A/N: Oh man I hate doing this but I don't really have a choice here. Going against cannon really sucks. To Castle Writers, Marlowe and Hawley, I do sincerely apologize for this, and mean no dis respect to your work in any way.

Monday.

Jane glanced up from the incident report she was finishing as she realized her partner had been exceptionally quiet over the last hour. Kate's look was distant and not in a good way. Jane knew why, she was probably the only one who did.

"Hey," she said quietly. "Kate."

Kate blinked and turned her eyes to her partner, "I'm sorry Jane. What were you saying?"

"Actually I hadn't said anything." Worry creased her brow, "Hun, I know this whole thing was hard on you. You want to talk about it?"

She shifted uncomfortably and glanced around. They were more or less alone in the bullpen.

Kate leaned over her desk, closer to Jane "You know anything about PTSD?"

A snort escaped Jane as she dropped her pen and held up her hands, "Uh, yeah. I think I might."

The puckered scars on her hands testified to her words. "How did you know?"

"Well, I denied it for a while until Maura made me see it. Thankfully it developed after my reviews with the BPD shrinks so I kept it hidden."

Her partner sighed, "Dr. Burke thinks I have it from the shooting."

Jane didn't comment, she merely leaned over and waited.

"After today, I think he might be right." Kate confided.

"Kate, it doesn't make you less of who you are. It's just something you have to deal with just like any other at work injury."

"How did you deal with it?" Kate asked.

"I killed the fucker that gave me these scars with his own tool." She smiled, "What do you know, I'm cured." A smug smile flashed across her face.

Kate laughed, "No really."

She sighed, "I had to get help, Kate. I just made sure no one but Maura ever knew about it."

Kate nodded and leaned back in her chair. "God, Jane. I almost peed my pants when Esposito took that shot. It was like being at Montgomery's funeral all over again."

Jane shuttered. Since they were spread out looking for the sniper, Jane wasn't there to cover Kate's back. She hated that feeling, like she hadn't been there to protect her partner.

"God, I wish I'd have been the one behind that rifle." Jane said out loud.

Kate's eyes snapped to her, "You can do that? Sharp shooter, like Esposito?"

"I'm probably better." She said and there was no arrogance. She wasn't boasting. In fact it was almost regretful, the words that came out of her mouth.

"How?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing, "He's military trained."

"I have a knack for it." Jane said as she stared at her desk, "Found that out a couple of years ago after that thing with my Dad leaving my Ma for that bimbo, Lydia."

Kate remembered. That was three years ago and Jane had come out to LETO with a huge attitude and a massive chip on her shoulder. Colin had said that she wasn't going into the CQB like that and had taken her out to blow off some steam. This was the first time she had heard about what they did out there but whatever it was, it had worked.

"We took a couple of Banshees out to this really big range on the back side of Fort Justice. Colin and I set up something like forty or fifty of these bad watermelons around all of these hills and a gulley that ran through the middle of them. Riding around like that was a lot of fun but I didn't know what we were doing until we got partway up this one hill and he just stopped next to some trees and this small flat cove."

Jane sighed, "That was when he started pulling out these rifles. I've heard about sniper rifles but I've never actually seen one until then. He set up six different rifles and this spotting scope and we shot at these melons that were ranged from 500 yards to around 2500 yards. After I got used to the rifles and he showed me how to adjust for trajectory, wind, descent, and a hand full of other things, he set up this spotting scope and walked me through shooting these things. Once I got the hang of it we found out that I'm accurate up to 1400 yards. And that I favor the Grizzly Big Boar 50 cal. even though I can use the others."

"Jane." She said, "Why didn't you say something? You should have been up on one of those buildings."

Jane stared at her. "Because I needed to be on the ground to back you up. I was only a block away when you went in."

"Jane!" she exclaimed, "Oh god if you'd have been on that roof instead of Javi…"

Kate shut up as she seen Captain Gates turn off the lights in her office and close and lock her door. Instead of heading straight to the hallway to leave for the day, she eyed Jane hand headed straight for her.

The well-dressed black woman started digging into her attaché case until she pulled out a single sheet of paper. As she approached Rizzoli's desk she not to gently slapped the sheet down in front of her.

Jane stared up at her, "What's this, sir?"

She narrowed her eyes at Jane, "Your transfer order. Sign it and it's done. You'll be in Boston by the New Year."

She glanced at Kate before turning back to her boss.

Gates snorted at her, "Don't be so surprised, Rizzoli. I know all about you and your Dr. Isles. Now that you're back together I figured this wasn't far behind."

