Maura looked seriously at Jane and frowned deeply. „So you and Liz finally reconciled with each other?"

Jane rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee. „Yes."

„And you won't try to bust your heads?"

The brunette lifted her mug and paused. „I won't guarantee that."

Maura scoffed and eyes her wife skeptically. „Does your brother know what our daughter is up to?"

„I don't think so," the former lieutenant answered brusquely and frowned deeply. „And even if he would, I don't think he'd approve it."

Maura stopped dead and heaved a sigh. „Jane, I don't have a good feeling about this."

Jane took Maura's hand in hers and pulled the graying blonde to her. „Now don't worry, our daughter has survived five years without us and she barely got a scratch."

„She had massive head trauma, not to mention her cut wrists."

Jane blinked a few times and raised her shoulders. „I said that she barely got a scratch."

The former ME scoffed again and pulled her hand out of Jane's. „How can you say that? When I was pregnant with Elizabeth and got kidnapped, you moved heaven and hell to find us, even though you had to assume that we were dead."

„Which I never believed because your technician was obsessed with you," the Italian growled and pinched the bridge of her nose. „And I was right, otherwise neither you nor our daughter would be here today unless I'm completely nuts and live in a crazy fantasy."

„Maybe you are," the blonde replied seriously.

Jane grabbed her wrists and pulled her against her body. „It's not like we're throwing Liz under the bus, Maura. She's strong, she's smart and she's capable. Liz isn't going undercover again. She just called in a favor."

Maura looked her deep in the eye. „At what price?"

„I don't know," Jane admitted with a sigh.

„And you didn't stop her," Maura stated angrily, slapping her wife's chest.

Jane raised her brows and closed her eyes when the former ME pulled away„What was I supposed to do?"

„I don't know," Maura replied louder and threw her hands up. „You should have talked her out of this crazy idea."

„You know how stubborn our daughter is, right?" Jane laughed but turned serious again as soon as she saw the look of her wife. „Me trying to talk her out of it would only have spurred her on even more."

„Since when are you so sure about her again?"

Jane took a deep breath and gritted her teeth. „I never stopped believing in her, Maura."

Maura lifted her brows and the Italian rolled her eyes once again.

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Liz laughed amused and gave her cousin a shove after they emerged from the elevator. „I think we really have to take this to the shooting range."

„I just said I broke all your records there," Sam laughed too and wiggled his brows.

„But only because I haven't had a chance to compete fairly with you in five years."

„That's what you said when I told you I got better in single combat."

The young woman quirked a brow and smirked. „I think we both really have a lot of catching up to do."

He snorted amused and nodded in agreement.

„Liz," Leslie said, and the brunette turned surprised her attention to the redhead, who walked towards her with Chaz. „There's a fucking handsome guy waiting for you who says that he knows you."

„Hey!" Chaz complained and furled his brows.

„Oh, shhh," his wife replied and Sam smirked.

Liz, on the other hand, did not smile and quickly entered the bullpen and held her breath when she saw a man standing at her desk, looking at the framed picture. She placed her satchel on the desk and gritted her teeth.

He lifted his eyes and turned the picture to her with a deep frown. „Who's that?"

She grabbed the frame and placed it back where it belonged. „That's none of your business. What the hell are you doing here, Ed?"

Leslie furled her eyebrows and glanced briefly at Chaz and Sam. She had heard the name of the man before, she just couldn't put her finger on it.

The man named Ed held a thick file up and smiled broadly. „You asked me for that. Did you forget it?"

„You could have e-mailed me the list," she shot back and wanted to take the file from his hand.

„But then I couldn't see you," he replied and pulled the list away without warning.

Liz looked at him surprised. „I'm not really in the mood for games."

Sam decided to intervene and to find out who the stranger was. He cleared his throat and stretched his hand out to the other dark-haired man. „Hi. Sam Rizzoli."

Ed shook his hand but glanced at Liz. Rizzoli? I didn't know you have a brother."

