The Price of Nobility

by Nyna Boscorelli

Disclaimer: I still don't own Bosco.  L

Author's Note:  Here's chapter two.  Please R&R!

Chapter Two

     Two broken ribs.  That's what had caused Faith so much pain.  No gun shot wound.  No internal bleeding.  Two broken ribs.  She was okay.  I can't even begin to describe how happy I was.

     "Officer," a nurse approached me.  "You can see your partner now.  Exam room three."

     "Thank you," I got up off the chair I had been sitting in.

     I slowly walked down the hall to Faith's room.  Once I reached the door, I hesitated.  More than anything, I wanted to see her.  I wanted to hear her voice.  But would she want to see me?  If the roles were reversed, and I was lying in a hospital bed because she had put me in danger, I would be pissed.  Actually, I had been pissed when the roles were reversed last year.  But I couldn't blame this on cancer.  I could only blame this on my own stupidity.  I shouldn't have gotten her involved in my problems.

     I finally gathered my courage and opened the door.  Faith lay on the bed, her eyes closed.  An almost normal color graced her cheeks.  I quietly stepped into the room and let the door shut behind me.  I walked over to the bed looked down at her.  She looked so peaceful lying there.  I brushed a strand of hair out of her face while taking her hand in mine.  Her eyes fluttered open and I saw those crystal blue eyes boring into my own.

     "Hey you," she whispered, smiling slightly.

     I couldn't bring myself to smile back.  It was all my fault that she was here.

     "Bos?"

     "I called Fred," I said, turning away from her eyes.  "He said he would get here as soon as he could."

     It amazed me how easily the lie slipped out.  When had it become so easy for me to lie to Faith?

     "The doctor said that you have two broken ribs and a concussion, so you'll have to ride the desk for a while and they want to keep you overnight for observation," I explained, even though the doctor probably already told her.

     "Bosco," she tried to catch my gaze, "are you okay?"

     I tensed up, "I'm not the one lying in a hospital bed, Faith."

     "Okay.  But that still doesn't answer my question."

     "Goddammit, Faith!  Stop worrying about me okay?  Yes, I'm fine.  But I shouldn't be.  Okay?  I shouldn't be."

     "What are you talking about, Bos?"

     "It's my fault, Faith, all of this.  You shouldn't be in the hospital.  Right now, you should be going home to your husband.  Even if he doesn't really give two shits, and doesn't care that you got shot, you should be home with him and your family right now, not lying in some hospital bed because I can't handle my own problems!"

     Faith looked shocked.  She turned away from me.  I dropped her hand, realizing that I had let the part about Fred slip.

     "I'm gonna go," I started.  "I'm gonna go away.  Far away, somewhere where I can't hurt you anymore.  I'm really sorry, Faith."

     "I knew you were lying about Fred coming over here," she said as I turned towards the door.

     "You did?"

     "Yeah."

     "How?"

     "Well, first of all, you are a horrible lier when it comes to me.  And second of all, he handed me divorce papers this morning.  Seems he found himself a younger woman.  So I wouldn't expect him to care a whole lot about whether or not I was shot or not."

     It was my turn to be shocked, "Faith, I-"

     "Officer Yokas, we have a room upstairs ready for you.  But visiting hours are over, so I'm afraid your friend can't stay," a nurse interrupted me.

     Faith nodded, "Okay.  Just give us a minute please?"

     The nurse agreed and left the room.

     "Well, I guess it's time for me to go," I said.

     "Thank you captain obvious," Faith chuckled.  "Once they get me settled in upstairs, I'll give you a call, okay?"

     "Sure," I smiled.

     "So you better go straight home and wait for my call."

     "Oh, I'll be waiting.  With bells on," I grinned.

     The nurse came back into the room.  "That's my cue," I gave Faith a kiss on the cheek and walked out of the room.

     As I entered the cool Manhattan air, I couldn't help but let out a little shout.  She was going to be okay.  Well, as long as I could undo Fred's damage.