Bosco and Faith arrived outside the precinct at the same time.
"Hey Faith! How's it going?"
"You're in an awfully good mood. I figured you'd still be pissed about last night."
"Nah, I don't think anyone even recognized me Faith. I mean, I never talked to anyone but the kids and no one really paid any attention to me, so how could they have figured out it was me?"
"Um, well, actually…"
Faith and Bosco stepped through the doors and stopped dead in their tracks.
"…the whole department knows."
"What the hell!?!" Bosco stared at the life-size cardboard cutout of him in his Santa suit and the collage of pictures of him with various kids on his lap. Underneath the pictures someone had written "BOSCO'S SECRET LIFE REVEALED".
"Who the hell did this? And how did they find out?" He turned to Faith who instantly pleaded her innocence.
"It wasn't me Bos, it was Christopher. He made sure everyone knew and had people taking pictures for him."
"And you didn't tell me!?"
"I didn't know until it was too late Bosco. I'm sorry."
"That's it. I'm gonna pound that jagoff's head in!" Bosco said as he headed for Christopher's office.
"Bosco, wait. You go after him and he'll be getting just what he wants. You know he's looking for a reason to fire you."
"Fire, what a great idea Faith." Bosco pulled a lighter out of his pocket and proceeded to light the cutout and collage on fire. He then started towards the locker room, Faith staring after him. Christopher came running out of his office as the fire alarms went off, right as Bosco passed by his office.
"Damn things just burst into flames, never seen anything like it. Such a pity too, all your hard work Christopher. Better stay back, wouldn't want you to catch on fire too."
Christopher just stared open mouthed at Bosco as he then made his way on down the hall and into the locker room. Faith glared at Christopher, and then followed after her partner into the locker room. Neither saw as Lieu smiled at what he had just witnessed, and then calmly walked out beside Christopher, put his hand on his shoulder, and told him he should probably go home and cool off for the rest of the day.
ROLL CALL
"OK, I'm sure you're all aware by now that Bosco played Santa last night at the Christmas party. Bosco, I really appreciate you doing that for me. Now, if anyone has any snide comments to make about that, I will make sure that next year you are playing Santa's elves…tights and all. And don't think I won't find out if you say anything. I have ears everywhere. Now, let's get out there and fight some crime. Dismissed."
Bosco sat in his chair and watched with a huge smile on his as everyone passed by him to go out the door. He knew most were having to bite their tongues to keep from making a comment, and he was thoroughly enjoying watching it. After they had all left, he made his way up to Lieu.
"Hey, Lieu, thanks. I appreciate that."
"No problem Bosco. You be sure and let me know if anyone says anything, cause I meant what I said."
"Sure thing Lieu."
"Now go on, you're partners waiting on you."
Bosco walked out and joined Faith, grinning from ear to ear. This was going to be a great day.
Bosco impatiently tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. They had been out patrolling for five hours now without a single call and he was getting bored.
"Bosco, you keep that up and I'm going to break your fingers."
"This is boring Faith. How is it possible that we haven't had one single call? This never happens. I'd even take a domestic right now."
"Yeah, well, I like the quiet and I don't want a domestic right now so quit wishing it on us."
"Central to 55-David"
"I swear if that's a domestic you are dead Bosco."
"Go ahead central" Bosco said into his radio, praying it wasn't a domestic so Faith wouldn't have a reason to gripe at him all evening.
"Fire at 214 Woodland Road. FDNY is on the way. Need you to direct traffic."
"214 Woodland Road, 10-4 Central." Bosco flipped on the lights and sirens and sped toward their call. They arrived in less than two minutes to find a house with smoke pouring out and FDNY nowhere in sight.
"Great, we're directing traffic for bucket boys and they don't even have the decency to be here."
"I'm sure they'll be here soon Bosco."
"Yeah, sure, once the whole neighborhood's burned down. Man, who named this place anyway? Woodland Road? There isn't a single tree here. What morons."
"I'm sure they had a good reason Bosco."
"Where the hell are they? They should have been here by now. 55-David to Central, what's the ETA on FDNY?"
"5 minutes. They're coming from their last call on the other side of town."
"Great. Like I said, the whole neighborhood's gonna burn down and we'll probably get the blame because those morons don't know where the gas pedal is."
Faith just rolled her eyes and continued to direct traffic. She knew her partners good mood at the start of the shift wasn't going to last.
"HELP ME!"
Faith and Bosco immediately turned around to see a woman running from the burning house, screaming for help. Bosco ran to her and tried to get her to calm down.
"My babies! Oh God, my babies! Somebody help my babies!"
"Where are your babies?" Bosco asked the woman, dreading the answer.
"They're in there, my babies, please save them!"
"Where at in there? How many?"
"Upstairs in their bedroom, please, help them!"
"How many are there?"
"Two, please, they're all I have."
Bosco headed towards the burning house, only to have Faith pull him back.
"Bosco, no, you can't go in there."
"I'm not letting two innocent kids die Faith."
Bosco pulled his arm from Faith's grasp and ran into the house. Faith stared after him, praying that he made it out with both kids and cursing the FDNY for taking so long.