A/N- OK, you have all been very patient with me as I have withheld what's going on with Maura. So here is the start of the explanation. I'll update with more chapters soon- tomorrow at the latest but as you all have been so kind in liking what I'm doing I didn't want to leave you clueless any longer.

Chapter 6

Maura stared distantly out of the window of the cab. Normally, she loved to take in the sights of the city that was passing her by with child-like enthusiasm. However, she was burdened with a heavy heart and so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realize that the cab had stopped at her destination. The cabbie cleared his throat loudly when it was apparent that his passenger was not making a move to collect her belongings.

Maura looked up finally and asked how much she owed. She absentmindedly handed money to the cabbie and mumbled to keep the change. About to open the door to get out of the cab, she was beaten to it by the doorman. Looking into the cab, he was pleasantly surprised to see the occupant.

"Good evening Dr. Isles," he said offering his hand to help her out of the cab. "It's great to see you again."

"Hello Jeffrey," she said, feigning a smile but with a lifeless tone to her voice.

"I was surprised when I got the notice that we were preparing the suite for your arrival. We usually don't see you until the fall."

She didn't engage in any banter with the doorman, which he found odd. Normally Dr. Isles spent several minutes catching up with him and inquiring about his family. But tonight, she was lost in her own thoughts and seemed barely aware of the activities around her.

"The suite has been fully prepared and is ready for you, Doctor," he tried again.

"Thank you Jeffrey. Will you see that my bags are sent up?" And without waiting for a response, she walked away and headed into the building.

"Yes Ma'am," he said to the back of her head. "Welcome back to New York."

Maura made her way up to the penthouse suite. She hadn't been here in almost a year and she wished her return was under better circumstances. She did love this city. But she wasn't here for the city she was here hiding out. Am I hiding out she thought to herself. Yes came the only answer.

Maura threw her jacket against the back of a couch. She walked through the suite and opened the French doors leading to the terrace. Looking out, it was a breath-taking view of the city. Overlooking Central Park there was a collection of buildings and treetops that helped paint a magical picture of what might be just below or just past the view. Even in her current state, this view still made her feel just a little more settled. A knock at the door called back her drifting mind.

She answered the door and directed the bellman to place her bags in the master bedroom. She tipped the bellman and locked the door as he left. She then moved towards the kitchen and found the refrigerator and cupboards had been fully stocked with her favorite beverages and food. She scanned the contents but wasn't hungry. She did select a bottle of wine, a 2007 Sassicaia, and opened it up to let it breathe. After pouring a glass, Maura went back out onto the terrace.

As she sat on the terrace, her mind wandered through the events of the last week and a half.

Maura had just returned home from work and was about to start dinner when there was a knock on her door. She was taken completely by surprise to find her father standing in her doorway. He never went anywhere unannounced and Maura was immediately concerned on what had brought him to her house.

"Dad!? What are you doing here? Is something wrong with Mother?" Maura had asked in a panic.

"May I come in?" he asked in a flat, cold tone that sent a chill through Maura. Her Father wasn't the most affectionate man but he wasn't usually cold either. Something was clearly wrong.

"Yes, of course. Come in," she said and stepped aside to allow his entry into the house. "I'm sorry you just caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting you."

He walked past Maura without so much as a kiss on the cheek. There was something dark about the look on his face. There was anger burning behind his eyes. An anger Maura had never seen before.

Taking in his demeanor fully Maura again had a chill run through her body. "Has something happened to Mother? Has there been a setback in her recovery?" Maura was desperately trying to figure out what was wrong. Her mother was still going through rehab from her injuries from the hit and run but Maura had just spoken with her and all signs appeared to show a successful recovery path.

"Your Mother's recovery is progressing just fine Maura," there was implicit anger behind his use of her name. It made Maura do a double take.

"Then why are you here?"

"I came here to speak with you. Your Mother doesn't know I'm here and I expect you not to mention this conversation to anyone after I have said my peace."

Maura only nodded a confused acknowledgement.

"Maura," he stared at her, or more accurately through her, "I'm here to tell you that I want you to stay away from your Mother. And me."

In a million years Maura hadn't expected that sentence to come out of her father's mouth. She felt herself loose her bearings as she tried to replay what he had just said. Maybe she misunderstood what he was saying. She started to focus in on her father's mouth waiting for his lips to move again as if watching him form the words would help with her understanding of the meaning behind them. "What?" she asked barely above a whisper.

"I said I want you to stay away from your Mother and me. I don't want you calling us, visiting us or trying to be a part of our lives ever again."

He said it again. She had heard him the first time but the totality of his statement just hung there. Maura could not fully comprehend the situation. She felt her blood pressure rise and she started to feel weak in the knees. Her respiration rate was increasing and she was vaguely aware of convincing herself to seat down before she passed out. She reached out for the arm of the couch and grabbed onto it with desperation.

"Where…why…..where is this coming from?"

"Where is this coming from?! It comes from my sheer disappointment in how your life has turned out. It comes from my disgust at not only who your biological father truly is but also from having to live with that little detail being splashed over every newspaper and tabloid completely embarrassing your Mother and I. It comes from knowing that the monster that was responsible for creating you is a cold blooded killer and he has killed for you. It comes from watching your Mother suffer through pain and injuries that only came to her because of you. It comes from knowing I almost lost my wife because someone was trying to harm you and she paid the price for it. It comes from never, ever wanting to have you in a position to bring pain or shame upon my family ever again. That's where this is coming from."

He hadn't yelled but his tone was what broke something inside Maura. His voice was dead. He wasn't here to discuss his concerns. He wasn't here to rationally talk about things and listen to her side of everything. He had already dismissed her. She looked again into his eyes and knew in an instant that she wasn't his daughter anymore.

"Da..." she started but he held up his hand.

"Save it Maura. I'm not discussing this further. You have a life here and have chosen the path that lead you to this point. We are done. I have my lawyer working on the settlement of your trust and you won't want for money for the future but we are through. I can't have your life and your past endanger your mother's future. You will end all communication with us. I'm a making myself clear?"

Maura couldn't respond. She was going numb. None of this made any sense. There was no warning. No clue as to this eruption of anger from her father. Her breathing again became erratic and she sank further into the cushions of the couch. It was the only thing holding her up at that moment.

"Don't call your Mother. I'll handle that conversation. My lawyers will contact you when the necessary documents are ready." He stepped towards the door and turned to look at her one last time. "Goodbye Maura." He left as quietly as he had arrived.

Maura let the meaning behind her father's words sunk in and she stopped fighting the tears. She was all alone.