The ambulance rolled to a gentle stop outside the station on King & Arthur, and Bobby and Kim climbed out of their respective sides, breathing identical sighs of relief at hearing that the latest dilemma had been resolved. Wayne Thomson was out of the picture... Yokas had killed him, shortly after the man had arrived in Mercy hospital intending to kill her and Bosco... or so went her statement.

Bobby didn't doubt the legitimacy of it one bit. He had no qualms about what had happened. The man hadn't deserved to live anymore. Something had obviously been wrong with him in the first place to make him do all the crazy things he had done, but that didn't make any difference. If he had had a problem, then getting help should have been the only idea on his mind.

Instead he had wiped out three innocent civilians, and put two cops in Angel of Mercy, soon arriving at the hospital to try and finish the job. It made Bobby feel a little ill to think about it.

So he just silently followed Kim into the station, intending to grab a quick bite to eat, and a soda, before the two hit the streets again. Their shift was far from over. They had another five hours to go yet, but somehow, knowing Wayne Thomson wasn't out there anymore made him feel better in a way. Perhaps in having secure knowledge of the fate of a cold- blooded killer was settling to the paramedic... he knew he and Kim were safe out there now. He didn't have to worry about anything happening for another day.

Climbing the stairs, he cleared the matter from his mind.

* * *

Sitting on the edge of his bed, his eyes stared out of the window into the relaxing sight of the sunset on the horizon. Its light was fading, and it brought with it a gentle glow that seemed to signify the end of danger for another day.

He reached up a hand, and slowly ran his fingers through his dishevelled hair, letting out a deep breath, feeling it come easier to him now. After seeing that dead body lying there on the floor had somehow seemed to make his recovery quicken. He knew deep inside himself that that wasn't possible, and the thought made a wan smile appear on his face.

He shrugged the robe back onto his shoulders properly, feeling it sliding down his back a little, and pulled it back into position with his right hand... the hand that had fired the gun.

Sully had revealed his -somewhat frowned-upon- act of leaving behind a gun for Faith to use in order to protect herself, and that made him respect the older man in a new light. It wasn't like him. He would know never to underestimate the veteran officer again.

But the real question to him was why hadn't Faith used the gun as soon as Wayne had appeared... had she even known its presence?

"Bos'?"

He turned his head to glance over his shoulder, seeing the familiar face of his partner looking at him curiously. His eyes turned back to the window, even as he heard her gentle footfalls, and the clicking of the door as she entered. She arrived at his side soon after.

A hand rested on his shoulder softly, and he breathed a slight sigh.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly, her words little more than a whisper, as though she were afraid to wake someone close by from a deep sleep.

His eyes looked up into hers, and Bosco felt a wash of relief sweep through his body at seeing Faith Yokas unharmed. He owed her his life, and he didn't know how he could make that up to her.

"Thank you," he managed after a quiet moment, letting his eyes wander back to the sunset outside.

She took it upon herself then to sit beside him, and her hand landed on his, gripping it securely. "Bosco," she began, looking out of the window herself, "I know you would have done the same for me. I know you tried... twice."

Bosco let his head hang a little, and his brow furrowed slightly.

Faith gazed at him for a long time in contemplative silence before she said, "I wanted to kill him."

His eyes immediately met hers, and he had to force himself to think over what she had said, unsure at first that she had even spoken the words so unbecoming of her.

Faith swallowed dryly, and took a deep breath. "I saw him... when he was trying to kill you, and my only thought was to pick up the gun and fire. I didn't even think of where to shoot him, just... kept on pulling the trigger. I killed him." Her face turned from his as if in shame, and her eyes closed, her head hanging.

He used his free hand to turn her head back so that their eyes locked once again, and he slowly said to her, "Faith... you saved my life. Nothing is going to change that."

She looked more miserable than he had ever seen her before, and it saddened him more than he would have ever thought possible.

"I've told you before, and I'm not going to take it back, Faith. You did the right thing. You had no other choice, you hear me?"

For a long time, they simply looked into one another's eyes, and said nothing. The two friends sat in the failing light for what seemed like hours, and shared a quiet sensitive moment.

Faith nodded finally, whispering, "I've never felt that way before."

Bosco tilted his head in inquiry, knowing that she would understand from his expression that he wished for her to clarify.

"When I saw them bring you in... after the fire, I felt like my world was collapsing in around me, and I wanted nothing more than to see you breathe again... hear one of your bigoted opinions."

Bosco smiled, lowering his gaze momentarily.

"And then when I saw Wayne trying to kill you, I knew that it was up to me to put it all to an end." She paused, and shook her head. "As I pulled that trigger, I felt something deep inside me that I never even knew was there. It took all my strength just to do what I did... and I."

Bosco squeezed her hand, letting her know that he was listening. Whatever she had to say, he was here for her.

"I don't know how you do it everyday, Bosco... how do you act so brave?"

Bosco let a smile come to his face, and he stroked back a bang of her hair from her face, as he replied, "I have you to help me, Faith. I wouldn't be able to do this without you."

She looked on the verge of tears again at the sentiment he showed her, the compassion he was giving her. He had always hidden it, but it had always been there, beneath the surface. He was just too afraid to show it... until now.

"I want you to know something, Faith."

She looked up to meet his eyes again, and blinked once.

"I want you to know that I respect you for what you did, and that..." He stopped, unsure how to finish.

Faith squeezed his hand gently, and silently urged him to continue.

"I want you to know that I love you, and I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Her eyes sank for a moment, and a solitary tear fell.

"I'll always be there for you, Faith... I'm always here when you need me. You know that, right?"

Another tear rolled slowly down her cheek, and she seemed unable to speak, just nod. And then she quietly whispered, "I know, Bosco... I know."

He watcher her lean in, and felt her head rest gently on his shoulder, as the two stared together out at the setting sun, taking with it all of their grief and trauma, and leaving only their friendship and love that they had worked so hard to build.

They sat for hours, staring out into the world.