Note: From this point on it will be from my own mind, because obviously,
there is nothing for me to go off of. Some of the terms aka calls, wont be
correct so, get over it and read the story anyway! Enjoy the story::
Chapter 2- Starting Over isn't always easy to do
Bosco couldn't have described the relief he felt, walking away from a steaming Cruz. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Like he had been given a medal, or had just made a good morning run. The air seemed cleaner, and he couldn't stop smiling.
Faith looked over at Bosco, who was now driving their old RMP. It felt weird to have him back, after so long of not seeing him, nor wanting to talk to him, she finally felt a great wall broken down.
"Hey Jag off! They invented sidewalks!" Bosco hit the side of the car, almost making Faith laugh. This was just like old times, when everything in the world was right again. But, it wasn't, Faith knew that. Bosco and her could never be like they used to be, laughing and joking, complaining about the rotten night, or morning they had. They would still talk, sure, but nothing would ever be like the innocent nagging or annoyances they used to have together. Faith was going to miss those things. If she knew Bosco though, he'd be annoying her within the hour, and she'd be making fun of his walk, or his voice, even falling in love with the wrong girl. That's what she wanted.
"What are you thinking?" Faith snapped out of her thoughts, Bosco was talking to her. She turned to look at him again. He looked nothing like he used to. Older, worn out, wiser even. But, deep within those eyes, she saw the sparkle that had made her love him in the first place. It had never been about getting together. She couldn't ever be with someone whom she thought of as family, as a son. It was just that devilish smile, when he knew very well he was making her mad, or, he had just got done watching someone do something stupid. It was that light in his eyes, making him seem younger, happier, possibly more fun to be around. She knew in her heart that, he'd never lose it. No matter how much he went through in his life, no matter how hard starting over was, whatever it was, he'd always have that light, guiding his way along yet, another journey. He'd have it until the day he died. Faith silently prayed that, she'd never live to see that day. She knew it was stupid to think of Bosco in this way, at a time like this. But, she couldn't help but wonder, how can something so small, so unnoticeable to everyone else, be so important to her, for him to keep.
"Faith?" She had gotten lost in her own mind again. She hadn't done that since Bosco had last driven with her. "What?" She asked quickly, pretending to look out the window for any signs of trouble. Bosco looked ahead, "Why did you do it?" To be truthful, Bosco hadn't seen any reason for her to have done what she did. He had done everything to tick her off in the past few weeks. First, with Cruz, then, excepting the idea to find another partner, going against her advice, that asking for her help again later on. He couldn't put his finger on how she could still help him. Bosco could guess a perp, a mile away, but Faith, somehow after all of these years, she still boggled him.
"You needed help." She said simply. She didn't see the point in telling Bosco the whole story. How she regretted saying no to him, how she told him she didn't care what he did anymore, to get a new partner, that she had her own life, and he needed to deal with his life without her. She had never meant to say these things. She had let Fred get to her, her mind get to her. While her heart was telling her the opposite all along.
"Bosco," She finally said, after making herself forget all that she wanted to tell him, "can we just not talk for a while? A long while?" Bosco nodded his head, "Yeah. Just let me know when I can annoy you again." He smiled her way, and she smiled back. They didn't need words to show they were happy to be back on rounds together, just being friends again. The confusion was slowly starting to stir, as they silently decided, to turn over a new leaf.
It had been a half an hour, with no perp, no action, no sound. Nothing to keep they occupied, but an awkward silence, and the light breeze outside.
"Fifty five David, respond to a ten thirteen, Oakland Avenue." The radio made Bosco and Faith jump. Faith turned on the siren, and the lights reflected in the windows, as they flew by.
"Over here!" Sully screamed at them, as soon as they got out of their car.
They stood for a moment, not understanding why he was ordering them to do this. Then, they saw it. Some tall dark figure slowly emerged from a doorway, in front of the restaurant.
Faith ducked behind Sully's and Davis' car, leaving her to wonder where Bosco went.
Bosco didn't pull his gun. He knew there were plenty of officers already doing so. Instead, he made his way calmly, towards the man.
