Paddy Doyle glared at the harsh California sunlight streaming in to the court yard. Paddy was a dock-man. He needed to hear the crashing of the waves, smell that mix of brine and fish, he dealt in fog and darkness. California was none of those things. The air was so dry his nose bled. It smelled of dirt and fire and the sunshine! He loathed that never ending sunshine that beat down relentlessly. Paddy sighed and shifted his weight on the table he leaned on. The young ones were battling it out over a game of hoops. Paddy was too old to keep up, especially with the smoke in the air. Paddy wasn't top dog in this prison but the others had learned quickly we wasn't easy game either. Paddy didn't mind ceding the title. He wouldn't be here long anyways. Cancer. Paddy supposed there was a certain irony in that. He'd been shot, stabbed, beaten, hit by cars. Sheer force of will had kept him alive in the gang wars. Well, his will, a bit of luck, and Hope's doctor skills. But in the end, no one could escape who they were. It was written in to the very fabric of his being. You can't out-shoot, out-stab or outsmart yourself. Nope, in the end, you can't outrun yourself.

The docs out here had given him a date. Paddy figured he'd take a little while longer, just because he was stubborn. Still it was a matter of months to wrap up his affairs, his dealings. He wasn't so much afraid to die as he was concerned that his affairs would come back to haunt Maura or Hope. The gang would find a new leader, would continue on so long as there was money and power to be had, so long as there were jobs too dirty for the government to do, at least publicly. His concern was for his daughter and soul mate. He had spent so long watching out for them, taking care of them. He wouldn't be around to do that much longer. He had chips still to call in, folks still loyal enough to keep an ear to the ground. They would look after Maura and Hope when he was gone.

No he was worried about collateral damage. His greatest fear was that something he had done would fall back on Maura or Hope. That they would be blamed for his sins. What he needed was a good confession and Paddy had the perfect agent in mind to take it.

'Paddy Doyle,' the guard at the entrance called, 'you've got a visitor.'

Paddy smiled. It was time to set things right.

Paddy walked with the waiting guard through a labyrinth of doors, each manned with bars and guards. He smiled and nodded to the folks he knew. He'd made it a point to stay on the guards good sides, when possible. If it happened to arm him with information about their friends and family, should he ever have need to exploit it, so be it. Such was the game of survival.

The guard lead him in to an interrogation room, locking his cuffs in to the provided space. Paddy thought it a tad excessive but he supposed he had shot the agent sitting across from him.

'Paddy Doyle,' Agent Dean said cooly, 'I've been informed you want to talk to me and only me.'

'That's right, Agent Dean,' Paddy said with a smirk, 'I have a few confessions to make. May even help you solve some of your cold cases. If you're smart.'

Dean sat back, 'I'm guessing this isn't out of the kindness of your heart.'

Paddy shrugs, if the docs hadn't told him Paddy didn't feel inclined to share.

'You shot me,' Dean said incredibly, 'why on earth would you think I would want to take your confession.'

Paddy grinned, 'here I was thinking it was some kind of recompense. I shot you and now I'm giving you the chance to close cases agents thirty years your senior haven't been able to close. Look good to the higher ups, serve justice. Whatever you think it is your doing.'

'You've got to be kidding me,' Dean said incredibly. 'Alright, old man. You've got something eating you up inside, get it off your chest.' Dean fished out a notebook and pen and looked expectantly at Paddy.

Paddy shook his head. 'There are very few things I regret in my life Dean. Most of what I've done has been in the name of survival. I make no apologies for staying alive.'

'Like shooting me?' Dean asked.

'Like shooting you. You were a threat. I handled it.' Paddy agreed.

'And got shot yourself!' Dean retorted rolling his eyes.

Paddy shrugged, 'occupational hazard.'

'Alright, while we're on the topic,' Dean said, 'why am I here opposed to Agent Rizzoli?'

