*Disclaimer: I own nothing!
The song in this chapter is "Unwell" by Matchbox 20.
This story is based on the song "Changes" by 3 Doors Down.
Bosco sat down on his couch when he got home and looked around the spinning room at himself. Something just didn't seem to be right and he knew that. He leaned his head back on a couch cushion and steadied himself as the room spun before his eyes. He'd been tired before, but not like this. He turned the TV on that was across from the room, but it was blurry to him. He rubbed his eyes quickly and squinted but the words came back fuzzy to him.
"Just what I need, my vision to go bad." His mouth felt numb as he moved it. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" He ran his hand over his hair and stared at the floor.
~~
Fred could tell something was bothering Faith the moment she got home from work. She answered his questions with short, monotone one-word answers and she never really did that unless something was on her mind.
"Faith, what's wrong?"
She nodded and sat down beside him on the bed after changing into some comfortable pajamas.
"Did something happen at work today?"
"No, nothing happened. I've just got a lot of things on my mind right now." A single, solitary tear ran down her cheek and Fred quickly wiped it away.
"You can tell me."
She hesitated and then looked at Fred. "Bosco has been acting strange lately."
"Strange? Like how?"
"I don't know. He says he's coming down with the flu or something but I doubt that. He won't talk to me about anything. It just bothers me, you know?"
~~
Bosco walked up the stairs slowly as he came to work the next day. He tried to act as normal as possible when walking past superiors that would send him home if they knew he wasn't feeling up to normal. He gave a fake smile as he walked past Swersky and opened the locker room door.
Faith was at the mirror, brushing her hair and Sully and Ty just stared back at him.
"I see you found your way home last night Bosco." Sully shut his locker with a loud clank of the metal and began tying his boots.
Bosco's anger flared as he walked towards Sully. "Fuck you man, fuck you!" He swung his hardest and hit Sully across the nose with his right fist. "Shut your damn mouth." He continued to swing but Davis pulled him off quickly.
"What's your problem man? Sully was just joking with you!"
"Let me go!" Bosco pulled away from Davis's embrace. He had no idea what caused him to blow up at Sully like that. He stared at Sully as he backed away, his breathing heavy. He felt embarrassed by the fact that he could let his anger take him over like that.
"Boz, talk to me!" Faith sat beside him in front of his locker.
"About what? I just got mad, that's all."
"Mad? You call that mad? You were about to kill him."
Swersky popped his head in. "Roll call."
"Just forget it Faith." He stood up and walked to roll call, not even sure what happened himself, much less him being able to tell Faith what was up.
~~
Bosco let Faith drive again. His vision was still pretty blurry and he didn't want to cause any more trouble. He leaned his head against the cold window and watched the rainfall from the sky. Splashes from puddles hitting the window made him jump, causing Faith to laugh slightly.
"You are jumpy today."
"Yeah." He wasn't sure what to say so he left it at that.
"You still feeling sick?"
He took his eyes off of the rain forming on the window. "I feel better, but not my best. Is it any of your business?"
"You are being awfully rude today Boz."
"I'm always rude."
She parked the car. "Not like this. You hit Sullivan. What were you thinking? You told him to fuck you. You never say that to him. He's been joking with you forever and you've never done that. Why did you do it today?"
He wasn't sure how to answer Faith's question so he made up a lie. "All of those jokes finally got to me."
"Since when do you let harmless jokes get you mad enough to clock him and say that?"
He hit his hands against the dashboard. "Dammit Faith! I don't know what the hell is wrong with me okay! I woke up one morning with a FUCKING headache and I can't get rid of it. I feel like I haven't gotten any rest but I sleep good at night! There, I told you. Are you happy now?"
The car fell silent as the raindrops from outside hit the car, making small trickle noises. Faith just stared at Bosco who leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"Maybe you should go to the doctor."
"Maybe I shouldn't Mommy, now would you drive?" He didn't open his eyes and listened as she put the car into gear and pushed on the accelerator. He wanted to suck those words back into his mouth but he knew he couldn't. The words lingered in the silent car.
Every now and then Faith would glance at Bosco who continued to keep his eyes closed. Something was really wrong with him. Sure, he could be an ass sometimes but not like this. That was the first time he had ever directed the 'f' word towards her. She pondered what the problem could be.
