By the time the pair made it back to Jane's apartment, the sun was sinking below the horizon. Jane realised that there wasn't enough time before their arranged meeting with Maura's mothers to attempt to remove the bullets from Maura's back. The 'procedure' was the sole focus of her thoughts the entire way back into the city, and her musing had only made her more nervous about it. She clearly remembered her anxiety the last time she'd had to operate on Maura, and that was when Maura was human and had been able to instruct her how to correctly perform a fasciotomy before she passed out. This time they would be flying blind, with no precise idea how vampire physiology worked, or how it would react to an attempt to dig out two slugs that had been stuck there for months. Jane had no idea if she could hurt Maura, if there was a type on anaesthetic they could try, if she could make the damage worse, or if it was even possible to get the bullets out.

Maura took one look at Jane's troubled face as she slid ungracefully off her back and smiled knowingly. "Jane, calm down. We don't have time to try anything now, we'll talk about it later."

Jane let go of a breath she'd been unknowingly holding, the release of tension relaxing her limbs so much she almost collapsed. Fortunately Maura hadn't let go of her yet, still supporting her weight after the tiring trip back through the city.

Jane nodded gratefully. "Okay. So I guess we need to head over to Hope's house soon."

Maura's face crumpled into a worried frown. "Oh, I just need to run a few errands first. Can you get Frankie to drive you over there? I won't be long."

Jane was surprised, but her muttered agreement couldn't quite hide her relief at being able to go in a car rather than on Maura's back. It was an exhilarating means of transportation, but with her dominant arm damaged and the rest of her body weakened from weeks of inactivity, it was also extremely exhausting.

Maura caught the relieved look on Jane's face and smirked. "I'll see you there."

She turned to leave, but spun back to face Jane again, her expression suddenly serious. "Thank you for today Jane. You've given me a lot to think about."

Before Jane could respond, Maura was gone. Jane shook her head in exasperation, before grabbing her phone and heading to the couch to collapse for a moment before calling Frankie.

Fortunately Frankie was nearby and agreed to come and give her a lift immediately. Jane could see the relief in his face when he saw her safe and unharmed after spending a day with Maura.

As usual, Frankie didn't comment on Maura, or ask about the trip they'd made earlier in the day to Maura's house. It had clearly been difficult for him to be there, Jane had been able to see the tension in his face as soon as she asked him to take her there. But he was clearly trying his best to avoid any awkwardness between them over the issue, and Jane appreciated it immensely. If the situation had been reversed she couldn't imagine having the patience to hold her tongue.

When they pulled up at Hope's address, Frankie fixed Jane with a searching look. "You'd tell me if you were in trouble, right? If there was anything I could do to help?"

Jane frowned, unsure where this had suddenly come from. "Why would I be in trouble?"

Frankie grimaced at the non-answer. "Well I dropped you off at the station earlier after visiting the place our mother was killed. I'm pretty sure you saw Maura today, and now you're visiting Maura's biological mother, who is fairly solidly linked to Paddy Doyle. Are you saying if you heard that visit list you wouldn't be concerned? After we just barely made it out of a mob war alive? A war which Maura is supposed to have started?"

Jane hadn't considered how this would all look to Frankie. The only reason he didn't know the real story was because she had asked him to stay ignorant, which left him in an awkward position. He wasn't stupid, and she immediately felt bad for worrying him. "I'm not in trouble, Frankie. I promise this has nothing to do with Paddy, or the mob. Also just so you know, Maura had nothing to do with that mob war. She just got pulled into it, same as we did."

Jane rubbed a hand over her eyes, fatigue making her voice slightly gravelly. "I'm just trying to help Maura out, to help her get a bit of closure with her mother."

Frankie looked troubled. "Does she deserve closure? What about…"

Jane grabbed his arm, cutting him off, but kept her tone even. "Of course she deserves it. What happened with ma wasn't her fault, and she's lost everything because of it. I know you don't know the details, but believe me when I say, she's suffered enough. The offer is still there for you to get the full story if you can't live with just trusting me, but I'm telling you she deserves any bit of peace she can find."