"What the hell is he doing?" Sully asked no one in particular, keeping a worried eye on Bosco. "What is this?" Faith said, out of breath. Sully didn't take his eye off Bosco, and explained. "Someone called and said an officer was shot in this restaurant, making the ten thirteen. When we got here," Faith knew he meant Davis, "the guys in fifty five John, informed us nobody was actually hit. The gunmen, who everyone is calling Gary, just wanted the attention, and is now holding everyone in the place hostage." He finished, just as Bosco took another step toward Gary.
"Put the gun down." Bosco had had enough with stand-off's. Instead of waiting until something bad happened, he was going to try and make something better out of the situation.
"Get down Bosco!" Sully couldn't believe how stupid Bosco was being. Bosco paid no attention to him.
"Nobody has to get hurt here. What do you want?" Faith and Davis both did a double take. Was that really Bosco? Maybe someone had programmed him, or threatened him. Bosco would never be this calm, this easy-going, with a perp.
Sully started to move. He was going to get Bosco out of there. Then, when they were alone, he was going to shoot him, himself.
Just as he tried to make a dash, the gunmen fired three shots. Bosco fell to the ground, hitting his head slightly. He had just dodged the bullets. He didn't know how, he didn't care. He was alive, and there was still hope for a peaceful ending to this.
Bosco got back up, and continued to walk towards the gunmen.
"I swear to God, I'm going to kill that kid." Sully cursed under his breath. Davis looked at Sully, then, back to Bosco. He had been thinking the same thing. Bosco was entirely used to making them all annoyed, shocked, confused, and worried. There weren't enough emotions to describe what you went through with Bosco.
Bosco wasn't giving up. If there was one thing that his father taught him, within his beatings, it was, never to let a terrorist win.
"Put down the gun, we can talk about this. They won't shoot you." Bosco waved his hand back towards his colleagues, who did not appreciate him volunteering them for anything.
The gunmen looked at Bosco. He knew he had a gun, he knew he could be using it, be taking a shot. So why wasn't he? He was surrounded, he knew he was going to go down, why didn't they just take him down. Why would an officer be standing up for him, or to him?
The gunmen lowered his weapon, only some. He waited for shots to be fired at him. Little did they know, he had three vests on, having been through this before, he wasn't stupid.
Bosco held his hands out in front of him, showing the man that he wasn't going to try anything. Sully, Faith, and Davis, however, had different plans. When Bosco had waved everyone to put their guns down, they only did for a moment. But as soon as Bosco had turned around, once again facing the man, they had all put them back up onto the car. They weren't stupid either, having dealt with Bosco for more then five years now.
Bosco breathed, as he kept taking small steps towards the man. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, once up there by Gary.
That's when it happened. Another cruiser had just pulled up, the officers drew their guns, shot at the man. The man, with no direct target, except Bosco, clicked the trigger five times.
Davis and Faith sat there in shock, not even able to register what was happening. It was Sully, who's mouth was open, screaming something. Bosco couldn't make out his words. Sully flew towards his partner. No matter how stupid that kid was, he was going to stand behind him, while on the line of duty.
The jersey Bosco had been wearing, was orange, with green stripes outlining it, and colored white. He and Faith had been ordered undercover, and Faith had been the only one to change. That shirt, was now splattered with blood, smeared, and thick.
Bosco didn't register what happened either. He stood there, until he felt himself slowly falling the pavement, once again. But, before he could reach it, he made himself stand tall. If he was going to go down, he'd do it, like a man.
Sully thought it took forever for him to reach Bosco. He had always laughed at the slow moments, the climax' in the movies, knowing that, life didn't happen in that fashion. He was wrong.
Gary saw Sully coming for Bosco, and he panicked. As he pointed the gun at him, Bosco jerked his head from the revolver, to Sully, who was almost right beside him now.
Before anyone could breathe, conceive, or even think, Bosco made a heroic move. With the last bit of energy he had, he flung himself in front of Sully, who realized only realized moments after, that shots were fired at him. Bosco took the third bullet, now landing on top of Sully.
Faith and Davis made themselves come back to reality. Their partners needed them, this wasn't a TV show, this wasn't a movie, or a book. This, was life, their lives. Now.
In Unison, Faith and Davis, along with the other ten officers, all shot at Gary. Gary was finally taken down, receiving a total of seven bullets. He was dead, before he reached the ground.
Bosco laid on Sully's body, opening his mouth, but too shocked to say a word.
