Title: No Mercy (10/?)

Author: X_tremeroswellian

Email: X_tremeroswellian@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to John Wells, Edward Allen Bernero, NBC and a bunch of other people I've never met before in my life.

Rating: R for language, violence and content: deals with the issues of rape

Spoilers: Up through and including "Act Brave."

Summary: When one of their own is attacked by a serial rapist, the third watch crew sets out to find him before he strikes again.

Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know the link. Otherwise, its permanent home is at my site, Only Time: www.geocities.com/angel_roswell/onlytime.html.

Category: Story

Subcategories: Angst, angst, angst, drama, angst, friendship and did I mention angst?

Author's Note: This part is somewhat lighter than other parts have been. And it's probably going to be the last light part for awhile. Things are about to get dark, guys. So enjoy the lightheartedness of this part.

Feedback: I crave it. And it tends to make me write faster.

No Mercy (Part 10)

"Hey, Bosco," Davis said as Boz stepped into the locker room.

"Hey," he said back, walking over to his locker.

"How's Faith doing?" Sully asked, glancing up from where he was sitting on the bench tying his shoelaces.

"She's okay." He looked over his shoulder to the door.

"Who's staying with her today?" Davis questioned.

"Actually--"

"Hey, guys."

Sully and Davis both turned around to see Faith. They exchanged a look of surprise.

"Hey. What did Lt. Stick have to say?" Bosco asked as he stuffed his bag into his locker.

"He said welcome back," Faith answered. She glanced briefly at Sully and Davis before moving around them to head to her locker.

"You're here to work?" Sully asked, looking at Bosco with a frown.

"Yep."

There was a moment of brief silence.

"Well, welcome back," Davis said, closing his locker door.

"Yeah, welcome back," Sully echoed.

"Thanks, guys," she said, nodding and avoiding their gazes as she unzipped her jacket.

"See you in role call," Davis said as he and Sully left the locker room.

Bosco quickly changed into his uniform as Faith waited for him. "I think this is the first time I've been on time since--"

"Ever?" she supplied, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, watch it," he responded in mock offense. "You ready?"

"Yeah." Faith shut her locker and followed him towards the door.

Faith paused outside the role call room for a very brief moment. She took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and followed Bosco inside.

As soon as she stepped into the room, the noise level dropped instantly. She could feel everyone staring at her as she walked over to her seat.

"Let's get started," Sgt. Christopher said.

Faith forced herself to pay attention as Christopher began to debrief them on the list of suspects they were supposed to keep an eye out for that day.

After her was through, Christopher ended the meeting. "Yokas, stay back."

She frowned and glanced over at Bosco, who was also frowning. She stood up and walked to the front of the room with Bosco right behind her.

Sgt. Christopher glanced at her. "I need to see you in my office."

"What's this about, Jason?" Bosco asked cooly.

"My office," he repeated. He turned and left the room without another word.

"I'm sure he just wants to welcome me back," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

"I somehow doubt it," Bosco muttered.

"Quite frankly, I'm surprised to see you back so soon," Sgt. Christopher said, leaning back in his desk chair and staring at Faith.

"Yeah, well. I was bored, so I thought, what the heck. Maybe I'll go to work and do my job."

Bosco could tell she'd meant for it to be a joke, but her tone was a little too sharp, her body a little too tense.

"Right. Well, I need you to sign some paperwork so we can get you a new weapon since you lost your other one." He pulled open his desk drawer.

"She didn't lose it."

"Excuse me?" Christopher looked at him.

Bosco glared at him and made no effort to hide it. "She didn't lose her weapon. It was stolen."

Christopher rolled his eyes and pushed some paperwork across his desk to Faith.

She remained silent as she quickly read over and signed the documents.

"Just take those down the hall and give them to whoever's working the desk. They'll get you a new gun," Christoper told her.

"Thanks, Sarge." Faith glanced at Bosco, who glared one last time at Christopher before he followed her out into the hallway.

"I really hate that guy," he muttered.

It had been a relatively easy day so far. They'd taken one call about a peeping tom, who had turned out to be the caller's husband, who had accidently locked himself out of the house. Then they'd arrested a guy for drunk and disorderly conduct.

Bosco had been worried that the day would be full of action, and though he'd already talked to Sully and Davis about taking the more taxing calls, he was relieved that there hadn't really been any taxing calls.

