TORMENT

by Starbuck0322

It is well into the early morning hours as Dr. Maura Isles closes the door to autopsy freezer number 14. Hearing the clicking of the latch, she closes her eyes letting her hands run down the cool metal and whispers to herself, "Rest easy Gerald."

The boy deserved more than to be stuck in freezer door 14. Deserved more than to be laid out on her autopsy table. Deserved more than the single gunshot he received to his abdomen. Deserved more than to bleed out, finding death in what Maura now knew had taken well over an hour.

The Medical Examiner sighs letting her shoulders relax, her head to roll back hearing the familiar cracking in her neck. It had been a long night and now all she wanted was a hot shower, a glass of the Bordeaux she had opened last night, and to crawl nude between her freshly pressed, 1000 thread count sheets, letting the day slip away into unconsciousness.

She returns to her desk, turns off her monitor and reaches for her keys.

Something draws her attention to the center of the room; a light above an autopsy table turned on. Funny, she thinks to herself, I could have sworn I had turned that off.

She walks to the autopsy table, reaches up and turns off the light. Her eyes widen adjusting to the dim lighting. Something has changed in the air in the room. She feels it run up her backside, prick the hairs on her neck; she is not alone.

Maura grips tightly to her keys skilfully placing them between her fingers.

Something familiar; soft steps behind her. And then she hears it, smells the familiar scent.

"Hello Doctor Isles."

Heartbeat resonating within her eardrum, she lets a breath go silently, and relaxes her shoulders. She turns slowly to face him.

"Hello Mr. Hoyt." Her tone is calm, she cocks her head toward him. "It's been awhile."

Hoyt smiles wide, the glimmer of white teeth between thin lips. "How I've missed you." He smiles, inhaling deeply, closing his eyes, he exhales, "Maura."

"I wish I could say the same for you." She pauses looks down to the autopsy table beside her. Her medical tools lay out drying. The faint gleam of light hits the tool closest to her; a scalpel.

Hoyt has followed her line of sight. He chuckles to himself. "Oh, Dr. Isles. Everyone knows a clean autopsy bay is a happy one. Didn't they teach you that in Autopsy Procedures 101?"

Maura raises an eyebrow. "Maybe I knew you were coming and wanted to demonstrate my technique." She smiles back at him. "I believe that's what you wanted to see, wasn't it."

"So the good doctor is psychic now, is she?"

Maura remains motionless.

"Oh I've seen your technique Doctor. It's quite similar to my own." He looks up at her, and off her slight glimmer of confusion. "I've been watching you for the last hour. You were quite careful with Gerald weren't you?" He looks down at her hands, her fingers clutching her keys tightly. "Your hands are quite skilful, Doctor." He licks his lips. "Such dexterous fingers; the way your joints move. I could watch them for hours. I wonder if they're skilled at anything besides cutting up dead bodies." He pauses, squints. "The servicing of a man perhaps?"

Maura smirks slightly.

Hoyt lets his head roll back, keeping his focus on Maura. "A woman?"

"Your cat and mouse game, won't work on me, Mr. Hoyt." Maura says flatly.

"No?"

Maura sighs softly, and glares. "What is it that you want, Mr. Hoyt?"

He smiles again, cheekbones rising. "You, Doctor. I want you."

Her breath steady, she holds his gaze and cocks her head again. "And what is it that you want from me, Mr. Hoyt?"

He gasps, places a hand to his chest, a taser within it. "I'm shocked you don't remember our last meeting, Doctor. What I said I would do to you."

"You won't kill me." Maura says flatly, unwavering in her steadiness.

"Kill you," Hoyt bursts, stepping forward, causing her to jump back. He inhales slowly, a refreshed calm returning to his body. "No. I won't kill you." He smiles. "Hurt you..." His voice, the familiar rasp. "Maybe just a little."

Maura remains motionless and stares into his eyes.

"Drop the keys, Doctor."

"No."

"Drop the keys."

Maura remains motionless.

"You're a good girl, Doctor." He smiles looking her up and down slowly. He holds out the taser to her. "I don't want to have to use this on you." He watches as her shoulders rise; her first sign of uneasiness toward him. He smiles. "But I will if I have to, Doctor." He opens up the right side of his unzipped, leather coat, revealing a gun. "This is what I don't want to use." He takes another step toward her. His voice cuts through the air. "It would be such a waste."

Maura has not taken her eyes from the gun tucked into his waistband. She looks up at him slowly, her brow furrowed.

"Where's Jane?"

Again, the familiar wry smile. "Oh she's safe." He pauses smiling to himself. "For now." Hoyt presses a button on the taser charging it. The shrill sound pierces through the stale air in the autopsy bay.

"You won't get out of here. This place is riddled with cops."

He lifts his head and laughs loudly. "I have escaped from a maximum security penitentiary twice." He holds up two fingers with his hand still clutching the taser. He takes another step toward her, so close that she can smell his familiar scent. "What makes you think a bunch of Boston's laziest are a match for me?"

Maura glares and takes the opportunity to lash out with her keys. She aims for his head but he blocks her attack, and places a knee to her gut causing her to double over. She kicks, placing a solid blow to his kneecap causing him to stumble back. Gaining his balance, he swings furiously with his other foot, lacing it around her ankle, bringing her crashing to the floor.

Maura turns quickly and raises a leg to kick out but instead finds Hoyt, taser in hand. Electric shock floods her body in an instant. She coughs and spits as firm hands reach for her, pulling her to her feet. Her weight rests on numb legs, her body held tightly with her back pressed against Hoyt. Her arms are twisted behind her.

"Mmm." Hoyt utters, turning his face into her hair. He nuzzles into her neck, twisting her arm tighter, causing her to arch her back. "You smell like strawberries, Doctor," he whispers into her ear. "I wonder if you taste like them too."