A/N: Hey lovelies! I finally found some energy to write a short chapter to this fic. I am hoping that after finals next week things will be a little more flexible and I can get some more chapters busted out. Thank you for all the wonderful comments you have left here and on other fics, they really help drive me to get back into them and keep my writing sharp for you all. Just some story catch up, this is a continuation of my earlier fic The Ripper's Revenge and moving forward there will be some references to that. You should still be able to follow without reading, but if something doesn't make sense that may be why. Please let me know if you have questions I would be happy to explain what is happening. Love you guys and hope you are all well, enjoy! - E

Chapter 3:

It felt almost too quiet by the time Jane Rizzoli slid the lock shut on her apartment door that night. Since her encounter with Callaway the silence had bothered her, she always strained to hear the small buzz of her fridge, or the alarm at Maura's house. Tossing her keys onto the small table near the entrance, she moved tiredly through to the small kitchen. She had been so used to the flurry of activity that had been happening here since Maura and her started dating officially, that the small sound of her beer cap hitting the counter echoed continuously throughout the space.

Maura had called her before she left work to say goodnight, which meant she was left with just the manila folder on her counter and the re-run Sox game from earlier that evening. Moving everything to the couch, she flipped the game on mute and took a long pull from the bottle's neck. The folder slipped open easily to the report that Susie had generated and booked marked. Nothing stood out other than the drug and cause of death which left them at square one.

She sighed and let the folder slide off her lap onto the couch next to her. She couldn't understand why someone would need to drug a man before they shot him. No random mugger would have had the chance or forethought to do that, and the wife Anne, had a solid alibi. Dinner with a group of her old colleagues had been verified by her assistant and the swank restaurant downtown. Frost had been digging into the financial reports of W-B Industries when she had left, if he found anything that would at least give them something to run on.

She sat in silence as the information she knew spun around her head in mocking circles. After ten minutes of nothing but questions, she clicked the tv off and headed towards her bedroom. She slipped her gun and badge off and settled them into the bedside drawer before toeing her boots off and falling fully clothed into bed. She let her mind wander towards Maura as she settled more comfortably, looking over to the other nightstand she could see the spare glasses that occupied the space now. Under them was a small piece of paper that hadn't been their when they left that morning. Intrigued, she stretched over and snagged it quickly.

I'm already counting down the days till I get to be home. Please remember to take care of yourself, and never forget how head over shoes I am for you. – M

Jane chuckled at the inside joke and held the paper tight to her chest as the short words washed away her stress from the day. No one had ever made her feel quite as seen or loved as Maura had, and she embraced it fully each and every day that she could. It had only been four months, but it felt like a lifetime of memories and love.

She snapped a quick selfie of her with the note and sent it off to Maura with a goodnight text. She would be back soon, but it had been the longest Maura had left not only since the encounter with Callaway, but really even since they had met. The unease that settled in her chest at the thought of Callaway never eased, but she could feel something was going to happen. The cases that she combed through in her downtime had only confirmed she was escalating which honestly scared her. If there was any chance, she was to go head-to-head with her again she would be ready.

She felt her eyes struggle to stay open as the exhaustion of the day set in. She needed any rest she could get if she was going to catch James' murderer. The wealth elite never played fair, and she knew there was going to be a battle with the Major and DA just to get warrants.

Maura had found herself restless after an hour of tossing in bed in her hotel. The selfie Jane had sent gave her a strong case of homesickness that she had mistaken for a stomach ache initially. She missed the detective and their routine, but she wasn't used to the feeling of always wanting to be home. She saved the photo and tried to snuggle further into the detective's sweater. The Four Seasons had luxury accommodations, bright and airy rooms with all the amenities one could want, but no creature comfort could give her what she was missing.

She missed the feeling she got sitting on the couch in Jane's apartment and the feeling of them in her bed after a long day at work. The long hugs and naps on days that they both were too tired to continue working. The way that Jane could change her mood in an instant by doing something she didn't quite understand, but was still silly enough to make her giggle. On nights like this when her brain wouldn't shut off, she normally would find solace in her office working or with Jane gasping under her, but since she was in New York she settled for room service and a bit of writing.

Quickly ordering a small chop salad and wine from the phone on her desk in the living area, she grabbed her laptop and began to work. Tucking her legs under her on the plush couch she began to immerse herself in the world of fiction and crime. The words flew onto the page as characters chased each other in a game of cat and mouse, and before she knew it there was a small knock on the door. She set the computer down and made her way to the door with a small cash tip ready to hand out.

