A/N: WARNING: This chapter contains a graphic homicide scene. Discretion is advised.

I

"One does not simply choose when to fall in love. Love happens when you least expect it. It literally jumps out from the shadows and stealth attacks you from behind, causing your entire body to shiver and your thoughts to run rampant. By the time you've realized what has happened, some beautiful thief has made off with your heart. It's terrifying losing that kind of control, to no longer be the captain of your emotions, but just a ship lost a sea, tossed to and fro by the winds of unpredictable desire. Without question, there is an undying ache in those raw moments of infatuation that leaves a human being withering in the ruins of passion wondering if peace will ever come. Your life ceases to be your own, for you've stopped living for yourself, and now, you live for another. Her breaths and your heartbeat intertwine as one into the disguise known as love, which masks the face of loneliness, but never truly replaces it."

"She's very good," Maura leaned across her seat and whispered into Kadin's ear.

Kadin's eyes drifted from the stage and landed on Maura, "She's one of my favorite authors."

"I can see why," Maura smiled as she reached over and laced her fingers with Kadin's.

Several minutes later, Maura felt her phone vibrating from inside her purse. She excused herself from the theater, and stepped out into the lobby, expecting to be called away from her night out with Kadin.

"Dr. Isles," Maura introduced herself as she answered her phone. "2200 Sheridan Ave?" The medical examiner questioned, quite certain she had heard the address incorrectly. "No, no, I'm right across the street. I'll be right there." She disconnected the call and tossed her phone back into her purse. Maura walked down to the glass doors of the theater and glanced outside. Police tape laced the entire 2200 block and several cop cars were parked near the theater entrance as officials began to investigate the scene. A chill ran down her spine at the realization of the homicide's peculiar proximity.

"Maura?" Kadin's voice echoed through the theater's lobby. Maura turned swiftly, startled to hear her name. Kadin's pace towards the woman quickened as she sensed something was awry. "What's happened?" Kadin asked. Her eyes caught the pulsating flashes of police lights out in the street; she cast Maura a perplexing stare, "You're kidding? Here?"

"I just got the call," Maura explained. "It's happened at the warehouse across the street." Maura's eyes saddened as she reached over and touched Kadin's arm, "I'm sorry about the book reading. I was really into her performance."

"Don't worry about that," Kadin replied. "I'll come with you."

A brief moment of panic shot through Maura's body, "No," she politely objected. "No, you wont be allowed on the scene."

"I don't want to be on scene, I just want to be near you. I can't just stay here and finish the reading while you're across the street investigating a murder."

"Kadin, Jane will be working the scene as well."

"So?" Kadin shrugged, "I assume we're both sober tonight."

Maura sighed, realizing she wasn't going to be able to convince Kadin to stay behind, "Fine, but stay back." Maura emphasized, "Way back."

"Yes, ma'am."

"I'll need my medical bag. It's in the trunk of my car in the parking garage."

"No problem. I'll bring it to you," Kadin placed a hand on Maura's shoulder then quickly exited the theater.

Maura inhaled deeply and exited the theater as well. She made her way across the street and lifted the crime tape over her head. Lieutenant Cavanaugh greeted Maura at the entrance of the run down warehouse building. Though it was dark, and the city lights provided little illumination, Maura immediately noticed Cavanaugh's pale complexion and troubled expression.

"Dr. Isles," Cavanaugh greeted, "Thank you for arriving so quickly."

"It seems I had little choice in the matter," Maura replied glancing back towards the theater. "Pardon the expression, Lieutenant, but you look like you've seen a ghost."

The Lieutenant hung his head, taking several moments to respond, "Dr. Isles, I can't prepare you for what you're about to see inside that warehouse." He sighed heavily and shook his head, "Children…" he mumbled. He cleared his throat and began again, "There are three little girls in there, hanging from the rafters." Cavanaugh closed his eyes for a moment. "Naked," he choked out. "It's like something right out of a horror movie."

Maura's stomach knotted. Hearing Lieutenant Cavanaugh describe the disturbing scene was unnerving, but her body clenched in fear knowing that soon the horrific image would be permanently seared into her memory. Kadin suddenly appeared on the opposite side of the police tape, holding Maura's medical bag. Noticing the young woman's unauthorized presence, a nearby police officer approached Kadin aggressively, flashlight in hand and beamed directly at her, but Maura immediately intervened.

"It's all right, officer," Maura called out, "She's just delivering my medical bag."

The officer turned and aimed his flashlight on Maura, "You got an assistant now, Dr. Isles?"

