Hit and Run
Chapter 13
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It was moving day for Faith and Bosco. They still didn't know if they were going to be in the same room or not. "I swear that nurse is ignoring my question on purpose," complained Bosco.
"Yeah, it couldn't be that she has no idea where they have open rooms on whatever floor we're going to," Faith said back sarcastically.
"Why do you always take their side?" he asked, exasperated. "Their side?" she asked. "You know - other womens' side," he replied, looking right at her.
"Oh Bos, grow up. What's gotten into you today? Why are you so grumpy?" asked Faith, noticing that he had been this way since last evening.
"I'm not grumpy. I just don't want to move," he said, crossing his arms as if he was five years old and pouting.
"Well, I think we're creeping them out up here in ICU. I don't think they're used to the patients actually being able to talk back to them," she said, bringing a smile to his face.
"Yeah, that was pretty funny last night when that student nurse came in and tried to give me a sponge bath," he laughed. "I think she's the one that needed the bath after that," he finished as they both started laughing.
"The poor girl will probably never come back again," Faith said, remembering how fast she ran from the room when she lifted up Bosco's hospital gown to change it and without moving he opened one eye and calmly said, "What are you doing?" She started laughing again.
They were still laughing when they noticed a loud beeping noise coming from across the hall and a bunch of staff running to the room with a cart full of supplies. "Wonder what's going on over there," Bosco said as he stretched his neck trying to see into the other room. "Doesn't sound good, whatever it is," Faith commented.
The two officers watched the goings-on across the hall for a few minutes and then Faith said, "So, what happened last night? What made you so restless?"
"I don't know, maybe all this laying around. I'm just not tired," he answered vaguely, not wanting to tell her that he was having a new dream.
"Well, they can give you something to help you sleep you know. All you have to do is ask," she told him. "Yeah, but you know I don't like all that crap," he said, making a face. "Sorry if I kept you awake. Maybe we should get separate rooms," he said, not wanting her to suffer because he couldn't keep his dreams under control.
"I don't mind. I just didn't know if it was something you wanted to talk about," she said, trying to put him at ease.
"Nah, just couldn't sleep," he said as most of the people started coming out of the room across the hall.
"Looks like he made it," noticed Faith as she could still see the nurses working on him and the rhythm on the cardiac monitor on the wall that he was hooked up to.
A little while later, two orderlies came to begin moving Bosco and Faith to their new rooms. Faith was first and asked what room she was going to so she could let Bosco know. One of the orderlies looked at the paperwork and said, "Uh, let's see... Looks like you're going to Room 4115 on the fourth floor," he said, looking over to see if Bosco had heard him. "Thanks," said Bosco. "I don't suppose you know what room I'm going to?" he asked, hoping that the same orderlies would be moving him and would have the information.
The orderly checked Bosco's chart for his name and looked over his entire sheet. He frowned and said, "I have the sheet that lists all the transfers today and I don't have you down as going anywhere today, Mr. Boscorelli," he said.
"What?" said Bosco. "I thought we were both supposed to be moved out today?" Bosco said, more to Faith than the orderly.
"Geez, Bos. That's what the doctor said this morning. I don't know what's going on," she said, looking at the orderlies with a puzzled look on her face.
"Tell you what, Sir. I'll get Ms. Yokas settled in her room and then I'll see what I can find out about it. Okay?"
Bosco nodded his head, "See ya' later, Yokas," he said as he watched the orderlies move Faith out of the room. She gave a wave as she went by the window to the room noticing the worried look on his face. He waved back, giving her a fake smile. His gaze moved as Faith disappeared from the window and he found himself again staring across the hall and thinking about the patient there.
A few minutes later a nurse came in and he asked her about whether he was moving today or not. "Not today Bosco. There was some elevations in your bloodwork so the doctor wants to keep a close eye on you for another day or so," she said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. She was glad that he was still here. She had been taking care of him during her shifts since he was admitted and there was something about him that she liked. "I was going to come in and tell you sooner, but then Mr. Crisafulli had a crisis and, well..." she said, looking across the hall.
"Oh yeah," said Bosco as the nurse was taking his vital signs again. He looked down at her hand on his arm, noticing that she seemed to leave it there a little longer than necessary, rubbing over one of the many bruises on his arm. She realized what she was doing and got a little flustered. "That looks sore," she quickly recovered. "But, I'll make a note in the chart for the doctor that it doesn't appear any worse than earlier," she said trying to cover her embarrassment.
