By 11:15, Jane and Frost were sitting across Aiden Barker in the interrogation room.

Jane and Frost looked tired, but they looked nothing compared to Aiden. He seemed to have aged in just the few hours that they had seen him last. His hair scraggly light brown hair was unkempt and dark purple underlined his eyes. He had clearly been crying.

"Why am I here?" he asked. "Why aren't you out looking for Caidence?"

"Tell me something, Mr. Barker." began Jane, flipping open the folder that she had brought with her and sliding out a photo. She slid it across the table towards him. He hesitated at first, his eyes burning with frustration, but finally looked down. "Have you ever seen this man? Did you notice him at the zoo?"

Aiden scoffed. "Are you kidding me? You can't even see his face."

"Answer the question." Frost replied softly. "Did you see him? Notice someone in a Red Sox cap following you around? Did you stop for lunch and he was at a table near you?"

"Not that I am aware of." The man's fists clenched and he gritted his teeth. "You couldn't ask me this in my hotel room? You couldn't have brought this photo over to Caitlyn's and called me there? Why am I here, detectives?"

Jane and Frost glanced at each other and then Jane opened the folder again, placing the photo back inside and pulling out a sheet of paper. She set that down next and waited for Aiden to look it over. When he pulled his eyes back up to look into hers, he had surpassed angry and gone into furious.

"What does this have to do with anything?" he seethed. "You're wasting time, God dammit!" His fist slammed against the table. Neither Jane or Frost flinched.

"Why are you applying for primary custody, Mr. Barker?"

"Why – are you joking? She's my daughter, I love her. I want her with me. I didn't realize applying for custody was a crime."

'It's not." said Frost shortly. "But non-custodial parental abduction is."

Aiden dropped back in his chair and stared aghast at both detectives. "Are you accusing me of something?"

"Should we be?" asked Jane.

He leaned forward with the palms of his hands flat against the table, his voice just above a whisper: "If you have something you want to say, say it."

Jane leaned forward to meet his stare. "Did you have something to do with your daughter's disappearance?"

"You're insane." he hissed. "I trusted my father when he said his friend's team was going to take on Caidence's case. I trusted that homicide detectives could do the work. But if you're going to sit there on your incompetent asses and accuse me of taking my own daughter – "

"We're not accusing you of anything. We asked a question."

"I'm done answering your questions." Aiden went to stand but Frost stood with him.

"Sit down."

"Am I under arrest?"

"You really want to act like a jackass when we're tryin' to find your kid?" yelled Jane. "Sit your ass back down in the chair. We have a few questions." There was a moment where Jane was sure Aiden would turn and walk out – and really, what could she do? She couldn't arrest him for anything – but soon he returned to his seat with a scowl on his face. "You've filed for custody twice now."

"Yes."

"Why didn't it work out the first time?"

"The money wasn't there." he replied gruffly. "I was living with my mom back in Michigan, work was slow."

"And it isn't anymore?"

"No. I'm doin' good now. I've got a steady income and I've got a new place. Look," he sighed and leaned on his elbows. "I just want Caidence home with me. Her mom is great. Her step-dad is great. But I want my kid growin' up like I did, in Michigan. Fresh air, less traffic. I live in a nice, rural area. There are good schools, better than here in Boston. It's too big and loud here. I'm not... I'm not filing for custody to take her away from her mom."

"What work do you do?"

"What?"

"You say you've got a steady income now. We took a look into public records and we saw that you've recently purchased a rather expensive new home." Jane pulled out the spreadsheet and handed it over to him. "That must be quite the job, Mr. Barker."

"Buying a house is a crime?"

"Buying a house after a greater portion of your twenties was spent in student loan debt and near bankruptcy is suspicious."

"I came in to some money."

"You came in to some money." Jane leaned back in her chair, rolling her eyes and an annoyed grin playing at her lips. "You're making yourself look more and more suspicious, Aiden, by not giving me straight answers."

Aiden's eyes went back and forth between Jane and Frost before finally they settled on his own clasped hands. He took a deep breath and then scooted his chair backwards, then reached down and unbuckled his backpack.

Maura relaxed into Jane's desk chair and nursed a mug of hot tea. This was certainly her least favorite part of any investigation – when Jane had work and Maura didn't. Korsak sat behind her at his own desk, his tired eyes scanning over papers with small print that looked important, but Maura wasn't sure if she should offer to help or not. They had every intention to watch Jane's interrogation of Aiden Barker but Korsak had offered to sit at the phone in case any tips came through on their lines, and Maura didn't think it kind to leave him all by himself.

A few minutes had passed between them, silent and uneventful. The phone remained as quiet as they did and only the sound of Korsak flipping pages even reminded Maura of his presence. She was lost in her own thoughts – lost in the image of Jane standing in front of her, her eyes so tired and vacant of anything other than the hardened determination that Maura had seen so many times before. One of Jane's most endearing qualities was her dedication to her job and to her city, but it was also what Maura feared would destroy the seasoned officer. Maura watched Jane, almost like she was conducting a study – no, that wasn't quite the right word, Maura thought absently. But regardless of why she was doing it, Maura watched Jane – saw the way certain cases changed the way she walked, the way she talked, the way she presented herself. She saw the crumbling exterior of a woman crippled by the horrific realities of their world.

