A/N: So, I read all your reviews and took some of your suggestions to heart. The last couple of chapters have been...intense to say the least. We're taking a step back from all the drama in this one and moving into the actual development of the romantic relationship between Maura and Jane. Be patient, it's going to be slow, but I'll make it as entertaining as possible the whole time. This chapter flip flops between Jane's POV and changes to Maura's POV so watch out for it so you don't get confused. Once again, let me know what you think and give me your ideas, this is your story as much as mine, I'm writing it for you guys. All that being said...here we go!

Jane

The social worker and I sat in complete silence for several long minutes after the fiery red-headed Doctor dragged Maura out of the room. I couldn't believe what just happened. I couldn't believe a lot of things that had happened over the last thirteen hours. But most of all, I couldn't believe Maura.

When I first met that woman I thought a lot of things of her. She was just so...so proper and soft-spoken and poised. Maura didn't seem like the type to fly off the handle or curse at an employee of the State or make wild random threats. When Maura started screaming at Claire she had been, God she was scary! Her eyes changed to some deep fire-red instead of their normal soft hazel, her voice was strong and powerful, fierce and commanding. Her whole body shook with the fury of her words.

Claire's own face had gone white and she actually dropped her pen from her hand under the blows of Maura's terror. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Maura was a beast, I was in awe of the change that I was watching unfold in that woman right in front of me. I can only say I'm glad all that anger wasn't directed at me. The craziest part was how I felt in that moment watching Maura rip apart the woman that had been terrorizing me for over an hour. I felt so many things, I was firstly grateful in some strange way. The things flying out of Maura's mouth were...they were so sweet, and so precious. She was standing up for me, standing up to the State its self. She was protecting me, defending me, becoming hysterical for me. It I wasn't so terrified and shocked I would have started crying. No one, and I mean no one, had bothered to defend me in five years, since I lost my family.

I thought of my brothers, I missed them so much. Both of them would always stand up for me, even if they knew I was wrong. I thought of a time in my childhood when the neighborhood bully pushed me off my bike and made me skin my knee and ripped my favorite pair of jeans. I ran home crying right into my mothers arms. Ma picked me up and cradled me in her arms, even though I was seven years old at the time, she cradled me in her arms and wouldn't let me go until I stopped crying. When my brothers found out what happened they went looking for the kid together. I don't know exactly what went down, but when I saw that bully at school the following Monday he had two black eyes and a busted lip. His eyes went wide when he saw me and he ran away in the opposite direction, tripping over himself and falling down hard in his haste to get away.

That kid never ever bothered me again, he never so much as looked my way. My brothers never fessed up to it, but I know what they had done. I felt so proud and powerful after that. I was never again a simpering cowering easy target. From that day forward I was badass Jane Rizzolli. I never backed out of a fight again, I even started some of my own for fun. I knew I had two brothers to back me up, even though they were annoying most of the time. Even still, I felt like the alpha dog in some fearsome wolf pack. No body messed with the Rizzolli kids, they got out of the way when they saw me coming.

I smiled thinking of my brothers. I missed them so much. Losing them and Ma, it was like losing all the pieces that held me together. I had nothing, no one. My pack was gone, the pride of my life had vanished. I'd never get high fives from my brothers anymore, I'd never get hugs and kisses from my mother anymore. I was alone, the lone wolf. I buried my strength in those three cold graves with them. I fell apart, there was nothing left of me. I'd wandered this world alone for five, very very long years. I knew no more kind words, I had no more strength, no one to back me up. My foundation was shattered and cracked, I had no ground to stand on so I just fell all the time. I thought it would be like that forever, and then...then there was Maura.

Maura my 'John' I smiled a little to myself. The thought of her as my John didn't bother me as much anymore. It was actually kind of funny. In five years the only one to defend me had been my damn John. Worse...apparantly Maura was far more fearsome than first impressions would lead you to believe. I had been touched by her words. It was almost like she knew me or something. All those sweet things she said about me, actually that she screamed about me at the social worker, I wouldn't even have said those things of myself. Maura spoke of me like I was some kind of hero, like she was in awe of me, like she was impressed that I was still breathing.

My eyes teared up a little when Maura spoke so highly of my hardships. She didn't care that I was a stripper, she didn't care that I was poor, and lonely and desperate. She didn't think I was a terrible mother. She spoke of me as if she'd watched me every step of the way over the last five years. She spoke of me like she had seen my struggle with her own eyes, she spoke of me like she knew me, like she knew me and she loved me. I was in awe of her, I was grateful to her, I...I was floored by her.

