See Me Through Part 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the characters I made up. Don't sue, I'm just a poor college kid.
Note: Story takes place right after Unleashed. Oh, and I really don't want a life of my own outside of fan fiction. I can't believe I'm attempting three stories at once. Eeek! Forgive me if I slack in posting.
Feedback: Please? Let me know if you like the idea. Feedback makes me want to write faster.
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The young man stalked into the locker room, obviously none too happy. He sat down in front of his own locker and dropped his duffle bag down. He could hear some of the others in the room snicker and joke about his lateness. He didn't really care. It wasn't the first time he'd be late and it wouldn't be the last.
"You're going to be late," a female voice said.
"Won't be the first time." He felt her next to him.
"You doing ok? You look like you haven't slept or something."
"I'm fine. Just go before you're late too. We don't need Christopher on both of us."
"I'll see you in roll call then."
Maurice Boscorelli watched as his partner left. Soon he was the only one left in the locker room. He silently cursed at the knowledge that Sergeant Christopher would get on his case once again. Maybe if I talk to Lieu and explain Christopher can't do anything, Bosco thought. He quickly dressed and was on his way to roll call.
As if on cue he sat down just as Christopher called his name. He could just see the disappointment in the man's face. It was probably going to be the highlight of Christopher's day to nail him for being late. Too bad jerk, he chuckled to himself. After roll call he and Faith made their way to their squad.
"So, why do you look like crap?"
"I don't want to talk about it. Already did the whole spilling my guts routine this afternoon." He kept his attention on the road.
"I thought you promised not to keep things bottled up inside, Bosco?"
"Listen, I was late for my stupid therapy session with that quack friend of Sully's. He got on my case about being late then started asking me all kinds of questions I didn't feel like answering. My week has already been crap, this day is just about to top it."
"Fine, you know what. I've got enough to deal with. All I'm trying to do is make sure my partner is doing ok. What do I get in return? Your peachy attitude. If I wanted to be snapped at I would have called in sick and spent the day with Fred," Faith finished.
"I'm sorry. It's just with that whole thing with that bastard who took Dr. Lewis' niece and everything, this week just doesn't want to end." He took a deep breath. "Nurse Proctor said the sister up and left with the kid. After everything her sister did for her and she just leaves."
"She was a piece of work. Let's just hope she stays clean for Suzy."
Bosco smiled sadly. He was so effected by that one missing person he didn't want to admit it. At first he had been skeptical, but then he found Chloe in that bus without her daughter. When he found the jerk who took Suzy he wanted to kill him. Faith wanted to hurt him too. When it came to kids, he was fierce in his job. Nothing would stop him.
Children couldn't protect themselves. They needed someone to do it for them. If their parents were the ones hurting them or were unable to protect them, well then that was what his job was. That was the real reason he became a cop. To help those who couldn't help themselves.
"You and Fred having problems still?" Bosco asked pulling himself away from his thoughts.
"Yeah. It never stops with him. He feels I put my job above the family."
"At least your job pays the bills. Tell him to be a man about it and deal." Bosco really couldn't stand Faith's husband as of late.
"I've really had it with him, you know."
"I was wrong before when I told you to stay with him for the kids. You, Em and Charlie deserve better."
"Fred's not a bad dad. Not even that bad of a husband. I just don't think I can stay with him. I don't even think I love him anymore."
"What are you saying?"
"We just fell into a routine. Comfort is all it is anymore. I want more than that." She looked out the window. "He took the kids out of town for the weekend. Empty house to come home."
"Welcome to my life," he replied sadly. "Wanna come to my place. We can watch a movie or something. I never did repay you for that night, you know, when I ah, you know . . . ," he couldn't say the words. His mind was saying the day I cried my eyes out and admitted what a coward I was, but his mouth wouldn't form the words.
"Any time you need that, me . . . I'm here. You know what, a movie sounds good. Do you have anything other than war and action movies?"
They continued on with their shift. There was only a few minor incidents to report to mixed in with one car accident where they were called to direct traffic. He hated directing traffic. He wanted to be where the action was. Not much of that tonight, though.
