N: This is what it is. My stories tell me to write what they want to tell, so sometimes the chapters are a little different chapter to chapter. Read on and enjoy! Also to my guest reviewer, DWC, cliffhangers are my signature in fanfiction and I'm not going to stop them nor am i going to push the story in a direction that doesn't feel right and is easy. I apologize if it's not your cup of tea, but there are so many wonderful other stories out there that might work for you. That's what's great about this open forum, you can stop reading and move onto the next thing just like turning a page.

Everyone else! Please enjoy and i hope to have an update this weekend if my mojo cooperates!

Maura

I closed my laptop, yawning. I never went back to sleep after Jane called. Instead I became driven to wake my memories of her up. I was desperately wanted to know her when she came to bring me home. I wanted to remember her, and what our lives together was like.

I also went through my files and found Holton. He did not give off any characteristics of being a maniac, just a low-level drug manufacturer. My testimony was flawless and helped send him to prison, but nothing stood out as why he would want to hurt me. I sighed, he was just another in a long line of insane men who fixated on me for unknown reasons. Another reason why I stopped dating over the last year and a half, I never knew if a man was genuinely interested in me or if they had an agenda. I smiled, wondering if these feelings for Jane was another reason why dating had slipped from my grasp like an unwanted piece of trash.

I stood up, wobbling a few steps without my cane towards the kitchen. I would start a pot of tea and maybe work on breakfast for mother and I. Opening the cabinet, I spotted the small note from my mother telling me she had woken up and headed to the farmers market for groceries. A short shiver of panic rolled over my spine, I was alone.

I scanned the kitchen, picking up all of the items I could use as a weapon at a moment notice. I smiled at the instinct, this had to be something Jane taught me over the years. The high alert gut instinct to protect myself no matter what. After spotting at least six different appropriate defensive items, I walked back to get my cane.

As I wrapped my hand around it, a strong knock struck the door, startling me. I gripped the head of the cane, lifting it slightly to test its weight. It would do if I had to swing it like a baseball bat.

"Maura? Please open the door. It's Jane."

My heart dropped hearing her voice, and I rushed to the door, yanking it open to see a disheveled Jane standing at my door. She smiled weakly, "Hey."

"What are you doing here?" I took a small step back, leaning on my cane.

Jane sighed, stepping inside the flat and closing the door behind her as she set a duffle bag down on the floor. I didn't have to wait for an answer, I could see it in the way her shoulders sagged and her jaw clenched. I scrunched my face up, fear filling my body. "He found me?"

Jane nodded once, taking a step towards me, her hands clenched in fists. "It'll be okay. I have police outside watching and they've found a safe house to place you and Constance in."

I shook my head, anger rising with the fear. "No. I'm tired of being pushed and pulled everywhere." I blew out a heavy breath, turning away from Jane. "If he comes here, the police will catch him."

"Maura, I don't think it's going to be that easy." I could feel her body heat move closer to my back. "He's a psycho. He figured out where I put you and told me that he was coming straight here to finish what he started." Her voice trembled as she finished her words.

I tipped my head down, "What does he want from me? He's already taken away three months of my life, injured me to the point it will take three times as long to go back to work fully, and worst of all he took you from me. What more does he want?"

Jane's hands landed on my shoulder making me flinch before I relaxed into her touch. "He wants revenge. He told me as much when he called me."

I turned to face Jane, my eyes wide with shock. "He called and told you?"

She nodded, "Yes, that's why I'm here. It's why I took a redder than red red eye flight to get to you. He's determined to finish what he started." She reached down taking my hand, "And I'm determined not to let that happen."

I glanced at our hands, I was tired. I'd only been awake for less than two months and my life was stuck on a spin cycle as Frankie would say. I was tired of looking over my shoulder, being shoved into the shadows and having to be away from Jane when all I wanted was to be closer to her. I wanted to be with her and work on repairing us, not worry about Holton. I sighed, my brain working quickly. "If you arrived now, it means you took the family jet. Cutting your travel time down by at least two hours. If Holton took a commercial flight, it could mean he will be arriving in Heathrow in the next thirty minutes. Commercial jetliners move much slower due to their size and combined weight of passengers and cargo." I closed my eyes, thinking through the mild headache pounding against my temples. "If you go now and provide a picture of Holton to the airport police, they'll be able to use their facial recognition software to single him out." I opened my eyes to see a grinning Jane. "What?"

