Disclaimer: Third Watch is owned by a lot of people I respect, and even though I respect myself.. I don't own any part of the show. I just like taking the characters for a ride!
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, on this story as well as Having Faith, especially those of you who've been there from the beginning, like lifesaver55, you rock! You make me write so much faster... thanks again.
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"What do you say we go to the park" Bosco suggested once everyone was piled in to the car.
"Boz, it's freezing outside!" Faith grinned.
"So we go to the mall first, get some winter stuff" Bosco said, looking over at her. She had a contented smile on her face, something mixed between relief and happiness. It made her cheeks glow and all he wanted to do was kiss them. He looked in the back at the kids, "You guys like ice skating?" Bosco asked.
"Oh mom, can we, please?" Emily asked, "I haven't been for so long and the school trip was cancelled this year!" she begged.
"Now how could you say no to that?" Bosco teased, "Pwease mom" he asked, jutting out his bottom lip. Faith cracked up, "Okay, but we gotta get some hats and mittens first.." she countered, "what about skates Bosco?"
"The park rents them out" he replied, turning on the heat.
"I don't know how" Faith protested, planting her feet on the ground against Emily and Charlie who were pulling her towards the ice.
"We'll show you!" Emily exclaimed.
"Show me how to fall on my butt?" Faith laughed.
"It's part of learning" Emily begged, "Come on mom!"
"Yea, come on mom" Bosco said, walking up behind her holding out skates.
Faith shook her head, meeting Bosco's eyes.
"You guys hold her down, I'll tie on the skates!" Bosco laughed as the kids tackled her in to the snow. Instead of tying on the skates, he leaned over Faith and kissed her on the nose, "Come on, I won't let you fall" he whispered.
"Promise?" she countered, checking out the crowd.
"Promise" he confirmed, getting up and holding out the skates. She took them, staring at them for a moment, then made her way to the little shack where the boots were kept.
"See guys, all it takes is a little Bosco sweet talking" he grinned.
They laughed and waited for Faith to emerge. When she did, Bosco couldn't help but laugh harder. She looked... well.. highly disgruntled and awkward.
"Shush" she warned when she got closer, "I've never been skating before"
"You live in New York, and call yourself a New Yorker and haven't even been Skating at the park?" Bosco asked.
The last time I went skating some kids ploughed in to me and cut my head with his skate." she looked at him.
"How old were you?" he asked.
"Seven.. or eight I think" she replied.
"Good, it's time you reverted to your childhood" he smiled, pulling her on to the ice. As soon as she stepped on it she began to wobble. She reminded him of Bambi and all the sudden he couldn't help but laugh, causing them both to lose their balance and fall.
"You promised!" Faith laughed beside him.
"It doesn't count if I fall too" he protested.
"Uh, Boz, how do we uh.. get back up?" she asked.
He chuckled, "How did you get up when you were little?"
"I crawled over to the side wall and pulled myself up" she replied.
"Sounds good to me" he shrugged, getting on all fours and beginning to crawl.
Faith hadn't had so much fun in years. She was almost regretting it when it when the sky began to darken and the kids got hungry. Full of hot chocolate and complimented with cold and wet bottoms, the four of them managed to crawl off the ice and make it to the car.
Bosco's heart soared. He'd had an amazing time this afternoon, and it hadn't even involved sex. It had involved... kids and Faith. Faith and her kids. And the best was yet to come
"Where are we Boz?" Faith asked when he pulled up in front of a brownstone on Arthur.
"I just wanted to visit a friend quickly, I was just told that he came back in to town, that okay?"
"Sure" she replied, "leave the heat on though"
"Actually, I want you and the kids to come inside and meet him too" Bosco said, raising his eyebrows. Faith studied him and finally got out of the car, waiting for the kids to exit on her side. Together they walked up to the front door. Bosco rang the bell.
"Sully?" Faith asked when he answered the door.
He smiled widely and let them in. "Hey Faith"
"This your new place?" Faith asked, "I approve" she muttered, looking around. It was a three bedroom brownstone with loads of space. For a moment she was jealous. How could Sully afford this on city pay?
"Actually" Bosco said, coming up behind her, "It's ours" he finished.
