AN: So, as per usual for me when it comes to writing these days, I had a bad week and that latched onto these lovely two ladies.
Chapter titles for this story are taken from the songs I was listening to that inspired parts of this story. This chapter's title is the Roxette song Dangerous.
Any mistakes are mine, posted on Ao3 too so don't panic if you see it there too :) .
_

Jane is pissed. Her lips are pressed together resolutely and her face hard, body tight and weapon ready as she and Korsak move through the dull tunnels. There is a mustiness that accompanies the dust their torches highlight and the bright red smear on the wall draws their attention immediately against the dreary surroundings they find themselves in.

"Fresh." Korsak whispers and the sight cuts through Jane's defences. They look at each other for a moment before continuing and the Sargent can see Jane's distress below her anger. He knows if they find the blood belongs to Maura that Jane won't forgive herself if the worst should have come to pass. As they move together in silence he points out the trail and keeps an eye on his partner's reactions, cataloguing her rising concern until they both hear a noise up ahead and it draws their full attention.

With no immediate threat charging at them they look at each other again and turn off their torches so as not to give away their position before they know who is ahead of them. Jane silently counts off, nodding her head and in unison they round the next corner with their weapons drawn.

It's Maura. Her pupils constrict with the sudden light shone on her face and brandishes her improvised knife, blinded eyes wild with panic and the instinctual desire to protect herself. It is not until both detectives lower their torches and Jane lets out a concerned and relieved, "Maura!" that the doctor starts to recognize who is in front of her and the animalistic fear etched into her features eases slightly.

"Oh god, Jane." Maura says to herself, her mind still in survival mode as she looks between the figures above her to confirm the words she has just said.

"Are you alright?" Jane asks, her heart breaking at the sight of her best friend so fearful and panic-stricken. If Maura hadn't been preoccupied with trying to calm herself down, rationalize, and convey the important information of her situation she would have picked up on Jane's tone; barely controlled and thick with the emotion she was fighting to keep inside until she was in a safe place to let it all out.

Crouching down to Maura's height so she isn't perceived as a threat, Jane takes away the blade that her friend has forgotten she's still holding in front of her as her mind races but still finds time to reassure her best friend. "The blood, it isn't mine," Maura looks down at her shaking hands and tries not to replay the sensation of slashing Harris's soft throat or the way it caught slightly against his oesophagus.

"You know where he is?" Korsak whispers and Maura looks up at him in fright, having forgotten in those few seconds that he was there in the wake of seeing Jane.

"No," Maura replies, "no, I just, I ran, I ran." She is breathing too quickly to get out full sentences or even think in a coherent manner but her words continue regardless, needing to talk and to get everything out that is threatening to overwhelm her further, "I was hiding, I couldn't-I couldn't figure out how to get out of here-"

A gunshot makes both women jump and cuts Maura's traumatized rambling off.

Frankie.

Jane flinches the second time too and the panic from earlier is back but with a new target in mind. Korsak knows that standing between a Rizzoli and their family in danger never ends well so he offers to take Maura back to safety with him, "You go, I'll take her out of here."

"Jane," Maura pulls her attention by tugging on her hands. "Be careful," she begs, "He isn't working alone."

Jane nods, "Okay," she promises, "Okay."

Together they stand up and Korsak asks, "Can you walk?"

Maura's reply is shaky, "Yeah, yeah."

The second she is on her feet and in Korsak's hands Jane is off in the other direction, hearing her superior reassure the doctor that she is okay now and she's safe. Jane moves as quickly as she dares while still double checking each turn before committing to it, she knows that she will not be of any help to Frankie or Maura if she gets herself shot down here. When she spots an out of place light in one of the halls she doesn't just double check, she triple checks; poking her head out and then pulling back to catch a glimpse of what's ahead without risking her life.

The tunnel ahead has partially collapsed and a man lies in the midst of it, but it's not Harris.

"Frankie!" Jane calls but still manages to keep her voice to a whisper despite her panic for her brother's life, "Oh God." She worries in the second he doesn't respond or move and she runs over to him, "Are you alright?" She asks, reaching him and the pile of rubble he lies in, climbing over him to see what she can do to help as she holsters her weapon.

"Ooof, oh, I'm fine," Frankie tries to sit up but Jane keeps him down with one hand. He avoids his sister's gaze, knowing the hurt and worry he will find on his older sibling's face if he looks at her directly. It doesn't stop Jane from looking him over quickly, swiping rubble off his vest and checking his head for bumps or cuts as he speaks, "I fired off a shot, he shot back, it hit the wall and this stuff fell on me… Knocked my head a bit." He admits at the end and looks up to Jane. He was right about the worry but doesn't get time to analyses her expression further because a crash further down the tunnel pulls their gaze and Jane's light. "Yeah, he went off to the right, I think I heard him go up some stairs."

