Disclaimer: I don't, and won't ever, own Third Watch, so pass on the compliments to those who deserve it!
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"55-David, please report to 105 Everton Road for a complainant"
"A complainant?" Faith snorted. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?" she wondred out loud. Beside her Bosco shrugged.
"Probably some disgruntled person who's alone for Christmas and wants to piss off as man people as he can"
Faith stared out the side window.
"So do you really not want anything for Christmas?" Bosco asked.
"Yea Boz, I don't need anything, if you want to buy something, buy it for the kids, I know this whole thing has been hard on them"
"They seem okay with it"
"But it's still change, when I was little I never liked change. Hell, I even get worried about change now"
"You worried about the new place?" Bosco asked.
"It is big."
"It's in a good part of town, for the kids. They get their own room."
"It just seems.. lonely right now, I've always been in an apartment" Faith admitted.
"It's not that much different, just a lot less noise coming through the walls" he grinned.
"It just seems empty is all..."
And Bosco suddenly got a bright idea. He couldn't help but grin.
"What?" Faith asked, looking at him.
"Nothing" he shrugged.
"What?" she persisted.
"It's no big deal, I just thought of something to get you"
"If it's chocolate, you're running it off with me" she warned.
"Don't worry, no chocolate"
"Chocolate's good" she muttered.
"Well then I'll get you chocolate too" he laughed, "just don't ask me when"
"When?" she teased.
"I'm gonna ignore that" he said nicely, pulling up to the right address. There was a young man, well dressed, waiting outside in a long jacket.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Bosco asked, getting out of the car.
Faith followed, "What seems to be the problem, sir?" she asked, approaching him first.
"The problem is that.. these bums seem to think out front of my house is a good place to sleep, how am I supposed to park or.. do anything with them hanging around all the time!" he exlaimed.
Faith looked down to the street where there was an older man, obviously living on the streets, sitting on a heating vent that was from the subway.
"Sir, he's sitting on a heating vent to keep warm, would you rather him die?" she asked.
"No, I'd rather he go get warm somewhere else.. there's other... vents around I'm sure.."
Faith took in a deep breath, calming herself.
"Look, if you people don't make him move, I'll... lodge a complaint"
Faith shared a look with Bosco.
"You know, Christmas is coming" Bosco told the man.
"So what?"
"Are you spending it alone?" he asked.
"Is that your business?" the man smirked.
"Yeah, well if you ever want to know why, give me a call and I'll let you know why" Bosco told the man, turning his back.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" he demanded as both officers began to walk away.
They didn't reply. "Hey, dont' turn your backs on me, I pay taxes you know"
"SIr, with all due respect, those taxes you pay, they give us just over thirty grand a year, to put our life on the line day after day" Bosco shot back.
"Boz" Faith warned.
"he's being an ass!" Bosco exclaimed,
"I know, just let it go" she said.
"Friggin' jag offs, should we tell this guy to move?" Bosco asked her.
"We probably should"
"He looks pretty.. comfortable" Bosco remarked, looking at the man.
"He's probably half frozen" she worried.
"Aren't there shelters he could go to, we could drop him off at one" Bosco suggested.
"They're all full Boz, they're always full"
Bosco sighed and approached the man.
"Sir?" he asked.
"yes officer?" the man asked pleasantly. It caught Bosco off guard. Most people were incredibly rude to police officers, especially when they were telling the homeless to move on.
"Uh, someone complained about you being here, we're gonna have to ask you to move" he said, just as pleasantly.
"It was that man, wasn't it?" the old man asked.
Bosco nodded.
"Selfish bugger he is, everytime he walks past me he kicks snow or water at me." the disgruntled man said.
"I'm sorry about all this" Faith stepped in.
"It's alright, you guys are just doing your jobs, and good job it is. I'll just move on" the man nodded, standing up and walking down the street.
"Hey, you want a ride anywhere?" Bosco suddenly asked.
"No thank you" the man turned the offer down.
Bosco nodded his head, "Keep warm" he said to the man, and went back to the cruiser.
"That must bite" he said, once they were seated.
"What?"
"Having no place to go two days before Christmas. No family, no home, no money..."
Faith nodded, staring out the window again. "Hold on Boz, he's waving to us" she said, rolling down her window. The man came over to the car, "Could I possibly get your names?" the man asked.
