When Jane was sure no one was following her, she made her way down the road to the old fortress, parking on a maintenance road and jogging to the meet-up point. Hiding behind a low hedge, her back against the cool stone of the fortress, she waited.
At 11:00, she noticed movement and saw one of her contacts. She approached them warily, moving through the shadows.
Finally, she moved into the relative light of the spot where they were crouched.
"Number 1743," Jane introduced herself. She recognized three of the men, but the blonde woman and fourth man were strangers.
They introduced themselves, all by number, and discussed the plan. Jane focused, knowing the number of lives on the line, but it was difficult with the hint of Maura's toothpaste and chapstick lingering on her lips.
It seemed simple, their task, but they were all acutely aware that it was anything but. Jane noticed the blonde woman was spinning a wedding ring. Noticed that the tallest man, a thirty-something brunette, was repeatedly clicking his jaw.
Jane and the jaw-clicker, Number 7526, would go first. They'd make contact with their usual liaisons. Everyone else would follow in exactly eighteen minutes.
If they hadn't figured things out yet, everything would get ugly fast. And their work would be blown to shit.
Earbuds were distributed, weapons checked, vests tightened, shoes tied, prayers said.
Jane, never one for religious sentimentality, crossed herself, mumbled the Lord's prayer, her lips stumbling at deliver us from evil.
Number 7526 preceded her, the rest of the team falling seamlessly into the shadows. Jane moved swiftly and silently beside him, every sense on high alert.
It took them four minutes to find their contact, a heavyset Italian man who smoked like a chimney and seemed to have forgotten to bathe for the last ten years.
"Gino," Jane greeted him.
"Janie," Gino nodded, and Jane masked her instinct to flinch at the sound of her nickname rolling off his scotch-soaked tongue. "You got the downpayment?"
Number 7526 held up a black duffle.
An imposing, dark man stepped out of the shadows and took the bag, rifled through it idly. He nodded once, curtly, at his boss.
"No funny business?" Gino chortled, smoke swirling around them. "Cause he's gonna go right inside and check that account, you know."
"Too busy for that bullshit," Jane snapped. "You get your money, I get the goods. No need for dickin' around. Everything will be in that account as soon as we get to inspect the goods."
"That's why I like you," Gino laughed. "Straight to the chase. Alright, bins 1290 through 1300 are yours. Go take a look."
Two more men appeared from the warehouse, machine guns slung across their backs. Jane and 7526 fell into step behind them and a third man followed them. The back of Jane's neck tingled.
They walked through a dizzying maze of shipping containers that Jane knew was intended to confuse her and her partner. And it worked, by the time they reached their destination, she had almost completely lost her bearings.
The moon, hidden behind ominous clouds, provided her only hint for which direction was out to safety, or out to sea.
One of the men stepped forward and unlocked a padlock, swinging open the container door.
Jane schooled her features into a neutral expression, glad the darkness hid the way her palm curled so tightly into a fist that her fingernails drew blood.
Thirty children were sprawled about in the foul, dank container, and they shrank back.
"Looks alright," she nodded curtly. "Let me see another."
Eleven minutes.
They showed her another nearly identical container full of children. She gave a quick assent, trying to keep the cold harshness in her eyes. She glanced at the containers, hoping for something to distinguish them but they were entirely nondescript.
The small tin of marking paint was burning a hole in Jane's pocket. As one man locked the container, she smeared the paint on her hand as discreetly as possible. She took a step away from the container and 7526 awkwardly stepped in front of her. She tripped, bracing herself against the container.
"Watch it," she growled.
"Hey," one of the guards snapped. "Keep moving."
They walked back to the warehouse and Gino met them out front, a leering smile on his face.
"So?" he asked gleefully. "One of our best shipments yet."
"It'll do," Jane equivocated.
"Hah," Gino shook his head. "It'll do. You're pretty damn hard to please."
"I don't like games Gino," she snapped. "Give me the keys to those containers and we'll be on our way. My boys will come by later to collect the shipment."
Gino rolled his eyes.
"Relax," he encouraged. "Have a drink." The offer was seemingly friendly but the looming henchmen at their backs left them little choice.
"Make it quick," Jane retorted.
Fifteen minutes.
Gino led them into the warehouse, through into a small office. He poured three glasses of scotch and sat behind an oak desk, indicating the two chairs on the opposite side.
