Chapter Five

As Sunday approached Maura's nerves were starting to get the best of her. She had been taken by surprise at the ease she felt in the presence of Jane since they first met. Their friendship and relationship seemed to just develop naturally. But now she was about to be introduced to Jane's family and she wasn't sure that easy, natural feeling would follow her into Sunday's dinner.

Maura's family experience was uniquely different from what Jane had already described to her about life in the Rizzoli household. Maura had two parents she loved and believed loved her but they were not close. They never had been.

Maura was adopted when she was a baby and from a materialistic perspective she had never wanted for anything growing up. She had the best of everything. Accommodations, education, clothes, possessions. Everything. But life wasn't always just about the materialistic side.

Maura had wants. All her life. Wants and needs that had gone unfulfilled. Maura grew up alone. And it wasn't just because she was an only child. She was alone because there was never anyone in her life that cared for her from an emotional side. Her parents were too involved in their own lives to get wrapped up in hers. Her care was assigned out to a series of nannies, housekeepers and private school patrons. Individuals paid to see to Maura's daily needs. All her needs except love.

She had several who cared for her. She was close to several of her caretakers as she grew up. But it wasn't love. It wasn't what she thought family was really supposed to be like. It was never the concept of family she read about in books she had come to cherish. Those people, most of whom were really nice, were only in her life because they were hired to be. Never because they chose to be. Throughout her life never never felt 'chosen'. She saw herself as a responsibility.

Maura's independence developed early on in her life. She had a moment, early in her childhood, where she became fully aware that she could either accept the way her parents were and adapt or she could wallow about their limitations. The rational side of her found acceptance to be a more productive endeavor. So she accepted the way things were and she figure out how best to make do. That included attending boarding schools from the age of ten.

But Maura's life was a lonely one. Between the isolation she often found herself in and her social awkwardness, she had gone through life without anyone she would identify as a friend. She knew people and had acquaintances but she had never had anyone stay in her life long enough or try to look passed her awkwardness to get to know her as an actual friend.

And then came Jane. Suddenly she found herself comfortable around another person. Someone she wanted to spend her time with and wanted to get to know better. Someone she felt she could call a friend. Maybe more. Someone who didn't want anything from her other than her time and company. Someone willing to ask her to a family function for no other reason than to just get to know her folks. Someone who wanted Maura to be a part of her life. Someone who actually 'chose' her. She didn't want to screw that all up.

"I bought a couple of bottles of wine," Maura told Jane over the phone. "I didn't know what else to get or to bring."

"Maura, I told you that you didn't need to bring anything," Jane answered.

"And I heard you. I just didn't find that answer helpful. So I settled for wine. Do your parents drink wine? You usually don't but you will at dinner sometimes. Maybe they don't drink wine. Maybe I should have gotten something else. Or maybe I should run and get something else..."

"Maura, stop. You are rambling. Why are you so nervous?" Jane was now confused as to what had gotten into Maura.

"I just," Maura sighed not knowing exactly how to explain her current state. "I just want to make a good impression. I want your parents to like me."

Jane let out a light chuckle. In that moment she wished she was with Maura instead of on the phone. For one she had a feeling Maura had an adorably cute look on her face in that moment. For another, she really wished Maura could see her face when she answered. "My folks are going to love you. Relax. If anything I should be worried that they are going to decide that they like you more than they like me." She paused and heard a somewhat suppressed giggle from the doctor. That made her feel better. "Alright, I'm pulling up to your house. Grab the wine and come out." Jane hung up and put the car in park.

Maura was out a few minutes later. Jane couldn't help but smile taking in Maura's appearance. Her beauty really was breathtaking. Jane had, by now, gotten used to Maura's tendency to overdress for just about any occasion. She should have expected today to be no different. But the sight of Maura just struck her.

It wasn't so much the dress. It was how she wore the dress. Or maybe the dress wore her. Either way every place that should curve on a woman curved and every place that should be tight was tight. Jane quickly found herself needing to resist the stare she knew she was doing.

Maura entered the car and smiled at Jane. "Hi."

"Maura, you look great. You do realize that dinner is just at my folks place, right?" Jane said with a smile.

"Yes," she answered honestly not really getting that Jane was trying to make a joke.

Jane bit down on her cheek not to laugh. She put the car in gear and they headed out to Jane's parent's house. They chatted as they drove and Jane couldn't help but notice that Maura was nervous.

