THE MOMENT: The Shift

Authors Note: This story is the prequel to my other story A New Life Together. I've tried to write it about a million times but I think this time I got it right.

Summary: Could they make it work? How it all started out.

Spoilers: This is kind of my own version of Third Watch. Basically how I wanted things to happen.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Faith squinted as she came out of the Precinct and walked to her squad car. "Such a beautiful day out," she noted as she climbed into the passenger's seat of her RMP 55 David with her partner, Bosco. He made a face and she caught it. "What's that face for?"

"Did you get some last night?"

"No." She said as she frowned. "Why can't I just be in a good mood? Why does it have to be about sex?"

He put his hands up. "You're right. What was I thinking?" He laughed to himself and pulled out of the parking spot and headed off to enforce the law. "So did you happen to catch Late Night last night? Pam Anderson was on there. Now I usually don't prefer chicks tits to be that big but I'm pretty sure I would do some nasty things to those."

"Bosco... too much information. Would you tone it down a little?!"

"What? I thought you said I should open up more? That I'm just a closed book to you."

"Yeah well... you're grossin' me out." She looked out of the window and let out a sigh. "So have you talked to Nicole?"

"No." He said shortly and looked around as he stopped at a red light. "I tried to call her a couple weeks ago but all I got was her machine and I didn't want to leave a message. I'm done with it." He shrugged. "Besides... I've moved on like four or five times since we broke up." He smirked.

"Wow..." She said and shook her head. "I'm glad that you're handling it well."

"It's no big deal." He said and looked over at her. He looked out the window and squinted because of the sunlight. "It is a nice day out... I played a little ball in the park before the shift. Makes me miss summertime a little."

Faith looked over at him and shook her head. "This coming from a guy who complains through the enter summer because it's 'too hot'."

"Like I told you nine years ago when we started working together Yokas, the heat brings the worst out of people."

She chuckled and looked outside the car. "Whatever you say Bos."

"So why are you in such a good mood? Fred didn't piss you off this morning?"

"No actually things between us have been going really well. He's not complaining about the job anymore. He's not picking fights with me about meaningless stuff. It's just been really great. I'm actually looking forward to going home tonight." She said with a smile.

"Yeah? Good for you." Bosco said shortly.

She looked over at him. "Have you talked to your mom or brother?"

"I actually say the devil herself this morning." He said and shook his head. "She was coming out of some bastards' house in nothing but a bath robe. She's so damn embarrassing."

"Well, did she say anything to you?"

"No I don't even think she saw me thank God. I was driving by to go shoot some hoops. She looked like she was drunk though."

"Didn't she go to AA last month?"

"That was two months ago and she only went to three sessions because I went with her. She stopped going because she claims that she needed my support. When I told her that I'd go with her she said to forget about it."

Faith shook her head as she looked around. "I got parent-teacher conferences this week."

He looked over at her for a second. "So?"

"I'm a little nervous about it! Charlie didn't do well last time. His math skills are in the second and third grade levels."

"And he's how old?"

"Nine and in the fifth grade!" She said and rolled her eyes. "Some people have a hard time with math. It's really hard for some people to remember ALL those numbers."

"I guess." He shrugged.

"I don't know... Fred wants to hire a tutor."

"What's wrong with that? I had a tutor in high school. She was hot. Her name was Mackenzie Houston. She was a grade below me."

Faith looked over to see him grinning. "So? What happened? Did it work?"

"Oh... well kinda. I barely passed math but the best part was that Mack, as I called her, had the nicest lips and tongue. She could do all kinds of things with her tongue that made me-"

"BOSCO! Too much information!" Faith shouted. "Gawd, what's your problem?!"

He shrugged, still wearing the proud smirk. "So what are you doing for the holidays this year?" Faith asked. "Our normal days off land on both Thanksgiving and Christmas."

"Probably sleep in until eight then wake up and eat then go back to sleep."

Her smile faded as she looked at him. "That's it? You're not gonna spend the holidays with anyone?"

"Like who? I'm not married or dating anyone. My mother will probably be having Thanksgiving with a boyfriend. Mike... well... to him it'll just be another day to him." He shrugged and rubbed his arm.

"Ok... well if you want you can come to my house. I'm gonna make a turkey for Thanksgiving of course then a ham for Christmas."

"No thanks." He said shortly.

"Come on. Fred and the kids would love it."

"You're a bad liar Yokas."

"Well at least you would be better than having my brother and his wife over." She chuckled. "The offer is still on the table if you want it."

"Thanks anyways but I've never been a big holiday person."

"What happened to settling down and having some kids?"

"I'm kind of setting my ways though. I mean I'm 27 and still haven't met a woman that I would like to marry. I want someone to complete me. And who is kind of my opposite in a good way... but she's gotta be hot."

"Oh gawd." She shook her head.

"55 David?"

"David." Faith said in her radio.

"55 David take a 10-52 at 101 and Arthur."

"10-4."

"Nothing better than starting off a day with a dispute." Bosco said as he headed toward the call.

"55 David is 98."

"10-4, David. There's a call going out in your sector. 10-34 at 65th and Broadway. Caller claims victim is being assaulted by man on the street."

"Oh gosh... That's probably Maxine." Bosco said. "10-4 Central. 65th and Broadway." He flipped the lights and sirens on as Faith raced toward the call. As he buckled up his seat belt he looked over at his partner. "This is what... the third time this week we're going over there?"

"Yeah and it's only Tuesday." Faith said as she ran through intersections.

"Whoa! Yokas slow down! We need to make it to the scene if we're gonna do something about this!"

