Promises
Part 9
*****
If you don't recognize a character then that means they are one of the little demons that came from my mind :o) Otherwise everything else belongs to the big shots at NBC and WB and all those other places!
Hope you are still enjoying this story. I'm going to be taking a short hiatus for the next week or so. I have a HUGE exit exam to take so I can get my masters degree. So I'm thinking I should probably start studying and stop writing fan fiction for the time being! Though if I'm looking for a way to procrastinate I know what to do!
OH! And since this is fiction…there is a short part in this story where a character is making something to eat. Just assume that the stove is like this super fast heating element that boils water in like 2 seconds flat! Hehehe! That's why I love fiction!
*****
Bosco followed Rylee outside. He walked up beside her as she was unlocking her car door.
"What?" she sighed.
He motioned to her arm. "You can't drive like that. Your car is a stick."
She just looked at him. It had been a rough couple of hours, and she was glad that Bosco was there because it was as if her brain had taken a vacation. Bosco read the look on her face, and took the keys from her. "I'll drive."
Rylee walked around the car and got in the passenger's side. Bosco started the car. "Your place or mine?"
"Huh?" she asked in confusion.
"You aren't staying alone tonight. So, are you staying at my place or am I staying at yours?"
"Just drop me off at home. I'll be fine."
"No deal."
"Bosco-"
"No. You were shot, suspended, reprimanded and sentenced to anger management class all in about three hours. I think you beat my record," he grinned. "And from my experience I know that going home to an empty apartment only makes a night like this worse. Besides you don't look so good." He paused. "Your place or mine?"
She sighed heavily. "Mine if that's OK with you." Rylee looked at him.
"Your place it is."
Twenty minutes later they were standing in Rylee's living room. She shrugged off her coat and threw it on the recliner. She then rummaged through her duffle bag looking for the pain pills she was sure she had thrown in there. As soon as she found the pills she headed for the kitchen. Bosco followed her.
"You lost?" she asked when she realized he had followed her.
"No. I just wanted to make sure you're OK."
"My arm just hurts some, but I'm OK." She washed down the pills with water.
Bosco nodded. "I'm hungry. You got any food in these cupboards?"
"I haven't been to the grocery store in a while, but I think there's a box of mac and cheese in there," she pointed to the cabinet to his right. He opened the cupboard, and pulled out the box. "I can make it if you want."
He turned back to face her. "It's macaroni and cheese. I think I can handle it," he smiled.
Rylee hopped up onto the counter where she sat and watched Bosco as he searched the kitchen for what he would need. He put the water on to boil, and then leaned back against the counter across from Rylee. "Wanna talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"About what happened tonight."
"Bosco you were there. You know what happened. I got careless and now I've got a hole in my arm."
"I meant what happened when we got back to the house. Why'd Swersky suspend you?"
"For not listening to Sullivan."
"He gave you two weeks for that?!"
"Yup. Disobeying a senior officer."
"Damn," Bosco shook his head. "I can't believe he suspended you for that."
"Yeah, well, he was pretty pissed that I put our lives in danger."
"Our lives?"
She nodded. "Rushing into that building put both of us at risk."
"But I followed you in. *I* put my life in danger. You didn't."
"Whatever. It was my idea."
"But I agreed, and went in. I should have been suspended too."
"What? Are you complaining because you didn't get suspended?"
"No, it's just not fair."
"Life isn't fair Bosco."
"If you got suspended then I should have too."
"Bosco just drop it. There's no need for us to argue about this."
"I'm gonna talk to Swersky. See if I can---"
"Back off Bosco. Otherwise I'm going to have to practice my left hook again."
"Ok. Ok," he laughed. The water was boiling, so Bosco dumped in the macaroni. "So what was with that Henderson guy?"
Rylee set her jaw, and just shook her head. Bosco noticed how her body language changed at the mention of Henderson's name. She went from relaxed to rigid. This just made Bosco even more curious. "Why was he at the station tonight?"
"Said he was visiting a friend."
"Who?"
"Beats me. I was floored just hearing he had a friend," she said seriously.
"What was with all that stuff he said to you? What did he mean—"
"Bos I'm all talked out for tonight, Ok?" Her eyes pleaded with him to just leave it alone.
"Yeah, Ok." He paused as he poured the macaroni into the colander. Rylee just looked down at the floor. Bosco returned the pot to the stove, and looked at his partner. "Ry, I just…well, you've been there for me, and, you know…if you need anything—"
She met his eyes and nodded.
*****
Bosco walked into the locker room. Sully and Davis were all ready in full uniform. Both of them were reading a section of the newspaper.
"Hey Bosco," greeted both officers.
"Davis," Bosco nodded and headed for his locker.
"What? You ignoring me today?" asked Sullivan.
Boscorelli glared at Sully through the mesh of the lockers. "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I wasn't listening." Bosco started to pull on his bulletproof vest. Sullivan just shrugged, and went back to his newspaper.
A few minutes later Faith came through the door. "Hey guys," she said cheerfully as she headed toward her old locker.
"Hey Sarge. What are you doing here?" questioned Davis.
"I'm riding with Bosco today."
"Really? Where's O'Neill?" asked Sully.
"Like you don't know," spat Bosco as he slammed his locker and left for roll call.
