See Me Through Part 3

Note: Wow, sorry it's taken me so long to update. I really hope I haven't lost any readers. I'm really starting to love this story myself. Anywho, thanks so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter and a big thanks to CCA for her encouragement and trying to keep me in line with posting regularly. She tries, I'm just a slacker, what can I say?

Feedback: YES! Please. I'll get on my knees and beg if that helps. Hehe.

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Noah walked around the firehouse in awe. He knew he shouldn't have run off, but it was just across the street. There was no one in the house but he continued to look. He called out for a dog, thinking that every firehouse had a Dalmatian. He got frustrated when the dog didn't come.

"Stupid place doesn't even have a dog!" He plopped down on the stairs. He jumped up when he saw someone coming down the stairs.

"Hey." Kim Zambrano, one of the paramedics came down the stairs. "Ah, are you lost?"

"I don't think so. I was just looking for your Dalmation. Don't got one huh?"

"Sorry Kiddo." She looked at him curiously. "Are you all alone?"

"My Daddy is outside. I wanted to see the fire trucks but they aren't here." Noah pulled her down. "My Daddy is a cop. I think he likes me."

"I'm sure he doesn't like you, but he loves you."

"I dunno, I just met him today," he said as if sharing a big secret. "My Mommy never told my Daddy about me."

"NOAH!"

"That's him. I gotta go." Noah ran towards the way he came up when he ran into a group of dirty fire men. "Uh oh."

"Where's the fire kiddo?" Jimmy Doherty laughed. He turned to Kim. "Why is Bosco down there yelling?"

"Bosco?" Kim looked at Noah. "Honey, what's your name?"

"Noah Boscorelli." Noah jumped when he heard his name. "I gotta go." He pushed through the fire fighters only to find his father behind the group. "Uh, hi."

"Uh, hi? You gave me a heart attack. I'm too young for a heart attack." Bosco grabbed Noah's hand.

"Bosco." Jimmy was the only guy left after all the others went into the kitchen. "You have a kid?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Bosco turned to leave.

"Great parenting there, Bosco. Just let the kid wander around." Jimmy stopped when Kim stepped up.

"Shut up Doherty. You don't know what you are talking about." Bosco glared at the other man. "Let's go Noah."

"I didn't mean to make you mad."

"I'm not mad. I promise. Next time don't run off. I'm new at this you know," Bosco said as they descended the stairs.

"It was nice to meet you Noah!" Kim called down the stairs. She turned and slapped Jimmy on the arm. "Think before you open your mouth." She walked away.

"What'd I say?"

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"Ok, so what do you want to eat?" Bosco pushed a grocery cart around the little store. Noah held onto Faith's hand.

"I dunno. Tacos? No, no tacos." Noah stopped suddenly in front of the junk food isle. "Chocolate. I want chocolate for dinner."

"Not for dinner. Maybe after. How's that?" Bosco couldn't help but smile at the wide eyes on Noah.

"I've never seen so much chocolate!" Noah handed Bosco a bag of M&Ms.

"Put it in the cart." He turned to Faith. "What. It's not gonna kill him to have a little chocolate."

"Wait till he eats the whole bag and is up all night." Faith shook her head.

"You wouldn't do that, would ya?"

"Of course not Daddy."

"See." Bosco grinned. "Now, we need some real food, because I don't have anything at home."

After the shopping experience they were on their way to Bosco's apartment. Luckily he hadn't left it completely trashed. He had Faith stay with Noah while he brought all the stuff up from his car. When he was done he found Noah near his television.

"You got a Dreamcast? Cool. Larry had one."

"Yeah, well I don't have many games I think you could play." Bosco entered his kitchen.

"Could we get one maybe?"

"I guess we could." He turned to Faith. "Right? I mean if it's appropriate?"

"Welcome to the wonderful world of being a parent," Faith chuckled at Bosco's uncertainty. He looked at his watch and noticed it was 8. "You need to eat, and sleep. Did your mom give you a bed time?"

"Nope, got to stay up until I got tired."

"Oh, really. Ok, then."

"Bosco." Faith looked down at Noah then back up to her partner. "You seriously think that he didn't have a bed time?"

"I dunno. Ashley was always unconventional. You think he's lying?"

"Not lying, more like pulling your chain. Isn't that right, Noah?"

"Maybe." He smiled then took a seat at the table. "You two are fun."

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The next day Faith ran into the locker room. She threw her things down and quickly began to change. She noticed Sully and Davis looking at her with pity. Shrugging it off, she went back to changing until she heard the voice behind her.

"Yokas?"

"Yes, Sergeant?"
"Since your partner is off sick or whatever you get to partner up with Gusler."

