Third Watch Fic: No Mercy (15-17/21)
Title: No Mercy (15/?)
Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to John Wells, Edward Allen Bernero, NBC and a bunch of other people I've never met before in my life. The first song is "Blurry" by Puddles of Mud; the second song is "Full of Grace" by the Goddess of Music, Sarah McLachlan.
Rating: R for language, violence and content: deals with the issues of rape
Spoilers: Up through and including "Act Brave."
Summary: When one of their own is attacked by a serial rapist, the third watch crew sets out to find him before he strikes again.
Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know the link. Otherwise, its permanent home is at my site, Only Time.
Category: Story
Subcategories: Angst, angst, angst, drama, angst, friendship and did I mention angst?
Feedback: I crave it. And it tends to make me write faster.
Special thanks to Dem for helping me get unstuck on this part. :)
No Mercy (Part 15)
Everything's so blurry
And everyone's so fake
And everybody's empty
And everything is so messed up
Pre-occupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
Bosco gripped onto the steering wheel of his mustang and stared straight ahead of him as he drove. He barely noticed the cold air rushing in from the open windows.
He couldn't believe Faith had kept this from him. Something so important--something so life-altering. They were partners. More than that, they were friends. Best friends.
And she didn't tell him. She could have been dying and he hadn't known. What if something had happened while they were on duty? What if she had gotten sick and he hadn't been able to help her because he didn't know what was wrong?
What if she had died and--
Bosco slammed his fist against the wheel, the pain yanking him out of his thoughts. Forget her, he told himself, throwing the mustang into park. I don't even care. He jerked the keys out of the ignition, then climbed out of his car, slamming the door closed.
I don't need her anyway, he thought. Then, angrily, he turned and kicked the front tire of his car.
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Angela Boscorelli wiped down the bar as one of the men across from her smiled and asked if he could buy her a drink.
She smiled back. "No, honey, but thanks. I'm involved with someone."
"That's too bad," the man said with a sigh and a shrug.
"Hey, Angela. Ain't that your son?" Donna, one of the waitresses asked, nodding toward the corner booth.
Angela followed her friend's gaze and nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"Want me to cover for you?"
She almost turned down the offer. Maurice hadn't even bothered to come over and say hi or let her know he was there; obviously he wasn't there to see her. But something about the way he was sitting--leaned back against the booth, his eyes focused on the ceiling--struck a chord somewhere within her.
Something wasn't right.
Angela glanced over at Donna again. "Yeah, would you?"
"Sure." Donna walked behind the bar and took the rag from her.
Taking a deep breath, Angela walked over to her eldest son's table.
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It took Bosco a few moments to realize someone was standing next to him. He turned his head to see who it was. "Hey, Ma."
"Can I sit down?" she asked.
He shrugged.
She sat down across from him. "What's wrong, Maurice?"
"Nothing."
"You want somethin' to drink?" she offered. "On the house."
"Nah. Thanks." He stared up at the ceiling again. He'd come in there with every intention of getting hammered, but the moment he sat down, that appealing idea had dissolved.
"So if nothing's wrong and you don't want to drink, why are you here?"
He shrugged again.
You could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you
From all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
I wonder where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
"Is this the only damned song there is?" Bosco demanded. "I heard the same one in my car on the way here!"
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well, ya shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me...
"What's going on with you, Maurice?" his mother asked, frowning.
"I already told you. Nothing's wrong with me."
She sighed heavily. "Why won't you let me help you?"
He didn't answer.
"Let me guess. Either it's work-related or it has to do with a woman."
Bosco smirked. "Try both."
She leaned back against the both. "So what happened with you and Faith?"
He jerked his head up and stared at her across the table. "How did you know it had to do with Faith?"
"I'm a mother. I know these things," she said with a shrug. "Besides, you don't get this upset about some woman you've only known for five minutes."
Bosco laid his head back against the booth.
"So what happend with her to make you so upset?" His mother pulled a cigarette out of her pocket and lit it.
He stared at the ceiling. "She didn't tell me something that she should have."
"Yeah, like what?"
"Like it doesn't matter. She should have told me, and she didn't. I had a right to know," he said angrily.
"Why? You're not married to her."
He stared at her, thrown by her words. He couldn't figure out why, but her remark disturbed him. Besides, whose side was she on, anyway?
"I mean, what makes you think you had the right to know whatever it is she didn't tell you?" She took a long drag off her cigarette and waited for his response.
"Because we're partners," Bosco said, feeling his defenses rise even higher.
"So what? You work together. I work with Donna there, but I don't tell her everything," his mom said, nodding toward the woman behind the bar.
He shook his head. "It's different. Me and Faith, we're--" Bosco tried to find the words to explain it, but he couldn't. "It's just different." He felt himself growing angry all over again. "It doesn't matter. I don't even care."
His mother smirked. "For someone who doesn't matter and that you don't care about, you sure are awfully upset, Maurice." There was a moment of silence. Then she sighed. "Do you want some advice?"
"Not really."
She leaned forward and patted his hand. "Too bad. You're gonna get some anyway. How long have you and Faith been partners?"
"Ma."
"How long?"
"Seven years."
"That's a long time, Maurice. You two have been through a lot together. You really willing to give that up because she didn't tell you something you think she should have?" His mother shook her head.
"Look, Ma, you don't know what's going on, all right?"
"Maybe not," she conceeded. "But did you even give her a chance to tell you why she didn't tell you whatever it was she didn't tell you?"
Bosco just looked at her.
"That's what I thought." His mother stood up and rubbed her cigarette out in the ash tray on the table. "Look, baby, it's up to you. But keep in mind you're not always the easiest person to be around, either, and if she's stuck with you for seven years..." She shrugged. "Just don't do something you're gonna regret later. I gotta get back to work." She kissed the top of his head and walked away.
Bosco stared down at the tabletop, lost in thought.
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The winter here's cold and bitter
It chills us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
Too long, too far from home
Faith opened the closet door and picked up the suitcase Bosco had brought from her apartment after she'd been released from the hospital. She set it down on the bed and opened it.
I feel just like I'm sinking
And I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
But oh, darkness, I feel like letting go
Numbly she began to pull her clothes off the hangers and fold them up. Then she tucked them neatly into the suitcase.
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
Full of grace
Full of grace
My love
Faith swallowed hard, blinking back tears as she worked. She had seen Bosco angry before--quite a few times, in fact. And he'd been mad at her on more than one occasion, as well. But she'd never seen the look he had in his eyes when he asked her how long she'd known about her cancer. That combination of anger and hurt and betrayal. It was at that moment that she'd known he was never going to forgive her. She'd be lucky if he ever even spoke to her again. He'd undoubtedly be requesting a new partner to work with.
The pain in her chest from trying not to cry nearly took her breath away.
She considered briefly the fact that she was more upset because of what happened with Bosco than she was about what happened with her husband. What did that mean?
She shoved the thought aside, too upset and tired to attempt to analyze her feelings right then.
Faith reached into the closet and went to grab her last shirt. Her hand brushed against Bosco's NYPD sweatshirt and she paused. She pulled it off the hanger and held it in her hands for a moment.
So it's better this way, I say
Having seen this place before
Where everything we say and do
Hurts us all the more
It's just that we stayed
Too long in the same old sickly skin
She tugged the sweatshirt on over the t-shirt she was wearing, tears escaping her eyes at the same time as a sob escaped her throat. Too exhausted to fight it any longer, Faith backed up until she sat down hard on the edge of the bed and began to cry again. The sobbing made her ribs ache and the pain caused her to cry even harder.
She'd lost everything now. Everything.
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
But, oh, darkness, I feel like letting go
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"I think Carlos is starting to suspect," Alex said as she lay in Ty's arms that night.
"How can he not? Anytime we're not here, we're at my place." His voice was distant, distracted.
She frowned and propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing."
"Come on, I know you better than that. I can tell something's bothering you."
"You're gonna think it's stupid."
"You won't know that until you tell me," she pointed out.
Ty sighed. "That guy....Richards..."
"The rapist?"
He nodded. "He got close to you. Too close."
Alex frowned. "Ty--"
"I wasn't there to protect you. Anything could have happened."
"I'm okay."
"Al, he could have hurt you."
"But he didn't."
"But he could have."
"You can't be with me 24/7. I don't expect you to be," she said softly. "I know it's hard for you to believe, but I'm pretty good at taking care of myself."
"I know you are. I know that. See? I told you...it's stupid." Ty shook his head.
"It's not stupid. It's sweet. And I'm flattered that you care about me that much," Alex told him seriously.
He looked at her a moment, opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.
"What else?" she pressed.
"Nothing."
"Ty," she warned.
"I love you."
She stared at him with wide eyes. "What?"
He fixed his gaze on her face. "I love you. I didn't realize it until today...I knew I liked spending time with you and talking to you, but....it hit me today when I found out how close that bastard got to you...that....I love you. And I don't want to lose you." He ran his fingers through her hair.
"You love me?"
Ty grinned. "Yeah. I do."
Alex leaned down to kiss him on the lips. "I love you, too."
"Good. I was worried there for a minute," he admitted, kissing her back.
"Let me ease those worries," she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
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Bosco paused at his apartment door. He leaned against the wall for a moment, struggling with urge to turn around and leave again. His mother's voice echoed in his mind. "You two have been through a lot together. You really willing to give that up because she didn't tell you something you think she should have?"
He took a deep breath and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his keys. He found the key to the apartment and quickly unlocked the door and opened it. He deposited the keys onto the kitchen counter and looked up to see Faith standing a few feet away from him, frozen in place. She had her coat on. His gaze dropped to the suitcase she held in her hand. "You going someplace?" he asked, swallowing hard.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I-uh-I packed up all my stuff, and I put your lasagna in the fridge so it doesn't go bad. I'm going home."
"You shouldn't go back there," he said, shaking his head.
"I'll be okay. The guy's in jail, so I'm not in danger anymore. I'll--I'll just get out of your way," she said quietly, moving past him toward the door.
"Faith, wait."
She stopped, and turned around to face him again. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. They stared at each other for a long time.
"Don't go," Bosco said softly. Her eyes filled with tears and he crossed the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and the suitcase clattered to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Boz...I'm sorry. I should have told you," she whispered.
"Shhh. Forget about it. It's in the past," he said, surprised to realize he meant it. He stroked her hair gently.
She pulled away to look at him. "It wasn't that I thought you couldn't handle it, Bosco. That's not it, I swear. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to see me like this."
"Like what?" he asked, confused.
"Weak," Faith answered, looking away.
He stared at her, stunned. "Is that how you think I see you now?"
She didn't answer.
