Rainy Season
Chapter 4...or Part 4...whatever I've been calling them!
*****
Don't sue, for I have nothing you want!
OH! I dropped an F-bomb in this story...so sensitive readers you are forewarned!
Story number 2 in the "Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain" Series...this story follows "Let the Sun Shine Through".
This Bosco/Faith shipper brainwashing is getting better and better! Hats off to Dem and Angie!
*****
"Every lifetime has a little bit of rain. This is just your rainy season."
*****
"SON-OF-A-" Bosco put his weight on his left foot as he lifted his right foot off the ground. He leaned forward and grabbed hold of the coffee table in front of him as he tried to maintain his balance. His eyes were closed tight with pain and his face was a bright red.
Alex and Carlos kicked into paramedic mode, and rushed to Bosco's side. They each grabbed one of his arms and helped him stand up. Emily took off for her bedroom, and Faith started after her. "Faith leave her alone," came Bosco's pain filled voice.
"But Bosco-"
"Not tonight Faith," he whispered. "Please."
"Come on Bosco lets get you to the couch," said Carlos as he and Alex steered Bosco in that direction.
Bosco shrugged off their helping hands. "Leave me alone. I'm fine."
"You just had a 10-lb weight thrown on your foot. I doubt you're fine," replied Alex with a look on her face telling Bosco that she could be just as stubborn as him.
"I'm OK." Bosco tried to walk away from them but as soon as he put weight on his right foot his leg buckled from the pain and Carlos caught him before he could fall.
"See, I told you," said Alex as she shook her head.
"Now are you going to let us check you out?" Bosco nodded wordlessly as the two medics helped him to the couch. As soon as they had Bosco lying down his cell phone rang, and there was a knock on the door.
"Davis the money for the pizza is on the counter. Can you take care of it?"
"No prob Faith."
Bosco pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Yeah."
"Boscorelli its Lieutenant Swersky."
"Hey Lieu. What's-" Alex pulled off Bosco's shoe. "DAMMIT TAYLOR! What are you doing?!"
"I've gotta take your shoe off to look at your foot."
"Sorry Lieu." Bosco apologized into the phone after having accidentally yelled into the lieutenant's ear.
"Is everything OK Bosco?"
"Yeah everything---TAKE IT EASY WOULD YA?!"
Faith took the phone from Bosco. "Lieu, it's Faith."
"Faith what the hell is going on? Everything OK?"
"Oh, my daughter, she uh, she kinda dropped a 10-lb weight on Bosco's foot."
"Is he OK?"
"Well a couple of the medics were here when it happened, and are taking a look at it now."
---------
"Man Bosco, this is already really swollen," Carlos informed him. "We should really get you to the hospital for an x-ray."
Bosco shook his head. "No way! I'm not going to the hospital." He kept shaking his head.
"You really need an x-ray Bosco," reiterated Alex.
"I am NOT going to the hospital!"
-------
"Sorry Lieu, but can you hang on for a second? Bosco is being difficult."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Swersky laughed.
"Bosco," Faith said sternly. "If they think you need to go to the hospital then you're going to the hospital."
"Oh come on Faith," Bosco whined. "I swear I was just in the hospital for that stupid incident with the beer bottle. I *really* don't want to go tonight."
"Bosco that's up to Carlos and Alex. Now try to keep it down so I can talk to Lieu." Faith walked down the hallway.
Ty looked at Sully as he tried not to laugh after hearing the exchange between Bosco and Faith. "Man, I always knew she mothered him, but that was...man," grinned Davis as he shook his head in disbelief.
"Yeah. Remind me never to get on Faith's bad side," said a serious Sully.
--------
"Sorry about that Lieu. So Bosco said you were trying to get him on nights."
"Well I tried, but the captain didn't go for it. He didn't feel another officer was needed for that shift."
"Oh, I see."
"Faith let me ask you something."
"Alright."
"Do you think that you could somehow get Bosco to lighten up some if we kept him on days? We really don't want to split you two up for various reasons, and knowing your current situation and the fact that Bosco wants to be there for you; I guess I'd like to see if we could somehow get him to adapt to days."
"I'll work with him on it Lieu."
"Alright Faith. We'll give him another shot at days, but you two need to make sure to let us know if being in a relationship and working together gets to be too much."
"Sure thing Lieu, and thanks for everything. I-we really appreciate it."
"No problem Faith, but don't go telling anyone about this. I don't need people thinking I'm getting soft."
---------
Sully broke open the two chemical ice packs he retrieved from the first aid kit that Tatiana remembered putting in the kitchen. He handed the packs and an ace bandage to Carlos. "OK Bosco we won't make you go to the hospital tonight, but you need to keep it iced and elevated, and first thing tomorrow you need to get it checked by a doctor," explained Carlos.
"Yeah OK," Bosco nodded.