"Maura, relax. It's just a casual family dinner," Jane said looking over at her friend. "I'll ask again, why are you so nervous?"

"I'm just not good around people," Maura admitted quietly.

Jane raised an eyebrow at that comment. She thought about the interactions she had witnessed from Maura since they met. Granted Maura was a little stand-offish with new people. She was extremely literal and didn't quite understand sarcasm. She had a tendency to give extremely detailed explanations for things but Jane just didn't see anything that was wrong with Maura's interactions with people.

"Maura, you are just fine around people. I've watched you," Jane said with nothing but sincerity.

"Jane," Maura said looking at her friend. Her tone was incredulous.

"What? I'm serious Maura. Ok, you are a bit literal and sometimes you give too lengthy of an answer to a question but you are fine with others. I've watched. The entire station loves you. You have enchanted us all. So, I think you need to give yourself some credit and relax. I didn't mean to stress you out with this invitation. I promise you that dinner with my folks will the be most laid back experience you have ever had in your life."

Maura smiled at Jane and immediately relaxed. "I haven't enchanted anyone Jane, but thank you." They exchanged a look as quiet settled over them in the car.

They arrived at the house and Jane parked the car. Jane looked over to Maura and smiled. "Seriously Maura, everything will be just fine. I want you to have a good time. Come on," Jane reached over and squeezed Maura's hand and waited for Maura to nod and move to open the car door.

They both got out of the car and Jane lead Maura past the front porch around to the back. Maura wondered for a brief moment why they were walking around to the back of the house but she silently followed Jane. Jane opened a fence gate and lead Maura through to the back porch where they both entered into the house. Once inside Maura had an idea as to why they went in this way. The backdoor lead straight into the kitchen.

"Ma!" yelled out Jane almost startling Maura.

"Janie!" was hollered almost immediately back from somewhere on the second floor. From just this interaction Maura quickly figured out this was a typical interaction between mother and daughter and that she doubted the evening was going to be a quiet one. She couldn't help but smile.

"We're in the kitchen Ma," Jane called out and smiled at Maura.

Maura looked around and could see the evidence of meal preparation. She had smelled the garlic from the porch but now that they were in the kitchen the aromas were enticing. She had been warned that the dinner would consist of Italian food so Maura was prepared for that but standing in the kitchen what she was unprepared for was how the kitchen and by extension the house exuded such warmth and comfort. This was a home. It was a little disconcerting.

A few moments later Maura heard Angela Rizzoli making her way into the kitchen. She and Jane had lingered in the kitchen waiting for Angela. As Angela made her way into the kitchen Maura attempted to move out of the way so mother and daughter could greet each other. She was in no way prepared for what was about to happen.

Instead of acknowledging or greeting Jane, Angela flow right by her daughter and approached Maura. Before Maura could even react she found herself being pulled into a hug from the Rizzoli matriarch. "Maura! I'm so glad you could join us!"

"Ma! Don't squeeze the woman to death. You'll scare her off," Jane said as she snickered.

Maura hadn't exactly hugged back but she didn't fight off Angela either. Overt demonstrations of affection in a family was just not anything she was accustomed to. "It's very nice to meet you Mrs. Rizzoli. Thank you so much for having me over for dinner. I brought some wine," she said trying to gesture to the bottles in her hands but Angela's embrace was preventing her arms from moving freely.

Angela released Maura from her hug and looked at her. "That's very thoughtful of you. Please, call me Angela dear. We are not a very formal group here. And its our pleasure to have you. Jane has talked about you for weeks and I'm just happy to get a chance to finally meet you."

The genuineness of Angela's tone made Maura smile. "Alright, Angela. And the pleasure is all mine." The two women smiled at each other and Angela finally let Maura go completely. She took the bottles of wine and set them on the counter.

"Gee Ma, it's good to see you too," Jane said with slight sarcasm calling out her mother's complete dismissal of Jane.

Angela turned to Jane and smiled. "Sorry sweetheart, but I get to see and talk to you all the time." She snickered a bit at the pouting look that flashed across Jane's face. "Frankie should be here in about 10 minutes and your father talked to Tommy this morning and said he was planning on coming. Dinner should be ready in about a half an hour. Jane, take Maura into the living room so she can meet your father."

Jane nodded and pulled Maura away from her mother and headed out to find her dad. They entered the living room and saw the patriarch of the family sitting in an easy chair watching a baseball game.

