Disclaimer: Nope, still not mine. *sigh*

Chapter Twenty-One

Maura continued to rub circles on Jane's back in an attempt to comfort her. Jane's sobs had subsided into occasional whimpers. "Shh, Jane, try and sleep. We'll see an attorney in the morning and get this straightened out."

"What if I can't Maura? What if the judge decides Joey is right, I'm an unfit mother?"

"Jane, come on. You're their mother. You gave birth to two wonderful children. Any judge can see you're the best mother these children could have."

"I don't know, Maura. Joey practically raises them. His job makes it easier for him to be home when I can't. This past year I've left them with him, more and more. Then I went to Australia on a spur of the moment whim to see you. Joey is using all of this against me."

"Listen to me, Jane. You're a wonderful mother to these kids. You have a job, an important one. No judge is going to overlook all of that. You'll at least have joint custody."

Jane rolled over and faced Maura. Her eyes were so red it was almost impossible to see the color of her eyes. Maura's heart broke just looking at Jane's face.

"What happens when he asks me about you?" Maura's heart skipped a beat.

"Same sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts. It's no longer considered deviant behavior for the purpose of determining custody battles."

"I hope you're right, Maura," Jane said tiredly.

"Try to sleep, Jane. We can't do anything right now," Maura folded Jane into her arms. Jane cuddled next to Maura and after a few minutes Maura felt Jane's breathing even out. Only then did Maura surrender to sleep.

Maura reached over and silenced the alarm clock before it could awaken Jane. She glanced at the time: 7:10 a.m. Slipping from bed she went into her study and closed the door. Finding her contact list she scrolled down until she found Allen Mason's name and connected the call. She prayed he still went in to his office at seven most mornings.

"Good morning, Allen, I was hoping to catch you in your office."

"Maura, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you to call me this early in the morning? You didn't get in a drunken brawl at the Dirty Robber now, did you? You know I'm not a criminal attorney," Allen teased.

"No, nothing as fun as that, Allen. I have a friend of mine who is going through a tough divorce and custody battle. I was wondering if you could fit her in this morning? It's kind of an emergency," Maura said and quickly outlined for Allen everything Jane had been through recently with Joey, including her own assault.

"Can Detective Rizzoli be here around ten this morning, Maura? One of my court cases got pushed back to next week and I have the time." Maura promised Jane would be there.

"Thank you, Allen, I appreciate your help. I'm still trying to lure you onto the Isles Family Foundation's board of directors, you know."

"I know," Allen replied, laughing. "Trust me, Maura, if my case load ever quiets down, or I decide to at least semi-retire, you have me. I've long admired the Foundation's work especially now that you're at the helm."

"You're too kind, Allen. I'll give Jane the information and she'll see you later."

"I hope to see you, too, one of these days, Maura. Ellen and I both miss seeing you at some of the galas."

Maura ended the call and printed out Allen's office information for Jane. She went into take a quick shower and dress for the day. Maura had an errand she wanted to run while Jane saw her new divorce attorney.

Jane sipped her coffee with little enthusiasm. She felt like she could spend the day in bed, sleeping. All of her emotions were drained, spent on Joey's actions to hurt her. Maura came down the hallway and saw Jane leaning against the kitchen counter with her coffee cup. Maura's heart clenched as she took in Jane's ragged appearance.

Maura walked up to Jane and put her arms around her waist. "Did you see my note?"

"Yeah, but Maura I can get a divorce attorney. I want my children back today, damn him."

"Allen Mason is one of the best divorce attorneys in the state, Jane. The only reason he's able to see you this morning is because one of his cases got pushed back in court. You need to be there at 10, preferably a few minutes early. Allen runs his office like clockwork."

"Maura you don't have to do this," Jane protested.

"I know. I want to, Jane. Besides, you have to do the hard part. I'm just supplying the legal knowledge."

"What about what Joey did to you, Maura? I still feel guilty, like I'm partly responsible."

"You're not responsible, Jane, for anything Joey Grant does. You had no knowledge he was even capable of this."

"Yes but Maura the man he hired beat you. Your eyes were swollen shut for days. It was your good luck that you only had a concussion. I can't bear to think I was married to a man who could do this to you. To you, Maura. You're a different kind of woman. You deserve to be protected, taken care of, not have the crap beat out of you because I'm in love with you," Jane whispered. Fresh tears filled her eyes.

Maura squeezed Jane's hands and broke their embrace. "You need to freshen up your face, Jane. Take a quick shower and then get to Allen's office. He'll take care of you."

"Aren't you going with me?"

"I have some things to take care of this morning. I'll see you later. If I have time I'll swing by the precinct and pick you up for a late lunch."

"I love you, Maura."

"I know, Jane."

Jane exited the elevator and entered the penthouse office of Allen Mason, Esq. She wanted to whistle when she saw the décor of the office and knew he was too high-priced for her to consider. She realized Maura must have made a deal with Mr. Mason regarding his fees. After presenting herself to the receptionist she took a seat in the outer office. She didn't have to wait long before being called.

