A/N: I'm so sorry it took so long. After the test week, i was chosen to be a videographer and editor for an event. It was an awesome opportunity but time consuming. Mistakes are all mine. Enjoy.

A shot rang out

Everything was happening so fast. Her mind couldn't grasp what was happening. The next thing Jane knew,she was on the floor with his hands still gripping her throat and waist but it felt loosen, her eyes closed as she thought of the possibility of being shot and wait for the intense pain of the bullet to cripple through her body , but as a second went by, all she felt was the sudden tense in the atmosphere, her ears ringing as the sound of the gunshot still echoes in her mind, the hands restraining her suddenly felt limp, but no crippling agony or any form of physical pain-not that she know of considering the adrenaline rush. She felt a rush of liquid flowing down from the back of her neck in a symmetrical line to the middle of her spine.

Blood.

She open her eyes as she try to get the bearing of her surrounding, blinking once or twice as she try to pulled herself up, waiting for the blurriness and the ringing to fade over, finally feeling somehow content, she looked up and saw her best friend hold a gun in her direction, frozen in place as if she had stuck in time. Relieved that her friend didn't get hurt but as she looked over her shoulder, she realized why her friend reacted the way she did..

Acted on cop instinct, she quickly checked his pulse.

The man was dead.

Scrambled to her feet, she quickly but cautiously approached Maura, raising her hands up in surrender just in case,she'd taken a few cautious steps forwards, calling her friend's name until Maura lifted her eyes to hers and that's when she finally snapped out of her trance but her hands still gripped tight on the gun.

"Maura, give me the gun, it's alright.."Jane cautiously says while she reached out with one hand to pry the gun slowly from her hands. Maura automatically held the gun out, letting Jane took it as she tried to comprehend the situation where she just killed a man.

Oh god..i i killed him.

" Maura.." She felt a light touch on her shoulder, she turned and found Jane's eyes filled with concern and uncertain on how to act, on instinct Jane gather Maura in her arm, whispering words of comfort telling her 'its okay'. swallowing the lumps forming in her throat, forcing the panic and emotions that threatens to appear just beneath the surface deep back down. Maura knew it wasn't over. Now wasn't the time. Immediately , her attention shifted and her inner dilemma momentarily forgotten when she saw a red slash-like wound on Jane's right shoulder just above her bicep."You're hurt." Maura murmured, immediately acting on her doctor instinct, as she reluctantly free herself from the safety of Jane's arm and grabbed her shoulder wanting to inspect the injury further..

"I am?..Ouch!" Jane visibly flinched, pushing Maura's hands away, but she just sternly hold a grip on her shoulder as she went to inspect the wound, inaudibly breathe a sigh of relief when she realized it was not fatal. As she assessed the damage, she realized the wound was caused by a bullet. The bullet that she shot. Maura quickly pushed the thought away as she focused the task at hand.

" A second-degree abrasion..the flesh wound is not deep, scratch the epidermis but-" Maura rambled, until she was interrupted.

"Okay, okay can't you just say graze shoulder? Just..don't touch it. Its fine. I'm fine " Jane winced as she shrugged Maura's hands away, while one hand immediately cover her wounded shoulder as if to shield it from unwanted pressure.

" At least put a pressure on it..or cover it with a cloth until you receive proper treatment, the exposure of the wound can cause a risk of an infection.

" Maura argued, but reluctantly put her hand to the side as she searched around her pocket to find any piece-like cloth to temporarily be used as a bandage but grunted when she could not find any.

"I am. " Jane argued back, showing her the left hand that she used to cover her grazed shoulder as if to emphasize her seriousness in dealing with it. Maura bite her lip from spouting facts and statistics about the amount of bacteria and germs located in a human skin, especially on the hand. Not wanting to further the argument, knowing now was not the time nor the place she just sighed in defeat as she scanned the surrounding, her eyes were everywhere

but the dead man until it reached the second man, still cuffed to the pole. Jane seemed to be doing the same thing.

"I'm gonna call this in.." Jane said, Maura merely nodded, using her good hand to reach the phone on her holster as she dialed in on the emergency line, waiting for the end of the receiver to answer when finally..