The craziest part was how...how unbelievable sexy Maura was storming at the social worker. It had almost taken my breath away. Maura was still wearing her form hugging white cocktail dress, her hair was still pulled back in that beautiful up doo with the golden pins. She was still wearing those crazy tall stilettos and her legs, God her legs. But in her rage, dressed as she was, oh my goodness...she was breathtaking if not also terrifying. She was the devil in a white dress!

I wish I had gotten to answer Maura's last request of me on the rooftop garden. I believe I would have found being in Maura's service...less awful than being with some random dude. I might have even liked it. Maura really was sweet. I couldn't believe she had stayed with me all night. I had some suspicions that Maura had something to do with Angela's medical bills being taken care of. I hadn't even filled out any paper work to make something like that happen. And that gorgeous red-headed Doctor that saved Angela's life...it seemed like she and Maura knew each other personally some how. More strangely still, the doctor told Maura about Angela's condition, Maura and not me! What the hell was that all about?

It was all very puzzling, but I was far too relieved that Angela was going to be ok, and far too stressed over this awful social worker to question things to hard. I was so grateful that Maura was with me. It wasn't her responsibility to be here, I don't even know why she cared. But apparently she waited with me all night and hadn't left me yet. I knew, I knew for a fact that I never would have been able to deal with Angela's injuries by myself. I knew for a fact that both myself and Angela would have fallen apart without Maura to keep us together. I knew that if not for Maura's strength, I would be nothing right now, I would be nothing and my daughter most likely would not be alive. Surges of gratitude flooded through me as I thought of the blond beauty that was my beast. Maura was just so...God she was incredible.

I thought of the few moments when her face had been so close to mine. There was some sort of electricity in my body when her hazel eyes looked deep into my own with such sincerity and such encouragement. She smelled so good, and her body was so warm and so beautiful. Her smile made something move inside of me I didn't know was there before. I remember noticing her lips. I don't know how I could have thought such a thought in that moment with everything I was facing, but...I felt drawn to her. It felt like Maura was sucking me into some vortex of lust and hunger even though she was trying to comfort me in the midst of the storm of my life. I don't know why, but before Claire interrupted us, it felt like Maura sensed the same heat between us that I did.

It was mostly in her eyes, there was a desire...a passion inside that woman that I couldn't place. Under the gaze of Maura's eyes I no longer felt stripped down and bare in that moment...in that moment, I felt like she truly wanted me for me. I had been almost flattered, was this queen of a woman really that interested in me? Did Maura really want more of me than just sex? I hadn't believed any of her words on the rooftop garden, but now...thirteen hellish hours later, maybe just maybe she was telling the truth.

If Maura didn't care at all, why was she still here? Why did she defend me so passionately? Did she really think all those wonderful things she screamed about me to Claire? It certainly seemed so considering the force with which she shouted at that woman. I'm sure everyone in the emergency room could hear Maura raging. At one point I actually curled the blanket up close to my neck to protect me from the heated vibes consuming every square inch of space in the room.

After Dr. Montgomery dragged Maura away it took several seconds before I remembered to breathe.

"Jesus Christ!" I swore in my head.

I looked over at Claire, she looked like all the wind had been blown out of her sails. Her lips were tight and drawn and it seemed like she might actually want to cry. I almost laughed watching her lean over and pick up her pen. She didn't speak for a long time. She just thumbed through the file in her lap. It seemed Claire wanted to be anywhere in the world than in that room with me anymore.

I really did smile seeing Claire like that. Apparently Maura was such a force she brought people to their knees even when they were only doing their jobs. Well, Claire was a bit of a bitch, I didn't want to lose custody of my child...but somehow I wasn't afraid anymore. Watching Claire's hands tremble as the she gripped the file tightly I knew I didn't need to be afraid anymore. Maura...my John...I chuckled to myself, would stand by her word. I knew that now...Maura was a woman of her word. She would make this go away, I knew it. I smiled. There really was mercy for whores.

It was strange, it was odd, it was the craziest thing ever but somehow I didn't feel like crying anymore. Even knowing my baby was recovering from surgery, even knowing I was facing the possible loss of Angela completely, even after the horror of the last thirteen hours...strangly I felt something stir deep down inside of me. It felt like pieces of me were coming back together, it felt like years of hopelessness were being replaced with possibilities, possibilities that things might just get better for me.

I didn't feel so alone anymore. It felt like there was another wolf in my pack. It felt like I had a great monster of a wolf walking beside me. I smiled, if Maura was indeed the beast she had shown herself to be a little while ago...I was more than happy to pad along beside her. I certainly wanted to be with her, God help the one that was against her. I found some courage rise up in my spirit.

