Third Watch Fic: Upside Down (3-4/10)
Title: Upside Down
Written in March of 2004
Authors: NYPDBosco and X_tremeroswellian
Emails: mauriceboscorelli@yahoo.com and faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Rating: Most chapters will be of the general audience version.
Genre: AU
Main Characters: Faith, Maurice and Mikey
Summary: When Third Watch characters get mixed up with two fanfic authors who like to write Alternate Universe stories, the characters roles get mixed up and things tend to get turned...Upside Down.
Faith lay curled up in Maurice's arms, her head resting on his chest, a faint smile on her face.
He stared up at the ceiling for a moment as he gently rubbed his hand up and down her back. Lifting his head off the pillow he kissed the top of her head.
"Were you and Mikey close when you were younger?" she murmured.
"Back when we were kids we were best friends," he whispered.
She was quiet for a moment. "So what happened?"
"I'm uh...I'm not really sure." He let his hand rest on her shoulder. "We just...grew apart I guess."
"Stanley and I were never close."
"Any idea why that is," he asked softly. "Or are brothers and sisters just not close in general?"
"I don't really know. We were quite a few years apart. He wasn't around much when..."
Maurice tilted his head a little. "When what?"
Faith closed her eyes. "My father's an alcoholic. And...Stanley made himself scarce whenever he could so he didn't have to be around him."
Remaining silent he nodded his head, and began rubbing her back again. His thoughts drifting to his own childhood.
"He still drinks a lot. I don't see him much. My mom either." Her voice was soft.
He let out a breath. "Cause you don't want to?"
She placed a soft kiss against his chest. "Yeah, pretty much."
"My old man beat my mother," he whispered.
She lifted her head up and turned to gaze at him. "I know," she said softly.
"Mikey told you," he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Faith nodded silently.
Maurice was silent for a while as he concentrated on the feel of her skin underneath his fingertips, and the palm of his hand.
"Are you okay with that?" she asked softly, unsure of how to take his silence.
He shrugged. "I don't think it ever bothered him as much as it bothered me. I mean...we both knew what dad was doing was wrong, but..."
"It bothers him." Her voice was quiet.
"Guess he hides it better."
"Depends on the day."
"Yeah?"
"He tries to hide it, but when we get domestic calls...I see it," she said softly.
He took a deep breath. "You know where Fort Totten is?"
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment. "Over in Queens?"
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "When it got bad...Mikey and I used to go there to get away," he whispered.
Faith gazed at him, her eyes sad. "I'm sorry," she whispered back.
"I was the oldest, but I couldn't stop the bastard," he told her, his voice strained.
"You were just a kid." She touched his cheek.
"He beat my mother, and I didn't know what to do."
"It wasn't your fault, Maurice."
"It still feels like it though. To this day I can't protect her."
She sat up slowly, her eyes locked on his face. "It's not your job," she said softly.
"No. It's Michael's. He's the cop. That's why he's better than me."
Faith was startled by the sharpness of his voice. "That's not what I meant."
"It's what he thinks."
"Look...I don't understand the whole situation between the two of you, but...I'm pretty sure it takes two to fight."
He closed his eyes, and ran his hands over his face. "I'm sorry, Faith," he whispered. "I didn't mean..."
"It's okay, I just...I wanna help."
"How," he asked softly.
"I don't know, maybe I could try to talk to him..."
His eyes widened slightly. "No. I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Well, it can't hurt, right? I mean, Michael and I are partners. He doesn't always listen to me, but--"
"But I don't want him getting mad at you cause you're seein' me."
"I can't keep that from him forever."
"I know. I just..." He paused, and took a deep breath. "He's gonna give you a million reasons why you should stop seeing me, and I don't want that to affect..."
Faith reached out and covered his mouth with her fingers. "Shhh."
He kissed her fingers.
"You worry too much," she told him softly, gazing at him.
"I can't help it...I really like you, Faith"
"I really like you, too." She was quiet for a moment. "Michael's my best friend. I don't like keepin' secrets from him."
"Promise me something?"
"What?"
"Just promise me that no matter what he says about me you'll give me a chance."
Wordlessly, she leaned down and kissed his lips. "I decide who I date. Not my partner."
He kissed her back, a small smile on his lips. "I'm glad to hear that."
She touched his cheek. "I better get ready for work."
Sighing softly he nodded his head. "Yeah. Okay."
Faith kissed his forehead. "Well...you know...I may have time for..." She kissed his lips again, closing her eyes.
"Mmm." He deepened the kiss, and wrapped his arms around her.
She smiled against his mouth as he pulled her closer.
"I think we've definitely got time," he whispered before kissing her neck.
"Oh, yeah," she murmured, swallowing hard at the feel of his tongue against her skin. They definitely had time.
* * *
Mike pulled the RMP into the parking lot by the playground where he and Faith would sometimes lay low. After a tough call on their first day as partners over four years ago they'd been driving around, and come across the well maintained playground. Ever since then they'd come here when they needed to relax or think. Today was one of those relaxing days.
Faith gazed out the passenger window, feeling nervous as she watched a couple of kids play on the swings.
"You've been quiet." He glanced over at her. "You okay?"
"What?" She turned to look at him, then forced a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure?"
She let out a breath and looked away. "To be honest...there's somethin' I sort of haven't told you."
He turned in his seat so he was facing her. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine, it's just...I don't want you to get mad at me."
He shook his head, not quite understanding. "Why would I be mad?"
"You know that guy I been seein'?"
"Yeah."
"You know him."
"I do?"
She nodded, biting down on her lower lip.
"So...who is he?"
"Your brother." Her voice was very soft.
His eyes widened. "You're sleeping with Maurice?!"
Faith made a face and didn't respond.
He turned to look out the windshield, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Are you mad?"
"I honestly don't know what I am." He blinked, and shook his head. "I'm definitely...shocked."
She was silent for a moment and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We just...we really hit it off, you know?"
"You don't know anything about him, Faith."
"I know plenty about him."
"Not enough." He looked at her. "You need to break it off."
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, all right? But I really care about him."
"And I care about you. Which is why I'm telling you that you need to stop seeing my brother."
She was irritated with his tone of voice. "I don't know what the problem is between you and Maurice, but you better get over it." She reached for the door handle and got out of the RMP, slamming the door shut and leaning against the car.
He huffed in frustration, and climbed out of the car. "Did you even stop to think that there was a reason that in four years of being your partner...your friend, I -never- introduced you to my brother?"
"Not really, considering you've never even met my parents."
"He's an addict, Faith!"
Faith turned around slowly to face him, her expression unreadable. "What?"
"An addict. I never introduced you to him cause I never knew if he was gonna be high. I don't trust him."
There was a long moment of complete silence.
"You're wrong."
He let out a breath. "No Faith," he whispered. "I'm not."
"Look, I've spent a lotta time with him the last few days and I would know if he was high."
"Are you with him every minute," he asked softly.
She stared at him. "Of course not, but..."
"He's always been good at hidin' it. Fooled me a few times too," he admitted.
Faith shook her head and looked away, falling silent.
"Look. I'm not tryin' to upset you, but..."
She didn't answer, simply stared at the children on the playground.
He walked around to where she was standing. "He's not good for you."
"How do you know he's even still using?"
"He's my brother, Faith. I know him."
"Yeah. Right." She folded her arms across her chest, not looking at him.
"I could see it in him."
"And maybe you're wrong." Her jaw was tense.
"He's been arrested three times. Not only does he use, but he deals, too," he told her softly.
She whipped her head around to stare at him, her eyes dark, angry.
He raked his hands through his hair. "I can't let him drag your name through the mud."
"I'm ready to leave now." She yanked her door open and slid into the car.
Mike threw his hands in the air, and walked back around to the driver's side of the car to get in. "I'm tellin' you the truth."
Faith didn't respond, she simply stared out the window.
He started the car, and pulled out into the street. "I don't know why he started usin'. I've tried to get him to stop, but he doesn't wanna hear anything I have to say."
"Gee. I wonder why that could be."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Maybe if you weren't so damn critical about everything everyone else does, maybe somebody actually would care what you said."
"He does drugs, Faith! How can I not be critical? I'm a cop!"
"You're his brother!"
"I've tried to help!"
She didn't reply.
He took a deep breath. "I just don't want you gettin' hurt."
"Yeah, well, too late."
Mike looked over at her. "What do you want me to say?"
"I'd rather you didn't say anything else if it's all the same to you," she said tersely.
Shaking his head he focused his attention back on the road in front of them.
Faith stared out the window, angry and tense. He was wrong about Maurice. He had to be.
* * *
Faith yanked her locker open without greeting any of her fellow officers and she tugged the clip from her hair, tossing it inside.
"Uh-oh. What do you think he did to piss her off this time?" Davis asked Sully, glancing at him sideways.
"More than likely he opened his mouth one too many times."
"You realize I can hear you right?" she snapped, glaring at them.
"So you've probably noticed that we're talkin' more about Mike than you, huh?"
"I've noticed that you don't tend to mind your own business very often." She turned back to her locker and started to change clothes.
Sully raised his eyebrows as he looked at Davis.
Mike came into the locker room. "Faith, will you please talk to me?"
She didn't reply. She didn't even look at him.
"Boscorelli-Mitchell World War...what are we up to? 12?" Davis joked so only Sully could hear him.
"I think that's about right." He nodded toward the door. "We should probably get out while we still have the chance."
"I'm all for that." He glanced over at the two partners, then shook his head and closed his locker.
Closing his locker as well, Sully picked up his lightweight jacket, and looked over at the other two officers. "Goodnight."
Faith didn't reply to him, either, simply focused on tugging her long-sleeved shirt on over her head.
Boscorelli lifted his hand in the form of acknowledgement, but didn't turn around. "We need to talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about." She grabbed her brush and walked over to the mirror.
He closed his eyes, and stood there for a moment before following her. Standing a few feet behind her he held up the manila folder he had in his hand. "If you won't listen to me maybe you should take a look at this."
"What?" She didn't look at him in the mirror.
"It's Maurice's record."
Her eyes narrowed and she didn't say anything.
"I know you like him," he told her softly. "I could see that the other day before I knew it was Mo you were seeing." He swallowed hard. "But I really think you need to know what you're gettin' in to."
Faith's jaw tensed. "Fine. Leave it."
He set the folder down on the bench, and opened his locker. Rather than stick around and change into his civvies with all the tension that was in the room he grabbed his bag, and headed for the door.
She watched him leave and found herself alone in the silence of the empty locker room. After a few moments, she hesitantly walked over and picked up the folder he'd showed her. She sat down slowly and pulled it open, her heart sinking as she began to read.
* * *
Maurice took the final bite of his sandwich, took a drink of his soda and grabbed a handful of chips out of the bag before leaning back against the futon cushion. It had been a busy day at the auto body shop, and once he'd gotten home he'd plopped down in front of the television and had only moved when absolutely necessary.
There was a loud knock on his door.
