Sorry this is so late. Starting the school year is always busy. Thank you everyone for still sticking with this story. I hope it doesn't disappoint. Thank you for everyone who is following and for the comments.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rizzoli and Isles.


Jane walked with Maura out to her car as they left for the evening. She still wasn't sold on the whole idea of attending the ball, but had to admit that she didn't have a better one.

"Jane, I tried not to say anything, but I've got to ask. What is on your wrists? I've never seen you wear jewelry before and certainly didn't think you would wear anything quite so…ostentatious." Maura pointed to the large metal bands around her friends arms.

Jane let out a laugh. "I wondered when you would finally break down and ask." Jane held her arms up so her friend could see. "They are very Wonder Woman, don't you think?"

"Who?"

"Wonder Woman." Jane was shocked by her friend's blank expression. "Really? Amazon princess. Invisible Jet. Friend of Superman and Batman." Maura's expression didn't change. "Nothing?" Jane shook her head. "Anyway, I'm wearing these so that I always have a weapon on me."

As Maura watched, the bracelets began to flow like water around Jane's now clinched fist. Her entire hand appeared to be covered in a seamless silver metal glove.

"Better than brass knuckles and then I can always go Wolverine on someone." The metal once again flowed around her hands but long blade began to curve off the back of her hands. "I decided I should keep some metal on me at all times after the last run in with Hoyt." Jane saw a perplexed expression on her friends face. "What?"

"Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say 'go feline' since they use their claws more than wolverines. Most of the damage done by them is with their teeth, not claws."

Jane started laughing. "Right. I'll go feline on someone, Maur. No problem."


Jane had dreaded this moment since Maura's exclamation of excitement the previous afternoon. Going shopping wasn't exactly her idea of fun in the first place. Going shopping with Maura, who was looking at her like her own personal Barbie, for a dress and shoes, was torture.

"Explain to me why I can't just wear something I own?" Jane said as she got into Maura's car. They were leaving straight from work. Maura had insisted on driving for the trip. Jane assumed it was to limit her options of escape.

Maura didn't even look at her friend as she asked the question. She had known it was coming from the moment she made her statement in her office yesterday. It had taken her sometime to come up with an answer that she thought would satisfy Jane.

"Why do you wear slacks, t-shirts, and blazer to work?" Maura asked.

Jane was immediately put on guard by the question. She didn't know where Maura was headed with her train of thought but could see the wheels turning in her mind. "Because it's comfortable." She answered truthfully.

"Is that the only reason?" Maura prompted.

"It looks badass." Jane smirked.

Maura did her best to hide her smile of triumph. She hadn't expected to win the argument quite so soon, but Jane's admission pretty much made the point. Now she just had to explain it to her friend.

"Exactly. You wear your outfits because of not only how they make you feel, but also how they present you to those who see you. It shows you to be a no nonsense, serious detective. It makes you feel confident, professional, and intelligent. It is what you feel and what people see. It helps you to control situations, intimidate suspects, comfort the victims, and have the respect of your peers."

"Thanks Maur." A broad smile crossed Jane's face.

Maura could tell by the look on her friends face she was genuinely pleased with what she had said. "It also removes any sense of you being a woman."

"What!?"

"You have a job in a man's world. You have removed anything feminine from your wardrobe so as to not be a woman. This is so you won't be accused of using your body for promotions or recognition. It also removes the biggest target that suspects would use against you in interrogations."

"Well, yeah, Maur. I learned quick in the academy. Too much girl gets you called a slut, too little gets you called a dyke and not just by criminals. I found the medium. It doesn't stop everything, but most of it gets done."

"Quickly. You learned quickly in the academy."

"You just can't help yourself, can you?"

"No. So you admit that the clothes you wear serve a purpose other than comfort?"

Jane remained silent.

"Come on Jane. Everyone knows you wear those boots because they give you a couple of inches on all the guys. Which I don't understand because you are above average height, but that's not my point."

"I do not…" The rebuttal died on her lips at a look from her friend. "What is your point?"

"My point is that you wear clothing that is advantageous to you in your world. We are going into a different world this weekend. In that world, you need different clothing for an advantage. You need a different attitude."

Jane narrowed her eyes. "You want me to be girly, don't you?"