"So, Bosco, what do you do?" she asked, trying to change the subject. He smiled slightly, liking the extra attention. And she wasn't bad looking either - the type that he'd go for before... well, before he and Faith had gotten together. "I'm a cop," he answered, giving her the famous Boscorelli smile.
"Oooh, how exciting," said the nurse. "That's right. I remember reading in your chart about how you got hurt. It said you got hurt while trying to get your partner out of the way of that whacko that was doing all those hit and runs. That's pretty brave," she finished as Bosco was eating up all the praise.
"Yeah, well. That's me - to protect and to serve," he said, enjoying himself. It had been a few months since he had the fun of trying to impress some girl. It was 2 1/2 months, in fact, since Faith and Bosco had expressed their feelings for each other. "I still got it," he thought to himself proudly.
"Ahem!" came the sound from the doorway. Bosco and the nurse jumped and looked toward the doorway to see Angela Boscorelli standing there, a fake smile on her face. "Well, nurse. You seem to be doing a fine job of taking care of my boy here," she said, putting herself between the nurse and her son. "And, Bosco, you seem to be enjoying her company as well, but I'm sure she has other patients she should be tending to. So, where did your 'significant other,' Faith move to?"
"Um... Yes I should get on to my next patient. So, Bosco, if you don't need anything else, I'll stop in later," she said, rushing from the room.
Bosco watched her leave and was brought back to the present by the punch in the arm from his mother. "Ow!" he said, looking up at her and rubbing his arm.
"Maurice Boscorelli! You should be ashamed of yourself. I passed Faith going down the hallway and she said she was being moved to a regular room today. She's been gone, what, 15 minutes and already you're chasing the nurses?"
"Hey! I am NOT chasing the nurses. Can I help it if they can't resist this Boscorelli charm. SHE was coming on to ME," he said in his defense.
"Well, I didn't see you discouraging her either," she said. "Don't mess up with Faith, Maurice. It took you guys way too long to hook up and I've never seen you happier," Angela scolded him.
"Don't worry Ma. I'm not doing anything to mess that up. But, I'm not dead either," he finished quietly, hoping that Angela hadn't heard that last chauvinistic comment. She did and he promptly received another smack in the arm.
"So, why aren't they moving you too?" she asked, worrying that he wasn't telling her something.
"I don't know," he said angrily. "Somethin' about my bloodwork. Another day or two," he said, sadly.
"Well, I'm sure that they'll let Faith call you from her room," she said, knowing that her son was already missing Faith.
"Yeah, and she said that she'd tell the kids to come up and see me," he said, brightening a little.
"Do you really think that Fred will bring them up here?" Angela asked him, smiling when Bosco told her what Faith had planned.
Angela opened up the bag that she was carrying and quickly looked out the doorway before giving her son some 'real' coffee and a bagel that she smuggled in from the coffee shop down the street. Bosco brought the cup of coffee up to his nose and inhaled the deep, rich aroma. "Mmmmm. I never thought I'd appreciate a cup of coffee so much. Thanks Ma," he said as she leaned over to give him a hug.
"Your welcome. Mikey says 'hi.' He said he was going to stop over in a little while. I told him to take the night off and that I would run the bar tonight. Unless you want me to stay here with you," she added quickly, remembering that Faith was no longer there to keep him company.
Bosco nodded, "Great. It'll be good to see Mikey again. You don't have to come in tonight Ma. I know that you want to get back to the bar and check to see that everything's okay. I'm fine. It's not like I'm even that sick anymore," he said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.
"You know, Ma. I really appreciate you being here with me through all of this. I'm sorry I put you through all this," he said, looking out the window as he spoke to her. He really did appreciate the fact that she had sat by his side day and night this past week. He always knew that she loved him and that she just didn't know how to show it. She had come a long way over this past year and he knew it was from the counseling that Bosco talked her into going to with Mikey in hopes of getting him straightened out. He knew that after he arrested him, there was no way that Mikey would want Bosco anywhere near him or he would have gone to the counseling with Mikey himself.
"Maurice, honey. I know I put you boys through a lot while you were growing up and I know that you saw and heard a lot of things that no child should ever have to witness. I'm so sorry for putting you both through it and I can't help but blame myself for the problems that you have both had. I just hope it's not too late to let you know just how much I love you both," she said, tearing up. Bosco looked away as tears formed in his eyes also. They had never talked like this before and it was great.