"Coming." He put the chips down on his plate, and wiped his hands on his jeans before going over to answer the door. When it opened, he was greeted by the sight of Faith standing on his doorstep, her hair wet from the rain. "Hey. I wasn't expecting you. Come on in."
"No."
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"I'm not coming in." Her voice was cold.
He gave her a confused look. "What's wrong?"
She lifted the manila folder up, her eyes accusing. "I know the truth."
He swallowed hard, and ran his hand through his hair. When she said that, he knew exactly what she was talking about. "You talked to Mikey."
"Yeah. I talked to Mikey," she said bitterly, her body trembling from the cold and her emotions.
"You promised you'd give me a chance," he reminded her.
"That was before I knew you were a drug dealer."
"I -was-. I'm not anymore."
"I don't believe you."
"Faith, come on," he whispered.
"I trusted you. And you lied to me." Her voice was strained. "I told you about my father, about his problem with alcohol and you seemed like you actually cared. Michael doesn't even know that about my life. Did you get a kick out of it when I left? Think it was funny? You and your buddies have a good laugh at my expensive?"
He shook his head. "I didn't lie to you, and I do care. I care a lot about you. That's why I didn't tell you."
"Right," she said bitterly, ignoring the tear that rolled down her cheek. "I lied to your brother for days about seein' you and I've -never- lied to him about anything before!"
"What was I supposed to do, Faith," he asked softly. "I felt somethin' when I first saw you at my mother's place. And seein' as you're a cop...I -couldn't- tell you if I wanted a chance."
"Well you just missed it," she said, turning to leave.
"Faith, wait!"
She didn't reply, she just kept walking.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he called after her. "I just didn't want you lookin' at me the way Mikey does."
She paused, then turned around to look at him, another tear sliding down her face. "Maybe he's got a good reason to look at you the way he does." Without another word, she turned and disappeared down the hall.
The air left his lungs, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He hurried after her. "Faith. Faith, please."
"Go away, Maurice."
"I can change. Just...give me another chance."
"Yeah. Do you know how many times I listened to my father tell my mother he could change? That he could stop drinkin'?" She shook her head as she walked. "And you know what? He never did. Still hasn't. Never will."
"I can be different. I just need somebody to believe in me."
Faith looked at him, tears and anger in her eyes. "Then you better find someone fast. Cause it's not gonna be me." Without waiting for his response, she walked out of his apartment building and out into the pouring rain.
He stopped, and rubbed his hands over his face before heading outside. The rain was cold, and he wrapped his arms around himself as he followed her. "I haven't had a cigarette in three days."
"No, and what have you had instead, Maurice? Marijuana? Coke? Meth? What is it this week?"
"It proves that I can change. Please...just help me."
"I don't wanna be involved in your messed up life!"
"I'm tryin' to get clean. I don't deal anymore. I swear."
"And drug addicts are known for tellin' the truth, especially to cops." Her voice was bitter.
"I swear on my mother's life."
"Find someone else," she said, drained.
Stepping in front of her he looked at her. "I need you, Faith."
"No. You don't." Faith moved around him.
"What do I have to do?"
"There's nothing you can do! Just leave me alone!"
"Faith, please. I'm beggin' you. I don't have anybody else."
"I need some time." She kept walking.
Out of things to say he stopped walking, and put his hands on top of his head as he watched her walk away.
* * *
Part Four
Faith's face was pale and her eyes red-rimmed as she walked into the locker room the next afternoon. She'd barely slept the night before and had spent the majority of time lying in bed crying. She didn't look around as she headed for her locker.
Mike was standing in front of his locker buttoning his short sleeve uniform shirt when he saw her walk in. He could tell that she was upset just by the way she was walking. He bit his lip, and made his way over to her, ready to apologize for hurting her feelings the day before.
She sensed him standing there, but didn't look at him. "You were right."
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be." She started to change into her uniform.
"I don't know why Mo turned out the way he did," he told her softly. "I wish I could change it all."
"Well you can't. People like him can't be helped." She closed her locker door and moved over to the bench, sitting down to lace her shoes up.
He leaned against her locker. "You really believe that? Do you really think there's no hope for him," he asked, sounding almost hurt by what she'd said.
"Isn't that what you think?" She didn't look up.
He was quiet for a moment. "I'm not sure. I've tried to help him a couple times," he whispered.
"And he didn't change at all, did he?"
"He did for a while, but then..."
"Then right back out there dealin' and dopin' like the rest of the skells, right?"
Mike let out a breath. "He tried, but somethin' always happened. Our dad would come back and start somethin', or ma's latest boyfriend would hit her. It was always how he coped with what would happen, and it'd take me months to get him to go clean again." He paused. "But the last time...I stopped tryin' to help."
"Well you can only do so much, right?" Her voice was distant, flat. Very unlike her usual concerned demeanor. She stood up and finished buttoning her shirt. "See you in roll call?"
He nodded his head. "Faith?"
"What?"
"You gonna be okay," he asked softly.
"Peachy." She turned and left the room.
He closed his eyes, and covered his face with his hands. He knew they never should have gone into his mother's apartment when his older brother was there.
* * *
He hurried down the street, glancing around nervously and looking over his shoulder. When he reached the building at the corner of King and 21st he ducked inside, and leaned against the wall. He was out of breath from running the majority of the way, but he didn't have time to rest. Looking at the mailboxes on the wall he scanned for her name. "Mitchell. 3B."
Swallowing hard he hurried up the stairs and down the hall to her place. He knocked on the door, and waited for a few moments. When she didn't answer he figured she must be at work. He looked up and down the hall before pulling an object out of his pocket, and working on picking the lock to her door. When the lock turned he glanced around again before hurrying inside her apartment.
* * *
Faith was dead tired when she finally managed to reach her apartment that night. The shift had been long and tense. She and Mike had spoken only when they had to about work, and she'd refused his ride home, choosing to walk despite her near-exhaustion. She unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped into the dark living room, dropping her keys on the carpet. "Shit," she muttered.
He heard her come in, and he swallowed hard. Reaching over he turned on the lamp by the sofa.
A short scream escaped her throat and she backed up against the door, her heart pounding hard in her chest.
Maurice stood up, and held up his hands. "It's just me."
"What the hell are you doing? How did you--did you break in?"
"Faith, I need your help. Please."
She stared at him. "You break into my apartment and ask me for my help?"
"I had nowhere else to go," he whispered.
"What do you want?"
"I wanna change. I can't live like this anymore."
"So to try and get free of your drug habit, you break into someone's place?"
"This guy...this dealer came to my apartment today lookin' for money cause...cause I couldn't pay him last time. So I ran. I went out the fire escape, and I didn't know where else to go. I got scared."
Faith closed her eyes, her back leaned against the front door.
"You and I, we clicked, and...I need you."
"Why? For what? What is it you think that I can do for you?"
He paced in front of the sofa, his body trembling slightly. "I don't know. I just need someone to help me through this."
"Why me?" Her voice was tired, nearly inaudible.
"Because Mikey won't talk to me, and my mother...she's got problems of her own." He looked at her, his eyes pleading. "And you...you liked me up until yesterday, and that's all I've got left."
Tears stung her eyes at the despair in his voice. She quickly closed them and released a breath. "What do you want me to do?" This time her tone was one of resolve. She was going to help him, she just wasn't sure how.
"I need you to help me figure out how to stop," he whispered.
Slowly she opened her eyes to look at him, meeting his gaze. "Okay," she whispered back.
He blew out a shaky breath. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Her voice was quiet. "I haven't done anything."
"Yes, you have. You agreed to help." He ran his hand through his hair, then pointed toward the fire escape. "I need to go smoke."
"Just a cigarette right?"
He nodded his head quickly. "I just need somethin'. I've been freakin' out for hours."
"All right. Go smoke. I'll fix tea."
"'kay." He went out onto the fire escape, and quickly lit up a cigarette taking a long drag, and feeling it all ready calming his nerves.
Faith remained in her living room for a long time, staring at the floor and wondering what she'd just gotten herself into.
* * *
Maurice inhaled deeply from his second cigarette, and held the breath in as long as he could before expelling the air. He snuffed out the cigarette, and stepped back into Faith's apartment. He closed the window before walking over to the kitchen table where she was sitting sipping her tea.
She felt his presence but didn't look up. She motioned silently to the other mug.
Nodding his head he sat down, setting his pack of cigarettes and lighter on the table. He picked up the mug of tea that she had fixed for him, and took a small sip.
Faith leaned back in her chair, gazing down at her mug of tea, feeling anxious as she sat across from him. Uncertain. Michael had been right when he'd said that she didn't know Maurice. She'd slept with him--more than once, shared things about her life with him--but she didn't know him at all.
He took a deep breath as he set down the mug. Staring down at it he ran his index finger around the rim. "I never told anyone about what you shared with me," he whispered. "And I never laughed cause it wasn't funny."
She shifted uncomfortably, managing to nod in response though she still didn't look at him.
"I don't deal anymore."
"How do I know that?"
"Because I just told you," he whispered.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and ventured a glance at him. "Swear it."
Maurice looked at her. "I swear, Faith." He paused. "If you want me to put it in writing I will."
"That's not necessary."
He nodded his head, and took a drink of his tea.
"If you're stayin' here...we gotta have some ground rules."
"I can handle that."
"We'll see." She set her mug down. "First of all, no drugs in my apartment. Period. Of any kind. If I find it, I'm haulin' you downtown. I'll help you however I can, but if you slip, don't do it here. I'm not goin' down with you."
"Okay." He nodded his head.
"Secondly, you're gonna sit down with me and talk to your brother."
His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. "What?"
"I'm not keepin' this from Michael. We're partners. I can't go out there and have this tension between us. It'll get one of us killed."
He ran his hand through his hair. "I uh...I guess we could try."
"Tomorrow. First thing."
"I don't really have a choice, do I?"
"No. Not if you really want my help."
"And I do. I really do."
"Then we'll talk to your brother in the morning." She finished off her tea.
He nodded his head. "Anything else," he asked softly.
"That's all I can think of for right now."
"It's okay if I smoke though, right?" He tapped the pack of cigarettes with his finger. "As long as I go outside?"
"Yeah. That's fine." Her voice was quiet, her eyes tired.
"It'd be too hard to give up everything," he murmured.
"Yes. I'm sure it would be."
He let out a breath. "I'm gonna do my best."
"And I'm gonna do my best to help," she said softly.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Sure." Faith stood up slowly. "I've got a guest room. You're welcome to use it."
He couldn't help but frown a little at her comment. They'd been sleeping together up until the day before, and now he was being offered the guest room. "That'd be great."
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah. Goodnight, Faith."
She gazed at him for a moment before setting her mug in the sink and heading down the hallway.
He put one elbow on the table, and rested his head in his hand. It had to work this time. He had to get clean, and stay clean or he was going to lose Faith and Mikey.
* * *
Faith opened the door of her apartment and found her partner standing in front of her. She raked a hand through her hair, and stepped back to let him in. "Thanks for comin'."