Alex and Carlos worked together wrapping Bosco's foot and ankle. Alex lifted Bosco's foot to put it on a pillow in order to keep it elevated. "Owww! Damn that hurts!" He bit his lip as he waited for the pain to subside.
"Sorry," apologized Alex. "I've got some aspirin in my bag. I'll get you a couple."
Bosco noticed Charlie looking at him from where he stood at the end of the couch. There was a sad expression on the boy's face. "Hey bud, you OK?" Charlie nodded. Bosco pushed himself up onto his elbows, and looked at his friends who also seemed to notice Charlie's expression. "Hey guys don't let the pizza get cold. Go ahead and eat," said Bosco in hopes that everyone would clear out of the room so he could talk to Charlie.
"Yes is good idea," said Tatiana as she herded the others into the kitchen.
Bosco looked at Charlie. "Come here little man." Charlie walked over to him. Bosco shifted on the couch making room for the boy to sit down. He patted the open space beside him. Faith came back into the room, and froze in the doorway as she watched Charlie sit next to Bosco. "What's wrong squirt?"
"Why doesn't Emily like you anymore?"
"She didn't tell you?" Charlie shook his head. Bosco took a deep breath. "Well Charlie, do you understand what it means when people get divorced?"
"Yeah, they don't live together anymore. Like mom and dad."
"Right. And when people get divorced they can like and date other people. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, but why doesn't Emily like you?"
"Because I like your mom."
Charlie's eyes got big. "Are you dating?"
"Yes we are, and Emily saw us kissing and that upset her."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not your dad."
"So? You're better than our dad."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are cause you don't yell at mom. You don't hurt her feelings like dad did."
"That's because I love your mom with all my heart."
"Emily shouldn't have hurt you," Charlie said sadly.
"Yeah, but I'll be OK little man. Don't worry about that." Charlie leaned over and gave Bosco a hug. It surprised Bosco, but he took it in stride. "Hey squirt will you do me a favor?" Charlie smiled and nodded. "Go get us some pizza before Sully eats it all."
As Charlie ran to the kitchen Faith made her presence known. "That was really sweet Bos."
"How much did you hear?"
"All of it," she smiled.
"He's a good kid Faith. They're both good kids. I just have to figure out how to get Emily to like me again." Bosco sat up and Faith sat down on the couch. He lay back down with his head in her lap. She rested her arm on his chest, and ran her other hand through his hair.
"How's your foot?"
He swallowed hard. "It hurts." Bosco sighed. "So what did Swersky say? Am I on nights?"
"No. You're back on days."
"What?!"
"The captain said he didn't feel anyone else was needed on nights, and Swersky said you could have another chance at days, but you have to lighten up. He's doing us a huge favor Bos."
"Yeah I know."
Everyone returned from the kitchen in time to see Faith and Bosco kissing. "That *is* gross," said Carlos.
"I told you," replied Ty.
"Is so sweet," cooed Tatiana.
Faith looked up and blushed. "Sorry, didn't know we had an audience."
******
It was around one in the morning when everyone had finally left Faith's apartment, which didn't give Bosco and Faith much time to sleep before their shift. Bosco had fallen asleep on Faith's couch. He felt someone tapping his shoulder. Bosco opened his eyes to find Charlie standing over him. "Charlie? What time is it?"
"Two," he said softly.
"What's wrong?"
"I've never had my own room before."
"You OK?"
"I can't sleep. Can I stay out here with you?"
"On the couch?" Charlie nodded. "There's not a whole lot of room."
"That's OK. I'm little."
Bosco smiled and moved over. "Come here squirt."
Charlie climbed onto the couch and lay next to Bosco. "Goodnight Bosco."
"Goodnight Charlie." Bosco wrapped his arm around the boy to make sure he wouldn't fall off the couch.
*****
Faith walked into the living room to wake Bosco for work. She smiled when she saw her two favorite men asleep on the couch. "Charlie," she whispered as she shook his shoulder. "Time to go climb into your own bed Sweetie." Charlie opened his sleepy eyes. "Bosco and I have to get ready for work." Charlie yawned as he slowly got off the couch and headed back to his room.
Bosco flinched and opened his eyes. Faith was smiling at him from where she sat on the coffee table. "Hey," he said as he sat up; his eyes adjusting to the light she had turned on when she came in the room.
"I'm sorry if Charlie bothered you last night. You could have sent him back to his room."
"No, he was fine. I think he was a little scared about sleeping in his own room." Faith nodded. Bosco smiled. "You know, I don't think I ever had a moment like that with my dad." His smile quickly turned to a frown. "My dad was too much of an ass to even let me sit on his lap."
"Yeah, well Charlie and Fred didn't have many father-son moments either."
"Why's that?"