"We know Ma. We know. And, I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you all those years. I guess in some way I blamed you for not getting away from Dad and then for getting involved with all those losers. But that was wrong, you just needed help and I didn't know how to help you then," he told her. "I'm just glad that we're all straightened out now. Things are looking great for all of us," he said finally, giving her that Boscorelli smile.
"Hi Bosco!" called a pretty, young nurse as she walked by the room. Angela pinched her son's cheek and said, "You always did draw the ladies, Maurice. I always worried about that, but you proved me wrong. You really did grow up to be a great guy, despite all you went through. I know I have never told you this before, but I am so proud of you, Maurice," she said, a tear spilling down her cheek. She leaned over and they hugged for a long time.
"Thanks Ma," he said hugging her back. "I'm proud of you too. You've really gotten things together. You're running a successful business and you're finally happy in a relationship with a great guy. So, how is Tommy anyway?" he asked, realizing that he hadn't seen him since he had been in here. That surprised him because the two men had hit it off instantly. He was convinced that this man could actually give his mother the love and security she deserved.
"Well, Maurice. Tommy wanted to be here - he calls me every day to ask how you're doing and he wants me to tell you he sends his best - but he has a really hard time coming around hospitals, ever since he lost his wife about three years ago. Did he ever tell you about that?" asked Angela. "No," Bosco said, shaking his head.
"He was married to a wonderful woman. They were married for 25 years, never had any children. They were on a long-planned vacation in Paris and she became ill. She was hospitalized and never recovered from the illness. She died in the hospital in Paris and he was by her side the whole time. It just brings back terrible memories for him. I just couldn't force him to come here. I'm sorry," she explained to him.
"You tell Tommy not to worry about it. I understand and I'll see him when I'm outta here in a few days," he said, glad that Angela had found someone so great.
Mother and son sat together silently for a while, watching the news. There was a follow-up story about the hit and run attacker. They were reporting that there had been no new incidences of hit and runs since the last accident involving the one where he ran into the officers and civilians at the scene of a car accident. It was reported that they were looking for a white male, in the 30-40 age range. People were advised that the subject probably had suffered injuries from his latest attack - enough that he would require medical attention. Anyone with information that might be of assistance to the NYPD was asked to call a task force number. They were assured that anyone with information would be kept confidential.
The report followed with a brief report on the officer that had been killed and the condition of the officers that were also struck and still hospitalized and of Kim who was making a remarkable recovery. Angela absently reached over and patted her son's leg, thanking God that he was not one of those killed. Bosco closed his eyes and again saw Kim being struck that night. That sound would haunt him for a long time.
As the news ended, the phone rang in Bosco's room. He reached over and picked it up. "Boscorelli," he answered. Angela watched as Bosco's face relaxed as he answered softy, "Hey, how are you?" Angela knew that it was Faith. She saw Bosco start to stifle a yawn and decided that it was time for her to leave. She stood up and Bosco said, "Faith, hang on a minute."
"Maurice, you look tired so I'm gonna go and let you get some rest okay?" she asked him. He didn't really want her to leave because that would mean he would be by himself, but he saw how tired his mother was looking also. Mikey never did show up but called to say that the bar was really busy at lunchtime and that he would be staying there. He would try to stop by tomorrow and told his mother to stay for a while longer and then come over.
Angela leaned over to give her son a kiss and said into the phone on his shoulder, "G'night Faith." Bosco smiled and watched his mother walk out of the room, giving her a wave as she walked by the window. Bosco would never know it, but Angela stopped by the nurse's station and asked the nurse to make sure that the light over Maurice's bed was left on during the night. The nurse told her that Officer Yokas had already called and made that request a few moments ago and the nurse assured Angela that she would make sure that it was - after all it wasn't often that patients in the ICU were awake to make such a request and the least she could do was to make sure the light was on.
He lifted the phone back up to his ear. "So, are you sure you're alright?" he asked Faith. She sounded tired and worried. "Yeah Bos. I just want to make sure that you're okay. I finally found out that you never got moved today and I was worried," she explained.
"Sorry. Yeah, I'm fine. I think the doctor is just being over-cautious cause I feel fine," he assured Faith, stifling another yawn.
"Do you think you'll be able to sleep tonight?" she asked him. "'Cause you can have the nurse give you something. I know you don't like taking that stuff, but you really do need to get some decent rest Bosco," she urged.