Maura ignored the man's irrelevant question and pushed passed him as she stepped closer to Kadin. Kadin handed the bag over the police tape then took a few steps back. Maura spotted Jane's car pulling up to the warehouse; a part of her was relieved she wouldn't have to face the scene alone, another part of her was nervous about working with Jane since the incident at Patty's Pub. She glanced back to Kadin, "It's a special case, Kadin," she stated somberly. "It may take a while."

"I'll be here."

"If you're going to hang around here all night, make sure you stay at least one hundred feet back from the police tape," the officer suggested. "In other words, move it across the street, sweetheart."

"The charm of a Boston copy truly knows no boundaries," Kadin remarked. She exchanged a look with Maura, then turned and walked back across the street.

Jane jumped out of her car and marched onto the scene, as she ducked under the police tape, she took a passing glimpse at Maura, but seemed unaffected by her presence. She stepped up next to Lieutenant Cavanaugh and the two exchanged brief statements. She glanced over his shoulder and spotted Maura approaching their direction.

"Detective, I'm glad you're here. If you're ready…" Maura nodded towards the warehouse. Jane gave a final look to Cavanaugh, and then followed Maura towards the warehouse doors. "I don't know if anyone has informed you," Maura began as they walked side by side, "but we're dealing with children."

"Yeah, I heard," Jane hoarsely answered. "Three little girls," she muttered. "Sick bastard."

When the two women entered into the main room of the warehouse, Maura's heartbeat pounded beneath her chest. She cautiously eyed the rafters, expecting to see the gruesome site at any moment.

"Rizzoli!" Korsak shouted from the top of a staircase, which led to a small catwalk above the warehouse. "Up here!"

Jane's eyes snapped up towards Korsak's voice and like a magnet, she was instantly drawn to him. Maura followed as Jane ascended the stairs. Once at the top of the catwalk, Jane came face to face with the three girls; she gasped and turned away, covering her mouth. Maura placed a consoling hand on Jane's back as she leaned her head over the railing and caught her breath.

"Pull it together, Jane," Korsak encouraged. "I know it's rough, but we've got to work this case fast if we plan to bring justice to these kids."

Jane nodded and calmed herself as she inhaled deeply and pulled out a pair of gloves from her jacket pocket, "What do we know so far?" Jane asked as she circled the girls' bodies.

"Three females, all under age ten, presumably," Korsak replied. "They could be related."

"Sisters?" Maura asked as she opened her medical bag.

"Possibly," Korsak replied, "Hey, Larry, the doc is here now, cut these girls down, will ya?"

"Yes, sir."

Jane busied herself examining the crime scene while the officers lowered the bodies onto the floor. It was obvious the warehouse had been out of use for many years, possibly decades, but remnants of its former glory still lingered. Jane opened a crate and discovered it was full of empty shell casings.

"What was this place?" Jane asked curiously.

"Ammunition warehouse," Korsak answered shortly.

"They actually made weapons and ammunition here?"

"Not since the end of World War II," Korsak explained. "It was used as a storage armory after the 1940's; kept a lot of troops armed during the Vietnam era. It shut down in the early eighties. Since then, it's been a hot spot for drug deals and gang meetings, but even those activities have been unusually quiet over the past few years."

"So, do we think this is drug or gang related?"

"Not certain," Korsak sighed, "but it seems unlikely."

"These children didn't die from hanging," Maura announced as she hovered over one of the bodies, "They were all dead long before the ropes were tied around their necks."

"What kind of a monster would so something like this?" Jane placed her hands on her hips and lowered her head. "Any idea on the cause of death, Maura?"

"No stab wounds, not cuts, no bruises other than the rope marks around the necks, which are clearly post mortem; I see no outward signs of a struggle. Their bodies are unnaturally positioned." Maura sighed, "There's very little evidence."

"I know you hate guessing, but-"

"Poison," Maura declared, "My initial guess is poison. There's light skin discoloration and reddening around the eyes," Maura added. "Their jaws are also unusually stiff, almost clamped together. It isn't likely rigor mortis has set in already; so, that could also suggest poisoning. I won't know anything further till I've conducted a full examination and a toxicology report, but the few signs present are indicative of exposure to a hazardous substance that attacked the bodies internally."

"So, hanging the bodies in an abandoned warehouse was just for decorative purposes," Jane concluded. "The perp staged the scene."

"For shock value," Korsak grumbled

"That explains why there's little to no evidence. This may not even be the real crime scene."

"That's definitely at angle we'll take a look at, but for now, we treat this as the murder scene," Korsak reminded, "We need to focus on identifying these bodies."

"If three young sisters went missing in the city of Boston, we'd have heard about it before now," Jane scratched the back of her head. "I'm not sure that they're related."

"They all have similar features," Korsak noted, "Blonde hair, blue eyes, pale skin, same age group. If they aren't related, then the murderer had a very specific victim profile in mind."