"Faith, I don't think you're weak," Bosco said, shaking his head.
"Come on, I'm a mess." She brought a hand up to her face and wiped away her tears.
"You're holding it together a lot better than most people would," he said. When she didn't reply again, he touched her face with one hand. "Look at me."
Faith met his gaze.
"It's not your job to hold everything together all the time."
"Yes, it is. It's what I've always done. It's the only thing I know how to do, Bosco. And if I can't do that, then...who am I?" she asked, shaking her head.
"You're Faith," he told her quietly. "And you don't have to hold things together for me. I don't need you to protect me, all right? I'm a big boy. I can handle it."
"And if I can't?" Faith whispered.
"Then we'll handle it together," Bosco promised. He pulled her back into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly. "Just the two of us."
* * *
Part Sixteen
Faith sat in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs next to Bosco. Her head rested against the wall as she stared out the window. "Thanks for coming with me," she said quietly.
"Sure," he replied nonchalantly, nodding.
"You know, Bosco...I'm out of danger now and I would understand if you wanted to get back to your own life."
He turned his head to look at her. "Hey, we've been over this. I'm here cause I want to be, all right? I'm not going anywhere."
She met his gaze and held it. Then she nodded slowly. "Okay."
He opened his mouth to say something, the closed it again.
Faith frowned. It wasn't like him to have something to say and hesitate to say it. "What?"
"What?"
"You look like you want to say something."
"Nope."
"Mrs. Yokas." The nurse appeared in the doorway, holding her chart.
Faith and Bosco stood up and followed her down the hallway to an exam room.
"Dr. Case will be in with you shortly," the nurse told her.
"Okay, thanks." Faith sat down on the exam table and Bosco remained standing, leaning against the wall for support. "You can sit down," she said, nodding toward one of the chairs.
"Nah, I've had enough of those things," he responded, making a face.
She sat quietly, staring at the floor. She remembered a few months ago when she'd been at this hospital with Fred, waiting for the test results of her biopsy. He'd been so impatient, so frustrated he'd actually suggested they get up and leave because the doctor was running late.
Faith snuck a glance at Bosco to see how he was handling the long wait. He was staring into space. She bit her lip, unable to read his expression.
The door opened a moment later, and Dr. Case walked in. "Faith, Fr--" he cut himself off, looking at Bosco with surprise.
"Dr. Case, this is my friend Maurice Boscorelli. Boz, this is Dr. Case," she said.
Dr. Case shook Bosco's hand. "Nice to meet you." He looked at her. "Will Fred be coming?"
"Uh...no. He won't," she answered quietly.
"Okay." He glanced through her chart. "You missed your last two appointments."
"I know."
He studied her silently.
"It's been a long couple of weeks," Faith told him, tiredly.
"Faith, I don't mean to sound condescending, but it's very important that you don't miss your treatment sessions."
"I know it is. I do. It won't happen again." She hesitated. "What do we do now? Since I haven't been here? Increase the amount of radiation?"
"No, your dosage will stay the same. But you'll have to make up the two missed sessions."
She nodded, feeling relieved that he wasn't increasing the radiation dosage.
"All right. If you're ready, I'll take you down for your treatment."
Faith set her purse on the floor next to one of the chairs and glanced at Bosco.
Dr. Case looked from her to him. "Feel free to wait here, if you'd like. Or you can go back to the waiting room."
"No, I'll--stay here," Bosco told them, stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets.
She met his eyes for a second, then turned and followed Dr. Case down the hallway. "Dr. Case?"
"Yes, Faith?"
"I was hoping you could talk to Bosco for me."
He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to continue.
"It's just that...well, I think he has some questions about my cancer and treatments and I don't think he's comfortable asking me about it." And I'm not sure I could convince I'm okay, anyway, she added silently.
Dr. Case led her into the radiation room. "Sure. I'm more than happy to answer any questions he may have."
"Hi, Faith," Doreena, the radiation therapist said, smiling at her.
"Hi." She turned to look at her doctor again. "Thanks, Dr. Case."
"Sure."
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Bosco stared out the exam room window, tension gripping his body.
"Mr. Boscorelli?"
He turned to see Faith's doctor standing in the doorway. "Is something wrong?" he asked, feeling alarmed.
"No, no. Everything's fine," Dr. Case assured him. "I thought you might have some questions about Faith's condition and treatments."
"She send you in here?"
A look of surprised crossed the other man's face. "Yes, actually."
Bosco almost smiled. "I figured."
"Is there anything you'd like to ask?"
He nodded. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"Well, as you probably know, we did a surgical procedure called a lumpectomy. That means we removed the tumor in its entirity."
"And you got all of it?"
Dr. Case nodded. "Yes."
"So then what's the radiation for?"
"The radiation therapy is strictly precaution, just to make sure that there's no regrowth."
Bosco stared at him. "Regrowth?"
"With any type of cancer--even if the original tumor is removed--there's always a chance of regrowth. But that's the purpose of the radiation treatments. To decrease that chance."
He looked away, determined not to worry about that unless given a reason to worry. He bit his lip. "Is this gonna make her sick? The radiation, I mean."
"Well, with her previous treatments, the only symptom Faith has reported is fatigue."
"So you think she'll be okay?"
"I have every confidence that she's going to be just fine, Mr. Boscorelli."
He nodded. "Thanks."
"Sure." Dr. Case left the room.
"Feel any better?"
Bosco turned to see Faith leaning against the door frame. "You're done already?"
She nodded. "The treatments don't last very long." Faith looked at him, and tucked a strand of strawberry blond hair behind her ear. "Get all your questions answered?"
"For now."
"If you have anymore, you can always ask me. You know that, right?"
Bosco studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I will." He took a deep breath. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, definitely. Let's get out of here."
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Bosco watched as Fatih sat completely still in her seat, waiting for the detectives to lead Don Richards into the interrogation room, which was currently empty. He saw her gaze locked on the two-way mirror before them. He walked over and sat down next to her. "You okay?"
"I just wanna get this over with," she muttered.
He nodded in understanding. "Well, hopefully Tweedledum and Tweedledee will hurry up so we can go home." As soon as he said the words, he felt guilty. Detective Masters was a decent guy, and Bosco had nothing against him. Flannigan, on the other hand...he was a whole other story. Bosco scowled just at the thought of the jerk's name.
As if on cue, the two detectives entered the room. Bosco and Faith stood up. They both shook hands with Masters. Flannigan hung back at the back of the room, looking bored.
"Officer Bradley's bringing him in," Masters told them.
Faith nodded and turned her attention to the two-way mirror again. Bosco stood beside her. He could feel the tension rolling off her in waves. He reached out and gave her shoulder a brief, reassuring squeeze.
She looked at him wordlessly and gave him a nervous smile.
A moment later, the door to the interrogation room opened and Officer Bradley escorted Richards into the room in handcuffs.
"Sit," Bradley ordered. Richards sat down at the table obediently, facing the two-way mirror.
Bosco's hands clenched at his sides and it took all of his inner willpower not to go to the next door and kill the son-of-a-bitch with his bare hands. Taking a slow, deep breath to calm himself, he turned to see his partner's reaction.
Her face was drained of all color. Immediately his anger gave way to concern. She looked like she was going to faint. "Faith?"
Her gaze never leaving Richards' face, she whispered, "It's not him."
His eyes widened. "What?"
Faith shook her head slightly. "It's not the guy, Bosco." There was no hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Shit," Bosco cursed, turning to glare at the two detectives who were talking quietly in the back. "You've got the wrong guy!"
"What?" Masters asked, confused.
"He isn't the rapist," he spat, jerking his thumb toward the mirror.
"Bullshit," Flannigan said.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, 'bullshit.' This is the right guy. He matches the description she gave us," he said, pointing at Faith. "Not to mention the car was registered to him, and he gave us a full confession!"
"It's not him, " Faith said quietly. "He has the same general appearance, but...it's not the same guy."
"You're wrong," Flannigan accused.
"Shut up!" Bosco snapped. "Did you guys even pull Alex Taylor in here to make sure it was the same guy from the accident?"
The detectives exchanged a look, but remained silent.
"I figured," he said, disgusted.
"Why the hell would he confess to raping a bunch of women if he didn't do it? He'd have to be nuts," Flannigan said, shaking his head.
"Or protecting someone," Bosco pointed out.
"No one's stupid enough to take a rape rap for someone else."
"Unless he's being blackmailed for something even worse," Masters said suddenly, looking at Bosco.
"I need some air." Without another word, Faith turned and left the room.
Bosco started after her when Masters grabbed his arm. "You realize what this means?"
"Yeah, that the lowlife bastard is still out there somewhere," Bosco said harshly.
"That even if we catch the real rapist, because this guy's confessed, it's gonna be damned hard, if not impossible to convince a jury to prosecute."
Bosco stared at the detective for a moment. Then darkly, he replied, "Who says if we find him he'll even live long enough to *need* a jury?" His mouth twisted into a smile. He turned and left the room to look for Faith, leaving the detectives to stare after him.
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Bosco unlocked the door to his apartment and held it open for Faith. He followed her inside. She'd barely said two words since he'd found her outside the 55 sitting on the steps and staring at the sidewalk. "Why don't I order us a supreme with extra cheese?" he suggested, dropping his keys onto the kitchen counter.
"You go ahead. I'm not really hungry. I think I'm just gonna take a hot shower."
"Faith."
She looked at him.
"We will catch him."
"Sure, Boz." Her tone wasn't sarcastic, or bitter. It was much worse than that. It was defeated.
Bosco watched as she disappeared down the hallway. He swallowed hard, feeling as though he'd let her down. His mind flashed back to after the attack, when he first saw her lying in that hospital bed. He remembered his vow to make sure whoever had put her there paid in a very big way. He hadn't kept that promise. A surge of anger jolted through his body and Bosco felt the sudden, barely controllable urge to put his fist through a wall. Or better yet, through the bastard's face.
He had to get his anger under control before Faith came back out. He didn't want her to think he was upset with her. He took a deep breath and leaned back against the counter.
He kept assuring Faith that they were going to catch the rapist, but when he was honest with himself, Bosco wasn't feeling so confident that was going to happen now. He clenched his fists at his sides. No. I'll catch him, he told himself. No matter what it takes, I'll catch him.
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Bosco heard a knock on his door awhile later, and he quickly abandoned the pasta he was boiling to make spaghetti. He opened the door and saw Alex Taylor and Kim Zambrano standing there. "Hey."
"Hey. Sorry to just drop by. We wanted to see how Faith was," Alex told him.
"Is she still here?" Kim asked.
