Title: Test of Time (12/12)
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to John Wells, Edward Allan Bernero, NBC and a bunch of other people I don't know.
Rating: R for language and violence
Feedback: Well, it will make me write faster ;)
Author's Note: Well, I loved writing this story and I'm sorry to see that it has finally come to an end. However, I am currently working on two other stories. I will post the first chapter of one of them within the next few days. I hope everyone will enjoy it as much as they did this story. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews :) Now, onto the conclusion.
Chapter 12
Bosco stared at his tormentor, desperately trying to remain conscious. Although the urge was strong to just give in to the darkness that was beckoning him, he refused to. If he was going to die, he was going to look his killer in the eyes. He was going to die with pride. Krychek calmly stared at the young officer who lay battered and bruised before him. He was about to press down on the trigger when he was interrupted by two of his men entering the warehouse, dragging an unconscious man with them.
"Who the hell is that?" Krychek asked as he took in the middle-aged man lying by his feet.
"No idea." Jase said, kicking at the body. "We found him lurking around out back." He said, referring to Detective Meyers.
"Who the hell is he?" Krychek asked, spinning around angrily to glare at Bosco who was desperately trying not to lose consciousness.
"I don't know." Bosco gasped, still in obvious pain from the beating he'd received earlier to the abdomen and face.
"Don't fuckin' lie to me!" Krychek screamed as he hit the officer again. "You have five seconds to tell me who the hell he is before I blow his brains out."
Bosco desperately tried to clear his vision as little pinpricks of light danced before his eyes. He could hear Krychek's question but it felt as though he was underwater, everything sounded distorted and distant. He shook his head in a feeble attempt to clear his vision before answering. "I don't know -" Bosco managed to say but was interrupted by Krychek as he calmly shot the man in the head, blood and brain matter splattering across their feet.
"Too late." He said simply, staring at Bosco who was clearly shocked.
"Now, let's try this again." He said calmly, standing face to face with Bosco.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"This is the place." Faith told them as she, Gusler, Sully, and Davis slowly made their way towards the abandoned warehouse.
"Where's the detective?" Sully asked her, noting that the place looked deserted.
"I don't know." Faith told him, quickly scanning the area but failing to see him.
"If this is the place we can't get in by the front." Davis remarked as he nodded towards the garage door that was clearly closed.
"Then we go by the back." Faith said, making her way past the other officers, her gun drawn. Quietly, they made their way to the back of the building, weapons drawn out in front of them. Faith quickly signaled for everyone to stop as she noticed two men speaking in hushed tones as they slowly made their way towards the back door. Deep in conversation, they failed to notice the police officers hiding in the shadows. Faith waited until they were inside before continuing onward. She heard Sully call for backup. She made her way to the back door and sighed in relief when she realized that it was unlocked. She said a silent prayer that Bosco was still alive before going in.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Now, who else knows about me?" Although his features were blank, his eyes flashed in anger.
"You leave her the hell alone." Bosco hissed, thinking of Faith. "I swear to God, if you touch her -"
A look of confusion flicked across Krychek's face but before he could ask any more questions Derek and Matt, two of his new recruits, interrupted him. "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked them, anger and confusion strewn across his face. The two men quickly took in the scene before them.
"What the hell is going on?" Derek asked, noting the dead body on the ground and the bruised and battered man chained before him.
"Never mind." Krychek said, "A better question is what the hell are you guys doing here?" He asked as he swung his gun in their direction.
"Hey, easy." Matt said. "I forgot my wallet." He quickly exchanged a look with Derek. The brief distraction was the opportunity that Faith, Sully, Gusler and Davis were looking for as they quickly entered the room.
"Police!" Davis said as he aimed his gun in their direction.
