A/N: So, here we go, say thank you to My Muse for this because it's fight night and the rewards are marvelous.

Mickey O'Reilly was an Irish immigrant who came over with his parents at age 5. Well built like his father who was an enforcer for the Irish mobsters, Mickey had wanted a better way but had been unable to find it. He learned to fight on the streets of the Bronx and eventually became an enforcer, too. He never spent his money but put most of it away until at age thirty eight, he caught a lucky break when his boss got hit by a group of Italian rivals. Most of Dugan's Gang had been killed but Mickey made it out with a couple of bullets to the shoulder.

He quit the racket and took his money and opened a gym just outside the south edge of Harlem. He took in boys of all kinds and taught them better ways. One or two had even become prized boxers. The Italians, realizing that Mickey was no threat, left him be for the most part. So he operated his gym for more than 40 years in peace and was left content.

One of his favorite athletes had to be Katie Beckett. She had come in angry at a tragedy in her life and wanted to learn how to fight back. Mickey originally turned her down until the young girl jumped one of his boxing students and took him down. So he had opened his doors for her after hours, After Kate had become a cop, he had given her a key for whenever she felt like coming down for some fight time.

Six months ago she had brought in Jane Rizzoli. He would have turned her away except for the phone call from Colin O'Malley that asked him to trust her, that she needed to find herself. Mickey had set the place up for her various styles and Jane had never given him a reason not to trust her, until tonight. He had called Beckett and asked her to check on Jane.

Kate Beckett stood in awe at what she found. The scene was both beautiful and grotesque at the same time. A breathtaking graceful dance of the macabre. Jane was standing in the center of five fighting dummies and was cleanly attacking them in what appeared to be random strikes but Kate knew that there was nothing random in Jane's attack. She was merciless as she pounded each of the five man shaped pads. Without gloves and against a person, those blows would end lives.

Jane was so drenched with sweat from her workout that she had a sheened appearance as if covered in fresh oil. Her muscles rippled and coiled before being used to their destructive potential. Movements and changes in her body that Kate could see in every detail because of Jane's near nudity.

She had built up such an internal temperature that she had discarded her t shirt and sweats and was currently fighting in her grey cotton boy short briefs and a matching sports bra. Her shoes and socks were the only part of her original outfit she had kept. Kate noted the t shirt and yoga sweats, both soaked with perspiration, were lying on a bench next to Jane's gym bag. Her iPhone was hooked into the speaker dock Kate had bought her for her birthday and was currently blaring Breaking Benjamin's I Will Not Bow. Four empty one liter water bottles sat on the floor with two full ones standing by.

But it was Jane's face that caused Kate's pause. Although Jane's moves were both vicious and deliberate, her face held no emotion what so ever. Jane was completely impassive and cold as she rained blow after blow of lethal hits on the dummies. As Kate got a glance of Jane's eyes she knew why.

Jane had reached for that dark place inside her and she had brought it out. On purpose. No wonder Mickey had sounded so off, if he had seen even a part of this…

As the song ended Jane relaxed for a second before heading to the water bottles. She caught sight of Kate and her eyes narrowed. She snatched one up and drained it completely before setting it on the floor with the others and reaching for a towel. The darkness didn't leave her eyes.

"How'd you find me?" she said coldly.

"Mickey called me." She said cautiously, "Don't know what happened but you scared the hell out of him."

Jane nodded, "I started to work out before he left." She was the epitome of calm, eerily so.

"Yeah," she said as she headed over to the boxing ring and set her bag down.

"You shouldn't be here, Kate." She said with a very level voice that somehow sounded like a threat.

Kate started unpacking her gear and without looking at Jane she addressed the elephant in the room. "When did you start using it?"

A pause before, "After you were shot." Jane said as she approached. "I thought about all the things that had happened when I tried to deny a part of myself. I didn't care for it."

Kate turned to her and narrowed her eyes, "You told me this thing terrified you. That you were afraid of becoming it."

