Notes: Ok folks, this is the end of the line for Disclosure. I want to thank everyone who has been reading and reviewing and all of you out there that have just been reading I hope everyone has enjoyed the story even the little emo/angsty bits along the way. Never fear though I am already cooking up the next series in the Revelations-Disclosure-Shadows universe so look out! For those of you that have been waiting to read Shadows until Disclosure is finished since I wrote them chronologically out of order you can pop on over to Shadows now to hold you over haha.

And Finally, my last disclaimer, once again I don't work in the criminal justice system so all of my prison description is total BS from my brain or tidbits from watching too much Lock Up on TLC or A&E or whatever channel it comes on, so, take it with a grain of salt.

And a warning: This chapter depicts some violence, considering who it happens to I'm sure you won't mind.

CH 26: Vanquished

If it weren't for his imposing physique Lloyd Kearns was sure he would have run into more trouble than he had in his first couple of weeks of incarceration. Precautions were taken at first; it was a well-known fact that cops-turned-criminals didn't typically fair well in prison. Kearns was first assigned to a solitary cell; he took his meals in the common mess with the other inmates on his block but actively avoided recreation time. However, the new arrival of several violent offenders and some disciplinary action of other inmates in the block for fighting resulted in Kearns being moved to a regular cell.

Kearns was in a medium security facility. Once he was moved to the regular block the doors to the cell stayed open during the day allowing the prisoners fairly free movement around the pod. Kearns kept to himself as he observed the movements and patterns of the other inmates. It was prudent, he thought to try and get a handle on the behavioral dynamics of the other members of his block before engaging much with them. He wasn't sure if the other inmates knew he was a cop, but what he did know was that it was likely only a matter of time before someone caught wind.

Ten years is a long time to stay exiled in this shoebox, afraid of these scumbags, Kearns thought as he watched most of the inmates file out to the yard. Perusing the single shelf he had in his cell, Kearns selected one of the Tom Clancy novels Sgt. Wilcox had given him. Fucking dykes.

At the tables in the center of the pod two dark-haired men sat playing a game of cards. They watched out of the corner of their eyes as the rest of the inmates filed out for rec time on the outdoor basketball courts. A tall wiry inmate in the line looked over at them, his close cut auburn hair barely hid a gnarly scar that transected his skull. He nodded to the card players.

The burliest of the two men still inside looked up from his hand, his blue-grey eyes hollow and emotionless. He stripped off his jacket revealing a half arm sleeve tattoo of celtic knots under which and wrapping around his bicep read: Coimhead fearg fhear na foighde. Beware of the anger of a patient man. "Any time now," he said addressing his partner.

As if on cue a fight broke out in the yard sending the remaining guards inside streaking out to assist their colleagues. The two men rose and made their way to Kearns' cell. Kearns looked up from his book as he was stretched out on his bunk when the two shadowy figures appeared in the entranceway.

"You must be the welcome wagon," he said with an air of righteous indignation.

Neither man said a word but were on Kearns with a quickness unusual of bodies their size. Kearns lept from his bunk but got no further before a barrage of blows landed across his face and body. When his cheek slammed into the cold gritty concrete of the cell wall his assailants held him there as he sputtered out a mouthful of blood and saliva that streaked crimson down the grey institutional walls. Blood and sweat pooled in his eyes and the blows to the head rendered him hazy, his limbs wouldn't respond to his brain's inner commands, which yelled in a panic for him to fight back. A putrid smelling sock was shoved in his mouth as one of the men's strangling biceps held him forcefully in a headlock. His eyes widened as the sound of his pants being ripped up the rear echoed through the ominously quiet cell. The sock muffled the sound of his screams as the men sodomized him with a rough object.

The burlier man leaned into Kearns' ear, "For you," he breathed, his voice low and scratchy like sandpaper, "a very special welcome. Courtesy of Patrick Doyle, a debt of blood, your pain for her pain."

With a brutal force the two men swung Kearns into the opposing wall the sound of his head meting out a mighty crack against the concrete. He fell unconscious in a pulverized heap to the floor as the two men exited and returned to their cards.

"Best 3 out of 5?" The slighter one asked, shuffling the deck.

Jane looked at the mountain of files on her desk that were teetering precariously, "You know if they would have told me at the start how much paperwork there would be, I might have reconsidered becoming a cop."

Frost laughed, "Oh yeah? And done what?"

"Something where I could still beat down on bad guys but not have to do paperwork."

