„Thanks for stopping by," Adam said when he closed the front door again. „She just couldn't calm down and she asked me not to call Chaz."

Sam Rizzoli nodded slowly and took off his jacket. „Not a problem at all, Ruby's watching Keira and Zane while I'm gone." He glanced at his watch and frowned deeply. „At this hour, they should be asleep."

Adam didn't smile when he grabbed Sam's arm in the hallway. „Hey, I really owe you one."

„I'll call it in at some point," the younger man replied before entering the living room. He took a deep breath when he saw his cousin sitting on the couch looking like a picture of misery with a teacup in her hand.

He sat down on the two-seater to give her enough space. „Hey there."

Liz didn't look at him, but he realized that she tear-dimmed eyes. „I told Adam not to call anyone," she whispered into the mug with a deep frown.

„Well, yeah," Sam replied and lifted his shoulders. „I'm not anyone. I am the one you talk to when you feel miserable. That's how it always was."

She was about to lift the mug to her lips but then she glared at him. "I certainly don't need your twaddle right now, Sammy."

He raised his hands and smiled a little. „What's the matter anyway? Adam called and told me that you were about to freak totally out. Did he want to do any pervert stuff while the kids are away? Want me to beat him up for that and then throwing him outta here? I'll do it without batting an eyelash. You know that, right?"

Liz glanced at him and smiled broadly. Sam and TJ were the only ones who didn't hold her sudden disappearance against her. „You don't have to kick him out of the house, but thanks for the offer."

He smiled back at her but turned serious again. „So, what's going on?"

Liz sighed heavily and sipped her tea. „It's nothing. It's stupid."

„Lizzy."

„It was just a fucking nightmare. Really, it's nothing."

„If you start swearing like that, it can't be just a nightmare."

She pressed her lips tightly together and stared into her steaming mug. „I really hate that you know me so well."

„We grew up together, remember? It would be a bad thing if I wouldn't know you," Sam replied and crossed his legs. He frowned as she looked at him skeptically. „Are you expecting me to blame you for disappearing for years?"

Liz furrowed her brows and nodded approvingly. „Kinda, yeah."

He shook his head and was about to get up. „You've come to the wrong person then, Liz. I won't support you in beating up yourself for something you can't undo anymore."

She frowned deeply and licked her lips. „I remembered the night when Chaz and I were lured into the trap in the alley."

„Was it the first time you remembered it," the younger man wanted to know and sat down again as she nodded slowly.

Liz put the cup on the coffee table and stared straight ahead. „Yes and no." She rolled her eyes when she caught his confused gaze. „Every now and then I remembered fragmentarily what had happened, but mostly these memories did not make much sense. Tonight was different as if someone had finally lifted the veil."

Sam skidded a little closer and listened attentively. „And that threw you off the track?"

„How would you feel if you suddenly realize that the man, who tried to kill you, is your begetter," Liz hissed sharply and scowled at her cousin.

Sam blinked a few times and looked at her as if she was about to lose her mind. „You're talking about this Tom guy?"

„Tim," Liz corrected him but nodded and placed her elbows on her knees. „Yes, Timothy Rubino. He's the reason why I'm sitting here today. And he was almost the reason why my parents would've to bury me, and he enjoyed it."

Sam let the latest information sink in and his face darkened. „The scumbag's lucky to be dead already, otherwise I'd pay him a visit right away."

„So your father could blame me for you being in prison?"

„Hey, our parents have taught us never to mess with the Rizzoli family if you are not insane."

She stared at him before she started laughing heartily. „That's so very true."

He chuckled but turned serious again. „Liz, none of us have always made the right choices in our lives. Even our parents once did things they're still not proud of."

„Did their decisions almost killed one of their best friends," Liz asked and raised her brows.

The younger man frowned and blinked several times. „I ... can't answer that question."

She nodded slowly and took a deep breath. „I thought so."

Sam ran his hand over his stubbles and then he patted her knee. „Gonna tell me what exactly your dream was about?"

„I hope you brought a hell of time with you."

Sam raised his shoulders and smirked. „We'll see."

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Liz regretted that she'd called her mothers in the morning and that she told them that remembered pieces of the night when Waterston was killed. She also regretted that she'd thoughtlessly mentioned that Tim Rubino had a significant part of that event. She should have known that Jane would be on her way right after she hung up

„Damnit, listen to me," Jane stated louder and followed her annoyed daughter into the kitchen.

Liz rolled her eyes while she put her breakfast bowl in the sink. „No, I won't."

„I only want what's best for you and your family!"

The younger woman leaned against the kitchen counter and licked her lips with a deep frown. „Adam and I decide what's best for our family, Ma."

„The man tried to kill you," Jane shouted all of a sudden and had big eyes.

„What the girl didn't know," shouted back and furrowed her brows. „Do you think Keira knew about what her dad was doing and helped Tim to invade my life. She was just a means to an end for him to get back to us, Mom and me!"

„And that worked just fine, didn't it?"

Liz scoffed and shook her head with a sarcastic smile.

