"Hot damn, I love that car," Kim said in a mood that left me thinking one thing.I'd created a monster. Again Alex snickered. I'm telling you, whatever is going on with that girl.I'm going to find out. When, I don't know. But soon.

"Ready to go?" Kim asked, my keys still in her hands. I made an obvious glance at them hoping I didn't have to do something I'd regret to get them back.

"Nope, but I will be.keys."

"Come on Bos, I'll drive." she said, getting more than a raised eyebrow for her comment.

"I don't think so," I said, my hand still out waiting for my keys.

"Awww Bos, don't be a grouch." Alex said as we walked down the hall. I wasn't about to leave the hospital with my keys still in Kim's possession.

As we reached the car, I walked around to the driver's side, looking at Kim as I did. She tossed my keys over the top of the car. I unlocked my door, reached across the front seat to unlock the passenger door.

"Hey I'm in front," Alex stated.

"No way," Kim replied, "Besides I'm taller; I need the leg room."

"Taylor will you just get in?" I asked, motioning to the back seat.

"Just so you know Bos, I don't want to hear any comments about being in your back seat."

"Not a problem," I said, glancing over at Kim who returned my look.

"Hey you two want to be alone, I can take the subway," Alex said glancing between Kim and I.

"What are you talking about?" Kim asked, turning in her seat to look back at Alex. I glanced back at Alex first, then to Kim beside me, not a clue what these two were referring to.

"Nothing, forget I said a word. Can we go now?" she replied.

"What?" I asked. Something had been going on in Taylor's mind since she I had asked Kim to bring my car to the hospital.

"Spill it Taylor," I demanded.

"That comment I made about the backseat.forget about it," she said, that snicker in her voice again. "From what I hear, there's more action going on in your front seat anyway. I figure I'm safe back here.

"You really like this car don't you?" she directed to Kim.

That did it.my earlier thought about being in big trouble.it was back and now I knew why. Taylor knew all about Kim and I the night those four teens died in the car fire.

I looked over my shoulder at Taylor, then at Kim who only returned my look with a devious smile. I shook my head, glanced out my side window and released a deep breath before resting my head on the steering wheel. Kim and Taylor were hysterical. It'd been a long day and it didn't appear to be ending anytime soon. In fact I think that night was going to be around for a long time.

We finally left the hospital parking lot. It was quiet inside the car.far too quiet.

"Hey Bos?" Kim said, getting my attention. I glanced in my rear view mirror to see Taylor's eyes on me.

"What?" I asked.

"If I had refused to give you your keys back, would you have let me drive?" Kim asked.

"No," I stated.

"So what? Were you going to force me to hand over the keys?"

"Maybe he'd have arrested you for stealing them." Alex suggested from the back seat.

"I don't know Alex, he's not on duty.no cuffs," Kim commented.

"Not exactly," I corrected the two of them. "A cop's on duty twenty-four hours a day."

"So you do have handcuffs then," Kim replied. Following my eyes she popped open the glove compartment where she discovered a pair of handcuffs. I raised an eyebrow when she looked over at me.

"Damn," she said taking them out. "So were you gonna frisk me too?"

"Technically I think he already did that," Alex said with that giggle again. This was my punishment. I was going to die at the mercy of Kim and Alex. Odd I thought; tortured to death by two paramedics.

We finally arrived at ma's apartment. I had no idea what I would bring from her place that would make her more comfortable. I figured whatever it was, I'd know it when I saw it.

Kim and Alex followed me inside. I flipped a switch and light filled the room. I glanced about the room. It felt odd being here without ma, almost as if I was an intruder.

I'd picked up ma's mail from the box. Walking into the kitchen, I set it down on the table. Kim and Alex were still in the living room.

"Everything okay Bos?" she asked. I wasn't sure if my discomfort was that obvious or if she was referring to the condition of ma's place.

"Yeah, everything's fine," I replied. "I just have no idea what ma would want up at the hospital."