Faith looked at him.. "Uhh.. yea, This is Maurice-" Bosco cleared his throat, "Boscorelli, or Bosco" he interupted.
He turned to Faith, "and you are?"
"Yokas, Faith" Faith replied.
"Pleasure meeting you officers," the man nodded his head, lost in thought.
"That was.. odd" Faith remarked once they'd gone down the street.
"Just a little, but the guy's probably a few fries short of a happy meal"
"Boz!" Faith exlaimed/
"It happens Faith, on the streets people go nuts"
"You don't have to live on the streets to go nuts, look at yourself" she grinned.
"Ha ha" he said. "You don't think we could.. maybe dodge calls for a bit do you?" he asked, hesitant.
"Why?" Faith asked.
"I thought I might be able to finish some shopping" he countered.
Faith laughed. "You're crazy Boz, give out rainchecks"
"What, why? I still have two days!"
"Two Days. New York City. you know seventy five percent of people leave some form of Christmas shopping until the last week. All those people are going to be in the stores today"
"Yeah, well I have an advantage"
"Your charming good looks don't do anything in masses of Christmas shoppers, it's one for theirself in there"
"I wasn't talking about that" he smiled, "I'm in uniform" he grinned.
"So?"
"So.. that might.. intimidate people or something"
Faith snorted, "you've never been last minute Christmas shopping have you Bosco?" she asked.
"I've never been Christmas shopping" he admitted.
She looked at him.
"What, am I supposed to buy presents for myself?" he asked.
"Boz, people run over people with carts. They use elbows, you would go nuts in there"
"So you can come and keep me level" he pointed out.
Faith sighed, "Fine, we'll try it but the first time you raised your first or voice.. I'm draggind you outtah there" Faith compromised.
"Deal" he said.
Faith began to pace the street, waiting for Bosco to come out.
"I have to get something for my mom" Bosco had said, entering a jewllery store. She was told to wait here. She sighed, watching the clouds from her breath dissipate in to the air, then focusing on the people around her. In the past twenty minutes, about ten people had gone in to the same store Bosco had gone in to, but no one had come out yet.
"55-David call Central"
Faith sighed, "55-David" she spoke in to the radio.
"55-David, we have a house fire, 1258 Thompson, Fire and EMS responding, we need you there for crowd and traffic control"
"Central, where is 55-Charlie?" Faith asked.
"55-Charlie is already on scene, they've requested backup"
"10-4 Central, show 55-David en route" she finished.
"You hear that Boz, we got a call, come on, shop tomorrow"
No reply. "Boz, I'm gonna come in to that store if you don't reply" she waited then headed for the jewellery store.
Bosco sat against the wall next to other customers. Why, oh why, did this always happen to him? He had contemplated on calling Faith, but as soon as the radio had come alive with a call, the robbers, Michael and Mary from what he could tell, had smashed the thing on the ground.
The door opened again, causing everyone to look over, and the person standing there froze.
"Come on inside, join us" Michael said, pointing his gun at the lady. Bosco groaned inwardly as he recognized the lady as Faith.
Faith froze as she entered the shop. Finally, Bosco had a good excuse to not respond to a call. There had been no notification to the police, so the trip alarm probably hadn't been pulled, or wasn't working, which meant it could be a very long time before PD showed up. People could be dead by then.
Faith looked over to Bosco, who seemed to be angry, then as he met her eyes she could see the worry spawn.
Making a decision that could cost Faith her life, she busied the man by throwing him her piece and putting the radio button down.
"You're robbing a jewellery store two days before Christmas" she said out loud, "In broad daylight on Lexx Avenue, one of the busiest streets for shoppers-"
"Shut up!" the man said, picking up her gun and pointing it at her.
Faith stared in to the barrel. She hadn't ever looked at her own gun this closely before. She'd lost it, or had to give it up, but no one had ever pointed her own gun at her. For some reason unknownst to her she began to laugh, it was ironic, somewhat.
"Shut Up!" the man screamed again.
Faith stopped laughing quickly. She didn't want to be here right now. She really really didn't. In a moment she decided that she hated Christmas. Too many people trying to score money for free.
"Good, now go sit on the far wall" he said.
Faith's eyes flew to the left wall, and it was then she knew they were in trouble. Guys against one wall, women against the other. Now which sex did he have it in for?
