November 10th, 2003

Bosco was home alone with Vincent for the first time since he was born. Faith had to go to the precinct and doctor's office to make sure it was okay for her to return to work. He was okay with it. He enjoyed spending time with Vincent.

"Come on, Vinny, let's play." Bosco winked lying Vincent on the blanket. The baby cooed as his father held up a stuffed teddy bear in front of him. "Do you like this one? Your grandmother Boscorelli gave this to you." He tickled Vincent with the beat on his chin. Vincent squealed kicking his legs. "That's it." Bosco smiled as the phone rang. Bosco reached over and grabbed it, "Hello?"

"Hello. Is Mr. or Mrs. Boscorelli there?" The woman on the other end asked.

"Yeah, This is Mr. Boscorelli. How may I help you?" He asked.

"This is Janet Williams from Lincoln Middle school." She said, "I have your step-daughter, Emily, in my office right now."

"Is she okay?" Bosco asked as he picked Vincent up.

"She is fine, but the girl she beat up is not." Janet said.

"Beat up??" Bosco frowned.

"Yes." Janet said, "Emily and Susan were at their gym period when Susan made some comment about her father and Emily completely lost her cool. Susan had to go to the hospital to get stitches."

"Oh god." Bosco frowned deeply.

"I'm suspending Emily for a week." Janet.

"A week??"

"Yes a week. This school doesn't tolerate any kind of violence." Janet said.

"I understand." He said.

"You need to come pick Emily up now." Janet said.

"I will. Thank you Ms Williams. I will be there in fifteen minutes." Bosco hung up the phone and looked at his son. "Your sister is in deep trouble. Let's get you ready for a small outing."

* * *

Bosco walked down the hallway pushing the stroller with him. He stepped into the office. Emily was sitting by the copier machine. She looked up at him and the look on her face said it all. Janet stepped out of her office.

"Mr. Boscorelli?" She extended her hand.
"Yeah." He shook her hand.

"I'm sorry you had to come all this way, but we just can't have Emily here." She said.

"I understand. I'm taking her home." Bosco said looking at Emily, "Get up now." Emily frowned and got up. "Thank you, Ms. Williams." Bosco pushed Vincent out of the office. Emily shuffled behind him. Bosco was beyond angry with her. He was trying to get his bearings before he blew up at her and said something he'd regret. He slid Vincent into his car seat as they got out there. "In the car now." He said firmly.

"Fine." Emily mumbled getting into the car. Bosco slid into the driver's seat looking at her, "Don't start."

"Excuse me?" He asked.

"I know I'm in trouble so don't even say anything."

"Oh yes. You are in trouble young lady." Bosco said starting the car, "You may be suspended for a week, but you'll be grounded for much longer than that at home."

"You can't do that!" Emily cried.

"I can do that and I will." Bosco said driving home. "You're being grounded for two months. No computer, no television, no going to anyone's houses. Straight to school and straight back home."

"That's not fair!!"

"You sent someone to the goddamn hospital, Emily!!" Bosco cried pulling into the driveway.

"She deserved it!! She deserved to be hit!" Emily cried. Bosco stared at her in disbelief as he shut the car off.

"No one deserves to be hit." He said, "I can't…get in your fucking room, Emily." Emily stared at him, hurt. She gave him a nasty look and bolted out of the car and into her room. Bosco sighed running his hands over his face. He looked in the backseat at Vincent. "I'm sorry you had to hear that buddy." Vincent looked at him and yawned.

* * *

Faith stared at her husband.

"She did that??" She growled looking up the stairs.

"I punished her and…I punished her for two months." Bosco said.

"Good. She'll have a lot more when I'm through with her." Faith was ready to bolt up the stairs when Bosco grabbed her hand.

"Just leave her alone. Give her time to think about when she did." Bosco said. Faith looked at him. She had heard her father's voice in her own when she had just spoken. That scared her more than anything did.

"She hit some girl." Faith said, "I didn't raise her to use violence. She knows better than that."

"Maybe this suspension will help her remember what's right." He said.

"I hope so because I'm not going to deal with her hitting anyone ever again. I swear Bosco…. If she ever does anything like this again…."

"I know. Hopefully she won't." Bosco said.