"Put your weapons down." Sully said, taking in the scene before him. Jase and Kenny quickly spun around, weapons drawn and didn't hesitate to fire. The police officers, seeking shelter, quickly jumped behind some of the heavy pieces of equipment lying around the room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Bosco stood in the middle of the room, unable to move, and watched as shots were exchanged. He saw Sully and Davis across the room, both were busy exchanging gunfire with the two perps who had kidnapped him. He vaguely saw Faith taking shelter behind a piece of machinery, waiting for an opportunity to open fire. However, his gaze was quickly diverted when he saw Krychek raise his weapon and take aim at him. He could feel the scream well up in his throat but was shocked into place.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Faith hid behind the meat grinder, seeking shelter from the hail of bullets that were flying across the room. She peeked around the corner and spotted Sully and Davis as they shot at the drug dealers before quickly ducking behind the grinder as a bullet whizzed by her face, imbedding itself in the concrete wall in front of her. She took a deep breath before peeking over the machine once more. What she saw made her heart stop. She could see a man standing before Bosco oblivious to the gunfire going on around him, a man who she instinctively knew to be Krychek. She watched as he swung his gun around to face her partner, who was chained and beaten in the center of the room. Her eyes focused on the blood marring his flesh before jerking back to Krychek. She saw him raise his gun at her partner, his face a mask for fury and pure hatred. She froze in fear, her only thought that Bosco was about to be killed before her very eyes. Do something, dammit! Her mind screamed. She shook her head, forcing her brain and body to work but she was frozen in place. Finally, after what felt like hours, although it was only mere seconds, she raised her weapon and was just putting pressure on the trigger when the unthinkable happened.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Bosco stood frozen, his gaze focused solely on the gun thrust towards him. He thought that he might have seen Faith watching him but he couldn't be sure. All he could see was the man who had killed Mikey, the man who was about to kill him. Bosco said a silent prayer begging his mother to forgive him and grieved in the knowledge that she would be burying another son so soon after the first. Just as Krychek was putting pressure on the trigger, however, Bosco noticed one of the men that had walked in just moments before shoot Krychek in the back of the head, his blood splattering across his face. He stood there stunned, unaware that their backup had arrived. It was only when he saw the rest of the drug dealers being placed into police custody that he finally allowed himself to be pulled once again into the peaceful abyss.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Explain it to me again." Bosco asked his partner later that night as she visited him in the hospital, after filling out the ton of paperwork back at the precinct. Bosco had suffered several broken ribs, a concussion, a fractured cheekbone, and numerous cuts and bruises to the face that had required stitches. He was being kept in the hospital for observation and, although he would have normally put up a fight and demand to be released, he was just too tired.
"Well," Faith said, recounting the story for what felt like the hundredth time that night, "Those two guys who came in later, you know the ones that said they had forgotten their wallet, they were actually undercover police officers who were tracking Krychek for some time. They were also the ones who had left us those notes trying to scare us away. They didn't want us messing up their case."
"How did they know we would be there tonight?" Bosco asked.
"They didn't. They were planning on scoping out the place, seeing what they could find out. Krychek never trusted them. He always felt that there was something off about them but he could never find any dirt on them to justify his fears. So, he kept them pretty much in the dark about everything. The other two, Jase Stolts and Kenny Rodriguez were his trusted allies. They were also the ones who killed Mikey and Charlie." Faith said softly.
"Why didn't they arrest Krychek when he had Charlie and Mikey killed?" Bosco asked, referring to the undercover police officers.
"Because they didn't have any proof. Krychek never told them what his plans were although they did suspect he was behind it. They knew that if they arrested him it would never hold up in court. Krychek would be acquitted for lack of evidence and leave the state, maybe even the country.
"He's dead now." Bosco said softly, more to himself than to Faith.
"Yeah." She said softly. "He's dead. You did it Bos. You brought Mikey's killer to justice.
"Then why aren't I happy?" He asked her, looking down at his hands.
"Give it some time to sink in." Faith told him, sadness filling her, her heart breaking to see her partner in so much pain.
"Yeah." Bosco said. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm really tired." He told her, eager to be left alone.
"Yeah." Faith said, quickly getting up. "Take care of yourself. I'll come by tomorrow morning to see you."
"Faith." Bosco called out as she reached the doorway leading out into the hall.
"Yeah?" She said softly, looking at her partner.
"Thanks for everything. For helping me research Krychek, for hiring a detective to follow me." Bosco said, thinking of the dead man who had given his life and saved his. If Faith hadn't hired someone to watch after him he would surely be dead tonight.
"No problem." She said, a sad smile on her face. "Get some rest and take care of yourself. Get better soon. I don't know how much longer I can work with Gusler and remain sane." She joked. A small smile stretched across Bosco's lips. Although it only lasted a second, it was the first real smile he had in a very long time.
