Adam sighed loudly as he entered the kitchen and frowned when he saw his wife making herself a sandwich with a set jaw.

He stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He furled his brows when she instantly shook them off again. He made another attempt and sighed once more when he got the same reaction. „Don't."

Liz straightened up and closed her eyes. She barely had spoken a word since she and Sam came back from Ben.

Her chin began to tremble when he kissed her head and licked her lips. She couldn't understand that he reacted that way after Sam told the team what they found out, she got the feeling that she would never wake up from this nightmare she got herself into years ago. And if she would be married to another man than Adam, she was sure that he would be out of the door and out of her life in no time.

Liz furrowed her brows when Adam wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. „I'm so sorry," she whispered all of a sudden and the tears were evident in her voice.

„You have nothing to be sorry for," he whispered back and shook his head. „You couldn't have known that a psychopath becomes obsessed with you already years ago."

She swallowed hard and frowned and exhaled slowly. „I'd run as fast as I can if I'd get to know that my husband got off with someone like -"

Adam also frowned and turned her to him. „I'm not going anywhere. You should've realized that already, Liz." He paused when she tried to evade his gaze. „And when I said for better or for worse I meant it. I'll stay at your side, come what may."

Liz finally looked at him and swallowed hard. „You have to think about Zane and Keira."

Her husband blinked a few times and his frowned deepened. „And what about you," he asked worriedly because he got the feeling that the brunette was about to do something really stupid, that she had settled her affairs. „Zane needs you and Keira needs you, I need you, Elizabeth.

„I just -" Liz trailed off and closed her eyes. „I just wanted to tell you that you have to ... You took good care of our son the last five years, Adam, I just want you to do the same if -"

„Does that mean that you're running again or that you're about to do something really stupid?"

Her eyes hardened and she straightened up once more. „I'm not going to run but I'm going to see him."

Adam stopped breathing and set his jaw when her words hit his ears. Now he knew what she was trying to say. That she wasn't sure what would happen after her visit, and neither was he. „Do you think that's such a good idea? I mean, he wanted his half-brother to kill you."

„And I'm going to show him that I won't chuck up the sponge," Liz replied emphatically with furrowed brows. „He's made my life a living hell the last couple of years. Now it's my time to return the favor."

Adam looked long at her and nodded slowly. He could understand that Liz finally wanted to have a normal life without glancing over the shoulder every minute for the rest of her life. „I'll talk to Leach tomorrow."

„Thank you," Liz whispered and placed her ear on his chest, closing her eyes.

He took a deep breath and set his jaw once more. Patricia Leach was the prosecutor they had been working with before Liz disappeared. „I wouldn't expect too much from it, though."

The young woman glanced up and saw his worried expression.

Adam sighed heavily. „The entire DA office want to keep their hands off of his case after he was convinced for 1st-degree murder. Especially after presented himself to the media as a victim of the city of Boston, police harassment and of you."

„Of me," the young detective laughed and furled her brows. „Why me?"

„He claimed that you were the one who was ... obsessed with him," Adam answered and saw the flicker in her eyes, not the good kind of flicker, though. „I'll go and talk to Leach tomorrow."

Liz nodded slowly and took a deep breath. „Thank you." She wiggled out of his arms, went to the fridge and got a bottle of water out of the device. „But maybe I should -"

„No," Adam cut her harshly off because he knew what she was about to say and Liz's brows shot up. „just stay ... away from her. She's still not over it that you nearly ruined the Gibson case."

Liz tilted her head a little and narrowed her eyes. „The Gibson case? The double homicide?"

Adam nodded slowly but vehemently. „Yep."

She put a hand on her hip and furled her brows. „The case almost solved itself before we even start to investigate it. Why did I nearly ruin it?"

Adam scratched his bearded chin and raised his shoulders. „You remember that Martha Gibson got a pretty good public defender?"

Liz nodded slowly and looked confused at him. „Uh, yeah. John Kelley, right?"

„Correct," Adam agreed and cleared his throat. „Well, Kelley questioned every evidence, witness and statement, that's why Leach wanted us to testify in the stand. I showed up in the court, you ... um ... You didn't because you already disappeared without a trace."

Liz nodded once again. She remembered the Gibson case. Martha Gibson killed her forty-five-year-old husband Norris and their ten-year-old son Trent because of a lousy life insurance.

She looked long at him, furled her brows and licked her lips. „And how do you know about all of this."

He swallowed hard and shifted his weight from one foot to the other. „I ... um ... Sometimes I talk to my colleagues and the prosecutors I'm working with."

She pierced him with her gaze and narrowed her eyes. She was well aware of the fact that also other women were attracted to her husband, even more, the older he got. She suddenly got the feeling that she wasn't the only one who didn't tell the entire truth.

She wasn't a jealous person but that didn't mean that she had to like the idea of Adam being with Patricia Leach.

Liz took a deep breath and waved her hand. „Fine, you go and talk to Leach."

Adam watched his wife closely and knew exactly what was going on in her head right now, rolling his eyes." Liz -"

„I have other things to do anyway," she cut him short and turned the corners of her mouth down. „I don't have to bother myself with such a bim -" she cut herself off and smirked humorlessly when she spotted his amused smile.

