Third Watch, WYWG Series, Fic 5: Fear (4/4)
Part Four
Trent paced the floor, glancing occasionally at Rodney and then Jamie. He stopped suddenly and looked at them. "All right. It's time to make our demands. I'm sick of this fucking place."
Rodney swallowed, looking over at Jamie, then back to Trent. "Demands? Of what?" he asked.
Trent looked at him and shook his head. "What we want from the police, you fucking idiot. What the hell did you think I was talking about?"
He looked back at him. "I don't know, more food..."
"Oh, Jesus, why do I even bother?" he muttered. "Money, a way out of here...those demands, Rodney. Use your head okay?
"Hey, I don't know how you think, okay. I-I just assumed you'd want more food..."
"Yeah, ten pizzas and I'm still hungry," he said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"Leave him alone," Jamie said to Trent, walking over to Rodney.
"Fuck you both," he said angrily. He headed over to the counter.
Faith watched as Trent walked over to the counter. Her eyes widened slightly. "What the hell is he doing?" she said under her breath.
Bosco shrugged. "I don't know, but isn't that where the phone is?"
Trent moved behind the counter and looked down. His eyes darkened as he picked up the telephone receiever and pressed it to his ear. "FUCK!" He looked around the room, his eyes settling on the two tellers that were now seated on the floor. He slammed the phone against the counter and stormed away, toward them. "Which one of you fuckers called someone?"
The breath caught in Faith's throat. Oh, God, no, she thought.
Nina looked at the male teller, then back to Trent, her face fear-stricken. "N-no one!" she shouted, trying not to cry, though her breathing was heavy as she tried to stop the sobs that were only moments from bursting out.
"You lying bitch!" He grabbed her by the throat and yanked her to her feet. "You did it, didn't you, you slut!"
Screams and sobs escaped her lips and she frantically shook her head, trying to free from his grip
Faith leapt to her feet without a second thought. "She didn't call anyone! I did!"
He slowly turned his head to look at her, his eyes narrowed in rage. He threw Nina to the floor like a ragdoll and stalked toward Faith.
Bosco jumped to his feet, standing by Faith. "No, I did it," he said, as Trent approached.
"What?" she said in shock, looking at him like he was nuts.
Trent stopped and glared at them both wordlessly.
He looked at Faith, nodding. He then turned to Trent. "I did it, I used the phone." He swallowed hard, hoping like hell Trent would believe him.
"Don't listen to him. He's lying. He wasn't even over by the phone!" she pointed out. Jesus, Bosco, what the hell are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed? she wondered.
"Faith, why are you trying to cover for me? I did it, okay?" He urged her to back down, and let him take the fall for it. He hated Trent, and after what he'd already done to Faith, he didn't want to take any chance that the bastard would do something worse.
Trent glared at Bosco. "You did it?" he asked darkly.
Bosco nodded, looking directly at him. "Yes," he said firmly.
"No, dammit, I did it!" she insisted, glaring at Bosco briefly. "Remember when you thought I was trying to escape? You had me over there by the desk? That's why I was moving! I'd just called the cops!"
"You fucking..." He balled his hands into fists, glaring at both of them.
No, no, no, Faith, Bosco pleaded, looking back at her. He turned to Trent again. "Don't listen to her, I'm the one who did it, she's just trying to cover my ass," he insisted.
Trent looked from Bosco to Faith, trying to determine who was lying. "Maybe I'll just kill you both and then it won't matter who is fucking covering for whom because you'll both be dead!"
"Then do it, but I'm the one who called the cops, I put the call through."
"Bosco, would you just shut up?" she snapped. "I made the call."
"No, Faith," he said to her with a lowered voice. "You know what he'd do to you, if you let him think you did it?"
She looked at him. "Like he won't kill you?" she muttered.
"I don't care, I won't let him touch you again."
"That's fucking enough! Both of you shut the fuck up!" Trent shouted, pointing his gun at them both.
