Chapter ten

Author's note: Okay, just a few more chapter guys, this story is almost over. Hope you're still liking it, 'cause I sure had a GREAT time writing it! :)

***

Faith got out of the room and reached out to steady herself on the closed door. She felt a release, as though he had severed the invisible chains that had held her captive.

"So, uhm... how is he?" Mikey asked her as he spotted her coming out into the hallway.

She lifted her head and looked at him. "Good I think, considering what he's been through. He's sleeping now."

"I... I'm not sure he wants to see me."

"Look Michael, I don't know if this is the right time, but I really think you should talk to him." she suggested. "Go in, let him know you're here."

His frown deepened at her words. "You leaving?"

"No, I think I'm going to hang around here a little more." She started to walk down the hallway. "If anyone needs me, I'll be down in the cafeteria."

***

Mikey put his hand on the doorknob and nervously looked around before turning it and entering the room. He stood there for a few moments, taking in the sight of his injured brother. Man, how could she say he looked better? he thought to himself.

He moved toward him slowly, then hesitated, not sure what to do. "Maurice man, I'm sorry." he said under his breath as he looked away.

His heart was telling him to go on, to tell him everything he had bottled up inside, but an irrational fear was blocking his mind. He glanced around the room. It was still pretty dark, even though it was morning already, so he turned on the small overhead light. "There you go, bro." he said, casting a glance back to his face. "Feels better, huh?"

Bosco didn't move, nor did he appear to acknowledge his brother's presence.

Mikey reached out his hand to touch him, but stopped it in mid-air. God, how's that for pathetic, he said to himself. I can't even face him when he's asleep. "I can't do this." he whispered. He brought his hand up and ran it through his hair. "You know, no matter what I say to you, what I try to do... it won't get better." he sighed, his voice quiet as he kept staring at him.

The guilt was overwhelming, and he found himself unable to breathe, wishing he could take back the last few days of his sorry life. "I... I just hope you can forgive me someday." he said as he ran out of the room and shut the door behind him.

***

Bosco slept through the night and most of the following day. News of him being out of the woods spread across the precinct and the firehouse, and a lot of friends stopped by. Some of them just for a few minutes, to say a quick hello or welcome him back, others took turns and kept him company when Faith had to leave to go back to her family.

When the clock on the wall in front of him read 6pm, he realized one person still hadn't shown up. Michael.

The doctor had just come in to check on him and he was about to drift off to sleep again when he heard the door open. "Oh come on, not another shot!" he complained, thinking it was one of the nurses.

"What, big cop's afraid of needles?"

Bosco immediately turned his head, and to his surprise found himself looking at his brother, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jean jacket, a half smile on his face.

"You try staying here for a few days!" he remarked. "I think they hate me."

"I bet man. This is the ICU, it's supposed to be quiet in here."

He took a few steps forward. "You... do seem to have a way with the nurses though, they've been all over you. And then all the visits... half the precinct's been around here lately. Guys from the fire house, paramedics... you sure gave the other patients a reason to wake up."

"I'm a popular guy." he joked, trying to lighten the mood. "So, how are you Michael?" he said as he reached for the button and lifted up his bed a little, still holding his gaze on his brother.

Great Michael, why don't you tell him the truth? Oh, been feeling like shit for the last few days, you know, thought I'd killed my own brother. "I... I was worried about you." he finally managed to say. "Look Mo, I'm sorry about..."

Bosco motioned for him to get closer. He knew that his brother blamed himself, and there were no words he could say to convince him that it wasn't his fault.

"I... I told them it was a mistake, that you were my brother, but they wouldn't believe me."

"What's your business with those guys?"

Mikey lowered his gaze, avoiding eye contact. "Then they... they laughed at me, said I should take that as a warning."

"Did you give'em the money?" he asked, leaning his head back on the pillow.

He hesitated for a moment. "Yeah, I told them to take the money, so... you know, they could leave you alone. But they said someone else was taking care of you... So I ran..." he sat down on the chair and rested his head between his hands. "I was scared. But that... that's not gonna happen again."

