The Price of Nobility

by Nyna Boscorelli

Disclaimer: If they're on Third Watch, I don't own 'em.

Author's Note: Here's my take on what will happen.  It's also going to turn into a Bosco/Faith shipper.  So sit back, relax, and enjoy.  Please R&R!

Chapter One

I fired at Cruz at the same time that she fired at Faith.  A second later, Faith's gun went off.  Had she pulled it off in time?  Did she get out of the way of Cruz's shot?

          I was brought back to Noble's hotel room when I heard Faith shout, "Bosco!"  The next thing I heard was the sickening thud of a body hitting the floor.

          I turned towards her and saw her lying on the floor.  I rushed to her side, dread forming in my stomach, "Faith, where are you hit?  Faith?  Talk to me, Faith."

          I frantically checked for a pulse.  It seemed okay.  I had to find where she was hit.  I roller her onto her back and thought my heart had stopped.  There it was - the point of entry.  My fingers ran over the spot on her stomach where the bullet had ripped into the dark blue fabric of her uniform.

          "Bosco," he voice was faint.

          My mind raced as I tore open her uniform.  My heart began beating again when I saw her bullet-proof vest.  Thank God for Kevlar.

          "Bosco, it hurts," she said.

          "Are you hit anywhere else, Faith?" I asked her frantically.

          "Bosco, it hurts."

          "Faith, I can't help you if you don't tell me where you're hit."

          "Freeze!" I heard the unmistakable voice of Sully shout.

          It seemed to pull me back into the situation.  I no longer saw only Faith, whom I was now cradling in my arms.  I saw Noble sitting on the couch, his head in his hands.  I looked over my shoulder to where Cruz had been standing.  She lay on the floor in a puddle of blood.  My eyes met Sully's as I looked up.

          "I need a bus on a rush.  Forthwith," Sully barked into his radio as he bent down next to Cruz.  "We have a definite 10-13 at this location.  Two officers down.  I repeat, two officers down."

          Ty checked Cruz's pulse and glanced up at Sully.  "She's gone," he said softly.

          "Bosco," Faith whispered.

          I snapped my head back to her as the paramedics rushed into the room.  She was pale, her face a sharp contrast to her uniform.  As the medics tried to pull me away from Faith, I tightened my grip.  They finally pried me off of her and took over trying to find out where she had been hit.

          I let out a sob I didn't know I had been holding in and felt tears start to rush down my cheeks.  One of the paramedics lightly touched my arm to get my attention.  "Would you like to ride with us?" she asked.

          I nodded my head, following them down the stairs and into the ambulance.  The only thing that kept running through my mind during the ride to the hospital was, If Faith dies, I'm going to eat my gun.  I'm going to forget everything I ever said about it being the weak way out and just eat it.