Sully shook his head, and clasped his hand to it. He was alright, he was alive. That's when he remembered. Bosco had jumped in front of the bullet. Bosco had saved his life. Bosco had saved all of their lives. He was truly a hero, no matter how much of a dumbass, or smartass he was, he would forever be known for today, as a hero, in Sully's wise eyes.
"Bosco!" Sully rolled out from under him. He laid him on the pavement. Bosco was still breathing, but was plainly shocked. "Bosco?" Sully had never seen this face before from him. He remembered when Bosco had had his panic attacks, the helpless, defenseless look in his eyes, on his face. He never wanted to see that look again, as long as he lived.
"Bosco, talk to me." Sully panicked this time, as Faith and Davis ran over.
Faith slammed herself down onto the ground, next to her partner. Davis prayed he wouldn't see Bosco die. Die, the way Alex did. He couldn't take the pain of losing someone else he loved or cared about.
"Bosco! Talk to me!" Faith screamed, repeating what Sully had just said. She put her hands on his face. His eyes seemed to droop, as though he was falling asleep. "Oh my God, no.." Faith cried. Sully took something out of his belt and cut the jersey Bosco was wearing. He found out, Bosco had been wearing a vest. Sully and Faith looked at each other, with a glimpse of hope. Davis kneeled down on the opposite side of Bosco.
"Please tell me.." Sully didn't need Faith to finish the sentence. He felt around the vest, under it, behind it. Bosco had taken two bullets, another, just glazed his skin. One bullet, having made it all the way in, was in his lower abdomen, the other, by his right shoulder. Faith couldn't have said anything, even if she had been able to feel it.
Sully held his hand to Bosco's stomach. "How many?" Bosco was awake, and had clearly processed what had happened to him. Sully prayed the EMS got here soon, and sure enough, just as he told him, "two," Doc and Kim came running to them.
Bosco shook his head slightly, and took a deep breath. Sully couldn't believe Bosco was taking the news this well.
"I knew the last one hit me." He whispered, not really meaning for anyone to hear it. But all three of them had, Sully feeling guilty, that he had caused it. He also felt angry with himself, that he hadn't taken it, knowing he could have shoved Bosco out of the way.
"You're going to be ok." Sully choked. He never choked, nor cried, in front of anyone, maybe a couple of times in front of Davis, without knowing it. But, knowingly, he never had before. He fought against everything he was, and everything he knew, to keep from exploding. He knew Bosco didn't need to see him upset, it wouldn't be right. Bosco was a hero, heroes don't deserve to see others cry. That's what he thought.
"I know, Sull." Bosco said quietly. He patted Sully's shaking hand. Sully could have kicked himself. He was letting Bosco console him, when Bosco, was the one shot. What kind of person was he?
"Oh my God." Were Doc's first words, as he looked down on Bosco. Bosco looked up, and even managed a small grin. He was too numb from the blood he had lost, to really get carried away with the pain he was sure he was receiving now.
"Hey to you, too." Bosco looked at him. Doc smiled, as much as he could. He had caused Alex' death, he wasn't about to lose Bosco. He had barely kept his job, but, the day after Alex had died, a family came to the firehouse, reminding him why he loved what he did. He knew then, deep down, Alex would never want him to quit. Not on her account. That would be an insult to her memory.
Doc put a patch onto Bosco's lower abdomen, and Kim, did the same to his shoulder.
"You look good Kim." Bosco grinned again. Kim couldn't help but smiling. "Not so shabby yourself, Boz." She regretted she had said it at the time she did, but, Bosco took it as a compliment. "So you'll go get a drink with me later then?" They all looked at Bosco, and then, at each other. They had no idea how he was pulling this off. Bosco could charm a fish, right out of the fishbowl. "Promise me you'll get better, and then, ill consider it." Kim pulled at his cheek. "Can't ask for more then that." Bosco mumbled.
Doc and Kim asked Davis and Sully to help load Bosco into the back of their bus. They saw Faith practically throwing herself at him, and they thought she might drop him, on the way.
After he was loaded into the back, Doc asked Faith is she'd go with them to the hospital. "The RMP.." She began, but Sully cut her off, by shaking his head. "There are at least ten officers here Faith. Go with Bosco. We'll meet you there." She nodded, thanked Sully quietly, and stepped into the bus. They were on there way.