"55-David, we show you en route to that housefire on Thompson, what's your ETA?"
The man stared at her, then the radio.
"What the hell Michael, smash it already" the girl said.
"We could use it" Michael said, turning his head slightly.
"For what?!"
"Demands" Michael replied.
"Michael, the police aren't even here yet, we can grab and go"
"No, we can't, haven't you been listening?!" he demanded, "Once we grab the cash and jewellery, the alarm goes off and these people" he paused, staring at Bosco then Faith, "can follow us, ID us"
"So we kill them" Mary said simply.
"Kill two police officers" he countered.
"It was your idea Michael! Like ten minutes ago I asked and that's what you said!"
"What, are you trying to make me look guilty, like this was my idea now?" Michael demanded.
Faith looked over at Bosco, shooting him a look that said 'Are these people for real?'
He smirked, then shrugged.
"Make you look guilty, this whole thing was your idea, get some cash, head out, have a good Christmas" she raised her voice, "Well so much for that now!"
Without saying a word, Bosco nodded to Faith and she grabbed her backup piece from her ankle at the same time Bosco did.
"Drop the gun!" Faith yelled.
The man turned and held her gun on herself, and the girl, Mary, sat down on the ground and began to cry. Bosco didn't move, but aimed his gun at Michael, covering Faith.
"You drop the gun" Michael told her, looking in to her eyes.
"You have two guns on you right now, I suggest you drop the gun Michael"
"Don't use my name like we know eachother, why'd you have to come in here and screw this up anyways?"
"You screwed it up yourself" Bosco snapped, hoping to draw the attention on to himself.
It didn't work. "Shut up officer, or I'll.. I'll shoot your partner... Officer Yokas"
Bosco didn't say a word.
"Look, Michael" Faith began in her calming voice, "Michael, right now your charges are attempted theft and possession of a weapon, if you drop the gun now, you won't even go to jail"
"You're full of shit!" Michael yelled at her, "I'm holding a gun at a police officer and you're telling me I won't go to jail, you think I'm stupid now?" he asked.
"No, I-"
"Shut up!" he screamed again. "Okay.. okay... this is what's gonna happen, everyone is gonna leave.. wait.. no...Uh...Yokas and I are going to leave-"
"I have a gun at your head!" Faith stated.
"I'm not stupid! Tell your partner to drop his gun or I'll shoot you"
Faith looked at Bosco, who nodded, and threw his notebook down, keeping his gun trained on Michael.
He'd fallen for it.
"Okay Michael, my partner doesn't have a gun anymore... you're in control here" she told him softly.
"I'm in control.." he muttered, staring at her.
He went limp, suddenly, and fell to the floor convulsing, a loud gunshot echoed in the small store, and people began screaming and running for the door.
"Faith, you okay?" Bosco asked.
"Yeah, great" she muttered, looking at the hole in the wall behind her. It was only two inches from her head.
"Call Central, get a bus down here" he told her. She didn't move, but slumped to the ground, her knees against her chest and her head resting against the wall.
"Faith?" Bosco asked. She didn't reply.
"Shit" he muttered, crossing the space between them and holding her face. She was cold and unresponsive. Had she been shot?
Bosco looked for blood smears on the wall, not seeing any he straightened out her legs, checking everywhere for blood. Nothing.
He ripped her shirt open, running his hand along her kevlar, nothing. He looked at the wall again, then stood up, seeing the bullet hole in the wall. It must've barely missed her, he thought. Which meant she was probably in shock.
He turned back around, Mary was kneeling over Michael, handcuffs around her wrists. Michael had stopped convulsing, but was laying there like a ragdoll. Bosco made a run for the RMP radio, returning with a handheld.
"Central, this is 55-David, we are on scene at an attempted robbery on Lexx, our cruiser is parked out front, we need a bus" Bosco said, breathlessly in to the radio.
"10-4 David, Bus will be en route, ETA is seven mintues"
"We might not have seven minutes" Bosco replied in to the radio.
"Our units are held up right now, let me see if one can vacate the scene"
Bosco looked at the man on the floor, then at Faith, who was still just sitting there. He face had gone pale. He grabbed her wrist, feeling for a pulse. He wasn't quite sure what a normal one was like, but Faith's was slow and weak.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"55-David, please report to 105 Everton Road for a complainant"
"A complainant?" Faith snorted. "What the hell's that supposed to mean?" she wondred out loud. Beside her Bosco shrugged.
