Disclaimer: The characters are not mine, I make no profit and I have the bank statement to prove it.

Chapter Nineteen

Maura felt the sunshine on her face and knew she slept later than usual. She put her hand up to her face, to feel if any of the swelling around her eyes had dropped during the night. It hadn't. Her face was still extremely sore and tender. Cautiously she tried opening her eyes. Still the same as yesterday, only small slits of light were allowed in as too much puffiness still hampered her vision.

She sighed in frustration. Damn you, Joey, if I could I'd rip off a few of your favorite body parts and grind them up in my garbage disposal.

Sitting up in bed Maura thought over the night before. She didn't realize how large the smile on her face grew as she thought of Jane and her children spending the night in the guest bedroom. Maura saw Jane in each child. Angelo has Jane's passion and fire. He'll be a force in his own right. And Caitlyn, she is definitely her mother's daughter. Although her complexion and body resemble Joey, she is definitely a miniature Jane, Maura thought.

A knock on her bedroom door drew Maura out of her thoughts. Jane entered, balancing a tray in her arms. "Good morning, Maur, we made you breakfast."

"Oh, Jane, how sweet," Maura was touched. Her morning routine was normally a slice of multigrain toast and black coffee but she didn't want to disappoint the children.

"Hmm, do I smell cinnamon?" Maura asked. Jane laughed.

"Yeah, Caitlyn made you some of your healthy oatmeal and added cinnamon and raisins for extra flavor. She said it makes it 'less yucky'," Jane screwed up her face to mimic Caitlyn's.

"How are you this morning, Maura?" Jane asked, sitting on the side of the bed. "Do you need help with anything?"

"I think I'm better. I was disappointed when the swelling hadn't receded more during the night but maybe it will be better later today. My breakfast smells wonderful, Jane."

"Here, let me give you your spoon and show you the oatmeal. Don't want you dunking your fingers into hot oatmeal because you couldn't see it," Jane said. She sat there, fighting off urges to break down in tears once again. She never could tolerate seeing Maura hurt in any way, and knowing Joey was responsible because of her sent Jane's rage boiling over. At the moment, however, seeing to Maura was more important than her soon to be ex-husband. Jane tampered her emotions.

"The kids are adorable, Jane," Maura said.

"Yeah, you mentioned that last night, M," Jane answered. She watched Maura tentatively dip her spoon into her oatmeal and raise it to her mouth.

"Do I have dried oatmeal down the front of my nightgown, Jane?" Maura asked.

"No. I'm just trying to make sure you're all right, M," Jane sighed.

"I can handle breakfast. What are you and the kids doing today?"

"I'm waiting for a call from Frost. He's at Joey's arraignment this morning. He's supposed to let me know what the judge says, so if I need anything from the house I can get it before Joey returns. Ma said she'll watch Angelo and Caitlyn."

"Where will you go, Jane? Won't the judge take into consideration Angelo and Caitlyn's needs for a home?"

"I sent a short statement to the DA's office and told them I didn't want the kids or myself staying in a home that Joey had access to. So if he's released on his own recognizance this morning Joey can have the house. Ma has Frankie scouring leads on apartments in their school district."

"Move in with me, Jane. I have plenty of room," Maura blurted out before thinking.

"I can't, Maur. Not while we're going through a divorce and a custody battle. Joey can use it as fuel against me, saying I'm having an illicit affair with you while the children are here," Jane said gently. She was surprised; an offer from Maura to move in was quite surprising to Jane.

"And anyway, Maura, we agreed to take this slow, remember? At this point we're nothing more than friends and I don't want to take a chance and ruin anything we might have in the future," Jane continued, taking Maura's hand in hers.

"I kissed you, Jane, remember?"

"I didn't forget, Maura."

"That kiss was not a goodbye kiss or a let's be friends kiss, Jane. I want 'us' just as much as you do," Maura said, setting her breakfast tray off to the side. She leaned forward.

Jane caressed Maura's face. "I love you, Maura."

"I love you, too Jane." Jane lightly brushed her lips across Maura's then drew back. "The children are up and roaming through your backyard, M. Let me take your breakfast tray to the kitchen and clean up. By then Frost should have called."

"My offer to move in still stands, Jane, but I want one thing perfectly clear," Maura said. Jane stopped in surprise. Maura's voice sounded stern.

"Although I offered a place of residence and told you my feelings for you, you are still not off the hook. I expect to be wooed back into your arms," Maura said, smiling at the end. Jane flushed and smiled.

"Yes, my lady," she replied.

My lady, hmm, Maura thought. I could get used to this.

Jane's phone rang just as she finished the dishes. "Yeah, Frost, what is it?"

"Jane, you're not going to like this," Frost started. "The judge significantly reduced the charges against Joey, saying the DA didn't have enough evidence to prosecute Joey for conspiracy. The judge also said that given Joey's record and his position in the legal community he could see this was a one time aberration. Joey has a trial coming up but I'm being told he'll probably get nothing more than a slap on the wrist."