„Do you really think that the time of Waterston's murder was purely coincidental, Elizabeth?" Jane continued and frowned deeply. „As soon as the girl was lodged with you, Tim got killed and you decided that she's going to live with you. That is anything but coincidence. That is calculation."

„I will not send Keira away just because you are paranoid. Because you think everything is a big fat conspiracy," the young woman replied relentlessly.

„Listen to me just for once, kid!"

„No!" Liz shouted again and pointed angrily at her mother. „No, I am not listening to you when it comes to that. And stop calling me kid because I am no longer a child. Keira is -"

„What's Keira?" Jane growled low and rounded the counter. „What is Keira?"

„Keira is my responsibility," Liz finally finished the sentence and she felt as a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. „She's family."

„No," Jane growled once more and shook her head. „No, she is not family. You, Mom and I are family. Adam, Zane and you are family. She is just a girl you met two weeks ago."

Liz set her jaw and her face darkened. „You're right, Ma. She's not your family, but mine. Like it or not but she is my little sister and I won't shunt her off to a random foster family where's just an unwanted appurtenance. Did I -" She trailed off when someone loudly cleared their throat.

She turned to the front door and her heart sank as she saw Adam standing in the hallway with Zane and Keira. Liz exhaled loudly when the girl glanced long at her and she closed her eyes when Keira walked straight to the stairs. „Great," she growled and followed the teenager up the stairs.

She stopped at the closed bedroom door and swallowed hard before entering the guest room which was currently used as Keira's.

Liz frowned deeply when she watched the teenager packing her backpack. „I didn't want you to know it that way."

The girl didn't look at her and her body language was rather rejecting. „You wanted to say that you didn't me to know that ever." She stopped and straightened up. „That's why you're doing all of this for me, right? Because we have the same father because now I am your responsibility."

The older brunette shook her head and took a step forward. „I do all of this because I want to." She paused and inhaled deeply. „But yes, I also do this because we have the same father. Because we're related."

„That doesn't make us a family," the teenager grumbled over her shoulder.

Liz turned the corners of her mouth downward but raised her brows, closing the door. „You are right, it doesn't make us a family. And I don't expect you to see me as your big sister, not at all. But I learned at a very young age that it doesn't matter if the relatives can stand each other or not, that the only thing that matters is that the family is there for each other when you need them most." She furrowed her brows as Keira kept packing her things. „And like it or not, Keira, we are related."

„Did you know you have brothers and sisters?"

Liz understood where this question was coming from and sat down on Keira's bed, putting the backpack to the side. „It would have been naive of me to think that I'd be the only one who was generated from this batch number. I was always aware that there must be other people who have the same ... begetter like me. So, yeah, I always knew that there are strangers out there who have partly the same DNA than me, but I didn't know that you and your father live in Boston."

The teen inhaled deeply and glanced long at her, swallowing hard. „Would it have changed anything if you'd have known about me before?"

The older brunette tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and frowned once more. „Yes, it would have changed everything, Keira."

Keira sat down next to her and avoided Liz's eyes. „Ever since I knew that my dad had more children than just me, I kept trying to imagine how my dad had ... and how his other children would be like. But the more time passed and the older I got, I realized that the others might not have any interest in us at all -"

Liz nodded as Keira trailed off and turned her head. „Many people don't really know that they aren't the biological child of the man they call Dad their entire life. And if they do know, they have to decide for themselves whether they want to make contact or not. And then there are people who are grateful but simply want to continue to live their lives. If they are not the curious kind of person."

„What kind of person are you?"

„I am one of those people who are well aware where I'm coming from. And I am the type of person who keeps digging."

The teen scoffed and looked long at her. „Is that why you became a cop?"

Liz smiled briefly and nodded with raised brows. „Because of that and because my Ma looked badass with a badge and a gun." She got serious again and handed the girl the backpack. „I could understand if you still want to leave. I ... um ... I could make some calls and make sure that you get a place in a pretty good residential group."

Keira stared at the bag and heaved a sigh. „I could stay here for a little longer?"

Liz couldn't help the small smile. „Sure."

The girl sighed again. „So I have a nephew?"

„Yep, you've met him before. Six years old, dark hair, brown eyes, sometimes a little nag." She inhaled deeply and stood up again. „I'll leave you alone so you can proceed the news."

Keira nodded and tried to smile, and failed.

Liz closed the door behind her and closed her eyes. They snapped open again when she heard someone running up the stairs, blocking their way. She caught her son as he tried to push past her, looking sternly at him. „And what do you think you're going, young man?"

He squirmed in her arms and frowned a little. „I say hi to my new auntie."

Liz quirked a brow. „You've said many times hi to her. Besides, Keira isn't a pet, Zane."

„It's okay," Keira stated when she stuck her head out. „Zane can come in."

Liz rolled her eyes and put her son back down before kissing his head. „Be nice," she whispered.

Adam sat down at the kitchen counter and turned his head when he heard her walking down. „She's still talking to you?"

Liz sat down next to him and accepted the steaming coffee mug he shoved to her with a sigh. „Yeah, she's still talking to me. I'm actually not sure if she's aware that she's not alone in the world anymore." She groaned and ran her hands over the face. „Actually I wanted to go for a run before you come back home, or at least go for an hour to the gym."