"You know, I feel really beat. I bet I sleep just fine," he said, trying to soothe her worries. There was no way he was going to take any drugs to make him sleep. He didn't like not being under control of his own body. "Did you talk to the kids tonight?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, but they had a ton of homework that they hadn't finished yet so Fred took them right home after stopping in," she said. "Emily and Charlie promised me that they would stop up to see you tomorrow," she said and Bosco smiled. "Great. I can't believe how much I miss those guys," he said to Faith. She smiled and thought about what a great Dad he would be someday. She'd thought about that a lot since they had gotten together - how she'd like to give him at least one child of his own someday, but she was getting ahead of herself - way ahead.
Faith heard Bosco yawning again into the phone. "So, it sounds like you're ready to sleep. Do you want my phone number here in case you can't sleep?" she offered. "Sure," he said, grabbing the pen and paper that Angela had left for him. "Thanks, Faith and good night," he said. "Goodnight Bos. I love you," said Faith into the phone.
"I love you too, Faith," said Bosco and Faith filled with tears as she heard him say it for the first time. They both hung up the phone and Bosco turned off the television and laid back on the pillows.
He tossed and turned, as much as he could with the amount he could move from his injuries, for a few minutes and then turned the television back on. He needed the noise to keep him company until he fell asleep and he figured he wasn't disturbing anyone since he was alone. He soon fell asleep, but not for long.
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The room was dark and the patient's monitors kept track of his condition. Nurses were in and out frequently, checking on him every five minutes or so. Periodically, a machine alarm would go off indicating that something was amiss and a nurse or doctor would go into the room to check on him. He had not regained consciousness since his arrival on the floor, but something about the man just didn't sit right with the night nurse. She didn't like going in there - it just made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
She was in the room checking on his vital signs, with the small bedside light on. She started to turn to write down the information in the chart when she felt someone grab her wrist tightly. She gasped and turned back toward the patient to see him staring up at her.
It took her a moment to regain her composure and she pried his fingers from her wrist and tried to reassure him as most patients in the ICU woke up in a panic, not knowing or remembering what had happened to them.
"Mr. Crisafulli. You're awake. You're at Angel of Mercy Hospital. I'll go get the doctor for you. I'll be right back," she said, quickly exiting the room. She went to the nurse's station and paged the doctor that was on call. When he called back, she notified him that the patient had woken up and he said he would be right up to evaluate him.
A few moments later, the doctor was in Crisafulli's room with the nurse and was evaluating the patient. He explained, "Apparently, you took a bad fall through a floor in an abandoned building, Mr. Crisafulli. You had something stuck in your ankle that was pretty infected upon your arrival. We had to operate to remove the object, but the infection made it's way into your bloodstream. You have been in pretty bad shape the last couple of days, but I think the worst of it is over. Do you understand?" asked the doctor. Crisafulli shook his head yes and then drifted off to sleep, but not before hearing the doctor ask the nurse, "Have you checked with the lab for the repeat bloodwork result on - oh I'm sorry I forgot his name - the cop that got hit by the car the other day?"
"Yes, Doctor," replied the nurse. "Officer Boscorelli's results aren't back yet, but they promised to call me as soon as they're available."
"Okay, thanks. I'll be back down in the 'On Call' room if you need me," he said, leaving the room.
Crisafulli stirred at hearing the officer's name, but was able to remain calm while the nurse was still in the room. "Mr. Crisafulli, I'm going to go check on some other patients, but if you need me just push this button," she said showing him the button and placing it next to him on the bed.
"Thank you," replied Crisafulli weakly. The nurse left the room and he could hardly contain his excitement. "I have to concentrate on getting better so that I can finish off this Boscorelli person," he thought to himself. With that he fell asleep once more.
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At the same time as Crisafulli was awakening, Bosco awoke with a start, sweating slightly from the dream he had. He again saw the car headed toward Faith and was rushing to get her out of the way. He remembered looking at the oncoming car and seeing the driver behind the wheel with the horrid look on his face. It was like he was almost laughing at them. But, he couldn't make out the features clearly and it frustrated him. He sat his bed up slightly and noticed the activity in the room across the hall. "Hmm. That guy is really having a hard time of it," he thought to himself, thinking that he had had another bad episode.
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TBC...
A long one I know. Sorry. More to follow soon.