"What was that about?" asked a curious Ty.
Faith pulled off her jacket. "Rylee got suspended for two weeks."
"Two weeks. What for?"
"For disobeying your orders," stated Faith.
"My orders?"
"Yeah, for not waiting for ESU. Swersky gave her two weeks, and since there was no one available to ride with Bosco here I am."
"Damn Sul. If Bosco's this pissed at you, just imagine what Rylee's thinking." Davis smiled as he patted his partner on the back.
*****
"Are you gonna be like this all day?"
"Like what?"
"Grumpy. Ornery. Pissed off. There are a lot of ways to describe it Bosco."
"What are you talking about? I'm not any of those things."
"No? Then how come we've been riding around for half an hour and you haven't said one word?" Faith and Bosco looked at each other. "Or have you changed that much since the last time we rode together?"
"Yeah. I've changed." Bosco pulled over.
"No you haven't. We're friends remember? And I know you haven't turned into the quiet type. So what's going on?"
"Nothing." He quickly shook his head and turned to look out the window. His posture told Faith it was more than nothing. The way he slouched in the seat with his elbow resting on the door and his head on his fist as he gazed outside told her there was a lot more to this.
"Bosco if you don't tell me I'm going to make the next seven and a half hours hell for you." She watched him as he laid his head back on the headrest.
He stared at the ceiling of the car. "I feel guilty."
"About what?"
"About…" He looked at the middle of the steering wheel as if he was studying a piece of fine art. Bosco looked over at Faith. He could see the questions in her eyes. He reached down and started the car. "Ya know what? Never mind. It doesn't matter." He pulled away from the curb.
A short time later they were called to the scene of a robbery. Bosco and Faith approached the frantic victim. "Ma'am. You were robbed?" Faith asked. The woman nodded. "Did you see who robbed you?" The woman nodded again. "Did the person have a weapon?" Once again she nodded.
Bosco stood by impatiently with his hands on his hips as he tapped his foot. Faith looked at him, and he rolled his eyes. He stepped up to the woman. "Can you describe the thief?" She nodded her head. "Tell me what they looked like." The woman nodded her head again. Too terrified to speak. Bosco threw his hands in the air. "Lady! This would go a lot faster if you'd stop nodding your head and start using words!"
"Bosco!"
"Come on Faith! If she doesn't tell us what she saw we aren't going to get anywhere!"
"Go sit in the car. I'll take care of this."
"Good!" Bosco stormed off toward their RMP mumbling as he went.
When Faith finished getting the woman's statement she joined Bosco in the squad. "You haven't changed at all!"
"Excuse me?"
"Just like old times; you were smooth as sandpaper!"
"Come on Faith. She was wasting our time. There's real police work waiting for us."
They didn't have time to argue as another call came over the radio. "Dammit. I hate domestic calls," groaned Bosco as he flipped on the siren, and tore off in the direction of the complaint.
Faith and Bosco could hear the screaming and yelling as they stood outside the small house. Yokas pounded on the door with her nightstick. "POLICE. OPEN UP!"
The fighting continued inside the house. Yokas knocked on the door again as Bosco leaned over the porch railing and peered through a window. "Son of a bitch!" He quickly tried the door to see if it was unlocked. Finding it locked he stepped back and leading with his shoulder threw his body into the door. The heavy door gave a little, and he slammed into it again.
"Bosco what is it? What did you see?"
Boscorelli kicked at the door handle, and the door flew open. He ran into the living room with Faith on his heels. She stopped and gasped at the sight in front of her. There in the room was a man beating his wife while a young girl sat on the couch watching in horror.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Bosco as he charged at the man. Seeing Bosco coming he turned and ran for the back of the house. "DON'T YOU RUN FROM ME!" Bosco tackled him in the kitchen, and quickly rolled the man onto his back. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO RUN YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Bosco hit him twice, and the man whimpered. "HOW'S IT FEEL? HUH? DON'T LIKE IT?!" Bosco hit him again and again. "COME ON! FIGHT ME! TAKE A SWING!" Bosco continued to hit the man oblivious to his partner trying to pull him away.
"BOSCO STOP! STOP!" Faith finally succeeded in pulling Bosco off of him.
Bosco continued to glare at the man on the floor who had curled himself into a ball. Alex and Kim had arrived. Faith moved out of the way as Kim knelt down next to the man. Bosco still stood over him. "Bosco move," said Kim. He took a step back. Kim looked at the man's bloody, battered face. "What happened to him?"
"He got what was coming to him," replied Bosco as he headed outside.
Faith followed him. "Bosco wait." He stopped, took a deep breath, and waited for her to catch up. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"You just beat the crap out of that guy."
"Yeah, so, he deserved it." He began walking toward the RMP.
Faith grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "You haven't lost control like that in a long time." He just stared at her. "You've changed Bosco."
"No I haven't Faith! This is who I am remember?! It's been a long time, but this is me! And if you can't handle it maybe you shouldn't have agreed to ride with me!" He walked away from her, and this time she didn't stop him.
Yokas watched as he got into the squad. He placed his hands on the steering wheel, and leaned his head back. She knew he was right. This was the Bosco of old, the "normal" Bosco. But she had gotten used to the sensitive, quiet Bosco of the past few months, and she wasn't ready for that Bosco to disappear.