"Well it's not that Fred and I had favorites or anything. We love both kids equally, but you know Em was always daddy's little girl, and Charlie was kinda momma's boy. And even though he just turned eleven he has always been very protective of me, and Fred could sense that."
"Charlie's a smart kid," Bosco grinned. He shifted positions on the couch, and Faith saw him wince.
"How's your foot?"
"Sore."
"Let me take a look." Bosco moved so his foot was hanging off the edge of the couch. Faith took off the ace bandage and the now melted ice packs she had rewrapped his foot with before he had fallen asleep. She gently touched his foot, and he hissed in pain. She looked at him. "Sorry." He nodded. "Bosco this is really bad. I knew I should have made you go to Mercy last night. There's no way you can work."
"Come on Faith it can't be that bad," he said as he sat back up and looked at his injured foot for the first time since the night before. "OK, maybe it is."
"Can you even move it?"
Bosco moved his foot. "Damn!"
"OK. I'm taking you to the hospital."
"We don't have time. We need to get to work."
"Bosco there's no way they're going to let you work today."
"Yeah, well, lets just go get my stuff and head to the station."
"Bosco you can't seriously think you're going to be able to work like this?"
He looked at her as he started to get off the couch. "I at least wanna try." Bosco stood up and limped badly to the end of the couch where he leaned against the arm of the couch. He turned around and looked at Faith.
She could see the pain in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Bos."
"Not your fault." He limped to where his shoes were by the door, and sat down on the footstool that was there. Faith just watched as he tried putting his shoe on his injured foot. He looked at Faith. "This isn't going to be easy."
*****
Twenty minutes later Faith pulled up in front of Bosco's apartment building. Bosco took his seatbelt off, and started to open the car door. Faith grabbed his arm. "You stay put. I'll go get your stuff."
"Thanks," he said softly as he handed her his apartment keys, and then leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
She put her hand on his cheek. "You still look really pale. I never should have let you walk out of my apartment. You should have your foot propped up."
He gave her a weak smile. "I'm OK Faith."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it hurts some, but I'll live."
*****
"Want me to help you inside?"
"Nah. I don't want to draw any attention."
"Bosco you can hardly walk. People are going to notice."
"Maybe they won't." He opened the car door and limped into the station house. Faith followed closely behind. Bosco plopped down on the bench in front of his locker. He turned to Faith. "See, nobody said a word."
She walked over, and sat next to him. "You're right. Nobody said anything, but everyone who saw you noticed." Bosco just shook his head. He took a deep breath then stood up to open his locker. Faith gave him a concerned look. "Man Bos," she stood up next to him and turned his face toward her. "Are you OK? You're really pale, and you're sweating."
He shook loose of her touch. "Yeah I'm fine," he mumbled.
"Bosco, I'm serious. Are you OK?"
"My foot *really* hurts OK!" he snapped at her. Shocked at his tone Faith took a step away from him. He shook his head; disgusted with himself. "Faith look I'm sorry. Its just...there's no excuse. I'm sorry."
"Bosco I can't even fathom how much pain you're in, but don't take it out on me."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry."
They changed in silence. Other officers came and went from the locker room, but Bosco and Faith didn't exchange any small talk. They just went about getting ready for their shift. Bosco was trying to figure out how he could work when he could barely walk, and Faith was thinking about Emily's punishment.
After Faith was dressed she walked over to her partner who was just putting on his socks. She held up the ace bandage she had brought with. "If you're so insistent on working will you at least let me wrap your foot?" Bosco nodded. "OK put your leg up so your foot is hanging off the end of the bench." Faith pushed up his pant leg. "Oh Bos," she whispered. "This is really bad. It's gotten worse. I never should have let you walk on it."
"You know me," he grinned. "It wasn't like I was going to listen anyway."
"I should have made you listen."
"Remember who you're talking to. You can't make me do anything I don't want to." Faith started wrapping his foot. "Make it tight."
Faith looked at him. "What?"
"Make it really tight. I gotta get my foot in my shoe somehow."
Another officer came into the room. "What the hell happened to you Boscorelli?"
Bosco quickly looked at the officer. "Oh I uh...I sprained my ankle playin' hoops. No big deal." The other officer nodded and left after retrieving the ticket book he had left on the bench.
"All done," Faith stood up.
"Thanks," Bosco unlaced his shoe, and jammed his foot into it. He closed his eyes tight. "Man that hurts," he whispered.
*****
Faith walked into the roll call room followed by a hobbling Bosco. Everyone looked at him. "Boscorelli. What's wrong with you?" asked Lieutenant Anderson.
"Nothin' Lieu."
"Sure doesn't look like nothin' to me."
"Just a little basketball injury. I'm OK."
"You aren't working today. Not like that."
"Come on Lieu! I can work."
"Boscorelli you can't even walk."
"I can walk!"
Faith put her hand on Bosco's shoulder, and whispered. "Don't make a scene Bosco."
