A/N: This story has had a very deliberate, slow build up. Thanks to those who have been patient with its development. I have always planned to take it to another level but wanted to really set it up first. This is the chapter that turns the story… From here I can promise you will get more drama, more action, greater intensity and some frightening moments for our two best friends. PS To those who review; you will probably never fully appreciate just how much they mean/help; whether positive or negative. I'm so grateful; thank you.
Jane's not home ten minutes when there is a knock on her door. She shakes her head as she answers it. "Hello Maura" she says as she swings open her door.
"How'd you know it was me?"
"Oh it could have something to do with the eye signals you were giving Korsack or that you can't help being a Doctor. You know the slightest sniffle Maura and you fuss; do you know that?"
"Jane you're my friend and you don't take care of yourself when you're well; so someone's got to watch out for you when you're not."
"Great I have a helicopter mother and a helicopter best friend" Jane shakes her head and smiles. She closes the door behind Maura and follows her to her kitchen.
"Well if it wasn't for me, Angela would be here right now Jane" Maura smiles.
"OK; I'll give you that; you're less annoying than my mother when I'm not well." Jane sits at her kitchen counter looking into the kitchen that Maura knows her way around far too well.
To Jane's surprise, the first thing Maura pulls out of her bags is a thermometer. "Jane put this under your tongue please."
As Jane mutters "what on ear…" she stops so as not to bite the top off the thermometer Maura has pushed into her mouth. Maura just smiles at her.
Jane sits there as Maura goes on about her business. "You may have heard that you should starve a fever; but it's actually a fallacy."
"Huh" is all Jane can respond with her mouth full.
Maura takes the thermometer out and reads Jane's temperature. "Hmm. 100.3; it's a low-grade fever Jane" Maura explains.
"See I told you it's nothing to worry about."
"Well I wouldn't say that; your body's cytokines are fighting something" Maura is reflective. "Have you had any nausea or diarrhea?"
"I was sick last night before you arrived, but I haven't thrown up since."
"Well Jane if you are going to insist on working, which given this dreadful case; I suspect you will; you have to eat. You need to keep your strength up. Have you eaten at all since your emesis?"
"My what," Jane looks confused.
"Sorry; vomiting."
"Oh; dry toast and crackers that I washed down with Lucozade" Jane looks at Maura proudly.
"Well I have some chicken breasts and I'm going to prepare us a legume and nut salad. You shouldn't have any trouble keeping it down and it will give your more strength and energy" Maura explains.
"Yuk; I'll have to get it down first!"
"Jane" Maura says in exasperation, then laughs.
"I'm going to go and have a shower Maura; you don't mind do you?"
Maura shakes her head as she prepares the chicken. "Oh; try to keep your chin dry Jane."
After they've eaten Jane and Maura are sitting on Jane's couch. Maura has Jane trying an herbal tea. To Jane's surprise she's quite enjoying it.
"I hate this case Maura" Jane shares. "For all we know our perp is getting ready to throw a victim on some busy road as we speak."
"It's only my opinion at this stage Jane; it's not based on any science but if he's capturing one woman at a time he's looking to pick her up tonight. If that's the case, he won't be able to dispose of her until at least tomorrow night."
"Really; what makes you say that?"
"If it is the Ibuprofen; and I'm not saying it is Jane; he would have to be very precise for it not to show up as the cause of death. He'd be using small quantities mixed with something else and over a period of time."
"Huh" Jane is looking very tired.
Maura takes Jane's cup. "You should be in bed Jane. Come on."
Jane doesn't argue; as Maura rinses the cups in her sink Jane wanders off to bed. Maura follows Jane to her room with a glass of water for her. She notices Jane put a small dab of cream on both hands and asks her what it is. Jane explains it's a cream Dr. Hughes gave her as she puts it back in a bedside draw. Maura doesn't give it another thought.
Jane is sitting half under her blankets leaning back against her head-board. She's rubbing the cream into her hands. Maura sits on the bed beside her also leaning back on the head-board. "They've never been the same; have they Jane?"
"What" Jane asks?
"Your hands" Maura turns her head to look at Jane; she's worried how Jane will respond.
Jane's looking at her hands "no Maura; they never have." Jane's honesty surprises Maura.
"You know you're amazing to have come back from what he did to you. I really admire you for that Jane."
