Hi. So since I had a lot of drama in my life over the last month or so which cause a disruption in My Muse and my story turned more into a soap opera than a dramatic procedural, so I went through it over the last three weeks, moved things around and added more than a few sections of crime. Took some stuff out and added new stuff so I recommend that you reread from Chapter 1. I came up with this and it's shorter than most but I wanted to give you folks something just for being patient.

Olivia drove Maura to work, brought her lunch and returned her to her condo, all because she knew that Jane would worry incessantly over her fiancé being home alone. After everything they had faced together, Jane was still just this side of paranoid about Maura's safety and also she worried for her friend. She knew full well what it felt like to lose someone you love, not to death, but the painful loss of your other half.

She hoped that keeping them together would help Maura's trust and also help Liv realize that she wasn't alone, that she had not just friends who would stick up for her but family who would always stand by her. Tonight that hope would be realized in a way no one could ever have expected.

Olivia sat next to the gas fireplace as she sorted through the case files of her unit's open investigations while Maura sat at the coffee table reviewing dissertations from her students when there was a sudden knock on the front door. Liv looked up to see Maura's odd look at the door.

"Did you order out or something?" Liv asked.

"No." Maura replied, "Nor am I expecting visitors."

Liv set the file down and followed Maura to the door, stopping only to retrieve her Glock from the kitchen. Maura looked nervous as Liv passed her before taking a position at the door.

"Is this necessary?" Maura whispered.

"After last Christmas, hell yes," Liv stated.

Maura took a step away as Liv looked through the peep hole. Their visitor knocked again.

Liv passed Maura a look before she cracked open the door. "Can I help you?"

"Oh my apologies, I must have the wrong door." The woman whom stood at the door said, "I'm looking for my daughter, Doctor Maura Isles."

Hearing her voice, Maura looked around nervously. "Oh, I haven't had time to clean up."

Liv closed the door and slid the security chain off its track before opening the door again.

She tucked her pistol into the back of her jeans as she stepped aside.

As tall as Maura with dark brown hair, clothing that made Saks Fifth Ave look cheap and a beautifully tailored dress, Constance Isles was a vision of grace, her smile lit up brightly as Maura came into view.

"Maura, dear!" her mother gracefully strode up to her daughter and embraced her lightly. "You should have told me that you moved to New York. I would have visited much sooner."

"Hello Mother." Maura replied as the elderly woman looked around the living room and kitchen. "Please come in."

Constance looked back at the tall robust woman who had answered the door, "You have a roommate?"

"Mother this is Lieutenant Olivia Benson." She said quickly. "She's staying with me for a few days. Olivia? This is my mother, Constance Isles."

Liv held out her hand and Constance took it, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Isles."

"Oh, please call me Constance." She said. Maura could tell her smile was forced, "A Lieutenant? Are you in the service?"

"No. I'm with the New York City Police Department." Liv answered honestly.

Constance's face fell slightly and Liv caught it. "My daughter has an affinity for making friends with the police."

"How did you find me, Mother?" Maura interrupted, "We haven't had any correspondence in some time."

"Oh, I was on an art tour throughout Europe over the last year," she smiled fondly, "My art is starting to get some significant notoriety."

Liv smiled and nodded politely, "Congratulations."

"Oh thank you, Lieutenant." Constance said almost absently. "Maura, you look very well." She said as she slipped out of her shoes and headed into the living room. She paused as she saw the Police files on the floor by the fireplace.

"Thank you, you look wonderful as always." Maura said.

Liv slid her pistol back into the kitchen drawer before returning to her files. Constance gasped at the open one that was on the floor.

"What in the world is that?!" She barked as she pointed to a photo of a mutilated victim. "Such a repulsive image!"

Liv quickly closed the file and started stacking them up, "My apologies, Mrs. Isles. I don't usually leave open files around."

"Just what exactly do you do, Lieutenant?" Constance narrowed her eyes at Liv, "That picture looked like a child!"

"It's an ongoing investigation." Liv stated with authority, "I'm in charge of the Special Victims Unit of Manhattan."

Maura put a hand on her mother's shoulder, "Olivia puts away the monsters that do those kinds of things."

"It shouldn't have a place in your home, Maura." She snapped, "I commend you for the awful job you do but this kind of filth should not be under my daughters roof."

"Olivia asked me before she brought her cases in, mother." She defended. "Since she's only staying for a few nights I didn't mind."

"A few nights?" Constance asked.

"Just while Jane is out of town." Maura said cautiously.

