Title: So Fragile Series: Just Breathe Author: Joani Rating: PG-13 Spoiler: 'Closing In' (aired Apr. 21, 2003) Disclaimer: The author (having tried all sarcastic avenues to express this) does not own Third Watch, the ideas of Third Watch, or the characters of Third Watch. But don't tell her that, you might break her. ***

There was no tomorrow.

Faith heard that as soon as she walked in.

"You heard about Boscorelli?" Gusler yelled to Faith as she came into the change room.

"No, what?" she said, looking around for him.

"He's down."

Faith's heart went to China.

"What?"

"Yeah, got shot going into a druggie's. He and Cruz."

Faith couldn't move. She could swear that she couldn't even hear her heartbeat. The only thing she could think was that she had lost her chance to listen.

"They were using some kind of armor-piercing bullets."

Faith wanted to die.

"But he's in ICU at Mercy, and the doctors think there's a chance he'll make it."

Faith faintly heard her new partner whip the garbage pail around, which was fortunate, because Faith lost what she'd had for lunch.

Her new partner watched her with wise, mother-y eyes, "You'd better go, Faith," the young woman said, "I'll tell the Sarge."

***

Someone must have driven her, later, because she had no memory of getting to Our Lady of Mercy hospital.

In a moment of lucidity, waiting out on the plastic chairs, waiting, Faith espied the name over a statue of the Virgin Mary, arms open to welcome anyone. If the Lady was so merciful, Faith thought, she'd let Bosco live, so Faith could hear his woes and tell him she was sorry that she hadn't before.

She'd let Bosco live.

Oh God, she suddenly thought, Bosco might be dying. Her throat closed up, and her eyes watered until all she could focus on were the open arms of the Lady, and her kind face offering unconditional love.

Someone brought her a cup of coffee. Sat down next to her and rubbed her back. Didn't say anything until she took the Styrofoam cup, and sipped. Tasted like swill.

She looked up into Ty's kind brown eyes. Saw herself reflected there, looking faint and lost.

"They say Cruz didn't make it. The armor-piercers got her in the heart."

A faint part of Faith thought that a pity, because she would love to kill the bitch herself.

"Bosco's out of surgery, though. Had to fix his shoulder and his stomach. Took out a good chunk of intestine, but they think he'll pull through."

Ty's voice saying those last words was something akin to water pouring over a sponge.

"He'll live?"

It was almost too much to hope for, for Faith, because she suddenly felt like the sun was shining on her again. The hope was so fragile, that she thought if she accepted it, it would break, and she'd find it all to be a lie, and there would be nothing but despair now.

Ty nodded, "The docs think so."

"C - can I see him?"

"Yes, Faith, you may." A new voice broke into the conversation. Faith looked up into Rose's teary, compassionate eyes. The older woman turned to the doctor next to her, "She's his sister, so let her in."

The doctor was an old hat, well used to the tricks of the trade, and nodded. "Follow me, ma'am."

Faith almost couldn't stand up, her knees were so weak. Ty's steadying hand was shrugged off when she felt she was stable.

"You going to be alright, ma'am?" the doctor asked her.

Faith looked up at him and gave him a tremulous smile, and said, "I'm fine," though it was a lie.