Friendly Fire Chapter 13

I don't own Rizzoli and Isles or the characters. I do, however, own Melinda McDaniels.

Jane tried in vain to adjust the seat in the small rental, knowing she should've waited until a bigger car was available. Her body was tense and every muscle sore. She knew Melinda was involved in her accident, it would just be a matter of proving it. Melinda was good, Jane was very aware of that. She knew bringing Melinda down would come when she was able to figure out what her agenda was. Her brother's murder and subsequent funeral was an understandable reason to come to Boston. Maura was more than enough of a reason to stay, but Jane wasn't convinced Maura was Melinda's only focus.

Jane flipped the rear-view mirror down as the bright headlights nearly blinded her. It was a matter of seconds before Frost climbed in beside her. She had asked him to meet her and there was no questions asked. Now he needed to know why they were parked down the road from Cindy McDaniels home.

"She hit her." Jane's words were delivered very clear and the emotion that accompanied them just as clear. "She's threatening to hurt me if she doesn't stay with her. That's why she left the hospital the way she did."

"Jane, we shouldn't be here then. Call patrol, domestic, let them handle this." Frost was angry and there was no doubt he believed Melinda to be bad news as well.

Jane shook her head slowly. Her eyes trained on the house, her breathing shallow. She was pissed, Frost was very aware of this particular Rizzoli response. "She hit her."

"Did Maura report it? Is she wanting to file charges? Melinda knows how to play this game. She wouldn't have done that if she wasn't looking for you to respond." Frost had to actually touch Jane's arm to get her to look at him. The fury in her eyes nearly burned him. "This has to be by the book, Jane."

"She's afraid, Frost. For me, for her. She thinks McDaniels had something to do with my accident as well. If she's willing to get involved with a hit and run involving a MOS, what else will she do? And why?" Jane shifted in her seat then, trying to alleviate the pressure that was building in her side. "What is her agenda. Why is she here?"

Frost rubbed his forehead wondering the same thing. "What are you going to do?"

"I have to confront her. I know it's playing into her hand, but Frost, she hit Maura." Jane glared toward the house. "I should shoot her."

Frost waited until Jane began to get out of the car before he joined his partner. They walked the short distance to the McDaniels' front door before Frost took the liberty of knocking. He glanced at Jane who had her forearm resting comfortably on the butt of her gun.

Jane noticed the movement in the window before the door slowly opened. Jane was instantly disappointed when Jeff and Cindy's youngest daughter answered the door. It took a few seconds for Jane to change her demeanor to address the child. "Hi. Is your mommy home?"

Jane felt the light tap from her partner whose slight motion toward the window alerted Jane of Melinda's presence. Cindy McDaniels had arrived at the door and was quick to scold her young daughter for opening it.

"Jane?" Cindy was confused by the visit given the late hour. "Is everything okay?"

"I'm sorry to bother you. Is Melinda here?" Jane kept her voice even, not wanting to alarm Jeff's wife to any problems. "It's important that I talk with her."

"Come in." Cindy stepped aside allowing Jane and Frost to enter her home where Melinda was leaning in the doorway of the living room.

"Detectives? What can I do for you?" Melinda offered Frost a flirting grin, but refused to meet Jane's glare.

Jane looked for Cindy then asking her to excuse them for a few minutes. Once they were alone, Jane approached Melinda. She allowed herself to get as close as physically possible without touching the taller blond. Jane took a few seconds to remind herself of the consequences should she lose control.

"Okay, Rizzoli. If you're going to be this close, I hope you plan on kissing me." Melinda finally met Jane's eyes, giving her the same smile she had offered Frost.

"I have no desire to kiss you. What I'd like to do is the very thing you did to Maura tonight." Jane refused to stand down, forcing Melinda to change her position.

"I really don't think that is any of your business, but since you are here, let me explain. I simply opened the cupboard door not realizing Maura was there and it caught her. I felt so bad and I apologized over and over." Melinda walked away from Jane, locking her gaze on Frost. "I wouldn't do anything to intentionally scar that beautiful face."

Jane watched Melinda as she looked her partner up and down. She spoke with a sarcastic tone expecting Jane not to believe her lie. "That's not at all what she told me."