Bosco swallowed hard, looking back at Trent.
Faith swallowed hard and stared at Trent. "If you kill anyone in here, the police are going to storm this bank."
"And then you'll never have a chance in hell of getting out of here alive," Bosco added.
"He's right."
"You know what? It doesn't fucking matter. I'm sick of everyone in here, but the two of you...you're really pissing me off, you know that?"
"So then give yourself up, and let us all the hell go," Bosco said calmly.
Trent smiled briefly. "Not a fucking chance in hell." Without warning, he moved forward, and slammed Bosco in the chest with his shot gun.
Bosco fell down to the ground, his wind knocked out of him as he glared up at Trent.
"Bosco!" She instantly dropped down to his side.
Trying to catch his breath, he turned to Faith who was beside him now. "I'm okay..." he finally breathed.
Faith glared up at Trent with tears stinging her eyes. "You son of a bitch!"
"What? You want me to hit you again, too, whore?"
Bosco shook his head for her. "You leave her the fuck alone, you asshole."
"Would it upset you if I hurt her?" he asked, his voice patronizing.
He glared at Trent, a scowl etching his entire face. "You lay a fucking hand on her, I swear by whatever fucking god you believe in, I'll make you suffer for the rest of your fucking life."
Faith swallowed hard and looked from Trent to Bosco, seeing the anger on his face.
Trent glared down at Bosco. He pushed Faith aside and knelt down next to Bosco, leaning close, his gun aimed at Boz's face. "Then I guess it would really piss you off to know that I've already had my hands on her, wouldn't it?" he whispered, grinning.
Bosco didn't even flinch, he just grabbed for the guy's throat and gripped hard. "You're gonna fucking die for what you did!" he said through gritted teeth, shoving the son of a bitch backward.
Faith felt terror jolt through her entire body and she did her best to fight it off as her partner fought with the robber. Get up, she willed herself. Get up and help Bosco! As hard as she tried, she couldn't move, paralyzed by her own fear.
Trent punched Bosco in the face and rolled away, grabbing his gun again.
Bosco grabbed at his jaw, and rolled backwards and up onto his knees, facing off against the son of a bitch.
Trent glared at him.
He slowly rose to his feet, his eyes set on Trent. You're gonna wish you didn't screw with me, he thought, before swinging his foot and kicking the gun out of his hand. He then turned back around, and lunged after Trent, knocking him backward.
Trent fell back against the wall, reaching for his gun again, but not quite making it.
He wore a smirk on his face as he walked neared to him. "Aww, what's the matter, big baby lost his toy?" With that remark, he swung his foot and kicked Trent in the groin, sending him to the ground, groaning as he keeled over in pain.
Faith squeezed her eyes shut, trying to breathe. What the hell is wrong with me? she thought desperately.
Trent grabbed hold of Bosco's leg and tried to yank it out from under him.
Bosco's mind was filled with rage for this son of a bitch, but worry also crept up on him, for Faith. He quickly looked over at her, seeing her still there, when Trent grabbed him by the leg. He quickly pulled out of his grip, and used his foot to swing another kick, getting him in the stomach. An 'oompf' came from the SOB, and he planted yet another kick.
Bosco looked over at Faith, a stupid smile on his sweating face. He stood up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Did he not know who he was fucking with?"
"Fuck," Trent muttered, grabbing his stomach.
Get up, Faith, she commanded herself. Don't let him down again!
Bosco crouched down over him, instantly grabbing Trent by his collar and slamming him down hard into the ground. Knocking the wind out of him again, before he lay punch after punch into his face.
"Help me you fuckrags!" he shouted to Jamie and Rodney.
"Nah-uh man!" Rodney stepped backward, taking Jamie back with him.
"WHAT?"
"Not after what you do to us, you prick! You fucking go to hell!" Jamie said angrily.
"I'll fucking kill you both!"
