Maura paced in front of Jane's desk, every so often glaring over at Korsak. "Why won't you tell me what's going on?" She walked over to his desk, heels clicking and her tone demanding. "Jane and Detective Frost have been gone nearly all day."
"I told you, they went to interview Hoyt. You know how tough he is to crack." Korsak stared at his computer screen, refusing to meet her furious gaze.
"Vince Korsak, if anything's happened to…" Maura's eyes widened as a whiskey voice rang behind her. "Happened to who?" Jane moved up behind Maura, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Korsak looked up at Jane, eyes full of questions. "You. The doc's been convinced Hoyt killed ya." He gestured towards Maura, shrugging.
"I'm fine, Maur." Jane smiled at the doctor, eyes twinkling. "Right here." She squeezed Maura's shoulder before walking back over to her desk, sitting down. "I got Hoyt to call off his Ripper, but we weren't able to get him to tell us who he was."
Maura looked between Jane and Frost, eyes wide and unbelieving. She walked over to Jane's desk, leaning against it. "But… how…" She stopped, swallowing and gazed into Jane's eyes, desperately searching for truth and finding it. "It's over?"
Jane nodded, sitting up and reaching for her hands, smiling when Maura slipped them into her own. "It's over." She ran her thumbs over the backs of the doctor's hands. "Wanna get some coffee?"
Korsak and Frost exchanged a look. "You two wanna tell us something?" Korsak asked, an eyebrow raised.
Jane shook her head, her eyes never leaving Maura's. "Not really. Maybe someday when you two clowns grow up." She stood as Maura nodded belatedly, leading her out of the bullpen.
"So what went down? I know what the plan was, how'd it go off?" Korsak looked at Frost, his voice low, a hand gripping the arm of his chair as he leaned over.
"Well, she didn't tell me until we were in the damn locker room, but I'll be damned if it didn't go off exactly as she said it would. One thing's bothering me, though." Frost's voice was low as well, eyes flicking between Korsak and his computer screen.
"What's that?" Korsak strained to see what Frost was staring at. "Whatcha doin' anyway?"
"Satisfying my curiosity." He clacked at his keys for a few minutes. A closed caption video popped up on his screen, showing two large Irish men walking into a trailer containing a bed, toilet and sink. A few minutes passed, and Hoyt walked into the trailer, his face suddenly contorting with pain as the men stabbed him repeatedly. One man reached into his pocket, pulling out a scalpel and slicing Hoyt's throat, before they both walked out and locked the door behind them. Frost glanced over at Korsak, who looked away sharply, whistling, and clicked the small 'x' at the top of the page.
"Listen, Maura…" Jane began, staring at her hands on her coffee cup. "I…" she trailed off again, then laughed. "I have no idea what I'm doing." She fidgeted in her seat, glancing around the coffee shop in nervous habit.
Maura smiled, laying her hands over Jane's. "Then why are you attempting to put concerted effort into a situation that's been working so well with none?" She uncrossed and re-crossed her legs under the table. "Stop trying, Jane."
Jane took a breath and nodded. She gazed into Maura's eyes, and began again. "Let me cook dinner for you tonight?"
Maura nodded, her smile widening a bit. "I'd like that very much." She let go of Jane's hands, sipping her own coffee. "However, now that we've established our plans this evening, perhaps you could ease my mind a bit more?"
Jane sighed and nodded, lowering her voice. "I did something very unethical, Maur." She glanced around again, this time out of unease.
Maura nodded, quiet. "You spoke to Patrick Doyle." She spoke simply, her tone free of disdain or judgment. She fiddled with a sugar packet, meeting Jane's eyes.
Jane nodded, eyes widening a bit. "How…?" She shifted in her seat, sipping her coffee. She stared back at Maura, swallowing thickly.
"It's the only viable explanation. May I ask a question?" She continued looking at Jane, her gaze open.
"Always." Jane nodded, looking down, suddenly wishing Maura's hands were still on her own.
"Will Charles Hoyt survive?" As if in answer to Jane's silent plea, she slid a hand across the table, taking one of Jane's.
"No." Jane's tone was final.
Maura simply nodded, looking down at their hands. "I should be angry, relieved… something. And yet…"
"I know the feeling." Jane looked at Maura suddenly, her brows wrinkled in vulnerability. "Maur… I had to."
"I won't say a word." She furrowed her own in concern for Jane. "I have your back."