This is the final chapter. I want to thank every one who gave reviews. I kept all your comments in mind as I wrote it. I hope the ending doesn't disappoint you. Please review and let me know what you think. And I know they used this song in the real show, but after searching hundreds of songs this one fit the best.
**************************************
Chapter 5
"All Wounds Heal"
Previously on my version of Third Watch:
Bosco is starting to miss working with Faith. Faith decides to quit her job. Bosco is injured on a call. Cruz turns her back on her injured partner as she goes after a perp. Fred asks Bosco for help.
*****[It's early morning at the Yokas house]*****
Fred gets up early and gets the kids off to school. He goes into the bedroom and watches Faith as she thrashes in her restless sleep. He sits on the edge of the bed and touches her shoulder gently. She gasps loudly as she pushes him away, startled. She's a little stunned as she says quietly, "Was I dreaming again?"
"Yah. Do you remember what it was about?"
"No...I'm sorry I woke you."
"I was already awake. I'm leaving for work. I just came in to check on you. Maybe you should see someone about these dreams. Isn't there a shrink down at the station you can talk to?"
"I don't need to talk to anyone, it'll go away."
Fred doesn't push the issue because he knows that Bosco is going to talk to her. He actually woke her on purpose so he could mention him to her. He knows that if he tells her Bosco was injured, she'll make the effort to see him and she won't know that he actually set it all up. He tells her, "I didn't want to wake you last night, but the lieutenant called. Bosco got injured."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I am telling you. He wasn't hurt bad, or I would have woke you. It was a dog bite or something. Look...I gotta leave for work or I'm gonna be late." He kisses her forehead and leaves.
Faith gets up and pours a cup of coffee. She sits at the table and thinks about her dream. It's the same thing every night. She's on patrol alone. She is going from call to call, and at each call, she is getting shot at. The only thing that varies in every dream, is the shooter. Sometimes it's Bosco, Sometimes it's Cruz, or Sully. Davis even shot at her one night. It don't take an expert to interpret that dream. She doesn't feel safe on the job, and she doesn't trust any one she works with. The dreams will stop once she quits.
She thinks about how much her life is going to change. She feels like she is waiting for that change to happen...but it already has. This life...right now, is what she has to look forward to every day. She tries to picture herself as a stay at home mom. She says out loud to herself, "Next I'll be having dreams that Fred and the kids are shooting at me." She thinks to herself that she may as well go back to bed. She has no reason to get up anymore. Then she remembers... "Bosco"
Faith calls the hospital to see if he'd been admitted. He hadn't. She picks up the phone to call him at home, but realizes it's too early. It's too early to call anyone that may know anything. She'll just have to wait.
*****[It is the same time of the morning at Bosco's mothers house]*****
Bosco is laying awake in bed in his old room. He thinks of how many nights, like last night, he laid awake worrying in this very room. The only thing that changed was the people that he was worried about. It used to be his mom and his brother Mikey. Now it was Faith, and for once...himself.
His arm is throbbing terribly. He just took a pain killer a half an hour ago, and it isn't working yet. He can't believe how strong that dog was. How hard his bite was. He thinks about that poor little girl being attacked by two of them. It must have been horrible. No wonder Lucas was so upset. Anyone would be. Anyone but Cruz. That heartless bitch! He still can not believe that she left him while he was being attacked. She definitely knew. Either it was more important to her to catch the perp, than to save her partner, or she was afraid and ran out. Her fear is easier to accept...but harder to believe.
He is shaking with anger now, as he thinks about her. She didn't even wait for him at the hospital. That bitch! How did everyone see that in her but him? Even Martin had a low opinion of her, it was obvious by the things he said. And the way he looked at Cruz when he said "I hope your partner recovers quickly." His partner. "Faith..." he says out loud. "You were right...as usual."