"Uh, yeah."
"We thought she might have gone home since the guy's been arrested," Alex explained.
Bosco stared at them. "You haven't heard?"
The two women exchanged a look. "Heard what?" Kim questioned, frowning.
"They got the wrong guy."
"What?"
"You're kidding me!" Alex exclaimed, staring at him.
He shook his head.
"How's Faith?"
Bosco looked at Kim. "She hasn't said much, so I don't know." He shrugged, and held the door open for them. "Maybe you guys can cheer her up."
"We'll do our best," Alex promised, slipping out of her jacket and stepping inside.
"Thanks." He closed the door after they were both in the apartment. "She's watching tv," he said, gesturing to the living room. Bosco watched as they walked into the other room, his gaze lingering on Faith for a moment. Then he sighed heavily and walked back into the kitchen.
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"What are you doing here?" Faith asked, looking surprised as Alex and Kim stepped into the living room.
"We came to see you. See how you were," Alex said, sitting down on the opposite end of the sofa as Faith. Kim perched on the edge of the chair.
"It was the wrong guy," she said quietly, looking away.
"Yeah, Bosco told us," Kim said, studying her. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay," Faith answered, meeting her gaze briefly.
There was a moment of silence.
Alex looked at Kim for a moment, then turned her attention to Faith. "It's nice of Bosco to let you stay here."
"Yeah, it is. He's been great." Faith looked at her. "So...how are...things?"
Her gaze flickered to Kim, who was watching her carefully. "Things are...things are really good."
"If you're talking about that thing that's going on with you and Davis, I know all about it, so you don't have to talk in code," Kim said with a slight smile.
Alex stared at her. "You know?" She turned to look at Faith.
"She didn't say anything," Kim assured her.
"Then how--?"
"Oh, come on. Everyone knows."
"Everyone?" Alex repeated, shocked.
"Well, not Carlos. I think he's still under the impression Davis is gay."
Faith stared at Kim. "He thinks Davis is gay?"
Kim nodded solemnly.
Faith started laughing. "Why the hell would he think that?"
"Something about your sergeant telling him that," Alex said, laughing with her.
"Sergeant Christopher?"
"Yeah, I think that's the one."
"And Carlos believed him?" Faith shook her head.
All three women laughed.
"So is it serious? You and Davis?" Kim questioned, leaning back in the chair.
"It's...." Alex couldn't help the smile that crept onto her lips. "Yeah, it's serious. He, uh...he told me he loved me."
"That's great! I'm happy for you. Davis is a great guy," Faith said, nodding her approval.
"Yeah, he is. He really is."
There was a moment of comfortable silence.
"How's Joey?" Alex asked, glancing at Kim.
"He's good." Kim took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "The custody hearing is only two weeks away."
"Custody hearing?" Faith stared at her.
"You didn't know?"
She shook her head.
Kim rested her head on her hand. "Jimmy's suiing for full custody."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Unfortunately not."
"Kim, I'm so sorry," Faith said sympathetically. "I had no idea."
"He doesn't think I can handle taking care of Joey after--" Kim cut herself off and looked away, unable to finish her thought. "But he's wrong. What happened was a mistake. I know that. And he's going to punish me by taking my son away from me."
"What judge in his right mind would give Jimmy full custody of any kid?" Alex wondered, shaking her head.
"Well, it hasn't happened yet. It's not a sure thing," Faith pointed out.
"I'm just...really scared," Kim admitted, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know what to do."
"Maybe you should talk to him," Faith suggested.
"To Jimmy?"
Faith nodded.
"Every time we talk we end up fighting." She sighed heavily and shook her head. "We've been having visits from a social worker. She's going to advise the judge on who's the most fit parent."
Alex reached over and patted her arm gently. "I'm sure that she'll tell the judge what a great mom you are to Joey."
"I hope so," Kim said softly.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I could use something to drink," Alex said, standing up. "You guys want anything?"
"No, thanks."
"No, I'm all right," Faith told her.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Alex walked into the kitchen and paused, watching as Bosco added homeade spaghetti sauce to the pasta he was cooking. He was pouring it without watching what he was doing; his eyes were elsewhere. She followed his line of sight and saw he was looking at Faith. "Hey, Bosco?"
"Geez!" He took a step back as spaghetti sauce splattered onto the stovetop. "What?"
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," Alex said, amused. "I was wondering if I could get a glass of water or something."
Bosco took a deep breath. "Sure." He reached up into the cabinet and pulled out a glass. He handed it to her. "Ice is in the freezer."
"Good place for it," she remarked, pulling open the freezer door. She grabbed a handful of ice cubes and dropped them into the glass. She filled it with tap water and turned to leave the kitchen. Then she paused and turned to look at Bosco again. His gaze was back on Faith, who was laughing at something Kim had said. She watched him for a moment. "You're in love with her."
"What?" He blinked and turned his head to look at her.
"You're in love with her," she repeated, a bit louder this time. "I can't believe it...Carlos was actually right about something," she muttered to herself.
"In love with who?" he asked, confused.
"Faith."
"What? No, I'm not," Bosco denied.
"Right."
"I'm not! You're nuts!" he exclaimed, shaking his head furiously.
"Oh, am I?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If you think I'm in love with Yokas, you must be."
"Okay." She shrugged.
"I am *not* in love with Faith!" Bosco glared at her. "I don't know who told you that, but they were wrong!"
"Hey, Bosco?"
"What?" he growled.
"Your spaghetti's boiling over," she said nonchalantly, nodding her head towards the pot on the stove.
"Shit," Bosco cursed, quickly grabbing the heat-resistant gloves off the counter and picking it up. "Damn it."
She quickly moved over and turned the heat down to low. "Relax. These things happen," Alex assured him as he set the pot back down and wiped up the mess with a rag from the sink.
He looked at her for a moment. "I'm not," Bosco said again.
"Okay. Sorry. My mistake." She turned and headed back into the living room. "Oh, yeah. Methinks he doth protest too much."
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Bosco sat watching the television on one end of the couch as Faith sat on the other end, her feet curled up under her. But he wasn't paying any attention to the 10'o clock news.
In love with Faith? Yeah, right, he thought, rolling his eyes. He was going to have to have a serious talk with Davis one of these days about the women his fellow officer decided to date. He hadn't really been around Taylor that much, but she had always seemed fairly down-to-earth. Clearly he'd been under a false impression of the girl. She's in need of some serious psychological help.
He glanced sideways at his partner, who was watching the news intently. He returned his gaze to the tv screen. She's not even my type, he thought, shaking his head. Why the hell would anyone think I was in love with her?
Faith yawned.
Bosco looked at her again. "You tired?"
She hesitated, her eyes never leaving the television. "Kinda. I just don't really want to go to sleep right now."
He grabbed the pillow that was lying next to him and laid it on his lap. "Here." He patted it with his hand.
"I'm okay."
Bosco raised an eyebrow.
Faith rolled her eyes. Then she yawned again, her eyelids drooping. With a sigh, she stretched out on the couch and laid her head down on the pillow in his lap. She tucked one hand underneath her head and let the other rest on her leg.
"Better?"
"Much," she admitted, yawning for a third time.
Bosco gently brushed the hair out of her eyes. Within moments, she'd fallen asleep. He watched her sleep for a few moments, then focused his attention back on the tv. That lasted a whole thirty seconds. His gaze immediately dropped to her face again, and he stared at her, swallowing hard. Memories of various times in their friendship and partnership flashed through his mind. She'd been there for him so many times. She was the only person he knew without a doubt that he could depend on. She accepted him the way he was, never asked him to change.
He remembered his conversation with his mother the previous day.
<"I mean, what makes you think you had the right to know whatever it is she didn't tell you?"
"Because we're partners."
"So what? You work together. I work with Donna there, but I don't tell her everything."
"It's different. Me and Faith, we're--" Bosco tried to find the words to explain it, but he couldn't. "It's just different." >
Why is it different? he asked himself, feeling uneasy.
Sure, he and Faith were partners. He didn't always tell her everything. So why did it bother him so much that Faith didn't tell him about her cancer?
Because we're friends, Bosco thought.
When he thought about it, that didn't feel quite right, either. He was friends with Davis, too, and he didn't expect Davis to tell him personal things.
Bosco looked down at Faith's sleeping form again. Her face was relaxed, almost peaceful for a change. Her strawberry blond hair was fanned out on the pillow, a few strands brushing against his fingers.
<"You're in love with her."
"In love with who?" he asked, confused.
"Faith."
"What? No, I'm not!">
He shook his head. It was ridiculous. He was not in love with Faith!
Bosco recalled how angry he'd been with Fred the night before. Even before the man had opened his mouth, Bosco had wanted to beat the crap out of him just for having the nerve to show up at his apartment looking for Faith. Like the jerk had any right to see her after everything that had happened.
<"She's my wife. I have the right to see her," Fred said angrily.
"Your rights ended the day you walked out on her. Now get the hell out of my apartment. And stay the hell away from Faith. She doesn't want to see you." >
He and Fred had never gotten along well, but he hadn't thought Fred was a bad guy. He remembered the look on Faith's face when Fred had accused her of sleeping with all the guys at the 55. No one--not even her husband--had the right to talk to her like that. He wished that he'd never encouraged Faith to stay with the bastard when she'd been considering divorce a couple years back. If he had only known then what he knew now...
Bosco's gaze rested on her face again.
<"You're in love with her.">
No, I'm not, he thought stubbornly.
<"Right.">
He swallowed hard, realizing no matter how much protesting he had done, Taylor hadn't believed him.
Why would she? She's not stupid, the little voice inside him whispered.
Bosco shook his head. No, it can't be. I'm not in love with Faith! I'm not!
Okay, the voice said doubtfully.
Shit. He wasn't in love with her, was he? He couldn't be! They worked together, they were friends, she was married for God's sake!
"Relax. These things happen," Alex's words echoed in his mind.
Bosco's eyes widened. "Son of a--"
* * *
Part Seventeen
"Sergeant Christopher is passing around a picture from a survelliance video at the Bigfoot on Walsh Avenue. One of the suspects has been identified as Don Smith, who's wanted in connection to three previous robberies in addition to this one," Lt. Swersky informed them.
Faith took a copy of the black and white picture Christopher handed her and studied it for a moment before glancing at Bosco, who was sitting just to her left. He seemed distracted. He'd been acting strangely all morning and she wasn't sure why. She frowned.
"More importantly, we still have a rapist on the loose. For those of you who don't know it, Officer Yokas came in yesterday to identify the man in custody and it was the wrong man. So everyone continue searching for him as well."
