Short chapter. Sorry for that, but writing Faith's POV during this timeframeis somewhat tricky. :-p

The rookie from Boston shifted restlessly in the passenger's seat, gazing out the window at the intermittently falling rain. He hadn't said four words since the beginning of the shift. Davis wondered what could possibly cause the normally up-beat rookie to fall into brooding silence. Not even Matt's buddy Jamie O'Shea had been able to coax him into talking.

"Are you up for some coffee?"

Matt's only reply was a grunt. He didn't even bother taking his eyes off the dreary scenery sliding past outside.

"You gonna be like this all night or what?"

"Be like what?"

"Quiet. It's not like you, man."

The brawny rookie just shrugged. "Just a bit tired. Nothing new."

"You've been tired for almost a week. Are you sure nothing's wrong?"

"Yeah, Davis, I'm pretty sure everything's cool. Shut up about it already."

Davis was taken back by the sudden vehemence in the rookie's voice. There had to be something going on. He'd never heard that kind of anger come from Matt in the brief time he'd known him. "Look, I'm not trying to piss you off. I was only asking."

"Yeah, well, don't." Matt closed his eyes and rubbed his temples with a weary sigh. "I don't mean to be snappish. It's a family issue. I'm just glad I got tomorrow off."

"Why?"

"Gotta head north for the day."

"And…?"

"What, you want to get involved?"

Davis bit his lip, sensing that this was dangerous territory. "I don't know. Should I?"

"It's family business, but I don't think outside help would be a bad thing."

"'Outside help'?"

"Yeah. It's got to do with my sister. Our parents are next to useless – I don't even think she's told them. The only one who knows aside from me is her partner."

"Wait, who knows what?"

"Are you good for a trip to Boston?"

"Not unless I know why I should be going there."

Matt looked him in the eye for the first time all shift. "If she knew I was spreadin' this around, she'd kill me. She's been having trouble with one of the detectives. He's harassing her bad. She won't do anything about it, though, 'cause she's afraid of backlash from the guys." He shrugged. "She doesn't have to do anything. I sure as hell will."

"So you're turning vigilante?"

"Hardly. Just a little South Boston justice."

"I think I'll pass on that, Deschaine. Getting in the middle of trouble like that isn't my thing."

"Fine by me. I know a guy who'd be more than happy to go talk to this detective with me. We should be all set."

"You're just gonna talk to him, right?"

"This is my sister, Davis. What do you think I'm gonna do? Send the guy flowers?"

Davis sighed, shaking his head. Was he just like this when he was a rookie? "C'mon, Deschaine. Jumping a detective isn't really the best thing you can do for your career. I'm pretty sure that your sister is handling this herself."

"No! That's the thing. She's not doing a damn thing. This bastard is screwing up her life and she's letting him." The anger in Matt's voice was hot enough to boil water. "I'll be damned if I let some scum-sucking piece of Roxbury trash walk all over my sister like this. Hell no."

"Man, you're gonna get yourself into big trouble."

"Whatever. I'm willing to risk it."

"Then you're crazy. I'm telling you, Deschaine, it's not worth it."

Matt's glare might have peeled paint off a wall. "I don't give a damn if you think it's a bad idea or not. You're not gonna tag along so it's none of your business."

"Hey, it'll be my business when IAB comes around, asking if I know why my partner beat the crap out of a Boston police officer." Davis shot back.

"So you're my conscience now? Wonderful."

"Look, you do whatever the hell you think you have to. I don't care. Just make damned sure that it will not follow you back here. You may not give a damn about your career here, but I sure as hell do. If you go down for anything, don't expect me to take the fall with you."

"Your support is overwhelming."

"I'm just tellin' you how it is."

"Fine by me."

Tense silence crept back into the RMP. Davis silently fumed at his rookie partner's boldness and clearly volatile temper. He had no sympathy for the detective who was harassing Deschaine's sister, but Matt was only headed straight for major trouble. There was no doubt in Davis' mind that the rookie would do as he said. He certainly had a staunch sense of protectiveness for his older sibling. As admirable as that was, it couldn't do anybody any good. Davis was tempted to agree to the trip, just to try to keep his partner out of trouble.

"Look man – "

"Central, Five-Five David. Take an erratic vehicle complaint near the corner of Lexington and East 112th. Complainant advises that the vehicle is a red Toyota Camry, New York tag One-Seven-Five-David-Boy. Ten-three?"

"Five-Five David, ten-four, 112 and Lex." Davis answered as Matt activated the roof-mounted lights. This conversation would have to wait.