*****
Rylee sat in her apartment flipping through the channels. Like usual there was nothing good on. "Seventy channels. There has to be something," she said to herself as she once again surfed through the stations.
Finally she turned off the TV, and turned on her computer. After half an hour of responding to e-mails she shut down the computer. "This bites! It's only the first day of my two weeks. How am I going to last?!"
She walked over to the window, and watched the activity on the street below. A squad car drove by, and she longed to be at work. She wondered what kind of calls Bosco and Faith were getting today. Rylee looked at the clock. It was 6:30. Her first anger management class was at 7:15. "Augh this sucks!"
*****
Bosco waited outside the precinct for Faith the next day before the shift. He was sitting on the steps, and stood up as soon as he saw her round the corner. He walked toward her. "Hey."
"Hi," she continued walking toward the front door.
"Faith I'm sorry." She turned around. "For what I said yesterday. I have changed."
"Not really Bos."
"What?"
"The things you did yesterday. You were right, it was you," she paused. "It's just that for the last couple months you didn't have that rage anymore. I kinda got used to that. So yesterday it took me by surprise."
"Yeah, me too actually," he grinned. "Yesterday, I don't know. I kinda felt whole again for the first time in ages."
"That's good Bosco," she smiled reassuringly. "Well, maybe not for the guy you beat up, but it's good for you."
He nodded, and they walked into the precinct together.
*****
Rylee woke up from her nap, and looked at the clock on the VCR. On a normal day she'd be in roll call right now, but this was day two of her suspension. She sat up and stretched her arms over her head. She winced at the pain in her arm. It was just another reminder of why she had been suspended.
She needed to get out of her apartment, and get some fresh air. Rylee laced up her running shoes, and pulled on a sweatshirt before heading outside. With no idea where she was going she hit the sidewalk running.
*****
Faith and Bosco were sitting in their squad car in an alley across from a small rundown deli. "How long are we gonna sit her Bosco?" asked an annoyed Faith.
He shrugged. "I don't know. How long 'til our shift's over?"
"We've been sitting here for almost an hour. Maybe the guy works there."
"Riiiight. L-Train works at the deli. Get real Faith." He shook his head. "He's up to something." Bosco's eyes never left the door of the deli. "Rylee and I saw him four times the other day, and each time he was acting all suspicious. He's definitely up to something."
A few minutes later L-Train came out of the deli with a beautiful woman on his arm. They kissed, and went their separate ways. Faith laughed. "Oh he's up to something all right. He's up to his ears in love."
Bosco punched the steering wheel. "Dammit!" Faith continued to laugh. "I'm serious Faith. He's up to something, and it's just a matter of time until I find out what." He started the car.
"Bosco can't you just admit you were wrong?"
He looked at her. "No," and pulled out into traffic.
******
Rylee had just dozed off on the couch in front of the TV when there was a knock on her door. It was midnight. Who would be knocking on her door at midnight? As she made her way to the door the person knocked a little louder. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm coming." She tiredly rubbed her eyes as she opened the door to find Bosco.
"Did I wake you up?" He noticed her apartment was dark, and the only light was the blue glow of the television screen.
"Yeah kinda," she replied as she walked back to the couch leaving the door open for Bosco to come inside. She flipped on the lights. "So, to what do I owe this visit?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Didn't feel like going home or going to the bar, so I thought I'd stop by and see how you're doin'." Bosco sat down in the chair. She nodded. "So…how you doin'?"
She sighed. "I'm bored out of my mind. These last two days have proven that my job is my life. I mean…I like having days off, but when you have two weeks because you got suspended it's hard to swallow."
"Tell me about it. I know exactly what you mean. I was suspended not too long before you transferred."
"I can't handle just sittin' here doing nothing." She looked at him. "So how's it been working with Faith again?"
"Good. It's like we never stopped working together. It's interesting. You and I pretty much have the same style…same philosophy. Faith and I differ quite a bit, but it works out ya know."
"Totally. Johnny and I were so different, but we complimented each other really well. We balanced each other out," she got a mischievous grin on her face. "You and me, I have a feeling that now that you're pretty much back on track, we're going to give Swersky an ulcer."
"You know it," he grinned. "But it's not like we do it on purpose." Bosco noticed Rylee rubbing her arm. "You OK?"
"Huh?"
"Your arm."
"Oh, yeah. I just have a huge bruise, so it's still pretty sore."
"Hey what's this?" He picked a book up off the table, and read the cover. "Where does it come from? A journey to understand our anger." Bosco looked at Rylee. He was trying not to laugh, but it was a losing battle.
"Sure, go ahead. Yuk it up. It's from that damn anger management class."
"Really? I thought you were reading it for fun…a little self improvement."
"Shut up," she chuckled.
Bosco started flipping through the book. "Oh you've got to be kidding me! It's a workbook. Like fill in the blanks and turn it in when you're done." She glared at him. He was enjoying this too much. "Do you get a gold star if you have a revelation?"
"It's not funny."
He wiped the smile off his face. "You're right, it's not," the smile came back. "It's hilarious!"