"Okay," Jane acknowledges but has turned her attention back to her injured little brother, trying not to create a mental tally of the number of people this bastard has hurt.

"II-I'm fine, go" Frankie urges, but Jane hesitates, "Go." He says again, his voice gaining strengthening and this time Jane trusts him and his judgement and moves over him, redrawing her weapon without another word.

Jane glances at the sign on the door she comes across: "WEST ANNEX FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE ONLY" and despite the circumstances manages to find the humour in the wing she is about to enter while chasing down this nut job. Beyond the door is the stairs Frankie mentioned hearing and as Jane rises up them so does her concern for the family members she has left behind her that are now out of communication.

Mind clouding emotions are shoved aside in an instant when Harris appears ahead of her and fires in her direction. Cursing, Jane ducks and the anger that she felt earlier comes screaming back, fuelling her senses and heating her body. She takes a second to listen from behind cover before leaning out to one side, one hand holding her against the wall so she won't have to reveal so much of herself but the criminal doctor isn't there anymore. Her nostrils flare in anger as she quietly seethes and returns her right hand back to the gun for more stability, resuming the chase methodically.

It does not take her long to re-find Harris since he uncaringly rolls open a heavy metal door, announcing his presence to anyone on the floor. He staggers out and Jane finally gets a look at the blood covering him, charging forward she vows that the only way this man is escaping today is over her dead body. She pulls the radio from her belt and alerts the rest of the team of their position so they can cover the exits, "West annex roof fire escape!" she calls before he fires at her again and she drops the radio in her haste to get to cover.

Jane can feel her hot pulse stampeding as she fires back, her shot landing its mark but it does not satisfy her in the slightest and she burns with a heady mix of unbridled anger and anxiety about the safety of her loved ones. She runs around to get to his body but falters when she finds he is still standing.

Jane cannot see the officer at the entrance Harris had just come through but she hears him call out, "Drop it!"

It's the only distraction she needs and as the once respected doctor switches his gaze and aim to the unseen officer, Jane fires again without hesitation. If you asked Jane what her motivations where behind this action she'd have said she was protecting the officer and while that was part of the reason, in truth she was itching for a reason to shoot Harris. When he falls, Jane takes a deep breath but it is not over yet, she needs this man alive to give her the answers as to who is orchestrating this whole fiasco and why they are targeting her.

Jane sprints around where Harris has fallen, yelling to the stunned officer to get EMTs to her immediately, she charges over Harris. "Don't you move!" She orders, the words pulling her vocal cords harshly as she stands over him, weapon still pointed down at him. His throat gurgles and Jane knows that he won't live long. This simple fact sets her already volatile emotions into a war with each other; raw rage, unkempt uncertainty, a burning need to know why, "Who are you working for Harris?" He doesn't answer her as he continues to pull in wet breathes and Jane lets her emotions override her usual controlled manner. "WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?" She breathes hard and her frustration mounts with each second that he remains silent while his life slips away. Her anger starts to shift as she realizes he isn't going to tell her anything, "You don't even know me!" desperation tries to set in, "Why me?" she almost whispers but gets a hold of herself, refusing to let this man see her pain. Jane kneels to move the gun closer to his face and she tries asking the same question again because it is ultimately even more important to her than knowing who has done this to her, "Why me?" Jane grits out again, letting him see the rage inside her.

Harris struggles to speak, his breath catching on the first syllable a few times before he manages to get out, "Why not?" and almost laughs on his last breath.

The answer cuts deeper than any bullet she had ever taken because the only thing worse than being targeted like this, is being a target for no goddamn reason at all. Senseless. Random. Because 'why not'? She wants to shoot him again but what good will do to shoot a corpse? Jane stands with frustration as they are put right back at square one, her chest heaving as adrenaline continues to course through her. She runs her nails across her tied back hair and holsters her weapon with far more force than would ever be considered necessary.

The officer behind her calls to her before he puts a hand on her shoulder hesitantly, "Detective?" Jane looks at him, burning with hate and confusion but he holds his ground asking, "Are you alright?"

Jane takes a couple of deliberate breaths to calm her respiration, knowing it will not do anything for her mood and turning away from Harris's body, "No." She answers honestly and starts towards the edge of the roof with long and purposeful strides.

"Uh, Detective?" The officer calls to her again, breaking into a jog to keep up with her.

