once more.
"Well to do couple. Man is bound and posed, woman is missing, and a tea cup on the floor."
Just like that Jane was in another time, another place. That happened sometimes where the memories would hit her like a tidal wave coming to shore. At least this time she was able to pull herself right back out of it.
"Is he out? Is the surgeon out?"
"Oh my God! Korsak!" The chief ME yelled.
Korsak eyes widened at the rise in Dr. Isles voice. She wasn't one to get angry but she was clearly livid, anger flashing in her eyes.
"He's not out. It's his MO. That's all."
"You should have warned us. Warned Jane at least."
"I wanted her unbiased assessment. Looks like Hoyt right?"
"Unbiased assessment? For God sake Korsak! What the hell is the matter with you! Jane doesn't need to be anywhere near this. Are you trying to get her killed?"
"Now hold a damn minute doc!" Korsak said, his voice booming loudly through the living room.
"No, I will not hold on! Do you have any idea how much this could set her back?! Jane needs to be removed from this case."
Jane looked at Korsak, signaling she would handle this. "Maur, I mean Maura. I mean, Dr. Isles, calm down please and stop talking about me like I'm not here."
Jane tried to recover from her slip up as best she could and hoped Korsak didn't catch it but she had no such luck.
"Maur? So we're calling the Chief Medical Examiner of the state of Massachusetts Maur now? Does that go for everyone or just you?" Korsak remarked with a smirk.
Jane sighed. "Can Dr. Isles and I have a minute Korsak?"
Korsak raised his hands in surrender. "I'll go check and see if the newbie found anything."
The doctor had returned to examining the husband and charting his injuries.
Jane waited until she and the chief ME were alone and spoke. "I'm sorry about the slip but Maur, I'm not being taken off this case."
Maura stood to her full height. "Have you lost your mind? How many months did that monster live in her head Jane? Look what he did to you! He almost killed you and you want to stay on this case so what? So he can do it again but this time actually be successful? I mean, until we know what is going on for sure you should..."
Maura stopped when she realized Jane hadn't heard a single word she said, her focus was on the victim. She watched as Jane leaned forward and rolled the victims head to the side.
"What do these look like to you?" Jane asked, looking over at Maura.
Maura stepped closer to get a better look. "I would say given the distance between the two abrasions, a stun gun of sorts." Maura felt a chill go down her spine.
"Maybe Korsak is right, maybe this is a copycat."
Jane shook her head. "I would believe that in any other case but this was a detail that was never released."
Maura's eyes grew wide. "Could it be," but her sentence was cut short by Korsak who had returned to the room.
"It's not," he said, looking from Jane to Maura. "Hoyt is still in lockup. I've already checked."
"Then how do you explain that Korsak?" Jane remarked, pointing to marks on the husband's neck. "That was never released to the press."
"Maybe he has an apprentice, that's the only thing that makes sense."
Jane began rubbing her scars, a habit she had whenever Hoyt was even so much mentioned.
"Jane." Maura said pleadingly.
"Dr. Isles, I appreciate the concern but if I get pulled from this one Hoyt will have his apprentice do this over and over until I'm pulled back in. This is a game to him, one that I intend on ending. Korsak wouldn't hang me out like a piece of bait, you know that. Let's just get this scene processed. Alright?" Jane's tone signaled she was done with this conversation.
Maura sighed heavily. She was concerned for not just Jane's physical well-being but her emotional state as well. Deciding not to push any further and leave the conversation for another time, she finished her exam of the body before allowing it to be transported to the morgue.
They were just about to call it a night when someone came walking up to them. Jane, Frost, Korsak, and Maura all shot each other I don't know glances.
The man opened the wallet he was holding in his hand and flashed his FBI Identification.
"Hello. I'm Special Agent Gabriel Dean. You must be Detective Jane Rizzoli," he said before looking Maura's direction. "You must be Dr. Isles."
"Hey. What are we …" Before Korsak could finish Jane interrupted.
"What's the FBI doing here?"
"We saw the homicide advisory and possible kidnapping. We have an APB out on Gail Yager."
"Yeah, so do we," Jane said, glancing the agent up and down. "You get a lot of routine advisories. What's so special about this one?" Jane stepped towards the agent, using her intimidating height once more, not giving two damns that it was a federal agent.