Adam chuckled and walked to her, kissing her gently. „Come on, I'll order us some Chinese."

Liz got the kitchen knife back in her hand and pointed it at him with a quirked brow, and then she pointed it southwards without saying a word.

„Okay, I'll take that," Adam with a high-pitched voice, taking the knife from his wife's hand.

This time she chuckled and entered the living room. „How's the Red Serpent case going?"

Adam fetched a beer from the fridge after placing the order and followed her. He knew that it bothered Liz that she wasn't on this case anymore. „Slow," he answered and sat down next to her. „And back-breaking."

Liz put her feet in his lap and ran thoughtfully her fingers over her lips. „I've been thinking," she suddenly states, breaking the silence.

Her husband choked on his beer and frowned deeply. „Really?"

She smirked and rolled her eyes, but then she got serious again. „How about we send Zane and Keira for a couple of days to your parents?"

He scrutinized her long and nodded when he saw the worry in her eyes. He knew what she was trying to do, getting at least the kids out of the line of fire. „Sounds good to me."

„You should leave with them."

That idea didn't sound so good to him. He turned a little and glared at her. „And leave you alone?"

„Adam -" she said calmly.

„No," he replied emphatically and raised his brows high.

„Listen -"

„No," he cut her off once more. „I'm not going to leave you alone in this mess."

„I'm not on my own, Adam," she tried to reason with him. „There is Sam, Leslie, Chaz, Ma, Frankie, and Russo."

„But neither of them is your husband," Adam replied louder and got up from the couch. „I am your husband and it is my job to protect you, Elizabeth! You and the little boy upstairs are my responsibility! I understand that you want to send Keira and Zane away so they won't be in danger, but I'm not leaving."

Liz sat there for a second and swallowed hard before she got up as well, pointing to said stairs. „They can't lose you, Adam. They need you more than they need me."

„So it's okay for their mother to die, but it's not okay for their father," he asked harshly.

„You have been there for Zane for all these years, I wasn't," she hissed through clenched teeth. „Zane didn't become the boy he is today because of me, Adam. He became the boy he is because of you."

Adam blinked a few times, turned the corners of his mouth down and raised his shoulders. „Okay, then I quit. I'll hand in my badge and gun and become a stay-at-home dad but I am not leaving the town and I am not leaving you!"

Liz glanced long at him and furrowed her brows because she knew that he'd hand in his badge without hesitation if she'd asked him to but that's something she would never do. „I can't lose you," she whispered on the verge of tears and swallowed hard. „I ... I already watch you dying once and a part of me died with you. And after all these years I still ... see the pictures in my head. How this guy shot you in the chest, you laying on the ground while you were bleeding out and I could nothing do. I still see your blood on my hands and -"

Adam's shoulders slumped when she trailed off and he hurried to her. „But I didn't die," he said calmly and ran his hands over her arms. „I'm right here, in front of you. I didn't die. And you won't get rid of me so easily, and if I have to, I'll tell you that over and over again until you finally believe me." He was glad that she didn't try to avoid his eyes and frowned. „But there's something else you're not telling me. Has it to do with your headache you get every now and then?"

She closed her eyes briefly and shrugged. „I don't know, it's just that our lives took so many turns in the last couple of months that it seems unreal to me. I mean, we had a son and now we're living with a teen together who turned out to be my half-sister. Sometimes I think that my brain is playing tricks on me while I am still in the alley or in a coma. That these headaches are a reminder that none of this is real." she scoffed and shook his head. „I must sound like a lunatic to you."

Adam frowned deeply and cupped her face. „How can I prove that this is real life?"

„I don't know," she sighed with a shake of the head. She wiggled out of his arms again and walked back to the couch. „I'm going to call the schools of the kids tomorrow."

„Okay," he sighed and rubbed his tired eyes.

„Unless you wanna take care of that, too."

„Uh, no. No, you go and talk to them. Especially to Zane's headteacher."

Liz looked questioningly at him and blinked a few times before she raised her brows high. „Seriously? You also slept with Ms. Boyer?"

He hesitated a second and then cleared his throat. „No. No, I didn't. Uh ... well ... I took her out a few times but we ... we never had had sex. We made out, though."

„Oh," Liz stated with an amused smile and the tense mood left the room again. „Since when are you into blondes?"

„Actually," Adam replied almost shyly and scratched his chest. „I've always been into blondes, you are the exception."

„I don't know if I should feel flattered," she said with furled brows and a smile.

„You should," her husband countered and flopped down next to her.

Liz glanced at him and smiled. She raised her hand and shook the head when he offered her his beer. „Thanks but no."

He furled his brows but shrugged.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adam carried one of Zane's suitcases down the stairs, followed by Keira, who carried a duffle bag.

„I'd sleep much better if you guys would go with the kids," Jane stated while sipping her coffee.

„So would I," Maura agreed with a frown.

Liz rolled her eyes as she tried to shift her son, who was clinging to her, to her other hip. „Do we have to talk about this once again, Mom? We won't sit this thing out in Detroit while you guys put your lives at stake."

„This isn't about sitting it out," Jane retorted and furrowed her brows. „It's about being cautious and making sure that these two won't ... be alone."

