Promises
Part 7
*****
Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who are still reading my stuff! Much appreciated!
A little 10-code info: 10-20=past robbery and when Dispatch says "Go Silent" it means no lights no siren (at least that's what dispatch in my neck of the woods says).
Oh, and remember I know nothing about the streets or directions in NYC (good thing this is fiction!) And isn't it amazing how everything seems to be right around the corner from either the precinct or their apartments :o)
*****
Bosco and Rylee sat at their respective desks, and worked on the mundane paperwork they were assigned for the day.
"Man, paperwork sucks," complained Rylee.
"Tell me about it. You know, there's a reason I became a cop, and it wasn't cause I wanted to be a pencil pusher." Bosco looked at his watch. "Damn, it's almost eight. Whaddya say we go get some grub? I'm starving."
"Sounds good to me," she said as she stood up. "Anything to get me away from this hard wooden chair. I've got bleacher butt, and I'm not even at a ballgame."
"Is it alright with you if I see if Faith wants to come with?"
"No problem. Gotta be weird. You two not spending shifts together anymore. How long you say you'd worked together? Five years?"
"Yeah. It is weird. I get nervous around her now," he shook his head. "It's hard to explain."
"I can only imagine. Go find her. I'll wait outside."
Bosco found Faith in the command office. He knocked on the open door. "You busy sarge?"
She turned around to find him smiling at her. "Not really. What's up?"
He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "Rylee and I were on our way to get some dinner. Wondered if you wanted to join us?"
"You sure you two want to have dinner with a superior officer?"
"Gee Faith. I know you out rank us, but I don't know if I'd say you're a 'superior' officer." He grinned. She knew she set herself up for that one. "Come on Yokas. You know I wouldn't ask you to join us if I didn't want you to. It's only been a few days, and I can see you're already forgetting some of my finer qualities."
"No, trust me. Your 'finer' qualities aren't that easy to forget," she walked over to him, and grinned. "Believe me, I've tried." She walked past him, and started down the hallway.
"Hey! What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he called after her.
The three officers made their way to the pizza joint that was just around the corner from the precinct. After placing their orders they sat in a booth by the window. Bosco and Faith sitting together on one side; Rylee alone on the other.
Yokas and Boscorelli started talking to each other about things that only partners would know. Rylee suddenly began to feel like the odd man out. As she listened to their conversation she looked around the restaurant finding signs to read, and other things to hold her attention. She hadn't realized how difficult this situation would be. Here she was sitting with her new partner, and his former partner; and she felt like she was intruding. "Oh well," she thought. "Don't know what I was expecting. They were partners for years, and they've been through a lot together. No big deal."
Rylee laid her head back on the booth, looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh. "You OK?" She didn't answer. "Ry, something wrong?" Bosco asked.
She lifted her head, and met his gaze. "Huh?"
"You feelin' OK?"
"Oh, uh, just a headache," she rubbed her forehead. Her head had been pounding all day, and though she would never say it out loud she was actually glad she was on desk duty today.
"That's quite a bruise," said Faith. "How exactly did that happen?"
Rylee grinned. "I lost a fight with the sidewalk last night."
"At the fire?"
"Yeah. Just as we got to the door there was an explosion; sent us flying. My head made solid contact with the pavement."
"Ouch." Faith turned to Bosco.
"What?" He knew she was going to ask if he was all right. Faith hadn't known all the details of what happened at the fire. He knew she would just worry if she knew everything that happened. It was bad enough that everyone knew he had another panic attack. She didn't need to hear about the explosion and being thrown to the pavement.
Faith started to say something, but was interrupted by the waitress who began setting plates of food in front of them. Rylee took this time to turn the conversation away from the fire. "So, Faith. How's life as a sergeant?"
"It's different that's for sure. It hasn't been all that long, but I already miss being out on patrol." She turned to Bosco who wore a somber expression. Faith nodded toward him, "But this guy. I don't miss his bitching and moaning one bit." She smiled.
"Hey now," he smiled back. "I'll have you know that O'Neill here has taken over the bitching and moaning responsibilities."
"Excuse me?" asked Rylee.
"Oh you were in rare form yesterday. You shoulda heard her Faith." Bosco continued in a whiny voice. "'We've only had two calls in six hours. Great. We get to direct traffic for the bucket boys'." The three officers laughed.
"Hey, I was bored," claimed O'Neill as she tried to defend herself.
They finished their dinner, and began the walk back to the station house. "So Bosco, tomorrow's your birthday. You still coming to our place after work like always?"
"Your birthday is tomorrow?" Rylee looked at Bosco. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't say anything cause it doesn't matter. We aren't doing anything for my birthday."
"You say that every year Bosco, and every year we do something."
"Not this year Faith. I mean it."
They stopped outside the precinct. "Why not?" questioned Rylee.
"I don't know," he sighed. "Just doesn't seem right this year. Ya know…" Bosco climbed the stairs, and headed inside.
Faith and Rylee watched him walk away, and then turned toward each other. "What did he mean by that?"
"I think I know," said Faith. "I'll talk to him. You just plan on coming over to my place tomorrow night. My kids are going to make him a cake." Faith smiled. "He's never been able to say no to my kids."
Faith searched the precinct, and found Bosco in the locker room. He was sitting in front of his locker. Elbows on his knees, chin in his hands; staring at the floor. "Hey Bos," she called as she rounded the lockers.
"Huh?"
"What's going on with you? You were in a pretty good mood at dinner. What changed?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Bosco. What did you mean by it doesn't seem right? Tomorrow is your birthday. We celebrate it together every year. What's so different this year?"
He sat up, and picked an imaginary piece of lint off his sleeve. "It's just not right Faith."
"What's not right?"
"Celebrating another year of my life when so many people I know are…Faith I just don't feel right about it."
Faith sat down on the bench next to her best friend. "Bos, we can't change what happened. It's been a rough eight months," She looked at him. "Trust me I know how you feel, but you can't let that stop you from doing the things you've always done. Look at me." He turned his head toward her. "I want you to know something---"
"Faith—"
"I understand what you are saying Bosco, but *I* want to celebrate your birthday. It's important to me Bosco. Besides the kids really want to bake a cake for you."
His face lit up. "They do?"
She nodded. "They haven't seen you in a while. They miss you. Can you believe that?" she joked.
"I don't want it to be a big deal though."
"Just me, you, Rylee, Fred and the kids. That's it. Just a little cake and ice cream. No big deal."
"What? No presents."
She snorted. "So, you'll be there?"
"Yeah. I'll be there."
"OK. Now get your ass back out to that desk."
He groaned. "Fine." He stood up to leave. "Slave driver," he said under his breath as he walked passed her and gave her a nudge.
"You better watch yourself Boscorelli. I have the authority to put you on a desk again tomorrow."
"You wouldn't"
"Oh, I would."
*****
Bosco sat on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest. He read the titles of some of the books on the shelves around the large office. "A bunch of psycho-babble bull shit," he thought to himself. "Damn. I was just starting to feel somewhat comfortable around that quack O'Malley. Now I gotta try and get used to this chick."
"What a priss," he thought as he looked at his new therapist. She sat with perfect posture in her chair. Wearing a perfectly pressed business suit. Her hair was pulled tightly into a perfect bun, and she wore wire-rimmed glasses. "Sure looks like she's got a stick up her ass."
He looked at his watch. It was 9:30 a.m. His session was half over, and all they had accomplished was reviewing the "notes" O'Malley had sent over. That took all of five minutes. The rest of the time they had been sitting in silence.
Bosco looked at his watch again. 9:30 and twenty seconds. He puffed up his cheeks then loudly exhaled. Her expression never changed. Bosco rolled his eyes, and uncrossed his arms. "So are you gonna ask me somethin' or we just gonna sit here?"
"I prefer to let my patients initiate the session."
He cringed at the word "patient". "Prude," he thought. He leaned forward. "Hate to break it to ya, but I don't talk just for the hell of it."
"Well, where would you like to start?"
He shook his head. "Isn't it your job to figure that out?"
She lifted her glasses off her nose and peered down at her notes. "Let's start with September 11th."
He shook his head. "No, no I already talked to O'Malley about that."
"Yes, but to fully understand your case I need you to start from the beginning, and from what Mr. O'Malley concluded your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder started in relation to 9/11."
