*Okay…please don't hate me…I promise to try and get the next chapter out as soon as possible. And with that being said…thanks for the messages and suggestions on what to do to get my arm back in action again. And as always…thanks for reading, reviewing, and sticking with me through thick and thin.

Little Lies

Early morning sunlight streamed in the window bathing Carly and Ryan and their newborn daughter in a soft, warm gold and Maura couldn't help but smile at the sight before her. It had been a long night of waiting but finally, in the early morning at 6:27 to be exact, Rory Levi Rizzoli-Cavanaugh was born to much fanfare as the hospital waiting room filled with anxious grandparents and excited aunts, uncles, and cousins. Maura had stayed by their side through it all and had even assisted in the delivery, due mostly to Carly and Ryan's insistence. Crossing her arms over the light blue scrubs she had changed into, she leaned against the door frame and studied the room full of people that were milling about. She noticed how tired Carly and Ryan looked, happy but tired all the same and decided it was time for them to be alone with their daughter.

"I'm sorry to run everyone off, but I think it's time we give the happy parents some alone time." Maura pushed away from the door frame she had been leaning on. When Carly's mother glanced over at her, she thought she might have a challenge on her hands but sighed in relief when everyone seemed to accept her request with a few shrugs and grumbles of discontent. She accepted Angela's quick hug and pat to the cheek as the room cleared and smiled at Ryan's look of relief.

"Thanks Doc." Ryan snuggled closer to Carly who was holding Rory. She had climbed in the bed to lay beside her wife and daughter, trying to get as close as she could, resting her head on Carly's shoulder so she could look down at the little bundle wrapped in Carly's arms. "So beautiful…" she whispered as she ran her fingers through wisps of blonde hair, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I think I may have bought you a few hours of quiet…" Maura started to say but was interrupted by Rory's hungry squeal. "Or maybe not."

"Is she okay?" A look of panic filled Ryan's face as she struggled to stand up.

"I think she's hungry, babe." Carly ran a finger along Rory's cheek.

"Has someone come in to help you with breastfeeding?" Maura moved across the room to lean against the bed.

"Yeah, the nurse came in but there were so many people she said she'd come back later." Ryan shuffled her feet nervously.

"I'll get someone up here ASAP." Maura reached out to touch Carly on the leg. "It's not hard but it helps to have someone who knows about it here in case you have any questions."

"I think I have the general idea but I know there's a few things I might need help with." Carly smiled as Rory latched onto her finger with a tiny fist.

"I'm gonna leave you to it then…but please make sure you get some rest. Once you get home…" Maura rolled her eyes. "You won't have all these people around to help."

"We will." Carly gave her a tired sigh, emphasizing how exhausted she was.

"You did great." Maura said over her shoulder as she headed towards the door. "And you too." She said to Ryan with a grin.

"Hey, where's Jane?" Ryan asked.

"She took my clothes to the car." Maura stopped in the doorway. "And she's supposed to bring some breakfast from the café across the street for us. I told her to bring some Danishes and coffee…real coffee, not that sludge they try to pass off in the cafeteria."

"Thanks…" Ryan said as she sat back down on the bed next to Carly. "For everything." She looked up at Maura with a grateful smile.

"I'm just glad we got here in time for the epidural." Maura laughed. "But you're welcome." She didn't want to make light of their appreciation. With one last glance, she marveled at how happy Carly and Ryan looked and wondered if she and Jane would ever find themselves in the same place.

Slipping her wallet in her pocket, Jane did her best to balance the bag of pastries and cup holder with coffee as she stepped outside onto the sidewalk. Before she could make her way to the cross walk, her phone rang and she hit accept without looking at who was calling. It was a move she would later regret.

"Rizzoli…" she was slightly breathless as she stopped at the corner of the street to wait for the pedestrian light to turn green.

"Meet me in the warehouse district in an hour, alone." A voice Jane didn't immediately recognize said rather gruffly.

"What? Who is this?" She moved away from the intersection towards the shad of a nearby awning trying to figure out who was on the other line. And then it hit her like a ton of bricks. "Sean?"

"You have an hour. I'll be waiting for you in warehouse 36." His voice was firm and commanding.

"I…um…can't get there in an hour…I'm at the hospital. It will take me at least an hour and a half…" Jane's mind raced for a reason to delay the request.

"I don't care how you make it happen, just make sure you're here in an hour and you'd better be alone." This time he didn't wait for her to respond as he hung up with his last word.