Jane looked at the transfer order. It was official. All Jane had to do was sign it. Gates stared at her.

"What are you waiting for? I haven't got all night."

Gates's impatience set Jane's threat detection off. Something wasn't right about this. "Why are you doing this, Captain? You really want me out of here that bad you could have done it at any time so why the transfer now?"

The older woman smiled, "Rizzoli, nothing on God's green earth would make me happier than to toss your bony little ass out of here for the first damn imagined offense I can think of. But I didn't get where I am by wasting resources. As much as I don't like you, your attitude, or your arrogant ass, you get results. You and Beckett are the best damn team I got here and as much as it pisses me off to the point of wanting to throttle you, I'm hoping that you don't sign it and that you'll stay here. I really do hate you Rizzoli, but the one thing that allows me to deal with the biggest pain in my ass is that 98% conviction rate. For that, I'll get a cushion for my chair."

Jane snorted, "I can have my girlfriend make some recommendations for that cushion."

"Shit." She balked, "Being involved with you, she's probably an expert in dealing with pain in the asses." She glanced at her watch, "Look it over and think real hard about leaving. I've got things to do."

Gates headed towards the elevator.

Kate stared at Jane. Jane picked up the sheet and shook her head. "Sometimes I think she might actually like me and then she opens her mouth and screws up the whole friggin' thought."

Kate chuckled quietly but sobered when she seen Jane with her pen to her lip, thinking about signing.

"Go ahead, Jane." She said, the words felt so wrong, "Sign it."

She looked up and her eyes met Kate's. Jane could see it. Uncertainty, pain, and loss, reflected back at her from Kate.

I can't do it. Not yet. She needs me to be here for her, especially now. Jane clicked her pen closed and tossed it into her pen cup. She gently filed the transfer in her desk drawer with the rest of her certifications and open files.

Kate blinked.

Jane cleared her desk for the night, "I think you should consider allowing Burke to treat you. PTSD is like any other injury, if you don't get it treated, it can get infected and cause other issues."

Jane stood up and yanked her blazer off of the back of her chair and slipped it on. She clipped her holster to her left hip and turned back to her partner.

"What about the transfer?" she asked.

"I'm not ready to go yet." She said, "Especially after the talk we just had. I need to know I got my shit together before I can go home."

She came around the desk and put her hands on Kate's shoulders. "And I need to know you're alright before I can let you go."

"Jane, I'll be fine." She said, "You can go home. I'll get myself some help and I'll be fine."

She spun the chair so she was facing her partner. Jane crouched in front of her and took Kate's hands into her own, "Kate, I love you and I would just hate myself if something happened to you. I don't care what you say and I don't care how much I miss Boston, you're my partner and you were there when I needed you most. I won't let you go through this thing alone." She smirked at her, "Face it. You're stuck with this crazy bitch."

Kate smiled even though she didn't feel like it. Jane knew she wasn't all right, just like Javi when he dragged her into evidence to show her the very rifle that punched a hole through her chest. And Just like Javi, Jane would push her to face it and stand beside her when she did.

"Okay." She said softly, "I'm going to see Burke tonight. I'll tell him."

"You want me to drive you?" she said. "I'll stay if you want me too."

"No, Jane." She said as her grip tightened, "You go home to Maura. I know that you are still making up for lost time and I'll see you in the morning."

"OK but under two conditions." She said, "One. I'll drop you off at Dr. Burke's. Two, I'll pick you up at the loft in the morning."

"And if we get called out?"

"I'll still pick you up."

Kate nodded and they stood up. "You just want to have the car, don't lie."

"My Crown Vic sucks on gas and it's so expensive in the city." she said as Kate slipped on her jacket. "Besides, I think Maura and I are going to drive it down to Boston so I can trade it in for an Impala."

"Oh so now you like the Impala?" she teased as she slipped her gun on. "You hated it when we first got assigned to it. Something about lack of horsepower?"

Jane smirked, "Yeah well, it grew on me."

There was more to this so Kate pushed, "And?"

"And… I got a call from my guy at the BPD garage. Says he's got a couple of Impalas getting ready for auction. Says that Vice is coming to look at them on the first of the year and anything they don't want, he kicks 'em to auction."

Kate walked with her to the elevator. "I though you bought your car from the BPD auction."

"That's what I tell everybody but I usually get the first crack at what goes." she said. "I got his kid out of a DUI when I was working Vice and he's been my car guy ever since."

"Jane!" Kate said as they stepped in, "You got a kid out of a DUI?"