"I will." He promised as he watched her leave. He had every intention of getting some real help. He needed to find some meaning in his life again. He was tired of feeling lost.
Epilogue
"Maurice, I'm scared." Mikey said, gazing up at his big brother. I don't wanna go. Tommy Jenkins said that he was going to beat me up after school today." Mickey said, starting to cry.
"Don't worry, Mikey." A young Bosco said, staring down at his younger brother. "I'll take care of it. I'm you're big brother, I'll always be there to protect you no matter what. I won't let anyone hurt you ever."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The lone cry of a seagull broke his thoughts as he gazed down at the newly erected headstone indicating the place where his brother lay buried. "God, I'm so sorry, Mikey." Bosco whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you like I promised I would. I failed you, please forgive me." He said, breaking down for the first time since Mikey's death, his sobs radiating throughout the deserted cemetery. Alone in his thoughts and memories, he failed to notice the approaching footsteps. He jerked when he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. He spun around and surprise registered on his face as he saw his mother standing before him. She quickly enveloped him in her arms, her heart breaking at the sight before her.
"Oh, baby." She told him sadly, " I'm so sorry. I was an idiot for blaming you. What happened to Mikey wasn't your fault." She told him, pulling away and gazing sadly into her son's eyes. "You couldn't be around 24/7 to protect him, Maurice. The truth is that Mikey chose his life. This was the path that he took and as much as I want to deny it, the truth is that sooner or later, something like this was bound to happen." Bosco opened his mouth to object but his mother cut him off before he could speak. "No, it's the truth Maurice and deep down you know it's true, too. Mikey was my son and I loved him. I'll always love him. He was a good boy but he got caught up in the wrong crowd." She said, her voice cracking with emotion. She stared at her eldest son, sadness reflecting in her eyes. "Maurice, honey, I was an idiot." She told him, her own eyes welling up with tears. "Can you forgive me?"
Bosco stared at her a few seconds before enveloping her in his arms. They stayed that way for several minutes before breaking apart. They stared down at the grave before them for a short while before quietly walking out of the cemetery, hand in hand.
End
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to John Wells, Edward Allan Bernero, NBC and a bunch of other people I don't know.
Rating: R for language and violence
Feedback: Well, it will make me write faster ;)
Author's Note: Well, I loved writing this story and I'm sorry to see that it has finally come to an end. However, I am currently working on two other stories. I will post the first chapter of one of them within the next few days. I hope everyone will enjoy it as much as they did this story. Thanks again for the wonderful reviews :) Now, onto the conclusion.
Chapter 12
Bosco stared at his tormentor, desperately trying to remain conscious. Although the urge was strong to just give in to the darkness that was beckoning him, he refused to. If he was going to die, he was going to look his killer in the eyes. He was going to die with pride. Krychek calmly stared at the young officer who lay battered and bruised before him. He was about to press down on the trigger when he was interrupted by two of his men entering the warehouse, dragging an unconscious man with them.
"Who the hell is that?" Krychek asked as he took in the middle-aged man lying by his feet.
"No idea." Jase said, kicking at the body. "We found him lurking around out back." He said, referring to Detective Meyers.
"Who the hell is he?" Krychek asked, spinning around angrily to glare at Bosco who was desperately trying not to lose consciousness.
"I don't know." Bosco gasped, still in obvious pain from the beating he'd received earlier to the abdomen and face.
"Don't fuckin' lie to me!" Krychek screamed as he hit the officer again. "You have five seconds to tell me who the hell he is before I blow his brains out."
Bosco desperately tried to clear his vision as little pinpricks of light danced before his eyes. He could hear Krychek's question but it felt as though he was underwater, everything sounded distorted and distant. He shook his head in a feeble attempt to clear his vision before answering. "I don't know -" Bosco managed to say but was interrupted by Krychek as he calmly shot the man in the head, blood and brain matter splattering across their feet.
"Too late." He said simply, staring at Bosco who was clearly shocked.
"Now, let's try this again." He said calmly, standing face to face with Bosco.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"This is the place." Faith told them as she, Gusler, Sully, and Davis slowly made their way towards the abandoned warehouse.
"Where's the detective?" Sully asked her, noting that the place looked deserted.
"I don't know." Faith told him, quickly scanning the area but failing to see him.