"Thank you for accommodating me so late…"

She felt the words fall short as the door opened to an empty hallway. Brow raised, she looked left and right and saw no sign of kids running and hiding, nor the server bringing her food. As she moved to close the door again, there was the crinkling sound of paper at her feet. She bent and grabbed the note before closing and locking the door, unfolding the sharp creased paper as she walked. The men she had encountered at the bar earlier that night must have wanted a hook up with her.

The script on the page was clipped and neat, and she recognized it immediately.

I hope you are enjoying New York Maura. It was nice to see you again.

XOXO- Jack

Maura felt her chest tighten as the letter slipped from her hand. The air in the room felt as if it had been suctioned out, while the floor tried stretch away from her. The panic was settling heavy in her chest and all she could do was blindly grab for her phone. She watched her fingers tremble as they slowly typed in the password and navigated to Jane's number.

"Hey Maur, can't sleep?" Jane's sleepy voice pulled her focus back.

She could feel her voice tremble as her throat constricted, and sucked in a large breath. Holding it she blew it out quickly and felt the numbness starting to prick her fingers.

"Woah, hey. Maur what's wrong, what happened?"

"Jay…"

The tears came then, and no matter how she tried her eyes wouldn't stop. Several minutes past before her heart rate and tears slowed, Jane's voice offering empathetic murmurs here and there. Her hand tightened on the phone as she harshly wiped away her tears. She knew the only way she could get past this was to go slow and get the facts out as quickly as possible before she went vasovagal.

"Jane, I got a letter. From Callaway, here at the hotel. At my door just now, I Heard a knock but there was no one there."

The stuttered sentence was met with a dark silence. The only sign of Jane hearing her was the sharp inhale and a scramble of what she assumed was a blanket.

"Maura, I need you to listen to me, ok? You are going to stay in the bathroom until hotel security can get up there. Lock the door and don't let anyone in until I say so. I am going to dial in the hotel staff now and stay on the phone until they can verify you are alright. Do you understand?"

Maura nodded as if Jane was there and let out a soft yes. She quickly tucked into the stark white bathroom and slid the lock into place. She was thankful she had left her handbag in here when she had changed earlier that day. As she heard Jane talking to the hotel staff, she yanked the small bottle of mace she kept with her out. Arm stiff out in front of her towards the door, she waited.

The towering marble of the Four Seasons was normally warm and inviting. Filled with soft light and greenery, Maura always loved staying here because it gave her a sense of calm not found in the harsh New York movement. That peace had been shattered, and in the remains stood dozens of FBI and NYPD officers all on the hunt for a woman who wanted nothing more than to kill her and her girlfriend.

Several hours had passed in what seemed like minutes as she was escorted through the hotel and into the quite office space to be questioned by agents that seemed like they would rather be anywhere else. She had listened as Jane raced through the streets of Boston to get on the first flight out to her, and though it was only about an hour and a half flight, she knew the wait would be much longer.

There was a commotion near the entrance that had been heavily guarded that pulled her attention away from the napkin she had been tearing at. The deep and frustrated voice of Jane Rizzoli bounced through the space commanding attentions.

"Where is Dr. Isles?"

A man that Maura did not know had his hand up ready to push her back out the door, not knowing that was the most dangerous move he could make to the irate woman.

"Jane!" Maura felt her horse voice carry across the hall. The man trying to bar Jane looked back which gave the woman an opportunity to push past him.

Maura saw the top of Jane's curls bouncing wildly through the gilded lobby of the Four Seasons. Before she knew it Jane had ripped past the FBI agents milling around, and had her wrapped in a hug so tight her stomach hurt, but despite that she held on tighter relishing in the safety of her arms.

Jane let her go after a few minutes, hands coming to rest against cold cheeks while a long kiss was pressed to her forehead. Her gaze was dark and protective as she looked her up and down checking for any signs of injury. The man that had tried to stop her backed away to sulk by a separate door.

"Are you ok baby?"

"I'm shaken and my cortisol levels haven't returned to normal yet. Physically I am fine."

Jane nodded and looked over her shoulder to the man that had escorted her down from her room. The twenty-something man in a dark suit stood a little taller at the attention from the detective.

