'Hey! Rizzoli! Get your head out of your ass!' Cavanagh shouts at the younger woman, noticing that her mind seems to be elsewhere.
Instantly Jane sits up straight in her chair and looks at him straight in the eyes. 'Sorry Lieu, I'm bringing Amelia home tomorrow from the hospital so I'm a little distracted today' she says in her usual raspy tones.
Letting out a big sigh he moves to the front of his desk and leans against it. 'I'm happy for you kid I really am, but I need your head in the game. I don't want to lose any officers today', he says giving Jane a warm smile.
Even though he had only dated her mom for a short while, she has become fond of the older man in front of her. They've all been through so much together as a unit that they are all one big family. Letting his words sink in, she knows he is completely right. She needs to focus, otherwise someone could get killed. 'Yep, of course, your absolutely right'.
'Ok Rizzoli, get out there and bring that bastard to justice' Cavanagh says as he gets off from sitting on the desk to taking his seat behind it.
Nodding her head Jane heads out of the Lieutenants office. This current case they are working on has been particularly brutal. The body of a young girl had been found dumped on an abandoned plot of land. It was with luck her body had been found relatively quickly, as some kids had snuck onto the property and stumbled upon her. She wasn't in the usual databases like CODIS so when they had finally identified her, they learnt her story was a tragic one. She had been kidnapped from her native Ukraine at the age of 14 and sold into the sex trade.
Her body bore the marks of abuse from years of beatings and drug taking, she was only 18. It broke Janes heart when she made that call to the girls parents. Although she could hear a sense of relief in the mother's voice. That after 4 years of not hearing anything about her daughter, that even despite the tragic circumstances she finally knew what had happened to her and was now able to bring her home.
'No one moves until I give the order' Jane says over the walkie talkie. Receiving a tip from Rondo that the guy in charge of the sex trafficking ring is arriving today. Jane takes her position in front of what seems like an abandoned building. They all know what there main suspect looks like. But he's proven to be one slippery bastard, so this is there one and only chance to grab him.
After standing by for what felt like hours, a blacked out SUV arrives and parks in front of the target building. 5 men get out, all but one are carrying weapons, from what Jane can see they appear to be automatic rifles.
Relaying another message over the radio 'there packing some serious heat, everyone keep your heads down' Jane says feeling her adrenaline starting to course through her veins. Her prime suspect is amongst the group of men. 'Suspect spotted, engage' she says.
Within seconds all hell breaks loose, with shouting and gunfire exchanged from both sides. Ducking behind a car as bullets fly over her head, windows shattering raining down glass on her. Risking a quick glance Jane sees her prime suspect disappearing into the building. 'COVER ME' she shouts to the officer next to her. Giving chase she soon disappears down the alley, hoping to cut him off if he decides to try and flee through one of the exits.
Hearing what sounds like a door being kicked open, Jane nears the end of the alley with her gun drawn. Slowly and cautiously searching the area, feeling in her gut that her perp is still here. In the background the sounds of gunfire are suddenly muted by a loud explosion. Momentarily distracted Jane glances towards the sound coming from behind her.
This is it, he seizes this moment to get the upper hand on the copper who is trying to hunt him down. Jumping down off of one of the flat roof buildings, he lands on the brunette, knocking her flying to the ground. Watching her gun disappear underneath one of the bins lining the wall. Knowing he has the upper hand he turns her over onto her back and starts to punch her repeatedly hard in the face. Feeling bone crunching against his knuckles. She's a fighter he thinks to himself as he can feel the surprisingly strong woman fight beneath him.
Managing to keep her pinned to the floor, raising his leg he knees her hard in the chest. A second later he nearly gets knocked off balance when he receives a punch to his face. And to be honest it was a good smack. But it just pissed him off more. Grabbing a handful of her hair he lifts her head up and brings it down hard to make contact with the concrete floor. Hearing the crack of the woman's skull, he feels her body go limp beneath him. Feeling sure he has incapacitated her, he slowly gets up and takes a minute to catch his breath.
Stepping away from the bleeding woman on the floor, he pulls out the revolver hidden in the back of his trousers. Watching the battered and bruised copper regain consciousness and slowly drag herself towards the wall so she is half sitting half lying. Letting out a sinister laugh 'You've got some balls lady' whilst pointing the gun at her, 'Shame you're not working for me' he's says starting to squeeze the trigger.
This is it. She thinks to herself. I've really gone and fucked up now. Closing her eyes waiting for the shot to be fired. Not wanting to see it coming. All she could think about was that her daughter would grow up never knowing her and that she is going to leaving Maura all alone. Hearing the shot she waits for the darkness to take her. Feeling nothing, she slowly opens her one good eye as the other one has swollen shut. She watches the perp fall to the ground lifeless. Korsak is stood behind him with his gun drawn, the barrel still smoking from the single shot fired.