"Hey, relax. He was a good kid who had a drink or two and his friends stuck him in the middle of a bad neighborhood with no phone. He got stopped three blocks from his house for not using a turn signal and blew a point-oh-three. Massachusetts has a 'zero tolerance under 21' law so an oh-two is a dui so he was in deep. I cut a deal with the patrol that got him and let him spend the night in the tank. I cut him loose the next day after talking to his dad."

"Do I want to know what the deal was?"

Jane rolled her eyes, "I had to go out on dates with both of them. By the way, did I mention that I was dressed up like a hooker when I cut the deal?"

Kate laughed as the doors opened to the parking deck, "Oh my god! They didn't try to…"

"I grew up with one of them so he knew better. I just met with one of them at a time, let them try to woo me and turned them down nicely. I actually made out the best on that deal because I got two free dinners, some free beers, and a car guy out of it."

"Oh shit, damn girl you did make out." She said and blew a kiss at her in jest. "Remind me to have you renegotiate my union contract."

Jane laughed as she dug the keys out of her pocket.

The ride home in Rick's car service was quiet and uneventful and soon Maura found herself in front of her building with the door man reaching for the car.

The driver looked over the back of his seat with a smile. "Here you are, Dr. Isles. Will you need us here tomorrow morning?"

Maura smiled and slipped him a twenty, "No thank you, George. Detective Rizzoli will be driving me to work tomorrow." As the door opened she folded up her purse and picked up her attaché case.

"I know it's not my place ma'am, but I have to say that you and the Detective make a very lovely couple. I've gotten to know the Detective a little over the last few months and I must tell you that I've never seen her happier."

Maura's smile grew to reach her eyes, "Thank you George. I truly appreciate you saying that. I'm quite fond of her too."

He nodded as the doorman helped her out.

"That's quite a lady." He said as the door shut. He put on his blinker and pulled away.

"Good evening Dr. Isles. Welcome home." The doorman said as he pulled open the front door.

"Thank you Miguel." She said as she stepped in.

Miguel walked her to the elevator as was his custom once he found out that Maura didn't feel safe in New York. He pressed the up button on the elevator and glanced back to the door.

"Has Detective Rizzoli been here tonight?"

"No, Doctor. She hasn't arrived yet." He said. But thought for a second, "But I suppose she could have used the entrance in the parking garage. I believe she has the door code."

"Yes she does and I have given her my parking stall number as well."

He stifled a small laugh.

Maura rose an eyebrow, "What is it, Miguel?"

"I'm sorry doctor. I just remembered something that another tenant said about a police car in the garage."

She smiled. "What did they say?"

He laughed bit more as the elevator arrived, "Just that the Detective's car sticks out in the garage among all the other cars."

She stepped in to the elevator, "Why is that amusing?"

He smiled. "Most of the tenants who have cars are quite wealthy so there are more than a few Bentleys and others luxury cars down there but this is Manhattan so many of the cars do not get driven and can get quite dusty. Since the detective's car is always clean, it sticks out because it's taken better care of then cars that cost three times as much."

"OH!" She said, "Its MSRP is less but it's better maintained. I get it!"

He nodded with a grin, "Have a good evening Dr. isles."

He walked back to the front door as the elevator closed.

Maura was smiling to herself as she thought of the impression Jane was making with the people around her. Although many of the residents didn't know her it would appear that they were beginning to know of her. But Jane was making her strongest impressions with what Maura was told were the blue collar workers. People like George and Miguel. Leave it to Jane to make friends with the people who matter most, not the ones with the most influence.

She unlocked her condo and stepped in. After closing and relocking the door she reached for the light switch and was slammed against the wall.

Her heart leapt to her throat as a man pressed her against the wall. He held a gun to her head.

Maura whimpered as her arm was twisted painfully behind her back.

"Don't move." He said in a deep throaty voice.

Maura took a deep breath, "I live with a cop who will be home any minute."

"That's good. Then you must be Isles." He said, nearly purring in her ear.

She blinked this was no ordinary home invasion. "What do you want?"

"You to sit in the chair by the window and stay there until Rizzoli comes." he pressed the gun into her temple hard. "Will you do that?"

She nodded with her eyes clenched shut. He eased the pressure of her arm and slowly took a step back.

Maura tried to recall one of those defense moves that Jane had taught her and only one came to mind. She turned slowly around and before she could move something hit her in the side of the head. Maura saw stars and then she saw nothing but black.

Jane stepped off the elevator grumbling to herself about the parking garage, again.