I looked over at Claire with narrowed eyes. I didn't feel like cowering anymore. No body messed with Maura, and by extension...no body would mess with me. Claire tried to mess with me, now she looked like that bully so long ago that my brothers had man handled. If Maura's assault had been physical, Claire's face would be bruised and bloodied. I tried to hide the devilish smile I felt spreading across my face.

"She's right you know. I wasn't home when Angela swallowed that battery. Christ what do you people think? That I shoved the thing down her throat myself or something? It was an accident! I wish it were me instead of my baby but it wasn't and I can't change that. Maura...Dr. Isles, will do everything she said she would you know. Can't you make this go away before it gets ugly for you?" I said staring at Claire with a cool certain gaze.

It was no longer me trembling in fear. It was Claire's turn.

"I'm only following orders. I didn't mean to offend you or Dr. Isles...it's just. I have to do my job. I work so hard, I see so many awful things every day. I have so many cases and I hardly ever sleep." there were tears shining behind Claire's eyes now. I almost felt sorry for her...almost.

"These questions...they're just standard questions. I had to ask them. I'm sorry if I offended you." it was Claire's turn to look at me with pleading earnest eyes, "You do seem like a very nice woman. I'll...I'll write all that down in my report...but we have to get through this. I can't go back empty-handed!"

I studied Claire for a long while. Boy how the tables turned on a dime...well on a dime and under Maura's fearsome temper. I shuddered thinking of Maura's flame red eyes. I thought of the heat of her body against mine, I thought of the way Maura looked at me last night when she thought I didn't notice. I felt a heat of my own stir inside me. What was happening to me?

I started to respond to Claire but Maura marched into the room with a very tall very handsome looking man in tow.

The man was dressed in the sharpest suit I'd ever seen. He had thick jet black hair slicked back and cleanly cut. He had a jaw like an anvil and dark brown eyes that were piercing and spoke of intelligence and confidence. He walked with a swagger that belied an heir of power. He had a barrel of a chest and arms corded with muscles under the expensive fabric of his suit jacket and crisply pressed shirt. When he saw me looking at him he smiled at me. He had a mouth full of perfectly straight gleaming white teeth. He had a car salesman's smile. There was a twinkle in his eye and some devilishness in his smile that made me think he was a snake in the grass. He seemed as slick as the cut of his hair. I was intrigued.

"Jane, this is my attorney James Licton. We have some things to discuss with you and the social worker." Maura said calmly.

Maura seemed to have pulled herself together in her absence from the room. She was all poise and proper language again. But she was still gorgeous, hell yeah she was still gorgeous. Knowing that Maura could be something completely different from the prim and proper person she was now only made her more intriguing. What else did I not know about this woman? What other sides of her had I not seen? I wanted to know more...I wanted to know everything.

James Licton walked up to my bed and held out his hand for me to shake. I took his hand timidly in my own. What the hell was going on?

"Jane Rizzolli...it's very nice to meet you!" he said shaking my hand firmly and giving me that car salesman's smile again.

I tried to smile back but I was so confused, "Ummm, it's nice to meet you too James...I think?"

James only laughed.

"You'll like me more by the time we're done here," he said confidently.

I looked over at Maura. She looked weary and very tired. But she smiled at me anyway. I loved the way her face lit up when she smiled. I wanted her to be close to me again. I wanted Claire to have to see Maura's face every time she spoke to me. I wanted my wolf beside me...my fearsome beast of a wolf.

I smiled back at Maura scooting over on my bed and patting the space beside me. Maura's eye brow rose slightly. I thought I saw something like amusement and satisfaction in her face. Maura didn't move for a moment, then she swaggered...literally swaggered over to me and sat down on the bed wrapping an arm around me.

I turned to look at her face, we were so close again. I knew instantly I wasn't imagining the electricity between us before. Maura was practically radiating energy. Her pretty eyes bored into mine. There was a slight smile on her lips. I don't know why...but I couldn't stop noticing her lips. They looked so soft and...they were so pretty. I bit my bottom lip and turned away from her. What the hell was happening to me?

"You must be Claire Haverty." James said walking to the other side of the bed and shaking the woman's hand.

Claire looked lost and a little afraid. I knew she was wondering just as much as I was about James' purpose here.

"Yes, I am Claire...I was sent here by the Department of Child..."

"...Yes yes I know all of that. I spoke to your supervisor not to long ago. I have a fax here of a letter of intent to stall this particular interview until a later date. You'll see there are all the proper signatures and everything is in order." Claire took the letter James held out to her and stared at it blankly.

I knew she couldn't believe was she was seeing. I couldn't believe what the fuck I was hearing.

