See Me Through Part 2
Note: I once again have to play catch up with another story. So, you get two chapters instead of one. See how kind and generous I am??? Hehe. I'm really hoping ya'll are enjoying because I'm having a blast writing this new story.
Feedback: Makes me wanna write and post faster. Please?
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See Me Through Part 2
"Your son needs you."
The moment those words came out of her mouth it felt like someone had taken all of his air. His son. He had a son. Bosco tried to keep his temper in check but was finding it increasing difficult as he thought of his son being raised by another man. He had a son. That was all he could concentrate on. His feelings were so mixed but the one constant was that he had a son.
"Say something, Maurice."
"Don't call me that. I hate the way you say my name," he hissed. "How could you be so heartless? You knew. You knew I wouldn't turn you away. All those letters we'd send talking about having a family when I was in the service. You knew I always wanted a family Ashley!"
"Don't yell at me. You never yelled at me before. What has gotten into you?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"Everyone calm down," Kendall interrupted.
"I will not calm down. I just found out I have a son. He's what . . .," Bosco paused trying to figure out when he would have been born.
"He turned five on the 12th of this month."
"Five? I have a son and for five years I never knew. Why'd you do it? You come back just to get pregnant? Pass my son off as that jag off's?"
"Stop it! Keith and I were separated a month before I came to you. I missed my life with him and knew I'd make you miserable. I got back together with him two months later. Keith always knew my son wasn't his and Noah knows you are his daddy."
"What then? He probably thinks I didn't want him. That it?" Bosco rubbed his eyes. "So, what'd you tell him about me? Huh? What!?"
"Officer . . . ," Agent Kendall began.
"No." He shook his head. "I want answers. What'd you tell him about his father? Lies? You tell him I didn't want him or something?"
"He thinks you are off saving the world. That's what you always wanted Maurice. You couldn't do what your mother and I wanted. You were supposed to go to school get a degree and work a safe job. Instead you wanted to put your life on the line for people you don't even know. I couldn't wait for another phone call saying you were shot. I couldn't do that!" Ashley cried.
Bosco looked at Ashley and softened a little. He recalled the stories his mom told him about how worried she was when they got the call he was injured. He wished he could have taken that away, but he wasn't going to live the life she had wanted for him. He wouldn't do that for anyone.
"You didn't leave me because of that. You left me because of him. That's not what I'm concerned about. My son. MY SON! God, I can't believe you could do that."
"Officer Boscorelli, can we talk outside? Lieutenant?"
"Yeah," both men said and followed Kendall outside.
Faith glared at the woman before her. It took all she had not to slap her. Bosco must not have ever realized just how much she'd want to hurt her. Everything in Faith wanted to slap, kick and punch the woman for what she had done.
"You never deserved him." Faith moved closer.
"Excuse me?"
"You never deserved Bosco."
"I loved Maurice. Bosco isn't the man I loved. He's hard and cold. Those aren't the same eyes I fell in love with."
"You're the reason. He doesn't always look that lost and angry. I've only seen that look a few times. How could you keep the fact he had a son from him?"
"What's it to you?"
"He's my best friend. You don't know what you did to him."
"Yes, I do. His mother let me have it last time. I know I hurt him. I killed the man he was. You'll never know that man. I have to live with that. I knew it six years ago. That's one of the reason's why I left. He was trying to be who he was before I left him the first time. I couldn't keep causing him to change just for me."
"I think he's still there. Just buried deep down."
"You want to kill me. I can see the hate in your eyes."
"Not kill you. Hurt you, maybe a little," Faith admitted.
"You don't know me or my reasons. I was a different person back then too. Back then, I would have been intimidated by you. Now . . . I could care less what you think or want. I know more about Maurice then you ever hope to. Oh, and your not his type."
"His type?"
"He'd never fall for you. Don't try to take my place. Noah is my son."
"Insecure much?"
"I see the way he looked at you. He trusts you and for Maurice, that's a tough thing. It's just friendship, nothing more."