Jane stared into her partner's eyes and let Kate see it, the deadly potential that nearly glowed. Then she let Kate watch it as she pulled it back in. Kate blinked as one second Jane's eyes were dangerous and lethal. The next she was herself again.

Emotion returned to her voice, "It's a part of me, Kate. I can't deny that. I may have never wanted it but I have it all the same."

Kate started changing into her workout gear right there ringside. "Are you still mad at me?"

"Furious," Jane said simply, "I can't believe you wouldn't tell me something like that." Her voice started to rise but she pushed it down.

Kate pulled out a set of foot pads and tossed them lightly at Jane. "Put those on." She said as she pulled her kick boxing gloves on.

Jane glared at her, resentful that her partner had just barked at her. Sure Kate was the Sergeant but she never barked at Jane. Kate said nothing more as she rolled into the ring.

She rose to her feet and stood in a fighting stance.

As her anger rose Jane glared at her, "You really don't want me in there right now."

She smacked her gloves together and rolled her shoulders, "If getting my ass kicked is the only way to make this right then that's what I'll do." With a smirk she added, "Besides, you've been throwing punches for the last three and a half hours. Seems like the best time."

Jane smirked as she picked up the foot pads, "afraid I'll get hurt?"

"Actually, those are so you don't hurt me." She started stretching and loosening up her muscles.

Kate was very much mistaken in this, but Jane nodded anyway. She sat on the bench and hung the pads around her shoes before latching them on. She then reached for her gloves and put them back in the bag before pulling out a full sized set of boxing gloves. Jane hated the bulk of them but knew Kate would protest if she kept her fighters.

"Are we going till one of us is down or do you want to go rounds." She asked as she slid one on.

"Whatever you need to get us passed this, I trust you." She paused, "Only one rule. Keep it put away, I don't need to lose my head or throat tonight."

Jane smirked again, her anger stepping up to the front. She pressed a button on her iPhone and said, "Play Jane's Fight Mix."

She then slid on her other glove and used her teeth to pull the Velcro strap. She got a running start and slid in on her belly. She rolled to her feet and Kate tossed her a mouth guard. Jane caught it and slipped it in place as she rounded the boxing ring.

The iPhone started off with a heavy metal guitar riff then a man screamed in a heavy metal voice, "Put your fucking fists up!" She recognized it as a Five Finger Death Punch cover of the LL Cool J song Mama Said Knock You Out.

Kate glared right before Jane threw a punch at her head, Kate ducked it and backed up, that blow would have leveled her.

"A little aggression there, Jane." She said around the mouth piece.

"You wanted it put away, this is without it."

She lurched at her, a sharp kick to the back of the knee and Kate rolled with it and returned to her feet. It hurt but not enough for her to rethink it.

As Jane took another swing, Kate dove and rolled behind her before lurching to her feet and landing her fist in the small of Jane's back, she didn't punch, she pushed. Jane was thrown forward but swung a foot out to catch Kate in the side of the head. Jane recovered first.

"Don't fuck with me, Kate!" she shouted, her anger showing, "Bring it."

Kate nodded, This is going to suck.

Kate came awake on her back with Jane kneeling over her, she had no gloves on and she was slapping Kate lightly on the cheek.

"C'mon girl, get up." Jane's voice was worried, "Kate, C'mon, partner."

"Stop hitting me, Jane." She said groggily.

Jane breathed a sigh of relief. "Jesus, I thought I killed you." She fell back on her ass.

Kate rubbed her jaw and felt the stiff sensation in her neck. She remembered what happened in that moment. How Jane's elbow was coming at her, she had ducked it and realized too late that her heavily padded fist was right behind the elbow about a foot lower. Kate remembered that it connected and then it was lights out.

"Damn near, babe." She said as she let her arms drop, "I'm glad I made you use those gloves."

Jane laughed slightly, "Yeah, me too."

Kate sat up on her elbows, her head pounding like she had been on a weeklong binder. "You feel better?"

"Not really." She frowned, "I let my anger get the best of me again."

"Better to let it out in a controlled state like this than in public."

