AN : Your support is out of this world. Thanks.

Frankie was pacing nervously anticipating Jane's arrival; and all those months of hurt had gone with the wind. It's a tough thing losing one's hero. Frankie had somehow lost his sense of self. It's like when you are walking towards a place you have never been to before, and there are footprints to follow, then suddenly those footprints are gone. The younger officer had not known what to do with himself for months now. He had on occasion found himself swaying left, right, and centre. Now those footprints had just appeared again, like the switch of a light, and left everything into clear perspective. Whatever awaited him in the future, as long as he had Jane's footprints to follow, he knew without doubt he would be ok. He made a mental note to himself to frequent the church; God deserved a massive 'thank you'. When Jane got there, there would be a myriad of issues to address, but for the time being he would be content to busk in the comfort of having his big sister back.

Angela was on the opposite side of the room mimicking Frankie's movements. Their pacing seemed to be in sync, neither noticed of course. They were both deeply immersed in their own thoughts. Angela, unlike her son, was not going to wait to thank God on another day. She had already begun. Her main concern was the state in which her daughter would be in upon arrival. She briefly wondered if she should make herself useful by calling an ambulance to be on standby when Jane got home in case she needed urgent medical attention. She internally laughed at how ludicrous the idea was. If Jane was in any immediate medical emergency, the detectives would make sure she was taken care of before she even got home. As a mother though, she just felt like she hadn't done anything for her baby, she wanted to be helpful in any sort of way.

Her refuge was cooking.

So when they were not arriving soon enough, she found herself in the kitchen making a meal. My Janie will be hungry. She probably hasn't eaten anything in weeks. Those thoughts had her on the verge of tears once again.

The mother and son could not speak to one another. They were too nervous and excited to come up with any sort of logical conversation. So Frankie continued his pacing, while Angela cooked up a storm. One painful hour of waiting and a car pulled up in Angela's driveway. Frankie was by the door before he knew it. He wouldn't wait for Jane to come in; he charged towards her like a magnet, she almost fell over. Jane had never witnessed such emotion from her younger brother before – but death warranted it right?

''Oh my God Jane….'', He was literally shivering.

''It's ok little brother, I'm ok, it's alright''. She had to resort to comforting him. It just made her feel even worse than she already did. All the pain she thought she caused, now it was right in front of her.

Korsak and Frost took this as their cue to leave the family to reunite in privacy. When the brother and sister had released each other and were now arm in arm, Korsak began.

''Call us when you are ready to come to the station. Ok?''

''I will call tomorrow. Thanks guys. I missed you, a lot. Thank you so much'', She gathered both Frost and Korsak in a lose embrace.

''You did it all on your own Jane'', Korsak couldn't help the slight guilt he was feeling from having failed to find her.

''You came for me, that counts for something'', she choked out. She couldn't believe how freaking emotional she was being. She hoped to not make a habit of it. Frost had not said a thing; he was still in a moderate state of shock. He needed the night to sleep over it; and his belief was that he would have wrapped his head around things in a day or two.

Angela- on her way from the bathroom- had heard the exchange outside and before she made her way to the point of interest, Jane had strolled into the living room. Angela gave her a motherly once over - though she could barely see from all the tears in her eyes- then vertically landed on her beautiful daughter.

''I love you Ma, I love you so much'', she had promised herself to remind her mother how much she meant to her as much as she could. Her overbearing nature aside, the woman was a damn good mum and Jane knew it.

''I know baby, I love you too. I missed you so much. I'm so glad you're ok''. There was just so much she wanted to say, but it was hard. Between trying to breathe past the tears and clutching onto her Jane, it was just so difficult. They stayed this way for a good two minutes until Angela had to look her over again. She just shook her head and began 'really' crying, Angela Rizzoli style.

''I never want to feel the way I felt these past long months Jane. It's a feeling I can never describe to anyone-'', she was gasping now, ''-I thought I had lost you forever''. She pulled Jane in again.

The detective was determined to let her mother exhaust herself to the max. She knew they both needed it, her turn would come also.

After a few moments of exchanging affections, all three Rizzoli's went to take a seat.

''Can I get you something to eat Jane'', Frankie inquired.

''Not now, thanks though''. They were four simple words but he knew exactly what they meant. This is no time for food. What the hell happened in my absence? Can me and Ma have some time alone. He knew his sister, and he got it. So he made to leave.

''I'll just head home now. If you guys need anything, I'm not too far''. He hugged Jane one last time, left a kiss on her cheek and left the women to 'talk'.

''Where is Maura Ma?'', She wasn't interested in pretending it wasn't baffling her. More than that, it was scaring her''

Silence.

''And what's with the house'', She sounded like herself for a second there; with her hands flying all over the place in gesticulation. Angela wanted to cry. ''I'm away for a few months and I get back to his, I should be kidnapped more often''. There it was again – so Jane.

''Don't you dare say that'', Angela was not at all amused.

''Sorry Ma, just tryna cheer you up. Not working right?'' Now she just felt silly.

It took no time at all, to notice Angela's nervous habits exposed. Something was wrong. Not again, she thought.

''Ma, I said where's Maura?'', that was a demand that was met with silence once again. In all honesty, where could Angela begin?

''Do I have to ask again?''

''Honey, Maybe you should rest and-''

''And what? And you can prolong whatever it is you have to tell. That's not happening. If you want me to rest, you better lemme know what's going on. Preferably now''.

