Redone and Improved!

Z- beta'd/ mistakes? - mine!

Home of Olivia Benson

She exhaled contently at the warm sensation of her lovers body pressed against hers as she came awake. Opening her eyes, she had to blink several times to clear her vision and her gaze settled on the dresser mirror on the far wall. She could feel the warm breath against her neck as her lover slept on with her head resting on her shoulder while her arm lay just beneath her breasts, a hand lightly touching her ribs.

She peered at the image cast back in the mirror and again marveled at the sight of the beautiful blonde whose body was wrapped so tightly around her. But despite her enjoyment of this moment, she knew that it would come to an end… again.

Olivia tried not to think about it as she closed her eyes and reveled in the heat of Alex's bare skin pressed against hers. Medium sized breasts squished against her ribs, flat stomach cupping her hip, and long thin legs tangled up into her own. This was her heaven, if only we could stay here.

Alex's breathing changed slightly and she felt the woman's nose brush against her neck as her lover inhaled her scent. She shuddered as full lips grazed her skin and she felt her heart speed up as Alex gently kissed her. Liv gently started tracing random patterns on her lover's back. While Alex's long thin fingers started to run along her side and eventually cupped Liv's jaw, tenderly.

Liv let her turn her head to face her as Alex's lips met hers. Not getting the response she had last night, Alex pulled back to look at Liv.

"What's wrong?" She whispered.

Liv shook her head and met those blue eyes. "Nothing." She replied. "Nothing's wrong. It's all perfect." She said as she tightened her muscular arms around the thin woman.

Alex had been a lawyer too long and knew Liv better than anyone to be fooled by that nonchalant tone.

"Why are you lying?" She whispered as she pulled away from her love and fixed her eyes on her. "Liv, we've known each other too long. I know when you're not being honest."

"I'm not lying." She said calmly, "Everything is perfect right now. I have you."

Alex looked deep into those mocha eyes and came up with only one thing: sadness.

"You're sad." She said as she stroked Liv's strong jaw. "Why?"

Liv closed her eyes and leaned back into the pillows. She hadn't wanted to go here yet. She just wanted to enjoy the morning with Alex but even that was denied her. She hated this game and she hated that she was about to be the one to ruin this moment. But she knew that it was already over. Alex wouldn't drop it until she had the answer and she'd cross examine Liv all morning to get it. Her thoughts turned to her friends.

Kate and Rick had a strong relationship although it wasn't always hay rose filled days. She knew they fought from time to time and it was anyone's guess who would win. They both got their way with each other but Liv was betting that Kate got her way more.

Jane and Maura were a completely different relationship all together. Rarely had Liv seen them fight and even when they did, it wouldn't take long before Jane would give in with her usual grumpy sarcastic complaints. It was actually kind of sweet how hard-core, kick-ass, Painkiller Jane Rizzoli was a marshmallow when it came to Maura Isles. Liv envied their relationship.

Alex hadn't moved as she held herself up over Liv on her arms. "Why are you sad, Baby?"

Liv looked up at her and considered dropping all the pretenses and deflecting, but the truth was simple. She didn't want this to end so soon. So she only told her part of the truth.

"It's the job." She said and her voice betrayed her emotions. "I've been in the SVU for fourteen years, Alex. I've seen too much of the worst of people and… I want out."

Alex cupped her face and stared deep into her eyes, "I thought that's why you took the head chair. So you wouldn't see all of that."

"I did, but instead of being face to face with one case at a time. Now I see them all from a distance and it's just as bad."

Alex lay down next to her and stroked the older woman's sternum, "Then ask for a transfer. You could go anywhere; Robbery, Theft, Fraud. You could even transfer to NYPD Cinema Unit if you asked."

"No," she said softly, "I can't. If I ask for a transfer now, then command will figure out that I can't cut it anymore. I'll get stuck at a desk or psyched out of NYPD."

Alex stroked Liv's chin gently. "It's not worth you soul, honey. Nothing is worth what it's doing to your heart."