The click on the other end of the phone had Jane shaking her head as she turned towards the crosswalk again. "Fuck…" she said as she jammed her phone in her back pocket. Looking around, she tried to figure out what to do. Her legs seemed immobile and unwilling to move, but then something kicked in and she pushed herself to cross the street.

The hospital was only a block away so Jane calculated that she had enough time to drop the food off with Maura and make a quick excuse for why she was leaving. If Maura didn't question her too much, she would be able to get out and meet Sean with a minute or two to spare.

It didn't take long for Jane to come up with a plan and a lie she could live with as she walked across the hospital lobby towards the elevators. The plan would be easy to convey, the lie…not so much. Anxiety settled in the pit of her stomach as she waited for the elevator doors to open and when they finally did, she stepped on with a heavy sigh and a wave of nausea washed over her. The feeling that everything was about to change the minute she lied to Maura was a feeling she couldn't shake and a heavy foreboding dropped on her shoulders.

When the doors opened on the maternity ward, Jane froze at the sight of Maura leaning against the counter talking to one of the nurses on duty. The light blue scrubs were wrinkled and the dark rings under hazel-green eyes were prominent but the smile that greeted her was full and genuine.

"Oh my God…you're a lifesaver." Maura pushed away from the reception counter, a hand outstretched to take the coffee. "Real coffee!"

Maura's movement and the sound of her voice caused the feeling to return to Jane's legs and she stepped off the elevator with a strained smile.

"Everything alright?" Maura noticed the stiff set of Jane's shoulders as she took her coffee and accepted a quick kiss to the cheek.

"Yeah…just tired." Jane tried to dismiss the concern. "How's the happy family?" She nodded towards the room Ryan and Carly occupied.

"Good, but tired. I ran everyone off but I don't know how long that will last." Maura glanced over Jane's shoulder at the gathering of Rizzoli's and Cavanaugh's taking up most of the waiting room. "I think maybe the natives are getting restless."

Glancing over her shoulder, Jane let out a heavy breath. "I'm sorry to do this but I've gotta go to the hotel to get our stuff and check us out."

"I thought you asked Frankie to do that?" Maura frowned as she took her first sip of coffee then let out a long, slow satisfied sigh.

Jane did her best to school her expression as she nodded her head but dropped her eyes from Maura's inquiring ones. "Um…yeah, I did but he got called in." The lie slipped from her lips effortlessly. Frankie had already picked their things up and checked them out but Maura didn't know that.

"Oh…" Again, the frown appeared but this time the coffee didn't bring a smile to Maura's face.

"You think you can get your mom to take you and my ma home? I'll meet you there later." Jane tried to keep her tone calm even though she fidgeted nervously.

"I don't see why not. I'll probably go straight to bed for a nap though. I'm exhausted." And as if to prove her point, Maura yawned.

"I bet you are. You did help deliver a baby, after all. You gonna stay much longer?" Jane smiled at the cute way Maura was rubbing her eyes.

"Nah, just gotta check in with Carly and Ryan…and little Rory one last time, then we'll head home."

"Little Rory, huh?" Jane felt a longing to be spending the day with their own daughter. "I thought Carly was supposed to pick the name if it was a girl."

"Well, I guess they decided to compromise. Carly wanted something unconventional for a girl and I think Rory fits the bill. Besides, the name suits her." Maura said as she took the bag of pastries from Jane's hand. "You want one of these before I pass them out to the masses?" She held it up and shook it lightly.

"I'm good. I had one on the walk over." Another lie. Jane had lost her appetite after hanging up her phone earlier. She must not have looked convincing because Maura gave her an uncertain look. "Really, you know I have no patience." Holding her hands up and shrugging her shoulders, she tried to smirk.

"O-k-a-y…" Maura drew the one word out slowly, conceding even though something didn't feel right. She thought that perhaps she was tired and needed some sleep so she accepted what Jane said even if she wasn't sure she believed it.

"I'm gonna head out." Jane said after nervously glancing at the watch on her wrist. She couldn't help but frown at how much time she had left to get to the warehouse district. If she used her dash board siren, she just might make it in time. As she turned to leave, she felt a hand on her arm and stopped to look at Maura who gazed at her with uncertainty.

"Jane, is everything alright?" The concern in hazel-green eyes almost caused Jane's knees to buckle.

"Yeah, why?" Jane asked.

"You were going to leave without giving me a kiss goodbye." The pout on Maura's face made Jane smile, but it was a sad smile.

