A/N: OMG almost a hundred follows...WHAT! Anyway...this one is also long as all hell. This is the one where everything goes straight up crazy! It's a roller coaster ride so...strap in. I'd love to know what your ideas are about where I take it from here...sooo...keep the reviews coming, they make the chapters come faster! I leave it open to many options at the end of this one, try to think outside the box though, I don't like to write inside the box of normal Rizzle fan fiction. Anyway...once and again...here we freaking go!

Maura

I held Jane closely in my arms. It had been several minutes since that awful social worker walked into the room with her piercing eyes and accusing frown crushing Jane's spirit all over again. I refused to look over at the woman, I couldn't stand the sight of her. As soon as she stated her purpose for her sudden visit I had instantly become filled with fury and at the same time, I was filled with worry. This was not good, it was just not good. Jane was in far to fragile a state to be hit so suddenly and so unceremoniously with this awful and potentially dangerous situation. I did not cry however, I had not even the slightest desire or urge to cry. I was furious. After all I'd done, after all the strings I'd pulled, after all the long hours of stress and terror and finally thinking everything was going to be ok...now this!

I gritted my teeth and hid my face in the thick veil of Jane's beautiful long dark locks. I did not want anyone to see how angry I was, especially not that awful woman, and even more so Jane. This was a nightmare. I thought of all the people Jane and I interacted with since leaving the hotel and arriving at the hospital all those hours ago. Who could have made such a call to the Department of Child Services? Who was that callous, who was that heartless, who was that damned nosey that they felt the need to interfere in the affairs of a traumatized woman already on the brink of her sanity? What was this person's motive, what where they trying to prove, what was it they thought they knew of Jane and her situation that they could make such a hasty judgement call and send both Jane and her very sick baby into a whirlwind with the legal system? It had to be someone in this hospital right? But who?

I wanted to run out of the room. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and demand the culprit to name themselves. I wanted to march that person right in front of Jane crying in this hospital bed and demand that they explain themselves. But I knew already that would be futile, whoever this person was...they were a coward. They would never admit openly to what they had done, and they would certainly not have the strength to look Jane in her face and explain why they had put her custody of her child into jeopardy. I was furious, but I was also afraid.

Jane was still crying, I was terrified that she would have to be sedated again...again! Such a situation, I knew, would be like putting a nail in the coffin of whatever suspicions this Claire woman had. I knew the social worker was watching Jane. I knew she was making many mental notes in her mind of Jane's fragile vulnerability. Could she be thinking that Jane seemed unstable? Could she be thinking that Jane seemed overly emotional and vulnerable? Could she be wondering how such a sobbing wailing mess could ever care for a child? What exactly had she been told? What exactly was in this little report of hers about what happened to Angela? Yes I was worried. There were so many unknowns, worse there were so few options.

Jane had to comply with the state. It was mandatory when such accusations of neglect or abuse were made against a mother or father or any care giver that the person or people under investigation comply with a rigorous, invasive, often belittling and offensive investigation.

Jane just had to stop crying, and without the drugs. If she broke down any further in front of this woman, and or, God forbid had to be sent to the fourth floor for a psychiatric evaluation, Jane could surely kiss her custody goodby.

I nuzzled my lips into Jane's ear. She smelled so good, even still after hours of lying unconscious in a hospital bed, she still smelled like heaven. My head swam momentarily with pleasant thoughts. But only for a moment.

"Sweetheart listen to me," I whispered softly in Jane's ear.

"You have to calm down Jane you have too. I know this is awful, I know how afraid you are, but you cannot let this woman witness you break down. I know you know I'm right." I cooed to Jane.

I felt her hand grasp my arm and squeeze lightly. She was holding onto me for dear life. Her grip was pleading, begging, grasping for my strength. Whether it was conscious or subconsciously, somewhere in Jane's mind I knew she realized that she needed me. I hadn't told her everything I'd done for her already. I hadn't mentioned all the calls I made, or all the strings I pulled. I hadn't mentioned it was me that hired the best Doctor in the country to operate on her child. I hadn't told her it was my foundation that was paying for Angela's care and hers. I hadn't told her that I had taken temporary Power of Attorney over her affairs.

The last fact was now something I was terrified to reveal. The fallout from that could be devastating. If the social worker were to know that I, as a stranger, had seen the need to take over Jane's responsibility of her child because she had become mentally incapable of doing so herself, oh goodness I didn't even want to think about it.

Jane's sobs lessened, but they didn't stop completely. As least she wasn't hyperventilating anymore. Thank goodness for small mercies. Still though the crying had to stop. She had to be strong now, she just had to be. I decided to keep working on her. I was grateful that Jane seemed to be responding to the sound of my voice.

"Honey, there is a time for tears, but it's not this time. You have to think about what's best for your baby. If you keep on like this you will be failing her. Don't let them see you like this, don't give them any reasons to doubt you. Find your strength for Angela if you can't do it for yourself!" I pleaded softly into Jane's ear.