"Think maybe if you own a hundred and fifteen thousand dollar Maserati, you might want to wash it once in a while." She murmured as she walked up the hall to Maura's door. She tried the door handle and silently thanked Maura that she had locked it. Jane pulled her key out and shoved it into the lock. But as she opened the door, her threat detection went into high alert.

Jane's eyes scanned the dark room. She immediately noticed the dark silhouette near the balcony windows. It was Maura. She wanted to rush into the room and protect her but she stamped down the impulse and focused. With a thought, she had it on alert too. She slipped her 45 out of its holster and dug into her pocket for her light.

"Come in Detective. Your girlfriend has been expecting you." a voice called out from the dark.

Jane slipped inside and closed the door, not wanting the light from the hall way to reveal her location as she moved deeper into Maura's home.

She stepped toward the kitchen and a light came on in the living room. It wasn't much, just enough to illuminate a few square feet.

She glanced in to see Maura tied up in a chair with a cloth in her mouth, her eyes fluttered as she slowly regained consciousness. Jane didn't miss the small trickle of blood and the massive bruise coming from her temple. She continued to step slowly into the room, her gun searching for anything that moved.

"Set your gun on the kitchen floor or Dr. Isles dies." He said from behind Maura.

Maura's head jerked back as he wrenched her hair.

"I'll give you one better." She said, "Get up and get out and you'll live. How's that?"

She heard the hammer of a pistol being pulled back and Jane froze. She had no clear shot. Not even a nick.

"Three." He said.

Jane stared, willing him just to stick something, anything out from behind her.

"Two." Jane stepped back slowly.

"One." He said and straightened Maura's head with the barrel of his gun.

"OKAY!" she shouted.

She set her Glock 37 on the hard wood floor. As she straightened so did he from behind Maura. First thing Jane noticed was the silencer on the end of his pistol.

"Good, very wise choice detective." He said as he pulled the rag out of Maura's mouth. "Step away from it now."

Jane took one step into the kitchen, behind the island and towards the countertop.

"Don't get any ideas about that Glock 19 you have stashed behind the microwave."

Dammit he knows about my nine mil. She took another step, this time towards the island before she gently rested her hands on it. Not too far from the fruit basket.

"Won't you have a seat please?" He said.

"No, I don't think so." She said. "Been sitting half the day at my desk after the sniper thing today so I'd rather stand."

"Suit yourself." He said.

Just keep him talking, Rizzoli. If he's talking he's not hurting. "You're not here to kill us so what do you want?"

"All of your case files and notes on Joanna Beckett." He said simply.

"Joanna Beckett?" she asked as confusion set in.

"Yes detective. I need all of your files on the murder of Joanna Beckett." His voice grew stern.

"What do you want me to do, go down to the Station and sign them out of storage?"

He pointed his gun into Maura's cheek and pressed hard. Maura whimpered softly at the sharp pain. "We both know that Richard Castle copied the files there and that he was quietly investigating that case, along with Detective Beckett. Since both of them had backed off the case I know those files went to you and I need them right now."

"I don't have them." She said simply.

"Well that's a shame." He said as he slid a small knife out of his pocket. "I had hoped you'd cooperate so I could be on my way but you seem to think that I don't know what I am talking about so we'll just have to do this the hard way."

He pointed the knife at Maura and gently raked it across her cheek. He then turned the point up and slashed a shallow line along the underside of her jaw. Maura screamed.

Jane's eyes darkened in that instant. Her blood turned to ice as the familiar cold sensation filled her.

"That was your second mistake tonight." She said, her voice carried her deadly intent. "No way you walk out of here now."

He chuckled at her. "Detective, you are not in a situation where you can turn it to your advantage with words. The files, please or I will cut her up a piece at a time."

Jane sneered at him. "I don't have them and if you cut her again, I swear that you will die screaming. Just like the man who cut her neck."

He glanced down at the small scar. It was enough. Jane palmed the paring knife from the fruit basket and kept it hidden in her sleeve. She needed to get closer if she was to put it between his eyes.

"Interesting." He said, "But I am not a serial killer who preys on women. I am a professional and you would do well to remember that. Now about those files."

Jane made a pretense of resignation, even though she felt nothing. "In the desk. Second drawer. Underneath the files there."

He placed the gun to Maura's leg. "I guess I'm going to have to show you just how serious I am."

Jane saw the tendons in his wrist tighten, he was pulling the trigger. She snapped her hand out and the paring knife flew out of her hand. The blade penetrated his forearm near his wrist. Sliding right between his radius and ulna and severing two of his extensor digiti tendons. His hand released the gun involuntarily.