She leaned forward kissing my forehead, "Thank god your brain only forgot me and not how to be the beautiful genius you are." She straightened up, "Is there somewhere you can go in the meantime? A small cottage? Buckingham palace? I'm sure your mother is friends with the Queen." Jane was scanning the flat with her detective eyes.

"She's better friends with Prince Phillip." I grabbed Jane's forearm when she gave me a strange look, "She painted his sixtieth birthday portrait." I waved away the question she was about to ask, taking a step away from her. "There's a small cottage in the countryside I can head to. I'll have one of our driver's take me, that way none of the police know where I am in case Holton compromises them as well."

Jane gently grabbed my hand, "I'm taking you. It was stupid of me to separate us and I'm not doing it again. If Holton comes for you, he'll have to go through me." Jane let go of my hand and moved further into the flat. "Where's Constance?"

I hobbled behind her, "She's at the farmers market getting groceries. I can call her." I went to pick up my cell phone.

"No, I'll call her and tell her. She's safe. Holton only has interest in you, no one else." Jane ran a hand through her hair, looking around for my bedroom. "You'll need clothes, warm ones. Is the cottage stocked?"

I nodded, smiling. "It is." I didn't have the heart to tell Jane that the small cottage was actually a small English manor my grandparents owned. "It's well stocked and very much off the grid. There's only one road in and it's surrounded by treacherous woods and rock laden hills."

Jane squinted at me, "Fine." She waved at the bedroom. "What do you want to take? Or do you want me to pack for you? I'd like us to leave in the next twenty minutes." She pulled out her cell phone, dialing quickly. "Frost? Yeah I know I owe you a lifetime of coffee for waking you up. Can you send Holton's picture to the London Police and have them sit at Heathrow? Holton should be landing in the next little bit and I'd like to either have them take him into custody or delay him." Jane yawned as she paced. "Then call Maura's mom and tell her I'm taking over from this point on. Maura is safe and will be safe, we just have to get her out of London."

I smiled moving past Jane to grab the suitcase I never really unpacked from Boston. It was already filled with warm clothes that fit me better than what would be hanging in the closets. I was still too thin to wear anything I had, and none of it was appropriate for country living. I rolled the suitcase to the front foyer, watching as Jane continued to pace on the phone. She hung up, jamming the phone in her back pocket. "The police have Holton's picture. Frost will be calling your mother in a minute, and I just cashed in a ton of personal time with Cavanaugh." She smiled, "You're stuck with me."

I chuckled, "I'm sure Cavanaugh was more than happy to have you cash some of the over eight hundred hours of personal time you've accrued." I leaned on the cane, my stomach grumbling for food and my head shouting for pain meds. I hadn't had a decent night of sleep since I stayed at Jane's apartment, it was starting to catch up, along with my body's desire to eat more than nutrient filled much.

Jane rushed to my side, "One, I need to know how you know how much personal time I have, and two, you've not been following your doctor's advice, have you?" She looked down at me as I slowly shook my head. She gave me a motherly look, "I'll make you a quick sandwich while I get a car here for us to take, then you're going to rest."

I smiled as Jane headed to the kitchen. "Thank you." I shuffled after her, reaching for the Audi keys hanging on a hook next to a BPD mug. "The Audi R8 is parked in the underground garage. We can take that and drive it through the back and out to the side street. It'll avoid the police and anyone who might be watching the flat. Mother uses it for when the Prince visits."

Jane's eyebrows rose almost to her hairline. "Princes and Audi's. What else don't I know about the Isles family?"

I grinned, watching Jane make peanut butter sandwiches. "The only thing you need to know is they love you." I paused, "As much as I do."