"Sorry, beautiful." Leaning close to Maura, Jane placed a soft, yet lingering kiss to Maura's lips. She had the overwhelming feeling that she should deepen the kiss and pull the smaller body against her own because it might be the last time and it caused her to reluctantly pull away. "I'll see you soon." She dropped her gaze again, afraid her resolve might crumble.

"Don't make me wait too long. I always sleep better with you snuggled up against me."

With a sad smile still on her face, Jane nodded her head and took several long strides towards the elevator. She could feel Maura's eyes on her as she pressed the arrow pointing down, praying that the elevator wouldn't keep her waiting long. When it dinged, finally announcing its arrival, she stepped on, pushed the lobby button and then shoved her shaking hands in the pockets of her faded blue jeans. As the doors slide closed, she felt the tears finally fall and she couldn't help but think that she might be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Maura watched Jane leave and even though something hadn't felt right at the time, she didn't say anything. Instead, she leaned against the counter at the nurse's station and let Jane walk away from her without a challenge. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and she did her best to push it aside with a rational excuse that even she didn't believe but she didn't have a choice.

Jane had looked sad and forlorn as she turned to leave and for a brief second, Maura thought she saw tears glistening in dark eyes as the elevator doors slid closed. But that couldn't be possible, Maura surmised, because Jane was going to the hotel to check them out and Jane wouldn't lie about that.

As Maura stood, lost in thought, Constance slipped up alongside her and put an arm around her shoulder.

"Why the pensive look, darling?" The question startled Maura.

"Um…nothing. Just tired I suppose." Maura pushed her hair away from her eyes and tried to smile.

"Did I just see Jane leave?" Constance glanced over her shoulder to confirm that Jane wasn't still there.

"Yeah, she's gone to check us out of the hotel and pick up our stuff." Maura set the bag of pastries down on the counter and let out a heavy sigh. "She asked Frankie but I guess he got called into work…or something." She pushed the bag away from her, not really hungry anymore but still thankful for the coffee.

"Oh, I thought I saw him a while ago but you know…the Rizzoli's do look a lot alike." Constance shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe I saw one of the cousins."

Maura's eyes did a once over as she looked over the Rizzoli clan to see if she could recognize Frankie in the small crowd that had gathered. When she couldn't find him, she let out a small breath of relief. So far, everything seemed to be adding up. Perhaps exhaustion was finally catching up with her and it was causing her to have misguided thoughts.

"Do you mind taking me and Angela home?"

"Of course not. How much longer do you think you'll be?" Constance could see that Maura was struggling with something, but she wasn't sure what it was or how she could help. "We could order some take out from the café down the street from you place and pick it up on the way there. I don't know about you but I'm famished."

"That would be fine. You and Angela decide what to get and I'll check in on Carly and Ryan one last time." Maura wrapped her arm around her mother's waist and gave her a gentle hug. "I won't be much longer."

"Sound's good, honey." Constance accepted the hug and silently marveled at how things had changed between them over the years. She gave Maura a reassuring smile when they let go of each other and then watched her walk away, feeling like something was very wrong but she couldn't put her finger on what it was.

As Maura walked away from her mother, she reached in the pocket of her scrubs to grab her cellphone. Holding it tightly in her hand, she contemplated sending Jane a message but the cold tendrils of fear wrapped around her spine and it chilled her to the bone. Shaking her head, she dropped the phone back in her pocket. She would finish up with Carly and Ryan and then she would deal with Jane and confront the suspicions that were trying to convince her that something was very wrong.

As Jane maneuvered through the labyrinth of warehouses, big and small, the late morning sun slipped past each building weaving a pattern of bright light and darkness across the hood of her car. Pushing her sun glasses up on her head so she could see better in the shadows, she searched each rectangle structure for the number 36. She had fifteen minutes left and hoped there was some rhyme or reason to the way the numbers seemed to be ascending the further she ventured.

Her eyes shifted from left to right as she continued to inch along the gravel road until the number 36 caught her attention. It was boldly painted in black across the double doors that were shut and locked with a shiny chrome padlock that gleamed in the sun light that streamed between the buildings.

Pulling up alongside a silver sedan, she turned the car off and pulled the key from the ignition. The blue light on her dash continued to spin and she was thankful it had gotten her there as quickly as it had. With a heavy sigh, she grabbed it, disconnected the cord, and dropped it in the passenger's seat. It had done its job. She made it in record time and she wasn't sure if she was glad or disappointed.