"This may come as a shock to you, but you are a girl." Maura interrupted her complaint. "And it is not a disadvantage."

Jane crossed her arms and huffed. "I didn't say it was a disadvantage. I'm just not good at it."

Maura decided to change her tactics. "Do you trust me Jane?"

"Of course."

"Then let me pick your outfit. I promise not to 'girly' you up to much."

"Alright Maur. You win." Jane rolled her eyes.


"This is the tenth dress, Maura." Jane said taking the garment that appeared over the dressing room door. "Am I supposed to try on the whole store?"

"Not the whole store, just until we find the right dress."

"I thought you liked the third, fifth, sixth, and eighth ones." Jane reluctantly took the dress.

"I did, but they are not the right dress."

"Why couldn't I just wear the black dress that you already bought me?"

"This isn't a cocktail event, Jane. This is a formal evening event. That dress simply isn't appropriate."

Jane smirked on the other side of the door. "Are you doing this just so you can use me as your personal Barbie?"

Maura let out a laugh. "Just put on the dress."

"Alright, alright."

Moments later Jane walked out of the dressing room in the latest dress Maura has given to her.

"And this one?" She asked.

Maura watched her friend walk out of the dressing room with her mouth agape. The shade of green of the dress was the perfect contrast to her friend's dark olive skin.

"Maur?" Her friend's silence was making her nervous about the way she looked. She didn't like dresses to begin with. Trying to find one to wear to her friends very fashionable, very elite party wasn't helping.

"That's the one." Maura clapped her hands together.

Jane stood in front of the full length mirror, doing little turns, trying to see the dress from all sides. "How can you tell?"

"Because I'm jealous of the way you look in it."

Maura reflected the radiant smile that Jane gave her at the compliment.


"TO THE DIRTY ROBBER!" Jane yelled as she shut the car door.

Maura jumped at the noise. "Jane! Must you yell?"

"After three hours and ten dresses? Yes. I must yell." Jane smirked.

Maura just shook her head. "Detective Frost and Detective Korsak are meeting us there?"

"Yes. We will turn dinner in an impromptu planning session for tomorrow night's operation."

"Operation? Jane, it's a formal ball with a dinner and dancing. There will be no running, shooting, kicking in of doors, or roughing up of anyone." Maura narrowed her eyes at Jane. "Right Jane?"

Jane gave her best indignant look. "I'm not a Neanderthal, Maura. I have been out in public before. Are you worried that I will embarrass you?"

"No, I'm not worried about that. I'm sure it will happen."

"Hey!"

Maura giggled slightly at her friend to show her she was kidding. "I'm just saying, at least act like you want to be there and not like I'm dragging you to your own public execution."

"Fine. Just remember, you may be there to represent your family and do the Court thing, but I'm coming to get information from Garrett Fairfield." Jane noticed Maua's posture stiffen at the mention of his name. The detective knew Maura was holding something back from her. It had to be something personal, because as the M.E. she would never withhold information about a case. Jane had been doing her best not to pry, but she didn't want to get blindsided by anything at the ball the next evening. "What is it about Garrett that sets you on edge, Maur?" She could see the deflection coming. "Please just answer the question. You get rigid and quiet every time his name is mentioned."

"I wasn't completely forthcoming when I told you about Garrett."

"This isn't exactly making me feel good. That's the sort of thing that a guilty suspect says during interrogation."

"We dated in college." Maura hung her head as if she was ashamed.

"OK. I'm not real sure what that has to do with the case." Jane paused for a second as a thought crossed her mind. "Unless you still have feeling for him."

"NO!" Maura said a little too loudly. "There wasn't much there even in college."

Jane could tell that she wanted to say more, so she stayed quiet to give her friend a chance.

"It's just, I want you to know, that I'm not part of that world. I'm not going to this ball to be with Garrett."

Now Jane was completely confused. "Why would I think that?"

"My mother has been bothering me about going for months. After Mrs. Fairfield's death, she suggested I renew my relationship with Garrett. She thinks it will look really good for the family. Now that he is being declared the family representative he has asked me about a relationship again. I'm sure she will bring it up when she sees us there."

That's when Jane realized something. "You haven't told her we are attending, have you?"

Maura turned to look at the brunette. "Would you tell your mother that you were attending an event that you had been denying going to for months before you actually arrived?"