"Mixed Martial Arts fighter?" Frost joked.

Jane held up her arms in her best body builder pose, "Yeah, yeah definitely that," she laughed shaking her head as she went back to the file in front of her.

Her phone rang, "Rizzoli. Hey…you're kidding? When? Any reason? What's the progno….shit, really? Thanks for the call Jeff, appreciate it."

Frost raised one eyebrow, "Everything ok?"

"Guess that depends on your definition of ok…that was Jeff Schilling, the prosecutor from Maura's case. Kearns caught a serious beat down in prison yesterday."

With a shrug of the shoulders that in no subtle way portrayed complete lack of concern for Kearns' plight Frost replied, "Yeah well, was really only a matter of time, cops usually catch it in lockup."

Jane turned the cell phone end over end repeatedly in her hands as her leg tapped out a nervous rhythm under her desk. She stared blankly forward as she chewed on her bottom lip.

"Jane, you ok? It's not like the bastard didn't deserve it, what's up?" Frost got up and walked over to take a seat on the corner of Jane's desk. "Jane?" he shook her shoulder lightly.

She shook her head to clear it, "Oh, sorry…I just…blanked out there for a second. No it's…it wasn't just a beat down. They sodomized him…they did to him to what he tried to do to Maura."

"Damn…" Frost mumbled.

"Coincidence? I don't think so, they knew the case Frost, beaten and raped by two inmates, Fergal Leahy and Bobby Collins…" Jane looked up with a raised eyebrow. How could it be anyone but Doyle?

"Holy shit…Patrick Doyle, that guy is…" Frost cut himself off, choosing to just shake his head.

"He's brain dead Frost, Kearns, Schilling says his family is on their way in from out of state and they'll probably take him off life support tomorrow."

"You gonna tell Maura?"

Jane looked at her cell phone and then back at her partner, "Yeah, after work."

Jane popped open a beer and poured Maura a glass of wine, "Maur, we need to talk."

Maura stepped out of Jane's bedroom still in the process of pulling a loose fitting top over her head in place of the work clothes she had just shed, "What's wrong?"

Jane sat on the sofa taking a swig of beer as she held the glass of wine out to her concerned looking girlfriend as she scooted Joe Friday out of the spot directly next to her so Maura could sit. "Jeff Schilling called me today…" Jane looked over at Maura who had paused mid-sip.

"Something's happened hasn't it?" Maura set the wine down on the table.

"Kearns was beaten…and…sodomized in prison yesterday. I thought it would be better to tell you after work." Jane reached out and placed her hand on Maura's arm.

"What happened?" Maura leaned back on the sofa, folding her legs underneath her.

"Jeff didn't have a lot of details, two of the other inmates jumped him in his cell…it's…it's really not that uncommon Maur, fights happen in prison all the time and Kearns was a cop and there's not a lot of love for cops on the inside." Jane paused taking another sip of her beer and then setting it aside before taking both of Maura's hands. "Baby…there's…more. Kearns is…he's brain dead they're going to take him off life support tomorrow." Jane felt like she just blurted it out in one big word vomit for lack of any better way to deliver the news.

"He'll be dead," Maura said softly, almost inaudibly. She closed her eyes as she felt Jane's hand run through her hair. An arm around her back and a hand on her neck pulled her tenderly into Jane's embrace. "You said I'd never have to see him again."

Jane kissed the crown of Maura's head, "I did…I didn't necessarily mean because of…"

"I want to see him."

Maura and Jane could see Jeff Schilling standing at the locked doors to the hospital's intensive care unit.

"This is…a bit of an unusual request," he said as they approached.

Maura squeezed Jane's hand.

"But, you were able to swing it?" Jane asked.

Jeff nodded as he raised his hand signaling the nurse to buzz them in.

Maura paused outside the open door to Kearns' room, her grip tightened uncomfortably around Jane's hand.

"It's ok, I'm here with you," Jane whispered as Maura nodded and stepped across the threshold.

At first they just stood at the foot of the bed, Maura looked at all of the life support machines, noting the vitals they ticked out and then reached for the clipboard hanging on the end of the bed. She opened it and read the file. Maura walked to the side of the bed and looked at her assailant. You're not so tough now.

She leaned down to Kearns' ear though medically she knew he wouldn't, he couldn't hear her, for all intents and purposes he was already dead, devoid of consciousness, "I don't have to be afraid of you anymore," she whispered.

Maura reached for Jane's hand seeking her supportive contact once again as she took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders confidently, "We can go now."