Jane smirked, her cheeks turning a soft pink as she stacked bread. "Well played, Maura."

XXX

Jane

If my mind wasn't on high alert, I would've been giggling like an idiot as I drove the sweet Audi through the streets of London. For a millisecond, I felt like James Bond, sneaking through underground passageways evading the enemy with a beautiful woman next to me.

I glanced at the beautiful woman in the passenger seat. Maura was watching the road, fighting sleep with every blink. She yawned, a big one, covering mouth in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. This next left turn should take us out of the city and onto the highway into the country. From there, it should only be about an hour and a half." She smiled, blinking away her exhaustion. "I'm sorry you have to drive, Jane. But I'm impressed how easily you picked up driving on the opposite side of the road."

I smirked, "Driving through Boston rush hour on a emergency run, you end up driving on the left more times than you'd think." I reached over, laying a hand on her forearm. "It's okay to fall asleep, you're jet lag and you deserve some rest."

Maura covered my hand with hers, "Maybe when we're in the country and further away." Her face fell a bit and I knew what she meant.

I pointed at my phone, "Frost already emailed me. Your mother is safe, she is staying with a friend near the palace. The police have swarmed Heathrow with Holton's picture. Fingers crossed this trip to your cottage will end up being a mini vacation for us." I smiled, the crease around Maura's forehead easing away. "Hey, why don't you tell me a story. Any story. I've told you a handful, I think it's only fair."

Maura patted my hand, "Any story? Well, I think most of my stories are frightfully boring or riddled with science facts." She took my hand, linking our fingers together before pulling our hands to sit in her lap. "But I'll try." She sighed, turning in her seat and grimacing a little in pain. She shook her head when she caught my look, "I'm fine, I'm still getting used to sitting for long periods."

"Are you sure? I placed your bag behind my seat, so you can get it. I double checked to make sure all of your meds are in there." I squeezed her hand.

She nodded, shifting again. "I'm sure. I'll let you know." She cleared her throat, "I never had intentions of working in Boston. I had multiple job offers from the east coast to the west coast, even overseas." She chuckled, "I could've been the medical examiner for London, but passed on it for Boston." She yawned once more, "I took Boston because it was so far out of my comfort zone in terms of the position and the work I would be doing. I'd be forced to interact with so many different people, different personalities, and I thought it would be a healthy environment for me. Work on my social awkwardness."

"You're still incredibly socially awkward, but you've gotten better over the years." I winked at Maura. "Please continue your story."

Maura sighed playfully, "I almost quit in the first few months. I was completely overwhelmed with how much I did have to interact and the negative reactions of many detectives to my personality. I loved the work, but it became an exercise in controlling my anxiety every day. Detectives are an egotistical bunch, more so than most surgeons I know. I even had gone so far as to interview at a few research pathology clinics. I was ready to resign and hand it over to Dr. Pike."

I groaned, shaking my head as I entered the highway. "Dr. Pike is the worst ever." I gently removed my hand from Maura's, placing both on the steering wheel as the roads thinned out significantly. "What made you stay and ride it out? Become Boston's most notorious medical examiner?"

Maura's face dropped and she furrowed her brow in deep thought. "You know what, I'm not sure why I didn't leave." She clasped both of her hands together. "It's as if the reason is on the tip of my tongue but I can't say it." She closed her eyes, sighing in frustration.

I had an idea I was a part of that reason, and the reason why she couldn't remember why she stayed in the department. I sucked in a slow breath and went with my detective instinct and question her like I would a witness. Maybe it'd help move her memories along. "Do you remember what month, or year it was that you were thinking about leaving?"

Maura kept her eyes closed, "It was fall. I remember that much. I was a little excited at the possibility of leaving before the Boston winter hit. My staff was decorating the crime lab with Christmas decorations, and I commented on how it was barely a week after thanksgiving."

I smiled to myself. I knew exactly what she was talking about. I'd just returned to the homicide division that October after my leave of absence. I finally formally met a shocked medical examiner, curious as to how a hooker had access to the crime labs. Maura hadn't fully integrated in her new role, and I was always stuck with random ME's until Hoyt. When I came back, Maura had taken over completely and really had no clue who I was outside of the department gossip.