Faith stopped, in the middle of the hall and turned quickly.
"Ours?" she asked. Hope rose in her chest.
"This is our place? Charlie asked, "Wicked! Chris lives just down the street, and it's closer to school!" He ran down the hall, "Em, check this out, it's huge!"
Bosco and Faith were left standing in the hall.
"You like it?" Bosco asked quietly.
She looked around then turned to him, staring at him for a moment, how can we afford this?" she countered.
"Easy" Bosco replied.
She looked at him.
"Guess the rent" he grinned.
"A place like this, good community, good shape... more than we can afford Boz"
"Guess again"
"How much is it?" she asked, a smile cracking on her face.
"Four" he replied.
"Four hundred a month? How.. I mean.. who'd you kill?" she laughed.
"A friend of mine runs the rent on this strip, he gave us a break... actually, that's the old friend I want you to meet, do you remeber Justin Beckerly?"
Faith paused and thought a moment, "Isn't he the one we-"
"Talked out of killing himself, He inherited this row from his father a few months later when he passed, Justin called us to thank us, remember?"
Faith nodded. "That's.. amazing" she whispered.
"It's proof that what we do isn't worthless" he smiled.
Faith nearly jumped on him, hugging him so hard. Bosco looked up and laughed. Faith looked up to see and smiled.
"Like we needed mistletoe" Faith muttered, kissing him hard on the lips.
"I think maybe we should give them a minute" Alex said, walking quickly back in to the living room with a grin on her face. Of course this only encouraged others to peek around the corner and come backwith a smirk on their face.
"Come up for some air" Ty yelled from the living room, causing everyone in the living room to crack up, and Bosco and Faith enter sheepishly.
"So this is what you were up to" Faith commented, looking around.
"This is what everyone else was up to, I kept breaking plates, they sent me away" Bosco replied, squeezing her hand as she laughed.
"So'd you get it?" Bosco asked Faith from behind, she turned around and smiled, "Yeah, I got it, so did you"
"What're we all lookin' at Davis asked, barging through the group standing around a piece of paper.
"New way of scheduling for Christmas, you working Davis?" Bosco asked.
Davis stared at the paper for a minute then nodded his hand, "Looks like Sully's got it off too"
"Now that's luck" Faith remarked.
"What is?"
"Only four people get the holiday off from each shift, and this year it just happens to be us four" Faith grinned.
"So what do you guys think about hitting the bar tonight after work?" Bosco asked in the locker rooms.
"You payin'?" Sully asked from across the way.
"You wish" Bosco cracked.
"Sounds good to me" Faith said out loud, looking for more victims. "Davis?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure I'll go" Ty closed his locker, "Come on Sul, come out with us, have a Christmas beer"
Sully looked at the group of them for a minute then obliged, nodding his head, "Yeah, I'll call Tatiana an let her know we'll be a little later" he walked out of the room.
"Three days until Christmas" Faith thought out loud. "Sure as hell came fast this year"
"Two days" Bosco replied, "It's the twenty-third"
"Today"
"Doesn't count" Davis said.
"Fine, two days, point proven though"
"Two days until Christmas" Bosco stopped and thought. "I havent' even been shopping yet"
Faith began to laugh, and patted him on the back, "Good luck Boz, really"
Bosco was lost in thought as he walked in to the change room. What the hell was he supposed to get, why did he leave it for so long anyways? What was wrong with him? Maybe he could convince Faith to stop during their shift so he could run around the mall.
The kids. He should buy for Emily and Charlie. Oh god. What the hell was Christmas supposed to be like this year? The kids didn't have Fred anymore, did they still believe in Santa he wondered. Was he supposed to buy gifts and label them from Santa? Maybe. He couldn't leave all of that to Faith, it must be expensive to try and keep two kids happy.
"Boz?" A voice asked, he turned, snapping out of his daydream and stared at the source.
"You awake?" Faith asked.
"Yeah, I was just.. I dunno how I'm supposed to go shopping, and.. what do I get the kids? Or.. do they need gifts from Santa? I mean, I dunno Faith, I never really had a.. a proper Christmas.."
She stood and smiled at him.
"What?" he asked, stupidly.