Adam groaned and shrugged when Keira looked surprised at him. Since his parents-in-law arrived they came up with good reasons why he and Liz should leave the town with Keira and Zane.

Liz knew exactly what Jane was indicated with being left alone and glared at her Ma. „I will not put Zane and Keira in danger just because we go with them to Michigan, let alone Susanne and Paul."

Adam stopped and turned the corners of his mouth down. He liked that objection pretty much.

„And what about the rest of your family," Maura suddenly wanted to know and her daughter froze. „What about Ma, Sammy, Frankie and me? Aren't we in danger if you and Adam stay in Boston?"

Keira put the bag down and whispered with big eyes, „Uh-oh."

Liz stared at the former ME and Zane whimpered with a nod. „You guys are free to go with them to Detroit."

Zane whimpered once more and tightened his hold.

Adam sighed and tried to take his son from Liz's arms. „Come on, buddy. I wanna hold you for some time too before you have to leave."

„No," the boy whined and buried his face in his mother's hair.

The younger brunette sighed loudly and rubbed soothingly his back. „And besides, don't you think that I want to put you and Ma on the plane to Detroit too so I know that you're safe?"

„Only over my dead body," Jane grumbled into her mug and winced when Maura swatted her arm. „Ow!"

Liz pressed her lips together and pointed at Jane. „I would have to chain her and duct-tape her mouth before I could get her near that plane."

„Or to put me in a coma," Jane added and winced once more.

Keira giggled and cleared her throat when she glanced at a not so amused Adam.

„Yes, I get it, Jane," Maura growled. „We wouldn't even get your dead body to Detroit."

„Exactly," Jane agreed and put her mug down on the counter.

The blonde huffed and shook her head. „Why do I have a family that is stubborn as a mule instead of a normal one?"

Jane grinned and pulled her wife closer. „Because you fell in love with me even though you knew that I and my eggs are stubborn."

Maura smiled this time while rolling her eyes.

Keira's brows shot up high. „Jane's your biological mother?"

Liz nodded slowly and thrust her chin at Maura. „Yes, and Mom carried me."

„That's kinda cool," the teen said impressed.

„It is, isn't it," Liz replied and furled her brows when Zane started to trace her lips and lines with his fingers like he was about to memorize each of it.

Maura glanced worriedly at her son-in-law and Adam sighed heavily.

„It'll be alright, baby," Liz whispered against Zane's head and forced herself to smile when he looked at her. „You and Keira are gonna be back in no time."

Zane finally lifted his head and shook it. „I don't want to go to Detroit."

She smiled tightly and took a deep breath. „I know but it's only for a little while. I promise."

„You promised to never go away and then I didn't see you for eternities," the boy shot back and his bottom lip trembled.

The entire house fell silent after his outburst.

Maura gasped quietly and she saw the pain in her daughter's eyes.

Jane licked her lips and closed her eyes for a second while Adam frowned deeply.

Keira looked confused at them and didn't know how to react so she stood still.

Liz looked long at her son and swallowed down the lump in her throat. „I know," she croaked furrowed her brows. „But this time it won't be the same. I promise. When you come back home I'll be the first to welcome you, to kiss you hello." She kissed his temple and a tear slipped down her face. „Because I love you to the moon and back."

Zane cupped her face and looked her deep in the eye. „I love you too, Mama." He tried her tear and frowned. „Don't cry, okay?"

Liz couldn't help her smile and nod. „Okay."

Jane cleared her throat and took Keira's duffle bag after she got up from her chair. „I'll take that."

The teen avoided her eyes and whispered, „Thanks."

Adam looked long at his wife and ran his hand over Zane's back. „Can I hold you a couple of seconds before you're leaving, buddy?"

The boy nodded and climbed into the waiting arms of his father before Adam started to head for the front door.

Keira walked silently beside Liz and glanced every now and then at the woman. She inhaled the cold air. „I didn't mean to cause -" she gasped when she found herself in the arms of her sister.

Liz hugged her tightly and nodded with closed eyes. „I know," she whispered and looked at the girl. „You take good care of yourself and your nephew."

Keira studied Liz thoroughly and nodded with a frown. She couldn't shake the feeling of that this would be a farewell. „Yeah," she agreed softly. „of course."

„And call if you need to talk."

„I even call if I don't need to talk."

Liz chuckled and hugged her once again while her husband put Zane in his booster seat. „Yes, please do that. Day and night."

Jane opened the driver's door of her car and glanced at her daughter. „We'll be back in a couple of hours."

„Drive safely," Liz replied when her mothers got in the car and blew Zane a kiss before they drove off.

Adam watched the car and wrapped his arm around the shoulders of his wife. „It's the right call."

„Yes," Liz breathed and put her head on his shoulder. „I know but that doesn't make it any easier."

He closed his eyes and kissed the top of her head because he felt that this decision was weighing heavy on Liz, and it was weighing heavy on him, too. „You said it yourself, Zane and Keira will be back in no time."

Liz closed her eyes and swallowed her sob. She thought the same the night she left for San Diego and it took her five years to come back to Boston, to her family, back to herself.

Only now Adam understood how hard his wife must have been struggling with herself the night she left them for the greater good and that the greater good prevailed her own happiness even though she didn't know what she'd get herself into. „I'm sorry," he suddenly whispered into her hair.

