Hi all!

So as you've possibly noticed, my update speed has slowed somewhat as I'm now back at work. However, be assured that this story will be finished in good time! Thanks for your patience, and be assured that the reviews and PMs do encourage me to write!

Thanks once again to my long suffering beta, JaneyGWF, who assures me that she had fun while banging her forehead against my stubbornness in this chapter.

Enjoy!

Jane hadn't been fooled by Maura's apologetic return with the medical equipment. The look on Maura's face when she ran away was panicked, not purposeful. She fled the group as soon as they were safe, only returning out of guilt or obligation. Jane had been surprised by her reappearance, expecting to have to track Maura down.

She had no idea what was going through her friend's head. There had been too many potentially life shattering events in the last week to even start to guess which one had tipped her over the edge, or even which edge she was falling from. Obviously she was fighting hard to keep it together, and Jane had no idea how to help. She couldn't even be sure whether Maura was angry or upset with her, or if it was all related to the Volturi, or even if there were some residual effects from the brain damage. For all Jane knew, Maura might be slipping towards a murderous rage, or a zombie state of withdrawal, or another coma, or something new entirely.

After watching her best friend run away, Jane recalled that she had immediately gone into crisis management mode to avoid despairing. She looked over the vampire's restraints, and managed to break them open with careful use of her explosive power on the lock. Esme was the first to be released, and she quickly started tending to the hybrids as Jane freed the others. Emmett had stopped her from releasing the turned officer, unsubtly reminding Jane how lucky she was to be the only newborn in existence without killer instincts.

The three Cullens had taken control of the hybrids, checking them over for injuries and comforting the ones still crying. Jane looked around helplessly, realising she couldn't do much to help without more information. She had no idea how to deal with young hybrids. She also had no idea where the rest of the Cullens and hybrids were, no idea how many Volturi they were facing, and no idea how to proceed from here. As she was about to start pacing, she felt Constance take her arm and allowed herself to be pulled down to sit next to the older woman. Constance looked rough, her clothes and hair full of soot and her face streaked with tears and sweat, but Jane could see her determination as she asked about her daughter's wellbeing. Constance had noticed how oddly Maura was acting, and knew there was something seriously wrong.

Jane explained everything to Constance, hoping for some advice from the person who'd known Maura the longest. She'd been too frazzled to omit anything, blurting out the whole story from when they had parted ways in New York. Constance already knew some of the general details from Frankie, but was distressed to learn of all the subsequent hurdles Maura had been forced to conquer just to be walking and talking again.

Before Constance could respond with any advice, Maura unexpectedly reappeared with an armful of supplies. Jane was shocked into silence, simply giving Maura a look she hoped was reassuring.

When Maura brought the oxygen over for Constance, Jane felt like she was intruding. She was still unsure where they stood, and decided to take herself out of the situation, so Constance could talk to her daughter in peace. Walking to the first vampire she saw, Jane abruptly engaged Esme in conversation.

Esme was holding herself together well, but Jane only had to talk to her for two sentences before she realised how fragile her calm was. The capture of Carlisle had obviously distressed her beyond her limits, and she was only managing her emotions on the slim hope that they might somehow get him back. There was desperation and urgency underpinning her every word, and her voice trembled as she explained everything she knew to Jane.

They discussed what happened at the house, and their current limited options. The entire Cullen family had been there, with the exception of Edward and Bella's daughter. The Volturi had come in force, the entire guard as far as Esme knew. The Cullens had been completely unprepared, as they were too used to relying on Alice to warn them of danger. They had been overcome by the powers of the new recruits Aro had added to his force. Bella managed to counteract any mental powers by encasing everyone in her shield, but they had no defence against an elemental attack, and Aro's new guard included several energy wielders. The Cullens were quickly overwhelmed, and placed in the special restraints the Volturi had brought. Aro took all the gifted vampires and hybrids with him, leaving the rest in the special cellar the Cullens had built to contain newborns. They had built the cellar with the intention of helping any new vampires transition as peacefully as possible, minimising violence and death, not for the purpose of torturing and killing innocents.