Agent Dean held up his hands. "Hey, we're on the same side here you know."
"Are we? Cause you know you fed boys, you like to show up and take the bat and the ball."
"I'm just here to observe."
"Yeah. OK," Jane said skeptically.
"Jane, I'll be doing the autopsy in the morning," Maura said before turning and facing Agent Dean. "Come if you'd like. We are all finished here for today."
He simply nodded before leaving.
"Come if you'd like," Jane mocked once he was out of ear shot.
"What? I'm simply being cordial. It's called professionalism. Try it detective. I can't believe you talked to a federal agent like that."
"I can't believe you talked to a federal agent like that," Jane said, mocking Maura once more.
"She's right," Jane heard Korsak say. "I don't like the FBI nosing in this anymore than you do Jane but sometimes you need to learn to keep your mouth shut. That was completely unprofessional."
Jane turned to face him and shot Korsak a set of daggers that burned clear through him.
"We've been partners, were partners, for how many years? Now you want to call me out? Really? I think you may be letting that new title go to your head. Go to hell."
Jane started to storm off but stopped in her tracks when Korsak replied. "I didn't turn my back on you ya know. You turned your back on me. It's because of him isn't it. Because of Hoyt?"
Jane could quickly feel she was losing herself, her emotions threatening to reel out of control.
"I'm, I'm not doing this. Not now."
"Jane," Maura said, taking a step forward. She went to touch the brunette but was quickly pushed away.
"Just leave me alone Maura. By the way, you were flirting at a crime scene. How professional."
"Flirting? I wasn't…"
She was gone in a flash, not giving Korsak nor Maura a chance to say anything further.
"Damn it!" Maura slammed her fist on a nearby table.
"It's already happening Korsak. Are you going to just stand there and let it happen? You're her sergeant for God sake. Pull her off the case. Tell her no."
"I don't like it anymore than you do doc but you know if I try to pull her off she'll just sneak around behind my back. I don't need her going into a dangerous situation blind. At least this way, I can make sure she's covered."
"If you would have done that before we wouldn't be here right now." It flew out of Maura's mouth before she even registered what she was saying.
"I didn't…"
It was too late though.
"Goodnight doctor," Vince said coolly before walking away.
Maura sighed. This case was digging up so many past demons. Not just for Jane but for all of them. None of them would ever forget what that man had done to Jane, how he had damn near killed her. Especially not Vince. Damn it. I was a complete ass, Maura thought to herself before her thoughts turned back to Jane.
Jane. There was no way in hell she was going to let Jane stay in her apartment alone tonight. She tried to call but it not shockingly went straight to voicemail. "Well, i'll just go to her apartment," Maura muttered to herself.
When Jane pulled up to her ma's house to pick up Alex no one was home. She found a note on her door that she had taken Alex home and would wait there with her. When she got there her ma was there, along with her Pops, Frankie, Frost, Korsak, and Maura. She rolled her eyes.
"Why didn't you just bring the dog too." She was talking to her ma and pop but all eyes landed on Korsak.
"WHAT? I didn't. I swear," Korskak said.
Jane passed the note she had found on her ma's door over to her. "FYI, don't announce to possible intruders you aren't home. Not smart. Especially with God knows what going on with this mad man. I don't know what his next move might be. He could easily target one of you to get to me."
Jane sniffed the air. "What's that smell?"
Again, all eyes fell on Vince.
"Korsak, did you take your shoes off again?"
"What? No, I…"
"ARF! ARF!" Vince's voice was drowned out by the sound of a dog barking.
Jane looked down to see a greasy, scraggly dog at her feet who held one of her sneakers in its mouth like it was a prize. She quickly looked up to see everyone trying to sniffle their laughs. "Really Korsak? You just couldn't help yourself could you? You know I'm allergic."
Korsak huffed. "I never heard you sneeze."
"Yeah, well, that's besides the point. The smell coming from it is rank, and it chewed on my favorite pair of running shoes. This night just keeps getting better and better. I'm going to go check on Alex."