Chapter 13
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It was moving day for Faith and Bosco. They still didn't know if they were going to be in the same room or not. "I swear that nurse is ignoring my question on purpose," complained Bosco.
"Yeah, it couldn't be that she has no idea where they have open rooms on whatever floor we're going to," Faith said back sarcastically.
"Why do you always take their side?" he asked, exasperated. "Their side?" she asked. "You know - other womens' side," he replied, looking right at her.
"Oh Bos, grow up. What's gotten into you today? Why are you so grumpy?" asked Faith, noticing that he had been this way since last evening.
"I'm not grumpy. I just don't want to move," he said, crossing his arms as if he was five years old and pouting.
"Well, I think we're creeping them out up here in ICU. I don't think they're used to the patients actually being able to talk back to them," she said, bringing a smile to his face.
"Yeah, that was pretty funny last night when that student nurse came in and tried to give me a sponge bath," he laughed. "I think she's the one that needed the bath after that," he finished as they both started laughing.
"The poor girl will probably never come back again," Faith said, remembering how fast she ran from the room when she lifted up Bosco's hospital gown to change it and without moving he opened one eye and calmly said, "What are you doing?" She started laughing again.
They were still laughing when they noticed a loud beeping noise coming from across the hall and a bunch of staff running to the room with a cart full of supplies. "Wonder what's going on over there," Bosco said as he stretched his neck trying to see into the other room. "Doesn't sound good, whatever it is," Faith commented.
The two officers watched the goings-on across the hall for a few minutes and then Faith said, "So, what happened last night? What made you so restless?"
"I don't know, maybe all this laying around. I'm just not tired," he answered vaguely, not wanting to tell her that he was having a new dream.
"Well, they can give you something to help you sleep you know. All you have to do is ask," she told him. "Yeah, but you know I don't like all that crap," he said, making a face. "Sorry if I kept you awake. Maybe we should get separate rooms," he said, not wanting her to suffer because he couldn't keep his dreams under control.
"I don't mind. I just didn't know if it was something you wanted to talk about," she said, trying to put him at ease.
"Nah, just couldn't sleep," he said as most of the people started coming out of the room across the hall.
"Looks like he made it," noticed Faith as she could still see the nurses working on him and the rhythm on the cardiac monitor on the wall that he was hooked up to.
A little while later, two orderlies came to begin moving Bosco and Faith to their new rooms. Faith was first and asked what room she was going to so she could let Bosco know. One of the orderlies looked at the paperwork and said, "Uh, let's see... Looks like you're going to Room 4115 on the fourth floor," he said, looking over to see if Bosco had heard him. "Thanks," said Bosco. "I don't suppose you know what room I'm going to?" he asked, hoping that the same orderlies would be moving him and would have the information.
The orderly checked Bosco's chart for his name and looked over his entire sheet. He frowned and said, "I have the sheet that lists all the transfers today and I don't have you down as going anywhere today, Mr. Boscorelli," he said.
"What?" said Bosco. "I thought we were both supposed to be moved out today?" Bosco said, more to Faith than the orderly.
"Geez, Bos. That's what the doctor said this morning. I don't know what's going on," she said, looking at the orderlies with a puzzled look on her face.
"Tell you what, Sir. I'll get Ms. Yokas settled in her room and then I'll see what I can find out about it. Okay?"
Bosco nodded his head, "See ya' later, Yokas," he said as he watched the orderlies move Faith out of the room. She gave a wave as she went by the window to the room noticing the worried look on his face. He waved back, giving her a fake smile. His gaze moved as Faith disappeared from the window and he found himself again staring across the hall and thinking about the patient there.
A few minutes later a nurse came in and he asked her about whether he was moving today or not. "Not today Bosco. There was some elevations in your bloodwork so the doctor wants to keep a close eye on you for another day or so," she said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. She was glad that he was still here. She had been taking care of him during her shifts since he was admitted and there was something about him that she liked. "I was going to come in and tell you sooner, but then Mr. Crisafulli had a crisis and, well..." she said, looking across the hall.
"Oh yeah," said Bosco as the nurse was taking his vital signs again. He looked down at her hand on his arm, noticing that she seemed to leave it there a little longer than necessary, rubbing over one of the many bruises on his arm. She realized what she was doing and got a little flustered. "That looks sore," she quickly recovered. "But, I'll make a note in the chart for the doctor that it doesn't appear any worse than earlier," she said trying to cover her embarrassment.
