"Vince where is she," Maura asked in a panic?

"Maura it has been less than five minutes…we have the building and surrounding area locked down and we are expanding the perimeter but it takes time."

Maura glanced at her cell phone again making sure she didn't miss anything from Jane but also looking at the time. Sure enough it had only been a few minutes since she found out Hoyt had escaped and no one could locate Jane….it certainly felt much longer.

"What about her mom and brother," Maura asked worried about them?

"They are on lock down in the courthouse. They were taken with the DA and judge to the judge's chambers and have two posted guards with them."

"What if they are the ones that helped break Hoyt out," she asked thinking worst case scenario for everything?

"They are my men and I trust them."

That put Maura at ease a little. Maura was trying to take a breath and gather herself when another flurry of activity swirled around her. She could hear the police officers radio going off about an incident at the southwest sector.

"Vince."

"Officer Boggs," Vince said ignoring Maura for a moment and getting the attention of a trusted cop. "Officer I want you to stay with Maura and keep her here….if she tries to leave cuff her to the railing…if someone tries to take her shoot them," he said knowing his officer wouldn't take his words literally but would get how serious his orders where to keep Maura in place and safe. "Maura you NEED to stay here I will be back."

Maura watched as Vince ran off following the surrounding officers. She hated waiting but knew she would just be in the way and make Vince's job harder if she tagged along. She looked around and sighed before sitting down on the step. Her leg bounced, the excess nerves getting the better of her. It wasn't until she heard the shot ring out that her whole body froze.

"Jane," she whispered.

30 minutes prior….

"The DA will let you know and Vince will let you know. They just got back from lunch…Vince will let you know," Maura assure her girlfriend.

"You're right…. you're right I just need to get some air," Jane said taking a couple deep breaths.

"I will go with you."

"No, I need you to wait here in case Vince comes out. I will be just out front text me if anyone comes out please."

"Yeah, sure no problem…Jane," Maura called out to her girlfriend.

"Yeah," she asked taking a few steps towards Maura.

"You are going to do great," she said giving her girlfriend a kiss.

It was in that kiss that Jane found the first sense of calm all day.

"Thank you Maura."

Jane gave her another soft kiss before she headed for the front of the building. The walls in this court house were almost suffocating her and she just needed to breath for a moment. She stopped by the bathroom to splash some water on her face before heading out the large wooden doors of the courthouse. She sat at the base of one of the large pillars, her elbows resting on her knees, her head in her hands. She had been prepared to sit in the courtroom and tell her story…yesterday. However, as the time passed and she was made to wait her nerves creeped in and her doubts took over. Could she really do this? Could she really face the man that held her captive? Getting frustrated by her own thoughts she got up and decided to take a walk around. She had her phone, if they needed her she would be there in less than five minutes.

The air was brisk but the sun beaming down on her was actually a welcome change, bringing a comforting warmth. As much of an internal struggle as she was having, it really was a beautiful day. She tried to focus on the bright sunlight, chirping birds, changing leaf's…she was never one to focus on nature but it was currently helping.

"JANE!"

Jane stopped in her tracks and turned to the agitated voice calling her name.

"Jane thank god I found you," the office said rushing up to her.

"Do they need me in court," Jane asked looking at her phone not getting any notifications?

"No, you need to come with me we need to get you some place safe."

Jane was confused by this news.

"What do you mean some place safe? I'm at a court house surrounded by security," Jane glanced around not seeing any guard immediately in her eyesight but knowing they were around.

"Hoyt escaped."

People often say when they receive shocking news it felt like they were punched in the gut and Jane never understood how words could equate to a physical reaction…but she got it now. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, couldn't think. Hoyt had escaped and Jane had no doubt his number one goal was tracking her down.

"What? How," she whispered out trying to catch her breath?

"Escaped through a bathroom cutout leading into a janitor's closet."

A cutout leading into a janitor's closet? Jane knew that couldn't be done alone, Hoyt was working with someone. She suddenly didn't trust anyone and started backing away from the security officer in front of her.

"Come on we need to get you out of here," the officer said grabbing Jane's arm.

"Where to? Why not just go inside? My family is in there I need to get back to them," Jane said shrugging the officer off and trying to head back to the court house.

"No, I have orders to bring you back to the precinct. Hoyt is probably still in that building somewhere."

"All the more reason I need to get to my family," Jane pressed on.

"The officers will make sure your family is ok."

"Not good enough."

"We need to go," the officer said more forcefully.