"It's funny Maura; I don't think I had a choice. I had to fight; I had to fight to get my hands back and I had to fight my head…" Jane lets out a long breath. "Oh who am I kidding I'm still fighting the stuff in my head!"
"Jane this fever could be causing the problems in your hands; you know?"
"Do you think so" Jane looks at Maura hopefully.
"It is why you saw Dr. Hughes isn't it?
Jane hesitates and then opens up. "Yeah; I've been having twinges Maura and dropping things occasionally. I don't think anyone who'd been through what I've been through would be too worried about it. It's just in my work I really need to be able to fully trust my hands."
Maura becomes serious "yes; you do Jane; people lives could depend on it. What has Hughes said; is he helping?"
"He says I have nothing to worry about; that my hands are strong and functioning normally according all the tests he did. It's just he also said that I had to be honest with myself Maura and I don't know if I can do that."
"Jane you push yourself harder than anyone I know; but one of the things I trust most about you; probably more than anything. You know your limits."
"What's that mean Maura?"
"You have an amazing tolerance for pain and you perform exceptionally well, brilliantly I would say, under pressure. The thing is you never put yourself or anyone of your team in situations where you don't believe you can manage the situation and protect them. What I find really fascinating is you don't even realise you're doing it."
"Oh and how would the most uncomfortable person in the land of the living know that?" Jane smiles at Maura as she pulls herself down to a lying position and puts a couple of pillows under her head so it's easier to look up at Maura. Maura reaches and pulls the blankets up over Jane's shoulders.
"Scientific observation Jane" Maura smiles" I've watched you work for a while now… Actually Korsack explained it to me one day. It's one of the reasons why he and Frost look up to you so much." Jane's fading fast. "Oh Jane I should change the dressing on your chin before you got to sleep."
Maura goes out to the kitchen to get her medical bag. When she returns Jane has pulled the cover off her cut. Maura rinses it with an antibacterial solvent and dries the wound. She then applies a new dressing. "When you shower in the morning Jane, remember to try to keep it dry."
"I will Maura" Jane pulls the blankets up to her chin.
Maura sits on the edge of the bed. "You know I have a feeling tomorrows going to be a good day Jane."
"Hmm, why's that," Jane says in a tired voice.
"I'm expecting a lot of results and analysis to come back; hopefully we'll start to get some answers."
"I hope so."
"Jane, about your hands; be careful especially while you're running this fever. However I'm inclined to agree with Dr. Hughes, if your responses are normal and your hands are strong; this will pass." Maura stands and pulls the blankets around Jane and tucks her in. She leans in and kisses the top of Jane's head.
"Thanks for tonight Maura" Jane mumbles. "I'm glad you came over."
Maura smiles "you're welcome my friend, I'll see you tomorrow." Jane is already in a light and steady breathing pattern that indicates she's asleep.
He's angry with himself. The amount of force he applied to Shannon's face has left it shattered and broken. She's fading in and out of consciousness and oblivious to the meal he has set out for her. He paces back and forth in frustration. At one stage he punches a wall.
He is agitated because this is a chink in his plan. If Shannon doesn't eat; she won't die. If she doesn't die according to his plans then his entire course of action is jeopardized. That very thought alone causes his head to ache with rage. He has worked on this for too long. His plan; his perfect plan is in disarray.
Think, he tells himself; think!
It's mid morning when Maura finds Jane in the café talking to her mother. "Hello ladies" she smiles.
Jane and Angela look up and greet Maura.
"How's your morning been Maura" Angela asks.
"It's been very productive. The Cafe's busy; a new recipe today Angela" Maura inquires.
"Yes, it's chicken and blue cheese lasagna" Angela explains.
"Oh wow! Maura expresses.
"Not something I'm going to rush to buy Ma" Jane chimes in.
"Just come for dinner tonight please Janey, with this creep on the loose and you being sick I'd feel a lot better if you stayed with us."
"Ma, I'm supposed to be trying to catch him not hiding behind my mummy's purse strings."
"Speaking of catching him; Jane I have some information you might find interesting."
"Oh, OK Maura let's go."
"Maura please try to get Janey to come over tonight" Angela pushes Maura.
"I'll try Angela."
