A/N: Hello Darlings! I am officially a college graduate with more free time than they know what to do with. Which means for you we are officially able to move back to at the very least, simi-regular updates! Hope you all are doing well and as always thanks for sticking around on this one. I do read all of your comments and appreciate the kudos from all those that leave them.

Just a warning there is and will be a bit more graphic content in this and the next coming chapters so archive warnings stand. Hope you enjoy and I'll see you in the next one. - E

Chapter 9

Grace felt her hands begin to shake as a surge of adrenaline coursed through her body. The paper that she had taken from the diner lay next to her in the passenger seat. She flicked her eyes up to the mirror as traffic lazily made its way around her and the other parked cars. No one had followed her, and Mary was tucked quietly in her new home, so no distractions awaited her while she ran errands.

Once the black Mercedes passed her, she ducked quickly out with the paper snuggly under her arm, and lightly ran across the street to the non-descript brownstone where a pair of kids ran past her. She tested the handle on the door which they had come from, its lock depressing easily and allowing her entrance to the cramped hallway. She followed the path down to face the faded brown door near the end of the hall, and with one last glance, knocked rapidly.

"Can I help you?"

The woman looked pleasantly smaller in person than she imagined.

"Yes, hi sorry. I was supposed to be meeting a friend and this is the address they gave."

She pulled her phone out and showed the woman her maps app.

"I'm sorry that's definitely at least the wrong apartment. What's your friend's name maybe I know them?"

Grace smiled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before slipping her hand in her jacket pocket. As the woman opened the door slightly and leaned against the frame, arms folded loosely, she thumbed the small charge button on her taser.

"Jane Rizzoli."

She could sense the confusion on the redhead's face before recognition sparked in her eyes, as the words registered. The woman's arms fell to shut the door, but missed their mark as Grace seamlessly slipped the taser out and sharply pressed it against her neck.

As the woman fell backwards to the floor, she slipped inside bolting the door closed on her way. The woman it seemed was as light as she looked Grace thought. Her arms lifting easily to tie the disoriented woman to the small chair off the kitchen in front of her. Two hands came limply down against her neck and shoulder, the woman groaning in protest as she tore a slip of Duct Tape free and clamped it forcefully across her mouth.

As she worked, the phone on the small desk to her right vibrated constantly, falling eventually to her feet. Bracing herself on the woman's knees, she broke from her work to peer down at the caller's name shining back at her.

Frankie

She smiled as she sunk the small knife deep into the woman's chest, pinning the newspaper to her as the woman let out a harsh whine from behind the makeshift gag. She could see the fear and sweat in her eyes as blood began to blossom under the light shirt she wore. The knife was small enough to not leave a large wound leaving the paper mostly unblemished, but effective enough to nick the artery she knew lay just under the blade.

Taking the phone off the floor, she swiped up to unlock it before moving to the text messages. Navigating to the conversation with Frankie she opened the thread and snapped a clear photo of the redhead bleeding out slowly in her office chair. Sending it off she glanced around the small room at the various photos before pulling one of herself off the wall. Sneering at the woman, she slipped quickly out of the apartment and back into the cool morning.

Jane could almost feel the tension floating through the air as she left the interrogation room. Gretchen Sanders folded her arms across her chest as the team of lawyers swarmed into the now empty seats and table. Korsak grumbled at them as they passed but quickly stopped as he noticed their Lieutenant flick his wrist in motion for them to join him in his private office across the bullpen.

His hard elbow caught Jane below the ribs which dragged her attention away from the lawyers and she followed wordlessly behind the senior detective. Crowe and several others called out to them in jeering teasing for being called in yet again to their superior's office. She flipped them a subtle middle finger behind her back before closing the door and turning her attention to the multitude of people who gathered there.

"Frankie what's wrong?"

Jane ignored the others and made a beeline for her brother who was tucked in the corner with red rimmed eyes looking down.

"Rizzoli, maybe you should sit."

Cavanaugh's voice was low and cautious.

She sat one hand on her brother's arm tight to ground him.

"Late this morning Frankie received a text from his…acquaintance Ms. Green. A photo was sent of her bound and bleeding to which Frankie called it in to me and the senior patrol captain."

He slid over a folder and turned it open for her to view. Korsak leaned over her to look at it, a small swear slipping from his lips.

"Now we were able to get her to the hospital alive but critical as there was a serious tear to her heart, and she is still in surgery. I know you two weren't particularly fond of each other, but that's moot."

Jane let his words float over her as she shifted through the crime scene photos, the newspaper that Green had printed not just a couple of weeks ago lay on an evidence marker, Coward circled in bright red ink and a small scribble in the margin.