"You call that walking?! You aren't working until you have it looked at."
"I already had it looked at."
"By a doctor?"
"No. A couple of the medics."
"And did they tell you that you were OK to work?" Bosco didn't answer. "Did they?!" Lieutenant Anderson waited for a response, but didn't get one. "That's what I thought. Humphries. Wilson. After roll call help Officer Boscorelli to his RMP. Yokas take your partner to the hospital."
"Yes sir," Faith nodded as she and Bosco sat down.
*****
Bosco sat on an exam table at Mercy with his foot propped up on a couple of pillows. Faith stood next to him with his gun belt slung over her shoulder. Doctor Thomas entered the room. "Ouch. What happened to you?"
"My daugh-" Faith started to answer, but was interrupted by Bosco.
"I was lifting weights. Got careless and dropped one on my foot."
"When did this happen?"
Bosco shrugged. "I don't know, midnight, maybe before."
"You were lifting weights at midnight?"
"Yeah. You got a problem with that?!"
Dr. Thomas sat on the stool next to the exam table, and started to examine Bosco's foot. "Did the weight only hit your foot?"
"Top of my foot, and outside of my ankle."
"Wiggle your toes for me."
Bosco tried to wiggle his toes, but the pain was too great. "I can't," he said as his foot began to tremble slightly.
"OK. Just try to relax." Dr. Thomas stood up. "I think you may have broken a bone or two, but I can't be certain until we get an x-ray. However, we need to get the swelling down first. So we'll get you some reusable ice packs and you can take them with you. I want you to keep your foot and ankle iced and elevated all day, so you'll have to ride a desk for the day. Then come by later for some x-rays. OK?"
"Yeah spectacular," Bosco mumbled.
"I'll bring him back when our shift is over."
Thomas nodded. "I'll get the ice packs and some crutches."
"Crutches?! Come on Doc! I don't need crutches!"
Faith just looked at Bosco and rolled her eyes.
******
"Looks like you've got a broken bone in your foot, and a chipped ankle bone."
"Dammit."
"You're going to need a cast."
"A cast? For how long?"
"Four weeks minimum, and you'll be on crutches."
"Four weeks?! What about work?!"
"Sorry Bosco. Looks like desk duty for you. I'll send someone in to cast you. Oh, and we can take those stitches out of your cheek if you want."
"Sure," sighed Bosco as he lay back on the bed. "Why is this happening to me?"
Faith put her hand on his stomach. "I don't know Bos," she said softly.
He looked at her. "Well I do! I never should have kissed you that night! None of this would have happened if I had just kept myself in check!"
She wanted to tell him that wasn't true, and it had nothing to do with that, but she couldn't. It wasn't actually his fault. It was neither of their faults. They couldn't help the way they felt about each other, and they didn't realize Emily would see them kiss. Faith never expected her daughter would react the way she did. She ran her hand through Bosco's hair, and leaned in close to kiss his forehead. "I'm so sorry this happened Bosco. I'm sorry Emily did this, but I'm not sorry that we kissed that night, and I won't apologize to anyone for being in love with you."
Bosco just turned his head away.
*****
Faith helped Bosco up to his apartment. "Where should I put your bag?"
"Don't matter," he replied as he sat down on the couch, and put his casted foot on the coffee table. He dropped his crutches, and they crashed to the floor.
"You want me to stick around for a while?"
He shook his head.
"You want me to get you anything before I go?"
Again he shook his head.
"You sure?"
Bosco turned and glared at her before picking up the remote control for the TV.
"Are you OK?"
"Fine."
Faith shook her head. "Why do you always do that?!"
"Do what?!" he asked as he looked at her.
"Tell me you're fine when I know you're not!"
"If you know I'm not why do you even ask?!"
"Because I keep hoping you'll talk to me! If we're going to make this relationship work we have to be able to talk to each other!"
"What do you want me to say Faith?! Huh?! What am I supposed to say?!"
"Tell me how you feel. Let me help you!"
"You don't want to hear it!"
"Yes I do. I love you Bosco, and I want you to tell me what's going on!"
"Fine! I'll tell you what's going on!" He stood up and began to yell. "I love you, but-but I can't express it because your daughter doesn't approve, and I don't want to upset her! And now because I love you and because of your daughter I can't work for four fucking weeks! I think maybe it'd be best if we ended this *relationship* right now! *That's* what's going on! *That's* how I feel!"
Faith felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. "Wh-what did you just say? You don't want to be with me anymore?" She slowly backpedaled to the door.
Bosco hung his head. He couldn't look at her. He didn't want to see the pain that he knew was written on her face. He could hear it in her voice, and that was bad enough. But most of all he didn't want her to see the tears that we're now raining down his cheeks.
Without another word Faith walked out of his apartment, and softly closed the door behind her.
Chapter 4...or Part 4...whatever I've been calling them!