She shook his head without looking at him. „You have nothing to be sorry about."

„Oh, yes, I do," he stated and lifted her chin. „I am sorry for thinking so many times in those years that you were an ice-cold, selfish bitch after your left us. I couldn't have known that you were at odds with yourself after you decided to leave to keep Zane and me safe."

Liz wrapped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes because she suddenly felt that he finally understood with what thoughts she struggled day in, day out.

He kissed her head once more and took a deep breath. „Come, let's go back in before you catch a cold."

She nodded and walked arm in arm with her husband back up the stairs to their house.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adam came down the stairs and sighed in frustration.

Almost four weeks had passed since he and Liz sent the kids to Detroit and neither he nor his wife made any notable progress in their cases. He had a daily video chat with Zane and Keira but it wasn't the same, the house in Boston was too quiet without them.

He heaved a sigh when he entered the kitchen and looked at Liz who stood behind the kitchen counter. „Is there anything you wanna tell me?"

Liz looked up and frowned a little. „Did I forgot that you don't like mashed potatoes, green beans or meatloaf?"

„I'm not talking about dinner," he answered seriously.

She smiled a little but furled her brows. „Then I have no clue what you're talking about."

„You sure?"

„Yes, I am," she laughed but became serious when he clenched his jaw. „What's wrong?"

Adam stepped behind the counter and pulled a positive pregnancy test out of the back pocket of his jeans, handing it to her.

Liz's mouth dropped open and she didn't move. „Oh," she breathed.

„Since when do you know," Adam wanted to know.

Liz licked her lips, raised her brows and shook her head. „Since now. I did do the test right after I came home from work. I must have left it in the bathroom."

He nodded slowly and frowned deeply without saying a word.

„Oh," she breathed once more and approached him. „Adam, it's yours. I didn't sleep with anyone else but you since I am back in Boston."

„So it's just a coincident that you got pregnant shortly after Russo showed up in the city?"

„Well, yes," she answered with a smile and wrapped her arms around him, slipping her hand underneath his shirt. „I already told you that I only slept with you since I am back in town. And when I was with someone else I always imagined that it would be you."

„And yet I wonder why you don't have a bunch of kids," he whispered and made a face.

Liz chuckled and quirked a brow. „I always had the thought back in my mind that they indeed weren't you and they never touched me the way you do."

Adam blinked a few times and swallowed hard when he thought about the way she reacted when he was with her. How she arched her back and swallowed a moan so she wouldn't wake any of the kids. How her body reacted instantly at the slightest touch of him, how she pulled him deep inside her. He cleared his throat to think straight. „So ... when ... when did you think that you could be pregnant and decided not to tell me?"

Liz looked up and shrugged. „Shortly before we decided to send Keira and Zane to your parents. I didn't know for sure, though, I just ... had the feeling that I might be pregnant."

He looked angrily at her. „And you didn't tell me? Instead, you wanted me to leave with the kids?"

„Because they need you."

„They need you, too," Adam shouted and threw his arms up after taking his space. „I need you, too. Do you still think that this is some kind of parallel universe while you're in a coma or something? That you'll come back every time after you died? You being a little more pregnant and Zane being a little older after your reincarnation?"

„Adam, stop," she whispered and closed her eyes.

„No, I won't stop." He yelled and ran his hand through his hair. „Why do you even think that this is some kind of coma dream?"

Liz squinted at the ceiling and blinked back her tears. „Because the last thought I had before I blacked-out was that I would never see you and Zane again! That I would never have more children than just one with you even though I wanted to have a whole football team with you! I wanted to have the house, the kids and the dog with you and I was so sure that I would never have it because I was dying in this fucking alley. And the next thing I know is that I have you back and that I have Zane back and that there's suddenly a teenage girl who turns out to be my sister. This can't be real. Neither of this can be real. MY HUSBAND WOULD STILL HATE ME FOR WHAT I DONE TO HIM AND OUR SON!"

„I still hate you for leaving me in the dark, for leaving us in the dark," Adam growled and grabbed her wrists, turning them up. „I hate you for not telling me what's going on in the head of yours. I hate you for pretending that you're fine. I could've helped you, Jane could've helped you, let alone Maura."

She wanted to pull her hands out of his and hissed, „Let go of my damn hands."

„Jane could've helped you," Adam replied with big eyes. „She's been through the same as you." He tugged her hands back and frowned with kind eyes. „This is real, Elizabeth. This is our life and I don't know why you didn't confide in me, why you didn't tell me that you have those thoughts." He paused and his desperation was clearly visible. „I want my wife back. My real wife. I want the woman back that this son of a bitch took away from me years ago. The one who was horrified the second she found out she was pregnant with our first child."

„I was horrified because I had a miscarriage before," Liz whispered and wiped her tears off her face.

„And yet our son turned out damn fine, didn't he?"

„Yeah," she agreed and licked her lips. „Yeah, he's perfect."

Adam stepped closer and placed his hand carefully on her belly. „And this little one in there won't be any less perfect."

Liz closed her eyes and chuckled humorlessly. „Oh yeah? Are you sure about this? Because right now I'm a total mess who can't tell what's real and what's not."