"That's all it has been or will be."
"Sure, and my lawyer said I was a good liar."
Bosco listened as Kendall talked. Ashley was going away for a long time and he was the only family Noah had. The Fed even went so far as to even suggest that Noah be placed in foster care. That sent Bosco over the edge. His son wouldn't be placed in foster care, not while he was still living and breathing.
"Officer Boscorelli will have my full support Agent Kendall. What time he needs off, he's got. You heard him when he said that his boy isn't going to foster care. He's perfectly capable," Swersky stepped up.
"Never said he wasn't. Just giving you options."
"Take your option and shove it," Bosco said. He turned to the room Faith and Ashley were in. "Yokas looks pretty ticked, huh Lieu?"
"She does. Better go back in." He opened the door.
"Mrs. Forsythe. It's time to go. Your ex-husband has agreed to take in your son."
"He's a good boy. I now you'll take good care of him." Ashley stood up. "Don't fill his mind with lies about me."
"I won't. That's not my style, you know that."
"He's downstairs with Ms. Crane from Children Services. He's all yours." Kendall started to walk out the door. "Most of his stuff was taken in by the Bureua. Bought with someone else's money if you know what I mean."
Bosco followed Ashley and Kendall down the hall and stopped when they reached the main lobby. A woman in her late forties stood off to the side. His eyes swept past her business suit and brief case and fell on the brown haired boy by her side. Ashley and Kendall continued on, but Bosco was frozen. The little boy tugged at the straps on his overalls.
"Boscorelli, you have the rest of the shift off and I'll see to it that you get a few more off. Call in when you are ready to come back. Use your personal days, whatever," Swersky said.
"Thanks," Bosco said.
"You just do right by that boy."
"You ok, Boz?" Faith asked.
"I don't know how to take care of a kid, Faith. The closest I've ever gotten to being around kids is when I was at your place rough housing with Charlie and Emily."
"The kids are with Fred for a few days so if you need me I'm here."
"I shouldn't need help. I shouldn't be meeting my son now. I should have been there from the start." Bosco turned Swersky. "Thanks for the time off."
"You are gonna need it." Swersky turned to Faith. "How ya feeling today Yokas?"
"Lieu?" she questioned.
"You coming down with that flu bug?" He smiled.
"Actually I have been feeling under the weather lately."
"Take the rest of the night off as well." Swersky moved past the two. "Just don't let Christopher find out. I don't need him breathing down my neck when I have every right to do as I please."
Bosco turned his attention back to the little boy. He felt Faith put a hand on his shoulder. Would Noah hate him? Would he be afraid? Those thoughts and much more ran through his head as he watched Noah. The boy looked like he had when he was that age.
"Look at him." Bosco turned to Faith. "I . . . I have a son."
"Who seems to have wandered away."
"What?" He looked around until he found Noah standing in front of two other officers.
Noah had followed two officers and Bosco and Faith followed as did Agent Kendall, Ashley and Miss Crane. Noah finally caught up to the two officers. Bosco sighed when he noticed who the two officers were.
"Slow down there, kid," Officer John Sullivan laughed.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize," Sully's partner Ty Davis said. "Are you lost?"
"I don't think I am. I went to find my daddy."
"He bring you here?" Sully asked.
"Nope. Mommy and some stuffy guy and Ms. Crane did," he said.
"Where are they now?" Ty asked.
"Talking to my daddy. He's a superhero." Noah looked to his feet. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers, but Mommy always said it was ok to talk to the police. So you won't tell her will you?"
"Noah!" Ashley appeared with Agent Kendall.
"Please?" Noah begged.
"Ma'am." Ty stood up.
"Sorry if he bothered you. He kinda has a fascination with men in uniforms."
"I don't have a fas . . . a fas . . . whatever you said Mommy!" Noah stomped his feet. "These guys are my friends. Right guys?"
"Yeah, little guy." Sully smiled. "I'm Sully and that's Davis."
