Chapter eleven

Author's note: Well, almost done, hope you're still enjoying this, and thank you SO much for your wonderful reviews! :)

***

Faith pulled into the lot and parked her car. "Damn, it's freezing out here!" she realized as she got out and headed for Rose's bar. She didn't know where to start looking for Mikey, but she figured his mother was probably at work and could help. She opened the door and gratefully stepped into the warm place, looking for Bosco's mom.

The bar wasn't really crowded, and she easily spotted Rose behind the counter, filling a glass of liquor for one of her customers. She unbuttoned her coat and walked toward her, waving her hand at the woman. "Hey Rose!"

"Faith honey, how are you?" she asked, lighting a cigarette.

"I'm good. You're back to work." she smiled as she sat on a stool.

"Yeah, now that Maurice is feeling better I thought it was time to get my life back. I wouldn't have survived another day in the ICU."

"Yeah, I know the feeling." Faith whispered.

"So, how can I help you?" Rose asked. "Something tells me you didn't come here for a drink."

"Well, actually I'm looking for Michael." she offered. "Do you know where he is?"

Rose immediately tensed at her son's name. "Why? Is he in trouble?"

"No, he's not."

She nervously moved the cigarette in her hand. "He... he told me what happened when Maurice got shot, said he wasn't there when..."

"Rose, it's okay." she said, squeezing her hand. "I just want to talk to him. I'm not here as a police officer.

"He's over there." she replied, pointing to a dark corner of the bar.

Faith stood up and picked up her coat. "Thanks."

Mikey was sitting in a booth, head down, his back to Faith, trying to drink himself unconscious so he didn't have to see the image of his brother lying in a pool of blood anymore. She stared at him, then crossed the room and sat down in front of him at the table.

"Hey." she called.

He shivered, startled by her voice. "What?"

"How are you holding up?"

He just shook his head. "You came here to check on me?"

"You think I should?"

"I'm not Maurice, so stop mothering me, okay?"

Here we go, Faith sighed, another Boscorelli but the same attitude. God, why do I even bother?

"Listen," she started "your brother called me. Said he's worried that you're gonna get yourself into trouble."

Mikey froze, the color draining from his face. How the hell does he know? Great Michael, now what? "I don't know what you're talking about." he shrugged, his gaze falling down to his beer.

Faith ran a hand through her hair. "You're never gonna grow up, are you?" she asked, trying to keep her anger in check. "You think you can go after those guys all by yourself? Wake up Michael, you're gonna end up dead before you even realize it!" she said, raising her voice, but not loud enough to be heard by the other customers in the bar.

"Look Faith, I appreciate you coming all the way down here, okay? I really do. But please stop it! There's nothing to worry about. Maurice, he's just... over-reacting."

He regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth. Truth was, he was glad that his brother still cared about him, and he really wanted to do the right thing. Only in his mind, the right thing now was getting some kind of revenge on the men who'd hurt him.

"Over-reacting?" Faith repeated in disbelief. "Yeah, maybe because he took a bullet that was meant for YOU!" she snapped.

"I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." Mikey said in angry defeat. "Tell him I'm gonna be okay."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." she whispered.

"Look, I gotta go. I'll stop by and see him at the hospital later." He got up, turned around and walked out of the bar.

"Michael, wait!" she called as she rushed to the door and hurried after him, making him stop and turn to her. "Where do you think you're going? For Christ's sake, stop before you end up doing something you'll regret later!" Faith insisted.

Man, why does she have to be so damn stubborn? he thought to himself. "Leave me alone! Where I go is none of your damned business!"

Faith grabbed his arm, forcing him to look at her. "What am I gonna tell your mother? Do you think she could handle losing you after what happened to Bosco?"

Mikey immediately lowered his gaze.

"I know you're angry right now, but this is stupid, and it's not gonna help your brother."

"What do you want me to tell you, huh?" he said, shaking his head in frustration. "That I wish those guys were dead? I do! All the time! I'm so angry I want to kill them, Faith! Make them suffer... Maurice is a good guy, he didn't deserve any of this..." his voice trailed off and a sob escaped his lips.

"I know." she replied, a hand on his shoulder. "But there are better ways. Safer ways. You tell me who these guys are and we're gonna bring them to justice."

"Justice..." he smiled. "Justice is not enough."

"Let me help, Mikey. We can work this out. Together."

"Whatever."

Faith pointed to her car that was parked nearby and motioned with her hand to him to get in. Then climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door, putting the car into drive and pulling out onto the road.

***

"Yokas, didn't you take the week off?" Lieutenant Swersky asked as he spotted her walking up to the front desk of the 5-5, Mikey following close behind.

"Oh Lieu, yeah, it's just that... You remember Bosco's brother, right?"

"Of course. How are you, son?" he said, shaking his hand.

"He uhm... may have information about some drug dealers." Faith spoke again.

The man raised his eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah, he thinks they may be involved in the shooting."

"Good. Why don't you take him to my office? This way you can talk without anyone bothering you and then fill me in."

"Sure. Thanks Lieu."

TBC...