Jane leaned against Maura's kitchen counter and expelled the long breath she'd been holding. "I was afraid of this, Frost. Joey has way too many friends in law enforcement. I wouldn't be surprised if the governor hadn't intervened on his behalf."

"I don't know about that but you should have seen the shit-eating grin on Joey's face as he left the courthouse. By my estimation you have maybe an hour at best to get anything you need out of the house."

"I'm on my way, Frost."

"I'll meet you there. I'll call Frankie, too and he can join us."

Jane parked across the street from her own house and looked at the front windows. It looked as still as it had the day before. She couldn't tell if Joey was inside or not, the garage doors were still closed. She took a large breath and exhaled it. Walking to the front of the house Jane checked the mailbox. While waiting for Frost she pulled out the pertinent mail and dumped the circulars in the garbage.

Frost pulled up with Frankie right behind him. Jane pulled her key out and inserted it in the lock. Before she could open the door, however, the door was opened for her. Joey stood there, smirking at Jane.

"What's the dyke doing here?" he asked.

"Nice greeting, Joey," Frost barked. Frankie stood behind the other two flexing his fists.

"I came to pick up some things for the kids, Joey. They need a change of clothes and toys," Jane said briefly and started forward. Joey blocked her entrance.

"No, I don't think so."

"What? This is our home, Joey, regardless of what's going on," Jane said. "I told you, I need things for the kids. Now, move."

Joey didn't budge. "You need to bring my children home now, Jane. They're in a bad environment right now and I don't like their exposure to you and Dr. Isles."

Jane growled low in her throat. She stepped forward to physically push her way into the house but Frost placed his hand on her arm.

"Wait a minute, Jane. I think Joey has something up his sleeve."

"I do, Detective Frost." Joey moved aside and another man came to the door. He handed a paper to Jane. "Detective Rizzoli, you've been served." He exited the door past Jane as Jane stared at another legal document.

"Since the charges against me have been largely dropped I stopped by my attorney's office this morning and asked that I be given full legal custody until our divorce is settled. You'll have only limited supervised visits," Joey said. He watched Jane's reaction and was satisfied when he saw how she became aggravated at the news.

"How many judges did you buy off, Joey? You're the unfit parent and you know it." Jane turned on her heel and left.

"The judge didn't like your little love nest last night, Jane. I showed him proof you're shacking up with another woman and you took my kids with you," Joey called after Jane. Frost got in Joey's face.

"You're wrong, Joey, and you know it. Nothing happened between Jane and Maura and the truth will come out in court. Come on, Frankie, let's go."

"Not until I get my two cents in, Frost. Joey I've known you for quite some time now and unfortunately you're showing your ass. Stay out of the dark alleys and streets, you never know when I'm on patrol and find a vagrant threatening an officer," Frankie sneered.

Jane sat in her car. She was too shocked to cry or show any emotion at all. Joey can't get away with this, she thought. It's time to get an attorney and fight fire with fire. Let me find out who his 'honey babe' is and use his affair to my advantage. Jane pulled away from the curb.

"Jane, you're back early…wait, what is it?" Maura asked. She just completed her shower and settled on the sofa to watch one of her medical documentaries. She couldn't read yet but thought she might be able to keep up with something on television.

Jane dropped down next to her friend. "It didn't work, Maura. Joey was already there. He served me with more papers," she said, waving the document in the air.

"I can't read yet, Jane. Tell me what he said."

"At first I thought he was just being a prick. He wouldn't let me in the house, even when I explained I was there to pick up stuff for the kids. Then a process server walked up, handed me new court papers and left. Joey is suing for full legal custody right now while the divorce and custody matters are pending." Jane's voice sounded to Maura like she was on autopilot. Jane knew she was in shock; she couldn't seem to react to anything Joey was doing.

Maura placed her hand on Jane's. "I think it's time for you to lawyer down, as the suspect always said."

"Lawyer up, Maura. Yeah but I don't know any good divorce attorneys. God, this is going to cost me," Jane groaned, leaning forward to place her head in her hands. Maura rubbed her back.

"I know some attorneys from the Foundation. Let me place a call and see who they recommend. As for the kids' things, let it go. We can take them shopping for clothes and toys later."

Jane barked out a bitter laugh. "Angelo's going to love you for that, Maura, especially the new toys. Caitlyn loves clothes shopping."

"Good. You take Angelo for toys for the two of them and Caitlyn and I will shop for their clothes."

"Just don't let Caitlyn pick out anything Angelo wouldn't wear. She has a tendency to tease him about Barney."

"Barney? Barney Rubble, from the Flintstones?"

"No, Maura, Barney, the purple dinosaur. Angelo loved him when he was three or four but he's too old for him now. Caitlyn found some of Angelo's old Barney t-shirts and still teases him. Make sure she picks out something a boy would wear."

"Don't worry, Jane, I'll take care of it."

"That's one reason why I love you, Maura," Jane sighed, wondering how her life could have taken such a nosedive so quickly.

TBC