He gripped the steering wheel and glanced over at Faith. "Hey. Sullivan and Davis said something about dinner at O'Malley's. You interested?"

"Yeah. Sure. I'll call it in." She punched the button on her radio and requested that 55-David take their dinner break.

"10-4, 55-David. Request approved."

He glanced over at her again out of the corner of his eye. "So...how you feeling? Okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she answered without hesitation.

"Fine. Right," he said under his breath. He stared ahead of him out the windshield and focused his attention on driving.

"It's gonna rain," Faith commented, her voice distant.

"Yep." Bosco pulled the car into the parking lot of O'Malley's and parked it next to 55-Charlie. He took off his seatbelt and climbed out of the squad. He stretched and glanced around the lot. "Looks like it's not just us," he commented, nodding towards the two ambulances parked side-by-side across the parking lot.

Faith didn't respond. She stood by the passenger side of their squad, staring at the road and watching the cars fly by.

He watched her for a moment, his concern growing. He walked over to her and touched her shoulder. "Faith?"

She blinked rapidly and her eyes focused on his face. "What?"

"You ready to eat?"

"Yeah." Wordlessly, she turned and left him standing alone.

Bosco shook his head and followed her.

"She looks good."

Bosco turned to see Jimmy Dohrety standing behind him in line for more food. "What?"

Jimmy nodded towards the table where everyone else was seated and eating dinner. "She looks good. You can barely tell that anything happened."

Bosco followed his gaze and looked at Faith, who was sitting in between Doc and Kim. "Yeah, barely," he echoed.

"How's she doing really?"

"Since when do you care?"

Jimmy was taken aback. "Hey, I like Yokas."

"Oh, yeah? I didn't see you at the hospital or over at my place visiting her," Bosco retorted.

"Look, man, we might not be best friends or even good friends, but I care about her," he answered, defensively.

Bosco drew in a deep breath. "Sorry. You're right. I'm just--on edge, all right? It's been a long week."

Jimmy nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure it has been. I....uh...heard about what's been going on. You really think this guy's gonna go after her again?"

"I don't know. Maybe."

"Well, if there's anything I can do..." His voice trailed off.

Bosco looked at him. "I know. Thanks, man."

"Sure."

"So, how's your first day back going?" Doc asked, glancing over at Faith.

She nodded. "It's been good. Normal."

"Glad to hear it." Doc smiled at her.

"Pass the salt," Carlos said without looking up from his plate.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Ever heard of the word 'please?'"

"Bite me," he retorted.

"As enticing as that offer sounds, Carlos, I'd rather throw myself in front of a moving train," she replied.

"Don't you two ever quit?" Doc asked, shaking his head.

"I'm beginning to think something's going on with the two of 'em," Davis spoke up, glancing across the table at Alex and hiding a grin.

She kicked him under the table.

"I'm trying to eat here, man," Carlos complained, making a face.

"What else is new?" Kim cut in, taking notice of the looks Alex and Davis were giving each other.

Sully glanced down the table at Faith. "You ever notice that only half of us actually act like adults and the rest seem like they belong at the McDonald's play village?"

"Hey," Davis protested.

Doc and Sully both laughed, and Faith managed a smile.

Bosco returned to the table a moment later, and took his seat across from his partner. He took a bite of the cheese soup he'd brought back. "This stuff is great." He glanced at Faith. "You ever tried it?"

She shook her head.

"Here." He pushed the bowl towards her and she picked her spoon off the table and dipped it into the bowl. She took a bite.

"That is good," Faith agreed, nodding.

"You can have it. I'll go get some more."

"No, that's all right, Boz."

"No, really. It's fine," he assured her.

Faith glanced at him, then gave in. "Thanks." She stood up. "Excuse me. I need to use the restroom," she said to Doc, who scooted his chair up to let her out. "I'll be right back."

Bosco stood up, as well, and headed towards the counter again.

As soon as they were gone, the remaining group exchanged glances. "Is it just me, or is Bosco acting really weird?" Carlos asked.

"What do you mean?" Doc asked, frowning.

"Oh, come on. He just gave Yokas his soup," he said in exasperation.

"They're partners," Kim reminded him.

