Seajae jumped into the shower. She felt the stress of the day
loosen up in her sholders. Boscoe would be home soon, wondering why she
left without telling him or without him for that matter. She just needed
some alone time. Not a lot, just enough to mask the stress and the pain
that sucker punched her today. The man was stalking her. She looked him
straight in the eye tonight on the street. Her gun was drawn and her aim
was true to take him down when he looked at her like he wanted her to
shoot. It was then she paused and he was gone. It was no longer she after
him, it was him after her. And it scared the hell out of her. Like
nothing ever had. This man had killed her family twenty-five years ago,
now he was back to finnish the job.
Grabbing a bottle of beer and her cigarettes she threw on shorts and headed to the roof. It was sill hot and sticky but she felt so closterphobic lately. She lit a cigarette and watched the few stars she could see in the New York skyline. And like so many times before Boscoe came up behind her....but something was differet...maybe it was the sound of the footsteps. They were heavier and the stride a little longer. It was the smell that made her grab the Baretta on the table in front of her piviot and turn. Boscoe wore little or no after shave and after and eight hour shift rarly still smelled of it. The man in front of her reaked of colone.
Her gun was aimed at his forhead, his to her heart. Neither one willing to give up an inch. Seajea prayed for two things at that moment, for Boscoe to come straight home after work and if he didn't she hopped he didn't find too much of a mess.
"Okay Mueller, your here. Now what?"
"Your slacking bitch. That man has made you weak. Three months ago I would never have gotten this close." Seajea wanted to shoot the grin off his wrinkled face. Her fingure slid back and forth over the trigger.
"If anything he's made me stronger. I used to run from you and my memories, now I face them head on. Neither of them scare me anymore." The distict sound of the car Seajae was so despertly waiting for hummed down the street four stories bellow. Not flinching she took a long drag of her cigarette in her left hand. Waiting for the sound of the door slaming she tossed the half gone butt over the edge. "I would never have know who you were or what you wanted, so why didn't you just kill me. Why wait till I remembered that night?"
"What's the fun of stalking if the stalkee doesn't know. Where's the fear and fun in that?" He slowly started to pull the hammer back on his gun.
"So you want to see the look in my eyes when you kill me. Like my parents?"
"Thats the idea sunshine." The was laughter in his eyes. Seajea's fingure rubbed over the trigger again.
"Don't ever call me that you son of a bitch." At that the front door exploded inward. Seajae grabbed Mueller right arm with her left hand and twisted away just as he pulled the trigger. Boscoe was on top of him and wrestling him to the ground as she removed the gun from the struggling man's hand. With in seconds the apartment was filled with back up. Seajae stagarred backwark and let the men deal with the phycopath who had killed her family and nearly killed her.
"Get this garbage out of my house." Boscoe helped the man to his feet and shoved him to the nearest officer. He picked up his gun and handed to a detective. Seajae felt him take her Baretta from her hand. He pulled her close and held her tight. "Seajea?" She didn't answer him but tighted her grip around his waist."It's over baby, all over."
"We need a statement from McBride." One of the older detectives looked at the two of them."Bring her down in the morning Boscoe." It amazed Boscoe how fast the place cleared out. He sat Seajae down on the chair in front of them.
"Seajae talk to me honey." He knelt in front of her
"I'm ok. Really. It just happened so fast. I just need to get a grip...or something." He handed her her cigarettes and she shook her head. "Thank god for those things but no, just having you hear and knowing that understood my message." She kissed him deeply. "I thought I'd never make it tonight. I had thoughts of things I never did and things I never said."
"When that butt dropped in front of me I knew you must be in trouble or really drunk. You were only a half hour ahead of me so I knew it wasn't the drunk thing." He brusshed the hair out of her face. "I was scared to death what I would find up here. God Seajae." He kissed her long and hard. "Don't ever do that to me again."
"I love you Boscoe. I'm sorry it took this to make me see, Mueller to make me realize I wasn't getting weak because of my feelings I was getting stronger and able to face them knowing I had you to help me though."
"I love you too baby." He picked her up and carried to the bed. He kissed her softly and settled behind her holding her close. "Go to sleep Seajae. We'll finnish this in the morning." He held her closer and they both fell into a dreamless, eight hour sleep.
*********
Seajae opened on eye and checked the time. It was almost eight o'clock. Any second her alarm would ring and jar her up. Not wanting to deal with it she rolled over and turned it off and headed to the bathroom. She let the shower run cold and jumped in wanting to wake up. She slept like the dead and needed to get the cob webs out of her head. After ten minutes she got out and put her robe on. The smell of strong coffee sent her toward the kitchen.
Boscoe was sitting on the counter, cup in one hand sports page in the other. Seajae poured a cup for herself and settled herself between his legs. He dropped the paper on the counter and wraped his arms around her.
"You sleep okay?"
"Better then okay. I slept great. Knowing Mueller was not hiding around the courner helped." She snuggled closer into his embrace. "Knowing you were next to me helped too. I ment it last night, I love you."
"I've waited a long time to here that. I love you too Seajae. I never felt like this. It's scary. But its a good kind of scary. " The phone rand, breaking the peaceful moment between them. Boscoe leaned over and picked up the phone."Boscorelli"
"Boscoe, it's Royce. Is Seajae with you still?"
"Yeah, why?"He didn't like the sound in the detectives voice.
"Mueller....is missing."
"What do you mean missing. What the hell happened?"
"Some time around shift change this morning he just disappeared. I'm sorry I know how much this guy has hurt McBride. I have units headed your way to cover her and you for that matter, till he's recaptured."