"I think we have a business opportunity here," he said. "For some long-term exchanges. I can get you what you need wholesale, if you agree to exclusively buy from me."
"This isn't my normal market," Jane shrugged. "I usually deal in more… dry goods."
Gino chortled and took a sip of his scotch.
"I can help with that too," he replied. "Don't he ever talk?" He indicated 7526 with a tilt of his head.
"No," Jane bit out. "Can't. Makes him mighty invaluable."
Nodding, Gino hit her with a hard stare.
"So what do you say?" he pressed.
"I'll think about it," Jane stood. "I know how to get ahold of you."
Standing, Gino handed her a key-ring.
Seventeen minutes.
"I think you'll be back," his voice was low. "That boy might not talk but he's got a wife who would look awful sad at the bottom of the Charles."
7526's jaw clenched.
"And I'm sure you've got skeletons in your closet," Gino added. "Rogue cop, you must have people who still think you'll see the light."
"I got no one," Jane growled. "And I don't need 'em. I put my ass on the line for BPD for years, took bullets, and what did I get out of it? A man who don't love me, a Capt. who thinks of me like another gun in his holster, and a city that doesn't care one shit about me. I'll take mine, thank you, and everyone else can go to hell."
The surprise was evident on Gino's face. Jane suspected he'd been checking up on her, and she hoped to god that her efforts to alienate everyone weren't transparent.
"Big words for a so-called hero," he challenged.
Jane indicated the jagged scars on her hands, palms thrust harshly towards Gino.
"This look heroic to you," she seethed. "The commissioner, my brothers in blue," she practically spit the phrase. "They don't give a fuck. I'm just some woman who fucking created a serial killer. And after my 15 minutes of fame were up, I realized who was behind me. No one. So you can take your exclusive deal and fuck yourself. I'll get what I need and if you can get it, so be it. Otherwise, I don't need nothing more from you."
The admiration was clear on Gino's face.
"What about this guy," Gino indicated 7526 with an absent waive. "You need him?"
"He's," Jane looked him up and down as if he were a piece of meat. "Convenient."
Scoffing, Gino rolled his eyes.
"I'll sure bet he is," he leered. "Alright. When you change your mind, give me a call."
Jane looked at the clock on the wall. Twenty minutes. Where was the rest of the team?
Pocketing the keys, Jane led the way back out into the cool night. A light rain had begun to fall, the moon almost completely obscured by the clouds.
Outside, Jane's gut clenched into knots.
The blonde woman and her partner were on their knees surrounded by Gino's men.
"Oh yeah," Gino strolled up beside her casually. "We found these two poking around. Yours?"
Jane weighed her options. They were supposed to disavow each other. They all knew the risks. Get caught, get left.
But Jane had seen bodies that left Gino's warehouse the hard way.
"Yeah," she said instead. "Can't get good help these days."
Gino's eyes narrowed. "I said only two of you," he grumbled. "I can't let this stand. I got lots of skittish clients, you know. If they thought extra folks were sniffing around, it'd be bad for business."
"Maybe you could cut me some slack," Jane shrugged. "Not everyone is as trustworthy as you. Can never be too careful, after all. Now that I know you're on the up and up… I'll give you my exclusive business in dry goods if you save me the trouble of having to find replacements for these two."
"Alright," Gino nodded, and his acquiescence made Jane nervous. "But someone's gotta take my message. I'm a reasonable guy, understanding guy, but I'm no pussy. So who's it gonna be?"
Jane swallowed harshly. She wanted to volunteer, but knew she couldn't. She was supposed to be the boss, the dominant one, so she had to select one of her people for the punishment.
They were strangers to her. She didn't even know their names. Did they have wives? Husbands? Children? Why were they here? Why had they made this choice?
The blonde woman, 3874, Jane remembered idly, shifted, finding Jane's gaze. There was a sorrowful resignation in her eyes. She was volunteering.
"Make it her," Jane indicated with a nod. "I need these two for heavy lifting."
One of Gino's men stepped forward and pulled out a pistol. Jane was stone faced. She knew that the gunfire would draw the others out from wherever they were, that they would come running and all hell would break lose.
She surveyed the area for cover, felt sweat trickle down her spine.
The man shot 3874 in the shoulder and the world titled on its axis. Jane heard another gun fire, realized that 7526 had shot the perpetrator and was moving towards the woman. Jane saw Gino duck into the warehouse and the rest of the team came forward from the shadows. Shots rang out in the small space, Jane's included. When the confusion and haze settled, the blonde woman and one other of Jane's team members were injured.