"Detective Rizzoli, it's nice to meet you. Please, have a seat," a tall man with thinning brown hair shook Jane's hand and motioned for her to sit across from him. "Dr. Isles filled me in on your situation, Jane. Do you mind if I call you Jane?" Jane shook her head no and motioned for Allen to continue.

"I am sorry you're going through this. I'd like to get some background information for why you think your husband is acting this way toward you, Jane. Who asked for the divorce?"

"I did. I found out he kept some information from me and I didn't like it. It caused me to realize that over the eight years we've been married I wasn't really happy with Joey. I don't really love him and I want a divorce. Joey didn't see things the same way."

"Has he ever physically threatened you, made you or your children fear for your safety?"

"No. That's one reason why I was so upset and shocked when Joey turned out to be behind the assault on Maura. I never thought him capable of anything like this."

"I see. Why would Joey Grant want to hurt Maura?"

"I'm in love with her." Allen sat back in his chair and observed Jane for a moment.

"Is Maura in love with you?"

"She used to be. Allen, we were lovers before I married Joey. I broke Maura's heart, she dated Michael and they left Boston when I began pregnant with my son. Maura recently returned to Boston. The newspaper printed an article on Maura's return and this is the information Joey kept from me. He also kept some phone messages from me when I was tied up with a case."

"Does Joey know of your prior relationship with Maura?"

"Yes. In fact he found me parked in my car outside of her house when I tried to contact her. After Maura returned I realized my feelings for her and wanted to leave Joey and reconcile with Maura. She wouldn't have anything to do with me because I left her before, without warning. Joey found me parked outside of her house. Nothing happened between us but he insinuated we'd been together."

"How did Maura react?"

"She slapped him, telling me that slap should have been mine."

Allen sighed. "We have a bit of a problem, Detective. Despite same sex marriage being legal in this state, many judges pre-exist that ruling and don't like it. They're not supposed to allow personal feelings to color their rulings but they're just as human as the rest of us. This won't be easy, I'll tell you that."

"I'm not an unfit mother, Mr. Mason."

"I didn't say you were, Detective. But Mr. Grant has someone's ear. This is how he managed to get most of the charges against him reduced and then use your relationship with Maura to take your kids away. Full custody means he's in control."

"So then I'm screwed?" Jane asked.

"Not entirely. We'll file an emergency petition to overturn the previous ruling and ask for joint custody, no supervision required. After all, you're an upstanding member of Boston's finest. In my opinion, Detective, your husband should be drawn and quartered for what he's doing to you. Please make sure my secretary has your contact information and I'll get back to you later today."

Jane stood and extended her hand to Allen. "Thank you, sir, for your help. I didn't ask about your fees."

Allen shook Jane's hand then waved it at her question of his fees. "Don't worry my fees have been taken care of. Try to have a better afternoon, Detective."

Maura parked her car two blocks down the street from Joey's home. She was glad she put her running shoes in the car otherwise Jane might have guessed what one of her errands was. Shoving the keys in her skirt pocket Maura walked quickly to the Grant home. Ducking down as she approached the house Maura took care not to be seen from the windows.

She crept around to the side of the house, paused, and listened for movement. She heard muted voices. They seemed to be coming from the back of the house. Maura put her hand in her other skirt pocket and folded her hand around her phone. If Joey was with his mistress Maura wanted a picture and she wanted to be ready.

Maura kept her head down and moved stealthily along the side of the house. Joey's voice was getting louder. Was he on the phone? She decided to raise her head just a little, to peek inside. She looked through the window. Joey was indeed on the phone, talking with someone Maura guessed to be his attorney.

"Yes, the children are here with me now. The Sheriff's office delivered them quite handily last night. I want to thank you, Dennis, for your quick movement. My children don't deserve to be privy to that kind of deprived behavior." Maura felt her blood pressure rise. She lowered her head and listened.

"I agree. If we file suit against Dr. Isles and the Isles Family Foundation for encouraging the dissolution of a marriage, it should make enough headlines for Jane to want to drop the divorce and come running back to me."

Maura gasped. Joey was planning on suing her?

"Thanks again, Dennis. Please let the Sheriff know I am upholding my promise regarding my campaign contribution for his re-election. I believe in taking care of those who help me." Joey quit talking so Maura knew he ended the call. She listened for his footsteps. They seemed to go toward the back of the house where Maura knew the master bedroom was situated.

"Wait a second, honey, I want to get us something to drink," she heard Joey call. So his mistress was there! Maura moved toward the back of the house. She crept along, trying to remember what set of windows were Jane's bedroom windows.

Maura poked her head up one more time and was rewarded with what she knew would make the picture of the day: Joey's mistress stretched out on the bed, nude. She got her phone ready and looked at the window. No screen, good, the resolution should be that much clearer. Maura started to raise the phone to the window, waiting for Joey to return.

"Here we are, babe," she heard Joey say. Maura heard the bed creak and guessed Joey climbed into it. She raised her head and the phone and started snapping pictures. Pocketing the camera Maura raced back to her car.

TBC