His family? He really never even saw them so maybe it wasn't that.
The job? Maybe he was just sick of being on the job and was taking it out on everyone else.
Or was it her? She tried to think about things she had said before this change in him. She had called him useless but gave him an apology of some sort, though it wasn't the best. The whole new partner thing when those problems with Cruz came along. But they had made amends so what was the deal? The only way she would find out is if she got it out of him, but as of right now there would be no way.
"5-5 David, we have a robbery in progress 2-1-9 and FlowerMound."
Bosco queued his radio, "5-5 David, 10-4. 2-1..." He trailed off, not remembering the address given.
Faith recovered, "2-1-9 and FlowerMound."
They arrived at the small corner store and noticed the perp already running out of the store, gun in hand and a small, brown bag. Bosco immediately jumped out of the car, and Faith followed. They had a much better chance catching him on foot.
Bosco ran as hard as he could but his lungs felt heavy and his legs wouldn't move fast. He began to slow down and noticed Faith passing him. His world felt like it was spinning as he watched Faith in front of him, catching the perp easily.
"5-5 David to central, the suspect is in custody." Bosco spoke into his radio as he tried to catch his breath.
How could Faith outrun him? She never did before and how she did as if he had never ran before in his life. He bent over, gasping for air as Faith cuffed the suspect and guided him back to the car.
~~
Faith approached Sully in the parking lot later that night after Bosco had left. He just had a small black eye but nothing more. He waved at Faith and smiled.
"So, what's up with your partner?"
Faith leaned against a small chain link fence and sighed. "I'm really not sure. All I know is he blew up at me really bad too. Today when we responded to that robbery we had a foot chase. I outran him. That never happens, but today I passed him like I was an Olympic sprinter or something."
"He looks bad. He's got the bags forming under his eyes, he looks really skinny. It's none of my business but he's acting way different." Sully ran his index finger over his eye. "And I've got the mark to prove it."
"Yeah. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. See ya later Sul." She smiled and walked away. Instead of turning where she normally did she decided to take a walk down Bosco's street. He'd probably be more of an ass to her if she went to his house but she didn't care. She wouldn't get sleep unless she knew what was going on with him.
~~
She knocked on his door and waited, hoping he was still awake. Luckily he opened the door quickly, his hair messy and his eyes half open.
"What are you doing here?" He opened the door wider so she could come in.
"I just thought we needed to talk, is that okay?"
He closed the door and plopped down hard on his recliner, a bottle of water in hand. He sipped on it quickly. "Look Faith, I don't need you mothering me. I can take care of myself."
"I'm not mothering you Bosco. And from my standpoint and the standpoint of others you don't look like you are doing to well."
"Oh yeah? Who says that?" His voice was childish as he picked up the TV remote to turn the TV on.
Faith quickly grabbed the remote. "No TV. I'm serious, I wanna talk to you."
"Talk away then."
She sat down across from him on his couch. "Tell me, seriously, what is going on with you?"
He gave her a dirty look and stared at the blank TV.
"Tell me without a fight please Bosco. I don't wanna argue with you."
"I don't know Faith. I really don't know what is wrong with me. I just feel, different."
"Different like how?"
"My head is always hurting. My hands are shaky. I feel weak. There's something else Faith, that is scaring the shit out of me."
She sat up. "What is it?"
"My vision, its blurry. It's like I'm losing sight in my eyes."
"What?"
"Please, don't tell anyone about this. They'll put me on a desk if you do."
She grabbed his hand. "You need to go to a doctor, please Bosco. This isn't the flu. It isn't normal."
"I'm not sure what I'm gonna do."
Matchbox 20
Unwell
All day
Staring at the ceiling making
Friends with shadows on my wall
All night
I'm hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good
For something
Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
I don't know why
(chorus)
I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
See me
Talking to myself in public
And dodging glances on the train
I know
I know they've all been talking 'bout me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong
With me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow
I've lost my mind
(chorus)
Talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
They'll be taking me away
The song in this chapter is "Unwell" by Matchbox 20.
This story is based on the song "Changes" by 3 Doors Down.