"Royce it took twenty years to catch him this time, what makes you think he will get cought again....damn it." He slammed down the phone and jumped off the counter. He hadn't noticed that Seajae had gone into the living room and was curled up on the couch. She was shaking and tears flowed down her cheeks.
"I can't take this anymore. Even I have a breaking point and this is it Boscoe. I just can't take it." She broke down sobbing in his arms. He'd never seen this side of her and it was scaring him.
"We will find him sweetheart, I swear. I will not let this basterd hurt you again." Boscoe pulled Seajae close to him and held her tight. He would find Mueller and kill the son of a bitch if it was the last thing he did.
*********
It didn't take long for the back up to arrive. Seajea and gone to the out on the patio and sat alone. She tried hard to put Meuller out of her mind. Like so many times before she couldn't do it. She heard the people inside but didn't want the people she knew to see that she was weaked but the turn of events. It was hard enough she had broken down in front of Boscoe again. She was stronger then that. But lately Mueller had screwed with her mind and her will.
She had prided herself on her strength and professional behavior. Seajae lit a cigarette and sat back trying to let her brain start to shut down. She needed to to let all the crap of the last twenty four hours slip into oblivion. She took a long drag of her cigarette and thought about the good things in her life. He friends, her job, Boscoe. It had been so long since anyone made her feel like he did. Actually no one ever got that close to her, ever.
Boscoe watched Seajae from the window. She was shutting down and he didn't know if that was good or bad. The last time she did it they didn't speak for a week. She would wait till he was asleep, crawl into bed, hold his hand and try to sleep. Then one night she laid down next to him said she was sorry and all was well in her world. It had bothered him but he wasn't sure if he should bring up the subject again. He cleard out the men inside, only his partner Faith sat on the couch, waiting for him to make his move.
"I can't believe this is happening. They had the bastard." Faith stood up and stood next to him.
"If he's smart he won't come back."
"He is smart and he will come back. She is the last link to his past. He will try again. And this time the man is as good as dead."
"Don't do anything foolish Boscoe. You have a career to think about."
"Lot a good it will do me if she's dead. Faith...." He turned to her. "I love her. I have never felt this way about anyone or anything. I can't stand by and let him take her away. He's got her mind and soul right now and its killing me. And if he killed her I don't what I'd do." Faith had never seen him like this. He was a selfish, pig headed, chevinist bastard but she handled it. It was strange to see this part of him.
"I found out that a little prayer and a lot of love go a long way Boscoe. And it seems you've found the love part."
"It's been a long time since I prayed. I might of forgotten or he's forgotten me."
"Not a chance. Go take a shower. I'll stay with Seajae." She walked to the door and went out to the patio. She pulled the pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and handed them to Seajae. Boscoe watched as Seajea turned and looked at Faith. Her eyes were puffy and her hands were shaking. He turned and headed for the shower and to start praying all this would soon be over.
***********
"Is Boscoe okay?" Sajae asked Faith as she stared out over the skyline.
"He's dealing. Worried like hell about you though."
"He shouldn't."
"He has a right." Faith sat back and looked at her friend. "We all do. We care about you and what happens. Boscoe and I were there when he blew up that shelter in the park. We saw what he did to you mentally and physically. We want to help." Faith looked away. "He's hurt a lot of people and he needs to be stopped. You can't do it alone again."
"He should of killed me with the others and then maybe he would of stopped. It would of saved a whole lot of people some grief."
"Don't say that. You know as well as I do there's a reason for everything. Look how many lives you've saved. How many people's lives you've touched. Hell Boscoe alone should prove you were ment to have survived." Seajae laughed.
"You do have a point there. I just want to get my life together enough to make it all work and then he comes back. Hurting people, killing again. He should of died in prision." She crushed out her cigarette and turned to Faith. "I just want to have a life, maybe some kids and a little peace in my life. I thought I had found it."
"In this line of work there is no such thing as peace. There are some definate high points but I see where your headed. We are going to find this maniac, and you are going to have the little peace you want. It will happen. Hell every cop in the tri state area has this guys face pinned to their dash."
"He's close. I can feel it."
"Shouldn't you be worried standing out here. He could be on anyone of these buildings."
"No he would never try from that far away. He wants to see the fear, smell it on me before he kills me."
"We won't let him get that close." Boscoe was standing in the door way, still damp from the shower. "Hell be toast if he gets within a hundred yards of you." Seajae looked at him. He took her breath away standing there, shirtless with that don't mess with me look on his face.
"If he's smart he'll take himself out. It will be far less painfull then what I have in store for him." Seajae got up and headed inside. "I'm going to lay down for a while." She kissed Boscoe and headed inside.
"Why don't you go with her. You look like you need a few z's yourself."
"More like I need to keep an eye on her. I just want to keep her safe. You going to be okay alone?"
"With thirty cops within shouting distants I think I will be okay. I brought a book." She headed into the living room as Boscoe went into the bedroom. It was dark and cool. Seajae had put an ocean sounds cd in. It always relaxed her. He romoved his jeans and slipped into bed. Before his head hit the pillow Seajae turned and was in his arms. He kissed her slowly letting her set the pace.
"Make love to me Boscoe....I need to know it will be alright."
"Honey you know it will be." He ran his hands over her back.
"I just want to feel...I need to know you love me."
"Oh baby I do. Don't ever doubt that." They made slow, purposful love and when they both were complete they fell into a much needed and deserved peaceful sleep. They were awaken a few hours later by Faith knocking on the door.
"Boscoe, wake up we got a lead." Both of them were dressed and out in the living room in less then a minute.
"Where is he?" There were three or four detectives standing in front of them.
"He's taken some hostages and want to trade them for Seajae." Royce stood next to Boacoe. "He called the five five about ten minutes ago. He's in Central Park waiting. No one knows how many civillions he has."