Jane counted carefully as Esme talked. There had been twenty six hybrids rescued during the police raid, meaning the Volturi must have taken eight. In addition, they had Carlisle, Alice, Jasper, Bella and Edward Cullen. Thirteen people to rescue, and dozens of Volturi to get past, as well as Aro.

Their team consisted of eighteen scared hybrids that Jane had no intention of letting anywhere near a fight, three powerless vampires, a newborn, and Jane. They couldn't do this without help. It was possible that they couldn't do it at all. The odds were too insurmountable.

Before Esme finished, she paused guiltily. Jane immediately bristled, knowing she wasn't going to like whatever Esme was about to say. She was right, and that final detail changed all their options.

The Volturi had taken a human as well.

Esme patted Jane's arm in sympathy after finishing her tale, moving quietly away to pull Emmett aside. Jane huffed in exasperation, feeling like the machinations of fate were pushing her inexorably in a no-win direction yet again. Not wanting to succumb to hopelessness, she started to calculate her odds of pulling off a rescue. She looked around the group, assessing the people she'd somehow ended up saving.

Rosalie was still helping the children, looking oddly content despite the circumstances. The hybrids seemed to like her as well, apparently already used to her constant presence. Jane guessed she must have taken a lead role in their care after the hybrids were rescued from the rogue vampires and the police. Jane immediately removed Rosalie from the resources she had to work with, recognising that she would need to stay with the hybrids.

Jane suspected Esme wouldn't be of much strategic value either. She seemed too soft, more suited to assisting Rosalie than participating in an attack against a vastly superior force. Plus her emotional state was more likely to hinder rather than help. Either they would find Carlisle dead, and Esme would be overcome with grief, or he would be alive and used to manipulate her. It would probably be best to leave Esme out of this as much as possible.

There was also the matter of the newborn. He couldn't be left alone, he would still need time to gain control over his instincts and adjust to his circumstances. Jane glanced at the poor man, still bound and helpless, and took a moment to be thankful to Maura for her own blissfully smooth transition into vampiric life. She honestly sometimes forgot she was now a vampire, since there were no bloodthirsty instincts clamouring for her attention. There were obvious differences in her body and mental capacity, but she was still completely herself.

Actually, Jane felt more than a little guilty about that. She had no shortage of respect for what Maura had gone through since becoming a vampire, but she couldn't truly understand her struggle because she hadn't actually experienced it. She felt helpless to get Maura through whatever was going on now, because as far as Jane's experience was concerned, becoming a vampire consisted of a relatively painless three days of inactivity, followed by free access to superpowers with very few drawbacks. She had a completely unique experience, as far as she knew, but unfortunately unique doesn't always equate to useful.

Frowning in resignation, Jane realised Emmett was probably the most suited to the task of controlling the newborn, since Esme and Rosalie would have their hands full. Emmett was strong and didn't seem to mind the prospect of physical force. He was also angry, and defensive of Rosalie, which meant he would also protect the hybrids she cared so much for. He was the last Cullen available to ensure the newborn didn't cause any damage, or hurt the hybrids.

Maura was her last potential option, one she rejected immediately. Jane knew that Maura was in no state to fight. Maura had been unable to contribute when they were confronted by the two Volturi outside the burning mansion. In the brief glimpse Jane had gotten before the female exploded, she had seen nothing but defeat on Maura's face. Jane didn't blame Maura at all for being unable to fight, it was actually a welcome change from the ninja-like vigilante. Jane dreaded the day when Maura became a cold, violent killer, rather than the sweet, caring woman she'd always been. That woman had no business participating in a rescue operation against an army, and Jane was determined to keep her away from the fight.

That woman needed to be protected now more than ever. She'd been through too much, and dealt with most of it alone. Jane was grateful that Constance was talking to Maura, and sincerely hoped it would help, but she was convinced that if Maura kept getting pulled into these violent situations, it would change her. She was too fragile after her brain damage, and Jane would do whatever it took to put her out of the Volturi's crosshairs.

A glance at the Cullens made Jane bristle again. They were obviously planning, and the gestures seemed to be including both her and the direction Maura had left with Constance. Jane felt her temper rising, and resolved that she wouldn't let them use Maura. Even if it meant she fought this battle by herself.

