Had a long talk with my muse today. More of an argument, really. She's feeling
particularly lazy and decided she would rather read everyone elses' fics than
to help me finish this one. Anyways, needless to say, I have put together 15,
and at this point, I am so pissed at her, I am posting the next part, chapter 16
tonight or tomorrow. She has no choice but to sit still and let me write.

Of course, I thank you guys all the time, but I would like to take yet another
opportunity to remind you how much your kind feedback means to me. I seriously
can not put to words how great I feel after reading all your comments. ;) :bouncy: ;)

Let me just brief all of you who may be a little fuzzy on where we are at this
point.
[i]
In the last few chapters, Bosco was released from the hospital. He is seeing
a psychiatrist but B.S.ing his way through all of it. In truth, he is terrified,
and spends his nights running the streets of Manhattan armed to the teeth.

As of chapter 14, he was cleared to return to work. He is living one huge lie,
acting out the emotions and reactions expected of him, convincing everyone he
is healing, when he really isn't. Oh, yeah, and even though she thinks that she
knows everything, Bosco is hiding something... :o
[/i]
Thank you! Sorry for the delay!
~Amanda
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abyss
By: Syko4Bosco aka A. Lalad
Rating: PG-13
Category: Bosco Angst, B/Y UST
Summary: Bosco is kidnapped and witnesses a horrific act
that he can not come to terms with. As his guilt
and silence overwhelm him, he spirals downward
into a deep depression. Can Faith get to him
before it's too late?
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership, nor do I gain any type
of compensation or reward for this story. I
write for my own personal enjoyment, and share
my writing with others who may also enjoy it.
Third Watch (c) and all registered characters belong
to NBC.
Abyss
By: Syko4Bosco aka A. Lalad
(15/?)
==*==
55 Station House
9:09 pm

"Look at what you've gotten yourself into. We just stopped you for a busted
tail light, and you had to go pull that crap. You could have killed a police
officer today, you know that? You're going to jail buddy. And for a lot longer
than if they had just found the weed on you. Because now you just stirred up
a whole nother pot of violations and offenses. Judges don't smile on people
who run from the police. And when you get out, let it be a lesson to you to
take better care of your cars."

Bosco watched Sully chastise the jagoff they had just brought in. Simple
broken tail light warning stop, but the guy had flipped out when Bosco had
gotten out of the car and sped off.

They called in the chase and Faith took off after him at full speed. Bosco
was beginning to wish he had never noticed the broken light as they flew over
a hill doing 89 mph.

As the perp rounded a corner, Bosco remembered telling Faith to cut him off at
the next street. His plan worked, unfortunately for Faith.

She had pulled in front of him, blocking him from getting past, but he just kept coming.

[i]Death wish or something...[/i] Bosco reasoned. He definitely had enough time
to stop or turn, but he didn't--he just kept coming, straight at them.

He would have hit them head on, and most likely killed them, but Faith was able to
swerve away. He clipped her side of the RMP at top speed and the squad car went spinning out
into parked vehicles.

Two blocks later, four more RMPs surrounded him, and he was smart enough to stop
for them.

They were more or less unharmed. Faith had hit the steering wheel with her forehead
and had a gash there, and her left arm was sore, but that was the worst of it.

55 David would be in the shop for a few days.

As a precautionary measure, Faith went into Mercy to be checked out further.

Bosco watched Sullivan slide the cell door shut on the owner of the car with no
tail light, and now, no real front end either. Murderous rage boiled inside Bosco
as he watched the man. Incredibly stupid and unharmed.

But Faith could have been killed. This guy's boneheaded decision to run from the
law could have been deadly.

[i]But whose fault was it really? Who told Faith to catch him at the next block? If
you hadn't been in front of him, you wouldn't have been hit.[/i] He clenched his teeth.
Three days back on patrol and already he was putting Faith at risk. Huge risk.
If she [i]had[/i] been seriously injured, or died, it would have been his fault. Hell,
her sore arm and cut forehead was already his fault!

Sullivan threw some paperwork down on the main desk at lock up and walked toward
Bosco. Before he could get to him, the younger officer spun and stormed off in the
other direction.

==*==
Two days later
Clark & 43rd
3: 16 am

It was unusually warm tonight. The storms had brought in a warm front, and for
the first time in weeks, Bosco couldn't see himself breathing in the frigid air.

His head was calm tonight--all it's normal tenants gone temporarily, only one
issue staying behind.