„We can still do some sport," he suddenly replied and placed his hand on her thigh.

Liz quirked a brow and put her mug back down, turning her head slowly. „Now? When the kids are home?"

„Well ... yeah," he groaned and dropped his chin to his chest when he caught her skeptical glance. „I already knew that it would get more difficult when you got pregnant with Zane. But before that, we were able to ... When I think of what we've done on this counter -"

Liz choked on her coffee when he trailed off and looked at him with big eyes, wiping her chin. „I think we better keep that for ourselves, otherwise Zane and Keira are going to refuse to eat," she laughed heartily.

He eyes the surface of the counter and nodded in agreement. „Yeah, you're probably right about that."

She smirked and patted his cheek. „What's the matter with you today anyway? Normally people think that I am the sex addicted."

He frowned and shrugged. „Can't I seduce my wife?"

She trailed his jawline with her fingers and smiled a little. „Of course you can." She got serious again and furrowed her brows. „Have you and the kids had breakfast yet?"

Adam blinked a few times and frowned deeply. He didn't know exactly what had happened. „Um ... Yes, we had pancakes on our way home." He lifted his hands when she quirked a brow. „I had to decide whether giving in or listening to whining all the time."

Liz rolled her eyes. „Sammy lives only half an hour away from here."

Adam made a face. „That can be a damn long drive." He stopped and pulled her chair closer. „Speaking of thirty minutes -"

„Hmm," Liz crooned and wrapped her arms around his neck as he leaned forward and smiled when he finally kissed her.

He leaned his forehead against hers and looked her deep in the eye. „That was more than overdue."

She smiled and nodded. He was right since they had met at Foley's, they hadn't kissed.

Adam sighed in relief and frowned. „Are you going to the precinct today?"

Liz nodded again and took a deep breath. „Yes, I'm going to meet with a sketch artist so we can put a 'photo' of Cody finally out in hope that anyone recognizes him."

He eyed his wife for a moment. „You're not going to tell me what your dream was about, are you?"

„You know by and large what I dreamed of, Adam."

„But not the whole story."

She swallowed hard and furrowed her brows. „I'll tell you another time."

„Liz -"

„Not today," she whispered against his lips, almost begged. „Please, Adam."

He heaved a sigh and nodded slowly. „Not today, but at some point, we have to talk about it."

She held his gaze and set her jaw because she knew that he was right and that she had to tell him what had happened in the alley about at some point. She drew her attention to the clock and took a deep breath. „I'll meet with the sketch artist in two hours. I should get ready."

Adam inhaled deeply and frowned. „Since when do you need two hours -" He stopped talking when she scowled at him. „I'm just wondering,"

Liz smirked broadly before she gave him a chased kiss and before she climbed the stairs up again.

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Sam entered the bullpen and stopped dead when he saw his cousin sitting at her desk. „I thought today you're off."

Liz didn't look up to him while studying the sketch in front of her. „So did I."

„Then what the hell are you doing here?"

„Can't I just show up somewhere without justifying my presence anymore?" The woman growled and glared at him.

Sam slurped his instant soup and raised his brows. „Hey, I'm the last person you have to explain why you're still here. I'm just asking because last night you mentioned that you finally want to spend some time with your husband and your child. To make up for the lost time. Remember?"

She leaned back and briefly closed her eyes. „I didn't mean to snap at you."

„It's all right," he replied, stepping closer to her desk. „Do you know this guy?" He frowned when he spots her skeptical gaze. „Perhaps before you bumped into him in the alley?"

Liz rubbed her temples and sighed loudly. „His face looks familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it."

„Maybe you arrested him?"

„Perhaps, but -"

„You put too many behind bars in your career?"

„No ... yes."

Sam chuckled and sat down at the former desk of his father. „You know of whom you remind me?"

„Do I wanna know that?"

„You remind me of Jane."

Liz blinked a few times and furrowed her brows. „Is that a good thing?"

He smiled wryly. „Yes ... and no."

„Well ... thanks for that input."

„Being a Rizzoli sometimes sucks," he sighed and leaned back in the chair.

Liz scrutinized him for a moment. „Why would you say that?"

Sam smiled weakly and shrugged. „Because we Rizzoli's tend to make more enemies than friends."

She knew that this wasn't the whole story but decided to let that topic go for now. „I guess you're right."

He studied her for some time. „Can I ask you a question?"

Liz opened a file on her desk and furrowed her brows. „Sure."

„Why didn't you take the job at the FBI?"

She hesitated for a moment and avoided eye contact. „Is there a particular reason why you're asking me that, Sammy?"

Sam shrugged and frowned. „I'm just a curious person."

She looked up and smirked. „Yeah, sure," she laughed and placed the file back on the desk.

„Well," her cousin asked again. „why didn't you take the job?"

Liz sighed heavily, closed the file and turned her chair to him. „I can't tell you why. Perhaps it was because at that time I was assigned to another operation. Maybe because then I'd agree to stay in California. I can't tell you why I didn't take the job." She paused and frowned. „Are you telling me why you're asking this now?"

He hesitated for a moment and glanced at the door to his father's office. „The agency turned to me, they want to recruit me."