As they enter the lift Jane asks what Maura has. "Well I know who she is Jane; she's Maria Montenegro. She thirty-four; her rape is extremely violent and consistent with the attack on Lilly. There was no trace evidence on our victim."
"We have to get this guy Maura" Jane exclaims as they exit the lift and walk to the morgue.
"Well she has high traces of Ibuprofen although she looks like she does a lot of exercise and does have inflammation in some of her joints Jane. She is more typical of someone I would expect could be taking Ibuprofen."
They're now standing over the body of Maria Montenegro. "The clothing and the stomach contents" Jane asks.
"The clothes are new and have never been washed. No trace evidence on the garments. She's eaten inside eight hours before she died; so did Lilly. They both had chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots and broccoli in their stomachs."
"And" Jane encourages.
"Well all the natural digestion enzymes are present but yes there is Ibuprofen and a number of other foreign agents Jane. None of them in their own right would cause death. I need to run more tests, sorry."
"That's OK Maura; have you told Frost who she is?"
"Yes" Maura acknowledges Jane's question.
"I'm going to see what he's been able to find Maura; I'll call you later."
"How are you feeling Jane" Maura asks as Jane turns to leave.
Jane stops and looks at Maura, "honestly; no better but no worse." They share a smile as Jane walks out.
When Jane joins Frost and Korsack upstairs they are quick to update her on what they have. Frosts starts "Hi Jane, our second victim is Maria Montenegro."
"I know Frost Maura just filled me in; what can you tell me about her?"
Korsack joins the discussion, "She was a librarian at Boston Cambridge University Jane."
"Yeah" Frost adds, "she was working the late shifts; apparently she was training to be a yoga instructor by day."
"And let me guess; she lived alone, was a nice girl without any enemies and no one can imagine why someone would want to do this to her?" Jane's angry. She is sick, she's tired but more than anything; at this very moment she is damn angry. "Come on!" she says with too much vigor.
Korsack touches Jane's shoulder, "keep it together Jane."
"I'm sorry Vince; it kills me that this woman died while we knew there was a predator on the streets that we weren't able to catch before this happened to her." She takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Maura came round and cooked me some dinner last night and she had one hell of a scary theory. She thinks he's taking the women one at a time and that someone else was probably taken last night."
"How does she figure that" Frost asks.
"She's basing it on the Ibuprofen poisoning theory. She stresses obviously that it is just a theory at the moment; you know Maura; but she thinks if this theory pans out we could see another victim on the side of the road tonight sometime."
"Man" Frosts anger rises as he places his hands on his hips.
"OK, it's just a theory" Korsack reminds his frustrated team.
"So Jane I've run Maria's work colleagues and they are all clean. I've asked for a list of everyone that was in the library during Maria's shift. It might tell us something," Frost is clutching.
"I sent Cooper and Frankie to tell the family Jane" Korsack adds. "Oh and we've had a call that Lyle Shepherd is home."
"Who," Jane asks.
"The second sex offender; our runner" Korsack explains.
"Great let's go and have a chat to him Korsack." Jane needs to be doing something. "Frost…"
"Don't worry Jane; I'll keep digging."
"Thanks Frost; you're doing great; you know that?" Jane smiles at him.
"It doesn't feel that way," Frost looks at them both.
Korsack pats him on the back as he and Jane leave.
As Korsack and Jane approach Lyle Shepherd's home in South Cambridge they are still talking about Frost. "You know Jane I was so angry when you dumped me as your partner and I didn't have much time for Frost when he was partnered with you."
"I know Korsack; I'm sorry."
"It's OK; I understand Jane. The thing is I really like the kid and what's more he has been a huge asset to tour team with his computing skills."
"Yeah; he's turning into a damn fine homicide detective Korsack."
Korsack laughs "even with his weak stomach!"
They get to Lyle's door and knock. As the door opens a shot is fired at them. In quick succession two more shots are fired. For a moment afterwards there is an eerie silence.
"This is 911 how can I direct your call?"
The operator hears a male voice struggling to get his words out.
"Shots fired… two ugh; two officers down…
"Can you tell me where you are?" The operator presses.
"South… Cambridge… need, police ugh; E… MT."
The operator puts an immediate scan on the cell phone that's made the call and alerts police and EMT emergency centers. Meanwhile the switchboard lights up with people calling in to report gun shots in South Cambridge.