"So, Bosco, what do you do?" she asked, trying to change the subject. He smiled slightly, liking the extra attention. And she wasn't bad looking either - the type that he'd go for before... well, before he and Faith had gotten together. "I'm a cop," he answered, giving her the famous Boscorelli smile.
"Oooh, how exciting," said the nurse. "That's right. I remember reading in your chart about how you got hurt. It said you got hurt while trying to get your partner out of the way of that whacko that was doing all those hit and runs. That's pretty brave," she finished as Bosco was eating up all the praise.
"Yeah, well. That's me - to protect and to serve," he said, enjoying himself. It had been a few months since he had the fun of trying to impress some girl. It was 2 1/2 months, in fact, since Faith and Bosco had expressed their feelings for each other. "I still got it," he thought to himself proudly.
"Ahem!" came the sound from the doorway. Bosco and the nurse jumped and looked toward the doorway to see Angela Boscorelli standing there, a fake smile on her face. "Well, nurse. You seem to be doing a fine job of taking care of my boy here," she said, putting herself between the nurse and her son. "And, Bosco, you seem to be enjoying her company as well, but I'm sure she has other patients she should be tending to. So, where did your 'significant other,' Faith move to?"
"Um... Yes I should get on to my next patient. So, Bosco, if you don't need anything else, I'll stop in later," she said, rushing from the room.
Bosco watched her leave and was brought back to the present by the punch in the arm from his mother. "Ow!" he said, looking up at her and rubbing his arm.
"Maurice Boscorelli! You should be ashamed of yourself. I passed Faith going down the hallway and she said she was being moved to a regular room today. She's been gone, what, 15 minutes and already you're chasing the nurses?"
"Hey! I am NOT chasing the nurses. Can I help it if they can't resist this Boscorelli charm. SHE was coming on to ME," he said in his defense.
"Well, I didn't see you discouraging her either," she said. "Don't mess up with Faith, Maurice. It took you guys way too long to hook up and I've never seen you happier," Angela scolded him.
"Don't worry Ma. I'm not doing anything to mess that up. But, I'm not dead either," he finished quietly, hoping that Angela hadn't heard that last chauvinistic comment. She did and he promptly received another smack in the arm.
"So, why aren't they moving you too?" she asked, worrying that he wasn't telling her something.
"I don't know," he said angrily. "Somethin' about my bloodwork. Another day or two," he said, sadly.
"Well, I'm sure that they'll let Faith call you from her room," she said, knowing that her son was already missing Faith.
"Yeah, and she said that she'd tell the kids to come up and see me," he said, brightening a little.
"Do you really think that Fred will bring them up here?" Angela asked him, smiling when Bosco told her what Faith had planned.
Angela opened up the bag that she was carrying and quickly looked out the doorway before giving her son some 'real' coffee and a bagel that she smuggled in from the coffee shop down the street. Bosco brought the cup of coffee up to his nose and inhaled the deep, rich aroma. "Mmmmm. I never thought I'd appreciate a cup of coffee so much. Thanks Ma," he said as she leaned over to give him a hug.
"Your welcome. Mikey says 'hi.' He said he was going to stop over in a little while. I told him to take the night off and that I would run the bar tonight. Unless you want me to stay here with you," she added quickly, remembering that Faith was no longer there to keep him company.
Bosco nodded, "Great. It'll be good to see Mikey again. You don't have to come in tonight Ma. I know that you want to get back to the bar and check to see that everything's okay. I'm fine. It's not like I'm even that sick anymore," he said, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.
"You know, Ma. I really appreciate you being here with me through all of this. I'm sorry I put you through all this," he said, looking out the window as he spoke to her. He really did appreciate the fact that she had sat by his side day and night this past week. He always knew that she loved him and that she just didn't know how to show it. She had come a long way over this past year and he knew it was from the counseling that Bosco talked her into going to with Mikey in hopes of getting him straightened out. He knew that after he arrested him, there was no way that Mikey would want Bosco anywhere near him or he would have gone to the counseling with Mikey himself.
"Maurice, honey. I know I put you boys through a lot while you were growing up and I know that you saw and heard a lot of things that no child should ever have to witness. I'm so sorry for putting you both through it and I can't help but blame myself for the problems that you have both had. I just hope it's not too late to let you know just how much I love you both," she said, tearing up. Bosco looked away as tears formed in his eyes also. They had never talked like this before and it was great.