He thinks about Faith, and what Fred told him. Every one goes through some emotional shit when they get shot, and Faith can be very emotional. It can't be as serious as Fred thinks. He will talk to her, and worst case, he can take her to the shrink that helped him through his PTST. She'll be alright. He'll be alright...once he has her for a partner again.
*****[In the locker room at the precinct]*****
Sully is getting dressed for his shift. Davis enters, in a really good mood. "Sully my man...what a beautiful day. Or should I say, what a beautiful day to start over."
Sully looks up from folding his shirt and says, "Yah, nice day."
Davis nudges him with his elbow as he grins and raises his eyebrows up and down comically. "C'mon...It's a beautiful day. Say it...say it."
Sully can't help but snicker. "You're in a great mood. What happened, you get a date with the head cheerleader?"
"Oh...Sully with the youngster joke. I'm surprised you know what a cheerleader is. Did they have them for chariot races?.....ohh" He shoots back grinning.
Sully laughs. It feels good. It feels like it used to. As they share a laugh, Cruz storms in and slams her locker open. They get quiet and glance over. She grabs something out of it and slams it shut hard, and storms out.
"ouuu...someone woke up on the wrong side of the 'web' today." Davis says as he simulates a spider with his hands. Sully snickers again, and finishes getting dressed, smiling from ear to ear.
Davis' face gets serious and he says, "Hey man...I'm really glad that you got all squared away with Yokas. I'm proud of you for standing up like that."
"Thanks." Sully gets serious too, "We gotta turn in that report now. I didn't really discuss that with Faith...what we were gonna write in the report about taking so long. Do you think I should?"
"No Sul. Faith is cool. She knows what to say." Then he reaches up and palms Sully on the top of the head, messing his hair. After a few times Sully goes after him, and Davis, looking shocked, runs out of the locker room.
*****[Back at Faith's house]*****
Fred calls Faith from his lunch break and when she answers, he can still hear the same sadness in her voice. "What are you doing honey?"
"Nothing." she tells him.
"Did you get any visitors today?" He asks hopefully.
"No."
"Did you find out anything about Boscarelli?"
"No. He wasn't admitted to the hospital, and there is no answer at his apartment. So there is only one place he could be..."
Before she could say Cruz's, Fred says, "His mom's?"
Faith snaps to attention. "His mom's...of course. That's where he went when he was upset about that 'Shaquana' rape case. I'll call there."
"Why don't you go down there, you haven't been out of the house in a week. Listen...I gotta go, my trucks loaded. I love you."
She tells him she loves him back and hangs up the phone. She starts to look up the phone number to the bar, but then considers what Fred said. She decides to go down there herself.
*****[Back at the precinct]*****
Cruz is sitting on a bench outside the lieutenant's office. The door opens and two detectives walk out. They both stare at Cruz as they pass by. She gets up and walks in the office, carrying a folder.
The lieutenant gives her a stern look. "I asked to see you two hours ago."
"I know, but I was busy. I was waiting for the lab results from forensics so I could bring this report with me." She tosses it on his desk.
He picks it up and starts skimming through it. "I called you in to ask you about yesterday's incident. Where Boscarelli got injured."
"What about it?"
"What the hell happened? Why was animal control not involved?"
"We had no idea that there was a dog on the premises. We didn't hear any barking. I was sure that we had already killed the guy's dogs in the park."
"My next question is...why did Boscarelli have to shoot the dog himself? Where were you?"
"I was chasing the perp. He had run out the back door. And I caught him." She gets a smug look on her face and waves her hand at the report. "It's all in there."
"You also didn't fill out the paperwork for Boscarelli in the hospital. Why is that?"
"He did it himself. At least I figured he did. I left the hospital so I could turn in some very important evidence. I collected some dog hairs from the house, and got them to the lab right away, so I could prove that we had the right guy for the little girls murder." She grins like she is proud of herself. "And guess what? Turns out he is the right guy."
"First of all, I'm writing you up for not following procedure. Your first priority is to protect your partner at all costs."