"Oh good, you're still friends with Jane." Constance's mood changed dramatically, "I was hoping that you'd be friends again after that dreadful business with Ian."

Liv smiled as she finished stacking her files and set them back inside the file box. "Their friendship has never been stronger."

"So you're staying because…" Constance deliberately left it open awaiting Liv's reply.

"Maura has never liked New York much and Jane knew she'd be more comfortable with a friend nearby."

"Yes," Maura jumped in quickly, "Olivia has been a trusted friend of Jane's for years."

"Well, that's good." Constance said, "Maura dear, Is there anything to drink?"

"I have a couple of lovely Pinot Noirs that I can open if you'd like." Maura said as she headed towards the kitchen. "I also have several teas and Jane keeps a variety of fruit juices in the refrigerator."

"Oh dear, I didn't meant to put you out like that." Constance said as she followed Maura into the kitchen. "Just a nice cup of Chamomile would suffice."

Maura set about her espresso maker as Liv carried her box into the guest room.

They exchanged pleasantries for a few moments as the machine heated up and once the tea was set in front of her, Constance couldn't hold back any longer.

"So tell me, Maura,"

Her daughter looked at her.

"I know how much you dislike this city." Constance said as she sipped at her tea, "Why did you move to New York?"

Oh mother, I hope this conversation goes well. Maura sighed, "I moved here because Jane was here."

Constance set the cup down, "Your friend moved to New York so you quit your job and moved to a place you despise?"

"New York isn't so bad." Olivia said as she came out. "Especially Manhattan, I grew up in the Bronx and my old partner lived in Queens all of his life."

"I agree with you," Constance said as she again looked at the thick brunette dressed in Jeans and a loose long sleeved t shirt. Olivia had a long thick mane of reddish brown hair that framed a classically beautiful oval face with a sharp jaw line and arching eyebrows. She wasn't as thin as her daughter's best friend as she had a shapely hourglass figure but the loose shirt suggested that she had a few extra pounds she was trying to hide.

"I've always found New York to be quite exciting as long as one knows where to travel." She said.

"So Mother," Maura asked, trying to change the subject. "Where are you staying while you're here?"

"Oh I was going to stay a few nights at the Waldorf or the Plaza." She said with a grin, "I haven't decided yet."

Maura smiled at her mother, "Would you like to stay here? The accommodations are not the same as the Waldorf but I'd love to have you."

"Oh," the older woman shook her head, "I couldn't impose."

Maura turned her head down slightly and Olivia stepped in to the conversation. "It would be an imposition if you didn't stay. Since I've known Maura she speaks quite fondly of you."

It was a stretch and two of the three women knew it. Maura's conversations about her adoptive mother had always held praise but the subject was changed quickly. She wanted a stronger relationship with her mother but she didn't know how to get it and neither did Constance. It was Jane who had helped them break through that first barrier and Maura could see that Liv wanted to help them break through the next one.

She passed a thankful look to the tall brunette and a slight smile.

"Are you sure about that dear?" she asked, "I wouldn't want to intrude on your privacy."

Liv stifled a grin; if Jane had been home that might have actually been an issue.

"Mother, please, Stay." Maura almost pleaded.

Constance took her daughter's hand into hers. "Very well, dear. How could I deny you anything?"

After canvasing the area around the Philadelphia International airport, Kate and Jane returned to their motel in Jersey. After a day's worth of chasing down leads, all Kate wanted to do was unwind in a nice hot shower. Jane washed up in the bathroom sink as Kate laid out her sleepwear.

Knowing Kate as well as she did, Jane knew her partner had something on her mind, something that didn't pertain to the case.

"So what's up?" She asked looking through the bathroom mirror at her best friend.

"Nothing," Kate replied.

"C'mon." she got that serious look in her eyes, the one that told Kate that her partner wasn't going to let this go "You and Rick still fighting or are you guys okay?"

"It's not Rick." She sighed in resignation, "I could have handled things better."

Jane didn't move. She knew her partner better than anyone and she knew when Kate had more to say but like herself, her partner wouldn't be rushed.

"I don't know why I feel constrained." She finally said, "Rick has never done anything to make me feel like that and yet, sometimes I feel like I'm losing my independence."

Jane smiled, "You're used to doing what you want when you want and not having to consider what someone else wants. Welcome to the world of relationships."

"I didn't have that problem before," she said, "In the beginning."

"That's because you were so focused on me that you didn't have time to get into your relationship." Jane said as she dried her hands.

Kate glared at her. "You don't seem to have that problem."