"Oh you asked for it," she laughed as she hopped off the couch and went after him. Bosco was too busy laughing to fend off her attack. She pulled him out of the chair, and twisted his arm behind his back. Both officers laughed as Bosco stood up on his toes trying to decrease the pressure on his arm. "I told you it wasn't funny."
He laughed, tears forming in his eyes. "Ok, Ok, it's not funny. Now let me go."
She twisted his arm a little more. "What do you say?"
"Let me go."
"Nope, that's not it. Say uncle."
"Never," he laughed as he tried to twist out of her grasp.
"Say it."
"All right! Uncle! Uncle!"
She let go of him, and he rubbed his arm. "I can't believe you just did that."
"Hey it was either that or shoot you."
"This anger management stuff seems to be helping all ready."
"You better watch yourself Boscorelli."
He chuckled. "I better get going." Bosco headed for the door. "Hey how 'bout meeting me and Faith after our shift tomorrow? There's this really good all night diner we like to go to sometimes."
"Sounds good."
"It's called the Choo Choo Diner."
"Choo Choo Diner?"
"Yeah, it's an old caboose. Any way, it's on Winter Street between 95th and 96th. See you there say 11:30, 11:45?"
She nodded. "I'll be there."
*****
Yokas and Boscorelli sat in their RMP passing the time. "Faith I invited Rylee to go out with us tonight. Hope that's OK."
"Yeah that's OK. When did you talk to her?"
"I stopped by her apartment last night after the shift to see how she was doing."
"How is she?"
"She says she's OK, but she seems a little lost because of the suspension. The job is her life."
"Sounds like someone else I know." She noticed a smile creep across Bosco's face. "What are you smiling about?"
"Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about Rylee. She makes me laugh. I like hanging out with her."
"You like working with her?"
"Oh yeah. Absolutely." He glanced at Faith. "But I like working with you too." She looked at him, and he was afraid he had said something wrong. "I mean I like working with you more…it's just—"
"Bosco, it's OK. I'm glad you enjoy working with her. It makes me feel better about taking the sergeant's position."
He nodded and looked at her. "I'm glad we're working together again. Even if it's only for a little while."
"Yeah, I missed this."
*****
Rylee had been running for half an hour. She stopped to rest for a minute. Then she realized where she was. She hadn't even noticed that she was in the neighborhood. Without thinking she walked toward the front door of the house she had stopped in front of.
She knocked on the door, and shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited for someone to answer. "This was a bad idea," she said to herself as she turned to walk away.
The door opened when she was halfway down the front sidewalk. "Rylee?" She turned around; a nervous look on her face. "Where are you going?"
Rylee looked at her feet, and kicked at a small pebble. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here." She once again turned to leave.
"Rylee! Stay. Come inside."
She must have ended up here for a reason, so she figured she might as well stay.
"How've you been?"
She shoved her hands into the front pocket of her hooded sweatshirt. "I've been better. How 'bout you Johnny?"
"Good. Real good." He watched as his former partner made her way into his living room. She stood in front of the fireplace looking at the picture of Johnny and his family.
"Tracy and the kids home?"
"No. Tracy's running some errands. Geoff's at baseball practice, and Tyler is rehearsing for the school play." Her back was to him, but he saw the small nod of her head. "The kids miss you, ya know."
"Yeah right. Your kids hate me remember? Last time I saw them was the night I almost got you killed."
Johnny sat down on the couch. "That wasn't your fault."
She turned around to face him. Rylee just shook her head.
"Is that why you haven't returned any of my calls? Because you think it was your fault? It wasn't your fault Rylee. The guy was a junkie. He was out of his mind. There was no way you could have known."
"I've been telling myself that for a couple months now. I even believed it for a while too, but then I ran into Henderson the other day, and it got me thinking." She walked across the room. "I never doubted myself before Johnny. Never. No matter what, I always went with my instincts, and no matter what you were always there. Always saving my ass. Even when I was wrong, you were always there."
"We were partners of course I was there."
"How many times did you get shot at because of me? How many times did you risk your life to back me up?"
"A couple," he replied softly.
She forced a chuckle. "A couple." Rylee shook her head. "Not once Johnny, not once when we were on a call did I stop to think about your family. What it would do to them if something happened to you. I always went in full speed, guns blazing with blinders on. God, if you had died that night."
"I didn't."
"But if you had."
"I didn't!"
She sat on the arm of the couch, and looked at the floor. "I'm sorry," she said softly. She looked up at Johnny and opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
He noticed that words failed her, so he tried to make small talk. "I hear you transferred to the 55th."
She nodded.
"You got today off?"
"No, I uh, got suspended for two weeks."
"How come?"
"Disobeyed orders. Instead of waiting for ESU I entered the building. Got myself shot. It was a good thing my partner followed me in."
"So who's your partner these days? Anyone I'd know?"
"His names Boscorelli."
"The name rings a bell, but I don't know why. You two get along OK?"
She nodded. "He's cool, just takes a little while to get used to him."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I know how that is."
They sat in silence. It had been a long time since they had talked to each other. They had left so many things unsaid when they parted ways at the 38th precinct, but neither of them really knew where to start. Rylee took a deep breath, and looked at her friend. "Johnny, there's something I've been meaning to tell you about that night."
