24 hours earlier…

"Geez, Bos, are you wearing enough cologne? Your scent is forming its own cloud."

Maurice Boscorelli grinned as he slammed his locker shut, his leather jacket over his arm. "Got a hot date tonight, Yokas, and you know me, gotta smell good for the ladies."

Faith Yokas rolled her eyes heavenward in a silent prayer for patience as she slipped into her own coat, pulling her blonde hair free of the collar. Unlike her partner, she was going home to a silent apartment. Fred had taken the kids to see his mother for a couple days and so she was on her own until Friday. Not that it really mattered, she admitted bitterly to herself, she barely saw her family anyway. Her and Fred had been having their own problems so it was probably a good idea to spend some time in different spaces, where the kids couldn't hear them yell at each other.

"You need a lift?" Bosco asked as they stepped out of the station, the blackened streets greeting them like always. She shook her head and adjusted her bag under her arm.

"Nah, I'm in the mood to walk." She elbowed him with a slight smile. "Besides, your hot date is waiting for you." She started down the street.

"Yeah, well," she glanced back over her shoulder at him, "she can wait a little longer." He smiled and tapped on the hood of his car. "Come on, get in before you freeze to death." She opened her mouth to argue, it really wasn't that far, but he glared at her and she gave in, climbing into the passenger seat gracefully.

Bosco drove a semi-normal speed all the way to her apartment, both of them simply basking in the comfortable silence that always stretched between them after a long shift. When his Mustang finally pulled up to the curb, she was relaxed, and felt a little better about staying be herself. Not that she didn't think she could handle herself, all her years on the force had definitely proved that, it was just…she couldn't explain it. Intuition, perhaps, that something was going to happen---

"Faith?"

She blinked, realizing Bosco had been trying to get her attention. "Sorry, Bos, what?"

He frowned, "You gonna be alright?"

She smiled, "Going mushy on me?" She opened her door.

"Been around you too long."

She laughed. "'Night, Bos."

"Goodnight, Faith."

She closed the door and stood on the curb until her best friend disappeared around the corner before she turned to enter her building. The walk up the stairs was quiet, the sound of her keys in the lock unbearably loud. Inside, the apartment was black, shapes undefined to her tired eyes. With a soundless sigh, she sat her keys on the table along with her badge and gun. There would be no little fingers to mess with them tonight.

Slipping off her shoes carelessly, she padded into the kitchen and got herself a glass of water, everything echoing oddly to her ears. Jesus, what was wrong with her? It wasn't like she'd never been home by herself before.

"Grow up, Faith," she muttered to herself, irritated, but the darkness seemed to loom around her, and she wondered suddenly if this was how Bosco felt when night fell around him.

Almost instinctively, her hand reached out for the phone on the wall but she managed to stop herself before picking up the receiver. What was she thinking? He wasn't even home. He was out on a date tonight. Her eyes locked on the phone. Well…maybe she could leave him a message.

Later, she would think about this moment, wondering why she had felt so stronger that she had to call Bosco. She would decide that it had actually been intuition, for things had never felt so surreal as that long night.

Grumbling at her own stupidity, she dialed her partner's number and waited patiently as his machine picked up.

"Hey, it's Boscorelli, leave a message."

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Hey, Bos, it's me. Don't ask me why I'm calling, I have no idea---" She stopped as a noise at the door caught her attention. Looking up, she saw the knob turn, be stopped by the lock, and turn back. "What the…" Someone turned the knob again, this time forcefully adding a kick for good measure and she inhaled quickly, her gaze flying to her gun next to the shuddering door. "Shit." Suddenly, the noise stopped, and there was terrifying moment of pure silence before her door suddenly splintered inward, crashing to the floor. She cried out and dropped the cordless phone. She had no time to react as a dark figure stood silhouetted in the doorway for a brief moment just before it attacked her. She was instantly pushed back into the kitchen sink, strong hands grabbing her. She fought back, kicking and hitting anything within reach. She even managed to bring her knee up and kick the guy in the lungs, causing him to double over just enough for the same elbow to get him in the nose. He fell backwards and she leaped towards the phone, only to be tripped by the intruder's arm on her ankle. She fell heavily, a few inches from the live receiver and she shouted into it as her attacker fell onto her, trying to hold her down.