The occurrences were all jumbled up, so Angela figured starting from the beginning would be the best option. She began relating to Jane how they found out the news about her death. She described the photograph they had been shown, then proceeded to inform her how Maura had not taken the news well. She pause for a few brief seconds, under the pretence of emotions but what she was doing was wondering whether to tell Jane what Maura had done. She settled on not telling her. It was too much information for one day. But eventually she knew she would have to. Jane was not fooled, she saw right through her mother's conflicting emotions. She knew she would get to the bottom of it soon.

''Lemme get this right. So Maura left?'' Angela nodded. ''and she left you her house and her car?'' Another nod. ''Then you sold it and bought this one'', yet another nod. It was starting to sound like an interrogation. ''And apparently no one knows where she is? Are you fucking kidding me?''

''Jane…''

''NO, you should have looked for her. What do you mean no one can locate her? Frost and Korsak are freaking detectives for chrissake. What the hell!'' Angela had already been through these kinds of talks with the other men, so she let Jane have her chance.

Overwhelming was the understatement of all understatements. How can you ask ten questions in one question? Jane wanted to know why they couldn't find Maura. Why she had even run away in the first place. Where HER furniture and clothing was. Why most of Maura's furniture was now in Angela's possession. Why they were all giving her 'the look'. Yes she had been taken against her will for months, but she looked fine – perfect even. But they still kept looking at her in a very peculiar way.

Fuck resting. She was getting to work right away. Her first stop was Frost's place. Tomorrow morning was WAY too far.

''Can I borrow your car?''

''NO. Janie, you need to eat, you need rest. Can't this wait-''

''No mother, it cannot! Can I borrow it or do I have to call a taxi''. Mother? This was serious.

''Where are you going?''

''To Frost. I'll be back soon''. She knew fighting her was a complete waste of time. This was Maura they were talking about.

''Be careful honey. I would feel much better if you at least ate something though''

''I'll be fine Ma. See you in a bit''. She ran out. She needed answers, fast.

It was now dark outside. She hoped Frost wasn't asleep yet. Jane ran up to his door and rang the bell as gently as she could. When Frost saw her through the peephole, he knew immediately what it was that couldn't wait until the morning – Maura.

''I have one question Frost, please be honest with me?'' She would say hello another time.

''Jane..''

''Can you stop that please. I have had it up to here with the pity looks'', she demonstrated by placing her hand horizontally against her throat. ''tell me why you didn't try all you could to find Maura?''

Nip it in the butt.

With a loud sigh, Frost began his narration, ''From the last time we saw her she left a clean path Jane. I accessed her card details and her accounts, illegally by the way, but all there was one cash withdrawal from the bank the afternoon we found out about you. And the rest were transfers to her attorney's account. And that was it. We contacted him, and he went on a rant about confidentiality and it just left us stuck. We tried contacting her parents but they seem to never stay in one place for more than two hours. And when we finally got hold of Constance she just said, and I quote, ''Maura is a big girl, if she wants to be found she will come back, I am very busy at the moment''. And she isn't with doctors without borders, we checked thoroughly''.

Jane felt what little energy left in her disappear altogether.

''She's not coming back is she?''

''I don't think so Jane''. He felt terrible for being the one to make Jane feel so defeated. He had tried all he could within his capacity; she just didn't want to be found, simple.

''Thanks Frost, for all you did. I'll come to the station tomorrow''

She headed back home. She had two people who could tell her where the love of her life was – Constance or Maura's attorney.

With her initial feelings in check, Jane finally took the time to tour her mother's house. The house was beautiful and felt homey. Maybe it was because it was furnished with her things and Maura's. She picked up one of the photos of Maura and herself. She hugged it tightly and whispered 'I miss you Maura'. She had hoped by this time she would have been with her best friend, but here she was, with only a picture. Angela watched her, and died a little inside knowing it was going to kill Jane to learn that Maura had almost killed herself. When Jane felt eyes on her she gently put the picture back.

''Thank you Ma''

''For what'', Angela was surprised.

''For not giving up hope. For not burying me'', she chuckled lightly.

''I couldn't Jane. I wasn't feeling your absence''.

''I don't know how to explain how much that means to me''.

''You don't have to Jane''. She paused, clearly trying to stop the never ending tears. ''I feel like I failed you as a mother. I was so helpless and there was absolutely nothing I could do''

''No Ma. You did the most important among everyone else. You never lost hope. You never gave up. That's what counts the most''

''I told Korsak we would have a service if they didn't find you in one year. So if you didn't come back sooner I would have given up Jane. What does that say about me?''

Jane moved to grab her mother's hands, ''that says nothing. You said it then. Maybe after the year you still wouldn't do it''

''Has my daughter matured?'', Angela joked through tear filled eyes.

''Yes, I think she has''.

They hugged again then Angela led Jane to the spare bedroom. Jane loved it and made herself comfortable it no time. She took a nice long shower to rid herself of the Amos dirt, and then she settled into bed. She wouldn't admit it, but she was exhausted.

She was glad to be home. She was delighted to see her family. She was thrilled to see her friends/partners. The next day would be equally eventful, she knew it. She had already made a to-do list in her head. Call Constance, call Maura's attorney, see Tommy, go to the BPD and do all she needed to do there, and go through the things in the basement her mother had stored.

She wasn't too worried about whether or not she would find Maura. In her mind she thought she just had to contact Maura's attorney, if he got bitchy with her then she would contact Constance. Surely one of them would tell her; after all, they should know where she is. So as she drifted to sleep she felt quite alright, little did she know finding Maura might be the first hurdle she failed to jump.