Title: Full Circle
Rating: M
Warnings: Major character death, suicidal/self harm references, General sadness and anger
Summary: "We could never escape Doyle's ghost and now its come full circle..."
One year after Maura's brutal and senseless murder two brunettes visit her gravesite. Each with different feelings about the murder and eachother...
The leaves crunched under her boots as she proceeded to the grave. Kneeling slowly she brushed some dirt away to clear the ground. She had noticed beer cans and other trash thrown disrespectfully near the grave. as she traced each letter of the headstone the coldness ran up her fingers and back into her heart. with a heavy sigh she began to speak.
"Hi Maura. I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I'm been very busy with things. I know you'll let me go on and on. kinda like you were. I always loved your fun facts."
She chuckled slightly. She looked down to the band on her finger. playing with the black flat ring she swallowed hard at the reality.
"I cant thank you enough for the ring. I know you would have spent more money on me if i would let you. but a simple band for a simple fiance will suffice."
She started to tear up at the word. Maura never got to say it after that night. In fact Maura never said it at all. Not out of shame but just because she was taken too soon.
"Anyway. I've been thinking about the name change but the city didnt approve. I know you wouldn't mind. I know how names had connections for you. Especially since he...sigh never mind. I'm sorry Maura. I wasn't fast enough..I wasn't brave enough. I should have stayed with you instead of running away like a coward."
Tears flowed down her face as she remembered that night.
One year ago:
The fall air blew through boston leaving a chilly night in its wake. not that either woman noticed as they sat inside the nice restaurant. the doctor in a tux perfectly fitted for her muscular body. Kneeling at their private booth an unsure question came out of her mouth.
"Wi...will you marry me?" She said.
"Well marry is a very strong word Maura." The brunette challenged back.
Maura looked away rather disappointed.
"But i will wear this ring and love you even more than I do now." The brunette smiled as Maura slid a black steel ring upon her finger.
As they finished their meals and began to walk outside a strong gust of wind raged through the street. The brunette shivered and Maura being the gentle classy woman she was put her jacket on the woman. As the two held hands they began a short walk up the street. Maura grew uneasy and wrapped her arm around the brunette making them walk faster.
"Hey you!" they heard. Maura ignored it as she pushed the brunette along. she knew she should have brought her gun along. the brunette usually had one but being in a dress she left it home.
"I know you hear me Maura Doyle!" The man yelled. That caught Maura's attention. she turned around as the brunette stopped walking.
"Doyles shouldn't exist! you are all evil. Now you pay." she heard as a man tackled her to the ground knocking the air out of her. the man, who wore a shirt that said, "Marine veteran" grabbed Maura's collar tearing the seams as he kneeled above her. he then pulled out a gun and aimed it at her.
"Stop!" the brunette yelled as she charged at the man.
Bang!
The brunette stopped moving as the blood dripped from her cheek. a small cut across it.
"How dare you!" Angered at the man for shooting at the brunette, Maura punched him in the stomach causing him to whimper as Maura overpowered him. She began to choke him, hatred in her eyes.
"Maura..." The brunette said although it was quietly. Almost begging Maura to stop. Her Maura wasn't like this...Doyle was like that...not Maura Isles.
"Go now." Maura ordered.
"But." The woman said.
"Go...get help...I'll hold him down."
"I...ok." she started to leave.
"Hey baby." Maura said while still choking the man.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
The sound of a pistol slamming into bone could be heard. as the woman began to get help she cried.
"Damn you!" She heard someone yell as she heard someone getting repeatedly pistol whipped. she had ran away to the nearest store.
She panted as she ran into the store. Her hair disheveled, her breath fast and her hands shaky.
"Ma'am are you alright?" the clerk asked seeing the panic in the brunettes eyes and the blood dripping down her cheek.
"Please...i need to borrow your phone." She begged.
"Oh...alright." He said hesitantly before handing her the store cell phone.
"911 what is your emergency?"
"Help a man is attacking my friend".
"Ok where are you ma'am."
"At the quickmart gas station, we were at the new steak house on clinton drive."
"Alright does he have a weapon?"
"Yes he has a gun. Please hurry!"
"We are sending units now."
"Please...Maura...hold on… "
Present day:
The brunette wiped away her tears. Smiling she placed a toy dog next to the grave. The age evident as the toy had a greyish color to its white fur. Patches of brown were also seen.