*****
Don't sue, for I have nothing you want!
OH! I dropped an F-bomb in this story...so sensitive readers you are forewarned!
Story number 2 in the "Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain" Series...this story follows "Let the Sun Shine Through".
This Bosco/Faith shipper brainwashing is getting better and better! Hats off to Dem and Angie!
*****
"Every lifetime has a little bit of rain. This is just your rainy season."
*****
"SON-OF-A-" Bosco put his weight on his left foot as he lifted his right foot off the ground. He leaned forward and grabbed hold of the coffee table in front of him as he tried to maintain his balance. His eyes were closed tight with pain and his face was a bright red.
Alex and Carlos kicked into paramedic mode, and rushed to Bosco's side. They each grabbed one of his arms and helped him stand up. Emily took off for her bedroom, and Faith started after her. "Faith leave her alone," came Bosco's pain filled voice.
"But Bosco-"
"Not tonight Faith," he whispered. "Please."
"Come on Bosco lets get you to the couch," said Carlos as he and Alex steered Bosco in that direction.
Bosco shrugged off their helping hands. "Leave me alone. I'm fine."
"You just had a 10-lb weight thrown on your foot. I doubt you're fine," replied Alex with a look on her face telling Bosco that she could be just as stubborn as him.
"I'm OK." Bosco tried to walk away from them but as soon as he put weight on his right foot his leg buckled from the pain and Carlos caught him before he could fall.
"See, I told you," said Alex as she shook her head.
"Now are you going to let us check you out?" Bosco nodded wordlessly as the two medics helped him to the couch. As soon as they had Bosco lying down his cell phone rang, and there was a knock on the door.
"Davis the money for the pizza is on the counter. Can you take care of it?"
"No prob Faith."
Bosco pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Yeah."
"Boscorelli its Lieutenant Swersky."
"Hey Lieu. What's-" Alex pulled off Bosco's shoe. "DAMMIT TAYLOR! What are you doing?!"
"I've gotta take your shoe off to look at your foot."
"Sorry Lieu." Bosco apologized into the phone after having accidentally yelled into the lieutenant's ear.
"Is everything OK Bosco?"
"Yeah everything---TAKE IT EASY WOULD YA?!"
Faith took the phone from Bosco. "Lieu, it's Faith."
"Faith what the hell is going on? Everything OK?"
"Oh, my daughter, she uh, she kinda dropped a 10-lb weight on Bosco's foot."
"Is he OK?"
"Well a couple of the medics were here when it happened, and are taking a look at it now."
---------
"Man Bosco, this is already really swollen," Carlos informed him. "We should really get you to the hospital for an x-ray."
Bosco shook his head. "No way! I'm not going to the hospital." He kept shaking his head.
"You really need an x-ray Bosco," reiterated Alex.
"I am NOT going to the hospital!"
-------
"Sorry Lieu, but can you hang on for a second? Bosco is being difficult."
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Swersky laughed.
"Bosco," Faith said sternly. "If they think you need to go to the hospital then you're going to the hospital."
"Oh come on Faith," Bosco whined. "I swear I was just in the hospital for that stupid incident with the beer bottle. I *really* don't want to go tonight."
"Bosco that's up to Carlos and Alex. Now try to keep it down so I can talk to Lieu." Faith walked down the hallway.
Ty looked at Sully as he tried not to laugh after hearing the exchange between Bosco and Faith. "Man, I always knew she mothered him, but that was...man," grinned Davis as he shook his head in disbelief.
"Yeah. Remind me never to get on Faith's bad side," said a serious Sully.
--------
"Sorry about that Lieu. So Bosco said you were trying to get him on nights."
"Well I tried, but the captain didn't go for it. He didn't feel another officer was needed for that shift."
"Oh, I see."
"Faith let me ask you something."
"Alright."
"Do you think that you could somehow get Bosco to lighten up some if we kept him on days? We really don't want to split you two up for various reasons, and knowing your current situation and the fact that Bosco wants to be there for you; I guess I'd like to see if we could somehow get him to adapt to days."
"I'll work with him on it Lieu."
"Alright Faith. We'll give him another shot at days, but you two need to make sure to let us know if being in a relationship and working together gets to be too much."
"Sure thing Lieu, and thanks for everything. I-we really appreciate it."
"No problem Faith, but don't go telling anyone about this. I don't need people thinking I'm getting soft."
---------
Sully broke open the two chemical ice packs he retrieved from the first aid kit that Tatiana remembered putting in the kitchen. He handed the packs and an ace bandage to Carlos. "OK Bosco we won't make you go to the hospital tonight, but you need to keep it iced and elevated, and first thing tomorrow you need to get it checked by a doctor," explained Carlos.
"Yeah OK," Bosco nodded.