Bosco sat down on his couch when he got home and looked around the spinning room at himself. Something just didn't seem to be right and he knew that. He leaned his head back on a couch cushion and steadied himself as the room spun before his eyes. He'd been tired before, but not like this. He turned the TV on that was across from the room, but it was blurry to him. He rubbed his eyes quickly and squinted but the words came back fuzzy to him.
"Just what I need, my vision to go bad." His mouth felt numb as he moved it. "What the fuck is wrong with me?" He ran his hand over his hair and stared at the floor.
~~
Fred could tell something was bothering Faith the moment she got home from work. She answered his questions with short, monotone one-word answers and she never really did that unless something was on her mind.
"Faith, what's wrong?"
She nodded and sat down beside him on the bed after changing into some comfortable pajamas.
"Did something happen at work today?"
"No, nothing happened. I've just got a lot of things on my mind right now." A single, solitary tear ran down her cheek and Fred quickly wiped it away.
"You can tell me."
She hesitated and then looked at Fred. "Bosco has been acting strange lately."
"Strange? Like how?"
"I don't know. He says he's coming down with the flu or something but I doubt that. He won't talk to me about anything. It just bothers me, you know?"
~~
Bosco walked up the stairs slowly as he came to work the next day. He tried to act as normal as possible when walking past superiors that would send him home if they knew he wasn't feeling up to normal. He gave a fake smile as he walked past Swersky and opened the locker room door.
Faith was at the mirror, brushing her hair and Sully and Ty just stared back at him.
"I see you found your way home last night Bosco." Sully shut his locker with a loud clank of the metal and began tying his boots.
Bosco's anger flared as he walked towards Sully. "Fuck you man, fuck you!" He swung his hardest and hit Sully across the nose with his right fist. "Shut your damn mouth." He continued to swing but Davis pulled him off quickly.
"What's your problem man? Sully was just joking with you!"
"Let me go!" Bosco pulled away from Davis's embrace. He had no idea what caused him to blow up at Sully like that. He stared at Sully as he backed away, his breathing heavy. He felt embarrassed by the fact that he could let his anger take him over like that.
"Boz, talk to me!" Faith sat beside him in front of his locker.
"About what? I just got mad, that's all."
"Mad? You call that mad? You were about to kill him."
Swersky popped his head in. "Roll call."
"Just forget it Faith." He stood up and walked to roll call, not even sure what happened himself, much less him being able to tell Faith what was up.
~~
Bosco let Faith drive again. His vision was still pretty blurry and he didn't want to cause any more trouble. He leaned his head against the cold window and watched the rainfall from the sky. Splashes from puddles hitting the window made him jump, causing Faith to laugh slightly.
"You are jumpy today."
"Yeah." He wasn't sure what to say so he left it at that.
"You still feeling sick?"
He took his eyes off of the rain forming on the window. "I feel better, but not my best. Is it any of your business?"
"You are being awfully rude today Boz."
"I'm always rude."
She parked the car. "Not like this. You hit Sullivan. What were you thinking? You told him to fuck you. You never say that to him. He's been joking with you forever and you've never done that. Why did you do it today?"
He wasn't sure how to answer Faith's question so he made up a lie. "All of those jokes finally got to me."
"Since when do you let harmless jokes get you mad enough to clock him and say that?"
He hit his hands against the dashboard. "Dammit Faith! I don't know what the hell is wrong with me okay! I woke up one morning with a FUCKING headache and I can't get rid of it. I feel like I haven't gotten any rest but I sleep good at night! There, I told you. Are you happy now?"
The car fell silent as the raindrops from outside hit the car, making small trickle noises. Faith just stared at Bosco who leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
"Maybe you should go to the doctor."
"Maybe I shouldn't Mommy, now would you drive?" He didn't open his eyes and listened as she put the car into gear and pushed on the accelerator. He wanted to suck those words back into his mouth but he knew he couldn't. The words lingered in the silent car.
Every now and then Faith would glance at Bosco who continued to keep his eyes closed. Something was really wrong with him. Sure, he could be an ass sometimes but not like this. That was the first time he had ever directed the 'f' word towards her. She pondered what the problem could be.
His family? He really never even saw them so maybe it wasn't that.