"I seriously doubt she would tell you anything different. Maura doesn't lie." Melinda's attention was now focused on Jane.

"No, she doesn't."

"So, arrest me, Detective. Arrest me if you believe I assaulted my girlfriend." Melinda was now in Jane's space and the tension was growing thicker and thicker. Frost was quick to intervene as Jane's posture shifted announcing how low her patience was. "Since when do detectives handle simple domestic complaints? I feel as though I'm being harassed...again."

Frost glanced back at Jane. He knew unless Maura filed an official complaint, they had no reason to even be there, let alone arrest Melinda. Jane slightly shook her head before addressing Melinda once more. "This isn't over, Mindy. You're going to feel much more than just harassed if you even go near Maura again. Am I clear?"

Melinda smirked at Jane before laughing out loud. "That sounds a bit like a threat, Detective. Not at all the behavior I would expect from Boston's finest. Maura has the ability to say whether or not she wants to see me and as of right now she hasn't told me to go away. I have no plans on staying away from my girlfriend until she tells me to. Am I clear?"

Jane was furious and Melinda was playing off of her anger. "I know you are threatening her and I know you are hurting her. I will nail your ass for this. I can promise you that."

"Jane, Jane, Jane. Jealousy is so unflattering on you. Maura is with me. She chooses to be with me." Melinda took a step closer to Jane, her posture purely antagonizing. "You lost your chance...if you even had one. Dr. Isles is so out of your league."

Jane barely heard Frosts' warnings to leave, but she clearly saw Melinda's hand come up from the left. It was instinctive, the quick defending move that had Melinda's arm wrenched behind her back and her face up against the wall. Jane used her body to add additional weight, causing Melinda to remain still. Jane pulled up on Melinda's arm causing her to curse out loud. "I will figure out what it is you want and I will bury you. Last chance, stay away from Maura Isles."

Frost pulled Jane away, instantly putting himself between the two women. He fielded Melinda's smirk, so that Jane wouldn't react again. He had no words for his partner had done what she had to do, now it was a matter of waiting for Melinda to play her hand. "Last chance for you to stay away from me. You lose Rizzoli. Maura wants me and you'll just have to accept that."

Frost was quick to escort Jane out of the house knowing that the tantrum would follow once they were far enough away; and he was right. He stood by while Jane cursed and carried on, letting her vent until she was at least somewhat satisfied. It was then that he pointed out to her that she pulled the stitches in her side. "I think you did that manhandling the ice princess in there."

"Crap." Jane used her shirt to try to soak up the blood that was beginning to run down onto her pants.

"Go home, Jane. Stay home the rest of the week like your doctor ordered." Frost knew Jane was worried about Maura and he was as well. "I will check on Maura as much as possible. I will make sure McDaniels stays out of the precinct, and out of the morgue."

"I'm going back to Maura's. She'll show up there now that she knows Maura told me. I want to be there when she does." Jane pulled the keys from her pocket just as the distinct sound of gunfire erupted around them. "Frost!"

Jane hit the ground quickly, not being able to tell where the gunfire was coming from but clearly seeing the bullets hit her rental car. She saw Frost hit the ground as well a few feet from her but found it impossible to get to him. She pulled her own gun, but could only move to the side of the vehicle that seemed protected. Jane peered around once the gunfire stopped, not seeing anyone. The sound of a racing motor the only thing she could hear for the ringing in her ears that was continuous. "Frost!"

Frost's muffled calls caused Jane to peer under the car where she instantly saw her partner lying on his back. "Frost!" Jane cautiously made her way around the car to where Barry was bleeding from a wound to his leg. Jane forced herself to stay calm as she realized how close the gunshot was to the femoral artery in her partner's leg.

"You hang in there. You hear me, Frost." Jane searched for something to stop the bleeding but grew quickly frustrated when there was nothing. "It's just a graze. Just a graze. You're going to be fine."

Jane opened up the door to her car, reaching for the radio. She tried to keep her voice calm as she called for help. Only when she announced that she had an officer down did her voice waver at all. "Jane?" Frost's was losing too much blood and Jane was losing her battle against the panic that threatened to consume her.