Alex and Carlos worked together wrapping Bosco's foot and ankle. Alex lifted Bosco's foot to put it on a pillow in order to keep it elevated. "Owww! Damn that hurts!" He bit his lip as he waited for the pain to subside.
"Sorry," apologized Alex. "I've got some aspirin in my bag. I'll get you a couple."
Bosco noticed Charlie looking at him from where he stood at the end of the couch. There was a sad expression on the boy's face. "Hey bud, you OK?" Charlie nodded. Bosco pushed himself up onto his elbows, and looked at his friends who also seemed to notice Charlie's expression. "Hey guys don't let the pizza get cold. Go ahead and eat," said Bosco in hopes that everyone would clear out of the room so he could talk to Charlie.
"Yes is good idea," said Tatiana as she herded the others into the kitchen.
Bosco looked at Charlie. "Come here little man." Charlie walked over to him. Bosco shifted on the couch making room for the boy to sit down. He patted the open space beside him. Faith came back into the room, and froze in the doorway as she watched Charlie sit next to Bosco. "What's wrong squirt?"
"Why doesn't Emily like you anymore?"
"She didn't tell you?" Charlie shook his head. Bosco took a deep breath. "Well Charlie, do you understand what it means when people get divorced?"
"Yeah, they don't live together anymore. Like mom and dad."
"Right. And when people get divorced they can like and date other people. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah, but why doesn't Emily like you?"
"Because I like your mom."
Charlie's eyes got big. "Are you dating?"
"Yes we are, and Emily saw us kissing and that upset her."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not your dad."
"So? You're better than our dad."
"No I'm not."
"Yes you are cause you don't yell at mom. You don't hurt her feelings like dad did."
"That's because I love your mom with all my heart."
"Emily shouldn't have hurt you," Charlie said sadly.
"Yeah, but I'll be OK little man. Don't worry about that." Charlie leaned over and gave Bosco a hug. It surprised Bosco, but he took it in stride. "Hey squirt will you do me a favor?" Charlie smiled and nodded. "Go get us some pizza before Sully eats it all."
As Charlie ran to the kitchen Faith made her presence known. "That was really sweet Bos."
"How much did you hear?"
"All of it," she smiled.
"He's a good kid Faith. They're both good kids. I just have to figure out how to get Emily to like me again." Bosco sat up and Faith sat down on the couch. He lay back down with his head in her lap. She rested her arm on his chest, and ran her other hand through his hair.
"How's your foot?"
He swallowed hard. "It hurts." Bosco sighed. "So what did Swersky say? Am I on nights?"
"No. You're back on days."
"What?!"
"The captain said he didn't feel anyone else was needed on nights, and Swersky said you could have another chance at days, but you have to lighten up. He's doing us a huge favor Bos."
"Yeah I know."
Everyone returned from the kitchen in time to see Faith and Bosco kissing. "That *is* gross," said Carlos.
"I told you," replied Ty.
"Is so sweet," cooed Tatiana.
Faith looked up and blushed. "Sorry, didn't know we had an audience."
******
It was around one in the morning when everyone had finally left Faith's apartment, which didn't give Bosco and Faith much time to sleep before their shift. Bosco had fallen asleep on Faith's couch. He felt someone tapping his shoulder. Bosco opened his eyes to find Charlie standing over him. "Charlie? What time is it?"
"Two," he said softly.
"What's wrong?"
"I've never had my own room before."
"You OK?"
"I can't sleep. Can I stay out here with you?"
"On the couch?" Charlie nodded. "There's not a whole lot of room."
"That's OK. I'm little."
Bosco smiled and moved over. "Come here squirt."
Charlie climbed onto the couch and lay next to Bosco. "Goodnight Bosco."
"Goodnight Charlie." Bosco wrapped his arm around the boy to make sure he wouldn't fall off the couch.
*****
Faith walked into the living room to wake Bosco for work. She smiled when she saw her two favorite men asleep on the couch. "Charlie," she whispered as she shook his shoulder. "Time to go climb into your own bed Sweetie." Charlie opened his sleepy eyes. "Bosco and I have to get ready for work." Charlie yawned as he slowly got off the couch and headed back to his room.
Bosco flinched and opened his eyes. Faith was smiling at him from where she sat on the coffee table. "Hey," he said as he sat up; his eyes adjusting to the light she had turned on when she came in the room.
"I'm sorry if Charlie bothered you last night. You could have sent him back to his room."
"No, he was fine. I think he was a little scared about sleeping in his own room." Faith nodded. Bosco smiled. "You know, I don't think I ever had a moment like that with my dad." His smile quickly turned to a frown. "My dad was too much of an ass to even let me sit on his lap."
"Yeah, well Charlie and Fred didn't have many father-son moments either."
"Why's that?"
"Well it's not that Fred and I had favorites or anything. We love both kids equally, but you know Em was always daddy's little girl, and Charlie was kinda momma's boy. And even though he just turned eleven he has always been very protective of me, and Fred could sense that."