Frankie stared at Jane with an angry gleam in his eyes, but it soon softened into acceptance. "Okay."

He turned away from Jane, clearly done with the conversation. Jane scrutinised his expression for a moment before getting out of the car, deciding that the situation was as resolved as it was going to be.

Jane heard the car pull away as she walked to Hope's door. Her thoughts lingered on Frankie for a moment, wondering if there was anything else she could say to help him understand without telling him everything. The sight of an expensive car in the driveway snapped her thoughts back to the present in a hurry. Obviously Constance was here, and she would be wanting answers.

Jane wasn't looking forward to this conversation. Every other time she had interacted with Constance, Jane felt like she had the high ground. Now she definitely felt like she was going to be on the defensive, since she was fairly sure Constance would have figured out that Jane knew about Maura and had been lying to everyone. The thought of being in the intense woman's crosshairs was enough to tense her whole body with painful anticipation.

With great trepidation Jane knocked on the door. Hope was obviously waiting, opening the door instantly and regarding Jane cautiously. "Detective Rizzoli. Please come in."

Jane allowed herself to be guided to the study. She saw Constance sitting primly, a cup of tea in her hand. The slight shake of the cup as she set it down was the only outward sign of tension in the dignified woman. Jane tried to smile and say hello, but the steely gaze she received from Maura's mother choked the words in her throat and froze her face into an uncomfortable grimace.

Jane stood awkwardly for a few moments before shuffling to an unoccupied chair and sitting down. Hope had set out four chairs in a rough circle, probably hoping to create a good environment for sharing and communication. Jane just felt like she was on the witness stand about to be cross-examined.

The silence stretched uncomfortably for several minutes, all three women feeling the tension. Hope was fidgeting constantly, worrying the hem of her skirt until she finally couldn't take it. She practically leapt out of the chair, bustling towards the kitchen and leaving Constance and Jane alone. Jane couldn't help a nervous swallow as she glanced at Constance, noting that her steely gaze was still as icy as it had been when she first walked in.

It didn't take long before Jane couldn't take the silence either, her voice escaping in a nervous squeak without her permission. "So, how long have you been in town?"

Constance cocked a derisive eyebrow. "Only three days."

Jane shrank into her chair, her brief burst of boldness quelled under Constance's unspoken rebuke. Jane had no idea what Hope had told Constance about what had been going on, but it was clear that she knew Jane had been keeping the truth from her, and it was not at all appreciated.

Thankfully Maura chose that moment to arrive. Jane heard a clatter and a curse come from the kitchen, followed by Maura's frantic apologies. Hope's voice replied, sounding startled and equally apologetic. Jane couldn't help rolling her eyes; maybe they really should put a bell around Maura's neck.

Constance had heard the commotion as well, her face falling from its hostile mask as she recognised her daughter's voice. She stood up, her hands tangling together nervously as she straightened her shoulders.

Maura's eyes instantly found Constance's as soon as she stepped into the room behind Hope. Jane could see how nervous she was, her hands wringing together like her mother's. Hope manage to break the tension, her shaky hands knocking over a glass as she tried to set out some water for everyone. Maura looked torn for a moment before moving to the chair next to Jane, avoiding Constance's gaze. She pulled off her black gloves and head wrap, placing them carefully aside before returning her gaze to the floor and her hands to their aimless patterns.

Hope stopped clinking glasses and sat down, cradling a glass in her hands. Jane looked around the room, taking in the silence and the identical stares at the floor from all three women. "Oh for Pete's sake!"

Suddenly there were three surprised women staring at her. Jane looked at Maura pointedly, trying to get her to start. Instead Maura seemed frozen, her eyes flitting between Jane and her mother helplessly.

Constance shifted forward on her chair. "Maura, can you please tell me what's going on? First you tell me that you did kill Angela, then Hope tells me it's because you have a medical condition, then she retracts that statement and claims none of this is your fault. Jane clearly knows what's going on. I just want to understand what's happened to you, please."

Maura closed her eyes in surrender. "Are you sure you want to know? It may put you in danger, if the wrong people find out that you know…"

Constance cut her off authoritatively. "I don't care. I need to know what happened to my daughter."

