Hi,

just wanted to let you guys know, in case you missed it before; This story is already written...was written in the past two years (combined with two others that are already on site) so the 'updates' are fast sometimes because I have more time to reedit and rewrite some of the badly done areas, and sometimes they slow down when I don't have time to do the edits. Having said that, the next 'possibly two hopefully not more' chapters will NOT be Edits or Rewrites, but instead will be altogether new content as I need to wrap up one of the storylines before moving on again with the rewrite and reedit.

Just wanted to thank those of you who are making reviews, and all those who are reading anyway. It does make it more fun for me to continue, even though I'm kind of enjoying reading it as I redo it anyway.

Now,

Enjoy, ;)

M

Reality

Chapter 25

Three weeks later:

Moe and Jamie walked slowly along the shore, each bundled against the cold winds, their arms around each other as they watched the sun begin to lower in the sky.

"You know Chief March came by again this afternoon when you were 'resting'," Jamie informed him, "he's not giving up on finding out who you are."

Sighs, "Yeah I know. I've been thinking about leaving here just to get him off my back, but I really like it here now, I don't want to have to leave until I want to leave." Movement catching his eye he looked back at the house to see CJ arriving back from a trip into town. "Think we should go help?" Moe asking as he waved at the car.

"Naaa, gives him something to do besides seeing what bait is better for whatever fish he thinks he's 'not' gonna catch next." Jamie laughed, "Besides I'm not ready to go in just yet."

"How are you feeling?" He looked back at her with some concern in his voice, "That stomach thing still bugging you?"

"I'm fine," avoiding his question she looked away as if searching the waters then pointing to the north exclaimed, "look you can see the lighthouse clearly today."

"Yea," Moe frowned at her, "like I can see you woman. Are you going to tell me what's going on? Or do I have to go to work on CJ? You know I'm not blind, I know the two of you are keeping something from me." Moe stopped walking and he turned her towards him, carefully studying her face, his voice quiet with worry, "Tell me. Are you ill? Is that what all the 'looks' and 'secret' conversations I keep seeing are about? Jamie I know that 'stomach bugs' like you call it don't last for weeks. Now what the hell is wrong?"

Tears came to her eyes as she glanced at him, causing his heart to catch as he dreaded hearing her next words. But instead of answering him she shook her head as she turned away from him, at first looking out over the oceans surface, then down at the sand under her feet. Moe watched a tear slip down her cheek, and his greatest fear was realized when she said, "I have cancer. They found it when I was in the hospital from the gunshot." Jamie wasn't looking at him, but still staring at the sand. "Its not operable. I took treatments, but its not working. They told me I only have a few months left."

"No," his face falling into the sorrow he suddenly felt in his heart, he began crying, "NO Jamie, NO!" Reaching out to her to take her into his arms, she faded from his sight and was gone. Screaming out, "NNNNNNOOOOOOOO!"

Moe woke from his nightmare, sweating, the overhead lights in his room blazing on as CJ burst into the room, Jamie on his heels.

"MOE!" he worriedly called to him quickly checking out the room just in case someone was after him, not seeing anyone as he reached the foot of bed, CJ finished with, "WHAT'S WRONG?" Seeing him sitting straight up in bed a dazed, confused and terrified look on his face, CJ quickly concluded he was having one of his nightmares. "Hey," is voice low as went to his side while Jamie slowly backed from the room before Moe was awake enough to notice her. Too many faces just seemed to make it worse for him, and he seemed lately to do better when it was CJ rather than one of the women. Sitting on the side of the bed CJ put his hand on his shoulder, "Hey Moe, it was just a dream Moe, it wasn't real. You're okay."

Rapidly nodding his head now as he became aware of his surroundings, Moe calmed his breathing, "Okay," he grinned sheepishly at CJ, "Sorry bro. Guess I should have taken one of those pain pills before bed after all huh?"

"Want one now?" CJ offered, standing to retrieve them for him if he said yes.

Nodding again, Moe rubbed at his chest, a grimace of pain on his face as he confirmed, "Yea I think so."

"Be right back," CJ assured him as he went to the bathroom for the bottle and water. Coming back to the bed he Handed him one of the pills with a small glass of cold water, asking lightly, "So, how long are you gonna keep going like this before you tell me what's bothering you? I know your chest doesn't hurt enough for these anymore or you wouldn't be trying to fish."

Moe looked up at him, a smirk on his face, "Can't fool you can I?"

"Nope," CJ sat down next to him again, "so, what's on your mind? You can ell me or I can get your Mom."