"Probably some disgruntled person who's alone for Christmas and wants to piss off as man people as he can"
Faith stared out the side window.
"So do you really not want anything for Christmas?" Bosco asked.
"Yea Boz, I don't need anything, if you want to buy something, buy it for the kids, I know this whole thing has been hard on them"
"They seem okay with it"
"But it's still change, when I was little I never liked change. Hell, I even get worried about change now"
"You worried about the new place?" Bosco asked.
"It is big."
"It's in a good part of town, for the kids. They get their own room."
"It just seems.. lonely right now, I've always been in an apartment" Faith admitted.
"It's not that much different, just a lot less noise coming through the walls" he grinned.
"It just seems empty is all..."
And Bosco suddenly got a bright idea. He couldn't help but grin.
"What?" Faith asked, looking at him.
"Nothing" he shrugged.
"What?" she persisted.
"It's no big deal, I just thought of something to get you"
"If it's chocolate, you're running it off with me" she warned.
"Don't worry, no chocolate"
"Chocolate's good" she muttered.
"Well then I'll get you chocolate too" he laughed, "just don't ask me when"
"When?" she teased.
"I'm gonna ignore that" he said nicely, pulling up to the right address. There was a young man, well dressed, waiting outside in a long jacket.
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Bosco asked, getting out of the car.
Faith followed, "What seems to be the problem, sir?" she asked, approaching him first.
"The problem is that.. these bums seem to think out front of my house is a good place to sleep, how am I supposed to park or.. do anything with them hanging around all the time!" he exlaimed.
Faith looked down to the street where there was an older man, obviously living on the streets, sitting on a heating vent that was from the subway.
"Sir, he's sitting on a heating vent to keep warm, would you rather him die?" she asked.
"No, I'd rather he go get warm somewhere else.. there's other... vents around I'm sure.."
Faith took in a deep breath, calming herself.
"Look, if you people don't make him move, I'll... lodge a complaint"
Faith shared a look with Bosco.
"You know, Christmas is coming" Bosco told the man.
"So what?"
"Are you spending it alone?" he asked.
"Is that your business?" the man smirked.
"Yeah, well if you ever want to know why, give me a call and I'll let you know why" Bosco told the man, turning his back.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" he demanded as both officers began to walk away.
They didn't reply. "Hey, dont' turn your backs on me, I pay taxes you know"
"SIr, with all due respect, those taxes you pay, they give us just over thirty grand a year, to put our life on the line day after day" Bosco shot back.
"Boz" Faith warned.
"he's being an ass!" Bosco exclaimed,
"I know, just let it go" she said.
"Friggin' jag offs, should we tell this guy to move?" Bosco asked her.
"We probably should"
"He looks pretty.. comfortable" Bosco remarked, looking at the man.
"He's probably half frozen" she worried.
"Aren't there shelters he could go to, we could drop him off at one" Bosco suggested.
"They're all full Boz, they're always full"
Bosco sighed and approached the man.
"Sir?" he asked.
"yes officer?" the man asked pleasantly. It caught Bosco off guard. Most people were incredibly rude to police officers, especially when they were telling the homeless to move on.
"Uh, someone complained about you being here, we're gonna have to ask you to move" he said, just as pleasantly.
"It was that man, wasn't it?" the old man asked.
Bosco nodded.
"Selfish bugger he is, everytime he walks past me he kicks snow or water at me." the disgruntled man said.
"I'm sorry about all this" Faith stepped in.
"It's alright, you guys are just doing your jobs, and good job it is. I'll just move on" the man nodded, standing up and walking down the street.
"Hey, you want a ride anywhere?" Bosco suddenly asked.
"No thank you" the man turned the offer down.
Bosco nodded his head, "Keep warm" he said to the man, and went back to the cruiser.
"That must bite" he said, once they were seated.
"What?"
"Having no place to go two days before Christmas. No family, no home, no money..."
Faith nodded, staring out the window again. "Hold on Boz, he's waving to us" she said, rolling down her window. The man came over to the car, "Could I possibly get your names?" the man asked.
