Third Watch fic: For the Love of a Child (2/?)
"Uncle B!" Charlie jumped up from where he was sitting on the bench at the police station and ran over to hug Bosco.
He put on the best smile he could manage and knelt down to wrap his arms around the young boy. "Charlie, how you doin' kiddo?"
"I'm good."
Davis glanced at Sully with worry in his eyes.
Still holding Charlie, Bosco turned his head to look at his friends. How could Charlie be 'good' with everything that was happening?
Sully managed to smile at the young boy. "Davis, why don't you take the kids to get a soda in the break room?"
"Sure thing, Sul." He smiled as Bosco set Charlie on the ground. "What kind of soda do you drink?"
"Cherry Pepsi!"
Sully turned his attention to Bosco. "They don't know what's going on. When Faith came in, she told us the kids were staying with her brother for the evening."
He swallowed hard. "So they don't know that he's..."
"No," he said quietly.
Bosco raked his hands through his hair and let out a breath. "I've gotta see her," he whispered.
"I figured you would before they finish booking her," he replied.
"Watch the kids for me?" He asked as he headed toward the stairs.
He nodded. "Sure thing."
Hurrying up to the second floor he ignored all the looks his co-workers were giving him as he made his way to the the holding area. "Where is she?" He asked, practically out of breath, his heart racing as fast as his mind.
The officer on duty in the room looked up at him, then hitched his thumb over his shoulder, pointing to the holding cell where Faith was being held. She sat on the small cot, faced away from everyone, her arms wrapped around herself.
"Faith?" He stared at her for a moment as if taking it all in to make sure that his partner was really sitting inside a jail cell. Swallowing hard he made his way over to the cell. "What happened?"
She didn't look at him, or move. "You already know if you're here."
"Faith, I don't understand. There's no way that you...that you..." He glanced around the room before finishing in a whisper. "Killed him."
"You're wrong. I did."
"No." He shook his head then rested his forehead against one of the bars.
She didn't answer.
"Faith, please," he whispered, lifting his head to look at her. "Tell me this isn't happening."
"I can't." Her voice was quiet.
"Dammit, Faith! Just...just tell me this is some stupid joke!"
She lifted her head to look at him and remained silent, her eyes dull.
The expression on her face told him everything he didn't want to know. Trembling slightly he turned away from her for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to calm his fears before turning back around. "Okay. All right. You just...tell me what happened and I'll figure out how to get you outta here, okay?"
She shook her head, glancing at the officer on duty who was listening intently to their conversation.
"You gotta give me something I can work with," he told her softly. "I'm not gonna be able to clear you if..."
"Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about it?" A humorless chuckle escaped him. "They've got my partner in here for murder and you're telling me not to worry about it!"
She gazed at him. "I'm guilty. I'm gonna take my punishment."
"You can't be serious?" He stared at her for a moment unsure of what to say. "What about the kids? What are they gonna do?"
At the mention of her children, she quickly stood up and moved over so she was standing right in front of him, her eyes pleading. "I need you to take them," she whispered.
His eyes widened. "What? Me?"
"Bosco, please," she whispered. "I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the only one I trust. Please."
"What about your brother?" He asked softly. "He's got more experience with kids than I do and..."
She shook her head. "The kids don't like Stanley. And I don't want them growin' up thinkin' they're better than everyone else because they have more money than other people." She glanced back at the cop on duty before turning her attention back to Bosco. "I know it's a lot to ask. I'd ask my parents, but my dad's a drunk."
He met her gaze and swallowed hard. "What am I supposed to tell them?" He asked in a whisper.
She looked down for a moment. "The truth."
"The truth?" His eyebrows furrowed. "You want me to tell them that you..."
"That's the truth," she whispered.
"I don't know if I can do that, Faith. I can't tell them that."
"Bosco, they're gonna hear about it anyway. I'd rather it came from someone who cares about them than from some news report."
Blowing out a breath he raked a hand through his hair and nodded his head. "Why'd you do it?" He asked in a whisper.
"I have my reasons."
"I need more than that," he told her softly. "What reasons?"
She looked away. "Bosco, don't."
"I don't understand this, Faith," he said quietly. "I know that something huge must have happened for you to do something like this. I just..." His eyes were sad. "You're my partner," he whispered.
"You'll understand one day," she whispered back, swallowing hard. She lifted her gaze to his face once more. "I need you to promise me something."
Biting his lip he nodded his head. "What is it?"