Adam buried her in his arms and closed his eyes. „You still need time to heal and a little help, Elizabeth."

„How can you be so perfect," she asked against his chest.

„I am anything but perfect," he replied with a small smile.

„You're perfect for me," she stated and looked up, humming when he kissed her but then she frowned when she saw his worried expression. „What is it?"

He swallowed hard and shrugged. „I just realized that we need to be a little more careful after ... Unless we really wanna a very own football team."

Liz stared at him before rolling her eyes with a chuckle.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Liz didn't miss that Jane had been silent on their way to Black Rock, Connecticut. She also didn't feel the need to talk while watching the Boston scenery from the passenger seat.

She wanted to talk to Dianna Martens before she faced her worst nightmare.

Moreover, the young woman was trying to come to terms with the fact that she had only yesterday learned that she was pregnant again and had, first of all, argued with the father of her children about why she hadn't told him that she had the feeling of being pregnant. The best part about that was that she then had a proper meltdown and that she finally admitted to Adam what was actually going on in her head. That she was stuck in some kind of coma dream. At least she had finally discarded this thought without Adam institutionalizing her.

Liz took a deep breath and looked briefly at her mother. „I got something to tell you."

Jane didn't look at her, gritted her teeth and nodded with a sigh. „Okay."

The young woman opened her mouth but the words she actually wanted to say didn't come out. Instead, she said, „The only thing I've never missed in the last five years is Boston's cold seasons."

Jane furled her brows and looked at her daughter before focusing back on the street. „Really? That's what you wanted to tell me? That you didn't miss Boston's cold seasons?"

Liz leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a second. „No, not really?"

Jane pursed her lips and nodded slowly. „I thought so. So, what's really on your mind?"

Liz swallowed hard and licked her lips. „I'm pregnant," she answered straightforwardly.

The former lieutenant almost maneuvered the car into the oncoming traffic and Liz clung shocked to the handle.

„Ma," the younger woman gasped in horror.

Jane regained control and swallowed hard before glancing at the younger brunette. „Congrats," she stated, trying to smile. „How long have you been pregnant?"

„Since yesterday." Liz paused and rolled her eyes when she saw her mother's confused look. „Well, I've known since yesterday that I'm pregnant. That's what I wanted to say."

Jane nodded slowly again and frowned. „And does Adam know about it?"

„Yes, he found the positive pregnancy test I left in the bathroom."

The older woman was quiet for a moment and sighed again. „Isn't this the worst possible time to -"

„Ma, it's not like Adam and I planned it," Liz replied with furrowed brows when Jane fell silent. „I mean, we haven't even talked about having more kids since Keira's living with us. And of course, there can be no worse time than this to become pregnant."

Jane stopped at a red light and turned a little in her seat. „Is that supposed to mean that you -"

„No," Liz cut her off, shaking her head. She knew exactly what her mother was about to ask if she'd abort the pregnancy. „No, it's not the fault of an unborn baby that Adam and I have been careless one night."

Jane inhaled deeply and nodded approvingly before she finally started to smile. „I'm really happy for you, Liz. And you know that Mom and I will always be there for you whenever you need our help."

Liz heaved a relieved sigh and smiled as well. „Yes, I know."

Jane drove on when the lights turned green and raised her brows. „Zane will be thrilled." She felt Liz's skeptical gaze on her and smiled. „When you were still in San Diego, he kept asking me why I had two brothers and he didn't. He also said that it sure is cool to be the big brother."

Liz made a face but couldn't hide her grin. „Really?"

The former lieutenant nodded again. „Mhm."

„We'll see if Zane thinks that it's a cool thing to be the big brother in a few months."

Jane chuckled amused and wiggled her brows.

Liz turned her head to the other woman. „Is it cool to be the oldest?"

This time Jane made a face. „Nah, it sucks most of the time."

Liz laughed heartily and her mother grinned broadly.

Jane suddenly got serious again and gritted her teeth. „Can I ask you a question?"

Liz inhaled deeply and shrugged. „Sure."

„You know that I don't work only with you, I also work with Adam and Russo."

„Yes, I've noticed."

„How did you meet Russo?"

„He tried to recruit me for the FBI, I already told you."

„Liz, I was a little longer than you a detective and I know that the FBI doesn't go into a precinct and try to poach any cop that crosses their way." Jane frowned and furrowed her brows when her daughter glanced at her. „I know from my own experience that in most cases there's a crucial reason why an FBI agent thinks a cop would be a good addition to the agency."

„And how do you know that?"

„Do you really think you're the first Rizzoli the FBI wanted to poach from the police?"

„No," the younger woman mumbled and sighed. „not really."

Jane waited patiently but Liz still didn't answer her question. „So, how did Russo and you meet?"

Liz sighed and ran her fingers over her right brow. „The first time Russo and I worked together was when I accidentally caught a case of a serial killer in San Diego who spread fear and terror nationwide. He had held several women captive for weeks in a cellar, sexually abused them before he got tired of them and killed those women. At that time Waterston was still my partner but he didn't have much interest in really solving this case. You know me how I can be when I think that there's something beyond wrong. So after consultation with Winters, I called the Agency and asked if there were already cases with the same MO and that's how Russo got into the picture for the first time."