Jane nodded her head. "No. No I would not."


All too quickly, Saturday afternoon arrived. While Jane was unhappy about having to deal with rich snobs all afternoon, Maura was dreading the reactions she would receive when she arrived at the event.

"You know, I'm starting to think that I didn't fully think through this idea." Maura placed a diamond earring in her ear while staring in the hallway mirror.

"What are you worried about. I'm the blue collar cop entering the world of the upper crust in a dress that cost more than I make in a month. You have done this before. I'm going to a party with no beer. Now that's hardship."

"However will you manage?" Maura caught her friend's playful pout at her response.

"I'll just drink twice as much champagne."

"I thought this was a working party? How are you going to question people if you are drinking?"

"Gee, be a buzzkill, Maur."

Maura frowned at the detective. "The car will be here any minute. Are you ready?"

Jane bent over next to her friend to look in the mirror she was using. She moved a loose strand of hair behind her ear and checked her makeup. "I don't think it's going to get any better." Jane turned to face the blonde. "What do you think?"

"You look stunning, as always."

The brunette looked at the floor as she felt the blush rise up her cheeks. "Thanks Maur. You look pretty good yourself."

Maura was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. She looked at the window to see the driver from the car service. "Here we go." She waved her hand toward the door. "After you."

Jane smiled. "Why thank you." She said with an exaggerated drawl as she headed for the door.

Maura just laughed and shook her head as she followed her friend out the door to the car.


The car pulled up in front of a nondescript building in the middle of Boston. Jane looked out of the window. "I thought it would be at one of the family estates that sit on the court."

"Normally, yes it would. This is a special occasion so the event is taking place at the Court Hall."

"I have to say, given all the stories I've heard, I'm a little underwhelmed, Maur."

"Hold that thought, detective." Was all she said as the car door was opened for her and she exited the vehicle.

Jane followed her friend out of the car, across the side walk, and into the building. She was lead to set of elevators.

A few moments after the doors closed, Jane wondered what they were waiting on. "Maur, are you going to push a button."

She just smiled. "No."

Jane was about to say something else when the doors opened again. She hadn't felt the elevator move, but the room on the other side of the doors was definitely not the lobby. She had stepped into a massive banquet hall that looked like it belonged in a castle. The floor was highly polished marble and the walls were blocks of stone. Chandeliers floated in the air over their heads giving light to the darkest corners of the room. Off to her left were round tables set up for the expected meal and on the right was a clear section of floor for dancing. A small orchestra was set up on a temporary stage along the far right wall. At the opposite end of the hall was a permeant stage with its curtains drawn.

Jane paused a moment to take in the dimensions of the building she was in. She grabbed Maura's arm and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Are we still in Boston? How far did we just get transported?"

Maura smiled. She knew it wouldn't take Jane long to figure out that the elevator had teleported them to a different location. "Yes. We are still in Boston. We are actually 375 feet below city hall. There are several different entrance points around the city. A janitor's closet in City Hall. The statue in the pond of the commons it a gateway."

The detective interrupted her friend. "That's fine, but how do we get out?" Jane suddenly felt trapped not knowing any of the exits.

Maura pointed to three set of what appeared to be fire places. "Those are levitation tubes. They will take you straight up to City Hall. They are the emergency exits."

"Duchess. I'm surprised to see you here. It's been quite some time."

Jane had been looking at the exits and not see the woman approach. She was surprised by the use of the title and turned to look at her friend.

Maura did her best to hide her blush. "Yes, Lady Donovan. It has been some time." Maura certainly didn't want to get into the specifics of what she was doing there with a woman she barely knew and had not seen in over twenty years.

"And this must be Dame Rizzoli." She nodded her head at the detective. "I'm pleased to meet you, but I'm sorry to say that I know nothing about you."

"Well, what's life without a little mystery?" Jane responded.

The woman laughed lightly. Jane had a hard time telling whether or not it was genuine.

"It was a pleasure to meet you." With that the woman moved onto the next group of dignitaries.

The detective turned on her friend. "Dame Rizzoli?"

Maura wouldn't meet her eyes. "Yes." She whispered.

Jane waited a minute but Maura didn't say anything else. "Yes." The brunette intensified her glare. "That's all you have to say?"