Jane got to her knees and put her hands on either side of Kate face, "No it's not Kate, I could have killed you, tonight. My anger is how I lost Maura in the first place and now I really don't know if I have made any progress at all."

Kate grabbed her friend's hands and gave them a squeeze, "Yes you have Jane. I can see that and you should too."

Jane sat back again as Kate rose up to join her. "I don't see it."

"You were furious when you left and you came down here and tried to vent your anger in a gym. That's a lot better than popping off in the apartment and scaring everybody."

"But I almost killed you!" She shouted, angry that Kate didn't realize how close.

"But you didn't. I was here too Jane. I seen what you were trying to do and I got in this ring with you. You showed a lot of control."

"You got knocked cold! I thought I broke your neck." Jane sounded terrified.

Kate couldn't know how Jane had connected with her jaw, how Kate's head had spun around and she fell like a sack of potatoes. Crumbled was more like it.

"That was my fault. I told you to take it out on me and you did. I should have seen that fist under that elbow." Kate put a hand to her jaw, testing it. "Colin always taught you to exploit any weakness you find. You know mine intimately and you deliberately ignored my biggest one." For emphasis, she took Jane's hand and placed it on her hip where the stiches poked at her hand. "You ignored this even though I gave you the opening."

Jane pulled her hand back, "I didn't really want to hurt you like that."

Kate nodded, "Yeah, I know and it should tell you everything you need to know."

Jane sat there staring at her partner, she tried to go over it in her head but she wasn't having a lot of success.

"Tell me about the heavy combat training." Kate said.

She winced. Of course Kate had that irritating ability to nail the one subject Jane didn't want to talk about at that moment but she also knew it was the one thing that they needed clear. Both personally and professionally.

"You know I started it with Colin at LETO. He was right, you know. I needed to find some balance inside myself. So I train after hours twice a week, usually for two hours. Tonight I needed more." Jane ran her hand through her dark hair and looked into her partner's eyes, "It didn't really work but for a time I was distracted from it all and it gave me something more I can do. But there were a few unexpected benefits."

Jane rolled on her side and came into a crouch that allowed her to stand. It was a show of her flexibility and limberness. "I'm 36 Kate and I'm in the best shape of my life. I've never in my life felt so strong or as comfortable in my own skin." She spread her arms and turned slowly. Jane was unabashedly showing of her amazingly ripped body, complete with every scar revealed in its glory.

Kate marveled both at the sight and of the change that was apparent in her partner. She was blatantly and openly displaying the very things she had spent years hiding. Even when it was just the two of them, Jane had been bashful about being nude or nearly so. But she stood proudly wearing nothing but her Hanes underwear. Kate was dumbstruck at the change.

"I found that balance after I killed Murphy. I realized that I was treating it like I did being gay. I denied it and I allowed it to fester and poison me. Now that I've accepted it and found a functioning place for it, I can use it."

Kate stood as she heard Jane defending something that four weeks ago, didn't even know her partner was capable of. Jane's words from that day echoed in her head and Kate wasn't sure invoking that part of Jane was a good idea.

Jane was more confident and strong beyond belief but still. It worried Kate, as did Jane's weekly exercise of that part of herself.

"That's why you've been going to see Liv more often, isn't it?" Kate took one of Jane's hands into hers. She ran a finger over the scar to test her partner. Jane was uncomfortable with the touch but remained. "So she can stop the pain you're causing."

She wanted to deny it but Kate was her partner, "Yeah. She does that for me. Since Maura, she's the only one."

Kate nodded but kept pushing the issue, "You still got some left in those arms?"

"Still got a couple hours left, why?" She paused as understanding struck Jane and she gasped and looked around the ring, "No, you're not going to… are you?"

Kate pointed her hand at the dummies, "Show me you have control first."

Monday.

Dr. Maura Isles walked around the Pathology Lab as her students studied the cadaver Maura had just finished the autopsy on. She smiled as she saw Kacey Linden slip on purple gloves and examine the failed heart of the aged man on the table. She waited for the question the young girl would inevitably ask. Kacey was in fact one of her best students.

