The unseen strength that carries you,

when your own begins to fade.

The quiet night outside Maura's house was shattered by the sound of heavy footsteps and the flash of blue and red lights painting the scene. Korsak, flanked by uniformed officers, rushed toward the front yard. Their hands hovered near their holstered weapons, eyes scanning the dimly lit space for any immediate threats.

At the edge of the driveway, Jane stood firm, her gun trained on a man who had his hands raised, palms facing outward. His face was pale, beads of sweat glinting under the streetlamp. He was trembling, but his eyes darted around, searching for an escape.

"Don't even think about it," Jane snapped, her voice steady and cold. Her stance was unwavering, her finger poised but controlled on the trigger. "Stay right where you are."

"Jane!" Korsak called as he approached, his own weapon drawn but pointed low. He motioned for the other officers to fan out and secure the perimeter. "What the hell's going on?"

"This guy," Jane said, jerking her chin toward the suspect, "was creeping around the side of Maura's house. Tried to slip in through the back window until I caught him." Her voice was low and simmering with anger. "He was armed." She nudged the ground with her foot, where a crowbar lay glinting in the faint light.

The man flinched, his hands twitching slightly. "I—I didn't mean no harm!" he stammered, his voice cracking. "I swear, I wasn't gonna hurt nobody!"

"Really?" Jane shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because sneaking into a house in the middle of the night with a crowbar says otherwise."

As the squad car pulled away with the suspect, Korsak walked over to Jane, holding the man's wallet. He flipped it open, pulling out an ID card, his expression darkening as he read it.

"Daryl Pike," Korsak said, handing the ID over for Jane to see.

Jane frowned, staring at the name and photo on the card. "Who the hell is Daryl Pike?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "And why was he trying to break into Maura's house?"

Korsak rubbed the back of his neck, glancing toward the house where the soft glow of lights inside suggested Maura and Beni were still awake, probably shaken but safe. "Good questions, Jane. But right now, you need to stay here with Maura and the kid."

Jane's jaw tightened as she started to protest. "Korsak—"

He held up a hand, cutting her off gently but firmly. "I mean it, Jane. They need you here. Especially after this. You can't be everywhere at once, and they're the priority right now."

Jane hesitated, the protective instincts warring with her need to chase answers. Finally, she exhaled sharply, nodding reluctantly. "Fine. But as soon as you get anything—anything at all—you call me."

"You'll be the first to know," Korsak promised, his tone reassuring. "We'll dig into this guy. See if he has a record, any connections to Leah, or that trust you mentioned. If he's working for someone, we'll find out who."

Jane handed the ID back to Korsak, her gaze lingering on the departing squad car. "Something tells me this isn't just some random creep," she said, her voice low and simmering with frustration.

"Probably not," Korsak agreed, slipping the ID into an evidence bag. "But we'll handle it, Jane. Right now, Maura and Beni need you. Go check on them."

Jane gave him a tight nod, her expression still clouded with worry. "Thanks, Korsak," she said quietly before turning toward the house.

When Jane walked back into the house, Maura was standing in the kitchen with her laptop open.

"Maura?" Jane said, her tone tense when she noticed the blonde standing in the dark kitchen illuminated by the computer screen.

"Jane," Maura began, her voice calm but urgent. "I just reviewed the updated lab results. The DNA from Leah and Nana's case—it matches DNA from Matthew Walker that is on file from a sexual assault case."

Jane's jaw tightened, her grip on the phone firm. "So, it's him. Matthew's our guy."

"Yes," Maura confirmed. "But Jane, be careful. If Matthew is behind this, he's becoming increasingly desperate. That makes him even more dangerous."

"Was it... him?" Maura asked hesitantly, her voice low but tense. "Matthew Walker?"

Jane shook her head, her frustration evident. "No, it wasn't. The guy outside was someone named Daryl Pike. No idea who he is or what he wanted, but Korsak and the team are digging into it."

Maura's frown deepened, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Daryl Pike? I don't understand. If he isn't Matthew Walker, then who is he? Why would he be here?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Jane said, rubbing the back of her neck. "But whoever he is, he wasn't just some random guy wandering around. He knew exactly where to go. This wasn't a coincidence."

