A/N: I'm not ready for the show to end but, at least, we got fanfiction! Also, I wish i can do regular updates but school's back in so I'll update when I can.

A/N 2: Rest in peace, Gene Wilder. Hope you found your golden ticket.

Disclaimer: Read Ch. 1

"The suspense is terrible…I hope it'll last." – Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Ch. 4: Party Crasher

She opened the door to the apartment and walked inside to see boxes spread all over the living room and kitchen. "Dev," she called out to her lover as she stepped forward to see that they were the files causing worry. "Devyn, where are you," she questioned as she searched for her.

She then walked down the hallway to see Devyn's office door opened. She peered inside to see Devyn sitting at her desk with headphones on. Upon observation, she could see exhaustion in her eyes which prompted to ask, "Why are the boxes out?"

"That murder that happened at City Hall…"

"What about it?" Devyn looked up and the expression was fearful prompting, Emily to ask Devyn with a grim expression, "Don't tell me…"

"I don't know yet. I'm not sure but it brought Jane back."

The car ride for Jane and Maura was very quiet with a somewhat confused Maura and an angry Jane sitting together. The medical examiner wasn't even sure of what happened completely except that Jane and her cousin reunited for the first time in a long time as indicated by their conversation.

The medical examiner glanced up at her best friend, unsure on what to say, decided on approaching on the new discovery about her best friend. "I didn't know that you spoke Italian," Maura commented. Jane remained quiet and she continued, looking back at the window, "I understood what you said a little bit but I just wanted to tell you that you spoke quite eloquently."

It was quiet for a couple more minutes until Jane retorted back quietly, "We learned when we were kids. I don't know why but it stuck."

"Maybe…" Maura started then looked back up at Jane, "you can teach me someday?"

It was a shy question from Maura. One that brought Jane's attention away from the road to Maura, prompting her to answer back, "Yeah…maybe sometime."

They then pulled up into the driveway of the holiday decorated Isles house. Maura smiled at the glowing colorful lights that she never expected to be on her house many years prior but once Jane and the Rizzolis came into her life, Christmas became a true family celebration.

She remembered how the first year, Maura was planning to just read "A Christmas Carol" by the fireplace instead of attending the Annual Boston Christmas party that her parents would attend most likely. She didn't wish to be disappointed at the fact that her parents didn't wish to spend time or catch up at her home except at the party.

It broke her heart and she was about to leave the morgue for her planned escape until a detective Jane Rizzoli entered to collect a case file before she was leaving for the annual Rizzoli Christmas dinner. When she realized that Maura was not dressed to go to a party, the detective inquired if she was going to celebrate with family and when Maura declared she was going home alone to just read, Jane's reaction was simple grab of Maura's bag and a simple statement, "Come on, there's plenty of room for a guest to come. Ma's going to love ya."

That was when Christmas was never the same or any other holiday.

Maura watched as Jane stepped out of the car and walked into the house with the blonde following close after. Upon entering the house, she noticed that Jane and Maura were not alone in the house but discovered Angela in the kitchen, cooking but was looking up at the staircase in confusion. "Hello Angela," Maura greeted politely.

"Hi Maura," Angela replied, still with a confused expression. She then gestured her knife toward the direction of the stairs and questioned, "What's wrong with Jane? Something to do with the case?"

Maura glanced up then countered, "How was Aunt Annetta and everything?"

"Oh honey," she placed her knife down, "she's so sad, crying all day and luckily, her children, Nico and Angelica were there for a bit but I didn't see the oldest. I expected the oldest to be there but back to my other question, what's wrong with Jane?"

Feeling the scrutiny under Angela's eyes, Maura bit her lip and tried to avoid answering by stating, "So what are you cooking?"

"Maura…"

"Ma, leave her alone," Jane swooped in with her sweats and BPD sweater and her tied up in a ponytail.

Angela crossed her arms and retorted, "How about you tell me then, Miss Grumpy?"

Jane glared at her mother. "If you must know, the professor at BCU happened to be Devyn, Ma."

"Oh, interesting," Angela replied then focused on the food she was cooking suddenly.