Never feeling more relieved in her life. Jane slowly tries to get up, trying to ignore the amount of pain she is in. Telling herself that feeling any pain means she's still alive. Feeling gentle hands grab her arm 'Jane, take it easy, let the EMTs look at you' Korsak says with sympathy and love in his voice.
Her side is killing her, she has a splitting headache, probably a concussion and waves of nausea keep sweeping over her. Jane doesn't want to go to the hospital. The thought of going sends absolute fear through her hurting body. 'Im ok, Vince' she says trying not to slur her words. Taking one unsteady step forward and then everything goes black.
Luckily Korsak has a good grip of the younger detectives arm, helping lower Jane to the ground. Grabbing his radio he says 'Officer down, need EMTs now'. Checking her breathing as well as her pulse, he's relieved that she's ok. He suspects the sudden movement from receiving such a head injury caused her to pass out. He's hoping it's just that anyway.
The EMT's come running down the alley and start to work on the unconscious detective. Korsak takes a step back and tries not to worry about his friend. After all he still has a job to do.
Making his way into the building, he catches up with Frankie and gets an update on the situation. 'Rizzoli, what we got?' he says.
'All suspects were shot and killed, but there's something you need to see' Frankie says leading the way further into the warehouse. Korsak follows the younger man, preparing himself for whatever has obviously upset Frankie.
Nothing could have prepared the seasoned detective for what he saw. In several cages there was lots of girls. All varying in ages, one girl he could see looked like she was barely in her teens. The sight of her turned his stomach, poor girl. He could only imagine the abuse she has already suffered. All the girls looked frightened.
Walking to one of the cages 'We're not going to hurt you' Korsak says whilst showing the palms of his hand that he comes in peace. He knows a lot of these girls are probably foreign and may not speak English or very little of it. 'Do any of you speak English?' he asks softly and slowly.
There's a few seconds of silence until one of the girls stood silently in the back steps forward. 'I do' she says with a resilience in her voice. 'I try to keep girls safe' she says.
'My name is Sergeant Korsak, I'm with Boston Homicide. No one here is going to hurt you'. He says with sympathy and compassion in his voice.
The girl that spoke looks the older Detective up and down. Deciding whether or not he can be trusted. There's something in his eyes that tells her he is a good man. 'My name is Catalina' she says.
Korsak understands the weariness coming from these girls, however he knows he and his team are not trained to deal with this. 'We are going to get you out of here and take you to people who can help you' he says scanning the eyes of the women in the locked cage before resting them back on Catalina. 'They are from the Human Trafficking Division, they are a group of people who can help with what you ladies have been through, and hopefully try and return you all to your families'.
Trying to open her eyes but they feel heavy, like her eyelids are made of lead. She thinks she can hear something, listening again it's a voice she is sure she recognises. Trying again she manages to prize only one eye open, instantly closing it when the light hits her eye. Listening again that same soft voice is back. This time she can hear is more clearly. Jane, come on sweetheart, open your eyes for me. It's the voice of an angel, Maura's voice.
Trying a third time she manages to keep both her eyes open, even though one is swollen. Shifting slightly in the bed seems to result in her body aching all over. The movement causing her to feel groggy. Jane shakes her head trying to fight it, instantly regretting that action. As a wave of nausea sweeps over her, fighting the bile that is starting to rise in the back of her throat. Swallowing it back down the feeling soon passes.
Once her eyes start to focus the sight that greets her is nothing but pure beauty. 'Maur…' Jane tries to say but her mouth is so dry. Trying to shift in bed so to get a better look at her wife. Pain racks her body. Gulping for air, it feels like she's just got the wind knocked out of her chest. Feeling beads of sweat starting to form on her brow, from every painful breath she takes.
'Jane, try not to move, you suffered a severe concussion' Maura says gently pushing her wife back down onto the bed. 'You've also got three broken ribs, some bruising around your kidneys' she says whilst helping Jane get comfortable again by re-adjusting her pillows. 'As-well as several cuts and bruises' Maura says before placing a gentle kiss on one of the abrasions on her wifes face.
Sitting there motionless, Jane doesn't know what to say, she was pretty sure she was going to die in that alleyway. The mixture of emotions she is feeling at this moment in time is becoming overwhelming. Feeling unsure of how to answer, almost too scared incase of breaking down. Janes about to say something but before she can, Angela and Frankie walk into the room.
'Oh my god Janie, look at you're beautiful face' Angela says with a mixture of worry and anger in her voice. 'I've been telling you for years, that you need to get a different job and stop putting yourself in harms way! Do you ever think of any body but yourself'.
