Friendly Fire Chapter 24
I don't own Rizzoli and Isles, the show or any of the characters from the show.
A/N: I apologize for the delay in posting. It is not intentional as I myself hate waiting for updates. Thank you for the messages and reviews asking for more of this story, they are very encouraging.
"Melinda." Jane forced herself to sit up, depending on the wall for support. "Melinda you don't want to hurt Maura like this. I know you really like her, please don't do this."
"You really are not the brightest crayon in the box, are you Rizzoli." Melinda replaced her phone back into her pocket, aggravated that she was unable to reach her accomplices. "It's too late."
Jane followed Melinda with her eyes as she knelt down in front of her. "It's not too late. Never too late. It doesn't have to be like this." Jane could hear her own voice and hated the way it shook when she spoke.
Melinda moved so that she was sitting next to Jane allowing her own head to fall back against the wall. She was silent for a few moments and then smiled when Jane looked over at her. "It does, Jane. It does have to be like this. There's something to be said about follow through. You're right, I don't want to hurt Maura and you're right, I do really like her."
"I understand you are acting out your father's fantasy, I get that. You have hurt and scared Maura, I've seen that much. Do what you have to do to me, but please let Maura go." Jane didn't care that she was begging, she didn't care that her efforts seemed useless. "Please, Melinda."
Melinda closed her eyes, refusing to answer Jane until she was ready. She figured Jane would take her silence to mean she was considering her request. She wasn't. "Jane, I wasn't supposed to fall for Dr. Isles; that wasn't part of the plan. My father simply alerted me to the fact that there was more between you and her and instructed me to capitalize on that. He never told me she is as beautiful as she is and that I would have to contend with that."
Jane then closed her eyes, the intense throbbing in her face told her to stay aware that Melinda was not predictable at all and her slight confession was simply a stall tactic. "She's a beautiful person, Melinda. A good person, a doctor. She has never hurt anyone. I really don't think she could."
"Do you want to be with her, Rizzoli? I mean, do you think you will spend the rest of your life with her? You know, if it were possible for you to survive this." Melinda placed the scalpel against Jane's throat again, smiling when there was hardly any response from Jane at all.
"I do, but not if it would mean her being in danger or at risk of getting hurt. I could walk away, Melinda. Is that what you're wanting me to do?" Rizzoli opened her eyes to meet Melinda's, careful not to move her head as she could feel the metal against her skin.
"It's too late, Rizzoli. Too many shots to the head seem to have affected your hearing." Melinda slid the scalpel over to the faint scar on Jane's neck. "I see my father's work. He was very skilled."
"Melinda, I can't believe it's too late. I just can't. Haven't you ever felt that way about anybody? I'm sure you have." Jane knew she had nothing to lose as she tried to reason with a psychopath. "You may be Hoyt's biological, but you were raised by the McDaniels. You feel under all this hate, I know you do."
Melinda let out a low chuckle as she watched the relief unintentionally cross Jane's features when she removed the scalpel away from her body. "Jane, Jane, Jane. Are you trying to identify with me? Remember I took the same classes, had the same training and played the same game as you have."
"Okay, then you know what I'm talking about. Have you? I am willing to believe if Hoyt had never gotten to you..."
"Enough, Rizzoli. I am who I am. I can't change that." Melinda was suddenly angry.
"No, but you don't have to do this. This is Charles Hoyt, not Melinda McDaniels." Jane's voice was especially deep and Jane suddenly had a flash of hope when Melinda seemed to respond to her words. "It's not too late. I can help you."
Melinda laughed out loud and pushed herself to her feet. "Jane, there is no help for me. I know this. I have killed too many people. Jeff, Ryan, tried to kill both your partners, cops and now Dr. Isles. I have nothing to lose but my life and that is okay. It is okay because I will take you with me."
Jane looked up as the screen once again showed Maura on the basement floor. She was moving and that alone gave Jane at least a bit of hope.
Melinda seemed just as surprised as she took a few steps closer to the screen. She adjusted the volume with no success. "Show's back on. This is our lucky day, Rizzoli."
Jane focused on Melinda as she tried again to reach her contacts to no avail. Something was wrong with Melinda's plan, Jane could see the hidden frustration in Melinda's posture. "It's not too late. They haven't done it yet, it's not too late!"
"Can't stop it if I wanted to." Melinda threw her phone against the wall, the noise making Jane jump. "It is too late and that is fine. Get up, Rizzoli."
Jane ignored Melinda's order, keeping her eyes on the screen. She paid close attention to Maura's eyes, she looked up again at the ceiling despite her captors being close by pulling at her arms. She watched as Maura continued to look up even after the officers had moved away. Then she noticed.