"Geesh," Moe frowned grumping at him, "you never play fair do you?" Then seeing CJ's raised eyebrow he muttered, "OKAY." Setting the water glass down on the bedside table as he sat back against the pillows and confessed what was bothering him to his best friend, "I know something is wrong with Jamie, but she won't tell me what it is. And I keep having these dreams every time I fall asleep, in them I ask her what is wrong and she tells me. Its always something different, sometimes she says she's fine its nothing serious but then sometimes, like this last one...anyway everytime...she just disappears." He paused, his voice choking up slightly, "I keep thinking I'm gonna lose her CJ. I don't think I could take it if it happened again." Looking up at him, "Then I think I'm crazy, and its just that psycho still being out there that's making me anxious about her. Her and Mom." He was fidgeting with the sheet as he talked, but looking at CJ's face as he said the last, his hands became still. The quick blush and guilty look he saw there froze his heart.

Sitting up further he leaned to him as he exclaimed, "You know something, don't you!" Raising his voice, worried anger coming to the surface he reached out to grab CJ hard on the arm, angry warning in his voice as he added, "TELL ME CASTER!"

"Moe, whatever it is, its not what you're thinking, ok," CJ voice was soft as he tried avoiding his eyes, "and IF there is anything to tell, its not mine to tell anyway. Please," then gasped as Moe clenched his fingers digging deep into CJ's forearm, "OWWW let go, man nothing wrong with your grip is there?" Pulling his arm away, he rubbed the spot Moe had squeezed. "Look," he reasoned as he stood up again, "if there is something she wants to tell you, I'm sure she will tell you. Just don't put me in the middle, okay? Now, you need anything else, or can I get back to sleep?"

Giving him a confused look now Moe finally cocked his head away, eyes glaring across the room as he commented, hurt evident in his voice, "No, thanks, that's it I guess. Sorry for disturbing you, again." Turning to his side, facing away from CJ ignoring him, he beat down his pillow, pulling up the sheet as CJ exited the room.

"Nite Moe," CJ tried before he closed the door, but was again ignored. Sighing heavily he went back to bed.

Moe lay staring at the wall opposite him, "I know something's wrong," he whispered, "and if somebody doesn't start talking, everybody's gonna get a taste of what it's like to live with Bosco AND Maurice unleashed, again."

Dawn found him sitting in the middle of his bed, facing the window of his bedroom, in the 'lotus' position watching the sun rise glint across the river waters, his mind still in turmoil over what was being kept from him as he rubbed his hand over the injury on his arm then slowly flexed as he began his exercises to strengthen the damaged muscles.

XXXX

Swersky walked into his office with Faith directly behind him. "Sit," he ordered instead of offering.

Frowning, wondering what could have made him call her in from the accident scene she was overseeing, Faith sat quietly in the chair before his desk, waiting for him to begin. These last few years of working by his side in the office had taught her that he was a patient man and expected the same from his Sergeants. Keeping your 'counsel' and letting him formulate his thoughts and words made for a happy Lieu, and a happy Lieu made for a happy Yokas.

Sitting at his desk, Dave leaned back in his chair, listening to the squeak he'd been meaning to 'oil' for the last decade. But this time there was another 'squeak' that needed oiling, and he had a damn strong feeling Faith Yokas would be able to provide that 'oil cans' whereabouts. And he was going to get it out of her come hell or high water. Waiting just long enough to see her hands move in the beginnings of anxiousness, he spoke, not beating around the bush, "Where is he." Making it a 'statement' not a question.

Her first instinct was to act dumb, but the look of 'serious as shit here' on his face stopped her. "Lieu, I can't," instead leaving her lips, "I promised. But I can 'maybe' get a message if you want...?"

Dave glared at her, but he knew that she would not give him the information unless he threatened to 'jail' her and he didn't want to take it there, ever if he could prevent doing so.

So instead he very seriously told her the way it was going to be, "Okay, you tell 'Mr. Whoever He is Today', that the DA wants to talk to him. Lawrence's lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss his case, seeing as how his 'victim' has left town and isn't here to accuse him any longer. And the DA is seriously considering doing so. NOW," holding up his hand to stop her outburst, "that doesn't mean he won't be charged with the murders in Louisiana. Or the attacks and murders here at the hospital. But since his lawyer is claiming on his behalf that his 'partners' are the ones, WITHOUT his knowledge or consent, who did the actual murders here, the DA won't have anything to hold him on for long if this goes before a grand jury this way. They are going to claim that the 'partners' kidnapped both Lawrence AND Bosco. So you see, he's going to 'walk' on this if Boscorelli doesn't come forward and testify in front of the grand jury. That is the message you can give him for me."