"Hey Pop," Jane greeted as she entered the room. Maura couldn't help but notice how Frank's face just lit up when Jane entered the room.

Frank got up from the chair and unlike Angela he had Jane in an embrace in seconds. "Hey Sweetheart," he said with a smile. And unlike with Angela, Maura could tell Jane was totally at ease with her father.

"Pop, this is Maura," Jane said indicating his attention to her friend.

Frank let go of Jane and turned his attention to the doctor. Instead of a hug he extended his hand. "Maura, it's very nice to meet you," he said warmly.

Maura took his hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you too Mr. Rizzoli," she said.

"Frank, please," he said with a smile. Maura nodded.

Jane took a seat on the couch and nodded towards Maura to sit next to her. Maura sat down and the three chatted easily until they heard the front door open and a Rizzoli brother entered. Maura was sure it was Frankie but she waited for the official introduction.

"Hey Pop," Frankie greets as he enters the house. "Ma! I'm here!" he then shouts. Maura was quickly reminded that the Rizzoli clan is not a quiet bunch. But that tickled her and she couldn't help but smile again.

Jane was up the minute Frankie walked into the house and she was the first to hug her brother. Maura noted that when given the right combination the Rizzoli clan were huggers. She hadn't expected that from Jane. She was taken by the openness of affection that the Rizzoli's seem to demonstrate as it was all things opposite of how she had grown up.

"Hey Little Brother," Jane greets him. "How's midnights?"

Frankie is also a Boston police officer. But he is just out of the academy and is a rookie beat cop. He's doing a four month stretch on midnights. "It's going alright. The nights are pretty inconsistent. I'm either slammed or the streets are deserted."

Jane nodded an understanding only one who had experienced that could nod. "Four months goes by very quickly. You'll get onto a day shift after that. Any issues with your FTO?"

Frankie shook his head. "No, Jackson is an ok guy. He doesn't seem to mind having me as a tagalong."

Angela entered the living room to greet Frankie just as Jane was introducing Maura. "Frankie, this is Dr. Isles," Jane said. She specifically introduced Maura as Dr. Isles to Frankie because he was a cop and would have to interact with Maura on a professional basis. Maura smiled at the respect Jane afforded to her within her own family.

Frankie had heard about the doctor not only from Jane but from fellow cops. He knew she was beautiful but he had to admit he was a little thrown by just how beautiful she was close up. She was stunning and he didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable so he was actively trying not to stare at her. Frankie could appreciate the look of a woman but he prided himself in not judging anyone by looks alone. Jane had beat that into him at an early age. He instead learned what he could about Maura from others that didn't focus on her looks. And from that he was impressed by what he heard. Her talents as an ME were earning her the respect of the station in a short time frame. He was intrigued by that.

The fact that she was becoming a friend of Jane's had surprised him. Not in the sense that Jane couldn't make friend. But more in the sense that Jane usually didn't take to new people as quickly as it appeared that she was taking to the doctor standing in front of him. He knew Jane to be an excellent judge of character so for Maura to have the impact on his sister that she clearly was having Frankie just seemed to accept that the doctor was pretty special. He had looked forward to officially meeting her all week.

He smiled at Maura and greeted her. "Dr. Isles," and his smile was genuine. "I'm glad to finally meet you. I've heard excellent things about you down at the station."

"It's nice to meet you too," Maura returned his smile. She seemed surprised that an officer on midnights would have heard anything at all about her.

Angela looked at everyone. "Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes. Has anyone heard from Tommy?" Jane, Frankie and Frank all shook their heads. Maura couldn't help but notice the look exchanged between the three as they shook their heads. It wasn't a look she understood and she made a mental note to ask Jane about it later when they were alone.

The group all sat in the living room and chatted before dinner was ready. Conversation flowed easily and it wasn't hard to keep Maura involved and engaged in the topics. Angela excused herself to get dinner on the table and finally called everyone to the table. Frank, Frankie and Jane all stood up and Jane stopped in front of a still seated Maura. She offered her hand to Maura to help her up and Maura accepted it.

She looked around and then back at Jane with a confused look on her face.

"What?" asked Jane.

"Aren't we going to wait for your other brother?" Maura asked.

