Title: Fire escape
Author: Juliana

"Sometimes I'm just so sick of them all I need to go out on the fire escape to relax a bit," she said quietly while they were eating their dinner in the RMP.

"Yeah?" he looked worriedly at her.

"Yeah. I mean, I'm not sick of Charlie and Em. It's just that when I see Fred drunk I get so tired I just can't listen to them fighting over a toy or something and so I need to go away before I start yelling at them for no reason at all because I know it's not their fault and they don't deserve to be yelled at, you know. They're just kids, they hardly understand what's going on. So I lie that I'll go have a bath and instead I go out on the fire escape almost every night now to get some air." She looked at Bosco almost as if apologizing for her actions.

"So he still comes home drunk?" Bosco asked her, still a hint of worry in his eyes.

"Last night he said he had a couple of bears but I doubt you completely lose your orientation and stability after a couple of bears," she snorted.

"So what did you do?"

"Nothing. What can I do? I mean, I can't just turn him out, for the sake of the kids if nothing else, so what else is there to do? What should I do?" She faced Bosco like she was expecting him to solve all her problems.

"You should talk to him, you know, let him see what he's doing to you and the kids," he said before stuffing a couple of fries into his mouth. He had to make himself busy so he didn't have to think about Faith and Fred. Telling Faith to stick with her husband was the hardest thing he had ever done but he knew that was the best for her and her kids. It definitely wasn't good for him but he wasn't important when it came to Faith. All it mattered was that she was happy and if that meant he would have to live the rest of his life without her, so be it.

"Talk to him?" she yelled causing him to jump in his seat.

"Jesus, Faith, you don't have to yell."

"Talk to him? What do you think I have been doing for the last six months, huh? Talk to him my ass," she mumbled.

"Look, if you don't wanna hear what I've got to say then don't ask," he returned angrily. What did he get for trying to help her beside a broken heart? A fat lot.

"I wanna hear what you've got to say just not when it's stupid," she yelled back.

"Good, then I can stay quiet for the rest of my life cause you think anything I've gotta say is stupid anyways," he was hurt. Couldn't she see he only wanted what was best for her? He had to give up the only thing he had ever wanted just to try and make her happy and did she appreciate it at least a bit? No, not Faith Yokas.

"I never said you're stupid, Bosco, you know that, so don't turn my words around," she glared at him.

"Oh, so now I turn your words around! Is there anything I do right at all? Huh? Anything that pleases you?" he sneered.

She was too pissed to say anything in return; her look could kill him had he been any less sturdy.

"You finished with your meal?" he asked through clenched teeth.

She didn't answer but turned to look through her side window.

"Fine," Bosco threw the crumpled paper bag to the dashboard and started the RMP.

They hardly spoke the rest of the shift and even in the locker room they only said good night to each other before they quietly left each their own way.

Faith had a terrible day. After falling out with Bosco she came to a messy apartment, with all the dishes still in the sink to be washed and a heap of clothes to be ironed. At least the kids were already in bed but Fred was still sitting in front of the TV, drunk again. She needed some air so she told him she was going to have a shower but she noticed he hadn't heard her because he had fallen asleep on the couch.

Instead of having a shower she stepped out on the landing through her bedroom window. She leaned onto the warm wall and closed her eyes. Suddenly she thought she had heard something and she looked around. When she saw someone move in the dark she got scared. She had never thought someone might be out there, someone that might not have exactly good intentions. So she turned slowly not to make any sound and started to move towards the window when she thought she recognized the figure. Then he stepped forward on the landing.

"Bos? What are you doing here?"

Her voice was hushed. She didn't want Fred to hear them if he entered their bedroom.

"Hey. Well, you said you're often out here and I wanted to see you." He shrugged.

There was no need for him to explain himself to a woman that hid on the fire escape to get away from her family, Faith thought.

"Faith, I'm sorry about today. I didn't mean to …"

"I know, Bos, it's okay. I didn't mean it either. Let's just forget it, okay?" she looked him in the eyes.

He nodded.

She leaned back on the wall and closed her eyes again. In that instant she wanted to tell him how she felt. She wanted to get away from everything; she wanted to leave with him. She knew she'd be safe with him, she'd even be happy with him, but she couldn't leave. She had to stay with her family no matter how much she needed him.

He stepped closer and she saw through the dusk that his eyes were darker than ever. She thought she saw desire in them, a burning fire that she wasn't used to seeing during their shifts.

He lifted his hand and placed it on her chest in the opening of her robe. She felt his fingertips caress her tender skin that was instantly inflamed under his touch.