„If I remember right I saw this case in the news. But as far as I know, the FBI took credits for solving this case."

„Yeah, that really pissed me off, but I had to keep a low profile because I was undercover already," Liz replied with furrowed brows.

Jane nodded slowly and took a deep breath. „So you and Russo worked together more often than just once?"

„Yes, a few times. And then he suggested that I should join the FBI."

„And why didn't you accept the offer?"

Liz was quiet again and set her jaw when she glanced out of the window. „It has to do with one of my last cases in San Diego."

Jane waited once more and looked at her daughter only to see that she still hadn't proceeded that memory. „Was it that bad?"

Liz took a deep breath and closed her eyes briefly. „It was a disaster."

„Wanna talk about it?"

„Not really," the young detective sniffled and licked her lips. „Russo and his former partner and close friend Scott Dajos were investigating traffickers and found out that some cops of SDPD were working for those bastards so Russo and Dajos talked to Winters and requested my services for this investigation."

Jane blinked a few times. „It's pretty unusual to ask for the help of a homicide detective."

„Dajos and Russo already knew that I am capable to think a little more abstractly than other detectives."

„Yeah, it's boon and bane." Jane scratched the back of her neck. „So you worked with them again."

„I should mention that this case was not one of the kind I've already worked on, it was a tough case," Liz stated and pressed her lips together, closing her eyes briefly. „Those traffickers kidnapped children and after some time sold them off to a particular clientele. You can imagine what those people did to those kids."

Jane gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the steering wheel. „Unfortunately."

The young woman nodded with a serious expression and closed her eyes for a second. „Eventually we were able to break one of the corrupt cops and figure out where the kids were held, hostage. So, FBI and SDPD went to an abandoned industrial site only to find out that someone else warned the trafficker and that they wouldn't go down without a fight, so some kind of a state of siege took place. That negotiator had repeatedly tried to make contact with them and they made demands that couldn't be fulfilled under any circumstances." She stopped and closed her eyes once more. „We spent two days trying to understand that there was no way out for them. In those two days, I tried to make Russo, Dajos and their bosses understand that the traffickers were playing on time for some reason and that we should intervene immediately, in vain. The third day SWAT, FBI, and SDPD went in. There was a shootout in which several officers and agents died, including Dajos. After we got the upper hand and made some arrests we went into the warehouse only to find the bodies of sixteen kids. We got to know that those kids between the age of three and fourteen had been poisoned with Rodenticide the day the siege took place. We hadn't had a chance to save them. After the FBI cast the blame on SDPD I told them that they could kiss my ass."

Jane was quiet again and furled her brows. She also had seen said siege in the news and even though that she had seen her daughter in the crowd of cops and agents but Maura told her that she was just seeing things she wished to see. Obviously, her wife had been wrong. „Was that the day you decided to go back to Boston?"

„I came back to Boston because Waterston wanted to talk to me about something."

„Do you remember what it was that he wanted to talk about?"

„No."

The former lieutenant nodded briefly and licked her lips. „Does Adam know about the siege and how it turned out?"

The younger woman didn't look at her and shook her head. „I never spoke about this case."

„Okay," Jane sighed and licked her lips.

Liz took some time and then turned her head to her mother. „Why didn't you join the FBI?"

Jane took a deep breath and scratched her chin. „Back then, I had a damn good reason not to leave Boston." She looked at her daughter and cracked a smile. „That reason was your Mom. And after that, she became pregnant with you and that was the other reason not to join the FBI."

Liz rubbed her neck and grinned broadly.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Liz sat down on the small couch in the living room of the tranquil detached house in Black Rock, Connecticut and tried to smile at Nicolas and Dianna Martens while Jane sat down next to her. „Thank you for seeing us," she said in a friendly voice.

„Did something happen to Cody," the older woman wanted to know and she glanced at her husband.

Jane shook her head with a small smile. „No, we're just having a few questions about an ongoing case for Cody, Mrs. Martens."

„And what kind of questions are these," Nicolas wanted to know and seemed to be a little more suspicious about the two women.

Jane raised briefly her brows and licked her lips. „Questions about a murder."

„And what does our son have to do with the murder?"

„That's why we're here," Liz answered and furrowed her brows. „To figure that out. Maybe he's nothing to do with it at all, but during our investigation, his name popped up several times and that the victim had worked as an investigator for a lawyer Cody had hired some time ago. We just want to know if he ever met the victim in the past."

„Why the hell would my son hire a lawyer if he isn't in trouble," Nicolas wanted to know and Liz pressed her lips together.

Dianna Martens hesitated before she looked at him. „He didn't hire that lawyer for himself, Nicolas."

„And for whom did he hired him?"

Jane looked at her daughter from the corner of the eyes and held her breath.

„For whom did he hire that damn lawyer," the older man suddenly yelled and his wife flinched.

Liz frowned, held up a hand and glanced sympathetically at Dianna. „Dianna, for who did he hired a lawyer?"

The older woman hesitated once more. „For William Hanley. His half-brother."

Nicolas growled loudly and got up without a warning, running his hands through his gray hair. „Jesus Christ, I told both of you to stay away from this psychopath, didn't I?"