I felt Jane actively trying to pull herself together. Her grip on my arm tightened. She pulled back and looked me right in my eyes. Jane's own eyes were wide and panic-stricken behind many tears. She looked terrified. This was her worst night mare...this and everything else that had happened over the last many hours. I gave her my most reassuring smile. I didn't want any of my own worry or fury to show on my face. Jane had to be strong for Angela, and I had to be strong for both of them. My own emotions I could deal with later.

I studied Jane's beautiful face for a few moments, she was still as pretty as an angel. It was hard not to smile when looking at her, she just made me feel...calm.

"I'm so afraid, what if they take my baby?" Jane whispered to me earnestly.

She looked so frightened. My heart broke...again!

I willed myself to find comforting words for her. I would not lay out all the possibilities of why her fears might just happen. Jane did not need to hear those things. Yet in still, I could not lie.

"Honey, I'm going to be right here. We'll get through this. I promise, I promise I'll do everything I can to help you. I promise you this!" I whispered tenderly into her panic filled face.

Our lips were inches from each other as we spoke. I could feel the energy rolling off of Jane and my body reacted to her instantly. I wanted to brush my lips against hers, I wanted to seal my promise with a kiss. I wanted to take her lips into my mouth and kiss her with all the passion and all the desire she sent flooding through me. I wanted to wrap my hands around her face and slide my tongue between her lips and taste her sweetness for myself. I wanted to hear her moan softly against my lips, I wanted to feel her hands wrap in my hair and pull me closer to her. I wanted to whisper sweet sexy words in her ear instead of desperate pleas of comfort and encouragement. I wanted so many things. But what I wanted didn't matter, at least not that particular want. What I wanted most was for Jane to want me as I did her, and I knew that would never happen until she was freed of the burden that plagued her mind.

Jane's eyes searched me, she didn't speak for many long moments. Her tears had dried but her face was still worried. I could tell she wanted to believe me, I could tell she wanted to trust me. But years of loneliness and self-abuse had hardened her heart with thick callousness to protect her. I didn't blame her, the world was a cold, dark, cruel place. If I hadn't known that before this morning, I certainly knew it now.

"Why are you doing all this for me?" Jane whispered against my lips.

This was the second or third time she'd asked me that same question since we met. This time though, the answer was different.

"Because Jane... because you are precious to me." I said looking right into her eyes without flinching or even blinking.

I needed her to understand it, I needed her to believe me. I knew it was crazy...I was no fool after all. I knew what I was saying and what I was thinking was crazy. We'd only met twelve hours ago, and most of those hours had been spent in this damn hospital. Even so...the truth could not be denied, and I couldn't lie anyway.

"You lie!" Jane said. Even still she smiled at me. It was the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen.

She set my heart on fire.

"No sweetheart, I can't lie remember!" I said winking at her.

Jane's smile widened a little. If I wasn't mistaken I thought I saw her eyes run down my face and linger at my lips a little bit. It was a quick glance, but I thought I saw some sort of lust in her eyes, just briefly though. The horrible woman interrupted us again.

"Excuse me, I have some questions to ask you Miss Rizzolli," the woman said in her husky voice.

I rolled my eyes, I gave Jane one quick reassuring grin before releasing her from my arms and standing up straight beside her bed. I tried not to look at the social worker with all the hate I felt for her. I tried to remind myself that she was only doing her job, she hadn't been the one who reported abuse. That crown belonged to someone else. Someone who would regret it when I found out who they were. I was surprised when I felt Jane's hand reach for mine. I looked down at her and smiled when I saw she was looking at me with those huge dark eyes of hers, they were pleading for my strength. I took her hand without a word and squeezed lightly. She could have all the strength I had to offer. I decided to take the lead.

"Please, won't you sit down," I asked the woman motioning to the chair on the other side of Jane's bed that I had sat in for so many hours worried like hell my efforts to save Jane's baby would be futile.

The woman looked at me curiously and then shuffled over to the chair. She removed her brief case from her shoulder, it looked impossibly heavy stuffed with all those files. It landed with a thump on the floor and the woman sat down in the chair with a grateful exhalation of breath.

It couldn't have been past six thirty in the morning. It was far to early for such visits to be made. This woman must have been roused from her sleep and ordered to come here immediately to investigate this claim. I thought again of the person whose life I would make miserable for as long as I drew breath on this earth. What the hell had they said to incite so much excitement and worry at the department of Child Services that they called someone from their sleep to investigate. This was just...this was unprecedented.

The woman thumbed through the file on her lap.

"So, Miss Rizzolli...where is your current place of employment?" The woman asked pulling a pen from her brief case and clicking the end with her thumb with a resounding snap.

"Ummm, well...I haven't worked for a while actually," Jane said.

Jane's voice was so meek and timid. Her face looked like a child's would if they were caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"I see," the woman said making some scribbles in the file laid out on her lap.

"How long exactly since you've worked?" she asked.