"Oh...excuse me for wanting so badly to put a killer away. I thought it would make you look good to go public with the news that we caught the guy, and that the park is safe."
He stares at her coldly. "I would also like you to explain to me how the hairs from the dogs we shot in the park, got into the house that you and Bosco raided, when the actual owners of the dogs don't live anywhere near there, and don't know him."
"What? What are you talking about. I got those dog hairs from that house."
"And I have two people in lock up that went to the animal shelter, looking for the two pit bulls that got out of their yard. They have already identified the two dogs. And now, the guy you shot knows nothing about the two dogs we shot, doesn't know the couple that own the two dogs, and couldn't possibly have had hairs from the two dogs in his house."
"Obviously they are lying about knowing each other. They must be working together in the dog fighting ring. Are you trying to accuse me of planting evidence?"
"I just asked for an explanation. But you don't have to give it to me. You can explain it to the detectives that are investigating the case. They are the ones that actually have all the questions. You need to go give them a statement... and I mean right now...not two hours from now." She stands to leave and he says, "One more thing...I need your weapon and your badge. You can have them back when the investigation is finished...if they decide you should get them back."
*****[Later at the bar]*****
Faith walks in feeling a little self conscious. There are two 'bar flys' sitting at the end of the bar, and a familiar looking woman behind it cutting up a lemon. She recognizes her to be Bosco's mother as she sheepishly approaches her.
Bosco's mother looks up from her chore to see this woman walk in, with a black eye, bruised face, and an arm in a sling. She says, "You sure look like you could use a drink, honey. What's your poison?" Then she recognizes her. "Faith, is that you?" She hurries around the bar to her saying, "Oh my God...Maurice didn't say that you'd been hurt too. Did the dog do that to you?"
Faith say's "No this was somethin else." as his mother slips her arm around her shoulder and ushers her to a table.
"Well...if you two are gonna remain partners, you gotta do a better job of watchen out for each other."
"Yes ma'am. We do."
"I'll go tell Maurice that you're here."
She comes back within minutes, and hurries behind the bar to pour them each a glass of coke. Then Bosco appears in the doorway. He also has a sling on his left arm, and the left side of his face is swollen and red, and there are two hair line cuts running down his cheek and under his chin.
He sits across from her at the table and they stare at each other for a moment while his mom sets them up with their drinks. They study each other's battle wounds...the ones you can see and the ones you can't. Bosco speaks first. "You look like hell."
"Yah? Well you look worse. How the hell did you get bit by a dog?"
He gets a sour look on his face, "I didn't get bit by a dog, I was attacked...by a pit bull."
"So how bad is it?"
"My arm is the worst. Tore the muscle and it bit down to the bone. And I got stitches in my face."
"You can hardly see them. They did a nice job." She says studying his face.
After a few moments of awkward silence, he decides to test the water. "I'm gonna be out about six weeks. We'll probably go back to work about the same time." She looks away and doesn't say anything, so he says, "I took your advise and gave ACU another try." Still no response. "I haven't changed my mind. I want to go back on patrol. I want us to be partners again."
"Bosco...I don't think that..."
"Faith, you were right about Cruz. She is a different breed. They have different priorities in ACU. Me and Cruz went to this house to arrest a guy for having dog fighting pit bulls. She wouldn't let me call for backup, she wouldn't let me call in animal control. She didn't want any one else to get credit for her collar. Then we get in there...the perp releases the dog at us and runs out the back door. She leaves me with the dog, to go after the perp. It was more important to her to catch the guy, than it was to protect her partner."
"That Bastard." Faith thinks to herself, that was rotten, even by Cruz's standards. "You know, you don't have to be with Cruz to work in ACU."
"They are all like that in ACU. I can't be that kind of cop. I've had enough. I just want to get back to..."
"Bos...I'm not coming back to work. I've had enough too. I'm quitting."