"Charlie's a smart kid," Bosco grinned. He shifted positions on the couch, and Faith saw him wince.
"How's your foot?"
"Sore."
"Let me take a look." Bosco moved so his foot was hanging off the edge of the couch. Faith took off the ace bandage and the now melted ice packs she had rewrapped his foot with before he had fallen asleep. She gently touched his foot, and he hissed in pain. She looked at him. "Sorry." He nodded. "Bosco this is really bad. I knew I should have made you go to Mercy last night. There's no way you can work."
"Come on Faith it can't be that bad," he said as he sat back up and looked at his injured foot for the first time since the night before. "OK, maybe it is."
"Can you even move it?"
Bosco moved his foot. "Damn!"
"OK. I'm taking you to the hospital."
"We don't have time. We need to get to work."
"Bosco there's no way they're going to let you work today."
"Yeah, well, lets just go get my stuff and head to the station."
"Bosco you can't seriously think you're going to be able to work like this?"
He looked at her as he started to get off the couch. "I at least wanna try." Bosco stood up and limped badly to the end of the couch where he leaned against the arm of the couch. He turned around and looked at Faith.
She could see the pain in his eyes. "I'm so sorry Bos."
"Not your fault." He limped to where his shoes were by the door, and sat down on the footstool that was there. Faith just watched as he tried putting his shoe on his injured foot. He looked at Faith. "This isn't going to be easy."
*****
Twenty minutes later Faith pulled up in front of Bosco's apartment building. Bosco took his seatbelt off, and started to open the car door. Faith grabbed his arm. "You stay put. I'll go get your stuff."
"Thanks," he said softly as he handed her his apartment keys, and then leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes.
She put her hand on his cheek. "You still look really pale. I never should have let you walk out of my apartment. You should have your foot propped up."
He gave her a weak smile. "I'm OK Faith."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it hurts some, but I'll live."
*****
"Want me to help you inside?"
"Nah. I don't want to draw any attention."
"Bosco you can hardly walk. People are going to notice."
"Maybe they won't." He opened the car door and limped into the station house. Faith followed closely behind. Bosco plopped down on the bench in front of his locker. He turned to Faith. "See, nobody said a word."
She walked over, and sat next to him. "You're right. Nobody said anything, but everyone who saw you noticed." Bosco just shook his head. He took a deep breath then stood up to open his locker. Faith gave him a concerned look. "Man Bos," she stood up next to him and turned his face toward her. "Are you OK? You're really pale, and you're sweating."
He shook loose of her touch. "Yeah I'm fine," he mumbled.
"Bosco, I'm serious. Are you OK?"
"My foot *really* hurts OK!" he snapped at her. Shocked at his tone Faith took a step away from him. He shook his head; disgusted with himself. "Faith look I'm sorry. Its just...there's no excuse. I'm sorry."
"Bosco I can't even fathom how much pain you're in, but don't take it out on me."
"I know. I know. I'm sorry."
They changed in silence. Other officers came and went from the locker room, but Bosco and Faith didn't exchange any small talk. They just went about getting ready for their shift. Bosco was trying to figure out how he could work when he could barely walk, and Faith was thinking about Emily's punishment.
After Faith was dressed she walked over to her partner who was just putting on his socks. She held up the ace bandage she had brought with. "If you're so insistent on working will you at least let me wrap your foot?" Bosco nodded. "OK put your leg up so your foot is hanging off the end of the bench." Faith pushed up his pant leg. "Oh Bos," she whispered. "This is really bad. It's gotten worse. I never should have let you walk on it."
"You know me," he grinned. "It wasn't like I was going to listen anyway."
"I should have made you listen."
"Remember who you're talking to. You can't make me do anything I don't want to." Faith started wrapping his foot. "Make it tight."
Faith looked at him. "What?"
"Make it really tight. I gotta get my foot in my shoe somehow."
Another officer came into the room. "What the hell happened to you Boscorelli?"
Bosco quickly looked at the officer. "Oh I uh...I sprained my ankle playin' hoops. No big deal." The other officer nodded and left after retrieving the ticket book he had left on the bench.
"All done," Faith stood up.
"Thanks," Bosco unlaced his shoe, and jammed his foot into it. He closed his eyes tight. "Man that hurts," he whispered.
*****
Faith walked into the roll call room followed by a hobbling Bosco. Everyone looked at him. "Boscorelli. What's wrong with you?" asked Lieutenant Anderson.
"Nothin' Lieu."
"Sure doesn't look like nothin' to me."
"Just a little basketball injury. I'm OK."
"You aren't working today. Not like that."
"Come on Lieu! I can work."
"Boscorelli you can't even walk."
"I can walk!"
Faith put her hand on Bosco's shoulder, and whispered. "Don't make a scene Bosco."