Liv sighed, neither was what their relationship was becoming. Determined to change the subject and distract Alex from digging any further, she started nibbling on the blonde's ear, gently flicking the lobe with her tongue. It was one of Alex's favorites and Liv knew just what buttons to push to excite her girlfriend. But even as Alex made love to her, she still couldn't shake the weight that was bearing down on her. She hoped she could hold out just a little while longer.

Home of Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli

Maura sensually slid the sleeve of the black shirt over Jane's arm and once placed, she gently slid her lover's arm into the other side. There were so many sides of Jane that could get her hot. Today she got to see Jane in her NYPD patrol uniform. It was a hot look and Maura bit her lip to keep from groaning. Jane hated people who wanted to make love to her badge or her uniform but with Maura it was as if she didn't mind, but Maura didn't want to push it. She had had leather Jane last night and it had been hot as hell. Uniform Jane was starting to look better.

Jane's eyes were hot as fire as Maura slowly dressed her. Ordinarily she'd resent anyone dressing her like a doll but with Maura there was always something so arousing that Jane didn't mind.

Jane knew what that something was. Maura loved all of her, not just her body, her badge, her gun. Maura adored every part of her and never once made her feel used or unappreciated. It caused a small twinge of guilt because there was one side of her that she had not shown her lover, that dark, scary place in her soul. Jane held out because she was afraid Maura wouldn't be able to love her because she was a killer, even though the two times Maura had seen it had been in the woman's defense.

She had resolved to tell Maura the truth about her other side this week because she didn't want there to be any secrets between them when she proposed. She had promised Maura that she wouldn't hide things away and she had been true to her word. This was the last thing left.

"Jane?" She came out of her thoughts as Maura rested a hand on her left arm.

"Yeah, Maur?" She said huskily.

"Where were you just now?"

Her instinct was to make a crack about being right here but she knew what Maura was asking.

"Someplace that I need to show you, but it's hard." She said softly.

Maura rested her hand on Jane's abs. "Tell me."

She shook her head, "I'm not ready yet but I don't think I have much time left." She thought about the dream she had the other night. Nightmares were beginning to interrupt her sleep, like the one from last night.

She had been running, running after someone and she had caught up with him. Before she could even figure out why she had been chasing him, he had turned a gun on her and she had twisted his neck, killing him instantly. He fell into the light and Jane cried out as she realized that she had just killed Frankie. She'd just murdered her own brother. She shouted to Maura to save him but the Blonde shook her head.

"I'm scared Jane." She said and her voice was agony. "I'm scared of you."

She'd jerked awake and when Maura had tried to comfort her, she'd leapt from the bed until the disorientation had ended. Only after she was sure she was in control of herself had she allowed Maura to comfort her.

"Is this about the dream?" She asked softly. "I do have some knowledge about dream psychology."

"Kind of, but the dreams are another thing I'm dealing with." She said softly and rested her head against Maura's, "I told you that there are some things that have happened since the end of the book. I don't want to tell you because I'm scared you won't be able to see past it. It scares me most days but I've learned that it's just as much a part of me as loving you and I'm scared that you won't be able to accept it."

"Jane. I love you, all of you." Maura said as she began to button up the shirt. "I've always loved every part of you, even when I'm ready to pull my hair out, I still love you. There's a part of you that scares you that much then yes, I want to see it, I want to see every part of you. But Jane, There are parts of you that already scare me and I love you anyway. I won't push you but I do want you to show me every part of you because I know that I'm the only one who ever has."

Jane nodded and bit her lip as she looked deep into her lover's hazel eyes.

"What?" She asked.

She sighed, "Kate knows, if you need to talk about it and don't feel comfortable with me."

Maura felt her heart race, Jane was scaring her now. "Jane. I love you and I will always love you."

She gulped visibly, "Hoyt, the night I killed him…"

Maura's eyes widened as she remembered that night with crystal clarity. The murderous look in Jane's eyes, the sound of pure, raw, unfettered hatred as she spoke that night.

"I WIN, YOU GO TO HELL! ALONE!" She rammed the scalpel deep into the man's heart.