Bosco gave his arm a light squeeze. "I know."

"No, I... I just wanna tell you that I'm gonna make sure they..."

Bosco's head instantly shot up and he looked at Mikey. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"Mikey, you're not going to do anything stupid, are you?" he asked, disbelief in his voice. "You know, like going after those guys or something."

"No, I..."

"Michael, I'm serious. They'll kill you without a second thought."

"Don't worry about it, man, okay? You just get yourself better." he said, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. Guilt was still flooding through him. "I'm sorry for all the shit I've put you through..." he whispered, his voice cracking as tears threatened to fall.

"Not your fault." Bosco said firmly. "Just don't think you can handle this on your own. I felt... bad for weeks after I arrested you that night," he continued with a shaky breath, "don't make me be the one to identify your dead body..."

It's okay, bro. Mikey thought to himself. Just my turn to step up and show you that I care. You've always been there for me, and even though I pushed you away most of the times, you didn't back down.

"I... have to go now." he said as he rose to his feet.

Bosco tried to fight the sleep that threatened to overcome him. "You better not do it, man." he told him, a hint of fear in his voice. He tried to sit up, but immediately regretted it as pain shot through his wounded abdomen. "Dammit!" he cursed.

Mikey listened as the heart monitor increased its beeping and quickly turned back to his brother. "Whoa, whoa, slow down, Mo!" he urged as he helped him lay back down on the bed. "I told you, it's okay. ... "

Bosco grabbed his hand and looked at him straight in the eyes. "Be careful."

"Sure." he shrugged, and within moments he was out the door, leaving Bosco with an uneasy feeling and the knowledge that Mikey was up to something.

"God, I hate this!" he sighed in frustration. He reached for the call button and waited for the nurse to get in the room.

"Officer Boscorelli, is something wrong?"

"I need to use the phone." he told her. "Now."

A quick look at her patient, and the woman realized that it wasn't open for debate. "I'll be right back."

A few minutes later, he was dialing a familiar number. "Faith?"

"Bosco, is that you?" she asked, alarm in her voice. Of all people, her partner was the last one she'd expected when she'd picked up the phone. "What happened, are you okay?" And why are you calling from ICU?

"Yeah, I... I need help." he whispered.

"I'm on my way." she reassured him. "Just hold on."

"No, it's not... me. It's Mikey."

God, what else, now? She wondered. She knew that Bosco blamed himself for the way his brother had turned out, and if he was calling from the hospital then something was wrong. Very wrong.

"What about Mikey?"

"He... I'm worried about him."

"Why?"

"Well, he came here and... I don't know Faith, there was something in his voice. The... the things he said... I think he's going after the guys who shot me."

"He what?" she asked, surprised.

"Listen, I know I have no right to ask you this, but... I'm stuck in here and... I didn't know who else to call." he admitted.

"And what do you expect me to do about it?"

"I just want you to get to him before he does something stupid."

Faith could hear the strain in her partner's voice and tried to reassure him.

"Bosco, you don't know for sure. Mikey's been in trouble before, and... he never asked for help." Must be some Boscorelli thing, she reasoned. "Maybe he's just upset because of what happened to you."

"I know he's had troubles, but... I can't give up on him. He's my brother, Faith. I can't lose him." There was a moment of silence, as if he were thinking about something else to say that could convince her. "Just help me with this, will ya?"

"Officer Boscorelli, you really need to rest now." Faith was shaken from her thoughts by the nurse's voice.

"Yeah, I... I'm almost done." he wearily replied.

That's it, Faith thought to herself, I give up. "Alright, Bosco. I'll give it a try." she sighed. "You go back to sleep and I will talk to you later."

"Thanks." he said, relief washing over him. "I mean it."

"No problem."

"Oh, and Faith?"

"Yes?"

"Be safe out there."

"Absolutely." she smiled. "See you later, Boz."

TBC...