Bosco took a deep breath. "Fine. I spent the night with some girl. I was leaving that morning. Heard the first plane roar by, so I ran down there." He looked up at her quickly to see if she was paying attention. He saw her scribbling notes so he continued. The rest of his words came like rapid fire. "I got there as the second plane hit. Saw people jumping. People falling. I couldn't do anything to help. Then there was this rumble. I ran. This cloud overtook me, but I kept running. Finally I stopped. Then I just sat where I was for a while before going back to help." Bosco wiped the sweat from his forehead. No matter how many times he thought of that day he still got choked up. The faster he told the story the easier it was on him. "Phew," he thought, "I made it through it that time." He looked at the therapist waiting for her to dig a little deeper; ask a question.
When she finished scribbling notes she looked and Bosco, and used her index finger to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "From what you've just told me, and the notes from your previous counselor; I'm guessing you're going through what is called survivor's guilt."
Bosco nodded quickly, and looked away. He did a double take when his brain caught up to her words. He stared at her, and put his hand up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on. Did you just say 'I'm guessing'?" He emphasized the words "You're guessing."
He stood up and headed for the door. "Mr. Boscorelli our session isn't over yet!"
"Yes it is," he said firmly then slammed the door on his way out.
When he got to the parking lot he pulled out his cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Faith. Can I come over?"
"Bosco?" She looked at the clock on the wall. "Aren't you supposed to be—"
"Can I come over or not?"
"Um, yeah, sure."
"Thanks," he hung up.
"Wonder what's going on." Faith said to the empty room.
Ten minutes later there was a soft knock on her door. "Showtime," she thought. She opened the door to find a fidgeting Bosco standing in the hall." "Hi."
He looked at her. "I know I left my session early, but I had to. Please Faith, don't tell Swersky. I mean, I went. It's just this lady, she—"
"Bosco slow down. Breathe. Come inside and explain what's going on."
He followed her into the apartment.
"You want something to drink?" He shook his head no.
Faith sat down on the couch, and put her feet on the coffee table. Bosco stood in front of the chair shifting his weight from foot to foot with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. "So what's going on Bosco?"
"This lady. This therapist. She asked me about 9/11, so I told her. You know, the quick and dirty version cause I really didn't feel like pouring my soul out to her in the first session." He ran a hand through his hair. "So after I tell her she says, and I quote, 'I'm guessing you're going through survivor's guilt'." Bosco looked at Faith anxiously. "Guessing Faith. She said she was guessing!"
"I'm sure she didn't mean it that way Bos."
"God Faith. I'm so unsure of myself these days as it is. I don't need my shrink telling me she's guessing!"
"Ok Bosco, OK. Just calm down. We'll figure this out."
"If that's how its gonna be then I think I'd be more comfortable going back to O'Malley. He's gruff, but he knows what he's doing."
"We need to figure out what's best for you Bosco. Don't go back to O'Malley if you're just going to bottle up your feelings. That's what got you into this in the first place."
Bosco nodded, and started pacing the length of the coffee table. Faith watched him for a few seconds. "Bosco would you sit down? Stop pacing."
"I can't."
"Why not?" She asked a little confused.
He looked at her then quickly looked away.
"What is it Bosco?" she asked softly.
He turned away from her completely. "I'm nervous," came his quiet mumbled reply.
"Nervous? About what? Why?"
Bosco slowly faced her. He didn't have to say a word. Faith read his expression. "Do I make you nervous?"
He looked down at the floor.
"Bosco?"
"K-kinda. I guess," he said in a whisper. "I mean. We aren't partners anymore. You're my sergeant. I guess I don't really know how to act. Or where the line is. Dammit Faith I don't even know if I should be coming to you about this."
"Bosco. It's just me, Faith. Don't act any differently around me. Just be you. Trust me like you always have. When it's a professional situation be professional. Otherwise it's just me and you like we were before."
"It's weird though. 'Cuz of Rylee. I don't want to leave either of you out. I don't want to hurt either of you by talking more to the other or anything like that." He finally went over and plopped himself down in the chair.
"I knew going into this that you'd get a new partner Bosco. I knew that the two of you would form a special bond, but I also know the bond we have is special, and that it will never be broken," she paused. "Remember? I promised."
"Yeah I remember. It's just with everything that's been going on. I guess I feel bad cause I haven't really let Rylee in."
"Bos you haven't even known her a week."
"I know, but when you and I started working together we clicked right away."
"What are you talking about? No we didn't."
"What?"
"Bosco we fought for almost a year and a half before we really started to get along. Yeah, we clicked when it came to the job, but I thought you were a total ass and you thought I was---"
"A nosy overprotective mom," he finished for her. He chuckled. "OK. You're right."
"Of course I am," she smiled. "Just give it time. I see good things ahead for you and Rylee."
Bosco raised an eyebrow. "What, you got a little 'Miss Cleo' business going on the side?"
"Shut up. I'm just saying you and Rylee can really make a great team. The way you handled that fire the other day showed everyone what you're both capable of. You two are a lot alike."
"I'm not really that much of a loud-mouth glory hog am I? That's what I've heard some of the guys saying about her."
She looked at him with a straight face. "You want the truth?"
"Damn, no wonder Sully keeps bitching about having two Boscorellis. Am I really that bad?"
"When you're in your element…you're worse."
"Oh man," Bosco slapped his hand to his forehead. Faith just laughed at him. Bosco laughed too, but then turned serious. "Faith."
"Yeah."
"As nervous as I was about coming here today. I'm glad I did. I mean I have to talk to these counselors about my feelings, but they don't really care. So it's hard to really let it out." He gave her a grin. "But talking to you…well, thanks."
She smiled at him. "Any time Bosco."
*****
By the time he left Faith's he was surer of their relationship. He always knew they had a good one, but it was awkward not being her partner anymore. Earlier he wasn't sure exactly where his place was in her life, but now he knew. Bosco was finally starting to understand, and believe Faith when she said he could tell her anything and she'd be there for him. Not too long ago his world was falling apart, and he had made the right decision when he confided in Faith. It had been a long time since he had been happy, and as each day passed he felt a little better. A little more "normal".
As Bosco stepped out of the shower he heard his phone ringing. He wrapped a towel around his waist, and hustled into the living room to answer the phone. "Yeah."
"Bosco. It's Rylee."
"Hey what's up?"
"How 'bout I pick you up for work today? Then we could head over to Faith's together after the shift."
"Yeah. OK," said a still dripping wet Bosco.
After he got dressed and gathered his things Bosco sat down on the couch. Rylee was due in about five minutes. He grabbed the remote to turn off his stereo, and then remembered the batteries had gone dead the other day. He figured now was as good a time as any to replace them, so he went into the kitchen.
He opened the junk drawer, and started fishing around trying to find the AA batteries that he knew were in there somewhere. As he moved stuff around something feel to the floor. He bent down to pick it up. It was the picture of him and Dom. Bosco stared at the picture. He forgot all about looking for the batteries, and went back to sit on the couch.
Bosco smiled as he thought about all the good times he and Dom had together in the short couple of years they knew each other. She had been a big part of his life. Someone who was always there; through the good and bad times. Just like Faith.
It was two years ago tonight that he had gone to meet her at the playground. But she never showed up. He was mad at her for not being there; for breaking their promise. Even though he was hurt by it, deep down he hoped that the reason she didn't come that night was because she had moved on to a better life. A life without all the pain, sorrow and fear. Maybe she had succeeded in forgetting about that time in her life. If that was the reason she wasn't there; then he forgave her for breaking the promise.
A knock at the door startled Bosco out of his thoughts. He grabbed his bag, put the picture on the table, quickly went over to turn off the stereo, and then answered the door. She greeted him with a grin. "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks."
"Ready to roll?"
"You bet."
*****
"ALL AVAILABLE UNITS. SUSPECT IN 10-20 SEEN ON THE CORNER OF 115TH AND WEBSTER. SUSPECT IS MALE CAUCASIAN, 6'1", 240, WEARING BLUE JEANS, GRAY YANKEES SWEATSHIRT, AND A BLACK METS CAP. GO SILENT."
"5-5 David. 10-4" responded Rylee.
"A Yankees sweatshirt and a Mets cap? What a pinhead! He deserves to be shot."