Jane looks over her shoulder but does not halt her pace, "What?" She asks, her fuming temper escaping through her voice. She catches the concerned look on her face and regrets having snapped at him, the thought occurring to her that perhaps something is wrong or he is somehow injured and she changes her tact immediately and halts in her tracks, "Are you okay?"

"Um," He seems to pause for a moment to think about the answer and it makes Jane pause too, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine but what are you doing?"

"Express elevator down," Jane points and then catches the officer's immediate panic, mistaking her answer for a confession of intent to suicide. She doesn't have the capacity now to gently reassure him of his mistake and her mental state, she has to get back to Maura and Frankie and find out their condition. "Ladder." Jane points again and slaps the officer's shoulder, resuming her quick pace to the fire escape she can see, checking it does go all the way down before swinging herself over the side of the building and beginning the descent.

It's fine at first but the stress of the day starts to creep up to her with the imminent threat gone and with nowhere to go it vibrates inside of her and Jane's arms start to shake. She pauses on the ladder, shaking an arm down at her side attempting to get it to behave to her desires, and a little surprised to find the task so taxing.

"Jane?" She hears Korsak call from below her but refuses to look down to him on the ground.

"Yeah, coming." Jane gets out, wishing her voice did not shake as much as her arms and she forces herself to keep a steady downwards pace. Her eyes follow each movement of her feet and hands, constantly flicking between them and hoping that the Sargent below cannot see how her body trembles with the exertion and stress of the day. On the last rung Korsak reaches out to help her balance, catching her as she reaches solid ground again, "I got it," Jane mumbles, moving to stand on her own and immediately looking around for Maura and Frankie. "Harris is dead. He's dead and we're back to square one." She looks down in frustration, hands on her hips and sighing.

Korsak has a more important question for her before talking about Harris, "Are you okay Jane?"

"Hm?" She looks back at him, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Where are Maura and Frankie? Are they okay?"

"They're fine; they're with EMT's now around the other side of the building. I'll take you to them."

Jane nods, "He wouldn't tell me who he was working with," she relayed, "he wouldn't even give me a reason for all this, he just said 'why not?'."

Korsak puts a comforting hand on her shoulder as they walk, "We'll get this guy Jane." It's all he can say at this time, all too aware of the lack of leads in their case with Harris gone.

"Will we?" Jane asks, her uncertainty breaking down the mask of anger and exhaustion, "Before or after he manages to kill someone I love? What if next time it is Ma, because she can't defend herself like Maura did, what if-"

"Jane." Korsak stops her, and turns her around. He knows what the Rizzoli family is like when it comes to controlling their fears and dealing with raw emotion but he also knows that Jane can be level headed even in the face of that, "If we have to put Maura and your family into protective custody then I'll do that, I'll do whatever it takes to protect you all. You know that right?"

Jane wrings her hands in front of her because oh boy does she know after the week she has just had; she knows exactly how far the Sargent will go to keep her safe. The memories flash through her mind; the bodyguard constantly telling her to get away from the windows before he drags her back, Maura's worried looks across Skype and pacing of her office, Nina and Frankie working triple overtime and running solely on caffeine and sugar to keep them awake, officers physically holding her back as she tries to explain that the time on the watch isn't a time of death. Jane's grateful for the effort everyone has put into protecting her around the clock and for putting up with her swinging moods but it does not stop her fears. "I know," she responds hoarsely, doing her best to reign in everything that threatens to overwhelm her and make her cry in front of her friend and boss. Jane nods, "I know. You're doing everything you can."

"So are you," Korsak reminds gently and prompts her to start walking, they're not far from the corner and he keeps a keen eye on her to gauge her current state, but once they reach the corner and Jane spots Maura sitting on the edge of an ambulance, she's off breaking into a jog to reach her.

Jane does not slow down as she approaches and crashes right into the doctor with a tight hug, bracing them both and holding them up before they can topple backwards into the van. The impact comes as a shock to Maura who is now being held up exclusively by the detective, causing a delay before she weakly returns the hug, breathing her name passed her ear in tender relief, "Jane." Maura closes her eyes as a soothing cold sweep of goose bumps spread down her body despite the heat of her friend's body above and around her. She knows she should not use this time to indulge in catching Jane's natural scent but she does not have the willpower to fight the urge after the day she had. Therefore, she breathes in carefully. It's calculated, like most of her actions, to allow her to find that unique smell that is Jane Rizzoli underneath the fear and sweat that coat her skin, and so as not to alert Jane. She has a trained nose as she has said a few times in the past and is grateful on this occasion for it allowing her this moment to find calm through her love for her best friend.