Bosco held Trent down hard, laughing at him. "Goes to show you you're not as great a guy as you think, you stupid shit." He slammed his fist into Trent's face again, this time blood splattered out from the guy's lip as his tooth cut into his lip.
Faith finally managed to move, tears stinging her eyes. She reached over and grabbed Trent's gun and picked it up. She rose slowly to her feet, holding it on him.
Bosco saw Faith's movement, and her grabbing the gun, and landed another punch into Trent's face.
"Get up," she commanded Trent, her voice deadly. Her hands shook only slightly.
Bosco let the son of a bitch go, by shoving him backward into the ground, as he rose to his feet and stood, towering over him.
"Get up," she repeated, her voice louder.
Trent spat blood out of his mouth and glared at her. "Fuck you, bitch!"
Bosco sneered down at the guy. "Get the fuck up!" he ordered, kicking him again.
Enraged, Trent launched himself at Bosco, knocking him back onto the ground.
Without hesitation, Faith swung and slammed the barrel of the gun into the back of Trent's head as hard as she could.
He slumped to the floor, unconscious.
Bosco still lay flat on his ass, and looked up at Faith, surprise in his face. "Damn..."
Faith couldn't look at him. She handed him the gun.
He stood up, looking down at the slumped Trent, and looked over at Jamie and Rodney. "Don't make me kick your asses."
They both shook their heads, and stepped back away from the door as Faith came nearer to them.
Faith looked at them briefly. "Unless you want to be shot, I'd suggest you both put your weapons down."
Rodney didn't even protest, he dropped the uzi in his hands to the ground, and Jamie followed suit.
Bosco looked at Faith, then toward Jamie and Rodney. "Alright, you two out first, slowly, with your hands in the air...... call the cops over. Next, I want the rest of us to go out together."
Faith watched as everyone stood up slowly. Jamie and Rodney headed for the doors. She met the other woman's eyes for a brief moment.
Jamie looked over her shoulder at Faith as she left, an expression of sorrow and regret on her face as she walked out with Rodney, raising her hands in the air.
The others filed out behind them and Faith swallowed hard, looking down at the floor of the bank.
Bosco walked away from Trent, looking back only once to see him still lying there, unconscious. He stopped over by Faith. "It's over," he said, his tone of voice sounding relieved.
She nodded. "Thank God," she murmured tiredly.
He looked out toward the doors, watching as the police took Jamie and Rodney into custody. Then anger surged through him, and he turned to Faith again. "What the hell were you thinking, Faith? Taking the blame like that? You know what he would have done to you?"
"Yeah, like I was going to let you take the blame so he could kill you instead," she muttered.
He shook his head. "This isn't what this is about, is it? You were trying to prove something. You know he would have hurt you, so why, Faith?"
Faith shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
Bosco lowered his tone. "Faith, you could have gotten seriously hurt. I didn't want to see that creep touch you... but, he could have, he could have seriously hurt you."
She swallowed hard, tears prickling her eyes. "It's over now, Bosco. Let's just move on, all right?"
He didn't want to accept that answer from her, but what else could he say,or even do? She had willingly put her own life in danger. What if Trent hadn't backed down? What if he'd gotten near Faith again? He shuddered at the thought, and cleared his throat. "We should get out there then."
She nodded her agreement and headed for the door.
Bosco took one last look at Trent, then followed behind Faith.
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Christopher was talking to another officer when he heard the voices of Faith and Bosco not far behind him. He turned around, and walked over in their direction. He stopped in front of them. "I called Fred, I thought I'd let him know..."
Faith looked at him. "You called Fred?" she repeated, confused.
Bosco and Sully both looked in his direction, frowns on their faces.
"Well, yeah, I thought you'd want your husband down here..."
Swersky interrupted them. "What happened in there?"
"Guys came in with guns," Bosco said, still looking at Christopher.
"One of the tellers tripped the alarm and when the other police officers and Feds got here, they freaked out," Faith told him.
"The leader, he's in there unconscious." He motioned with his thumb toward the building, looking at Faith for a moment, before turning to the Lieu. "We're all safe though. Thank God."
