The detectives are on their way out to the theater on 3rd st. After some digging they found it was leased out to a Steven Ryder, white male, 32yrs old, 6ft 2in, and 220lbs. He has a record for multiple counts of assault, armed robbery, and making terroristic threats. They ran the partial prints from the shell casing at the shooting and it was a positive match in CODIS for Steven Ryder. Jane, Frost, and Korsak left with several patrol units backing them up. They wanted to be fully prepared for whatever they may walk into.

Patrol units made haste surrounding the theater while still trying to be discrete. The three detectives pulled alongside the building and slowly began working their way inside, weapons drawn. Korsak stepped in first followed by Jane and Frost. The three of them swept the top floor of the theater that hadn't been operational for many years and has collected cob webs along the pillars. They searched down the aisles and around every hallway, but still all was quiet. Before long Jane discovered a basement entrance once the upstairs was cleared. She slowly pushed the door open, took three steps, and noticed a wire across the fourth step. She'd almost missed it, but was lucky enough to avoid it. Frost was soon behind her, and she warned him of the trip wire. Slowly they came down the steps not knowing who or what they'd find. Once downstairs their surroundings told the whole story. On the back wall, a large Nazi flag was pinned up, along with pictures of groups giving Hitler's famous salute, an array of heavy artillery locked in steel cages, many stacks of flyers saying things like "Fight for White Power" and " Why your government is lying to you.", and a group of black coats hung up in a corner. If there was any doubt as to this being the right place before, it was immediately erased. Over on a desk by the window was a laptop that was open and still on. It was evidence that someone was still here. Just before Jane and Frost were about to start looking around the room, a figure appeared from nowhere, whooshed past Jane, then turned pointing his gun. Jane and Frost pointed their weapons back at the man who stood eyes locked and almost expressionless.

"Boston Police! Drop your weapon!" Jane shouted.

The gunman looked back and forth between Jane and Frost for a moment before bolting up the steps. He was chased upstairs, and out into the lobby where he was met by several uniformed officers, and he no longer had anywhere to go.

"Drop it!" was shouted at him.

He had no other choice but to simply comply, and he was carted off by police. Two others were taken in hiding elsewhere in the building in the midst of their chase. On the way back the perps were brought in, interrogated, and matched to the scene of each crime. They would be taken to jail, and Jane took a sigh of relief that it was finally over.

Jane took a moment to celebrate with her colleagues at The Dirty Robber, having finally closed this case. They enjoyed a few beers, a few war stories, and took comfort that evil was punished, and all was right with the world. Jane was relieved but also exhausted, and just wanted to get back to her family.

It was into the evening when Jane arrived home. After a day with more excitement then she'd bargained for, and an evening of filling out more paperwork, it was good to be back. She quietly hung up her coat, and kicked off her shoes before making her way to the kitchen where Maura sat at the counter with a cup of tea flipping through the paper.

"Hey Babe." Maura greeted.

Jane came behind Maura, wrapped her arms around her waist, and rested her head on her wife's shoulder.

"Ugh..it's so good to be home. I'm so glad it's all over."

"You caught both shooters?"

"Yeah, a whole team of them hiding out in an old theater. It was a hell of a lot of paperwork today, but I'm happy for it to be over."

Maura leaned back and kissed Jane's cheek, happy to see her relieved.

"So how'd it go at school this morning?" Maura asked.

"Oh, don't even get me started."

"Why, what happened?"

"The other kid's father was there." Jane told her.

"Really, how did that go?"

"God, I wanted to punch that guy in the face. He was so obnoxious."

"That bad, huh?"

Jane gave her the whole story of her encounter in the principal's office with this ignorant man, Raymond Ames. How he saw nothing wrong with what his children were doing, and how he thought Nikki's appearance was the result of a 'deviant lifestyle' at home. Jane told her how she felt so enraged by the situation, and Mr. Ames just smirked at her like he thought it was funny. Maura was in just as much disbelief as Jane was how this man could be so nonchalant regarding the obvious prejudicial behavior of his offspring, not that he was without hatred of his own.

"It's true what they say, that the world is made up of all different kinds of people, even the ignorant ones." said Maura finishing off her tea.

"Believe me he is an example of ignorance at its finest. It's not hard to see where the kids got it from. It looks like somebody finally retaliated though."

"What do you mean?"

"As I was leaving, I saw Mr. Ames leave with his son, and someone must have hit him because he had a big bruise on his face."

"Really, wow."

"Yeah, I know as parents, we're supposed to teach our kids not to solve their problems with violence, but I have to admit, it was good to see him taught a lesson." Jane told her.

"Well, you reap what you sow, right?"

