Faith was driving down 3rd street, weaving in and out of traffic. She
hadn't slept at all the previous night and saw Bosco's apartment building
going up in flames on the morning news. She tried calling him on his cell,
but got no answer.
The drive from her place to Bosco's was in reality only about 10 minutes
but seemed like an eternity today. She finally reached his building and
parked the car when she saw him standing outside, waving his gun around.
"I just saved your life and now you're pulling a gun on me!" Jimmy was really starting to regret doing a double shift.
"Bosco!" Faith walked up behind him. She wondered what Jimmy had said this time that would make Bosco want to shoot him.
He lowered his gun and turned to look at Faith. "He's still in there. He tried to save me Faith, he tried to save me and look where it got him"
"Who's still in there Bos?"
"Copper. I tried to grab his collar but...I couldn't" he had a blank look on his face and was staring at the ground.
Jimmy approached them, radio in hand "DK's still in there looking for people, I told him about the dog. He said he'll try to find him"
Faith moved closer to Bosco, placing a hand on his arm "I'm sure they'll get him out, this isn't your fault"
"Yes, it is. I left him there. I just couldn't stay awake.." he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Each minute felt like an hour as they both waited, eyes fixed on the building door looking for any sign of the dog.
DK suddenly emerged from the building, carrying a lifeless Copper in his arms. Both Bosco and Faith rushed over to him as he laid the dog on the ground, motioning for the paramedics. They watched as Kim placed an oxygen mask over the dog's muzzle and started compressions on his chest. Faith grabbed Bosco's hand, giving it a short squeeze. "He'll make it" she said.
"I've got a rhythm, it's slow but it's there. You need to take him to a vet, nearest one is a mile that way on your right" Kim pointed down the street as Bosco scooped up his dog. "Here, take the oxygen bag with you and keep the mask over his nose"
With Faith right behind him, he slid into the back seat of her car, placing the dog in his lap.
It had been 3 hours since they arrived at the vet. Bosco was sitting in a very uncomfortable plastic chair, resting his elbows on his knees and staring at the linoleum. He looked up to see Faith coming through the door with carryout coffee in each hand.
"They only had decaf, but it's better than that chocolate flavored stuff they had" She said handing him a cup. "Any word yet?"
"No, they won't tell me anything. Thanks for the coffee" He took a sip and grimaced at the taste, silently wishing for the chocolate stuff instead.
"You know there's nothing else you could have done, right?" Even if he wouldn't say it, she knew he was attached to the dog and it tore her up inside to see him so upset.
"There was smoke everywhere. I was sleeping and he woke me up, if he didn't.....I never should have taken him home with me Faith, if I didn't take 'em, then he wouldn't be in there half dead right now."
"I don't think you had much choice in the matter Bos. He adopted you." Faith saw the vet approaching them and stood up, tapping Bosco on the shoulder.
"He inhaled a lot of smoke but luckily there were no burns. We got him up and walking around a few minutes ago and he's resting in the back now. It will take a few days for him to get back to normal, but he should be fine" The vet smiled at them.
"Can we see him?" Bosco asked, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Of course just follow me"
Thumping of a tail could be heard echoing throughout the room as Copper spotted his owner. Bosco unlatched the door and reached in to pet him, causing the dog to roll over onto his side, begging for a belly rub.
"I'm sorry I didn't go back for you."
Copper placed his paw on top of Bosco's hand and stared up at him with forgiving eyes.
"Ya know your all sooty now, you're gonna need a bath when we get home" Bosco smirked at him.
"Grumble"
"Sorry, that's the way it's gotta be if you want to keep sleepin on the bed"
"Woof"
Faith smiled, finally Bosco found someone who could understand him. It was a match made in heaven.
*************************
The End
"I just saved your life and now you're pulling a gun on me!" Jimmy was really starting to regret doing a double shift.
"Bosco!" Faith walked up behind him. She wondered what Jimmy had said this time that would make Bosco want to shoot him.
He lowered his gun and turned to look at Faith. "He's still in there. He tried to save me Faith, he tried to save me and look where it got him"
"Who's still in there Bos?"
"Copper. I tried to grab his collar but...I couldn't" he had a blank look on his face and was staring at the ground.
Jimmy approached them, radio in hand "DK's still in there looking for people, I told him about the dog. He said he'll try to find him"
Faith moved closer to Bosco, placing a hand on his arm "I'm sure they'll get him out, this isn't your fault"
"Yes, it is. I left him there. I just couldn't stay awake.." he trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
Each minute felt like an hour as they both waited, eyes fixed on the building door looking for any sign of the dog.
DK suddenly emerged from the building, carrying a lifeless Copper in his arms. Both Bosco and Faith rushed over to him as he laid the dog on the ground, motioning for the paramedics. They watched as Kim placed an oxygen mask over the dog's muzzle and started compressions on his chest. Faith grabbed Bosco's hand, giving it a short squeeze. "He'll make it" she said.
"I've got a rhythm, it's slow but it's there. You need to take him to a vet, nearest one is a mile that way on your right" Kim pointed down the street as Bosco scooped up his dog. "Here, take the oxygen bag with you and keep the mask over his nose"
With Faith right behind him, he slid into the back seat of her car, placing the dog in his lap.
It had been 3 hours since they arrived at the vet. Bosco was sitting in a very uncomfortable plastic chair, resting his elbows on his knees and staring at the linoleum. He looked up to see Faith coming through the door with carryout coffee in each hand.
"They only had decaf, but it's better than that chocolate flavored stuff they had" She said handing him a cup. "Any word yet?"
"No, they won't tell me anything. Thanks for the coffee" He took a sip and grimaced at the taste, silently wishing for the chocolate stuff instead.
"You know there's nothing else you could have done, right?" Even if he wouldn't say it, she knew he was attached to the dog and it tore her up inside to see him so upset.
"There was smoke everywhere. I was sleeping and he woke me up, if he didn't.....I never should have taken him home with me Faith, if I didn't take 'em, then he wouldn't be in there half dead right now."
"I don't think you had much choice in the matter Bos. He adopted you." Faith saw the vet approaching them and stood up, tapping Bosco on the shoulder.
"He inhaled a lot of smoke but luckily there were no burns. We got him up and walking around a few minutes ago and he's resting in the back now. It will take a few days for him to get back to normal, but he should be fine" The vet smiled at them.
"Can we see him?" Bosco asked, letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Of course just follow me"
Thumping of a tail could be heard echoing throughout the room as Copper spotted his owner. Bosco unlatched the door and reached in to pet him, causing the dog to roll over onto his side, begging for a belly rub.
"I'm sorry I didn't go back for you."
Copper placed his paw on top of Bosco's hand and stared up at him with forgiving eyes.
"Ya know your all sooty now, you're gonna need a bath when we get home" Bosco smirked at him.
"Grumble"
"Sorry, that's the way it's gotta be if you want to keep sleepin on the bed"
"Woof"
Faith smiled, finally Bosco found someone who could understand him. It was a match made in heaven.
*************************
The End