Friendly Fire Chapter 22

I don't own the Rizzoli and Isles characters.

Melinda McDaniels wasn't your average psychopath, at least that's how she saw it. She smiled when she thought of how she would most likely be described by Jane Rizzoli, a lucky detective with less than average skills. She knew it wouldn't be much longer and Rizzoli would show up with half of the Boston Police Department ready to storm the house and take her into custody. Proud of themselves for figuring out her parentage as well as her location. She almost laughed out loud when she imagined the anger and anguish that would consume Rizzoli when she came across her precious Maura, bleeding and barely breathing. Sometimes, bad things happen to good people and Dr. Maura Isles was good people despite her preferences.

The basement was cold and Melinda briefly thought that would help Maura. She truly hated that she had to hurt the good doctor but some things just couldn't be helped. Melinda slid her fingers along Maura's neck, satisfied that she was alive and only slightly worried that she wouldn't survive until Jane arrived. Melinda cursed herself for letting her anger get the best of her as she inspected Maura's head wound. She knew it wouldn't take much to render the smaller woman unconscious, but Maura had provoked her in such a way that warranted a little more force. Melinda pulled strands of Maura's hair from the blood that continued to flow from her wound. It was actually a good thing that Maura was unconscious for the way she was positioned on the cold, basement floor surely would be causing her severe pain from her damaged ribs. Melinda smiled as she stared down into the face of the woman she had hoped to love, hoped to use to anger Jane, crush her and defeat her. She accepted that wondering if Maura was alive or dead would be torture on the great Detective Rizzoli and for that she couldn't wait.

Melinda thought about her father and how proud he would be of her right now. Jane Rizzoli was his biggest challenge and she proved victorious over him. He was so very smart and knew he didn't have long to live, so he found her, proved to her who she was and then proceeded to train her. She should have hated him for who he was, but instead she accepted the assignment, thrilled to finally understand why she was the way she was. It made sense. She was a New York City detective, but how she hated authority. She didn't fit in, didn't play by the rules. Jeff constantly rode her about her attitude, she hated that. He always thought he was better and maybe he was.

Melinda watched the clock as she stroked the side of Maura's face. She was cold and would be so uncomfortable right now if conscious. Rizzoli was not as good as Jeff. Jeff used to complain about her, about how she challenged him, his authority, his ideas. He said she was B-team status, only promoted to satisfy a quota. Melinda would ask Jeff if he thought the same way about her, and he always answered the same way. 'Your last name is McDaniels. You know your stuff.' Yes, she did know her stuff. She knew much much more than either Jeff or Jane did and today it was time to prove it. Her last name was McDaniels but her blood was the same color as Charles Hoyt's. Jeff was so very good at detective work. Too good for his own good. Melinda missed Jeff, he was her brother for as long as she could remember, but it turns out he wasn't blood. Therefore he was expendable. Once she accepted that everything just fell into place. Rizzoli being given the lead was just too perfect. Hoyt called it. He called all of this. Hoyt told her Jane Rizzoli had hidden feelings for Dr. Isles. If she could work that angle she would do what he had failed to. She could beat Jane Rizzoli. Melinda wanted to do more than just win, she wanted to completely destroy the over-confident B-team detective.

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Jane joined Korsak in the lobby, her stance less than sturdy, but her expression solid. She took her gun from him and holstered it without looking. "I am so tired of coming to this hospital and I'm ready to take this bitch down...Now!"

"Jane, you go off half-cocked, you know the consequences. McDaniels is expecting you but you are not going to play into her hand." Korsak glared at Jane until her attitude softened a bit. We have the location of Hoyt's old home and we will send uniforms there ahead of us. Do you really think she would've made it this easy to find her?"

"Yes. No." Jane was anxious, nervous. "She wants me to come to her."

"This is what I'm talking about, Jane. You've got to keep your head in this." Korsak reached for his phone leaving Jane to take a few minutes to think things through. "Cavenaugh has a team of uniforms and detectives on the way to Hoyt's house. He wants us to hang back."