"The Department realizes they've been a bit hasty and unfair to Miss Rizzolli. Miss Rizzolli will be allowed to visit her child under supervision for the remainder of this ridiculous investigation. Dr. Isles here has volunteered to oversee the care of Angela until all this is sorted out. Since Jane and Dr. Isles are close friends, and Jane works for Dr. Isles' foundation, and Dr. Isles has covered the cost of Angela's treatment personally, the Department and the court system see no reason that Dr. Isles not be able to be the child's temporary foster giver herself until everything is back in order." James said pleasantly.

The man seemed deeply pleased with himself. He flashed his pretty teeth every chance he got.

"Also we will need to schedule a date to redo this interview when Dr. Isles has returned from her business in Boston. Early next week will be best. Dr. Isles and Miss Rizzoli need time to sort out their affairs before this continues any further. The court sees no reason to argue there, being as that Angela will be in the hospital at least two more weeks and is safe for the moment. The court feels that it would only be fair to give Miss Rizzolli an appropriate amount of time to...adjust!" James' eyes twinkled down at the stunned social worker.

My eyes shot back to Maura. She was studying James intently. She seemed extremely satisfied with how everything was going. I was blown the fuck away. What the hell was he talking about? How did all this happen? How many fucking strings did she and James pull to get this together in so little time. What did they mean Maura was going to be my child's foster? Did that mean I didn't have custody of Angela anymore? What the hell was going on?

I elbowed Maura in her rib to get her to look at me. Maura turned her head and studied me for a moment. Her face was a mask of unexpressed emotions. I would have thought she looked cold and unconcerned if it weren't for the slight turning up of her lips and the twinkle in her eye. She was amused...Maura was fucking tickled pink. I thought I felt my jaw hanging open and quickly shut my mouth and gritted my teeth instead.

"What is going on?" I mouthed to her, I didn't want to be over heard. I actually felt like freaking out but...at this point I was all spent on freaking out and there was still a hint of danger behind Maura's eyes.

Maura's smile widened a little. She did indeed seem amused. I felt Maura's arm around me pull me closer to her and she moved her mouth to my ear.

"Don't worry sweetheart, I'm going to take care of you. Just trust me!" she whispered softly to me.

I felt a shudder run down my spine. I wasn't afraid, I wasn't even angry...I was more shocked stupid if anything. But Maura was...there was something strange laced in her voice. Something thick and overpowering. It made my skin tingle and my toes curl. It felt like she was claiming me, like she was marking her territory like I somehow...I somehow belonged to her. It was the strangest sensation I'd ever known.

I'd always been so independent, even after I lost my family. I hadn't had a boyfriend in five years and I hadn't had many at all before that. I'd certainly never had a girlfriend, relationships were always so hard for me. I'd never been willing to bend enough to make them work. But for some reason, some reason I could not even begin to fathom, Maura's whispers in my ear moved me completely. She wasn't my John anymore...she was...she was something else entirely. She was my wolf and I was her running mate.

I pulled back and looked up at her curiously. What was going to happen now? How would this all work? Was I going to get to take Angela home with me when she got better? Was Maura going to make DCS back down. Did I really have a job waiting for me at her foundation? Was my life really changing so much and so quickly.

Maura studied my face closely with that intense veiled expression. To others she might have looked cold and unapproachable, to me...to me she looked beautiful and even...even sexy.

James was still rambling to Claire. Apparently he had been blessed with the gift of gab.

"So...you and I can discuss the details while Miss Rizzolli and Doctor Isles leave to visit Angela." James was saying.

My heart soared. I looked at Maura again. She was smiling outright now...a warm, beautiful sincere smile that covered her entire face. I felt tears roll down my cheeks. Tears of unspeakable joy. I brought a shaky hand over my mouth and choked back the sobs that threatened to overtake me. I felt wave after wave after wave of relief and hope and joy flood through me. Was this really happening? Was this hellish nightmare really going to end? Was there really mercy for whores?

Maura's smile faltered a bit as my tears of joy overtook me. I couldn't help crying, I'd been through so much...so much in the past many hours. I'd never been brought so low since my family passed. I thought I wasn't going to make it through this at one point, I thought I just wanted to lay down and die if I had to live in a world without my baby. I had thought so many...so many unspeakable things in my grief. So many awful unspeakable things. But now...now there was a bright white light shining down on me. There was a glowing golden arm reaching down into the pit of shit I was in and lifting me out and back into the sunshine. Maura was that light, I knew it...I just knew it.

I knew there were things Maura wasn't telling me...I knew there was more to the story. Things like this don't just go away like magic. My beast of a wolf was fighting for me, I cried and cried. I had waited so long.

