Jane caught its scent and took off, catching sight of it as the rabbit headed for a hollow log. She ran as fast as her four legs carried her; wind blowing through her fur and heart pounding against her ribcage. It was then she caught the scent of something much different and turned her head, a large grizzly only about 50 feet away. The other beast moved to its hind legs and opened its jaws to let out a deep snarl before dropping to all fours and charging towards her. She whirled her body around quickly to face it, her paw swiping the bear across the jaw so hard its head snapped to the side. She backed away, the fur on the back of her neck standing up as she let out a low, warning growl. But that didn't deter the beast any.
The grizzly came at her again and Jane tackled it, knocking the large creature to its back. It smacked her hard with a claw that dug into the flesh of her shoulder, the wolf letting out a howl of pain. The bear moved to get up, but Jane was quicker; her teeth closing down on its neck until she tasted blood. Then she let go and backed away once again; the grizzly hitting the ground with a loud thump, unmoving.
It was then a shot rang out, a bullet hitting the large beast on the ground between the eyes. Jane snarled as a group of men surrounded her, reminding her she wasn't free running through the wilderness. That she hadn't come across that grizzly by chance. No, Dr. Erin Hayes not only had her indoor lab, but acres of fenced in forest land right next to it. And Jane had been released into a large caged in area with that bear.
As a test. Because she was still a captive.
Her gold eyes snapped to Hayes as soon as she smelt her, the doctor smiling as though she were out in the woods with a lover on a picnic rather than making two beasts fight to the death. Just to see how strong 'her lycan' was. It sickened Jane. There was no need for that other creature to die.
"And you continue to impress me. I thought you'd be too worn out to take it down so quickly. But you came out with barely a scratch." Erin looked to her techs. "Do it."
Jane could hear the buzz of the electricity before it hit her, the shock from the taser-like pole causing her muscles to twitch violently as she convulsed and hit the ground barely conscious. She saw the men close in on her before all went black.
Three weeks had passed and Jane had almost completely lost herself. All she knew were needles and tests. She'd been shocked, probed, sedated, forced to fight and everything else one could imagine done to her in the name of science.
Hours later, lying in her cage asleep on her side, Jane dreamed of Maura. Of those kind hazel eyes and that smile reserved just for her. She dreamed they were together again and could almost feel the brush of Maura's lips against her skin, hear her sweet voice whispering 'I love you' in her ear. And then she awoke.
Amber eyes took in the coats scurrying around from one computer or lab room to another and she almost whimpered at the thought she may never see her Maura again. That this was all she'd ever experience.
xxx
Maura Isles had taken vacation time off, making excuses for Jane, as well. After Korsak had informed her of the wolf's fate, she'd spent hours upon hours of time investigating Dr. Hayes and her research. She couldn't just very well burst into the lab and rescue Jane. There were multiple scientists at work and the lab was on lock down. Maura had made the trip to Seattle and spent even more time watching scientists go in and out, learning schedules.
She knew she couldn't just request a visit. Dr. Hayes would be suspicious. So she picked a scientist and approached him at a bar one night. She sweet-talked him, using her looks to get what she wanted and he took her back to his apartment. She got him drunk to the point of blacking out, stealing his badge. And then she headed to the lab to rescue Jane, knowing there was only one security guard at night and that he usually stuck to the outside to chain smoke.
She'd seen the images of the 'world's first lycan known to man' on TV and been filled with such anger and hatred she knew she'd strangle that Dr. Hayes with her bare hands if she could. When the camera had panned to the wolf, Jane had lunged at it and knocked it out of the reporter's hand with her paw. She'd seemed so scared, so full of rage on that screen and Maura had wanted nothing more than hold her.
She waited until the security guard headed outside, glanced around to make sure no one was nearby, and then pulled on a ski mask like she'd seen criminals they'd dealt with use. Then she walked in with the scientist's white lab coat on and used the badge to get inside to the lab.
Hearing someone come through the lab door, the beast's ears perked up then she stood quickly and snarled through the darkness. Her eyes now dim, tired.
Maura heard Jane's snarl and saw the faint glow of her eyes, so she approached slowly and spoke softly. "It's me. I'm here to get you out." She stopped in front of the cage.
Catching the wonderful scent of a doctor she actually liked, Jane sat down on her haunches and looked up at Maura, tail wagging and panting, just like she said she would do in the woods that day not so long ago.