"If this is the place we can't get in by the front." Davis remarked as he nodded towards the garage door that was clearly closed.
"Then we go by the back." Faith said, making her way past the other officers, her gun drawn. Quietly, they made their way to the back of the building, weapons drawn out in front of them. Faith quickly signaled for everyone to stop as she noticed two men speaking in hushed tones as they slowly made their way towards the back door. Deep in conversation, they failed to notice the police officers hiding in the shadows. Faith waited until they were inside before continuing onward. She heard Sully call for backup. She made her way to the back door and sighed in relief when she realized that it was unlocked. She said a silent prayer that Bosco was still alive before going in.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Now, who else knows about me?" Although his features were blank, his eyes flashed in anger.
"You leave her the hell alone." Bosco hissed, thinking of Faith. "I swear to God, if you touch her -"
A look of confusion flicked across Krychek's face but before he could ask any more questions Derek and Matt, two of his new recruits, interrupted him. "What the hell are you doing here?" He asked them, anger and confusion strewn across his face. The two men quickly took in the scene before them.
"What the hell is going on?" Derek asked, noting the dead body on the ground and the bruised and battered man chained before him.
"Never mind." Krychek said, "A better question is what the hell are you guys doing here?" He asked as he swung his gun in their direction.
"Hey, easy." Matt said. "I forgot my wallet." He quickly exchanged a look with Derek. The brief distraction was the opportunity that Faith, Sully, Gusler and Davis were looking for as they quickly entered the room.
"Police!" Davis said as he aimed his gun in their direction.
"Put your weapons down." Sully said, taking in the scene before him. Jase and Kenny quickly spun around, weapons drawn and didn't hesitate to fire. The police officers, seeking shelter, quickly jumped behind some of the heavy pieces of equipment lying around the room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Bosco stood in the middle of the room, unable to move, and watched as shots were exchanged. He saw Sully and Davis across the room, both were busy exchanging gunfire with the two perps who had kidnapped him. He vaguely saw Faith taking shelter behind a piece of machinery, waiting for an opportunity to open fire. However, his gaze was quickly diverted when he saw Krychek raise his weapon and take aim at him. He could feel the scream well up in his throat but was shocked into place.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Faith hid behind the meat grinder, seeking shelter from the hail of bullets that were flying across the room. She peeked around the corner and spotted Sully and Davis as they shot at the drug dealers before quickly ducking behind the grinder as a bullet whizzed by her face, imbedding itself in the concrete wall in front of her. She took a deep breath before peeking over the machine once more. What she saw made her heart stop. She could see a man standing before Bosco oblivious to the gunfire going on around him, a man who she instinctively knew to be Krychek. She watched as he swung his gun around to face her partner, who was chained and beaten in the center of the room. Her eyes focused on the blood marring his flesh before jerking back to Krychek. She saw him raise his gun at her partner, his face a mask for fury and pure hatred. She froze in fear, her only thought that Bosco was about to be killed before her very eyes. Do something, dammit! Her mind screamed. She shook her head, forcing her brain and body to work but she was frozen in place. Finally, after what felt like hours, although it was only mere seconds, she raised her weapon and was just putting pressure on the trigger when the unthinkable happened.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Bosco stood frozen, his gaze focused solely on the gun thrust towards him. He thought that he might have seen Faith watching him but he couldn't be sure. All he could see was the man who had killed Mikey, the man who was about to kill him. Bosco said a silent prayer begging his mother to forgive him and grieved in the knowledge that she would be burying another son so soon after the first. Just as Krychek was putting pressure on the trigger, however, Bosco noticed one of the men that had walked in just moments before shoot Krychek in the back of the head, his blood splattering across his face. He stood there stunned, unaware that their backup had arrived. It was only when he saw the rest of the drug dealers being placed into police custody that he finally allowed himself to be pulled once again into the peaceful abyss.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Explain it to me again." Bosco asked his partner later that night as she visited him in the hospital, after filling out the ton of paperwork back at the precinct. Bosco had suffered several broken ribs, a concussion, a fractured cheekbone, and numerous cuts and bruises to the face that had required stitches. He was being kept in the hospital for observation and, although he would have normally put up a fight and demand to be released, he was just too tired.
