Title: The Rules of the Game (1/?)
Author: X_tremeroswellian
Email: X_tremeroswellian@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Only in my dreams do I actually own anything. All are property of Edward Allen Bernero and John Wells.
Rating: R for language, violence and sexual content
Spoilers: Up through and including "233 Days."
Summary: Bosco and Faith find themselves in a predicament in which they can use only their instincts to survive.
Distribution: My site Only Time, 55-HQ, and fanfiction.net. Others, just ask and I'll probably say yes.
Category: Story
Subcategories: Action/adventure/thriller/suspense/romance/friendship/drama/angst...does that narrow it down too much? *wink wink*
Feedback: Makes me write faster.
Author's Note: I sort of got this idea from a third season episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But just for the very general plot idea. The rest came out of my own messed up mind. :)
Dedication: For Dem and Bree
The Rules of the Game (Part One)
Five Days Before
"I've got a couple of leads."
Bosco glanced over at Faith as she climbed into the passenger seat of their squad. "On--?"
"Chevchinko," she responded, not looking at him.
"I thought Sullivan found him."
"He did. But without Sergey's testimony, we've got nothing on him."
He shook his head, disgusted. "So what are your leads?"
She looked straight ahead, out the windshield. "According to Mazie, they've got a drug ring going in that old warehouse on 22nd and Rochester."
Bosco looked at her. "And the other lead?"
Faith hesitated momentarily. "An illegal medical operation facility. Supposedly they're taking random people and using them as unwilling organ donors, then selling the organs on the black market."
"Where'd you hear that one from?"
She shrugged. "It's a rumor on the street. I think it may be unfounded."
"Hopefully." Bosco grimaced. "Although with as many missing person's reports that are filled out everyday in this city, anything's possible, I guess."
"Yeah." She shuddered.
"What's the address on that one?"
"Cantrell and Minister. Out by the docks, in the old paper factory."
He frowned, then started the engine. "Be a convenient place to run that kind of an operation, what, with the capability of hauling corpses out to sea right there."
She nodded. "Should we check it out?"
Before he could answer, their radios crackled to life. "Any units available, please report to 27th and and Edgar for a possible 10-29."
Bosco grabbed his radio. "55-David responding, Central."
"10-4, 55-David," the dispatcher replied.
He glanced over at Faith. "We'll check that lead out later."
"Okay," she agreed, fastening her seatbelt as he pulled their squad onto the road, flipping on the lights and sirens.
"You all right?"
Faith glanced across the table to see Bosco gazing at her with a frown on his face as he ate another slice of pizza. "Yeah. Why?"
"You've been quiet all day," he replied with a mouth full of food.
She made a face and sipped her pepsi, looking out the window of the pizza place. "Just thinking."
"About--?"
She shrugged, feeling uncomfortable. "Nothing."
Bosco raised an eyebrow. "Right."
She didn't respond. She didn't want to tell him because she knew he'd only get on her case about it and she didn't feel like listening to it right then. "You done yet?"
"Geez, Yokas. What's your rush? We've got fifteen minutes left for dinner."
Faith sat back against the booth, trying to tamp down her impatience.
"You didn't eat very much," he remarked.
"Not hungry."
He frowned again, leaning forward. "You should eat more, Faith."
"Why's that?"
"Well, because you never know when we'll have time to stop again."
"Yeah, well, if I get hungry, I'll just wait until I get home."
"You've been losing weight," he commented.
Faith looked up at him, surprised he'd noticed. "Yeah."
"You're not sick again, are you?" His voice was casual, but his eyes were worried.
"No, Bosco, I'm not sick again," she said with a sigh. She pushed her plate away.
He studied her for a moment longer. "Wanna go check out those leads of yours?"
"That'd be good." She finished off her soda and waited as he did the same. They stood up. She reached into her pocket for some money.
"You paid. I'll get the tip," he told her, pulling out his wallet. He dropped a five dollar bill on the table and followed her out the door. "Where to first?" he asked, handing her the keys.
"We're closer to the docks," she pointed out, walking around to the driver's side of their squad.
"Spare parts operation it is, then," Bosco agreed, sliding into the passenger seat.
Faith made a face at his casual description and stuck the keys in the ignition, starting the engine. "I really, really hope this is a false rumor."
"You and me both," Bosco replied with a grimace. "Just think of all the paperwork we'd have to do."
She shook her head as she pulled the car onto the road.
"This is it," Faith said, her voice low as she parked the squad outside of the abandoned factory.
Bosco stared at the building. "Think it's safe to go in?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
He shrugged lightly. "I say let's check it out."
She nodded, and climbed out of the car, her hand resting on her gun holster. Bosco did the same, walking beside her up to the building. They approached the door cautiously.
Faith drew her weapon and motioned for Bosco to get on the other side of the door. He did so and on her count, he swung it open and followed her in.
The building was dark and completely silent. There was a cold chill in the air. He took the flashlight off his belt and flipped it on, shining it around. Cobwebs decorated what was left of the machinery and he caught sight of a rat scurrying across the floor, and then disappearing behind a pile of wood. "I don't think anyone's been here for awhile," he said, turning back to her.