Chapter 2- Starting Over isn't always easy to do
Bosco couldn't have described the relief he felt, walking away from a steaming Cruz. It was like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Like he had been given a medal, or had just made a good morning run. The air seemed cleaner, and he couldn't stop smiling.
Faith looked over at Bosco, who was now driving their old RMP. It felt weird to have him back, after so long of not seeing him, nor wanting to talk to him, she finally felt a great wall broken down.
"Hey Jag off! They invented sidewalks!" Bosco hit the side of the car, almost making Faith laugh. This was just like old times, when everything in the world was right again. But, it wasn't, Faith knew that. Bosco and her could never be like they used to be, laughing and joking, complaining about the rotten night, or morning they had. They would still talk, sure, but nothing would ever be like the innocent nagging or annoyances they used to have together. Faith was going to miss those things. If she knew Bosco though, he'd be annoying her within the hour, and she'd be making fun of his walk, or his voice, even falling in love with the wrong girl. That's what she wanted.
"What are you thinking?" Faith snapped out of her thoughts, Bosco was talking to her. She turned to look at him again. He looked nothing like he used to. Older, worn out, wiser even. But, deep within those eyes, she saw the sparkle that had made her love him in the first place. It had never been about getting together. She couldn't ever be with someone whom she thought of as family, as a son. It was just that devilish smile, when he knew very well he was making her mad, or, he had just got done watching someone do something stupid. It was that light in his eyes, making him seem younger, happier, possibly more fun to be around. She knew in her heart that, he'd never lose it. No matter how much he went through in his life, no matter how hard starting over was, whatever it was, he'd always have that light, guiding his way along yet, another journey. He'd have it until the day he died. Faith silently prayed that, she'd never live to see that day. She knew it was stupid to think of Bosco in this way, at a time like this. But, she couldn't help but wonder, how can something so small, so unnoticeable to everyone else, be so important to her, for him to keep.
"Faith?" She had gotten lost in her own mind again. She hadn't done that since Bosco had last driven with her. "What?" She asked quickly, pretending to look out the window for any signs of trouble. Bosco looked ahead, "Why did you do it?" To be truthful, Bosco hadn't seen any reason for her to have done what she did. He had done everything to tick her off in the past few weeks. First, with Cruz, then, excepting the idea to find another partner, going against her advice, that asking for her help again later on. He couldn't put his finger on how she could still help him. Bosco could guess a perp, a mile away, but Faith, somehow after all of these years, she still boggled him.
"You needed help." She said simply. She didn't see the point in telling Bosco the whole story. How she regretted saying no to him, how she told him she didn't care what he did anymore, to get a new partner, that she had her own life, and he needed to deal with his life without her. She had never meant to say these things. She had let Fred get to her, her mind get to her. While her heart was telling her the opposite all along.
"Bosco," She finally said, after making herself forget all that she wanted to tell him, "can we just not talk for a while? A long while?" Bosco nodded his head, "Yeah. Just let me know when I can annoy you again." He smiled her way, and she smiled back. They didn't need words to show they were happy to be back on rounds together, just being friends again. The confusion was slowly starting to stir, as they silently decided, to turn over a new leaf.
It had been a half an hour, with no perp, no action, no sound. Nothing to keep they occupied, but an awkward silence, and the light breeze outside.
"Fifty five David, respond to a ten thirteen, Oakland Avenue." The radio made Bosco and Faith jump. Faith turned on the siren, and the lights reflected in the windows, as they flew by.
"Over here!" Sully screamed at them, as soon as they got out of their car.
They stood for a moment, not understanding why he was ordering them to do this. Then, they saw it. Some tall dark figure slowly emerged from a doorway, in front of the restaurant.
Faith ducked behind Sully's and Davis' car, leaving her to wonder where Bosco went.
Bosco didn't pull his gun. He knew there were plenty of officers already doing so. Instead, he made his way calmly, towards the man.
"What the hell is he doing?" Sully asked no one in particular, keeping a worried eye on Bosco. "What is this?" Faith said, out of breath. Sully didn't take his eye off Bosco, and explained. "Someone called and said an officer was shot in this restaurant, making the ten thirteen. When we got here," Faith knew he meant Davis, "the guys in fifty five John, informed us nobody was actually hit. The gunmen, who everyone is calling Gary, just wanted the attention, and is now holding everyone in the place hostage." He finished, just as Bosco took another step toward Gary.