"We know Ma. We know. And, I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you all those years. I guess in some way I blamed you for not getting away from Dad and then for getting involved with all those losers. But that was wrong, you just needed help and I didn't know how to help you then," he told her. "I'm just glad that we're all straightened out now. Things are looking great for all of us," he said finally, giving her that Boscorelli smile.
"Hi Bosco!" called a pretty, young nurse as she walked by the room. Angela pinched her son's cheek and said, "You always did draw the ladies, Maurice. I always worried about that, but you proved me wrong. You really did grow up to be a great guy, despite all you went through. I know I have never told you this before, but I am so proud of you, Maurice," she said, a tear spilling down her cheek. She leaned over and they hugged for a long time.
"Thanks Ma," he said hugging her back. "I'm proud of you too. You've really gotten things together. You're running a successful business and you're finally happy in a relationship with a great guy. So, how is Tommy anyway?" he asked, realizing that he hadn't seen him since he had been in here. That surprised him because the two men had hit it off instantly. He was convinced that this man could actually give his mother the love and security she deserved.
"Well, Maurice. Tommy wanted to be here - he calls me every day to ask how you're doing and he wants me to tell you he sends his best - but he has a really hard time coming around hospitals, ever since he lost his wife about three years ago. Did he ever tell you about that?" asked Angela. "No," Bosco said, shaking his head.
"He was married to a wonderful woman. They were married for 25 years, never had any children. They were on a long-planned vacation in Paris and she became ill. She was hospitalized and never recovered from the illness. She died in the hospital in Paris and he was by her side the whole time. It just brings back terrible memories for him. I just couldn't force him to come here. I'm sorry," she explained to him.
"You tell Tommy not to worry about it. I understand and I'll see him when I'm outta here in a few days," he said, glad that Angela had found someone so great.
Mother and son sat together silently for a while, watching the news. There was a follow-up story about the hit and run attacker. They were reporting that there had been no new incidences of hit and runs since the last accident involving the one where he ran into the officers and civilians at the scene of a car accident. It was reported that they were looking for a white male, in the 30-40 age range. People were advised that the subject probably had suffered injuries from his latest attack - enough that he would require medical attention. Anyone with information that might be of assistance to the NYPD was asked to call a task force number. They were assured that anyone with information would be kept confidential.
The report followed with a brief report on the officer that had been killed and the condition of the officers that were also struck and still hospitalized and of Kim who was making a remarkable recovery. Angela absently reached over and patted her son's leg, thanking God that he was not one of those killed. Bosco closed his eyes and again saw Kim being struck that night. That sound would haunt him for a long time.
As the news ended, the phone rang in Bosco's room. He reached over and picked it up. "Boscorelli," he answered. Angela watched as Bosco's face relaxed as he answered softy, "Hey, how are you?" Angela knew that it was Faith. She saw Bosco start to stifle a yawn and decided that it was time for her to leave. She stood up and Bosco said, "Faith, hang on a minute."
"Maurice, you look tired so I'm gonna go and let you get some rest okay?" she asked him. He didn't really want her to leave because that would mean he would be by himself, but he saw how tired his mother was looking also. Mikey never did show up but called to say that the bar was really busy at lunchtime and that he would be staying there. He would try to stop by tomorrow and told his mother to stay for a while longer and then come over.
Angela leaned over to give her son a kiss and said into the phone on his shoulder, "G'night Faith." Bosco smiled and watched his mother walk out of the room, giving her a wave as she walked by the window. Bosco would never know it, but Angela stopped by the nurse's station and asked the nurse to make sure that the light over Maurice's bed was left on during the night. The nurse told her that Officer Yokas had already called and made that request a few moments ago and the nurse assured Angela that she would make sure that it was - after all it wasn't often that patients in the ICU were awake to make such a request and the least she could do was to make sure the light was on.
He lifted the phone back up to his ear. "So, are you sure you're alright?" he asked Faith. She sounded tired and worried. "Yeah Bos. I just want to make sure that you're okay. I finally found out that you never got moved today and I was worried," she explained.
"Sorry. Yeah, I'm fine. I think the doctor is just being over-cautious cause I feel fine," he assured Faith, stifling another yawn.
"Do you think you'll be able to sleep tonight?" she asked him. "'Cause you can have the nurse give you something. I know you don't like taking that stuff, but you really do need to get some decent rest Bosco," she urged.