Guess she had one thing right about you Jane. Not many people see you for what you are but I do and always have. Mary sends her love, and we are excited to see you again. – Jack

Jane leaned back in her chair; she felt her face pull into a frown as she looked at the men gathered around her.

"Guess we should have seen that coming. Maybe not her going Green but coming back to Boston."

"We've got your mother at a safe house which I will be joining later tonight. Maura is downstairs in the lab, which we have on lockdown. The front desk has been notified and the building is secure. We know that she hasn't been here long thanks to correspondence from the FBI, but we will need to move fast."

Cavanaugh moved around the desk to hand out badges to the group.

"These will get you access to the private elevators and the guarded garage where unmarked cars are waiting. I want you to use those should you need to be in the building. I've already got our undercovers installing alarm and surveillance gear at your apartments which Frost will be able to monitor off his VPN from anywhere with signal. I don't want anyone in here playing cowboy, we already know what she is capable of, and we don't know if she has a new accomplice."

Jane slipped the lanyard around her neck and pulled her curls free. Her eyes darting back to the open file in front of them.

"Sir, why would she go after Green? She's hardly involved in any of this, and her relationship with Frankie is… surface level currently."

Frankie's head snapped up to regard her. She met his gaze and knew that her brother had been lying to her about the nature of their relationship. The small crinkle of his downturn lip, the kicked puppy look in his eyes. He was guilty, and he knew it.

"Christ Frankie, if she lives, I'm kicking both of your asses."

Frost stepped between them, cutting her off from standing.

"Jane, we can deal with that later, but right now we have a serial killer to catch and a dead tech titan's murder to solve."

"Frost is right, now Agent Hargrove has been in contact with the Brass and me and we are working closely with them to track her down. Agent Dean from the Boston field office is also in the loops and will be running interference for us here. Technically all of you shouldn't be in this conversation but, I think Boston's finest know how to bend the rules slightly."

He gave Korsak an easy grin as they locked eyes.

"Any work you do on this I can't sanction, and you won't be able to use to prosecute. As far as I'm concerned, I haven't heard a word of anything regarding you lot and this case other than to disseminate your protection details. There is currently a BOLO out on a silver Camry license plate 775VCQ Connecticut that was seen leaving a warehouse in New York that the FBI believes to be involved."

He flipped his hands out to shoo them from his office as he sat pulling the folder along with him. The team dutifully marched out and by habit made their way to the elevator.

Silence surrounded the three detectives and Frankie as they rode to the lab, Jane's hand squeezing Frankie's shoulder in support. She was angry yes, but the look of anguish on his face had her heart shattering.

Jane turned the keys off and slid her hand into Maura's gently. The drive in their borrowed Honda Accord hadn't been more than ten minutes from the station, but time drifted almost endlessly for them as the weight of the day settled around them. Frost and Korsak had already arrived at their shared safehouse tucked into the northern part of downtown. The city lights danced between the concrete barriers of the parking garage as she looked out to the sights of Old North Church glaring back at them.

She squeezed Maura's hand tightly three times to pull her out of her thoughts, hazel honeyed eyes meeting hers across the console, giving her flashbacks to their first kiss. On impulse she leaned over easily and slipped her hand under blonde waves to caress Maura's neck and pull her into a light kiss.

Jane felt a calm sweep over her as her lips glided across Maura's. Her lipstick had faded leaving just the taste that was unique Maura and she was addicted. This woman held every secrete to her heart and knew the path to calming her ever racing mind.

Maura let Jane's hand slip away and she felt a warmth on her cheek where a thumb rubbed softly across. As they broke apart, Jane leaned her forehead against hers and they sat in comfortable silence for what Jane could only tell was hours. A heavy sigh fell from her lungs as she pulled back and slipped out of the car. Her legs carried her quickly to the trunk to pull their overnight bags out, one over each shoulder. Though she would normally keep her unit go bag in the car, she pulled that free as well and locked everything.

Maura stood waiting for her a few feet away, worry lining her face as she fiddled with her phone. The safehouse was backed up to a private drive which they quickly made their way through. At the end of the cobble road was a plain loft style building with a steel door. Jane moved in front and called out to Frost as she knocked.

It swung open with the barest hint of a squeak as Frost guided them in with a hello, leading them up a short flight of stairs.

"Nothing beats an upper city loft with a view, eh?"