"Put the gun down." Bosco had had enough with stand-off's. Instead of waiting until something bad happened, he was going to try and make something better out of the situation.
"Get down Bosco!" Sully couldn't believe how stupid Bosco was being. Bosco paid no attention to him.
"Nobody has to get hurt here. What do you want?" Faith and Davis both did a double take. Was that really Bosco? Maybe someone had programmed him, or threatened him. Bosco would never be this calm, this easy-going, with a perp.
Sully started to move. He was going to get Bosco out of there. Then, when they were alone, he was going to shoot him, himself.
Just as he tried to make a dash, the gunmen fired three shots. Bosco fell to the ground, hitting his head slightly. He had just dodged the bullets. He didn't know how, he didn't care. He was alive, and there was still hope for a peaceful ending to this.
Bosco got back up, and continued to walk towards the gunmen.
"I swear to God, I'm going to kill that kid." Sully cursed under his breath. Davis looked at Sully, then, back to Bosco. He had been thinking the same thing. Bosco was entirely used to making them all annoyed, shocked, confused, and worried. There weren't enough emotions to describe what you went through with Bosco.
Bosco wasn't giving up. If there was one thing that his father taught him, within his beatings, it was, never to let a terrorist win.
"Put down the gun, we can talk about this. They won't shoot you." Bosco waved his hand back towards his colleagues, who did not appreciate him volunteering them for anything.
The gunmen looked at Bosco. He knew he had a gun, he knew he could be using it, be taking a shot. So why wasn't he? He was surrounded, he knew he was going to go down, why didn't they just take him down. Why would an officer be standing up for him, or to him?
The gunmen lowered his weapon, only some. He waited for shots to be fired at him. Little did they know, he had three vests on, having been through this before, he wasn't stupid.
Bosco held his hands out in front of him, showing the man that he wasn't going to try anything. Sully, Faith, and Davis, however, had different plans. When Bosco had waved everyone to put their guns down, they only did for a moment. But as soon as Bosco had turned around, once again facing the man, they had all put them back up onto the car. They weren't stupid either, having dealt with Bosco for more then five years now.
Bosco breathed, as he kept taking small steps towards the man. He wasn't sure what he was going to do, once up there by Gary.
That's when it happened. Another cruiser had just pulled up, the officers drew their guns, shot at the man. The man, with no direct target, except Bosco, clicked the trigger five times.
Davis and Faith sat there in shock, not even able to register what was happening. It was Sully, who's mouth was open, screaming something. Bosco couldn't make out his words. Sully flew towards his partner. No matter how stupid that kid was, he was going to stand behind him, while on the line of duty.
The jersey Bosco had been wearing, was orange, with green stripes outlining it, and colored white. He and Faith had been ordered undercover, and Faith had been the only one to change. That shirt, was now splattered with blood, smeared, and thick.
Bosco didn't register what happened either. He stood there, until he felt himself slowly falling the pavement, once again. But, before he could reach it, he made himself stand tall. If he was going to go down, he'd do it, like a man.
Sully thought it took forever for him to reach Bosco. He had always laughed at the slow moments, the climax' in the movies, knowing that, life didn't happen in that fashion. He was wrong.
Gary saw Sully coming for Bosco, and he panicked. As he pointed the gun at him, Bosco jerked his head from the revolver, to Sully, who was almost right beside him now.
Before anyone could breathe, conceive, or even think, Bosco made a heroic move. With the last bit of energy he had, he flung himself in front of Sully, who realized only realized moments after, that shots were fired at him. Bosco took the third bullet, now landing on top of Sully.
Faith and Davis made themselves come back to reality. Their partners needed them, this wasn't a TV show, this wasn't a movie, or a book. This, was life, their lives. Now.
In Unison, Faith and Davis, along with the other ten officers, all shot at Gary. Gary was finally taken down, receiving a total of seven bullets. He was dead, before he reached the ground.
Bosco laid on Sully's body, opening his mouth, but too shocked to say a word.