Unfortunately, her planning left Jane alone to deal with the Volturi. The odds were definitely insurmountable. It would be a suicide mission, one unlikely to do any good. She couldn't rescue anybody if she was dead.

Just as Jane was about to flop back onto the ground dejectedly, a welcome sight appeared before her eyes. Maura skidded to a halt right in front of her, an apologetic grimace firmly in place.

Jane lunged forward without thinking, grabbing Maura into a tight hug. Maura gasped at the unexpected embrace, but returned it fiercely. Jane couldn't help sighing in relief, the physical proof that Maura was still tolerating her presence a great load off her mind.

Neither wanted to break the hug, both needing the connection more than they had previously realised, but after a few long moments Esme cleared her throat quietly. The pair pulled away, Jane giving Maura as bright a grin as she could manage in the grim circumstances. It was returned in kind, the emotion muted by some inner turmoil, but Jane could see that Maura was trying very hard to be okay.

They turned to Esme expectantly, and the woman smiled kindly before speaking. "I've spoken with Emmett and Rosalie. We need to try and rescue our family. And everyone else. We think we can get in contact with some of our friends to help. There won't be enough of us to match the Volturi, but we can hopefully even the odds a little. Are you two willing to work with us?"

Jane was surprised to hear about potential allies, and was elated that her one-vampire suicide mission may not be the only option after all. She was about to answer, but was surprised when Maura jumped in first. "Of course we're willing! The Volturi have made themselves too much of a threat to ignore. If we don't confront them now, it may be too late."

Jane gaped for a moment, before gently tugging on Maura's arm. "We'll be back in one sec. Talk amongst yourselves. Call your friends."

Pulling Maura into the forest, far enough to be out of earshot, Jane whispered fiercely. "Maura, you can't get into a fight with the Volturi!"

Crossing her arms in stubborn defiance, Maura responded with great determination. "Of course I can. I've been doing nothing but get into fights with the Volturi since I was changed. I'm not missing this one."

Jane rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Exactly! You've done enough! It's my turn to take the heat with these guys! Come on, you know I'm the cop, it's my job to take on the bad guys!"

With a hurt scoff, Maura shrank back from Jane. "And what am I supposed to do? My old job? Wait patiently for you to do this all by yourself? Then calmly do your autopsy? Go back to Frankie and tell him that I let you take on an army alone? No, Jane, it's not going to happen. I know that you won't back down from this, and you need to understand that I won't either!"

A pang of pain went through Jane at the thought of making Maura and the rest of her family suffer like that, but she was determined. "I'm sorry, but I'll take that over having to explain to your mother that I let you get killed. You're not up for this, Maura! I need to protect you!"

Maura abruptly grabbed Jane's arms and yelled in her face. "Don't you understand? I need to protect you too!"

Jane pushed back and yelled just as loud. "Well you can't!"

They both glared, standing defensively as neither was willing to budge. Jane hated that they even had to have this conversation, she wanted to trust Maura the way she always had, but she just didn't understand where Maura's head was.

Abruptly, she realised the easiest way out of this argument, and lowered her stance into a crouch. She continued to stare at Maura, and snarled out her next sentence. "Okay, fine, you want in on this fight? Prove you can. If you take me down, I'll let you come."

Maura looked taken aback, and flinched at Jane's suggestion. "You want me to attack you?"

Jane smiled humourlessly in reply. "You think you're ready to do whatever it takes? Well right now, this is what it takes. You go through me, or you go home and stay safe, where you should be."

Maura sighed deeply, falling deep in thought for several long moments. Jane thought she'd won, that she'd gotten her point across. Maura wasn't a natural fighter, and that was as it should be. She didn't have the temperament for battle, and she tended to think rather than act. Her only battle experience recently involved massive loss of control, with Maura letting her bloodthirsty instincts take over. She didn't fight cleverly in that state, she only reacted, and that was at least as dangerous as freezing in the middle of a fight. With the odds they faced, either behaviour would be fatal, and the sooner Maura acknowledged that, the sooner they could move on.

Jane was extremely surprised when Maura opened her eyes and mirrored Jane's crouch, responding with a rasped determined utterance. "Fine. When I win, we'll discuss tactics."