"Nothing sticks out in your mind?" Alex asked.

"Other than a bottle of Tequila maybe." I replied.

"I bet her doctor would love that." Kim said laughing.

"How bout a picture?" Alex asked, glancing at a bunch of pictures ma had on a shelf.

"Bos, is this you in this picture?" Kim questioned. Not knowing what picture she was talking about, I went back in the living room.

Yeah, me and my brother, Mikey," I answered.

"Who's older?" she asked.

"Me," I answered. "Mikey was a couple days old when that was taken."

"Aww Bos, you were a cute little guy back then. What were you.about two maybe?"

"Something like that," I answered.

Kim smiled. "Bosco enters his terrible-twos.now there's a scary thought."

"You know Bos, Kim might be onto something." Alex suggested.

I was afraid to ask. Kim did the honors for me.

"See what I figure. You turned two years old.a parent's nightmare- the dreaded terrible twos.. Trouble is, you never got past that. You're still living in the terrible twos." I had to laugh at the comment. Ma would probably agree with the comment. A few others would as well, starting with my partner.

"I didn't know you had a brother," Kim commented, glancing over at me. "Does he even know about your mom?"

"If you were to ask him that question, he'd insist he's an only child." I explained.

"So what happened that make him feel that way?" Alex asked. I swear that girl is writing a book.

"I arrested him for dealing drugs," I said, getting the reaction I got every time I told that story.

"Damn and I thought Jimmy sleeping with my sister was bad," Kim commented.

"Doherty slept with your sister?" I asked, stunned by this piece of news.

"Yeah, that's why he's my ex-husband." Kim explained.

"That'd do it for me," I commented.

"You really arrested your own brother?" Kim asked.

"Yeah I did." I admitted freely. "What the hell was supposed to do? Let him keep selling drugs to junior high school kids?"

"I see your point," Kim admitted.

"Yeah so what about you and your sister? You divorce her too?"

"No, but it's taken a long time for me to get past that."

"Ma's still trying to get past me hauling Mikey's ass in."

"She probably feels like she's stuck in the middle." Kim replied, sounding a lot like a mother. "I think if Joey ever did something like that, I'd be disappointed.very disappointed. But he's still my son and I'd still love him."

"Yeah well Faith's daughter Emily is the same age as some of those Mikey was selling drugs to. If something happened to her and I found out my brother was involved.I can live with myself for arresting him. If something happened to some kids and Mikey was involved.I don't know..it's easier to live with ma's disappointment in me for arresting Mikey."

"Well, if it means anything coming from me, I think you did the right thing." Kim said, a sincere expression on her face.

"That goes for me too Bos." Alex agreed before changing the subject. "So what are you taking to the hospital for your ma?"

"Other than a six pack and a bottle of tequila?" Kim asked.

"I'm about ready for that bottle of tequila myself." I commented, realizing it'd been almost a week since any of us had stopped off for a drink after work.

"Hey, if you feel like stopping off somewhere for a beer, let me know Bos," Kim replied with a grin on her face. "Just give me the keys to your car and I'll be happy to drive you home."

My earlier thought about creating a monster..Kim had just confirmed it.. I still had no idea what to take to ma at the hospital. When the clock in ma's hallway chimed once, I decided to call it a night.

I dropped Alex off at Kim's and headed for home.mine. Ma's heart condition was no longer a life-threatening situation and I figured it was time to get reacquainted with my own bed.

As I entered my apartment, I found an envelope on the floor. It had my name on the front, written in handwriting that was as familiar to me as my own. Can't tell you why but I read the words out loud.

"Just to let you know we're thinking of you"

Inside the card were signatures in an array of colors along with a few smiley faces care of Kim and Alex. I read each one.some with words; some with just a signature. But they were all there: Kim, Alex, Doc, Carlos, Sully, Ty, even Jimmy. It was obvious that Faith had signed the card after everyone else. The last message I read was in her handwriting

'How's it feel to be loved..Faith'

If only she knew!