Jane was shocked at the force which the officer grabbed her…something wasn't right. The panic she was previously feeling switched into survival. The office was in full uniform and all outward appearances he looked legit, but Jane's gut was telling her otherwise.

"Ok, you sure my family will be safe," Jane said giving in.

"They will be safe," he confirmed.

"Yeah, ok so we heading to the Pearl Street station?"

"Yes," he said pushing her away from the court house.

Jane was now on red alert, whoever this guy was, was no officer…the station was on High Street. Whoever this was, was no officer. She had to figure out a plan before he led her to a car that would certainly bring her directly to Hoyt. She was fully aware that once in the back of a police car she wouldn't be able to get out on her own. Jane slowed her steps some buying her more time. This officer had a gun, or at least it appeared he did and she had to believe it was real. Whatever she did she couldn't let him get to the gun.

It had all happened so fast…before Jane knew was she was doing she had tripped the officer and sent him flying to the ground. She jumped on his back and tried to lock in a choke hold but the fight from the officer made it almost impossible.

"HELP," Jane yelled out during the struggle. "HELP."

She hoped she would bring attention to herself and in a hurry before she was overpowered.

Present time

Maura begged for information from the officer who had received a couple calls through the radio while making sure Maura stayed put. The officer kept saying everything was fine and she needed to remain where she was until Vince came back.

"Was that a gunshot? Oh my god that was a gun," Maura jumped up ready to head in that direction.

"No you don't," the officer said quickly restraining her. "You have to stay here…it's not safe."

Maura heard the flurry of radio activity confirming shots fired and the need for medical assistance. She felt sick. Sure she didn't know if Jane was even involved but given the way this day was going how could it be anything else.

The seconds felt like hours waiting for any news about what was going on. Maura knew she was pretty low on the totem pole as far as receiving information was concerned but she needed to know something…anything.

"Please…who was shot? Please find out," Maura begged.

The office really did feel for Maura. She was helpless in the whole situation and the waiting game was torturous.

"If you promise not to run I will try and get you information."

"I promise please."

The officer kept his eye on his protectee but took a couple steps away as he conversed with a fellow officer. A few moments later he returned to Maura's side with some much needed information.

"The GSW was a male."

"GSW," Maura questioned?

"Gunshot wound."

"Oh ok," Maura said taking a breath.

"They have Jane but she is being checked out by medical."

"Medical? What happened?"

"I don't know yet I am sorry."

Maura had never been more frustrated in her life. When she saw Vince walking up the stairs she broke free from her guard and ran to him.

"Where is Jane? Is she ok? Is she hurt."

"She is a giant pain in the ass that is what she is," Vince chuckled.

"What happened?"

"She is refusing medical treatment until I get you."

A tiny part of Maura was happy at that news as her heart swelled with pride. The other part wished Jane wasn't so stubborn and would just get checked out.

"Let's go, let's go."

By the time Vince and Maura arrived the crime scene tape was up and medical staff was surrounding a body.

"Oh my god," Maura gasped out not fully realizing the magnitude of the situation until right now.

"Over this way," Vince said directing Maura to the ambulance.

The two headed over to the ambulance and Maura took off in a sprint when she spotted Jane.

"Oh my god Jane," Maura rushed up to her.

"Maura thank god," Jane said wrapping her arms around her girlfriend.

The two embraced just savoring being in each other's arms.

"What happened? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I just took an elbow to the head…it is not big deal."

Upon closer inspection of her girlfriends face she could already see a bruise forming and a small cut over her eye.

"Please let them look at you and clean up that cut."

"What cut," Jane asked feeling her forehead before wincing when she hit the open wound.

"That one," she said moving Jane's hand. "Stop touching it and let the medical stuff look at it so it doesn't get infected. You are definitely going to have a black eye."

"Sweet I can't wait to show Frankie he is going to be so jealous," Jane chuckled.

Maura looked less than please.

"Seriously Jane what happened?"

Jane sighed not really wanting to divulge what she had just been through to her girlfriend. It was nothing bad but she didn't want to worry Maura any more than she already was. Thankfully she was given a little time when Vince interrupted.

"Jane you need to get looked at and then we need to take your statement."

"Is umm…is he…"

"The medical staff is attending to him right now and once he gets stabilized we will interrogate him."

"Hoyt?"

"Still missing."

Jane felt a little dizzy and sat back on the bumper of the ambulance. She wasn't sure if it was the hit to the head or the news Hoyt was still missing, but either way her stability was not good right now. There was a man out there hunting her down and would stop at nothing to get to her.