"You call that walking?! You aren't working until you have it looked at."
"I already had it looked at."
"By a doctor?"
"No. A couple of the medics."
"And did they tell you that you were OK to work?" Bosco didn't answer. "Did they?!" Lieutenant Anderson waited for a response, but didn't get one. "That's what I thought. Humphries. Wilson. After roll call help Officer Boscorelli to his RMP. Yokas take your partner to the hospital."
"Yes sir," Faith nodded as she and Bosco sat down.
*****
Bosco sat on an exam table at Mercy with his foot propped up on a couple of pillows. Faith stood next to him with his gun belt slung over her shoulder. Doctor Thomas entered the room. "Ouch. What happened to you?"
"My daugh-" Faith started to answer, but was interrupted by Bosco.
"I was lifting weights. Got careless and dropped one on my foot."
"When did this happen?"
Bosco shrugged. "I don't know, midnight, maybe before."
"You were lifting weights at midnight?"
"Yeah. You got a problem with that?!"
Dr. Thomas sat on the stool next to the exam table, and started to examine Bosco's foot. "Did the weight only hit your foot?"
"Top of my foot, and outside of my ankle."
"Wiggle your toes for me."
Bosco tried to wiggle his toes, but the pain was too great. "I can't," he said as his foot began to tremble slightly.
"OK. Just try to relax." Dr. Thomas stood up. "I think you may have broken a bone or two, but I can't be certain until we get an x-ray. However, we need to get the swelling down first. So we'll get you some reusable ice packs and you can take them with you. I want you to keep your foot and ankle iced and elevated all day, so you'll have to ride a desk for the day. Then come by later for some x-rays. OK?"
"Yeah spectacular," Bosco mumbled.
"I'll bring him back when our shift is over."
Thomas nodded. "I'll get the ice packs and some crutches."
"Crutches?! Come on Doc! I don't need crutches!"
Faith just looked at Bosco and rolled her eyes.
******
"Looks like you've got a broken bone in your foot, and a chipped ankle bone."
"Dammit."
"You're going to need a cast."
"A cast? For how long?"
"Four weeks minimum, and you'll be on crutches."
"Four weeks?! What about work?!"
"Sorry Bosco. Looks like desk duty for you. I'll send someone in to cast you. Oh, and we can take those stitches out of your cheek if you want."
"Sure," sighed Bosco as he lay back on the bed. "Why is this happening to me?"
Faith put her hand on his stomach. "I don't know Bos," she said softly.
He looked at her. "Well I do! I never should have kissed you that night! None of this would have happened if I had just kept myself in check!"
She wanted to tell him that wasn't true, and it had nothing to do with that, but she couldn't. It wasn't actually his fault. It was neither of their faults. They couldn't help the way they felt about each other, and they didn't realize Emily would see them kiss. Faith never expected her daughter would react the way she did. She ran her hand through Bosco's hair, and leaned in close to kiss his forehead. "I'm so sorry this happened Bosco. I'm sorry Emily did this, but I'm not sorry that we kissed that night, and I won't apologize to anyone for being in love with you."
Bosco just turned his head away.
*****
Faith helped Bosco up to his apartment. "Where should I put your bag?"
"Don't matter," he replied as he sat down on the couch, and put his casted foot on the coffee table. He dropped his crutches, and they crashed to the floor.
"You want me to stick around for a while?"
He shook his head.
"You want me to get you anything before I go?"
Again he shook his head.
"You sure?"
Bosco turned and glared at her before picking up the remote control for the TV.
"Are you OK?"
"Fine."
Faith shook her head. "Why do you always do that?!"
"Do what?!" he asked as he looked at her.
"Tell me you're fine when I know you're not!"
"If you know I'm not why do you even ask?!"
"Because I keep hoping you'll talk to me! If we're going to make this relationship work we have to be able to talk to each other!"
"What do you want me to say Faith?! Huh?! What am I supposed to say?!"
"Tell me how you feel. Let me help you!"
"You don't want to hear it!"
"Yes I do. I love you Bosco, and I want you to tell me what's going on!"
"Fine! I'll tell you what's going on!" He stood up and began to yell. "I love you, but-but I can't express it because your daughter doesn't approve, and I don't want to upset her! And now because I love you and because of your daughter I can't work for four fucking weeks! I think maybe it'd be best if we ended this *relationship* right now! *That's* what's going on! *That's* how I feel!"
Faith felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. "Wh-what did you just say? You don't want to be with me anymore?" She slowly backpedaled to the door.
Bosco hung his head. He couldn't look at her. He didn't want to see the pain that he knew was written on her face. He could hear it in her voice, and that was bad enough. But most of all he didn't want her to see the tears that we're now raining down his cheeks.
Without another word Faith walked out of his apartment, and softly closed the door behind her.