"Bosco!!!"

A muffled curse from her attacker and then something heavy hit her in the back of the head. She vaguely felt something warm trickle past her ear before everything went black and she knew no more.

* * * *

Bosco stumbled through his apartment door around two in the morning. Incredibly enough, he had been stood up and had opted for getting drunk to forget about it. Probably not a smart thing, but then, he was not really known for thinking with his head.

He flung his coat on the couch and glanced towards his answering machine where the little red light blinked insistently at him. Who the hell would have called him so late at night?

Making his way slowly to the table, he pressed the 'play' button, and flopped down on the couch to listen to his messages. The first was some pre-recorded piece of crap for a local business. He resisted the urge to throw something heavy.

"Hey, Bos, it's me."

He jerked his head up, trying to focus. Why was Faith calling him? Had something happened. He sat forward.

"Don't ask me why I'm calling, I have no idea--" She cut off suddenly and he heard a noise in the background, like someone rattling the door. "What the…" The noise grew louder and Bosco tensed, what was going on here? Faith cursed and then there was silence. He learned forward and jerked as a loud crash echoed at him and Faith cried out. Instantly sober, he jumped up and went to the machine, his heart pounding in his chest. This couldn't be happening…

There was scuffling and lots of noise. Bosco hands tightened into fists, and his blood ran cold with what he heard next. There was a loud thump and Faith called his name, fear in her voice. "Bosco!!!"

Then silence.

His entire body was shaking.

The line went dead.

Within the next second he had grabbed his coat and keys and was out the door, only one destination in mind. To find Faith, and make sure she was safe. If she wasn't…well, someone was going to get hurt.

* * * *

Faith's apartment complex was already surrounded by cops by the time he got there. He parked his Mustang haphazardly in the street and jumped out, barely remembering to shut the door. He raced inside, taking the stairs two at a time, flashing his badge at a detective when he reached her door. It was marked off with yellow crime scene tape and he knew at once that she wasn't there. She was gone…

He felt very cold as he ducked under the tape, his eyes taking in all the damage. It looked like a whirlwind had torn the place apart. Vases where smashed, the door lay in shambles, and his gaze caught the eerie sight of a cordless phone lying abandoned on the floor. He closed his eyes briefly.

"Sir, can I help you?'

It was the detective.

"I'm Officer Boscorelli, from the 55th." He motioned to the apartment. "My partner lives here."

The detective stepped closer. "I'm Detective Williams." He eyed Bosco solemnly. "She's not here, Officer. There's forced entry and blood on the floor." Bosco glanced sharply at him and Williams shook his head. "Won't know whose it is till we can get it to the lab.

Bosco nodded. "Any other leads?"

"Not right now. Neighbors heard the noise and called it in, but didn't see anything. So far, I'm ruling it a kidnapping. Nothing was stolen."

Except my partner.

"Is there anyone we should contact, Mr. Boscorelli? Family, friends?"

Oh, god. Fred didn't know…

"I'll call them," he said, roughly. Just as soon as I catch this bastard. "Keep me informed, Detective." He turned, unable to bear the sight of such destruction anymore. The Detective called after him.

"I'll call your station with anything I find out."

Bosco didn't bother to look back, instead, disappearing into the night to vent his anger and frustration on anyone that was stupid enough to get in his way. It was only when he reached the street corner that the realization of what happened hit him like a physical blow and he wobbled on his feet. Eyes filling with angry tears, he tilted his head back and looked up at the stars, all his pain gathering into one desperate, soul-wrenching shout.

"Faith!!!"

Maybe, if he called loud enough, she would hear him…