But Maura also saw something incredibly fascinating in her best friend. She saw her resilience. Admired it, even. Because even in the most disturbing of cases, the most gruesome crimes, the things that even Maura found herself haunted by... Jane Rizzoli pushed past it all. Maybe not flawlessly, maybe not even in a way that could be considered healthy by any mental health professional, but Jane did it. Jane did something Maura envied.

And, though Maura chastised herself often for the thought, Maura found it strangely arousing; the determination, the resilience, the thirst for justice in what some may consider a hopeless world. Maura Isles was irrevocably attracted to Jane Rizzoli, but she was hell bent on that secret never coming out.

"This probably wasn't the way you wanted to spend your birthday."

Korsak's voice caused Maura to jump. She blushed, suddenly remembering that she wasn't alone in the room and, having been thinking about Jane, became a bit embarrassed. She swallowed and took a moment to compose herself before finally swiveling around in the chair to look at Korsak.

"I don't mind, really." she said, waving her hand absently in the air. "I've never really been one for birthday celebrations."

"Ha," grunted Korsak. "I loved 'em as a kid. Unwrapping presents, cake."

Maura grimaced. "My birthday celebrations were rather... well, they were more so for my parents than myself." she admitted. "I didn't have birthday parties. I had soirées in Paris with fifty of their closest friends and their children. Children, I might had," she held up a finger and chuckled a little bit. " – who really and truly didn't like me."

"I can't imagine nobody not likin' you, doc."

"Believe it. I didn't mind, though. I hated the attention. I felt it was unwarranted. Celebrating my birth seemed like a great hypocrisy. It's not as though my... arrival, or even the announcement of my arrival, was really all that wanted."

"Ah, now c'mon, Maura. Your parents adopted you. They wanted you."

"My parents love me very much," she muttered with a sad smile. "But I was never wanted, Vince." her smile turned upward, halfheartedly. "I have accepted that now more than ever, considering recent events."

Korsak nodded grimly. "You heard anything on Doyle?"

"Just that he's being held in Walpole." Maura sighed. "He's being brought up on charges for nearly fifteen murders."

"You dealin' with it okay?"

She shrugged. "My anger towards Jane for shooting Patrick was misguided, I fully understand that now. I think I was so desperate for a biological attachment that I, I don't know, lost my mind? Nothing was clear. But he told the woman that gave birth to me that I had died. I will not, I can't forgive that. Knowing that about Patrick makes it all the more easy to see him spend the rest of his life in jail. I mean," she looked up at Korsak. " – technically, he killed me too."

"Are you going to look for Hope?"

"I've considered it." replied Maura. "But what would I even say to her? Hello, I'm the daughter you conceived with the Irish mob boss? The one you were told died? It doesn't seem fair. Hope has had thirty-six years to bury me, to bury her pain. I'm happy with the life I have now. Am I curious? Naturally. But I already have a mother and father, despite their faults, and I have a family here at work. You, Barry, the Rizzoli's – "

Korsak interrupted her. "Especially Jane." he gave a throaty laugh. "Never seen that girl so whipped before in all my life. She'd do anything for ya, Maura."

Maura felt her cheeks grow hot. "Jane is my best friend." she mumbled pathetically, turning back around in her desk.

And it can only be that, she thought to herself.

Jane's hand, pinned to her side on her gun, relaxed when Aiden leaned back up and dropped a book before she and Frost. It wasn't too large, but the cover showed a girl who looked remarkably similar to Caidence. Her blonde hair was split in thick braids on either side of her face and a trail of freckles began at her nose and spread to each of her cheeks. She was lounging beneath a tree in the shade of a forest, a petite kitten sitting loyally on her shoulder. The title read "The Many Adventures of Katie Denson". Jane cocked an eyebrow and looked up at Aiden.

"It's a five book deal." he explained, shoving it closer to the two detectives. "I'm an author."

"You're an author." deadpanned Jane, picking up the book and flipping through the pages.

"I worked at a newspaper back in Michigan. Caidence would come visit me every few weeks and she was always telling these stories, just... the craziest things." he trailed off, smiling a bit. "I mean, the things that would come out of her head – it was really incredible. She has a very vivid imagination. She's always been an on the go kid, ya know? Wants to go out there, see things. We sat down and started writing her stories together. This was the product." He waved aimlessly at the book in Jane's hands. "This is how I made my money. How I bought the house, how I paid off my student loans." he leaned back in his chair.

"And you were hesitant to tell us this... why?" asked Frost.

"You're kidding." he snorted. "I write children's books for a living, for Christ's sake. That isn't exactly the kind of work I intended on putting my English major to. Hell, I couldn't even get a book published without the help of my daughter, I mean. Come on."

Jane nodded. "I get it."

"Thank you – " responded Aiden diligently, but Jane wasn't finished.

"You realized that Caidence was the money maker." Her eyes snapped up from staring at the desk to find his. "You have four more books to write. You can't break the contract. If you do, all that money, everything you were promised – poof. And you wanted Caidence with you."