Jane had done that to protect Maura from the same terror that had haunted her for nearly five years. She had driven the blade straight through Charles Hoyt's sternum and nearly bisected the monster's heart. Jane's strength had been shocking to say the least and so had how quickly she had gotten over her own personal demon's death.

Jane stopped as she saw Maura's face. She remembered that night, was still remembering it. Jane pulled her into her embrace and kissed the hell out of her, it only took Maura a second to realize what was happening and why. Her response to Jane was immediate as she slid her hands around the tall brunette and stroked her gently.

After a few moments Jane let her go and Maura regained herself. "I guess you're not ready either."

Maura stopped and it took a second to remember, "No, I don't think I am." She replied in a shaky voice.

"Then we can try again later." She said, "in the meantime, let me take your mind off of this awful topic."

Jane knelt down in front of Maura and again wrapped her arms around her lover's shapely hips, she gently parted the robe her lover wore and started kissing her stomach, "This is where our baby will be made. Right here." She kissed her love low on her abdomen and Maura's skin tingled at each kiss.

Home of Richard Castle and Kate Beckett

Rick held his breath as his fiancé came out of their huge walk in closet wearing her uniform. Gone were her casual demeanor and the fun loving attitude she had this morning. Now she stood looking at herself in the antique full length stand-up mirror he had bought her for her birthday. He watched from the relatively concealed position of the bathroom as she pulled and adjusted the shirt until it set properly against her trim figure.

As she hung her Sergeant's shield on the breast of the shirt and stared, He felt a jolt of guilt run through him as she gently touched that place between her breasts. When Beckett had been shot at Montgomery's funeral the gunman had been aiming at her heart. It was an experience that had rocked her to her core and he thanked the heavens every day that God had been looking out for Kate that day. She paused as she caught him watching her and she resisted dropping her hand.

Like her partner, Kate hated to show weakness but Rick was one of the few exceptions she had. She tried to ignore him as she gently rubbed the scar on her chest. Rick knew what it meant for her to wear her uniform even though this one was a replacement. The one she had been shot in had been cut away from her as the hospital staff had worked feverishly to save her life. Her look turned angry at her own weakness.

It's just a black shirt and pants. It has no thought or power or even life! Grow up, Beckett! She shook off her morose mood and dug in her bureau drawer for her dress gloves. She quickly shoved them in the back pocket of her pants and located her equipment belt and her cover. She gently rested the hat on her head and positioned the brim low over her eyes as she again checked her appearance.

Rick rinsed his mouth out and wiped his face before walking up behind her. She stood ramrod straight as he tucked and tugged the back of her shirt. Looking up he could feel her eyes on him from under the brim as she watched his every move. He nodded and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"I'll never understand how you can make bad ass look so beautiful." He said as he rubbed her arms gently. "You always make me want to be better than I am."

A slight smile creased her cheek, "That's because you need to be better."

He smiled as he held her gently. "It's just a uniform and you'll be trading it in soon enough."

"Jane said the Boston uniform makes you look like a man." She said with a grin.

"And I know that you'll find a way to make it all woman." He said as he started to nibble at her neck.

Kate placed a hand on his forehead and gently pushed him away. "I don't do men while in uniform."

Unable to contain himself, he grinned, "I think I should be either insulted or jealous that Jane gets to have you in uniform."

She elbowed him in the stomach and he groaned happily as she smirked at him through the mirror. "Keep it up, Castle and you won't be having me at all this week."

It was an old game but one they both enjoyed and Rick knew that it gave Kate some measure of comfort that she was still in control of her life. That even though she was with him, she could still be as independent as she wanted to be. Even though he figured out what not to say over a year ago, he occasionally threw out a jib like that to help reassure her that he wasn't the definition of her life. She wasn't Rick Castle's girlfriend, fiancé, and soon, wife. She was still Detective Kate Beckett and everything she was, was coming with her.

"You couldn't last a week without me." He said and she elbowed him again harder this time and he gasped. Maybe not so much next time.

He nodded, "Point taken."