"No you're not. You don't want to quit."
She looks up at him and then glances away speaking softly. "You know that report on the shooting? Well I really did screw up. It didn't happen in a matter of seconds. I had almost twenty minutes to call that information in. I just forgot. That has been happening a lot lately. I just can't..."
"Twenty minutes? You're wrong. You gotta be. Even Sully could get there in less than twenty minutes."
"He didn't respond. He didn't believe it was real, so he ignored the call. He was mad at me and..."
"That lazy son of a bitch! Are you serious?"
"It's alright, we talked it out. He feels bad about it."
"You're gonna report him aren't you?"
"Are you reporting Cruz?"
They share an understanding look.
"Bos...I don't feel safe out there anymore. I've realized that..."
"Faith, you were in a really bad situation. Nobody would blame you for not thinking of everything. No one expects you to be perfect."
"That's not the point. You've seen it yourself. There are a lot of cops out there with bad attitudes. You start making mistakes on top of that, and people get hurt."
"Those cops have always been out there. We never got hurt when we were partners...not this bad. You know why?" He puts his hand on her hand and she finally looks him in the eye. "Because we take care of each other. I trust you with my life. Always have. You trust me too, don't you? You know I have your back...Right?"
"I don't know Bos...I've ridden with too many Gusslers and Sullys lately. I know that you have my back...when you're available. But...I'm only in your way. I don't want to hold you back."
Bosco looks down and shakes his head. "You're right. I haven't been there for you. You've been out there alone and you almost got killed." Then he looks up and gives her his most sincere look. "I'm sorry...if you knew how I've been beating myself up over the way I've treated you..." She starts to say something but he stops her. "I've paid for the way I acted. I've learned the hard way not to turn my back on the people who really care. I don't feel safe out there without you. I'm telling you...I swear, that I will always be there for you."
He looks her in the eye and says, "Faith...what do ya say? Let's be partners again."
"I don't know. I already told Fred that I'm quitting. And you know how he feels about us being partners."
"Talk to Fred...he'll be ok with it. I'm sure he will."
"Let me think it over. And I will...I'll talk to Fred."
She gets up to leave, and Bosco's mother says, "Faith, are you leaving?"
"Yah. It was good to see you again Mrs. Boscarelli."
"You too dear. And thank your husband again for driving Maurice home from the hospital."
She gives Bosco a surprised look, and he says, "Like I said, I think Fred will be ok with it."
*****[Six weeks later]*****
Lieu is just finishing roll call. Standing next to him is a nice looking young officer in plain clothes. "...that's all I have for you...oh, one more thing, I'd like every one to meet sergeant Parker, Cruz's replacement in ACU. Ok...Everyone be safe out there. Especially 55 David, who are finally back from the injured list." He says smiling.
As the officers begin to shuffle out of the room, they all stop and say some quick greeting to Faith and Bosco, welcoming them back. Sully and Davis also walk up and pat Bosco on the back and Sully hugs Faith. The four of them walk out to the RMPs together and Sully says, "Hey, why don't we meet at Rocco's for our food break, like old times."
They all agree, then climb into their cars, and drive out into the streets. And everything is as it used to be. As it should be.
*[Fleetwood Mac's song "Peacekeeper" starts playing]*
*[We make all of our suns the same. Every one will suffer the fires we made]
*[And they all explode just the same. And there's no going back on the plans we've laid]*
55 David and 55 Charlie are driving up the street. 55David turns left, 55 Charlie turns right.
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
Cruz is cleaning out her desk.
*[Only creatures who are on their way, Ever poison their own well]*
*[And we still have time to hate. And there's still something we can sell]*
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
It is dark out and the officers are pulling into a restaurant together.
*[You know all of our friends are Gods. And they all tell us how to paint our face.]*
*[But there's only one brush we need. It's the one that never leaves a trace.]*
The officers are talking and laughing together, then they all lift their glasses in a toast.