" 911, what's your emergency? " A woman voice-like tone answered.

" yeah, this is Detective Jane Rizzoli…"

Jane sat impatiently on the gurney of an ambulance, the ringing from the gunshot have almost gone and her hearing returned, the adrenaline rush that have been coursing through her vein since this whole incident started have been mostly drained, she's starting to felt the pain on her shoulder as she hissed when the EMTs applied an antiseptic to the wound, but Jane could not care less about her injury right now as her main concerned was the honey blonde locks of her friend that sat on the backseat of the police cruiser,her feet dangles on the edge with blanket draped on her shoulder as she gave her statement to the police officer in charged, 20 feet away from the ambulance.

The EMTs sensed her impatient vibe.

"I still need to clean your wound with a disinfectant Detective, before i can clear you. Are you sure you don't want to head over to Mass Gen for further check up? The bullet wound is superficial, but just to be on the safe side.." The white-caucasian male, dark brown hair, with his brown EMTs uniform asked while he attentively tended to Jane's wound without looking up.

"No, i've been through worse. " Jane sighed impatiently, hoping to get this over with as soon as possible. The EMTs just nodded and resume his task, for what seemed like forever when it's barely been five minutes, he was finally wrapping her wound with gauze and bandages, after he nicked and secured the end of the bandages, Jane immediately hopped to her feet.

"Alright Detective, all done. Make sure to change the dressing daily and be sure to take an anti-biotic to reduce a risk of an infection. Also, limited physical activity on the wounded arm, means no heavy lifting and such.." The EMTs sternly advised, Jane just rolled her eyes.

" when have i ever intend to do some heavy lifting?" Jane asked sarcastically, but the EMTs just smiled with a brief laughed.

" Just doing my job detective.." He said, as he gathered all his medical equipment and first-aid kit supply. Jane just nodded while she grabbed her blazer and carefully put it on. She winced a little when her wounded bicep crossed through the fabric of her blazer,as she finished putting it on she felt a light presence behind her, she turns and saw his ex-partner, Sergeant Vince Korsak.

"Jane, what happened?" He stood, with his grey suit that matched his hair, as his eyebrow furrowed with concern and curiosity. Jane just shook her head as she recalled the event with Korsak, he took out a notepad, while intended to take her statement and listened as well. When she finished her part of the story.."My god, Maura technically save your life. " Korsak said in shocked and awe , he put his notepad down, put his hand on Jane's back in attempt to comfort. Jane nodded while looking at her friend who was being medically checked by the EMTs at the same spot as she was before. On the backseat of the police cruiser.

"Yeah, but she's not a cop, I'm just worry about the..repercussion" Jane finished the last part with a whisper. "I understand, she's a doctor. She's not used to this kind of situation, even us cops never really get over it, I know a lot of guys that lose it due to the stress of the job, serving justice has it consequences..but she will be fine, she has you and your family for support." Korsak emphasized on the last part a bit louder. Making Jane turned to Korsak and smiled. " yeah justice, speaking of..where's the suspect?" Jane curiously asked, Korsak sighed knowing the back-in-business tone in Jane's voice.

"Officer Reynold already on his way bringing the suspect back to BPD, I'm about to head there to interrogate him once we cleared all this up.." Jane nodded.

"Okay, I'm coming with you, just let me-" Jane said but was cut off by Korsak, he raised his finger to stop Jane before she could continue.

"Jane, are you even cleared by the EMTs?" Korsak raised his eyebrows as if to dare her to said otherwise. Jane just stared at him disbelieving , she smirked.

"As a matter of fact, I am. It's just a graze,Korsak. It hurts like the dickens, but nothing serious." Jane said as if the bullet wound was nothing more than an annoying bee sting. Jane quickly hopped on to the ground, as she immediately strode her way to her friend without giving Korsak a chance to reply. Korsak just sighed in defeat as he followed Jane from behind.