He screamed as Jane rushed him. He slashed at her with the knife and tried to kick her in the head. She bent right and ducked the leg before drilling her fist into his kidney before straightening. He buckled but caught himself and he struck out at her again, this time with his damaged hand followed by a kick to her stomach that failed to connect.

Jane's body surged. This was what she had trained so hard for. To have the skills necessary to fight and defend those she loved against any who would take them from her. She twisted and countered his assault. He hadn't been boasting when he said he was a professional. Jane poured her darker side into her muscles and her body roared in response.

Maura gasped at what she was seeing. The man who had taken her hostage moved like lightning. He was highly trained in some kind of martial arts but she was stunned to see that Jane was too. She fought hard and somehow managed to avoid taking a single hit although landing her own, until he managed to kick her in the side.

Jane saw it coming and was unable to stop it but she lurched with the hit and gasped when it connected. She rolled off to the left and came up across the room. Despite the pain Maura knew her to be in, Jane was smiling. But it was her eyes that frightened Maura. Jane's dark brown eyes looked like they were black. Something Maura knew to be impossible but she had seen that look on Jane's face once before.

The night she had Killed Charles Hoyt.

He pulled the paring knife from his arm and held it up. He grimaced as the blood started pouring from his arm. He went for the gun on the floor.

"Your dead, Rizzoli." He said. "And she's dead too."

It was then that the regret came into Jane. He had just sealed his fate through his own actions. There was no longer any option left.

Jane moved quickly stepping back into the fight. She kicked at him before he could pick it up. He took two swipes at Jane and she allowed him to cut her arm. Jane slipped to the left and fired her right straight into his throat, crushing his larynx. He choked but still he swung on her through the pain. Jane stepped back and launched her foot straight up at his jaw. It was a deliberate and practiced move and it snapped his neck, killing him instantly. He dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap.

Jane straightened and took a single step closer to him to verify that he was dead. His eyes wide and his head tilted at an unnatural angle confirmed what she already knew.

Jane picked up the knife as the regret seeped away, taking with it her guilt at killing him. She turned to Maura and she pulled back that dark part of herself and once again, Jane felt it settle deep in her soul.

Maura gasped as she watched Jane's eyes. That dark deadly look was gone and only her love and concern showed there. "Jane?"

Jane used the knife to cut Maura's ties to the chair. She dropped the knife and pulled her into her arms, "OH, Baby." She exclaimed, "Honey, are you alright? What did he do to you?"

Maura latched on to Jane with everything she had. "Oh god, Jane! You killed him!"

Jane held her tightly, "Yeah, baby. I did. I couldn't let him hurt you again."

"Jane." She said, "Who was he and what was he talking about."

"I don't know, Maur." She said simply, "But I'll find out. I promise."

Jane dug her phone out of her pocket and dialed dispatch without letting go of Maura who had begun weeping in Jane's arms.

"Manhattan dispatch."

"Rizzoli. Badge number 75205. I need response to a two-one-seven (assault with intent to murder) and a four-four-four (officer involved shooting) at Tamaro Towers, central Park west. Number 1854. I have a single four-one-nine (dead body) on sight and I need paramedics for a two-one-nine (cutting). Also contact Beckett, with two tees, 41319, my immediate supervisor."

"Copy that detective, Units are on the way. What is your status?"

"I'm 10-26 with one victim, alive but injured." She said.

"Copy that, do you need to remain on the line."

"Negative, I'm going to tend the victim."

"FDNY reports ETA six minutes out. Patrol and 24th units enroute as well."

Jane didn't hang up but she did drop the phone on the floor. She pulled away from Maura to look at the cut under her jaw. "Oh shit, Maura. That doesn't look good." She yanked her blazer off and pulled her t-shirt over her head and pressed it to Maura's jaw.

She then guided Maura to the couch and sat her down. Maura stared at Jane with tears falling as Jane kept pressure on Maura's cut. It wasn't life threatening but it was serious.

Maura placed her hands over Jane's, "Thank you, you saved my life again."

"I don't know about that, Maur. If we weren't together this wouldn't have happened to you."

Maura looked at her, "Jane, don't do that. I'm here because there's nowhere else I want to be. So don't you dare try to use this to push me away."

"Maura." Jane said.

"Don't." she said sternly, "Don't you even think it."

Jane sighed.

She didn't know where her conviction came from but Jane had fought hard to save her life and Maura would be damned if she wouldn't fight just as hard to keep her.

A/N: Yeah, I said it, Tamaro Towers. Little tip of the hat to the woman who got the ball rolling on our favorite show. Plus a little extra for our newest reviewer. Hope you enjoyed Baddass Jane.