Frost's mouth was quick to display an image of sarcasm that even Maura picked up with a polite laugh. Korsak lounged in the center of the room in a large, overstuffed chair, his loud snoring carrying through to the tall ceiling. There wasn't much furniture for the designer space, but a couch and living chairs surrounded a buffed wood coffee table littered with magazines. The open concept continued to a modern steel kitchen with light butcher block counters, a small table offsetting it from the living space.

"Korsak has made home out here, and I will be taking the pull-out sofa. Figured you two wouldn't have an issue sharing the bedroom."

He smiled wide and led them down a short hallway lined with a single door on each side. He pointed to the right door, "Bathroom here, and bedroom across the way."

She nodded her thanks and pushed open the door on the left. Dropping the bags to the floor she turned to give Frost their normal fist bump as Maura moved past them to inspect the room. She could see the frown from the door as little more than a couple of nightstands from Ikea and a cheap bed stood in the room. Even Jane's bedroom had a nicer bed and set to match, which she considered was impressive as she hadn't bought new furniture in nearly a decade.

"Thanks Frost, going to get settled I think and try to catch some sleep. Second shift is already at their posts, and we've got the comms set up and confirmed with BRIC."

He nodded, "Sounds good. Korsak and I have already showered and touched base with Hargrove, Dean, and Cavanaugh, everything is looking clear for now. In other news, I got the night judge down at court to sign for Gretchen and Anne's arrest tomorrow. Their lawyers were sharp today, but we've got enough evidence to arrest and question."

"Good, I'll have the papers prepped after I get in. Take a couple of patrols with you like normal and let's see if we can't nail these guys. They're a flight risk so we have to move fast."

They chatted for a few minutes before parting ways for the night. Jane flicked the lock closed on the door and turned to see Maura lounging on the bed, bare feet dangling off the edge. She moved in between her legs as they parted automatically for her, her hands running firmly up smooth black cotton pants till they hit Maura's hips.

Maura didn't open her eyes, but her hands moved to cover Jane's, strong thumbs pressing a soft massage into her scars. Their shared world was quiet, with only the sound of Korsak's muted snoring interrupting their bubble. Jane stood there accepting the ministrations as her mind played through the events of the last two weeks.

She thought about why Callaway had decided to return now, and why after them. It was easy to chalk up their previous encounter as just another deranged serial killer and cop going at it in a battle as old as her profession. There was now an air of uncertainty, was she just obsessed with Jane? Was she obsessed with just killing and going after the highest prize? Why go after Green when there were plenty of people much closer to her than the reporter?

Jane pulled her hands free as Maura protested. She silenced the woman simply by straddling those same hips and drifting her rough hands over strong silk covered abs. Lifting the deep emerald shirt up to her bra line she ran nails up and down her sides eliciting soft sighs and goosebumps from Maura. She needed to rest for a moment and clear her mind. This was the perfect way to do so.

She glanced down at her with a wide closed grin, her wrinkles scrunching at the sides of her eyes. This woman was going to be the death of her which she would gladly subject herself to over and over again. Maura finally opened her eyes to meet Jane's full smile as she sat up, the detective still firmly seated on her lap. Jane chuckled lowly as she dipped her head to meet Maura's in a slow deep kiss. Tongues clashed in an intimate dance of familiar dominance as teeth nipped and hands moving to thread in long blonde hair. Not their normal position but Jane couldn't care less as the woman's hands skated around to her back to scratch lightly at her lower back.

There would be time later to dwell on killers and spurred lovers turned killers, she knew sleep wasn't going to come. So instead, she listlessly drifted on the high that was her girlfriend's touch on her back as they reconnected.

Korask's snoring drifted particularly heavily through the door as they both broke apart. They knew they wouldn't do anything more than this with their team in the next room over, but Jane felt the thrum of arousal course through her veins none the less. Kissing her soundly several more times, Jane finally pulled back.

She removed herself rather awkwardly from Maura's lap and began to strip down to her tight black briefs and black bra before throwing on a pair of faded Boston PD workout shorts and shirt. Maura followed suit, not mentioning her normal nighttime routine as they pulled the sheets back and climbed into the queen-sized bed.

Jane folded her easily into her arms and laid a hand against Maura's chest rubbing slightly above her heart.

"You've barely said ten words since we left the station. Last time you went radio silent like that you had a panic attack in my living room. Talk to me Maur."

She felt Maura's chest seize at the true words and her hand was soon squeezed tightly between chest and hand as Maura hung on for dear life.

"It's just everything is finally catching up to me and being in this…shitty safehouse is all but sending back to Dr. Amhurst's office."

Jane's mouth dropped open at Maura's unusual swearing, but she dare not speak so as to unintentionally discourage her from continuing.