Jane sat down rubbing her temples with her fingers. Her body was sore, her mind tired and her heart full. She needed to see Maura, just to check on her before things got worse. Jane was hoping to take Melinda into custody without too much effort, but her gut told her that could never be. Maura didn't believe in relying on one's guts but Jane did. Melinda was Hoyt as far as Jane was concerned and that alone gave Melinda that much more of an advantage. Jane pulled her phone, hitting Maura's number on the speed dial. She wanted to hear her voice; she needed to hear her voice.

"You have reached Dr. Maura Isles..." Jane snapped her phone closed as well as her eyes. She knew Maura was not feeling well and hoped she was sleeping. She decided against trying again as Korsak approached her. "I need to go by and check on Maura."

"She's okay, Jane. I've kept in close contact with Baker. He says everything is quiet." Korsak read Jane's expression and pulled his phone out to call the uniformed officers that were assigned to protect Maura. He spoke with Officer Baker who once again confirmed what Korsak had already known.

Jane took a deep breath before looking up at Korsak again. "I'm not familiar with either officer that was at Maura's place. What precinct are they out of?" Jane didn't want to doubt Korsak but she couldn't ignore the way her heart ignored her demands to stay steady.

"Ours. Jane there are many officers you aren't familiar with. Different ranks, different shifts." Korsak watched as Jane fought to push her thoughts away. "Let's go, Cavenaugh should be calling any minute now."

Jane glanced at her watch. "What about shift change? Who's got that?"

Korsak took a deep breath. He knew Jane was becoming consumed with concern for Maura and he also knew she was close to insisting they go there first. "We'll go by there first."

Jane was out of the hospital ahead of Korsak and the nervous energy was masking the pain she felt as she climbed into the car. She waited until Korsak got in behind the wheel. "She'll wait for me. I just need to make sure Maura's ok."

"I know, Jane. I know." Korsak stole glances at Jane as he drove. He counted on Jane's head and he couldn't help but feel she had been through too much to be reliable in that way. He didn't fault her for it, she was right when she complained to him about fighting a ghost. Her own personal boogeyman who just happened to return in the form of Melinda McDaniels.

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Melinda adjusted the screen so that she could see it from every angle of the room. She had a fine eye for detail, something she relied on in her chosen profession. Rizzoli would need to be able to see the screen from every angle of the room as well for there was no telling exactly where she would end up. Melinda had a plan that allowed for plenty of audibles for she knew Jane Rizzoli may be predictable but she was also quick thinking and fast on her feet. She knew Jane relied more on her quickness where Melinda utilized her strength. It would come down to home field advantage and the element of surprise. Melinda believed she had both as she prepared for Jane. Jane Rizzoli would be fueled by anger and emotion driven and Melinda knew how fatal that combination could be. She supposed Jane knew as well and smiled thinking about how Rizzoli was probably forcing herself to man up right about now.

Maura stirred a few times but still hadn't regained consciousness. Each time she moved, Melinda paused to watch. It was imperative that Jane see her unconscious and the last thing Melinda wanted was to have to hit her again. Melinda took the call she had been waiting for. Finally Boston Police had arrived and if her calculations were correct Rizzoli would soon arrive too.

Melinda took the few minutes she had left to make sure everything was in place. She pulled her badge from her pocket and fastened it to her belt. She may be suspended right now and her future with the NYPD in doubt, but she was the police and she knew Rizzoli respected that fact. Maybe even feared her for it. Melinda and Jane thought the same and Melinda knew that advantage went to her as well. She checked her gun, before sliding it into the back of her pants. She had no intentions of shooting Rizzoli, what was the fun in that.

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"They've got the house surrounded. Jeff McDaniels' car is parked out front." Korsak turned the car off and waited for Jane to move. "They are trying to make contact with McDaniels now."

"I'll just be a minute." Jane's words stopped Korsak from getting out of the car. "Please, Korsak."

"Make it quick, Jane." Korsak couldn't help but feel for Jane and Maura both. They had been through so much at the hands of Melinda McDaniels. He watched as Jane made her way up to Maura's door. Korsak got out of the car when the officers assigned to protect Maura didn't appear at Jane's approach. She looked back after trying the door and finding it locked. Korsak picked up the pace pulling his gun as he hurried to back Jane up.

Jane backed up, ignoring the fear that was quickly suffocating her. This was generally Frost's job, but she wouldn't be denied entry as she used every ounce of strength she had to kick the door open. Her gun led her in where she immediately spotted the two officers lying on Maura's living room floor. She bent to check the pulse of the closest officer, her eyes continuously scanning, her gun ready.