All of Gino's men were dead. 7526 ran after Gino, his gun drawn.
Jane followed 7526 into the warehouse, her body on high alert. She scanned for him, worrying that she couldn't hear sirens in the distance. A shot rang out and she rushed towards it, rounding a corner to see 7526 looming over Gino's bleeding body.
"Her name is Anna," he turned to Jane.
Jane didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do. She'd been warned that things could get bad, could get messy.
Normally, she'd fall back on her badge. She'd flash it, she'd show that she was Jane Rizzoli, BPD. The chaos would swarm around her but she'd be safe behind that shield.
This was different, and not knowing what to expect was eating at her.
"We'd better go," 7526 broke her thoughts, heading back for the entrance.
Outside, the team was huddled together around Anna. She was bleeding through the sweatshirt clotting the wound.
"We need to get her a doctor," the man holding the fabric said, his concern evident.
"You know protocol," another voice responded. "No hospitals until the morning. I know a field medic who can stich her up until then."
Jane hesitated, the haunting look in 7526's eyes flashing through her mind.
"I know a doctor," Jane said. "I'll take her."
The men turned to look at her.
"You guys finish up here," she nodded at the other wounded man. "He gonna be ok?"
"Fine," the man replied. "Just grazed me. Not my first time, but hopefully the last."
Finally, Jane heard sirens in the distance.
"You better go," someone suggested. "We'll clean up here."
Jane took the key-ring out of her pocket and tossed it to him.
"Couple blocks to my car," she told Anna. "Can you make it?"
"Not much choice," Anna gritted out. "Let's go."
Jane began moving, half dragging Anna with her, in the direction of her car. They kept to the shadows as much as possible. Anna held the sweatshirt loosely over the wound on her shoulder, and Jane could see she was fading fast.
It seemed to take forever to reach Jane's sedan. She loaded Anna in, replacing the blood-soaked sweatshirt with her own and tossing her vest into the backseat.
"Hang on," Jane turned the ignition and sped towards Maura's house.
She parked a block away and killed the engine. Anna's eyes were fluttering closed, her breathing shallow.
"Hey," Jane chastised, panicked. "Stay awake. You hear me? You wanna get home to your family then you stay awake."
"No family," she mumbled. "They killed him."
Jane's gut clenched. Part of the mystery of Anna's choices seemed clearer.
"Come on," Jane grumbled. "I didn't bring you this far to have you die on me now."
She helped Anna out of the car, carrying her to Maura's door. The rain was coming harder now, and Jane banged on Maura's door as hard as she could.
The wait was interminable, but finally Maura appeared, a soft robe covering her form.
"Jane," her eyes widened in alarm. Jane pushed past, dragging Anna into the house.
"I need you to help her," Jane put Anna on the floor in the kitchen, wary of someone looking in through the windows.
"What happened?" Maura asked, following Jane closely.
"She's been shot," Jane indicated the bloody sweatshirt.
"She needs to go to the hospital Jane," Maura resisted. "I can't help with this."
"Do it," Jane barked. "Please. We can't go to the hospital. I just need you to do this for me. I won't ask for anything else. Just help her Maura. She'll die if you don't."
Maura's eyes hardened as she bit her lower lip. She rattled off a list of things for Jane to gather and then disappeared in the room, returning in yoga pants and a t-shirt with a pair of gloves in hand.
"What's her name?" Maura asked, kneeling next to her. She removed Anna's shirt and inspected the injured shoulder.
"I can't tell you," Jane moved swiftly around the room, collecting the things Maura asked for. She put a pillow under Anna's legs as instructed, and placed Maura's tools within easy reach.
"I see," Maura set to work as best she could. Jane knew she was hurting Maura in so many ways but she didn't know what else to do.
When Angela appeared at the back door, knocking loudly, Jane found her gun in hand before she realized it. The shock on Angela's face only grew when she saw Anna and Maura.
Jane felt her entire body vibrating with fear and adrenaline.
"Ma," she barked. "Go back to the guesthouse. Now."
Angela looked poised to protest, but something in Jane's eyes made her think better of it.
"You're still my daughter," she whispered, "and I love you," and then she was gone.
Jane turned, pacing and watching Maura work. Maura was efficient, precise. She cleaned and bathed the wound, wrapped it in a sterile dressing. When she was finished Maura removed her gloves.