He could see it now: the problem, the question, the answer, all sitting waiting
to be called to use. Waiting for him to start thinking about the thing he didn't
want to think about.

Faith. Faith and work.

He couldn't hold back any longer. His mind began to wrap itself around the dreaded
topic, and he ran faster.

She could have been killed. And it would have been his fault. During the car chase,
by Angela's hand...how many other times had he put her life on the line? How many
more times would there be? When would the luck run out?

If anyone deserved to die, he believed it should be him.

It was his fault Angela came after him. It was his fault Jane Doe died. It was his
fault that he acted the way he did and pissed off the people he pissed off, and he
should take the consequences for it.

But it was obvious things don't always turn out that way.

He couldn't stand to let innocent people take the fall for his mistakes, and he
wouldn't allow Faith to be a pawn in some sick revenge-hungry psycho's game
against him.

He couldn't protect her, as much as he tried, and if being around him was a constant
threat to her life (which he could see now, it was) then he would have to do the thing
he feared most.

Leave the person he loved. Quit his job. Get away, out of her life, and the
lives of everyone and anyone he cared about.

It was the only way.

==*==

"Hey, it's Bosco. Leave a message and I'll call you back when I get time."

::BEEP::

"Maurice, this is Dr. Rex. I'm calling in regards to the appointment
you missed earlier today. I would like to reschedule this meeting, as well as
yesterday's meeting as soon as possible. Let me remind you, Maurice, these
are mandatory sessions. If you miss another, I have no choice but to report this
to your superior. Please call my secretary and reschedule."

::BEEP::

It was all falling into place. The perfect way to sever all ties. The perfect
plan to save Faith and never let her know it.
==*==
Three Days Later
55 George
10:57 pm

With 55 David under massive repairs, Faith and Bosco were forced into 55 George.

After discussing their petty dislike for the new RMP for the entire night (the interior
material was too stiff, the panels were different, it was unbroken in and unfirmiliar,
the brake was too tight, the door handles were oddly shaped...they covered every base)
Faith finally decided to stop avoiding the issue and confront her partner. After all,
they were headed back to the station right now, and Swersky was planning on meeting with
Bosco when they returned. She wanted to make sure he was prepared for what was to come.

"So...Lieu called me in today. He said you've missed 4 appointments with Dr. Rex?"

Silence, then:

"He pisses me off."

"Bosco everyone pisses you off! You know that your meetings with him are mandatory! If
you don't finish your therapy, you won't have a job. This isn't the time for you to
play tough. Sometimes you just have to suck it up like a man. You only have about
a month left, and you were doing so well!"

"I don't need a shrink."

"That isn't your choice to make. So what...you just got sick of him? Or were you
busy doing other things?" She pulled the RMP into it's parking spot at the station.

"I don't need a shrink! That's it."

"Are you sure about that?!"

She gasped after it slipped out. Both their eyes went wide and he stared at her
in utter disbelief and horror.

He had planned the fight, but he didn't ever think she would say that. The rest was
an act, but that really hurt him. His planned argument had just turned into a real one.

"Bosco...I'm sorry, I didn't mean it..."

"No, obviously you did." His words were harsh, and they stung her like a hard slap to the
face. "Well, I didn't know that's how you felt. Selling me out to therapy again.
I guess it's unquestionable that someone can deal with their problems
on their own? Or, what? You think I'm unstable? You think I'm a psycho? Do I scare
you?" His tone changed from hurt anger to disbelieving lunacy.

"Bosco--"

"No, Faith. I don't want to hear it. I don't...I don't want to hear it." He
grabbed the door handle harshly and got out of the car, slamming the door in frustration
and never looking back at her as he charged into the station.

==*==
55 Station house
11:23 pm

[i]"Are you sure about that?!"[/i] Faith's words echoed in Bosco's mind. She thought
he needed a shrink.

"Unbelievable." he whispered to himself. He never thought...of all people...

He tied his shoe quickly and heard her walk in.

He could see her gleaming boots out of the corner of his eye. She was watching him.

"Why don't you get it? I don't want to talk to you. Just leave me the Hell alone."
He grabbed his coat and started to walk out when she grabbed him.

He spun and tore his arm free, and found himself not looking at Faith, but looking
at a very pissed Lieutenant Swersky.

"Sir! I'm sorry I thought you were--"

"My office. Now."

====================
END OF PART FIFTEEN (15/?)