She could feel everyone looking at her as the lieutenant spoke. She did her best to ignore it.
"All right, that's it. Eyes and ears open out there," Lt. Swersky said, dismissing them from roll call. "Yokas, stay back."
She looked up, surprised. She glanced over at Bosco again, who also looked surprised. He looked over at her and shrugged. They both stood up and walked to the front. "Lieu?"
"There's someone here to see you," Lt. Swersky informed her.
"Where?" Faith asked, frowning.
He nodded to the interrogation room across the hall.
Her frown deepened. She exchanged a look with Bosco as they headed out the door. "I'll be back."
"I'll get the radios," he said, nodding.
She watched as he disappeared down the hallway and around the corner. Then she walked over to the interrogation room across the hall and opened the door.
The person inside turned around to face her.
Faith froze. "Fred. What are you doing here?"
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Bosco removed two police radios from the shelf in the equipment room.
"What's up with Yokas?" Davis asked, grabbing a radio for him and one for Sully.
"Beats me," he muttered. "Someone's here to see her."
"Weird."
"You know what else is weird? Your girlfriend."
Davis frowned. "What?"
"Hate to be the one to break it to you, man, but she's a total lunatic," Bosco informed him. He turned to leave the room.
"Whoa, Bosco. What are you talking about?" Davis asked in confusion.
"She and Kim came over to my place last night to see Faith."
"Yeah, and--?"
"And for some reason, she's got it in her head that I'm in love with Yokas!"
Davis raised his eyebrows. "Are you?"
Bosco stared at him in disbelief. "We're partners, Davis!"
Davis didn't respond, he just stared at Bosco.
"She's married!"
"Yeah, and no one ever falls for someone who's married."
"I'm not falling for her!" Bosco said angrily, glaring at him. "You're just as crazy as your girlfriend, you know that, Davis?"
He watched Bosco storm out of the room and shook his head. Nope, Bosco wasn't falling for Yokas. He already had. "Oh, boy," Davis muttered under his breath. He shook his head and followed Bosco out the door.
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"We need to talk, Faith," Fred said, not looking at her.
She nodded quickly, her heart pounding. "Okay."
There was a moment of silence.
"I'm moving back into the apartment," he told her, gazing at the tile floor.
"You are?"
Fred nodded. He motioned to a medium-size box that was on the table. "I brought some of your things."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "My things?" she repeated, not comprehending.
He finally met her eyes. "Yeah. Stuff you might need. I'll have the rest of it sent to Bosco's later this week."
"Fred, what are you talking about?"
"I want a divorce."
She felt all the air leave her lungs and she stared at him. "What?"
"I want a divorce," he said again, his voice low and calm.
Faith shook her head in disbelief. This was a joke. It had to be.
"I already have a lawyer. He can handle the whole thing if that's all right with you. I'm willing to have joint custody of the kids. Just because we're having problems doesn't mean they should suffer from it."
She finally found her voice. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Fred stared at her. "You're kidding me, right? Why am I doing this to you? If you want to blame somebody, blame yourself. Blame Bosco!"
"Bosco?"
"Yeah, you know. The guy you've been living with for the past three weeks. Your partner," he spat. All the calmness had left his face.
"Fred--"
"Did you really think I'd stay with you after this? That I'd want Boscorelli's leftovers?" Fred demanded, his voice rising.
"I'm not having an affair with Bosco!"
"You're just living with him. I'm sure it's all very innocent, isn't it, Faith?" he said bitterly.
"Yeah, it is," she said quietly.
"Right."
Her shock and hurt gave way to a torrent of anger. "You want to know why I've been staying with Bosco, Fred?" Despite how upset she was, her voice was calm. Eerily calm, even to her own ears.
Fred folded his arms across his chest and didn't respond.
"I was raped."
The scowl disappeared from his face. "What?"
"The night you took the kids and left, I came home alone. A man came into our apartment and attacked me. I tried to stop him, I tried to get away, but he hit me with my own gun and knocked me unconscious." Tears rushed to her eyes and she didn't bother to wipe them away. "He's still out there somewhere, Fred! That's why I've been staying with Bosco! Because the detectives seem to think he may try to come after me again since I'm the only one who can identify him!"
There was a moment of total silence as Fred stared at her. "Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you tell me, Faith?"
"Why? So you could be your usual supportive self?" she asked bitterly.
"Oh, and I'm sure Bosco's been real damned supportive!" he snapped.
"For your information, Bosco's been very supportive! He's been there for me through this whole nightmare, just like he always is when you're not!"
"When have I not been there for you when you needed me?" Fred demanded.
"How about when I found out I had cancer?"
"I was there for you!"
"No, you were in denial! You wouldn't even talk to me about it!" she said angrily.
"I was scared, Faith!"
"And I wasn't?" The tears spilled down her cheeks. "I was terrified, Fred. I was afraid I was going to die and I had to hide that fear because you couldn't handle it! That's why I didn't call you when I was raped, because I couldn't deal with your pain and mine, too!"
They stared at each other for a long time.
"You know what? If Bosco's such a great, supportive guy like you say he is, why the fuck don't you just marry him?" Fred suggested, glaring at her.
She just shook her head. "Fine, Fred. You want a divorce? You got it." Faith turned around and shoved the door open with such force that it slammed against the outside wall. She stormed down the hallway. Fuck Fred. She didn't need him.
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Bosco glanced at his watch for the third time in ten minutes and sighed impatiently, bouncing up and down slightly on the balls of his feet. He just wanted to get out of the station house and get some air. At that moment, the interrogation room door flew open and slammed against the wall. Faith took off in the opposite direction down the hall.
"Faith?" he called. She didn't stop. Hell, she didn't even slow down.
"Was that Yokas?" Sully asked as he came out of the bathroom, frowning.
"Yeah." He started to follow her when he caught sight of a figure standing in the open doorway of the room she'd just fled from. A surge of uncontrollable anger took hold of him and before he even realized it, he'd crossed the distance between them and had Fred Yokas pinned against the wall. "What the fuck did you do to her now?" he demanded.
"Bosco!"
He could vaguely hear Sully calling his name and trying to pull him away from Fred, but he ignored him. "What did you say to her? Tell me!" Bosco shouted.
"Bosco, stop it!" Sully commanded, yanking him away from Faith's husband.
He shoved the other officer away and lunged at Fred again. He didn't know what the hell was going on, but whatever Faith was upset about it was because of her asshole husband. He doesn't deserve her, he thought viciously, wanting nothing more than to cause the other man physical pain.
"Bosco! Damn it, knock it off right now!" Sully shouted, stepping between him and Fred. "Go after Yokas! Now! Go!"
Bosco's gaze locked on Sully's face for a moment and he took a breath and tried to get control of his anger. With one last glare at Fred, Bosco walked off in the direction his partner had gone. When he couldn't find her in the building, he headed outside and found her sitting in the driver's seat, tightly gripping onto the wheel. He climbed into the passenger side and looked at her. "You okay?"
"No," she answered, her voice barely audible. She started the engine of the car and pulled out onto the road, pressing her foot on the accelerator and speeding away down the street without looking back.
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Bosco sat on the hood of the RMP, watching Faith hurl rocks into the water. She hadn't said a word since they left the station. He wanted to know what had happened, wanted to say something--anything--to her, but couldn't find the words. So he waited.
After a few minutes, she walked back to the squad and sat down next to him. Neither of them said anything for several moments.
Then quietly, she said, "I met him in high school. I was sixteen. And the only thing I wanted was to get away from home."
He glanced at her sideways. Her gaze was fixed on the water before them.
"My dad was an alcoholic." She blinked a couple times and looked over at him. "Did I ever tell you that?"
Bosco nodded, but remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt.
Faith looked away again. "He was never physically abusive, but things never really felt safe at home, you know?"
He nodded again. He could relate to that feeling more than he cared to think about.
"I moved in with Fred right after graduation. I started going to a community college even though I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Two years later I had an Associate's Degree in Science and was six weeks pregnant with Emily."
Bosco glanced at her, startled. He hadn't thought about it, but now he realized that he should have known that. She and Fred had been married eleven years and Emily was thirteen.
"We were having problems. Arguing about everything. Fred couldn't seem to find a decent job and when he did, he couldn't keep it. I quit school and got a job waitressing. The hourly pay wasn't good, but the tips were amazing." Faith took a short breath. "Two years later, Fred asked me to marry him."
"Why'd he wait so long?" Bosco asked quietly.
"He'd asked me before then. More than once. I didn't want him to feel obligated to marry me because we had Emily. See, that's what my parents did when my mom got pregnant with Stanley. They were never happy together. She tried to hide it, tried to act like everything was fine, but we knew. Kids always know," she said softly. She looked over at him. "Guess I don't have to tell you that, do I?"
He smiled faintly. "Not really."
Faith looked away again. "I did love im. So I said yes. We got married at the courthouse a week later." She gazed out over the water. "We've always had problems. Ever since the beginning. But I never thought...never imagined he was capable of saying and doing something of the things he's said and done."
There was a moment of silence, and Bosco vividly remembered when she arrested her husband for drinking and driving on the way to pick up their kids from school. He closed his eyes briefly, also remembering that he had tried to talk her out of it.
"Fred wants a divorce," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. "And I don't think I'm going to fight him on it. I'm not sure I can forgive him for some of the things he said to me." Faith paused. "I know you're probably angry with me."
"You deserve better," he said, feeling a fresh surge of anger toward Fred, and then toward himself.
She turned her head to look at him, the surprise clear in her eyes.
He met her gaze. "I mean that. He doesn't deserve you, Faith." And neither do I, he added silently.
"Thank you," Faith said sincerely.
Bosco nodded and stared out at the ocean. "I should never have told you to stay with him before," he said regretfully.
"You just said what you thought was right."
"Yeah, I opened my big mouth as usual," he retorted.
"Hey." She put her hand on his arm. "You were looking out for Em and Charlie. That means a lot to me."
"I'd have done them a bigger favor if I'd told you to leave his sorry ass."
Faith looked away. "No matter what else he may be, he loves the kids and he's a good father."
"That may be. But he's a lousy husband."
She didn't answer. They sat together quietly, staring out over the Atlantic Ocean, watching the sun set into the horizon.
Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to John Wells, Edward Allen Bernero, NBC and a bunch of other people I've never met before in my life. The first song is "Blurry" by Puddles of Mud; the second song is "Full of Grace" by the Goddess of Music, Sarah McLachlan.
Rating: R for language, violence and content: deals with the issues of rape
Spoilers: Up through and including "Act Brave."
Summary: When one of their own is attacked by a serial rapist, the third watch crew sets out to find him before he strikes again.
Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know the link. Otherwise, its permanent home is at my site, Only Time.
Category: Story
Subcategories: Angst, angst, angst, drama, angst, friendship and did I mention angst?
Feedback: I crave it. And it tends to make me write faster.
Special thanks to Dem for helping me get unstuck on this part. :)
No Mercy (Part 15)
Everything's so blurry
And everyone's so fake
And everybody's empty
And everything is so messed up
Pre-occupied without you
I cannot live at all
My whole world surrounds you
I stumble then I crawl
Bosco gripped onto the steering wheel of his mustang and stared straight ahead of him as he drove. He barely noticed the cold air rushing in from the open windows.
He couldn't believe Faith had kept this from him. Something so important--something so life-altering. They were partners. More than that, they were friends. Best friends.
And she didn't tell him. She could have been dying and he hadn't known. What if something had happened while they were on duty? What if she had gotten sick and he hadn't been able to help her because he didn't know what was wrong?
What if she had died and--
Bosco slammed his fist against the wheel, the pain yanking him out of his thoughts. Forget her, he told himself, throwing the mustang into park. I don't even care. He jerked the keys out of the ignition, then climbed out of his car, slamming the door closed.
I don't need her anyway, he thought. Then, angrily, he turned and kicked the front tire of his car.
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Angela Boscorelli wiped down the bar as one of the men across from her smiled and asked if he could buy her a drink.
She smiled back. "No, honey, but thanks. I'm involved with someone."
"That's too bad," the man said with a sigh and a shrug.
"Hey, Angela. Ain't that your son?" Donna, one of the waitresses asked, nodding toward the corner booth.
Angela followed her friend's gaze and nodded slightly. "Yeah."
"Want me to cover for you?"
She almost turned down the offer. Maurice hadn't even bothered to come over and say hi or let her know he was there; obviously he wasn't there to see her. But something about the way he was sitting--leaned back against the booth, his eyes focused on the ceiling--struck a chord somewhere within her.
Something wasn't right.
Angela glanced over at Donna again. "Yeah, would you?"
"Sure." Donna walked behind the bar and took the rag from her.
Taking a deep breath, Angela walked over to her eldest son's table.
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It took Bosco a few moments to realize someone was standing next to him. He turned his head to see who it was. "Hey, Ma."
"Can I sit down?" she asked.
He shrugged.
She sat down across from him. "What's wrong, Maurice?"
"Nothing."
"You want somethin' to drink?" she offered. "On the house."
"Nah. Thanks." He stared up at the ceiling again. He'd come in there with every intention of getting hammered, but the moment he sat down, that appealing idea had dissolved.
"So if nothing's wrong and you don't want to drink, why are you here?"
He shrugged again.
You could be my someone
You could be my scene
You know that I'll protect you
From all of the obscene
I wonder what you're doing
I wonder where you are
There's oceans in between us
But that's not very far
"Is this the only damned song there is?" Bosco demanded. "I heard the same one in my car on the way here!"
Can you take it all away?
Can you take it all away?
Well, ya shoved it in my face
This pain you gave to me...
"What's going on with you, Maurice?" his mother asked, frowning.
"I already told you. Nothing's wrong with me."
She sighed heavily. "Why won't you let me help you?"
He didn't answer.
"Let me guess. Either it's work-related or it has to do with a woman."
Bosco smirked. "Try both."
She leaned back against the both. "So what happened with you and Faith?"
He jerked his head up and stared at her across the table. "How did you know it had to do with Faith?"
"I'm a mother. I know these things," she said with a shrug. "Besides, you don't get this upset about some woman you've only known for five minutes."
Bosco laid his head back against the booth.
"So what happend with her to make you so upset?" His mother pulled a cigarette out of her pocket and lit it.
He stared at the ceiling. "She didn't tell me something that she should have."
"Yeah, like what?"
"Like it doesn't matter. She should have told me, and she didn't. I had a right to know," he said angrily.
"Why? You're not married to her."
He stared at her, thrown by her words. He couldn't figure out why, but her remark disturbed him. Besides, whose side was she on, anyway?
"I mean, what makes you think you had the right to know whatever it is she didn't tell you?" She took a long drag off her cigarette and waited for his response.
"Because we're partners," Bosco said, feeling his defenses rise even higher.
"So what? You work together. I work with Donna there, but I don't tell her everything," his mom said, nodding toward the woman behind the bar.
He shook his head. "It's different. Me and Faith, we're--" Bosco tried to find the words to explain it, but he couldn't. "It's just different." He felt himself growing angry all over again. "It doesn't matter. I don't even care."
His mother smirked. "For someone who doesn't matter and that you don't care about, you sure are awfully upset, Maurice." There was a moment of silence. Then she sighed. "Do you want some advice?"
"Not really."
She leaned forward and patted his hand. "Too bad. You're gonna get some anyway. How long have you and Faith been partners?"
"Ma."
"How long?"
"Seven years."
"That's a long time, Maurice. You two have been through a lot together. You really willing to give that up because she didn't tell you something you think she should have?" His mother shook her head.
"Look, Ma, you don't know what's going on, all right?"
"Maybe not," she conceeded. "But did you even give her a chance to tell you why she didn't tell you whatever it was she didn't tell you?"
Bosco just looked at her.
"That's what I thought." His mother stood up and rubbed her cigarette out in the ash tray on the table. "Look, baby, it's up to you. But keep in mind you're not always the easiest person to be around, either, and if she's stuck with you for seven years..." She shrugged. "Just don't do something you're gonna regret later. I gotta get back to work." She kissed the top of his head and walked away.
Bosco stared down at the tabletop, lost in thought.
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The winter here's cold and bitter
It chills us to the bone
We haven't seen the sun for weeks
Too long, too far from home
Faith opened the closet door and picked up the suitcase Bosco had brought from her apartment after she'd been released from the hospital. She set it down on the bed and opened it.
I feel just like I'm sinking
And I claw for solid ground
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
But oh, darkness, I feel like letting go
Numbly she began to pull her clothes off the hangers and fold them up. Then she tucked them neatly into the suitcase.
If all of the strength and all of the courage
Come and lift me from this place
I know I could love you much better than this
Full of grace
Full of grace
My love
Faith swallowed hard, blinking back tears as she worked. She had seen Bosco angry before--quite a few times, in fact. And he'd been mad at her on more than one occasion, as well. But she'd never seen the look he had in his eyes when he asked her how long she'd known about her cancer. That combination of anger and hurt and betrayal. It was at that moment that she'd known he was never going to forgive her. She'd be lucky if he ever even spoke to her again. He'd undoubtedly be requesting a new partner to work with.
The pain in her chest from trying not to cry nearly took her breath away.
She considered briefly the fact that she was more upset because of what happened with Bosco than she was about what happened with her husband. What did that mean?
She shoved the thought aside, too upset and tired to attempt to analyze her feelings right then.
Faith reached into the closet and went to grab her last shirt. Her hand brushed against Bosco's NYPD sweatshirt and she paused. She pulled it off the hanger and held it in her hands for a moment.
So it's better this way, I say
Having seen this place before
Where everything we say and do
Hurts us all the more
It's just that we stayed
Too long in the same old sickly skin
She tugged the sweatshirt on over the t-shirt she was wearing, tears escaping her eyes at the same time as a sob escaped her throat. Too exhausted to fight it any longer, Faith backed up until she sat down hard on the edge of the bed and began to cry again. The sobbing made her ribs ache and the pain caused her to cry even harder.
She'd lost everything now. Everything.
I'm pulled down by the undertow
I never thought I could feel so low
But, oh, darkness, I feel like letting go
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"I think Carlos is starting to suspect," Alex said as she lay in Ty's arms that night.
"How can he not? Anytime we're not here, we're at my place." His voice was distant, distracted.
She frowned and propped herself up on one elbow to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"What? Nothing."
"Come on, I know you better than that. I can tell something's bothering you."
"You're gonna think it's stupid."
"You won't know that until you tell me," she pointed out.
Ty sighed. "That guy....Richards..."
"The rapist?"
He nodded. "He got close to you. Too close."
Alex frowned. "Ty--"
"I wasn't there to protect you. Anything could have happened."
"I'm okay."
"Al, he could have hurt you."
"But he didn't."
"But he could have."
"You can't be with me 24/7. I don't expect you to be," she said softly. "I know it's hard for you to believe, but I'm pretty good at taking care of myself."
"I know you are. I know that. See? I told you...it's stupid." Ty shook his head.
"It's not stupid. It's sweet. And I'm flattered that you care about me that much," Alex told him seriously.
He looked at her a moment, opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.
"What else?" she pressed.
"Nothing."
"Ty," she warned.
"I love you."
She stared at him with wide eyes. "What?"
He fixed his gaze on her face. "I love you. I didn't realize it until today...I knew I liked spending time with you and talking to you, but....it hit me today when I found out how close that bastard got to you...that....I love you. And I don't want to lose you." He ran his fingers through her hair.
"You love me?"
Ty grinned. "Yeah. I do."
Alex leaned down to kiss him on the lips. "I love you, too."
"Good. I was worried there for a minute," he admitted, kissing her back.
"Let me ease those worries," she whispered, gazing into his eyes.
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Bosco paused at his apartment door. He leaned against the wall for a moment, struggling with urge to turn around and leave again. His mother's voice echoed in his mind. "You two have been through a lot together. You really willing to give that up because she didn't tell you something you think she should have?"
He took a deep breath and reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his keys. He found the key to the apartment and quickly unlocked the door and opened it. He deposited the keys onto the kitchen counter and looked up to see Faith standing a few feet away from him, frozen in place. She had her coat on. His gaze dropped to the suitcase she held in her hand. "You going someplace?" he asked, swallowing hard.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah. I-uh-I packed up all my stuff, and I put your lasagna in the fridge so it doesn't go bad. I'm going home."
"You shouldn't go back there," he said, shaking his head.
"I'll be okay. The guy's in jail, so I'm not in danger anymore. I'll--I'll just get out of your way," she said quietly, moving past him toward the door.
"Faith, wait."
She stopped, and turned around to face him again. Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying. They stared at each other for a long time.
"Don't go," Bosco said softly. Her eyes filled with tears and he crossed the distance between them. He wrapped his arms around her tightly and the suitcase clattered to the floor.
"I'm sorry, Boz...I'm sorry. I should have told you," she whispered.
"Shhh. Forget about it. It's in the past," he said, surprised to realize he meant it. He stroked her hair gently.
She pulled away to look at him. "It wasn't that I thought you couldn't handle it, Bosco. That's not it, I swear. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to see me like this."