It was obvious by Sean's tone when they spoke on the phone earlier that his request brokered no argument even though she tried to buy some more time. Her gut told her that things would turn out badly if she pushed him, therefore she agreed even though things would most likely still end badly, but this way it was just on her.

She glanced in the rearview mirror and frowned at the dark rings that had settled under her eyes. Even though she had managed to catch a few hours of sleep in the hospital waiting room, she still looked and felt tired. Wiping at the dark smudges, she attempted to clear away the fatigue that had taken residence on her face but only succeeded in making herself look worse. With a frustrated huff, she grabbed a rubber band sitting in the cup holder and gave it a few tugs to test its strength. When she was satisfied it would do the job, she gathered her messy tangle of dark curls into a ponytail and slipped the rubber band into place to secure the unruly mane that seemed to have a mind of its own. Tucking a few strands of hair behind an ear, she looked at her reflection again and nodded at herself in approval. Her eyes dropped to the glowing numbers of the dashboard clock, indicating she had seven minutes left.

Running her hands over the steering wheel one last time, she let out a heavy breath before opening the door and stepping out onto the gravel. It crunched beneath her tennis shoes as she made her way around the car to the trunk where she kept a lock box with her spare gun and bullet proof vest for times like these.

As she opened the trunk, she paused to look around to see if she was being watched, but the truth was, she didn't care anymore. When she was satisfied that no one was watching, she pulled her shirt off and smoothed down the tank top underneath, thankful she had left it on. The vest lay next to the lock box and she picked it up, undoing the Velcro straps on the side before slipping it over her head and securing the tabs back in place.

Taking a shaky breath, she ran her hands over the stiff Kevlar body armor. Even though she wore it regularly for work, something felt different about it today. It felt too restricting and the strangle hold it had on her caused her to gasp for breath. She could almost swear that it was trying to squeeze the air from her already strained lungs. When black spots started to dance before her eyes, she grabbed the back bumper, bent her head, and took long, deep breaths until the feeling passed and her vision cleared.

When she felt an overwhelming calmness wash over her, she unlocked the small box and removed her Glock and three full magazines. With a renewed sense of purpose, she slipped one magazine in the gun, chambered a bullet, and then holstered the weapon securely at her side. Without having to look, she dropped the two extra magazines in the pockets on the side of her vest, giving them a quick pat to make sure they were in place. The feeling of the two extra pieces gave her a small sense of satisfaction, even if deep down she knew would never have a chance to use them.

With her gun secured at her side and her vest in place, she slammed the trunk shut and cringed at the thunderous echo bouncing off the walls that surrounded her. When the sound rolled away, she took a deep breath and pushed down whatever fear lingered. It was time to end this nightmare and win or lose, she wouldn't leave until it was finished.

It took a few minutes for Jane's eyes to adjust to the dim light in the warehouse as she pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was large and empty but there was an office on the other side with a light on and the silhouette of Sean behind the small window indicated she wasn't alone anymore. She let the door slam shut causing another rumble to echo around her, bringing Sean to the open doorway of the office. Squinting so she could see him better, she saw he was holding something in his hand and her instincts took over as she placed her left hand over the butt of the holstered gun at her side.

"I'm impressed that you made it on time." He leaned casually against the door frame and crossed his arms as if judging her.

"What do you have in your hand, Sean?" She tilted her head as she watched him closely for any indication she was in danger.

"I suppose it's the same thing you've got strapped to your side, officer Rizzoli." The smirk was evident in the tone of his voice but Jane could also see it. "You're alone?"

"Yes, you told me to come alone." Jane couldn't help but sound slightly frustrated with the direction of the conversation. "What do you want from me?"

"Well…" Sean pushed away from the doorframe and disappeared in the office again.

Jane kept a hand on her gun as she moved closer to open door. She wasn't going to go inside, not yet, not until she knew where this meeting was headed.

"I brought you a gift." Sean's voice carried to her as she continued to watch the open doorway, waiting to see what would happen next.

"And what would that be?" She couldn't help but touch the bullet proof vest she was wearing to reassure herself it was still there.

"This…" Sean pushed a chair through the door and grinned wickedly at Jane.

It took a minute for her to recognize the person tied to the chair, but when she did, her heart sank into the pit of her stomach and her breath caught in her chest. It was Paddy, blood dripping from the gash above his eye and his cut, swollen lips. When he looked up at her, he gave her an apologetic pained smile.