Paddy thought about his answer, not wanting to give away more than absolutely necessary. 'Agent Rizzoli is a good woman, a clean woman, but she's been under investigation in regards to her relationship with me. I want everything I say to be absolutely indisputable.'

Dean stared at him, 'you want to make sure the crimes you confess to can't implicate Maura Isles or Hope Martin.'

Paddy supposed it wasn't that hard to make the connection but still he had to give the Agent credit. He had read between the lines. 'Something like that.'

'Alright, Doyle,' Dean said, 'you tell me everything you know and I'll make sure it makes it up the command chain untarnished.'

'Good,' Paddy said, nodding. 'Next time bring your files.' With that Paddy stood up and called to the guard. He was tired.

'Doyle?' Dean asked, 'how long do you think this is going to take?'

The guard unshackled him and Doyle shrugged, 'not more than a few months Agent Dean.' Paddy left the room and the agent behind, headed back to his cell where he'd try to take a nap.


Maura sat dutifully in the make up chair, allowing people to flurry around her as they fixed her hair and make up. It had become somewhat routine over the last few days. Maura wasn't sure how there were this many talk shows in New York but this was to be the last before she left for Boston. Maura would sleep in her own bed tonight. She sighed softly.

'Is everything okay Dr. Isles?' the make up artist in front of her. 'Do you need some water or something to eat?'

'Oh, no, thank you,' Maura said with a smile, 'I just fly home tonight. I was thinking about sleeping in my own bed.'

The make up artist smiled at her, 'I never sleep well in a hotel.'

Maura nodded, she didn't say that she never slept well without Jane. It was too complicated. Too personal.

The next few hours were a blur to Maura. She answered another round of the same questions about her book. She did her best to seem genuine and happy to be there. She made sure to thank every one who helped her, grateful for the opportunity even if her heart wasn't in it at the moment. She packed up and checked out of her hotel and made her way to the airport. Boston was calling and Maura couldn't wait to be home, even if she was going to miss Jane being there.

Nina picked her up from the airport, giving Maura a big hug and a welcome home. It was almost as good as being home. Nina dropped her off at her town home and promised to pick her up in the morning for her next interview. A homemade dinner awaited Maura in the fridge along with a note from Angela apologising for having to work. Maura hummed as she set about warming the meal. When it was done, she collected her mail to go through.

Most of it was junk. She set aside a handful of invoices and bills she had already paid online, making a mental note to switch to paperless. The final piece was addressed to her from a penitentiary in California. Paddy. Maura sighed and set it aside. She wasn't quite ready to deal with whatever the letter contained. Paddy knew Maura wasn't terribly interested in a relationship with him but she had agreed to receive mail when it was necessary. Truthfully, Maura doubted she would be able to refuse any mail he sent her. She may hate the man, everything he stood for, but at the end of the day, Maura was so hungry to know everything she could about her birth family that she would never truly be able to resist.

That didn't mean, however, she couldn't hold off on opening the letter until she'd finished a glass of wine and called Jane. She was, after all, only human. She poured herself a glass, relocating to her couch and pressed Jane's contact. Jane answered on the second ring.

'Hey Maur! Made it to Boston?' Jane asked, Maura could hear the smile in her voice.

'I did. Nina picked me up at the airport and your mother left me a home made dinner. It was quite lovely.'

'I love our people,' Jane said. 'The pups definitely miss you. Boston keeps doing that weird whine thing and looking at the door.'

'Poor girl,' Maura spoke softly. 'I miss them too. How was your day?'

'Good,' Jane chuckled, 'the recruits still haven't solved my little problem for them. Although, one came close but she second guessed herself.' Jane had the recruits trying to break her alibi for the weekend. She had told them that she had been at home, alone, sick for the weekend. Their job was to confirm or bust it. So far, none had come close.

'Are you certain you're playing fair?' Maura asked. She was almost positive that Jane would not be. The woman could be famously shifty for someone who was on the side of the law.