Faith looked down at the ground wordlessly.
Davis motioned Carlos and Doc over.
"He's unconscious? How did that happen?" Swersky questioned.
Bosco bit back the urge to tell them what the fucker had done to Faith, but instead just swallowed, telling him what he could. "I wrestled him for control... he, kinda hit his head."
"And how exactly did he hit his head, Boscorelli?" Christopher asked, folding his arms across his chest.
Faith glared at him. "His head met the blunt end of his gun."
Bosco grinned over at Faith, then changed the look on his face back to serious. "He was a creep, and he's not hurting anyone anymore, period."
Lieu looked back and forth between Bosco and Faith, sensing there was a hell of a lot more to the story behind what happened, but he decided to let it rest for the moment. "I'll need you both to come down to the station and make formal reports."
She looked away, wrapping her arms around her waist.
Bosco let out a groan. "What, Lieu? You can't be serious... can we do it tomorrow? I really don't feel up to it tonight." He looked over at Faith, seeing her arms wrapped around herself. "Not after what we've been through."
Lieu glanced at him, then at Faith again. "All right. Go home, get some sleep. But I want you both down there tomorrow afternoon, got it?"
He nodded. "Yes, Sir."
Faith nodded, still not looking at him. "Yes, Sir," she echoed.
Lieu nodded and headed off to talk to one of the other hostages.
Christopher just shook his head, looking between the two of them. "Fred'll be here any minute now," he said, but without another word, walked off.
Faith stared after him. Great, she thought sullenly. Just what she needed. To answer the million and one questions she knew Fred was going to have.
Davis glanced at Faith, then at Bosco. "Glad you guys are okay."
At that moment, Doc walked over with Carlos right behind him. Doc looked at Faith, then Bosco. "You guys okay?"
"They've been through a helluva lot," Sully told him.
Bosco nodded, looking over at Faith without saying a word.
"Fine, Doc. One of the robbers is inside, unconscious," she said.
Carlos looked directly at Bosco from Faith's statement. "Let him die, he deserves to."
Doc glanced at Carlos. He just shook his head. "I'll be inside." Without another word, he headed off into the bank.
Carlos shook his head. "Guy doesn't deserve treatment. Who the hell would hold people hostage against their will?"
"A very sick individual," she muttered, shivering against the breeze.
Davis looked at Faith, then at Bosco, a worried expression on his face. He met Bosco's gaze and tilted his head ever-so-slightly toward Faith.
Bosco saw Davis looking at him, and nervously looked away, in Carlos' direction. "You should check Faith over, for injuries," he said, his voice showing grave concern as he looked back at her.
She immediately shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she said nervously, taking a step away from the group.
"We still need to check you over, the bus is over there," he said to her, nodding toward the bus a ways right of where they stood.
"I don't have any injuries," Faith insisted, her voice strained.
"Faith, just let him check you over, please," Bosco said quietly.
"It's better if you do," Sully agreed.
Davis nodded his agreement.
"Come on, just a simple check over. Only take five minutes," Carlos urged.
Faith bit her lip and looked at Bosco. She reluctantly gave in and followed Carlos toward the bus.
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Davis yanked Trent along beside him as he hauled him out of the bank. "Oh, man did you screw up.
"Fuck off."
He shook his head. "You know, it's one thing to rob a bank, and quite another to assault two police officers."
Trent looked at him, startled. "What? I didn't assault no cops!"
Davis nodded toward where Bosco was standing, talking to Sully, then nodded to where Faith was being checked over by Carlos. "Yeah, you did. I think you'll like it in the big house. Lots of nice guys there that will love to be your cellmate." He shoved the guy into the back of the squad and slammed the door.
Davis shook his head again and walked over to Bosco and Sully.
Sully turned toward Davis, seeing Trent mouthing something off that he could care less to know about. "He giving you trouble?"