Strange luck was on our side that fall, and I spent a lot of time in the morgue working with Maura. Our friendship developed quickly, along with my sub duded attraction for the enigmatic Maura Isles. I thought for a moment and picked a particular memory. "Do you remember closing out the triple homicide? The frat boy murders?"

She nodded slowly, opening her eyes. "I do. It was an odd one. I found polyester fur imbedded in the back molars of the third victim."

I chuckled, "And that led us to the disgruntled kid who was hazed by the frat boys for wearing the giant beaver costume. Afterwards, you went to the Dirty Robber with the homicide team. Frost, Korsak, Frankie, all were there. Celebrating closing out the case in record time."

Maura smiled. "I do. It was the first time I was invited out by the detectives. I was pleasantly surprised how nice they all were. I had only dealt with them on a professional level." She paused, her brow scrunching up. "I had my first draft beer that night. It was a local favorite on tap, and one detective talked me into it. It wasn't Barry, Vince, or Frankie. It was a woman…who told me in order to celebrate properly, I had to have a three-dollar beer. That it would…"

"Put hair on your chest." I rasped out the words, trying to hold back the excitement that something was clicking in her brain.

Maura turned, her hazel eyes wide in surprise. "Then I explained that it was genetically impossible for a female to suddenly sprout chest hair off of a sip of beer. Especially if the beer is of poor quality and lacks the strong fermentation process of more well-developed brews" She hesitated her eyes welling up with tears, "You then laughed, threw an arm around me and told me to relax, it was a just a phrase your father used to tell you whenever you turned your nose up at anything you found disgusting." Maura sniffled, "I remember you that day. You never left my side and you made sure I was included into the discussion. You made me feel welcomed." Her voice broke as she tipped her head down, wiping at her cheeks. "You wore a dark blue button down with your grey suit. I commented how the suit was two sizes too big and the cut made you look squarish."

I laughed out loud, "Yes you did. I would've been offended, but I saw the innocence in your eyes. You weren't making fun of the way I dress like the rest of the crew. The next day, you grabbed my hands in the café, touching my scars. That was when I felt it for the first time." I paused, savoring the memory of that first touch, that first tingle. "There was no way I'd ever be able to turn away from the awkward doctor who dressed like she just walked off the runways of Milan."

"Even I couldn't afford the runaway pieces." Maura whispered. "I remember you." It was as if she was reassuring her brain that it was okay to unlock her memories. "I remember you."

I chuckled, "It's a shame you didn't remember a more glorious moment. So far you've only fallen onto my insane heroics and my poor taste in humor." I looked at Maura, her smile was strained. It was the smile she gave when she was beyond tired and struggling to stay polite. I reached a hand over, brushing my fingers over her cheek before tucking a piece of stray hair behind her ear. "Take a nap. Don't overthink it. I know it might take time, a long time or forever for you to fully reclaim your brain."

Maura covered my hand, pressing it against her cheek. "Okay." Her one word answer had layers to it. I knew that giant brain of hers was processing over and over and over. Tearing things down to an atomic level so she could reverse engineer it and come up with a hard explanation for everything.

I let her pull my hand into her lap as she scooted into a more comfortable position. "Maur, sleep. I'll wake you when we get to the cottage." She nodded and closed her eyes.

Two deep breaths later, Maura was asleep, clutching my hand like it was a safety blanket. I smiled and turned back to the road. For a few minutes as I drove, I rode the high of Maura's brain giving me a chance. It gave me the motivation to keep fighting for her. I was doing the right thing, and at least one of my detective tactics worked. It gave me hope that if I kept gently pressing, she could recover completely.

I just had to keep her safe.

"Cottage my ass. This is a stinking mansion." I leaned forward in the driver's seat, peering at the massive manor in front of us. It was the size of ten cottages and nothing like the moss covered stone hut I imagined when Maura told me about it.