"Like what?" he asked, confused.
"Weak," Faith answered, looking away.
He stared at her, stunned. "Is that how you think I see you now?"
She didn't answer.
"Faith, I don't think you're weak," Bosco said, shaking his head.
"Come on, I'm a mess." She brought a hand up to her face and wiped away her tears.
"You're holding it together a lot better than most people would," he said. When she didn't reply again, he touched her face with one hand. "Look at me."
Faith met his gaze.
"It's not your job to hold everything together all the time."
"Yes, it is. It's what I've always done. It's the only thing I know how to do, Bosco. And if I can't do that, then...who am I?" she asked, shaking her head.
"You're Faith," he told her quietly. "And you don't have to hold things together for me. I don't need you to protect me, all right? I'm a big boy. I can handle it."
"And if I can't?" Faith whispered.
"Then we'll handle it together," Bosco promised. He pulled her back into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tightly. "Just the two of us."
* * *
Part Sixteen
Faith sat in one of the uncomfortable waiting room chairs next to Bosco. Her head rested against the wall as she stared out the window. "Thanks for coming with me," she said quietly.
"Sure," he replied nonchalantly, nodding.
"You know, Bosco...I'm out of danger now and I would understand if you wanted to get back to your own life."
He turned his head to look at her. "Hey, we've been over this. I'm here cause I want to be, all right? I'm not going anywhere."
She met his gaze and held it. Then she nodded slowly. "Okay."
He opened his mouth to say something, the closed it again.
Faith frowned. It wasn't like him to have something to say and hesitate to say it. "What?"
"What?"
"You look like you want to say something."
"Nope."
"Mrs. Yokas." The nurse appeared in the doorway, holding her chart.
Faith and Bosco stood up and followed her down the hallway to an exam room.
"Dr. Case will be in with you shortly," the nurse told her.
"Okay, thanks." Faith sat down on the exam table and Bosco remained standing, leaning against the wall for support. "You can sit down," she said, nodding toward one of the chairs.
"Nah, I've had enough of those things," he responded, making a face.
She sat quietly, staring at the floor. She remembered a few months ago when she'd been at this hospital with Fred, waiting for the test results of her biopsy. He'd been so impatient, so frustrated he'd actually suggested they get up and leave because the doctor was running late.
Faith snuck a glance at Bosco to see how he was handling the long wait. He was staring into space. She bit her lip, unable to read his expression.
The door opened a moment later, and Dr. Case walked in. "Faith, Fr--" he cut himself off, looking at Bosco with surprise.
"Dr. Case, this is my friend Maurice Boscorelli. Boz, this is Dr. Case," she said.
Dr. Case shook Bosco's hand. "Nice to meet you." He looked at her. "Will Fred be coming?"
"Uh...no. He won't," she answered quietly.
"Okay." He glanced through her chart. "You missed your last two appointments."
"I know."
He studied her silently.
"It's been a long couple of weeks," Faith told him, tiredly.
"Faith, I don't mean to sound condescending, but it's very important that you don't miss your treatment sessions."
"I know it is. I do. It won't happen again." She hesitated. "What do we do now? Since I haven't been here? Increase the amount of radiation?"
"No, your dosage will stay the same. But you'll have to make up the two missed sessions."
She nodded, feeling relieved that he wasn't increasing the radiation dosage.
"All right. If you're ready, I'll take you down for your treatment."
Faith set her purse on the floor next to one of the chairs and glanced at Bosco.
Dr. Case looked from her to him. "Feel free to wait here, if you'd like. Or you can go back to the waiting room."
"No, I'll--stay here," Bosco told them, stuffing his hands in his jeans pockets.
She met his eyes for a second, then turned and followed Dr. Case down the hallway. "Dr. Case?"
"Yes, Faith?"
"I was hoping you could talk to Bosco for me."
He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to continue.
"It's just that...well, I think he has some questions about my cancer and treatments and I don't think he's comfortable asking me about it." And I'm not sure I could convince I'm okay, anyway, she added silently.
Dr. Case led her into the radiation room. "Sure. I'm more than happy to answer any questions he may have."
"Hi, Faith," Doreena, the radiation therapist said, smiling at her.
"Hi." She turned to look at her doctor again. "Thanks, Dr. Case."
"Sure."
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Bosco stared out the exam room window, tension gripping his body.
"Mr. Boscorelli?"
He turned to see Faith's doctor standing in the doorway. "Is something wrong?" he asked, feeling alarmed.
"No, no. Everything's fine," Dr. Case assured him. "I thought you might have some questions about Faith's condition and treatments."
"She send you in here?"
A look of surprised crossed the other man's face. "Yes, actually."
Bosco almost smiled. "I figured."
"Is there anything you'd like to ask?"
He nodded. "Is she gonna be okay?"
"Well, as you probably know, we did a surgical procedure called a lumpectomy. That means we removed the tumor in its entirity."
"And you got all of it?"
Dr. Case nodded. "Yes."
"So then what's the radiation for?"
"The radiation therapy is strictly precaution, just to make sure that there's no regrowth."
Bosco stared at him. "Regrowth?"
"With any type of cancer--even if the original tumor is removed--there's always a chance of regrowth. But that's the purpose of the radiation treatments. To decrease that chance."
He looked away, determined not to worry about that unless given a reason to worry. He bit his lip. "Is this gonna make her sick? The radiation, I mean."
"Well, with her previous treatments, the only symptom Faith has reported is fatigue."
"So you think she'll be okay?"
"I have every confidence that she's going to be just fine, Mr. Boscorelli."
He nodded. "Thanks."
"Sure." Dr. Case left the room.
"Feel any better?"
Bosco turned to see Faith leaning against the door frame. "You're done already?"
She nodded. "The treatments don't last very long." Faith looked at him, and tucked a strand of strawberry blond hair behind her ear. "Get all your questions answered?"
"For now."
"If you have anymore, you can always ask me. You know that, right?"
Bosco studied her for a moment, then nodded slowly. "I will." He took a deep breath. "You ready to go?"
"Yeah, definitely. Let's get out of here."
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Bosco watched as Fatih sat completely still in her seat, waiting for the detectives to lead Don Richards into the interrogation room, which was currently empty. He saw her gaze locked on the two-way mirror before them. He walked over and sat down next to her. "You okay?"
"I just wanna get this over with," she muttered.
He nodded in understanding. "Well, hopefully Tweedledum and Tweedledee will hurry up so we can go home." As soon as he said the words, he felt guilty. Detective Masters was a decent guy, and Bosco had nothing against him. Flannigan, on the other hand...he was a whole other story. Bosco scowled just at the thought of the jerk's name.
As if on cue, the two detectives entered the room. Bosco and Faith stood up. They both shook hands with Masters. Flannigan hung back at the back of the room, looking bored.
"Officer Bradley's bringing him in," Masters told them.
Faith nodded and turned her attention to the two-way mirror again. Bosco stood beside her. He could feel the tension rolling off her in waves. He reached out and gave her shoulder a brief, reassuring squeeze.
She looked at him wordlessly and gave him a nervous smile.
A moment later, the door to the interrogation room opened and Officer Bradley escorted Richards into the room in handcuffs.
"Sit," Bradley ordered. Richards sat down at the table obediently, facing the two-way mirror.
Bosco's hands clenched at his sides and it took all of his inner willpower not to go to the next door and kill the son-of-a-bitch with his bare hands. Taking a slow, deep breath to calm himself, he turned to see his partner's reaction.
Her face was drained of all color. Immediately his anger gave way to concern. She looked like she was going to faint. "Faith?"
Her gaze never leaving Richards' face, she whispered, "It's not him."
His eyes widened. "What?"
Faith shook her head slightly. "It's not the guy, Bosco." There was no hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Shit," Bosco cursed, turning to glare at the two detectives who were talking quietly in the back. "You've got the wrong guy!"
"What?" Masters asked, confused.
"He isn't the rapist," he spat, jerking his thumb toward the mirror.
"Bullshit," Flannigan said.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, 'bullshit.' This is the right guy. He matches the description she gave us," he said, pointing at Faith. "Not to mention the car was registered to him, and he gave us a full confession!"
"It's not him, " Faith said quietly. "He has the same general appearance, but...it's not the same guy."
"You're wrong," Flannigan accused.
"Shut up!" Bosco snapped. "Did you guys even pull Alex Taylor in here to make sure it was the same guy from the accident?"
The detectives exchanged a look, but remained silent.
"I figured," he said, disgusted.
"Why the hell would he confess to raping a bunch of women if he didn't do it? He'd have to be nuts," Flannigan said, shaking his head.
"Or protecting someone," Bosco pointed out.
"No one's stupid enough to take a rape rap for someone else."
"Unless he's being blackmailed for something even worse," Masters said suddenly, looking at Bosco.
"I need some air." Without another word, Faith turned and left the room.
Bosco started after her when Masters grabbed his arm. "You realize what this means?"
"Yeah, that the lowlife bastard is still out there somewhere," Bosco said harshly.
"That even if we catch the real rapist, because this guy's confessed, it's gonna be damned hard, if not impossible to convince a jury to prosecute."
Bosco stared at the detective for a moment. Then darkly, he replied, "Who says if we find him he'll even live long enough to *need* a jury?" His mouth twisted into a smile. He turned and left the room to look for Faith, leaving the detectives to stare after him.
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Bosco unlocked the door to his apartment and held it open for Faith. He followed her inside. She'd barely said two words since he'd found her outside the 55 sitting on the steps and staring at the sidewalk. "Why don't I order us a supreme with extra cheese?" he suggested, dropping his keys onto the kitchen counter.
"You go ahead. I'm not really hungry. I think I'm just gonna take a hot shower."
"Faith."
She looked at him.
"We will catch him."
"Sure, Boz." Her tone wasn't sarcastic, or bitter. It was much worse than that. It was defeated.
Bosco watched as she disappeared down the hallway. He swallowed hard, feeling as though he'd let her down. His mind flashed back to after the attack, when he first saw her lying in that hospital bed. He remembered his vow to make sure whoever had put her there paid in a very big way. He hadn't kept that promise. A surge of anger jolted through his body and Bosco felt the sudden, barely controllable urge to put his fist through a wall. Or better yet, through the bastard's face.
He had to get his anger under control before Faith came back out. He didn't want her to think he was upset with her. He took a deep breath and leaned back against the counter.
He kept assuring Faith that they were going to catch the rapist, but when he was honest with himself, Bosco wasn't feeling so confident that was going to happen now. He clenched his fists at his sides. No. I'll catch him, he told himself. No matter what it takes, I'll catch him.