Liz's eyes grew huge and she slipped a little forward in her seat. „But that's great." She lowered her brows and tugged in her chin when she saw his expression. „Or isn't it?"

Sam sighed loudly and ran his hands through his hair. „Sure it's a huge opportunity and a huge leap for my career -"

„Are you hesitating because of your dad?"

He sighed once again and glanced seriously at her. „Yeah, because of Dad and Mom and Ruby. I mean, I grew here, Lizzy. Boston is my home. How -"

„You want to ask how I was able to leave my family behind," she asked and scratched the back of her neck.

Sam inhaled deeply and nodded. „Yeah."

She scoffed and furrowed her brows. „You know that I didn't really have a choice, right? I left to protect Zane and Adam. You, on the other hand, don't have to leave without the chance to say goodbye to your parents and your girlfriend. They don't think that you had had enough of them." She frowned because she could see that he still needed a little push. „You have a unique opportunity here, Samuel. And besides, it doesn't automatically mean that you're working in Seattle."

„That'd be something," he suddenly laughed.

Liz grinned because she knew that Jane would freak out if her nephew would move to Seattle, not only because then he'd live on the other side of the country but also because it would be about the sporting aspect.

She placed her head on her hand and glanced at the man who was like a little brother to her. „Have you talked to Ruby about this yet?"

Sam made a face and scratched the back of his head. „Err -"

„Really," she blurted and wanted to punch him. „You have to make such a decision and talk about it instead of your girlfriend? Go talk to her, I'm sure she'll be thrilled?"

„How do you know that?"

„Because I know that Adam would have been thrilled under other circumstances."

„Yeah, but Ruby's not Adam, she's not a cop. She won't understand."

„Right," Liz replied and turned the corners of her mouth downward. „That's why she's in a relationship for three years now. Because she's so uncomprehending." She narrowed her eyes when she something that unsettled her. „Don't you dare breaking up with Ruby just because of the FEDs."

Sam chuckled for a second before turning serious again. „She's already struggling with the fact that I put my life at risk day after day."

She scrutinized him long and took a deep breath. „Do you love her?"

„Liz!"

„It's a simple question. Does she love you?"

„I think so, I don't know."

„In those three years, you never said that you love each other?"

Sam raised his brows and opened his mouth to answer the question.

„Before, during and after does not count, Sammy," she cut him short and raised her hand, smirking when he shut his mouth again.

Sam rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

Liz smiled a little and shook her head. „Just talk to Ruby before you make any decisions, do me the favor."

Sam eyed her skeptically and tilted his head to the side. „Since when are you such a fan of Ruby? You never really liked her."

Liz made big eyes and furled her brows with a shake of her head. „That's not true."

„The night you got to know her you bluntly told me that you couldn't stand her."

She tried to recall the evening and to remember why she wasn't really convicted that the bleach blonde named Ruby was the right woman for her cousin. Not because Ruby wasn't smart enough but because the literally came from two different worlds. Ruby was a museum curator and Sam was more interested in sports than in history.

Liz had to smile a little but turned serious again when he scowled at her. „She's with you for three years, that says a lot."

„Liz," he growled warningly.

She chuckled and held her hands up with furrowed brows. „Hey, the only thing that really matters is that you make each other happy."

Sam took a deep breath and smirked. „Do you know what I've been wondering all the time?"

„No," she replied carefully and tugged in her chin. „but I'm sure I soon do."

He leaned forward and glanced insistently at her. „I wonder why Tom -"

„Tim," the older corrected him once more.

„Whatever. I wonder why Tim suddenly turned to you although he had known that there was a risk that you might remember the night in the alley. And above all, he must have known that you'd check his background and that you'd find out that he was working for Maura's ex-husband."

Liz studied him for a moment and narrowed her eyes as she thought about his train of thought. „Well, that's fair enough, Sam. Tim must have known that we would check his background. Perhaps that's what he got him on the hit list."

„Obviously," Sam replied and started chewing on his pen.

„I'd like to have a serious talk with Benjamin Payton."

„Does that mean you're going back to San Diego?"

She looked up an cracked a smile. „My former Captain in San Diego still owes me one or two. I'll give her later a call."

„And why would you just give her a call?"

„I know that the law firm he's working for has an office here in Boston. I wanna know when he's back here."

„Home turf."

„Yep."

„Foxy."

Liz opened her mouth to reply something but then her eyes caught the clock behind her cousin. She jumped off her chair and gathered her things. „Oh, shit."

The young man rolled his eyes. „What is it now?"

She frowned deeply and heaved a sigh. „Actually today is my day off and I promised Zane to take him to the park later. Adam's going to wring my neck if I break that promise and work instead."

„Okay," Sam mumbled and furrowed his brows.

Liz smiled and was about to leave.

„Detective Rizzoli?"

„Yes," Sam answered and turned in his chair to the officer.

The young man glanced at him hesitantly. „Um, actually I meant her."

„Dude, I'd hate to be you right now."

Liz scowled at Sam. „Dude, shut the fuck up!"

He tugged his chin in and grinned.

„What's the matter, O'Brien," she growled.