"I just am so frustrated at everything, and Callaway I fear has gotten under my skin. I can't stop thinking about her and thinking about any minute we could end up like all those people. I am terrified for Mary and for our family."

Jane let the tenseness settle around them before speaking soft and slow next to Maura's ear.

"She likes control and causing fear, we know that she won't do anything without a plan, and right now it's just a game of chess. She's playing the long game, but she doesn't know she's playing it against a chess champion. You and me Maura, we are an amazing team. With Frost and the rest of the boys we are going to take her down before she even has a thought of checking our queen out of commission."

The rumble of laughter hit against her hand and chest as Maura released the tension in her body at the thought of Jane's comparison. She pressed lingering kisses and nips down Maura's neck in a pattern she knew the woman couldn't resist melting into. On a long sigh from Maura, she pressed into her back and slipped her hand under the waist band of silk sleep shorts letting the band hold her in place around her hip.

As she felt Maura slip into a light sleep, she allowed her mind to wander. She knew that she had to focus on her actual case, pursue justice for a needless death but she couldn't. Callaway's face floated behind her eyes, the sick smile twisting towards her as the scar from their last encounter ached just below her ribs. She still had the occasional nightmares, but they usually abated with Maura's soft body wrapped around hers.

She felt like a sitting duck, playing pretend that everything was ok in their little safe house. It was safer than at any of their homes, but she couldn't help but feel the tug of fear and uncertainty that Callaway managed to leave in her wake every new visit to Boston.

Maura felt the sharp rays of light graze across her face in the early morning. She groaned and turned to burrow her face into the space between Jane's shoulder and neck as strong arms pulled her close. Content again to let sleep take her as fingers trailed her back gently, she relaxed her body and let the sweet dreams of her mind pull her back to Jane and their upcoming trip to the Adirondacks and their cozy cabin.

Before she could return to her fantasy dream land her and Jane's phones called out together from their nightstands. This time her groan was met with a matching one as Jane threw her right arm out to snatch the offending object.

The familiar call of Rizzoli sounded faint to her as she responded to her own call with Isles as their days began much earlier than anticipated. The dispatch tech on the line read off the standard information with details being routed to her phone as she listed her own questions in the familiar volley. They lay intertwined through both of their respective cases being read out and hung up in unison.

Jane pulled Maura in tight as she felt the mood shift from one of contentment to normal reality. She did truly love her job, but there were days she wished she could just forget it all and lay in this woman's arms. She kissed the tanned skin of Jane's neck before moving to get ready for the day.

"I've got a body in Langone Park just a few blocks away, can you drop me there on the way to the station?"

Jane nodded, sleep not quite out of her eyes. She knew the detective had been up late, she always was when this kind of thing happened. She grabbed her toiletry bag and turned back to Jane who watched her from a half upright position in bed.

"Tell you what Detective, we've both got a long day ahead of us. Come find me when you are done questioning Anne and Gretchen and we can have lunch together. I will even acquiescent burgers from The Dirty Robber so long as we have a side salad with it."

She could practically see the gears turning in her mind, and smiled when Jane grunted an agreement before falling back to the bed. She shook her head in amusement and slipped out of the room quietly as she could still hear Frost and Korsak slumbering in the other room.

Mary felt a chill against her bare back as her arms stretch far above her head. She felt her body hum as whatever drugs pumped through her system settled into her blood leaving her head floating with what felt like yards of distance between her physical body and her mind. The cold creeped higher along her spine as she finally recognized the tight twinge that accompanied it. A nerve blocker used to numb areas of the body; she had plenty of it when she was last in the hospital after Callaway.

Her mind snapped to the woman's image clear as day, her body involuntarily shivering at the thought of that joyful smile directed at her. A pressure formed below her navel, and she felt her lungs draw in a sharp breath. Though she couldn't move her hands or feet, her head fell freely, and she allowed it to drop to investigate the feeling.

A sharp gleam greeted her at her belly button. She couldn't recall getting a piercing at anytime in the last few months, but there it was unmoving and the base of her stomach. Her eyes twitched in confusion as it began to move independently, forming a small tight line down to her pelvic bone. The pressure was back, and the gleam dulled as color spilled out across her lower half.

The low groan that slipped past her lips sounds foreign, like a tv playing low in the background of the next room. The gleam was back, this time held tightly in a small, gloved hand. Panic inflamed her system, but the drugs that flowed freely in her lulled her into an unwanted sleep. Darkness fell around her and she slumped held upright by whatever contraption wrapped around her wrists.