I've been looking forward to writing this particular chapter since before
I wrote Part 1. I have had it planned for so long...It's great to finally
get to write it.

Hope you like!

~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
(19/20)
==*==
823 58th St.
3:38 am

Bosco threw the gun down and walked over to Faith, stiff and emotionless.

He lifted her gently off of the hook. She was sobbing into her gag, and he
softly laid her down and untied her hands. She reached up and tore the
horrible piece of cloth from her mouth.

Faith grabbed him in a terrified hug, holding him tighter than she had ever
held anyone, but he was like a stone.

Pulling back and looking into his eyes, she saw nothing but a deep abyss.

"Are you hurt?" he asked her, completely monotone...robotic.

She shook her head, trying to regain her composure.

He sat back on his heels.

"We need to call for help." she rasped, her voice hoarse from crying.

He stared at her blankly, looking right through her.

She moved him to sit back, and tried to feel around for his cell phone.

He didn't even blink.

She found it in his pocket, and quickly dialed 911. Explaining their
situation to the operator, Faith's mind was on Bosco.

He sat against the wall, knees pulled up toward his chest, arms hanging
limply at his sides. His eyes were empty, his body unmoving. She heard
someone tell the operator that they needed an ambulance, and realized in
the back of her mind that it was her.

She disconnected with the operator--a promise of help within 5 minutes--
and she stood on shaky legs, rubbing her sore wrists.

Cautiously, she walked over to Angela's body. Her eyes were open, glazed
over, still holding that sick craziness, even after death.

Faith resisted the urge to throw up and looked around quickly for something
to save them from that stare. She grabbed an empty box and placed it over
Angela's head, then retreated back to the wall to sit next to Bosco.

Still shaking and crying, she tried to compose herself and talk to him.

"Bosco? God, Bosco please talk to me. Please Bosco, look at me, say
something..."

She caught his eyes then, and a flicker of recognition passed through them
so briefly.

"Come on Bosco, it's Faith, it's me, Faith, please talk to me. It's over
Bosco, you killed her--you killed her, it's over!"

He snapped to back to life so quickly, she jumped. His face so devoid
of emotion suddenly became flooded with it, and his eyes welled up with
tears.

"I didn't mean to! I just couldn't! I just couldn't do it Faith!
I couldn't!"

"What? You did, Bosco, it's ok, it's over now, Angela is dead."

"No! I'm not talking about her!" he motioned to the dead body laying
just feet from them.

[i]Yeah, that's right. You killed her. You had the chance to save her and
you didn't. You let me believe that I had the right person. And believe me,
for that, you do deserve to die.[/i]

"I just couldn't do it Faith! I was so afraid, they'd find out, and I...I
couldn't!"

"Couldn't what, Bos? What couldn't you do?"

"I couldn't tell them it wasn't you! They gave me the chance...they asked me
if I had any last words...and I...I couldn't tell them that it wasn't you!
I couldn't--I froze!" He gasped in air between the sobs.

"And all I could think was, if they knew it wasn't you then they would
try and find you...and then I wouldn't be able to do anything! But she
was so scared Faith! And she didn't do anything, and I just couldn't say
anything! She was so scared! She didn't deserve to die! She was so
scared..."

He collapsed on himself, pulling his knees closer and burying his head in
his hands.

Too stunned for words, all Faith could do was pull him close to her. He
crumpled at her touch, and she lay his head on her lap and rocked him as
the sobs overtook his body.

==*==
823 58th St.
3:46 am

By the time the police and medics showed up, Bosco had fallen back into his
shocked, stoic state. Faith still rocked his limp body, smoothing his damp
hair and humming calmly to him.

Perhaps they were both in shock.

The paramedics pulled them apart gently, and began the barrage of questions
which Faith answered absentmindedly.

No such luck with her partner.

She turned to watch the medics talking to him, but he wasn't responding.
They shined a light into his eyes, took his pulse, tried to get some type
of reflex action out of him to no avail. She could see he was now shivering
uncontrollably, small convulsions racking his thin frame. Dim light reflected
the cold sweat on his face.

Suddenly Lieu was in front of her, staring deep into her eyes, asking her
more questions
[i] too many questions[/i]
but his voice was a million miles away, and she found herself more focused
on the fact that he was wearing sweatpants than the fact that he was talking
to her.

[i]He must've been sleeping[/i] she reasoned.

He pulled her to her feet and led her to an ambulance, and she turned to
watch the medics still trying to break Bosco from his daze. She saw them
jump to his side as his head fell toward his chest and conciousness drifted
from his body.

Faith tried to turn back, to go to him, but Lieu shushed her and pulled her
toward a waiting bus. She didn't have the energy to fight his gentle hold
on her arm.

She watched Bosco from the window as the bus pulled away from the scene.

The world was in slow motion.
===============
END OF PART 19
===============

1 chapter left!

~Amanda