O'Brien looked uncertain and her and pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. „Um ... there ... there's someone who wants to talk to you, only you."

Liz closed her eyes briefly before glancing down at her watch, running her fingers over her brows. „Tell them to come back tomorrow because I am not at the office today."

O'Brien hesitated again and cleared his throat."I don't think the kid's gonna come back tomorrow if I send him away now, Detective."

She glanced at the framed picture that was standing on her desk that showed her, Adam and Zane and exhaled loudly. „My husband's gonna freak out."

„Liz," Sam suddenly said and got up from his chair. „I can take it from here. Go home and spend some time with your family."

She eyed him for a moment and set her jaw. „I don't think the boy's going to talk to you unless you spontaneously grow boobs."

Sam rolled his eyes and followed her and O'Brien into a conference room in which a nervous teenage boy was sitting. He might was only two or three years older than Keira.

She recognized him immediately and sat down on the across from him. „We met at the basketball court. You're a friend of Curtis."

The boy nodded hesitantly and eyed Sam.

Liz instantly knew that the boy wouldn't talk in Sam's presence unless he'd know that her cousin is trustworthy. „This is Detective Samuel Rizzoli. You can talk openly."

„I thought we could talk in confidence," the boy replied skeptically.

„That's not how it works when you're dropping in in a police station," Sam stated and frowned a little.

Liz scowled at him and tried to smile. „Why don't we start over again? What's your name?"

The boy swallowed heavily and glanced long at her. „Darren. Darren Aguiar."

She smiled again and nodded. „And how old are you, Darren?"

„Sixteen."

Liz was able to rule out that the teenager had absolutely nothing to do with her ongoing case and lifted her brows. „And what brings you here?"

Darren hesitated now and shrugged. „Curtis. He was pretty pissed after you ... ripped him a new one." He stopped and leaned forward. „Listen, I hang out often with him to impress the chicks but I have nothing to do with his business. And I want it to say that way, that's why I'm here. To warn you."

Liz furrowed her brows. „To warn me about what?"

Darren squirmed in his seat. „After your last visit, he was yelling that he has to teach you a lesson because no one strikes out at him like that."

Sam got a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. „What's that supposed to mean, Darren?"

Darren drew slowly his attention to him. „Curtis declared open season on her."

Liz's heart stopped for a second and her eyebrows shot up. „He declared open season on me? Why would people follow his call?"

The teen glanced back at her and scoffed. „You have no idea with whom you're messing with, do you?" He leaned forward when she shook her head. „His people call him The Barber."

Sam straightened up when he heard the name and looked briefly at his cousin. „Holy shit.

Liz lost her patience slowly but surely. „Would you just tell me what that means?"

Sam turned in his chair and looked with anxious at her. „The Barber is the head of a gang called The Red Serpents. They are involved in absolutely everything, Liz. Drug dealing, drug smuggling, human trafficking, gambling, prostitution, contract killing. EVERYTHING. Gang Squad was only able to arrest henchmen, they never caught a big fish."

Liz started to understand and nodded slowly before closing her eyes.

„That's why I wanted to give you a warning. Everyone is looking out for you." Darren added and frowned deeply. „I don't want to have to do anything with a -"

„Yeah," she cut him off and leaned back in her chair. „I got it."

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Liz had parked her Mustang in her parents' driveway and was sitting behind the steering wheel and gritted her teeth before she got out of the vehicle to confront Keira with the latest progress.

Adam had called her forty-five minutes ago and wanted to know angrily where the hell she was and why she made their son wait.

She hadn't explained anything over the phone, though, only that she had to talk to Keira, that's how she learned that they were with Maura and Jane.

She clenched her jaw before she entered the house with some files under her arm.

Jane sat next to Maura on the couch and laughed heartily as she heard the front door open and glanced in the direction. „Liz, I just told Keira how I almost freaked out because -" She trailed off as soon as she saw her daughter's expression and frowned deeply. „What's the matter?"

Liz spotted her son sitting in Maura's lap, listening to some of the old childhood stories as well. „Zane, go to your room."

„But -" The boy began to protest.

„Now!"

„That's not fair, I didn't do anything," Zane grumbled and climbed off Maura's lap.

Liz ignored her sulking son as well as she ignored her parents. „Did you know who your boyfriend is?"

Keira looked with big eyes back at her and furled her brows. „What do you mean?"

Liz pointed at the front door as if the latest threat would lurking right behind it. „Did you know that Curtis is the head of a gang?"

Adam straightened up as soon as the words hit the air and frowned.

Keira hesitantly shrugged her shoulders. „I know that he hang out with weird people sometimes."

„Weird people," Liz laughed humorlessly and dropped the closed files on the coffee table. Actually, she had planned to show the girl the crime scene photos to show her what her boyfriend had done to his rivals and to those who betrayed him but decided against it because she didn't want to traumatize the teenager. „You're a smart girl, Keira. You should have come to the conclusion that these weird people are up to no good, or that Curtis isn't who he pretends he is. You should've known that his buddies don't call The Barber just because it sounds 'cool'."

Jane's eyes snapped up as soon as she heard the name and she grabbed one of the files.