Her eyes never left her file. She didn't even have the respect for Jane to look her in her eye. I felt myself shuffling impatiently beside Jane. I wish I hadn't been consumed with so many unpleasant thoughts of this woman and whoever made that call or I would have thought to get on the ball immediately. I wasn't thinking that clearly though, fury and other emotions were winning out over my logic.

I felt Jane's hand begin to sweat furiously in my own.

"Five months." Jane nearly whispered.

Jane's eyes left the social workers face and stared down instead at the blanket covering her own legs. Her expression had gone from one of panic to one of defeat. Her eyes looked hollow and her face was much more pale than is should have been. I tried to squeeze Jane's hand to reassure her, but Jane didn't react at all to my touch this time. She seemed lost in some dark corner of her own misery. I felt a pain in my chest. A pain of sympathy and heartbreak.

Claire, the social worker, made a few more scribbles in her file.

"And...where was your last place of employment?" she asked again, still never looking up at Jane.

Jane's head shot up. She looked at me for a moment, I thought I saw tears shining in her eyes again. She turned her head away from me immediately though before our eyes had a chance to study each other to closely. Jane's lashes were batting furiously, she was trying desperately to fight back tears. I thought I saw something that looked like shame in her face. This was awful.

"I-I-I...I was a dancer," Jane said staring blank eyed again at her blanket.

The social worker paused in her scribbling for a moment. She looked up a Jane curiously.

"A dancer?" she asked accusingly.

"I was a-a stripper," Jane said.

I could see several tears fall down her face. She looked absolutely defeated now.

"I see," was all that awful woman said. She went back to her scribbling in the file.

"And...why did you discontinue your work...stripping?" The social worker said the word stripping with a voice laced with pretentious disgust.

I gritted my teeth against the rage that wanted to escape me.

Jane sighed heavily.

"I...I got fired." Jane said. More tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I see, and why was that?" The woman asked not bothering to look at Jane again.

"I-I-...there was an incident with my boss," was all Jane could manage to say.

"What incident was that?" the social worker asked with no concern at all for Jane's tender condition.

Claire seemed to care little about what Jane's state of mind was in this moment, knowing that her child had just received very serious life saving surgery. This woman seemed to care not at all for Jane or even for Angela. What the hell did these questions have to do with abuse? I was growing more and more angry by the millisecond.

"He tried to rape me," Jane said softly. Even her voice was hollow now.

I felt my own face wrinkle up into a frown now. I don't know why but I felt a rage storm through me. A shiver ran down my back and goosebumps broke out all over my skin. I wanted to know more, I wanted to know who had dared try to take from Jane what she wasn't willing to give them freely. I could care less that Jane had been a stripper, that didn't bother me in the least. But the idea of someone forcing themselves on her...it make me sick. I felt my own hand begin to sweat in my fury.

"Did you file a report with the police?" the woman asked.

Claire didn't seem the least bit interested in Jane's revelation. It almost sounded like she didn't believe Jane and even if she did, it sounded like she didn't care at all. I tried not to believe this woman could have been thinking strippers deserved what they got. I tried hard not to think that. If I allowed myself to entertain that idea this whole situation would have gotten much worse, and that would help no one, especially not Jane. I swallowed the curses and accusations I wanted to spit in Claire's face. I would save those for whom ever had made that damn report of abuse.

"NO!" Jane wailed.

"Why not?"

"Because it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I couldn't have put myself through that. I had to be there for my baby. I didn't have money for a lawyer and that guy would have just come after me. I he told me to put out or get out...so I just left."

"I see," the woman continued writing in her file.

Jane's body had tensed, she was refusing to look at me. Her hand had gone limp in my own, I knew she was thinking I didn't care for her anymore. I knew she was thinking badly of herself again. I knew she was thinking very many thoughts that were dangerous to her mental health and to the health of her child.

I did what I could to comfort her. I ran my free hand lightly through Jane's dark locks and cradled the back of her neck giving her another reassuring squeeze. I needed her to know I still wasn't going anywhere. Jane didn't respond though, she was too far gone in her darkness.

"And since your...stripping, you haven't found any other work?" The woman asked.

"No," Jane said in a hollowed voice.

"Have you looked?"

"...yes...it's hard though with a baby. I can't afford a baby sitter...it's just...it's really hard." Jane said softly.

"How have you been paying your bills?" the woman asked.

"I get some assistance from the government, I baby sit for other people's' children some times, I walk dogs when I can...just...just odd stuff here and there."

"And this is enough to provide your child with everything she needs?" Claire asked eyeing Jane with a hint of a smirk on her face.

I had to bite the inside of my cheek hard not to scream at the woman.

"Ummmm...ummm..." Jane looked up at me now.

I saw her fear and her embarrassment. She had no idea what to say. I know she knew the woman already knew that it wasn't enough. I know Jane realized how badly this was going already and we hadn't even gotten to the part about the abuse. I sighed heavily looking down into Jane's pleading eyes. It really was taking all of my strength to get her though this.

