There were several days of arriving at the precinct with goofy grins to follow. In fact, it was practically expected, for the sheer reason that they were newly engaged and Maura had returned home safely from the rural, high priority case she had been called to consult on.
She had been subjected to minimal chastising, but more than anything, the entire force was relieved for her return. She realized how foolish she had been, how much she had risked Jane’s career and if truth be told, professionally she outranked Cavanaugh, but they would be requesting time off for the honeymoon soon and she didn’t want to antagonize him.

At first, they both wore their rings to work every day, but Maura had to remove and lock hers up as soon as the autopsies started and Jane would wear hers until they went out on a call and then slip it into the glove box. After a while, she started leaving it with Maura, but then she realized,her soon to be wife just worried more knowing Jane had gone out on a call if she had turned over the ring for safe-keeping. She hadn’t really decided on a new alternative yet, when Vince called, ordered her down front and told her to jump in the squad car as he drove by.

Fortunately, he slowed and let her climb in, but the ring was still in tow. Jane was taking in his every word about the fact that the two bodies from the warehouse shooting the night before were gang members, but both were carrying drugs. On the waterfront, it meant only one thing. Smuggling, or so Korsak thought. And smuggling meant one thing to Jane, her future asshat-in law, Patrick Doyle.
She had made every attempt to erase him from her mind since the morning she saw the eerie grey eyes tattooed on Maura’s midsection. She was livid, furious and considered him a vile animal, but simultaneous, she knew she had to let herself forgive Maura for wanting to protect them all. Forgive Maura? Maybe, but never forget that monster drugged and burned his daughter’s skin as if she was property on display as a mob trophy.
Vince interrupted her thoughts, and asked Jane if Maura had mentioned either autopsy to her, but Maura had not even come home after the bodies were hauled into the morgue at 3 a.m. that morning. Not surprising, after the Markov affair, she did not leave bodies unexamined after a crime and started the identification immediately.
Also,they were both trying to tie up all the paperwork they possibly could before their wedding in six short days. Neither would admit they were counting it down or thrilled, because then they would have to admit to the other that they were both terrified and excited little girls on the inside.
They were finally headed to Block Isl., because it was the trip they had missed previous. Also, they knew it would be a bit smaller, more intimate setting than the Martha’s Vineyard venues in Edgartown that Constance had suggested.
When they arrived at the scene, there was no time for vests and Korsak was out of the driver’s seat like a twenty-five year old. Gunfire with the uni’s was in progress and they had rolled up just as a drug bust was in progress.
Two gunmen were laid out on the sidewalk and Jane took off the opposite direction for the purpose of clearing approaching civilians til more backup arrived. She was waving her gun with one hand and talking on the walkie with the other and out of nowhere, she was knocked off her feet and her gun went flying.
”I can not let you stand in my way anymore, Rizzoli. NO MATTER, what I owe Maura!” The large build of Patrick Doyle had flattened her and they were in full on hand to hand assault. The moment she realized it was Paddy, her rage escalated as they punched each other back and forth, hoping to make a break for either of the handguns.
He was on his feet first and Jane was a second after him, tackling back to the ground. All she could think about was the tattoo, the mark he made on Maura and her adrenalin raged even more, catapulting Jane back to her to her feet as he continued to try to bring her back down to the ground.
Before she even realized what she was doing, she seethed through her teeth, ”You will never touch Maura again.” Swinging hard,she sliced into his cheek with the enormous ring she hadn’t taken time to remove. The slash mark gushed blood immediately, but Doyle was too concerned about losing his handgun in the struggle. He kept swinging wildly, trying to overpower Jane and wrestle her off her feet again.
A moment later, there was a gunshot. And then a second. The polar bear sized Doyle, landed on the grass a few feet from the detective he had been pommeling. Jane grabbed her cell, whispering ”Maur-, I need you. I am sending a squad for you to meet me at the hospital.” Then the cell fell out of her hand and lay silent beside her.
Jane didn’t know if Doyle was dead or alive, and didn’t care. She only knew her partner, Vince Korsak, three weeks prior to retirement, had protected her by firing the gun that she couldn’t bring herself to fire for Maura’s sake. Now, maybe her beloved would see what an animal this man was; And if he died, she could comfort Maura and Maura would have to understand, Vince had no choice.
Of course, if he lived? Not only would he be permanently imprisoned for attempted murder and assault on a BPD detective, but every day, that mark on his face would be a reminder to Doyle and all his playmates in prison, ”Don’t mess with Jane’s woman,” or you will get a can of 3.75 carat Jane Rizzoli whoopass.
After that, Jane never left for work without it.