Jane raised her brows and looked long at him. „You don't seem to be very fond of William Hanley."

„He's a weirdo," Nicolas growled through gritted teeth. „He sees himself as a victim of the police and justice even though everyone in Boston knows that he shot those police officers for no reason. Allegedly because they were friends with another female police officer and because they had been against his relationship with him. Who knows if this Elsa Rizzo ever really existed."

Liz's heard dropped and she glanced with big eyes at the former lieutenant. „Is that the female officer's name? Elsa Rizzo?"

„Why? Why does it matter?"

Liz didn't answer his question but wondered if she just made Will's involvement up and that he actually had nothing to do with Waterston's dead. That another woman named Elsa Rizzo became a victim of his obsession, a woman whose name was terrifically similar to hers.

„Her name isn't Elsa Rizzo," Dianna suddenly stated, got up and went to a shelf to get out a worn photo album. „Bur the name is pretty similar to hers. When I was visiting Will with Cody the last time, he was talking about the woman all the time."

Jane closed her eyes for a second and licked her lips. „When was that?"

„A year and a half ago," the older woman answered and flicked through the album. „I stopped visiting him after he started claiming that this woman would be responsible for him being in jail, that she'd framed him for these murders so she could be with another man. That was too much for me and severed all contact with Will."

„If this girl even exists," repeated Nicolas once more.

„She exists," his wife shot back and frowned deeply. „During my last visit, Will gave me a picture of the two and asked me to keep it until he would be released."

„And you were that stupid to believe that he would really be released from prison one day?"

„Hey," Jane barked and glared at Nicolas.

„That's enough," Liz stated warningly and the man raised his hands.

„Of course not," Dianna replied sharply. „I just couldn't make myself throwing that picture away because it is one of his better days."

Liz skidded forward and wanted to tell the woman that they didn't need to see the picture to believe Dianna.

Dianna's eyes shot up when she founded it and frowned deeply. „I knew I'd seen your face before. You're the woman Will was always talking about."

The detective swallowed heavily and closed her eyes.

Nicolas stepped towards her. „Is that true?"

At that moment, Jane hated being unarmed. She was sure that she could take it up with the brawny man only for a little while.

Liz licked her lips and nodded with furrowed brows. „Yes, it's true. Will and I had been in a relationship years ago, but I can assure you that I didn't frame him for murder just to be with another man. He went crazy I broke up with him. He even stalked me."

„You weren't the first one William got obsessed with," Nicolas suddenly sighed and flopped down next to his wife.

Jane released her breath when the situation calmed down again and glanced questioningly at him. „What do you mean?"

He ran his hands over his face and sighed once more. „Will is the result of a really short-lived affair I had with his mother Sarah. When I found out about the pregnancy I told her that I'd take responsibility for the boy but that I wouldn't divorce my wife. This agreement kept Sarah and me in touch and I visited Will every two weeks. In high school he had a pretty serious relationship with a girl called Debbie Wilkinson, he even thought about proposing to her, but at the end of the senior year she broke up with him because she had been accepted in Yale. Will didn't take that pretty well and followed Debbie everywhere until the girl and her parents obtained a restraining order. He wasn't allowed to come closer to Debbie than twenty yards but that didn't hold him back."

Jane frowned deeply and blinked a few times. „And why isn't this noted in his record? With that in it, he couldn't have become a cop."

„It has benefits when you are friends with some DA's," Nicolas reluctantly replied and closed his eyes for the split of a second. „Listen, I'm not proud that I asked my friend get Will's juvie record sealed. I had no idea that my son would snap one day and shoot cops. But when he told me that he wanted to become a sop to serve and protect, I really thought I'd get him back on the straight and narrow. I didn't mean to spoil his chances."

Liz closed her eyes to force the upcoming tears with a shake of her head back. „Is the name of your DA friend Benjamin Payton?"

Nicolas glanced confused at her and shook his head, too. „No, his name is Jeremy Leach. „Why?"

The young detective gasped and glanced at her mother.

„Does Cody believe that his brother's innocent," the former lieutenant wanted to know.

Dianna scoffed and inhaled deeply. „William could tell him that the sky would be purple and the grass orange, Cody would believe it without a doubt."

Liz nodded slowly. „Does Cody also have any deviant behaviors?"

Nicolas turned the corners of his mouth downwards and shook his head. „He was a perfectly normal young man, perhaps a little too gullible, but yes, he's changed after his last tour."

Jane got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. „He's in the Army?"

Nicolas nodded once again. „He was honorably discharged a year and a half ago, after the last tour. After that, he visited Will every single week in prison."

„Why are you asking these questions about Cody," Dianna asked and Nicolas took her hand in his.

Jane didn't answer the question and glanced at her daughter only to see that Liz was struggling with herself at that moment.

The young detective swallowed hard and frowned deeply because she knew that there was no easy way to tell them that their poster child was, in reality, an ice-cold murderer. She licked her lips and held Dianna's gaze. „We have to assume that Cody was involved in at least two murders in the Boston area."

„No," Dianna cried out loud, collapsed and Nicolas pulled her into his arms with a loud and frustrated groan.