Maura was being tended by the EMTs ,she was being shone by a flashlight in her eyes as the EMTs observe her pupil and asked the basic question like-what day was it. Maura mechanically replied to each question in her Dr. Isles tone. Physically, she was there but her mind was lost somewhere in her deep dark reverie but was pulled out from it when she saw Jane approaching.

"Jane, sergeant Korsak" she whispered as the two detectives stopped and offered a sympathetic smiles.

"How are you feeling?" Jane asked softly.

Maura shrugged " I'm alright. The EMTs was just about to clear me."

"How's your arm?" Maura asked in honest concern.

Jane shrugged too. "Just a graze, nothing serious. It could have been worse,"

"Yes it could have.." Maura whispered, more to herself than anything as she tried to push the dark thought away from her mind. Jane noticed the expression on Maura's face and immediately scrambled to change topic "I'm sorry we couldn't find the sample that…we..i mean..you were looking for.."

It seemed to have worked as Maura turned her eyes to Jane and smiled."it's alright. Just another day at the office, right?"

Jane chuckled "yeah, a typical regular day at the office."

Korsak coughed, obviously a fake one " I don't mean to interrupt, but I thought I let you know that Kent is on his way to look for the sample and to um look at.. the body, so no need to trouble yourself Maura "

Maura nodded in understanding. Her face seemed to void any emotion " Alright, I'll just head back to the lab then, once I'm cleared"

"Woah, woah! No." Jane repeatedly shook her head. Maura sighed in frustration.

"Jane, I'm fine. The stress of the incident might have left me a little drained out but nothing with a little hydration and vitamins, which I have in my office by the way, can't fix "

Jane pretending to think it was over as she made her decision. " Nope. I'll have the uniform to send you home" she crossed her arm as if to emphasize her decision was final but immediately let her hand fallen to the side when it hurts her grazed shoulder, but Maura never back down from an argument.

"I have a lot of work to do and besides, I'm not even injured and even you yourself planning to head back to BPD once the area is secure, correct?" Maura raised her eyebrow in a challenge. She crossed her arm, eyes gravely stare into Jane's.

"That's, that's..besides the point..i was just..paperwork you know..it.." Jane seemed to be losing as she stuttered. Maura just tilted her head to the side in question.

Finally gave in. "Fine."

Jane let out a huff. The EMTs finally stood up and gave Maura a nod, to signal she's good to go. Maura gave a nod back " Thank you"

stood up and look at Jane, lightly touch her shoulder " Don't worry,I'll have the uniform escort me, see you back at BPD" she gave a polite smile that barely reached her eyes as she took her leave.

Korsak shook his head and let out a snort, those two might have differences in styles and career paths but they both shared similarity in stubbornness..

The elevator dings open, as a signal for Jane to stepped out. It is almost evening by the time they reached back to BPD, handling question that throws in her way, clearing her as they ruled out the used of her gun as self-defense. Cleared or not, she was stuck to desk duty anyway, since her gun have been files as evidence. She couldn't go out in the field until she gets her service weapons back. She barely enter the bullpen when she was engulfed in a bone crushing hug.

"Janie!" High-pitched man voice scream through the bullpen as he continue to hold her, unaware of her injury that she sustained.

"Ouch! Okay, okay..easy Frankie!" Jane shouted, as she try to shrugged his away. He finally seems to understand as he carefully release her, pulling the nearest office chair for Jane to sit down.

"Sorry, heard about what happened, glad you're alright.." Jane nodded, closing her eyes as she wait for the wave of pain to pass through.

"Ma's going to go nuts if she finds out what happened." hearing the sentences, Jane immediately opened her eyes, her pain forgotten for the fear of her mother is greater than a nuclear bomb.

"You didn't tell her did you, Frankie?" Jane stared at his brother with hopeful expression. Frankie smirked.

"Nah, she would be barging in here causing world war III if she knew, we've been trying to keep her busy, but we can only go so far..you know how Ma is, she can always sense when something is wrong, like the time when i broke her favorite lamp, the way she stare at me is like she knew, I swear the women have six sense " he threw his hand up in the air.

Jane snorted. "Yeah, Ma can be like that. "

she gets up and head over to her desk with Frankie tailing behind.