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "Is everything okay?"
She let out a breath. "Not exactly."
His eyes were full of concern as he watched her close the door. "What's goin' on? Are you all right?"
"Yeah. I just...didn't really sleep well."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"We should probably sit down."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Faith---"
Maurice came down the hall in nothing but a pair of jeans, towel drying his hair having just gotten out of the shower. "Faith, you got a t-shirt I could borrow?"
She quickly turned and saw Maurice standing there shirtless and for a moment she couldn't respond. "Uh--"
Mike's eyes narrowed. "Maurice!" He turned to look at Faith. "I thought you broke up with him?"
"This isn't what it looks like." She sighed and pressed a hand to her temple, her head starting to ache.
"Yeah, Mikey. Nothin' happened."
She could tell by the look on her partner's face that he wasn't buying it at all. "Would you just sit down?"
"I wanna know what's going on."
"And you will. Just sit."
He shot a glare in his older brother's direction before sitting down on the sofa. "This better be good."
"First of all, lose the attitude," she said, her voice irritated.
"What?"
"Lose the attitude or get out." Faith folded her arms across her chest.
Mike held his hands up. "All right. Fine."
Maurice stood silently in the doorway of the living room. Just now realizing that Faith could be a lot harder than he'd thought.
"You." She looked over at Maurice. "Sit."
He swallowed hard, and quickly took a seat in the recliner.
Once the brothers were both seated, she sat down on the opposite end of the sofa from her partner. "Maurice came over last night."
Mike bit back a sarcastic comment, and nodded his head instead.
"He was in trouble and he wanted my help."
"What kinda trouble?" He looked over at his brother.
"I owe my dealer some money," he told Mike softly, not looking at him.
He looked at Faith. "He ask you for money?"
"No. He didn't ask me for money." She shot him a warning look.
The younger Boscorelli closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"He wants to get clean."
"He told you that?"
"Yes."
"And you believe him?"
"Yes. I believe him."
"Why?"
"Because I don't think Maurice is the type to ask a virtual stranger--especially a cop--for help if he didn't mean it."
Mike turned his attention to his brother. "You want help? For real?"
He nodded his head. "Yeah Mikey. I'm uh...I'm kinda in a bad place, and...I don't want you to look at me like that for the rest of my life."
"I told him I'd help him."
He shifted his gaze back to his partner. "How are you gonna do that," he asked softly.
"He's gonna stay here for awhile. Other than that, I don't really know. I gotta figure things out."
"You're really gonna let him stay here?"
"Yes," she said quietly.
"I've all ready quit dealin'. I stopped a while ago," he informed his brother. "And one of the conditions is that I don't bring any drugs into her apartment. Cause if she finds 'em she's haulin' me in."
"And I will." Faith gazed at her partner, waiting for his response.
Mike ran a hand through his hair. "Okay." He bit his lip for a moment as he thought. "If he's really gonna go straight he's gotta get into some kind of program."
She nodded, then shifted her eyes to Maurice. "Can you do that?"
Swallowing hard he wiped the palms of his hands on his jeans. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."
"Periodic drug testing," Mike suggested to Faith.
She nodded again, still gazing at Maurice. Her eyes a little softer than they had been the night before when she'd first seen him.
Maurice blew out a breath, all ready feeling more than a little nervous about whether or not he could really do this.
"We're gonna help you," she said softly, sensing his apprehension.
He nodded his head.
Mike turned to his brother. "Yeah, Mo. But it's not gonna be easy."
"I uh...I know."
Faith stood up slowly. "I could use some coffee. You guys want anything?"
"I need a cigarette," Maurice murmured as he stood up, and went to grab the pack.
"Coffee'd be good," Mike told her as he watched his brother go out onto the fire escape.
She poured two cups of coffee and carried one out to her partner.
"Thanks." He took the mug from her, and took a drink. He glanced out the window at his brother. "You're really serious about this, huh?"
"He asked for my help," she said softly, sitting back down on the sofa.
"Maurice actually asked without any persuasion?"
"Yes. I tried to kick him out and he begged me for help."
"He's never asked before," he whispered.
"My dad never asked." She gazed down at her coffee mug.
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"My father's an alcoholic," she said quietly. "He always used to promise my mother that he'd stop. But he never did. And he never asked for help."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that," he told her softly.
"I know." She looked up at him. "So I have to try. Because as much as I don't like it...I care about your brother."
He closed his eyes. "I'm glad that he has you...that he felt he could come to you."
"Michael...I don't wanna cause problems for your family. Is my being involved gonna do that?"
"No." He shook his head. "My brother needs help. I just want him to get it."
"I'll do my best," she promised softly.
"I just need to ask you somethin'."
Faith nodded wordlessly, gazing at him.
"What's gonna happen when he screws up," he asked very softly. "When he can't take it anymore and he comes back here high?"
She looked down at the floor. "I don't know," she admitted.
"Cause he's been...It's gonna be hard for him, and I don't want this to put a strain on you and me."
"I don't want that either." She set her mug down on the coffee table. "You're my best friend and...I don't like this tension that's been between us."
"It's been killin' me, Faith."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, feeling guilty. "I really am."
He shook his head. "I shoulda told you about Maurice a long time ago."
"We've both kept secrets from one another. It's okay." She scooted closer to him on the sofa and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Mike didn't hesitate in returning the embrace. "Maybe...maybe you can help him, and he can be that person you saw in him."
"I really think he means it, Michael," she whispered.
"God, I hope so."
She kissed his cheek before slowly pulling away.
He smiled softly. "Thank you."
Maurice had been watching them from outside, feeling some of his nervousness fading away he went back into the apartment.
Faith looked over at him as he ducked back inside. "I don't suppose either of you would wanna make me pancakes, huh?" Her voice was light.
"Not Mike. He's a terrible cook."
"Already knew that." She smiled.
"I'm not too shabby in the kitchen though."
"You don't really have to cook for me. I was kidding."
He shrugged. "I know, but...Well, shouldn't I be doin' somethin' for you since you're helping me," he asked seriously.
She tilted her head to the side. "You gettin' better will help me too."
Smiling softly he walked over to her before leaning down to kiss her softly.
She was more than a little caught off guard by the gesture, but she closed her eyes, kissing him back just as gently.
"Oh I think I'm gonna barf," Mike commented.
She rolled her eyes. "Now you know how I feel every time I see you with Nicole," she said dryly.
"Oh please." He motioned toward the two of them. "My brother and my best friend. How wrong is that?"
Maurice sat on the arm of the sofa next to Faith, and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I think it's perfect."
She smiled faintly, looking from Maurice to Michael. She hoped to God that it would all work out. Because otherwise it would destroy all of them.
* * *
Standing in the middle of the living room he watched as his brother left Faith's apartment, and she closed and locked the door. Things had gone surprisingly well, and Mike had warned him just before leaving that if he did anything to harm Faith or put her in danger he would personally make sure that Maurice was locked away for the rest of his life. He knew that his brother was serious, and he fully intended to live up to his side of the bargain.
He rubbed his left forearm. "So...that went okay, huh?"
She slowly turned around to face him. "Yeah. I think so."
Maurice nodded his head, and continued rubbing his arms. "And you and Mikey are okay again."
"You okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I'm okay. Just uh..." He quickly stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Why don't we sit down and talk?" she suggested softly.
He blew out a breath, and nodded his head.
Faith touched his arm and guided him over to the sofa, sitting down beside him.
He ran his hands over his face, and leaned back into the cushions.
"Shaky?" she asked, her voice quiet.
"Yeah," he whispered, looking over at her. "It's all ready starting."
"What can I do?"
"Find my dealer," he chuckled.
"Only if you want me to haul him in."
"Might not be a bad idea." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Maybe there's somethin' else that..."
There was a ringing coming from near the front door, and he recognized it as his cell phone. He pointed toward his jacket that was hanging up. "That's mine," he told her softly.
She nodded and watched as he stood up and headed for his coat.
He dug through his pockets until he found the phone. Seeing the number on the caller ID he bit his lip, and glanced at Faith before answering it. "Hello?"
"Yo, what's up, man?"
"Uh...hey. Not much."
"I got some good shit last night. You gotta come over and try it."
Maurice swallowed hard. Going over to Rick's, and trying out his recent score was exactly what he wanted to do "I uh...I can't."
"What? Why not?"
"I just..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not...I'm not doin' that anymore."
Rick chuckled. "Right. What are you really doin'? You find a hot bitch?"
"I'm serious. I'm quittin'."
Faith folded her arms across her chest as she gazed at him.
"Come on, man. You gotta try this stuff."
"Look, I gotta go, okay?"
"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, dawg."
"Yeah. Yeah, I know." He pulled the phone away from his ear.
"Who was that?"
"That was a uh...a friend of mine," he told her softly.
"I don't want any of those people over here." Her voice was quiet but serious.
Maurice remained motionless for a moment, and then nodded his head.
Faith gazed at him silently.
He turned off his phone, and walked over to her. "Maybe you should take this."
She held her hand out and took the phone from him. "I'm sorry, Maurice."
He wrapped his arms around himself, and started to pace the living room. "It's my fault."
She stood up slowly, setting his phone down on the sofa and walking over to him.
Turning toward her he wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans. "Hasn't even been a full 24 hours yet," he mumbled.
She reached out and touched his cheek. "Maybe we can find a way to distract you."
"I could use a distraction."
Wordlessly she leaned forward and kissed his lips.
His eyes drifted shut, and he sighed softly as he returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Sliding her hands under his shirt and over his bare back, she deepened the kiss, pressing her tongue against his mouth.
Maurice's lips parted immediately, and he kissed her eagerly. Desperate to take his mind off of everything but the two of them.
Within seconds she had his shirt unbuttoned and falling soundlessly to the floor.
He moved his hands to her backside, pulling her closer as they continued to kiss.
It had only been three days since the last time they'd been together, but three days was way too long and her body was already responding to his. She slid her hands down to his waist and started to unfasten his jeans.
He pulled away panting for air. "I've missed you."
"Me too," she murmured, struggling to undo the button on his pants.
"I got it." He gently pushed her hands away, and unfastened his jeans as he placed a kiss on her neck.
Faith tilted her head back, sliding her hands up to his chest.
Once his jeans were undone he started to unfasten hers. He nibbled on her neck.
She pushed his jeans and boxers to the floor.
"Where should we go," he asked, whispering in her ear as he tugged her jeans and underwear down.
"Don't care," she murmured, her heart beating heavily as she pulled him closer.
He moaned softly as their lower bodies touched. "Gotta take this off," he informed her as he reached for the bottom of her shirt.
"Hurry," she whispered, licking and suckling lightly on his neck.
Maurice quickly pulled her shirt off then reached around to unhook her bra. "Protection?"
"In the...bathroom."
He tossed her bra to the floor, and wrapped one arm around her before starting to walk with her toward the hallway. His free hand moved to cup her breast, and he nibbled on her shoulder.