"Sorry…" Paddy mumbled around the blood that had pooled in his mouth. "I hadn't intended to make it this easy but I guess I'm getting slow in my old age."

"What do you want, Sean?" Jane asked as a wave of nausea threatened to make her sick.

"What do I want?" He slipped past Paddy and gave him another push closer to Jane. "I want you to finish the job I started and put a bullet in the back of his head." This time he pointed a finger at the back of Paddy's head and pretended it was a gun.

"I can't do that." Jane undid the strap on her gun and slipped her finger around the trigger. "Besides, I know all about your plan to take over…a plan your brother doesn't even know about."

"Well, well...you have been doing your homework but I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less from the infamous Detective Rizzoli." The smirk returned but this time there was something sinister in it. "Let me just make a few things clear so you know whose side you should be on."

"I'm listening." There was a hint of desperation in Jane's voice even though she did her best to remain calm. The look on Paddy's face indicated he wasn't worried.

Sean looked down at his prisoner with a look of disgust. "This piece of shit is responsible for the death an innocent young woman…" he started to say but was interrupted when Paddy started to laugh. "What is so funny?" He asked as anger flashed in his eyes.

"We both know that isn't true." Paddy coughed a few times, spit out a mouthful of blood, and then continued. "She came to me a few days before her death and told me everything. You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? She didn't want you and you couldn't live with that. You're the reason she's dead, you and you alone. If you'd just left her alone like she wanted…" he shook his head sadly.

"Oh, no you don't…" Sean aimed his gun at Paddy. "I won't take the blame for this. We were meant to be together. I can't help it if she didn't see it that way."

"You were stalking her!" Paddy shouted. "She didn't want to have anything to do with you. She came to me for help. I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt but I wish I'd killed you when I had the chance."

Jane watched the exchange between Paddy and Sean, trying to figure out how to get the upper hand in this situation. Paddy was doing a good job distracting Sean, giving her the chance to evaluate her next move.

"It was an accident!" Sean's voice shook almost as much as his hands. "I just wanted to talk to her, but she got scared and tried to get away."

"Jesus Sean, don't you get it? She wanted to get away from you. It's the reason she was driving so fast. You are the sole reason she is dead." The underlying sadness was evident in Paddy's tone.

"It doesn't matter anymore, old man. I am going to take away everything you've ever loved. Know that as a promise before I kill you. Maura, Valley…but I think I'll start by letting you watch me kill Jane before I kill you." He swung his arm up, pointing the gun at a surprised Jane.

The conversation was taking a bad turn but it gave Jane enough time to prepare herself for what came next. When she found herself staring down the barrel of Sean's gun, she didn't hesitate to pull her own, pointing it at him without so much as a flinch.

"I won't let you get anywhere near Maura or Valley…" Jane ground out through clinched teeth.

"What? You think that bullet proof vest is going to protect you?" Sean smirked at Jane and waved his gun back and forth. "I've got armor piercing bullets."

Jane didn't show any reaction even though deep down inside, she was cringing. Armor piercing bullets were something she hadn't thought of, but she wouldn't let it rattle her. She couldn't let him see the strain she was under.

"It doesn't matter. You won't get near them, I swear it." Jane growled, holding her gun up in her left hand.

"Here, here…" Paddy nodded his agreement.

"I can't believe all of this…" Jane waved her hand around as she spoke. "Is because some girl rejected you."

"She wasn't just some girl." Sean frowned. "I should have been Valley's father…Daria should have been with me." He pointed the gun at Paddy, then back at Jane. "Your son took everything that mattered away from me so I'm going to do the same to you." He turned his attention to Paddy again. "The only thing I regret is that you won't be around to see what I do to your precious Maura…"

"No!" Jane's voice rose above Sean's, drawing his attention. "Enough of this shit. I won't hesitate to shoot you, Sean. This needs to end, here and now."

"Oh, it will end…" Sean said as his finger squeezed the trigger slightly to let Jane know he was ready for the showdown.

Jane didn't hesitate as she pulled the trigger, but she was two seconds too late as the thunderous sound of gunfire echoed in her ears. The feeling of something hitting her in the chest knocked the wind from her and then another hit higher near her collar bone. It was followed by a searing heat that tore through her. But she somehow managed to hit Sean once out of the three times she fired before she staggered backwards but to her dismay, it didn't stop him. The image of him grinning at her in a malicious way faded as her eye sight dimmed. The last thing she remembered was him lifting his arm to aim higher than her shoulder, followed by a torrent of gunfire and then everything went black.