Faith sat shell-shocked as it had never occurred to her that Vance might beat the charges here if Bosco didn't show. Just the murders at the hospital alone were enough to put him away for life if he didn't get the chair for them. "Okay," her voice quietly reflecting her shock, "I'll get in touch with him," looking up quickly, "Lieu, I know as soon as he hears that Vance might walk, he'll come back."

"You better hope so Faith, if not we could all have our asses in a sling with the DA and the Commissioner." Lieu made motion for her to leave, "Dismissed Sergeant." Rising she rapidly made her way to a phone, but then decided to use her cell phone instead. And, Outside.

XXXX

"What?" Moe walking around the breakfast bar, sat quickly on the barstool as Faith filled him in on the problems with Vance's arraignment, "How is that possible? Didn't they have cameras in there or something?"

"NO Bosco they didn't have cameras on him," Faith looking around her, making sure no one was listening, "look Swersky says if you don't return and testify that Vance will walk on the murder charges. He'll still be extradited back to Louisiana for the murder charges there, but everyone here will have their asses handed to them by the DA and the Commissioner. You have to come back, if only for a little while."

"When is he being arraigned?" Moe asked dejectedly as he played with the bowl of fruit on the bar, spinning it around slowly. CJ stood near him, listening to Moe's half of the conversation. Hearing the last question he closed his eyes a moment in disgust as he turned away heading for the coffeepot. Pouring both of them a cup he brought one to Moe. Setting it down in front of him he received a small smile of thanks in return as Moe listened to Faith's explanation of when and where. "Okay, I'll see if my Doctor will let me come," he rolled his eyes at CJ, winked and finished with, "yeah I do have to get cleared to fly. I'm sure as hell not wanting to sit for fourteen hours or however the hell long it takes to drive! Look, I Got to go, CJ just fell in the river again." CJ was cracking up now as Moe teased Faith, "Of course he can swim, but you know him he can't do anything without an audience." Laughing now as CJ pretended to 'drown' across the bar from him, "Yeah, I'll tell him. Talk to you later." Hanging up the phone, "She says stop being such an attention hog." Frowning slightly, "Guess you heard huh? They want me to go testify to keep that slime in jail."

"Yeah, I heard." CJ turned to grab a towel to wipe up the coffee he'd spilled teasing Moe, "You going, right?"

Staring at him with a resigned look in his eyes, "Do I have a fucking choice?"

"No, not really," CJ wiped the coffee up. "You do know Jamie and Rose are going to freak right?"

"Don't even go there right now," Moe hopped off of the stool, heading to the livingroom, "Maybe my Doc can get it postponed, or something, at least for awhile."

CJ watched him leave. "Let's hope so Moe," he said under his breath, "for Jamie and your sake."

XXXX

"What?" Jamie and Rose both asking the same question a split second apart as Moe explained what the DA and Swersky wanted him to do.

"NO!" Rose near shouting as she stared between Jamie and him, "MAURICE, NO! You just got out of the hospital!"

"Ma," he immediately resorted to the 'child' version of her name to calm her down, "I don't have a choice here. IF I don't go he walks on the murders at the hospital. I have to testify what happened when they took me." Getting up he walked around the dining table to squat down next to her, putting his good arm around her, "I have to go Ma, without me he's going to get away with murdering two police officers who had kids, not to mention he almost killed one of my best friends just to get to me." Looking over at Jamie he saw she was watching him as if he would disappear like she'd done every night in his dreams, tears in her eyes. Moe stressed to her, "I'll be back. I just have to be there a couple of days, then I'm coming back." Staring hard and deep into her eyes, "I promise." A single tear slipped down her cheek causing a chill to come over Moe as he remembered his last nightmare.

CJ saw the look exchanged between them and turned away, leaving the room. Standing on the porch deck in the back of the house he watched a boat slowly move down the river, a couple was sitting together in the captains chair, laughing as they enjoyed their time together bundled against the cold air on the morning's ride. 'Why,' he wondered, 'why can't they have that. Does it always have to be like this instead?'

Glancing toward the road as he heard a car coming down the drive, gravel crunching under the tires. Since Moe had the gate removed there was nothing to stop sightseers from 'visiting' the house. Though only a couple of times did anyone actually make it all the way, most realizing it was a 'private' house turned around before halfway, but this car was coming all the way. Quickly walking to the front of the house he saw it was Chief March, "Damn!" he groused, "Like we need this shit too right now." Continuing walking to the front porch CJ climbed the stairs and then waited until the Chief parked the car before he let Moe know he was there. "Hey," he called into the foyer, "company's coming! Chief March is here!" Closing the door back, he stepped the railing, "Hi Chief, what brings you out here?"

