N: This is what it is. I ambled around with some fluff until an idea popped in my head on how to wrap this one up in a few chapters. And yes...cliffhanger, but don't worry! Holton is about to meet Jane face to face! Read on and enjoy!

Maura

The ache of my entire body pulled me from sleep. My head hurt, my chest, my legs, and there was tension sitting right across my shoulders. I knew it was due to sitting for too long and forgoing my medication for sleep when we arrived at the manor. Not even the warmth of Jane could ease the growing pain.

I slid out of the bed, wincing as I stood and walked out of the room. Jane was still asleep, her face mashed into a pillow, snoring. The sight made me smile, she was beautiful even like she was. Snoring and hogging the blankets. I grabbed my small bag of toiletries, taking one last look at Jane before I left her.

I closed the bedroom door softly and moved down the hall. I had to lean against the walls to stay steady with every step. I was very tired and knew I needed more sleep, but it wasn't going to happen like this. An aching body and a full mind. I'd remembered Jane. It might have been a random moment in time, but I remembered her, she was there in my mind. I closed my eyes as I made it to the library office down the hall from our bedroom. I was picturing her smirking at me as I took a sip of beer. The small sparks in her brown eyes as I remarked her choice of beer was actually very tasty. The small tingles that flooded my body when her hand fell to the small of my back, guiding me to the booth where the rest of our friends sat. The way she laughed at Frankie's jokes, the way she asked if I was doing okay every three minutes. Knowing I had a very difficult time in new social situations. I saw all of it clearly in my mind, but nothing further when I pushed for more. It was as if someone cut the power on my neural pathways connecting each memory together.

I sighed as I eased into the large leather sofa sitting across from a fireplace. "Maybe I should stop fighting it." I whispered in the empty room. I shook my head as I set the toiletry bag on my lap, searching for my bottles of medication. I had too much on my plate mentally and physically to fight with a brain that had it's own agenda. I should be working on healing, getting better so I could help Jane and not be another burden for her to worry about. I saw it in her eyes as she watched me, I was frail, fragile. The way she held me last night, it was incredible but I could almost feel Jane's fear. It radiated from her body and made me wish I had the strength to protect her. Take her in my arms and shield her from the world outside.

I huffed, looking at my thin hands as I held the pill bottles. "I can barely hold myself up." I shook my head, shaking out the medications I'd skipped yesterday and went to stand up in search of a glass of water. As I walked towards the small bar cart sitting in front of the book shelves, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror over the fireplace. What I saw made me stop in place.

It was cliché, but I was a shadow of my former self. My cheek bones were more pronounced, my eyes had the dark circles of sleeping erratically, and my clothes hung off skeletal arms and legs. My heart sank. How could Jane find me attractive? Love me like this? I shifted, moving closer to the mirror and grimacing as I saw how bad my limp was. I moved like I was a hundred years old, not like a woman about to be forty should. My eyes welled up as my heart twisted in my chest. Covering my mouth with a hand, I fought the urge to sob at the way I looked. I'd not bothered to look at what I'd become since I was discharged from the hospital. There had been no time when we discovered Holton was the man responsible for this. Now standing in front of a mirror, locked away in a countryside manor, I was forced to look at myself. Holton had done his best to take me from this world. I swallowed more sobs as tears streamed down my cheeks and pooled against my fingers.

"Maura?" Jane's raspy voice whispered into the room, startling me.

I quickly wiped my cheeks, clearing my throat as I turned away from her and the mirror. "I'm fine." I tipped my head down, letting my hair fall like a curtain along the side of my face, hiding it.

"You were crying." Jane's voice was suddenly closer, forcing me to take a large step away from her.

I shook my head, reaching for the decanter of water sitting on the bar cart. "I'm fine, Jane. I woke up in mild discomfort. I've missed a few doses of my medications due to traveling." I frowned as my doctor voice slid in, one of my good old standby defense mechanisms.

Jane's hand grasped my elbow, "I know that Dr. Isles tone. It means you're far from fine." She gently turned me to face her, pushing the curtain of hair away. She ran her fingers across my cheeks, "And this is evidence you've been crying." She half smiled, "Don't fight me on it, I am a detective. A professional at spotting evidence."

I closed my eyes, "Please don't, Jane." I took a step away, away from her hand. "You should go back to sleep. I'll be fine after the medications have taken effect." I crossed my arms over my chest, desperate to cover myself.

I heard Jane sigh and move to stand right behind me. Her ever present warmth sneaking its way over my body. "You don't remember the most crucial part of my personality when it comes to you. I know you better than you know yourself, and I can tell somethings wrong. You've been crying and it's not because you missed a epic shoe sale." She ran a hand over my shoulder, "Maura, you can trust me. I love you."