"Let's go." Seajae headed for the door. Boscoe grabbed her arm and turned her around.
"You are not leaving here to go after him. He wants you dead."
"But he will kill those people. I need to think about them. They have families, people who care about them."
"What about the people who care about you. Did you stop to think about that. What about your friends, what about me. He will kill you then where does that leave me." Boscoe looked into her cold blue eyes. "I didn't particularry care for the son a bitch I was before you came along Seajae. Ask anyone, it wasn't pretty. If something happens to you the old me will be back, tenfold. I can't live like that anymore, can't live without you."
Never before had Marice Boscorelli poured out his heart in any way but to do it in front of friends and people he worked with it was a miricle in it's self. Seajae turned toward the door. Why did this have to happed now. She needed to exorcise Mueller from her life before she continued her life with Boscoe, he needed to understand that. Deep down she knew he did.
"I need to stop this sick bastard befor he hurts anyone else. He killed my family Boscoe. I don't even rember what they look like. I can never get that back."
"I know, but we can make a new life, with all the family you want. Let someone else take this guy down. Your in no shape to do this, metally or physically."
"I need to do this Boscoe, I need to end this so I can go on, so we can go on." She hugged him. "Let's go." She turned hoping Boscoe would follow and they could take Meuller down and get on with the life they both deserved. She got into the car waiting for her outside. Swiftly Boscoe got into the back seat and wedged himself on on the floor between the seats.
"I hope you know what your doing Mc Bride. I don't want it loose you. I can't. Just remember that."
"I will. I don't want to die either and Mueller knows what bottons to push." Seajae drove though the streets of New York like she'd live there all her life. Lights flashing and siren blaring she made it to Central Park in record time. Just as she did her cell phone rang. She answered it. "Yeah."
"Your hostages are at the merry-go-round. I still have one to make the deal. You have five minutes to get to the east side of the park....on foot. Fifth avanue entrance." He hung up.
"The hostages are at the merry-go-round I need to get to the fifth ave entrance in five minutes." She stored an extra weapon in her boot. "Don't be too far behind okay." Seajae got out and began to sprint across the expasion of the park. Boscoe radioed the position of the hostages and began the treck behind her.
*******
Seajae made it to the edge of the park with thirty seconds to spare. Out of breath and sweat dripping down her for head she searched for Meuller in the fadding sun set. He was sitting on a park bench ten yards away. A young woman at his side. Taking a deep breath she slowly walked toward him.
"So this is how we end it. You and me here. A fight to the death. Let the woman go Hans. I'm here now. You have me."
"And how do I know you don't have the place surrounded."
"In five minutes, not even I have that kind of power."
"What about your boyfriend, he seems to actually care about you. Not like the others."
"The others?" "The men in your life. A string of broken hearts from L.A. to New York." Mueller lessoned his grip on his hostage.
"You mean the ones you killed for breaking my heart. They were just sex. Harmless affairs. You think I cared about them, that they died. When you killed my parents you killed any chance of me ever caring for another human being. I'm thirty two years old and have not ever had one relationship I couldn't walk away from without a second glance."
"Not even Boscorelli?"
"Well the sex is better then most, but yeah. Don't you think that's a fate worse then death. Being alone for the rest of your life. I might as well be dead, I'm cold inside." Seajae raised her gun aiming it at Mueller's head. "Die you son of a bitch." Before Mueller could react Boscoe came up from behind and plowed him over, sending his gun flying. As the two fought Seajae took the woman far away from the two fighting men. She ran back to find Boscoe fighting to put Mueller in cuffs. Behind them sirens wailed.
"This is the last time you screw with my life Mueller." She kicked hem solidly in the stomach giving Boscoe the leverage he needed to cuff him. He stayed with his knee in Mueller's back until more then half a dozen officers took the man from him.
"Keep him tied down if you need to. Hell shoot him if he gives you any lip." Boscoe turned to find Seajae. She was sitting by a tree not to far from the commotion smoking a cigarette. He went and sat next to her. "You okay?"
"Better then most days. I'll breath easier when they pump his ass full of poision and they tell me he's dead." She put out her cigarette and looked at at Boscoe. It was too easy. He knew back up wasn't far behind but to let her get the upper hand.
"I took him by surprise Seajae." Boscoe had read her thoughts. "He didn't know I was there and that's all there is to it. We have him dead to rights. No one is going to let him get away this time." He took her in his arms and held her close. She was slipping into that place that he couldn't reach her.
"It was just to easy. Damb it what did I miss. There's something. Most likely a bomb ready to go off, killing hundreds of people."
"Stop it! I won't have you going over the what if's and the I should of done it differents. You will make yourself sick. It isn't worth it. Mueller knew you, knew you wouldn't trust anyone to help, but you did and he lost. You trusted me to back you up and we took him down." He stood up and helped her up. "Let's go home and take a long hot shower."
"I need to go to the station and get all this paper work cought up." All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for the next six months or so.
"We can take care of that tomorrow. You need to to relax and clear your mind. Clear it not shut down." He lead her toward the car. As he opened the door Seajae stopped and looked in his eyes.
"I love you BOscoe. Thank you for helping me become human again."
"You did the same for me. Seajae I can't stand to think about what would of happened today if Mueller would of killed you. I don't want to know what I would do without you. I never want to find that out." He kissed her then. A long slow kiss that made Seajae melt.
"We better go, befor I forget where we are and embarass us both." She sat down and shut the door as Boscoe went around the drivers side. He talked to a detective and then got in.
"You okay?" He took her hands and his.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess it's all catching up. Let's go home."