'Of course I'm not. They're FBI recruits Maura. Alibi chasing is part of the job. An important part.' Jane retorted.

'I'm not sure any one was expecting you to fly to New York on a dime Jane,' Maura replied her eyes rolling.

'It shouldn't be that hard Maura. All they have to do is talk to our neighbours.'

'Yes but do they know where you live?'

Jane laughed throatily at that, 'of course not! What's the challenge in that?'

'So you're just waiting for one of them to steal your ID?' Maura asked.

'I was thinking tailing me but you know that would work. They'd just have to get it back in my wallet before I found out because that would be illegal search and seizure and I'd have to fail them.' Jane was clearly far too delighted with this experiment.

'And I assume you are using evasive manoeuvres to come home every day?' Maura didn't really need to ask. She already knew.

Jane just laughed. Maura had decided at some point in the last month that Jane was an excellent teacher. A bit evil but excellent none the less. She was absolutely perfect for training FBI recruits. 'How was your interview?'

Maura sighed, 'it was good. The questions have grown tiresome.'

'Aren't they all about your book?' Jane asked.

'Yes.' Maura replied with a brush. Perhaps she ought to feel differently but Maura got tired of talking about the same thing endlessly. 'I don't know how I'm going to answer the same question every day multiple times a day for the next eleven weeks.'

'Fair enough,' Jane said before letting the silence lapse.

'I um,' Maura started after sipping her wine, 'I got a letter from Paddy.'

'Oh?' Jane asked. 'What did it say?'

'I haven't opened it yet,' Maura said. Retrieving the letter from the counter and settling back down, 'I was hoping you would stay on the phone with me while I did. Just… in case.'

'Sure Maura!' Jane replied, 'I'm not going anywhere.'

Maura opened the letter and pulled out a pair of letters. The first was a standard letter informing her that this correspondence was screened by the penitentiary. The second was written in pencil with block letters. Maura read this aloud.

My Dear Maura,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and happiness. I know you do not think much of me or my chosen profession. I do not blame you. I gave you away to protect you from this life. That you found out about me at all, wounds me. I would that I had passed long before you discovered our relationship. Alas, it is what it is.

Though it may not seem possible to you, you and your brother were my joy in life. You both gave this old cynical man reason to have hope. But you, Maura, you are my pride. You're so smart and incredibly kind. You inherited all of your Mother's best traits and made some of your own. I am proud of you and the work you have done. Even the work you did to lock me up. You and your Rizzoli did more than legions of men did before you.

I am writing to let you know that I have been diagnosed with lung cancer. The doctors say it doesn't look good, give me a couple of months without treatment. Maybe a year with it. I have no intention of spending my last days hooked up to machines, taking medicine so strong it makes me violently ill. I have declined the treatments. I do not expect to be able to make things right with you. I don't even expect any further contact. Though I love you with all of my heart, I understand that I've hurt you. I just wanted you to know, in case you had anything further you wanted to know or anything you had left to say. Closure some would call it.

I also wanted you to know, I have requested a meeting with Agent Dean of the FBI. I will be telling him anything he wants to know in regards to my crimes. I want to be sure, anything and everything I say would clear your and your mother's name. I won't permit my sins to burden either of you any further.

If I hear from you again, I will gladly accept such contact. If I do not, These things, I warmly wish for you- Someone to love, some work to do, A bit of o' sun, a bit o' cheer. And a guardian angel always near.

Be well, my daughter!

Patrick Doyle

Jane spoke first, 'you doing okay Maura?'

Maura felt numb. Emotionless. 'I suppose.'

A moment later, Maura's phone showed Jane's face for a video call. Maura clicked the accept button and smiled wanly at Jane. 'Hi.'

'Hey, sorry I needed to see your face,' Jane replied.

'You never have to apologise for calling me Jane,' Maura murmured tenderly. Jane always knew how to take care of her.

'So cancer?' Jane asked.