"Yes?" Maura tried to look innocent.

"Oh no. I just got called Dame Rizzoli. Why is that?" She narrowed her eyes.

"When I told you that could get you in, I wasn't lying, but to make it easier, I named you Knight Protector of House Isles." Maura never looked her friend in the face. She wasn't sure how the brunette would respond to the news.

"So, I've been knighted?"

"As far as the Council is concerned? Yes." Maura braced for the worst.

"THAT IS SO COOL! Do I get a sword?" She even clapped her hands together.

Staring into her friends wide eyes, Maura didn't know whether to laugh in relief or roll her eyes in frustration. "Remember when we talked about I was sure you would embarrass me?"

"Yes."

"This is that time."

"Oh come on. This is exciting. I've never been a knight before. I want to go slay a dragon or something."

"We've discussed that. Killing dragons is illegal. Now, focus Jane. You are here to talk to Garrett Fairfield, not live out childhood fantasies."

"Party pooper." The detective scanned the room. "I don't see Fairfield yet."

"Neither do I." Maura couldn't help but be glad that she hadn't, regardless of reason for them being there. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Garrett, especially after the way things had ended.

"Oh my God! What's wrong?"

Maura and Jane turned toward the voice.

"Matthew! How are you?" Maura responded.

Jane noticed that her friend let out a genuine laugh at the new comer's arrival. Maura leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"I'm fine but something has to be wrong for you to be here. It's been decades." The gentleman's brow creased. He lowered his voice before speaking again. "Are you here to block Garrett's induction?"

"No, nothing like that. This is more of a field trip. This is Detective Jane Rizzoli. She is part of BPD special projects. She asked me if she could see the Court's inner workings." Maura turned to her friend. "Jane, this is Matthew Sanger. He's an Ambassador to the Court."

Jane had successfully not made any noise or rolled her eyes at Maura's deflection as to why they were there. Jane held out her hand. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise." While Jane had expected a handshake, Matthew took the hand and kissed the back of it. "Well, for whatever reason you are here, as long as it doesn't interfere with the family, I have your back."

Jane was trying to decide if she liked Matthew or not. Normally she would deck someone for kissing her hand, but there was something about him.

"Have it where?" Maura asked.

This time, Jane did laugh. "He means he will help you with whatever it is we are doing here." Jane tried to look him in the eyes, but something put her off. "Apparently he doesn't believe your field trip explanation."

Now it was Matthew's turn to laugh. "I forgot how literal she was." He nodded his head toward each woman. "Have a good evening."

As he walked away Jane turned to the M.E. "Ambassador for what?"

Maura smiled. "He's a werewolf. He's a grandson of the Alpha."

"He didn't have an accent." Jane pointed out.

"He's lived in Boston since its founding Jane, but I assure you he was born in Appalachia.

Jane gaped. "How old is he?"

"Well, the wolves left Europe like the Magi did when the Sithe war broke out. So he was born after 1470 and before 1630. That would make him near 400 or so."

"Why Boston? He could be anywhere in the country?"

"Because the Court is in Boston." Maura said as if that explained everything.

"But the court doesn't hold any real power." Jane defended.

"No, not now. Not like it once did. However, it is made up of old, very rich, very well connected families that have power outside of the court. It also has reach into the magi community. The Alpha knows this and has seen fit to keep a representative here even after the court no longer exerted the power it once did."

Jane thought for a moment. "That makes sense. So, how many other ambassadors are there?" Jane started scanning the room.

"Well, the Sidthe court, the vampire senate, the wolf packs, and occasionally someone from the European court. The vampire and the Sidthe should be here tonight. They love a good ball." Maura looked up at her friend, but her attention was stolen by the man walking up behind the detective.

"Dad."

The exclamation caused Jane to turn around.

"Maura." He embraced his daughter warmly. "And this must be Det-eh, I mean Dame Rizzoli." A smile crept across his face. "You don't look surprised by the title."

"Sorry to disappoint you, Lady Donovan spilled the beans a few minutes ago." Jane responded.

"I was so hoping to see this reaction that Maura was worried about." Mr. Isles looked at his daughter.

"Where is mother?" Maura asked.

"Making the rounds. I was hoping to talk to you, in private."