"Can you please tell me how someone could have possibly gotten up to her floor without a key card, let alone without being noticed?"

The man, Jason, stumbled over his words as Jane glared at him. Maura felt pity for him and raised her hand to smooth the wrinkle over Jane's chest.

"Darling, the FBI is already checking into it back in the security room. Please just get me away from here. They cleared me to leave an hour ago and I would really like to go home."

Jane stood for a moment glaring at guard before nodding. She felt the comfort of Jane's hand wrap around hers as they moved to exit the lobby. Maura had already answered the questions the FBI had asked her and now all that was left was to go home to Boston. Since there was no actual interaction there had been little to be done. Another note in another case file somewhere.

"Detective Rizzoli, Doctor Isles! Wait a moment."

They watched a short heavyset man wobble his way over to them, his small hand outstretched towards them. He was dressed in a suit that she could only describe as FBI standard issued poly-blend. The ill-fitting jacket revolted against his arm as he walked.

"My name is Agent Henry Hargrove. I have been working some cases here in New York that may be connected to yours in Boston."

"Detective Jane Rizzoli and Dr. Maura Isles. I'd say it's a pleasure but we both know that would be a lie."

As Jane finished, she squeezed her hand softly letting it fall, before offering it politely to the man. Even in a crisis, she knew better than to be impolite to someone who didn't deserve it.

"It's nice to meet you, but if you'll excuse us, I am quite ready to leave now unless you had more questions?"

His grip was a little too tight and warm, but thankfully he let go quickly to readjust his faded red tie. She wiped her hand nervously down her pleated pants, she wanted this man to leave.

"No nothing that I can think of, but I just wanted to let you know I would be handling this incident going forward and look…"

He glanced around the lobby before stepping into their space. His voice was thicker and his accent was heavy in that New York briskness as he whispered.

"I think you are one of the best detectives in our line of work. I respect you both and will do everything I can here to help. However, I know that the agency isn't interested in this kind of things as much as they are when there is a hard trail to follow."

He reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out a small folded envelope. Pressing quickly into Jane's hand before stuffing his hands back behind him.

"My one request is that you not tell anyone where you got that from."

"What is it?" She felt herself questioning.

"You worry about that when you are far out of here. If my supervising agent knew I gave you that, I'd be hung out to dry quicker than my Ma's laundry on Sunday. Just look at it and call me when you do."

He fanned his hands as if shooing them away.

"Now go on home to Boston, if we need anything we know where to find you."

His voice was loud enough then to carry to the small group near them. He turned and walked smoothly back to the group of similarly dressed agents filling out paperwork at the front desk. No backwards glance was given and it felt like their entire conversation had been a figment of her imagination. If it weren't for Jane slipping that envelope into her own pocket now, she would have let herself belief it had been.

Maura looked back over to Jane. Her face was hardest, but tired. She knew the flight here was short but in the middle of the night during a case, ever minute seemed to slow and her detective was clearly struggling. Even through all that there was no hesitation that Jane would do it all over again for her, just like she would do.

"You ready Maur?"

Nodding, she wrapped her arm into the open space of Jane's and pulled them both through the gold rotating door and into the cold New York night. They slid quickly into a cab that had been waiting with for them and settled into a tense silence. The cab made its way through the grid of light traffic towards the airport. It was rounding three am and the city was calmer for which she was glad.

Maura could feel every nerve in her body, the sounds and lights of the city only causing her to look deeper into the shadows for any sign of Callaway. She knew that despite their best efforts to keep them safe, there was always going to be a chance that this happened again. Still, it gave her a sense of dread that she had not felt since Hoyt's reappearance. She knew that her security was top notch, but so had her neighbor's been when John Jennings had broken in and killed him while stalking her and Jane.

Jane's hand slipped across the seat and enveloped hers gently. Maura pulled herself from her spiral long enough to see Jane's dark features settle into a mask of protectiveness and comfort. She felt the warm press of lips to her knuckles as Jane tucked them as close as possible in the small cab.

There would be time for talking later she knew. Jane would press and hunt for any detail that could give her a semblance of a clue. Then there was the envelope, whatever Hargrove wanted them to have must have been important if he didn't want anyone to know about it. She let her mind continue to drift on their way to JFK, the sound of Jane's raspy voice calling in the team lulled her into an unfit sleep.