"Miss Rizzolli has just been offered a job working with the Isles Foundation of Medical Research and Family Assistance," I said finding the strength to smile down at Jane. "The job comes with medical insurance for both herself and her child, bonuses, benefits, paid vacation time, free on sight day care, and a starting salary well above the national average. As soon as her child is better, I'm sure Jane will be eager to begin her exciting new career." I said glaring at the social worker before returning my eyes to Jane's stunned face.

The social worker was looking at me now. She seemed a little taken aback. I didn't care, this interview needed to move forward and this was the only way to do it. I should have thought of it sooner. I couldn't stand another second of watching Jane rip herself apart from the inside out, or listen to that woman bring Jane down with all her invasive questions and judgemental demeanor.

"And you are?" the woman asked.

"Dr. Maura Isles," I said levelly. I tried not to glare at the woman to her face...I don't think it was working.

"Dr. Isles...I see! Just to be clear, Jane must answer all questions herself. No one else can speak for her. I might have some questions for you myself though," she eyed me suspiciously.

I gritted my teeth. I dared that woman to challenge me. I was over running and hiding, I DARED that woman to challenge me.

"Ask away," my voice was so icy I thought I even felt my blood run cold in my veins.

"Later," was all the woman said before turning back to her file.

I would have challenged her head on myself but Addison came breezing into the room at that very moment. She stopped short when she picked up on the tense vibes in the room. I caught her eye. She was looking at me like she didn't know what the hell to do. I rolled my eyes and smiled at her trying to throw off her discomfort.

"Is everything Ok?" I asked suddenly becoming worried the Doctor might have bad news about Angela.

"Who's this?" Jane asked curiously.

"This is Doctor Addison Montgomery, she's the Doctor that saved Angela's life...do you not remember?" I said running my hand through Jane's dark locks again. I couldn't lie outright, but I had to imply that Jane already knew how Addison was, at least in front of that damned uppity social worker.

Addison smiled at Jane graciously. I could have hugged her for that but I didn't want to let go of Jane's hand.

"It's nice to finally see you awake Jane...I was worried that you might not recover so quickly from your..."

"...Dr. Montgomery let's step into the hall for a moment," I interrupted Addison.

I wished my voice didn't sound so harsh and demanding but I couldn't afford Addison, as a Doctor, to reveal to much about why Jane was in the hospital bed. A well-respected medical physician announcing in front of Claire that Jane had been so hysterical she had to be sedated would not be good. Worse, if Claire found out about the fact that Jane didn't even know who her child's Doctor was and how she came to be working the case would also be a disaster, a huge disaster. I could see from the corner of my eye that Claire was studying us both curiously. She was making more scribbles in that damned file of hers again.

Addison looked taken aback for a few seconds. Then she nodded her head turned and walked out the door. I looked at Jane for a moment before reluctantly releasing her hand and following Addison out the door.

"Jesus Christ," I said when we were far enough away to not be overheard.

"What the hell is going on in there?" Addison asked. Her green eyes burned bright with curiosity.

"That woman is a social worker investigating a claim someone made against Jane that she neglected and abused her child and that's why Angela swallowed that battery," I hissed.

"What?" Addison's voice was high and shrill.

"Yeah, and you can't say anything in front of that woman about Jane being sedated and me having to take over her power of attorney. That would just look to bad." I sighed rubbing my temples.

I noticed for the first time that I had a horrible raging headache again. God I was so tired.

Addison studied me for many long moments. Her face was expressionless, but I knew there was a question burning in her mind that she was dying to ask but didn't know if this was the right time. Addison wasn't one to beat around the bush though.

"Who is she to you Maura?" she asked me flat-out.

"What?"

"Who is she to you? How long have you known this woman? The nurses told me you didn't even know her real name when you guys came in! What the hell is really going on? Why are you doing all of this for her?" Addison's voice was rushed and desperate, but not judgmental. I knew she really was just curious. I would be too in her situation.

I didn't speak for a while, I couldn't lie out right, but it took time to find a way to skirt around the truth of so many questions.

"Jane is...look Addison...she's important to me. That's all I can say. She's important to me and I promised...I promised I would help her." I pleaded with Addison.

I needed her to understand. I needed her to just accept what I was saying and not ask more questions, not here, not now, not while I had hell and high water to deal with. Addison, bless her, only sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Good Grief," the Doctor exclaimed "I just came down to tell you Angela is stable and you two can go see her now. You can only watch her from outside the observation window though, she must remain in a sterile environment for a few days until she's stronger. But you can go up and see her whenever you're ready." Addison said with a heavy weary voice.

My heart soared hearing her words.

"Oh thank goodness," I said kissing Addison lightly on the cheek before scurrying off back to Jane's private room and the hell inside.

I bustled inside interrupting whatever conversation that horrible woman and Jane had been having in my absence.

"Jane...you can see Angela now...are you ready?" I said excitedly bouncing on my toes.

Addison's news had invigorated me, driving away all other unpleasant thoughts and chasing the weariness from my mind and body. This was the best thing that had happened since I first laid eyes on Jane.