Liz put her bag under her desk and took off her jacket. „Sam's my cousin."

„Oh," breathed Ed and smiled a little. He cleared his throat and straightened up a bit. Eduardo Russ. Or just Ed."

Sam looked at his cousin with big eyes and smirked when she rolled hers. He knew what that name meant.

„Oh shit," Chaz whispered to his wife and she glanced at him questioningly. „That's the guy with whom Liz had an affair in San Diego."

„Oh damn," the redhead whispered back.

Sam sat down at his desk and met Liz's eyes. „This is gonna be so good."

Liz rolled her eyes again and reached out for the file. „Can have the list now?"

Russo pouted a little and handed her the file. „You're a wet blanket."

„Yes," she replied and opened the file. „I know."

Russo took a deep breath and crossed his arms over his chest. „I have to talk to your Sergeant. Where can I find him?"

Liz slowly lifted her eyes and frowned deeply. „Why do you have to talk to my sergeant?"

Russo shrugged and tilted his head to the side. „Because my superiors want to know why a Boston Homicide squad is interested in a very reputable defender from California. And I'd like to know that, too. Your text was pretty tight-lipped."

Liz knew that she didn't tell him why she needed that list and glanced at her watch. „He should be here any minute," she answered his previous question, quietly praying that this nightmare would end as quickly as it started.

Russo nodded briefly and looked around in the office. „I can wait."

Liz glanced at the amused Sam and swallowed heavily before turning her attention back at the client list of Benjamin Payton that she was holding in her hand.

„Next time we get our coffee in a coffee shop instead downstairs," Adam grumbled when he entered the bullpen. „At least then it won't taste like soapsuds and we know that we waited half an hour for a good reason." He fell silent when he spotted the tall, dark-haired man and walked past him to his desk. „And who are you?"

Russo reached out and frowned a little. „Ed Russo, FBI."

Adam's expression darkened when he heard the name and scowled at his wife. „Adam Laverty," he growled but didn't shake Russo's hand. „Why is the FBI paying us a visit?"

The agent looked long at the other man and his frown deepened. „We'd like to know why BPD is interested in Benjamin Payton and his law office." He tilted his head to the side and furled his brows when he realized the blond man on the picture.

Adam sipped his coffee and leaned back in his chair with a sigh. „His name popped up several times during an ongoing investigation."

„And what kind of case is this?"

„A murder, that's why we're investigating it."

Liz glanced up from the list and set her jaw before handing Russo the Waterston and Rubino files. She saw that her husband wasn't very enthusiastic about it but she also knew that Russo wouldn't stop until he had the answers he was looking for.

Russo eyes her with a faint smile and accepted the files. „Thank you."

„Save it," she grumbled and glanced at Adam once more and knew exactly what was going on in his head right now. Her two worlds collided unchecked.

The agent's eyes shot up and they were huge. „Is that true? You were with James Waterston when he got killed? And then you were the prime suspect? Is this supposed to be a bad joke?"

Liz took a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. „Am I laughing?"

„We were able to exonerate Detective Rizzoli after a thorough investigation," Adam added, sipping his coffee.

Russo glanced at the other man seriously and then he looked at the glass board, pointing at Tim Rubino's photo. „And he's the one who's responsible for all this? What's he got to do with Benjamin Payton?"

Liz looked once again to Adam and realized that the next fight with him was already inevitable when she saw him staring at her while running his hand over his beard, so she decided to bring Russo into the loop without her husband's consent. „Timothy Rubino worked for Payton as an investigator, and we can be pretty sure that Rubino and a guy named Cody did a lot more than just killing James Waterston."

„Liz," Adam growled dangerously low and he tugged his chin in when she raised her hand. „Shortly after we figured out for whom Rubino was working, he got killed, too. We were supposed to believe that he committed suicide."

„And that's when Cody comes into the picture," Russo asked and dropped the files back onto her desk while he took a look at the composite sketch. „Does Cody also have a surname?"