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Bosco heard a knock on his door awhile later, and he quickly abandoned the pasta he was boiling to make spaghetti. He opened the door and saw Alex Taylor and Kim Zambrano standing there. "Hey."
"Hey. Sorry to just drop by. We wanted to see how Faith was," Alex told him.
"Is she still here?" Kim asked.
"Uh, yeah."
"We thought she might have gone home since the guy's been arrested," Alex explained.
Bosco stared at them. "You haven't heard?"
The two women exchanged a look. "Heard what?" Kim questioned, frowning.
"They got the wrong guy."
"What?"
"You're kidding me!" Alex exclaimed, staring at him.
He shook his head.
"How's Faith?"
Bosco looked at Kim. "She hasn't said much, so I don't know." He shrugged, and held the door open for them. "Maybe you guys can cheer her up."
"We'll do our best," Alex promised, slipping out of her jacket and stepping inside.
"Thanks." He closed the door after they were both in the apartment. "She's watching tv," he said, gesturing to the living room. Bosco watched as they walked into the other room, his gaze lingering on Faith for a moment. Then he sighed heavily and walked back into the kitchen.
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"What are you doing here?" Faith asked, looking surprised as Alex and Kim stepped into the living room.
"We came to see you. See how you were," Alex said, sitting down on the opposite end of the sofa as Faith. Kim perched on the edge of the chair.
"It was the wrong guy," she said quietly, looking away.
"Yeah, Bosco told us," Kim said, studying her. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay," Faith answered, meeting her gaze briefly.
There was a moment of silence.
Alex looked at Kim for a moment, then turned her attention to Faith. "It's nice of Bosco to let you stay here."
"Yeah, it is. He's been great." Faith looked at her. "So...how are...things?"
Her gaze flickered to Kim, who was watching her carefully. "Things are...things are really good."
"If you're talking about that thing that's going on with you and Davis, I know all about it, so you don't have to talk in code," Kim said with a slight smile.
Alex stared at her. "You know?" She turned to look at Faith.
"She didn't say anything," Kim assured her.
"Then how--?"
"Oh, come on. Everyone knows."
"Everyone?" Alex repeated, shocked.
"Well, not Carlos. I think he's still under the impression Davis is gay."
Faith stared at Kim. "He thinks Davis is gay?"
Kim nodded solemnly.
Faith started laughing. "Why the hell would he think that?"
"Something about your sergeant telling him that," Alex said, laughing with her.
"Sergeant Christopher?"
"Yeah, I think that's the one."
"And Carlos believed him?" Faith shook her head.
All three women laughed.
"So is it serious? You and Davis?" Kim questioned, leaning back in the chair.
"It's...." Alex couldn't help the smile that crept onto her lips. "Yeah, it's serious. He, uh...he told me he loved me."
"That's great! I'm happy for you. Davis is a great guy," Faith said, nodding her approval.
"Yeah, he is. He really is."
There was a moment of comfortable silence.
"How's Joey?" Alex asked, glancing at Kim.
"He's good." Kim took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "The custody hearing is only two weeks away."
"Custody hearing?" Faith stared at her.
"You didn't know?"
She shook her head.
Kim rested her head on her hand. "Jimmy's suiing for full custody."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Unfortunately not."
"Kim, I'm so sorry," Faith said sympathetically. "I had no idea."
"He doesn't think I can handle taking care of Joey after--" Kim cut herself off and looked away, unable to finish her thought. "But he's wrong. What happened was a mistake. I know that. And he's going to punish me by taking my son away from me."
"What judge in his right mind would give Jimmy full custody of any kid?" Alex wondered, shaking her head.
"Well, it hasn't happened yet. It's not a sure thing," Faith pointed out.
"I'm just...really scared," Kim admitted, running a hand through her hair. "I don't know what to do."
"Maybe you should talk to him," Faith suggested.
"To Jimmy?"
Faith nodded.
"Every time we talk we end up fighting." She sighed heavily and shook her head. "We've been having visits from a social worker. She's going to advise the judge on who's the most fit parent."
Alex reached over and patted her arm gently. "I'm sure that she'll tell the judge what a great mom you are to Joey."
"I hope so," Kim said softly.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I could use something to drink," Alex said, standing up. "You guys want anything?"
"No, thanks."
"No, I'm all right," Faith told her.
"Okay. I'll be right back." Alex walked into the kitchen and paused, watching as Bosco added homeade spaghetti sauce to the pasta he was cooking. He was pouring it without watching what he was doing; his eyes were elsewhere. She followed his line of sight and saw he was looking at Faith. "Hey, Bosco?"
"Geez!" He took a step back as spaghetti sauce splattered onto the stovetop. "What?"
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," Alex said, amused. "I was wondering if I could get a glass of water or something."
Bosco took a deep breath. "Sure." He reached up into the cabinet and pulled out a glass. He handed it to her. "Ice is in the freezer."
"Good place for it," she remarked, pulling open the freezer door. She grabbed a handful of ice cubes and dropped them into the glass. She filled it with tap water and turned to leave the kitchen. Then she paused and turned to look at Bosco again. His gaze was back on Faith, who was laughing at something Kim had said. She watched him for a moment. "You're in love with her."
"What?" He blinked and turned his head to look at her.
"You're in love with her," she repeated, a bit louder this time. "I can't believe it...Carlos was actually right about something," she muttered to herself.
"In love with who?" he asked, confused.
"Faith."
"What? No, I'm not," Bosco denied.
"Right."
"I'm not! You're nuts!" he exclaimed, shaking his head furiously.
"Oh, am I?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If you think I'm in love with Yokas, you must be."
"Okay." She shrugged.
"I am *not* in love with Faith!" Bosco glared at her. "I don't know who told you that, but they were wrong!"
"Hey, Bosco?"
"What?" he growled.
"Your spaghetti's boiling over," she said nonchalantly, nodding her head towards the pot on the stove.
"Shit," Bosco cursed, quickly grabbing the heat-resistant gloves off the counter and picking it up. "Damn it."
She quickly moved over and turned the heat down to low. "Relax. These things happen," Alex assured him as he set the pot back down and wiped up the mess with a rag from the sink.
He looked at her for a moment. "I'm not," Bosco said again.
"Okay. Sorry. My mistake." She turned and headed back into the living room. "Oh, yeah. Methinks he doth protest too much."
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Bosco sat watching the television on one end of the couch as Faith sat on the other end, her feet curled up under her. But he wasn't paying any attention to the 10'o clock news.
In love with Faith? Yeah, right, he thought, rolling his eyes. He was going to have to have a serious talk with Davis one of these days about the women his fellow officer decided to date. He hadn't really been around Taylor that much, but she had always seemed fairly down-to-earth. Clearly he'd been under a false impression of the girl. She's in need of some serious psychological help.
He glanced sideways at his partner, who was watching the news intently. He returned his gaze to the tv screen. She's not even my type, he thought, shaking his head. Why the hell would anyone think I was in love with her?
Faith yawned.
Bosco looked at her again. "You tired?"
She hesitated, her eyes never leaving the television. "Kinda. I just don't really want to go to sleep right now."
He grabbed the pillow that was lying next to him and laid it on his lap. "Here." He patted it with his hand.
"I'm okay."
Bosco raised an eyebrow.
Faith rolled her eyes. Then she yawned again, her eyelids drooping. With a sigh, she stretched out on the couch and laid her head down on the pillow in his lap. She tucked one hand underneath her head and let the other rest on her leg.
"Better?"
"Much," she admitted, yawning for a third time.
Bosco gently brushed the hair out of her eyes. Within moments, she'd fallen asleep. He watched her sleep for a few moments, then focused his attention back on the tv. That lasted a whole thirty seconds. His gaze immediately dropped to her face again, and he stared at her, swallowing hard. Memories of various times in their friendship and partnership flashed through his mind. She'd been there for him so many times. She was the only person he knew without a doubt that he could depend on. She accepted him the way he was, never asked him to change.
He remembered his conversation with his mother the previous day.
<"I mean, what makes you think you had the right to know whatever it is she didn't tell you?"
"Because we're partners."
"So what? You work together. I work with Donna there, but I don't tell her everything."
"It's different. Me and Faith, we're--" Bosco tried to find the words to explain it, but he couldn't. "It's just different." >
Why is it different? he asked himself, feeling uneasy.
Sure, he and Faith were partners. He didn't always tell her everything. So why did it bother him so much that Faith didn't tell him about her cancer?
Because we're friends, Bosco thought.
When he thought about it, that didn't feel quite right, either. He was friends with Davis, too, and he didn't expect Davis to tell him personal things.
Bosco looked down at Faith's sleeping form again. Her face was relaxed, almost peaceful for a change. Her strawberry blond hair was fanned out on the pillow, a few strands brushing against his fingers.
<"You're in love with her."
"In love with who?" he asked, confused.
"Faith."
"What? No, I'm not!">
He shook his head. It was ridiculous. He was not in love with Faith!
Bosco recalled how angry he'd been with Fred the night before. Even before the man had opened his mouth, Bosco had wanted to beat the crap out of him just for having the nerve to show up at his apartment looking for Faith. Like the jerk had any right to see her after everything that had happened.
<"She's my wife. I have the right to see her," Fred said angrily.
"Your rights ended the day you walked out on her. Now get the hell out of my apartment. And stay the hell away from Faith. She doesn't want to see you." >
He and Fred had never gotten along well, but he hadn't thought Fred was a bad guy. He remembered the look on Faith's face when Fred had accused her of sleeping with all the guys at the 55. No one--not even her husband--had the right to talk to her like that. He wished that he'd never encouraged Faith to stay with the bastard when she'd been considering divorce a couple years back. If he had only known then what he knew now...
Bosco's gaze rested on her face again.
<"You're in love with her.">
No, I'm not, he thought stubbornly.
<"Right.">
He swallowed hard, realizing no matter how much protesting he had done, Taylor hadn't believed him.
Why would she? She's not stupid, the little voice inside him whispered.
Bosco shook his head. No, it can't be. I'm not in love with Faith! I'm not!
Okay, the voice said doubtfully.
Shit. He wasn't in love with her, was he? He couldn't be! They worked together, they were friends, she was married for God's sake!
"Relax. These things happen," Alex's words echoed in his mind.
Bosco's eyes widened. "Son of a--"
* * *
Part Seventeen
"Sergeant Christopher is passing around a picture from a survelliance video at the Bigfoot on Walsh Avenue. One of the suspects has been identified as Don Smith, who's wanted in connection to three previous robberies in addition to this one," Lt. Swersky informed them.
