Author's note: Well, here we go, I guess this is what you guys were waiting for. Hope I live up to your expectations... :) Good news is, this is NOT the last chapter. The original chapter was too long, and then I came up with a small scene that I realized was the perfect end, so I'm going to post an epilogue in a couple of days. For now, enjoy our favourite duo finally together and thanks for the great feedback!
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Chapter eleven – Reunion
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"What am I doing here?" Faith asked herself as she parked her truck near the bus station in Providence and switched the engine off.
She rested her elbow against the bottom of the window and sat there, eyes closed. Here she was, after driving all the way up to Rhode Island all by herself, hoping to find her partner, work things out and bring him back home.
She'd asked the Lieutenant to let her try and locate him rather than notify the local PD. If he was still here and didn't know they'd solved the case they could easily scare him away, and then finding him would be even more difficult than it actually was.
She got out of the car and looked around. She had a list of motels but figured she should start with the ones closer to the station since he'd probably been tired after the long trip and just wanted to rest. Hell, -she- was tired after the long drive, and she wasn't hurt or in shock.
She crossed the street and headed to the same 24-hour store Bosco had been in a week before. A short, skinny kid in a black sweatshirt and a blue name-tag that read 'Frankie' made his way to her.
"You need help?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm looking for the "Blue Ridge Motel."
The boy smiled at her. "Oh. Then you came to the right place, ma'am. I can definitely help."
"That's great." Faith replied.
Frankie looked at her through his glasses. "I know the owner." he declared, giving her another smile. "My uncle. I'd... walk you if I wasn't alone in this place..."
Faith took a step back. Is he hitting on me? Great, she thought to herself as she recalled a similar scene in the waiting room of Emily's therapist a few weeks before. "It's okay. I just need to know which way to go."
"It's easy, you know? Just go down the road to the left. Two blocks, you can't miss it."
"Thanks." She put the list back in her purse and turned to leave.
"How long are you staying in town?" he asked as his gaze followed her.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Sorry, I'm just visiting a friend."
"Oh." He muttered, disappointment written all over his face . "That's a shame."
She waved him goodbye and walked out of the store. That was weird, she commented as she started to follow his directions.
True enough, less than five minutes later, she was looking at the blue sign of the motel.
She took a deep breath ad headed inside.
A man was reading a newspaper behind the front desk. Faith approached him and leaned forward, both hands on the counter. "Hi."
The man looked up at her. "Hi. How can I help you?"
She reached into her jacket pocket and took out Bosco's picture. "I'm looking for a friend. I know he's in town but I'm not sure where, so I was wondering if you could take a look at this picture and tell me if you recognize him."
He shrugged, giving her a puzzled look. "Sure. Can't hurt." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "If he's your friend how come you don't know where he's staying?"
Faith hesitated, surprised by the question. "We... had a fight."
She held the photo out for him. "Have you seen him?"
The man looked at it for a long moment. "Yeah." He nodded. "Yeah, I think he's here."
Faith felt her heart start to beat faster. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. 'Been here for a week or so." He added. "The guy with the weird name. What was it?"
"Boscorelli. Maurice Boscorelli."
His expression suddenly changed into a serious one. "Nope. That's not him."
Faith blinked in disbelief. "What? You just said..."
"I know what I said, ma'am. I mean, I've seen this guy, but that's not his name." He explained. "He's registered with..." He started to flip through a black register. "Damn. I used to be quite good, you know? Now I can't even remember a name."
"Do you mind if I take a look?" she offered.
"Go ahead." he replied, handing her the register.
She leafed through the pages until her eyes came across a familiar name. There it was. Ray Kinsella. A smile spread across her face as she recognized the character of Bosco's favourite movie.
"You found it?"
She pointed to the name. "Yeah. I did."
The man followed her gaze. "Oh yeah, that's it! Kinsella. Now isn't that weird or what?" he laughed.
"What room?" she asked.
"126. That way, ma'am." He replied as he gestured to his left.
"Do you know if he's in there?"
"Not sure. I haven't seen him around much."
"Thanks."
Faith hesitantly walked up the corridor. What if he's not here? She wondered. What if he doesn't want to see me? She had no idea what she was going to say to him, but she was determined to go on.
Moments later, she was standing in the dingy hallway outside Bosco's room. She slowly raised her hand and knocked on the door.
No answer.
She knocked again.
"Go away! I'm paid up through Saturday!" A voice called from inside.