Faith looked at him.. "Uhh.. yea, This is Maurice-" Bosco cleared his throat, "Boscorelli, or Bosco" he interupted.
He turned to Faith, "and you are?"
"Yokas, Faith" Faith replied.
"Pleasure meeting you officers," the man nodded his head, lost in thought.
"That was.. odd" Faith remarked once they'd gone down the street.
"Just a little, but the guy's probably a few fries short of a happy meal"
"Boz!" Faith exlaimed/
"It happens Faith, on the streets people go nuts"
"You don't have to live on the streets to go nuts, look at yourself" she grinned.
"Ha ha" he said. "You don't think we could.. maybe dodge calls for a bit do you?" he asked, hesitant.
"Why?" Faith asked.
"I thought I might be able to finish some shopping" he countered.
Faith laughed. "You're crazy Boz, give out rainchecks"
"What, why? I still have two days!"
"Two Days. New York City. you know seventy five percent of people leave some form of Christmas shopping until the last week. All those people are going to be in the stores today"
"Yeah, well I have an advantage"
"Your charming good looks don't do anything in masses of Christmas shoppers, it's one for theirself in there"
"I wasn't talking about that" he smiled, "I'm in uniform" he grinned.
"So?"
"So.. that might.. intimidate people or something"
Faith snorted, "you've never been last minute Christmas shopping have you Bosco?" she asked.
"I've never been Christmas shopping" he admitted.
She looked at him.
"What, am I supposed to buy presents for myself?" he asked.
"Boz, people run over people with carts. They use elbows, you would go nuts in there"
"So you can come and keep me level" he pointed out.
Faith sighed, "Fine, we'll try it but the first time you raised your first or voice.. I'm draggind you outtah there" Faith compromised.
"Deal" he said.
Faith began to pace the street, waiting for Bosco to come out.
"I have to get something for my mom" Bosco had said, entering a jewllery store. She was told to wait here. She sighed, watching the clouds from her breath dissipate in to the air, then focusing on the people around her. In the past twenty minutes, about ten people had gone in to the same store Bosco had gone in to, but no one had come out yet.
"55-David call Central"
Faith sighed, "55-David" she spoke in to the radio.
"55-David, we have a house fire, 1258 Thompson, Fire and EMS responding, we need you there for crowd and traffic control"
"Central, where is 55-Charlie?" Faith asked.
"55-Charlie is already on scene, they've requested backup"
"10-4 Central, show 55-David en route" she finished.
"You hear that Boz, we got a call, come on, shop tomorrow"
No reply. "Boz, I'm gonna come in to that store if you don't reply" she waited then headed for the jewellery store.
Bosco sat against the wall next to other customers. Why, oh why, did this always happen to him? He had contemplated on calling Faith, but as soon as the radio had come alive with a call, the robbers, Michael and Mary from what he could tell, had smashed the thing on the ground.
The door opened again, causing everyone to look over, and the person standing there froze.
"Come on inside, join us" Michael said, pointing his gun at the lady. Bosco groaned inwardly as he recognized the lady as Faith.
Faith froze as she entered the shop. Finally, Bosco had a good excuse to not respond to a call. There had been no notification to the police, so the trip alarm probably hadn't been pulled, or wasn't working, which meant it could be a very long time before PD showed up. People could be dead by then.
Faith looked over to Bosco, who seemed to be angry, then as he met her eyes she could see the worry spawn.
Making a decision that could cost Faith her life, she busied the man by throwing him her piece and putting the radio button down.
"You're robbing a jewellery store two days before Christmas" she said out loud, "In broad daylight on Lexx Avenue, one of the busiest streets for shoppers-"
"Shut up!" the man said, picking up her gun and pointing it at her.
Faith stared in to the barrel. She hadn't ever looked at her own gun this closely before. She'd lost it, or had to give it up, but no one had ever pointed her own gun at her. For some reason unknownst to her she began to laugh, it was ironic, somewhat.
"Shut Up!" the man screamed again.
Faith stopped laughing quickly. She didn't want to be here right now. She really really didn't. In a moment she decided that she hated Christmas. Too many people trying to score money for free.
"Good, now go sit on the far wall" he said.
Faith's eyes flew to the left wall, and it was then she knew they were in trouble. Guys against one wall, women against the other. Now which sex did he have it in for?