"Dr. Isles, I know the report says that the patient suffered from a heart attack but wouldn't there be significantly more evidence of blood flow restriction to the heart?"

"Yes." She said simply, "as blood flow was blocked from reaching the various portions of the heart, oxygen deprivation would be evident. Would you perform the examination, Miss Linden?"

The young girl adjusted the light over the table and picked up the heart to examine it more closely. "Muscle tissue around the ventricles shows signs of overextended use for a long period of time furthermore the plaque buildup in the arterial channel isn't that severe. The likelihood of heart attack is lower than I would consider plausible for cause of death."

The other students leaned in to look as Maura came closer, "probability and, as you stated, plausibility isn't what we do as Medical Examiners. We follow evidence and empirical facts to determine cause of death. If the heart had displayed the appropriate signs would you jump to the conclusion of heart attack as this ME did?"

Kacey looked up, "No doctor, a full examination is required, particularly since the cause of death in this case is in question." She had been one of the first that the ME had questioned about jumping to conclusions. It was a lesson Kacey had learned well.

"Then please give us your medical opinion."

Kacey placed the heart on a small tray and lifted a scalpel, Maura stood behind her so she wouldn't see the doctor smile as she cut into the exact area she would have. "Condition of the valve is indicative that the patient had an irregular heartbeat which would lead to Cardiac Arrest, not heart attack, upon completing the examination of the heart I would also check the deceased medical records to confirm the condition." She gently placed the heart back in the body.

Maura heard the door open behind them but didn't turn, "And if this had pertained to a potential homicide investigation instead of an insurance cause of death review?"

Kacey looked passed her instructor as she spoke, "I'd send for the toxicology report as well as review the evidentiary findings from the Crime Scene Technicians."

Maura smiled warmly, "Well done Miss Linden but in the future you should send for toxicology report if available regardless of the circumstances." She slipped off her gloves and turned to dump them into the biohazard container.

She froze at the visitor who had entered a moment ago.

She had been expecting Dr. Nelson to accost her for lunch again instead she found the breathtaking display of Jane Rizzoli standing quietly inside the door with her partner. Her face shown the same nervous delight hers must be. More than anything else, Maura wanted to run into her arms but she quickly remembered that she was in class. She smiled warmly, trying to express her happiness as she realized her entire class had turned to the visitors as well.

Maura cleared her throat and addressed her class, "Well. Today we have two very distinguished visitors who can explain the valuable role of the Medical Examiner in a homicide investigation. Please welcome Detective Sergeant Kate Beckett and her partner Detective Jane Rizzoli from the New York Police Department."

Jane bit her lip as she raised a hand in greeting. Kate had been right, again. I should have waited till class was over.

A young man named Nigel Aldridge coughed.

"Dr. Isles?" he sounded nervous, "Is this the Detective Rizzoli you worked with in Boston?"

Before she could answer, Jane was marching into the lab, "Yep. I've had the pleasure of working with Dr. Isles for the first 5 years I worked in Homicide and I can tell you from personal experience that the ME's report is the foundation behind any homicide investigation."

Kate laughed softly as the questions started pouring in and Jane's nervousness grew with every shout. A quick glance for help from Jane called her out front.

"Okay," She said loudly, "One at a time, raise your hands and let's pretend like we're in college."

Jane sent a message of gratitude before taking a step back, a step closer to Maura.

"So since we do investigate homicides, we have to lay a few ground rules. First off, we will not be answering any questions about active cases or anything you have heard on the news. Second and before it comes up, yes I am the Detective that inspired Richard Castle to write the Nikki Heat book series and no, I will not be answering any Nikki Heat questions, save it for his book signings. Third, neither I nor detective Rizzoli will be answering any questions about our personal lives."

Jane jumped in, "Since I do know Dr. Isles so well, I know that her focus is on the science and the facts. So how about if you focus on the science and we help you to understand what we do with it and how our cases are often hinge on the job you could be performing through the ME's office?"

Maura smiled. She had dreaded dragging Jane into the spot light but with her partner, she easily slipped into the role of a knowledgeable teacher.