"This...This is chocolate-marshmallow. I...i got him years ago...hes special to me. You see Maura i was poor growing up. But i remember one christmas a black trashbag was placed at our door. I remember getting to pick one toy out of it. I picked him. I know its silly to hold on to such things….so...so i'm giving him to you now. Hes gonna be a great pet for you. He is the first and oldest memory i have. Often when i was scared i'd hold him tightly...How silly."
The brunette sighed as she rubbed the grave.
"I miss you Maura...we all do." The brunette looked down at her scared wrist. Old parallel lines marked them. Clearly indicating the origin.
"I...I wish i was stronger for you Maura. I tried to end it so many times. Forgive me..."
The brunette sighed once more. She then felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning her head around she gasped at who she saw.
?'s POV
19….the number of times we argued about my relationship.
19….the number of times we argued about yours…
19...the number of times i threatened her…
19….the number of times you defended her
19….the number of minutes it took to get to you
19….the number of minutes you fought him
19….the number of minutes she was in fear
19….the number of minutes i was in fear
19….the number of weeks it took to get him
19….the number of weeks it her to "recover"
19….the number of bullets they put in him
19….the number of bullets he put in you.
Leaves crunch under my boots as I see her kneeling. Placing a toy next to your grave i watch as she wipes tears away from her face. Sighing I looked around the yard before placing my hand upon her shoulder. We share a small smile as i rub her shoulder in a empathetic way.
I growl to myself as i blame her for your death. If she had just stayed with you. Fought with you instead of running away... I blamed her for so long but smile as she cups my hand. I can hate her later...not in front of your grave.
"H...hi Jane." she says to me.
"Hello Cailin." I say back as i sit beside her.
3rd POV
Jane sat next to Cailin as she looked at the stone. anger burning her skin she glared at Cailin, who simply was mumbling, "Maura, Maura, Maura...
For a long time they were both quiet lost in their own thoughts. almost as if waiting for the other to break. Cailin broke first.
"I...I..know...you dont like me Jane..."
Jane turned her head and frowned.
"I have no problems with you as a person...just...the thought of..." Jane trailed off.
"Well it may not be as traditional as others but...I loved her. I still love her."
"I..I guess i dont understand." Jane said a little softer.
"Maybe it isn't your place to." Cailin challenged.
"We finally got him though and I made sure he suffered before we killed him." Jane said in an effort to comfort the woman. The woman simply faced away from Jane mumbling.
Jane raised an eyebrow and tried to embrace the woman; who coldly shoved her off.
"It's my fault." Cailin said.
"No its not." Jane said although she was still mad at Cailin.
"Yes it is!"
"How? you cant help that Doyle was Maura's father. you cant control that. Thats why Maura was killed."
"But...I should have stayed and fought with her." Cailin sobbed.
"Maura died protecting you. Thats what you should focus on."\
Cailin whimpered as a strangled sob escaped her throat.
"how are you so calm with Maura's death?"
"I work in homicide." Was Janes short answer.
"Dont you miss Maura at all?!" Cailin screamed at the detective who placed her arms in a defensive manner.
"Of course I do." Jane hissed, angry at the assumption.
"Well it doesnt look like it." Cailin spat.
"We all grieve in our own ways." Jane said.
"Tell me something Jane."
"What?"
"w...was i worth dying for?"
Jane lamented the question as the heavy weight crashed upon her.
"Of course you are."
"I...Im..Im dirt...nothing. Mom, Father, Maura...all dead because of me. Trying to protect me. Well what did they protect?" Cailin said grabbing the ring off her finger. She grasped it tightly before tossing it across the yard.
Jane exhaled before retrieving the ring for her. Eventually she found it and dusted it off. Examining it out of curiosity she smiled. the smooth tungsten steel black as the night sky with a red band through the center wrapping all the way around. Not much but very classy.
A modest ring for a modest wife. just like you Maura.
Retuning she found Cailin had resumed stroking the grave. Talking to the stone. Jane stopped and listened.
"I miss you baby. the long winter nights when you'd hold me tight. How your black smooth hair would shine in the bright lights of the morgue. How you would always stay up late until i fell asleep. Only then would you rest. How you carried me in your arms when my apartment caught fire. When you defended our relationship from Jane. even after she threatened to take away your license and punched you repeatedly. You didn't fight back. You just smiled through it all."