"Mmm." She scraped her teeth lightly over his neck, then kissed his collarbone as he guided her into the bathroom. She reached behind her and opened the medicine cabinet without breaking their embrace. She managed to grab a foil packet out of the cabinet.
He moved both hands to her backside, squeezing gently as he started to lead her back out of the bathroom.
As they walked together, she kissed his mouth, urgency in the action.
He wasted no time in deepening the kiss. The destination he was taking her to was forgotten, and he pressed her up against the wall in the hallway.
It flickered through her mind that they weren't going to make it to a bed or even to the sofa this time. But she didn't care. She ripped the foil packet open as they kissed.
He broke the kiss and took a breath as he rested his forehead against hers. He cupped her face in his hands.
"This a good distraction?" she murmured as she rolled the condom over him.
His lower body twitched at her light touch. "Gawd, yes."
A smile tugged at her lips. "Good."
He kissed her lips, and rubbed against her gently.
A soft moan escaped her and she pulled him closer, deepening their kiss.
Dropping one hand between them he shifted slightly, and slowly eased into her.
Faith's hands tangled in his short hair as she dropped her mouth to his neck, nibbling on his skin.
He held onto her hips as he slowly worked his body against hers. A gasp escaped him as she kissed his neck.
She soothed the area with her tongue, a shiver running down her spine as her back pressed against the cool wall.
Maurice moved one hand up to her head, tangling his fingers in her hair as he worked himself a little quicker, and a little deeper. His breathing was all ready heavy, and his thoughts were focused solely on her.
"Please," she whimpered, sliding her hands around to his backside and pulling him closer, deeper inside her.
"Faith," he moaned her name as he pushed his body faster.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and then wound her legs around his hips, her back still pressed firmly against the wall.
"Oh gawd." He buried his face in her neck as he gripped her legs tightly.
She bit down hard on her lip as she felt his teeth scrape against her skin.
He nibbled with a little more intensity as the pressure built up within him.
Faith tightened her legs around him a little more, her breathing ragged, her fingernails clutching at his shoulders.
He kissed her cheek then placed a kiss on her lips before tilting his head back. His movements were more frantic and hurried, and his eyes were closed tightly.
She closed her eyes, moaning as he thrust into her. "Maurice..."
Swallowing hard he took hold of her hips, and pressed into her as far as he could. He pulled out almost all of the way, and repeated the action one more time as a strangled cry escaped him.
Raking her nails down his back, she buried her face against his neck as pleasure erupted inside her, causing her to shudder.
He kissed her shoulder softly, and rubbed his hands over the outside of her thighs as he leaned against her.
"Oh, my God," she murmured, breathing heavily as she held onto him.
"Yeah," he whispered in agreement, kissing her skin once more.
Faith swallowed hard, kissing his earlobe.
"Thank you." His words were soft.
"You don't have to thank me."
"No?"
"No," she said just as softly.
He kissed her cheek. "Is there still hope for us," he asked quietly.
"There's always hope," she whispered.
After taking a deep breath he pulled away just enough to look at her. "I don't know how long it's gonna take...but I'm gonna get clean."
Faith gazed back at him. "I believe you."
Closing his eyes he nodded his head. Relieved by her words.
She kissed his cheek softly. "You're gonna get through this. I'll help you."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"I know." She rested her head against his.
"Things were so good," he told her softly. "I didn't wanna ruin it."
"We'll figure it out."
He swallowed hard. "You're okay with being with me?"
"I care about you and..." Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes.
Maurice lifted his hand, and ran his fingers through her hair. "And what?"
She leaned into his touch instinctively. "I like this," she whispered.
He smiled softly. "I like this, too...a lot."
Faith turned her head and kissed the palm of his hand.
"Do you work today," he asked softly.
"No," she said just as softly.
"Will you come lay down with me?"
"Yes." She nodded, then kissed him softly, slowly unwinding her legs from around his waist.
He couldn't help the soft moan that escaped him at the loss of closeness.
"Come on," she whispered, leading him down the hallway toward her bedroom.
Nodding his head he followed her into the room, and over to the bed where she pulled back the covers and crawled under them. He smiled softly as he got in bed, and scooted over to her.
Faith gazed at him in the semi-dark of the room. "Kiss me," she said softly.
Happy to do so, he leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
She closed her eyes as their lips met in the soft kiss.
He draped his arm around her, and slowly rubbed her back as they kissed.
She shifted a little closer to him, sliding her hand down his bare chest, caressing his skin gently.
"You do realize that if you keep this up...I'm gonna be craving you?"
A faint smile touched her lips. "That's kind of the idea."
"Don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured.
She kissed his neck softly, trailing a path of kisses down to his collarbone.
"Mmm." He licked his lips. "This is a uh..a program I could get used to."
"Whatever works." She nibbled on his shoulder.
"It's definitely working," he whispered.
Faith lifted her lips to kiss his mouth, shifting closer to him. She wondered how it was she hadn't known this man her entire life.
* * *
Mike glanced at the clock, and picked up the phone. He dialed his partner's number, and leaned back into the sofa cushions as he waited for her to answer.
Faith lifted her head off the pillow, reaching out to grab the phone off her nightstand. She pressed it to her ear, mumbling a sleepy hello.
"Hey. I wake you?"
"It's okay."
"I was just callin' to see how it's going," he told her softly.
"Oh..." She sat up slowly, pulling the blanket up around her as she glanced over at Maurice, sleeping peacefully beside her. "It's going good."
"He have an okay day?"
Heat flushed her cheeks. "Yeah. He did fine."
"How 'bout you?"
"We're both all right, Michael," she said softly.
He let out a breath. "That's good."
"How are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm good. Just been thinkin' about you guys. Wondering how it was going."
"Well, we're doin' okay." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Maurice shifted a little closer to her in his sleep.
"Faith...I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you're doin'," he told her softly.
She reached out and lightly slid her fingers through Maurice's hair, her eyes soft as she gazed at him. "I know you do, Michael. And I want you to know that I -want- to be doin' this."
"I just don't want you gettin' hurt."
"I know that too. I can take care of myself."
"I know that. I just worry...cause this can get pretty hairy."
"Most things can."
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "Do me a favor?"
"I'll try."
"Make sure he knows that I'm behind him on this."
A soft smile touched her lips. "You got it."
"Thanks, Faith," he whispered.
"You're welcome, partner," she whispered back.
"Goodnight."
"Night, Michael." She slowly hung up the phone and gazed down at Maurice.
He shifted in his sleep again, a soft moan escaping him.
"Maurice?" Her voice was soft, her eyebrows furrowing as she watched him.
Turning onto his back he wrapped his arms around his stomach.
She reached out and gently touched his cheek.
Feeling warm he pushed the blankets down to his waist. "I can't," he murmured in his sleep, moving away from her touch.
"Maurice? It's Faith."
"No!" He sat up quickly, gasping for air.
She jumped, startled by his sudden movement. "Hey, hey. It's okay," she whispered.
His eyes were wide as he glanced around the room. He swallowed hard as he met her gaze.
"It's all right," she said softly, reaching out to touch his cheek again.
He closed his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing. "What's goin' on," he asked in a whisper, sounding confused.
"I think you had a bad dream."
Maurice ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Bad dream."
"Are you okay?"
"I think I just need a..." He shook his head when he realized what he was going to say.
She grimaced. "Why don't you lie down? I'll get you a glass of water."
"Okay." He slowly laid back down, and covered his face with his hands.
Faith headed out of the room, filled a glass with ice water, grabbed a wet washcloth and carried the items back to where he lay in bed.
He stared up at the ceiling, and took deep breaths, letting them out slowly as he tried to focus his mind on something other than scoring a hit.
Wordlessly she set the glass down on the nightstand and gently laid the cloth over his forehead, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay...it's normal," she said softly, touching his cheek.
"Yeah, but..."
"Shh...just try to relax."
Swallowing hard he nodded his head slightly, and closed his eyes. "Maybe I should go back to the guest room."
"No. It's all right. I want you to stay here."
"This is gonna happen a lot, Faith."
"I know." She gazed at him.
He blew out a breath. "Did you bring water," he asked in a whisper.
"Yeah." She reached over and picked up the glass, holding it out to him.
Maurice pushed himself into a sitting position, and leaned his back against the headboard. He took the glass from her, and took a long drink. "Thanks." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"No problem." She rested a hand on his knee.
The glass shook in his hand, and he quickly set it on the nightstand. He wrapped his arms around himself not wanting Faith to see his hands shaking.
"It's okay, Maurice," she said very softly, her eyes sad as she gazed at him.
"I don't think I can do this," he whispered.
"You can do this." Her voice was firm, but quiet. "I know you can."
He looked at her. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I believe in you."
"Why?"
Her eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"Why do you believe in me," he asked softly. "What have I done to make you believe in me? Cause my own family doesn't."
She was silent for a moment, then she reached out and rested a hand over his heart. "I don't know that I can explain it. I just do," she said just as softly. "From the first time we met...I felt a connection with you. I feel like I've known you forever."
Momentarily forgetting about his shaky hands he reached up to cover hers. "I felt it, too," he whispered.
Faith slid her fingers through his. "And your brother...he's behind you all the way."
"You think so?"
"I know so. He told me to tell you that."
His eyes widened slightly. "He did? Mikey told you that?"
"Yes." She nodded.
The corner of his mouth turned up into a small smile for a few seconds. "I don't wanna disappoint you guys."
She was quiet for a moment. "Just think about how much better things are gonna get once this is all over."
He looked down at the bedspread. "I uh...I don't really remember what things were like before I started using," he told her softly. "But it's gotta be better than this, huh?"
"Yeah," she said, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand. "A lot better."
He closed his eyes, and took a breath. "Tomorrow I'm gonna find a program to start."
"I'll go with you."
Opening his eyes he gazed at her. "Yeah?"
"Of course. I told you. We're in this together."
"What am I gonna do when you have to work?"
"I've got some vacation time..."
"No." He shook his head. "You're not wastin' your vacation tryin' to save your partner's drug addict brother."
"That's not what you are to me."
"Then what am I?"
Faith hesitated a moment, unsure of how to answer him. "Well..."
"It's okay," he whispered. "You don't have to answer that."
"The truth is I don't really know how to answer it. I just know that...I care about you...as a lot more than my partner's brother." Her voice was soft.
He nodded his head, and leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
She kissed his forehead. "Try to get some rest. I'll be right here."
Maurice lay back down, pulling the blankets up to his chest. "I apologize in advance for you bein' tired in the morning."
"Don't worry about me."
"You tryin' to tell me I've got enough to worry about," he asked with a chuckle as he closed his eyes.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Somethin' like that."
"Goodnight...again."
"Night, Maurice."
Written in March of 2004
Authors: NYPDBosco and X_tremeroswellian
Emails: mauriceboscorelli@yahoo.com and faithboscorelli1@yahoo.com
Rating: Most chapters will be of the general audience version.