Maura ran a knuckle under both my eyes wiping my tears away. I felt her whisper in my ear again.

"Would you like to introduce me to your baby girl now?" Maura said sweetly.

I smiled so hard I thought my face would split in half.

"Yes!" was all I said.

Maura stood and offered me her hand. I climbed out of the bed walked out of the room and down the hall with Maura. Maura never let go of my hand, I didn't try to take it back. I liked walking beside my wolf. Nobody could mess with me now.

I smiled

Maura

Jane stood with her palms pressed flat and her forehead leaning against the cold glass of the observation window of the infant ICU ward. She had cried all over again when she saw tiny Angela hooked up to so many machines and isolated in the incubation chamber. It took all the words of comfort and kindness that I had to calm Jane down...again! But I did it willingly. I knew it would happen. I knew Jane would break down once she saw her baby like that. I'd had to explain a million times that it was only temporary, that Angela would heal and that she would be just fine. It took ten minutes to get Jane to stand on her feet again, but she found her strength eventually with the assistance of my words. Jane's face still looked pained and uncomfortable though as she watched her daughter.

I couldn't even see the child's face, it was covered in an oxygen mask. But she was beautiful I could tell. She had the same wild locks as her mother and her skin was the same beautiful olive as Jane's. I felt my own heart break a little when I saw Angela the first time, it was horrible to have to witness her like this. But I was comforted in knowing that at least she was alive. Thank goodness for that. Thank Goodness for that!

"When do I get to hold her?" Jane whispered.

I'd told Jane the answer to that five times already, but I didn't find myself becoming impatient. I just smiled looking at Angela's little body.

"In a few days hopefully." I said confidently.

"James will see to it that you get to see her even though I won't be here," I said.

Jane's neck snapped like at whip as she turned to look at me.

"What! Where are you going?" she asked me.

There was a pleading and a fear behind her eyes.

"I have to go back to Boston. I have to go back to work." I said calmly.

I hadn't anticipated Jane being so disturbed by the news.

"You mean...you're leaving me?" Jane lowered her eyes and turned back to the window. I saw her sigh heavily.

My heart melted.

"I'll never leave you Jane...I just have to go back to work! I'll be back eventually!" I tried to reassure her.

Jane didn't speak for a while.

"Don't worry about it...you don't owe me anything I'll be fine!" Jane said.

Her voice had become suspiciously forced and level. Jane was steeling her nerves, she was hiding her heart again behind a wall of cannons and lashing out with false security and pretend independence. She was crawling back in her shell, sinking back in her hole.

I sighed deeply. I wanted to take steps forward with Jane...forward and not backward. I didn't want Jane to hide whatever it was she was actually feeling and cover herself and me in feigned aloofness. I know Jane was feeling something, I know that. After everything I'd been through with her, she couldn't trick me into believing she didn't care about things, or even about me in some odd way. I remember the way she reached for my hand, I remember the way she pleaded for my strength with her desperate eyes. I remember the way she patted the space next to her, urging me to come sit with her in front of everyone. I remember the way she fell into my body when I wrapped my arms around her. I remember the tickle of her lavender-scented hair on my cheek. I remember the look of joy and relief on her face when she realized she was going to get to see her baby. I remembered everything.

"I'm going to have to take a leave of absence from the Boston Police Department for a while. There is still so much that has to be done here in New York for and about Angela...and about you! I'll fly back here Thursday evening ok. Maybe you'd like to meet me Friday?" I asked moving closer to Jane.

I wanted to see her face. Her voice could sound as harsh and uncaring as it wanted, I needed to see her eyes. I saw everything in her eyes.

I didn't have to worry. Jane turned toward me immediately.

"Did you pay for Angela's surgery?" She asked me straight out.

I faltered for a moment.

"My foundation covered the cost of Angela's care," I said quietly.

I didn't really want Jane to know that. I wished James hadn't mentioned that in front of her. I didn't want Jane to feel indebted to me.

Jane's eyes went wide.

"Did you hire that red-headed Doctor yourself?" Jane asked.

I sighed.

"She's the best pediatric surgeon in the country,"

"Do I really have a job waiting at the Isles Foundation?"

I smiled this time.

"You can have your pick of jobs Jane...I think I've got something you'd really love!" I grinned thinking about it.

Jane was staring at me bright-eyed. I knew she couldn't believe what she was hearing. What she was thinking of me...I didn't know. I became worried.

"Jane...I'm not asking anything of you in return. I did all of this because...because I like you Jane. I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to buy you, or trick you, or undermine you somehow, or..."

"...how come I can't see you Thursday?" Jane cut in.