She nodded at him. "Good. Let's see how long that lasts." He caught that mischievous grin as she turned.

He kissed her cheek and headed off to the closet.

Kate watched him go and once again asked herself what she was doing to him. He never said anything about it but she knew that he wasn't happy that she had made the choice to move to Boston without even consulting him. She knew it had cut him but she knew what was wrong and what was right, most of the time. And even though they had been together for over a year and were in fact planning their wedding much earlier than either one was really ready for, she still had a hard time thinking of herself as part of a family.

It wasn't something she'd had to do for almost fifteen years. She tried to think of him first but when she sat in Cavanaugh's home and he offered Jane the chance to come to Boston, Jane had refused. She had done that for Kate and it felt wrong to her. That, more than anything else had been what had prompted her to speak up.

Cavanaugh ran a hand through his short grey hair as he sat down in his home office chair.

"I know you're ready to head back to New York so I'll make this short." He said as he looked to Jane, "Your Ma wants me to get you back into BPD. There are all kinds of changes happening this year and I want to make sure I got the best people in place but I'm not going to push the issue. All I want to know is: when are you ready to come back?"

Kate sat up to hear her, it was stupid. Jane had already explained it to Kate but she wanted to hear it anyway. Her partner shifted in her chair.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant." She said honestly, "I can't come back yet. I still have some things I have to work out in New York."

"Like what?" He asked.

"Like open cases that Beckett and I are working, court appearances." She glanced at her partner, "Kate and I had a case that's been really hard on her and I promised her that I'd stand with her while she deals with it. I made a commitment to my partner and I won't abandon her."

He looked to Beckett, "You must be some kind of partner for her to stand by you like that."

"She's the best partner I've ever had." Kate said, "You ever had one of those partners that you just clicked with. The kind where you don't need to say anything but you both know what the other's thinking

He nodded, "Yeah, I did once. Then I crawled into the bottle and ruined it."

"I have never had anyone I understood or who understood me better. Not even Rick gets me like she does."

"You're her partner and her Sergeant," He said, "So I'll be straight with you, I want Rizzoli back in my Homicide Unit."

"LT," Jane said, "I'm sorry about how I left here but I made a commitment to both my partner and the NYPD. I can't just pick up and go like that. Not to mention that Maura can't leave Icahn until the school year ends so that's June."

Oh boy! Kate thought. She remembered the paper in the empty file in her desk. Well I guess now is as good a time as any.

"As Detective Rizzoli's Sergeant and immediate supervisor, I have to report her statement is in error, Lieutenant." Kate said. Jane's head snapped around.

She held up her hand to silence her partner, "What Detective Rizzoli should have said was that WE can't just pick up and go that easy."

"Kate!" Jane gasped.

Sean stared at her, "Beckett, are you saying what I think your saying?"

"Jane is my partner, Lieutenant." She said confidently. "She's not the only one who's made commitments."

She felt guilty about not talking to Rick but she had been afraid of putting her partner and her boyfriend at odds. The last thing she wanted to do was choose between them because she honestly didn't know who would be disappointed.

She loved Rick, deeply, madly, but Jane was like a sister and she knew that if she had to choose, she'd lose an important part of herself, no matter which way it went.

Kate sighed as she finished placing her chevrons on her collar and made sure that her uniform was perfect before she took off her cap and headed into the closet.

She gently slid her arms around his robust frame as he finished fastening the buttons on his pants. He felt the heavy fabric of her uniform pressed into his back along with two fleshy mounds and the skin of her cheek pressed at the base of his neck. He sighed as he placed his hands over hers.

"I know this hasn't been easy on you." Kate said, "I think we should talk about it."

He reached over to the rack and took a shirt off a hangar. "Talk about what?"

She let him go and looked up into his deep blue eyes, "Boston."

He grimaced as he shook his head, "There's nothing to talk about. You made the call and I'll support you."

"Rick?"

He turned away from her and she felt her heart tug. "Kate. I love you. I'll go with you, there's not much else to talk about."

"I want you to know why."