"So how'd everything go here? Is Nikki doing alright?"

"She slept most of the morning, we all had pancakes together around ten, all in all it was a nice day, and I think she was grateful to have a break. She just went to bed an hour ago."

"Okay, I'm gonna quick peek in on her, and then I'll be upstairs."

Jane quietly stepped into Nikki's bedroom, and was relieved to see she was asleep. The poor girl has been through so much these past few months, and those tears in Nikki's eyes when she came home yesterday really broke Jane's heart. She never wanted her daughter to hurt like that again. Not wanting to wake her, Jane gently brushed the hair from in front of Nikki's face and kissed her forehead, then quietly exited leaving her to rest.

In the morning, Jane was up with a cup of coffee in hand. She was as of yet the only one awake, besides Jo Friday who was pacing around her feet. She sat for awhile flipping through a magazine before Nikki finally came out from her room looking well rested for the first time in awhile.

"Hey, baby girl. How'd you sleep?"

"Good." Nikki answered and Jane stood to give her a hug.

Nikki wrapped her arms around her mother and nuzzled into her shoulder. It was nice now not having to worry about getting up to face an eventful school day, and she wished she'd come forward long ago.

"I'm glad I told you."

"I'm glad you told me too, Honey. We're here to help you no matter what it is, and we'll find a way to work it out somehow."

"I'm sorry if I caused you to worry about me. I guess I was just afraid."

Jane kissed her daughter's forehead and cupped her face.

"Sweetie, you have nothing to be sorry for. You did nothing wrong, okay. I can only imagine what that must have been like for you every day. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"I'm just happy to have some time off."

"What do you say we have some breakfast, huh?" Jane said her arm still around Nikki.

It surprised Nikki a bit to find herself in such a good mood. Yes, she was relieved to have come forward with her troubles at school, but there was also something more. Nikki had been granted a week off from school, and her parents weren't working today, so the morning felt kind of special. No matter what others had to say Nikki loved her family very much, and felt grateful to have two loving parents who cared for her, worried for her, and would do anything in their power to keep their children safe and always feeling loved. After she'd had a relaxing morning enjoying breakfast with her family, and watching TV most of the day, Nikki received a phone call from Thereasa.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Thereasa asked.

"Not bad."

"I heard Mr. Healy gave you a week off?"

"Yeah, and he switched me out of some of my classes. Hopefully it'll help; I'm just bummed not to be in lunch with you guys anymore."

"So, you missed all the excitement yesterday."

"Why, what happened?" Nikki asked her.

She knew her mother had gone to school, and she hoped that wasn't what Thereasa was talking about.

"Ty and Camren got in a fight."

"What?"

"Yeah, Ty walked up to Camren in the cafeteria and just decked him. Told him it was for threatening Olivia, and to never go near her again. They both got suspended."

"Wow."

"So he won't be bothering anyone for awhile."

Nikki was glad to hear somebody finally shut him up and gave Camren a taste of his own medicine. Although she felt bad that Ty got suspended for it, and even more still she felt bad for Olivia.

"How's Olivia doing anyway? I didn't get a chance to talk to her after school."

"She seems to be doing better. I think she's happy Camren won't be around for awhile."

"Yeah, me too."

The girls talked on the phone a little while longer about music and movies, and it was good for Nikki to almost feel back to normal. Being at home was nice, but at the same time it gave her too much time to think. Nikki was switched out of the classes she shared with Camren and Maria which was a good thing, and Camren would be suspended for awhile which was also a good thing, but he wouldn't be suspended forever, and Nikki would soon have to return to school. She hoped switching classes would be enough.

It was into the evening now, and Nikki was watching a movie on the couch. They were finished with dinner, and Gracie had been put to bed. Maura came out after changing into pajamas and joined Nikki on the couch.

"Hey, anything good on TV?" Maura asked her.

"Office Space. It's an old 90's movie that's kind of weird sometimes, but I think I need a funny movie right now."

Maura just watched Nikki watch the movie for a moment while she giggled at one of her favorite parts. It was good to see her smile again even if it was for a little while. She could feel some residual tension in Nikki.

"You feeling any better, Honey?"

"Yeah, I am. I'm glad I finally talked to someone. I don't know why I didn't do it sooner."

"I know you were scared, we both do. Sometimes you feel lost when you don't know what to do, and its okay. It's human."

Nikki smiled and rested her head on Maura's shoulder. She knew Maura knew what it was like to feel lost sometimes, as well as socially awkward. Maura too had to be told that certain things were 'only human'. However no matter the strife this family had to face, or whether one lost their way, there would always be someone to bring them back.

The End.

Thanks for reading, and all your kind words.