At this, Jane raised her eyebrow and moved closer. "Ma, did you know about my cousin working at BCU," Jane questioned. Angela pressed her lips together and began to twist her necklace, prompting Jane to inquire further, "Okay, how long did you know, Ma?"

"Well…she mentioned a professorship but never mentioned where or on what." Jane raised her arms in aghast then ran her hand over her face as Angela continued, "Hey, you said that I'm not allowed to mention Devyn's name after she retired."

"She resigned from the force, Ma," Jane corrected sternly. She walked into the fridge, pulling out a beer and popped it open, taking a hard swig from it.

"You two need to hash it out. It was ten years ago, Janie."

"I'm dropping this conversation, Ma," Jane stormed away, heading upstairs to the guest bedroom

"Janie," Angela tried to call after but the door slammed causing Maura and Angela to flinch.

The older Rizzoli woman sighed, leaning against the counter. Maura looked back at Angela and asked softly, "What happened between the two?"

Angela shrugged, "I wish I knew."

R&I

For the rest of the night, Jane decided to rest in the guest bedroom with her eyes focused on the ceiling while she drank her beer once in a while. She then heard from outside the loudness of Christmas music causing a low groan to come out. She placed the beer on the nightstand and turned her head into the pillow with the groan as she thought to herself, I hate the holidays at the moment.

She then turned her body again to pull her phone out of her sweater pocket. She gazed at the screen for it was a picture of her and Maura standing together smiling. "Maybe I should tell her," she stated aloud.

What if she rejects you? What if she doesn't feel the way or becomes uncomfortable around you?

"It's Maura. She wouldn't feel differently about me and anyways, she mentioned before that sexuality was fluid."

That was because she began to talk about how she read an article about sex randomly. God, it got warm in that room all of a sudden.

"With a damn good reason."

"Jane, are you okay," she heard Maura suddenly causing her to jump and almost drop her phone.

Jane composed herself and sat up in the bed as she answered, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"May I come in then?"

"Sure." The door then opened to reveal Maura with a plate of cookies in her hand and a cup of warm tea. She then placed the tea on the other side of the nightstand then she took a seat beside Jane, handing the plate to her. "Santa shaped cookies in bed," Jane commented dramatically.

"You want me to take them back downstairs," Maura retorted, pulling the plate back. Jane grabbed the plate swiftly, picking up a cookie and took a large bite.

"God, I love these."

"Your mother just left and she said that she's sorry about pushing the issue but you know she's right," Maura relayed. Jane rolled her eyes, placed the bitten cookie back on the plate and took a small sip from her beer. Maura placed the plate aside and asked quietly, "It really bothers you, doesn't it? The topic of your cousin?"

Jane nodded and the two rest back in the bed with Maura sipping her tea. She then leaned over, grabbed a cookie and took a small delicate bite from it. "She resigned from the force after her case went cold," Jane stated suddenly.

"The Bard case?"

"She didn't talk about it and after it happened, I tried to call her for reconsideration but she told me to fuck off and never call back. It was our last conversation and the next day, I encounter my own monster."

Realization hit Maura as she looked down at Jane's hands, looking down at the significant scars. Jane raised her hands, flexing them and continued, "I don't blame my cousin for what happened with Hoyt. I just wish…things were just different."

I don't want to see the sadness in her eyes, Maura thought. Seeing the sadness in her best friend's eyes, Maura scooted closer toward Jane and rested her head on Jane's shoulder. She then grabbed Jane's hand and lifted it up to give it a gentle kiss. Feeling Maura's lips on her hand, Jane felt flush all of a sudden and watched Maura lower her hand back down with their fingers intertwined.

She then cleared her throat and said to Maura, "Pass me those cookies." Maura handed the plate with Jane taking it then took another bite out of her cookie. "God, I love Ma's cookies," Jane hummed.

Maura bit her lip, holding back a groan as Jane continued to hum in pleasure of the food. Maura then took another cookie and let out her own groan, prompting Jane to finish chewing then swallow hard. Seeing this action, Maura gave a small smile and licked her fingers clean of any frosting then hummed, "They are quite delicious."