Jane could take a hint. "I'll go mingle."

"No, Detective. I'm sure that this concerns you as well." Mr. Isles took a few steps and turned. "Follow me please."

Maura exchanged a glance with Jane then followed her father out of the hall. Jane followed. She hadn't even noticed the door set into the wall of the hall until they were almost to it.

"Where does this go?" Jane asked.

"This isn't just for galas and balls. There are offices, meeting rooms, everything needed for conducting business." Mr. Isles answered.

Mr. Isles led them down a hallway stopping in front a door like all the others on the hall. He opened the door and motioned them into the room. He noticed the look on his daughter's and her friend's face. "This is an old smoking room, hence the wood walls, comfortable chairs, and fireplace. I thought this would be more appropriate for our conversation. Also, this room is defended against ease dropping, both magical and electronic. Please have a seat." He waved his arms at the small couch along the wall. Mr. Isles sat down on a chair across from the sofa.

Jane was starting to get a bad feeling. "Why do we need to be secured against ease dropping?"

"Because Arnie told me about the questions you were asking about your case." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Dr. Dillinger told you about Garrett?" Maura gasped in surprise.

"Garrett? No, the case you had about two sources that are enhancing one another. I was helping him with the research."

Jane's curiosity got the best of her. "What did you find out?" Maura shot a glare at Jane, but she just shrugged her shoulders at her.

"What you are talking about is so rare, it is relegated to legend. A great many people don't even believe it is real"

"What legends?" Maura asked. Her curiosity trumping her earlier apprehension about discussing 'The Event' with her father.

"Mostly twin legends. Romulus and Remus, the legendary founders of Rome. Castor and Pollox are another example. In the original Gilgamesh epic there was his other half Enkidu. All of these legends tell of amazing powers and achievements of the pair." Mr. Isles looked between the two women.

"Was there any explanation as to why the two interact in such a usual way?" Maura pressed further.

"Just theory and supposition. It's almost as if each is the familiar of the other. They enhance and focus the other's power. Normally this would be a one way connection with only so much enhancement to the magic user's abilities." Jane could see Maura's father's demeanor change as he easily slipped into his professor persona. "It's like several things are happening at once. Each individual acts as a focus, sacrifice, and familiar for the other. The focus is almost like a wand. It gives the power direction and purpose. The familiar gives control along with the ability to subtly change the power. The sacrifice appears to be the sacrifice of one person's power to fuel the others. Those three things alone would be almost impossible to find in a single person. To find them in two that work together, well you can see way this would be the stuff of legend. Add to all of that that each is a source that can create magic without the use of spells…well the two individuals would be a magical generator. They could build as much power as their bodies could stand. As long as they could control it, everything would be fine. There are at least to historical references to what can only be described as magical devastation when the power broke free."

"What happened? Did they die?"

"Only with hundreds of others. The area of effect described would look like a bomb to us today." Mr. Isles looked between the two women with a puzzled expression. "That's all Arnie and I were able to find."

"Thank you. It's more than we had." Maura embraced her father.

"Thank you Dr. Isles." Jane frowned. "Feels weird calling someone other than Maura that."

"You can call me Arthur." He shook the offered hand. "We should return to the party before we are missed." He crossed the room and opened the door. Jane walked out first and as Maura passed he gently placed his hand on his daughter's arm.

"It's the two of you." It wasn't a question.

Maura didn't say anything. She simply gave the barest of nods.

"Be careful who knows. Many people will covet such power." Arthur removed his hand followed his daughter back to the hall.


Maura and Jane had been at the ball for almost thirty minutes without seeing Garrett.

"You are sure he is going to be here?"

Maura could tell her friend was losing her patience. "It's for him. If out theory is correct, that this was the reason for the murder, then he has to be here."

"Well I'm tired of moving around the room in a circle avoiding your mother. Can't you just talk to her?" Jane whispered.

"You are asking me to stop avoiding my mother?" Maura raised an eyebrow.

Jane suddenly realized what she had asked. "Right. Never mind."

"There he is." Maura nodded her head toward an entrance on the opposite side of the room.

Jane turned to just in time to see Garrett Fairfield enter the room. "Well, let's do what we came here for." She set her drink down on a nearby table and began to make her way across the room.