"My name is Noah Boscorelli. I can even spell it. Mommy taught me how."
"Boscorelli huh?" Sully looked up and finally noticed Bosco and Faith.
Bosco couldn't move. He was mere feet away from his son. He couldn't move. He had watched the interaction between Noah, Sully and Davis and he couldn't move. He wanted to speak but he couldn't do that. Instead his gaze was fixed on the little boy who was now surrounded by people. He watched Ashley lean down and whisper in his ear.
"Where?" Noah pushed Ashley away. "Where is he?!" He looked around and stared dead on at Bosco. "Daddy!" He ran straight in Bosco who had knelt down.
"Daddy?" Both Sully and Ty whispered.
"Daddy? It's you!" Noah wrapped his little arms around Bosco. "You have a different uniform on Daddy." He pulled away and reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo. "Mommy gave me this."
"Oh, that was when I was a Ranger. I'm a cop now. This is my new uniform," Bosco said nervously.
"Mommy told me all about you, and grandma and my Uncle Mikey. Mostly you. You're like Superman."
"Far from it."
"Can you make so my mommy doesn't go away?" Noah pulled back but his arms were still around Bosco's neck.
"I wish I could, but I can't."
"Why?"
"Honey," Ashley said. "Remember what I said. I have to go away. It's your daddy's turn to take care of you."
"Both of you can."
"No. Just your daddy this time. I know you don't really know him, but remember all those stories?"
"Yeah." Noah sniffled then broke out in a smile. "That time daddy pulled the fire alarm at school was a funny one."
Bosco felt Faith staring at him. The fire alarm thing was in eleventh grade. They couldn't fail that history exam, so he did the only thing he could think off. Pull the fire alarm. Faith couldn't hold that against him. He was seventeen at the time.
"All those stories were my way of letting you know your daddy. He doesn't know you. That's my fault. I was selfish and wanted you to myself. If your Daddy had known he'd have been there for you." Ashley looked at Agent Kendall. "Look, I've got to go now. Give me a big hug because it has to last me a long time."
He stayed knelt down and watched as his son and ex-wife said their goodbyes. As much as he wanted to hate Ashley he could see the pain in her eyes. She tried to pull Noah off but he wouldn't budge. She looked to Bosco for help.
"Noah, you have to let her go."
"No. She can't leave."
"Hey, what'd I tell you?" Ashely wiped a tear from his eye.
"Don't be sad because the more I'm sad the longer it takes for you to get back." Noah sniffled.
"That's right." Ashley stood and picked Noah up. "Maurice?"
"Yeah?"
"Take him. Please." She handed Noah to Bosco. "He'll try to run after me. Don't let him see."
"I won't." Bosco sat the five year old on the main desk but kept his hand on the boy's waist.
"Bye, Noah." Ashley smiled sadly as she walked out of the Precinct.
"Mommy! Come back, Mommy." Noah cried. He tried to get to his mother but Bosco stopped him. "Please Mommy. I'll be a good boy! Come back."
"It's not your fault, Noah," Bosco said.
"Yes it is. Uncle Keith told me so. He said Mommy is going away because of me." He threw himself into Bosco and cried even harder.
Everyone who had been in the lobby of the Precinct stopped what they were doing to watch the exchange that had taken place. All eyes were on Bosco and his son. Faith had been too concerned for Bosco to even notice. Apparently Sully did.
"What are you all standing there for?" He barked. With that everyone went back to their jobs. Miss Crane stood back and watched Bosco and Noah. Sully and Davis stood near her.
"Officer Boscorelli?"
"Miss Crane?"
"Yes. I need to speak with you."
"Oh, yeah." Bosco turned to Noah. "I have to go talk to Miss Crane."
"Don't leave me too." Noah clung to his father.
"I'm not." He pulled Faith closer. "This is my partner Faith. She'll stay with you while I talk to Miss Crane."
"Your partner? Kinda like how Batman has Robin?"
"Something like that." Bosco grinned then walked away.