"Are you hungry?"

"Not right now. Maybe later."

Fred's questioning expression was reflected in his tone. "You haven't eaten all day, though."

"I'm fine."

"Okay."

She heard him retreat back to the kitchen. Truth be told, she was hungry, but she didn't want to eat. She didn't want to do much of anything. Ever since Davis' new partner had appeared with his story, she had fallen into a state of half-shock, half-guilt. Bosco had abandoned everything he knew and loved in New York for Boston, a city unknown and alien to him. Why had it come to this?

Fred had been less than happy with her since she'd abruptly cancelled all planned therapy appointments, but he went along with it. It wasn't hard to guess that he wanted her to recover fully. She wasn't sure that his hopefulness was as strong as he pretended it was. Hers certainly had faltered badly. There just was not any reason that she could see to attend the therapy sessions. All that ever happened was the therapist saying that it could be months before there was any improvement. As if I don't already know this.

It was doubtful that she'd ever walk again. She was grudgingly beginning to accept that. Her initial determination to beat this paralysis was slipping away. What good was walking again if she had to get used to work again, and worse – if she had to break in a new partner? The last thing she wanted was another Bosco, another partner who was a close enough friend almost be a brother.

Faith plucked absently at the blanket covering her legs. Her two useless legs. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. Her sense of self-worth had spiralled down to nothing, almost as fast as a bullet slicing through flesh, bone, and muscle. There would be getting better. This was her life now, her reality. Reduced to surviving only with the help of others. What a marvellous existence. Who could have asked for anything better?

"Faith, I'm taking Emily over to a friend's. Will you be okay with Charlie while I'm gone?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. I shouldn't be gone long."

She heard the front door open. It was good that Em was getting back into the groove of daily life. Anything to bring back a sense of normalcy to the apartment. At the same time, though, she couldn't help feeling jealous of her daughter's ability to go out when she pleased. Adjusting to this, her disability, continued to be problematic.

"Mommy!" Charlie came barrelling into the bedroom. "Emily says that Uncle B went somewhere far away and isn't coming back!"

If only she knew how true that is. "Of course he's coming back. Why wouldn't he?"

"Em said he isn't!"

"He'll come back, Charlie. He's Uncle B." Faith said. "Come here."

The boy obediently climbed up onto the bed. "When is he gonna come visit?"

"I don't know. He's busy with work right now."

"Well, can we go visit him, then?"

Faith pulled her son close to kiss his forehead. Bless his heart. "No honey."

"Why not?"

"Uncle B is very busy. We don't want to distract him, do we?"

Charlie shook his head. "That wouldn't be nice."

"No it wouldn't."

"So, can we at least call him?"

"Charlie." She sighed. Might as well tell him now, before this lie went on too long. But how to break the news to him? "Charlie, let me tell you a story."

There was uneasy silence in the locker room. Davis sat on the bench in front of his open locker, unloading his duty gun. His partner was standing on the other side of the bench, behind him. Doing his best to hold his tongue. Cursing his training officer. Planning his moves once he reached Boston. Davis didn't know and he wasn't sure that he wanted to. They never had finished their interrupted conversation. After the erratic vehicle complaint, the shift had been taken up by almost non-stop calls, broken only by an all-too-short meal break. There was little doubt in Davis' mind that Matt's anger would get him into trouble. That much was inevitable. There was also precious little that Davis could do to stop it, because he certainly didn't plan to give the Boston detective any sort of warning. As he thought about it, there was really only one viable option.

"Listen, Deschaine. About tomorrow – "

"I don't want to hear it. You've already made your point."

"No. I'll go."

There was a thump as Matt's duffel bag hit the floor. "What?"

"I'll go. I don't know anything about this feud or whatever it is, but somebody has to watch your back."

"I thought you didn't want to take the fall."

"I don't."

Matt cracked a grin. "I'm sure. You just wanna get outta this city for a day."

"That's a bonus." Davis grinned back, relieved that his rookie partner held no hard feelings. "So who's gonna drive?"

"Me, of course. Don't want you to get lost once we're past City limits. I'll pick you up at ten. Better be ready."

"You just be awake. I've seen you make it through shift half-asleep and that's not a pretty sight."

"Funny." Matt shut his locker. "You'll like Boston, man. See you tomorrow."

"Yeah." Davis dropped his gaze to the weapon still in his hands, wondering if perhaps he'd just made one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He prayed that he hadn't as he rose from the bench and placed the empty gun on the shelf in his locker. Tomorrow would tell for sure.