"Nothing I can't handle. I just informed him that Bosco and Yokas were police officers." Davis grinned.
"Will these guys never learn, robbing a bank? With all the technology of today, they're mad," Sully said, shaking his head.
While Sully looked away, Bosco looked over at Faith. But from Davis's comment, he turned his head back. "I hope like hell he rots in there," he said, his voice angered.
Davis exchanged a look with his partner. "Bosco, what the hell happened in there, man?"
He shrugged. "A lotta stuff I'd rather forget for tonight, if you don't mind," he replied, his voice sounding distant all of a sudden.
Davis nodded, frowning deeply. He looked over toward the ambulance where Yokas was being checked out. "She all right?"
Bosco looked over at Faith, an expression of worry on his face.
Sully nudged Davis, nodding at Bosco.
Davis stared at the other officer who was paying him no attention. "Whoa," he said, under his breath, realizing how intensely Bosco was staring at Yokas.
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"Man, that had to be pretty freaky in there," he said, shining the light in both of Faith's eyes. What was it like?"
She pulled away from him, blinking rapidly. "What?"
"What was it like in there?" he repeated, putting away his flashlight.
She looked away. "Hell," she said, her voice barely audible.
Carlos nodded, looking directly at her. "So what did they do?"
"Do you have any aspirin?"
Again he nodded, this time reaching over and rifling through his bag until he pulled out a tray of them. He handed the tray to Faith. "Headache?"
She nodded and took two of them from the tray, swallowing them down without any water. "Big one."
He took the tray back and placed it back in the bag. "I don't know that I could've done it, you know? Someone having control of your life like that..." He shook his head, as if trying not to think about it. He waited for some kind of response, but getting none, he reached down and lifted her wrist to check her pulse.
She immediately yanked her hand away, cursing under her breath and squeezing her eyes shut. "Damn it."
His eyes squinted a little, and he carefully reached for her wrist again, this time looking at the bruises that were around it. "How'd this happen?" he asked, very gently turning her wrist over to see the other side, the bruises matching all the way round.
"Doesn't matter," she asnwered quietly, feeling embarrassed.
Carlos nodded. "If it's hurting, we can put a support bandage around it."
She swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay. Thanks," she said, surprised by the concern in his voice.
He reached into his bag, and pulled out an ace bandage. "It might hurt a little," he said, taking her wrist and supported it in one of his hands as he used the other to wrap her arm.
She winced but didn't pull away this time.
Carlos finished wrapping her wrist, and let her set it back down on her lap. "So, you hurt anywhere else?"
Faith hesitated, then shook her head. "No, that's it."
He looked at her. Seeing the look in her eyes, he immediately disbelieved her. "Are you sure, Faith? I don't know what happened in there, and can only treat what you tell me."
She looked down, feeling like she was going to cry. "I'm sorry...I just need a minute," she said, squeezing her eyes shut tightly and trying to fight the tears.
He nodded. "Take as much time as you need."
"Thanks," she whispered.
"Sure."
She took a deep breath and managed to look at him again. "Could you take a look at my ankle?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Carlos kept his eyes on her for a long moment. "Sure, you hurt it in there?" he asked, bending down and pulling the trouser leg of her pants up a little so that he could take a look at her ankle.
"I hurt it a couple days ago at work...and pulled some stitches out. I just want to make sure that it's okay."
He nodded, moving down the sock a bit and carefully examined the wound, using his small flashlight to light the area. After a moment, he stood back up. "It's healing good, doesn't seem to be bleeding again. Just keep an eye on it though, if it starts hurting more, or anything like that, visit your doctor."
She nodded quickly. "Thanks." She stood up abruptly, hopping off the back of the bus. "Are we done?" There was a hint of anxiety in her voice.
"Uh, yeah... just, go home, and rest up, okay? It's been a rough few hours."
"Yeah, thanks." She turned and started to walk away from him, from the bus, the bank...she wasn't even totally sure where she was going. She felt the tears sting her eyes and she curled her hands into fists trying to fight them.