Faith nodded toward a descending stairwell to their right. There was a door at the bottom of the stops. "Basement?"
Bosco shrugged, then headed toward them, shining the flashlight on each stair so they didn't fall. He glanced back to see her standing behind him, then he turned the door handle slowly.
The door opened slightly and he could instantly see light from inside the room. "Jackpot," he said under his breath, drawing his weapon from its holster. He pushed the door open a bit more and he could hear voices inside. He crouched down and strained to hear what was being said.
"...new location," a male voice said.
"Where?" another voice asked. This one belonged to a male, as well, and had a very distinctive accent.
Bosco glanced at Faith.
"Chevchinko," she said, her voice barely audible.
He nodded, then turned to listen again.
"...island off the coast..."
"...secure?"
"Yes, Sir..."
Bosco frowned, then leaned closer, trying to catch what he was missing.
"...all set."
"Except for new victims."
"Yes."
"...can find a solution to our little problem," Chevchinko said, giving a short laugh.
He turned to look at his partner again. "Let's go in there and arrest him."
"Maybe we should call for back-up," she suggested, hesitant.
"I thought you wanted to catch this guy."
"I do, but--"
"Then let's do it." Bosco stood up from his crouched position and pushed the door open the rest of the way. He rounded the corner, pointing his gun at Chevchinko. "Police! Nobody move!"
Chevchinko turned to look at him, surprise clear on his face. "Can I help you, Officer?"
"You're under arrest," Bosco told him.
"For what?" he asked, his voice calm.
"Probable cause at the moment," he responded.
"I haven't done anything," Chevchinko said innocently. He turned his gaze to Faith. "Officer Yokas. So good to see you again." He smirked.
"Put your hands in the air where I can see them," Bosco commanded the two men.
They both complied.
He pulled out his handcuffs. "We're taking you both down to the station."
"I don't think so, Officer."
Bosco glared at him. "You don't, huh? Well, gee. I'm all broken up about that."
"You'll point that gun away from me before it costs Officer Yokas her life," Chevchinko said cooly, nodding toward Faith.
A sinking feeling in his stomach, he turned slowly and saw a big man standing behind his partner, one arm locked around her neck and a gun pressed against her temple. He met her eyes. Oh, shit, he thought.
"Put your gun down on the floor, Officer."
"Unless you want to see her pretty little head blown off," the man standing by Chevchinko added.
His mind instantly flashed to seeing Ross after the shooting and a wave of nausea washed over him. He bent down slowly and set his gun on the concrete floor, his gaze never leaving Faith's. "All right. I did as you asked. Now you can let her go."
The man holding Faith shoved her forward roughly, causing her to stumble. She caught her balance before she fell, then turned to glare at the man.
He simply grinned back at her.
"What do you want, Chevchinko?" Faith demanded angrily.
"What do I want?" He walked over to her. "What every man wants. Money. A nice home. To be able to take care of my family. Mostly I want the New York Police Officers to leave me alone."
"Yeah? Then quit breaking the damned law!" Bosco snapped.
Chevchinko smirked at him, then looked at her. "You have a different partner, I see. What is his name?"
She just looked back at him, remaining silent.
His eyes narrowed and he nodded his head slightly.
The big man came up behind her and shoved the gun into her back.
"Maurice Boscorelli!" Bosco answered, glaring at the man. "Want me to spell it for you?"
"That won't be necessary." Chevchinko turned to him again. "Boscorelli...is that an Italian name?"
"Yeah, after my father. He's a real asshole. You're probably related somehow!" he said angrily, upset that the man still had a gun pointed at his partner's back.
Chevchinko raised an eyebrow. "He has quite a temper, Officer Yokas. I like your other partner better."
"Screw you!" Bosco snapped.
"Bosco." Faith looked over at him and shook her head.
He shut his mouth, but glared at the man.
She turned her attention to Chevchinko. "Look. Why don't you let us go and we can pretend like none of this ever happened."
Chevchinko looked at her. "I think we all know better than that, Officer Yokas. No, I think you know as well as I do that if I let you go, you'd have a warrent for my arrest in less than an hour. And since I can't let you go, then I must decide what to do with the two of you."
"Anything happens to us, and this place is gonna be crawling with cops," Bosco warned. "It's only a matter of time before our backup gets here."
The older man seemed to consider his words. Then he smiled. "Then I guess we'll just have to take you somewhere else, won't we?"
Bosco met Faith's gaze.
Chevchinko nodded his head, and he watched in horror as the man grabbed Faith from behind, shoving a white cloth over her mouth and nose. She struggled, her eyes wide with fear.
"Faith!" he shouted. He made it exactly two steps before the other man slammed something down on the back of his head. He fell to the floor, his head pouding and his vision growing blurry. He watched helplessly as his partner's limp body tumbled to the floor a few feet away.
"I think you just solved our dilemma, Sir," one of the men said.
"Yes," he heard Chevchinko agree. "They're both healthy, young, strong...they'll make excellent specimens."
The last thing he heard was the laughter of the three men. Then Bosco passed out.
--End Part One--
Go to Part 2
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