"You a Mets or Yankees fan?"
"Mets. Definitely. Yankees are just a bunch of overpaid whining babies. And Steinbrenner," Bosco shook his head. "Don't even get me started on him!"
Rylee pointed. "That our guy?"
"Sure looks like it." They were a block away. "Let me out."
"What?"
"Soon as he sees us he's gonna bolt. Let me out."
"Bosco you sure---"
He glared at her. "Let me out," he said firmly.
She pulled over, and he hopped out of the car. Bosco pointed to where they came from. "Swing back around here. When he takes off he's probably going to head for the apartments between 116 and 117. So head over that way." He shut the door and hurried toward the suspect.
Rylee checked traffic and made a quick u-turn. "Central this is 5-5 David. 10-20 suspect in sight. My partner is approaching him on foot, and I'm heading to 117th and Webster to intercept."
"10-4 5-5 DAVID. 5-5 CHARLIE DO YOU COPY?"
"5-5 Charlie. 10-4," came Ty's voice. "We're six blocks away."
Bosco was about ten feet from the guy before he noticed the cop approaching. Just like Bosco predicted the suspect took off. "We got a rabbit," Bosco yelled into his radio. "Heads up Rylee!"
Rylee jumped out of the squad, and got ready to intercept. She tired to stay around the corner until the last possible second. O'Neill heard them approaching. Bosco was screaming at the guy, so she knew they were close. She stepped around the corner, and as soon as the guy saw her he ducked into a building.
"Dammit!" she cursed as she started to follow him inside the building. She keyed her radio and spoke quietly. "Suspect is in apartment building. 1171 Webster." She reached down, and turned her radio off. She didn't want it coming to life and alerting this guy as to where she was.
When Bosco reached the building seconds later Rylee was nowhere in sight. "Shit." He quickly looked around. 5-5 Charlie was nowhere to be found. He made his way into the building.
"Where the hell is she?" he thought. He kept his ears open, and moved deeper into the building as quickly and quietly as he could. He approached a junction in the hall. He took a deep breath, and poked his head around the corner looking left then right like a child getting ready to cross the street. He didn't see anyone so he kept going forward.
Rylee had no idea where Bosco was. She hoped he was behind her, and that he would catch up to her soon. It was a hell of a lot easier clearing a building as a team. She advanced carefully, her gun drawn. Then she saw an apartment door wide open. She glanced to the large exit door at the end of the hall. "If he had shut a door behind him I would have heard. He's gotta be in here," she thought.
She pressed herself against the wall moving ever so cautiously toward the apartment. Rylee closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to three before bursting through the open doorway her gun leading the way.
The room was clear. She approached what looked to be a bedroom. Halfway through the bedroom entrance the perp put all his weight into it and slammed the door on her; knocking the gun out of her hand. She lost her balance and stumbled as she went to retrieve her gun, but he beat her to it.
O'Neill wasn't prepared for him to backhand her with the hand he now held the gun in. He connected with her face that was still sore from the losing battle with the sidewalk a couple nights before. "Oww! BOSCO!" She fell to the floor.
Bosco heard her yell his name, and raced in the direction it came from. BANG! BANG! Boscorelli froze. "Oh God." He feared the worst. "10-13! Shots fired! 1171 Webster. North Hallway. 10-13!"
"You shouldn't have done that *cop-er*! I wouldn't have had to shoot you if you'd just stayed put!" Bosco heard the man say as he stood outside the open apartment door. Boscorelli quickly turned off his radio.
"Oh God," Bosco thought.
"I wasn't real comfortable sitting on the floor," came her smart-ass reply.
Relief washed over Bosco when he heard the voice of his partner. She was OK. He figured Rylee was in the main room because her voice sounded very close. He carefully peeked around the corner, and saw Rylee lying on the floor propped up on an elbow. Her other arm wrapped around her torso.
The perp was to Bosco's left about six feet away from Rylee, and was holding a gun on her. "Here goes nothing," he thought.
Bosco burst through the open door. "POLICE FREEZE!"
The guy turned his gun on Bosco. Rylee watched the perp. "Don't even think about it," Bosco snarled. "Put the gun down." The guy was getting nervous. He turned back to Rylee. "I SAID PUT IT DOWN!" shouted Bosco. The perp turned back to Bosco. Rylee took the opportunity to quickly grab her spare gun.
"I believe my partner said to put the gun down." The guy turned toward her. "Don't be stupid. Even if you do manage to kill one of us; the other is going to finish you off," she stated calmly.
"Bitch!" He aimed the gun at Rylee.
The scene played out in slow motion for Bosco. He saw the look on the man's face. Saw the muscles in his forearm flex. Bosco pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit the perp in the arm causing the gray fabric of his sweatshirt to turn red. He dropped the gun, and fell to the floor howling in pain. Bosco went over and kicked the gun toward Rylee. He then handcuffed the man to the pipes of the radiator. "I told you not to think about it! Now, if I so much as hear a peep out of you I'll shoot you again!"
He went to his partner. "You OK? Where'd you get hit?"
She winced as she slowly stood up. "Right in the ribs." Rylee slowly shuffled over to a chair, and sat down.
Bosco turned his radio back on. "Central this is 5-5 David. We have apprehended the suspect. We're going to need EMS at this location."
"10-4 5-5 DAVID."
"5-5 Charlie to 5-5 David."
"Go ahead Charlie."
"What apartment are you in?"
Bosco looked at the door. "Fifteen."
"10-4"
He walked over to Rylee. "Here, let me help you get your vest off before the medics get here."
"Too late. We're already here," came Alex's voice from behind them. Alex placed her bag next to the chair Rylee was sitting in. "Hey, I'm Alex Taylor. You must be Rylee."
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Word gets around. So, what happened?"
"Bastard shot me. Hit my vest."
"Having any trouble breathing?"
"No, it just smarts."
"Smarts?" Bosco chuckled.
"Yeah, smarts. Something you don't have a lot of Boscorelli," Sully said as he walked up to the trio.
"Excuse me?"
"How many times you going to try and clear a building by yourself without backup? Hmm?"
"Sully I---," Bosco was flabbergasted.
"Haven't you learned by now not to rush into these situations?!"
"It was me Sully," stated Rylee who was a little taken aback by Sully.
"You?!" Sullivan turned to her. "Standard procedure. When you call for backup you WAIT for backup."
"Sully. Relax man," Ty stepped in. "Everything's OK."
"They got lucky. I don't know what the hell Lieu was thinking partnering up these two!" Sullivan stormed off.
Ty turned to Bosco and Rylee, and shrugged. "Sorry guys," then headed to find his partner.
Boscorelli and O'Neill just looked at each other. "Alex, we should get this guy to the hospital," said Kim from where she was examining the guy Bosco shot.
"Yeah, Bosco can you go find Ty. We need someone to ride in the back with that guy." He nodded and turned to walk away. "Oh, and can you transport your partner to the hospital? She's gonna need some x-rays, and some of the stitches pulled out."
"I'm fine," Rylee said as she stood up.
"Yeah, I'll take her. Be right back."
*****
They walked out of the precinct together. "You want me to drive?" asked Bosco.
"If you don't mind. I'm a little sore, and my head hurts from that bastard doctor's attempt to 'exam for further injury'. I kept telling him there was nothing wrong with me."
"Yeah, no one's ever called him gentle." Bosco grinned.
Rylee handed him the keys to her car.
"Nice wheels," he said as he ran his hand along the trunk.
"Well, it's not a 'stang, but I like it," she said as she climbed into the passenger side of her 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. "Hey I was thinking. It's after 11 on a Thursday night, and Faith's kids are still gonna be up. How old are they? Don't they have school tomorrow?"
"Emily is twelve, and Charlie is eight. They don't get to spend a whole lot of time with Faith, so when it's a special occasion Fred and Faith let the kids take the next day off of school."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but the catch is the kids have to get all the assignments they are going to miss, and get them done beforehand."
"It's pretty cool that they consider your birthday a special occasion."
He shrugged. "Hell, I just figure the kids didn't want to go to school so they told Faith they wanted to have a party for me." He laughed. "That's what I would do."
*****
Bosco didn't bother to knock he just let himself into the Yokas's apartment. Rylee followed him in. "Bosco! Happy Birthday!" Emily and Charlie yelled as they ran toward him.