Maura nodded and opened her eyes, her expression determined and a little relieved. "Alright."

Maura stood and clasped her hands in front of her, considering for a moment before speaking in a factual tone. "The crux of all this, the big secret, is this. I'm a vampire."

Jane watched an incredulous expression wash over Constance's face. "A vampire."

Constance doubtfully looked at the faces anxiously awaiting her reaction, looking for any sign that this was a joke. "A vampire? That's what you're telling me? My daughter is a vampire?"

Jane started nodding, as did Hope. Jane slid forward and caught Constance's eye. "It's true, Constance. This is going to be hard to believe, but if you want to know what happened, you need to keep an open mind."

Hope spoke up quietly. "Please, Constance, just listen."

Constance seemed to soften, giving Maura a small nod to continue. She still looked unsure, but seemed less angry after hearing the others support Maura's outrageous claim.

Maura glanced between her two supporters, a grateful smile gracing her lips, before she turned back to her mother. "I realise how it sounds, but it's true, mother. It happened when Jane and I disappeared for a week. I was bitten by a newly born hybrid vampire, and that was enough to start the transformation. Before either of us could react we were taken by another vampire and trapped in an abandoned hospital. When I woke up, Jane told me what had happened and tried to help me adjust."

Constance stood as well, her arms crossed in front of her defensively, her voice disbelieving. "So when you reappeared that week, you were a vampire? That's why your skin and eyes had changed?"

Maura nodded. "Yes. We had invented the medical condition as an excuse for my physical changes, so I could try to go back to work. Everyone seemed to believe us, and I managed to slot back into my life reasonably quickly. It wasn't without difficulties, however."

Maura's eyes grew pained, and Jane knew what she was about to explain. "A vampire has a great thirst for human blood. I managed to keep mine mostly under control, by hunting every day in the forest and by keeping emergency stashes of donor blood in hidden locations."

Constance heard the unsaid part of the sentence and asked the hard question with a wince. "Mostly?"

Maura's eyes closed momentarily before she continued. "The vampire that I mentioned, that kidnapped us? She came back and attacked us in my home. We had almost managed to fight her off, and then Angela walked in…."

Constance heard the pain in Maura's voice and couldn't stand it. She quickly crossed to Maura and pulled her into a hug, which Maura gratefully crumpled into.

Jane felt like she was intruding as she saw Constance start to cry. Catching Hope's eye, she stood and quietly left the room, heading for the kitchen. She heard Hope follow her, and watched as the emotional woman bustled around the kitchen again, clearly looking for anything to occupy herself.

Jane frowned with realisation, realising how panicked Hope's movements were. "Hope, are you still seeing those visions? Maura told me what happened to you, is that still going on?"

Hope glanced at Jane, looking trapped, before she sagged in surrender. "Yes. Every time someone mentions vampires I see a vision of Maura, exactly as she looks now, killing Cailin. It used to be with an ice pick, or with a gun, or beating her, anything a vicious gangster might use, but now I see her attacking as a vampire. Telling Maura my story was almost impossible, I could hear her phantom screaming at me the entire time."

Jane's heart sank at hearing the despair in Hope's voice. She had always believed she would never forgive the doctor for how she had treated Maura, but now she had all the facts it was impossible to comprehend how traumatic the whole ordeal must have been. And despite finally telling her daughter the truth, Hope was still being mentally assaulted by a distorted version of Maura.

Completely surprising them both, Jane gently pulled Hope into a comforting hug. Hope instantly burst into ragged sobs, grasping Jane's back frantically. Clearly she was near her breaking point. Jane gently rocked her, realising that letting her cry it out might be the best she could do for her. Unless they could somehow find the vampire that had done this to her, there was very little any of them could do to help get rid of the visions.

After what seemed like hours, Hope had finally settled and Jane gently pulled away. Hope wiped at her face, clearly embarrassed but also grateful. Jane could see the relief at not having to carry this burden alone, even if there was no cure for her.

After making Hope drink a few glasses of water, Jane led the way back into the study. She could hear voices, and paused in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt.