"I know why." He said simply. "And I understand. I was wrong about you giving it all up. It's a good move and I think your career will benefit from it." He slid the shirt on and started to button it when Kate came around him again and took over.

"It's not just about Jane." She said, "Yes that's a lot of it. But I should have talked to you about it weeks ago."

He nodded, "Yes you should have but I didn't exactly make it easy."

"No you didn't but I should have tried harder too." She said as she slowly buttoned his shirt. "But it's not just about Jane or even about Jane and Maura. It's also about us."

He looked at her then, "Kate, we're from New York. Boston isn't our home, at least not yet. Everything we are and everything we came from is here. I'm not saying we should stay but it's a big change and we're both going to have to get used to it. I know the Rizzoli's are family but we're a family too; me, you and Alexis."

She finished the buttons and placed her hands on his chest, "I know, but I'm talking about us. I want to marry you Rick, I do but I don't want this to be what breaks us apart. You haven't said anything but I know when you're thinking instead of talking. Talk to me."

He sighed as he tucked in his shirt, "Kate, I didn't want to move to Boston. I love New York. I know what Jane's partnership means to you and I know that you're torn between me and her. I get it and the only thing I can think of to keep us together is to let it go. So we're going to Boston. Even though I'm confident that I would win out over Jane if I refused to leave, I know that you'd end up resenting me for forcing that choice on you. I love you and I want to be with you too. So I'm swallowing my pride and I'm going to give Boston a chance but I reserve the right to argue about it later."

Kate looked up at him and he smiled, "No promises but you have to know that I'm trying."

She bit her lip and nodded, "I know, now." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him hotly. Before she knew it, her uniform shirt was open as was her front clasp bra. Her pants were on the floor as Rick pinned her against the wall. She wrapped her legs around his lean hips as he thrust against her, her hands wrapped in a death grip around the clothing bar.

Half an hour later, Jane stood before the mirror adjusting her uniform. She pulled, tugged, and tucked here and there and adjusted her NYPD Shield that was fixed below her ribbons. Since she hadn't been with NYPD long enough to earn any from her unit, Gates had insisted that she wear her Boston PD ribbons. In fact, her Captain had actually gone as far as checking with Cavanaugh for Jane's certs and ribbon placement to make sure she was in order. She sighed at the one ribbon she hadn't wanted to wear, had never wanted to wear.

A simple ribbon that was striped blue, white, red, white, than blue again in equal widths hung prominently in a position of high honor and she was often asked to identify it. Further reminding her of that day she almost lost everything. As if that wasn't bad enough, the NYPD version was an all blue background with several white stars, so it further identified her as an outsider within the NYPD. Combine that with the three hash marks on the cuff of her arm indicating 15 years on the force and the lack of the black WTC ribbon further put her on the outs.

Ordinarily Maura would be here to help her but after that brief conversation, Jane had made certain that her lover was spent and lying in bed, recovering from two of the best orgasms Jane had ever given her. She wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon showing her lover how much she cherished her but unfortunately, she had to work.

She placed her cover on her head and pulled the brim low in NYPD fashion and as she checked to make sure everything was in place, she caught an odd look from the mirror.

She took off her cap and set it on the counter as she stared at her reflection. Although she knew it was her, she couldn't help but see someone else staring back at her and it wasn't her other side, either. She glanced down to see Maura's favorite lipstick freestanding next to the sink. Before she could think better of it, she pulled the cap off and applied it to her lips. Recapping it and setting it down, she looked again and that was when she realized who was staring back at her.

Jane was really looking at herself but she kept seeing that woman, Abbie, looking back at her. She sighed as she realized that this was going to be a common thing as she wiped off the lipstick and replaced her cap. Now, no matter how hard she tried, all she saw was Painkiller Jane Rizzoli of the NYPD. She smirked at the reflection as she went into the bedroom. She kissed Maura passionately with the promise of more when she got home.

Near the front door of the Condo, Jane knelt next to Bas and tapped his shell with a knuckle. The massive tortoise opened his eyes and looked at her, "Keep an eye on Mommy and if anyone breaks in, you sneak up and bite 'em." She said as she patted the hard shell. The reptile withdrew into his shell.