"Well," Faith said, recounting the story for what felt like the hundredth time that night, "Those two guys who came in later, you know the ones that said they had forgotten their wallet, they were actually undercover police officers who were tracking Krychek for some time. They were also the ones who had left us those notes trying to scare us away. They didn't want us messing up their case."
"How did they know we would be there tonight?" Bosco asked.
"They didn't. They were planning on scoping out the place, seeing what they could find out. Krychek never trusted them. He always felt that there was something off about them but he could never find any dirt on them to justify his fears. So, he kept them pretty much in the dark about everything. The other two, Jase Stolts and Kenny Rodriguez were his trusted allies. They were also the ones who killed Mikey and Charlie." Faith said softly.
"Why didn't they arrest Krychek when he had Charlie and Mikey killed?" Bosco asked, referring to the undercover police officers.
"Because they didn't have any proof. Krychek never told them what his plans were although they did suspect he was behind it. They knew that if they arrested him it would never hold up in court. Krychek would be acquitted for lack of evidence and leave the state, maybe even the country.
"He's dead now." Bosco said softly, more to himself than to Faith.
"Yeah." She said softly. "He's dead. You did it Bos. You brought Mikey's killer to justice.
"Then why aren't I happy?" He asked her, looking down at his hands.
"Give it some time to sink in." Faith told him, sadness filling her, her heart breaking to see her partner in so much pain.
"Yeah." Bosco said. "Look, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm really tired." He told her, eager to be left alone.
"Yeah." Faith said, quickly getting up. "Take care of yourself. I'll come by tomorrow morning to see you."
"Faith." Bosco called out as she reached the doorway leading out into the hall.
"Yeah?" She said softly, looking at her partner.
"Thanks for everything. For helping me research Krychek, for hiring a detective to follow me." Bosco said, thinking of the dead man who had given his life and saved his. If Faith hadn't hired someone to watch after him he would surely be dead tonight.
"No problem." She said, a sad smile on her face. "Get some rest and take care of yourself. Get better soon. I don't know how much longer I can work with Gusler and remain sane." She joked. A small smile stretched across Bosco's lips. Although it only lasted a second, it was the first real smile he had in a very long time.
"I will." He promised as he watched her leave. He had every intention of getting some real help. He needed to find some meaning in his life again. He was tired of feeling lost.
Epilogue
"Maurice, I'm scared." Mikey said, gazing up at his big brother. I don't wanna go. Tommy Jenkins said that he was going to beat me up after school today." Mickey said, starting to cry.
"Don't worry, Mikey." A young Bosco said, staring down at his younger brother. "I'll take care of it. I'm you're big brother, I'll always be there to protect you no matter what. I won't let anyone hurt you ever."
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
The lone cry of a seagull broke his thoughts as he gazed down at the newly erected headstone indicating the place where his brother lay buried. "God, I'm so sorry, Mikey." Bosco whispered, his voice breaking. "I'm so, so sorry. I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you like I promised I would. I failed you, please forgive me." He said, breaking down for the first time since Mikey's death, his sobs radiating throughout the deserted cemetery. Alone in his thoughts and memories, he failed to notice the approaching footsteps. He jerked when he felt a hand being placed on his shoulder. He spun around and surprise registered on his face as he saw his mother standing before him. She quickly enveloped him in her arms, her heart breaking at the sight before her.
"Oh, baby." She told him sadly, " I'm so sorry. I was an idiot for blaming you. What happened to Mikey wasn't your fault." She told him, pulling away and gazing sadly into her son's eyes. "You couldn't be around 24/7 to protect him, Maurice. The truth is that Mikey chose his life. This was the path that he took and as much as I want to deny it, the truth is that sooner or later, something like this was bound to happen." Bosco opened his mouth to object but his mother cut him off before he could speak. "No, it's the truth Maurice and deep down you know it's true, too. Mikey was my son and I loved him. I'll always love him. He was a good boy but he got caught up in the wrong crowd." She said, her voice cracking with emotion. She stared at her eldest son, sadness reflecting in her eyes. "Maurice, honey, I was an idiot." She told him, her own eyes welling up with tears. "Can you forgive me?"
Bosco stared at her a few seconds before enveloping her in his arms. They stayed that way for several minutes before breaking apart. They stared down at the grave before them for a short while before quietly walking out of the cemetery, hand in hand.
End