Despite the situation, Maura couldn't help but smile at Jane's tail wag. She took a step closer and used the badge to open Jane's cage, swinging the door wide open and quickly running in to wrap her arms around a still beastly detective, burying her face in fur.
The wolf whimpered her sorrows of having been separated for so long and then licked Maura; extremely grateful to her girlfriend. Suddenly, Jane picked her head back up and her ears perked. She could hear the guard coming. He checked up on the beast at least twice a night. Pulling away from Maura, Jane ran for the glass door and busted it open after slamming her shoulder against it three times. Looking at her mate, she motioned for her to hurry and follow. The beast stopped on all fours in front of the blonde, wanting for her to get on her back.
Maura ran to Jane and glanced back briefly as she heard the guard yelling. He was fumbling for his gun when she jumped on the beast's back, grabbing a fistful of fur to hold on. "Okay, go!" Jane had started running with Maura on her back when he opened fire. But he was clumsy and a poor shot.
Jane stood up preparing to climb a wall. She grabbed Maura's hands and wrapped them around her thick neck then started climbing up. Jumping over, she high tailed it out of there, knowing others would soon follow suit.
xxx
Once they were a safe distance away and Jane had slipped into an abandoned warehouse, Maura climbed off her back and checked the wolf over, making sure none of those bullets had grazed her. "Are you okay? You can change now, Jane. We're safe."
Jane looked at Maura then closed her eyes. It took several minutes, she had been a wolf for nearly a month, but she was finally able to change back. When she did, she collapsed on her knees. Exhausted.
Maura dropped to her knees in front of her and pulled the detective into her arms. "I don't know what they did to you there in that lab, but I've got you now. They're not going to touch you anymore." She sat back on the ground and pulled the brunette into her lap.
Jane cuddled into her and tried to hold back sobs. "Thank you..." She whispered and wrapped her arms around Maura. The wolf side of her could take all the pain they caused with little side effects, but the human side, the human was much weaker.
It was too dark for Maura to see the bruises and cuts that covered her lover's body from all the prodding and tests, but holding her in her arms, she could feel how thin Jane had gotten. She'd always been lean, but slightly muscular. Now Jane felt like skin and bones. Maura shifted so she could take the lab coat off and wrap it around her girlfriend.
Jane winced when Maura put the coat over her. "I wanna go home..." She whispered. She was in so much agony and pain she couldn't handle it. She was shaking. "Baby..."
Maura's heart ached for her detective as she heard the wince of pain, and she felt enraged as her lover shook in her arms. What had those bastards done to her in that lab? Maura had never hated anyone in her life until Hoyt; for what he'd done to Jane. Now she hated these scientists, too. "Let's go someplace safe then, baby. I'll take care of you." The doctor helped her girlfriend up and headed out to the street to hail a cab, heading back to the hotel.
xxx
Once they were at the hotel, Jane looked around. "Here is fine. I-I can't move anymore." She stumbled to the bed and laid down. She was so hungry. They had barely given her any food. Just a piece of meat once a day and some water.
"Would you like me to make up a bath for you? It might help relax your muscles and make you feel better. I could order some room service, too." Maura got on her knees at the end of the bed and leaned down to help Jane out of that lab coat, gasping at the sight of all her bruises and the deep gashes on her shoulder. "Oh, Jane… I'm so sorry I didn't get to you sooner."
Jane shook her head. "No... you got to me before they either killed me or put me in a zoo. Thank you." Once in the bath, Jane leaned back and had all but her head submerged under the water.
As soon as she had gotten room service ordered, Maura stepped back into the bathroom and sat at the edge of the tub. "I ordered some raw steak, along with cooked food. I wasn't quite sure what you'd want to eat but there will be plenty to choose from. Sit up a bit, please." Once Jane had, Maura moved behind her, placing her bare feet in the tub and gently washing her wound, knowing it would heal on its own in time. Afterwards, she grabbed the shampoo to lather her lover's hair, gently scratching at her scalp.
Jane sat up and enjoyed the scalp rubbing. "Mm." Her hand moved to Maura's foot just to be able to touch her. "You better eat what you want before I get outta here. I can't promise there'll be any left."
"I'll eat a little something, but you can have all you want. I could always order more." Maura bent over and kissed Jane's other cheek.
She turned her body and rested her cheek on Maura's knee. "Thank you for coming for me. I didn't think Dr. Isles would break the law of breaking, entering, and stealing." She smirked.