"You know, I feel really beat. I bet I sleep just fine," he said, trying to soothe her worries. There was no way he was going to take any drugs to make him sleep. He didn't like not being under control of his own body. "Did you talk to the kids tonight?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, but they had a ton of homework that they hadn't finished yet so Fred took them right home after stopping in," she said. "Emily and Charlie promised me that they would stop up to see you tomorrow," she said and Bosco smiled. "Great. I can't believe how much I miss those guys," he said to Faith. She smiled and thought about what a great Dad he would be someday. She'd thought about that a lot since they had gotten together - how she'd like to give him at least one child of his own someday, but she was getting ahead of herself - way ahead.
Faith heard Bosco yawning again into the phone. "So, it sounds like you're ready to sleep. Do you want my phone number here in case you can't sleep?" she offered. "Sure," he said, grabbing the pen and paper that Angela had left for him. "Thanks, Faith and good night," he said. "Goodnight Bos. I love you," said Faith into the phone.
"I love you too, Faith," said Bosco and Faith filled with tears as she heard him say it for the first time. They both hung up the phone and Bosco turned off the television and laid back on the pillows.
He tossed and turned, as much as he could with the amount he could move from his injuries, for a few minutes and then turned the television back on. He needed the noise to keep him company until he fell asleep and he figured he wasn't disturbing anyone since he was alone. He soon fell asleep, but not for long.
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The room was dark and the patient's monitors kept track of his condition. Nurses were in and out frequently, checking on him every five minutes or so. Periodically, a machine alarm would go off indicating that something was amiss and a nurse or doctor would go into the room to check on him. He had not regained consciousness since his arrival on the floor, but something about the man just didn't sit right with the night nurse. She didn't like going in there - it just made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
She was in the room checking on his vital signs, with the small bedside light on. She started to turn to write down the information in the chart when she felt someone grab her wrist tightly. She gasped and turned back toward the patient to see him staring up at her.
It took her a moment to regain her composure and she pried his fingers from her wrist and tried to reassure him as most patients in the ICU woke up in a panic, not knowing or remembering what had happened to them.
"Mr. Crisafulli. You're awake. You're at Angel of Mercy Hospital. I'll go get the doctor for you. I'll be right back," she said, quickly exiting the room. She went to the nurse's station and paged the doctor that was on call. When he called back, she notified him that the patient had woken up and he said he would be right up to evaluate him.
A few moments later, the doctor was in Crisafulli's room with the nurse and was evaluating the patient. He explained, "Apparently, you took a bad fall through a floor in an abandoned building, Mr. Crisafulli. You had something stuck in your ankle that was pretty infected upon your arrival. We had to operate to remove the object, but the infection made it's way into your bloodstream. You have been in pretty bad shape the last couple of days, but I think the worst of it is over. Do you understand?" asked the doctor. Crisafulli shook his head yes and then drifted off to sleep, but not before hearing the doctor ask the nurse, "Have you checked with the lab for the repeat bloodwork result on - oh I'm sorry I forgot his name - the cop that got hit by the car the other day?"
"Yes, Doctor," replied the nurse. "Officer Boscorelli's results aren't back yet, but they promised to call me as soon as they're available."
"Okay, thanks. I'll be back down in the 'On Call' room if you need me," he said, leaving the room.
Crisafulli stirred at hearing the officer's name, but was able to remain calm while the nurse was still in the room. "Mr. Crisafulli, I'm going to go check on some other patients, but if you need me just push this button," she said showing him the button and placing it next to him on the bed.
"Thank you," replied Crisafulli weakly. The nurse left the room and he could hardly contain his excitement. "I have to concentrate on getting better so that I can finish off this Boscorelli person," he thought to himself. With that he fell asleep once more.
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At the same time as Crisafulli was awakening, Bosco awoke with a start, sweating slightly from the dream he had. He again saw the car headed toward Faith and was rushing to get her out of the way. He remembered looking at the oncoming car and seeing the driver behind the wheel with the horrid look on his face. It was like he was almost laughing at them. But, he couldn't make out the features clearly and it frustrated him. He sat his bed up slightly and noticed the activity in the room across the hall. "Hmm. That guy is really having a hard time of it," he thought to himself, thinking that he had had another bad episode.
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TBC...
A long one I know. Sorry. More to follow soon.