Badass II

Oops, mea culpa. I forgot something rather big when I posted the first chapter. These characters do not belong to me and my kingdom maketh no profit from them. I only take them out to play; I promise I'll return them in good shape-maybe.

Chapter Two

Jane strode confidently into The Institute's main foyer and made herself comfortable. She overheard the paramedics' conversation with the hospital and knew Maura was in good hands. Rifling through the magazines she settled in with the latest issue of Sports Illustrated to wait for Maura.

A couple of minutes later the waiting room door opened. "Detective?" Dr. Ross asked. "I have Maura in the back, why don't you come in?"

Just like a regular doctor's office, Jane mused as she followed Dr. Ross down a long corridor. Instead of an exam room, however, Dr. Ross led Jane into her own office.

"Have a seat, Detective," Dr. Ross gestured to the chair across from her desk. Jane settled herself in.

"How is Maura?"

"She's quite the topic of conversation in the lab, Detective Rizzoli."

"I'll bet she is," Jane grinned. "Maura is quite the person." Dr. Ross frowned upon hearing Jane refer to Maura as a person.

"I have no good way to say this so I'll come right out with it. We have to destroy Maura. My lab techs are getting ready to take her apart right now. There is no need for you to wait-"

Jane jumped to her feet, horrified. "Destroy her! No! I love her!" Jane ran for the office door and headed down the hallway. She ran from side to side, opening doors.

"Maura! Where are you!" she yelled. Jane felt frustrated, not knowing more about the interior of the Institute and where exactly, Dr. Ross' lab might be located.

I'll find you, Maura, and take you home with me, Jane thought as she gritted her teeth in determination. Dr. Ross is not going to destroy you.

Jane saw a door open at the far end of the hallway and heard laughter coming from it. She sprinted to the end and grabbed the door before it could completely close.

Glancing around quickly she noticed it was a sterile room of some sort. I have to be close, she thought, then her attention zeroed in on a group of people standing around a table. Pushing her way through she saw Maura lying still, her eyes closed.

"Maura!" Jane said sharply. One of the techs whirled around.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here," he said.

"Dr. Ross gave me permission to say goodbye," Jane said. Her voice choked on the word "goodbye." The tech nodded, backing away. He turned to his coworkers.

"Dr Ross mentioned this might happen," he reminded them. "Let's give them some privacy." The techs left the room.

Maura's eyes fluttered open. Instead of their usual intelligence shining through Jane saw a haze settle over Maura's eyes. The doctor looked confused. She opened her mouth to speak.

"JJJJaaaannnnneeee?" she asked, her speech sluggish. Jane knew the work was up to her. Fortunately the techs had only started removing Maura's clothing. Jane quickly buttoned Maura's blouse shut and pulled a wheelchair over to the table.

"We're leaving," she said, pulling Maura into a sitting position. Maura's eyes fluttered open and shut, much like a doll's eyes.

"IIIIII nnnnneeedddd" Maura managed to say before slumping forward. Jane scooped her up and placed Maura in the wheelchair. Placing her hand on Maura's shoulder to keep her sitting as upright as possible Jane noticed a back door. She headed there instead of the main hallway.

Perfect, Jane thought as she noticed it was a back door to the parking lot. She pushed the wheelchair forward as she heard voices getting closer to the room.

"She said she wanted to say goodbye," Jane overheard the tech telling someone as the main door opened. Jane shut the back door firmly behind her as she sprinted with the wheelchair toward her car.

Jane pushed Maura onto the passenger seat, buckled her in and shoved the wheelchair out of the way. Starting the car she pulled out of the parking lot as if answering an emergency call minus the siren. Reaching over she grabbed Maura's hand and squeezed it. It was cold and dead feeling. Jane's heart lurched in here throat.

"Hang in there, Maura, we're getting you some help," Jane said as she flew down the street and made a hard right turn. Jane's mind whirled.

Help from who? Frost! Jane thought and headed toward his apartment. Keeping hold of Maura's hand Jane worried.

"How long can you go without oxygen?" she asked Maura but Maura was non-responsive.

"Given that you have wires instead of lungs, I guess for awhile, huh?" Jane spoke her thoughts out loud. "I guess it's different when you're a robot. I don't know how they managed to make you so lifelike, Maura, but I swear I'm going to do everything I can. I will not lose you," Jane's tone of voice turned fierce and she choked back tears. I can't lose her, she thought desperately. Maura means everything to me.

Screeching to a stop in Frost's driveway Jane threw open her car door and went around to retrieve Maura.

Detective Barry Frost sat back on his sofa, swirling the wine in his glass like Maura taught him to do. Tonight was a dry run for his date with Samantha, the new lab tech in Maura's office. Tall and blond she smiled at Barry every time he asked her questions about lab procedures. He began noticing she smiled at him more than any other man in the precinct. Emboldened by this he asked her out on a date. He wanted everything to be perfect so he consulted Maura about wines and how to tell if it was a good one.

As he drank Barry surveyed his living room. It was immaculate due to the extra cleaning he paid his housekeeper to do that day. Several books and police insider magazines were strategically placed on the coffee table. His action figures had been removed to the closet in the spare bedroom. He wanted to project himself as a more intelligent person than he thought his coworkers believed him to be. Detective Barry Frost wanted Samantha Walker to think he was something more than a pretty boy at the precinct.

Suddenly Barry heard a car door slam in his driveway and heavy steps coming to his front door. He heard Jane pound on the door and call his name.

Frost opened the door to find Jane carrying Maura in her arms. "Help," Jane managed to say. Frost opened the door and helped Jane place Maura on his sofa.

"What's wrong?"

"She's having trouble, Frost. She needs to be booted or something."

"A reboot, Jane? She needs to go to the Institute for that."

"No!" Jane almost screamed. "That's where we came from. They wanted to destroy her, Frost."

"Dr. Ross said that?" Frost was surprised. What could have happened to Maura's circuitry to make Dr. Ross need to take apart her best creation?

"Yes. She sat me down in her office to tell me her lab techs were about to take Maura apart. I ran out the back door with her. Help us, Frost, I don't know what a robot needs."

"Cyborg," Frost corrected almost absentmindedly. He watched Maura lie limply on his sofa, no sound coming from her.

"I don't know, Jane. I can try, but I'm not sure I can do this."

"Can't you hack into their computer or something?"

"You're asking me to hack into a federally subsidized program at a highly regarded scientific institute?" Frost asked.

"Yes." Frost sighed.

"I'll try, Jane. I don't know how successful I'll be, but I'll try."

"Thanks, Frost. Where do you want her?"

"Leave her be for now. Let me see what I can find on the internet. Oh, call Frankie for me, will you? Ask him to bring his toolbox. He usually keeps odds and ends in it he might have what we need."

"I can't lose her, Frost."

"I know, Jane, but I may not be able to help. Dr. Ross might be right this time."

Jane collapsed on the end of the sofa, tears streaming down her face.

"No, Frost," was all she managed to say.

TBC