Jane, not bothering to flip on the hall light, made her way to Alex's door. Opening it slightly she peeked inside. She could see Alex sound asleep in the glow of the TV. Closing the door back she turned and made her way back towards the living room but not before feeling her foot slide.
She didn't need to look to know what she just stepped in. Hobbling her way into the living room she pointed at Korsak. "You! That garbage smelling animal you call a dog shit on my floor. You get to clean it up and get me a new pair of shoes."
Everyone couldn't help but laugh as Jane hobbled to the bathroom to clean off her shoe.
When Jane returned to the living room she took a good look around. "Wait a minute, why are you all here anyway?" She asked, looking at each person. No one said anything as they each looked at one another.
Jane knew something was up. "Now that I think about it, ma you didn't seem fazed when I mentioned a madman trying to get to me so who squealed?" She asked, again looking around the room. Her ma had no way to know about the case she had been working.
Korsak had just stepped back into the living room after cleaning the dog mess and cleared his throat. "I may have had something to do with that."
Jane whirled around and stared. "Why do you hate me Korsak? Now my mother will never leave."
"Hey!" Angela said from her place on the couch.
"Jane," Maura said, speaking up. "It wasn't only Korsak."
"Yeah Jane," Frost added, standing up. "You can't just blame Korsak, Maura and I too may have let the cat out of the bag."
"I need a beer." Jane remarked as she made her way into the kitchen followed by Maura.
"Jane," Maura said softly as she came to stand next to the brunette. She placed her hand on Jane's lower back in comfort. "I'm sorry. Barry, Korsak, and I are just worried about you. We should have waited but before, before you pushed everyone away."
"I didn't push you away." Jane remarked, vulnerability in her words as she turned and faced Maura. Her hand instantly came out to grab the other woman's.
Maura smiled softly. "I know, but you pushed everyone else away and you didn't have the support system you needed."
Jane snorted before taking a sip of her beer. "Have you met my mother or my brother? I will never get a moment to myself now. I feel like I'm putting everyone out. Like everyone is putting their lives on hold for me. I don't want any of you to do that."
"It all comes from a place of love, Jane. They all care about you, I care about you."
Jane looked into hazel eyes and could see the fear and concern. She put her beer down and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman. "I'm sorry, none of you should be in this position. This is my battle to fight."
Maura pulled from the embrace slightly and looked up at Jane. "That may be true, but that doesn't mean you have to face it alone Jane."
Jane quickly glanced towards the living room to make sure they were still alone before placing a soft kiss on Maura's lips. She rested her forehead on Maura's.
"Thank you for being here and not giving up on me. I just, I can't deal with all of that," she said absent-mindedly waving her hand in the direction of the living room,"tonight."
Maura stepped away from Jane and tossed the empty beer bottle in the garage. "Then don't," she said looking at Jane who's eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Come home with me tonight. Just take the night to clear your mind and then tomorrow we can face it together."
"Maur, as much as I like the way that sounds I can't just leave Alex. I have to take her to school in the morning."
"Well I have a solution for that. Let Frankie or Angela take her." Maura could tell by the look on Jane's face that she really didn't like that idea. "Or, since I have to be at BPD early for the autopsy, I can bring you back here in the morning with enough time to shower and get Alex to school and if you're worried about her safety, she has the best of BPD in your living room and two unmarks on the street," Maura said with a small smile.
Jane thought it over for a moment. She would never leave Alex at a time like this but Maura was right. Alex couldn't be any safer than where she was right now.
"Alright," she said with a smile of her own. "Let's do it, but we need to be quick or else ma will never let up."
This caused both women to laugh before sharing another hug. Korsak, just coming around the corner, saw the last of this exchange and smiled to himself. His suspicions from earlier that there was more going on between Dr. Isles and Jane than either wanted to say were confirmed. "I knew it," he said to himself before cleaning his throat to make his presence known.
Jane and Maura pulled away from one another, their faces blushing lightly like they had both been caught doing something wrong. To anyone else this would have looked innocent enough but to Korsak it was anything but. Deciding not to poke it just yet he left it be.
"Dr. Isles, I just noticed the time. If you want, you can head home. We have Jane covered for tonight. We're going to take shifts."
"Actually Korsak, it's just going to be Alex. I'm going to go spend the night at Maura's. I just can't deal with my mother and her barrage of questions tonight and besides, who's going to think to look at Maura's for me?"