Faith finished the paper work for them with a little pleading from Bosco. In exchange he agreed to let Faith pick the movie. Anything to get out of paperwork. When he was paired with Gulser he had to do the paperwork because the rookie was so bad at it. When Faith was done and changed they made their way to Bosco's apartment.
"Clean. I'm surprised." Faith walked into the apartment.
"Yeah, well you haven't seen the spare room. I don't think I could open the door if I wanted to," he laughed.
"You got a message." Faith looked down at the answering machine.
"Play it for me, would ya." He was at the fridge. "Want a beer?"
"Sure," she replied before hitting play on the machine.
"Mr. Boscorelli?" a man's voice filled the apartment. "I represent a Mr. Keith Forsythe. There are some matters I need to discuss with you regarding his wife."
"Bosco . . .," Faith began in a teasing tone.
"I don't know anybody by the that name, I swear." By the time they finished talking the first message was done. Bosco had sat down on the couch.
"Maurice? Damn, you aren't home," a female voice said.
"Girlfriend?"
"Shh," his hissed.
"I don't know how to say this over the phone. I can't really. I wanted to talk to you. I, ah . . . God, I'm so sorry. For everything. I don't have the guts to say this in person so I'll say it now. You were the best thing I ever had. The best Maurice and I screwed it up so bad. I messed you up so bad. I'm sorry. This thing is probably going to cut off soon. I have to see you. I'll be by sometime tomorrow. One more . . .," she couldn't finish because the machine cut off.
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Faith watched Bosco's expression change from amusement from the first message to sadness, hurt and anger from the message from the lady. His face had turned pale and it seemed as if the beer bottle was now the most interesting thing he had ever seen. She just wished he'd say something. Anything.
"Bosco?"
"Play it again," was his reply.
She did as he asked. When the message was done a second time he jumped up and threw his beer bottle at the wall. It smashed upon impact. The liquid came slowly down the wall leaving it's mark. Faith stood stunned, unsure what to do. She couldn't keep herself from wondering who the woman was. Bosco walked up to his closet and pulled out a shoe box.
"What are you doing?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago," he mumbled as he opened the box. He pulled out a picture and held it in his hand.
"Bosco?" Faith watched as he struck a match and lit the picture and dropped it in the kitchen sink. She stopped him before he could do a repeat performance to the next one.
"Faith, don't. I need to do this."
"Let me see what you are setting fire to." She grabbed the box from Bosco.
She got the surprise of her life. The top picture was of Bosco in his twenties maybe in an army uniform with his arms wrapped around a young blonde in a white gown about his age. It was clear that they were in love. She rummaged through the box. All the photos were of Bosco and this girl. There were more pictures of a uniformed Bosco and a wedding gown clad mystery girl. The rest were random pictures ranging from the park to Niagara Falls.
"You were married?!" She couldn't believe it.
"In another life I was." He sat down at the table with Faith. "That's Ash. Ashley."
"Why didn't you ever say something?"
"I don't know."
"Why? Why does she make you like that?" Faith looked at the defeated look in his eyes. No sparkle. They were dull.
"I thought I'd grow old with her. Obviously I was foolish back then. Ashley and I were like you and Fred. High school sweethearts people called us. We wanted to get married but I had already enlisted. The only thing that got me through Basic training was knowing I had Ashley. She was ticked when I went to Ranger School to be a Ranger. We got married right after I got stationed. I was in the Rangers about two years then we came back here. I worked as a security guard because that's what Ashley wanted. She wanted me to be safe so I took the job she wanted me to."
"You let her tell you what to do?"
"I got injured overseas and it scared Ashley."
"Injured?"
"We were on a mission to find a pilot who had crashed. The military didn't want anyone knowing it happened so we went in. We were in Iraq and there were Iraqi gunmen everywhere. Our pilot was on an intelligence gathering mission and we needed to get him and destroy the plane. I was with some men finding the pilot. Nothing went wrong until we got to the extract point. An Iraqi sniper started shooting at us. I was helping the pilot who could barely walk. When the shots were fired I covered him. The next thing I knew I was in some Army hospital being told I was going home." He kept his voice even despite the way his eyes were watering up. "Got home and Ashley said she found me a job. I already scared her. I didn't want to disappoint her."
"When did you get divorced then?"