"Hey kiddo. You're prettier every time I see you," he said as he gave Emily a quick hug. Charlie went to give Bosco a high five, but Bosco picked him up instead. "Hey champ. Man you're getting huge!" He said as he swung Charlie back and forth.
"Bosco put him down," said Faith from where she sat on the couch.
"Sorry mom." Bosco placed Charlie back on the ground. He nodded. "Hey Fred."
"Hey Bosco."
"Who's that?" asked Charlie pointing at Rylee.
"Charlie mind your manners," said Fred.
"This is my new partner, Rylee."
After they polished off the cake and ice cream, and the kids went to bed; the adults sat around the living room and talked for a little while. Rylee shifted positions in the chair she was sitting in, and winced at the pain in her side. It didn't go unnoticed.
"Ry, you alright? I can take you home if you want."
"No. I'm OK. Just sore."
"What happened?" asked Faith.
"Oh, you didn't hear? I got shot tonight. Hit my vest, bruised a rib. No big thing."
"Sully sure thought it was," stated Bosco.
"Yeah, no kidding. What was up with that?" asked Rylee.
"OK, details," said Faith.
"So you know the robbery suspect?" Faith nodded. "Rylee and I are the first ones there. I chase the guy toward Rylee, and when he sees her he ducks into this apartment building."
Rylee continued from there. "I call for backup, turn off my radio and follow the guy in there. He ran into an apartment and left the door wide open, so I go into the apartment and as I'm heading into one of the rooms the son of a bitch slams the door on me. My gun flew out of my hand. I went to grab it, but he got it first. Then he smacked me."
"Meanwhile I'm now in the building trying to find her and this idiot. Then I hear her yell and then two gunshots. I call in a 10-13, and go to find her."
"Yeah, the guy turned his back on me, so I got up and headed for the door. Unfortunately he turned around. Then he yelled at me, or something, so I turned to face him. He got off two shots. Got me in the vest on the first one. Missed by a mile on the second."
"I get there, and turn off my radio so he doesn't hear me. I tried to get the guy to drop the gun, and when he turned toward me Rylee grabbed her spare. He didn't have a chance, but he went to fire at her again, so I shot him. End of story."
"So, Sully comes in, and goes OFF on Bosco about how he should have waited for backup before rushing into the building. Wouldn't let Bosco say a word. Then when I told him it was me who went in first he goes ballistic on how we got lucky and then he said something about not understanding what Lieu was thinking when he partnered us up."
"Come on you guys. Sully's just concerned," explained Faith.
"Concerned about what?" asked Bosco.
"You know what Bosco." Faith said as she looked at him.
"Damn, I should have known too," said Rylee as she shook her head.
"What do you mean you should have known?" asked a confused Boscorelli.
"Remember my first day, and how I had to apologize to Sully?"
"Yeah."
"Well, when you and Ty were outside the diner. Sullivan was waiting for me outside the bathroom. Kinda went off on how I was pushing you too hard…you know, trying to get you to drive the squad even though you weren't supposed to."
Faith gave Rylee her what-the-hell-were-you-thinking look. Which Rylee noticed immediately. "Look, I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe the sooner he got back on the horse the better." Faith was still looking at her. "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Faith relax. I didn't drive." Faith turned to Bosco. "You're being the overprotective mom again."
Fred snickered as he listened to this exchange. "Honey he's right."
Bosco's face broke into a smile. "Hey, I was just thinking."
"Is that what the smoke is from?" asked Faith.
"Ha, ha, funny. Ya know, I didn't even realize it until just now, but I made it through that whole thing today without freaking out." His smile got wider.
"That's great Bosco," exclaimed Faith.
"Yeah, you did real good today," said Rylee.
"It's kinda surprising in a way. 'Cause one of the visions I always have is that night that bastard trapped me in the door, and then shot me with my own gun." He shook his head in amazement. "I really think I'm gonna beat this."
"Not a bad birthday gift eh Bosco," smiled Rylee.
*****
Bosco pulled into the parking garage of his apartment. "Its pretty late Ry. Why don't you just crash here tonight? You probably shouldn't be driving anyway."
She yawned. "Yeah that's a good idea. You don't mind?"
"Right, like I'd offer for you to stay here if I didn't want you to."
He unlocked his door, and headed for the linen closet. "You can take my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No I don't wanna put you out. I'll sleep on the couch," she sat down.
"Hello…you got shot today."
"It hit my vest." She noticed the picture sitting on the table, and recognized it as the same one she had seen the first time she had been in his apartment.
Bosco came back into the living room with an arm full of linens and a pillow. Rylee held up the picture. "I see this made it out of the junk drawer. How come?"
"Long story."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Today's her birthday."
"Really? Same day as yours."
"No, today, the 26th."
Rylee looked at the clock. "Oh, yeah. Must have been pretty cool you two having birthdays back to back."
He smiled when he thought about it. "Yeah, it was. We used to sneak out of our houses just before midnight on the 25th, and meet at this playground we used to hang out at. That way we could celebrate both our birthdays at the same time." His smile turned into a frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Come on Bosco."
"You're going to think it's dumb."
"No I won't."
"I've never told anyone this. Hell, Faith doesn't even know about Dom," He sat down at the coffee table, and took the picture from Rylee. "When I was 10 my folks got divorced, and we had to move. The night before I moved Dom and I met at the playground. My mom didn't want me to keep in touch with her because she was afraid my dad would find out. So I went to say goodbye. Dom and I made a promise that on our 30th birthday we'd met at midnight at that playground like we used to." He looked at her. "Pretty dumb huh?"
"No, that's sweet."
"That was two years ago. I went, but she never showed up. I don't know what happened to her. We helped each other through a lot of bad times. I could always count on her to be there."
"You guys were kids. What kinda bad times could you possibly have?" Rylee said with a chuckle.
He thought for a second. He really didn't want to tell her about his childhood. Not yet anyway. "Her dad used to abuse her and her mom."
"Damn."
"I really thought she'd show up."
"Yeah, well, you know what happens to kids from bad families."
"No, what?"
"You're a cop. You see it everyday. Kids from bad homes just turn into adults with problems. Addicts. Murders. Psychos. She probably just turned to the wrong crowd. Got involved in the wrong things."
"Excuse me?!"
"Come on Bosco. You know what I'm saying."
"Not all kids from bad homes turn out like that," he was pissed. How could she say something like that?
"Really? Name one."
"Me."
She looked at him. "What?" she said in a hushed voice.
"Me. I'm not an addict or a murderer or a psycho. My dad used to beat my mom, and when that didn't do it for him he'd turn on me." He was livid. The vein in his forehead protruding.
"Oh God Bos. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking when I said that."
"You're right. You weren't thinking!"
She leaned back into the couch and covered her face with her hands. "Dammit. Sometimes I just say things and don't think them through. It's like there's no filter between my brain and my mouth." She looked at him with sad eyes. "Bosco I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. Honest."
He took a deep breath. "You know I became a cop so I could make up for all my mistakes. So I could feel better about myself. Maybe right some wrongs. When I was little I didn't know what to do to help my mom. I remember calling the cops a couple times, but it didn't matter. Mom always lied. Said she fell or something. Then dad would find out I called the cops," Bosco shook his head, "It wasn't good."
"So that's why you're a cop? Because of what happened to you when you were little."
"Yeah, I guess."
"I'm glad you proved me wrong."
He looked at her. "You're right in a lot of cases though. Not all, but a lot." Bosco looked down at the floor. "My little brother's a junkie." He paused, and looked at his partner. Hoping that last statement wouldn't make her think any less of him. He was a cop, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't even help his own brother.
"Sorry to hear that Bos. It must be rough on you."
"I hope Dom didn't turn out bad."
"You ever tried to find her?"
"Couple times. Searched the police database. Nothing turned up. Her name wasn't even listed in New York."
"Maybe you could hire somebody to track her down."
"I don't have the money. Besides, I like to just think that the reason she broke her promise is because life was kind to her, and she was able to put that period of time out of her memory. I sure tried."
"But you never forgot her."
"No, but maybe she did a better job of forgetting."
"I doubt *anyone* could forget you Bosco," she grinned. He just shook his head as a small smile crept across his lips.
Part 7
*****
Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who are still reading my stuff! Much appreciated!