"And that's because it's natural for me to want to please Maura." She groaned, "I hate seeing her cry or be mad. If it was anyone else I know I would have popped off or lost it or pushed them away for some imagined reason. With Maura, she takes me out of my comfort zone but she does it comfortably, if that makes any sense."

"Maybe, we don't have that." She said and Jane spun at the doubtful tone.

"And you call me the 'Crazy Bitch'." Jane barked, "Anyone with a brain can see how happy you both are together. And if you doubt that, try to imagine how you'd feel if Rick left right now; today."

Kate thought about that and she really didn't like that feeling. "I know that I love him but I don't want to give up who I am."

It wasn't like Kate to have so much doubt and it honestly worried her. "Hon, listen to me. That man loves you. He loves it when you're sweet to him. He loves it when you elbow him in the gut. He loves everything about you. He even loves you when you get in his face and threaten to taze him."

Kate smiled warmly at the look on his face whenever she did threaten him. "He's a masochistic fool."

Jane laughed lightly, "Only for you girl. Don't you think he's had trouble adjusting?"

"He has." Kate said softly, "He denies it but I know he has."

"I know he has too." Jane said affectionately, "He does hide it pretty good but you know him better than I do and I can see it. Maybe you two should slow it down a little."

Kate snorted loudly, "Like you should talk. Your relationship has had the accelerator to the floor the whole time. I thought you wanted to take it slow."

Jane would have taken offense had she not known Kate was being playful. "Okay, I fell into bed with her the same day I got her back. I moved in with her that week. I promised her a baby two months in. Proposed in eight months and am ready to get married today."

As the words came out, Jane realized that going slow had never actually taken place.

"Oh my god." She said horrified by her actions, "Maura! I've led her straight into what I wanted and ignored her."

Kate sat down on the toilet, "Oh, sweetie, believe me, you haven't led her anywhere she didn't want to go. She's right there with you."

Jane groaned as she leaned on the counter, "I wanted to take it slow so we could get to know each other again. Instead I've blown right passed the courtship and straight into marriage at Mach 5."

Kate shook her head, "Jane, Maura and I talk all the time. She's been worried that she's going too fast for you. I told her that I've never seen you happier and not to worry about it. Besides, if you listen to Ma, she says that you got all of that out of the way in the five years before you got together and the separation was that time couples take a break and reevaluate."

"Ma wants grand kids, no matter what." She snorted, "Wait till she starts laying into you about it."

"Well, I'm starting agree that Rick and I should slow down." Kate sighed as she let her head fall into her hands. "You and Maura just make it look so easy."

"And you need to quit comparing your relationship to mine." Jane said, "Believe me, Kate. Maura and I fight just like any other couple. We just do it behind closed doors and it never lasts long."

"Because you cave in," Kate barked with amusement as she looked over at her friend. "My hardnosed partner is a marshmallow."

"Only for her." It was Jane's turn to sound resigned to her fate, "I'm whipped."

Kate nodded, "Can I tell you a secret?"

Jane looked over at her in curiosity, "Of course."

She blew out a huff of air, "I am too and I think that's what bothers me the most."

"How about some free time, alone?" Her partner suggested, "Alexis asked if I'd be okay with her coming to Boston with us."

"You're planning another weekend back home?" Kate asked.

"No," Jane shook her head, "She wants to come with us when we move."

Kate blew out a breath, "I thought she might, but I don't know how her father is going to take it."

"I know." Jane leaned against the counter, "I mean, she's eighteen, she can make her own decisions but…"

"Family politics," Kate shook her head. "I'll talk to Rick about it."

Jane nodded, "So I'll let you take a shower. I know you…"

There was a loud knock on the motel room door. Jane looked straight at Kate.

"Did you order out?" She asked.

"No…" Kate replied.

They left the bathroom and quickly retrieved their side arms before taking a defensive position at the door. Jane covered with both of her pistols as Kate held hers at the ready as she unlocked the door. Jane nodded and Kate turned the knob and eased the door open.

"We don't want anything." She said.

"Open up, Kate." came a familiar voice. "Preferably before someone sees me and calls the cops."

Kate looked out and upon seeing the owner of that voice she opened the door.

The woman entered and Kate shut and locked the door. Jane lowered her weapons but kept them in her hands.

"Wow." Kate said as she eyed the newcomer. "Nice hooker service around here."

Dressed in tight black boy shorts, a skintight leopard print top that barely contained her breasts and black thigh high boots, Agent Beltran stood with too much makeup on, her hair styled like Cher, and nearly all of her business on display. Jane had to admit that for a slutty look, Beltran nailed it, perfectly. Right down to the runny eyeliner, presumably from crying.