"Shift change." Jane knew the officers were not the two that were there when she left earlier. She looked at Korsak who shook his head no at Jane's questioning expression. Jane used both hands to hold her gun as she carefully made her way toward Maura's room. She found herself praying silently that Maura was ok, but her instincts told her she wasn't.

Jane immediately ducked at the sound of a single gunshot, turning with the screams from Korsak. He was in incredible pain as he waved Jane off when she abandoned any hope of cover to get to him. "Get out of here!"

Jane used her body to shield Korsak while she scanned everywhere her eyes could reach trying to see where the shot had come from.

"Rizzoli! Get out of here now!" Korsak screamed at Jane to no avail. Jane wasn't leaving him and he knew she wouldn't. She instead pulled Korsak behind Maura's couch, hoping for some sort of cover.

"Where are you hit?" Jane kept her eyes trained on the doorway to Maura's room. "Vince, talk to me!"

"My knee." Jane turned at the sound of Korsak's voice.

"It was a disabling shot. She's in here, not at the house." Jane stood then trusting Melinda had no intentions on shooting her. "Mindy!"

Korsak pulled at Jane's sleeve. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to end this. Now!" Jane shrugged out of Korsak's hold. "McDaniels!"

"It's about time, Rizzoli. Put the gun away and come join us." Melinda wondered if Jane would follow her direction or not.

"Come out here. I've showed like you wanted me to, now come face me." Jane was angry and if she was fearful she refused to allow Melinda to hear it.

"Now Jane, you and I both know you don't call the shots here. I've called them all along and that is not about to change." Melinda's taunting voice managed to get Jane to take a few more steps closer to the bedroom.

"Jane!" Korsak's warning was ignored as Jane continued to inch her way forward.

"You know how Hoyt worked, Jane. You probably knew him better than anybody. Tell me, Rizzoli. What was his strategy?"

Jane gripped her gun tighter as she forced the panic down. "He liked to torment couples before killing one in front of the other."

"Maura made her choice. She chose you over me making you the winner, Rizzoli." Melinda laughed which infuriated Jane even more. "She told me how intimate you and her were. She had no problem sharing with me all the details. It sounds like you two are quite the couple."

Jane hung her head, glancing back towards Korsak before focusing on Melinda's voice. "Do not hurt her. Tell me what you want."

"It's too late for that, Rizzoli. Maura's already been hurt, or didn't you notice." Melinda's voice seemed closer which caused Jane lower her stance and point her gun ahead of her. "I noticed. It was so easy to get her to do what I wanted. She's so beautiful Rizzoli."

"Maura!" Jane's voice was rough and raw and she knew Melinda could hear the fear in it.

"I'm running out of patience, Rizzoli. Get in here if you have any hope of saving your Dr. Isles." Melinda's voice was controlled despite her impatience. "Empty your gun first. I want to hear it."

Jane looked back at Korsak who was lying flat on his back. He shoved his gun at her knowing what she was thinking. Jane fired her gun at the front door until it was emptied and quickly put Korsak's gun into the back waistband of her pants.

"Get in here, Rizzoli. Hands up, gun in the air." Jane knew this was it. She hadn't heard Maura and thought for sure she would've with the gunfire.

Jane entered the bedroom, her eyes falling immediately on Melinda who had her gun in Jane's face as soon as she turned the corner. She felt Melinda grab her gun from her while she looked around. "Where's Maura?"

"At my house. You messed up, Rizzoli. Again." Melinda grabbed the gun from Jane's pants, using it to turn Jane's head. "I know how you think and you thought I'd wouldn't know you'd grab his gun. I'm insulted." Melinda then used Korsak's gun to hit Jane in much the same way she did Maura. She used more force assuming Rizzoli could withstand more than Maura. It didn't take much more effort for Jane to fall at Melinda's feet.

Jane still tried to see Melinda despite the heat that threatened her vision. She couldn't focus as the pain in her head made Jane fight to keep her eyes open. She could feel Melinda's hands on her as she realized she was losing the battle to stay conscious.

Melinda leaned in close to Jane's face knowing she was having a hard time focusing on anything. "My daddy was right. You really can smell fear."