Sully caught glimpse of Faith walking away from Carlos and headed over to her. "Faith.." he said, catching up to her.
Faith took a deep breath without turning around. "What?"
He let out a breath as he stopped, looking at her. "I just wanted to see how you're holding up."
"I'm fine. Thanks," she said shortly, then continued walking.
Sully walked after her again. "Faith..." he said, his tone more pleading for her to talk to him.
She shook her head. "Sully, just go, okay? Please. I don't really feel like talking right now."
He stopped, nodding. "Sure."
She felt a wave of guilt wash over her for being short with him. He was just trying to help. But she couldn't force herself to call after him. She walked to the edge of the road, away from everyone and stared down at the ground, trying to calm her emotions.
"Excuse me, Officer Yokas... can we have a word?"
Faith closed her eyes. Dammit, not now, she thought, taking in a deep breath. She forced herself to turn and face the person who'd spoken. A woman holding a notepad and wearing a hat on her head, a press pass around her neck was looking at her.
Another reporter, this one a man, pushed past the woman. "Officer Yokas, what can you tell us about the robbers that held you hostage? What were the demands made? Was anyone hurt? What can you tell us?"
I can't do this, she thought, shaking her head. "I have no comment at this time."
"Just one question, please... we just like to know what happened in there. How did this all come to an end?" the woman asked.
"There will be a press conference held tomorrow afternoon and you can get all your questions answered then." She turned and started to walk away from them.
"Officer Yokas..." He went after her. "What was your state of mind as they held you hostage in there? What was the state of mind of all the others? Please, Officer Yokas, just a few questions..."
Faith, angry now, spun to face him. "Would you leave me the hell alone?"
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Davis watched as Bosco spoke to one of the reporters on the scene. Or more like, tried to get rid of the reporter that wouldn't leave him alone.
"Officer Boscorelli, how long did they have you held hostage in there?" she asked.
"Would you just leave me the hell alone? I already told you, I'm not answering any of your stupid questions," he said, turning away from the reporter.
"Please, Officer, just a few questions for the morning newspaper...were these three robbers wanted in connection with any other crimes?" She followed him.
Bosco turned back to her. "What part of 'leave me the hell alone' aren't you understanding!?"
Davis couldn't help grin a bit as he watched his friend get really annoyed with the reporter. After not knowing for so many hours if his friends were going to be all right, it was good to see Bosco being his usual self. His gaze traveled across the street and his smile faded as he saw Yokas standing there, being bombarded by two reporters of her own, looking very upset.
"You're a hero, Officer Boscorelli! Everyone's going to be wanting to meet you! Just answer a few questions..."
"No! I'm not answering any of your questions."
Davis walked over. "Excuse me (he said to the reporter, moving over to Bosco.) Bosco..."
Bosco turned to Davis. "What is it?" he snapped, somehow thinking he was another reporter.
He was taken aback. Then he shrugged it off, not one to take things too personally. He nodded toward Faith. "Just thought you might wanna go..."
Bosco's eyes trailed Davis's line of sight, and he saw two reporters hounding Faith. Damn it, he cursed inward, looking back at Davis for a moment, before heading in Faith's direction.
"Excuse me, Officer Boscorelli..." She pushed Davis aside. "Can you tell me how many people were in the building?"
Davis stepped in front of the reporter. "He's not answering any questions tonight," he said firmly.
Bosco looked back at the woman for a moment, but merely looked away and quickly headed toward Faith, his hands forming fists.
Sully caught sight of him headed in Faith's direction and he headed him off. "Bosco, I wouldn't bother her."
He shrugged Sully's comments off, turning to him. "Pity you don't think the same for them bugging her..." He motioned toward the two reporters, then started walking in Faith's direction again.
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"Please, Officer Yokas, just one question, we just want to know how the robbers treated everyone? Did they hurt anyone? Please Officer Yokas..."