A little 10-code info: 10-20=past robbery and when Dispatch says "Go Silent" it means no lights no siren (at least that's what dispatch in my neck of the woods says).
Oh, and remember I know nothing about the streets or directions in NYC (good thing this is fiction!) And isn't it amazing how everything seems to be right around the corner from either the precinct or their apartments :o)
*****
Bosco and Rylee sat at their respective desks, and worked on the mundane paperwork they were assigned for the day.
"Man, paperwork sucks," complained Rylee.
"Tell me about it. You know, there's a reason I became a cop, and it wasn't cause I wanted to be a pencil pusher." Bosco looked at his watch. "Damn, it's almost eight. Whaddya say we go get some grub? I'm starving."
"Sounds good to me," she said as she stood up. "Anything to get me away from this hard wooden chair. I've got bleacher butt, and I'm not even at a ballgame."
"Is it alright with you if I see if Faith wants to come with?"
"No problem. Gotta be weird. You two not spending shifts together anymore. How long you say you'd worked together? Five years?"
"Yeah. It is weird. I get nervous around her now," he shook his head. "It's hard to explain."
"I can only imagine. Go find her. I'll wait outside."
Bosco found Faith in the command office. He knocked on the open door. "You busy sarge?"
She turned around to find him smiling at her. "Not really. What's up?"
He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. "Rylee and I were on our way to get some dinner. Wondered if you wanted to join us?"
"You sure you two want to have dinner with a superior officer?"
"Gee Faith. I know you out rank us, but I don't know if I'd say you're a 'superior' officer." He grinned. She knew she set herself up for that one. "Come on Yokas. You know I wouldn't ask you to join us if I didn't want you to. It's only been a few days, and I can see you're already forgetting some of my finer qualities."
"No, trust me. Your 'finer' qualities aren't that easy to forget," she walked over to him, and grinned. "Believe me, I've tried." She walked past him, and started down the hallway.
"Hey! What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he called after her.
The three officers made their way to the pizza joint that was just around the corner from the precinct. After placing their orders they sat in a booth by the window. Bosco and Faith sitting together on one side; Rylee alone on the other.
Yokas and Boscorelli started talking to each other about things that only partners would know. Rylee suddenly began to feel like the odd man out. As she listened to their conversation she looked around the restaurant finding signs to read, and other things to hold her attention. She hadn't realized how difficult this situation would be. Here she was sitting with her new partner, and his former partner; and she felt like she was intruding. "Oh well," she thought. "Don't know what I was expecting. They were partners for years, and they've been through a lot together. No big deal."
Rylee laid her head back on the booth, looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh. "You OK?" She didn't answer. "Ry, something wrong?" Bosco asked.
She lifted her head, and met his gaze. "Huh?"
"You feelin' OK?"
"Oh, uh, just a headache," she rubbed her forehead. Her head had been pounding all day, and though she would never say it out loud she was actually glad she was on desk duty today.
"That's quite a bruise," said Faith. "How exactly did that happen?"
Rylee grinned. "I lost a fight with the sidewalk last night."
"At the fire?"
"Yeah. Just as we got to the door there was an explosion; sent us flying. My head made solid contact with the pavement."
"Ouch." Faith turned to Bosco.
"What?" He knew she was going to ask if he was all right. Faith hadn't known all the details of what happened at the fire. He knew she would just worry if she knew everything that happened. It was bad enough that everyone knew he had another panic attack. She didn't need to hear about the explosion and being thrown to the pavement.
Faith started to say something, but was interrupted by the waitress who began setting plates of food in front of them. Rylee took this time to turn the conversation away from the fire. "So, Faith. How's life as a sergeant?"
"It's different that's for sure. It hasn't been all that long, but I already miss being out on patrol." She turned to Bosco who wore a somber expression. Faith nodded toward him, "But this guy. I don't miss his bitching and moaning one bit." She smiled.
"Hey now," he smiled back. "I'll have you know that O'Neill here has taken over the bitching and moaning responsibilities."
"Excuse me?" asked Rylee.
"Oh you were in rare form yesterday. You shoulda heard her Faith." Bosco continued in a whiny voice. "'We've only had two calls in six hours. Great. We get to direct traffic for the bucket boys'." The three officers laughed.
"Hey, I was bored," claimed O'Neill as she tried to defend herself.
They finished their dinner, and began the walk back to the station house. "So Bosco, tomorrow's your birthday. You still coming to our place after work like always?"
"Your birthday is tomorrow?" Rylee looked at Bosco. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't say anything cause it doesn't matter. We aren't doing anything for my birthday."
"You say that every year Bosco, and every year we do something."
"Not this year Faith. I mean it."
They stopped outside the precinct. "Why not?" questioned Rylee.
"I don't know," he sighed. "Just doesn't seem right this year. Ya know…" Bosco climbed the stairs, and headed inside.
Faith and Rylee watched him walk away, and then turned toward each other. "What did he mean by that?"
"I think I know," said Faith. "I'll talk to him. You just plan on coming over to my place tomorrow night. My kids are going to make him a cake." Faith smiled. "He's never been able to say no to my kids."
Faith searched the precinct, and found Bosco in the locker room. He was sitting in front of his locker. Elbows on his knees, chin in his hands; staring at the floor. "Hey Bos," she called as she rounded the lockers.
"Huh?"
"What's going on with you? You were in a pretty good mood at dinner. What changed?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Bosco. What did you mean by it doesn't seem right? Tomorrow is your birthday. We celebrate it together every year. What's so different this year?"
He sat up, and picked an imaginary piece of lint off his sleeve. "It's just not right Faith."
"What's not right?"
"Celebrating another year of my life when so many people I know are…Faith I just don't feel right about it."
Faith sat down on the bench next to her best friend. "Bos, we can't change what happened. It's been a rough eight months," She looked at him. "Trust me I know how you feel, but you can't let that stop you from doing the things you've always done. Look at me." He turned his head toward her. "I want you to know something---"
"Faith—"
"I understand what you are saying Bosco, but *I* want to celebrate your birthday. It's important to me Bosco. Besides the kids really want to bake a cake for you."
His face lit up. "They do?"
She nodded. "They haven't seen you in a while. They miss you. Can you believe that?" she joked.
"I don't want it to be a big deal though."
"Just me, you, Rylee, Fred and the kids. That's it. Just a little cake and ice cream. No big deal."
"What? No presents."
She snorted. "So, you'll be there?"
"Yeah. I'll be there."
"OK. Now get your ass back out to that desk."
He groaned. "Fine." He stood up to leave. "Slave driver," he said under his breath as he walked passed her and gave her a nudge.
"You better watch yourself Boscorelli. I have the authority to put you on a desk again tomorrow."
"You wouldn't"
"Oh, I would."
*****
Bosco sat on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest. He read the titles of some of the books on the shelves around the large office. "A bunch of psycho-babble bull shit," he thought to himself. "Damn. I was just starting to feel somewhat comfortable around that quack O'Malley. Now I gotta try and get used to this chick."
"What a priss," he thought as he looked at his new therapist. She sat with perfect posture in her chair. Wearing a perfectly pressed business suit. Her hair was pulled tightly into a perfect bun, and she wore wire-rimmed glasses. "Sure looks like she's got a stick up her ass."
He looked at his watch. It was 9:30 a.m. His session was half over, and all they had accomplished was reviewing the "notes" O'Malley had sent over. That took all of five minutes. The rest of the time they had been sitting in silence.
Bosco looked at his watch again. 9:30 and twenty seconds. He puffed up his cheeks then loudly exhaled. Her expression never changed. Bosco rolled his eyes, and uncrossed his arms. "So are you gonna ask me somethin' or we just gonna sit here?"
"I prefer to let my patients initiate the session."
He cringed at the word "patient". "Prude," he thought. He leaned forward. "Hate to break it to ya, but I don't talk just for the hell of it."
"Well, where would you like to start?"
He shook his head. "Isn't it your job to figure that out?"
She lifted her glasses off her nose and peered down at her notes. "Let's start with September 11th."
He shook his head. "No, no I already talked to O'Malley about that."
"Yes, but to fully understand your case I need you to start from the beginning, and from what Mr. O'Malley concluded your Post Traumatic Stress Disorder started in relation to 9/11."