*********
Boscoe watched Seajae sleep. She had lost weight in the last three weeks. Living on cigarettes and diet pepsi didn't help very much. He didn't push the subject over the past few weeks but he was going change that. He was going to help out of the haze she had been living in for the past twenty five years. He wanted to spend every waking moment making her happy. Seajae turned and the sheet slipped to her waist.
The scar lay just between her belly botton and her hip bone. He knew it well. He kissed enough to know every detail of it. He remembered the day Mueller shot her like it was yesterday. It was the one day they hadn't worked the same shift. He had traded with a guy who's wife was having a baby. She had been going off duty just as he had been going on. Faith and Seajae had planed to grab a couple of beers at his mom's bar before going home.
Seajae drove Faith home around one in the morning and called the station to have him meet her for coffee at a diner. They talked for about twenty minutes. They were leaving the diner when the shot rang out. The impact of the bullet sent Seajae backward. Boscoe had cought her before she hit the ground. It was the scariest moment in his life. The ambulance took for ever, the blood was every where. He knew at that moment that he loved her. It took him three more months to tell her how much she ment to him. He ran a fingure lightly over the puckered skin.
"It wasn't your fault you know. I would of been shot even if you were first out of the door." Seajae ran her hand though his hair. She woke up may times to him touching her there and it always lead to him touching her other places. He laid his head on her stomach. "What's wrong cowboy?"
"This feels so right. You and me, here. Let's just stay here forever."
"In bed, mmm good idea but I know you love to eat. We'd get a little dehydrated too."
"I know. But you must admitt its a nice plan." He looked up. Her eyes were brighter then he had ever seen them. She had no make up on and he thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
"We should get on that paperwork. Maybe we can get things back to nomal around here."
"Amen to that." Seajae grabbed her clothes and headed for the bathroom. Boscoe watched her go. God he loved her and it scared the hell out of him.
***********
Seajae looked in the mirror. She looked like she'd been hit by a truck and it backed up and hit her again. She lit a cigarette and took a long drag. God she was beat. This last round with Mueller had taken its toll on her body and her soul. This time was different then the others. She had Boscoe to help her though. Seajae never had help dealing before. She mearly fell into a relationship to bury the pain. This time she had some one to share it with and it scared the hell out of her.
Boscoe was holstering his wapon when Seajae came out of the bathroom. He handed her her holster and gun.
"I never knew how sexy strapping on a gun was until I saw you do it." They both laughed.
"You must have it bad Boscorelli, if strapping on my gun makes you hot."
"I got it bad, you know I do." He kissed her. "I love you Seajae."
The paper work took longer then either of them had hoped. When they finally got though debriefing and about a million questions from co workers it was nearly time for roll call. They met by the door to the locker room.
"You want to go get something to eat?" Bosco thought Seajae looked tiered and worn out and the work day hadn't even started.
"I'm not hungry."
"Let be rephrase that, let's get something to eat. Sully, Yokas, and Davis are meeting us at the diner. And you will eat something Mashell McBride or I will be forsed to take drastic measures." He put his arm around her shouders and lead her out the front door. Before they made it out the desk sargent called to them.
"McBride...Rikers just called." She turned, all color drained from her face. She stumbled. Boscoe catching her before her legs gave out. "Your terrorist from last week wants to talk, the DA said you might want to be there. Call them when you get on duty."
"Breath McBride, come on baby. It's okay. Mueller is so locked up he'll never see the light of day." He sat her down on a bench and put her head between her legs. "Calm down. You need some time off Seajae. Your wound too tight to be working."
"I'm fine. Really. Boscoe please, I need to work. I just paniced."
"Baby you panic on the streets and your dead. I don't want that happing now or ever. Just take a few days."
"Let's go get something to eat and I will think about it. Okay."
"Okay, but you will be riding with someone if you do come back. If not me and Faith, someone else. Promise."
"I'll end up going to Rikers for that statment. SVU wants in on that too. Let's go I need a cigarette." They walked outside into the bright sunshine. It felt good on Seajae's face. She had been cold for so long. It amazed her that a place as big as New York could make her feel so welcome and loved. She glanced at Boscoe as they walked down the sidewalk. It was the people here. Bocoe, Faith, Sully, Davis, the paramedics and the firefighters across the street. They were her family now.
She had talk to her boss at the Marshall's office. This was an indefinate assignment. But if for some reason she was reassighed her boss said he would pull some strings and get her an NYPD posting. They owed her after everything with Mueller. She felt Boscoe grasp her hand and pull her tward the diner. There friends were already there. He stopped before going in.
"You okay?" She turned and looked into his deep blue eyes. She could get lost in those eyes. Hell who wouldn't. She smiled. Kissed him, pushed him away and strted into the diner.
"Never better. I can honestly say never better." Boscoe saw a brightness in her eyes and smile that told him she was telling him the truth.
PROLOG ONE YEAR LATER
Seajae watched as the strapped Hans Mueller to the table. She felt Boscoe wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back. Faith, Sully, and Davis stood around them. Mueller had ruined her life once. Touched the people around her with his violence. They stood strong together for her and each other and beat the moster that lay infront of them. Now it was his turn to die and the five held no compassion for the man.
Forty-seven people dead over twenty-five years. A child raised without the love of a family. A woman who until a short time ago knew nothing of love. A love so deep that wild Texas horses couldn't drag apart. For all Mueller had done, he had given Seajae these people in her life and a dozon more that she could call friends. And most important one she could call her child.
Boscoe watched Seajae's face as the posion was slowly enjected to the mans body. She leaned back agaist him and closed her eyes.
