Paybacks

Chapter 14

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I don't live anywhere near NY; therefore I don't know street names/numbers. SO, I just mix and match ones that I have heard on the show.

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"UNITS OF THE 5-5 WE HAVE A 10-67 AT 103 AND CONCORDE."

"5-5 David.  103 and Concorde," Faith called into the radio. 

Bosco took his eyes off the road long enough to give his partner the look of death.  "Why do you keep doing that?!"

"Doing what?"

"All day you've been answering all the piddly ass stuff.  First it was a noise complaint. Then it was a complaint about prank calls.  Now we're going to direct traffic.  What's next?  A cat up a tree?"

"It's our job Bosco."

"No we're police officers, not babysitters.  And besides we usually leave all the crap calls for Sully and Davis, but you're jumping on these before dispatch finishes what they're saying."

"No I'm not."  Faith did her best to look innocent.

"Yeah, you are.  It's my first day back Faith, and I want real police work."

"It's because it is your first day back that we are going to take these so-called crap calls."

"What?  You don't think I'm ready."

"No.  I don't think you're ready."

They pulled up to the scene to find an abandoned car in the middle of the street.  "And with these calls I'll never have the chance to prove you wrong Faith!"  He hopped out of the car.

"That's what I'm hoping."

****

"Gawd! I hate directing traffic!" Bosco groaned to himself.  "Hey dumbass! Honking your horn isn't going to make the cars ahead of you go any faster!" he yelled to a man driving a black Lexus.

Faith was on the other side of the street directing traffic, and keeping an eye on her partner.  She was glad there had been enough calls throughout the day that weren't too strenuous for Bosco.  He was in no shape to be dealing with "real" police work as he called it.  Heck, she didn't feel he was in any shape to even be working.  The loud crash of a window breaking brought Yokas out of her thoughts.

"What the hell was that?"  She turned around to see the tail end of some sort of fight.  From where she was standing it looked like someone had been thrown through the glass window of the tiny bakery on the corner.  The next thing she saw was her partner chasing after a man fleeing the scene.

Yokas ran across the street to the bakery.  "What happened here?" 

"That guy," a man wearing an apron pointed in the direction the man ran.  "Threw this guy," he pointed to the man laying on the ground, "through the window because he bought the last chocolate frosted doughnut."

"Are you serious?"

"Yup."

"Central this is 5-5 David we're going to need EMS at this location, and another squad.  My partner is pursuing suspect on foot."

"10-4 5-5 David."

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"Damn, this is what I get for wanting real police work," Bosco thought as he chased the suspect down the street.  He was having trouble keeping up with the guy, and his lungs were on fire.

Six blocks from the bakery the suspect turned into an alley, and by the time Bosco got there he was nowhere in sight.  Bosco walked a little further into the alley, and leaned heavily against the wall.  He was having trouble catching his breath.  "I only…chased the guy…six blocks," he panted.  "Why can't I…breathe?"

His radio crackled to life.  "Bosco?"

He didn't want to answer her.  She was right.  He shouldn't have been working today; it was too soon.  However, he knew that if someone didn't come to help him he wouldn't make it back to the car. "Yeah."

"What's going on?"

"Suspect…got…away."

"Bosco.  Are you OK?  Where are you?"

"Alley…six blocks…north.  Can't catch…my breath."

"Central.  We're going to need another bus." 

Sully and Davis pulled up on the scene.  Faith hurried over to them.  "When the other bus gets here, tell them to go up to the alley six blocks north.  Bosco's there, and he doesn't sound too good."

She ran to find Bosco.  When she reached the alley she found him sitting on the ground leaning against the building, his arms wrapped tightly around his body.  "Bosco."

He looked at her.  Faith could see the panic on his face.  "Faith I…can't…"

"Shhh, Bos.  It's OK.  Medics are on their way.  You'll be OK."

"Don't want…to go back…to hospital."  His eyes were pleading with her.

"Nice try, but that's not up to you."  She heard sirens approaching.  "Sit tight.  I'm going to go let them know where we are."  Faith patted his leg.  He closed his eyes, and nodded as he concentrated on breathing.

Yokas went out to the street to wave the bus down.  Alex and Carlos jumped out of the bus.  "What's going on Yokas?" asked Carlos.

"Bosco is in the alley.  He's having trouble breathing.  Can't catch his breath."

"He shouldn't be working in his condition!" exclaimed Alex.

"I know I tried to talk him out of it, but he's stubborn."

"Wait.  What condition?" asked Nieto as he ran to catch up with the two women.

"Hey there Bosco," Alex knelt down beside him.  "I hear you're having trouble breathing."

Bosco nodded, he was gasping for air.  Faith could see he was even more panicked now.  "Try to relax Bos.  Everything's going to be OK."

"Carlos why don't you go get the stretcher."

"I don't…want to go…to the…hospital."

Alex put an oxygen mask over Bosco's nose and mouth.  "You don't have much of a choice.  That's what you get for thinking two days was enough time for your ribs to heal and your bruises to go away.  Now, take nice, slow, deep breaths."

Bosco breathed in, and started coughing.  Pain was written all over his face.  "I know it hurts, but you gotta keep taking deep breaths."

Nieto arrived with the stretcher.  "All right.  Carlos help me stand him up, and will get him loaded."

Even though he didn't want to spend any more time in the hospital Bosco was glad that he was being supplied with oxygen, and was looking forward to some pain medication.  Faith walked alongside the stretcher as they were taking Bosco to the ambulance.  "Bos, I need to go back down the street, but I'll met you at the hospital."  Bosco nodded his head.

On the way to the hospital Bosco removed the oxygen mask.  Alex could tell he wanted to say something, so she leaned in closer in order to hear him.  "Hurts," was all he managed to say before putting the mask back on.

"Well.  You have two options.  The first is I can stick you with a needle.  The second option is waiting until we get to the hospital, and you can take a pill.  Which sounds better to you?"

He removed the mask once more.  "I hate…needles."

"So you want the shot then," she grinned.