Maura groaned and closed her eyes slowly.

„What?" Adam growled and stepped forward. „The Barber? You sure?"

Liz's eyes were hard. „If you don't believe me, go and ask Sam." She pointed at her chest and furrowed her brows. „Do you know what I got myself into when I went back to the basketball court and told Curtis to stay the hell away from you?"

„I didn't ask you to, did I," the girl barked and got up from the couch.

„What the hell did you think would happen after you showed up at my door with a black eye and cracked lip?" Liz barked back and followed Keira. „That I'd let this go? That I'd pretend nothing happened? I'm not your damn father, I am a cop. IT IS MY JOB TO KEEP PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAFE AND TO PUT BASTARDS LIKE CURTIS BEHIND BARS. IT IS OUR JOB!"

Maura got up from the couch, too. She knew that it was rare that her daughter raised her voice unless she was really mad, or scared. Or mad because she was scared. „Liz," she said calmly.

„No," Liz yelled at pointed at the former ME. „You stay out of this!"

Maura was speechless and couldn't move. It never happened before that her daughter yelled at her that way.

„Did you think that it'd be cool to be a moll," Liz turned her anger back at the girl. „That people would respect you because you're the chic of fucking Curtis Ortiz?"

„I didn't know," Keira yelled with tears in her eyes back. „I heard some rumors, all right?"

„Great," Liz growled and threw her hands up. „She heard some rumors. Ever had the thought that those rumors might be true? That Curtis isn't Mr. Nice Guy? Oh, right, he showed you his true colors the moment he beat you up!"

„Enough," Jane growled dangerously low and her daughter clenched her jaw. Jane glared at her daughter and led Keira to the patio door. „Let's get some air."

Keira closed her eyes and nodded.

Liz closed her eyes too and took a deep breath.

„She knows what she's doing," Maura said calmly and glanced briefly at Adam, who had watched the whole scenery in silence.

Liz gritted her teeth again. „And I don't?"

Maura raised her brows with a small smile. Ma's got a little more experience with stubborn teenagers."

The younger woman rolled her eyes and Adam chuckled.

Jane looked at the girl as Keira sat down on a chair at the round garden table and handed her a blanket that was always ready. „Liz shouldn't have brought up your father like that."

„No," Keira Keira agreed and spread said blanket over her body.

„She's just worried."

„Why?"

„Well, first of all, because you are her little ... sister. And because of Zane and Adam." Jane answered with a frown and sat down across the girl. And sometimes because of Maura, me and the rest of the world."

Keira smiled briefly. „That's a lot to worry about."

„Oh, yes," Jane agreed with furrowed brows. „But many times her worries are justified." She saw the questioning gaze and licked her lips. „Liz has been through a lot the last few years ... I know I'm not supposed to tell you, but Liz left Boston, Adam, and Zane for five years to protect the ones she loves the most. We didn't even know if she was ... She didn't get in touch at that time." She paused and furrowed her brows, looking at the teen. „She didn't yell at you because she was disappointed but because you mean a lot to her, Keira. And because she thinks it's her duty to protect you after your father died. Because you are -" She swallowed hard. „Because you are family."

„But Liz barely knows me," Keira countered and frowned.

The older woman took a deep breath. „Sometimes you don't have to know someone your whole life to know that they're a part of you, Keira. Sometimes you're inseparably connected with each other without knowing it."

Keira nodded slowly and inhaled the cold air deeply.

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„I never thought that a girl like your sister would get in the hands of bastards like Curtis Ortiz just because she wanted to bought beer," Adam stated and sat down on the couch next to his wife, handing her a bottle of beer.

Liz frowned deeply and inspected the bottle in her hand. „Adam, experience has shown that girls have fallen for such guys like him for much less."

He pulled her against him and kissed her head when she leaned it on his shoulder. „Yes, but those cases didn't affect our life."

She closed her eyes and nodded, pursing her lips. „Very true."

„You should've told me on the phone what's going on."

The younger woman sighed loudly and slipped her hand under his shirt. She didn't want to indicate something, she just needed physical contact right now. „I wanted to face Keira myself, and I wanted to see if she'd tell the truth."

„Did she pass your test?"

Liz nodded and sighed again. „With flying colors." She frowned and looked up at him. „That's not how I imagined it."

Adam held her gaze and frowned, too. „What do you mean?"

„That I come back home and that I have to stare into the abyss once more."

He nods slowly and traced her chin with his thumb. „You're no longer alone, Elizabeth. We get through this together, come hell or high water."

She nodded once more and leaned up, kissing him gently. She looked him long in the eyes before she suddenly straddled his lap. „I know."

Adam didn't need to hear what his wife had to say because he could see it clearly in her eyes when he lifted his. He could see that she was sick and tired of running away and that she was aware of the fact that she knew that she didn't have to face the threat alone anymore. That she knew that he had her back.

Liz held his gaze as she lifted her arms over her head before he pulled her tee over it. She didn't budge an inch when he slowly ran his hands down her sides.

She leaned her head down and looked Adam in the eye before kissing him and rolling unintentionally her hip.

Adam growled while struggling with the hooks of her bra.