Genre: AU
Main Characters: Faith, Maurice and Mikey
Summary: When Third Watch characters get mixed up with two fanfic authors who like to write Alternate Universe stories, the characters roles get mixed up and things tend to get turned...Upside Down.
Faith lay curled up in Maurice's arms, her head resting on his chest, a faint smile on her face.
He stared up at the ceiling for a moment as he gently rubbed his hand up and down her back. Lifting his head off the pillow he kissed the top of her head.
"Were you and Mikey close when you were younger?" she murmured.
"Back when we were kids we were best friends," he whispered.
She was quiet for a moment. "So what happened?"
"I'm uh...I'm not really sure." He let his hand rest on her shoulder. "We just...grew apart I guess."
"Stanley and I were never close."
"Any idea why that is," he asked softly. "Or are brothers and sisters just not close in general?"
"I don't really know. We were quite a few years apart. He wasn't around much when..."
Maurice tilted his head a little. "When what?"
Faith closed her eyes. "My father's an alcoholic. And...Stanley made himself scarce whenever he could so he didn't have to be around him."
Remaining silent he nodded his head, and began rubbing her back again. His thoughts drifting to his own childhood.
"He still drinks a lot. I don't see him much. My mom either." Her voice was soft.
He let out a breath. "Cause you don't want to?"
She placed a soft kiss against his chest. "Yeah, pretty much."
"My old man beat my mother," he whispered.
She lifted her head up and turned to gaze at him. "I know," she said softly.
"Mikey told you," he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Faith nodded silently.
Maurice was silent for a while as he concentrated on the feel of her skin underneath his fingertips, and the palm of his hand.
"Are you okay with that?" she asked softly, unsure of how to take his silence.
He shrugged. "I don't think it ever bothered him as much as it bothered me. I mean...we both knew what dad was doing was wrong, but..."
"It bothers him." Her voice was quiet.
"Guess he hides it better."
"Depends on the day."
"Yeah?"
"He tries to hide it, but when we get domestic calls...I see it," she said softly.
He took a deep breath. "You know where Fort Totten is?"
Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment. "Over in Queens?"
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "When it got bad...Mikey and I used to go there to get away," he whispered.
Faith gazed at him, her eyes sad. "I'm sorry," she whispered back.
"I was the oldest, but I couldn't stop the bastard," he told her, his voice strained.
"You were just a kid." She touched his cheek.
"He beat my mother, and I didn't know what to do."
"It wasn't your fault, Maurice."
"It still feels like it though. To this day I can't protect her."
She sat up slowly, her eyes locked on his face. "It's not your job," she said softly.
"No. It's Michael's. He's the cop. That's why he's better than me."
Faith was startled by the sharpness of his voice. "That's not what I meant."
"It's what he thinks."
"Look...I don't understand the whole situation between the two of you, but...I'm pretty sure it takes two to fight."
He closed his eyes, and ran his hands over his face. "I'm sorry, Faith," he whispered. "I didn't mean..."
"It's okay, I just...I wanna help."
"How," he asked softly.
"I don't know, maybe I could try to talk to him..."
His eyes widened slightly. "No. I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Well, it can't hurt, right? I mean, Michael and I are partners. He doesn't always listen to me, but--"
"But I don't want him getting mad at you cause you're seein' me."
"I can't keep that from him forever."
"I know. I just..." He paused, and took a deep breath. "He's gonna give you a million reasons why you should stop seeing me, and I don't want that to affect..."
Faith reached out and covered his mouth with her fingers. "Shhh."
He kissed her fingers.
"You worry too much," she told him softly, gazing at him.
"I can't help it...I really like you, Faith"
"I really like you, too." She was quiet for a moment. "Michael's my best friend. I don't like keepin' secrets from him."
"Promise me something?"
"What?"
"Just promise me that no matter what he says about me you'll give me a chance."
Wordlessly, she leaned down and kissed his lips. "I decide who I date. Not my partner."
He kissed her back, a small smile on his lips. "I'm glad to hear that."
She touched his cheek. "I better get ready for work."
Sighing softly he nodded his head. "Yeah. Okay."
Faith kissed his forehead. "Well...you know...I may have time for..." She kissed his lips again, closing her eyes.
"Mmm." He deepened the kiss, and wrapped his arms around her.
She smiled against his mouth as he pulled her closer.
"I think we've definitely got time," he whispered before kissing her neck.
"Oh, yeah," she murmured, swallowing hard at the feel of his tongue against her skin. They definitely had time.
* * *
Mike pulled the RMP into the parking lot by the playground where he and Faith would sometimes lay low. After a tough call on their first day as partners over four years ago they'd been driving around, and come across the well maintained playground. Ever since then they'd come here when they needed to relax or think. Today was one of those relaxing days.
Faith gazed out the passenger window, feeling nervous as she watched a couple of kids play on the swings.
"You've been quiet." He glanced over at her. "You okay?"
"What?" She turned to look at him, then forced a smile. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm good."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you sure?"
She let out a breath and looked away. "To be honest...there's somethin' I sort of haven't told you."
He turned in his seat so he was facing her. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine, it's just...I don't want you to get mad at me."
He shook his head, not quite understanding. "Why would I be mad?"
"You know that guy I been seein'?"
"Yeah."
"You know him."
"I do?"
She nodded, biting down on her lower lip.
"So...who is he?"
"Your brother." Her voice was very soft.
His eyes widened. "You're sleeping with Maurice?!"
Faith made a face and didn't respond.
He turned to look out the windshield, a look of disbelief on his face.
"Are you mad?"
"I honestly don't know what I am." He blinked, and shook his head. "I'm definitely...shocked."
She was silent for a moment and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We just...we really hit it off, you know?"
"You don't know anything about him, Faith."
"I know plenty about him."
"Not enough." He looked at her. "You need to break it off."
"Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, all right? But I really care about him."
"And I care about you. Which is why I'm telling you that you need to stop seeing my brother."
She was irritated with his tone of voice. "I don't know what the problem is between you and Maurice, but you better get over it." She reached for the door handle and got out of the RMP, slamming the door shut and leaning against the car.
He huffed in frustration, and climbed out of the car. "Did you even stop to think that there was a reason that in four years of being your partner...your friend, I -never- introduced you to my brother?"
"Not really, considering you've never even met my parents."
"He's an addict, Faith!"
Faith turned around slowly to face him, her expression unreadable. "What?"
"An addict. I never introduced you to him cause I never knew if he was gonna be high. I don't trust him."
There was a long moment of complete silence.
"You're wrong."
He let out a breath. "No Faith," he whispered. "I'm not."
"Look, I've spent a lotta time with him the last few days and I would know if he was high."
"Are you with him every minute," he asked softly.
She stared at him. "Of course not, but..."
"He's always been good at hidin' it. Fooled me a few times too," he admitted.
Faith shook her head and looked away, falling silent.
"Look. I'm not tryin' to upset you, but..."
She didn't answer, simply stared at the children on the playground.
He walked around to where she was standing. "He's not good for you."
"How do you know he's even still using?"
"He's my brother, Faith. I know him."
"Yeah. Right." She folded her arms across her chest, not looking at him.
"I could see it in him."
"And maybe you're wrong." Her jaw was tense.
"He's been arrested three times. Not only does he use, but he deals, too," he told her softly.
She whipped her head around to stare at him, her eyes dark, angry.
He raked his hands through his hair. "I can't let him drag your name through the mud."
"I'm ready to leave now." She yanked her door open and slid into the car.
Mike threw his hands in the air, and walked back around to the driver's side of the car to get in. "I'm tellin' you the truth."
Faith didn't respond, she simply stared out the window.
He started the car, and pulled out into the street. "I don't know why he started usin'. I've tried to get him to stop, but he doesn't wanna hear anything I have to say."
"Gee. I wonder why that could be."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"Maybe if you weren't so damn critical about everything everyone else does, maybe somebody actually would care what you said."
"He does drugs, Faith! How can I not be critical? I'm a cop!"
"You're his brother!"
"I've tried to help!"
She didn't reply.
He took a deep breath. "I just don't want you gettin' hurt."
"Yeah, well, too late."
Mike looked over at her. "What do you want me to say?"
"I'd rather you didn't say anything else if it's all the same to you," she said tersely.
Shaking his head he focused his attention back on the road in front of them.
Faith stared out the window, angry and tense. He was wrong about Maurice. He had to be.
* * *
Faith yanked her locker open without greeting any of her fellow officers and she tugged the clip from her hair, tossing it inside.
"Uh-oh. What do you think he did to piss her off this time?" Davis asked Sully, glancing at him sideways.
"More than likely he opened his mouth one too many times."
"You realize I can hear you right?" she snapped, glaring at them.
"So you've probably noticed that we're talkin' more about Mike than you, huh?"
"I've noticed that you don't tend to mind your own business very often." She turned back to her locker and started to change clothes.
Sully raised his eyebrows as he looked at Davis.
Mike came into the locker room. "Faith, will you please talk to me?"
She didn't reply. She didn't even look at him.
"Boscorelli-Mitchell World War...what are we up to? 12?" Davis joked so only Sully could hear him.
"I think that's about right." He nodded toward the door. "We should probably get out while we still have the chance."
"I'm all for that." He glanced over at the two partners, then shook his head and closed his locker.
Closing his locker as well, Sully picked up his lightweight jacket, and looked over at the other two officers. "Goodnight."
Faith didn't reply to him, either, simply focused on tugging her long-sleeved shirt on over her head.
Boscorelli lifted his hand in the form of acknowledgement, but didn't turn around. "We need to talk about this."
"There's nothing to talk about." She grabbed her brush and walked over to the mirror.
He closed his eyes, and stood there for a moment before following her. Standing a few feet behind her he held up the manila folder he had in his hand. "If you won't listen to me maybe you should take a look at this."
"What?" She didn't look at him in the mirror.
"It's Maurice's record."
Her eyes narrowed and she didn't say anything.
"I know you like him," he told her softly. "I could see that the other day before I knew it was Mo you were seeing." He swallowed hard. "But I really think you need to know what you're gettin' in to."
Faith's jaw tensed. "Fine. Leave it."
He set the folder down on the bench, and opened his locker. Rather than stick around and change into his civvies with all the tension that was in the room he grabbed his bag, and headed for the door.
She watched him leave and found herself alone in the silence of the empty locker room. After a few moments, she hesitantly walked over and picked up the folder he'd showed her. She sat down slowly and pulled it open, her heart sinking as she began to read.
* * *
Maurice took the final bite of his sandwich, took a drink of his soda and grabbed a handful of chips out of the bag before leaning back against the futon cushion. It had been a busy day at the auto body shop, and once he'd gotten home he'd plopped down in front of the television and had only moved when absolutely necessary.
There was a loud knock on his door.
"Coming." He put the chips down on his plate, and wiped his hands on his jeans before going over to answer the door. When it opened, he was greeted by the sight of Faith standing on his doorstep, her hair wet from the rain. "Hey. I wasn't expecting you. Come on in."
"No."
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"I'm not coming in." Her voice was cold.