Before Maura could respond, a small, sharp cry broke through the tension. Both women froze for a second, their heads snapping toward the hallway leading to the bedrooms.

"Beni," Maura whispered, her voice tight with worry.

Jane was already moving, with Maura right behind her. They reached the bedroom to find Beni sitting up in bed, his little face scrunched with tears streaming down his cheeks. His sobs were muffled as he clutched the blanket tightly to his chest.

"Hey, buddy," Jane said softly, her voice immediately shifting to a soothing tone. She crouched down beside the bed, her hand resting gently on his arm. "It's okay. I'm right here. You're safe."

Maura sat on the edge of the bed, her hand brushing through Beni's hair as she spoke gently. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream?"

Beni sniffled, his tiny voice quivering as he tried to speak. "Alone!"

Jane's heart clenched at his words, her protective instincts flaring. "Nobody's going to hurt you, Beni. I promise." Her voice was firm but gentle, her dark eyes locking with his tear-filled ones. "I'm here. Maura's here. We won't let anything happen to you."

Maura leaned closer, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a warm embrace. "You're safe with us, darling," she murmured, her voice soothing as she rocked him slightly. "No one can hurt you here."

Beni buried his face in Maura's shoulder, his sobs quieting as he clung to her. Jane sat on the floor beside them, her hand resting reassuringly on his back.

Jane gave him a warm smile, her hand ruffling his hair lightly. "You're safe as long as I'm around."

Beni nodded hesitantly, the trust in his eyes enough to ease some of the tension in the room.

Maura kissed the top of Beni's head, her hand gently rubbing circles on his back. "Jane's right, sweetheart. You're safe with us. No one will hurt you."

Beni sniffled, his breathing slowly evening out as their combined presence calmed him. He clutched Maura tighter, his small voice barely audible. "Stay"

"Yes, we will stay with you." Maura said firmly, holding him close.

Jane added, reaching up to ruffle his hair gently. "We've got you, buddy."

As Beni's sobs quieted, Maura and Jane sat with him until his grip loosened and his eyelids began to droop. Maura tucked him back under the covers, brushing a stray curl from his face as he drifted back to sleep.

When they stepped back into the hallway, Maura leaned against the wall, exhaling shakily. Jane rested a hand on her shoulder, her voice low but determined.

"I don't know what's going on yet," Jane said, her eyes meeting Maura's. "But I'm not stopping until I figure it out. No one is messing with my family."

Maura nodded, her gratitude shining through her exhaustion. "I know, Jane. I trust you."

"Jane," Maura said softly, her voice cutting through the quiet tension.

Jane turned her head, her dark eyes locking onto Maura's. "What's up?"

Maura straightened, brushing her hair behind her ear. "We need to go to bed too."

Jane frowned slightly, tilting her head. "Maura, I can't sleep right now. Not with all of this—"

"You promised," Maura interrupted gently but firmly, her hazel eyes unwavering.

Jane blinked. "What?"

"Beni," Maura said, her voice softening. "We promised him we wouldn't leave him. That means we need to stay in the bed with him tonight. He needs to feel safe, Jane."

Jane opened her mouth to argue, then closed it again, exhaling a resigned sigh. She shoved her hands into her pockets, nodding slowly. "Yeah, okay. You're right. He's been through enough tonight without us going back on our word."

Maura gave her a small smile, the tension in her face easing slightly. "Come on, Jane. It'll be good for all of us to rest. There's nothing more we can do tonight."

Jane hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to keep moving, keep investigating. But Maura's calm logic was like a tether pulling her back. "Fine," she muttered. "But don't blame me if I snore."

Maura gave her a pointed look. "You always snore."

Jane smirked faintly, following Maura back into Maura's room.

The faint light of dawn crept through the curtains, casting a soft glow across the room. Jane stirred, blinking groggily as the weight on her chest registered. She opened her eyes fully to find Beni sprawled across her, his little body pressed against her as he clung to her t-shirt like a lifeline.