'So it appears. A lung adenocarcinoma is the most common form of lung cancer, although I couldn't possibly diagnose him from the little information he has written here. Although, if he has been given months, it is likely that the cancer has metastasised.' Maura heard herself say the words but she didn't really know what she was saying.

'Hey, its okay Maura. He doesn't need a diagnosis. You don't have to figure this out.'

'Of course I do. I'm his only living kin. I'll have to make arrangements and I don't even know his wishes.' Maura's voice got high and panicky.

'I know, I know sweetheart. And we'll figure it out, okay. He's not dead yet. We can figure out what he wants. I just mean, he doesn't need you to be Dr. Isles. You get to feel however you feel right now.'

'Well I don't know how I feel Jane. My biological father, who is in jail for murdering the wife and child of a highly respected police captain and is suspected of doing far worse, who abandoned me as a baby and then lied to my biological mother, just told me he has cancer.'

'I'd feel angry,' Jane offered, 'and maybe a bit sad but mostly angry.'

Maura thought about it. She did feel angry. Maybe the more saintly side of her felt sad. The doctor side, that care about human life. Maura wasn't sure she had an answer for Jane.

'I could reach out to Agent Dean. See what he knows,' Jane offered.

A spike of fear shot through Maura. She didn't want anything to do with Agent Dean, she certainly didn't want Jane to have anything to do with Agent Dean. 'No!' Maura snapped. 'I don't care what he talks to Agent Dean about. It's none of my concern.'

Jane held up one hand in surrender, 'okay. Not talking to Agent Dean.'

'I'm sorry Jane,' Maura replied, 'I didn't mean to snap. It's just he….'

'Got your father shot, I get it Maura,' Jane finished for her.

Maura shook her head, 'I was going to say, he's the only person who ever made me feel like I had lost you.'

'Oh,' Jane said, 'we do have complicated history there.'

Maura nodded and then leaned back in to the couch. 'I have to tell Hope.' Her voice sounded small and sad.

'Aw Maura,' Jane replied, wishing desperately she could be there, 'no you don't. I'm sure Paddy wrote her too.'

Maura shook her head. 'She refused all contact. It looked poorly on the clinic. I have to tell her.'

Jane sighed. 'Will you see her while you're in Boston?'

'I wasn't going to but I will have to make time now.'

'I'm sorry Maura,' Jane whispered, 'I wish I was there with you.'

'Me too Jane,' Maura said her voice breaking slightly. 'Me too.'

Jane stayed on the phone until Angela came home then she let her Ma work her magic. She'd have Maura wrapped up in blanket with tea and a homemade chocolate chip cookie in hand in no time.

Jane hung up and felt torn. The investigator in her told her that Dean was the way to go but Maura had been pretty clear she didn't want to know. Jane didn't want to betray her trust but the impulse was still there. Jane settled on shooting off a few quick texts. The first was to her own father. She texted him occasionally. He never answered. She wasn't even sure he could receive texts, though she supposed most phones did these days.

'Hey Pa. Just wanted you to know I miss you and hope you're doing well. Love, Janie.'

The second text went to Hope. Jane wasn't sure if she did the right thing but she figured Maura did enough taking care of others. Jane could help her out here a little bit, at least getting the process started.

'Hey Hope. Maura is in Boston for the next few days. She needs to speak with you, she has some news about Paddy to share. I know it's a hard topic for the both of you so I thought it might help if you reached out to her first. Initiated the conversation. I'm here if you need me. Jane.'

The last text was to Maura. She spent the most time composing that one. After all, Hope was Hope and her father might never see her text but Maura? Jane held Maura's heart in her hands. She would do whatever she could to protect it.

'I let Hope know you needed to meet. Not sure if that was the right thing but I hope it helps a bit. I hope Ma made you cookies and tea and gave you all the hugs I couldn't. I love you Maura. I'm with you. Whatever you need.'

Maura didn't take long to text back and the response was enough for Jane. She fell asleep thinking of Maura.

'Thank you Jane. I love you too.'