Bosco took a deep breath. "Fine. I spent the night with some girl. I was leaving that morning. Heard the first plane roar by, so I ran down there." He looked up at her quickly to see if she was paying attention. He saw her scribbling notes so he continued. The rest of his words came like rapid fire. "I got there as the second plane hit. Saw people jumping. People falling. I couldn't do anything to help. Then there was this rumble. I ran. This cloud overtook me, but I kept running. Finally I stopped. Then I just sat where I was for a while before going back to help." Bosco wiped the sweat from his forehead. No matter how many times he thought of that day he still got choked up. The faster he told the story the easier it was on him. "Phew," he thought, "I made it through it that time." He looked at the therapist waiting for her to dig a little deeper; ask a question.
When she finished scribbling notes she looked and Bosco, and used her index finger to push her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "From what you've just told me, and the notes from your previous counselor; I'm guessing you're going through what is called survivor's guilt."
Bosco nodded quickly, and looked away. He did a double take when his brain caught up to her words. He stared at her, and put his hand up. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on. Did you just say 'I'm guessing'?" He emphasized the words "You're guessing."
He stood up and headed for the door. "Mr. Boscorelli our session isn't over yet!"
"Yes it is," he said firmly then slammed the door on his way out.
When he got to the parking lot he pulled out his cell phone.
"Hello?"
"Faith. Can I come over?"
"Bosco?" She looked at the clock on the wall. "Aren't you supposed to be—"
"Can I come over or not?"
"Um, yeah, sure."
"Thanks," he hung up.
"Wonder what's going on." Faith said to the empty room.
Ten minutes later there was a soft knock on her door. "Showtime," she thought. She opened the door to find a fidgeting Bosco standing in the hall." "Hi."
He looked at her. "I know I left my session early, but I had to. Please Faith, don't tell Swersky. I mean, I went. It's just this lady, she—"
"Bosco slow down. Breathe. Come inside and explain what's going on."
He followed her into the apartment.
"You want something to drink?" He shook his head no.
Faith sat down on the couch, and put her feet on the coffee table. Bosco stood in front of the chair shifting his weight from foot to foot with his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans. "So what's going on Bosco?"
"This lady. This therapist. She asked me about 9/11, so I told her. You know, the quick and dirty version cause I really didn't feel like pouring my soul out to her in the first session." He ran a hand through his hair. "So after I tell her she says, and I quote, 'I'm guessing you're going through survivor's guilt'." Bosco looked at Faith anxiously. "Guessing Faith. She said she was guessing!"
"I'm sure she didn't mean it that way Bos."
"God Faith. I'm so unsure of myself these days as it is. I don't need my shrink telling me she's guessing!"
"Ok Bosco, OK. Just calm down. We'll figure this out."
"If that's how its gonna be then I think I'd be more comfortable going back to O'Malley. He's gruff, but he knows what he's doing."
"We need to figure out what's best for you Bosco. Don't go back to O'Malley if you're just going to bottle up your feelings. That's what got you into this in the first place."
Bosco nodded, and started pacing the length of the coffee table. Faith watched him for a few seconds. "Bosco would you sit down? Stop pacing."
"I can't."
"Why not?" She asked a little confused.
He looked at her then quickly looked away.
"What is it Bosco?" she asked softly.
He turned away from her completely. "I'm nervous," came his quiet mumbled reply.
"Nervous? About what? Why?"
Bosco slowly faced her. He didn't have to say a word. Faith read his expression. "Do I make you nervous?"
He looked down at the floor.
"Bosco?"
"K-kinda. I guess," he said in a whisper. "I mean. We aren't partners anymore. You're my sergeant. I guess I don't really know how to act. Or where the line is. Dammit Faith I don't even know if I should be coming to you about this."
"Bosco. It's just me, Faith. Don't act any differently around me. Just be you. Trust me like you always have. When it's a professional situation be professional. Otherwise it's just me and you like we were before."
"It's weird though. 'Cuz of Rylee. I don't want to leave either of you out. I don't want to hurt either of you by talking more to the other or anything like that." He finally went over and plopped himself down in the chair.
"I knew going into this that you'd get a new partner Bosco. I knew that the two of you would form a special bond, but I also know the bond we have is special, and that it will never be broken," she paused. "Remember? I promised."
"Yeah I remember. It's just with everything that's been going on. I guess I feel bad cause I haven't really let Rylee in."
"Bos you haven't even known her a week."
"I know, but when you and I started working together we clicked right away."
"What are you talking about? No we didn't."
"What?"
"Bosco we fought for almost a year and a half before we really started to get along. Yeah, we clicked when it came to the job, but I thought you were a total ass and you thought I was---"
"A nosy overprotective mom," he finished for her. He chuckled. "OK. You're right."
"Of course I am," she smiled. "Just give it time. I see good things ahead for you and Rylee."
Bosco raised an eyebrow. "What, you got a little 'Miss Cleo' business going on the side?"
"Shut up. I'm just saying you and Rylee can really make a great team. The way you handled that fire the other day showed everyone what you're both capable of. You two are a lot alike."
"I'm not really that much of a loud-mouth glory hog am I? That's what I've heard some of the guys saying about her."
She looked at him with a straight face. "You want the truth?"
"Damn, no wonder Sully keeps bitching about having two Boscorellis. Am I really that bad?"
"When you're in your element…you're worse."
"Oh man," Bosco slapped his hand to his forehead. Faith just laughed at him. Bosco laughed too, but then turned serious. "Faith."
"Yeah."
"As nervous as I was about coming here today. I'm glad I did. I mean I have to talk to these counselors about my feelings, but they don't really care. So it's hard to really let it out." He gave her a grin. "But talking to you…well, thanks."
She smiled at him. "Any time Bosco."
*****
By the time he left Faith's he was surer of their relationship. He always knew they had a good one, but it was awkward not being her partner anymore. Earlier he wasn't sure exactly where his place was in her life, but now he knew. Bosco was finally starting to understand, and believe Faith when she said he could tell her anything and she'd be there for him. Not too long ago his world was falling apart, and he had made the right decision when he confided in Faith. It had been a long time since he had been happy, and as each day passed he felt a little better. A little more "normal".
As Bosco stepped out of the shower he heard his phone ringing. He wrapped a towel around his waist, and hustled into the living room to answer the phone. "Yeah."
"Bosco. It's Rylee."
"Hey what's up?"
"How 'bout I pick you up for work today? Then we could head over to Faith's together after the shift."
"Yeah. OK," said a still dripping wet Bosco.
After he got dressed and gathered his things Bosco sat down on the couch. Rylee was due in about five minutes. He grabbed the remote to turn off his stereo, and then remembered the batteries had gone dead the other day. He figured now was as good a time as any to replace them, so he went into the kitchen.
He opened the junk drawer, and started fishing around trying to find the AA batteries that he knew were in there somewhere. As he moved stuff around something feel to the floor. He bent down to pick it up. It was the picture of him and Dom. Bosco stared at the picture. He forgot all about looking for the batteries, and went back to sit on the couch.
Bosco smiled as he thought about all the good times he and Dom had together in the short couple of years they knew each other. She had been a big part of his life. Someone who was always there; through the good and bad times. Just like Faith.
It was two years ago tonight that he had gone to meet her at the playground. But she never showed up. He was mad at her for not being there; for breaking their promise. Even though he was hurt by it, deep down he hoped that the reason she didn't come that night was because she had moved on to a better life. A life without all the pain, sorrow and fear. Maybe she had succeeded in forgetting about that time in her life. If that was the reason she wasn't there; then he forgave her for breaking the promise.
A knock at the door startled Bosco out of his thoughts. He grabbed his bag, put the picture on the table, quickly went over to turn off the stereo, and then answered the door. She greeted him with a grin. "Happy Birthday."
"Thanks."
"Ready to roll?"
"You bet."
*****
"ALL AVAILABLE UNITS. SUSPECT IN 10-20 SEEN ON THE CORNER OF 115TH AND WEBSTER. SUSPECT IS MALE CAUCASIAN, 6'1", 240, WEARING BLUE JEANS, GRAY YANKEES SWEATSHIRT, AND A BLACK METS CAP. GO SILENT."
"5-5 David. 10-4" responded Rylee.
"A Yankees sweatshirt and a Mets cap? What a pinhead! He deserves to be shot."