„Jesus Christ," Keira's voice filled the room and Liz's eyes snapped up.

The older woman chuckled when she saw her sister's crimson face before she turned away.

„Get a room," the teen grumbled and Adam groaned again.

The older brunette chuckled amused and frowned. „Do you still believe in birds and bees?"

„No," Keira replied emphatically and went with shielded eyes to the fridge. „but I sure didn't need to see that, let alone hear it."

Adam groaned once again and placed his forehead on his wife's chest.

„That's exactly what I meant," Keira stated and made a face. „I really need my own fridge in my room so you guys can make out on the couch."

„Really," he growled and turned his head. „Making out?"

„What would you call it," Keira wanted to know and sipped her water. „Foreplay?"

Adam opened his mouth to retort but then he closed it again, rolling his eyes.

The mood was definitely gone.

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Frankie looked long at her and frowned deeply. „I don't know."

„Come on, make an effort. It would just be until all this is over, Frankie. Your best team isn't running smoothly at the moment and they need someone they can turn to."

„And with that you mean yourself?"

Jane smiled coyly and lifted her shoulders with a nod. „I ran the team for years, didn't I?"

He leaned back in his chair and sighed loudly. „Yeah, that's very true."

„You know that we can get them working perfectly together again. I can be their buffer if necessary."

Frankie glanced long at his sister and took a deep breath. „Okay."

Jane raised her brows high. „Okay?"

„Okay, I hire Maura and you as counselors," he answered and held up a hand when Jane started to smile. „But only until the case is closed once and for all."

„Great," Jane agreed with a nod. „But Maura and I need access to all files and evidence of the case."

Frankie took the receiver of his landline in his hand and frowned. „Consider it done." He paused and eyed the former Lieutenant. „Don't let me regret this, Jane."

She leaned back in her chair. „You know me, Frankie."

„That's what worries me," he grumbled and Jane smirked.

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Liz sat at her desk and studied the current progress of the investigation in her case and at the same time she had to deal with the Red Serpents case. She kept wondering how Keira couldn't have noticed the intrigues her boyfriend was involved in, but she also knew that girls of Keira's age were wearing rose-colored glasses when they were in love for the very first time. She had them on too when she was younger, and she didn't care about what her parents and friends were thinking about the boy back then.

She wondered why she was suddenly thinking about Shawn Massey, her very first boyfriend back in high school.

He had been tall, athletic and very popular at school.

She suspected that was mostly because Shawn had been in the football team.

He was smart too and everyone envied her because she had a relationship with him, but at some point, she had had enough of all the attention so she broke up with him but remained friends with Shawn.

Liz frowned and glanced briefly at her screen and decided to find out what had become of the jock.

„You look tired."

Liz flinched and turned to the person. „It got late yesterday."

„Is this your case or the Red Serpents'?"

The younger brunette glanced at the open files and sighed. „Both."

„I talked to your uncle."

„To give me a leave of absence?"

„No," Jane replied a little surprised and shook her head. „No, not at all. I talked to him because I'm offering you my service as a counselor."

Liz slowly raised her brows and opened her mouth to ask her mother if she was thinking that they incapable the solve the cases without Jane's help but then her phone on the desk started buzzing. She read the text and closed her eyes with a groan."

„Another murder," Jane asked carefully.

The young woman shook her head and opened her eyes again. „No, I asked Winters to find out when Benjamin Payton is back in Boston and if she could give me an insight into his client list."

„Why did you want to have a peek in his client list?"

Liz glanced long at her. „Because I wanna know with whom I'm actually messing and to know how big his resources are."

„You could have asked Mom or me."

„I got along quite well five years without your -"

„You have to be a team player again," Jane cut her daughter off.

Liz's eyes hardened suddenly. „Excuse me?"

Jane sighed and sat down on the chair that was standing next to the desk. „You've been on your own for the last five years, I get that, Liz. But before everything went to hell in a handbasket, you've been working with a damn fine team. You can trust Sam and Adam, they won't stab you in the back."

Liz looked long at her mother and resisted the urge to close her eyes once again. She knew that Jane was right and that none of the two men would betray her, that wasn't their nature. She also knew that she had to shake off the feeling of betrayal and that she'd be on her own, that was easier said than done, though.

Five years of being deep undercover took its toll.

She wasn't able to trust everyone frivolously anymore, even though she knew that this feeling was beyond stupid. „You don't know how I'm feeling."

Jane looked long at her daughter and licked her lips. „I know how you feel because I've been undercover, too. Way too many times." she stopped and frowned. „I don't know if you still remember but that was the reason why I moved out when you were little."

Liz nodded slowly and tugged at her lower lip. „Yeah, I still remember."

It wasn't a lie. She really still remembered how her parents had fought late in the night and that Jane wasn't sitting with them at the breakfast table the next morning, and that Maura had repeatedly evaded her question why her Ma wasn't with them.

When she got a little older, she had assumed that her parents had separated and then, all of a sudden, they rekindle.

This time had shaped her and also confused her. It was always a back and forth. „It was a difficult time for me. One evening we ate pizza together and watched TV and the next morning you were gone after you and Mom fought."