„Not yet," Adam sighed loudly and shook his head.

„That's why I asked you to get Payton's list. I was hoping that we could figure his whole name out with that." She got up from her chair when she saw the deep frown of the agent and handed Sam the list. „Tell me if you find something useful."

The young man nodded slowly. „Okay."

„Where are you going," Adam wanted to know when his wife made her way to the door.

„I'll get something to drink, Sergeant."

Adam pressed his lips together when she left the room and furled his brows when the FBI agent followed her.

Liz opened the fridge in the break room and straightened up when she heard the door close. She shut her eyes when someone stood right behind her.

„You look different," Russo stated calmly.

„That's what happens when you don't see each other for several months."

He grabbed her at the arm and turned her around so he could look her straight in the eye before he pulled her against him, kissing her without permission.

For a fraction of a second she gave in but then she raised her brows and pushed him away. „I can't," she whispered and closed her eyes. „I can't, Ed."

Russo frowned deeply and tried to catch her eyes. „Why now? Because of the moron who calls himself Sergeant?"

Liz's eyes shot open again and she furrowed her brows. „This moron is my husband, Ed."

He stepped astonished back from her.

„I married him almost ten years ago.

He blinked a few times while progressing the information. „That's why you didn't say yes when I proposed to you." He licked his lips when she nodded. „Does he know about me?"

She swallowed hard and nodded. „Yes, Adam knows."

„Does he also know that we've been together for almost four years?"

„No, and I want it to stay that way,"

Russo inhaled deeply and pursed his lips. „Why did come to San Diego?"

Liz licked her lips and exhaled loudly. „I was undercover. Deep undercover."

„Was I a part of this operation?"

She glanced at the Gatorade and shook her head. „No, you weren't a part of it."

Russo swallowed hard and took a moment. „And the boy in the picture on your desk? Who is he?"

„He's my six-year-old son," she answered hesitantly and inhaled sharply when she saw his hurt eyes.

Russo nodded slowly and he furled his brows. „Did I even know you?"

Liz knew that it was a mistake and that it was dangerous, but she ignored the nagging voice in the back of her head, kissing him. „You know a little part of me, but you never knew who I really am."

Russo leaned his forehead against hers and set his jaw. „And this is you. The real Liz Rizzoli?"

She nodded slowly and turned away from him when the door opened again.

Leslie stuck her head into the room and stopped abruptly. „Um, Adams wants you to come back to the office. Sam found something interesting."

Liz glanced over her shoulder at her and set her jaw when she spotted the look of her friend. „Tell them I'll be there in a second."

Leslie glared at the agent. „All right."

„Thanks," Liz stated with a tight smile before she looked at Russo. „Please don't make this any weirder."

Russo shrugged and smiled humorlessly. „Can it get weirder?"

She smiled once again tightly and shook her head. „No, it can't."

„Wait," he said when she was about to leave the break room. „I never really had a chance, had I?"

Liz took a deep breath and shook her head. „No. You never really had a chance, and I'm so sorry for letting you believe that you were the only man in my life."

He grabbed her arm again. „Have you ever had feelings for me or was that all only a part of your mission?"

„Do you really think that I am that ice cold so I'd male you believe that I was in -"

„Do you still love him?"

„Yes," she answered without hesitation. „I never stopped loving my husband, even when I was in San Diego. I never loved anyone else the way I love him."

Russo swallowed heavily and let go of her arm.

„I'm so sorry," she whispered before she left the room.

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„I hope that I made my stance clear," Adam murmured and frowned deeply while running his hand over her bare back.

Liz took a deep breath and hummed with a smile. „Yes, you made it more than clear."

He looked long at her and sighed loudly.

The young woman raised her head a little and looked him in the eye. She knew that Adam didn't miss the looks Russo was giving her while they followed a lead that ended up in a dead end. She kissed him once, and then twice. „I'm only yours."

„Damn straight," he growled with a slight smile.

She nestled her nose in the crook of his neck while she ran her hand over his chest. „What's bothering you?"