"Nobody imitates furniture like you, Bas." She said as she headed out the door.

Within ten minutes she picked up Kate at her building and drove them over to Yankee stadium. Neither said a word, both thinking about their own home situation. They both knew that they would talk but neither felt like doing that right now. Worse was the fact that they were directing traffic right at Gate Four on the Macomb's Dam Bridge into upper Manhattan and right off of 161st Street. Gate 4 was home plate and it was going to be a mess. Jane parked her car right on the curb at the corner and she and Kate got out to relieve the current guards.

Kate slipped on her gloves, as did Jane. Although reflective colors were required by NYPD they declined the bulky yellow vests in favor of three inch wide reflective belts that lay across their shirts like bandoliers. Jane took the bridge while Kate stood on the ramp. As the afternoon went on the New York drivers were starting to get to Jane. She ended up pulling out her nightstick and again began waving traffic through.

"Hey!" she shouted to a cabbie on his phone. "Move it outta here!" He shouted at her in a foreign language as he moved across the street.

Kate signaled the stop and Jane put her hands up. Another taxi tried to push past her, "I said STOP!"

Kate kept one eye on her partner as she allowed the traffic to turn onto the bridge. The cabbie started honking his horn and Kate saw her partner losing patience with him.

"Wait for your turn!" she shouted as she got ready to cut off the traffic from the ramp.

Turning her attention towards the ramp the cabbie tried to slip past her and bumped her. Jane spun and brought her nightstick down on the hood of the taxi with a resounding thud. A deep welt appeared on the yellow hood. The cab driver got out of the car and started yelling.

Kate knew she had to intervene; she cut off the ramp and started towards the car when her partner did something she hadn't expected. Jane let it go.

"Hitting a cop with a car is a felony, asshole!" She shouted, "Now get this piece of shit outa here before I haul your ass in. Move!"

She waved him through and he tore through the intersection, Jane shook her head and stood on the ramp next to Kate.

"You OK?" Kate asked.

"Yeah," Jane called back, "Just the nut jobs are getting to me today."

Kate smiled, "Just remember that you're the crowned nut."

Jane laughed at her friend as she headed back to the bridge and Kate headed back to the street. Once the game was over they held up traffic to allow the fans to cross without incident. Jane caught a fan here and there for highlights of the game as they passed. Kate smiled incredulously.

Taking a seat in the car, Kate flipped through the ESPN highlights as her partner looked over her shoulder.

"Looks like it was a sweep," Jane said.

"Yeah," Kate agreed as her phone rang, "We didn't miss much." She pulled it out and answered it as Jane climbed into the car.

"You're kidding, in broad daylight?" Kate's voice caught Jane's attention. "We're on our way."

Kate disconnected and tossed the phone up on the dashboard.

"What's up?" Jane said, confused at her partner's disbelief.

"We're going to Chinatown." She said in a huff, "Got a DB that 5th thinks we'd want to see."

Jane groaned, "Thought the boys were on duty today."

"They're on their way." Kate pulled the radio off its hangar and hit the mike, "12 Henry Lincoln to Manhattan signal."

Jane flipped on the lights and siren before rolling through the intersection. Once she had a clear run over the bridge she just spent the last few hours managing, she floored it back onto Manhattan.

"Hanging a body in Chinatown in broad daylight," Jane said, "Chinese Mafia's got some serious balls around here."

Kate shook her head, "It wasn't the Tongs."

"Hell, no." Esposito shouted, "We'd be lucky to find the body if it was."

Kate looked around the crowded alleyway, "Tongs don't generally display their business so publicly."

Jane looked at them, "So I guess the Bitch from Boston needs a little catch up on her Chinese."

Kate snorted at Jane's pun.

Ryan got a strange look in his eye, "We worked a case on the Tongs about a week before you came here. Landed one guy in prison and another in the morgue."

Her partner caught her eye.

Witness Protection. Kate sent. "It was a bad case for Ryan because the murder weapon was his stolen Glock."