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
~The End~
**************************************
Chapter 5
"All Wounds Heal"
Previously on my version of Third Watch:
Bosco is starting to miss working with Faith. Faith decides to quit her job. Bosco is injured on a call. Cruz turns her back on her injured partner as she goes after a perp. Fred asks Bosco for help.
*****[It's early morning at the Yokas house]*****
Fred gets up early and gets the kids off to school. He goes into the bedroom and watches Faith as she thrashes in her restless sleep. He sits on the edge of the bed and touches her shoulder gently. She gasps loudly as she pushes him away, startled. She's a little stunned as she says quietly, "Was I dreaming again?"
"Yah. Do you remember what it was about?"
"No...I'm sorry I woke you."
"I was already awake. I'm leaving for work. I just came in to check on you. Maybe you should see someone about these dreams. Isn't there a shrink down at the station you can talk to?"
"I don't need to talk to anyone, it'll go away."
Fred doesn't push the issue because he knows that Bosco is going to talk to her. He actually woke her on purpose so he could mention him to her. He knows that if he tells her Bosco was injured, she'll make the effort to see him and she won't know that he actually set it all up. He tells her, "I didn't want to wake you last night, but the lieutenant called. Bosco got injured."
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I am telling you. He wasn't hurt bad, or I would have woke you. It was a dog bite or something. Look...I gotta leave for work or I'm gonna be late." He kisses her forehead and leaves.
Faith gets up and pours a cup of coffee. She sits at the table and thinks about her dream. It's the same thing every night. She's on patrol alone. She is going from call to call, and at each call, she is getting shot at. The only thing that varies in every dream, is the shooter. Sometimes it's Bosco, Sometimes it's Cruz, or Sully. Davis even shot at her one night. It don't take an expert to interpret that dream. She doesn't feel safe on the job, and she doesn't trust any one she works with. The dreams will stop once she quits.
She thinks about how much her life is going to change. She feels like she is waiting for that change to happen...but it already has. This life...right now, is what she has to look forward to every day. She tries to picture herself as a stay at home mom. She says out loud to herself, "Next I'll be having dreams that Fred and the kids are shooting at me." She thinks to herself that she may as well go back to bed. She has no reason to get up anymore. Then she remembers... "Bosco"
Faith calls the hospital to see if he'd been admitted. He hadn't. She picks up the phone to call him at home, but realizes it's too early. It's too early to call anyone that may know anything. She'll just have to wait.
*****[It is the same time of the morning at Bosco's mothers house]*****
Bosco is laying awake in bed in his old room. He thinks of how many nights, like last night, he laid awake worrying in this very room. The only thing that changed was the people that he was worried about. It used to be his mom and his brother Mikey. Now it was Faith, and for once...himself.
His arm is throbbing terribly. He just took a pain killer a half an hour ago, and it isn't working yet. He can't believe how strong that dog was. How hard his bite was. He thinks about that poor little girl being attacked by two of them. It must have been horrible. No wonder Lucas was so upset. Anyone would be. Anyone but Cruz. That heartless bitch! He still can not believe that she left him while he was being attacked. She definitely knew. Either it was more important to her to catch the perp, than to save her partner, or she was afraid and ran out. Her fear is easier to accept...but harder to believe.
He is shaking with anger now, as he thinks about her. She didn't even wait for him at the hospital. That bitch! How did everyone see that in her but him? Even Martin had a low opinion of her, it was obvious by the things he said. And the way he looked at Cruz when he said "I hope your partner recovers quickly." His partner. "Faith..." he says out loud. "You were right...as usual."
He thinks about Faith, and what Fred told him. Every one goes through some emotional shit when they get shot, and Faith can be very emotional. It can't be as serious as Fred thinks. He will talk to her, and worst case, he can take her to the shrink that helped him through his PTST. She'll be alright. He'll be alright...once he has her for a partner again.