Jane's face lit up again and her smile...God her smile. Jane was just about to speak when Claire interrupted her.

"Oh, actually Miss Rizzolli is not allowed to be within a thousand yards of the child until the states' investigation is complete and we make a ruling." Claire said nonchalantly like she was saying the sky was blue.

The room went so chilly and quiet I thought I was breathing ice.

"WHAT?" Jane wailed.

"I'm sorry Jane, but in cases where neglect results in such severe injuries of a child the state has to take immediate action to protect the child, and that means taking custody of the child until a decision is made."

Jane was hyperventilating again. Fresh tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"I-I-I can't be with my baby?" she cried through heartbreaking sobs and shuttering wails.

"Until our investigation is complete, Angela is a ward of the state. Normally we would have removed her from your home but as she's in the hospital she will remain here until she's healthy enough to be transferred to a temporary foster home."

I was to shocked to speak. This was ludicrous. I rushed to Jane and pulled her into my body again. My own body shook with the fury of her sobbing. I was furious all over again, only fives times as much as I had been before.

"This is ridiculous. Her child is recovering from surgery, she can't even hold her...we can only see Angela through the glass window. There's no way she could hurt Angela through the glass. Why are you people doing this, why are you being so cruel?" I screamed at the social worker.

I just could no longer control my temper. I could no longer stand down and let them abuse Jane this way. She hadn't done anything...anything wrong. Perhaps life and hardship had forced Jane to make impossible decisions, perhaps not all of her decisions had been the best ones. But who was perfect? I knew Jane loved Angela, she loved her with all of her heart and soul. No mother that loved her child as much as Jane loved Angela deserved to be told their child had been taken right out from underneath for something that was no fault of their own. Jane was willing to whore herself to care for her child, there was no greater love...there just was no greater love or no greater sacrifice a mother could make for her child. Unless it was to lay down her own life, and Jane, I knew, would do that too. I felt a rage and a hatred for the social worker that I didn't know was possible of me. I could have spit directly into her face.

"This is simply protocol...in these cases..."

"...Oh fuck your protocol!" I screamed at the woman.

Her speech stopped short and her eyes went wide with shock.

"You don't even know what happened, you haven't even asked what happened you fucking bureaucrat. All you've been doing is scribbling little bits of bullshit in that file and judging Jane for what she's done in her past. You don't know anything about her, you don't know how much of herself she's sacrificed to care for her child. You don't even care to consider how much it took for her to remove her clothes in public and dance for drunken men just to get enough money to buy formula. Did you write any of that down in that damn file? Did you write how sincere Jane is, did you write how much of her dignity and pride she gave up to care for Angela, did you write how much she struggles, how much it pains her every single day to not be able to provide better for Angela? Did you know Jane wasn't even home when Angela swallowed the battery? Did you mention it was an accident and that this is all crazy and insane." I screamed at the social worker.

I could feel myself trembling with rage. I was so furious I could barely see straight. I was a raging maniac. I knew everyone could hear me in the emergency room, I knew they could hear my every word but I didn't care. I wasn't going to back down this time...not this time.

"If you want to ask questions so much...ask the right ones you little prick...and have enough respect for Jane to look her in the eyes when you speak to her. You're not better than her, you don't own the right to judge her for any of the decisions she's made. There is no case here and I'm going to see to it personally that this all goes away and then I'm coming for you for your blatant and heartless disrespect. You will rue this day Claire Haverty, you mark my words...you will rue this day." I stormed and raged at the woman.

Claire's jaw was hanging open by the end of my rant, even Jane had stopped crying and was looking at me in nervous disbelief. No one spoke, no one even so much as breathed to loud. My rage was sucking the very life from the room. I was on fire from the inside out. Flashes of red danced behind my eyes, my hands trembled violently, I could feel my eyes bulging in my head. I had never, ever been so angry in my life.

I felt long arms wrap around me, I was being hustled from the room. Addison dragged me out of the room and all the way down the hallway. Everyone was staring at us and I mean everyone. Nurses had stopped in their tracks, Doctors stood gape jawed and wonder eyed, patients stood in the doorways of their rooms curious and amazed. I could hear the whispers and I could hear the sniggers. I didn't even care...

"...Fuck them all," I thought as Addison shoved me roughly into an on call room.

Addison slammed the door behind us and rounded on me in her own fury.

"I don't know what the HELL is going on with you Maura but this is a hospital. There are very sick and very injured people here and you are making a disturbance for the entire emergency ward. What is WRONG with you today!" Addison hissed through gritted teeth.

"I've never even seen you like this before...not EVER! I didn't even know you could raise your voice. I need you to calm the hell down." Addison hissed and scolded me.

I did not back down. My rage was still on me.

"Addison you don't even know what was going on in there..."