"It was in the works while I was at the Academy." He got up to get a new beer. "I was so bored with my life. I told Ashley I wanted to be a cop. She said if I did she'd leave me. Never thought she'd actually do it. Turns out she had been seeing some lawyer."
"You didn't act like a guy going through a divorce at the Academy. I mean you were after all the female cadets there."
"I know. It was my way of forgetting Ashley." He put the lid on the box. "She can't come back into my life. Not like last time. I promised myself I wouldn't forgive her a second time."
"You lost me."
"She came back about 6 years ago. July 27, 1996 to be exact. Convinced me to take her back. Didn't last 3 days. 3 days and she was gone. Just gone. No note, no phone call. Nothing. Now she calls me. I can't do it, Faith. I can't let her do this to me again." He finally allowed a tear to fall. "Here I go again. Crying on your shoulder. I'm sorry, Faith."
"Don't be." She reached out and wiped the tear away.
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Bosco and Faith were driving around their sector the day after Bosco got the phone call from his ex-wife. His mind was reeling. When would she show up? Why now? What did she want? All these thoughts were running through his mind. One thing he knew for certain that what ever it was wouldn't turn out well.
"55 - David, this is Central. Report back to the house," the voice came over the radio.
"The house?" Bosco asked.
"10-4, Central," Faith replied. "You didn't do anything wrong did you?"
"No. Not that I know of."
He made an illegal U-turn and ignored Faith's comment saying that just because they were the police didn't mean they could break the law. He chuckled slightly at the way some cars honked at him. Faith just shook her head her partner. Soon he was pulling the RMP in front of the station house.
"Hey, Faith. Bosco," Kim, one of the medics from across the street called.
"Hi Kim," Faith threw over her shoulder.
"Boscorelli," Lieu came up to the pair.
"Hey, Lieu, what's up?" Bosco approached Lieutenant Swersky.
"Maurice?"
He knew that voice. He turned his head and came face to face with her. "Ashley?"
"Oh, boy," Faith whispered.
"Are you Officer Boscorelli?" a man stepped up and presented a badge. "Agent Kendall, FBI."
"What did you get yourself into, Ashley?" Bosco lowered his head in disbelief. The FBI?
"Bosco, why don't we go somewhere with more privacy." Swerksy turned and started to walk towards his office.
"Yeah, fine." He began to follow then turned to Faith. "Coming?"
"You sure you want me there?"
"Who are you? His girlfriend or something?" Ashley hissed.
"More serious than that, Ash. Faith is my wife." Bosco kept a straight face despite the fact he wanted to bust out in laughter at the shock on Faith's, Swersky's and Ashley's face.
"Bosco . . . ," Faith began.
"She's my partner Ashley. And nothing more than when we are working I watch her back and she watches mine."
"That wasn't funny, Maurice." Ashley walked in front of Kendall.
"Don't call me that." He glared at her.
"I knew you hadn't moved on." Ashely smiled.
"That's right, my life stopped the day you left me. Someone forgot to give me that memo."
They entered Swersky's office. Agent Kendall directed Ashley to a chair and took the one next to it. Faith and Lieu tried to blend into the wall. Bosco leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.
"What'd you and your boyfriend do?"
"Mrs. Forsythe and her husband decided they wanted to make money the easy way instead of working for it," Kendall offered.
"His lawyer called me last night." Bosco tensed up.
"Yeah? Good, get in touch with him. It's important," Ashley stated.
"Your ex-wife was an accomplice in her husband's scheme to scam his insurance company for millions."
"This has to do with me because . . .?"
"Can you be any more defensive?" Ashley questioned.
"Yeah, I can. You don't want to see it." He pushed off the wall. "You left me for some jag off that gets you arrested? Was it worth it? I was called here for this? Her business stopped being mine the day I signed the divorce papers."
"No, Maurice. It didn't."
"What are you talking about?"
"Six years ago."
"Yeah?"
"Keith and I are going away for a while and my son is going to have go to children services, unless you take him." Ashley looked at the floor.
"No, Ashley. You didn't. Please tell me you didn't."
"Your son needs you."
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A/N: Are you all seeing a theme with my stories? I seem to have a fascination with the idea of Bosco as a daddy. Hehe. I hope this isn't too similar to my other two stories.