I was stunned for a second.

"What was that?" I asked curiously

"How come I can't see you Thursday if you're flying in on Thursday?" Jane repeated patiently.

She looked serious, like she really couldn't understand my reasoning.

I stuttered for a moment.

"I-I-...Of course if you'd like to see me Thursday evening I can arrange that." I said a little shocked by the accusing look on Jane's face.

"Well...since you've done so much for me...I'd...I'd like to see you." Jane said timidly now.

She lowered her eyes and turned away from me again. What emotions was she trying to hide from me now? I knew Jane was just pretending not to care about me leaving for Boston. I smiled a little to myself. Was fearsome Jane showing some signs of vulnerability about me?

I opened my purse and pulled out an envelope.

"This is yours Jane," I said extending the envelope toward her.

Jane turned to me and looked at the envelope.

"What is it?" she inquired.

"Open it," I said smiling pleasantly.

Jane looked confused but took the envelope and opened it.

"HOLY shit!" she said when she saw what was inside.

"It's your money, for our...date!" I smiled pleased with myself.

Jane looked angry all of a sudden. She fixed me with her most hateful glare.

"I don't want this," Jane said slamming the envelope into my chest with so much force she actually pushed me back a few steps.

I was blown away. What did I do wrong?

"What's...what's wrong with you...this is what I always pay when I..." I didn't finish my sentence. I just stopped talking. Jane was glaring at me angrily.

"You've done enough for me Maura. You paid for my child's care, you got me a job like a real job where I stand on my feet instead of lay on my back, you somehow tricked the legal system into giving you custody of my child! And how is that going to work by the way? That's so weird...so freaking weird! I have a sneaky feeling that slick ass lawyer of yours has more tricks up his sleeve as far as DCS is concerned. I don't want your money...I don't have to be a...a whore anymore." she spat at me.

I chuckled at that.

"You never were a whore Jane," I said simply.

"Yes I was," she shot back.

I rolled my eyes. "The custody thing is only a pen and paper issue with the State of New York. Of course Angela is yours. I'd never ever interfere with that. We just need to...to polish some rough edges and spin some tales and make some changes so you get to keep your daughter and be able to provide for her everything she needs."

Jane just raised her eye brows at me.

"Are you always this involved with your...whores?" Jane asked flat-out.

I sighed. This woman was a work out to be around.

"NO Jane Jesus Christ you are so impossibly stubborn sometimes...and you aren't a whore!"

"If I'm not a whore why are you trying to hand me an envelope full of hundred-dollar bills?"

"You gave me your time and you will be compensated for it. No one could have anticipated how that date turned out. You...you earned this...it's just business," I said as calmly as I could under Jane's furious gaze.

"Is that what this is...is that all I am to you...business?" Jane looked a little bit hurt, but her voice was still biting.

"God. NO! Don't you know that by now?" I remarked incredulously.

Jane just eyed me.

"Let me pay you for your time, you'll need to buy things anyway when you move into your new place." I said extending the envelope again.

"What new place?" Jane asked curiously.

"Oh yes, I forgot I hadn't told you. You have to move into my apartment at the hotel. It's just to make sure you pass the DCS home inspections. We can't have you being faulted for anything and it has to look like we're close friends." I explained.

"I can't afford to live there. A bottle of wine in that place cost more than some people make in a month." Jane exclaimed.

I laughed outright.

"Stop concerning yourself with petty details, it's all taken care of!"

Jane rolled her eyes.

I decided not to press at the moment. I'd fight it out with Jane later, or maybe I'd have James do it. He had a way with words.

"You must be hungry...would you like to go get some lunch," I asked smiling at Jane.

Jane's expression changed when I mentioned food.

"Can I have whatever I want?" she asked me wickedly.

I laughed, "Of course Jane,"

After Jane gazed lovingly at her daughter for a while longer she finally let me lead her away toward the elevators. She stopped me short before I could push the button. Jane looked around as if checking to see if we were alone.

"What is it Jane?" I asked wondering what was going on with her. I knew she was hungry, she seemed to love to eat.

"I just...I just wanted to say thank you," Jane whispered.

Her eyes were bright and sincere. She looked so sweet and so innocent. She was more precious to me in that moment than she ever had been before. Jane had finally acknowledged me enough to thank me openly for all my sacrifices. It meant the world to me. I blinked back tears of my own. My heart swelled with gratitude and relief that Jane was actually going to stand with me and not be angry about all the things, all the crazy things I'd done to protect she and Angela. I found it in me somewhere to smile.

"Don't mention it sweetheart. It was my pleasure,"

Jane gave me that beautiful smile again that stopped my heart.