Part 9
*****
If you don't recognize a character then that means they are one of the little demons that came from my mind :o) Otherwise everything else belongs to the big shots at NBC and WB and all those other places!
Hope you are still enjoying this story. I'm going to be taking a short hiatus for the next week or so. I have a HUGE exit exam to take so I can get my masters degree. So I'm thinking I should probably start studying and stop writing fan fiction for the time being! Though if I'm looking for a way to procrastinate I know what to do!
OH! And since this is fiction…there is a short part in this story where a character is making something to eat. Just assume that the stove is like this super fast heating element that boils water in like 2 seconds flat! Hehehe! That's why I love fiction!
*****
Bosco followed Rylee outside. He walked up beside her as she was unlocking her car door.
"What?" she sighed.
He motioned to her arm. "You can't drive like that. Your car is a stick."
She just looked at him. It had been a rough couple of hours, and she was glad that Bosco was there because it was as if her brain had taken a vacation. Bosco read the look on her face, and took the keys from her. "I'll drive."
Rylee walked around the car and got in the passenger's side. Bosco started the car. "Your place or mine?"
"Huh?" she asked in confusion.
"You aren't staying alone tonight. So, are you staying at my place or am I staying at yours?"
"Just drop me off at home. I'll be fine."
"No deal."
"Bosco-"
"No. You were shot, suspended, reprimanded and sentenced to anger management class all in about three hours. I think you beat my record," he grinned. "And from my experience I know that going home to an empty apartment only makes a night like this worse. Besides you don't look so good." He paused. "Your place or mine?"
She sighed heavily. "Mine if that's OK with you." Rylee looked at him.
"Your place it is."
Twenty minutes later they were standing in Rylee's living room. She shrugged off her coat and threw it on the recliner. She then rummaged through her duffle bag looking for the pain pills she was sure she had thrown in there. As soon as she found the pills she headed for the kitchen. Bosco followed her.
"You lost?" she asked when she realized he had followed her.
"No. I just wanted to make sure you're OK."
"My arm just hurts some, but I'm OK." She washed down the pills with water.
Bosco nodded. "I'm hungry. You got any food in these cupboards?"
"I haven't been to the grocery store in a while, but I think there's a box of mac and cheese in there," she pointed to the cabinet to his right. He opened the cupboard, and pulled out the box. "I can make it if you want."
He turned back to face her. "It's macaroni and cheese. I think I can handle it," he smiled.
Rylee hopped up onto the counter where she sat and watched Bosco as he searched the kitchen for what he would need. He put the water on to boil, and then leaned back against the counter across from Rylee. "Wanna talk about it?"
"Talk about what?"
"About what happened tonight."
"Bosco you were there. You know what happened. I got careless and now I've got a hole in my arm."
"I meant what happened when we got back to the house. Why'd Swersky suspend you?"
"For not listening to Sullivan."
"He gave you two weeks for that?!"
"Yup. Disobeying a senior officer."
"Damn," Bosco shook his head. "I can't believe he suspended you for that."
"Yeah, well, he was pretty pissed that I put our lives in danger."
"Our lives?"
She nodded. "Rushing into that building put both of us at risk."
"But I followed you in. *I* put my life in danger. You didn't."
"Whatever. It was my idea."
"But I agreed, and went in. I should have been suspended too."
"What? Are you complaining because you didn't get suspended?"
"No, it's just not fair."
"Life isn't fair Bosco."
"If you got suspended then I should have too."
"Bosco just drop it. There's no need for us to argue about this."
"I'm gonna talk to Swersky. See if I can---"
"Back off Bosco. Otherwise I'm going to have to practice my left hook again."
"Ok. Ok," he laughed. The water was boiling, so Bosco dumped in the macaroni. "So what was with that Henderson guy?"
Rylee set her jaw, and just shook her head. Bosco noticed how her body language changed at the mention of Henderson's name. She went from relaxed to rigid. This just made Bosco even more curious. "Why was he at the station tonight?"
"Said he was visiting a friend."
"Who?"
"Beats me. I was floored just hearing he had a friend," she said seriously.
"What was with all that stuff he said to you? What did he mean—"
"Bos I'm all talked out for tonight, Ok?" Her eyes pleaded with him to just leave it alone.
"Yeah, Ok." He paused as he poured the macaroni into the colander. Rylee just looked down at the floor. Bosco returned the pot to the stove, and looked at his partner. "Ry, I just…well, you've been there for me, and, you know…if you need anything—"
She met his eyes and nodded.
*****
Bosco walked into the locker room. Sully and Davis were all ready in full uniform. Both of them were reading a section of the newspaper.
"Hey Bosco," greeted both officers.
"Davis," Bosco nodded and headed for his locker.
"What? You ignoring me today?" asked Sullivan.
Boscorelli glared at Sully through the mesh of the lockers. "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I wasn't listening." Bosco started to pull on his bulletproof vest. Sullivan just shrugged, and went back to his newspaper.
A few minutes later Faith came through the door. "Hey guys," she said cheerfully as she headed toward her old locker.
"Hey Sarge. What are you doing here?" questioned Davis.
"I'm riding with Bosco today."
"Really? Where's O'Neill?" asked Sully.
"Like you don't know," spat Bosco as he slammed his locker and left for roll call.
"What was that about?" asked a curious Ty.