„Nothing," he mumbled.

„Adam," she whined and looked up briefly.

He squinted at the ceiling and sighed. „It wasn't just a fling, was it? I mean you and Russo."

Liz blinked a few times and frowned. She understood now why Adam and she ended up in bed shortly after they got home. Why he wanted to claim her again. Successfully, though. „Do you seriously want to talk about Ed Russo now? After -"

Adam raised his eyebrows when she trailed off and smiled inevitably. „I just made a few things clear."

She grinned broadly and kissed him. „You know that you don't have to make anything clear anymore, Adam. You should know by now that you're the only one I want."

He wiggled his brows and looked down at her. „You didn't answer my question, though."

Liz sighed dramatically and ran her hand over his chest. „I already told you that I liked him."

„The way he looks at you ... He didn't only like you, Elizabeth. And you didn't only like him either."

Liz licked her lips and shook timidly her head, hoping that her reaction wouldn't provoke another quarrel.

Adam kept running his hand along her spine and wasn't sure how to react right now, he was just tired of arguing all over again. „You fell in love with him, didn't you?"

Liz glanced up in his eyes and ran her fingers along his jawline. „I ... I didn't plan it, Adam. I ... I never loved him the way I love you."

„Did Russo know that you are married?"

She closed her eyes once more because his pain was evident in his voice. „You know I was undercover at the time, deep undercover."

„I guess that means no, Russo didn't know that you're married."

„No one knew about you or Zane or my real life in Boston, Adam. I was all by myself at first, but at some point, I let my guard down, became careless and vulnerable. So I started to meet with my new ... 'colleagues' and actually started my ... new life." She paused and ran her thumb over his Ada's apple. „I'd have done anything only to hear your voice for one evening."

„I know the feeling very well," he replied meekly through gritted teeth and set his jaw for a second. „You have no idea how many times I watched videos of you when Zane was in bed just to see you again and to hear your voice, Elizabeth."

She wanted to tell him once again how sorry she was but gasped when he turned his back to her without warning. She closed her eyes and knew that it was better not to try explaining anything right now. She tried not to smile when he sighed and turned back on his back, placing her hand over his heart.

Adam let his eyes slowly wander over Liz's face like he was trying to memorize every little detail of it, running his fingertips along her chin. „You can't imagine what I've been through," he whispered when he turned to his side, closing his eyes. „How many times I prayed to see you again, to hear your voice again." He sighed and opened his eyes again while running his hand down her arm. „To touch you again."

Liz was silent when her husband shut his eyes again and wanted to tell him that she exactly knew what he was talking about but she didn't dare to say a single word but stared at him before she laid her head down on the pillow too.

She skidded closer and sighed before she closed her eyes as well.

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Liz entered the bullpen with Adam and stopped when she saw Russo standing with Leslie and hoped that he hadn't told the redhead any dirty little secrets of her time in San Diego. She also wondered what the agent was actually doing in BPD. „How long are you planning to stay in Boston," she asked brusquely and crossed her arms over her chest with raised brows when Russo turned to her.

„I've been told your Lieutenant would like to speak to me privately," he answered with a weak smile, eyeing her.

Liz dropped her arms again and glared at him before marching off. „No way."

Adam glanced confused at Leslie who unwittingly raised her shoulders.

Russo rolled his eyes and followed the brunette. „Liz, wait a minute."

„That's not gonna happen," the woman replied angrily and didn't even think about slowing down her steps. „And if that happens, it'll only happen over my dead body." She pushed the door to Frankie's office open without knocking. „You won't take me off my case!"

Frankie frowned deeply and lowered the receiver of his landline. „Please come in."

Liz ignored his sarcastic tone and the fact that the agent had followed her into the office. „I've been working on this case for years now and I won't let you just hand it over to the FBI without any resistance. I worked my butt off and almost lost my family because of that!"

Her uncle glanced at her and raised his brows without saying a word.

„Liz," Russo said reassuringly.