Sully shook his head, and clasped his hand to it. He was alright, he was alive. That's when he remembered. Bosco had jumped in front of the bullet. Bosco had saved his life. Bosco had saved all of their lives. He was truly a hero, no matter how much of a dumbass, or smartass he was, he would forever be known for today, as a hero, in Sully's wise eyes.
"Bosco!" Sully rolled out from under him. He laid him on the pavement. Bosco was still breathing, but was plainly shocked. "Bosco?" Sully had never seen this face before from him. He remembered when Bosco had had his panic attacks, the helpless, defenseless look in his eyes, on his face. He never wanted to see that look again, as long as he lived.
"Bosco, talk to me." Sully panicked this time, as Faith and Davis ran over.
Faith slammed herself down onto the ground, next to her partner. Davis prayed he wouldn't see Bosco die. Die, the way Alex did. He couldn't take the pain of losing someone else he loved or cared about.
"Bosco! Talk to me!" Faith screamed, repeating what Sully had just said. She put her hands on his face. His eyes seemed to droop, as though he was falling asleep. "Oh my God, no.." Faith cried. Sully took something out of his belt and cut the jersey Bosco was wearing. He found out, Bosco had been wearing a vest. Sully and Faith looked at each other, with a glimpse of hope. Davis kneeled down on the opposite side of Bosco.
"Please tell me.." Sully didn't need Faith to finish the sentence. He felt around the vest, under it, behind it. Bosco had taken two bullets, another, just glazed his skin. One bullet, having made it all the way in, was in his lower abdomen, the other, by his right shoulder. Faith couldn't have said anything, even if she had been able to feel it.
Sully held his hand to Bosco's stomach. "How many?" Bosco was awake, and had clearly processed what had happened to him. Sully prayed the EMS got here soon, and sure enough, just as he told him, "two," Doc and Kim came running to them.
Bosco shook his head slightly, and took a deep breath. Sully couldn't believe Bosco was taking the news this well.
"I knew the last one hit me." He whispered, not really meaning for anyone to hear it. But all three of them had, Sully feeling guilty, that he had caused it. He also felt angry with himself, that he hadn't taken it, knowing he could have shoved Bosco out of the way.
"You're going to be ok." Sully choked. He never choked, nor cried, in front of anyone, maybe a couple of times in front of Davis, without knowing it. But, knowingly, he never had before. He fought against everything he was, and everything he knew, to keep from exploding. He knew Bosco didn't need to see him upset, it wouldn't be right. Bosco was a hero, heroes don't deserve to see others cry. That's what he thought.
"I know, Sull." Bosco said quietly. He patted Sully's shaking hand. Sully could have kicked himself. He was letting Bosco console him, when Bosco, was the one shot. What kind of person was he?
"Oh my God." Were Doc's first words, as he looked down on Bosco. Bosco looked up, and even managed a small grin. He was too numb from the blood he had lost, to really get carried away with the pain he was sure he was receiving now.
"Hey to you, too." Bosco looked at him. Doc smiled, as much as he could. He had caused Alex' death, he wasn't about to lose Bosco. He had barely kept his job, but, the day after Alex had died, a family came to the firehouse, reminding him why he loved what he did. He knew then, deep down, Alex would never want him to quit. Not on her account. That would be an insult to her memory.
Doc put a patch onto Bosco's lower abdomen, and Kim, did the same to his shoulder.
"You look good Kim." Bosco grinned again. Kim couldn't help but smiling. "Not so shabby yourself, Boz." She regretted she had said it at the time she did, but, Bosco took it as a compliment. "So you'll go get a drink with me later then?" They all looked at Bosco, and then, at each other. They had no idea how he was pulling this off. Bosco could charm a fish, right out of the fishbowl. "Promise me you'll get better, and then, ill consider it." Kim pulled at his cheek. "Can't ask for more then that." Bosco mumbled.
Doc and Kim asked Davis and Sully to help load Bosco into the back of their bus. They saw Faith practically throwing herself at him, and they thought she might drop him, on the way.
After he was loaded into the back, Doc asked Faith is she'd go with them to the hospital. "The RMP.." She began, but Sully cut her off, by shaking his head. "There are at least ten officers here Faith. Go with Bosco. We'll meet you there." She nodded, thanked Sully quietly, and stepped into the bus. They were on there way.