She met his gaze, her eyes intense. "Promise me that no matter what happens, you don't let Fred's parents get custody of my kids."
Seeing the look in her eyes he didn't ask why he just nodded again. "I'll treat 'em like they were my own," he told her softly. "But then when you get outta here..."
"We both know that's not gonna happen."
Closing his eyes he leaned his forehead against one of the bars. "Please tell me I'm gonna wake up from this soon," he whispered.
Faith was silent for a long moment. "I'll sign over my bank accounts to help cover the kids' expenses." Her voice was quiet.
"I'll uh...I'll be back later, and we'll find you a lawyer. We'll get you outta this somehow."
Her eyes were sad as he turned to go, and she reached out and grabbed his arm, alarming the cop that was watching them. He quickly stood up. "Let him go."
She instantly let go of his arm, swallowing hard.
Bosco glared at the cop. "Relax. She's my partner."
"She's also a murderer," he replied in a bored tone. "But suit yourself. I'm gonna get some coffee." He headed for the door.
He shook his head as he stared after the officer then shifted his attention back to Faith, stepping up to the cell. "We'll get you outta this."
"Bosco, listen to me." Her voice was urgent. "I'm serious about not lettin' Fred's parents get the kids."
"Faith, I don't understand," he whispered, resting his hands on the bars.
She gazed at him. "I know. I know you don't. I don't have time to explain it...just...whatever you have to do, please, please keep them away from the kids."
"I promise I'll take care of them," he told her softly.
"I know you will." She leaned her head against the bars and closed her eyes.
He hesitated a moment then reached out and gently touched her shoulder. "I'll be here, every chance I get, okay?"
"Just take care of the kids. Don't worry about me."
"I'll do both."
"All right. Boscorelli, you're gonna have to go. We're ready to take her down to county." Two police officers appeared in the door, both looking grim.
He turned to look at the officers and then shifted his attention back to Faith. "I'll be back tomorrow. We'll figure something out."
She swallowed hard, opening her eyes as she moved away from the cell door as the officers approached to unlock it. "Bosco...tell Emily that I'm sorry," she whispered. "Please tell her I'm so sorry."
Bosco's eyebrows furrowed. "Yeah, okay," he whispered. "I'll tell her."
Blinking back tears, she forced herself to take a deep breath as one of the officers handcuffed her.
He let out a breath. "I'll come see you tomorrow."
Nodding, she didn't answer as the officers took her out of the cell and led her from the room.
He rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times as he watched them take her away. Part of him was ready to shutdown, stop functioning, and wallow in the fact that his friend and partner was going to jail for murder. But the rest of him knew he had to keep going for Faith's kids. He had to support and take care of them, and while he did that he was going to get to the bottom of this. He was going to figure out what pushed Faith over the edge.
* * *
Charlie had fallen asleep in the cab, and Bosco carefully scooped him up into his arms. Emily, who looked like she was ready to fall asleep herself stood on the sidewalk with a small duffle bag contain the few things they'd had with them at their uncle's house. He reached for Emily's hand. "Come on, Em," he said softly. "We'll go upstairs and you and Charlie can share my bed."
"Okay." She hesitated for a brief second before taking his hand.
He smiled softly and led her into the apartment building and over to the elevator. Once they were inside the small elevator he let go of Emily's hand and shifted Charlie in his arms. "You must be pretty tired, huh Em?"
She glanced up at him, nodding a little. "When's Mommy coming back?"
"Uh...I'm not really sure, but...not for a while," he told her softly.
Emily bit her lower lip, looking away once more.
"She uh...she wanted me to tell you that she was really sorry," he whispered.
"For what?"
"She didn't really say, Emily." Though I'm guessing I know why, he thought. "But she really wanted you to know that."
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then she fell silent.
The elevator doors slid open and he held his hand out to her.
She took his hand again and let him lead her out of the elevator and down the hall to his apartment.
When they got to the door he looked down at her. "Can you reach into my jacket pocket and get my keys?"
A flicker of anxiety crossed over her face and she hesitantly did as he asked.
"Thanks. Wanna go 'head and unlock the door?"
She nodded slightly, remaining silent as she pulled the keys out of his pocket and unlocked the door for him, pushing it open.
"It's been a long time since you've been here. Do you remember where everything is?"
"No," she admitted very softly.
"That's okay," he told her with a smile. "You were pretty young the last time you were here. My bedroom and the bathroom are just down the hall. So why don't you go get ready for bed and I'll tuck Charlie in?"
She nodded a little and headed down the hallway quickly.