She shook her head as she slowly took her foot off the gas pedal. "This bastard is mine." She fled down Broadway and narrowed her eyes when she caught sight of the scene ahead of them. "DAMMIT!" She stopped the car and Bosco hopped out.

"Get your damn hands up!" He shouted and the man stopped kicking the woman on the ground then ran the opposite direction. "Stop! Dammit!" He shouted and put his gun back in his holster and pursued the man.

"55 David to Central, my partner is in pursuit with that suspect in the 10-34 on 65th and Broadway! They are headed southbound toward Arthur! I need a bus at this location! On a rush! My victim is down... very down." She looked down at Maxine and her face was covered in blood.

"Please help her." An older woman cried as she stood over the young woman's body.

"What happened?!" Faith asked, looking around at the crowd of people who were screaming different commands. "You all need to back up!" She said as she put her hand on her gun. "All of you! Back up now!"

"Get her an ambulance!" Another woman yelled.

"She needs help or she's gonna die!" A man shouted.

"55 David! I need back-up at this location! Back-up is requested forthwith!"

"10-4 David! 55 Charlie is on the way!" Sully's voice was heard.

Faith looked around; she was feeling a little vulnerable. She looked behind her the way Bosco had ran but she didn't see him anymore. "55 David to Central, I have lost sight of my partner." She paused. "Bosco... where are you?"

Bobby and Kim in Boyd 55-3 rolled up as she called for her partner. "Move out of the way please!" Kim yelled as she pushed through the crowd and knelt down next to the victim. "What happened?!"

"I don't know! Everyone move back!" Faith shouted and brought out her baton. The crowd finally started to back off now that Kim and Bobby were there to help her. "Someone needs to tell me what happened to her now!"

"You guys were here everyday this week! She would get beat up and you guys would do nothing about it!" One woman said.

"We arrested Enrique yesterday!"

"We don't believe you! If you arrested him yesterday then he wouldn't have beaten her!" Another yelled.

Faith stared at the crowd and shook her head. Bobby and Kim quickly rushed Maxine to the ambulance and Faith followed with her hand still on her gun. "How is she?" She asked as they loaded her into the bus.

"DOA." Bobby said.

Her eyes widened as she looked at the body as Kim covered it with a white sheet. "We didn't want to say anything in front of them." Kim said as she grabbed one of the doors. "We'll see you at the hospital. Bobby let's go."

"Hey, be safe. Your back-up is here." He said as he closed the back doors and ran to the front of the bus.

Davis and Sully got our of their squad and walked over to Faith. "That Maxine again?" Sully asked.

"Yeah... she's dead though." Faith said softly as she looked at the ambulance that was driving away. "Bosco was in pursuit with the suspect but I have no idea where he is. I need to go look for him but I couldn't leave her out here."

"Doesn't look like you need to go look for him." Davis said and they turned and looked over at Bosco who was walking back by himself. He had his hands on his hips and was out of breath. "He get away from you huh? I told you, you're too slow."

"Enrique is a crack head. You try chasing one of those jag-offs." He put his hands on his knees and looked around. "How is she? She cryin' about not pressing charges like yesterday?" He asked with a crooked smile on his face.

"She's dead Bos." Faith said as she looked off into a distance.

He stared up at her then closed his eyes and stood up straight. "Come on, we need to get to Mercy." Faith said and walked toward their squad car.

Bosco was sitting on the bench in the locker room tying his shoes. He looked over at his partner who was putting her coat on. She hadn't said a word to him since they left the hospital. This was the one thing he hated about working with a woman. They wouldn't just come out and say what was wrong with them. They would keep it to themselves until he had to ask or they would say nothing and have a terrible attitude for days.

"You gonna keep ignoring me or tell me what's up your ass?" He asked and looked at her.

Faith slammed her locker and looked over at him. "Goodnight Bosco." She said and walked out the back door.

He stood up and closed his locker and ran out to catch up with her. "Hey!" He said and stood in front of her. Faith rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Come on, what did I do now? What's up with you?!"

She shook her head. "I don't understand you. We have a situation at that scene and you go after the suspect and don't tell me or anyone your location. I had no idea what happened to you. If you were all right; or what." She paused and ran her hand through her hair. "You're careless and sometimes... I'm not sure you have my back."

"I have your back! I always have your back Yokas! We're partners! We've been partners forever!"

"So you left me at the scene with a crowd of angry neighbors! Only God knows what they would have done!"

"You're a cop! You're armed! You're not helpless." He looked her up and down. "Maybe I was wrong about you! If you need someone with you at all times, maybe you're too damn soft to be a cop!" He walked past her to his car and Faith stood there, shaking her head as she looked up at the black sky.

Maybe I'm not a good cop, she thought as she walked home. Faith finally got home and all she wanted to do was take a bath and not think about the job. She was excited to see Fred because everything was going so well with them. Faith unlocked her door and when she walked inside, the whole house was dark. There were some candles around the living room and it seemed as if they had been burning for a while. A small grin spread across her mouth and she threw her purse and keys down on the couch.

"Fred?!" She called down the hallway as she took her coat off. She looked in the kid's room and their beds were made but they were not in them. She got excited because he had promised her one night alone. She walked to their bedroom and her smiled instantly faded when she saw what was going on in her bed.

"Oh my gawd!" The woman who was on top of her husband screamed.

To Be Continued

A/U: I'm sorry for not updating A New Life Together but I have terrible writer's block. I promise to get it back up and running ASAP. Please give me some feedback on this story in the meantime. Have a great day!