Maura obviously heard her approach however. "Jane, come in."

Jane obeyed, a slightly sheepish expression on her face. Maura and Constance were sitting next to each other, Constance gripping Maura's hands almost possessively. Jane and Hope sat in the empty seats, neither wanting to disrupt whatever conversation was in progress.

Constance squeezed Maura's hands before dropping them and standing. "Maura has explained the circumstances surrounding her condition and Angela's death. I understand why you were reluctant to tell me, but I'm glad you chose to. I understand you've been looking for answers, and there haven't been any new vampire cases in Boston to help shed light on the bigger picture. I imagine that with both of you away from BPD, your access to information has become limited."

Constance crossed to a briefcase Jane hadn't noticed and started pulling out files. Jane glanced at Maura with a questioning look, but was met with an equally confused one. Hope didn't seem to know what this was about either, but she also still looked dazed after her outburst in the kitchen.

Constance found the file she was after and crossed to the desk, opening the file and spreading out the contents. The other three rose and stood around the desk, casting their eyes over the various documents.

Jane's cop brain kicked into gear immediately. These were heading sheets for case files from multiple homicides, some of which she'd seen before. Maura glanced at her, recognition in her eyes as well.

Maura picked up several files before turning to Constance. "Mother, these are the hybrid birth murder files from the other cities. How did you get these?"

Constance glanced at Hope knowingly. "We managed to form a few contacts within various police departments while we were attempting to clear your name. One of the medical examiners we contacted mentioned you had been gathering files for some sort of paper, and we noticed that you had picked out these particular ones. Since they matched the case you were working on when you disappeared, we thought it was worth looking into further."

Constance pulled open a second file, again containing case file headers. "These cases are more recent. They match the murders that you were working on right before Angela's death. Cause of death exsanguination, untraceable animal bites found on all victims. There have been several of these cases in all cities that had previously seen cases of…hybrid births did you say?"

Maura nodded dumbly, staggered by the number of cases in the file. There must be nearly a hundred.

Constance continued. "Except for Boston, there has been around one murder with this M.O. every week since the hybrid murders began in each city. I believe the total is now 87 across five cities. Boston is the only city that doesn't fit the pattern, with only two deaths during the hybrid cases and none since, until the ones you two investigated before the mob incidents."

Constance stepped back from the table. "Now, I don't know what this all means, but hopefully this information will lead you to some answers."

Jane looked at the mass of files thoughtfully. "Constance, do you have any idea why this hasn't become public? The sheer amount of deaths should have been noticed by someone."

This brought a frown to Constance's face. "No, I'm not sure. Some of this information came from a contact in the FBI, and he was very hesitant to help. Scared, I would say."

Maura and Jane exchanged a knowing look. They had previously wondered why the FBI hadn't stepped in. The amount of deaths and cities involved made the number of people that had to be involved in covering this up astounding.

Constance started gathering the files together, returning them to the briefcase. "This has all the information I could gather. There are some full case files, but in most cases I could only get the header sheets. I don't know if there is enough information, but have a look through it all and tell me which files you need to see. I'll try to find a way to get them for you."

Maura looked troubled. "Mother, I appreciate you helping me, but you do understand that none of this will clear my name, don't you?"

Constance's shoulders slumped slightly, before she reached out and patted Maura's arm. "Yes darling, I do understand that. I'm just trying to help any way I can."

Maura smiled, pulling her mother into a thankful hug. Constance returned it, sadness and resignation flitting across her face. Jane smiled at the renewed closeness between mother and daughter, before glancing over at Hope. She was watching as well, conflicted emotions apparent on her face.

As the pair broke apart, Jane had a thought. "Constance, did Maura tell you what happened to Hope?"

Constance's eyes flitted to the woman in question, sympathy making its way into her expression. "Yes, she did."

Jane nodded. "Can you see if any of your contacts have information on any similar incidents? People turning up terrified in hospitals, ranting about fears, that sort of thing?"

Constance nodded quickly, pulling out her phone to make some notes. "I made some inroads into investigating mental institutions when….well, never mind. I'll contact them immediately, and I'll pass along any cases I find."