They were both sweaty and panting with their legs intertwined and Jane’s voice was nearly gone from the night of whimpering during love bites, moaning as Maura became part of her skin and did not back down.
Maura rested her head in the crook of Jane’s arm and leaned back into it, with their sides still meshed together.
”So, my Lady Tiger, are you finally satisfied?” Jane held Maura with one arm and started playing in the blonde strands with the other.
”For now,” Maura smirked,happy to have tamed the Rizzoli storm once again.
”You know I have to get out of bed for work in fifteen minutes,” the doctor confessed, as she pulled them back into time’s reality.
”I need a shower. Would you like to join me?” Maura had started to pull away, still carefully guarding the tattoo with a sheet.
”I am off today,” Jane gloated.”I could stay in bed all day.”
”What fun would that be,” the Lady Tiger inquired.
”None without you, baby,” Jane winked then kissed Maura as she exited the bed.
”Besides, I can’t get up. I think I am impaled to your mattress,” Jane started to kid Maura as she entered the ensuite. Maura stuck her head back out and offered, ”I could get used to this, coming home from work with you waiting in OUR bed every night.”
”Good! Pretty soon you are not going to have a choice. Are you counting the days,Maur- I mean til the real wedding?”
”Nope,” came out as she spewed toothpaste in the sink.
”You and I are already together, from the moment,we made each other ours -well- from the proposal or the first time or, our date. You and I are solid. The wedding is a fashion show for the families.”
Rizzoli was stunned at her fiancee’s comment. Maura was the fairytale gown girl, it’s as if for a moment she had read Jane’s mind.
”How about you?”
”Um, basically, you stole my thoughts. Just what you said.”
Something possessed Jane to hop off the bed and join her love in the shower. If nothing else, a rekindling of the nights fireworks completely for Maura’s benefit. She liked to make love in the shower anyway and this way she would show up at work with a goofy, knowing smile on her face.
Maura was just about to turn the faucet in when Jane bellowed, ”Jesus Christ! What is that on you, on your stomach. Maura, have you lost your mind?”
The tattoo was no longer hidden.

Still in shock, Jane stepped in the shower behind Maura, apologizing for her accusatory tone, She wrapped her arms around Maura’s waist and pulled her backwards til she was holding her close.
”Maur- I am so sorry, okay? I was just in shock.” Jane buried her face into Maura’s neck and hoped for forgiveness, but Maura was still a little steamed at Jane’s reaction. She made it sound like Maura had gotten the eyes burned into her skin on purpose.
she moved out of Jane’s arms and continued to shower in silence.Before she could get her hair washed, Jane had pinned her to the shower wall as water beat down on them both.
”Baby, I really am sorry.” Jane planted a luscious kiss on the doctor’s lips and didn’t pull away. Maura dropped her cloth and wrapped herself into Jane’s arms.
Jane not only was forgiven, but managed to tame the anger behind Maura’s tension over the tattoo.
Later, Maura thought to herself. I will tell her later that this was done to me while I was drugged at the Doyle house.

The back alley would be the quickest way, but Jane knew how dark it was and didn’t want to risk falling. She followed every instruction she got in regards to Maura’s safe return. She tore around the block, and to her surprise, the entire house was dark. Was this a Paddy Doyle ruse as well?

Maura said she would be home today, so where is she dammit? Jane began beating herself up immediately for allowing this to happen at all. She should have knocked Maura off the park bench, tackled her and handcuffed them together to keep her from returning to Boston’s biggest crime thug. Was Maura ever coming home?

Jane sat down at the foot of the bed, her mind reeling and heaved her shoe at the door. The second Nike followed midair in concert with a furious expletive, ”FUCK!”

Out of nowhere, Jane heard a tender, ”Can we at least kiss hello first?”

Squealing ”Maur-,” Jane leapt from the bed and stumbled into the en suite.

Maura was running a bubble bath and hoping she and Jane could quietly reconnect in warm water, begin healing the wounds this case had created.

Jane wrapped herself around Maura’s small satin robed frame and began sobbing. Maura could barely move or speak in the tight grasp, so she stroked Jane’s hair and then wiped the side of Jane’s face that was not buried in her shoulder.
”Baby, it’s okay. I’m right here,” Maura consoled, kissing Jane’s neck as she wailed.
Jane began sliding down to the floor as she cried, so Maura went with her and held the inconsolable woman in her lap while she fell apart.
”Don’t you ever do that again,” was delivered into Maura’s sleeve in a garbled mumble.
”Jane, let’s go to our safe place. Can you walk?”
Maura guided the bereft woman to their bed as Jane began the onslaught of questions.
”Maura, how could you do that? Really?” It wouldn’t have been Jane Rizzoli in her arms, if she hadn’t snuck in her signature inquistion.