Jane dropped her eye contact from Maura for just a minute. She hadn't really tried to explain Tommy to Maura yet so she didn't quite know how to start that conversation right before dinner. She looked back at Maura simply said, "Tommy isn't exactly the most...reliable one in the family. He knows when dinner starts. We tend to not hold things for him."

Maura knew enough to know that there was a story lurking behind that answer but it would be again something she figured she would just ask Jane at some other time. Both women made their way into the dinner room and Maura couldn't believe the amount of food that was out on the table. She turned to speak to Jane asking in a lowered tone, "Just how many people was your mother expecting to be hosting?"

Jane snickered under her breath. "Ma can't help herself. She cooks enough to feed an army each week." The casualness of Jane's answer made Maura smile.

Dinner was excellent. Conversation continued without a hitch and Maura quickly found herself at complete ease around all of the Rizzolis. She listened to each recount amusing Jane stories and was pleased to see Jane enjoying the night as much as she was.

Maura found herself talking and answering questions from everyone with an ease she hadn't experienced before. For as many Rizzoli family tales they all shared, Maura found herself telling several stories about her travels in Europe and her time in San Francisco. As dinner came to an end it was clear that everyone was having a good time.

Angela was just starting to pour coffee for everyone when they all heard the front door open. Maura turned just in time to see a look being exchanged between Frankie and Jane. The carefree vibe that had existed all throughout dinner seemed to immediately vanish and Maura was unsure as to why. She was about to get her answer.

"Ma? Pop?" came a shout from the front room.

"In here," Angela hollered out. "You are late."

Tommy staggered into the dining room and it was immediately apparent to everyone that he was drunk. He looked around at everyone and had a confused look on his face. "Dinner is at 6," he slurred.

"Tommy, it's almost 7," answered Frank. "You are late."

Tommy attempted to look at his watch but he wasn't wearing one so he just stared at his wrist for a few too many seconds. "Well shit," he mumbled. "I guess I am late then."

Jane and Frankie exchanged another look and this one Maura thought she understood. It was a look of resignation and Maura knew this was not the first time a scene like this had been played out in this house. Being the outsider, Maura didn't say a word. She simply sat next to Jane and watched Jane for a clue as to what to do next.

"Do you want some dinner?" Angela asked her youngest son. "I can heat you up a plate." Maura was taken by the motherly tone in which Angela spoke with.

Tommy staggered to his seat and plopped down in the chair. "I don't need any food. Is there any more wine?"

"I think you've already had enough Tommy," interjected Jane in a tone Maura hadn't heard from her before. Bitter with a hint of anger.

"Don't be telling me when I've had enough Jane," Tommy snapped back. He spoke without turning his attention towards Jane but eventually did and that was when he noticed Maura for the first time.

He blinked several times almost as if he was trying to make sure there was someone actually next to Jane. He stared at Maura and for the first time all night Maura started to feel uncomfortable with the scrutiny that was attached to his stare. She shifted nervously in her seat. She felt Jane react to her and she could see Jane stiffen in her chair as well.

"Well hello there," Tommy got out directing a smile at Maura. "And who might you be?"

Before Jane could say anything Maura answered. "I'm a friend of your sister. Maura Isles."

Tommy continued to stare and smile at Maura. His eyes seemed to fix onto Maura and no one else. There was a noticeable tension in the dining room.

"Tommy, let your mother fix you a plate. I think you could use the food," Frank stated trying to get Tommy's attention.

Tommy maintained his stare at Maura and ignored his father. Angela got up to fix a plate for her youngest child. Maura couldn't help but feel Tommy continue to stare and the sudden quiet around the table was more than a little tense.

"So Maura," Tommy broke the silence. "How do you know my sister?"

Maura looked at Jane almost wanting to ask if she should even try to converse with him considering he was intoxicated. Jane sensed Maura's discomfort and tried to help the situation. "Maura and I," she started but Tommy cut her off.

"Jane..." he whined. "I was talking to your friend here. Your very, very pretty friend." He looked at Jane and held up a finger to his lips. "Ssshhhhh...she was gonna answer me." He turned to look at Maura again. "Don't mind Jane. She's a bit rude sometimes."

"I work with Jane at the station," Maura offered as an answer.

"A hot chick like you is a cop?" Tommy exclaimed his eyes almost bugging out of his head.

"She's our medical examiner," Frankie answered back as he too was trying to help out Maura.