Faith pulled off her jacket. "Rylee got suspended for two weeks."
"Two weeks. What for?"
"For disobeying your orders," stated Faith.
"My orders?"
"Yeah, for not waiting for ESU. Swersky gave her two weeks, and since there was no one available to ride with Bosco here I am."
"Damn Sul. If Bosco's this pissed at you, just imagine what Rylee's thinking." Davis smiled as he patted his partner on the back.
*****
"Are you gonna be like this all day?"
"Like what?"
"Grumpy. Ornery. Pissed off. There are a lot of ways to describe it Bosco."
"What are you talking about? I'm not any of those things."
"No? Then how come we've been riding around for half an hour and you haven't said one word?" Faith and Bosco looked at each other. "Or have you changed that much since the last time we rode together?"
"Yeah. I've changed." Bosco pulled over.
"No you haven't. We're friends remember? And I know you haven't turned into the quiet type. So what's going on?"
"Nothing." He quickly shook his head and turned to look out the window. His posture told Faith it was more than nothing. The way he slouched in the seat with his elbow resting on the door and his head on his fist as he gazed outside told her there was a lot more to this.
"Bosco if you don't tell me I'm going to make the next seven and a half hours hell for you." She watched him as he laid his head back on the headrest.
He stared at the ceiling of the car. "I feel guilty."
"About what?"
"About…" He looked at the middle of the steering wheel as if he was studying a piece of fine art. Bosco looked over at Faith. He could see the questions in her eyes. He reached down and started the car. "Ya know what? Never mind. It doesn't matter." He pulled away from the curb.
A short time later they were called to the scene of a robbery. Bosco and Faith approached the frantic victim. "Ma'am. You were robbed?" Faith asked. The woman nodded. "Did you see who robbed you?" The woman nodded again. "Did the person have a weapon?" Once again she nodded.
Bosco stood by impatiently with his hands on his hips as he tapped his foot. Faith looked at him, and he rolled his eyes. He stepped up to the woman. "Can you describe the thief?" She nodded her head. "Tell me what they looked like." The woman nodded her head again. Too terrified to speak. Bosco threw his hands in the air. "Lady! This would go a lot faster if you'd stop nodding your head and start using words!"
"Bosco!"
"Come on Faith! If she doesn't tell us what she saw we aren't going to get anywhere!"
"Go sit in the car. I'll take care of this."
"Good!" Bosco stormed off toward their RMP mumbling as he went.
When Faith finished getting the woman's statement she joined Bosco in the squad. "You haven't changed at all!"
"Excuse me?"
"Just like old times; you were smooth as sandpaper!"
"Come on Faith. She was wasting our time. There's real police work waiting for us."
They didn't have time to argue as another call came over the radio. "Dammit. I hate domestic calls," groaned Bosco as he flipped on the siren, and tore off in the direction of the complaint.
Faith and Bosco could hear the screaming and yelling as they stood outside the small house. Yokas pounded on the door with her nightstick. "POLICE. OPEN UP!"
The fighting continued inside the house. Yokas knocked on the door again as Bosco leaned over the porch railing and peered through a window. "Son of a bitch!" He quickly tried the door to see if it was unlocked. Finding it locked he stepped back and leading with his shoulder threw his body into the door. The heavy door gave a little, and he slammed into it again.
"Bosco what is it? What did you see?"
Boscorelli kicked at the door handle, and the door flew open. He ran into the living room with Faith on his heels. She stopped and gasped at the sight in front of her. There in the room was a man beating his wife while a young girl sat on the couch watching in horror.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" yelled Bosco as he charged at the man. Seeing Bosco coming he turned and ran for the back of the house. "DON'T YOU RUN FROM ME!" Bosco tackled him in the kitchen, and quickly rolled the man onto his back. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO RUN YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Bosco hit him twice, and the man whimpered. "HOW'S IT FEEL? HUH? DON'T LIKE IT?!" Bosco hit him again and again. "COME ON! FIGHT ME! TAKE A SWING!" Bosco continued to hit the man oblivious to his partner trying to pull him away.
"BOSCO STOP! STOP!" Faith finally succeeded in pulling Bosco off of him.
Bosco continued to glare at the man on the floor who had curled himself into a ball. Alex and Kim had arrived. Faith moved out of the way as Kim knelt down next to the man. Bosco still stood over him. "Bosco move," said Kim. He took a step back. Kim looked at the man's bloody, battered face. "What happened to him?"
"He got what was coming to him," replied Bosco as he headed outside.
Faith followed him. "Bosco wait." He stopped, took a deep breath, and waited for her to catch up. "What was that?"
"What was what?"
"You just beat the crap out of that guy."
"Yeah, so, he deserved it." He began walking toward the RMP.
Faith grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. "You haven't lost control like that in a long time." He just stared at her. "You've changed Bosco."
"No I haven't Faith! This is who I am remember?! It's been a long time, but this is me! And if you can't handle it maybe you shouldn't have agreed to ride with me!" He walked away from her, and this time she didn't stop him.
Yokas watched as he got into the squad. He placed his hands on the steering wheel, and leaned his head back. She knew he was right. This was the Bosco of old, the "normal" Bosco. But she had gotten used to the sensitive, quiet Bosco of the past few months, and she wasn't ready for that Bosco to disappear.