"...I don't give a shit what was going on in there. Unless that woman drew a gun on you or something there is just no excuse for this. I expect better from you Maura...you know better, I know you do. Jane has got you losing your freaking mind, how do you even KNOW her Maura. I'm serious this time. I want an answer...how do you know her?" Addison raged planting her feet and fixing me with her most stern no-nonsense expression.

I let out an exasperated growl through gritted teeth of my own.

"She's my friend Addison..." I spat angrily. I was tired as hell of being asked that question.

"...Damnit Maura you don't have friends. You push people away and hide behind books and work. I know that all too well. I tried to be your friend and you've always kept me at a distance. Now stop lying...WHO IS JANE TO YOU!" Addison was almost screaming herself now. Her eyes were wild with her own fury.

I sighed heavily. I turned and leaned my forehead against the wall closing my eyes tightly against the reality of my life. I willed myself to find some kind of stability in my spirit, Addison was right I did have to calm down. My outburst was not helping Jane...I was losing control of myself. I was losing my mind. Still I could not lie to Addison, but I damn sure couldn't tell the outright truth. I didn't even know what the truth was anyway at this point. Everything was just moving so fast and spinning beyond my control. I had no time to think, let alone plan. I could only react to what was happening around me, life didn't even have the mercy of giving me room to breathe let alone reflect in between nightmares.

I was suddenly so tired again. I hadn't slept in over twenty-four hours, and I knew I wouldn't be sleeping any time soon. Worse I had to fly back to Boston tomorrow...I had to, I couldn't get out of it. I had responsibilities there that I could not shy away from. Knowing that left me very little time to deal with the insanity my life had become in these past very long hours.

I thought of what I could say to Addison, I thought of how I could answer her question but I had nothing to say that wouldn't sound as pathetic as it was. I didn't expect anyone else to understand what I was feeling and why, how could I expect that from an outsider when I didn't even understand it myself. Everything was just...it was just so crazy.

I started laughing to myself, laughing hard! I thought of all the times I'd spent alone in my home in Boston or alone in my apartment in New York and cried myself to sleep. I thought of all the times I wished I had someone to love, of all the times I wished I wasn't burdened by the weight of my insecurities and my anxieties. I thought of all the times I had dreamed of being in love, or being brave enough to open up and climb out of the box that caged me. I thought of all the times I was lonely, of all the times I'd dreamed of a life full of excitement and adventure. I thought of all the times I hated my life and my self. And now here I was. In thirteen hours I'd experienced more excitement and adventure than I ever thought I would in the entirety of my existence. I laughed and laughed. Be careful what you wished for.

"What the hell?" Addison cracked sarcastically. She folded her arms against her chest and sighed deeply. "Jesus Christ Maura!" Addison shook her head.

"Angela is a ward of the state now...they won't let Jane see her baby until they complete their investigation." I said still laughing.

It was all just so ridiculous. I thought I might actually be in shock and that is why I couldn't manage to stop laughing at such an inappropriate moment.

"She can't see Angela?" Addison's voice changed into something reflecting disbelief and disgust.

"No," I sighed heavily.

I stopped laughing. I was sad now...I felt sad and defeated. What the hell was I going to do?

Addison was silent for a few moments.

"Technically Angela is in your custody at the moment. I haven't signed off on Jane's recovery yet, you still speak for her and for Angela. The state can't take the child from you...not right now. I don't think you can stall the investigation, but...you should call your lawyer, he'd know better than me." Addison said.

My eyes shot open. She was right, Angela was technically in my care at the moment and so was Jane.

"Can I have the room for a moment?" I asked turning to Addison and pulling my phone from my purse.

Addison rolled her eyes..."Sure, but no more screaming ok!" she spat at me.

"Of course," I said smiling at her pleasantly.

Addison rolled her eyes again and left closing the door tightly behind her.

I sighed after she left. I was truly weary. My head ached like I'd never known and every muscle in my body screamed in defiance from lack of sleep and far to much stress. I walked over to the bed in the on call room and sat down. I wanted to lay down, I wanted to fall into a long, much-needed, blissful sleep. I couldn't do that though, I knew I couldn't. No matter how I ached for it, sleep would never come and any dreams I had would be nightmares. Jane needed me, Angela needed me, I made promises...promises I just had to keep. I sighed again and dialed James' number waiting for him to answer with a heavy heart full of worry and anger.

James answered on the second ring this time.

"Maura?" he said when his deep voice sounded on the line.

I sighed again steeling my nerves.

"James, I need you again." I said.

I was surprised how my voice reflected every emotion I was feeling. It was becoming harder and harder to mask myself as I usually did.

"Maura...what's wrong!" He asked me in a clipped almost frustrated tone.

"Jane is being investigated my CPS for child abuse and neglect. They've taken custody of her child until the investigation is complete. She can't even see Angela, they might even take custody of her completely. Can they do that...do I not still have say over Angela's care. Does my power of Attorney not also make me her guardian?"

I heard James sigh.

"Jesus Maura what the hell is it with you. Who the hell is this Jane?" he asked me. His voice was forced and exasperated.

I could tell he was indeed flustered.