Just as Maura starts to calm, Jane is pulling back, hands still on her arms as she looks over her for wounds, "Are you alright?" She asks with concern dripping from her voice as much from her body. She looks to the EMT hovering nearby them, "How is she?" She asks, not sure which answer she wants to hear first or most.

"Surface abrasions, single facial hematoma," Maura speaks first and Jane nods, giving a small 'okay' in response and then looking to the EMT for an unbiased opinion.

"What she said," The EMT replies, her name tag reading "BAKER" in capital letters over her right breast pocket, "But we're taking her to General for a full workup."

Jane nods, gives a couple 'okay's as her mind races through the things she wants to say, needs to hear and does not want to feel. She turns back to what is most important, "Did he hurt you?" she asks, unable to keep the raw emotion out of her voice as she looks down at her best friend and tries to hold herself together.

Maura shakes her head to avoiding having to speak for a few seconds, "He just wanted to scare me." The calm that had started to settle skitters away again and she doesn't dare speak above a whisper for fear she'll start crying in front of everyone, but she knows the wobbling of her jaw gives her torment away to Jane. However, if it's only Jane who sees it then she doesn't mind so much, for Jane she'll gladly bare her soul.

Jane does her best to reassure her, "He's dead, okay? You don't have to worry about him anymore." She stops there, her own voice on the edge of cracking too and there is a brief momentary pause between them as they both try to collect themselves.

Maura wants nothing more than to end the conversation there and have the strong detective hold her again but she needs Jane to know, "I heard him on the phone, he wasn't working alone." She sees Jane piecing together what she's saying but she gives her the conclusion anyway, "This isn't over." It's as much warning her as it is admitting to her fears and she finds the sentence much harder to say than she had originally anticipated. Maura had hoped too that this was indeed, over and the thought of it dragging on weighed heavily on her.

Jane tries to be strong, "It is for now." Nevertheless, it does not hold up against Maura next question.

"What did he want?" she asks, near tears and needing to know for what reason this had happened to her, needing to find some logic and sense in order to scientifically rationalize everything she is going through.

Jane shrugs and it threatens to tip Maura over the edge, "It doesn't matter." It is not the answer she wants to hear but the strain in Jane's voice hurts her more than the words do, "He's dead, and you're safe." Jane's throat is raw with checked hurt but thankful that her eyes have stayed clear for now. "Okay?" She asks uncertainly, very aware of the thick emotion swimming between them but unable to pin down defining words for them. It is the best she can do at this time to reassure Maura, beyond mentioning they might stick a security detail on her for the foreseeable future until the ringleader is caught. Maura nods her understanding and Jane continues, finding a need to put some distance between them for a little while so she can compose herself, "I-I'll come straight to the hospital as soon as I wrap up here, alright?" she starts to pull away and leave. There is a part of Maura that understands Jane's desire to retreat when she gets emotional, comprehending that she does not want anyone to see that all too human side of her, but Maura's own need overrides her rational side to let Jane do what she needs to do.

"Jane." Maura calls back, broken and reaching out for her. She is not ready to leave her yet, not ready to be alone with her thoughts which are a confusing mix of replaying the events of the day and the desire to hold Jane close again. Jane has protected her so many times already; surely, she can protect her from this too?

"Yeah?" Jane steps back to her immediately, catching the despondent look in her eyes and watching the hopeless look on her features morph into a representation of an internal battle that the detective cannot identify the root cause of. Just as she's about to crouch down and ask her what's wrong, Maura launches up at her with cold hands on either side of her face and kisses her with all the fear, love, hope and loss of that battle inside that is wearing her down. It is desperate and she needs this to hold onto, to try and find something good in the world on this bleak day, to feel loved, wanted, desired, cared for and protected. Who better to give that to her than Jane Rizzoli?

It's out of instinct that Jane kisses Maura back but the warm lick of surprised enjoyment calls her back to stunned reality and she pulls away with even more questions running through her crowded mind that she can't process the waiting look on Maura's face.

"Um," Jane says dumbly, entirely at a loss as to what to do or say. "I'll see you at the hospital." She hastily replies before her brain can even think the words and then turns away, looking quickly around to see the reactions of the people around her and missing the silent shake of Maura's shoulders as she ducks her head from the view of her peers. Korsak is busy flipping through pages of his notebook, Frankie is looking steadfast in the opposite direction at the second ambulance, the uniforms are having their own private little meeting and the EMT is trying to be discreet at not listening in to their conversation. Not a single one of them will meet her gaze.