Author: Kate Anderson
Email: sam_loves_jack@yahoo.ca
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine! They belong to Edward Allen Bernero and John Wells and um, some other people! No money is being made from this work. Don't sue!
Rating: PG-13, just be on the safe side
Pairing: Bosco/Faith, UST - eventual romance
Spoilers: None, I think (??)
Summary: After a criminal attempts to attack Faith's kids, Faith finds that her life is changing.
Author's Notes: Sorry that it took so long for this chapter! I got sidetracked by other fics :)
"Bosco, where are we going?"
"To see your kids." Bosco replied, gripping the steering wheel tighter. "I promised you yesterday - or I guess it was this morning - that you'd see them, and you will."
"We can't just stroll into Fred's place Bos." Faith said. "He could have us arrested for trespassing."
"I know how how much seeing them on Christmas means to you Faith. Please, let me do this." Bosco said. "If he calls the police, I'll tell them it was my fault."
Faith nodded. Bosco was set and determined, she knew there was no changing his mind. He pulled the Mustang up alongside a curb outside of an apartment complex. Fred had only told Faith his address in case of an emergency. He hadn't intended for her to have it so she could visit.
Faith walked up to the building tried the lobby door. She was surprised when it opened.
"Crappy security." Bosco commented.
Faith shrugged and stepped inside. Bosco followed, his hand resting on the small of her back. "What number is it?" Bosco asked.
"Number 11." Faith replied. "Probably upstairs. You wanna take the elevator or the stairs?"
Bosco pounded his chest with the hand that wasn't on Faith's back. "I think my chest can handle the stairs."
"Alright Tarzan, let's go."
They found number 11 on the second floor. As they walked down the hall, Faith could hear sounds of laughter coming from the various apartments. She smiled, remembering how happy Charlie and Em always were on Christmas. She wondered if they were missing her as much as she missed them.
She paused, staring at the numbers on the door. "This is the place." Bosco said and reached out and knocked on the door.
From inside the apartment Faith heard stomping feet and Fred yell, "Check to see who it is before you open that door!" She breathed a small sigh of relief, it must be Charlie or Emily.
"I wonder if his girlfriend is over." Bosco whispered.
"It's Mom!" Faith heard Charlie's excited voice yell out. She cringed, waiting for Fred to tell him not to open the door.
The door swung open and Charlie launched himself at Faith. Faith knelt down and hugged her son. "Dad said that you didn't want to see us today." Charlie said, looking his mother in the eyes.
Faith's face fell. "He said what?"
"Dad said that you were busy today and didn't want to see us. That's why he had to pick up your presents."
Faith noticed that Charlie was wearing the shirt that she'd bought him. She looked up at the sound of footsteps. Fred was looming over them and he didn't look happy.
"Charlie, why don't you go help your sister with her aquarium." Fred said. "I need to talk with your mother."
Charlie reluctantly let go of Faith and looked up at his father before going back into the apartment. Fred stepped outside and closed the door. "I thought it made it clear that you aren't welcome here Faith." he said, trying to keep his voice down. "And you..." he said, looking at Bosco. "You were never welcome anywhere."
Bosco felt the hair on his neck bristle. He clenched his fists. "Don't be an asshole Fred." he said, staring down the larger man. "Just let her see her kids on Christmas."
"How is this any of your business? Huh little man?" Fred challenged Bosco.
Faith put a hand on Bosco's arm. "Don't Bosco." she said. "Let's just go. This was a bad idea."
"Listen to the lady Boscorelli." Fred said.
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Bosco blurted out before he could stop himself. "What are you afraid of? That the kids will realize what a jerk off their father is and decide they want to be with their mother?"
Fred took a step closer to Bosco. Bosco recoiled as he smelled the alcohol on Fred's breath. He grabbed Faith's hand and tugged her down the hall. Fred followed them for a bit before deciding it wasn't the worth the chase and returned to his apartment.