Korsak, seeing right through Jane, just nodded as he looked between the two women. "Okay, well let me just grab my keys and we can go."
"Whoa hold on, I don't remember Maura inviting you along."
"Well either I follow you to Maura's and assure that you are both safe or you both stay here…with your mother." Korsak finished with a smirk, folding his arms across his chest. He knew he won this one.
"Ugh Fine!"
Korsak laughed, "That's what I thought. Let me just grab Joe Friday."
"Nope, absolutely not. That garage smelling, shoe chewing, poop machine is not coming to Maura's. Leave her here."
Korsak and Maura both laughed at Jane's description of the dog. "Alright then."
"Good," Jane remarked with a firm nod. "Oh. But if it chews on any more of my shoes I'm going to hold you personally responsible," she says as she walks past Korsak with a laugh.
Maura shook her head and chuckled herself as she and Korsak followed Jane into the living room.
"Okay, so I'm going to spend the night at Maura's. If anyone needs me or if anything happens with Alex you all have my number and Maura's too."
"But Janie," Angela tried to protest.
"No ma, not tonight I can't deal with all of this right now. I'll call you when we get to Maura's. Korsak is going to follow us over," Jane said as she leaned over the back of the couch and kissed her ma on the head before turning to Korsak and Maura. "Ready?"
They both nodded as Jane grabbed her keys, badge and gun. "Okay, let's go." And with that they were gone.
Maura and Jane pulled into the drive of Maura's Beacon Hill home followed immediately by Korsak. He did a quick sweep of the house before letting them inside. While Jane went upstairs to use the bathroom, Maura took the opportunity to apologize to Korsak for her earlier outburst.
"Look Korsak, I…."
"It's fine Dr. Isles," Korsak said before she could finish her apology.
"You were only speaking the truth. I fucked up. Jane was hurt because of me."
"Korsak, don't…" Korsak held up his hand.
"I'm sorry also. You were right. I should have warned Jane. I didn't think it through. I was stupid."
"It's fine Korsak." Maura echoed Korsak's earlier words.
Korsak shook his head. "No. It's not. Look, I'm going to hang around tonight if that's okay? I'll be out front. I'll just feel better if I keep an eye just in case. Don't tell Jane. She'll have a fit."
"Don't tell me what?" Jane asked as she descended down the stairs.
"Alright. Alright. You caught me. That one pair of sneakers? It wasn't the only ones. Joe got another pair as well. I'll replace them."
Jane chuckled. "Korsak. You are a horrible liar. Now you know you can't lie to a detective, detective."
"No. I'm not lying. Really. Joe…"
"I know you're going to be outside Korsak. You trained me, remember?"
Jane immediately noticed the apprehension on her friend and Sargent's face.
"It's fine Korsak."
"It, it is?" Korsak says, his apprehension turning to a look of confusion.
"Yes. Maura made me realize today I pushed all the support away before and look where that got me. So if you want to stay, please do. I appreciate you watching my back. You know I would do the same. Why don't you stay on Maura's couch though? That will be more comfortable than sitting in your car all night."
Korsak cracked a grin. "Are you going soft on me Rizzoli?"
"Don't push your luck old man."
"Mommy?" Korsak, Maura, and Jane looked up at the sound of the little voice calling from up the stairs.
"Hey! Hannah Banana! Shouldn't you be in bed?" Jane made her way up the stairs, meeting the little girl half way before picking her up.
"Look at your hair kiddo. Were you sleeping on your head?"
Hannah giggled. "You can't sleep on your head! That is not possible, silly!"
"She's definitely your daughter," Jane said as she glanced at Maura with a smirk.
"Where's Emmy?" Hannah asks, as she looks around. She was referring to her nanny, Emily.
"She's in bed sleeping. Because you are supposed to be in bed sleeping," Maura says as she tickles the little girl playfully, making her squeal.
"I missed you mommy." Hannah says reaching out to Maura who takes her into her arms.
"Hey, what about me?" Jane remarks with pout. "What am I,chopped liver?"
"No, you're Jane." The little girl says with a serious face before looking at Maura. "What's liver?"