He lowered his head slightly and she thought he was going to kiss her and she began to tremble, partly out of fear and partly out of expectation. But he didn't kiss her on her lips, he lowered his mouth to her neck and kissed her tender skin there.

"I need you Faith," he murmured. At that moment she knew she would do anything he'd ask of her.

With his index finger he slowly pushed at the fabric on her shoulder till it fell down her arm and exposed the shoulder to his warm lips. At that she remembered how she once in high school read in a women's magazine that if someone kisses you on your shoulder that means he wants to have sex with you. She wondered whether Bosco knew about that and whether she should kiss him on his shoulder to let him know what she wanted. But then she reminded herself that Bosco didn't need that to know what she was thinking or feeling.

Only after a few seconds did she realize that Bosco was just standing and watching her. Then she saw that her robe was unfastened and she was standing practically naked in front of his hungry eyes. But surprisingly that didn't make her feel uncomfortable. Bosco was the only man beside Fred that had ever seen her naked and the way he looked at her made her feel wanted and desired. His gaze was enough to make her nipples stiffen and he noticed that. He smiled softly and then he leaned into her so that she was trapped between his body and the wall.

She felt his firm body and his warmth and she moaned. His lips touched hers. The kiss was almost rough and it excited her more than any of Fred's kisses ever could. His tongue was invading her wet mouth, his lips felt like connected to her own. His hands were roaming up and down her sides, caressing her breasts, squeezing her nipples, causing her to moan in his mouth.

She felt his growing bulge through his jeans, pushing into her. She slid her hand in between them and stroked him through the material. Her touch made him gasp and he moved his lips from hers and leaned his forehead on hers trying to calm himself. His breathing was heavy and his eyes were wide when he opened them again.

She grabbed him for his shirt and pulled not caring that a couple of buttons were torn off. She caressed his chest, sliding her fingers through the soft hairs there.

He started devouring her lips again when she reached for his zipper. She unzipped his jeans and pushed them down slightly. When he leaned into her and she felt his hot hardness against her belly she hardly stopped herself from crying out loud.

He cupped her behind and lifted her up so that she could wrap her legs around his waist. She grabbed his shoulders for support when he again lowered his head to her neck. He grazed her skin with his teeth and she let her head fall back to expose her neck fully, only then realizing he couldn't leave any marks.

"No," she moaned and he looked surprised at her but then realization dawned on his face. He nodded slightly before he kissed her again.

She reached down with her hand and positioned him at her wet opening. He pushed into her fast and deep. They both groaned in unison. Bosco leaned his head on her shoulder while they moved in rhythm. He slammed into her forcefully, groaning with each thrust.

"God, you feel good," he mumbled into her ear breathlessly. She closed her eyes shut when he nuzzled on her ear lobe and then licked at her neck. She felt all her muscles tense when her orgasm was building up in her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled him even closer. His muffled moans and faster thrusts told her he was close.

She thought she was going to explode when she came. She bit into his shoulder to stop herself from crying out. She felt his body tremble with the next thrust and she hugged his head when he couldn't help himself but groan loudly.

"Oh God, Faith!"

He thought his legs would give in under their weight, he had to lean into Faith to support himself on the wall. His breathing was erratic, her head was limply resting on his bare shoulder.

It took her a minute before she could raise her eyes to his.

"Thank you," she whispered still a bit breathless.

He let her back down to the ground and released her. He zipped up his pants and dressed the torn shirt, smiling softly when he noticed there were hardly any buttons left.

She just kept watching him. When he was dressed he looked at her and then moved to fasten her robe so that she wouldn't get cold from the fresh night air but Faith didn't feel cold, she felt like she was burning inside.

"It's getting cold," he mumbled and stole a kiss on her breast before tying the belt.

They stood close together, watching each other. None of them knew what to say.

Bosco hugged her gently, hiding his face in her hair. He wanted stay that way forever. But he knew he couldn't.

"You wanna come home with me?" he asked barely audibly.

Faith was quiet for a while. She wanted to, God knows she wanted to. She felt guilty for using him like this but she knew she would feel even guiltier if she left her family.

"I can't, Bos."

He raised his head and looked at her sadly. She thought she saw traces of tears on his cheeks but she couldn't be sure because of the dark that was enveloping them.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I never really thought you would," he smiled softly before kissing her gently on her swollen lips.

"I better get back in there," she motioned towards the window.

He nodded and stepped away but just before she turned to go he returned and kissed her again. This time the kiss was slow and full of unspoken love but to Faith it tasted bitter because it gave her a taste of what she couldn't have.