Oh god, this is going to be a long night, Jane realized as she grabbed her beer and took a giant gulp from her beer.

"I feel like I'm back in high school," Frost commented as he gazed at the many windows opened on his computer screen. "How can one man create so many death scenes?"

"He's a writer. What do you expect," Frankie retorted back.

Jane groaned in displeasure then looked back at her computer screen. "This isn't getting us anywhere," the detective complained.

"You can always divide them up," they all looked up to see Maura dressed in jeans and a long sleeve black and white blouse. She then locked eyes with Jane, prompting both women to turn away with blushes reaching their cheeks.

Unknown to the men in the room, Jane and Maura woke up with their bodies tangled together. Their foreheads and noses were close enough that if one of them leaned any further that their lips would touch. Upon waking up, Jane and Maura pulled away from each other with Jane heading toward the bathroom quickly and Maura resting back on her back with her hand placed over her heart.

For the rest of the morning, the two moved through the house awkwardly as they gathered coffee and breakfast. Luckily for them, Angela had already left to make sure the Robber was ready so it made the breakfast go by fast as they left for their own cars.

Now that they were facing each other, the blushes returned in full force.

The detective turned away and asked, looking back at the screen, "So what do you mean by divide?"

"Shakespeare wrote three major genres: histories, comedies, and tragedies. Divide those first and then you should be able to analyze each play," Maura explained to her.

"That's a good idea." Jane then looked up at Maura and smiled, "Thanks."

"Of course but there's also another reason why I'm here." The medical examiner then handed a red folder to Jane who began to read it. "This was written by the right hand just like Shakespeare."

"So this guy like worships him," Frankie piped in.

Maura nodded and continued, "There's a deep admiration for Shakespeare but you can tell that this Bard wishes to have his own identity despite taking Shakespeare's nickname."

"Is that a guess," Maura heard Jane ask with a humorous smile.

Maura gave a playful smirk at her and retorted, "No, but it's based on some history I was looking through some of Shakespeare's biography especially his writing. He wrote in the style known as Secretary Hand which changes from time to time."

"This guy doesn't do it?"

"No, they are quite the same. Same curves and lines as well as dots."

"So we got to look for a murderer with pretty handwriting."

Everyone let out a small chuckle then Jane's office phone began to ring, prompting Jane to answer it, "Detective Rizzoli."

"So you're my new opponent," the voice greeted.

Jane raised her hand up to quiet everyone who noticed the confused but threatened expression on Jane's face. "Depends on what you mean," Jane questioned back as she grabbed her notepad, writing quickly then showed it to Frost, Get Nina and start tracing the number that's calling me now.

"I mean, dear Jane, that you can't stop me from what will happen."

"I will stop you." There was a low chuckle as Jane placed the phone on speaker as she continued, "You know I would like to know who exactly you are especially if you are calling me?"

"They call me the Bard, Detective but I think you already knew that. But, you are the infamous Jane Rizzoli. Oh how ten years have changed you," the Bard commented. Jane glanced at Maura who gave a surprised expression as well as the Bard continued, "I love how I got the detectives who are related and you are just as resourceful as your cousin. You won't be able to find me."

"I got good people."

"We all got good people, Detective especially you. Your dear Doctor Isles seems to have the brains while you have the brawns." Jane gritted her teeth and he continued, "It's quite a sight to know that I'm against two instead of just one. It's not like your cousin who did all of this alone and lost everything in the mix of it."

Maura gave a confused expression while Jane's eyebrows furrowed even more. "Why did you do it? Kill those people," she questioned.

He started to laugh then retorted, "You think that I'll give in to you that easily? Oh how foolish we are, young player. I hope you're ready for my next scene."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say I'm crashing a party that would make a Capulet upset."

The call then disconnected which prompted Jane to look over at Frost and Nina. "Anything," she questioned.

Frost shook his head and retorted, "His phone bounced all over the place. I couldn't get anything."

"Nor could I," Nina added.

At this statement, Jane slammed her fist onto her desk, prompting Maura and the others to jump. Jane then sighed and slouched into her chair as she asked aloud, "What did he mean? What party is he crashing?"