*****
Rylee sat in her apartment flipping through the channels. Like usual there was nothing good on. "Seventy channels. There has to be something," she said to herself as she once again surfed through the stations.
Finally she turned off the TV, and turned on her computer. After half an hour of responding to e-mails she shut down the computer. "This bites! It's only the first day of my two weeks. How am I going to last?!"
She walked over to the window, and watched the activity on the street below. A squad car drove by, and she longed to be at work. She wondered what kind of calls Bosco and Faith were getting today. Rylee looked at the clock. It was 6:30. Her first anger management class was at 7:15. "Augh this sucks!"
*****
Bosco waited outside the precinct for Faith the next day before the shift. He was sitting on the steps, and stood up as soon as he saw her round the corner. He walked toward her. "Hey."
"Hi," she continued walking toward the front door.
"Faith I'm sorry." She turned around. "For what I said yesterday. I have changed."
"Not really Bos."
"What?"
"The things you did yesterday. You were right, it was you," she paused. "It's just that for the last couple months you didn't have that rage anymore. I kinda got used to that. So yesterday it took me by surprise."
"Yeah, me too actually," he grinned. "Yesterday, I don't know. I kinda felt whole again for the first time in ages."
"That's good Bosco," she smiled reassuringly. "Well, maybe not for the guy you beat up, but it's good for you."
He nodded, and they walked into the precinct together.
*****
Rylee woke up from her nap, and looked at the clock on the VCR. On a normal day she'd be in roll call right now, but this was day two of her suspension. She sat up and stretched her arms over her head. She winced at the pain in her arm. It was just another reminder of why she had been suspended.
She needed to get out of her apartment, and get some fresh air. Rylee laced up her running shoes, and pulled on a sweatshirt before heading outside. With no idea where she was going she hit the sidewalk running.
*****
Faith and Bosco were sitting in their squad car in an alley across from a small rundown deli. "How long are we gonna sit her Bosco?" asked an annoyed Faith.
He shrugged. "I don't know. How long 'til our shift's over?"
"We've been sitting here for almost an hour. Maybe the guy works there."
"Riiiight. L-Train works at the deli. Get real Faith." He shook his head. "He's up to something." Bosco's eyes never left the door of the deli. "Rylee and I saw him four times the other day, and each time he was acting all suspicious. He's definitely up to something."
A few minutes later L-Train came out of the deli with a beautiful woman on his arm. They kissed, and went their separate ways. Faith laughed. "Oh he's up to something all right. He's up to his ears in love."
Bosco punched the steering wheel. "Dammit!" Faith continued to laugh. "I'm serious Faith. He's up to something, and it's just a matter of time until I find out what." He started the car.
"Bosco can't you just admit you were wrong?"
He looked at her. "No," and pulled out into traffic.
******
Rylee had just dozed off on the couch in front of the TV when there was a knock on her door. It was midnight. Who would be knocking on her door at midnight? As she made her way to the door the person knocked a little louder. "Yeah. Yeah. I'm coming." She tiredly rubbed her eyes as she opened the door to find Bosco.
"Did I wake you up?" He noticed her apartment was dark, and the only light was the blue glow of the television screen.
"Yeah kinda," she replied as she walked back to the couch leaving the door open for Bosco to come inside. She flipped on the lights. "So, to what do I owe this visit?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Didn't feel like going home or going to the bar, so I thought I'd stop by and see how you're doin'." Bosco sat down in the chair. She nodded. "So…how you doin'?"
She sighed. "I'm bored out of my mind. These last two days have proven that my job is my life. I mean…I like having days off, but when you have two weeks because you got suspended it's hard to swallow."
"Tell me about it. I know exactly what you mean. I was suspended not too long before you transferred."
"I can't handle just sittin' here doing nothing." She looked at him. "So how's it been working with Faith again?"
"Good. It's like we never stopped working together. It's interesting. You and I pretty much have the same style…same philosophy. Faith and I differ quite a bit, but it works out ya know."
"Totally. Johnny and I were so different, but we complimented each other really well. We balanced each other out," she got a mischievous grin on her face. "You and me, I have a feeling that now that you're pretty much back on track, we're going to give Swersky an ulcer."
"You know it," he grinned. "But it's not like we do it on purpose." Bosco noticed Rylee rubbing her arm. "You OK?"
"Huh?"
"Your arm."
"Oh, yeah. I just have a huge bruise, so it's still pretty sore."
"Hey what's this?" He picked a book up off the table, and read the cover. "Where does it come from? A journey to understand our anger." Bosco looked at Rylee. He was trying not to laugh, but it was a losing battle.
"Sure, go ahead. Yuk it up. It's from that damn anger management class."
"Really? I thought you were reading it for fun…a little self improvement."
"Shut up," she chuckled.
Bosco started flipping through the book. "Oh you've got to be kidding me! It's a workbook. Like fill in the blanks and turn it in when you're done." She glared at him. He was enjoying this too much. "Do you get a gold star if you have a revelation?"
"It's not funny."
He wiped the smile off his face. "You're right, it's not," the smile came back. "It's hilarious!"
