Love Potion # 99.2
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters or places; aren't you glad?
Holly stood at the sink scrubbing her hands with disinfectant soap. She finally stopped when she'd scrubbed them nearly raw. She dried them quickly, then reaching into her bag, pulled out the book that contained Madam Malinda's recipes. Flipping the pages, she came to #99. She was hoping to find an antidote to the potion just in case. Skimming the page, she came to a section that she had not noticed before labeled CAUTION. CAUTION!
"CAUTION: Caution should be used in dosing this potion. Some people are more sensitive to the effects than others. Reactions can be very intense in high doses or more subtle in lower doses. Reaction times may be prolonged in large doses, sometimes lasting up to two to three weeks; whereas, smaller doses may only last hours or days. Reactions can wax and wane during that time. Madam Malinda recommends a trial of a few drops of the potion first to see what effect it has on both parties, then increasing the dose as needed."
"WEEKS! WEEKS! NO! NO! HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING?" Levine shouted, then began flipping the pages frantically when she didn't see an antidote listed.
Carlos had walked into the kitchen in time to hear Levine screaming at no one. He stood watching her curiously.
"There has to be an antidote. THERE HAS TO BE!" Slamming the book down, Levine closed her eyes, bracing her hands on the counter top. She alternated between mumbling incoherently and chanting as Carlos cautiously approached her. Suddenly she grabbed a spoon from the counter and flung it in an arc over her head.
thud
"OOOUCH!" Carlos yelled, rubbing the newly forming lump on his forehead.
Levine turned swiftly with a very surprised look on her face. "Ohhh, Carlos. I'm sorry." She rushed toward him, apologizing. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were back there."
Carlos pushed her away from him as she tried to inspect his forehead. "Stop. Don't touch me. What was that?"
"A spoon." Holly answered as a matter-of –fact.
"I CAN SEE THAT." Carlos half-shouted. "What's with the screaming, mumbling, chanting, and spoon throwing?" He grumbled.
"Something terrible has happened, Carlos. TERRIBLE." Levine was almost hysterical.
"What, did Ty resist your love potion?"
"It's worse than that. I…I spilled the potion on Bosco and on myself. And I don't know how to reverse it." Holly replied.
"You spilled it on Boscorelli?" Carlos couldn't contain his laughter.
"It's not funny, Carlos." Holly huffed. "What if it works? I don't want to be Mrs. Boscorelli." She screeched.
"Calm down, Levine. This is crazy. Love potions don't work." Carlos chuckled again.
"For once I hope your right, Carlos. But what if you're not?" Holly questioned.
"Well then, I guess congratulations would be in order, Mrs. Boscorelli. Look on the bright side. Bosco's not that bad a guy once you get to know him."
"NOT THAT BAD! He's an arrogant, pigheaded, obnoxious know it all; and that's on a good day. And besides that, he's so…so…..white. Have you noticed how pale he is for an Italian?"
Carlos shrugged. Holly never ceased to amaze him. "What's wrong with the guy being white?"
"Look at this white skin, Carlos!" Holly snapped, pointing to her own arm. "You don't know what it's like to be this pale. Always being called names as a child. Burning to a crisp every time you get in the sun. I won't put my children through that. That's why I'm marrying a dark skinned man, African American, Indian, maybe even Hispanic."
"Whoa, don't get any ideas there. You keep your potions to yourself." Carlos replied, backing away.
Holly rolled her eyes. "Not you, moron. Really, Carlos. You can come up with the strangest ideas."
Carlos just shook his head, ignoring Levine's last comment. "What about your first husband? Wasn't he white?"
Levine gingerly fingered the small pouch that hung around her neck. She knew that Carlos believed that it held some of her dead husband's ashes. "Simon was Jewish and he had the most beautiful olive skin."
Seeing the sad look of longing in Holly's eyes, Carlos tried to divert the conversation. "So what's with the flying utensils?"
"Haven't you ever heard of throwing a spoon on the ground when you make a wish? Then it has a better chance of coming true. Honestly, Carlos, sometimes I wonder about you."