A small, sleepy smile tugged at the corner of Jane's lips. "You again, huh, buddy?" she murmured, her voice husky from sleep. She reached up, brushing his messy curls back from his face as he snored softly.

But as her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she noticed something was missing—or rather, someone. She shifted slightly, glancing to her side where Maura should have been. The blankets were rumpled, but the spot was empty.

"Maura?" Jane called softly, careful not to wake Beni. She craned her neck, scanning the room, but there was no sign of her.

A flicker of worry coursed through her. Jane carefully maneuvered Beni, shifting him so he was nestled against the pillows. He stirred for a moment but settled quickly, clutching his stuffed bear.

Jane swung her legs over the side of the bed, rubbing her eyes as she stood. Padding quietly out of the room, she glanced down the hallway. The house was silent, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator.

"Maura?" She called again, her voice a little louder this time.

The sound of soft footsteps caught her attention, and she turned toward the kitchen. There, Maura stood by the counter, her back to Jane, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug. She was dressed in her silk robe, her posture slightly slouched, a rare sign of vulnerability.

Jane exhaled, her shoulders relaxing as she leaned against the doorway. "You scared me for a second," she said, her voice softer now.

Maura turned, her hazel eyes meeting Jane's. A faint smile touched her lips. "I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to wake you or Beni."

Jane crossed the room, coming to stand beside her. "What's going on?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

Maura glanced down at her mug, her fingers tightening around it. "I just... couldn't stop thinking about everything," she admitted. "Leah, the trust, that man outside. And now Beni… he's been through so much already, Jane. I keep wondering how we can keep him safe from all of this."

Jane placed a hand on Maura's shoulder, grounding her. "Hey, we will. You know me—I don't let things go. We'll figure this out, and no one's going to hurt him. Or you."

Jane and Maura sat quietly at the kitchen table, sharing the last sips of their coffee in the soft glow of the early morning. The house was still, the calm before the inevitable whirlwind of the day.

The sound of small, hurried footsteps thudding down the stairs broke the peace. Moments later, Beni's voice rang out, high-pitched and urgent.

"Jane! Maura!"

Jane and Maura exchanged a quick glance before both shot to their feet, worry flashing across their faces.

"We're here, sweetheart!" Maura called as they moved toward the doorway to meet him.

Beni appeared a second later, his curls bouncing as he ran full tilt into the kitchen, clutching his stuffed bear tightly. His eyes were wide, and his cheeks were flushed. Without hesitation, he threw himself into Maura's arms, wrapping his little arms around her neck.

Jane leaned against the kitchen counter, a steaming mug of coffee in one hand while the other arm cradled a sleepy but content Beni. He was snuggled against her shoulder, clutching his stuffed dinosaur, his little feet swinging idly as he woke up fully.

Maura stood nearby, sipping her tea and scrolling through something on her phone. The peaceful quiet of the morning was broken by the sound of the door opening, and Angela swept in from the guest house, her energy as bright as the morning sun.

"Good morning, everyone!" Angela chirped, setting her bag down on the counter. She paused, taking in the cozy scene. "Well, don't you all look relaxed."

Jane smirked over the rim of her coffee mug. "Don't let it fool you, Ma. We're just savoring the calm before the storm."

Angela ignored the comment, clapping her hands together. "Alright, who's hungry? I was thinking I'd whip up a big breakfast—eggs, bacon, maybe some toast. What do you say?"

At the word "breakfast," Beni's head popped up, his eyes lighting up. "Me! I want breakfast!" he said, suddenly wide awake.

Angela grinned, her gaze softening as she looked at him. "Well, aren't you enthusiastic this morning?" She crouched slightly, her voice playful. "Tell me, Beni, do you want to help me cook? You could be my special assistant."

Beni gasped, looking up at Jane with big, hopeful eyes. "Yes!"

Jane chuckled, kissing the top of his head before setting him down. "Of course you can, buddy. Go show Nonna what you've got."

Beni ran over to Angela, who was already tying a small apron around his waist that she'd pulled from her bag. "Alright," Angela said, leading him to the counter, "first things first: we wash our hands. Every great chef starts with clean hands."