”I’m sorry, love. I just couldn’t bear to lose you. I was trying to keep you all safe from the Doyle’s. I didn’t plan it that way. I just left to get some answers, because I had to know. I didn’t imagine he would actually help me.”

Maura was so relieved the ceremony went off without interruption.She smiled through tears, walking the aisle with one of her parents on each side of her. The flood of pride she felt only soared when her eyes landed on Jane, who was waiting at the alter for her in a champagne colored gown.
”Jane,…” Maura murmured, unable to complete her thought. She reached for her lover’s hand, still marveling at the dress the detective was wearing. Maura’s mind was jarred as the the priest began to speak and it brought her back into the moment and realization that they were not alone.Her cheeks turned pink with blush,and she felt Jane tighten her grip as their hands sweated, cementing them together.
After the lengthy ceremony in which Jane almost bellowed Christ, get on with it already, they went to the reception in the church hall. As they walked hand in hand, Maura finally uttered, ”you stole my breath in there.”
”Right back at ya, Dr.Rizzoli-Isles,” Jane grinned and then added, ”You do know I am going to change out of this, right?”
”Well, naturally.” Maura nodded. ”I have a party dress for the reception as well since we are doing the church thing and then the yacht club to appease both tribes.” Jane chuckled at Maura’s use of tribes.Jane had no intention of putting on another dress for any reason.
When Maura slipped into the changing room, Jane followed and helped her out of the wedding gown and into her awaiting dress. ”Damn, Maura, you are lucky we are surrounded by law enforcement. I was on the verge of ripping that off you.” Maura smiled as Jane planted a series of kisses across her bare shoulder.
”Honey, they are the least of your worries. This dress belongs to Constance Isles.That’s who you should worry about,” Maura teased, thinking Jane was still slightly intimidated by her mother. Her jaw nearly dropped when the brunette announced,”Technically, so does this one. She helped me get it altered in all the right places. It was a gift when we went dress shopping.”
”Maura, I have to put on pants, because now the guys at work are going to get up close and personal and I can’t lose my status with them. That dress was for you. I am glad it surprised you.”
Jane turned to the drycleaner’s garment bags hanging on the back of the door. She unzipped it and pulled out a satin version of her work slacks, accompanied by a shirt,vest and jacket. As she pulled out the shoes, she tried to ignore Maura’s hands running up and down her from behind as she snuck a cellphone into the vest pocket.
”Hey,” Frankie Rizzoli banged on the door. ”You got all night for that. Hurry up. We want cake and booze.” Both women broke into laughter and obliged the waiting crowd.

J.
Please read this page and then destroy it.

Maura repeated the story she had been given by Paddy and then in huge letters scribbled The Doyle’s are not involved this time! She indicated that Jane should somehow connect it all to the Markov clan, as they did not want BPD or the ATF to discover their titanium rounds and they would have, had Maura been permitted to complete the autopsies and identify the ammo originally. So the Markov’s snagged the bodies,Paddy recovered them and I don’t know how. I chose not to ask, sparing myself both disgust and hives for having to lie about this at a later time.
Text when you can, M.

Namaste
You got my pkg.
I did,…
Does it all make sense ?
Up to the point where I almost lost my wife.
Jane,…

The detective almost gasped out loud, because she could hear her lover’s firm tone in the text message. She couldn’t even begin to relate to Maura how glad she was that this was over. At least, almost. They just had to get the good doctor home, free of suspicion.

So the Markov’s?
Y
Quite surprised. They have been operating very quietly for the last five or six yrs.I will wipe all this down and send it to myself at BPD. I need to plan a bust to recover the bodies. Got an extra warehouse to spare?
I am sure that will be an easy request.
So you plant the bodies and I plant the paperwork then you will be home?
Nowhere else I would rather be. I love you so much, Jane.
Yeah, about that. Chang and I did a couple things to keep you from being completely terminated and jailed. Couldn’t risk losing you as someone’s prison bitch.
You don’t have to put it quite like that.
Well you do work for the entire state of Mass. and if a case came up in a rural area you could be called out on it. So a mix of heading to the boonies and ’cold feet’ is why you split with your laptop.Conveniently, there is a draft in your email of a letter explaining it to Cavanaugh, but unfortunately it did not get sent due to the rural coverage and no wi-fi. Tomorrow eve. you will finally check in with me and I will report your whereabouts to the Capt. and everyone can breathe a deep sigh. Only you and I will know there was no such thing as cold feet at any time. How’s that sound?
Like you didn’t put any thought into it at all, Jay. I love you so much.
I can see you are mastering your sarcasm while you are away.
One more night away, baby, I love you.
Love you,too, Maur.