"It's technically a manor. Much smaller than a mansion and includes land. A mansion is just slang for a massive house. Realtors use it to inflate the price and image of a home." Maura's sleepy voice rose from the passenger seat.

I smirked, rolling my eyes at her geek speak. "Potato potatoe. Mansion manor." I pulled the Audi onto the gravel driveway. "Where do I park?"

Maura pointed to the far side. "Go around the back there. There's a large garage you can park in that has an entrance that leads into the kitchen." She sat up, wincing with a small groan.

I drove a little faster to the garage, parking the Audi and hopping out. I opened Maura's door and held out my hand. "We need to get you to bed."

Maura's mouth twitched into a smirk of her own. "We still haven't had our first date." She winced again as she stood up. "I'm just very stiff."

I practically took Maura in my arms, fighting off the images of Maura, in a bed, with me, naked. I shook my head, focusing on steadying her. "Which of the three hundred bedrooms is yours?"

Maura sighed, smiling. "There's only fifty bedrooms." She winked as she leaned fully into my side. "Take the first left off the kitchen. Down the hall, past the library is the ground floor master bedroom. I use that one when I stay here."

I nodded, clearing my throat. My mind was hyperactive with scenarios involving Maura and a bedroom. It didn't help she was pressed against me and so very warm. So very soft. "Okay."

I walked Maura into the kitchen, shaking my head at the massiveness of the kitchen and the manor in general. "Never tell my ma about how big this kitchen is. She'll move all Rizzoli dinners here."

"She'd be more than welcome. My mother would love it." Maura wobbled next to me, yawning every other step. "You should bring her with you the next time we come here for holiday."

I scrunched my brow. "Next time we come here?"

Maura looked into my eyes, a mild panic passing over her tired hazel ones. "Um, yes. I thought that after this case, my case, was closed. You and I could work on our future. I want to share so much of my life with you. I want to tell you things I've never told anyone. I want to spend a week with you in this giant house and play hide and seek."

My heart skipped and I pulled her closer. "Hide and seek?"

Maura turned a bright red, "Yes. Hide and seek where the winner gets kissed. It's something my college roommates used to play when they went to parties. I always wanted to play it, but I never met anyone who didn't take themselves too seriously." She mumbled the last few words. "It's stupid. I'm very tired and I think my thoughts are unorganized."

I stopped us, turning to face the bright red doctor. I cupped her cheeks, tipping her head up so she would look at me. "Maur. I would love to play hide and seek, chutes and ladders, candy land, or go fish with you. Especially if it earns me kisses." I bent forward, kissing Maura soundly. I parted from her lips, grinning. "But can we come back here without ma? At least for our first vacation together? I love her, but she's nosy and will interrupt any chance she can get to ask when she'll get grandkids out of us."

Maura nodded, licking her lips and sighing. "It's a promise." She glanced at the large door next to us. She waved at it, turning to look at me, her eyes drifting to my lips. "Um, this is the bedroom." She pushed the door open and wobbled inside. "There's a room next to this one." She pointed at another door, "They are connected there. If you'd like your own space."

Maura wobbled towards the bathroom, "I'm going to take a quick shower. The hot water will help the stiff joints." She smiled weakly, running her hand along the wall as she walked.

"I'll unload the car while you shower." I cleared my throat as my adolescent mind drifted to more inappropriate thoughts. "I'll meet you here in ten? Maybe we can rustle up some food and find a TV to fall asleep in front of?"

Maura grinned, "There's a theatre room across from the library. I had the kitchen stocked before we left. Your favorite beer is in the fridge and there's plenty of junk food to keep you happy."

I sighed dramatically, "You know you're absolutely perfect?"

Maura blushed, her eyes flashing a darker shade of green. "Jane."

I ran my hands through my hair, feeling the dramatic change in the air between us. "Uh, yeah. The car. I'll be back in a minute." I backed out of the room and practically ran down the hallway. I cursed my libidio, this wasn't the time for long dead hormones to rear up and start filling my head, and body with inappropriate feelings. No matter how delicious they felt. "Keep it in your pants, Rizzoli." I groaned, as I popped the trunk open on the Audi, snatching our bags. Maybe staying in the room next to Maura's would be a great idea. Right after taking an ice-cold shower.