"She really needs a hospital," Maura chastised again.
"In the morning," Jane agreed. "But she's gonna be ok?"
"I believe so," Maura nodded. "The bullet went straight through. I've cleaned it and closed it up, but she needs to lie still for a while."
"I'll take her to my apartment," Jane replied.
"She can stay here," Maura sighed, resignation in every move she made. "Whatever you've gotten me into, I'm deep enough as it is. It's best not to move her much."
"Can I put her on the couch at least?" Jane asked, trying to focus on the issue at hand rather than the desperate sadness in Maura's eyes.
"Put her in the guest bedroom," Maura said. "I'll turn down the bed."
Jane offered her hand to help Maura stand but Maura didn't accept it. Instead, she pulled herself up, griping the counter with white knuckles. She disappeared down the hall and Jane collected Anna in her arms, carrying her down to the guest bedroom.
Maura had turned the bedside lamp on, turned down the blanket. Jane placed Anna gently on the bed and pulled the blanket up around her waist. She turned off the light and left the room, heading back into the kitchen.
Maura was there, cleaning up the remnants of Jane's choices. Jane moved to take over, and they worked silently for a minute.
When she finished, Jane turned to see Maura at the sink, her head down, her body shaking softly.
Hesitantly, Jane approached Maura from behind. When Maura didn't push her away, Jane put one arm on either side of Maura's body, caging her in against the counter.
"What have you done?" Maura sobbed.
"Maura," Jane rested her forehead against Maura's shoulder. "I promise I'm going to explain everything. I don't expect you to understand, or to forgive me. But I'm so, so grateful to you. You saved that girl's life."
"And what about my life," Maura breathed. "Our life? Does that not mean anything to you?"
"God Maura," Jane exhaled raggedly. "It means everything."
"Not enough, apparently," Maura turned and stepped out of Jane's grasp in a quick, fluid motion.
"In the morning," Jane offered lamely.
"It is morning," Maura retorted. Jane looked outside, surprised to see the first rays of sunlight peeking over the horizon.
"Please," Jane stepped towards Maura but the smaller woman stepped back, evading her touch. "Please, trust me."
"Like you trusted me these past months?" she snapped.
"I'm sorry," Jane sobbed. "Please. I'm exhausted and upset and I'm sure you are too and I don't want to say or do anything that's going to hurt you more than I already have. Please, Maura."
Maura looked at Jane, noticed the gash on her thigh.
"You're hurt," Maura's tone raised in alarm, her anger evaporating in the face of her concern.
Jane looked down, surprised to see her own blood darkening her jeans.
"It's just a scratch," she replied.
"Let me see," Maura ordered.
Jane didn't have the energy to resist. She slid her jeans off and dropped them, and Maura's eyes widened in alarm.
"Jesus, Jane," she swore. "That's extremely close to your femoral artery. A few inches to the side and you'd be dead."
Jane closed her eyes, tried to focus on the pain instead of the way Maura's fingers felt against her thigh.
"Go lie down," Maura commanded. "That needs to be treated."
The adrenaline ebbing from her system, Jane walked on shaking legs towards the couch. Maura's grasp on her shoulders stopped her, wordlessly guiding her to Maura's bed.
A small voice in the back of Jane's mind bemoaned the fact that she was ruining Maura's expensive sheets and she would have laughed if she had the energy.
"Lie down," Maura coaxed, disappearing back down the hall. She reappeared with her medical supplies, immediately tending to Jane's cut. "This might sting a bit," she warned. She cleaned and bandaged Jane's thigh with precise movements, and Jane watched with rapt attention. Eventually the stimulation was too much to handle and her eyes fluttered closed.
Jane felt heavy, like every molecule in her body suddenly weighed three times as much. When Maura finished, her hand lingered on Jane's thigh, idly stroking.
Jane's eyes snapped open, and she looked down to see Maura grazing her thigh, eyes fixed on the olive skin beneath her fingers.
Unsure what to do or say, Jane found herself emitting a choked sob when Maura lightly kissed the bandage she had just applied. The noise drew Maura's attention and the sorrow and sympathy on her face tore at Jane.
"Jane," she whispered, scooting up to sit next to Jane's hip.
"I'm sorry Maura," Jane sobbed. "I'm so sorry."