"Also isn't Capulet the name of a character in Shakespeare," Korsak questioned.

"Romeo and Juliet," Maura answered. "It was a masquerade party in the play."

Masquerade, Jane thought then leaned back in her chair. "In honor of our high society's party theme," she remembered as she glanced over to see the flyer for the party on her desk.

Night fell and with some help from the Isles Foundation, Jane was able to get into the party with Korsak, Nina, Frankie and Frost. Each one had a mask and was dressed to impress as they walked around the room, searching for any signs of trouble or at least, a sign that the Bard was among them.

"Anything yet," Jane said into the mic on the lapel of her suit.

"So far nothing," Frost retorted.

"Just keep your eyes out for anything suspicious," Jane informed everyone. She then adjusted her ponytail and pulled out the black mask that was in her pocket. She placed it over her face then stepped out into the crowd.

As she walked among the people, she could see that these people definitely had the big bucks in Boston. Thank god that Maura got some pull on this stuff, Jane thought as watched a couple took glasses from the champagne tray.

"My, you clean up well, Detective," Jane turned quickly to see a blonde haired woman dressed in an elegant dark blue gown with white gloves with a decorative blue mask over her face.

Immediately, she recognized the woman and hissed, "Maura, what are you doing here?"

Maura smiled and replied, "Well, how else did you get here, Jane?"

"I thought you left after you got us in."

"I did briefly because I had to get into my outfit but I have to be here since I placed a donation in this and you are my guest," Maura explained simply. She then moved closer into Jane's personal space and placed her hand over the microphone briefly as she whispered, "I do mean it though, Jane. You do clean up rather nicely."

Jane swallowed the lump that suddenly formed in her throat then replied back, "You look beautiful, Maura."

Maura smiled at this then stepped back from Jane as she asked casually as if nothing happened, "Anything suspicious yet?" The detective gathered some of her wits and shook her head while Maura hummed and told the detective, "I'll mingle with a couple people see if they might know anything about the recent murders."

"Just be careful," Jane verbalized quietly.

"I will."

Jane then watched as Maura disappeared into the crowd and the detective resumed her search. If I were the Bard, where would I go? What would I reenact, she pondered as she stepped up a staircase, giving her a better view of everyone.

"Still no sign, Janie," Korsak stated.

There was a groan in frustration as Jane groaned, "Great…this might look like a dead end, guys." She then looked back out and noticed a red masked figure around the bar area. Unlike most of the patrons, this masked person stood out almost like a sore thumb to her, for most of the people were not wearing anything as bold as that. "Guys, we might be back on," Jane stated as she began to descend down the staircase.

"What you got, Jane," Frankie asked her sister as Nina and him began to move at the sight of Jane going down the stairs.

"Red mask in red clothing by the bar. My gut is telling me that he's bad news."

"The Bard?"

"Possibly…" As she moved closer, there was a loud scream all of a sudden as a woman dropped to the ground. "We got a person down," Jane shouted as she rushed into the crowd toward the woman as she was about reach her, Jane noticed the red figure running while another chased after them.

The detective looked back and forth between the victim and the masked fiend. "Jane," she looked over to see Maura rushing to the victim and shouted, "Go!"

With this, Jane bolted over the bar and to the backroom to hear someone shout, "You're not getting away from me again!" The detective drew her gun as she went down the unfamiliar corridor, looking around the corner to see a doorway open toward the rooftop with a white masquerade mask on the ground. As she went up the staircase, she heard suddenly several pops that sounded similar to gunshots.

She ran up and looked over her shoulder to see Korsak and Frost catching up with their guns drawn as they reached the roof to see a figure with a gun drawn and looking over the edge of the building. "Boston PD," Jane shouted, "put your hands up now!" The figure raised their hands up with the gun in their hands. "Put the gun down," Jane ordered next which the person followed then they placed their hands on their head, walking backwards toward the detectives.

Jane stepped forward, placed the cuffs around the wrists then placed their arms behind their back. Korsak and Frost rushed toward the ledge to see a fire escape while their suspect announced, "He ran the staircase and I bet he left the note with his costume or with the victim." Recognizing the voice, Jane turned the handcuff suspect to face her and was greeted simply, "Hey Jane."