*****[In the locker room at the precinct]*****
Sully is getting dressed for his shift. Davis enters, in a really good mood. "Sully my man...what a beautiful day. Or should I say, what a beautiful day to start over."
Sully looks up from folding his shirt and says, "Yah, nice day."
Davis nudges him with his elbow as he grins and raises his eyebrows up and down comically. "C'mon...It's a beautiful day. Say it...say it."
Sully can't help but snicker. "You're in a great mood. What happened, you get a date with the head cheerleader?"
"Oh...Sully with the youngster joke. I'm surprised you know what a cheerleader is. Did they have them for chariot races?.....ohh" He shoots back grinning.
Sully laughs. It feels good. It feels like it used to. As they share a laugh, Cruz storms in and slams her locker open. They get quiet and glance over. She grabs something out of it and slams it shut hard, and storms out.
"ouuu...someone woke up on the wrong side of the 'web' today." Davis says as he simulates a spider with his hands. Sully snickers again, and finishes getting dressed, smiling from ear to ear.
Davis' face gets serious and he says, "Hey man...I'm really glad that you got all squared away with Yokas. I'm proud of you for standing up like that."
"Thanks." Sully gets serious too, "We gotta turn in that report now. I didn't really discuss that with Faith...what we were gonna write in the report about taking so long. Do you think I should?"
"No Sul. Faith is cool. She knows what to say." Then he reaches up and palms Sully on the top of the head, messing his hair. After a few times Sully goes after him, and Davis, looking shocked, runs out of the locker room.
*****[Back at Faith's house]*****
Fred calls Faith from his lunch break and when she answers, he can still hear the same sadness in her voice. "What are you doing honey?"
"Nothing." she tells him.
"Did you get any visitors today?" He asks hopefully.
"No."
"Did you find out anything about Boscarelli?"
"No. He wasn't admitted to the hospital, and there is no answer at his apartment. So there is only one place he could be..."
Before she could say Cruz's, Fred says, "His mom's?"
Faith snaps to attention. "His mom's...of course. That's where he went when he was upset about that 'Shaquana' rape case. I'll call there."
"Why don't you go down there, you haven't been out of the house in a week. Listen...I gotta go, my trucks loaded. I love you."
She tells him she loves him back and hangs up the phone. She starts to look up the phone number to the bar, but then considers what Fred said. She decides to go down there herself.
*****[Back at the precinct]*****
Cruz is sitting on a bench outside the lieutenant's office. The door opens and two detectives walk out. They both stare at Cruz as they pass by. She gets up and walks in the office, carrying a folder.
The lieutenant gives her a stern look. "I asked to see you two hours ago."
"I know, but I was busy. I was waiting for the lab results from forensics so I could bring this report with me." She tosses it on his desk.
He picks it up and starts skimming through it. "I called you in to ask you about yesterday's incident. Where Boscarelli got injured."
"What about it?"
"What the hell happened? Why was animal control not involved?"
"We had no idea that there was a dog on the premises. We didn't hear any barking. I was sure that we had already killed the guy's dogs in the park."
"My next question is...why did Boscarelli have to shoot the dog himself? Where were you?"
"I was chasing the perp. He had run out the back door. And I caught him." She gets a smug look on her face and waves her hand at the report. "It's all in there."
"You also didn't fill out the paperwork for Boscarelli in the hospital. Why is that?"
"He did it himself. At least I figured he did. I left the hospital so I could turn in some very important evidence. I collected some dog hairs from the house, and got them to the lab right away, so I could prove that we had the right guy for the little girls murder." She grins like she is proud of herself. "And guess what? Turns out he is the right guy."
"First of all, I'm writing you up for not following procedure. Your first priority is to protect your partner at all costs."
"Oh...excuse me for wanting so badly to put a killer away. I thought it would make you look good to go public with the news that we caught the guy, and that the park is safe."