Once in the stairwell, Bosco looked to Faith. "He's been drinking." he said.
Faith nodded. "I know." she said sadly. "I could smell it."
Bosco shook his head with disgust. "He doesn't deserve those kids." he said. "You'll win the custody hearing for sure."
"I hope you're right Bos." Faith said quietly.
_____________
"Awww come on Lieu! Just let me get back out there! I'm ready for it and besides, I'll have Yokas here to back me up." Bosco whined. Lieutenant Swersky stood with his arms crossed, looking bored.
"If you make me stay here, I'll sing all day again." Bosco stated.
"Is that a threat?" Swersky asked.
Bosco shrugged. "Maybe."
Swersky looked over Bosco's shoulder at Faith. "Yokas, what do you think? Is Bosco ready to be back on patrol?"
Faith nodded. "I think so. He's been working out and jogging almost everyday."
Bosco gave Swersky a smug look. "I was in better shape than Sully with a hole in my lung. You let him out."
"This isn't about Sullivan. This is about you." Swersky said. "But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to get you out of here."
Bosco grinned and slapped Swersky's shoulder. "Thanks Lieu!" he said and turned to Faith. "You ready to roll?"
They collected their radios and Faith noticed Gusler standing in the hall, watching her and Bosco with a forlorn expression on his face. "Hey Bos, why don't you go out to the car. I gotta talk to someone." she said and Bosco nodded.
Faith approached Gusler and he looked down at the floor. "Hey Steve." she said. "I'm riding with Bosco today, but I guess you already noticed that huh?"
"Yeah."
"Look, I'm sure that Lieu will pair you up with someone else for today." Faith said. "And besides, I have a feeling that Bosco and I won't be working together for much longer."
Gusler looked up. "Are you transferring to another precinct?" he asked.
"No, but I think I'm going to request a new partner. If you want, it could be you."
"I thought that you and Bosco would always be partners. I mean, you look like you're getting along fine." Gusler said, his confusion evident in his eyes.
Faith smiled. "Ah, therein lies the problem." she said. "We're getting along a little too well."
It was like a light went on in Gusler. His eyes lit up and he grinned back at her, nodding knowingly. Faith patted his arm. "I'd better get out there." she said. "If worst comes to worst, you'll be doing lockup today and it's not so bad."
Faith turned away from Gusler and headed outside to wear Bosco was waiting impatiently in the squad. "Took you long enough." he said when Faith slid into her seat. "Must have been an epic conversation."
Faith rolled her eyes. "Bos, I've been thinking..."
"Is that supposed to be some radical revelation?" Bosco interrupted.
"If you would let me finish!" Faith said. "I've been thinking, after today, I don't think we should work together anymore."
"What?" Bosco yelped.
"Do you know how hard it would be to work together and have a relationship? I don't think I could do it Bos."
Bosco scowled. "You're right, you're right. I suppose you'll partner up with Gusler then?"
Faith nodded and smiled slightly. "He's not a bad cop. I think with a little guidance, he could be something really great."
"And where does that leave me?" Bosco asked. He almost looked a little sad. "I'll probably get stuck with some rookie. Boss'll be lucky if I don't have him six feet under by the end of the first week."
"What about ESU or anti-crime?" Faith asked. "You could concentrate on that instead. You've been saying for years that you want to get off patrol."
Bosco shrugged. "I guess so." He smiled sadly at her. "It just feels like the end of era or something."
Faith smiled back at him. "I guess in a way it is, but it's also the start of a new one." she replied. "Come on, let's get out there and see what trouble we can stir up!"
____________
Faith pulled her sweatshirt over her head and fluffed out her hair. Bosco was watching her with a small grin on his face. She felt her face grow warm and gave him a shy smile back. "You ready?" he asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
They had decided that they were going to talk to Swerksy after their shift and get it over with. Faith slung her bag over her shoulder and followed Bosco out of the locker room. They approached Swersky's office and Faith the palms of her hands grow clammy.