'Come on Ma, that's enough' Frankie says trying to stop his mom from saying anything else. Knowing she doesn't mean any of it and that it comes from a place of love. But this isn't the time or the place. As by the look on his sisters face is that she hasn't been awake for long.
Usually none of this would affect Jane, it would just annoy her. But this time it's different, all she can think about is that she nearly left Maura and Amelia alone. And with that last thought the emotional dam has broken. No longer able to stop the overwhelming feelings she was experiencing. Instead what comes out is pure undiluted emotion. Sob, after sob racks her body. Feeling very exposed and vulnerable Jane brings her hands to her face to try and shield herself from the others somehow.
Jane's sudden and extreme reaction hasn't gone unnoticed, immediately everyone stops and glances from one another. In everyone's eyes is a look of shock and concern. No-one really knowing what to do, looking helplessly at the sobbing woman in the hospital bed.
Even Maura wasn't expecting this kind of reaction, if anything she was expecting her wife to yell at Angela until she left the room. After all Italians are fiery people and her wife and mother in law are no exception.
Sensing how vulnerable Jane is feeling she asks, 'Can you please leave?' in an almost pleading manner. Angela and Frankie offer no resistance and leave the room in silence. Knowing that it's just the two of them she pulls a chair over so its next to the bed, and sits in it. Reaching out she takes both of Janes hands in hers. 'Hey pretty girl, why so sad?' she asks.
Through the sniffling she tries to answer her. 'Leaving….you' Is all that Jane manages to get out.
Hearing this Maura's heart skips a beat, trying to calm herself but her adrenaline is starting to pump through her veins in response to fight or flight mode. Surely Jane doesn't want to leave her. 'What do you mean?' she asks trying to keep her voice from trembling.
Calming herself down enough to speak properly. 'I thought I was going to leave you and Amelia' Jane says still trying to stop her voice from breaking again. 'I thought my time was up, and it frightened me'.
For Jane to be this candid with her feelings, Maura knows that this has deeply affected her. 'You don't need to be frightened anymore, you're alive, and you're not leaving us' she says planting a soft kiss on her wifes lips. Breaking apart for air, wiping the tears from Jane's cheeks.
'Maura….I honestly thought I was going to die. After he beat the shit out of me and I saw that barrel pointing at me' Jane says pausing swallowing the lump forming in her throat. 'Before it never really bothered me. Of course I didn't want to die. But I felt it was part of the job. That if I died saving one person then it would be a good death'.
Listening to Jane speak this way Maura finds it upsetting. Her first instinct is to respond defensively. With thoughts of Do I mean that little to her? flashing through her head. But she's been with Jane long enough to know that Jane isn't always the best in articulating herself correctly. So for now she will sit in silence and just let this play out before she reacts.
Looking deeply into those beautiful eyes, taking a deep breath Jane continues. 'But since being with you and now that Amelia is here, It just felt wrong….I don't know if I want to be a cop anymore…'.
And there it is, the bombshell of all bombshells, not once has she ever actually heard her wife say that she wanted to leave the police force. After all next to her that is Janes life. 'Jane...I honestly don't not know what to say to that' Maura says. 'But I will say this pretty girl, that whatever you decide to choose both myself and Amelia will be there with you 100%' she says with a huge smile on her face. Leaning forward planting a lingering kiss on Janes lips. Breaking apart looking intently into those brown eyes. 'I will always love, no matter what you do'.
Returning the smile on her face at the blonde woman sat on the chair next to her hospital bed. 'You're amazing, do you know that? Jane says with a hint of lust in her raspy voice.
Getting up from the chair Maura places a kiss on her wife's forehead 'Yes, I do' she says causing both woman to laugh. 'I have to go and talk to one of the nurses on Amelia's ward to see if they can postpone us taking her home for a couple more days' she says.
Jane instantly feels guilt. 'Shit, I'm sorry Maur... ' she says with sadness etched in her voice.
'Jane it's ok, I'm sure a few more days won't hurt, we've already waited this long' she says making her way to the door. Before going through it she turns to look at her wife one more time 'And besides I don't want to do it alone' giving Jane a warm smile before disappearing out of the room and towards her baby daughter. Still feeling absolutely terrified around Amelia, but knowing that as long as Jane is by her side. They will be fine.
Sorry for the wait guys I was unsure whether to finish this story where I left it or to carry it on. By public demand i've carried it on. The prequel/sequel will just have to wait…..for now. :-)
Thanks again for all the reviews, glad that you are all still enjoying it.
Peace and Love
I Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Lovey New Year.
Happy New Year 2019 Everyone :-)
Paula