"Devyn," Jane stated in shock.

R&I

Maura watched as the ambulance took the victim to the hospital. She then looked over her shoulder to see Jane stomping down the staircase with Korsak and Frost following with someone handcuffed. She squinted her eyes and her eyes widened at the sight as she approached, "Professor D'Angelo?"

"Doctor," Devyn greeted then grunted as Jane dragged her cousin to the police cruiser.

"You have the right to remain silent-"

"Jane, I know Miranda. What am I charged with right now," her cousin questioned back.

The detective opened the door, pushing her cousin in the seat then retorted, "For one carrying a gun and discharging it."

"I didn't hit the bastard and it's registered."

"How the fuck did you know the Bard was going to be here?" Devyn shrugged and Jane shook her head, "Don't try that bullshit. Tell me."

Their eyes locked and Devyn turned her body simply away from Jane then stated, "It seems Frankie has something. You should check that out."

Jane glanced over her shoulder, seeing that Frankie did have a couple evidence bags in his hands. She then looked back at her cousin and hissed, "I will handle you later."

"Promises. Promises, Janie."

Feeling her temper overtake her, Jane slammed the cruiser door and stomped back to where everyone was gathered. She rubbed her forehead and looked at Maura as she asked, "How's the victim?"

"Poisoned by her drink but she may recover. I made sure that the glass was collected and I believe Nina is questioning the bartender," Maura informed her best friend. She then touched her bicep and asked softly, "How are you doing?"

"Pissed off," Jane answered simply. "She's not talking."

"At least, she was right about this," Frankie announced as he lifted the evidence bags to show the red mask and some pieces of clothing as well as note.

Seeing the note, Jane took it from her brother's hands and began to read it. "Another one down. You're not catching up to my game, Jane. Got to be quicker to catch me," she read then shook her head.

Maura touched her shoulder and Korsak stepped forward. "We're going to take Devyn to booking unless you want to drop the charges," Korsak inquired.

"Put her in a holding cell until tomorrow. We're going to have a long conversation with her." She then looked over at Maura, placed her head on her shoulder as she whispered softly, "I have a headache that hurts enough to cause my head to explode."

"Your head won't explode from a headache, Jane," Maura informed her best friend.

"Maura…" Jane groaned.

"I think we should all go home," Korsak suggested.

"Vince-"

"Let's go home, get some rest then we'll get back to work tomorrow on this," the sergeant explained. "This was a lot to handle especially for you, Janie."

The detective was about to argue until she felt Maura's hand take hers. "Maybe we should do that especially if we would like to have that rain check you promised me," Maura suggested with a raised eyebrow.

Jane bit her lower lip, glanced at the cruiser that held her cousin then at the others before she nodded her head. "Yeah, let's go home," Jane agreed.

The two returned to Jane's place by two in the morning. Gradually, Jane and Maura entered the bedroom with Jane stripping the suit and shoes off then placed some sweats and a t-shirt on. Usually, she would have headed to the bathroom to do all of this but her mind was so numb that she was at the point that she didn't give a damn. She then shuffled to her side of the bed and collapsed on her side of the bed while Maura walked over to the bathroom to handle her nighttime routine.

As she did her regiment, she glanced a couple times at the sleeping Jane. She took it as a rare sight to see Jane so relaxed but she knew that deep within, her best friend had a lot on her mind. She wished to take all the pain from Jane but she knew she couldn't. She knew that she could only be there for her detective. As she finished, she reentered the bedroom in her white silk pajamas and walked to the other side of the bed, taking her place after she placed the covers over Jane.

As she went under the covers, she felt Jane move closer to her then wrapped her arm around Maura's waist. The doctor smiled and placed her hand over Jane as the detective mumbled, "Night Maur."

Maura turned her head and kissed Jane's forehead, replying softly, "Goodnight, Jane."

I hope this can be like this every night.

Uh oh, someone's in trouble. Don't worry, guys, the date is coming up. I promise! Review please! They are cookies to me!