"Most of the cases that Dr. Isles had revealed to us pertained in her work with the Boston Police." Miss Linden asked, "Could you explain if there are any differences between the two departments?"

Jane laughed, "For one thing, it takes longer to get your information from your ME."

Kate shot her a look then relaxed as Jane continued.

"Not that the ME's office here in New York isn't as good as in Boston but here the ME's office is across town. I can't begin to explain the incredible convenience of getting on an elevator and riding it down to your ME. Often Mau…, excuse me, Dr. Isles would come up with new evidence and deliver it to us in person simply because we were two floors up. Since our," she held a hand up to her and Beckett, "assigned ME, Dr. Parrish works so far away, most of the interaction is done over the phone or at the ME's office."

Kate stepped in, "Plus, as I understand it from my partner, Boston is fortunate to have a lighter case load than we do here at the NYPD. Mostly due to population wouldn't you agree, Detective?"

Just like that Kate had poked Jane's inner google.

She cringed as the statistics rolled out of her mouth, "Yeah. New York has a population of eight million two hundred and forty five thousand people whereas Boston only has about six hundred twenty five thousand. That's thirteen times the population so comparatively that is why our case load is about fifteen times larger here when combined with the added issue of population density."

"Population density?" Maura couldn't help herself. She had never heard Jane running out her own version of talking google like that. It was something she couldn't believe and wanted to see again.

Jane glared at her for asking, but she smirked and off she went, "Yeah. Boston's population is about thirteen hundred people per square mile, encompassing just over forty eight miles. The New York area is a little over three hundred and two miles with the population density of about twenty seven thousand per square mile. But if this city gets any bigger they'll have to rate population density in cubic miles."

Several students laughed as Kate clapped her hands, "A talent that she learned from your very own Dr. Maura Isles."

Kate pointed at a student who wanted to know about the role of an ME in a NYPD murder case.

AS Kate started to lay out an old case Jane eased up to Maura. "Hi."

"Hello." She said softly.

"Listen, I'm sorry about inter…"

She didn't get to finish, "After class, Jane."

"I know but I really need…"

Maura stopped her with a look Jane had never seen before, No, it couldn't be.

"I know." She said, "After class. You have about fifteen minutes more to wait." And so do I.

Jane bit her lip and nodded before turning back to the students.

As they filed out of the room Jane had stayed leaning against the dead table after Maura had had the students put the corpse back into the storage locker.

They smiled and shook hands with most of them before Kate followed them to the back, but she didn't leave. She simply sat down in the chair closest to the door and quietly observed.

Maura was willing to bet that there was a second Diary of Jane and that Kate was quietly watching them for the benefit of her writer fiancé. She chose to ignore her and instead focused on the woman she had wanted to see again for eleven months.

"I'm sorry, Jane." She took the lead as Jane had been focused on the toes of her boots.

Jane looked up, "You have nothing to be sorry for, Maur."

God how she had ached to hear that voice say that name, "No, I do. And I am. I should have let you finish talking at Logan."

Jane squirmed a little. Only Maura could make her confidence disappear. "Yeah, but I could have done that a lot better and two nights before that, a hell of a lot more sober."

Maura leaned against her desk, "Yes. I think we both made mistakes that night." That was the night she agreed to go to Mali with Ian.

"I'm so sorry, Maura." She said, "You were right, I was out of control and I had a lot of hard things I had to come to terms with."

"Jane," she said, "I really don't know what your issues were but you could have talked to me. We could have worked them out, together."

Jane stared, "What if you were the problem?"

"Me? What did I do?" Maura was aghast.

Jane stood up and walked over to her. As she approached she pulled an envelope out of her inside jacket pocket and handed it to the blond. "The problem was with me but it had everything to do with you."

Maura glanced at the envelope which bore the NYPD logo.

"This is an NYPD Twenty three oh four. It's used to file a complaint against an officer of the NYPD. I took the liberty of filling it out for you if this doesn't work out."

Maura stared at her, "If what doesn't work out?"

Jane quickly debated this, she knew what could happen and she knew she wouldn't be able to say it until… Fuck it!