Jane realised Constance had been preparing for the possibility of institutionalising Maura, and a quick look at the downtrodden look on Maura's said she had figured it out too. Jane squeezed her arm reassuringly as she reached past her to grab the briefcase.

As it seemed like everybody could do with some time to process, Jane decided to make the first move. "I think I might head out. Maura, if you want to look over all this stuff, I'll be up for a while yet."

Maura looked grateful for the excuse to make a graceful exit. "Do you want a lift home? I thought Frankie was working tonight."

Jane couldn't quite hide the wince. "No, I'll get a taxi, thanks."

Constance picked up her purse and kissed Maura on both cheeks. "Don't be silly Jane, I'll drive you. It's the least I can do."

Jane gaped for a moment, but before she could think of a polite way to refuse she was being herded to the door and into the waiting car. As the door closed, Jane caught one last glimpse of Hope, still looking lost.

Constance remained quiet for the whole drive, simply following the directions from Jane. There were clear signs that the woman was furiously thinking, from her clenching jaw to the tight grip she had on the steering wheel, but she clearly didn't want to discuss the night's revelations yet, so Jane didn't push. She remembered how hard it was to get her head around the reality of vampires existing. She knew Constance was going to have more questions, but her gut told her they would come later, after she had had a chance to start processing everything she'd been told.

As the car stopped and Jane moved to get out, Constance shot out a hand to hold her still. Jane barely prevented an eye roll; what was it today with drivers waiting to get to their destination before starting a deep conversation?

Constance seemed to be carefully choosing her words, before speaking firmly. "Jane, please look after her. She didn't go into much detail about how she's been dealing with all this, but I can see that she has withdrawn. She was already so awkward, and now…."

Constance sighed. "She probably won't feel comfortable talking with me, but please, try to get her to talk? Make sure she isn't lonely."

Jane nodded seriously, knowing how right Constance was. "I've been trying. I'll keep trying. I can't promise much, we're in uncharted territory here, but I promise to keep trying."

Constance looked miserable for a moment. "How has she coped? How has she held herself together through all this?"

Jane suddenly remembered the night she had reconnected with Maura, being devastated to find her drained of all emotion, dead to the world. The horror of the memory made her answer more honest than she intended. "Sometimes she hasn't. After my ma died….I wasn't kind to her. I said a lot of things that I meant at the time, but they weren't true. And with that, and everything else that had happened, she got pushed over an edge that I didn't even know she had."

Constance's expression was distraught as she grabbed for Jane's arm. Jane tried to smile reassuringly as she continued. "But, she managed to go on. She found a new purpose; she's been protecting the city for months now. And she's starting to let people in again."

Jane tried to inject more confidence and certainty into her voice than she felt. "She's gained a lot of control over her new instincts, she understands how the vampire world works a lot better than when this first happened, and I think she's heading in the right direction. She's definitely hit rock bottom, so she can only improve from here."

Constance searched Jane's expression for a long moment. Her distress faded slightly and she nodded, removing her hand. Jane took that as permission to leave, grabbing the briefcase on the way. Before she closed the door, she saw Constance's mouth open again.

"Jane, I can't thank you enough for helping her, even after everything that happened with your mother. I don't think she'd still be here if it wasn't for you. Thank you."

Jane swallowed past a rapidly forming lump, quickly closing the door and backing away with a nod. Constance pulled away as Jane opened her door and stepped into her apartment.

Jane walked to the couch, dropping the briefcase at the end and carefully sitting down. She decided to close her eyes for a minute before she started to look over the files. It had been a long day.

Hi all! I am so sorry for the huge chunk of time it took to get you guys another update! On a related note, if anyone sees my missing brain at an airport somewhere, just hand it in to lost and found try not to step on it!

Now, I need to extend a special thanks to JaneyGWF this update. Not only has she beta'd the chapter, but she has also created a lovely cover image for the story! Please thank her by reading her stories and leaving some lovely reviews!

OK, hope you enjoyed the chapter, let me know any thoughts that may have struck you!