Beni was enthusiastically stirring a bowl of pancake batter under Angela's guidance, his little apron slightly askew but his smile wide.

Maura, seated across from Jane, opened her laptop and began typing, her expression shifting into her focused, analytical mode. Jane raised an eyebrow as she leaned back in her chair.

"Lab results?" Jane guessed, sipping her coffee.

Maura nodded without looking up. "I requested updates on some of the samples from Leah's case. If the results are ready, they could help us connect a few more dots."

Before Jane could respond, her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen, seeing Korsak's name flashing, and grabbed it immediately.

"Korsak," Jane answered, her tone instantly shifting to business. "What've you got?" Jane then headed out the front door to keep the conversation between just her and Korsak.

"That guy we picked up outside Maura's house, Daryl Pike?" Korsak began, his voice steady but serious. "Daryl isn't Matthew, but he's spilling everything. Says Matthew paid him to come there and check the security on the house."

Jane's hand clenched into a fist at her side. "He sent someone to scope out Maura's house? And we're just supposed to let him keep running circles around us?"

"Turns out he's got a record," Korsak continued. "Petty theft, breaking and entering, but nothing violent. The weird thing is, he doesn't fit the profile of someone working alone. This guy's a pawn, Jane. He's not the one pulling the strings."

Jane stiffened at the name, her jaw tightening. "Walker. So, he is the one behind all of this?"

Korsak replied a bit sternly. "Jane, I know you're angry. But we'll get him. This guy Daryl is a step in the right direction."

"Not fast enough," Jane snapped, pacing the driveway before stopping to take a deep breath. She reposted, her voice sharper. "What else did he say?"

Frankie called out through the phone. "Philip—uh, Daryl—just gave us something. Apparently, Matthew has a spot he uses to meet his people. An old storage facility on the south side. It's been abandoned for years, but he's been using it to lay low and stash stuff."

Jane's focus sharpened, her body tensing like a coiled spring. "Do we have an address?"

Frankie affirmed. "Already got a team heading that way to check it out, but it's a big facility. Could take some time to clear."

Jane replied, "I'm going there."

"Jane," Korsak warned, his voice firm. "I get it, but you need to think this through. If he's there, you're walking into a trap. Let the team handle it."

Korsak's voice cut through the tense air. "Jane, hold up."

Jane snapped back, "What?"

Korsak's voice was laced with concern. "Listen, you've got a lot riding on this, but you need to think about your priorities. Protect Beni. That's your job right now."

Jane's brow furrowed, her mouth opening as if to argue, but no words came out.

"Matthew's dangerous, and you know it," he continued. "If you go running into this, you leave Maura and that kid vulnerable. You've gotta keep your head on straight."

Jane's jaw tightened, the weight of his words hitting her harder than she wanted to admit. "I'm not just gonna sit back and do nothing, Korsak. I can't."

"No one's saying that," he replied, his tone gentler now. "But think about what's at stake. You've got Beni depending on you—and Maura, too. Let us handle this lead at the storage facility. You focus on keeping them safe."

Jane's fists clenched at her sides, the fight in her slowly giving way to the undeniable logic of his argument. She exhaled sharply, her shoulders dropping slightly. "You're right," she admitted reluctantly. "But you call me the second you find anything."

Korsak agreed. "You've got my word."

"Everything okay?" Maura asked, her voice a quiet murmur. Maura closed her laptop and stood, her brow furrowed in concern. "Walker?" she asked softly.

Jane nodded, slipping her phone into her pocket. "He's tied to the guy outside. Korsak's digging into it, but it looks like this thing just got a whole lot bigger."

Angela glanced over from the stove, catching the tension in Jane's voice. "Everything alright?"

Jane forced a small smile for Beni's sake, who was now watching her curiously. "Yeah, Ma. Just some work stuff. You and Beni keep working on those pancakes, okay?

"It's being handled," she said softly, her hand brushing Maura's. "We're safe."

Maura leaned slightly into her touch, her head resting briefly against Jane's shoulder. "I was worried," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jane turned slightly, pressing a light kiss to the top of Maura's head. "I know. But I've got you both," she reassured her, her tone steady. "Everything's going to be okay."