"You a Mets or Yankees fan?"
"Mets. Definitely. Yankees are just a bunch of overpaid whining babies. And Steinbrenner," Bosco shook his head. "Don't even get me started on him!"
Rylee pointed. "That our guy?"
"Sure looks like it." They were a block away. "Let me out."
"What?"
"Soon as he sees us he's gonna bolt. Let me out."
"Bosco you sure---"
He glared at her. "Let me out," he said firmly.
She pulled over, and he hopped out of the car. Bosco pointed to where they came from. "Swing back around here. When he takes off he's probably going to head for the apartments between 116 and 117. So head over that way." He shut the door and hurried toward the suspect.
Rylee checked traffic and made a quick u-turn. "Central this is 5-5 David. 10-20 suspect in sight. My partner is approaching him on foot, and I'm heading to 117th and Webster to intercept."
"10-4 5-5 DAVID. 5-5 CHARLIE DO YOU COPY?"
"5-5 Charlie. 10-4," came Ty's voice. "We're six blocks away."
Bosco was about ten feet from the guy before he noticed the cop approaching. Just like Bosco predicted the suspect took off. "We got a rabbit," Bosco yelled into his radio. "Heads up Rylee!"
Rylee jumped out of the squad, and got ready to intercept. She tired to stay around the corner until the last possible second. O'Neill heard them approaching. Bosco was screaming at the guy, so she knew they were close. She stepped around the corner, and as soon as the guy saw her he ducked into a building.
"Dammit!" she cursed as she started to follow him inside the building. She keyed her radio and spoke quietly. "Suspect is in apartment building. 1171 Webster." She reached down, and turned her radio off. She didn't want it coming to life and alerting this guy as to where she was.
When Bosco reached the building seconds later Rylee was nowhere in sight. "Shit." He quickly looked around. 5-5 Charlie was nowhere to be found. He made his way into the building.
"Where the hell is she?" he thought. He kept his ears open, and moved deeper into the building as quickly and quietly as he could. He approached a junction in the hall. He took a deep breath, and poked his head around the corner looking left then right like a child getting ready to cross the street. He didn't see anyone so he kept going forward.
Rylee had no idea where Bosco was. She hoped he was behind her, and that he would catch up to her soon. It was a hell of a lot easier clearing a building as a team. She advanced carefully, her gun drawn. Then she saw an apartment door wide open. She glanced to the large exit door at the end of the hall. "If he had shut a door behind him I would have heard. He's gotta be in here," she thought.
She pressed herself against the wall moving ever so cautiously toward the apartment. Rylee closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to three before bursting through the open doorway her gun leading the way.
The room was clear. She approached what looked to be a bedroom. Halfway through the bedroom entrance the perp put all his weight into it and slammed the door on her; knocking the gun out of her hand. She lost her balance and stumbled as she went to retrieve her gun, but he beat her to it.
O'Neill wasn't prepared for him to backhand her with the hand he now held the gun in. He connected with her face that was still sore from the losing battle with the sidewalk a couple nights before. "Oww! BOSCO!" She fell to the floor.
Bosco heard her yell his name, and raced in the direction it came from. BANG! BANG! Boscorelli froze. "Oh God." He feared the worst. "10-13! Shots fired! 1171 Webster. North Hallway. 10-13!"
"You shouldn't have done that *cop-er*! I wouldn't have had to shoot you if you'd just stayed put!" Bosco heard the man say as he stood outside the open apartment door. Boscorelli quickly turned off his radio.
"Oh God," Bosco thought.
"I wasn't real comfortable sitting on the floor," came her smart-ass reply.
Relief washed over Bosco when he heard the voice of his partner. She was OK. He figured Rylee was in the main room because her voice sounded very close. He carefully peeked around the corner, and saw Rylee lying on the floor propped up on an elbow. Her other arm wrapped around her torso.
The perp was to Bosco's left about six feet away from Rylee, and was holding a gun on her. "Here goes nothing," he thought.
Bosco burst through the open door. "POLICE FREEZE!"
The guy turned his gun on Bosco. Rylee watched the perp. "Don't even think about it," Bosco snarled. "Put the gun down." The guy was getting nervous. He turned back to Rylee. "I SAID PUT IT DOWN!" shouted Bosco. The perp turned back to Bosco. Rylee took the opportunity to quickly grab her spare gun.
"I believe my partner said to put the gun down." The guy turned toward her. "Don't be stupid. Even if you do manage to kill one of us; the other is going to finish you off," she stated calmly.
"Bitch!" He aimed the gun at Rylee.
The scene played out in slow motion for Bosco. He saw the look on the man's face. Saw the muscles in his forearm flex. Bosco pulled the trigger.
The bullet hit the perp in the arm causing the gray fabric of his sweatshirt to turn red. He dropped the gun, and fell to the floor howling in pain. Bosco went over and kicked the gun toward Rylee. He then handcuffed the man to the pipes of the radiator. "I told you not to think about it! Now, if I so much as hear a peep out of you I'll shoot you again!"
He went to his partner. "You OK? Where'd you get hit?"
She winced as she slowly stood up. "Right in the ribs." Rylee slowly shuffled over to a chair, and sat down.
Bosco turned his radio back on. "Central this is 5-5 David. We have apprehended the suspect. We're going to need EMS at this location."
"10-4 5-5 DAVID."
"5-5 Charlie to 5-5 David."
"Go ahead Charlie."
"What apartment are you in?"
Bosco looked at the door. "Fifteen."
"10-4"
He walked over to Rylee. "Here, let me help you get your vest off before the medics get here."
"Too late. We're already here," came Alex's voice from behind them. Alex placed her bag next to the chair Rylee was sitting in. "Hey, I'm Alex Taylor. You must be Rylee."
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"Word gets around. So, what happened?"
"Bastard shot me. Hit my vest."
"Having any trouble breathing?"
"No, it just smarts."
"Smarts?" Bosco chuckled.
"Yeah, smarts. Something you don't have a lot of Boscorelli," Sully said as he walked up to the trio.
"Excuse me?"
"How many times you going to try and clear a building by yourself without backup? Hmm?"
"Sully I---," Bosco was flabbergasted.
"Haven't you learned by now not to rush into these situations?!"
"It was me Sully," stated Rylee who was a little taken aback by Sully.
"You?!" Sullivan turned to her. "Standard procedure. When you call for backup you WAIT for backup."
"Sully. Relax man," Ty stepped in. "Everything's OK."
"They got lucky. I don't know what the hell Lieu was thinking partnering up these two!" Sullivan stormed off.
Ty turned to Bosco and Rylee, and shrugged. "Sorry guys," then headed to find his partner.
Boscorelli and O'Neill just looked at each other. "Alex, we should get this guy to the hospital," said Kim from where she was examining the guy Bosco shot.
"Yeah, Bosco can you go find Ty. We need someone to ride in the back with that guy." He nodded and turned to walk away. "Oh, and can you transport your partner to the hospital? She's gonna need some x-rays, and some of the stitches pulled out."
"I'm fine," Rylee said as she stood up.
"Yeah, I'll take her. Be right back."
*****
They walked out of the precinct together. "You want me to drive?" asked Bosco.
"If you don't mind. I'm a little sore, and my head hurts from that bastard doctor's attempt to 'exam for further injury'. I kept telling him there was nothing wrong with me."
"Yeah, no one's ever called him gentle." Bosco grinned.
Rylee handed him the keys to her car.
"Nice wheels," he said as he ran his hand along the trunk.
"Well, it's not a 'stang, but I like it," she said as she climbed into the passenger side of her 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. "Hey I was thinking. It's after 11 on a Thursday night, and Faith's kids are still gonna be up. How old are they? Don't they have school tomorrow?"
"Emily is twelve, and Charlie is eight. They don't get to spend a whole lot of time with Faith, so when it's a special occasion Fred and Faith let the kids take the next day off of school."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but the catch is the kids have to get all the assignments they are going to miss, and get them done beforehand."
"It's pretty cool that they consider your birthday a special occasion."
He shrugged. "Hell, I just figure the kids didn't want to go to school so they told Faith they wanted to have a party for me." He laughed. "That's what I would do."
*****
Bosco didn't bother to knock he just let himself into the Yokas's apartment. Rylee followed him in. "Bosco! Happy Birthday!" Emily and Charlie yelled as they ran toward him.