"James she is a friend," I said wearily. There was that damn question again.

"Let me tell you about how it's not your responsibility to be in the middle of whatever is going on with your...friend. You need to back away from this and let the system sort this all out. You've done enough for that woman and that child."

I became irritated.

"I'm not asking for personal advice...I'm asking for legal advice. Do I have custody of Angela or not?" I spat into the phone.

"Damn it Maura. How do you even know Jane is being investigated for anything? It's seven-thirty in the morning, their offices don't even open until eight?"

"I know...but a social worker showed up at the hospital an hour ago and has been grilling Jane ever since. It's awful James it really is. I don't know what to do...I just need to know what my legal options are?"

"You're telling me social services pulled somebody out of their sleep to investigate a claim of abuse? That's serious Maura, really really serious. You have just got to back away from this before it blows back on you." James exclaimed.

I felt my ire rising again. I didn't have time for this.

"What are my legal options James. Is Angela in my custody or not?" I spat into the phone again.

"Is Jane awake and functioning?" he sighed into the phone.

"Yes," I said truthfully.

"Then no, you aren't Angela's power of attorney anymore or Jane's for that matter. If Jane is mentally competent to speak for herself your power of attorney has no more bearing. I told you it was temporary, I told you it would have to be done the right way when she woke up." James grumbled.

I rolled my eyes.

"James they are going to take her child. What else can we do?" I pleaded.

"MAURA! YOU need to back away from this, that's what you need to do...this isn't your fight..."

"...JAMES! What else can we do!" I nearly screamed.

I could feel my jowls quivering in my mounting rage.

"Maura, what do you want me to say? I mean really, it's not your child, you have no legal standing here...none at all! And who is this Jane Rizzolli anyway?"

There was that question...again!

"I've told you a hundred times she's a..."

"...yeah a friend I've heard you say that. My private investigator is very good Maura. I know exactly who and what she is. You need to leave this alone and I mean like right fucking now!" James exclaimed.

He sounded hysterical. I was furious all over again.

"James you don't know anything..."

"...I know she's a whore...I know that!" James was almost shouting at me.

"Don't you ever call her that again," I said dangerously. I felt my entire body go cold in my fury.

"Jesus Maura, what the hell is going on with you, why are you so invested in this thing? Are you so lonely that you just cling to any bit of trash that blows by on the street and try and convince yourself that it's gold? Don't you know by know how this is going to end? Don't you remember Talia? Wasn't she another of your little whore crushes? Remember how that all turned out? Remember how she turned on you, blackmailed you? Remember how much money you had to pay her to keep her quiet? Worse, she didn't have half the gas this Jane does to extort you! Why haven't you learned yet Maura? I thought we were done with all this nonsense!" James wailed into the phone.

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth against my rage and also against the painful memory of Talia. I didn't think about her ever...I tried at least not to think about her ever. Her memory also was a nightmare...but a whole different kind of nightmare. Jane was...Jane was nothing like Talia. That was something I would have staked my life upon, and I wasn't in the habit of guessing. How could I explain that to James though. He would never believe me, he would never understand.

James was handsome and charming and married with three children. He didn't understand being 34 and spending night after lonely night all by yourself. He didn't know how I suffered, he didn't know what I dreamed of. He didn't know how I cried alone in my bed at night, wishing I had the strength to do better for myself. Most importantly, he didn't know Jane. I hadn't known Jane but for a matter of hours, but I knew everything I needed to know about her. Jane was...she was just precious to me. I found a soul as lonely, lost, and misguided as my own. Even if her circumstances were completely different from mine, even if it appeared on the surface that we had nothing in common, even if the whole of the world around us was against us...I knew Jane...and I would not let her go!

I forced back wave after wave of painful memories and distracting ideas of certain consequences. I cared nothing for them, I only cared for the truth. The truth was, Jane was mine, and I would never let her go.

"Just tell me what my options are. How can I make this investigation stop?" I hissed through gritted teeth.

"Maura you can't do anything. They are probably going to take that child. I know all about Jane and her background and her work history and her income. She's a disaster and you need to steer clear. The only thing that could save that kid is if someone else had custody of her..."

"...Let's do that. Draft papers for Jane to sign custody of Angela over to me!" I stated bluntly.

I didn't even think about it. I didn't have to think about it. If this was the only way to save that child, that's exactly what I would do.

"Maura you have lost every bit of your mind. Hell no I'm not doing that you're crazy!" James exclaimed.

His voice was almost shrill with his protest.

"You will do it, you work for me James, You'll do as I ask. I'll pay you well for it don't worry about that..."

"...I work for your family Maura...your FAMILY! I look out for your families interest and this...this is not going to happen."

"That's not your call to make James...it's my call Goddamnit now do as I say and draft the papers...do it now James!" I was actually shouting now.