He stares at her coldly. "I would also like you to explain to me how the hairs from the dogs we shot in the park, got into the house that you and Bosco raided, when the actual owners of the dogs don't live anywhere near there, and don't know him."
"What? What are you talking about. I got those dog hairs from that house."
"And I have two people in lock up that went to the animal shelter, looking for the two pit bulls that got out of their yard. They have already identified the two dogs. And now, the guy you shot knows nothing about the two dogs we shot, doesn't know the couple that own the two dogs, and couldn't possibly have had hairs from the two dogs in his house."
"Obviously they are lying about knowing each other. They must be working together in the dog fighting ring. Are you trying to accuse me of planting evidence?"
"I just asked for an explanation. But you don't have to give it to me. You can explain it to the detectives that are investigating the case. They are the ones that actually have all the questions. You need to go give them a statement... and I mean right now...not two hours from now." She stands to leave and he says, "One more thing...I need your weapon and your badge. You can have them back when the investigation is finished...if they decide you should get them back."
*****[Later at the bar]*****
Faith walks in feeling a little self conscious. There are two 'bar flys' sitting at the end of the bar, and a familiar looking woman behind it cutting up a lemon. She recognizes her to be Bosco's mother as she sheepishly approaches her.
Bosco's mother looks up from her chore to see this woman walk in, with a black eye, bruised face, and an arm in a sling. She says, "You sure look like you could use a drink, honey. What's your poison?" Then she recognizes her. "Faith, is that you?" She hurries around the bar to her saying, "Oh my God...Maurice didn't say that you'd been hurt too. Did the dog do that to you?"
Faith say's "No this was somethin else." as his mother slips her arm around her shoulder and ushers her to a table.
"Well...if you two are gonna remain partners, you gotta do a better job of watchen out for each other."
"Yes ma'am. We do."
"I'll go tell Maurice that you're here."
She comes back within minutes, and hurries behind the bar to pour them each a glass of coke. Then Bosco appears in the doorway. He also has a sling on his left arm, and the left side of his face is swollen and red, and there are two hair line cuts running down his cheek and under his chin.
He sits across from her at the table and they stare at each other for a moment while his mom sets them up with their drinks. They study each other's battle wounds...the ones you can see and the ones you can't. Bosco speaks first. "You look like hell."
"Yah? Well you look worse. How the hell did you get bit by a dog?"
He gets a sour look on his face, "I didn't get bit by a dog, I was attacked...by a pit bull."
"So how bad is it?"
"My arm is the worst. Tore the muscle and it bit down to the bone. And I got stitches in my face."
"You can hardly see them. They did a nice job." She says studying his face.
After a few moments of awkward silence, he decides to test the water. "I'm gonna be out about six weeks. We'll probably go back to work about the same time." She looks away and doesn't say anything, so he says, "I took your advise and gave ACU another try." Still no response. "I haven't changed my mind. I want to go back on patrol. I want us to be partners again."
"Bosco...I don't think that..."
"Faith, you were right about Cruz. She is a different breed. They have different priorities in ACU. Me and Cruz went to this house to arrest a guy for having dog fighting pit bulls. She wouldn't let me call for backup, she wouldn't let me call in animal control. She didn't want any one else to get credit for her collar. Then we get in there...the perp releases the dog at us and runs out the back door. She leaves me with the dog, to go after the perp. It was more important to her to catch the guy, than it was to protect her partner."
"That Bastard." Faith thinks to herself, that was rotten, even by Cruz's standards. "You know, you don't have to be with Cruz to work in ACU."
"They are all like that in ACU. I can't be that kind of cop. I've had enough. I just want to get back to..."
"Bos...I'm not coming back to work. I've had enough too. I'm quitting."
"No you're not. You don't want to quit."
She looks up at him and then glances away speaking softly. "You know that report on the shooting? Well I really did screw up. It didn't happen in a matter of seconds. I had almost twenty minutes to call that information in. I just forgot. That has been happening a lot lately. I just can't..."