She pointed at him without glancing at him and walked up to Frankie's desk. „Russo will need weeks to read up on the case, and then the FEDs will take weeks to make the first step. We're already so close -"

„Enough, Elizabeth," Frankie cut her off harshly. „Agent Russo isn't here to take over the case you're working on! He's here because of the Red Serpents!"

„Because the FBI is investigating the gang for years already and we hope that we finally can nab them," Russo added when he leaned a little to her ear with a smile.

She scoffed and glared at her uncle. „That's my case, too."

„You can't have your cake and eat it too, Liz," Frankie replied and leaned back in his chair.

„Ortiz threatened me and my family -"

„And that's why you are anything but objective. And that's why I'm giving this case to the FBI. I don't want Ortiz stumbling against a wall while you guys arrest him."

„I would never -"

„And that's how it should stay," Frankie cut her off again, knowing what she was about to say, and she gritted her teeth. „We all know how ... you react when it comes to your kid and your husband. And besides, you've never heard of the gang before. Russo is aware with whom he has to deal with." He lifted his hand when the young woman was about to say something. „Stop arguing with me about this, Detective. Benjamin Payton arrived in Boston and is ready to have a talk with you and Sam at his office."

Liz furrowed her brows and took another step towards the desk. „Adam's my assigned partner, not Sam."

„Detective Laverty is going to help Agent Russo from this moment."

Liz's heart sank and she made big eyes. „You can't do that."

„I just did," Frankie replied once and for all and furled his brows. „Unless you come up with a good reason why Laverty and Russo shouldn't work together."

She swallowed hard and shook her head. She didn't see any reason why she should tell her uncle that she and Russo had an affair.

„Very good," the older man stated, handing her a note. „You should leave now, Payton's expecting you in an hour."

Liz licked angrily her lips, looked at the note while frowning deeply. She turned to leave and glared at the agent.

Russo followed her once again and leaned in a bit once more. „You're welcome," he whispered with a smirk.

She stopped abruptly and turned to him when he almost bumped into her. „Stay the hell away from me," she whispered dangerously low.

Russo tugged surprised his chin in and looked briefly to the break room. „Just yesterday you kissed me in there."

Liz furled her brows and then she shoved him hard. „To bring this thing between you and me finally to an end."

„This thing," he whispered harshly back. „We had a serious relationship and I proposed to you. And back then it seemed like you seriously considered to say yes."

„That was another time, another life. That was MY other life. This here, in Boston, this is my real life. I have a husband and a son, and I will leave neither one nor the other. Did I make myself clear?"

Russo's expression hardened and he set his jaw. „Yea, crystal clear." He was about to walk past her but stopped. „Besides, I'd never ask you to leave your husband or your son for me. I may be an asshole but I know when it's time to give up!"

Liz closed her eyes when he disappeared in the bullpen and ran a hand with a heavy sigh over her face before entering the office as well.

Adam looked at her with a frown and guessed something must have gone wrong.

Liz grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair and inhaled deeply. „We're paying Ben Payton a visit."

„It's about time," replied and was about to get up from his chair.

She glanced at him and then at her cousin. „I was talking to Sam."

Sam's eyes grew huge, got up and got his jacket.

Adam looked confused at her and blinked a few times. „Excuse me?"

Russo glared at Liz and breathed deeply. „You and I are going to deal with the Red Serpents."

„He's joking, right?" Adam laughed humorlessly and lowered his brows when his wife shook her head.

„Perfect," he growled and flopped back into his chair.

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Liz followed the young blonde paralegal, who reminded her a little of a younger Maura, through the busy office and felt her hands getting sweaty because she finally got the chance to face the man who was responsible that her life became a mess and who was responsible for her running from Boston.

The paralegal knocked at the high oak door before opening it. „Mr. Payton, the Detectives from the BPD are here."

Ben was about to get some papers out of his briefcase and waved the cops in without saying a word.

Liz thanked the woman and entered the spacious office without showing any nervousness while her cousin followed her.