"I've done a lot of stuff I never thought I'd do, but it's all been worth it. For you. I wouldn't lie or break the law for anyone else." She smiled softly. "Alright, I'm done with your hair so dunk and then I'll get your back."
Once out of the tub, Jane walked, with help from Maura, to the bed and sat down on the foot of it. Smelling the food, she moaned then opened the container of raw meat and smiled. "Thank you, baby."
Maura smiled as she sat next to Jane on the bed. "You're welcome." She ate a few bites off the plate but left the majority of it for her lover, who had clearly been malnourished. Once Jane was finished, Maura curled up with her in bed. "We'll head back to Boston first thing in the morning, but take more time off, of course. You need the time to recover."
Jane laid in the bed with her, not able to get comfortable but she stayed still since Maura was against her. "What have you told them? Where have I been and why wasn't I there after you were 'attacked'?" She asked.
"Well we both had a lot of vacation time and personal days left so I told them we were heading out of state for awhile. To get away from all the wolf stuff. Take a much needed break. I told Korsak I was meeting you at a restaurant that night. I wanted so badly to tell him the truth. He was really upset." Maura looked over at Jane and saw the discomfort on her face. "Are you uncomfortable?"
"Thank you for covering for me." She nodded. "I think maybe when we get back to work we should tell Korsak and Frost at least, then you won't be alone in trying to cover and protect me. I don't think they would turn me in for the killings, right?" Jane took a breath. "All that matters is that I'm finally with you again and I want you as close as possible. I'm in pain but I'll live."
Maura shook her head. "I don't think they'd turn you in. They're both very protective of you. I think they'd cover for you even if you killed someone without being a wolf." She kissed Jane's shoulder softly. "You haven't taken anything for the pain yet, have you? I have some ibuprofen. I don't know how much it'll help, but it's something."
Jane chuckled. "They prolly would still cover for me. We'll tell them later." She moved slightly and shook her head. "No I haven't. It may help." Once she took the pain meds she laid back and moved to her side that didn't hurt as much and looked at her girlfriend. "I missed you."
Once Jane had gotten settled, Maura lay on her side facing her. "I missed you, too. So much." She'd hardly slept, staying up worrying about her lover. "Do you want to talk about being in the lab? I'll understand if you don't, but I'm also here for you if you need to."
"Lets just say I never want you to ever go through any of that. Shocked… beaten… starved…" She sighed. "It sucked." She just couldn't process it all right now. She was finally with Maura again. That's all that mattered.
Maura couldn't even imagine how horrible that'd all been. "Even if they thought you just an animal, they had no right to be so cruel. No creature, human or otherwise, should ever be treated in such a way. I'd like to get my hands on that Dr. Hayes."
"I know. How about you just hold me awhile?"
Maura's eyes softened and she nodded. Jane never asked to be coddled. "Okay." She didn't say another word as she gathered the brunette in her arms and held her all night.
Jane dreamed about her time in that lab. About the other creatures being tormented. And she knew she had to save them.
When Maura awoke the next morning, Jane was sitting at the end of the bed watching her. The doctor studied her for a moment, noticing the locked jaw and fire in her eyes. "Jane, what's going o-"
"We have to go back." Jane cut her off, her eyes meeting the blonde's. "She has so many wolves being tested, Maura. That's why we have... I have to go back and free them. They need to be set free. She has pups there, too."
Maura's eyes went wide. "I just got you out of there! I really don't want to take the chance of you being caught again or worse. Maybe we can save them some other way. File a complaint or something."
"Complaint's don't work, Maur. You know that. I know that. I'm strong enough in my other form to break them outta there. I can do it."
Maura shook her head. "First of all, you just escaped. Security will be heightened. Second of all, I can already tell I'm not going to be able to talk you out of this." She tilted her head and pursed her lips together tightly. "So… whatever you do, I'm helping. We're in this together."
"I'm waiting a few days." She sighed when Maura said she was helping. "Okay, but you're keeping watch."
"Good." Maura nodded. "And fine, I'll keep watch. But I won't just sit back if something happens to you. Also, if I spot Erin, I might have to punch her. At least once."
Jane chuckled and nodded. "Okay. Deal."
The doctor sighed, not liking the idea of going back one bit. But there was no talking a stubborn Jane Rizzoli out of something once her mind was made up. "Alright. What's the plan?"