Jane remembered them talking about the 3XK Killer. He was their version of The Surgeon. She caught the look on Ryan's face, just a hint of the responsibility she knew he must still feel. As he looked back to her, she gave him a small sympathetic nod. Kevin knew that she too had lost her weapon to a killer and identified with his guilt.

Jane didn't say anything more about it as she looked up at the body, "So, not a message of Tong power."

Esposito shook his head, "Definitely not. If a Tong ever left a body out like this, we'd find bits and pieces of him all over the city."

Ryan nodded, "If we ever found him at all."

"Well, this is disturbing as all get out." Kate said as she looked at the body suspended from the fire escape. "Someone must think they're pretty big to take on the Tongs."

Jane looked at her partner, "A gang war? Like the Bonz and every other gang in Harlem?"

Kate shook her head, "Oh no, this would be a lot worse." She looked back at Ryan and Espo. "Looks like we're going to have to go visit Clifford Lee, today."

Ryan shook his head, "He's going to be pissed enough without seeing us there again."

"Can't be helped Bro." Javi said, "Beckett's right. We're going to have to give him something else to think about besides war."

Kate looked back at her partner with a knowing and thoughtful look, "Hey Jane, Are your sticks in the car?"

Jane narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, why?"

She smiled, "Make sure they're charged, just in case."

"We should get at least two uniforms down here with us," Javi said as he climbed out of the driver's seat of his cruiser.

Kate and Jane climbed out of the back of the Cruiser and adjusted their uniforms. "Showing weakness or nervousness to Clifford Lee would be asking for a problem." Kate said as she pulled on her jacket. "Besides, Jane and I are in uniform."

Jane pulled her batons and the clips out of her jacket pockets and set them on the roof of the car. "Isn't that what we're doing?" She asked as she attached the clips to her belt. "I thought you wanted him to be thinking about us more than our serial Killer."

"I do." She said, "Especially now that we know that it's The Butcher's kill. But we're here to calm him down and get some information, not to show weakness by calling in a squad."

Kevin took one of the shock batons off the roof an eyed it carefully before handing it to Jane. "Last time we went in, it was just me and Beckett." He looked at Jane, "Seriously. What's with the prods?"

Jane smirked at him and hooked one into its place. "If I take them out, get as far away from me as you can."

Ryan felt his stomach drop at the evil look in her eyes.

"Kevin," Kate barked, "Javi. Listen up."

Her voice was that of a sergeant and they both looked as Jane tied on the other Baton. "No matter what happens in there. Do not stand next to Jane. In fact, don't go near her."

They looked at each other as Jane slid her arms into her jacket and nodded to Kate. I'm ready.

I got your back. Kate sent and she led the way into the restaurant.

Clifford Lee was speaking in Mandarin when there was a scuffle in the main dining area. The pretty young hostess rushed around the corner and whispered into his ear. His eyes went wide as one of his body guards rolled head first into view.

Walking in as if she owned the restaurant, Detective Kate Beckett smiled at him. His eyes ran over the black standard issue NYPD patrol uniform. Walking next to her was a woman of equal height and beauty but carrying a swagger that says she wasn't intimidated in the least. The dark haired one was a killer and he recognized that immediately. Several feet behind them were the detective he had met last time and a thick Latino. He eyed them each as one of his henchmen stepped up to stop them.

A nod from Lee, and the man reached for Beckett. He didn't make it. The dark haired one grabbed his arm and twisted, he lashed out at her with his free hand and she ducked it, drilling an elbow into his diaphragm. Gasping from having the wind knocked out of him, he fell to his knees as the dark haired woman ground his arm behind his back and shoved him to the floor; a second later he was cuffed. The woman jumped up and left him with the Latino as she rejoined Beckett.

His anger at Beckett and Ryan was tangible as they approached him, reminding him of his two sons who had fallen to this woman.

The dark haired one smiled, "Hey there, Cliff." She said as she snatched a chair away from his table and spun it around before straddling it and resting her arms across the chair back.