Ben looked up and gave them a broad smile. „Elizabeth, it's good to see you."

Somehow Liz could understand that Maura succumbed him. Even in his older years, he radiated a certain charm. „I wish I could say the same."

He turned the corners of his mouth downwards. „You're as straight as Jane." He smiled again when her brows turned up. „And you also look pretty much like her."

„You had no small part in what my appearance would be like. I mean, you've chosen Timothy Rubino to be their sperm donor."

„Guilty," the lawyer sighed with a nod. „But I really had only the best for Maura in mind." He sat down behind his desk and eyes the detectives for a moment. „I guess you're here to talk about him? Tim, I mean."

„Yes, we are. Why aren't you denying that you knew him?"

„Why would I," Ben asked back and lifted his shoulders. „He was my best investigator."

„Tim was much more than just an investigator," Liz shot back with a hard expression.

Ben frowned deeply and leaned back in his chair. „I don't know what you're talking about."

Liz swallowed hard and opened her portfolio. „I'm talking about James Waterston."

Ben put his glasses on and took a look at the crime scene photo that showed Waterson's body on the alley. „I won't deny that I also knew Jimmy, he let me have some information the DA office didn't want to give me, but I know nothing about his passing. I was shocked when I read about his murder."

Sam nodded slowly and frowned. „How well did you know Detective James Waterston?"

Ben handed Liz the photo back and scratched his chin. „Not well enough to call him a close friend. He was an acquaintance with whom I had a drink or two every now and then."

Liz furled her brows and set her jaw for a moment. „Let's talk about Tim again."

Ben nodded vehemently. „Sure."

„Since when did you know him?"

„A former college friend in Arizona recommended him about thirty-seven years ago. I already hired Tim every now and then when I was still working for the DA's office in Boston. And over the years, we became close friends."

„Is that why you asked Rubino to kill Waterston and Elizabeth," Sam now wanted to know, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

Ben scoffed and leaned forward. „And why would I want that?"

„To take vengeance," Liz answered his question seriously. „You know what family means to my parents and you couldn't stand the fact that -" she hesitated and furrowed her brows. „Maura started with a woman a family instead of you."

The lawyer looked long at her before he turned a framed photo around that showed him, an older woman and two girls. „I indeed hated Jane for pinching my wife and ruining my marriage, but I'm over that for decades now. I'd never had Maura's kid get killed for vengeance. That you have to believe."

Liz approached the desk and furled her brows. „Tim and his apprentice killed Waterston and nearly killed me because they wanted to teach my parents a lesson."

„Not in my name," Ben replies and held his hands up. „I didn't even know that Tim was a hit man."

„I thought you were for decades befriended."

„Do you tell your friends every single secret of yours?"

Sam heaved a sigh and opened his own portfolio, taking the composite sketch out of it. „What about him? Is he familiar to you?"

Ben studied the drawing for a while and breathed, „Oh God."

Liz's heart sped up and she furrowed her brows. „You know him?"

Ben nodded slowly. „Yes."

„What's his name," Sam demanded to know.

„I can't tell you -"

„Please," Liz begged emphatically and swallowed hard.

The lawyer quarreled with himself for a second before he closed his eyes, writing something down. „His name is Cody Martens. And this client is his half-brother."

Liz accepted the note and her eyes grew huge. „He is one of your clients?"

Ben nodded slowly and closed briefly his eyes. „He contacted me about seven years ago to push an appeal trial through."

Liz slowly closed her eyes after she handed the name to Sam.

Ben shook vehemently his head and frowned deeply. „Elizabeth, I am really sorry. I did not know what he was up to."

The young detective glanced at him and swallowed hard. „Yeah, I know. Thank you for your help."

Sam smiled tightly at the older man. „Thank you for your cooperation." He followed his cousin hot on her heels. „What now, Liz?"

Liz hurried out of the office and didn't look at him, licking her lips. „I don't know, Sam. I really don't know."