He carried Charlie into his bedroom, and carefully set the boy down on the bed that he himself had just vacated a couple hours ago. Doing his best not to disturb the sleeping boy he took off Charlie's shoes and set them on the floor before pulling the covers up. Bosco sat down on the edge of the bed and gazed down at Charlie who was sleeping so peacefully, oblivious to how his world was crashing down around him.
Emily appeared in the doorway a moment later wearing a pair of flannel pajamas with a heavy sweatshirt over the pajama top.
"You all set for bed?" He asked her softly.
She bit her lip, nodding but not entering the room.
Bosco brushed some hair off of Charlie's brow and placed a soft kiss on his forehead before standing up and moving to the other side of the bed. He pulled down the blankets on that side. "I'll tuck you in."
"It's okay," she told him quickly. "I'm a big girl."
"Right." He nodded his head. "You're right, I'm sorry."
Hesitating a moment, she moved past him and climbed into bed, grabbing the covers and yanking them up to her chin quickly.
He went over and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "Goodnight, Emily."
"Night," she whispered, closing her eyes.
"If you guys need anything come get me. I'll be out on the sofa, okay?"
"Okay." She turned away from him, pulling the covers up over her head.
His eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he just shrugged and headed out of the room.
* * *
Since he'd tucked the kids in he'd been sitting on the sofa staring at SportsCenter as it repeated every hour on ESPN. He still hadn't told the kids about why their mother was gone and why they were staying with him, and he wasn't exactly sure how he was going to tell them. He'd called his mother earlier and left a message on her machine telling her it was urgent that she get in touch with him. So now he was just waiting.
Rose Boscorelli didn't bother with knocking, she simply unlocked the door to her son's apartment and hurried inside, more than a little surprised to find him sitting on the couch. "Maurice? What is it?"
He took a deep breath and motioned down the hallway toward his bedroom.
Her eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"I've inherited two kids."
She stared at him blankly.
"Come here." He patted the sofa cushion beside him.
She moved over and sat down beside him, confusion on her face.
"It was like three o'clock and Sully and Davis came knocking on my door. Told me I had to come down to the station with them," he started to explain.
Rose listened patiently as he began to tell her what had occurred earlier that morning. "You mean...Faith killed her husband?" she said in disbelief.
Letting out a breath he looked at her and nodding his head. "And now...I've got an eight year old boy and an eleven year old girl. Congratulations, you're a grandma," he told her unenthusiastically.
She didn't even crack a smile. "Maurice..." She shook her head. "What on earth possessed you to tell her you'd take care of her children?"
"She asked me, ma. I mean...she practically begged me. She kept sayin' that I had to make sure that Fred's parents stayed away from them."
Rose's eyebrows furrowed once more. "Why would she want to keep her children away from their grandparents?"
"I don't know." He rested his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. "I just know that something's not right."
She sat forward, resting a hand on his back. "What can I do?'
Dropping his hands he turned his head to look at her. "I just...I need to know what to do," he told her softly. "Faith and those two kids are counting on me and I don't know a damn thing about raising them. Why the hell did she pick me?"
"I don't know. Probably because you're a good friend, and a good man. She knows they'll be safe with you."
"Safe? Yeah. But...all I've got in my kitchen is leftover pizza, mac and cheese, pop-tarts and beer. I mean, I actually checked and that's more than what I thought I had."
"Well, I can go shopping. That's not a problem."
"Really?"
"Of course." Rose paused, looking at him. "Doesn't Faith have family?"
"Yeah, but...she said that her kids don't really like her brother. Plus he's kinda got this tendency to think he's better than everybody because he's got money or whatever so she doesn't want them growing up like that, and...well her dad's a drunk," he told her softly.
She sighed softly. "And you're sure you're really willing to be saddled with someone else's children until they're adults?"
"You may not believe this," he told her quietly. "But...I love those kids, so I have to be willing."
"Maurice...this is a huge responsibility. I understand that you care about Faith and you wanna help her and her kids, but...there are programs designed to help kids in this type of situation--"
"No!" He shook his head. "I'm not putting Faith's kids into the system."
"Maurice..."
"No. You hear me? No."
She sighed softly. "Your life is going to change drastically. You know that, right?"
He looked at his mother, a mixture of emotions written on his face. "I knew that as soon as I saw her in jail," he whispered.
Her eyes were sad. "Are you ready to be a father?"
Bosco swallowed hard. "I don't know, ma. I guess we'll find out won't we?"