"Oh you asked for it," she laughed as she hopped off the couch and went after him. Bosco was too busy laughing to fend off her attack. She pulled him out of the chair, and twisted his arm behind his back. Both officers laughed as Bosco stood up on his toes trying to decrease the pressure on his arm. "I told you it wasn't funny."
He laughed, tears forming in his eyes. "Ok, Ok, it's not funny. Now let me go."
She twisted his arm a little more. "What do you say?"
"Let me go."
"Nope, that's not it. Say uncle."
"Never," he laughed as he tried to twist out of her grasp.
"Say it."
"All right! Uncle! Uncle!"
She let go of him, and he rubbed his arm. "I can't believe you just did that."
"Hey it was either that or shoot you."
"This anger management stuff seems to be helping all ready."
"You better watch yourself Boscorelli."
He chuckled. "I better get going." Bosco headed for the door. "Hey how 'bout meeting me and Faith after our shift tomorrow? There's this really good all night diner we like to go to sometimes."
"Sounds good."
"It's called the Choo Choo Diner."
"Choo Choo Diner?"
"Yeah, it's an old caboose. Any way, it's on Winter Street between 95th and 96th. See you there say 11:30, 11:45?"
She nodded. "I'll be there."
*****
Yokas and Boscorelli sat in their RMP passing the time. "Faith I invited Rylee to go out with us tonight. Hope that's OK."
"Yeah that's OK. When did you talk to her?"
"I stopped by her apartment last night after the shift to see how she was doing."
"How is she?"
"She says she's OK, but she seems a little lost because of the suspension. The job is her life."
"Sounds like someone else I know." She noticed a smile creep across Bosco's face. "What are you smiling about?"
"Huh? Oh, I was just thinking about Rylee. She makes me laugh. I like hanging out with her."
"You like working with her?"
"Oh yeah. Absolutely." He glanced at Faith. "But I like working with you too." She looked at him, and he was afraid he had said something wrong. "I mean I like working with you more…it's just—"
"Bosco, it's OK. I'm glad you enjoy working with her. It makes me feel better about taking the sergeant's position."
He nodded and looked at her. "I'm glad we're working together again. Even if it's only for a little while."
"Yeah, I missed this."
*****
Rylee had been running for half an hour. She stopped to rest for a minute. Then she realized where she was. She hadn't even noticed that she was in the neighborhood. Without thinking she walked toward the front door of the house she had stopped in front of.
She knocked on the door, and shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited for someone to answer. "This was a bad idea," she said to herself as she turned to walk away.
The door opened when she was halfway down the front sidewalk. "Rylee?" She turned around; a nervous look on her face. "Where are you going?"
Rylee looked at her feet, and kicked at a small pebble. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here." She once again turned to leave.
"Rylee! Stay. Come inside."
She must have ended up here for a reason, so she figured she might as well stay.
"How've you been?"
She shoved her hands into the front pocket of her hooded sweatshirt. "I've been better. How 'bout you Johnny?"
"Good. Real good." He watched as his former partner made her way into his living room. She stood in front of the fireplace looking at the picture of Johnny and his family.
"Tracy and the kids home?"
"No. Tracy's running some errands. Geoff's at baseball practice, and Tyler is rehearsing for the school play." Her back was to him, but he saw the small nod of her head. "The kids miss you, ya know."
"Yeah right. Your kids hate me remember? Last time I saw them was the night I almost got you killed."
Johnny sat down on the couch. "That wasn't your fault."
She turned around to face him. Rylee just shook her head.
"Is that why you haven't returned any of my calls? Because you think it was your fault? It wasn't your fault Rylee. The guy was a junkie. He was out of his mind. There was no way you could have known."
"I've been telling myself that for a couple months now. I even believed it for a while too, but then I ran into Henderson the other day, and it got me thinking." She walked across the room. "I never doubted myself before Johnny. Never. No matter what, I always went with my instincts, and no matter what you were always there. Always saving my ass. Even when I was wrong, you were always there."
"We were partners of course I was there."
"How many times did you get shot at because of me? How many times did you risk your life to back me up?"
"A couple," he replied softly.
She forced a chuckle. "A couple." Rylee shook her head. "Not once Johnny, not once when we were on a call did I stop to think about your family. What it would do to them if something happened to you. I always went in full speed, guns blazing with blinders on. God, if you had died that night."
"I didn't."
"But if you had."
"I didn't!"
She sat on the arm of the couch, and looked at the floor. "I'm sorry," she said softly. She looked up at Johnny and opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
He noticed that words failed her, so he tried to make small talk. "I hear you transferred to the 55th."
She nodded.
"You got today off?"
"No, I uh, got suspended for two weeks."
"How come?"
"Disobeyed orders. Instead of waiting for ESU I entered the building. Got myself shot. It was a good thing my partner followed me in."
"So who's your partner these days? Anyone I'd know?"
"His names Boscorelli."
"The name rings a bell, but I don't know why. You two get along OK?"
She nodded. "He's cool, just takes a little while to get used to him."
He chuckled. "Yeah, I know how that is."
They sat in silence. It had been a long time since they had talked to each other. They had left so many things unsaid when they parted ways at the 38th precinct, but neither of them really knew where to start. Rylee took a deep breath, and looked at her friend. "Johnny, there's something I've been meaning to tell you about that night."