„Please give me a call if Cody contacts you," Liz stated when she got up and put her business card on the coffee table.

„Detective," Dianna whimpered.

Jane was about to follow her daughter and stopped.

Liz closed her eyes before turning to the desperate mother.

„Can you make sure our son doesn't get hurt?"

Jane opened her mouth to tell the detective that she couldn't promise such a thing as long as Cody Martens avoided his arrest.

„I'll try," Liz answered with a deep frown and a nod.

„Thank you."

Jane took a deep breath and followed the other brunette out of the living room and out of the house, handing her the keys. „You okay?"

Liz unlocked the car and took off her jacket. „No," she answered with tears evident in her voice.

„Did you know about Debbie Wilkinson?"

„I knew that Will and Debbie were in a relationship in high school. And that she was killed in a car accident on her way to New Haven."

Jane opened the passenger's door and furrowed her brows. „Do you think that it was a coincidence?"

The younger woman threw her jacket on the backseat and opened the driver's door. „Ma, what did you teach me about coincidences?"

Jane quirked a brow. „That there are none?"

„Exactly," Liz nodded and rolled her eyes when her phone started buzzing.

„What is it?"

„We need to get back to Boston as fast as possible."

„Well, then let's switch places."

„Hell no," Liz laughed and Jane chuckled before they got into the unmarked car.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Russo ducked under the fluttering police tape and rubbed his gloved hands. „I certainly won't miss the cold when I get back to California."

Adam rolled his eyes and shrugged, and Sam grinned amusedly. „It's just a matter of ability to adapt." He thrust his chin at Chaz. „Chaz, what do we got?"

The officer led the three into an alley and frowned. „A male victim, eighteen. Apparently executed."

„Did the ME confirmed that?"

„Nope."

Adam quirked a brow. „Any witnesses?"

„Nope."

The detective scowled at Chaz but breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Rose standing next to the body and Maura crouching down, examining the body closely. „Enjoying yourself, Dr. Isles?"

Maura looked up and smiled broadly. „Actually, I had other plans today but yes. It's been a while since I have been on an active crime scene."

Adam grinned and wiggled his brows. „Glad we made your day. What can you tell us, Maura?"

The former switched immediately into her working mode and pointed at the back of the man's head, „Two gunshot wounds to the back of his head. According to the burn marks shot from a very close range."

„So the barrel was put on his head before he got shot," Adam asked while Sam was taking notes.

„Most likely," Maura replied a little too joyful while examining the body of the young man. „I wouldn't rule out an execution since Rose and I found abrasions on his hands and knees. Let alone the bruising in his face."

Sam looked up from his notebook. „So he was beaten and then forced down on his hands and knees?"

„That would explain the excrement on his hands and the jeans, yes."

„I don't even want to know how you know that these are excrement," the young man muttered and the ME chuckled while he made a face.

„So this is a drug deal gone wrong. The boy wanted to get his next shot and tried to diddle the dealer. Why exactly am I hear," Russo wanted to know.

Maura's face darkened and she turned the head of the victim so it was clearly visible, as well as the dried blood around his mouth. „His tongue has been removed, and as far as I know that is a warning in certain milieus. Doesn't a removed tongue mean to shut a traitor up?"

Russo sighed loudly and nodded slowly. „Yes in milieus like gangs and the mafia."

Adam closed his eyes briefly and turned his attention to Sam, who turned pale. „Sammy, you okay?"

Sam blinked a few times while Adam helped Maura to get up to her feet. „His name is Darren."

„You know the victim," Adam asked surprised.

„That's the kid who warned Liz about Ortiz and the Red Serpents," the young man answered thoughtfully.

„Oh," Maura breathed and glanced anxiously at her son-in-law.

Adam put off his gloves and took his phone out of his pocket.

„Who are you calling," Russo demanded to know.

Adam frowned deeply but didn't look at him. „I write Liz that we found the boy who warned her about Ortiz dead."

„No!"

The Detective raised his eyes while the crime scene became quiet. „What?"

Russo felt the eyes of the others on him but he stood his ground. „You're not telling her about this. This is an FBI investigation now."

Adam straightened up and stepped closer to Russo, growling, „Listen, pal. You might have this little frigging FBI badge that makes you think that you are special or even better than any of us, but this is my town and you are my guest, so you're playing by my rules. And if I say it's necessary to inform about Darren then you smile nod and agree because Liz isn't the only one who has connections. Understood?"

Russo clenched his jaw and nodded reluctantly.

Maura smirked and stood shoulder to shoulder with Adam. „Well spoken."

„Thank you," Adam whispered and sighed. „I just hope I didn't make a mistake."

„You did not," Maura assured and he sent the text with a nod.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hey, guys. Thanks for still sticking with this story. I know that this story is dragging on and I want to thank you for your reviews first of all. Every time I start a chapter of this story I have the thought that it will also be the last one while I listen to the title music of the PS4 game Become Human: Detroit, especially Kara. And I always have new thoughts that I want to share with you. I also love to write about Liz and Adam, so it's hard for me to finish this story once and for all even though I know that all good things come to an end sometime.

I'll try to finish this story in the next chapters so the updates will be a little longer so I can accommodate most of my ideas.

See you soon,

T73.