Maura's eyes went wide when she saw his car home. She had had an incredible day with Jane, it made her love the brunette even more and now it was breaking her heart that he was back. She looked at Jane. "Don't leave... not yet. I don't know what I am walking into in there." She got out of the car slowly, not wanting to go. If she walked back in there she had to go back to being Mrs. Victor Banks and if she stayed out with Jane she was still with the one person she truly loved.

She walked into the house slowly, Victor was in the kitchen drinking. She couldn't bring Jane into this. If he flipped out, she didn't want Jane here for that. "Sweetie, thank you for an amazing birthday. You have changed my world. I'll see you at work tomorrow," she pleaded with her eyes for Jane not to fight her on it. Jane may be her protector but Maura's instinct was still to protect her.

The detective got out of the car with Maura but when she stopped her at the door Jane looked at Maura with hurt eyes. "Maura..." She couldn't fight her. Not here. "Call me if you need me." She whispered. "I love you." With that she reluctantly shut walked back to the car and drove home. Luckily, Angela was taking care of Joe and she had taken her bag home to do laundry and get new things to wear, so there was no trace Jane had been there for as long as she had.

It broke her heart to see that pain in Jane's eyes. "Baby, I just don't want you here if he freaks out. I would die if something happened to you because of me." She hugged her. "I love you too. Don't give up on me." She spoke softly and then walked in the house, waiting to see what Victor would do. "Victor, welcome home. You said you weren't coming home until after my birthday."

Victor turned and looked at Maura. He took a swig of his whiskey. "Well I came home early to surprise you. Didn't think you would be gone all day? Where have you been? Why are you in a dress, Maura?" He asked, suspicions growing.

Maura shook her head. "Jane took me out for the day to celebrate my birthday. She's helped out a lot since you've been gone." She knew he was drunk, she knew she was in for it tonight, maybe more so than ever.

"Jane? What was she my stand in or somethin?" He shook his head then finished the bottle. "Where she take you Maura?" He slowly walked around the bar. "Why do you get so dressed up for her and never for me?"

"She took me to lunch, to the ballet, to go dancing." Maura chuckled with annoyance. "She was not your stand in, she IS my best friend and she was there for Conner and I. You weren't even here for your son's third birthday!" Maura grumbled. "I got dressed up because we went to the ballet and maybe if you were here more often, you'd see me dressed up."

He shook his head. "Sounds like a damn fucking lesbian date to me!" He laughed with no mirth. "Don't give me that shit, bitch. You know good and well that I have to go over seas and feed staring children and build shelters for the people less fortunate! Conner will have more birthdays!" He was pissed and getting close to Maura. "Speaking of our son, where the hell is he!"

"He is in the guest house. He stayed with Jane's mother and brothers today while we went out. Frankie and Tommy took him to a ball game." Maura tensed but didn't let him see fear. "Victor, we're your family. You should learn to balance your time between us and your job. You should have been here for Conner's birthday, not mine."

"I couldn't leave Maura. If I could don't you think I would have been here? I'm the heartless bastard you think I am!" He walked away and into the bedroom. Victor saw the bed unmade and dints in both pillows. His blood was boiling. "MAURA GET IN HERE NOW!"

She walked in the bedroom, not expecting what was about to hit her. "What Victor?" she snapped.

"Did you sleep with her in MY bed!" He shouted after she had snapped at him. He was counting on the fact that Maura couldn't lie.

"Did she sleep in our bed? YES! But your implication that I slept WITH her is false!"

Victor had enough of Maura yelling. For one it wasn't like her and he knew something was up. Out of no where he gripped her throat and slammed his wife against the wall. "Did that bitch touch you Maura? Did that fucking bitch touch what is MINE?" he asked getting in her face.

Maura looked at him. "You want to say I am yours now? Victor, I can't be yours when you aren't here..."

Victor just got his answer. Pulling back he bitch slapped her with his left hand, sending Maura to the floor. Kneeling beside her with an evil glare he held up his ring finger then took her ring finger. "See these fucking rings Maura? These mean that even when I'm not here you're mine. But you gave me your answer. While I was gone...you were hers. I'm going to make sure she never touches you again." With that he got up and left to find Jane, even if he did have a half a bottle of whiskey.

Maura fell to the ground. She still didn't show fear, even as she spit out the irony taste of blood from her mouth. When he left to go after Jane, she called over to the guest house. "Mrs. Rizzoli, can you ask Frankie to come over? I need to talk to him."

"Victor?" He asked. "Tommy's with Jane now. How about I take you to the hospital? I'll call over there and warn them okay."

::Meanwhile at Jane's::

Opening the door for Tommy she closed and locked it back after he walked in. "Hey. Thanks for coming so quickly. I know you have an idea of what's going on between Maura and me... Its hard for me to talk about this but... I don't know what to do." She sighed and went to the kitchen to grab a couple of beers. Sitting on the couch she handed her brother one. "I think you're the only one I can talk to without being harassed."

Maura shook her head. "NO! Frankie GO! Protect her!" Maura screamed. All she cared about was Jane, if Victor came back and killed her she didn't care as long as Jane was safe. "Just call Korsak and Frost. Have one of them stay with your mom and Conner. The other can take me to the hospital." Frankie nodded and did as she asked. When Korsak and Frost arrived, Korsak stayed and Frost got her to the hospital while Frankie went to get Jane to safety.

::At Jane's::

Tommy nodded. "I won't rag on you sis. You love who you love and I think Maura is a great choice. I'm behind you a hundred percent. What can I do to help?" Before Jane had a chance to reply, Frankie busted in. "Janie! We gotta get you outta here. Victor is coming after you. He beat up Maura. We got Frost and Korsak at the house, one taking Maura to the ER and the other is with Ma and Conner. I promised Maura I would get you somewhere safe."

Jane looked up and the moment she heard that Maura had been beaten, she refused to leave. "No. Let that asshole come to me. I want to get my hands on him." She said with determination and anger in her voice and eyes.

Frankie shook his head. "Jane, I promised her. It is the only way i could get her to go to the hospital."

"Son of a BITCH!" She was furious. Finally she stormed out of her house and got in her car and sped to the hospital.

Maura was struggling to get up, her face black and blue. She got up and walked got dressed again. "Frost! I need to get to Jane. I have to know she's okay." She then looked up and saw Jane in the doorway. "JANE!"

Seeing Maura, Jane shook her head. "Maur...baby." She walked up to her and gently hugged her. "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you. I should have stayed. I should have taken you back to my place before he knew you were home. Damn it."

Maura was shaking, tears started as she happily wrapped her arms around Jane. "No no no baby, if you had stayed he'd have hurt you too and I couldn't take that. That's why I sent Frankie after you. I couldn't take you getting hurt because of me. Jane... I'm scared."

"I'll take you away from him Maura. It can be You, Me and Con. Let me take you to a safe place away from that bastard. Please." She said as she pulled back and ran her hands through maura's hair.

Maura looked up at her with tears in her eyes. "Baby, I can't take the chance of him hurting you or Conner. You two are my life."

Jane looked at her. A single tear ran down her cheek. "So you're just gonna go back to him. Maura... Please don't."

Maura curled back against her and held on for dear life. "Jane I don't know what to do. He's Conner's father. What if he takes Conner from me? What if he hurts Conner because of me?"

" If he hurts Conner... I'll kill him."