"Oh eat me, Beckett." She said sharply. Gone was the too friendly DEA agent and in her place was a hardened field agent. "You're a long way from Manhattan. Care to tell me what you're doing down here?"

Jane growled low as she sat down in the ugly pleather chair in the corner. "How about you tell us how you found us first?"

Kate dropped her pistol on the bed and sat on the edge.

Beltran leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, highlighting her nearly nude C cups. "Since I don't typically pimp the whore look on my free time, I'm obviously undercover. I'm minding my own business trying to turn out a lead on my drug case when low and behold; two biker bitches walk into the bar and start flashing around a picture with a bullshit story about her owing you money. My guy gets nervous because bikers attract attention and he scoots out of my dark corner of nowhere, Pennsylvania and disappears into the night." She glared at the partners, "Now it's your turn."

"We're working." Jane sneered.

"One of our open cases had some odd movements over the last few months and we're just running it down." Kate replied business like.

"Dressed as bikers and riding Harleys," Sera barked, "Subtle."

"You act like we're hiding." Jane said with a smug grin, "We're not undercover. Just not looking like cops so we don't upset the Philly PD."

"Uh huh," Beltran snorted. "Well, let's see the vic then."

Kate took the picture out of her riding jacket and held it out. Beltran took one look and handed it back. "You'll have better luck downtown than in the dives you've been hanging around."

Kate shook her head, "Our information say she was near the airport."

"What was her job?" the Fed asked.

"Banker," Jane said.

Beltran rubbed her face with her hands. "If it was my case, I'd suggest that she was either a money mule or having an affair."

Jane glanced at Kate, A mule makes sense.

I think she knows something. Kate replied.

Jane got a slight smirk, Let's play.

"Okay," Kate said as she relaxed a little, "So let's say she was a mule. Why come all the way down here to pick up?"

Beltran straightened. "Oh don't even try it Beckett. You know why she'd come here. If she was a money mule then she picked up her money and ran it back to New York. Don't try and act cute, Detective. Just ask me."

Jane glared at her, "You know our vic?"

Sera shook out her hands and went to sit down in the chair opposite of Rizzoli. "No, I don't know her, I never met her. But I know that drug money from Philly gets packed up and shipped out of here."

"Where does it go?' Kate asked.

"It used to go up to New York City." She said calmly, "Now we believe its heading south."

The partners looked at each other and again Sera felt that there was significant information being passed nonverbally, "Try it in English so your guest can hear."

Jane snorted loudly. "This is why I left my fiancé's bed?"

"You're telling me?" Kate added.

"Okay, you don't want to share? Fine," Sera said as she stood up, "Then don't ask me to answer questions."

Kate stopped her, "You got questions? Let's hear them."

Sera looked down a Beckett as she sat on the bed. She considered how much she could get out of the detectives versus how much she actually needed to know. She finally settled on a course. "Why the sudden interest in drug money? You're Homicide not Narcotics."

"Because we have three serial killers out there and no solid leads so we're looking into the vics' histories."

"And your vic brought you down here?" She asked. "You're hoping to illuminate her history to see if you can link your victims."

Jane nodded, "That's right."

"You haven't gone to Philly PD?"

"I tend to get pissy when a cop from another borough comes into my turf asking me questions." Kate said. "So we wanted to do a little digging before we head over there, get an unbiased view before the posturing starts."

The DEA agent nodded, "You'd be pissed off if I did that to you."

"I'd kneecap you for it." Jane said smartly, "We called them today and set up a meeting for tomorrow."

"We rented a car too." Kate added, "Just so they don't get a look at our bikes."

"Yeah, about that," Beltran sat back down, "You should take those plates off of the air cleaners. "Standing on the thin blue line? Dead giveaway."

"Again, we're not undercover." Jane covered.

"Right," Beltran said sarcastically. "Well I've still got some tricks I have to bust so you ladies have a good night and try to be more subtle because you really fucked up my act tonight."

"Message received." Jane snarled.

Sera nodded, "Good. What's your vic's name?"

"Joyce Schmitt." Kate replied.

"If I get anything I'll let you know." She said before unlocking the door and walking out.

Kate locked it again and shook her head, "Of all the people to run into."

"I know." Jane said carefully. "We just met her and all of a sudden there she is again. What do you think?"

"I think we're working different ends of the same case." She said as she headed for that shower. "And I think we're going to see a lot more of her."

Jane groaned loudly at the thought, "I hate Feds."

Please feed the muse, comments about the add ons are welcome.