He gave her a confused look. "What's wrong?"
She lifted the manila folder up, her eyes accusing. "I know the truth."
He swallowed hard, and ran his hand through his hair. When she said that, he knew exactly what she was talking about. "You talked to Mikey."
"Yeah. I talked to Mikey," she said bitterly, her body trembling from the cold and her emotions.
"You promised you'd give me a chance," he reminded her.
"That was before I knew you were a drug dealer."
"I -was-. I'm not anymore."
"I don't believe you."
"Faith, come on," he whispered.
"I trusted you. And you lied to me." Her voice was strained. "I told you about my father, about his problem with alcohol and you seemed like you actually cared. Michael doesn't even know that about my life. Did you get a kick out of it when I left? Think it was funny? You and your buddies have a good laugh at my expensive?"
He shook his head. "I didn't lie to you, and I do care. I care a lot about you. That's why I didn't tell you."
"Right," she said bitterly, ignoring the tear that rolled down her cheek. "I lied to your brother for days about seein' you and I've -never- lied to him about anything before!"
"What was I supposed to do, Faith," he asked softly. "I felt somethin' when I first saw you at my mother's place. And seein' as you're a cop...I -couldn't- tell you if I wanted a chance."
"Well you just missed it," she said, turning to leave.
"Faith, wait!"
She didn't reply, she just kept walking.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," he called after her. "I just didn't want you lookin' at me the way Mikey does."
She paused, then turned around to look at him, another tear sliding down her face. "Maybe he's got a good reason to look at you the way he does." Without another word, she turned and disappeared down the hall.
The air left his lungs, feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. He hurried after her. "Faith. Faith, please."
"Go away, Maurice."
"I can change. Just...give me another chance."
"Yeah. Do you know how many times I listened to my father tell my mother he could change? That he could stop drinkin'?" She shook her head as she walked. "And you know what? He never did. Still hasn't. Never will."
"I can be different. I just need somebody to believe in me."
Faith looked at him, tears and anger in her eyes. "Then you better find someone fast. Cause it's not gonna be me." Without waiting for his response, she walked out of his apartment building and out into the pouring rain.
He stopped, and rubbed his hands over his face before heading outside. The rain was cold, and he wrapped his arms around himself as he followed her. "I haven't had a cigarette in three days."
"No, and what have you had instead, Maurice? Marijuana? Coke? Meth? What is it this week?"
"It proves that I can change. Please...just help me."
"I don't wanna be involved in your messed up life!"
"I'm tryin' to get clean. I don't deal anymore. I swear."
"And drug addicts are known for tellin' the truth, especially to cops." Her voice was bitter.
"I swear on my mother's life."
"Find someone else," she said, drained.
Stepping in front of her he looked at her. "I need you, Faith."
"No. You don't." Faith moved around him.
"What do I have to do?"
"There's nothing you can do! Just leave me alone!"
"Faith, please. I'm beggin' you. I don't have anybody else."
"I need some time." She kept walking.
Out of things to say he stopped walking, and put his hands on top of his head as he watched her walk away.
* * *
Part Four
Faith's face was pale and her eyes red-rimmed as she walked into the locker room the next afternoon. She'd barely slept the night before and had spent the majority of time lying in bed crying. She didn't look around as she headed for her locker.
Mike was standing in front of his locker buttoning his short sleeve uniform shirt when he saw her walk in. He could tell that she was upset just by the way she was walking. He bit his lip, and made his way over to her, ready to apologize for hurting her feelings the day before.
She sensed him standing there, but didn't look at him. "You were right."
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be." She started to change into her uniform.
"I don't know why Mo turned out the way he did," he told her softly. "I wish I could change it all."
"Well you can't. People like him can't be helped." She closed her locker door and moved over to the bench, sitting down to lace her shoes up.
He leaned against her locker. "You really believe that? Do you really think there's no hope for him," he asked, sounding almost hurt by what she'd said.
"Isn't that what you think?" She didn't look up.
He was quiet for a moment. "I'm not sure. I've tried to help him a couple times," he whispered.
"And he didn't change at all, did he?"
"He did for a while, but then..."
"Then right back out there dealin' and dopin' like the rest of the skells, right?"
Mike let out a breath. "He tried, but somethin' always happened. Our dad would come back and start somethin', or ma's latest boyfriend would hit her. It was always how he coped with what would happen, and it'd take me months to get him to go clean again." He paused. "But the last time...I stopped tryin' to help."
"Well you can only do so much, right?" Her voice was distant, flat. Very unlike her usual concerned demeanor. She stood up and finished buttoning her shirt. "See you in roll call?"
He nodded his head. "Faith?"
"What?"
"You gonna be okay," he asked softly.
"Peachy." She turned and left the room.
He closed his eyes, and covered his face with his hands. He knew they never should have gone into his mother's apartment when his older brother was there.
* * *
He hurried down the street, glancing around nervously and looking over his shoulder. When he reached the building at the corner of King and 21st he ducked inside, and leaned against the wall. He was out of breath from running the majority of the way, but he didn't have time to rest. Looking at the mailboxes on the wall he scanned for her name. "Mitchell. 3B."
Swallowing hard he hurried up the stairs and down the hall to her place. He knocked on the door, and waited for a few moments. When she didn't answer he figured she must be at work. He looked up and down the hall before pulling an object out of his pocket, and working on picking the lock to her door. When the lock turned he glanced around again before hurrying inside her apartment.
* * *
Faith was dead tired when she finally managed to reach her apartment that night. The shift had been long and tense. She and Mike had spoken only when they had to about work, and she'd refused his ride home, choosing to walk despite her near-exhaustion. She unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped into the dark living room, dropping her keys on the carpet. "Shit," she muttered.
He heard her come in, and he swallowed hard. Reaching over he turned on the lamp by the sofa.
A short scream escaped her throat and she backed up against the door, her heart pounding hard in her chest.
Maurice stood up, and held up his hands. "It's just me."
"What the hell are you doing? How did you--did you break in?"
"Faith, I need your help. Please."
She stared at him. "You break into my apartment and ask me for my help?"
"I had nowhere else to go," he whispered.
"What do you want?"
"I wanna change. I can't live like this anymore."
"So to try and get free of your drug habit, you break into someone's place?"
"This guy...this dealer came to my apartment today lookin' for money cause...cause I couldn't pay him last time. So I ran. I went out the fire escape, and I didn't know where else to go. I got scared."
Faith closed her eyes, her back leaned against the front door.
"You and I, we clicked, and...I need you."
"Why? For what? What is it you think that I can do for you?"
He paced in front of the sofa, his body trembling slightly. "I don't know. I just need someone to help me through this."
"Why me?" Her voice was tired, nearly inaudible.
"Because Mikey won't talk to me, and my mother...she's got problems of her own." He looked at her, his eyes pleading. "And you...you liked me up until yesterday, and that's all I've got left."
Tears stung her eyes at the despair in his voice. She quickly closed them and released a breath. "What do you want me to do?" This time her tone was one of resolve. She was going to help him, she just wasn't sure how.
"I need you to help me figure out how to stop," he whispered.
Slowly she opened her eyes to look at him, meeting his gaze. "Okay," she whispered back.
He blew out a shaky breath. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Her voice was quiet. "I haven't done anything."
"Yes, you have. You agreed to help." He ran his hand through his hair, then pointed toward the fire escape. "I need to go smoke."
"Just a cigarette right?"
He nodded his head quickly. "I just need somethin'. I've been freakin' out for hours."
"All right. Go smoke. I'll fix tea."
"'kay." He went out onto the fire escape, and quickly lit up a cigarette taking a long drag, and feeling it all ready calming his nerves.
Faith remained in her living room for a long time, staring at the floor and wondering what she'd just gotten herself into.
* * *
Maurice inhaled deeply from his second cigarette, and held the breath in as long as he could before expelling the air. He snuffed out the cigarette, and stepped back into Faith's apartment. He closed the window before walking over to the kitchen table where she was sitting sipping her tea.
She felt his presence but didn't look up. She motioned silently to the other mug.
Nodding his head he sat down, setting his pack of cigarettes and lighter on the table. He picked up the mug of tea that she had fixed for him, and took a small sip.
Faith leaned back in her chair, gazing down at her mug of tea, feeling anxious as she sat across from him. Uncertain. Michael had been right when he'd said that she didn't know Maurice. She'd slept with him--more than once, shared things about her life with him--but she didn't know him at all.
He took a deep breath as he set down the mug. Staring down at it he ran his index finger around the rim. "I never told anyone about what you shared with me," he whispered. "And I never laughed cause it wasn't funny."
She shifted uncomfortably, managing to nod in response though she still didn't look at him.
"I don't deal anymore."
"How do I know that?"
"Because I just told you," he whispered.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and ventured a glance at him. "Swear it."
Maurice looked at her. "I swear, Faith." He paused. "If you want me to put it in writing I will."
"That's not necessary."
He nodded his head, and took a drink of his tea.
"If you're stayin' here...we gotta have some ground rules."
"I can handle that."
"We'll see." She set her mug down. "First of all, no drugs in my apartment. Period. Of any kind. If I find it, I'm haulin' you downtown. I'll help you however I can, but if you slip, don't do it here. I'm not goin' down with you."
"Okay." He nodded his head.
"Secondly, you're gonna sit down with me and talk to your brother."
His eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. "What?"
"I'm not keepin' this from Michael. We're partners. I can't go out there and have this tension between us. It'll get one of us killed."
He ran his hand through his hair. "I uh...I guess we could try."
"Tomorrow. First thing."
"I don't really have a choice, do I?"
"No. Not if you really want my help."
"And I do. I really do."
"Then we'll talk to your brother in the morning." She finished off her tea.
He nodded his head. "Anything else," he asked softly.
"That's all I can think of for right now."
"It's okay if I smoke though, right?" He tapped the pack of cigarettes with his finger. "As long as I go outside?"
"Yeah. That's fine." Her voice was quiet, her eyes tired.
"It'd be too hard to give up everything," he murmured.
"Yes. I'm sure it would be."
He let out a breath. "I'm gonna do my best."
"And I'm gonna do my best to help," she said softly.
"Thanks," he whispered.
"Sure." Faith stood up slowly. "I've got a guest room. You're welcome to use it."
He couldn't help but frown a little at her comment. They'd been sleeping together up until the day before, and now he was being offered the guest room. "That'd be great."
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Yeah. Goodnight, Faith."
She gazed at him for a moment before setting her mug in the sink and heading down the hallway.
He put one elbow on the table, and rested his head in his hand. It had to work this time. He had to get clean, and stay clean or he was going to lose Faith and Mikey.
* * *
Faith opened the door of her apartment and found her partner standing in front of her. She raked a hand through her hair, and stepped back to let him in. "Thanks for comin'."
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "Is everything okay?"
She let out a breath. "Not exactly."
His eyes were full of concern as he watched her close the door. "What's goin' on? Are you all right?"