" – no – "

" – because she is what gives you the inspiration for these books, and your inspiration was hundreds of miles away – "

" – no, I – "

" – so you decide to take what you want. You know that there's a chance the courts won't award you primary custody, you know that even with the money, you can't change things. But then you realize that while you can't change things, but the money can."

Aiden's fist slammed against the table and he stood up, his chair toppling over behind him. Jane stood up as well, and Frost after her.

"I filed for custody because I want Caidence to have the best life possible!" he yelled. "I didn't file because of the books, I filed because I love her! Jesus Christ, you people – she – God, she hates her step brother! He's awful to her! He calls her names, he picks on her. What the hell can I do from a different state? I'm trying to protect her!"

"Are you sure it wasn't jealousy?" growled Jane. "Caitlyn married a man six months after meeting him, but she wouldn't even marry you after she had your baby. That didn't sting a little, Aiden? Maybe make you want to take something from her. Maybe you wanted to take your daughter back."

"Why would I file for custody if I was just going to take her!" he spat.

Jane shrugged and sat back down in her chair, folding her arms patiently on the desk and waiting for Aiden to do the same. His chest heaving, he finally bent over and grabbed the chair, sitting it back upright and taking a seat. "Maybe you were impatient," replied Jane quietly. "The courts tend to side with the mother. There's nothing wrong with where Caidence is living. She's happy, she's well taken care of. She has lots of family here in Boston. Step-brother or not, Caidence is happy. The court takes that into consideration. You would be pulling her away from her siblings, her mother, her aunts and uncles, her friends and her school..."

"I would never hurt my daughter." he hissed through clenched teeth. "And I would never rip her away from her mother."

"Isn't that what you're doing anyway? Tearing her away from her mother in a custody battle?"

"I'm trying to do what is best for Caidence. What I believe is best."

"That's what worries me." Jane stood and gathered the papers from the table. "You're free to go, Mr. Barker. I have nothing to hold you on. But let me tell you this," she bent low over the table and got in his face, narrowing her eyes down at him. "Your father did right by asking our boss to handle this case, because I will not stop until I find your little girl. And hell, I might be wrong. You might have absolutely nothing to do with her disappearance. In fact, you've almost convinced me that you're in the clear. But I swear on everything I love, if you did have anything to do with this, I will find out. I will find her, and I will find you, and your ass will be in a cell before you can even blink. Your money might have done the crime, but you're the one that's going to be serving fifteen to twenty in Norfolk while your money goes to a team of defense lawyers."

Jane straightened up and looked down at him one more time; he looked startled – Jane wasn't sure if it was from her attitude or from the idea of being stuck in a jail cell for a good portion of the rest of his life – but it satisfied her and she turned and left the room, Frost following close behind. They heard the door open and shut again and knew that Aiden had gone.

"Think he did it?" asked Frost as they walked back into the room where Korsak and Maura were sitting.

"No clue." Jane responded flatly. "I think he would do just about anything for his daughter, though, and maybe in a normal situation, that would be great, but it makes him look suspicious right now. Hey, any tips come through?"

Korsak shoot his head. "Nothin'. I'm gonna go grab somethin' from the vending machine. Frost, want anything?"

"I'll come along."

"What time is it?" Jane asked Maura when the two other detectives left.

"Nearly midnight."

Jane leaned against her desk and looked down at Maura. "Why don't you go home and get some sleep? No point in you sticking around."

"I'm not going home without you." They both paused at these words, Jane's slouched body snapping upright. "I don't want you to be lonely here, that's all." said Maura after a moment's hesitation. Jane visibly relaxed. "You need sleep too, you know. You can't stay away through the night. Other detectives are in the building and there are people manning the phones. You, Korsak and Frost are useless if you're tired."

"I don't know if I can sleep."

"You can try," said Maura lightly.

"I just..." Jane turned to face Maura. "I don't know how to sleep when there is a little girl out there who could be... I don't know, you know. I don't know what she's going through, or if she's even going through anything. She could be – "

"She's alive, Jane." insisted Maura. She reached across the desk and set her hand upon Jane's. "You have to believe that."

"I believe you."

Maura smiled. "That's a lie." she said playfully. "You never believe me. You didn't believe me when I told you that there are as many hairs per square inch on our human bodies as there is on a chimpanzee until I showed you that article – "

"Oh come on, Maura. You really want me to believe that I'm as hairy as a freaking monkey?"

"Our hair is finer and less visible, Jane, but I assure you – "

"I do not have as much hair as a chimp!"

"Yes you do."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do."

"I do not!"

"You're just proving my point!"

"What point?" scoffed Jane.

"That you don't believe me!"

Jane paused. "Oh. Well," she chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully for a minute before waving her hands in defeat and huffing slightly. "Whatever. You ruined the moment."

"What moment?" Maura laughed.

"I was trying to be all nice and best friend-ly and say I believe you and you just had to ruin it with your science."

Maura rolled her eyes. "Alright, I'm sorry I ruined your nice and best friend-ly moment."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

They both smiled at each other.

Thank you for reading :) Review if you'd like.