Ties that bind

***

Author: Orison

Disclaimer: The characters of course aren't mine, and no copyright infringements are intended, but I'd love to spend some time with Jason Wiles! ;)

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: General knowledge of the series up through season four.

Summary: When something threatens to destroy both a personal and a professional relationship, it takes everything you can to make things right.

Author's note: Okay, here we go, this is my first solo attempt at writing a fic. HUGE thanks to my fellow author twjunkie for helping me realize I could actually write something in english, for correcting my mistakes and encouraging me to keep going. I owe you! :)

Author's note II: I'm aware there's a couple of similar stories around right now (and I thought my idea was new! :) ), but I hope you're going to read it anyway... Pleeeeeease! Oh, and in my happy little world, Sergeant Cruz is nowhere in sight... Enjoy!

Feedback: Please, I need to know if this is worth all my time! *lol* Constructive criticism also appreciated.

***

"Dammit!" Bosco groaned as the phone woke him up. He glanced at his alarm clock. 11:21am. He rubbed his eyes and reached for it, searching his mind for some appointment he might have missed, but he found none.

"Must be Faith," he reasoned aloud. "Maybe she wants me to... wait, I'm already supposed to pick her up before the shift." He was glad she'd actually asked him that, it showed she still cared about him, even after all the things she'd said at the hospital when Fred had his heart attack.

He pressed the receiver to his ear, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah." his sleepy voice answered.

"Mo?"

"Mikey?" he asked, surprise in his voice. His younger brother rarely called him at home. Maybe I did forget something important, he thought to himself.

"You awake?"

"I am now. Something wrong?" He heard him clear his throat on the other end of the phone, but no words came out. "Mikey? What's wrong?"

"I... I think I'm in trouble, man."

Here it goes again, Bosco sighed in frustration. "What is it? Boss fire you already?"

"No, it's not that, still working as a night guy."

"Then what?" he asked again. "Are you going to tell me? 'Cause, you know, I could use some extra sleep, I was at the House until 3:00am last night!" He was willing himself not to lose his patience, but it was a tough battle.

"I... I need money. I don't know who else to ask."

"Money?" Bosco repeated. I can't believe he has the gall to ask me that! "You're kidding, right? What, you think I'm some kind of damned rich guy you can turn to whenever you need to buy drugs? I'm a police officer, for God's sake!" he angrily spat.

"No, you don't understand, I... listen to me..." his brother pleaded.

"I'm not gonna help you screw up your life, Michael, cut yourself a break!"

"No, that's not... I don't want to buy any drugs, man. I'm clean now. Been clean for almost two weeks, you've got to believe me!"

"Why should I, huh?" Bosco asked, rising his voice. "Last time I met you, you were running dope in my precinct, Mikey. How do I know you're not lying to me?"

"Because I'm your brother, man, and I need help! Listen, there's this guy, I... I owe him money, and he won't let me walk away with it. I think he's coming after me."

Bosco could now sense fear in his brother's voice.

"I want to stay clean, man, I really do." Michael continued. "You were right. I need to put my life back together, but he won't let me until I give him what he wants!"

"And what is it that he wants? How much you owe him?" Bosco asked as he closed his eyes, waiting for the answer.

"A thousand bucks." he finally admitted.

God, Bosco sighed. "What is wrong with you, man? I barely have $40 in my wallet, how am I supposed to find all that money?"

"I'll pay you back, Mo. I'll pay you every cent! But you've got to help me now..."

Bosco didn't know what to do. Michael did sound scared, and he really wanted to believe that he'd been clean for two weeks. Maybe me arresting him wasn't that bad after all. Helped him realize he could do something good with his life. What if I turn him down and something happens to him? How could I live with that?

"Alright, what if we set him up? I mean, I could arrest him or something..." he said, trying to come up with a plan that didn't involve losing his money to a drug dealer.

"I don't think that's a good idea, bro." Mikey quickly dismissed the thought. "I don't want to piss the guy off. I give him what he wants, he gets out of my way."

"Mikey, I swear, if you're trying to jerk me around I'm going to kick your sorry ass, you hear me?" Bosco added.

"I'm not, man, I swear! I'm serious..."

"Okay. I don't know why, but I believe you." Hope I'm not going to regret this later, he added to himself. "How soon do you need that money?"

"Now."

"Great." he muttered. "Listen to me, I'm going to dress, get that cash, and then I'll meet you up before work. That okay?"

"Good. That's good. Thanks, man. Meet me at the corner of 58th and 11th."

"Nice place." Bosco sarcastically said as he pictured the block where they usually busted drug dealers.

"Oh, come on, I don't want any trouble, that's a quiet place." his brother replied.

"Yeah, not to mention safe." He made a mental note to bring his off-duty gun along before speaking again. "How does 1:30 sound?"

"Sounds good. I owe you, bro."

"Yeah. You keep that in mind."