"Thank you god." She wispered. Then leaned closer to him and wispered in his ear. "I'm pregnant." He sqeezed her tightly know it was something just for them for the moment. Their worlds we complete. The hell was gone from their lives and the heaven was on its way. That's what every person deserved at least once in their life time.
The five left the prision and headed to there cars. Beepers started sounding. Another day, another crisis. But together they could handle it or anything else that came thier way.
Grabbing a bottle of beer and her cigarettes she threw on shorts and headed to the roof. It was sill hot and sticky but she felt so closterphobic lately. She lit a cigarette and watched the few stars she could see in the New York skyline. And like so many times before Boscoe came up behind her....but something was differet...maybe it was the sound of the footsteps. They were heavier and the stride a little longer. It was the smell that made her grab the Baretta on the table in front of her piviot and turn. Boscoe wore little or no after shave and after and eight hour shift rarly still smelled of it. The man in front of her reaked of colone.
Her gun was aimed at his forhead, his to her heart. Neither one willing to give up an inch. Seajea prayed for two things at that moment, for Boscoe to come straight home after work and if he didn't she hopped he didn't find too much of a mess.
"Okay Mueller, your here. Now what?"
"Your slacking bitch. That man has made you weak. Three months ago I would never have gotten this close." Seajea wanted to shoot the grin off his wrinkled face. Her fingure slid back and forth over the trigger.
"If anything he's made me stronger. I used to run from you and my memories, now I face them head on. Neither of them scare me anymore." The distict sound of the car Seajae was so despertly waiting for hummed down the street four stories bellow. Not flinching she took a long drag of her cigarette in her left hand. Waiting for the sound of the door slaming she tossed the half gone butt over the edge. "I would never have know who you were or what you wanted, so why didn't you just kill me. Why wait till I remembered that night?"
"What's the fun of stalking if the stalkee doesn't know. Where's the fear and fun in that?" He slowly started to pull the hammer back on his gun.
"So you want to see the look in my eyes when you kill me. Like my parents?"
"Thats the idea sunshine." The was laughter in his eyes. Seajea's fingure rubbed over the trigger again.
"Don't ever call me that you son of a bitch." At that the front door exploded inward. Seajae grabbed Mueller right arm with her left hand and twisted away just as he pulled the trigger. Boscoe was on top of him and wrestling him to the ground as she removed the gun from the struggling man's hand. With in seconds the apartment was filled with back up. Seajae stagarred backwark and let the men deal with the phycopath who had killed her family and nearly killed her.
"Get this garbage out of my house." Boscoe helped the man to his feet and shoved him to the nearest officer. He picked up his gun and handed to a detective. Seajae felt him take her Baretta from her hand. He pulled her close and held her tight. "Seajea?" She didn't answer him but tighted her grip around his waist."It's over baby, all over."
"We need a statement from McBride." One of the older detectives looked at the two of them."Bring her down in the morning Boscoe." It amazed Boscoe how fast the place cleared out. He sat Seajae down on the chair in front of them.
"Seajae talk to me honey." He knelt in front of her
"I'm ok. Really. It just happened so fast. I just need to get a grip...or something." He handed her her cigarettes and she shook her head. "Thank god for those things but no, just having you hear and knowing that understood my message." She kissed him deeply. "I thought I'd never make it tonight. I had thoughts of things I never did and things I never said."
"When that butt dropped in front of me I knew you must be in trouble or really drunk. You were only a half hour ahead of me so I knew it wasn't the drunk thing." He brusshed the hair out of her face. "I was scared to death what I would find up here. God Seajae." He kissed her long and hard. "Don't ever do that to me again."
"I love you Boscoe. I'm sorry it took this to make me see, Mueller to make me realize I wasn't getting weak because of my feelings I was getting stronger and able to face them knowing I had you to help me though."
"I love you too baby." He picked her up and carried to the bed. He kissed her softly and settled behind her holding her close. "Go to sleep Seajae. We'll finnish this in the morning." He held her closer and they both fell into a dreamless, eight hour sleep.
*********
Seajae opened on eye and checked the time. It was almost eight o'clock. Any second her alarm would ring and jar her up. Not wanting to deal with it she rolled over and turned it off and headed to the bathroom. She let the shower run cold and jumped in wanting to wake up. She slept like the dead and needed to get the cob webs out of her head. After ten minutes she got out and put her robe on. The smell of strong coffee sent her toward the kitchen.
Boscoe was sitting on the counter, cup in one hand sports page in the other. Seajae poured a cup for herself and settled herself between his legs. He dropped the paper on the counter and wraped his arms around her.
"You sleep okay?"
"Better then okay. I slept great. Knowing Mueller was not hiding around the courner helped." She snuggled closer into his embrace. "Knowing you were next to me helped too. I ment it last night, I love you."
"I've waited a long time to here that. I love you too Seajae. I never felt like this. It's scary. But its a good kind of scary. " The phone rand, breaking the peaceful moment between them. Boscoe leaned over and picked up the phone."Boscorelli"
"Boscoe, it's Royce. Is Seajae with you still?"
"Yeah, why?"He didn't like the sound in the detectives voice.
"Mueller....is missing."
"What do you mean missing. What the hell happened?"
"Some time around shift change this morning he just disappeared. I'm sorry I know how much this guy has hurt McBride. I have units headed your way to cover her and you for that matter, till he's recaptured."
"Royce it took twenty years to catch him this time, what makes you think he will get cought again....damn it." He slammed down the phone and jumped off the counter. He hadn't noticed that Seajae had gone into the living room and was curled up on the couch. She was shaking and tears flowed down her cheeks.
"I can't take this anymore. Even I have a breaking point and this is it Boscoe. I just can't take it." She broke down sobbing in his arms. He'd never seen this side of her and it was scaring him.