Jane shook. Not in envy. but anger. Anger at herself for how she treated Maura. If Maura was happy thats all that should have mattered. Clearing her throat she returned to Cailin.
"I um...found it." Jane said outstretching her hand the ring carefully in the center. Cailin took the ring but didn't put it back on; choosing instead to place it in her pocket. Jane's phone beeped. Across the top read "Casey."
Jane looked at it quickly before placing it back in her pocket.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just the husb...a friend." Jane said quickly correcting herself.
"Jane. I know you are married. you can say it."
"But..." Jane became very nervous.
"I'm happy for you Jane. you got what you always wanted. A spouse. A daughter. A family."
Cailin attempted to sound nice but Jane didn't miss the venom in her words. Words filled with envy.
"I..um...You can be part of my family too." Jane said.
"I'll pass. Maura is my family. i wouldn't want anyone else to get hurt because of him...me...the blood."
The pair glanced over to the grave's besides Maura's. To the right read, "Hope Martin. 1958-2016" To the left read, "Patrick "Paddy" Doyle" 1954-2014. and directly behind Maura's grave read, "Baby Maura Doyle. 1976. Safe from all earthly harm."
Cailin scoffed slightly. Jane looked at her confused.
"It's truly poetic. Tragic but poetic."
"What is?" Jane asked confused.
"We could never escape Doyle's ghost and now it's come full circle. Patrick Doyle, and Maura Doyle. Both gone. He tried to protect us by hiding but in the end came into the spotlight ending our lives. Forever with a target on our backs."
"Children shouldn't be blamed for the sins of their parents." Jane said rubbing the distraught womans hair.
"I am what I am." Cailin whispered.
"And what you are is amazing. A loving woman with a heart of gold. You'll be an amazing doctor one day. Instead of dwelling on Doyles legacy. Why not carry on Maura's?"
"I..I never thought of it like that before." Cailin said with tears in her eyes.
"I don't blame you for Maura's death anymore...and neither should you. You loved Maura. Maura loved you. In the end thats all that should matter. " Jane said confidently before handing Cailin a yellow package.
Cailin carefully took it and started to open it.
"Stop." Jane ordered. Cailin looked up at her. "Wait till i leave to open it."
"Is it that bad?"
"No. I just think it should be a private thing. something between the two of you."
"Oh. thank you."
Ring...ring...
"Rizzoli. ok. yeah i didn't forget. I was just paying an old friend a visit. i'll be right there."
Jane hung up and patted Cailin's head. "I have to go now, Emilie got in another fight. ugh..kids i tell ya."
Cailin nodded. eager to see what Jane brought her.
"Lets just say...you have you relationship with Maura...and I have mine. Different of course. But...Lets just say...Its my final respect to her." She said walking away.
"Goodbye Jane Rizzoli."
"Goodbye. Cailin Martin...Isles..." Jane whispered the last word so Cailin couldn't hear it.
Once Jane's car pulled away. Cailin opened the envelope. When she saw what was inside tears streamed down her face as her hand covered her mouth. With shaking hands she showed Maura with a large smile. Sliding the ring back on her finger, Cailin looked once again at the paper. "Thank you Jane! Thank you so much! I will never forget this." Cailin said to the heavens.
Birth, Death, and Marriage
Marriage Certificate.
This Certificate offered by the city of Boston indicates the following have applied for marriage:
Maura D. Isles
Cailin D. Martin
This certificate indicates that one of the applicants has died before the completion of this license.
Dead applicant: Maura D. Isles
This certificate therefore is treated as a common law marriage and has no legal standing in a court of law.
The following applicant has applied for a name change:.
Original Name: Cailin D. Martin
Proposed Name change: Cailin Martin-Isles
Name change approved on 09/21/2020
Name change effective: 09/22/2020
Witness to marriage/working on behalf of applicants: Jane C. Rizzoli
"I'm finally your wife Maura. I'm finally your wife..." Cailin laughed with glee and overwhelming joy. "I'm finally your wife."
The end.
A/N: the certificate in this story does NOT exist in reality. Marrying a corpse is illegal. But in this fic Jane pulled a few strings for her old friend.
A/N2: this came out a lot sweeter than i originally wanted it to. Jane finally accepts Maura's relationship and comes to terms with her late best friend. That doesn't mean Jane likes it though. Thoughts? Fav and review.
-Wolf