"So? You don't see me giving Taylor my food," Carlos remarked, taking a drink of his soda.

"See me thanking God for that," Alex muttered, rolling her eyes.

"She's been through hell and back, Carlos. He's worried about her," Davis spoke up.

"I'm just sayin' it's not like him."

"How would you know?" Sully asked, his voice quiet.

"What?"

"How would you know if it was like him or not? You barely know the guy."

"Yeah, and you don't even like him," Carlos reminded him.

"We've had our problems, but he's a good guy," Sully said with a shrug.

"Think whatever you want, but there's more going on than what you're all saying." Carlos took a bite of his chicken salad.

"What? You mean with Faith and Bosco?" Jimmy asked, leaning forward and frowning.

"Yep."

"Carlos, she's married," Doc pointed out.

"Yeah, and do you see her husband anywhere? Heard either of them mention him at all? Don't you think it's a little odd that she's staying with Bosco and her husband is nowhere around?"

"He's out of town visiting family," Doc said quietly, setting his fork down on the table.

Carlos looked at him. "Yeah, says who?"

"Bosco told me."

The younger man sat back in his chair, a small smile on his face. "Exactly."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Bosco returned to the table, and a moment later, so did Faith.

"So anyone gonna watch the game tonight?" Alex asked uncomfortably.

There was a moment of silence.

"The game was last night," Bosco told her.

"Oh. Right."

"We should go," Doc said to Kim, glancing at his watch. "We're back on in five."

She nodded and stood up. "See you guys later." She followed Doc out the door.

"We should head out, too," Sully reminded Davis.

"Right." He looked across the table at Alex. "Bye," he said to everyone, but winked discreetly at her.

She smiled. "Later."

Jimmy looked from the retreating figure of Davis to Alex, who had a lovesick look on her face and he raised an eyebrow. He didn't know about Faith and Bosco, but there was most definitely something going on between Davis and Taylor. "Well, I'm gonna get back to work myself," he said, standing up.

"See ya," Alex told him. The others all nodded and waved.

Jimmy left.

"So, we'll see you guys later?" Alex asked as she stood up and slid her jacket on.

"Sure."

"I'm not done," Carlos protested.

She glared at him. "It's time to go back to work."

"Well, I'm still hungry."

"Shut up, Carlos. You know we'll be stopping somewhere else in less than an hour. I swear, if he doesn't eat something every hour on the hour, he gets the worst mood swings," she told Faith and Bosco, who both looked amused.

"Why do you have to be such a jerk?" he demanded.

"Someone's gotta keep you in line," Alex retorted. "If you're not out to the bus in one minute, I'm leaving your ass here." She turned and walked off.

Carlos followed her, grumbling the whole way.

"We used to sound like that," Faith commented, nodding towards them.

"Oh, come on. We've never been that bad."

She raised an eyebrow, then shrugged. "Maybe not *quite* that bad."

"Not even close," Bosco muttered, shaking his head. "We've had our problems, but we've always been friends. I don't think they even *like* each other."

"Me either." She tossed her napkin down onto the table. "You ready to get back out there?"

He nodded and stretched his arms above his head. "Yeah, you?"

"Yeah." Faith stood up and headed for the door.

Bosco followed her. "You wanna drive?"

She turned to look at him, surprised by the offer. "Sure."

He handed her the keys. "Let's go."

"It wasn't a bad night," Bosco stated as he unlocked the front door to his apartment.

"No, it wasn't. It was good to be back," she said quietly.

"It was good having you back," he told her. He glanced at her as he opened the door. "You feeling okay? You in any pain?"

Faith hesitated a moment. "Just a little. But the painkillers the doctor gave me should take care of it."

"They'll help you sleep, too." Bosco closed the door behind them and locked it.

"I'm gonna take a shower before I go to bed. Unless you wanted it first." She waited and looked at him.

"No, go ahead," he assured her, as he hung up his NYPD jacket.

"Okay." She headed towards the bathroom, got a few steps away, then paused. She turned to look at him again. "Hey, Bosco."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks. For everything."

Their eyes met, and he nodded slowly. "Don't mention it."

Faith nodded, then turned and disappeared into the bathroom.

Bosco sat down on his sofa and rested his chin on his hands. He stared at the wall, listening to the sound of running water, lost in thought.