Jane grabbed either side of Maura's face and pulled her lips to her own. As they touched Jane slipped her arms around the blond. It was the sweetest thing Jane had ever tasted and she marveled at the sensation. She was holding Maura Isles in her arms and kissing her like she needed to breathe her in to live. It only took a second to realize that Maura's arms hung limply at her side and her lips had responded only barely.

She pulled back, instantly regretting her brazenness. She stared into Maura's wide eyes. She wanted to run but she promised Kate and most of all herself that she would see this through.

"That's what the problem was, Maur. I had to come to terms with being gay and in love with my best friend. I've never wanted to be with someone as much as I do you. I love you, but I understand if I'm not what you want. I just needed to say it." Jane stepped back and turned away to leave when Maura caught her hand.

"Oh no you don't." Maura said firmly, finally coming back to herself after that shocking kiss. She knew from the book that Jane had loved her but she had no idea until the instant those lips touched hers how passionately Jane could love her, it had left her frozen, stunned beyond the ability to move.

"You don't get to kiss me like that and then just leave." She said, "You even try to walk out that door and I'll have this filed before you get back to your desk." Maura held up the envelope.

Jane stared at her partner, who merely replied with her eyes. Turn around, Jane.

Jane turned back to Maura who had a tear rolling down her cheek. Jane instinctively reached for it but stopped her hand just before the contact. Maura dipped her head into that hand allowing Jane to collect the tear.

"Is this what you were trying to tell me then?"

"Yeah," She said as her thumb stroked Maura's wet cheek. "It wasn't easy to come to terms with but I did try to tell you. I know your straight, Maur. I know it but I couldn't stop it anyway."

Maura held the envelope up in both hands, "Well I guess we both have things we didn't talk about." She tore the envelope in half and tossed it behind her.

Jane gasped as Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's neck and pulled her back into another kiss. This time, they both responded.

Kate felt awkward at the display of two women who were essentially eating each other's mouths as if starving to death. It was raw and passionate and she either needed a beer and some popcorn or a cold shower. She couldn't figure out which one would be better.

Damn good thing Castle agreed to stay behind. I don't think I could handle his childish remarks after this.

Her phone vibrated as did Jane's, they had a case. Kate quietly stood up to go get her partner when Jane slowly pulled away from Maura.

"I have to go," Her voice was more than a little breathy.

"I know." Maura replied with a voice to match.

Jane kissed her lightly, before she stepped back. She had that cocky arrogant Rizzoli smile, like she just got away with something. Maura thought it was from the kiss. Kate knew better.

She smiled to herself as she started for the door, "C'mon, Jane. Murder waits for no woman."

Jane pulled Maura's hands as far as they would go before dropping them. She turned around and started after her partner.

"Jane?" she said.

She spun around. Her hands clapped together, "Yeah?"

"Dinner?" she said, "Tonight? I know we've only…"

"You know where Bella Roma is?"

"Yes." She was surprised at the name.

"Six thirty ok?"

Maura smiled, "Yes, that's perfect but you have to walk me home."

Jane smiled and turned to walk out. "You got it." She walked out with that confident swagger. Maura couldn't help but stare as Jane's very beautiful hips danced under her blazer as she walked out the door.

It was then that Maura realized that she had forgotten to get Jane's new number. She cursed herself as she shoved her hands in her lab coat in frustration. Something had poked her hand and she pulled it out. It was Jane's card. On the back was her cell phone number and written in Jane's rough writing was I did get yours from your messenger, so it's only right you had mine. And just in case I chickened out, I love you.

Maura smiled as she understood Jane's mischievous grin and as she thought about dinner, her heart beat accelerated and her stomach began doing the most amazing things. Maura looked to the ceiling and sent a thank you to whoever may be listening and had just maybe answered her prayer. She knew it was ridiculous but she didn't want to take a chance on wishes being revoked.

A/N: I lost the fight and My Muse thought this was the time for the reconnection. So say thank you to the Muse. Before you ask My Muse is a non-corporeal part of my brain responsible for creativity.