"Knock knock!" Bosco called out and tapped the door.
"Come in Bosco." came the lieutenant's gruff voice.
Bosco pushed open the door and he and Faith entered the small room. "Yokas, Bosco." Swersky said, nodding at them.
"We need to talk to you about something." Bosco said. "It's important."
Swersky gestured to the chairs. "By all means then, have a seat."
Faith sat down and clutched her bag in her lap. Bosco folded his hands and settled them on his laps. He looked just as nervous as she felt. "Well, what is it?" Swersky asked. "I was hoping to get out of here by midnight."
"I need to request a reassignment!" Faith blurted out.
"A reassignment?" Swersky asked. He looked almost as confused as Gusler had earlier in the day.
"Yes sir, I need a new partner." Faith said.
"It's your first day working together in almost a month and already you can't get along?" Swersky asked with disbelief.
"It's not that sir." Bosco said. "It's that, um." Bosco cleared his throat. "Officer Yokas and I are involved."
"Involved?" Swersky repeated, staring at his two officers.
"Yes sir. Involved." Faith stated.
Swersky cocked his head. "It wasn't that long ago that you assured me, Officer Yokas, that you and Boscorelli were involved in nothing but a professional relationship."
Faith coughed. "That appears to have changed sir."
Swersky sighed. "Well, I guess there's nothing we can do besides reassignment then is there."
"I'd like to be assigned to work with Steve Gusler." Faith said.
Swerksy nodded. "Makes sense. He's really blossomed in these weeks that he's worked with you. What about you Bosco?"
"If there's anything open in anti-crime, I'd be willing to do that. But if you need me here, I'll stay."
"I'll have to make some calls." Swersky said. "But I'll see what we can do. Is that all?" Bosco and Faith nodded. "Then go on, get out of here!"
____________
Bosco unlocked the apartment door, opened it and flipped on the lights. "You gonna plug in the tree again?" he asked Faith.
"It's still Christmas isn't it?"
"For another ten minutes, yeah."
"Then I'm plugging it in."
Bosco smiled as Faith ducked down to plug the cord in. He looked over at the answering machine and saw there was a message. He threw his jacket on the back of the couch and then walked over to the machine and pushed play.
"Mom! Mom? Are you there?" the message started. Faith looked up at the sound of her daughter's frightened voice. "Mom, Charlie and I need you. It's Dad, he's been drinking again and he's not happy. Please Mom!"
Faith felt her hands begin to shake. The message was over and the machine rewound. "Oh my God, Bosco..."
Bosco was already grabbing his jacket from the couch. "Let's go." he said. Faith hurried over to the door.
____________
"What if he hurt them?" Faith asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Bosco gripped the steering wheel. "Then I'll kill that fucking bastard myself." he said.
Faith looked out the window at all the houses and apartments that were lit up for Christmas. She felt as low as the homeless guy that was shivering in his cardboard box down by the river. Her mind was racing, imagining all kinds of horrible things that Fred could be doing.
"Do you suppose we should have called the police?" Faith asked.
"We are the police!"
"Why didn't Em call the police?"
"Because she's scared." Bosco replied. "A kid doesn't call the police when they're scared."
"I knew he'd start drinking again." Faith said. "I should have left him a long time ago and taken the kids away before he could hurt them. Before anyone could hurt them."
"Listen to me Faith. This isn't you fault! Okay? This isn't your fault!" Bosco reached over and clasped her hand in his.
Faith bit down on her bottom lip. Bosco pulled the car up alongside the now familiar curb and got out, slamming his door. Faith did the same. They approached the lobby door and this time it was locked.
"Dammit!" Bosco yelled. He banged on the door. A frightened looking young man in the lobby looked towards them and Bosco pulled his badge from his pocket.
"Police! Let us in!" he shouted.
The young man ran towards the door and opened it. Bosco nodded to him and with Faith following, he ran towards the stairs and Fred's apartment.