Faith glared at them. "Look, I said I'm not answering any questions tonight."
"Just one question, Officer Yokas..."
She was on the verge of losing control. She turned and started to walk away without responding this time.
Just then, Bosco walked up, grabbing the second reporter hounding Faith the most by the collar and shoving him backward. "She said she's not answering any of your damn questions!"
Faith turned, surprised to see Bosco there suddenly.
"Officer Boscorelli, we just want one question..."
Bosco glared at the man. "We are not answering any questions! There'll be a briefing tomorrow, now leave."
The female reporter saw the angry look on his face, and finally got the idea. She tugged on her colleague's arm, silently urging him to back off. They walked away, but kept looking back at Bosco, when he turned to Faith. "You alright?"
She took a deep breath and looked at the ground, trying to keep calm. "Yeah, thanks."
"No problem. You sure you're okay?" he asked, lowering his voice as he stepped over to her.
She immediately took a step back without thinking about it.
He didn't move toward her again. "Faith...?"
Faith shook her head, afraid if she tried to speak she would break.
"Hey, it's over now... we're okay, you're okay... Faith...?"
She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. "Please..." Her voice was strained.
He took one step slowly toward her, reaching his hand out to touch her shoulder. "Faith..." He searched her face, looking for answers.
She flinched at the feel of his hand on her shoulder. "I screwed up," she whispered.
"What? Faith, no, don't do this to yourself... you didn't screw up. We're all safe."
She shook her head. "I froze, Bosco." She jerked her eyes up to meet his. "I froze."
He swallowed, remembering. "You were in a bad situation, it's understandable... shock and fear. It does that to people, no matter who they are."
"I'm a cop. And you were in trouble. I didn't back you up. Again."
Bosco put both his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. He shook his head. "No, don't you get it, Faith? We weren't in there as cops, okay, we were there as customers in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"It doesn't matter," she whispered, shaking her head.
"Yes, it does, because I know that if we had our guns, and our badges... you'd have backed me up, like I would have you..."
"You mean like I did last time?" She turned away from him, hot tears stinging her eyes. She took a deep breath. "Maybe you should get a different partner before you end up dead because of me." Her voice was soft, barely audible, and the words made her feel sick to her stomach.
Bosco felt his whole body change into a different gear, if that were possible. "No, Faith, I'm not going to do that, because each were two situations that were out of our control. I'm not going to let you go... ever."
She shook her head, unable to respond to his words. She raised a hand to her face to cover her mouth and wipe away a couple stray tears.
Bosco removed one of his hands from her shoulder, and touched the side of her face, before stepping closer to her and putting both his arms around her, hugging her close to him.
She didn't pull away. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to maintain her breathing as he held her. She closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath, allowing his embrace to comfort her, to make her feel safe.
He held her in his arms, feeling her body tremble more with every breath she took. "Faith, it's okay," he said, resting his head on top of hers and rubbing her back.
"I'm sorry...I just....I can't calm down..." she said, unable to hold back the tears any longer.
"It's okay, Faith, just let it out."
She pulled away just enough to look up at his face, into his eyes. "Bosco," she whispered.
"It's okay," he replied, not knowing the exact words to say.
She shook her head slowly. "There's something I have to tell you..." she said, dread creeping into her stomach.
He looked back at her, opening his mouth a little, but nothing came out.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to continue. "It's about something that you don't know--"
"Faith?"
She turned to see her husband standing a few feet away, and she bit her lip to keep from crying.
Bosco's eyes shot over toward to the direction Fred's voice came from. He turned back to Faith. Not now, damnit, Fred.
Fred walked over, giving Bosco a dirty look. He looked at his wife. "Are you okay?"
Faith took a very deep breath and told the biggest life of her life. "Yeah, I'm fine." She glanced up at Bosco, her eyes sad.
He glared at both of them, getting angry that Bosco's arms were still wrapped around his wife. "We should go home, Faith," he said, the anger evident in his voice.
