Paybacks
Chapter 9
I'm claiming all my mistakes right now. :o)
****
It had been two weeks since Bosco had been attacked at his apartment, and there was no sign that the guy was coming back. Bosco had gone back to work, but was riding a desk; mostly because he still had problems from the concussion. He still had a headache, and he had a hard time concentrating, but those things were almost gone. However the ugly black cast was still going to be around for a few weeks.
Faith had been stuck working with Gusler. She complained about him constantly, and Bosco rubbed it in whenever he got the chance. Faith missed her hotheaded partner.
"Would you hurry up with that? I don't want to be here another three hours doing paperwork!" Gusler looked at Faith. He was a little shocked at the fact that Yokas had just yelled at him. She turned away from him, and headed to find Bosco.
"Trouble in paradise?" he smirked.
"Shut up Bosco. I mean it!" He tried to cover his smile. "I swear, if I'm working on paperwork at 1 a.m. like I was yesterday I'm going to freak!"
"Whoa, center yourself Faith." She rolled her eyes, and changed the subject.
"So Bos. What are you planning on doing with your two days off?"
"I've got a hot date with Candi tonight, and then I'll end up spending my days off recovering if you know what I mean," he winked at Faith.
"Grow up Bosco."
"How 'bout you?"
"I don't know. I think I'm just going to hang out; watch TV, and read a trashy novel."
****
Half an hour later they were on their way out of the station. "Have fun on your date. See you on Friday," she headed off toward the subway.
Bosco called after her. "Hey Yokas!" She turned back to face him. "I forgot to tell you; I got cleared today. No more desk duty."
Faith raised her hands to the heavens. "There is a God!"
****
Bosco's date with Candi didn't go like he had planned. They went to have a few drinks, and she ended up running into an old boyfriend. Next thing Bosco knew she was gone, and he was sitting alone at the bar.
Ty, Alex, and Jimmy walked in and sat at the other end of the bar. Alex spotted Bosco sitting by himself and waved him over, but he just shook his head. Jimmy came over to join him.
"Man, I hate being the third wheel," Doherty complained.
"Yeah, well at least you're part of a three-wheeler. I'm a frickin' unicycle."
"What? No date tonight."
"Oh, I had one, but she ran into an old boyfriend and I got ditched."
"Bummer."
"You got that right."
"Wanna shoot some pool?"
"I see you're in the mood to get your ass kicked Doherty."
"Dream on Boscorelli."
After five games Bosco had beaten Jimmy four games to one, and he was gloating. "See Doherty. I always knew I was better than you."
"Next time we play darts. That's my game," Jimmy retorted.
"Sure, sure, whatever. Man, I'm beat. I'm going to head home. I'll catch you later."
"See ya Bosco."
On his way out Bosco stopped to say goodbye to Alex and Ty. "Davis, don't make me arrest you for a PDA," he said as he saw the couple kiss.
"PDA?" Davis asked.
"Yeah. Public display of affection. It's the worst crime you can commit. Especially if it's with a member of FDNY."
"GOODNIGHT BOSCO," Alex said rather sternly.
Bosco headed outside to find it unusually dark. The streetlight outside the bar was out. No big deal; his car wasn't too far. As he started to walk to his car something swung toward him as he approached the alley. It slammed him up against the building. He could hardly breathe. He reached for his gun, and was horrified when he remembered he had been on a date and his gun was in the car. He was struck a second time, and he crumpled to the ground.
****
He wasn't sure how long he had been there. All he knew was he was in pain, and it hurt to breath. He tried to get up, but the pain was too much. Finally after what seemed like an eternity to Bosco the bar door swung open, and he heard familiar voices.
"So Bosco whooped you at pool?" asked Ty.
"Yeah. If I had known he was that good I would have suggested a different game." Jimmy looked to his right, and saw something, rather, someone in a pile on the sidewalk. The trio approached. "It's Bosco," shouted Jimmy as he knelt down beside the fallen cop.
Alex quickly joined Jimmy at Bosco's side while Ty surveyed the area. "Ty call for an ambulance," Taylor instructed. "Bosco. Bos," she said as she leaned over him. He was curled up in a ball, his eyes were tightly shut, and he was in obvious pain.
"What happened Bosco?" questioned Doherty.
"Somebody…hit me…with something," he said between pain-filled gasps for air. Jimmy looked around the sidewalk, and spotted a baseball bat nearby. He tapped Alex, and pointed toward the bat. She nodded in understanding.
"Bosco, where does it hurt?" she asked.
"Ribs," he hissed.
"Does it hurt to breathe?" He shook his head yes. They could hear the sirens in the distance. "You're going to be fine Bosco. The bus is almost here."
When the ambulance arrived Alex told the paramedics the situation, and they got to work on Bosco. They gave him oxygen to help him breath easier, and then secured him to the stretcher. As they were moving him onto the stretcher Bosco reached up and moved the oxygen mask to the side. He was in so much pain he wasn't too aware of what as going on around him. Jimmy saw him move the mask and reached down to put it back on him. "Bosco you gotta keep that on."
Bosco looked at Jimmy with empty eyes, and removed the mask again. "Call…Faith…please."
"As soon as we get you to the hospital I'll call her. I promise," Jimmy replied as he assisted Bosco with the oxygen mask. Bosco closed his eyes.
****
When they arrived at the hospital Jimmy asked at the nurses' station if they had any idea where he could find Faith's phone number. "Yeah. It's in Boscorelli's file. Let me get it for you," the nurse walked over to the file cabinet and pulled out a very thick file.
"That's Bosco's file? Geez."
A nurse who was passing by looked at the file then at Jimmy. "That's nothing. You should see yours."
Jimmy headed to the lounge to call Faith.
****
The phone rang and Faith groaned as she reached over her husband to answer it. Fred slept like a log; she envied that. "Hello."
"Faith? It's Jimmy."
"Doherty? It's four in the morning."
"I know. I'm sorry, but uh…well…we just brought Bosco to Mercy."
"What?" She was more awake now. "Is he OK? What happened?"
"Looks like he got hit a couple times with a baseball bat as he left the bar. He's going to be fine. When the paramedics were loading him up he asked me to call you."
"Thanks Jimmy. I'm on my way."
Fred woke up as she was getting dressed. He looked at the clock. "Where are you going?"
"Doherty called, they just took Bosco to the hospital."
"So."
She stopped and glared at her husband. "So! So, I'm going to be with my partner!"
"Why?"
"Because he wants me there Fred that's why!" She finished getting dressed.
As she was leaving Fred followed her to the door. "You realize you spend more time with Maurice Boscorelli than you spend with me!" He shouted.
Faith spun on her heels. "And you realize he treats me better than you do," she slammed the door on him.