Jane looked long at her daughter and nodded with furrowed brows.

At that moment she realized that not only the last five years stood between them but also the things that had long passed, things that she had when the woman before her was still a little girl. Things she and Maura swept under the carpet and never talked about.

She was well aware of the fact that she was far from being a perfect mother or a perfect marriage. Quite the opposite, Maura and she were still arguing about many small things, but she had always thought that they had given their only daughter a beautiful childhood and a stable family life.

Liz had always excellent grades at school and her friends hadn't been people to worry about either, so she concluded that neither she nor Maura failed as parents. „Why didn't you say a word?"

„If that would've changed anything," retorted and frowned.

„Liz," Jane stated with a frown.

„Hey," the younger brunette said, smiling faintly. „in the end I turned out quite well, didn't I? I don't do drugs and I don't turn tricks, right? I do what I do best. I help people who can't help themselves."

A thought crossed Jane's mind."But is that what you want for yourself?"

Liz glanced long at her and frowned, too. „You should know me better, Ma. If I wouldn't love this job then I wouldn't sit here today, would I?"

Jane smiled now and shook her head. „No, you wouldn't," she answered but could see that something else was bothering her daughter. „What else is going on?"

Liz looked up from the file in her hand and took a deep breath. „Do we have to discuss this now?"

Jane let her eyes wander around in the empty bullpen and frowned. „If not now, when?"

„Okay," the young woman sighed, closed the file and put it carefully on her desk. „Lately, when we see each other, we're just arguing and you're constantly holding my mistakes against me. Whether it's the ones I made in the past or those I make today."

„Because I want you to understand that every decision you make are affecting your life and the life of your family," Jane defended herself. „I've always told you that every action causes a reaction."

Liz looked long at her and pressed her lips tightly together. „That's right, you taught me that. You sat down with me and told me clearly when I made a mistake. You didn't stand in front of me and held the mistakes that I've five years earlier against me over and over again. How would you feel like if I'd keep saying that you disappeared for weeks in my childhood, then reappeared and you and Mom pretended that nothing ever happened while I couldn't understand what was going on? Shit, I've said a hundred times at school that you two would get divorced and then you guys got back together."

Jane swallowed hard and her eyes grew huge. „I didn't know that. Why didn't you say anything?"

„Because you never asked how I was feeling," Liz replied and frowned deeply. „After you came back home after one of your operations, you and Mom were so busy with yourselves that you forgot to ask me how I was for once."

The older woman leaned back in her chair. „I really didn't know that you were struggling with the circumstance."

Liz nodded hesitantly and ran her fingers over her lips with furrowed eyebrows. „I never said anything. I never blamed you for it either. By all accounts, I didn't get that attribute from you."

Jane winced a little and nodded, too. „I deserved that."

„Yes," the young detective agreed. „Yes, you deserved that."

„I something else bothering you?"

„I have a target on my back because of my little sister while I struggle figuring out why Benjamin Payton wants me dead. So, yeah, some things are bothering me."

Jane skidded a little forward and frowned deeply. „Something else than your current ... problems."

Liz eyes her long and furrowed her brows while chewing on her cheek. „How would you feel like if you'd finally come home five years later and were constantly brawl with the person for whom you'd give your life without batting an eyelash?"

„Why didn't you tell me that Adam and you -"

„I'm not talking about Adam," Liz cut her mother off harshly. „I'm talking about you, Ma." She swallowed hard when Jane inhaled sharply. „Since I got back to Boston, you haven't even said that you're glad I'm okay again, nor have you hugged me for once. Every time we're alone in a room you pick a fight, you keep telling me that you searched the hospitals and morgues for me, but apparently, you're not able to say that you're glad that I'm still alive."

Jane let the words sink in and frowned when she realized that her daughter was right. She licked her lips and got up from her chair.

Liz snorted and took the file back in her hand. „Great," she hissed.

„Get up," Jane demanded as she stood next to the younger woman.

Liz furled her brows and raised her eyes slowly. „What?"

Jane took a deep breath and moved her hand so her daughter would understand. „Get up, Elizabeth."

The young detective rolled her eyes and followed the instruction with a groan. „Now what?"

Jane stepped closer and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman. Her heart skipped a beat when she hugged her daughter for the first time since Liz's return. She closed her eyes and tightened her hold. „I'm glad that you're back home," she whispered and kissed Liz's temple. „And I'm glad you're alive, bug."

Liz's eyes fell shut when she heard the name and also wrapped her arms around her mother.

Jane pulled back a little and furrowed her brows while cupping Liz's cheek. „And I want you to know that I will never let anything happen to you. Never!"

The young woman swallowed hard and she blinked back the tears. „Yes, I know that." She inhaled deeply and grabbed her phone from the desk.

Jane furled her brows once more. „Are you telling Mom about our talk?"

Liz laughed briefly and wiped a tear off her cheek before starting to type. „No."

„Are you telling her that I finally came back to my senses?"

„Nope, but I'm calling in a favor from another friend if this is the only way to get the information I need."

Jane's brows shot up after she understood. „Are you sure about is?"

Liz lowered the device again after sending the text and took a deep breath. „No, not at all."