"Twenty minutes? You're wrong. You gotta be. Even Sully could get there in less than twenty minutes."
"He didn't respond. He didn't believe it was real, so he ignored the call. He was mad at me and..."
"That lazy son of a bitch! Are you serious?"
"It's alright, we talked it out. He feels bad about it."
"You're gonna report him aren't you?"
"Are you reporting Cruz?"
They share an understanding look.
"Bos...I don't feel safe out there anymore. I've realized that..."
"Faith, you were in a really bad situation. Nobody would blame you for not thinking of everything. No one expects you to be perfect."
"That's not the point. You've seen it yourself. There are a lot of cops out there with bad attitudes. You start making mistakes on top of that, and people get hurt."
"Those cops have always been out there. We never got hurt when we were partners...not this bad. You know why?" He puts his hand on her hand and she finally looks him in the eye. "Because we take care of each other. I trust you with my life. Always have. You trust me too, don't you? You know I have your back...Right?"
"I don't know Bos...I've ridden with too many Gusslers and Sullys lately. I know that you have my back...when you're available. But...I'm only in your way. I don't want to hold you back."
Bosco looks down and shakes his head. "You're right. I haven't been there for you. You've been out there alone and you almost got killed." Then he looks up and gives her his most sincere look. "I'm sorry...if you knew how I've been beating myself up over the way I've treated you..." She starts to say something but he stops her. "I've paid for the way I acted. I've learned the hard way not to turn my back on the people who really care. I don't feel safe out there without you. I'm telling you...I swear, that I will always be there for you."
He looks her in the eye and says, "Faith...what do ya say? Let's be partners again."
"I don't know. I already told Fred that I'm quitting. And you know how he feels about us being partners."
"Talk to Fred...he'll be ok with it. I'm sure he will."
"Let me think it over. And I will...I'll talk to Fred."
She gets up to leave, and Bosco's mother says, "Faith, are you leaving?"
"Yah. It was good to see you again Mrs. Boscarelli."
"You too dear. And thank your husband again for driving Maurice home from the hospital."
She gives Bosco a surprised look, and he says, "Like I said, I think Fred will be ok with it."
*****[Six weeks later]*****
Lieu is just finishing roll call. Standing next to him is a nice looking young officer in plain clothes. "...that's all I have for you...oh, one more thing, I'd like every one to meet sergeant Parker, Cruz's replacement in ACU. Ok...Everyone be safe out there. Especially 55 David, who are finally back from the injured list." He says smiling.
As the officers begin to shuffle out of the room, they all stop and say some quick greeting to Faith and Bosco, welcoming them back. Sully and Davis also walk up and pat Bosco on the back and Sully hugs Faith. The four of them walk out to the RMPs together and Sully says, "Hey, why don't we meet at Rocco's for our food break, like old times."
They all agree, then climb into their cars, and drive out into the streets. And everything is as it used to be. As it should be.
*[Fleetwood Mac's song "Peacekeeper" starts playing]*
*[We make all of our suns the same. Every one will suffer the fires we made]
*[And they all explode just the same. And there's no going back on the plans we've laid]*
55 David and 55 Charlie are driving up the street. 55David turns left, 55 Charlie turns right.
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
Cruz is cleaning out her desk.
*[Only creatures who are on their way, Ever poison their own well]*
*[And we still have time to hate. And there's still something we can sell]*
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
It is dark out and the officers are pulling into a restaurant together.
*[You know all of our friends are Gods. And they all tell us how to paint our face.]*
*[But there's only one brush we need. It's the one that never leaves a trace.]*
The officers are talking and laughing together, then they all lift their glasses in a toast.
*[Peacekeeper take your time. Wait for the dark of night. Soon all the suns will rise.]*
*[Peacekeeper don't tell why. Don't be afraid to fight. Love is a sweet surprise]*
~The End~