Faith took a copy of the black and white picture Christopher handed her and studied it for a moment before glancing at Bosco, who was sitting just to her left. He seemed distracted. He'd been acting strangely all morning and she wasn't sure why. She frowned.
"More importantly, we still have a rapist on the loose. For those of you who don't know it, Officer Yokas came in yesterday to identify the man in custody and it was the wrong man. So everyone continue searching for him as well."
She could feel everyone looking at her as the lieutenant spoke. She did her best to ignore it.
"All right, that's it. Eyes and ears open out there," Lt. Swersky said, dismissing them from roll call. "Yokas, stay back."
She looked up, surprised. She glanced over at Bosco again, who also looked surprised. He looked over at her and shrugged. They both stood up and walked to the front. "Lieu?"
"There's someone here to see you," Lt. Swersky informed her.
"Where?" Faith asked, frowning.
He nodded to the interrogation room across the hall.
Her frown deepened. She exchanged a look with Bosco as they headed out the door. "I'll be back."
"I'll get the radios," he said, nodding.
She watched as he disappeared down the hallway and around the corner. Then she walked over to the interrogation room across the hall and opened the door.
The person inside turned around to face her.
Faith froze. "Fred. What are you doing here?"
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Bosco removed two police radios from the shelf in the equipment room.
"What's up with Yokas?" Davis asked, grabbing a radio for him and one for Sully.
"Beats me," he muttered. "Someone's here to see her."
"Weird."
"You know what else is weird? Your girlfriend."
Davis frowned. "What?"
"Hate to be the one to break it to you, man, but she's a total lunatic," Bosco informed him. He turned to leave the room.
"Whoa, Bosco. What are you talking about?" Davis asked in confusion.
"She and Kim came over to my place last night to see Faith."
"Yeah, and--?"
"And for some reason, she's got it in her head that I'm in love with Yokas!"
Davis raised his eyebrows. "Are you?"
Bosco stared at him in disbelief. "We're partners, Davis!"
Davis didn't respond, he just stared at Bosco.
"She's married!"
"Yeah, and no one ever falls for someone who's married."
"I'm not falling for her!" Bosco said angrily, glaring at him. "You're just as crazy as your girlfriend, you know that, Davis?"
He watched Bosco storm out of the room and shook his head. Nope, Bosco wasn't falling for Yokas. He already had. "Oh, boy," Davis muttered under his breath. He shook his head and followed Bosco out the door.
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"We need to talk, Faith," Fred said, not looking at her.
She nodded quickly, her heart pounding. "Okay."
There was a moment of silence.
"I'm moving back into the apartment," he told her, gazing at the tile floor.
"You are?"
Fred nodded. He motioned to a medium-size box that was on the table. "I brought some of your things."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "My things?" she repeated, not comprehending.
He finally met her eyes. "Yeah. Stuff you might need. I'll have the rest of it sent to Bosco's later this week."
"Fred, what are you talking about?"
"I want a divorce."
She felt all the air leave her lungs and she stared at him. "What?"
"I want a divorce," he said again, his voice low and calm.
Faith shook her head in disbelief. This was a joke. It had to be.
"I already have a lawyer. He can handle the whole thing if that's all right with you. I'm willing to have joint custody of the kids. Just because we're having problems doesn't mean they should suffer from it."
She finally found her voice. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Fred stared at her. "You're kidding me, right? Why am I doing this to you? If you want to blame somebody, blame yourself. Blame Bosco!"
"Bosco?"
"Yeah, you know. The guy you've been living with for the past three weeks. Your partner," he spat. All the calmness had left his face.
"Fred--"
"Did you really think I'd stay with you after this? That I'd want Boscorelli's leftovers?" Fred demanded, his voice rising.
"I'm not having an affair with Bosco!"
"You're just living with him. I'm sure it's all very innocent, isn't it, Faith?" he said bitterly.
"Yeah, it is," she said quietly.
"Right."
Her shock and hurt gave way to a torrent of anger. "You want to know why I've been staying with Bosco, Fred?" Despite how upset she was, her voice was calm. Eerily calm, even to her own ears.
Fred folded his arms across his chest and didn't respond.
"I was raped."
The scowl disappeared from his face. "What?"
"The night you took the kids and left, I came home alone. A man came into our apartment and attacked me. I tried to stop him, I tried to get away, but he hit me with my own gun and knocked me unconscious." Tears rushed to her eyes and she didn't bother to wipe them away. "He's still out there somewhere, Fred! That's why I've been staying with Bosco! Because the detectives seem to think he may try to come after me again since I'm the only one who can identify him!"
There was a moment of total silence as Fred stared at her. "Why didn't you call me? Why didn't you tell me, Faith?"
"Why? So you could be your usual supportive self?" she asked bitterly.
"Oh, and I'm sure Bosco's been real damned supportive!" he snapped.
"For your information, Bosco's been very supportive! He's been there for me through this whole nightmare, just like he always is when you're not!"
"When have I not been there for you when you needed me?" Fred demanded.
"How about when I found out I had cancer?"
"I was there for you!"
"No, you were in denial! You wouldn't even talk to me about it!" she said angrily.
"I was scared, Faith!"
"And I wasn't?" The tears spilled down her cheeks. "I was terrified, Fred. I was afraid I was going to die and I had to hide that fear because you couldn't handle it! That's why I didn't call you when I was raped, because I couldn't deal with your pain and mine, too!"
They stared at each other for a long time.
"You know what? If Bosco's such a great, supportive guy like you say he is, why the fuck don't you just marry him?" Fred suggested, glaring at her.
She just shook her head. "Fine, Fred. You want a divorce? You got it." Faith turned around and shoved the door open with such force that it slammed against the outside wall. She stormed down the hallway. Fuck Fred. She didn't need him.
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Bosco glanced at his watch for the third time in ten minutes and sighed impatiently, bouncing up and down slightly on the balls of his feet. He just wanted to get out of the station house and get some air. At that moment, the interrogation room door flew open and slammed against the wall. Faith took off in the opposite direction down the hall.
"Faith?" he called. She didn't stop. Hell, she didn't even slow down.
"Was that Yokas?" Sully asked as he came out of the bathroom, frowning.
"Yeah." He started to follow her when he caught sight of a figure standing in the open doorway of the room she'd just fled from. A surge of uncontrollable anger took hold of him and before he even realized it, he'd crossed the distance between them and had Fred Yokas pinned against the wall. "What the fuck did you do to her now?" he demanded.
"Bosco!"
He could vaguely hear Sully calling his name and trying to pull him away from Fred, but he ignored him. "What did you say to her? Tell me!" Bosco shouted.
"Bosco, stop it!" Sully commanded, yanking him away from Faith's husband.
He shoved the other officer away and lunged at Fred again. He didn't know what the hell was going on, but whatever Faith was upset about it was because of her asshole husband. He doesn't deserve her, he thought viciously, wanting nothing more than to cause the other man physical pain.
"Bosco! Damn it, knock it off right now!" Sully shouted, stepping between him and Fred. "Go after Yokas! Now! Go!"
Bosco's gaze locked on Sully's face for a moment and he took a breath and tried to get control of his anger. With one last glare at Fred, Bosco walked off in the direction his partner had gone. When he couldn't find her in the building, he headed outside and found her sitting in the driver's seat, tightly gripping onto the wheel. He climbed into the passenger side and looked at her. "You okay?"
"No," she answered, her voice barely audible. She started the engine of the car and pulled out onto the road, pressing her foot on the accelerator and speeding away down the street without looking back.
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Bosco sat on the hood of the RMP, watching Faith hurl rocks into the water. She hadn't said a word since they left the station. He wanted to know what had happened, wanted to say something--anything--to her, but couldn't find the words. So he waited.
After a few minutes, she walked back to the squad and sat down next to him. Neither of them said anything for several moments.
Then quietly, she said, "I met him in high school. I was sixteen. And the only thing I wanted was to get away from home."
He glanced at her sideways. Her gaze was fixed on the water before them.
"My dad was an alcoholic." She blinked a couple times and looked over at him. "Did I ever tell you that?"
Bosco nodded, but remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt.
Faith looked away again. "He was never physically abusive, but things never really felt safe at home, you know?"
He nodded again. He could relate to that feeling more than he cared to think about.
"I moved in with Fred right after graduation. I started going to a community college even though I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Two years later I had an Associate's Degree in Science and was six weeks pregnant with Emily."
Bosco glanced at her, startled. He hadn't thought about it, but now he realized that he should have known that. She and Fred had been married eleven years and Emily was thirteen.
"We were having problems. Arguing about everything. Fred couldn't seem to find a decent job and when he did, he couldn't keep it. I quit school and got a job waitressing. The hourly pay wasn't good, but the tips were amazing." Faith took a short breath. "Two years later, Fred asked me to marry him."
"Why'd he wait so long?" Bosco asked quietly.
"He'd asked me before then. More than once. I didn't want him to feel obligated to marry me because we had Emily. See, that's what my parents did when my mom got pregnant with Stanley. They were never happy together. She tried to hide it, tried to act like everything was fine, but we knew. Kids always know," she said softly. She looked over at him. "Guess I don't have to tell you that, do I?"
He smiled faintly. "Not really."
Faith looked away again. "I did love im. So I said yes. We got married at the courthouse a week later." She gazed out over the water. "We've always had problems. Ever since the beginning. But I never thought...never imagined he was capable of saying and doing something of the things he's said and done."
There was a moment of silence, and Bosco vividly remembered when she arrested her husband for drinking and driving on the way to pick up their kids from school. He closed his eyes briefly, also remembering that he had tried to talk her out of it.
"Fred wants a divorce," she said quietly, avoiding his eyes. "And I don't think I'm going to fight him on it. I'm not sure I can forgive him for some of the things he said to me." Faith paused. "I know you're probably angry with me."
"You deserve better," he said, feeling a fresh surge of anger toward Fred, and then toward himself.
She turned her head to look at him, the surprise clear in her eyes.
He met her gaze. "I mean that. He doesn't deserve you, Faith." And neither do I, he added silently.
"Thank you," Faith said sincerely.
Bosco nodded and stared out at the ocean. "I should never have told you to stay with him before," he said regretfully.
"You just said what you thought was right."
"Yeah, I opened my big mouth as usual," he retorted.
"Hey." She put her hand on his arm. "You were looking out for Em and Charlie. That means a lot to me."
"I'd have done them a bigger favor if I'd told you to leave his sorry ass."
Faith looked away. "No matter what else he may be, he loves the kids and he's a good father."
"That may be. But he's a lousy husband."
She didn't answer. They sat together quietly, staring out over the Atlantic Ocean, watching the sun set into the horizon.