Jane reached one hand up and caressed Maura's neck, sliding her fingers into the dark blonde locks as she leaned closer.
Time moved agonizingly slowly as they held there, lips only millimeters apart. A whimper escaped Maura before the doctor closed the distance, pressing her lips fervently to Jane's. Jane groaned and they soaked each other in for long seconds, hearts beating frantically. Maura's hands found Jane's waist, pulling her closer.
Jane traced the seam of Maura's lips with her tongue, coaxing the other woman's mouth open. Maura obliged, and when Jane's tongue slipped inside, Maura made a breathless sighing noise that shot straight down Jane's spine and pooled in her gut. Jane's arm braced on the bed shook with the exertion of holding herself at bay.
They kissed for long moments, lips and tongues acquainting otherwise familiar entities. Jane relished the feel of Maura, warm and supple above her. She wanted to kiss her for days, years, forever.
Maura pulled at Jane's hips, trying to urge her closer. Jane pulled her lips away, panting, and rested her forehead on Maura's.
"You need to rest," Maura whispered, her eyes still closed. "And I should check on your friend."
Jane couldn't respond, everything was too close to the surface. It took her three tries to release Maura's neck.
"I'll be right back," Maura promised, kissing Jane on the forehead.
When Maura left the room, Jane let her tears fall freely. Maura was being kind and supportive and loving, but there was no mistaking the hurt and betrayal in her eyes.
There were soft noises as Maura moved around the house, and Jane listened intently. It was comforting, soothing, to know Maura was there, taking care of her.
Jane sensed Maura standing in the doorframe and she opened her eyes.
"You must be furious," Jane suggested.
"I'm not angry," Maura equivocated. "I'm… upset, confused, hurt, worried."
"I think I'd rather you were mad," Jane teased humorlessly. Maura's lips turned up ever so slightly but there was no laughter in her eyes.
"You should get some sleep," Maura encouraged.
"I don't think I can," Jane replied. She was too exhausted to sleep.
Maura softened, approaching the bed. She stood for a moment looking down at Jane, a curious mired, tangle of emotions on her face.
"Scoot forward," she ordered gently. Jane did, and Maura slid in to sit behind her, adjusting the pillows. "Lean against me," Maura said eventually.
Jane leaned back, Maura's chest flush with her back. Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's waist, her legs on the outside of Jane's. They were reclining lazily, and Jane couldn't help the drawn out shudder that escaped her when Maura kissed her shoulder.
"Are you coming back Jane?" Maura asked hesitantly.
"You'd want me back," Jane hedged. "After how I've treated you recently?"
"You obviously had a reason," Maura replied. "If it's good enough for you, it's good enough for me."
"I didn't want to treat you that way Maura," Jane explained, her voice sorrowful. "It was the only way to keep you safe."
"You could have told me," Maura suggested. "Maybe I could have-"
"No," Jane cut her off. "It was the only way. If I thought I could have told you, I swear to you that I would have."
"Ok," Maura soothed, a hand stroking Jane's stomach through her shirt. "Ok. I understand, it's ok."
Jane closed her eyes, knowing she was being hurtful, evasive.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"About six," Maura told her.
"I have to go soon," Jane admitted. At eight, they were to meet at headquarters and it would all be done, it would all be over.
In two hours, she could return to Maura's arms to seek absolution properly.
"Is it safe?" Maura asked, the concern in her voice nearly overwhelming. Her arms tightened around Jane's waist.
Jane leaned into the supple body behind her. Maura was soft but strong, her breasts pressing deliciously into Jane's back. Her arms were secure around Jane, but not oppressing. She smelled clean and simple and comforting.
"Doesn't matter," Jane replied. "It's almost over. Will you wait here for me?"
"Yes," Maura didn't hesitate for a second.
"I don't know how long it will be," Jane admitted. "Could be a few hours."
"I'll wait," Maura confirmed.
Jane stood, and when Maura's fingers slipped off her body she felt the last of her energy drain out of her frame.
"Can you help me get Anna into my car?" Jane asked. Maura nodded.
The two women worked to dress and clean Anna as best they could, and Jane dragged her out to the sedan. Maura helped as much as possible and when Jane opened the driver's door, she paused to look at Maura.
"I'll be back," she said clearly, the conviction in her voice making Maura shiver.
"I'll be here," Maura replied.
Jane sped off down the street, her only thoughts bent on closing the door on the last few months and finding a way to earn back Maura's trust.