I pushed the down button of the elevator and we left the most hellish place on earth.

Jane wouldn't let me go up to her apartment with her while she changed. She seemed embarrassed or something. I waited patently for her to return. When she did she was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a close-fitting black tank top. She had washed the makeup off her face and her long hair hung damp and loosely over her beautiful olive-skinned shoulders. She must have taken a quick shower. I think my jaw dropped when she climbed back into the limo. She was...she was even more beautiful like this.

Jane seemed unsure of herself though.

"Sorry I look so bummy, I just...I don't have anything nicer." she blushed.

"You're beautiful," I said simply.

It was true. She was beautiful.

Jane smiled at me.

"Why are you such a sweetheart!" Jane asked cocking her head at me.

I returned her smile easily.

"Would you like to have lunch at the hotel?" I asked

Jane's face lit up.

"YUMMM! Alligator," Jane's grin was devilish.

I rolled my eyes, but not out of anger or annoyance.

"You're having something green this time Jane!" I said in my most maternal voice.

Jane rolled her eyes back at me.

"Good luck with that," she scoffed.

I held Jane's hand all the way into my hotel and into the elevators. After I put my key into the lock for the top floor and the doors closed Jane rounded on me with piercing brown eyes.

"Do you really like me Maura or do you just feel sorry for me?" She asked me bluntly.

I turned to her shocked by her question. I didn't answer her immediately, I just squeezed her hand lightly and waited for the elevator to stop and the doors to open again. Jane's jaw dropped when the door opened to my apartment.

"Oh my GOD!" she exclaimed.

"I never bring anybody here, ever. You're the first person that wasn't the help or family to see the inside of my apartment. I brought you here because I like you." I smiled at Jane pulling her stunned body into the apartment and allowing the elevator doors to close behind her.

Jane looked beside herself with many thoughts and many emotions. She finally settled on discomfort.

"You've never brought one of your...your whores here before?" she asked me curiously.

I sighed deeply.

"If you're going to live here you're going to have to stop referring to yourself as a whore, and for the record...no...I've never brought any of Carmelite's girls up here. This is my sanctuary away from Boston...this is my home. I'm sharing this with you because...because I can't imaging sharing it with any one else." I said smiling at Jane's face.

Jane was trying to look everywhere at once. I don't know if she realized the gravity of my words through her own excitement and wonder.

"This place is...it's huge. It takes up the whole floor." Jane said looking everywhere at once with eyes wide in amazement.

"It is the whole floor, the whole top floor. I'll have to give you an elevator key, that's the only way the elevator will come to this level. This is where you'll be staying from now on...or at least until the DCS nightmare is over and you feel comfortable moving somewhere else."

"What!" Jane exclaimed, "I can't live here...it's way out of my league...and it's yours! I can't get into your personal space like that, this is...this is to much!"

"We have to put on a bit of a show for DCS, besides...there are three bedrooms. One for you and one for Angela and one for me! It needs to appear that we've been friends for a while. I need you to come up with a good story because I can't lie. Not outright. I'm opening up my home, you must do all the dirty work though and come up with some kind of a believable story. James will help you with that tomorrow." I said taking Jane's hand again and leading her further into my...I mean our...apartment.

"I can do that...I'm a great liar when I have to be!" Jane giggled.

I only smiled back at her.

"Where were you going to stay Thursday?" Jane asked me curiously stopping short.

I stopped with her.

"I'm sorry?" I asked

"You said you were flying in Thursday but you wanted to meet Friday...where were you going to stay Thursday night since this is your apartment and I'll be here?"

I smiled at Jane.

"This isn't the only hotel I own in the city Jane,"

"God, you're like fucking Donald Trump or something," Jane said chuckling to herself.

She seemed nervously amused.

"Don't be uncomfortable, this is your home now...have a look around. I don't mind changing some things if you don't like something." I smiled at Jane's nervous looking face.

Jane's eyes were darting around everywhere. She wore the same expression she did when we stepped out onto the rooftop gardens all those hours ago. It made me happy to see her precious look of child like amazement. I didn't have children, but I imagined Jane's expression is what a child's face looked like on Christmas morning.

"Jesus CHRIST! Look at the size of that TV! It must be like 70 inches. And look at those surround sound speakers! Holy crap."

Jane had let go of my hand and was running around looking at everything. I didn't stop her. She was so cute.

"And look at the giant pool table...and look at this couch and look at this rug and oh my goodness, your refrigerator is HUGE! Look at this kitchen...you could cook a horse in this oven...look at this dining table...thirty people could eat here. And OH MY GOD! Look at this view!" I heard Jane exclaim from somewhere deep in the apartment.