"Hey kiddo. You're prettier every time I see you," he said as he gave Emily a quick hug. Charlie went to give Bosco a high five, but Bosco picked him up instead. "Hey champ. Man you're getting huge!" He said as he swung Charlie back and forth.
"Bosco put him down," said Faith from where she sat on the couch.
"Sorry mom." Bosco placed Charlie back on the ground. He nodded. "Hey Fred."
"Hey Bosco."
"Who's that?" asked Charlie pointing at Rylee.
"Charlie mind your manners," said Fred.
"This is my new partner, Rylee."
After they polished off the cake and ice cream, and the kids went to bed; the adults sat around the living room and talked for a little while. Rylee shifted positions in the chair she was sitting in, and winced at the pain in her side. It didn't go unnoticed.
"Ry, you alright? I can take you home if you want."
"No. I'm OK. Just sore."
"What happened?" asked Faith.
"Oh, you didn't hear? I got shot tonight. Hit my vest, bruised a rib. No big thing."
"Sully sure thought it was," stated Bosco.
"Yeah, no kidding. What was up with that?" asked Rylee.
"OK, details," said Faith.
"So you know the robbery suspect?" Faith nodded. "Rylee and I are the first ones there. I chase the guy toward Rylee, and when he sees her he ducks into this apartment building."
Rylee continued from there. "I call for backup, turn off my radio and follow the guy in there. He ran into an apartment and left the door wide open, so I go into the apartment and as I'm heading into one of the rooms the son of a bitch slams the door on me. My gun flew out of my hand. I went to grab it, but he got it first. Then he smacked me."
"Meanwhile I'm now in the building trying to find her and this idiot. Then I hear her yell and then two gunshots. I call in a 10-13, and go to find her."
"Yeah, the guy turned his back on me, so I got up and headed for the door. Unfortunately he turned around. Then he yelled at me, or something, so I turned to face him. He got off two shots. Got me in the vest on the first one. Missed by a mile on the second."
"I get there, and turn off my radio so he doesn't hear me. I tried to get the guy to drop the gun, and when he turned toward me Rylee grabbed her spare. He didn't have a chance, but he went to fire at her again, so I shot him. End of story."
"So, Sully comes in, and goes OFF on Bosco about how he should have waited for backup before rushing into the building. Wouldn't let Bosco say a word. Then when I told him it was me who went in first he goes ballistic on how we got lucky and then he said something about not understanding what Lieu was thinking when he partnered us up."
"Come on you guys. Sully's just concerned," explained Faith.
"Concerned about what?" asked Bosco.
"You know what Bosco." Faith said as she looked at him.
"Damn, I should have known too," said Rylee as she shook her head.
"What do you mean you should have known?" asked a confused Boscorelli.
"Remember my first day, and how I had to apologize to Sully?"
"Yeah."
"Well, when you and Ty were outside the diner. Sullivan was waiting for me outside the bathroom. Kinda went off on how I was pushing you too hard…you know, trying to get you to drive the squad even though you weren't supposed to."
Faith gave Rylee her what-the-hell-were-you-thinking look. Which Rylee noticed immediately. "Look, I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe the sooner he got back on the horse the better." Faith was still looking at her. "I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"Faith relax. I didn't drive." Faith turned to Bosco. "You're being the overprotective mom again."
Fred snickered as he listened to this exchange. "Honey he's right."
Bosco's face broke into a smile. "Hey, I was just thinking."
"Is that what the smoke is from?" asked Faith.
"Ha, ha, funny. Ya know, I didn't even realize it until just now, but I made it through that whole thing today without freaking out." His smile got wider.
"That's great Bosco," exclaimed Faith.
"Yeah, you did real good today," said Rylee.
"It's kinda surprising in a way. 'Cause one of the visions I always have is that night that bastard trapped me in the door, and then shot me with my own gun." He shook his head in amazement. "I really think I'm gonna beat this."
"Not a bad birthday gift eh Bosco," smiled Rylee.
*****
Bosco pulled into the parking garage of his apartment. "Its pretty late Ry. Why don't you just crash here tonight? You probably shouldn't be driving anyway."
She yawned. "Yeah that's a good idea. You don't mind?"
"Right, like I'd offer for you to stay here if I didn't want you to."
He unlocked his door, and headed for the linen closet. "You can take my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."
"No I don't wanna put you out. I'll sleep on the couch," she sat down.
"Hello…you got shot today."
"It hit my vest." She noticed the picture sitting on the table, and recognized it as the same one she had seen the first time she had been in his apartment.
Bosco came back into the living room with an arm full of linens and a pillow. Rylee held up the picture. "I see this made it out of the junk drawer. How come?"
"Long story."
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Today's her birthday."
"Really? Same day as yours."
"No, today, the 26th."
Rylee looked at the clock. "Oh, yeah. Must have been pretty cool you two having birthdays back to back."
He smiled when he thought about it. "Yeah, it was. We used to sneak out of our houses just before midnight on the 25th, and meet at this playground we used to hang out at. That way we could celebrate both our birthdays at the same time." His smile turned into a frown.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Come on Bosco."
"You're going to think it's dumb."
"No I won't."
"I've never told anyone this. Hell, Faith doesn't even know about Dom," He sat down at the coffee table, and took the picture from Rylee. "When I was 10 my folks got divorced, and we had to move. The night before I moved Dom and I met at the playground. My mom didn't want me to keep in touch with her because she was afraid my dad would find out. So I went to say goodbye. Dom and I made a promise that on our 30th birthday we'd met at midnight at that playground like we used to." He looked at her. "Pretty dumb huh?"
"No, that's sweet."
"That was two years ago. I went, but she never showed up. I don't know what happened to her. We helped each other through a lot of bad times. I could always count on her to be there."
"You guys were kids. What kinda bad times could you possibly have?" Rylee said with a chuckle.
He thought for a second. He really didn't want to tell her about his childhood. Not yet anyway. "Her dad used to abuse her and her mom."
"Damn."
"I really thought she'd show up."
"Yeah, well, you know what happens to kids from bad families."
"No, what?"
"You're a cop. You see it everyday. Kids from bad homes just turn into adults with problems. Addicts. Murders. Psychos. She probably just turned to the wrong crowd. Got involved in the wrong things."
"Excuse me?!"
"Come on Bosco. You know what I'm saying."
"Not all kids from bad homes turn out like that," he was pissed. How could she say something like that?
"Really? Name one."
"Me."
She looked at him. "What?" she said in a hushed voice.
"Me. I'm not an addict or a murderer or a psycho. My dad used to beat my mom, and when that didn't do it for him he'd turn on me." He was livid. The vein in his forehead protruding.
"Oh God Bos. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking when I said that."
"You're right. You weren't thinking!"
She leaned back into the couch and covered her face with her hands. "Dammit. Sometimes I just say things and don't think them through. It's like there's no filter between my brain and my mouth." She looked at him with sad eyes. "Bosco I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. Honest."
He took a deep breath. "You know I became a cop so I could make up for all my mistakes. So I could feel better about myself. Maybe right some wrongs. When I was little I didn't know what to do to help my mom. I remember calling the cops a couple times, but it didn't matter. Mom always lied. Said she fell or something. Then dad would find out I called the cops," Bosco shook his head, "It wasn't good."
"So that's why you're a cop? Because of what happened to you when you were little."
"Yeah, I guess."
"I'm glad you proved me wrong."
He looked at her. "You're right in a lot of cases though. Not all, but a lot." Bosco looked down at the floor. "My little brother's a junkie." He paused, and looked at his partner. Hoping that last statement wouldn't make her think any less of him. He was a cop, and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't even help his own brother.
"Sorry to hear that Bos. It must be rough on you."
"I hope Dom didn't turn out bad."
"You ever tried to find her?"
"Couple times. Searched the police database. Nothing turned up. Her name wasn't even listed in New York."
"Maybe you could hire somebody to track her down."
"I don't have the money. Besides, I like to just think that the reason she broke her promise is because life was kind to her, and she was able to put that period of time out of her memory. I sure tried."
"But you never forgot her."
"No, but maybe she did a better job of forgetting."
"I doubt *anyone* could forget you Bosco," she grinned. He just shook his head as a small smile crept across his lips.