"Ohhhh, so it's Dr. Maura?" Tommy asked as if that made more sense than Maura being a cop. Before anyone could really react Tommy was up from his chair and practically on top of Maura. Draping himself all over her he tried to grab her hand. "I could use a full examination Doc," he had found Maura's hand and was attempting to pull it towards his crotch but his movements were suddenly stopped and before Maura even knew what was happening Jane had her youngest brother pinned up against the wall with his arm twisted behind his back.

Frank and Frankie had stood up to help pull Tommy back but Jane had beat everyone to him and was in complete control of the situation. She spoke in a tone Maura had never heard come from Jane before. "Listen carefully Tommy because I'm going to say this once. First, you will apologize to Maura for being an ass." Tommy went to say something but Jane put pressure on his arm pushing him harder into the wall and he quickly closed his mouth. "Second, you will apologize to Ma and Pop for ruining dinner. And third, Frankie is going to take you upstairs and you are going to sleep it off. Is there anything about that you don't understand?"

Tommy was quiet for a minute and Jane again put pressure on his arm. "No," he said through gritted teeth.

Jane pulled Tommy away from the wall and turned him towards Maura who was still sitting at the table. "Apologize."

"Sorry," he spit out.

Jane was nowhere near satisfied with that effort. She pushed up on his arm again yanking back on his neck a little and spoke. "Now actually apologize and mean it."

Tommy relented and looked at Maura. "I'm sorry," and there was at least some sincerity behind that try. Maura didn't answer but slightly nodded her head.

Angela had entered the dining room and while she didn't witness what had occurred that was the cause of what she was watching she was pretty sure she could guess something close to what had transpired. She was about to say something when Jane turned Tommy towards her and spoke. "Apologize."

Tommy must have figured he had no real way out of his situation but to comply with Jane's requests. He conceded again. "I'm sorry Ma," he said. Angela looked a bit confused but just nodded her head.

Frankie stepped towards Jane and they quickly switched positions. Frankie turned Tommy towards the living room and he marched him out without another word. Angela followed behind them and Frank followed Angela leaving Maura and Jane alone in the dining room. Once Tommy was completely out of the room Jane was immediate crouching down in front of Maura.

"Maura, I'm so sorry. Are you ok? He didn't hurt you did he?" she asked grabbing Maura's hand trying to make sure Tommy hadn't grabbed her too hard.

"I'm fine," she said. And she was. She just couldn't help feeling like she had done something wrong.

"I really am sorry. I should have," Jane sighed but looked into Maura's eyes. "I should have prepared you for what may happen with Tommy. I was actually just hoping he wouldn't show up."

Maura took that in. "So, this has happened before?" she asked.

"Oh yeah. Tommy is a drunk," Jane answered without hiding her frustration.

"Jane, don't speak that way about your brother," admonished Angela as she re-entered the dining room.

Jane sighed again in frustration. She didn't want to get into this with Angela. Not in front of Maura. "Ma. You know Tommy has a problem. Don't defend him or what he did tonight."

Angela looked at Maura, "Maura, I am sorry if Tommy was out of line. He's usually a very sweet boy."

"It's alright," Maura said looking up at Angela but not really knowing what else to say or what to do.

"Maura, why don't you go sit with Frankie and my dad in the living room while I help Ma clean up," Jane said. She didn't want Maura pulled into any more family drama than absolutely necessary. Maura agreed and Jane escorted her to the living room and asked Frankie to keep an eye on her. She then went into the kitchen to help her mother clean up.

"Ma, he needs help," she said.

"Jane, he just got a little carried away," Angela said defensively.

"Ma, he gets a little carried away almost daily now. It's not healthy. He's in trouble. You need to see that. We all need to help him," Jane implored. There were times where Angela could admit Tommy had an issue but there were times she made excuses for him.

"He's just going through a rough patch Jane. He can't find a job," she started.

"He doesn't look for a job Ma," Jane said. She loved her brother but he did not possess much of a work ethic. Angela had a very large blind spot when it came to Tommy.

"He's looking Jane. He's told me where he's applying. No one is hiring right now."

"Or no one is hiring a guy with a record," Jane said. She regretted saying it the minute it came out.

"Tommy has served his time Jane. He shouldn't have to continue to pay the price for a mistake."

"I'm sorry Ma. I'm just worried about him. His drinking is getting worse. Not better." Jane had hoped that as Tommy got older he would mature and maybe stop with the alcohol. But over the last year things had gotten worse not better.