"Please, no. I'll do lock up, just don't put me with that kid."

"Too late. Hurry up, you are all going to be late." Christopher laughed as he left the changing room.

"Gusler?!" She rested her head on her locker. "Why? Why?"

"He can't be that bad." Sully buttoned up his shirt.

"You haven't ridden with him."

"How's Bosco and the kid?" Sully questioned.

"Getting along great. Bosco is whipped already. Noah is just like him in ways."

"I can't imagine Bosco as a dad," Davis spoke up.

"Well, it suits him. Never seen Bosco like that. I wonder if that was what he was like before." Faith was tying her shoe laces.

"Yeah, how do you mean?"

"I dunno. He wasn't always the arrogant, brash, obnoxious Bosco we all know. Maybe all it will take is Noah to change him."

"That's a lot to put on a kid," Sully threw as he walked out of the room to roll call.

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Bosco looked around his kitchen for something to make to eat for dinner. He had spent the day playing and watching television with Noah. He never thought a day off would be so tiring. The energy to even cook was gone. He did need to feed his son.

"Do you like spaghetti?" Bosco sat down at the table where his son was coloring.

"Yep."

"Ok, so spaghetti then." Bosco got up and opened the cupboard door and pulled out a box of noodles and a bottle of spaghetti sauce.

"It's not homemade?" Noah looked at the bottled sauce.

"Not tonight. My Ma, she makes the best sauce. Maybe sometime she can make it for you." He put his attention to boiling the water.

"Can I meet my Grandma? I never had one."

"I . . . uh . . . we'll see." Bosco didn't know what else to say. His mother refused to talk to him. Maybe he should call her and let her know what was going on.

"I miss Mommy."

"I know you do." He sat back down.

"You don't like me, do you." Noah dropped his crayon.

"What? Why would you think that?"

"I dunno. Uncle Keith said you hated me. Mommy always said that you loved me."

"Well, your Uncle Keith was wrong. It's just like Ashley . . . your mom said, she wanted to keep you all to herself. This is just new for me. I don't hate you. I could never hate you."

"Will you and Mommy ever get married again?"

"No." Bosco saw the sad look in the boy's eyes. "I love your mom very much, but for now it's just you and me."

"And Faith?"

"And Faith."

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Bosco had been off for a week and as much as he loved spending time with Noah he was itching to get back to work. The only problem was who would watch him while he worked. He still had yet to work up the courage to call his mother. Maybe he could get her to watch him.

"Bosco?" Faith's voice filtered into the apartment.

"Shh." Bosco looked at his watch. It was a little past 5 pm. Noah was asleep on the couch with him, his head resting on Bosco's chest. "He had a nightmare last night so we were up all night. He finally conked out. What are you doing here?"

"Hello to you too." Faith reached down to pick Noah. "I'll put him in your bed."

"No, I can do it. Sit." Bosco slowly got up and carried Noah into his room and then went to join Faith on the couch. "You aren't working?"

"No, thank god. Night off. Gusler has been driving me insane!"

"I know what you mean. Don't worry though. I just need to find someone to watch him while I work and I'll be back in no time."

"Thank you, thank you." She looked around the living room then the kitchen where a large sheet was draped over the table. "A tent?"

"That kid is hyper active Faith. Never stops. We made a tent at 3 in the morning. Half my bedding is on the kitchen floor. He started to fall asleep then woke up so we watched some kids tape. Oh god Faith, the music, it was like someone drilling in my head."

"Just be thankful he doesn't like Barney. I hate that thing."

"How are you doing?"

"Good."

"I mean with you and Fred."

"Still separated. He wants the house so the kids don't move. He wants my kids. What can I do? They want to be with him. We sat them down and asked who they'd want to stay with more and they chose Fred." Faith started to cry. "It's not like I can quit my job. There's nothing else I can do. And Fred is home at nights."

"So, you are gonna give in and let him take Charlie and Em from you?" Bosco looked her in the eye. "You aren't a quitter Faith."

"What can I do, Bos?"

"Well, school's over, your kids are home. Go be with them. You have your own family to worry about. I can handle Noah. I promise."

"You sure?"

"Faith, have a little, well, ah . . .faith in me. Now go! I'll see you tomorrow, hopefully."

"Thanks Boz."

"Didn't do anything. Now go, before I change my mind and make you work with Gusler."

"I'm gone," Faith said as she left.

Bosco looked at his phone that was on the coffee table. Noah had asked him again about meeting his grandma and the look in his eye had been so sad. Besides, Bosco did miss his mom. He hadn't talked to her in a while. And she did deserve to know that she had a grandson. He lifted the phone and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Ma?"

"I'm not talking to you, Maurice."