"Boz, don't worry about it, I've got Santa gifts, I've been shopping since August for Christmas"
"Since.. August?" he countered, "People shop that early?"
Faith nodded, "Some people plan ahead for these things" she grinned.
"What... what do you want for Christmas?" he asked her.
"Nothing" she replied.
"Nothing.." he countered, "I read this somewhere.. that means like, chocolate or jewlery or something, right? In girl language"
Faith cracked up, "In girl language?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "I read it somewhere"
"Boz, I don't need anything for Christmas from you... I have you" she smiled softly.
"Aww, now there's a Kodak moment" Ty cracked, walking between them to get to his locker.
"Shut up Davis" Bosco retorted, throwing a rolled up sock at him.
Davis turned, "Did you just.. throw a sock at me?" he asked.
Faith sat down on the bench, her sprits soaring.
Davis picked up Bosco's balled up sock and whipped it at Bosco, only it didn't hit Bosco, it hit Sully who was entering the room. Sully stood, dumbfounded.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, looking down and kicking at the sock.
"Bosco's sock" Davis replied, "Sorry Sul"
"You touched Bosco's sock?" Sully laughed, "Might wanna chop off your hand or something now, before it spreads"
"Was that a dig? I think that was a dig!" Bosco replied, picking up the other one.
Sully shook his head, "Don't even or I won't invite you"
"Invite me where?" Bosco paused, tossing it back in to his locker.
"The station's holding a gathered Christmas party, for people on the force who.. may be lonely at Christmas. Food's free, only problem is everyone's invited so we have to put up with you"
"Ha ha, real funny" Bosco remarked dryly. He looked at Faith.
"We don't even have a tree" Faith shrugged, "You going Sul?"
"I think so, it's not on Christmas, it's tomorrow, so Tatiana and I can still have our Christmas"
"Yea, Christmas" Ty offered, suggestivly.
Sully glared and Bosco let out a laugh.
"Well I'm up for it, we could bring the kids, they're on holidays now" Faith said out loud.
"Guess that means I'm comin'" Bosco said.
"You don't have to Boz" Faith replied, "We all know you should be Christmas shopping" she grinned.
Bosco groaned. "Aren't we working tomorrow anyways?"
"Everyone is, that's the point" Sully commented.
Bosco looked at him.
Sully sighed, "It's a whole new thing, people were complaining about holiday hours so the department is trying out new scheduling this year. Christmas people work their normal shifts, minus four people. Christmas Eve everyone works, including week-enders, but the shifts are shorter, four hours and doubletime pay"
"Too bad not every day is Christmas Eve"
"Yeah, you'd be stuck in a mall all year round" Faith teased.
"Roll Call!" Christopher yelled in to the room.
Bosco groaned and closed his locker.
"What's your problem?" Faith asked, slipping her shirt on.
"I'm not gonna be late today" he remarked.
"Cause, that's a bad thing" Faith shook her head.
"I just wanted to make Christopher have a bad day"
"he'd make your worse"
"Nah, I can ignore him most of the time" Bosco shrugged, leaving the locker room with Faith.
"So how long you figure they'll be able to stand eachother twenty-four seven?" Ty asked Sully once they'd left.
"Years" Sully replied.
"You sure? I mean, working and living together, it's a big deal"
"They've always been close, always known almost every aspect of eachother's daily lives anyways. Everyone else could see it coming, I'm just wondering how they didn't" Sully said.
"So you think they'll be getting married?"
"I give it till Spring"
"Wanna make a bet on that?"
"Fifty says they get married by April" Sully said.
"ooh, big man, bet taken, and I will take that fifty any time."
"You don't think they're gonna get married?" Sully asked.
"No, I'm sure they will, but I think Bosco's gonna have a time learnign to commit, I say summer wedding"
Sully snorted, "trouble committing, have you seen those two together?" he rolled his eyes, leaving the room.
Ty stood in the middle of the locker room. He had seen them together, and he was jealous. It was a give and receive relationship. Everything came naturally for the two of them, nothing was forced. They seemed to know eachother like the back of their own hands. He sighed, closing his locker. Sully and Tatiana. Bosco and Faith. Everyone seemed to be getting together. Why couldn't he?