The job? Maybe he was just sick of being on the job and was taking it out on everyone else.
Or was it her? She tried to think about things she had said before this change in him. She had called him useless but gave him an apology of some sort, though it wasn't the best. The whole new partner thing when those problems with Cruz came along. But they had made amends so what was the deal? The only way she would find out is if she got it out of him, but as of right now there would be no way.
"5-5 David, we have a robbery in progress 2-1-9 and FlowerMound."
Bosco queued his radio, "5-5 David, 10-4. 2-1..." He trailed off, not remembering the address given.
Faith recovered, "2-1-9 and FlowerMound."
They arrived at the small corner store and noticed the perp already running out of the store, gun in hand and a small, brown bag. Bosco immediately jumped out of the car, and Faith followed. They had a much better chance catching him on foot.
Bosco ran as hard as he could but his lungs felt heavy and his legs wouldn't move fast. He began to slow down and noticed Faith passing him. His world felt like it was spinning as he watched Faith in front of him, catching the perp easily.
"5-5 David to central, the suspect is in custody." Bosco spoke into his radio as he tried to catch his breath.
How could Faith outrun him? She never did before and how she did as if he had never ran before in his life. He bent over, gasping for air as Faith cuffed the suspect and guided him back to the car.
~~
Faith approached Sully in the parking lot later that night after Bosco had left. He just had a small black eye but nothing more. He waved at Faith and smiled.
"So, what's up with your partner?"
Faith leaned against a small chain link fence and sighed. "I'm really not sure. All I know is he blew up at me really bad too. Today when we responded to that robbery we had a foot chase. I outran him. That never happens, but today I passed him like I was an Olympic sprinter or something."
"He looks bad. He's got the bags forming under his eyes, he looks really skinny. It's none of my business but he's acting way different." Sully ran his index finger over his eye. "And I've got the mark to prove it."
"Yeah. I'll see how it goes tomorrow. See ya later Sul." She smiled and walked away. Instead of turning where she normally did she decided to take a walk down Bosco's street. He'd probably be more of an ass to her if she went to his house but she didn't care. She wouldn't get sleep unless she knew what was going on with him.
~~
She knocked on his door and waited, hoping he was still awake. Luckily he opened the door quickly, his hair messy and his eyes half open.
"What are you doing here?" He opened the door wider so she could come in.
"I just thought we needed to talk, is that okay?"
He closed the door and plopped down hard on his recliner, a bottle of water in hand. He sipped on it quickly. "Look Faith, I don't need you mothering me. I can take care of myself."
"I'm not mothering you Bosco. And from my standpoint and the standpoint of others you don't look like you are doing to well."
"Oh yeah? Who says that?" His voice was childish as he picked up the TV remote to turn the TV on.
Faith quickly grabbed the remote. "No TV. I'm serious, I wanna talk to you."
"Talk away then."
She sat down across from him on his couch. "Tell me, seriously, what is going on with you?"
He gave her a dirty look and stared at the blank TV.
"Tell me without a fight please Bosco. I don't wanna argue with you."
"I don't know Faith. I really don't know what is wrong with me. I just feel, different."
"Different like how?"
"My head is always hurting. My hands are shaky. I feel weak. There's something else Faith, that is scaring the shit out of me."
She sat up. "What is it?"
"My vision, its blurry. It's like I'm losing sight in my eyes."
"What?"
"Please, don't tell anyone about this. They'll put me on a desk if you do."
She grabbed his hand. "You need to go to a doctor, please Bosco. This isn't the flu. It isn't normal."
"I'm not sure what I'm gonna do."
Matchbox 20
Unwell
All day
Staring at the ceiling making
Friends with shadows on my wall
All night
I'm hearing voices telling me
That I should get some sleep
Because tomorrow might be good
For something
Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
I don't know why
(chorus)
I'm not crazy I'm just a little unwell
I know right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy I'm just a little impaired
I know right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
See me
Talking to myself in public
And dodging glances on the train
I know
I know they've all been talking 'bout me
I can hear them whisper
And it makes me think there must be something wrong
With me
Out of all the hours thinking
Somehow
I've lost my mind
(chorus)
Talking in my sleep
Pretty soon they'll come to get me
They'll be taking me away