Jane glanced over to Maura, "We need medical reports to help clear a path; and if we could pin down a cause of death-"

"I'll start the examinations as soon as the bodies are transported to the lab," Maura replied.

Satisfied with Maura's compliance, Jane turned back to Korsak, "Call Frost, fill him in on what we have so far, and have him start looking up records on all missing female children from ages three through twelve. Let everyone know we're working this scene top to bottom; we can't afford to let anything slip through the cracks. If there's one shred of evidence here, we find it. "

Maura stepped outside the warehouse and gave a brief report to the Lieutenant, explaining she would have to continue her examination of the bodies at the lab. She spotted Kadin sitting on a bench in front of the theater. The perturbed look on her face tattled on her otherwise calm appearance. She actually seemed rather mysterious in her black leather jacket zipped up to her neck and her scarf tied snugly under her chin. She sipped on a cup of coffee and stared mindlessly at a crack in the sidewalk. Kadin hadn't noticed the other woman's advancements till Maura was nearly standing over top of her, at which point her disposition noticeably brightened as she smiled and stood from her seat.

"Hey," Kadin greeted, "That didn't take so long."

Maura exhaled, "I can't do anything further till I'm back at the lab."

Kadin nodded, "Oh, sounds like a long night." She glanced down at the ground and kicked a small piece of broken concrete away from her feet.

"Very," Maura replied. "Three little girls..." Maura said barely above a whisper. Kadin's eyes snapped up into focus. She awkwardly tugged at her scarf and loosened it around her neck. "I've been in this business a long time, but working on children never gets any easier." Kadin remained silent; an unfamiliar expression appeared on her face. Assuming Kadin was shaken by the night's events, Maura reached for the woman's arm and pulled her closer, in an attempt to offer reassurance, "The best detectives in Boston are working this case." Maura straightened Kadin's scarf and pressed it neatly against her chest, "Whoever did this, won't get away with it."

"I should get home," Kadin said shortly as she glanced away from Maura.

"I'll drop you off on the way to the station," Maura studied her partner carefully, sensing her uneasiness. "I'll be at the lab till late tonight, but if you want, I can come over and spend the night with you afterwards."

This suggestion seemed to comfort Kadin; she flashed a brief smile, but barely a fragment of her typical cheerful demeanor, "I always sleep better when you're near."

"So do I," Maura agreed, returning the smile, she leaned into Kadin and locked their arms together as they began walking towards the parking garage.

II

It was nearly midnight when Jane arrived at the lab. She waited patiently for Maura to finish her last examination, and then cautiously entered the exam room. Maura glanced up from her paperwork, surprised to see Jane entering the facility.

"Detective," Maura greeted, "I was just about to call it a night. I finished the last examination. There doesn't appear to be any signs of sexual abuse, which I take some comfort in knowing. I've also sent off the toxicology report. Normally, it takes several days to get the results back, but in special cases such as this one, the process can be sped up to about forty-eight hours." Maura paused, "Upon further inspection, evidence reveals that each child suffered extreme convulsions before death; their backbones are abnormally arched, which explains the awkward positioning of their bodies," Maura held up x-rays of the victims spines, "It's rather odd, but correlates with the theory that a poisonous substance was used. It also counts for the unusual stiffness in the jaw."

"Any idea on what that substance could be?" Jane asked leaning across one of the examination tables.

"There's a few possible choices," Maura replied, she dug through a pile of notes next to her computer, "Strychnine appears to be the best match, but I can't confirm anything till the toxicology reports come back."

"What do you know about strychnine?"

Maura frowned, "Well, it's often used in small quantities as a pesticide. You can find it listed as an ingredient in most brands of rat poisons. What makes it an excellent candidate for our case is that it's known for causing muscular convulsions. Cause of death can either be from asphyxiation caused by paralysis of the neural pathways that control breathing, or exhaustion from the convulsing. It's excruciatingly painful; death occurs within two to three hours of exposure."

Jane inhaled deeply, "You think the perp used an over the counter rodent pesticide?"

"It's more likely that he used a clear liquid formula," Maura replied. "Had he used store bought rat poison, there would be traces of the pellets still in the victims intestines."

"Where could someone buy the clear liquid?"

Maura shrugged, "A farmer's market. Any agricultural related website or store. It's not an uncommon purchase."

"And doesn't rouse suspicion," Jane tapped her foot against the floor. "The crime scene revealed practically nothing, but intuition tells me these kids were killed somewhere else and brought to the warehouse. Were you able to identify whether or not these three were related?"

"No, not yet. DNA will take till tomorrow morning," Maura glanced over at the three covered bodies, then back to Jane, "I wish I had more information for you."