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers, on this story as well as Having Faith, especially those of you who've been there from the beginning, like lifesaver55, you rock! You make me write so much faster... thanks again.
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"What do you say we go to the park" Bosco suggested once everyone was piled in to the car.
"Boz, it's freezing outside!" Faith grinned.
"So we go to the mall first, get some winter stuff" Bosco said, looking over at her. She had a contented smile on her face, something mixed between relief and happiness. It made her cheeks glow and all he wanted to do was kiss them. He looked in the back at the kids, "You guys like ice skating?" Bosco asked.
"Oh mom, can we, please?" Emily asked, "I haven't been for so long and the school trip was cancelled this year!" she begged.
"Now how could you say no to that?" Bosco teased, "Pwease mom" he asked, jutting out his bottom lip. Faith cracked up, "Okay, but we gotta get some hats and mittens first.." she countered, "what about skates Bosco?"
"The park rents them out" he replied, turning on the heat.
"I don't know how" Faith protested, planting her feet on the ground against Emily and Charlie who were pulling her towards the ice.
"We'll show you!" Emily exclaimed.
"Show me how to fall on my butt?" Faith laughed.
"It's part of learning" Emily begged, "Come on mom!"
"Yea, come on mom" Bosco said, walking up behind her holding out skates.
Faith shook her head, meeting Bosco's eyes.
"You guys hold her down, I'll tie on the skates!" Bosco laughed as the kids tackled her in to the snow. Instead of tying on the skates, he leaned over Faith and kissed her on the nose, "Come on, I won't let you fall" he whispered.
"Promise?" she countered, checking out the crowd.
"Promise" he confirmed, getting up and holding out the skates. She took them, staring at them for a moment, then made her way to the little shack where the boots were kept.
"See guys, all it takes is a little Bosco sweet talking" he grinned.
They laughed and waited for Faith to emerge. When she did, Bosco couldn't help but laugh harder. She looked... well.. highly disgruntled and awkward.
"Shush" she warned when she got closer, "I've never been skating before"
"You live in New York, and call yourself a New Yorker and haven't even been Skating at the park?" Bosco asked.
The last time I went skating some kids ploughed in to me and cut my head with his skate." she looked at him.
"How old were you?" he asked.
"Seven.. or eight I think" she replied.
"Good, it's time you reverted to your childhood" he smiled, pulling her on to the ice. As soon as she stepped on it she began to wobble. She reminded him of Bambi and all the sudden he couldn't help but laugh, causing them both to lose their balance and fall.
"You promised!" Faith laughed beside him.
"It doesn't count if I fall too" he protested.
"Uh, Boz, how do we uh.. get back up?" she asked.
He chuckled, "How did you get up when you were little?"
"I crawled over to the side wall and pulled myself up" she replied.
"Sounds good to me" he shrugged, getting on all fours and beginning to crawl.
Faith hadn't had so much fun in years. She was almost regretting it when it when the sky began to darken and the kids got hungry. Full of hot chocolate and complimented with cold and wet bottoms, the four of them managed to crawl off the ice and make it to the car.
Bosco's heart soared. He'd had an amazing time this afternoon, and it hadn't even involved sex. It had involved... kids and Faith. Faith and her kids. And the best was yet to come
"Where are we Boz?" Faith asked when he pulled up in front of a brownstone on Arthur.
"I just wanted to visit a friend quickly, I was just told that he came back in to town, that okay?"
"Sure" she replied, "leave the heat on though"
"Actually, I want you and the kids to come inside and meet him too" Bosco said, raising his eyebrows. Faith studied him and finally got out of the car, waiting for the kids to exit on her side. Together they walked up to the front door. Bosco rang the bell.
"Sully?" Faith asked when he answered the door.
He smiled widely and let them in. "Hey Faith"
"This your new place?" Faith asked, "I approve" she muttered, looking around. It was a three bedroom brownstone with loads of space. For a moment she was jealous. How could Sully afford this on city pay?
"Actually" Bosco said, coming up behind her, "It's ours" he finished.
Faith stopped, in the middle of the hall and turned quickly.
"Ours?" she asked. Hope rose in her chest.