Bosco ignored Fred's glare, and turned his eyes back to Faith. Her sad eyes pleading with him, he took her closer to him in his arms again, whispering in her ear. "Just know I'm always here for you, Faith."
"Yeah," she said softly. She pulled away from him, trying to maintain her composure as she felt the loss of his comforting embrace. She moved toward Fred, but glanced over her shoulder. "Bye, Bosco."
His hand still touched hers as she pulled away, and before their hands parted, he squeezed hers gently. "Bye, Faith," he echoed, his voice sad.
She swallowed hard and turned away from him. Fred attempted to put his arm around her shoulders, but she moved away wordlessly.
Bosco watched as she walked away with *him*, his throat feeling like it was closing up as he tried to swallow the tears that were building up inside him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What the hell happened in there, Faith?" Fred demanded as they walked toward the truck.
Faith shook her head slightly as she headed to the passenger side. "Bank robbery," she said, shrugging.
He gave her a look and started the engine of the truck. "Tell me about it."
Faith fastened her seat belt and looked out the window, her gaze locked on Bosco's figure, still standing in the parking lot. "I really don't want to talk about it, okay?" she said wearily.
"What? No, Faith. I want to know what happened in there," he said, his voice rising.
She propped her elbow up against the glass and leaned her head on her hand. "A bunch of guys decided to rob the bank. We were taken hostage."
Fred looked ahead, then back to his wife. "And...?"
She looked at him sideways. "And I'm exhausted and I don't really want to think about this anymore right now, all right?
"No, it's not all right, you've been held hostage for the last few hours, and I was worried about you. Won't you please talk to me?"
Faith gripped onto the door handle of the truck tightly, her knuckles turning white. She didn't answer Fred.
"Faith? Would you quit with the silent treatment, I'm trying to talk to you, dammit."
"Stop the truck," she whispered, her face drained of all color.
He turned to look at her, but just shook his head. "What? No, I'm not gonna stop the truck."
"Fred, I'm gonna be sick. Stop the truck." Panic edged into her voice.
Instantly, Fred slammed his foot on the gas pedal, bringing the truck to a screaming stop. "Faith...?" he asked, concern overtaking the arrogance in his tone.
She unfastened her seatbelt and immediately opened the passenger side door, sliding out of the truck and leaning down low, trying to breathe and focus on not getting sick.
He sat forward in his seat, trying to look down at his wife. He was almost frozen in his seat, not knowing what to say or do. "Faith...?" His voice echoed.
Faith didn't even hear him. <"*Were you trying to escape, whore?" Trent demanded.
He was standing so close to her, she could feel his breath on her face."No,"she said, her voice calm despite her fear.
Trent pushed her backwards, but not hard. "No?"*>
She shook her head, squeezed her eyes shut, reminding herself that it was over. I'm safe, she thought. I'm safe.
"Faith, honey?"
Taking a deep breath, she rose up slowly and opened her eyes. She looked around the darkening street, tried to focus on the fact that she was no longer in the bank. She finally turned and climbed slowly back into the truck. "I'm okay," she said shakily.
He searched her face, not believing her one bit. "What happened back there?"
"Please, Fred...please, just...not tonight. I can't...talk about this right now..."
"It'd help if you talked about it, Faith. It was a big deal, you can't just keep it all inside."
Faith sighed, fighting the urge to cry again. She had to give him something or he was never going to let this go. "One of the guys in there...he was being really violent with one of the women..." She swallowed hard, looked out the window nervously. "We didn't know what he was going to do...It was really scary." Her voice grew quiet as she finished.
Fred looked back at her, finally he nodded. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice low.
"I know. I just wanna go home...and get a hot shower and sleep for like, days."
He nodded, putting the truck into gear and pulling out onto the road again.
Faith stared out the window, the street lamp's lights blurring together through barely restrained tears. She nonchalantly brushed one away with the back of her head and leaned her head against the window. She just wanted this nightmare day to be over.