I squeezed my eyes shut when I heard the words, "How can you love me? When I'm this frail, horrid looking shell of a person I was." I started crying again. "I'm weak. I can barely walk, and I am constantly asking you to help me. My clothes don't even fit, they hang off of me like I'm just a hanger holding them up. One cranial fracture, a compound fracture in both of my arms, half of my ribs on side broken, a broken femur that had to have screws to steady it, deep contusions on my side that I can still see when I remove my shirt, a twenty five pound weight loss and we already know about what's wrong up here." I tapped on the side of my temple. "You know I just noticed yesterday that my hair was shaved on that side of my head for stitches? I only noticed because I combed my hair a different way after a shower." I paused, realizing my voice had risen to the point I was almost yelling at Jane. I sniffled, shaking my head in embarrassed frustration, "You should go back to sleep, you need your rest."

Jane huffed, "They hang off of you because they're my clothes and we both know I usually get a size bigger than normal for my lazy Sunday clothes. Shit, that shirt you're wearing looks like a circus tent on me."

I shook my head, but stopped as Jane moved closer. Her front brushing across my back as she bent down, her mouth close enough to my ear, her breath was gliding over the skin, making me shiver. "How can I love you? That's a great question, Maura." Her hands came up to my shoulders, gently turning me to face her. I had to swallow hard at how close we were, her big brown eyes boring right into mine. "I love you because you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen in my entire life. I love your big brain that's so jammed pack of useless facts, it's better than google. I love your big heart that welcomed not only me, but my entire annoying family in. I love the way you know what's wrong with me in one look, or one word. I love that you know exactly how I like my coffee, my burger, and beer in a bottle not a glass. I love the way you make me feel completely safe in your arms when all of my nightmares threatened to overrun my life. I love the way you fall asleep wearing your glasses with a book in your lap. Lastly, I love you Maura Isles because you're standing in front of me wearing my old clothes questioning why on earth would I ever want to love a incredible woman like you." She grinned, placing both of her hands against my cheeks. "I don't see anything wrong with you. You're healing. You're alive and that's more than enough for me."

I blushed, a lump floating at the bottom of my throat as my heart swelled to the point it felt like it was going to take over my entire chest. Every word Jane spoke whittled away at my fears. I might not look like the most beautiful woman in the world, but the way Jane looked at me, I knew I was in her eyes. "I'm so frail. I can't help you, I can't protect you…"

Jane shook her head, cutting me off. "Stop it, Maura. You've already helped me, in this case and every minute of every day I have you in my life." She ran a thumb across my cheek, "As for protecting me? You're the only reason I can sleep at night. When you're laying next to me, I'm safer than I've ever been." She searched my eyes, "You're not frail. I saw you scoping out the kitchen as we walked in. Looking for makeshift weapons like I showed you. I also bet you still remember a few of the fancy sword moves."

I smiled with watery eyes, "Fencing moves." I reached up, wrapping my hands around Jane's wrists. "Jane. Was it always like this between us? So…intense?" I felt a fire sparking to life in the pit of my stomach as I breathed in more of Jane's shampoo. I silently cursed my libido for jumping the gun and racing to a starting line I was no where ready to stand at, no matter how incredible Jane looked with her wild bed head and loving grin.

Jane chuckled, kissing the tip of my nose. "Intense, yes. That's the best word to explain it. We skirted the line so many times, yet neither of us crossed it. Just intense gazes, hugs, and long periods of staring at each other." She smirked, "I can't tell you how many times I wished I could read your mind and stop playing the guess gaming. It just had to take you getting hurt for me to grow the balls to say anything."

I smiled at her phrasing and dropped my hands from hers so I could slip them around her waist. "You can't grow testicles."

Jane shook her head, "I'm very aware of that doctor." She gave me a dramatic sigh, "Now that we're both wide awake, what do you say to some pancakes and eggs? Ma showed me how to make the bunny pancakes."

I grinned, my stomach rumbling in excitement. I was very hungry. "Angela's bunny pancakes always made me feel better about life." I took Jane's hand, stepping away from her. "Jane, I know I'm all over the place with my emotions. I wanted to apologize..."

Jane pressed her fingers against my mouth, shushing me. "Nope. Don't say it Maura. You never have to apologize for anything, especially for the way you feel right now, today, tomorrow. I'm never going to judge you. I'm here with you because it's where I belong, it's where I need to be."

I blushed again, nodding. "You're where I need to be too. You're my home, Jane." I rasped the words out, smiling at Jane's reddening cheeks. I kissed the corner of her mouth, "I love you right now, today, tomorrow, forever." I whispered against her lips, the blood rushing in my ears. I was beginning to build a slow craving for Jane. I backed away, letting out a slow breath to calm my heart.

I saw Jane visibly swallow and run her hand through tangled hair. "Um, those pancakes?"

I reached own, linking my fingers in hers enjoying the flustered state of the woman. Knowing I had that effect on her helped build my confidence and carve away at the frailty that lingered as I glimpsed the mirror over her shoulder. "Lead the way."

When Jane squeezed my hand, I knew we would make it through this. Together.

Jane

Watching Maura eat a thin stack of bunny shaped pancakes kept my thoughts distracted. She ate like a happy little kid, and it made me smile. I wasn't worried about her weight anymore after watching her demolish a pile of eggs before working on the stack I set before her. She didn't even complain about the chemicals in the syrup I set next to her, she just happily soaked the pancakes and dug in.