"We will find him sweetheart, I swear. I will not let this basterd hurt you again." Boscoe pulled Seajae close to him and held her tight. He would find Mueller and kill the son of a bitch if it was the last thing he did.
*********
It didn't take long for the back up to arrive. Seajea and gone to the out on the patio and sat alone. She tried hard to put Meuller out of her mind. Like so many times before she couldn't do it. She heard the people inside but didn't want the people she knew to see that she was weaked but the turn of events. It was hard enough she had broken down in front of Boscoe again. She was stronger then that. But lately Mueller had screwed with her mind and her will.
She had prided herself on her strength and professional behavior. Seajae lit a cigarette and sat back trying to let her brain start to shut down. She needed to to let all the crap of the last twenty four hours slip into oblivion. She took a long drag of her cigarette and thought about the good things in her life. He friends, her job, Boscoe. It had been so long since anyone made her feel like he did. Actually no one ever got that close to her, ever.
Boscoe watched Seajae from the window. She was shutting down and he didn't know if that was good or bad. The last time she did it they didn't speak for a week. She would wait till he was asleep, crawl into bed, hold his hand and try to sleep. Then one night she laid down next to him said she was sorry and all was well in her world. It had bothered him but he wasn't sure if he should bring up the subject again. He cleard out the men inside, only his partner Faith sat on the couch, waiting for him to make his move.
"I can't believe this is happening. They had the bastard." Faith stood up and stood next to him.
"If he's smart he won't come back."
"He is smart and he will come back. She is the last link to his past. He will try again. And this time the man is as good as dead."
"Don't do anything foolish Boscoe. You have a career to think about."
"Lot a good it will do me if she's dead. Faith...." He turned to her. "I love her. I have never felt this way about anyone or anything. I can't stand by and let him take her away. He's got her mind and soul right now and its killing me. And if he killed her I don't what I'd do." Faith had never seen him like this. He was a selfish, pig headed, chevinist bastard but she handled it. It was strange to see this part of him.
"I found out that a little prayer and a lot of love go a long way Boscoe. And it seems you've found the love part."
"It's been a long time since I prayed. I might of forgotten or he's forgotten me."
"Not a chance. Go take a shower. I'll stay with Seajae." She walked to the door and went out to the patio. She pulled the pack of cigarettes out of her pocket and handed them to Seajae. Boscoe watched as Seajea turned and looked at Faith. Her eyes were puffy and her hands were shaking. He turned and headed for the shower and to start praying all this would soon be over.
***********
"Is Boscoe okay?" Sajae asked Faith as she stared out over the skyline.
"He's dealing. Worried like hell about you though."
"He shouldn't."
"He has a right." Faith sat back and looked at her friend. "We all do. We care about you and what happens. Boscoe and I were there when he blew up that shelter in the park. We saw what he did to you mentally and physically. We want to help." Faith looked away. "He's hurt a lot of people and he needs to be stopped. You can't do it alone again."
"He should of killed me with the others and then maybe he would of stopped. It would of saved a whole lot of people some grief."
"Don't say that. You know as well as I do there's a reason for everything. Look how many lives you've saved. How many people's lives you've touched. Hell Boscoe alone should prove you were ment to have survived." Seajae laughed.
"You do have a point there. I just want to get my life together enough to make it all work and then he comes back. Hurting people, killing again. He should of died in prision." She crushed out her cigarette and turned to Faith. "I just want to have a life, maybe some kids and a little peace in my life. I thought I had found it."
"In this line of work there is no such thing as peace. There are some definate high points but I see where your headed. We are going to find this maniac, and you are going to have the little peace you want. It will happen. Hell every cop in the tri state area has this guys face pinned to their dash."
"He's close. I can feel it."
"Shouldn't you be worried standing out here. He could be on anyone of these buildings."
"No he would never try from that far away. He wants to see the fear, smell it on me before he kills me."
"We won't let him get that close." Boscoe was standing in the door way, still damp from the shower. "Hell be toast if he gets within a hundred yards of you." Seajae looked at him. He took her breath away standing there, shirtless with that don't mess with me look on his face.
"If he's smart he'll take himself out. It will be far less painfull then what I have in store for him." Seajae got up and headed inside. "I'm going to lay down for a while." She kissed Boscoe and headed inside.
"Why don't you go with her. You look like you need a few z's yourself."
"More like I need to keep an eye on her. I just want to keep her safe. You going to be okay alone?"
"With thirty cops within shouting distants I think I will be okay. I brought a book." She headed into the living room as Boscoe went into the bedroom. It was dark and cool. Seajae had put an ocean sounds cd in. It always relaxed her. He romoved his jeans and slipped into bed. Before his head hit the pillow Seajae turned and was in his arms. He kissed her slowly letting her set the pace.
"Make love to me Boscoe....I need to know it will be alright."
"Honey you know it will be." He ran his hands over her back.
"I just want to feel...I need to know you love me."
"Oh baby I do. Don't ever doubt that." They made slow, purposful love and when they both were complete they fell into a much needed and deserved peaceful sleep. They were awaken a few hours later by Faith knocking on the door.
"Boscoe, wake up we got a lead." Both of them were dressed and out in the living room in less then a minute.
"Where is he?" There were three or four detectives standing in front of them.
"He's taken some hostages and want to trade them for Seajae." Royce stood next to Boacoe. "He called the five five about ten minutes ago. He's in Central Park waiting. No one knows how many civillions he has."
"Let's go." Seajae headed for the door. Boscoe grabbed her arm and turned her around.
"You are not leaving here to go after him. He wants you dead."
"But he will kill those people. I need to think about them. They have families, people who care about them."