As I slammed the trunk closed, my cellphone vibrated in my pocket. It was an email from Frost.

Jane,

Holton was stopped by customs but slipped out of their custody. He attacked both agents watching him and made a break through a side terminal. He slashed one in the throat and stabbed the other in the gut with broke shards of glass from a computer screen he smashed. It looks like the agents will make it. There's a bolo out for him and Heathrow has been on lock down. You're not the only one keen on catching this freak, it might keep his head buried for a couple of days. I've asked all communication to go through me so no one can trace your whereabouts. Also, you can thank me later for encrypting your cell phone while you cleaned Maura's closet out. Anything you do on it, it looks like you're still in Boston running around.

Mama Isles is safe and placing all of her trust in you. She also said if you're where she thinks you are, it's practically untraceable unless Holton wants to search medieval land records from the 1500's. Whatever that means. Mrs. Isles scares me a little.

The rest of us are keeping an eye on things here. So, focus on what you need to there. Keep the doc safe, keep yourself safe and come home.

Frost.

My stomach twisted as I looked at the mini fortress standing before me. I knew Holton was coming for us, and it would be a matter of time before he showed up on the front step. I would have to walk the house and find all of the points of entry and form a plan from there. I shoved my phone into my back pocket and headed back into the house. At least I had the night. I would make sure Maura ate, and got a good night's sleep. I'd tell her in the morning that Holton had slipped through our fingers again. As I walked through the kitchen I spotted the same alarm system Maura had in her home in Boston. I smiled, and quickly set it. If anything the Isles were prepared creatures of habit.

When I walked into the bedroom, I found Maura curled up on the bed, dead asleep. Her hair was damp, the wet towel sat in a lump next to her, and she was wearing my shirt. The same old Red Sox one I spotted under her sweater when I barged into her flat. The sight of it made my heart skip a few times. Maura wearing my clothes was quickly becoming a weakness.

The poor woman was sleeping heavy, her chest was rising and falling with deep breaths. I smiled, setting the bags down and closing the bedroom door. I grabbed a few things out of my duffle bag and slipped into the bathroom. I came out a few minutes later, Maura still in the same position, asleep.

I crawled onto the bed, nudging Maura. "Maur, honey? You don't have to wake up, I just want to get you under the covers."

She mumbled, rolling over and peeling her eyes open. "Jane?"

I smiled, "The one and only." I scooted closer, gently pulling the covers out from under her. "I just need you to move a tiny bit."

She yawned and reached up, "I'm cold." Her eyes drooped.

"Good thing I'm a walking heater." I wrapped an arm around her waist and maneuvered the both of us under the covers. I laid back, chuckling as Maura burrowed into my chest and snuggled into my side.

"Very warm." Maura murmured against my shirt.

"Sleep." I kissed the top of her head, running small circles along her shoulder. I had intentions of sleeping in the guest room, but Frost's email changed my mind. If Holton wanted Maura, he would have to go through me, physically. I stared at the ceiling, thinking of the time when I could share a bed with Maura like this and not have to think about anything other than waking her up with a kiss. God, what I wouldn't give to have a normal night with this woman. Just like we used to have before everything turned to shit. I sighed, it would it be so terrible of me if I hoped it could stay just like this? Have Maura only know me in the now, and not the past where feelings were muddy and confusing? Who cares if she didn't remember me, we had a lot of bad moments that I wished I could forget. I groaned, running fingers through tangled hair. That would be horrible of me. I would take Maura anyway I could get her. I loved her wholly and unconditionally, no matter whatever our future might be in her mind. I would love her as I did then and now. My thoughts were cut off when Maura sighed sleepily and placed her ear over my heart, murmuring and pulling me closer.

Maura fell back into a deep sleep, and I quickly followed her. My own exhaustion swallowing me up.

I had plenty of time to overthink later.