"Yeah, well, Ma I need to tell you something important."

"You bust your brother again? Your father this time maybe?"

"I'd love nothing more than to throw dad's ass in jail, but no."

"What then, Maurice. I'm still mad at you for what you did to Mikey."

"For once, can we not talk about Mikey and his screw ups. It was my job and I couldn't let him go." His voice caught unable to continue. He sighed deeply.

"Maurice?"

"It's about Ashley."

"That little good for nothing ex-wife of yours? Your not taking her back. Last time you were prepared to do that I had to haul your ass out of a drunken stupor."

"Thanks for reminding me," he said. "It's about the last time. Can you come over? Please, Ma. It's important."

"I swear if I come over and she's there to tell me how much she wants you back, you will have to pull me off her. She will not break your heart again. I may be mad as hell at you, but no witch like Ashley will hurt my boy." She sounded fiercely protectively.

"I can handle myself Ma. Are you coming or what?"

"Yes. I'll be there soon."

"Thanks Ma." Bosco hung up.

He grinned despite himself. She was mad at him for what happened when he put his brother in jail for selling dope. Yet she was still protective of him. Bosco remembered the last time Ashley had come back. They went to see his mom and Ashley told her how much she wanted to get back with Bosco. His mother had warned her not to hurt him again or she'd wish she never came back.

He got up and walked into his bedroom where Noah was fast asleep. He quietly snuck up to the bed and pulled the covers up. He was never one to show emotions before but the last few nights he found himself watching Noah sleep in awe. In awe that the boy before him was his own flesh and blood. In awe that he had such a wonderful son. He smoothed the boy's hair and leaned down and gave him a kiss on the forehead.

Noah began to stir so Bosco backed out of the room. He pulled the door shut and began to clean up. He had the kitchen all picked up by the time knocking at the door announced his mother's arrival.

"Ma."

"Maurice." She walked in. "Where is she?"

"Not here. In some Federal prison actually. Her and her husband got caught doing some kind of insurance fraud."

"Why did you need me here to tell me that." She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. She picked up a video cassette that was in her way. "Bob the Builder? Since when did you watch children shows?"

"Since I had a five year old living with me."

"What?"

"Ashley got pregnant when she came back and never told me until a week ago when she had to." He sat down next to his mom.

"You know for sure its yours?"

"Ma, one look at Noah, and you know."

"Where is he now?"

"Sleeping."

"And you are telling me now, instead of a week ago, because . . . "

"You weren't talking to me. He asked to meet you and I realized that you had a right to know about Noah and I missed you."

"Can I see him? For a second?"

"Yeah." Bosco stood up and led his mother to his room. He opened the door a crack.

"It's like looking at you when you were five."

"Yeah?" He shut the door once she walked away.

"I'm surprised you didn't call and ask me to help take care of him."

"I didn't need any help." He lied. She knew it. "Ok, so Faith has helped. A lot. What do you expect. One morning I wake up with no one to take care of but myself and then I get this kid. Let me tell you, I wouldn't trade it for anything."

"I always knew you'd make a great dad."

"I'm far from great Ma. He thinks I don't like him. I don't know how to show him I care. I'm so screwed up, I'm afraid I'll screw him up." Bosco held back some tears.

"Do you love him?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Do you love your son?"

"Of course. I mean from the moment I saw him I did. It was like I was alive again." He smiled sadly.

"That's why I hate her so much Maurice. You were so happy with her. Never saw you happier. I mean you even considered inviting your father to the wedding. Granted you didn't, but still. You had all these friends. Frankie, Johnny, Mac. Then when she left it was like she took a piece of you with her. You pushed your friends away by being who you are now." She cupped his face in her hands. "I hate that she hurt you so much that you think you are unworthy of love."

"I don't . . . "

"Yes, you do. You might have been happy with Nicole."

"No, I couldn't. There was someone else. And no not Ashley. I gave up on her the day she left me." He let a tear fall.

"Faith?"

"Ma . . ."

"Please Maurice. I know you. I hear it in your voice when you talk about her. As much as you don't think you deserve her, you do. You deserve all the happiness you didn't have growing up."

"No, but Noah does."

"Yes, he does. He needs his Daddy to be happy. And you know the only way to be truly happy."

"It'll never happen Ma." Bosco let the rest of his tears fall.

"Never say never." She held him while he cried.

Bosco was never one to cry openly. His mother's words had been truthful. Hit him hard. Ashley had been one of the reasons he was the man he was today. The reason he never had a steady relationship. The reason he didn't have any friends. He thought that he had gotten over his fear of being left from his father when he had been with Ashley. Then she left and he refused to let anyone else in. Maybe it was time to change that.