James was an excellent attorney but I would not be lectured to. More and more seconds were burning while I was stuck bantering with him over what wasn't even his business. Jane was all alone with that woman, that woman that I wanted to punch in the face, I needed to get this ball rolling and back to Jane before something else horrible happened. For all I knew at this point the ceiling could cave in over Jane's head and land her in a coma or something. That's how crazy this day was going so far.

"I'm going to call your mother, if you won't listen to me maybe you'll listen to her." James sighed heavily.

He sounded just as weary of this conversation as I was.

"You will do no such thing James." There was ice in my voice.

I was not playing around. I would strangle James with my own two hands if he thought he could out maneuver me.

"You're not thinking clearly Maura. You're so wrapped up in little miss hot pants that you aren't even considering the magnitude of what you are suggesting. First of all you don't even know who made the call to DCS or what they told them about Jane. If my guy can find out she's a whore so can they..."

"...James...don't ever...EVER refer to Jane that way again. I'm serious...understand me James. You will show respect!" I spat venom into my phone.

I heard James scoff.

"See...listen to yourself. Do you hear yourself right now? And this isn't even about Jane anymore Maura. This is about you. You need to stop thinking so much about that woman and think about yourself. Think about what YOU stand to lose if you continue on like this. You are the heiress to a billion dollar multinational hotel and time share conglomerate. You have share holders to consider, board members to consider, a legacy to protect, a reputation to uphold. If you claim custody of this child and it gets out that you claimed the illegitimate child of a prostitute you've only know for thirteen hours the fall out will be tremendous. You will be the joke of every tabloid and every talk show. You will be the laughing-stock of society. Right wing psychopaths will crusade against you. You and Jane and that poor child will be the platform of anti gay, anti gay rights, anti gay parenting, anti gay marriage lobbiest everywhere. Is that what's best for Angela? She'll never live that down...not ever. And what if some man pops up and claims to be the father of the child. He'll have an open and shut case against you and Jane. A judge will take one look at a whore and her John raising a baby and snatch that kid away from you without so much as a 'sorry about your luck'! You're business will suffer, your judgement will be questioned, your place at the head of the table will be in jeopardy. Do you want your family to lose control of the business. Do you want to throw away your grandfathers hard work? He came to this country an immigrant and built that company from the ground up. Are you going to throw that all away some on cheap piece of ass? And what about your mother? She'll snatch your inheritance right out from under you if she finds out about this. You'll be a stain on the great name of Isles. Your foundations could suffer...everything you've worked your life to accomplish and achieve could be lost on this. Think about all this Maura...think long and hard!" James finished with a heavy sigh.

I was silent for a long while. I did think about it. I did think about each and every thing he said. There was so much...so much I hadn't considered. There were so many 'what if's' and so many dark corners to this whole thing. I did have a lot to lose...I had everything to lose. But still, I could not get the image of Jane from my head. I could not erase the look of her pleading eyes as she gazed up at me desperate for my strength. I could not forget the way she reached for my hand. I could not forget the way my entire body tingled when our lips had been so close together. I could not get that one brief moment of lust I saw in Jane's eyes when our bodies were so close. Most importantly...I could not forget the promise I made. I made her a promise...and I meant it. Whatever would come, whatever hell we would have to face, I would face head on for Jane and her baby. I would not let injustice prevail because of money or power or greed.

I'd been wealthy all my life, I would always be wealthy whether I sat at the head of the table or not. I was still the majority share holder. It's not like the money or the power ever made me happy. It's not like I'd be devastated if I lost it all. Money and power only ever brought me seclusion and loneliness. It only ever made me sad. It gave me a cold mother and a distant father. It gave me a life time of living up to expectations, of fulfilling other people's dreams of me, of walking footsteps that had been laid out for me before I was ever born. It would be awful to ruin my families reputation, but at this moment and from now on, I was and would be a fighter. I had the best people in my employ that money could buy. If the enemy came at me, I would show them they were playing with a monster. If they wanted trouble, I wanted the same damn thing.

"Can it be done James," I asked finally

"Maura Jesus..."

"...CAN IT BE DONE!"

"Maura think about it...don't do this..."

"...JAMES!" I shouted.

He was silent for a long while.

"If Jane agrees and signs off on it, it can be done...but the DCS investigation won't go away. They will turn the light on you instead. They will question you. They will question your relationship with Jane. They will dig and they will search. Even if you do spin the story well enough you'll still be put on at least six months probationary observation. You'll have to show you can provide for the child a stable home and have a stable relationship with Jane. There is so much grey area, one crack and this would all fall apart. You need to insulate yourself, you need to have all you ducks in a row and protect Jane too. If Jane is discovered for what she is...this whole thing is over. Worse...you're going to have to lie. The court won't sign over custody to someone who's never even met the child before. You're best bet...if you are just determined to do this...is legal adoption. And that will only work if you and Jane were married, and you'd have to do it in Boston since gay marriage isn't recognized in New York. Even still, they will investigate you. Can you lie?" James asked.

I know he already knew the answer to that.

I sighed heavily.

"NO! But Jane can and so can you!"

I heard James grumble a million curses.