Jane snorted with laughter. "It's awful and should never be a part of a food group." Hannah giggled at Jane's scrunched up face.
"Alright you two, Hannah, sweetie let's get you back to bed. Mommy will tuck you in okay?"
Hannah nodded, "And sing the song too? Emmy doesn't do it right." She asked as she rested her head on her mother's shoulder.
Jane looked at Maura with a raised eyebrow. Maura chuckled before acknowledging her daughter. "Yes, sweetie, mommy will sing you the song too."
"Yayyy," she said excitedly as Maura took her back upstairs. Jane watched them disappear, not noticing Korsak watching her, watching them.
"She's cute," Korsak remarked with a smile.
"Yeah, she is. She's a sweetheart too, reminds me a lot of Alex at that age."
Korsak chuckled and rubbed his beard. "They are all cute at that age, and then they grow up to be a smart ass like you."
Jane shook her head and laughed as she came back down the stairs. "Very funny." She walked to the hall closet where Maura kept her extra blankets and pulled one out for the old man.
"Here. Make yourself comfortable but please don't stink up the place."
Korsak laughed and accepted the blanket all while eyeing Jane quizzically.
"What?" She asked when she noticed his expression.
"Oh nothing it just seems you really know your way around here."
"Well yeah, Maura and I have been friends for a while. This isn't my first time in her home Korsak. What are you getting at?"
"It's nothing Janie, just giving you a hard time is all."
Jane looked at her old partner suspiciously. "Okay, well I'm just going to lock up and then call it a night." Korsak nodded, he would have done it himself but he knew Jane would just come back behind him and check again anyway. So he just let her do whatever she needed to feel comfortable.
After making her rounds of checking doors, windows and the alarm Jane shut out the lights and made her way back to the stairs. "Goodnight Korsak."
"Night Janie."
Jane made her way upstairs and as she approached Hannah's room she could hear Maura singing softly. Doing her best not to draw attention to herself she silently stood in the doorway and watched.
Maura tucked Hannah in as she sang in the softest tone Jane had ever heard. "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty, Little Ball of Fur. Happy Kitty, Sleepy Kitty, Purr Purr Purr."
The song was short but worked in settling Hannah down. Jane smiled as Maura stood and kissed Hannah on the head. Hannah opened her eyes sleepily and spotted Jane.
"Night Jay."
Maura turned and smiled when she noticed the brunette. Jane stepped into the room and followed Maura's earlier motion of kissing Hannah's head.
"Goodnight Hannah Banana."
Jane pulled the covers up a little more and ran her hand over the little girl's head before making her way back to the door where Maura was standing.
Jane pulled the door almost closed and then looked up at Maura who was smiling at her affectionately. "She adores you, you know?"
Jane smiled and wrapped her arm around Maura's shoulders as they walked across the hall to Maura's bedroom. "The feeling is mutual." She remarked with a smile.
After finishing their nightly routines Jane and Maura climbed into bed. Jane was laying on her back when Maura settled in next to her.
Maura brushed her fingers softly across Jane's cheek. "Are you okay?"
Jane closed her eyes at the touch and shrugged.
"You know you don't have to hide how you're really feeling Jane. Not with me."
Jane softly grabbed Maura's hand and pulled it to her lips before looking at the woman next to her. "I know Maur, tonight I just, I just…"
"What is it Jane? Tell me what you need and I'll do it." Maura said, meeting Jane's eyes.
Jane, not used to feeling vulnerable and asking for what she needed or wanted, closed her eyes and spoke. "I just want you to hold me. I don't want to think about anything or talk about anything. I just want to forget about everything until tomorrow."
"I can do that." Maura replied as she leaned over the brunette and shut out the lights. Jane settled on her side facing away from the other woman as Maura draped her arm around her, pulling their bodies as close as humanly possible.
"Goodnight Jane." Maura said as she placed a kiss between tense shoulders.
Jane turned slightly and kissed Maura's lips. "Goodnight Maur and thank you for this. For being here and being so understanding."
Maura smiled lovingly at Jane before giving her two quick kisses. "I'll always be here when you need me. Let's get some sleep okay?"
Jane nodded and snuggled back into her spot. A few short moments later both women were sound asleep.