Bosco hung up the phone and stared at it for a few minutes. I hope you told me the truth, Mikey.

He took a quick shower and got dressed, then grabbed his jacket and headed to the door. He made a few steps, then turned around. He looked at his car keys and shook his head. There's no way I'm driving my girl to that place, he sighed. I'll take the subway.

***

Two and a half hours later, after a few cups of coffee, a long line at the bank to get his cash and a nightmarish ride on the subway, Bosco was ready to kick some ass.

Man, I can't believe Faith rides this thing everyday! he complained as he exited the station. It's hot, crowded and always late! He looked at his watch. Damn, I'm going to be late for work!

He quickened his pace and rounded the corner as his hand immediately went up to his waistband where he kept his gun, and hoped his brother was already there.

The alley was quiet, no sign of junkies around. Bosco carefully moved forward, a feeling of nervousness settling itself in the pit of his stomach. Come on, Mikey, show up, man. Let's get this over with.

He was halfway through the alley when he heard a noise coming from behind. "Mikey?" he called, turning around.

"Yeah. Over here." the voice answered back.

Bosco walked back and entered a narrow street, finding himself face to face with his brother.

"Anybody follow you?" Mikey said, nervously looking around.

"Nice to see you too, brother." he snorted.

"I'm sorry, man, but I need to be careful."

"Yeah, whatever. You sure you don't want me to arrest the son of a bitch?"

"No, just... just let it go. I can handle it. Thanks, though."

Bosco reached for his inner pocket and took out a small envelope. This is against my every belief, his mind screamed as he handed it to his brother. But I have to do it. "Be careful, Mikey." he added. "This can be dangerous."

"I know, man. I will." he answered as he shifted uncomfortably to his feet.

God, Bosco thought, I'm standing here talking to my brother, yet it looks like I'm talking to a complete stranger! How did we grow so far apart ? Why did I push him out of my life? "You... you wanna go grab a cup of coffee?" he offered. "I still have some time before going to work."

"Uh... no. I'd better go now. There's something I need to take care of. You know, the sooner the better..." he smiled faintly.

" 'kay. But keep me posted, alright? And don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."

Bosco wanted to tell him that everything was going to be okay, but found himself unable to say the words. He wanted to do something more. The idea of his kid brother having anything to do with a bunch of drug dealers scared him, but he figured admitting that he needed help already was a big step for Michael, so this was probably the only way to show him that he cared. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his cellphone ringing.

The two brothers jumped, startled by the noise, and looked at each other.

"Sorry, man, this place gives me the creeps. We'd better head out of here." Bosco said as he pressed the "talk" button. "Yeah."

"Boz, it's me." Faith's voice answered back.

"Hey, Faith, what's up?" he said, glancing at his brother who stood nervously in front of him, still looking around as he was expecting someone to show up at any minute.

"I… uh, I'm sorry, I know you're probably already driving up to my place, but Fred's taken a half day off so he's going to drive me to the House. We've been running errands all morning, and my cellphone's dead so I couldn't call you sooner."

"Well, actually I'm still working on something myself, and I'm probably going to be late again, so that's okay. Gotta take the damned subway, I guess you're safer in your truck anyway." he smiled.

"You're riding the subway?" she laughed. "What happened, Boz? Your favorite girl decided to ditch you this morning?"

"That's not funny, Faith." he chuckled. "You know I hate that thing. Don't know how you manage to… hey, wait!"

"Excuse me?" she asked, confused.

"No, it's not… I'm not talking to you." he said as he watched his brother wave his hand at him and quickly walk out of the alley. "Michael, wait!" he yelled in frustration.

"Bosco, what's going on?" Faith's concerned voice asked again.

"Nothing. Just Mikey pissing me off as usual." he told her, leaning on the nearby wall. "So, did you get that book for Charlie?"

"Yeah." she sighed. "It took me two hours and almost 30 bucks. Can you imagine!"

"Aw, sorry, Faith. I guess I'm buying lunch AND dinner today!" he joked.

***

Michael had almost reached the end of the alley when a black car approached him. He quickened his pace trying to get to the nearest intersection and hopefully to some crowded place, but the car just drove past him and stopped a few feet from him, blocking his path.

Great, the young man muttered under his breath.

He stopped walking as two guys got out of the car and motioned for him to get closer. He could tell that nothing good was coming out of this. "Hey, man." he said, offering his hand and trying not to show his fear. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"How are you doing, Michael?" one of them said. "I thought you didn't want anything to do with this place anymore."

"Yeah, I…"

"Care to join us for a ride?"

"Sorry, I gotta go to work…" he tentatively said.

"You know you're not supposed to go to work for six hours, Michael. What, you afraid?"

"Me? No, man, I… okay." he nodded as they let him into the car.

He thought about his brother who was still behind, and prayed he wouldn't be the one to find his dead body a few hours later.

TBC...