"You're a fountain of information, Maura," Jane replied. "And I know you'll do everything you can. We just have to keep chipping away till the pieces fit together."

"Of course," Maura agreed.

Jane placed a hand to the back of her neck, "So, how's your friend?"

"My friend?" Maura asked, though she had an assumption in mind.

"The girl from Patty's," Jane replied awkwardly. "Is she okay?"

Maura nodded slowly, "Yes, she's fine."

"Good," Jane glanced anxiously around the lab, unable to make eye contact with Maura. Her eyes darted aimlessly as she spoke, "Maura, I know it isn't an excuse, but I had way too much to drink that night. Honestly, I don't even remember most of it, but Frost has made sure to fill me on every minute detail. I'm ashamed of myself. I wanted to apologize to you sooner, but-" Jane paused, "It's been really weird lately and the last time I came over to apologize…" Jane trailed off.

"I know," Maura's expression softened.

"But you're right," Jane shrugged, "About me always finding something wrong with the men you date. I didn't want to admit it, at first, but I've spent some time thinking about it, and it's true. I feel like no one has ever been good enough for you and there's a part of me that has always taken comfort in knowing that no matter what, we have-" Jane corrected, "had each other."

"Jane, I know that you've always meant well, but this time things are different." Maura took a deep breath, "I am seeing someone." She confessed, "I have been the entire time, but it's not what you think. It's not just some guy."

Jane laughed lightly, "I know; it's the guy."

"No," Maura denied, she swallowed heavily. Her heartbeat raced as she searched for the right words and the courage to speak them, "I haven't been hiding a boyfriend. I've been hiding a girlfriend."

Jane's facial muscles contorted into a strange gesture, one Maura had never seen before and had trouble identifying. The silence between them weighed heavy as it filled the room. Maura felt an enormous pressure on her chest as she waited nervously for Jane's response.

"Wait a minute," Jane finally spoke as she closed her eyes and held up her hands, "The woman at Patty's..."

Maura nodded as her voice broke, "That's Kadin."

"Oh, my God" Jane blinked several times, as she recalled the night in question. She stepped to the side and took a seat in a nearby chair. She ran both of her hands through her hair, "It all makes sense, now." She stated blankly as she stared into the empty space in front of her. Suddenly, her eyes shot up at Maura, "You're gay?"

"No," Maura immediately replied. A look of confusion and heartache streaked across her face, "I don't know. I'm still attracted to men, but-" Maura's breathing became heavier, "I've never done this before; It just… happened. That's why I needed space, I was trying to figure things out, I wanted to understand for myself before I announced it to anyone else, and I know it's made me look secretive and deceptive, but I hate lying, especially to you, so I've tried my best to avoid this conversation completely. I know you feel like I owed you an explanation, but I just wanted more time; I needed more time. I always planned to tell you, when the moment was right, when I felt comfortable, but you pushed so hard." Maura's face saddened, "I'm entitled to keep my private life private, even from you. I wanted you to respect that right, but you completely ignored it. I already felt confused and frightened, I wasn't prepared to answer your questions or discount your accusations. I had a lot on my mind, but I should have been more considerate of your feelings. It's taken me a while to get here, to be able to have this conversation with you. I'm sorry."

Jane repositioned herself in the chair so that she was facing Maura directly. She cleared her throat and asked, "Does she make you happy?"

Maura felt a wave of emotion crash through her body, "So happy," she replied feeling a few tears form in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. The sudden relief of finally confronting Jane lifted the weight from Maura's chest and felt more liberating that she could have ever imagined.

Jane stood from the chair and placed a hand on Maura's shoulder, "Then you have nothing to be sorry for." Jane flashed a half smile, "Have a goodnight, Maura. I'll see you tomorrow." Jane turned and quietly made her way out of the lab.

"Jane, wait," Maura called out as Jane was opening the door. Jane stopped and casually glanced over her shoulder. "Let's keep this just between us for now, okay?"

Jane nodded, "Yeah, of course." She opened the door and stepped outside.

Feeling somewhat baffled, Maura gazed around the medical lab. She was greatly relieved, but oddly, a bit disappointed. The conversation that had taken months to transpire had abruptly come and gone in the blink of an eye and simply evaporated between them. Quite frankly, she had anticipated a much more climactic scene; then again, they had already shared several dramatic confrontations leading up to this revelation. Perhaps, a confession and a simple gesture of support were more than sufficient. Thoughts of Kadin quickly filled Maura's mind and suddenly, the ache to be near her intensified. Maura grabbed her jacket from the back of her office chair and left the station. Minutes later, she was wrapped cozily in her lover's arms, warm under the covers, and curious as to what tomorrow would bring.