March came up the steps, nodding, "Same thing as always Mr. Caster. Came to see your boss."

During the hospital stay, Jamie had told him that CJ was the 'Secretary' that 'Lyons' had allowed to go on Vacation with his family while 'Lyons' was on the same here. "Well, I'll see if he's up to visitors, have a seat." CJ waved his hand to the couches and chairs on the porch, "Be right back." Disappearing into the house before March could protest.

"What does he want?" Moe asked as he came from the kitchen with Jamie on his heels and Rose trailing her.

"Same thing as always," CJ grinned with a shrug, "and this time he sat, so I don't think he's going to go away this time. So Boss," CJ looked down at him, as Moe standing near looked up and rolled his eyes at him, "does your secretary tell him to come in or go away? Please let me earn my money, I hate that you pay me the big bucks and I do nothing to earn it but fish!"

Rose gave a stifled laugh having decided to ignore for now Moe telling her he was leaving for New York, "Yes please its getting hard to write those checks Maurice when I know he's so lazy."

"FUNNY!" Moe growled at the two of them as he headed to the door, "NO Please you just go back to your fishing, let me do your work CJ" His voice dripping with sarcasm as he shoved CJ out of his way, leaving them smirking at his retreating back. Reaching the door he found Jamie on his tail.

"MOE!" Jamie tried to stop him, quietly asking, "What are you doing? I thought the plan was to NOT talk to him, one of these days He's going to ask the wrong question and then its over!"

Turning to her, just as quietly replying, "Sweetheart, when I go back to New York to testify he's going to know anyway because they get the paper here, remember. Might as well get it over with. Want to come with?"

Nodding she took his hand in hers gripping tightly she gave a half hearted shrug, "Sure, why not, I guess he deserves to know, he did save your life."

Winking at her as he opened the door, "He and someone else I think? That's what I heard anyway."

Looking hard at him, "Really? You heard that?" She smiled softly at him as he held the door open for her and she went out onto the porch, "Remind me again why I did that..." turning to March, "Hello Chief," she greeted him before Moe could respond to her teasing, "I'm assuming you're going to be staying awhile, would you like to come in or sit out here?" She called back to CJ, "CJ would you bring us some of your wonderful coffee, please," as March indicated that the porch would be fine, "Oh and some of those muffins too." Sitting across from March she smiled invitingly as Moe giving a bemused grin back at CJ's outraged openmouthed protest closed the door quickly on him before he could comment. Doing so he heard his mother telling CJ to "hurry up your boss didn't like to be kept waiting". Suppressing a giggle he then joined Jamie on the couch.

"So," Chief March started right in, "glad to see you back on your feet, but I'm not going to waste anyone's time here. Just going to tell you what I know and ask you to fill in the blanks." Stopping he searched their faces to see if he would get cooperation or argument.

Moe stunned him when he said, "Well, before you start maybe I'd better introduce myself to you again," reaching out he offered his hand, "Maurice Boscorelli, NYPD, at the moment on loan to the FBI. Well, to be accurate," he grinned over at Jamie, "on leave from both. Unofficially anyway."

March his mouth hanging slightly, joined hands with him, shaking hands he commented with a wry grin, "WELL have to admit I wasn't expecting that. I was wondering why my contacts were not able to get much on you or 'Lyons'. Guess the FBI thing explains that."

"Yeah, well," Moe leaned back against the couch, "the last assignment didn't go quite as planned, and, I needed a break. Of course I didn't expect to come here and end up worse than if I'd stayed in New York!" His last words chuckled.

His attention was broken as CJ emerged from the house and Moe was amused to see he actually had a tray of coffee and muffins held in his hands, although placing the tray on the table between them he smacked it down with a loud bang ignoring the coffee splashing over the rims of the cups, turning to Moe he asked loudly as well as sarcastically, "ANYTHING ELSE, SIR!"

"No," Moe couldn't even look at him or he knew he'd be in hysterics, so he simply commented as if this were an everyday occurrence, "that will be all." Lowering his head he gave a sideways glance of humor to Jamie as CJ turned on his heel and stomped back into the house, nearly unable to speak without choking as he commented, "I didn't think he'd really do it!"

They both cracked up as the door slammed behind CJ, Jamie remarking in mock concern, "He's so gonna kill us when he realizes you've told on us."

March accepted the cup of coffee Moe offered along with a muffin, wondering if everyone here was crazy or just him, "Thanks, but if you don't mind my asking, what was that about?"