"Yeah. I just...didn't really sleep well."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"We should probably sit down."
His eyebrows furrowed. "Faith---"
Maurice came down the hall in nothing but a pair of jeans, towel drying his hair having just gotten out of the shower. "Faith, you got a t-shirt I could borrow?"
She quickly turned and saw Maurice standing there shirtless and for a moment she couldn't respond. "Uh--"
Mike's eyes narrowed. "Maurice!" He turned to look at Faith. "I thought you broke up with him?"
"This isn't what it looks like." She sighed and pressed a hand to her temple, her head starting to ache.
"Yeah, Mikey. Nothin' happened."
She could tell by the look on her partner's face that he wasn't buying it at all. "Would you just sit down?"
"I wanna know what's going on."
"And you will. Just sit."
He shot a glare in his older brother's direction before sitting down on the sofa. "This better be good."
"First of all, lose the attitude," she said, her voice irritated.
"What?"
"Lose the attitude or get out." Faith folded her arms across her chest.
Mike held his hands up. "All right. Fine."
Maurice stood silently in the doorway of the living room. Just now realizing that Faith could be a lot harder than he'd thought.
"You." She looked over at Maurice. "Sit."
He swallowed hard, and quickly took a seat in the recliner.
Once the brothers were both seated, she sat down on the opposite end of the sofa from her partner. "Maurice came over last night."
Mike bit back a sarcastic comment, and nodded his head instead.
"He was in trouble and he wanted my help."
"What kinda trouble?" He looked over at his brother.
"I owe my dealer some money," he told Mike softly, not looking at him.
He looked at Faith. "He ask you for money?"
"No. He didn't ask me for money." She shot him a warning look.
The younger Boscorelli closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"He wants to get clean."
"He told you that?"
"Yes."
"And you believe him?"
"Yes. I believe him."
"Why?"
"Because I don't think Maurice is the type to ask a virtual stranger--especially a cop--for help if he didn't mean it."
Mike turned his attention to his brother. "You want help? For real?"
He nodded his head. "Yeah Mikey. I'm uh...I'm kinda in a bad place, and...I don't want you to look at me like that for the rest of my life."
"I told him I'd help him."
He shifted his gaze back to his partner. "How are you gonna do that," he asked softly.
"He's gonna stay here for awhile. Other than that, I don't really know. I gotta figure things out."
"You're really gonna let him stay here?"
"Yes," she said quietly.
"I've all ready quit dealin'. I stopped a while ago," he informed his brother. "And one of the conditions is that I don't bring any drugs into her apartment. Cause if she finds 'em she's haulin' me in."
"And I will." Faith gazed at her partner, waiting for his response.
Mike ran a hand through his hair. "Okay." He bit his lip for a moment as he thought. "If he's really gonna go straight he's gotta get into some kind of program."
She nodded, then shifted her eyes to Maurice. "Can you do that?"
Swallowing hard he wiped the palms of his hands on his jeans. "Yeah. Yeah, okay."
"Periodic drug testing," Mike suggested to Faith.
She nodded again, still gazing at Maurice. Her eyes a little softer than they had been the night before when she'd first seen him.
Maurice blew out a breath, all ready feeling more than a little nervous about whether or not he could really do this.
"We're gonna help you," she said softly, sensing his apprehension.
He nodded his head.
Mike turned to his brother. "Yeah, Mo. But it's not gonna be easy."
"I uh...I know."
Faith stood up slowly. "I could use some coffee. You guys want anything?"
"I need a cigarette," Maurice murmured as he stood up, and went to grab the pack.
"Coffee'd be good," Mike told her as he watched his brother go out onto the fire escape.
She poured two cups of coffee and carried one out to her partner.
"Thanks." He took the mug from her, and took a drink. He glanced out the window at his brother. "You're really serious about this, huh?"
"He asked for my help," she said softly, sitting back down on the sofa.
"Maurice actually asked without any persuasion?"
"Yes. I tried to kick him out and he begged me for help."
"He's never asked before," he whispered.
"My dad never asked." She gazed down at her coffee mug.
His eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"My father's an alcoholic," she said quietly. "He always used to promise my mother that he'd stop. But he never did. And he never asked for help."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know that," he told her softly.
"I know." She looked up at him. "So I have to try. Because as much as I don't like it...I care about your brother."
He closed his eyes. "I'm glad that he has you...that he felt he could come to you."
"Michael...I don't wanna cause problems for your family. Is my being involved gonna do that?"
"No." He shook his head. "My brother needs help. I just want him to get it."
"I'll do my best," she promised softly.
"I just need to ask you somethin'."
Faith nodded wordlessly, gazing at him.
"What's gonna happen when he screws up," he asked very softly. "When he can't take it anymore and he comes back here high?"
She looked down at the floor. "I don't know," she admitted.
"Cause he's been...It's gonna be hard for him, and I don't want this to put a strain on you and me."
"I don't want that either." She set her mug down on the coffee table. "You're my best friend and...I don't like this tension that's been between us."
"It's been killin' me, Faith."
"I'm sorry," she whispered, feeling guilty. "I really am."
He shook his head. "I shoulda told you about Maurice a long time ago."
"We've both kept secrets from one another. It's okay." She scooted closer to him on the sofa and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Mike didn't hesitate in returning the embrace. "Maybe...maybe you can help him, and he can be that person you saw in him."
"I really think he means it, Michael," she whispered.
"God, I hope so."
She kissed his cheek before slowly pulling away.
He smiled softly. "Thank you."
Maurice had been watching them from outside, feeling some of his nervousness fading away he went back into the apartment.
Faith looked over at him as he ducked back inside. "I don't suppose either of you would wanna make me pancakes, huh?" Her voice was light.
"Not Mike. He's a terrible cook."
"Already knew that." She smiled.
"I'm not too shabby in the kitchen though."
"You don't really have to cook for me. I was kidding."
He shrugged. "I know, but...Well, shouldn't I be doin' somethin' for you since you're helping me," he asked seriously.
She tilted her head to the side. "You gettin' better will help me too."
Smiling softly he walked over to her before leaning down to kiss her softly.
She was more than a little caught off guard by the gesture, but she closed her eyes, kissing him back just as gently.
"Oh I think I'm gonna barf," Mike commented.
She rolled her eyes. "Now you know how I feel every time I see you with Nicole," she said dryly.
"Oh please." He motioned toward the two of them. "My brother and my best friend. How wrong is that?"
Maurice sat on the arm of the sofa next to Faith, and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I think it's perfect."
She smiled faintly, looking from Maurice to Michael. She hoped to God that it would all work out. Because otherwise it would destroy all of them.
* * *
Standing in the middle of the living room he watched as his brother left Faith's apartment, and she closed and locked the door. Things had gone surprisingly well, and Mike had warned him just before leaving that if he did anything to harm Faith or put her in danger he would personally make sure that Maurice was locked away for the rest of his life. He knew that his brother was serious, and he fully intended to live up to his side of the bargain.
He rubbed his left forearm. "So...that went okay, huh?"
She slowly turned around to face him. "Yeah. I think so."
Maurice nodded his head, and continued rubbing his arms. "And you and Mikey are okay again."
"You okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Yeah I'm okay. Just uh..." He quickly stuck his hands in his pockets.
"Why don't we sit down and talk?" she suggested softly.
He blew out a breath, and nodded his head.
Faith touched his arm and guided him over to the sofa, sitting down beside him.
He ran his hands over his face, and leaned back into the cushions.
"Shaky?" she asked, her voice quiet.
"Yeah," he whispered, looking over at her. "It's all ready starting."
"What can I do?"
"Find my dealer," he chuckled.
"Only if you want me to haul him in."
"Might not be a bad idea." He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Maybe there's somethin' else that..."
There was a ringing coming from near the front door, and he recognized it as his cell phone. He pointed toward his jacket that was hanging up. "That's mine," he told her softly.
She nodded and watched as he stood up and headed for his coat.
He dug through his pockets until he found the phone. Seeing the number on the caller ID he bit his lip, and glanced at Faith before answering it. "Hello?"
"Yo, what's up, man?"
"Uh...hey. Not much."
"I got some good shit last night. You gotta come over and try it."
Maurice swallowed hard. Going over to Rick's, and trying out his recent score was exactly what he wanted to do "I uh...I can't."
"What? Why not?"
"I just..." He ran his hand through his hair. "I'm not...I'm not doin' that anymore."
Rick chuckled. "Right. What are you really doin'? You find a hot bitch?"
"I'm serious. I'm quittin'."
Faith folded her arms across her chest as she gazed at him.
"Come on, man. You gotta try this stuff."
"Look, I gotta go, okay?"
"If you change your mind, you know where to find me, dawg."
"Yeah. Yeah, I know." He pulled the phone away from his ear.
"Who was that?"
"That was a uh...a friend of mine," he told her softly.
"I don't want any of those people over here." Her voice was quiet but serious.
Maurice remained motionless for a moment, and then nodded his head.
Faith gazed at him silently.
He turned off his phone, and walked over to her. "Maybe you should take this."
She held her hand out and took the phone from him. "I'm sorry, Maurice."
He wrapped his arms around himself, and started to pace the living room. "It's my fault."
She stood up slowly, setting his phone down on the sofa and walking over to him.
Turning toward her he wiped his sweaty hands on his jeans. "Hasn't even been a full 24 hours yet," he mumbled.
She reached out and touched his cheek. "Maybe we can find a way to distract you."
"I could use a distraction."
Wordlessly she leaned forward and kissed his lips.
His eyes drifted shut, and he sighed softly as he returned the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Sliding her hands under his shirt and over his bare back, she deepened the kiss, pressing her tongue against his mouth.
Maurice's lips parted immediately, and he kissed her eagerly. Desperate to take his mind off of everything but the two of them.
Within seconds she had his shirt unbuttoned and falling soundlessly to the floor.
He moved his hands to her backside, pulling her closer as they continued to kiss.
It had only been three days since the last time they'd been together, but three days was way too long and her body was already responding to his. She slid her hands down to his waist and started to unfasten his jeans.
He pulled away panting for air. "I've missed you."
"Me too," she murmured, struggling to undo the button on his pants.
"I got it." He gently pushed her hands away, and unfastened his jeans as he placed a kiss on her neck.
Faith tilted her head back, sliding her hands up to his chest.
Once his jeans were undone he started to unfasten hers. He nibbled on her neck.
She pushed his jeans and boxers to the floor.
"Where should we go," he asked, whispering in her ear as he tugged her jeans and underwear down.
"Don't care," she murmured, her heart beating heavily as she pulled him closer.
He moaned softly as their lower bodies touched. "Gotta take this off," he informed her as he reached for the bottom of her shirt.
"Hurry," she whispered, licking and suckling lightly on his neck.
Maurice quickly pulled her shirt off then reached around to unhook her bra. "Protection?"
"In the...bathroom."
He tossed her bra to the floor, and wrapped one arm around her before starting to walk with her toward the hallway. His free hand moved to cup her breast, and he nibbled on her shoulder.