"Get up, Rizzoli!" Melinda's back was to the screen and Jane forced herself to stand, keeping her balance a struggle. Melinda set the scalpel down only to reach for a knife. "I am not my father, not exactly. He appreciated beauty, your beauty, I don't."
Jane tried to keep eye contact with Melinda but instead focused on Maura. She was positive now. The video was on a thirty second loop. There was at least a little hope that something had gone wrong for Melinda. Jane could never be sure until she was able to touch Maura, not just see her. She knew it seemed unlikely that she would survive Melinda as she realized her plan was failing. She survived one Hoyt twice, she would now have to try to survive two Hoyts once.
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She recognized the involuntary screams that were often the result of sudden panic and fear. That was perfect for it alerted her to their exact positions. The two gunshots would undoubtedly bring in the cavalry and that too was fine. Two shots, two dead, she knew she still had it. She was quick to crawl over to Maura where once turning on the flashlight she set it down next to her so that the light wouldn't blind the traumatized doctor. "Shh, it's okay, now. You're safe."
Maura was instantly quiet as she tried to place the voice. It was definitely a woman leaning over her, but it was definitely not Jane. "Please, help me." Maura forced her words out praying the soft hands on her face were not those of Melinda McDaniels.
"I will help you. It's over, Dr. Isles." Maura looked up into the dark eyes of the woman who looked back down at her. Her eyes held the same intensity as Jane's did and that alone was of at least some comfort. Maura felt her arms being freed.
"Who are you? Where is Jane?" Maura tried to sit up, but was stopped by this woman whose touch was gentle, very much unlike Melinda's.
"You've got a pretty bad gash on her your head. Try not to sit up too fast. I have to go now, okay?" Maura could feel the way the woman startled as the basement door was kicked in and numerous officers stormed the basement.
"Move away! Move away now!" Maura could only watch in horror as her rescuer was instantly slammed to the floor, her arms immediately secured behind her.
"No! No, please, let her go. She saved me." Maura got to her feet despite the warnings from the woman who was now being manhandled by the police. She looked up at Cavenaugh as he quickly made his way to her side. "Sean, she saved me."
Cavenaugh motioned for the officers to bring the woman to her feet so that she could look at him. "Where is Melinda McDaniels?"
"She is preparing to kill Detective Rizzoli. I need to get to her." the woman looked at Maura as if somehow she would understand the eyes of a stranger. "She is always one step ahead of the police and Jane doesn't have much time. Let me go to her."
Sean didn't like it, but wanted to believe this mystery woman as he looked around at Melinda's two accomplices. He didn't recognize either officer and neither one of the them survived the gunshots that was strategically placed to each of their heads. "Who are you?"
"Detective Vincent from Manhattan. Former detective, McDaniel's former partner." Vincent looked at Maura then before returning her attention to Jane's captain. "We're wasting time, sir. I know McDaniels. I know what she is doing and I believe I can stop her."
Sean still wasn't liking it, but he motioned for two officers to remove the cuffs and escort Melinda McDaniels' former partner out of the basement.
"Sir, no sirens. Every second is important. Rizzoli is not meant to survive and Melinda has nothing to lose. She is at Dr. Isles' house where it is only a matter of time before she figures out that her plan has gone awry. Let me do this." Vincent looked up as Maura approached, waving off medical attention.
"You just show up, here in Boston, and know what McDaniel's plan is? No, I don't like it." Sean motioned for another officer and another detective to join him.
"I spoke with Detective Rizzoli a few days ago. She asked me to come help." Vincent looked at Maura whose eyes were fixed on her. "Detective Frost was the one who initially contacted me. Check with him, but hurry sir."
Maura again refused medical attention, as she pleaded with Sean to hurry. There was something about this woman that made Maura trust her completely.
"Go on. You get a two minute start, then we're coming." Sean knew this was against procedure, but at this point if he lost Rizzoli, procedure would mean nothing to him. "Dr. Isles, no."
"I have to go. Jane needs me." Maura hurried after Vincent only to be stopped by Captain Cavenaugh.
"No. It's too dangerous. I'm already going to catch hell for this." Sean watched as Vincent sped off in her car with New York plates. He had one of his officers running the plates and another stay with Maura. "I can't get a hold of Rizzoli or Korsak."
Maura stood feeling helpless as Sean and every available officer and detective hurriedly left the scene. Vincent had specifically asked for no sirens but the sound of every car leaving with sirens blaring only served to worsen the fear Maura was nearly choking on. She allowed the paramedics to tend to her head until she saw Frankie come out of Melinda's house. He was walking with a superior and she waited until he approached before thanking the medic and walking away from the ambulance.
"Maura? You should go to the hospital." Frankie looked to be barely holding it together.
"Take me to my place, please Frankie. I have to know if Jane is okay." Maura begged Jane's brother and she knew he was riding the fence about going there himself or following his captain's orders.