"It's okay. Breathe for me, Barry. Nice and easy." Jane pulled Frost so that his head was resting in her lap. "Help is coming."

Jane's relief was apparent as the sirens announced the approaching ambulance. She gently lowered Barry back so that he was lying flat and got to her feet to call attention to their position. She watched as the medics worked quickly to get her partner ready for transport. "Ma'am, you're hurt."

"It's Detective and my partner's been shot." Jane pushed the attending paramedic away from her when Korsak pulled up with numerous other officers. "Korsak!"

Korsak reached Jane quickly, trying not to but finding it impossible not to react to the blood on her clothes. "Let them check you out. Were you hit?"

"No, no, I'm fine. Frost was hit, in the leg, but he's bleeding bad." Jane was beginning to come unglued and Korsak motioned for the original medic to tend to her again.

"Let them look at you. You're bleeding pretty bad yourself." Korsak's tone said that he would pull rank if he had to and that alone was enough for Jane to lower herself down onto the back of a second ambulance. She raised her arm at the direction of the paramedic, keeping her eyes on the ambulance that had taken her partner off scene.

"You're going to need to get that re-stitched, Detective." Jane looked at Korsak who used his eyes to direct Jane to ride in the ambulance.

"Korsak, it's McDaniels. I know it, I feel it. She is involved in this and my accident." Jane's voice held a raw panic as she braced against the bandage that was being applied to her side. He ordered the ambulance to get Jane to the hospital before turning to access the scene. He shook his head at the bullet holes that littered both Jane's and Frost's car. He knew he would be lead detective on the attempted murder of two Boston detectives; his partners. He would start with McDaniels like Jane suggested, just as soon as he processed the scene.

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Maura had tried Jane's cell numerous times before she finally let herself fall off to sleep. She knew Jane was going to confront Melinda and she paced for nearly two hours, trying to get a hold of her. Maura hadn't realized she had even fallen asleep until the doorbell startled her awake. Looking at the grandfather clock, she realized it was well after two in the morning.

"Melinda?" Maura wasn't sure whether or not to answer the door to her, but worried what Melinda would do if she didn't.

"I need to talk to you, Maura. May I come in?" Melinda had already pushed past Maura, having no intention on waiting for permission.

"Melinda, it's late. Can't this wait?" Maura was instantly nervous and figured Melinda would pick up on that.

"Rizzoli thinks I hit you. Did you tell her that I hit you, Maura?" Melinda was furious and the way she paced made Maura even more nervous.

"She asked me what happened, yes." Maura's voice was barely audible.

"She came over after I left? It was late when I left, Maura." Melinda had stopped pacing, now using her glare to keep Maura from moving.

"I'm sorry, Melinda. Jane and I are friends. I wanted to make sure she was okay, so I asked her to come over." Maura knew she had made a huge mistake by asking Jane to come over, but she also knew she was in over her head with Melinda McDaniels.

Melinda shook her head, never taking her eyes off of Maura. "She hates that I am with you. She hates that you are choosing me over her. She's harassing me, Maura and you know I can have her shield for that." Melinda took a few steps closer to Maura. She reached out towards Maura's face, waiting patiently as Maura flinched away. "Don't be scared of me. I won't hurt you."

"Melinda, please. This has gone on for long enough. What is it you want?" Maura was afraid to pull away as Melinda used her hands to cup Maura's face. "Do you want money? I can give you money. Please just leave Jane alone."

"That's sweet, Maura. How you are trying to buy Jane's safety." Melinda let her fingers lightly trace Maura's lips, stopping on the swollen part. "She's careless, I told you that. I have nothing to do with the fact that she continues to find herself in harm's way."

Maura closed her eyes as she felt the tears well up. She felt Melinda's fingers begin to unbutton the few buttons on the front of Maura's night shirt. "What happened to her? Is she okay?"

"I don't know." Melinda pulled Maura's shirt so that it was slightly off her shoulders. "I was sleeping when I woke up with an incredible desire to see you, touch you, be with you. So, I came over. I hope you don't mind."