"What about the people who care about you. Did you stop to think about that. What about your friends, what about me. He will kill you then where does that leave me." Boscoe looked into her cold blue eyes. "I didn't particularry care for the son a bitch I was before you came along Seajae. Ask anyone, it wasn't pretty. If something happens to you the old me will be back, tenfold. I can't live like that anymore, can't live without you."
Never before had Marice Boscorelli poured out his heart in any way but to do it in front of friends and people he worked with it was a miricle in it's self. Seajae turned toward the door. Why did this have to happed now. She needed to exorcise Mueller from her life before she continued her life with Boscoe, he needed to understand that. Deep down she knew he did.
"I need to stop this sick bastard befor he hurts anyone else. He killed my family Boscoe. I don't even rember what they look like. I can never get that back."
"I know, but we can make a new life, with all the family you want. Let someone else take this guy down. Your in no shape to do this, metally or physically."
"I need to do this Boscoe, I need to end this so I can go on, so we can go on." She hugged him. "Let's go." She turned hoping Boscoe would follow and they could take Meuller down and get on with the life they both deserved. She got into the car waiting for her outside. Swiftly Boscoe got into the back seat and wedged himself on on the floor between the seats.
"I hope you know what your doing Mc Bride. I don't want it loose you. I can't. Just remember that."
"I will. I don't want to die either and Mueller knows what bottons to push." Seajae drove though the streets of New York like she'd live there all her life. Lights flashing and siren blaring she made it to Central Park in record time. Just as she did her cell phone rang. She answered it. "Yeah."
"Your hostages are at the merry-go-round. I still have one to make the deal. You have five minutes to get to the east side of the park....on foot. Fifth avanue entrance." He hung up.
"The hostages are at the merry-go-round I need to get to the fifth ave entrance in five minutes." She stored an extra weapon in her boot. "Don't be too far behind okay." Seajae got out and began to sprint across the expasion of the park. Boscoe radioed the position of the hostages and began the treck behind her.
*******
Seajae made it to the edge of the park with thirty seconds to spare. Out of breath and sweat dripping down her for head she searched for Meuller in the fadding sun set. He was sitting on a park bench ten yards away. A young woman at his side. Taking a deep breath she slowly walked toward him.
"So this is how we end it. You and me here. A fight to the death. Let the woman go Hans. I'm here now. You have me."
"And how do I know you don't have the place surrounded."
"In five minutes, not even I have that kind of power."
"What about your boyfriend, he seems to actually care about you. Not like the others."
"The others?" "The men in your life. A string of broken hearts from L.A. to New York." Mueller lessoned his grip on his hostage.
"You mean the ones you killed for breaking my heart. They were just sex. Harmless affairs. You think I cared about them, that they died. When you killed my parents you killed any chance of me ever caring for another human being. I'm thirty two years old and have not ever had one relationship I couldn't walk away from without a second glance."
"Not even Boscorelli?"
"Well the sex is better then most, but yeah. Don't you think that's a fate worse then death. Being alone for the rest of your life. I might as well be dead, I'm cold inside." Seajae raised her gun aiming it at Mueller's head. "Die you son of a bitch." Before Mueller could react Boscoe came up from behind and plowed him over, sending his gun flying. As the two fought Seajae took the woman far away from the two fighting men. She ran back to find Boscoe fighting to put Mueller in cuffs. Behind them sirens wailed.
"This is the last time you screw with my life Mueller." She kicked hem solidly in the stomach giving Boscoe the leverage he needed to cuff him. He stayed with his knee in Mueller's back until more then half a dozen officers took the man from him.
"Keep him tied down if you need to. Hell shoot him if he gives you any lip." Boscoe turned to find Seajae. She was sitting by a tree not to far from the commotion smoking a cigarette. He went and sat next to her. "You okay?"
"Better then most days. I'll breath easier when they pump his ass full of poision and they tell me he's dead." She put out her cigarette and looked at at Boscoe. It was too easy. He knew back up wasn't far behind but to let her get the upper hand.
"I took him by surprise Seajae." Boscoe had read her thoughts. "He didn't know I was there and that's all there is to it. We have him dead to rights. No one is going to let him get away this time." He took her in his arms and held her close. She was slipping into that place that he couldn't reach her.
"It was just to easy. Damb it what did I miss. There's something. Most likely a bomb ready to go off, killing hundreds of people."
"Stop it! I won't have you going over the what if's and the I should of done it differents. You will make yourself sick. It isn't worth it. Mueller knew you, knew you wouldn't trust anyone to help, but you did and he lost. You trusted me to back you up and we took him down." He stood up and helped her up. "Let's go home and take a long hot shower."
"I need to go to the station and get all this paper work cought up." All she wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for the next six months or so.
"We can take care of that tomorrow. You need to to relax and clear your mind. Clear it not shut down." He lead her toward the car. As he opened the door Seajae stopped and looked in his eyes.
"I love you BOscoe. Thank you for helping me become human again."
"You did the same for me. Seajae I can't stand to think about what would of happened today if Mueller would of killed you. I don't want to know what I would do without you. I never want to find that out." He kissed her then. A long slow kiss that made Seajae melt.
"We better go, befor I forget where we are and embarass us both." She sat down and shut the door as Boscoe went around the drivers side. He talked to a detective and then got in.
"You okay?" He took her hands and his.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess it's all catching up. Let's go home."
*********
Boscoe watched Seajae sleep. She had lost weight in the last three weeks. Living on cigarettes and diet pepsi didn't help very much. He didn't push the subject over the past few weeks but he was going change that. He was going to help out of the haze she had been living in for the past twenty five years. He wanted to spend every waking moment making her happy. Seajae turned and the sheet slipped to her waist.