Angela was quiet for awhile as they were clearing the dishes. She finally spoke. "You really think he needs help. Like help help?"

"Yeah Ma. I do. I really think he's in for some serious problems if he doesn't stop drinking."

Angela sighed and nodded but was done talking about Tommy for a while. She decided to switch topics and lighten the mood in the kitchen. "Maura is really nice," she said.

Jane recognized the change of topic tactic and was glad they were done talking about Tommy. Jane found she couldn't help but smile and relax a little as the topic shifted to Maura. "She really is," Jane said.

Angela noticed Jane's entire demeanor change just at the mention of Maura. She had to stop herself from smiling too much. She knew her daughter well enough to know she could get defensive if Angela did or said the wrong thing.

"You two seem to have hit it off quite well," Angela pointed out. Jane knew a lot of people and even had a lot of friends but she knew her daughter didn't let a lot, if any, of those friends in real close to her. But Maura seemed to be different. The way Jane talked with her and even about her was unlike anything Angela had heard or seen from Jane. The dynamic of the relationship forming between the two women intrigued Angela.

Jane smiled reflecting on the time she had spent with Maura so far. "Yeah, we have. I don't know. I'm not really sure I can explain it but we just sort of get each other." She was more talking out loud than specifically answering her mother's comment.

Angela hesitated for a moment before she turned and looked at Jane. She wasn't sure if she should say what she wanted to say next. Theirs was a very delicate relationship. Angela always walked a pretty tight line on when and where she made comments about certain aspects of her daughter's life. But she found herself needing to say something and decided to take a chance. The worst thing that could happen was that Jane would just ignore her.

"Jane," she started and turned herself so she could completely face her daughter, "you know that all I want for you, for the boys, is for you all to be happy."

Jane was quiet for a minute but then finally answered, "I know Ma. I know."

Encouraged that Jane at least seemed to be listening to her, Angela continued. "Jane, we never talk about this and that's fine. I'm not really asking us to now. But I need to know that you know something. So I'm going to say this but all I want from you is just to know that you hear what I'm saying." She paused to make sure she had Jane's complete attention. "Your father and I love you. All of who you are. I just need you to know that we both will want for you whatever, and whoever, makes you happy."

Her mother was right. They never really talked about any of this. Jane didn't make it a habit of discussing her private life, or at least the details, with anyone. Not even her family. But Jane understood what Angela was trying to say. She understood the subtle message her mother was hinting at. Part of her was surprised. Not at what her mother was saying but that she had chosen that night to say it. Part of her was touched. Touched that her mother loved her and accepted her no matter what. That truly meant the world to her.

She hadn't said much and she wasn't ready to say more. Not yet. Not that night. But she looked at her mother and did say one thing. "I love you too Ma," and with that she pulled her mother in for a quick but meaningful embrace.

Angela held on as long as Jane would allow before composing herself and backing away from her. Clearing her throat she spoke, "Now, go rescue Maura from your father and brother. They are probably trying to convert the poor girl into a Red Sox fan or something," Angela said with a smile.

What neither Jane nor Angela had been aware of was that Maura was standing just outside of the kitchen. She had gotten up to check to see if she could be of any help to either woman. She had heard their entire conversation. While she felt bad about the incidental eavesdropping, she hadn't wanted to interrupt Jane's conversation with her mother, she could not stop the smile that had spread across her face as she heard the interaction between mother and daughter. She quickly descended back into the living room before Jane came looking for her.

A/N Thanks for all the follows, favorites, reviews and support for this story so far. You guys, as usual, are amazing.

You all have been very patient and accepting of this story. You have allowed me to virtually hit a reset button on what we all knew as R&I cannon and these first few chapters have been my attempt to re-introduce you to several characters as all of them are in a slightly different place than where you may be used to finding them. Thank you for letting me rollout parts of this story in the manner I have to this point.

But, the concept of this story is about change and consequences (both good and bad) of change. Those consequences are both emotional and event driven. Some of you are wondering when 'the other shoe is going to drop' and the answer to that is: soon.

The coming chapters will start to paint the picture of how events in the world of R&I change as a result of Jane's avoidance of an altercation with Hoyt. That has not been forgotten. And there will be consequences to that. But I wanted to set up a foundation for both Jane and Maura before I tackled other changes.

Your patience is appreciated as I take you on this journey. Thanks for reading and I hope you all continue to enjoy how this story progresses.