A/N: One little line based on text from More Monsters.

I'm listening for it when the strangled noise comes from the bathroom, if not I would have missed it. I've been following him around now for twenty minutes trying to gauge where he was in the book. I hear the tube of toothpaste thud to the ground and I bite my lip and wait.

He's standing in the door way starring at me. His toothbrush stuck firmly between his teeth. He holds the book out towards me like I need to be reminded of what happened. I see the image I created every time I close my eyes.

"You shot me." He accuses his voice mangled by his tooth brush, eying the page again. "You freaking shot me."

"It's not you." I whisper feebly, he scoffs, his head tossing back as his eyes roll.

"Oh please. They hell it's not. You shot me."

I run the sharp edge of my teeth gently over my lip, he pulls out his tooth brush and goes back into the bathroom.

"Oaha.." He moans, his voice rising back towards me in waves. "In the face? Really Faith? It had to be in the face?"

I ponder the idea of trying to explain the fierce independence of a story. I could tell him how they write themselves, pouring out of you like you have no control at all. I decide it's pointless, he'd never understand. Hell half the time I don't understand.

"Am I dying?" He whines, and if it wasn't so damn traumatic I'd be laughing at him right now. "Awhh.. Christ I'm dyin'!"

I roll my own eyes at that point, sliding off the bed and standing in the door way of the bathroom. He's sitting on the lid of the toilet, the but of his right hand pressed against his forehead and his left clutching the pages.

"Jack is dying." I whisper, adding a little reality of the moment. Even though the cloud that had long surrounded my characters face has long since lifted and he does in fact share the same features as my partner, I refuse to fully admit that Jack and Boz are one in the same.

"Stop saying that." He mutters, skimming his toothbrush along the words. I start forward prying it from his grasp, rinsing it and returning it to the cup by the sink. His eyes are moving feverishly across the page when I look back. "Christ I'm bleeding all over damn place."

"Boz.." I let my hand slip to his cheek and he pulls it away but doesn't let go. He traces my wrist with his thumb, I smooth my own thumb across his crinkled eyebrow. "Bosco take a break."

He shakes his head, dropping my hand slowly to my side his eyes never leaving my carefully typed sentences.

"I'll be in bed naked if you need anything." I tell him, my voice monotone.

He doesn't budge when I pull my shirt over my head and unhook my bra.

I don't know weather to be insulted or proud.

My dreams are full of my characters morphing into their inspired counterparts.

Mary Alice's niece becomes my daughter. Jack's overbearing life-worn ex wife becomes Rose. Vince and Cruz dance until they twirl together becoming one person. Jada Timms grows and becomes Ty Davis. Hannah Fredricks comically turns into Sully with lipstick.

All while Bosco and I sit in Mary Alice and Jack's uniforms on the hood of 55-David. He smiles at me, carefully putting a piece of my hair back into place behind my ear.

I look at him until the look becomes sad.

"What?" I whisper, my eyes opening slowly to reveal his actual face pressed into the pillow next to me. He plays with the piece of hair he tucked in the dream."Boz?"

I look down at the rumpled manuscript between us.

"Promise me." He tells me softly, his eyes glistening. "That you'd never do that." I open my mouth to ask but he keeps on talking. "You'd never risk everything like that. You'd never put yourself through that."

The scene in question pops into my head, a roof top.. Assurlo/Cruz dripping wet, their face inches from mine.

"Tell me what happened here. He pulled a knife.. you shot him.. Say it! Price! You have to say it!"

"Boz." I shake my head, he stops me, pressing his finger into my lips.

"It doesn't matter what happens to me as long as your safe. Don't you know that?" He pulls his finger back and kisses me softly. "You have to know that."

He's asleep when I get up the next morning and I leave him a note before hurrying to the breakfast joint a few blocks from his precinct house.

"I was surprised." Sam says with a grin as I join him at the table. "You calling.."

"I know. Thank you.. for meeting me." He nods and look over his shoulder for a second.

"Was there a reason?" He asks me gently. "Or did you just want to get away from Maurice for a little while?"

I can't help but laugh.

"Cause I know that feeling.."

"I'm sure you do." I raise my eyebrows at him. "Sam.. I'm.." I've yet to say the words out loud and I don't know if I can. I touch the table top, looking at the shiny Formica before changing tactics. "I need to ask you a favor."

"Well.." He gestures in a way that makes me wonder if he already knows what I want to ask him."I guess you better go on and do it then."

"I understand if you can't.. but I was hoping.." I bite my lip. "I was hoping you'd delay your retirement." His eyebrow quirks up in surprise. "Not for long, just three months... I-." I rub my face. "By.. by that time Angela will be at NYU and Emily and Charlie will be back in school.. the book will be off to publishing and I'll have had time.. "

"Time?"

"To take the 30 hours." I nod. "The re-cert." A look of slow understanding comes over his face. "I'm coming back."

She scares me more than Sam Gilliard. I stand out side her office, watching her talk to her Sargent before nodding. He opens the door and smiles curtly at me, holding the door open with a nod for me to go ahead.

Lieutenant Harrion.." I smile at her, and she gestures for me to sit. "I'll stand."

"Suit yourself."

"I'm assuming you've received my paperwork?"

"I have." Her voice is flat. I reconsider sitting down.

"I just wanted to.." I press my lips together and look at her. "I.."

"We can be frank." She sighs. "Will that help you stop sputtering?"

I try not to flinch. I dig down deep reminding myself I'm a cop. A tough, street wise experienced NYC cop.

"Yes Ma'am I think it might." I steel my gaze at her. "I understand that personal issues here have given you preconceived notions about who I am and I just wanted to ask you to look at my record. Look at my history. See the kind of officer I am and judge me on my merit."

"You're assuming I would be judging you personally?"

"I'm assuming it would be difficult not to." I counter, letting out a steady breath.

"Are you arguing that part of the record isn't that you left for five years without saying anything?"

"The details of my medical leave did not specify that I was required to update personal information." I spit back.

"Wow." She raises her eyebrows.

"Yeah." I sigh. "That's pretty much what I said."

"We should cut the crap." She sighs back dropping into her own chair and nodding at me. "Don't you think we should cut the crap?"

"Lieutenant?"

"You hurt my friend." Katie says bluntly. I force down the feeling of jealousy that reverberates through my body.

"He's forgiven me." I point out.

"He's in love." She shrugs.

"So am I." I whisper.

"People in love are stupid." She shakes her head. "They do things that aren't in there best interest. "

"The 120 has spots for both of us." I tell her boldly. "I had a friend check. They'd take us in a minute."

"Bosco won't-."

"Honestly Lieutenant with all due respect, I would bet anything I know what Bosco would do better than you." I hold her eyes, letting the certainty of the strength of our relationship show.

We play chicken. She flinches first.

"You come highly recommended."

"Thank you." I try not to sound smug.

"I trust you'll do excellent in the re-certification class?"

"Yes Ma'am." I try to steady my breath.

"And your personal relationship won't interfere with your partnership?" She raises and eyebrow at me.

"It never has before." I can't help but smile and Katie surprises me when she smiles back.

"I.." She looks at her desk before standing straighter. "I do look forward to getting to know you better Officer Yokas."

"I'd like that Ma'am." I say softly as she nods towards the door in dismissal.

I stand in the lobby for a moment, knowing I have one more person's permission to ask.