"This is our place? Charlie asked, "Wicked! Chris lives just down the street, and it's closer to school!" He ran down the hall, "Em, check this out, it's huge!"
Bosco and Faith were left standing in the hall.
"You like it?" Bosco asked quietly.
She looked around then turned to him, staring at him for a moment, how can we afford this?" she countered.
"Easy" Bosco replied.
She looked at him.
"Guess the rent" he grinned.
"A place like this, good community, good shape... more than we can afford Boz"
"Guess again"
"How much is it?" she asked, a smile cracking on her face.
"Four" he replied.
"Four hundred a month? How.. I mean.. who'd you kill?" she laughed.
"A friend of mine runs the rent on this strip, he gave us a break... actually, that's the old friend I want you to meet, do you remeber Justin Beckerly?"
Faith paused and thought a moment, "Isn't he the one we-"
"Talked out of killing himself, He inherited this row from his father a few months later when he passed, Justin called us to thank us, remember?"
Faith nodded. "That's.. amazing" she whispered.
"It's proof that what we do isn't worthless" he smiled.
Faith nearly jumped on him, hugging him so hard. Bosco looked up and laughed. Faith looked up to see and smiled.
"Like we needed mistletoe" Faith muttered, kissing him hard on the lips.
"I think maybe we should give them a minute" Alex said, walking quickly back in to the living room with a grin on her face. Of course this only encouraged others to peek around the corner and come backwith a smirk on their face.
"Come up for some air" Ty yelled from the living room, causing everyone in the living room to crack up, and Bosco and Faith enter sheepishly.
"So this is what you were up to" Faith commented, looking around.
"This is what everyone else was up to, I kept breaking plates, they sent me away" Bosco replied, squeezing her hand as she laughed.
"So'd you get it?" Bosco asked Faith from behind, she turned around and smiled, "Yeah, I got it, so did you"
"What're we all lookin' at Davis asked, barging through the group standing around a piece of paper.
"New way of scheduling for Christmas, you working Davis?" Bosco asked.
Davis stared at the paper for a minute then nodded his hand, "Looks like Sully's got it off too"
"Now that's luck" Faith remarked.
"What is?"
"Only four people get the holiday off from each shift, and this year it just happens to be us four" Faith grinned.
"So what do you guys think about hitting the bar tonight after work?" Bosco asked in the locker rooms.
"You payin'?" Sully asked from across the way.
"You wish" Bosco cracked.
"Sounds good to me" Faith said out loud, looking for more victims. "Davis?" she asked.
"Yeah, sure I'll go" Ty closed his locker, "Come on Sul, come out with us, have a Christmas beer"
Sully looked at the group of them for a minute then obliged, nodding his head, "Yeah, I'll call Tatiana an let her know we'll be a little later" he walked out of the room.
"Three days until Christmas" Faith thought out loud. "Sure as hell came fast this year"
"Two days" Bosco replied, "It's the twenty-third"
"Today"
"Doesn't count" Davis said.
"Fine, two days, point proven though"
"Two days until Christmas" Bosco stopped and thought. "I havent' even been shopping yet"
Faith began to laugh, and patted him on the back, "Good luck Boz, really"
Bosco was lost in thought as he walked in to the change room. What the hell was he supposed to get, why did he leave it for so long anyways? What was wrong with him? Maybe he could convince Faith to stop during their shift so he could run around the mall.
The kids. He should buy for Emily and Charlie. Oh god. What the hell was Christmas supposed to be like this year? The kids didn't have Fred anymore, did they still believe in Santa he wondered. Was he supposed to buy gifts and label them from Santa? Maybe. He couldn't leave all of that to Faith, it must be expensive to try and keep two kids happy.
"Boz?" A voice asked, he turned, snapping out of his daydream and stared at the source.
"You awake?" Faith asked.
"Yeah, I was just.. I dunno how I'm supposed to go shopping, and.. what do I get the kids? Or.. do they need gifts from Santa? I mean, I dunno Faith, I never really had a.. a proper Christmas.."
She stood and smiled at him.
"What?" he asked, stupidly.