Kate was more polite as she gently slid a chair back and sat in it. "Mr. Lee." She said calmly.

"Detective Beckett," He said through clenched teeth. "To what do I owe this honor?"

She simply stared at him, "I'm sure you know about the body that was hung up in the Chen marketplace. I know it's not your style but I still want anything you might have on this guy."

"I know nothing about who killed that man." He said.

Kate sighed as she leaned back, "Look, Lee." She said, "I'm going to skip over the usual bull and get straight to it. I know the Tong didn't kill this guy. You'd never tolerate such a sloppy job. But this matches up with four other bodies that I have in the morgue right now and I have a profile on this guy. All I want is to know what this poor bastard did that could have got him killed."

Clifford turned his dark eyes at Jane. "Your friend here was very disrespectful. Why would I offer any assistance?"

Jane smiled at him.

Kate shook her head, "Forget about her, Lee." She sighed, "She's more than you can handle. Just give me something I can use to bring this murderer down."

He regarded her again, "So disrespectful." He said and glanced to the walking muscle that stood near them. "I should have you thrown out of my restaurant."

Jane smirked, "You can try it, Cliff."

"At ease, partner" Kate said.

Jane nodded and Kate turned her attention directly back to the Chinese man who glared daggers at her.

She watched her partner go into her talk down mode while staring directly into the man's eyes.

"Mr. Lee. I know the pain you feel. I know what it's like to have someone you love ripped away from you. To feel the ache of their loss burning inside you, consuming you with anger and hatred until it's hard to think about anything else. But somewhere there is a rational part of you that knows that I didn't make Philip kill that girl and I didn't make Ben pick up that gun. I know that it's easier to focus on that anger than it is to face the truth."

"What truth is that!?" He shouted, "I lost my SON!"

"I lost my mother." She said evenly, "And I almost let my anger consume me. I almost lost everything to that anger." Kate unbuttoned her shirt near her bra and parted it to reveal the scar, "I chased the men who killed her and I almost lost my life doing it. I lost more friends and family trying to find the men who killed her than I ever thought was possible."

His anger subsided as he stared at the puckered scar. Knowing that she had him, Kate continued as she closed her shirt. "Phillip is alive, Lee. Focus on the son who still lives and don't let your hatred for Ben's death consume you, like my mother's death consumed me."

His cold calculating eyes turned soft as he thought about her words. He closed his eyes and bowed his head.

"You speak with truth, Detective." He said, "And you speak with honor. It is a special kind of enemy who honors one's opponent. My anger has controlled me this day and you have aided me in its conquest. For this I owe you a small debt and I will allow you to leave, unharmed."

Kate leaned back in her chair, "I'd rather you tell me about the guy hanging from the fire escape, we'll take our chances on leaving. To protect your honor, tell me about what Fong might have been in to."

Clifford Lee glared at her and then around the table, his lieutenants were all looking at him now. "Very well," he said finally as he leaned back. "There is rumor of a new supplier of cocaine that does not like competition. I do not know for certain because I am a simple business man, but I heard that Fong might have been a dealer for a local supplier."

Kate nodded, "And the way the body was displayed was for the benefit of…" she looked straight at him, "That local distributor."

"A message," he agreed, "One that someone from the old world might not take too well."

"Should you happen to come across this old world man, please let him know that I've got dibs on this guy and I won't tolerate anyone interfering with me putting him in jail." Kate nodded, "Thank you for your cooperation Mr. Lee. My condolences for your loss."

He stood up and bowed, "My condolences to you for yours, Detective."

Kate returned the bow and turned to leave. "Let's go find our murderer." She said as she again led the way out.

"You give her information about our business?" one man asked in Mandarin.

"Beckett is a powerful enemy, one that I only have to face when someone doesn't do their job." Lee said as he sat down, "In this case it is easier to let the dragon have its fill and wait for it to sleep. Beckett will find the person who killed Fong and she will either kill him or put him in Riker's. If it is the former, then the triad will know nothing of our loss, but if she succeeds, then we can repay Fong's death inside."