"Mmm." She scraped her teeth lightly over his neck, then kissed his collarbone as he guided her into the bathroom. She reached behind her and opened the medicine cabinet without breaking their embrace. She managed to grab a foil packet out of the cabinet.
He moved both hands to her backside, squeezing gently as he started to lead her back out of the bathroom.
As they walked together, she kissed his mouth, urgency in the action.
He wasted no time in deepening the kiss. The destination he was taking her to was forgotten, and he pressed her up against the wall in the hallway.
It flickered through her mind that they weren't going to make it to a bed or even to the sofa this time. But she didn't care. She ripped the foil packet open as they kissed.
He broke the kiss and took a breath as he rested his forehead against hers. He cupped her face in his hands.
"This a good distraction?" she murmured as she rolled the condom over him.
His lower body twitched at her light touch. "Gawd, yes."
A smile tugged at her lips. "Good."
He kissed her lips, and rubbed against her gently.
A soft moan escaped her and she pulled him closer, deepening their kiss.
Dropping one hand between them he shifted slightly, and slowly eased into her.
Faith's hands tangled in his short hair as she dropped her mouth to his neck, nibbling on his skin.
He held onto her hips as he slowly worked his body against hers. A gasp escaped him as she kissed his neck.
She soothed the area with her tongue, a shiver running down her spine as her back pressed against the cool wall.
Maurice moved one hand up to her head, tangling his fingers in her hair as he worked himself a little quicker, and a little deeper. His breathing was all ready heavy, and his thoughts were focused solely on her.
"Please," she whimpered, sliding her hands around to his backside and pulling him closer, deeper inside her.
"Faith," he moaned her name as he pushed his body faster.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and then wound her legs around his hips, her back still pressed firmly against the wall.
"Oh gawd." He buried his face in her neck as he gripped her legs tightly.
She bit down hard on her lip as she felt his teeth scrape against her skin.
He nibbled with a little more intensity as the pressure built up within him.
Faith tightened her legs around him a little more, her breathing ragged, her fingernails clutching at his shoulders.
He kissed her cheek then placed a kiss on her lips before tilting his head back. His movements were more frantic and hurried, and his eyes were closed tightly.
She closed her eyes, moaning as he thrust into her. "Maurice..."
Swallowing hard he took hold of her hips, and pressed into her as far as he could. He pulled out almost all of the way, and repeated the action one more time as a strangled cry escaped him.
Raking her nails down his back, she buried her face against his neck as pleasure erupted inside her, causing her to shudder.
He kissed her shoulder softly, and rubbed his hands over the outside of her thighs as he leaned against her.
"Oh, my God," she murmured, breathing heavily as she held onto him.
"Yeah," he whispered in agreement, kissing her skin once more.
Faith swallowed hard, kissing his earlobe.
"Thank you." His words were soft.
"You don't have to thank me."
"No?"
"No," she said just as softly.
He kissed her cheek. "Is there still hope for us," he asked quietly.
"There's always hope," she whispered.
After taking a deep breath he pulled away just enough to look at her. "I don't know how long it's gonna take...but I'm gonna get clean."
Faith gazed back at him. "I believe you."
Closing his eyes he nodded his head. Relieved by her words.
She kissed his cheek softly. "You're gonna get through this. I'll help you."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"I know." She rested her head against his.
"Things were so good," he told her softly. "I didn't wanna ruin it."
"We'll figure it out."
He swallowed hard. "You're okay with being with me?"
"I care about you and..." Her voice trailed off and she closed her eyes.
Maurice lifted his hand, and ran his fingers through her hair. "And what?"
She leaned into his touch instinctively. "I like this," she whispered.
He smiled softly. "I like this, too...a lot."
Faith turned her head and kissed the palm of his hand.
"Do you work today," he asked softly.
"No," she said just as softly.
"Will you come lay down with me?"
"Yes." She nodded, then kissed him softly, slowly unwinding her legs from around his waist.
He couldn't help the soft moan that escaped him at the loss of closeness.
"Come on," she whispered, leading him down the hallway toward her bedroom.
Nodding his head he followed her into the room, and over to the bed where she pulled back the covers and crawled under them. He smiled softly as he got in bed, and scooted over to her.
Faith gazed at him in the semi-dark of the room. "Kiss me," she said softly.
Happy to do so, he leaned over, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
She closed her eyes as their lips met in the soft kiss.
He draped his arm around her, and slowly rubbed her back as they kissed.
She shifted a little closer to him, sliding her hand down his bare chest, caressing his skin gently.
"You do realize that if you keep this up...I'm gonna be craving you?"
A faint smile touched her lips. "That's kind of the idea."
"Don't know what I'd do without you," he murmured.
She kissed his neck softly, trailing a path of kisses down to his collarbone.
"Mmm." He licked his lips. "This is a uh..a program I could get used to."
"Whatever works." She nibbled on his shoulder.
"It's definitely working," he whispered.
Faith lifted her lips to kiss his mouth, shifting closer to him. She wondered how it was she hadn't known this man her entire life.
* * *
Mike glanced at the clock, and picked up the phone. He dialed his partner's number, and leaned back into the sofa cushions as he waited for her to answer.
Faith lifted her head off the pillow, reaching out to grab the phone off her nightstand. She pressed it to her ear, mumbling a sleepy hello.
"Hey. I wake you?"
"It's okay."
"I was just callin' to see how it's going," he told her softly.
"Oh..." She sat up slowly, pulling the blanket up around her as she glanced over at Maurice, sleeping peacefully beside her. "It's going good."
"He have an okay day?"
Heat flushed her cheeks. "Yeah. He did fine."
"How 'bout you?"
"We're both all right, Michael," she said softly.
He let out a breath. "That's good."
"How are you? Are you all right?"
"I'm good. Just been thinkin' about you guys. Wondering how it was going."
"Well, we're doin' okay." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Maurice shifted a little closer to her in his sleep.
"Faith...I just want you to know how much I appreciate what you're doin'," he told her softly.
She reached out and lightly slid her fingers through Maurice's hair, her eyes soft as she gazed at him. "I know you do, Michael. And I want you to know that I -want- to be doin' this."
"I just don't want you gettin' hurt."
"I know that too. I can take care of myself."
"I know that. I just worry...cause this can get pretty hairy."
"Most things can."
"Yeah." He nodded his head. "Do me a favor?"
"I'll try."
"Make sure he knows that I'm behind him on this."
A soft smile touched her lips. "You got it."
"Thanks, Faith," he whispered.
"You're welcome, partner," she whispered back.
"Goodnight."
"Night, Michael." She slowly hung up the phone and gazed down at Maurice.
He shifted in his sleep again, a soft moan escaping him.
"Maurice?" Her voice was soft, her eyebrows furrowing as she watched him.
Turning onto his back he wrapped his arms around his stomach.
She reached out and gently touched his cheek.
Feeling warm he pushed the blankets down to his waist. "I can't," he murmured in his sleep, moving away from her touch.
"Maurice? It's Faith."
"No!" He sat up quickly, gasping for air.
She jumped, startled by his sudden movement. "Hey, hey. It's okay," she whispered.
His eyes were wide as he glanced around the room. He swallowed hard as he met her gaze.
"It's all right," she said softly, reaching out to touch his cheek again.
He closed his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing. "What's goin' on," he asked in a whisper, sounding confused.
"I think you had a bad dream."
Maurice ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah. Bad dream."
"Are you okay?"
"I think I just need a..." He shook his head when he realized what he was going to say.
She grimaced. "Why don't you lie down? I'll get you a glass of water."
"Okay." He slowly laid back down, and covered his face with his hands.
Faith headed out of the room, filled a glass with ice water, grabbed a wet washcloth and carried the items back to where he lay in bed.
He stared up at the ceiling, and took deep breaths, letting them out slowly as he tried to focus his mind on something other than scoring a hit.
Wordlessly she set the glass down on the nightstand and gently laid the cloth over his forehead, sitting on the edge of the bed beside him.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"It's okay...it's normal," she said softly, touching his cheek.
"Yeah, but..."
"Shh...just try to relax."
Swallowing hard he nodded his head slightly, and closed his eyes. "Maybe I should go back to the guest room."
"No. It's all right. I want you to stay here."
"This is gonna happen a lot, Faith."
"I know." She gazed at him.
He blew out a breath. "Did you bring water," he asked in a whisper.
"Yeah." She reached over and picked up the glass, holding it out to him.
Maurice pushed himself into a sitting position, and leaned his back against the headboard. He took the glass from her, and took a long drink. "Thanks." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"No problem." She rested a hand on his knee.
The glass shook in his hand, and he quickly set it on the nightstand. He wrapped his arms around himself not wanting Faith to see his hands shaking.
"It's okay, Maurice," she said very softly, her eyes sad as she gazed at him.
"I don't think I can do this," he whispered.
"You can do this." Her voice was firm, but quiet. "I know you can."
He looked at her. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because I believe in you."
"Why?"
Her eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
"Why do you believe in me," he asked softly. "What have I done to make you believe in me? Cause my own family doesn't."
She was silent for a moment, then she reached out and rested a hand over his heart. "I don't know that I can explain it. I just do," she said just as softly. "From the first time we met...I felt a connection with you. I feel like I've known you forever."
Momentarily forgetting about his shaky hands he reached up to cover hers. "I felt it, too," he whispered.
Faith slid her fingers through his. "And your brother...he's behind you all the way."
"You think so?"
"I know so. He told me to tell you that."
His eyes widened slightly. "He did? Mikey told you that?"
"Yes." She nodded.
The corner of his mouth turned up into a small smile for a few seconds. "I don't wanna disappoint you guys."
She was quiet for a moment. "Just think about how much better things are gonna get once this is all over."
He looked down at the bedspread. "I uh...I don't really remember what things were like before I started using," he told her softly. "But it's gotta be better than this, huh?"
"Yeah," she said, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand. "A lot better."
He closed his eyes, and took a breath. "Tomorrow I'm gonna find a program to start."
"I'll go with you."
Opening his eyes he gazed at her. "Yeah?"
"Of course. I told you. We're in this together."
"What am I gonna do when you have to work?"
"I've got some vacation time..."
"No." He shook his head. "You're not wastin' your vacation tryin' to save your partner's drug addict brother."
"That's not what you are to me."
"Then what am I?"
Faith hesitated a moment, unsure of how to answer him. "Well..."
"It's okay," he whispered. "You don't have to answer that."
"The truth is I don't really know how to answer it. I just know that...I care about you...as a lot more than my partner's brother." Her voice was soft.
He nodded his head, and leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
She kissed his forehead. "Try to get some rest. I'll be right here."
Maurice lay back down, pulling the blankets up to his chest. "I apologize in advance for you bein' tired in the morning."
"Don't worry about me."
"You tryin' to tell me I've got enough to worry about," he asked with a chuckle as he closed his eyes.
A small smile tugged at her lips. "Somethin' like that."
"Goodnight...again."
"Night, Maurice."