The scar lay just between her belly botton and her hip bone. He knew it well. He kissed enough to know every detail of it. He remembered the day Mueller shot her like it was yesterday. It was the one day they hadn't worked the same shift. He had traded with a guy who's wife was having a baby. She had been going off duty just as he had been going on. Faith and Seajae had planed to grab a couple of beers at his mom's bar before going home.
Seajae drove Faith home around one in the morning and called the station to have him meet her for coffee at a diner. They talked for about twenty minutes. They were leaving the diner when the shot rang out. The impact of the bullet sent Seajae backward. Boscoe had cought her before she hit the ground. It was the scariest moment in his life. The ambulance took for ever, the blood was every where. He knew at that moment that he loved her. It took him three more months to tell her how much she ment to him. He ran a fingure lightly over the puckered skin.
"It wasn't your fault you know. I would of been shot even if you were first out of the door." Seajae ran her hand though his hair. She woke up may times to him touching her there and it always lead to him touching her other places. He laid his head on her stomach. "What's wrong cowboy?"
"This feels so right. You and me, here. Let's just stay here forever."
"In bed, mmm good idea but I know you love to eat. We'd get a little dehydrated too."
"I know. But you must admitt its a nice plan." He looked up. Her eyes were brighter then he had ever seen them. She had no make up on and he thought she was the most beautiful thing in the world.
"We should get on that paperwork. Maybe we can get things back to nomal around here."
"Amen to that." Seajae grabbed her clothes and headed for the bathroom. Boscoe watched her go. God he loved her and it scared the hell out of him.
***********
Seajae looked in the mirror. She looked like she'd been hit by a truck and it backed up and hit her again. She lit a cigarette and took a long drag. God she was beat. This last round with Mueller had taken its toll on her body and her soul. This time was different then the others. She had Boscoe to help her though. Seajae never had help dealing before. She mearly fell into a relationship to bury the pain. This time she had some one to share it with and it scared the hell out of her.
Boscoe was holstering his wapon when Seajae came out of the bathroom. He handed her her holster and gun.
"I never knew how sexy strapping on a gun was until I saw you do it." They both laughed.
"You must have it bad Boscorelli, if strapping on my gun makes you hot."
"I got it bad, you know I do." He kissed her. "I love you Seajae."
The paper work took longer then either of them had hoped. When they finally got though debriefing and about a million questions from co workers it was nearly time for roll call. They met by the door to the locker room.
"You want to go get something to eat?" Bosco thought Seajae looked tiered and worn out and the work day hadn't even started.
"I'm not hungry."
"Let be rephrase that, let's get something to eat. Sully, Yokas, and Davis are meeting us at the diner. And you will eat something Mashell McBride or I will be forsed to take drastic measures." He put his arm around her shouders and lead her out the front door. Before they made it out the desk sargent called to them.
"McBride...Rikers just called." She turned, all color drained from her face. She stumbled. Boscoe catching her before her legs gave out. "Your terrorist from last week wants to talk, the DA said you might want to be there. Call them when you get on duty."
"Breath McBride, come on baby. It's okay. Mueller is so locked up he'll never see the light of day." He sat her down on a bench and put her head between her legs. "Calm down. You need some time off Seajae. Your wound too tight to be working."
"I'm fine. Really. Boscoe please, I need to work. I just paniced."
"Baby you panic on the streets and your dead. I don't want that happing now or ever. Just take a few days."
"Let's go get something to eat and I will think about it. Okay."
"Okay, but you will be riding with someone if you do come back. If not me and Faith, someone else. Promise."
"I'll end up going to Rikers for that statment. SVU wants in on that too. Let's go I need a cigarette." They walked outside into the bright sunshine. It felt good on Seajae's face. She had been cold for so long. It amazed her that a place as big as New York could make her feel so welcome and loved. She glanced at Boscoe as they walked down the sidewalk. It was the people here. Bocoe, Faith, Sully, Davis, the paramedics and the firefighters across the street. They were her family now.
She had talk to her boss at the Marshall's office. This was an indefinate assignment. But if for some reason she was reassighed her boss said he would pull some strings and get her an NYPD posting. They owed her after everything with Mueller. She felt Boscoe grasp her hand and pull her tward the diner. There friends were already there. He stopped before going in.
"You okay?" She turned and looked into his deep blue eyes. She could get lost in those eyes. Hell who wouldn't. She smiled. Kissed him, pushed him away and strted into the diner.
"Never better. I can honestly say never better." Boscoe saw a brightness in her eyes and smile that told him she was telling him the truth.
PROLOG ONE YEAR LATER
Seajae watched as the strapped Hans Mueller to the table. She felt Boscoe wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back. Faith, Sully, and Davis stood around them. Mueller had ruined her life once. Touched the people around her with his violence. They stood strong together for her and each other and beat the moster that lay infront of them. Now it was his turn to die and the five held no compassion for the man.
Forty-seven people dead over twenty-five years. A child raised without the love of a family. A woman who until a short time ago knew nothing of love. A love so deep that wild Texas horses couldn't drag apart. For all Mueller had done, he had given Seajae these people in her life and a dozon more that she could call friends. And most important one she could call her child.
Boscoe watched Seajae's face as the posion was slowly enjected to the mans body. She leaned back agaist him and closed her eyes.
"Thank you god." She wispered. Then leaned closer to him and wispered in his ear. "I'm pregnant." He sqeezed her tightly know it was something just for them for the moment. Their worlds we complete. The hell was gone from their lives and the heaven was on its way. That's what every person deserved at least once in their life time.
The five left the prision and headed to there cars. Beepers started sounding. Another day, another crisis. But together they could handle it or anything else that came thier way.