"Boz, don't worry about it, I've got Santa gifts, I've been shopping since August for Christmas"
"Since.. August?" he countered, "People shop that early?"
Faith nodded, "Some people plan ahead for these things" she grinned.
"What... what do you want for Christmas?" he asked her.
"Nothing" she replied.
"Nothing.." he countered, "I read this somewhere.. that means like, chocolate or jewlery or something, right? In girl language"
Faith cracked up, "In girl language?" she asked him.
He shrugged, "I read it somewhere"
"Boz, I don't need anything for Christmas from you... I have you" she smiled softly.
"Aww, now there's a Kodak moment" Ty cracked, walking between them to get to his locker.
"Shut up Davis" Bosco retorted, throwing a rolled up sock at him.
Davis turned, "Did you just.. throw a sock at me?" he asked.
Faith sat down on the bench, her sprits soaring.
Davis picked up Bosco's balled up sock and whipped it at Bosco, only it didn't hit Bosco, it hit Sully who was entering the room. Sully stood, dumbfounded.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, looking down and kicking at the sock.
"Bosco's sock" Davis replied, "Sorry Sul"
"You touched Bosco's sock?" Sully laughed, "Might wanna chop off your hand or something now, before it spreads"
"Was that a dig? I think that was a dig!" Bosco replied, picking up the other one.
Sully shook his head, "Don't even or I won't invite you"
"Invite me where?" Bosco paused, tossing it back in to his locker.
"The station's holding a gathered Christmas party, for people on the force who.. may be lonely at Christmas. Food's free, only problem is everyone's invited so we have to put up with you"
"Ha ha, real funny" Bosco remarked dryly. He looked at Faith.
"We don't even have a tree" Faith shrugged, "You going Sul?"
"I think so, it's not on Christmas, it's tomorrow, so Tatiana and I can still have our Christmas"
"Yea, Christmas" Ty offered, suggestivly.
Sully glared and Bosco let out a laugh.
"Well I'm up for it, we could bring the kids, they're on holidays now" Faith said out loud.
"Guess that means I'm comin'" Bosco said.
"You don't have to Boz" Faith replied, "We all know you should be Christmas shopping" she grinned.
Bosco groaned. "Aren't we working tomorrow anyways?"
"Everyone is, that's the point" Sully commented.
Bosco looked at him.
Sully sighed, "It's a whole new thing, people were complaining about holiday hours so the department is trying out new scheduling this year. Christmas people work their normal shifts, minus four people. Christmas Eve everyone works, including week-enders, but the shifts are shorter, four hours and doubletime pay"
"Too bad not every day is Christmas Eve"
"Yeah, you'd be stuck in a mall all year round" Faith teased.
"Roll Call!" Christopher yelled in to the room.
Bosco groaned and closed his locker.
"What's your problem?" Faith asked, slipping her shirt on.
"I'm not gonna be late today" he remarked.
"Cause, that's a bad thing" Faith shook her head.
"I just wanted to make Christopher have a bad day"
"he'd make your worse"
"Nah, I can ignore him most of the time" Bosco shrugged, leaving the locker room with Faith.
"So how long you figure they'll be able to stand eachother twenty-four seven?" Ty asked Sully once they'd left.
"Years" Sully replied.
"You sure? I mean, working and living together, it's a big deal"
"They've always been close, always known almost every aspect of eachother's daily lives anyways. Everyone else could see it coming, I'm just wondering how they didn't" Sully said.
"So you think they'll be getting married?"
"I give it till Spring"
"Wanna make a bet on that?"
"Fifty says they get married by April" Sully said.
"ooh, big man, bet taken, and I will take that fifty any time."
"You don't think they're gonna get married?" Sully asked.
"No, I'm sure they will, but I think Bosco's gonna have a time learnign to commit, I say summer wedding"
Sully snorted, "trouble committing, have you seen those two together?" he rolled his eyes, leaving the room.
Ty stood in the middle of the locker room. He had seen them together, and he was jealous. It was a give and receive relationship. Everything came naturally for the two of them, nothing was forced. They seemed to know eachother like the back of their own hands. He sighed, closing his locker. Sully and Tatiana. Bosco and Faith. Everyone seemed to be getting together. Why couldn't he?