I chuckled again to myself. I had moved to my bedroom and was quickly changing my clothes. I pulled the pins from my hair and shook out my dirty blond locks. I stepped out of my dress and hung it neatly in my dress closet. I pulled off my heels and put them in my other huge walk in closet in their proper place. I could still hear Jane's exclamations as she ran around my...our apartment.

I smiled again as I stretched. My muscles were impossibly tense and tired from the length and the stress of the day. I pulled off my underwear and bra and put them in the hamper. God it felt good to get out of all those clothes, my feet were killing me. I moved to a drawer and pulled fresh underwear from inside and turned to walk to my bathroom when I saw Jane standing in the doorway staring at me.

Our eyes locked, well, my eyes locked to Jane's face, but Jane's own eyes were...well she wasn't looking at my face. I was completely shocked silent at first, then I smiled. Miss Rizzolli had a wandering eye.

"Jane," I said finally.

My voice was full of amusement, I imagine my face was too.

Jane snapped out of her trance and looked slightly embarrassed, her entire face turned bright red. She turned her back to me immediately.

"Yeah!" her voice squeaked.

My smile widened.

"I'm going to shower, press 0 on the phone and ask for a bell man to come to Eagle One and take our orders ok!" I said smiling at how tense and uncomfortable Jane looked all of a sudden.

"Eagle One?" Jane asked like she wasn't certain she heard me correctly.

"That's the name of this apartment, Eagle One!" I stated

"Ummm...where's the phone?" Jane's voice squeaked again.

I pulled the cordless from my nightstand and approached Jane. I slid my arms around her waist to give her the phone. I let my breast brush against her back and linger there for a second longer than necessary. I nuzzled my face into Jane's beautiful hair and I inhaled her lavender scent. I chuckled when Jane jumped and squeaked. She tried to cover with a cough.

"Ok!" Jane said scurrying away and never turning back to look at me again.

I smiled all the way through my shower thinking of the look on Jane's face as she studied my body. She looked floored and innocent and curious at the same time. She was so silly sometimes it was ridiculous. I took a long shower, enjoying the feeling of the steaming hot water running down my back. I washed the pain of so many hours of horror from my body. I let the steam clear my mind of unpleasant thoughts and instead thought of Jane's smile, and her wide eyes, and her excited face. I couldn't help smiling when I thought of her. She really was precious to me.

I didn't bother blow drying my hair, I just dressed in a light white summer dress and wore comfortable white sneakers on my feet. I put lotion on my skin and put on a light bit of make up. I still wanted to be pretty...mostly for Jane. I liked the way she looked at me. I brushed my teeth and smiled at myself in the mirror. I couldn't wait to finally have a decent meal with Jane without some horrible interruption. I winked at myself in the mirror and walked back out into the rest of our apartment.

I didn't see Jane immediately, but I thought I heard her voice somewhere. I followed the sound. I thought I heard two voices now. I found Jane sitting on the couch in the living room, a bell boy sat next to her...right next to her. They were giggling like school children. I felt a surge of some unprecedented hatred overtake me. Jane was giving him her most light-hearted laugh and he was returning a laugh of his own.

"What the fuck was this bell boy doing sitting around in my house," my voice raged in my head.

The bell boys hand crept up and wrapped around Jane's body pulling her closer to him as they shared another laugh. I couldn't hear what they were saying or tell what they were looking at...but I could have spit blood. Flashes of red danced behind my eyes. I felt my eye lid quiver and my heart beat twice as fast as it should. I formed my hands into fist to keep them from shaking so hard.

What the hell was this boy doing getting comfortable in my house and getting comfortable with my Jane. Why was he touching her, why were they laughing together like old-time friends? What the hell were they both thinking? My rage exploded out of me.

"JANE!" I exclaimed in a voice shaking with anger.

Jane turned her head toward me and smiled when she saw me. The bell boy looked shocked when he noticed who I was. He jumped up immediately and scooted as far away from me as he could...all the way until he bumped into a wall behind him. He looked terrified and panic-stricken. His blue eyes were wide with fear. He stuttered and stammered stupidly. My furious gaze never left his face. I wanted to tear his eyes out.

"Look Maura, I was showing him pictures of my daughter when she was younger...look how cute she is!" Jane said bouncing over to me excitedly.

Jane seemed completely unaware of how furious I was. She was lost in her own reverie. I couldn't stop glaring at the bell boy though. Jane stopped short next to me when she noticed my face for the first time.

"What's wrong Maura?" she asked me curiously.

"Get the FUCK out of my apartment," I hissed at the bell boy.

He tripped over himself twice on his way to the elevator.