"So, you're both okay? How's Maura?" Frankie asked, concern clearly etched in his voice. As he sat on the opposite of her desk. Jane rubbed her face with her good hand as he look at Frankie with a timid smile.

"She's..she's better, I guess. probably wish she wasn't friend with a cop" she sat back in her chair.

"What? Why?" Frankie asked, clearly confused.

Jane didn't get a chance to reply as Korsak came in with a brown file in his hand. Her curiosity got the better of her. "Hey, what's that?"

He looks tired,physically, but you can tell his mind is full with determination and passionate anger to solve the case. That's what Jane like about ,they weren't partner anymore, their relationship was stronger than ever. He's been like a father figure to her since she joined the force. He's been a father to her more than her Pop ever does. Korsak sat down on his desk, few feet away from Jane's as he took out his reading glasses and open the file. " it's the new development in the case, just received few photograph and evidence from the CSRU. Most of it are still in process, Kent is performing the autopsy since Maura is um.. involve in his death. Until we can get further more, this is what we got."

He grabbed a few photograph and paste in on the transparent window-like investigation board.

" wait,I thought we are going to interrogate the remaining suspect?" Jane asked, she stood up and look at the board, trying to study the information.

"We are, just thought we should be prepare" Korsak said, as he pointed at the suspect profile.

Jane shift her foot, her good hand on her hip, as she analyze the profile. White-male, American, probably in his mid-twenties, short black hair,he had this dead-look in his eyes, probably been using. God, so young. What was he doing there anyway? She look into his eyes and realize that they were similar to the dead suspect. Suddenly, a new questions pop into her mind.

"Hey, what's the relationship between the suspects?"

"No,the lab is still in process, but are you sure that the um.. the.. shooting is connected to this case?" Frankie voice adds in.

Jane rolled her eyes. "No Frankie ,because two random guys just happened to be at our crime scene and raise a gun at us because they feel like it." she replied, sarcastically.

Annoyed that they feel like they need to tiptoe around the subject, as if she was fragile, like a slight mention of it, she's going to break. Well, she's not. She's been kidnapped and survive through it, she once shot herself to save her brother. She's been through worse, at least that's what she keeps telling herself. She rubbed her eyes in tiredness. "Jane, maybe you should go home, it's been a long day. " Korsak voice cut In. She turned her head toward him, his face was not sympathetic nor empathic but more of an understanding. He understood. Jane was about to protest when Korsak cuts her off.

"It's alright, we can continue this tomorrow, he's not going anywhere, besides, we need the autopsy report anyway"

Jane sighed in defeat as she nodded, she head back to her desk, gathered her stuff when Frankie cell rings and he smirked when he look at the i.d caller, he raised his cell to Jane, to show her the i.d caller.

"Yeah, this case is the least of your worries," Frankie warned in an amused tone.

Ma.

Jane grunted in frustration " Oh ,cmon! Can't I have one day where she doesn't hover?" She checked her phone, curious why her mother would call Frankie instead of her, and her suspicion confirmed when she saw 15 missed call from her mother. Apparently, she did. She forgot that she put her phone on silent.

"God, give me a break." Jane rubbed her eyes in tiredness, she tramp toward the elevator in an antagonize state, leaving Frankie and Korsak laughing, obviously amused.

"Hey Jane.." Frankie called after her, making Jane turn and glared at her brother. If looks could kill..

"What?" Jane snapped, but Frankie was not at all affected by her so call death glare, years of experience proven otherwise. He simply smirked as he wish her sister good luck dealing with Ma.

Jane raised her hand in objection "Nuh uh, I'm gonna avoid her like there's no tomorrow,not if i can help it."

Frankie sneered " When has that ever stop her? Seriously though, good luck..you're going to need it" Jane rolled her eyes as she turn and continue to tramp towards the elevator, she whispered 'thanks' and raise her hand in the air with looking back. She steps inside an elevator and pressed for the morgue button, decided to check on her Maura before she leave for the day..If she's going to suffer the wrath of her 'helicopter mother' she might as well prolong the inevitable.