Paybacks

Chapter 8

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In the chapters to come please remember:

I have no medical knowledge except for the numerous concussions I have suffered through!

I don't own any characters.

And if you try to sue me for some odd reason I think I have like $3 to my name!

Let the festivities begin!

*****

"You gonna come in, or just decorate the doorway?"

Bosco snapped out of the trance he was in, and followed Faith into the apartment.  She sat down at the table; Bosco took off his jacket and sat across from her.  The officers sat in silence; Faith looking toward the kitchen and Bosco taking a strong interest in the tablecloth.

Faith couldn't take the uneasy silence any longer.  "Nice cast."  It was all she could think of to say.

Bosco lifted his arm showing off the black cast.  "Yeah it's great.  "I'm sure the chicks will dig it."  The comment was thick with sarcasm.

"You realize that thing is part of the reason I'm going to be stuck working with Gusler."

"Yup.  Ain't life a bitch."  Both officers smiled, but it quickly faded and once again there was silence.

Bosco started to fidget and play with his face like he does when his emotions are controlling him.  Faith could tell something was really bothering him, and that meant there was either going to be a fireworks display or he was going to show his deep side.

"I'm sorry…for what I said at the hospital.  About not wanting you there.  I didn't mean it."

"No?  Then why did you say it?"

"You aren't going to make this easy are you?"  He paused to collect his thoughts.  "I was hurt and angry…and I was scared.  I didn't want you to see me like that.  Honest.  I didn't mean it."

Faith nodded.  "What about when you said you didn't know if you could trust me?  Did you mean that?"  Her voice was harsh, and Bosco could have sworn the temperature in the room had just dropped.

"You and I used to talk about everything Faith.  Hell, I heard a few too many times what you and Fred were planning on doing when you had time alone," a small smile crossed his face then turned into a frown.  "But you dropped a bomb on me that night when you told me you had cancer.  It wasn't even about you not being there to back me up."  He stood up and began to pace back and forth on his side of the table.  "With what that bastard did to his family…to his kids.  I was going in no matter what."  For a second Bosco looked like his mind was in another place.  Then he turned back to Faith.  "But cancer Faith, that's huge and you kept me in the dark," his voice was getting louder and he was waving his arms around.  "It hurt to know you didn't trust me enough to tell me you had cancer.  Would you have even told me if I hadn't been shot?  IF you hadn't felt guilty?"

"I don't know Bos."

"Why wouldn't you tell me?  Am I that bad of a person?"

"Well Bosco you aren't Mr. Sensitivity."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he shouted, the vein in his forehead adding to his already angry appearance.

"Oh come on Bosco!  Ever since I've known you you've had problems showing any kind of compassion or sensitivity.  I thought if I told you I had cancer you'd drop me like a bad habit.  You' think I was weak and fragile, and I wouldn't be able to help you into ESU!" she was yelling by the time she finished.

"I wouldn't do that Faith! I wouldn't!"

"Well I was scared Bos!  And I thought you might not know how to handle it, or even want to handle it!  Face it, you rarely talk about how you feel and I thought you might just want to get rid of the problem!"

He looked at her; a sober look on his face.  "Faith.  There's a lot about me you don't know."  Bosco sat back down at the table, and looked into his partner's eyes.  "I've always trusted you Faith, and I always will.  But you have to trust me too."

Faith returned Bosco's look, and this time; unlike the time in the hospital she saw the compassion.  "From now on I'll tell you everything."

"OK, one thing about that though," he said quickly.

"What?"

"Anything about you and Fred alone and naked," he shuddered.  "I don't need to know about."

"But Bos, Fred and I were going to try this new position…"

Bosco put his hand up to interrupt.  "Yokas.  I'm warning you."

She started giggling.  "You see, it's where…"

He quickly put his hands over his ears and started shouting, "I can't hear you!  I can't hear you!"

Faith could tell everything was going to be fine between her and Bosco.  Now she just had to make it through a couple weeks with Gusler.  Plus they still had to figure out who was after Bosco.