"Oh, we've just been teasing him," Jamie laughed, "he's been bored. We're just trying to keep the children entertained."

"Oh," March sipped his coffee, asking, "I take it then he's NOT your secretary? Is he FBI too?"

"No, no, he's not my secretary," Moe laughed as he drank his coffee while picking up a muffin, "but I might not tell him we told you, at least not until I see if I can get him to do my taxes for me." Biting into the orange muffin he commented with a smile, "Hey these are good." Chewing then swallowing before continuing, "He's not now sort of like me, but he was NYPD and then was on loan to the FBI also. He's kind of trying to decide what he's gonna do now, the FBI I was working with offered him a chance to go to the Academy but I'm not sure he's really interested." Pausing to eat again, drinking his coffee again, he then asked the question he'd been wanting an answer to, "Let me ask you something now Chief. Anything yet on the psycho who's been attacking people around here?"

Leaning back against the chair cushion, March frowned, "No, nothing yet. Seems since he went after you he's gotten kind of quiet. Maybe he got scared off since I actually 'caught' him in the act." Glancing over at Jamie he nodded, "I never really believed in fate, but you being here, or rather 'there' with me when the call came in, now that makes me wonder."

Giving him a soft smile, she remarked, "Fate? No Chief, not fate." Her eyes drifting over to Moe who was watching her carefully, staring into his deep smoky eyes, "Call it providence, call it divine guidance but not fate. I think since I've been with Moe I stopped believing in fate, now its miracles I believe in. I think we're each others guardian angels, if humans can be such a thing to each other."

March watched them, saw the deep love and devotion on their faces as they seemed to suddenly be alone even with him sitting right in front of them and his doubts as to the motives of this ''FBI', cop from New York', and this nurse evaporated like the steam off his coffee. Finding himself suddenly interested in finding the cups bottom he tipped his cup up, giving them a moment of privacy before continuing the conversation about the 'slasher' as the locals in a moment of excited hysteria had dubbed the psycho. "I was wondering," he continued as he saw them return to the 'porch' with him, "have any of you noticed anyone hanging around? Any boats that maybe make one too many passes near?"

"Nope," Moe seemed quieter now, less amused as he answered March's question, "and now that you know who CJ and I are, you must realize that we would have already contacted you if we had. Chief, I have to go to New York for a few days, I'm not exactly sure when, but I think within the next week. When I get back, I'd like to work on this case, cases. I'm pretty sure CJ will want to also. I have some markers I can call in with the FBI if you want. I think with two more sets of hands and eyes we might actually be useful to you."

March grinned, "Well you know I was just thinking the same thing! In fact the night you were attacked I came back out here to pick your brain. Sensed that you might not be exactly who you claimed to be, and was hoping you were law enforcement of some sort and could give me some help. So yeah go to New York and when you come back call me." He stood up, "I'll be going now," looking at Jamie, "are you going back with him?"

"No," Moe answered for her, "OR my Mom, OR CJ so I'd appreciate if you could keep an eye on them for me."

"Sure," March shook his hand, "I'd be honored too. This lady showed me something that night and today that I like. I'd be glad to make sure she and your Mother are safe."

He was down the steps getting into his car before Jamie found her voice, and when she did, Moe cringed as she exclaimed, "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" Then she slapped him on his arm to make him look at her, "EXCUSE ME! Since when do I need 'watching' Moe Boscorelli! If you think I'm staying here or your Mother's staying here while you go face Vance Lawrence you've got another think coming!"

Quickly grasping her hand his tone urgent as Moe raised his voice, "YOU ARE NOT COMING!" Then, lowering his voice he pulled her close, "I have to do this alone sweetheart, I have to face this by myself. If I don't, I'll never be sure I won. I'll always wonder if the only reason I could face him or anyone like him again was because I was 'hiding' behind someone else. Jamie I know the risks, and I have to take them. I have to prove to him and to myself that 'Maurice, Louis' and any other part of me that split because of him is gone. That its ME, he's afraid of, not the other way around." He stopped a moment surprising himself with his outburst and putting his arms around her as she leaned against him her arms wrapping around him they stood holding each other as he sounded like he was convincing himself as much as her, "I have to do this, if I don't I'll never have peace from him."

Nodding, her head pressed carefully against his chest, "Okay Moe, okay. But I don't like it." Raising her eyes to him, "And, honey, Who's gonna tell Rose?"

"Hey," the humor slowly coming back into his eyes and voice as he teased, "that's what I have a secretary for!" Laughing they went to tell the 'secretary' and Rose what was going to happen now.

TBC...