"55-David, we show you en route to that housefire on Thompson, what's your ETA?"
The man stared at her, then the radio.
"What the hell Michael, smash it already" the girl said.
"We could use it" Michael said, turning his head slightly.
"For what?!"
"Demands" Michael replied.
"Michael, the police aren't even here yet, we can grab and go"
"No, we can't, haven't you been listening?!" he demanded, "Once we grab the cash and jewellery, the alarm goes off and these people" he paused, staring at Bosco then Faith, "can follow us, ID us"
"So we kill them" Mary said simply.
"Kill two police officers" he countered.
"It was your idea Michael! Like ten minutes ago I asked and that's what you said!"
"What, are you trying to make me look guilty, like this was my idea now?" Michael demanded.
Faith looked over at Bosco, shooting him a look that said 'Are these people for real?'
He smirked, then shrugged.
"Make you look guilty, this whole thing was your idea, get some cash, head out, have a good Christmas" she raised her voice, "Well so much for that now!"
Without saying a word, Bosco nodded to Faith and she grabbed her backup piece from her ankle at the same time Bosco did.
"Drop the gun!" Faith yelled.
The man turned and held her gun on herself, and the girl, Mary, sat down on the ground and began to cry. Bosco didn't move, but aimed his gun at Michael, covering Faith.
"You drop the gun" Michael told her, looking in to her eyes.
"You have two guns on you right now, I suggest you drop the gun Michael"
"Don't use my name like we know eachother, why'd you have to come in here and screw this up anyways?"
"You screwed it up yourself" Bosco snapped, hoping to draw the attention on to himself.
It didn't work. "Shut up officer, or I'll.. I'll shoot your partner... Officer Yokas"
Bosco didn't say a word.
"Look, Michael" Faith began in her calming voice, "Michael, right now your charges are attempted theft and possession of a weapon, if you drop the gun now, you won't even go to jail"
"You're full of shit!" Michael yelled at her, "I'm holding a gun at a police officer and you're telling me I won't go to jail, you think I'm stupid now?" he asked.
"No, I-"
"Shut up!" he screamed again. "Okay.. okay... this is what's gonna happen, everyone is gonna leave.. wait.. no...Uh...Yokas and I are going to leave-"
"I have a gun at your head!" Faith stated.
"I'm not stupid! Tell your partner to drop his gun or I'll shoot you"
Faith looked at Bosco, who nodded, and threw his notebook down, keeping his gun trained on Michael.
He'd fallen for it.
"Okay Michael, my partner doesn't have a gun anymore... you're in control here" she told him softly.
"I'm in control.." he muttered, staring at her.
He went limp, suddenly, and fell to the floor convulsing, a loud gunshot echoed in the small store, and people began screaming and running for the door.
"Faith, you okay?" Bosco asked.
"Yeah, great" she muttered, looking at the hole in the wall behind her. It was only two inches from her head.
"Call Central, get a bus down here" he told her. She didn't move, but slumped to the ground, her knees against her chest and her head resting against the wall.
"Faith?" Bosco asked. She didn't reply.
"Shit" he muttered, crossing the space between them and holding her face. She was cold and unresponsive. Had she been shot?
Bosco looked for blood smears on the wall, not seeing any he straightened out her legs, checking everywhere for blood. Nothing.
He ripped her shirt open, running his hand along her kevlar, nothing. He looked at the wall again, then stood up, seeing the bullet hole in the wall. It must've barely missed her, he thought. Which meant she was probably in shock.
He turned back around, Mary was kneeling over Michael, handcuffs around her wrists. Michael had stopped convulsing, but was laying there like a ragdoll. Bosco made a run for the RMP radio, returning with a handheld.
"Central, this is 55-David, we are on scene at an attempted robbery on Lexx, our cruiser is parked out front, we need a bus" Bosco said, breathlessly in to the radio.
"10-4 David, Bus will be en route, ETA is seven mintues"
"We might not have seven minutes" Bosco replied in to the radio.
"Our units are held up right now, let me see if one can vacate the scene"
Bosco looked at the man on the floor, then at Faith, who was still just sitting there. He face had gone pale. He grabbed her wrist, feeling for a pulse. He wasn't quite sure what a normal one was like, but Faith's was slow and weak.