I never once worried about Maura's physical state after she woke up. She had proven to me in a week that she was a strong and determined woman. She would be back to her normal self in time, and so I never focused on how small she was or how frail she moved. I just steadied her as she went and made sure that she was eating. So it blew me away when she confessed her fears about how I could ever love her while she was healing. I chuckled, if she only knew how deep my attraction ran for her. I wanted to sit and make out with her every chance I could, like the horny teenager I really was.

Last night, Maura rolled over and brushed her hand over my breasts and I almost jumped out of my skin. Then became ridiculously embarrassed that I was such a horn dog. A little innocent brush of the hand and I was ready to rumble with the good doctor. I shook my head, turning to refill Maura's orange juice. A royal rumble would have to wait. I had to catch a maniac and Maura needed to heal.

I slid her glass across the counter, running my eyes over her face and catching her eyes. One of my favorite features on her. Hazel eyes that shift from muddy green to bright emeralds depending on her mood. Right now they bordered on tarnished copper, meaning she was tired but happy. "How are the pancakes?"

Maura smiled with a full mouth, "Delicious. Thank you for making them."

I handed her a napkin, "It's probably the fancy pancake mix I found. Even the food in this place is above my pay grade. Don't worry I added some healthy protein to make sure you have a good base of energy to work off of." I picked up a fork, spearing a small chunk of pancake. "It's still early morning, what did you feel like doing today?"

Maura pushed her plate closer to me, "I'd like to walk outside for a bit. It feels like a lifetime since I've been in fresh air." She leaned forward, smiling as I stole more of her pancakes. "Then can we just sit together and maybe plan our first date?"

I laughed nervously, "You haven't forgotten about that date, have you." She shoved more food in her mouth.

Maura shook her head, "I might have forgotten a lot, but not that I asked you out." She reached for the glass of juice. "There's a nice place in London I would like to take you to. Somewhere special to me."

"Is it a museum on Victorian surgical procedures? With old things and a bunch of science?" I cocked an eyebrow.

Maura laughed, shaking her head. "The one I want to take you to is in Scotland, and no it isn't a museum." She paused, fidgeting with her glass. "It's a place I used to go to when I was a child in London." Her eyes dimmed, and she forced a smile. Her way of dismissing the conversation. "Let me help you clean up." She went to stand, but I waved her off.

"Sit. Relax. I got this." I pointed at the dishwasher next to the sink. "Why don't you go upstairs and get ready for that walk. Dress warmly, it's colder than Boston out there."

Maura slid off her seat slowly and walked back to the bedroom. I watched her for a moment before loading the dishwasher. After mashing a bunch of buttons, I was able to get the thing started.

As I moved to finish off the rest of her orange juice, my phone began buzzing in my back pocket. I yanked it out, spotting the email notification from Frost. I went to open it, when an unknown number lit up my phone. I stared at the number, my gut tingling.

"Rizzoli." I walked to the small mudroom so Maura couldn't hear me.

"Smart move detective in sending the police to the airport." Holton's voice filled my ear. "I must admit I panicked and it wasn't my best work. I'm usually much cleaner with my attacks, and I rarely leave anyone alive. Those guards should consider themselves lucky."

I clenched my jaw, "I will find you."

"And kill me, yes I know. You don't have to pull out the movie lines on me." Holton laughed, "I wanted to call and let you know that we've come a across a bit of delay. The police are everywhere, and it's made my life a little difficult. London is an admirable city and full of cameras." He sighed, "I've had to go into hiding for a few days before I make my way to you and the doctor. I'm impressed by you Detective Rizzoli. You do love that woman. But I have one question for you."

"You should be worried about what I'm going to do to you when I find you." I hissed through my teeth.

Holton laughed, "I like this rough and tumble side of you. You're going to prove to be a fun opponent. But the question is, are you willing to die with Dr. Isles? Do you love her enough to die with her or better yet, die for her?"

"Where are you? Make this easy. Tell me where you are, and I'll come to you." I began pacing. It was stupid to use me as bait, but I didn't want Holton anywhere near Maura. "Tell me what you want, Holton. Tell me why you chose Maura."

There was a pause before Holton spoke again. "Fine. Since I'm stuck in the bowels of this city for a few days, I'll play along. Search her testimonies from the state of California vs. Rodrigo Varez." He paused again, "I had a family too, Detective. One I protected as fiercely as you protect the woman you love." The confidence in his voice was gone. "Till we meet in person, Jane."

The line went dead, leaving me angry and eager to crush the phone in my hand. I wanted to go outside, scream into the mountains and then run back to London and search every sewer I could until I found that rat. I took a few calming breaths, pulling my rage back in. I needed to focus on Holton and the vague clue he gave me. I swiped the phone, opening up my email. I did a quick request from Frost to find the court files and forward them as soon as he could.

I tucked my phone away and went towards the bedroom. I knew taking the bait from Holton would be fruitless, but any insight on this maniac would give me an edge.

I walked into the bedroom, smiling as Maura walked out of the bathroom wearing another one of my old shirts, pulling a thick sweater over it.

I bit the inside of my cheek as Holton's question rolled around my head. I shoved it to the back, telling myself that it wasn't a question I'd have to answer. Ever.