The March weather hinted that there was an end in sight to the grey drab monotony of winter. The bone-chilling cold of the previous months was retreating, slowly, but a retreat nonetheless. The snow would begin melting soon leaving a sloppy mucky mess in its stead but soon greenery would return to Boston, and warmth.

Warmth, Jane mused as she looked at the barren trees surrounding the clubhouse of the Isles' country club. I bet this will look nice in Spring.

Judith Isles had placed her name on the guest list for lunch. Jane signed in and proceeded to the dining room. She paused just inside and looked around until she spotted Judith and William at a table by the windows, which looked out on the golf course that was still blanketed with snow.

William saw Jane approaching first and stood, smiling warmly as he moved to pull the chair out for her to sit.

"Sorry I'm a little late, there was an accident on the freeway," Jane apologized. Judith still made her nervous.

"No worries Jane, William and I have no other plans today," Judith signaled the waiter who came to take Jane's drink order.

"Just water," she replied as she placed the napkin in her lap, "I have to go back to work."

Judith and William nodded.

"Maura didn't say much about Kearns' death," Judith probed as she took a sip of her wine.

"She feels bad…because she's relieved," Jane replied, "she was worried that one day he'd get out. I know what that feels like." Jane massaged at the scar on one of her hands before looking up to see Judith give her a sympathetic nod. "Unlike Maura, I don't feel bad, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'm glad he's dead, because now she doesn't have to be scared of him; in ten years she won't have to look over her shoulder at night and I won't have to worry if I can protect her if he should show up…"

Jane's voice trailed off as she realized she'd just referred to her and Maura being together ten years down the road, subtle Jane, real subtle.

Saved by the waiter, Jane laughed to herself as the young man returned to take their orders.

William smiled at his wife who nodded her head, "Jane, is there a reason you asked if we were free to have lunch with you today?"

Shit. Ok, here goes. Jane chuckled slightly under her breath, "Subtlety never was a strong suit of mine…"

"It's endearing," Judith interjected with a smile.

"Well, then I probably shouldn't beat around the bush and just come out and say it…I want to ask Maura to marry me. I know you're probably still, you know, getting comfortable with this but after everything that's happened over the past couple of months I realized that I'm never going to stop being madly in love with your daughter. I can't stand the thought of not waking up next to her every morning, and I want to be old and retired and still waking up next to her. Family is very important to me, I want the two of you to be a part of our family and I want you to think of me as part of yours…I…"

Jane paused to laugh at herself as she ran her hand through her hair, "I told Maura once, before we were together, we were just joking around after a case that if I was gay I'd be the guy in the relationship; I feel like such a guy right now…what I'm trying to say is…I'd like your permission and most of all, I'd like your blessing to ask Maura to marry me."

Jane drummed her fingers on the tops of her thighs under the table as she sucked part of her lower lip into her mouth and bit down.

"Do you know why we adopted Maura?" Judith Isles began, "I couldn't have children. We tried, and after the second miscarriage I decided I couldn't go through that again. I don't think I was the best mother, actually, I know I wasn't…" Judith smiled, if not a little regretfully as she took another sip of wine. "But, I tried, we tried. I always worried about Maura, she was…strange as a child…she was…well, is a little strange as an adult…" Judith looked at Jane with a warmth in her eyes, "…you might have noticed."

Jane laughed, nodding in agreement.

"I worried, because I thought she'd always be the way she is and that no one would…that she'd be alone with no one to love and no one to love her back. I don't worry about that anymore." Judith extended her hand and closed her fingers around Jane's, "You have not only our permission, but our blessing to marry our daughter."

Jane looked at William who was smiling from ear to ear. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small box Nonna had given her, "These were my grandmother's…" She watched expectantly as Judith took the box; Jane hoped the modest rings would be enough for Judith's more expensive taste.

Judith opened the box and looked at the rings, "They're beautiful Jane, Maura will love them. She speaks very fondly of your grandmother, I know it will mean a lot to her to have your grandmother's rings. Have you decided when?"

Jane closed the box and dropped it back in her pocket, "No, I'm not good with planning things, I tend to just act. I'd like to plan something but I was afraid, knowing myself that I'd be equally likely just to blurt it out while we're brushing our teeth one morning…" they all laughed, "…so that's why I wanted to speak with you now, so that whenever and however it happens that we're good."

William stood and walked around the table pulling Jane up and into a hug, "We're good Jane, we're very good. Welcome to the family."