Maura could feel her heart drop just as Melinda's lips began to trail down her neck to her shoulders. It was when she felt Melinda's hand cup her breast that she pulled away. "I don't care what you do to me, but I won't allow you to hurt Jane like this." Maura reached for her phone only to drop it as Melinda's grasp on her wrist was painfully strong.

"I want to show you something." Melinda pulled Maura over to the couch where she roughly suggested she have a seat. She reached for the remote knowing all channels would be covering the breaking news. She watched as the reporter spoke quickly giving the facts of the two officers gunned down in the quiet Boston neighborhood where her brother's family lived. It was when Jane's file photo was displayed on screen next to Frost's that Maura let the tears fall freely. Melinda turned the volume down so that Maura could only see the scene. "See, she somehow finds herself in harm's way. I couldn't possibly have anything to do with that because she had just left me in my brother's home after harassing me."

"Melinda, I need to get to the hospital." Maura hated that she was begging, but she would do whatever she had to now to get to Jane.

"She's fine, Maura. Her partner though was wounded pretty bad it seems." Melinda sat down next to Maura and used her fingers to wipe at the tears as they rolled down her face. "She's fixated on me when there's obviously somebody out there trying to kill her."

Melinda smiled at the way Maura's eyes widened at her words.

"I want you, Maura and we both know I could take you right now." Melinda let her eyes travel the length of Maura's body. "I would never hurt you like that. I want you to want to be with me and I am confident that you will be...soon."

"You think I will want to be with you? You have demanded that I have no personal contact with my friend and when I do, she is hurt." Maura was angry and she pushed Melinda away from her in her attempt to get up from the couch. "I will never want to be with you."

Melinda waited until Maura was standing before grabbing her and forcefully slamming her back onto the couch. She grabbed her face with her fingers, allowing herself to take in the fear in Maura's eyes. "You will want to be with me." Melinda kissed Maura hard, ignoring the pain she was causing by ignoring her injured lip.

Maura closed her eyes and tried to think of Jane and how gentle and passionate her kiss was earlier that night. The ringing of her phone once again found her in the same situation as before. Melinda smiled at Maura as she reached over her to answer her phone. Maura watched Melinda's expressions as they changed.

"I'm sorry, Rizzoli. Maura is busy tonight." Melinda's grin was enough to make Maura angry, but her strong forearm that was holding her down warned her against calling out. "I'll let her know you called though."

Melinda held the phone out so that Maura could hear that it was indeed Jane on the other end before disconnecting the call. "Why, Melinda. God, why are you doing this?"

"I asked you to stay away from her; to not contact her, but you did anyway. Rizzoli is all over me right now and I don't like it, Maura." Melinda let her fingers lightly slide over Maura's face. "I want you. I want you bad, but not with Rizzoli in your head. Do you understand what I am saying to you, Maura?"

Maura shook her head, her only real thoughts were on getting to Jane right now.

"They will be looking at me hard for this and probably her hit and run as well. I don't like Rizzoli, so what. Jeff hated her too. Rizzoli wants me gone because I am in the way of her having you, but we both know how far out of your league she is, don't we, Maura?" Melinda kept her lips close to Maura's ear as she talked. "It would be in your best interest...and hers...to collaborate the fact that I was here with you the night before her accident and of course tonight as well."

"Melinda, I can't lie like that. I will have to tell them the truth. Two detectives were injured tonight, I can't..."

"You can and you will. Rizzoli eventually won't be so lucky. Do you want to be responsible for her death, Maura?" Melinda's gaze was hard and Maura could feel her heart pounding in her chest.

"No." Maura closed her eyes again hating that she was being forced to stay away from Jane. Melinda had just threatened to have Jane killed and so far Jane had been hurt twice at what Maura believed to be Melinda's hands.

"It's very easy. Keep Rizzoli away and make sure she understands we are together." Melinda then lowered her lips to Maura's throat. "You make her understand that and maybe she survives a while longer."

"Melinda, please..."

"Don't be afraid of me, Maura. I don't want that." Melinda slowly got up off of Maura, pulling her to her feet. "It's late, I think I will stay here tonight if you don't mind. I really want to hold you tonight and it looks like you really don't want to be alone either."