"I can't Maura. I have specific orders and keeping you away from there is one of them." Frankie tried to stand strong but Maura recognized the way he was wavering.
"Please, Frankie. I need to see her, she needs to know I'm okay." Maura held her breath as Frankie looked around. He quickly grabbed her hand and led her to his car.
"You stay in the car when we get to your house. Okay, Maura? Jane will kill me if something happens and you get hurt...even more. Are you sure you're okay?" Frankie took a few minutes to look at Maura's head.
"I'll get checked out as soon as I know Jane is okay. Hurry, Frankie."
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She pulled up in front of Dr. Isles' house and immediately noticed the department issued vehicle in front. She figured it to be Rizzoli's and took a few minutes to look around the yard. It was important to have a perfectly planned operation back at Melinda's place, to be able to mess with her camera system and to take out the officers. She knew the operation she would need to carry out here would be completely different. She knew underneath what Melinda claimed to be now, she was still Melinda McDaniels. There was a small part of her that was still capable of feeling and of loving. What they shared could never be completely severed and that was what she would have to get to if she had any hope of stopping Melinda. She could hear the faint hum of sirens which caused her to hurry up the walk to Maura's front door. Cavenaugh jumped the gun, she figured he would, they always did.
Vincent pushed open the door to Maura's house and as soon as she looked inside, she could hear Melinda's voice coming from the bedroom. She glanced around, instantly finding Korsak who was struggling to stay conscious. She put her finger to her lips, taking the way Korsak closed his eyes as him accepting her presence. She checked the two officers, almost out of habit, not expecting either of them to be alive. She carefully stepped over each of them, after pulling a hidden gun from the second officer. Melinda screwed up. Even she knows that most officers carry a hidden piece on their person.
She pocketed the gun and continued on toward the bedroom. She listened to Melinda taunt Rizzoli. She listened to the confident way she talked despite knowing her plan had hit a snag. Vincent judged about where Melinda would be within the room and hoped her predictions were correct and that her back would be to the doorway. It was and she noted yet another mistake Melinda had made. She saw the way Rizzoli became aware of her presense without shifting her eyes. Rizzoli knew Melinda would notice such a movement and was careful not to give their visitor away. She looked bad. Vincent could only wonder how much damage Melinda had caused Rizzoli just in the short time it took to free Maura and get here. Vincent was silent as she took a step to the right so that she was directly in Rizzoli's view. The silent conversation they shared told Jane that Maura was okay and that she was to now worry about saving herself. Jane lowered her eyes telling Vincent that she was relieved that Maura was safe, but that she was ready to give up now as Melinda was ready to finish her for good.
Vincent took in the way Jane struggled to keep her balance. Head wound. She saw that she had no use of her hands due to the cuffs having her restrained. It did surprise her that Melinda would allow her hands in front. Too much advantage, especially for a trained officer and she could only hope Jane wasn't too injured to take advantage of yet another Melinda mistake.
"It really is a shame things have to end like this, Rizzoli." Melinda's taunting continued and Vincent took the necessary two steps so that she was now in the room with the two detectives. "I was beginning to like you. Jeff was right, you eventually grow on people."
"Melinda..." Jane's voice was rough, it was raw and it was nearly gone. She kept her eyes on the knife in Melinda's hand and watched as she slowly brought it up so that it rested against Jane's chest.
"Sexy voice, Rizzoli. Too bad it won't work for you today." Melinda took her hand and wiped the blood that flowed down the side of Jane's face. "Did it work on Maura last night?"
Vincent watched as Jane refused to allow Melinda's words to influence her. She stood as still as she could knowing she would have to react to whatever Vincent decided to do next. Rizzoli had asked her to come to Boston and help her. Now she was here and it was obvious Rizzoli would follow her lead. Unlike McDaniels, Vincent wasn't about power and control. She was about results, but she was also about procedure and politics. This was Rizzoli's turf and Maura's home, but clearly McDaniels was in control.
Vincent and McDaniels were partners for nearly six years, on and off the streets, in and out of the bed. Nobody knew of their relationship, they kept it hidden to preserve their partnership. It worked until it didn't. Vincent called Melinda on her behavior when it was learned who her biological father was and the partnership was over. Vincent had left the force, left the state and refused to return after the threats that Melinda had hurled at her began to play out one by one. Melinda had truly believed she was a Hoyt and the violence that followed suggested she was too far gone to save. She had to save herself and her family and her disappearance had done just that...up until now.
"Hi, Love." Vincent's voice was steady, strong and it was only then that Jane allowed herself to glance at her fully.
Jane watched the way Melinda eye's burned into her own. She stared Jane down hard, refusing to turn to face the voice behind her. It was clear to Jane that Melinda knew exactly who was behind her and the anger that was displayed through her eyes was frightening at best.