XXXXXXXX
Ty looked at the officer in the seat next to him, wondering who he was and what he had done with the real Bosco. The Bosco that had stormed off to the dressing room, grumbling about Holly Levine, was not the guy who had returned.
The new Bosco sat quietly, humming a tune, occasionally commenting on how beautiful the day was. He was so calm and happy, it was almost ere.
"Bos? What's gotten into you, man?" Ty questioned.
Bosco looked at him cluelessly. "What?"
"I'm not used to the humming, happy Bosco. What happened to the grumpy Bosco?" Ty asked.
"What's there to be grumpy about? The sun is shining. The birds are singing." Bosco shrugged and looked out the window. They were riding through the park with their windows down. There were groups of kids playing. Couples picnicking. Even a clown, giving away balloons. A little girl holding a red balloon waved at Bosco, who waved back with a wide grin.
Ty stared at Bosco in amazement, wondering if he'd suddenly developed a split personality.
"Up up and away, in my beautiful, my beautiful balloon. My red balloon…"
"Bosco!"
"Huh" Bosco replied.
"You're singing." Ty pointed out.
"So" Bosco replied, and started humming the same tune.
"Are you ok, Bosco?" Ty was becoming alarmed.
Bosco chuckled slightly. "I'm fine, Ty. Can't a guy be happy?" Looking back out the window, he suddenly pointed. "Purse snatcher. Stop the car."
Ty, seeing an elderly woman screaming and a man running away with a purse, hit the brakes allowing Bosco to jump out and give chase. But the chase didn't last long as the two ran through a group of kids playing soccer. Bosco, focusing on the perp in front of him, failed to see the soccer ball sailing through the air towards him.
thump
"OH CRAP!" Ty shouted, jumping from the car and running towards Bosco who was sprawled on the ground motionless.
XXXXXXXX
"Adam-55, respond to Huntington Park. PD reports and officer down, apparently hit in the head with a soccer ball."
"Great" Carlos grumbled. "I knew this was going to be a crazy day."
As Carlos and Levine stopped at the scene, Ty approached them.
"What have we got?" Carlos asked as Levine gathered supplied from the back of the bus.
"Old lady had her purse snatched. She's pretty upset. You may want to take a look at her. And Bosco got hit in the head with a soccer ball during the chase." Ty reported, pointing to Bosco who was sitting in the grass, holding his head in his hands. "He was out for a minute or so. Still seems a little off."
Carlos started towards Bosco, then stopped. A grin on his face, he turned back to Holly. "Levine, I'm going to check on the victim. You take a look at Bosco."
Levine shot daggers at Carlos with her eyes as she passed him. "I'll remember this, Carlos."
Dropping her bag down onto the grass, she knelt in front of Bosco. Hearing him groan, she reached forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Officer Boscorelli?" When he looked up, she could see a lump forming just above his left eye. He had a large scrape and a deep purple bruise was forming. Seeing the look of pain on his face, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him. "You poor baby." She muttered as she dabbed his wound with a four by four.
"Ouch." He groaned.
"Sorry." Holly apologized. "What happened?" She asked, trying to see if he was oriented.
"Chasing a purse snatcher….got hit with a soccer ball." He muttered, then flinched as Levine cleaned the wound on his scalp.
After bandaging the scrape, she started a neurological check. "Ok, Bosco. Can you look up here? I need to check your eyes."
Bosco did as told, his gaze meeting Holly's.
Leaning forward to shine the light in his eyes, Holly soon found herself captivated by a sea of deep blue. So much so, that she was unable to react when Bosco placed a hand behind her neck and pulled her lips to his. Her heart skipped a beat as she found herself locked in a passionate kiss. Pulling away finally, gasping for air, her brain told her to get away. But something else told her 'no.' She wasn't sure if it was the look in his eyes, the smell of his cologne, or another faint smell that she couldn't quite place. But she pulled Bosco to her, kissing him madly.