Bosco had talked to Miss Crane and got things sorted out. She was going to check in on them later on to see how they were doing but other than that Bosco was on his own. He had returned to the spot where he left Noah and Faith to find they were gone. He walked upstairs only to find Noah on Sully's shoulders laughing. He followed them into the roll call room where Faith was.
"Thanks for the ride, Sully," Noah said as he got down. He grabbed the apple Faith handed him. "Thanks Robin."
"Oh so that makes your dad Batman?" Faith questioned.
"Yep. Batman, and Superman, and Spiderman."
"I wouldn't go that far kid," Bosco said.
"You came back." Noah charged at Bosco.
"Whoa." Bosco had to regain his balance. "Told you I would, didn't I?"
"Sullivan!"
"Oh great," Sully muttered as Sergeant Christopher came in the room.
"What are you doing here?!"
"Davis and I brought in a perp. He's finishing up the paperwork and I was
just . . .," Sully started then Noah cut him off.
"No need to yell. Sully was just giving me a ride back to the bat cave." Noah smiled.
"Boscorelli! Yokas! What is a child doing here?"
"Hey!" Noah stomped and shook his finger at Christopher. "Don't yell at them! You are a mean man! I don't like you."
"Yeah, well, I don't like kids all that much either. In fact I feed them to sharks. Chomp Chomp." Christopher laughed when Noah jumped back. "Now I want answers, and no more lip from the toddler."
"I'm not a toddler, Mister! I am five years old!" Noah grinned at the annoyed look on Christopher's face. "Now, leave. I don't want you here in the bat cave. Only Batman, Robin, Sully and me can be here."
"Aren't we a little old then to be pretending this is a bat cave?" Christopher reached out to grab Noah's arm but found an angry Boscorelli.
"Touch him and we're gonna have problems. Got it." Bosco stood in front of Noah protectively. "And people call me a jerk." Bosco turned his back to Christopher and took Noah's hand.
"Yeah, a jerk! You are like the Joker! And you know what? Batman always beats the Joker," Noah added as he followed Bosco out of the room. "Ugh, what a mean person. I bet his Mommy is embarrassed of him."
"Chip off the old block, huh Faith?" Sully laughed as he heard Noah.
"I'd say. You'd never guess he just met Bosco for the first time today." She walked out the door to follow Bosco. "See ya Sully. Sergeant." Faith entered the locker room to hear Noah rambling.
"Wow. So this is where all you cop guys get ready to be superheroes? Cool." Noah sat down next to Bosco as he changed. "Where's all my stuff? Mommy said I couldn't take all my stuff, but where's the stuff I could?"
"Miss Crane and I put your bags in my car."
"What about my bed and stuff?"
"We'll get you new stuff. For a while you'll have to sleep in my room though. Just until I can find us a new place to live." Bosco pulled on his shirt.
"It won't be as big as Uncle Keith's place right? That was too big. My friend Larry, he and his mom lived in this little house and it was big enough for the two of them and we never got lost like we did at my house. I liked that." Noah rambled. He jumped up and turned to go to Faith. "Do you live with my Daddy?"
"No, honey. I don't." Faith tried not to laugh. "I live with my son and daughter Charlie and Emily. You want to meet them sometime?"
"Maybe. I can't just replace Larry as my best friend you know? He still doesn't know I left. I bet he hates me."
"I think we could arrange for you to call him." Faith suggested.
"Ready?" Bosco stood up and grabbed his bag.
"Yep." Noah reached for his dad's hand. "You coming too Faith?"
"Of course she's coming." Bosco looked at Faith, his expression almost telling her that he needed her.
Bosco led Noah out of the Precint and to his car. He opened his door to put in his bag and to help Noah into the backseat. He felt Noah wriggle to let go of his hand and loosened his grip a little. The next thing he knew Noah ran off across the street. He threw a look at Faith then chase after.
"Noah!" he called out. He looked all around the garage of the firehouse. Faith was at his side. "Where'd he go?"
"Noah!" Faith called.