Relief washed over her as she heard his voice. "Thank God," she whispered as she gave it another try. Come on, Bosco. Open this door.
Bosco got up from the bed and staggered to the door.
He was still half-asleep when he unhooked the chain and didn't realize he wasn't at home, but hiding in an unfamiliar town. "Yeah." He wearily said as the door swung open.
"Bosco?"
His head jerked up at the sound of his name as his eyes focused on his partner's face. She was dressed in a black leather jacket, blue jeans and a white shirt. Her eyes glistened with tears, but she was smiling one of those beautiful smiles that always warmed his heart to the core.
Lips parted as if to speak but speechless with surprise, he gazed at her as though she was a ghost. "Faith?"
She took in his appearance. He looked as if he'd aged ten years in a short amount of time: his shoulders were hunched forward, his head tilted down and he hadn't shaved in a week. But the haunted look in his eyes was the thing she'd remember for the rest of her life.
She struggled to blink back tears as she offered him a smile.
"I didn't do it, Faith." he whispered. "I swear to God it wasn't me."
"I know that, Bosco." She gently replied. "That's why I came up here."
"She..." his lips moved to frame a response, but then he stopped.
Faith nodded her head. "We found evidence... she's going to pay for it."
"You did?" he asked, hoping what he was hearing was true.
"Yeah. It's okay, Bos. It's over."
"God..." He ran a hand through his hair and stared down at the floor. "This week... getting through, it's been hell." He finally admitted. "I can't handle another week like this..."
He felt Faith's hand circle his own and soon found himself in her arms. The tears came despite all the effort to fight them off and he held her tight, as if breaking physical contact would shatter the spell and she would disappear again.
"I loved her, Faith..." he sighed as more tears ran down his face.
She said nothing. She just hugged him and let him cry. She thought he didn't really expect answers, which was good, because she didn't have any answers to give. Everything that had happened before was only a faded memory now. They were here, together, after denying themselves for so long the only thing they'd needed the most. Each other.
When Bosco finally pulled away and wiped his eyes, Faith realized they were still standing in the doorway. "Can I come in?"
His lips parted into a weak smile. "Sure."
He stepped aside and let her in.
She looked around and frowned. The room was unkempt, the metal-frame bed and the small desk littered with clothes, newspapers and beer bottles.
He shot a glance at the disheveled room, then at her. "Sorry," he apologized. "I wasn't expecting any visitors."
She waved him off. "It's me, Bos. It's not like I haven't seen your apartment before."
He closed the door and motioned her to a chair near the window, then slowly followed her and sat down on the bed.
"How did you find me?"
Faith took off her jacket and hung it on the back of the wooden chair. "A... girl back at the bus station. She led me to Providence. And then I guess it's a good thing I actually listened to you when you were rambling about your favourite movie..."
She offered him a smile. "You know, the girl wanted to ask you out, but I don't think she's your type. Too young."
He shrugged and bent his head down. "Story of my life. Always the wrong women..."
Faith pulled the chair closer and gently touched his hand. "Come on, it's over now. She's not worth it."
"I'm sorry."
"Bosco..."
"I'm sorry, Faith." He repeated as he looked up at her, his eyes glimmering as he focused on her face. "You were right. You warned me, and... I guess somehow I knew it too, but I just couldn't convince myself it was true."
"It's okay..." she whispered.
He shook his head. "No, it's not okay. I screwed up. I always end up hurting all the people I care about..."
"That's not true, and you know it."
He exhaled and averted his eyes, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.
Faith cupped his face in her hands. "Bosco, listen to me. I'm sorry things haven't worked out for the two of you, but you still have your job. And you have me. We've both made mistakes, but I'm willing to try again..."
Bosco closed his eyes and wished that they could stay like that forever. At that very moment, the gentleness of her fingertips against his cheeks, the love in her eyes, the tenderness in her voice made him realize it was okay to show weakness, and that no one is ever so big not to need help every once in a while.
She was giving him a second chance, and he would hold onto it with all that he had.
"So is she really gonna pay?"
"Absolutely." Faith smiled. "You should've seen Lieu's face..."
"Good. I don't know how long I'd have lasted out here."
He moved away from her and walked to the window, gazing out at the morning sun. Faith did the same and stood beside him.
"So, are we okay?" she asked.
He wiped a lonely tear. "Please don't. I don't know if I can handle this now."
"I don't know either." She said, tentatively reaching out for his hand. "How about we try?"
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