Series title: Whumptober 2024

Chapters: 1/1

Characters: Maura Isles / Katlyn Itachi (OC) / Jane Rizzoli

Trigger warnings: Mentions of torture

A/N: The characters and universe don't belong to me. All rights go to TNT, and everyone involved in the production of Rizzoli and Isles, as well as Tess Gerritsen. Everything else belongs to my twisted imagination.

All of these stories are only meant to be one-shots, but last year has proven that it can easily change. Those one-shots are written as part of the 2024 Whumptober challenge. I'm following the list of prompts and didn't intend to write second parts for any of the one-shots. That's why they're all posted separately.

"You were right to call me, Dr. Isles. This is an unconventional weapon to be found on humans with no ties to the supernatural community."

Maura observed the woman standing in her office. Dr. Katlyn Itachi was examining closely the crime weapon in its plastic evidence bag. The killer hadn't bothered hiding it. They had left it on the crime scene. The detectives had dismissed it for some random object lost in the mess of the scene but still had picked it up and added it to the list of evidence found on the site. Had they not done that, they wouldn't have had the murder weapon.

"The question is: how did they get their hands on this? It's a rare artefact that requires a particular knowledge and a touch of magic."

Katlyn was talking to herself more than she was talking to Maura. The murder was out of her jurisdiction for she was the head of the werewolves' council of Texas and held no power in the State of Massachusetts, but her hybrid status bestowed an authority on her that went beyond the limits of states. She was half-werewolf and half-witch and had been chosen to bring great changes to the werewolves' world. In just a few years, she had revolutionised the hierarchy inside the werewolves' community of Texas and changed many rules. Her system was working so well that it had been applied to a large majority of states across the country. She also managed to create alliances with other communities such as vampires and witches and changed the laws that condemned hybrids like herself to a certain death.

Her body was evidence to the battles she had fought for all of this to be implemented on a so grand scale, but also showed the importance of her status. The tattoos covering her arms could pass as ordinary tattoos, but they were carved in her skin for the rest of her life and couldn't be removed with a laser or covered with other tattoos. They would automatically come back to their original form. They hadn't even been damaged by the scars on her wrists. Similar scars could be found around her neck and in other places that suggested a heavy past of torture. The scar that crossed her face and got her to lose her left eye was the most impressive. It was a disability that her enhanced senses were making up for. That, and the harsh training she had followed to defend herself and her community made her a redoubtable adversary.

She had become a reference in the supernatural world and was often asked to be a consultant on cases that had a connection to the supernatural community. That was why Maura had called her earlier in the day after sensing that the weird object everyone had dismissed was the crime weapon.

"I'm afraid that you're dealing with a Hunter. One from an ancient family. I believe the Doyles are the oldest Hunter family in Boston."

"They are."

"It doesn't fit their methods though. There must be another one in town. Your victim had witnessed something he shouldn't have seen. You're looking for a particularly dangerous Hunter, one that won't hesitate in killing everyone on their path. A renegade, maybe. Haven't heard anything about it, but Boston's not my jurisdiction. You'll have to report it to the local authorities."

Katlyn carefully put the object down on the coffee table and removed the latex gloves. She made a ball of them and threw them in the bin. She settled down on one of the chairs facing the couch and took a sip of the tea she was offered earlier. Maura scribbled a quick note on a notepad to remember to contact the different authorities that could help her finding their murderer.

"Now, if you forgive me the nosiness, how does a Doyle get to be a Healer?"

"My father fell in love with one. I was declared dead as a baby so the Doyles wouldn't come after me and entrusted me to the cares of Constance and Arthur Isles. I've always known I was adopted but I only recently found out who were my real parents."

"That's something I sadly can understand. But you were lucky to fall between the hands of the Isles. I've heard they are one of the most prestigious and respected family of witches in Europe. It's scary not to understand what's happening to you when your true nature wakes up."

"How old were you?"

"18 and living a very ordinary human life. Going to college with my best friend whose parents raised me since I was one. When I was bitten, the seal that my father had placed on me to make me somewhat human was partially broken. The werewolf in me came out first, my witch side came later. I was lucky to have my pack, but I had to understand and learn to control my magic on my own at first."

"You've got an interesting backstory."

Katlyn laughed and finished her cup of tea. Maura was impressed by the woman. She wouldn't have been able to handle things as well as she did if she had been in her position. It wasn't like Katlyn had chosen any of what happened to her. She had had to suffer the decisions taken by people before she was even born, and she had had to be strong to survive. Which she did more or less brilliantly so far.

"Your mate is coming. I suppose she doesn't know yet about you?"

"I'm sorry, my what?"

"Oh, you didn't know?"

"Know what?"

"You and Detective Rizzoli share an unbreakable bond. We call it a Print in my community. The most common name is soulmate though."

Maura was stunned. She wasn't one to believe in fairy tales, or fate. She put the myth of soulmates in the same box as these. Her dating history wasn't brilliant. No one could stand her for too long. She was too weird, too awkward, too unfit for social relationships. One could say that Jane was her longest relationship, the only one who had stood up for her and tried to get to know her behind the Ice Queen mask, the only one who could be annoyed with her for one minute and hugging her fiercely the next. Jane had kept her safe and made her feel loved ever since they met. So maybe, just maybe, this could be true?

"She's definitely an Alpha."

"She can't be. She's human."

"She gives off Alpha vibes. You're one lucky woman, Dr. Isles. Cross the line and you'll never have to worry about any threat. Human or not."

"Maura, who's that standing guard in front of the door?

The door suddenly burst open and Jane strode in the room. She went directly to Maura and looked to her visitor up and down. She was distrustful of Katlyn and protective of Maura. No wonder why Katlyn thought she was Alpha. She was acting like one without noticing it.

"It has to be my bodyguard," replied Katlyn. "You don't have to worry about him. Unless you're a threat to me."

"Should I be?"

"I mean no harm. I was only here as a consultant. Your medical examiner requested my expertise on your crime weapon."

"We don't…"

"We have. I'll explain to you."

Katlyn stood from her chair, stretched slowly. She nodded her respect to Maura and Jane and left the room now Maura was left with the heavy task of finding an answer to Jane's questions without telling her about the supernatural community. She would have to tell her one day, but not today, and not at the precinct. Jane was not ready for such news that would turn her world upside down…

On a cherrier note, we're organising a Rizzoli and Isles Secret Santa. Signs-up are open from October 1 to October 31. Check it out on rizzoliandislesecretsanta on Tumblr. :)