Title: In a New York Minute (6/?)

Author: X_tremeroswellian

Email: X_tremeroswellian@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: Are not, have not and will not ever be mine.

Rating: PG-13/R for language, violence, and sexual content. *Deals with issues of rape, domestic violence, child abuse, torture and homicide.

Spoilers: Up through and including "Act Brave." Also major spoilers for my other fic, "No Mercy."

Summary: Someone from Faith and Bosco's past threatens their happiness with his plans to enact revenge on them for the death of his brother.

Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just let me know where it's going.

Category: Story sequel

Subcategories: Suspense/romance/angst/thriller and a touch of the supernatural.

Feedback: Helps me write faster and is always appreciated.

Author's Note: This is a sequel to my fic, "No Mercy." If you haven't read that one, you're going to be confused.

In a New York Minute (Part Six)

Faith sat stiffly in the subcar that was headed back to Manhattan. Her body was numb, but her mind was whirling with thoughts.

She was pregnant.

With Bosco's baby.

They hadn't ever even talked about having kids together before. They'd only been married about a year and had been together less than two years.

She didn't know if Bosco even -wanted- children. And even if he did, that didn't mean that he necessarily wanted them -now-. Were they ready for this?

She and Bosco certainly loved each other--there were no doubts or insecurities in her mind or her heart about that.

But having a baby together put everything on a whole different level. Would they be able to handle it?

She leaned her head back againt the window, letting her eyes close. How was she going to tell him? What was she going to say? She suddenly wished he had taken the day off and gone with her to the doctor's, wished that she hadn't talked him out of it. Then he would already know and she wouldn't have to worry about how to tell him.

She opened her eyes again, then pulled her cellular phone out of her purse and dialed her husband's cell number.

"Faith?"

She couldn't help smile at the sound of his voice. "Hey. How's it going? Havin' a good tour so far?"

"Better, now that I'm talkin' to you."

"Who'd they stick you with?"

"No one. I'm flyin' solo for the day."

She paused, not thrilled with the thought of him being out there without any backup.

"Enough about me. What'd the doctor say?"

Faith opened her mouth to speak, then realized she couldn't give him news like that over the telephone. "He said I was fine," she answered carefully.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he said I was perfectly healthy."

"Oh, thank God." There was a pause. "What about the headaches and everything?" There was confusion in his voice.

She thought quickly. "Stress. That's all." She glanced around the car, starting to grow uncomfortable as more people flooded in.

"That's good. That's good to hear. At least it's nothing serious. Thank God."

"Yeah," she agreed, her voice soft. "Boz? Do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Come straight home tonight?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it's just...I need to talk to you in person." She shifted in her seat, feeling tense as a gruff-looking man--probably a few years older than her--sat down beside her.

"Sounds serious." She could hear the frown in his voice.

"It is. I mean, everything's fine so don't worry, but I just...we need to talk."

"Okay. I'll come straight home. I'm on my way to dinner with the gang right now."

"Tell everyone I said hi?"

"Will do."

Faith felt the man's eyes on her and she shifted again, feeling a little bit of anxiety stir within her. "I love you," she said into the phone.

"Love you too, Faith. See you tonight."

"Bye," she said softly, hanging up her phone and sliding it into her purse.

"Boyfriend?" the man beside her asked.

She turned her head to look at him. She felt goosebumps rise up on her arms as she watched him chew on a toothpick. "Husband," she replied. "He's a police officer. And so am I." She held his gaze, surprised by the coldness, the hint of warning to her voice.

The man shifted away from her a little. "That's nice."

She was satisfied that he wouldn't be bothering her for the rest of the ride. She took a deep breath and let her mind drift a little.

Now all she had to do was come up with a way to tell Bosco that she was pregnant.

And hope that he wouldn't get too freaked out.

* * *

"I hear congratulations are in order," Bosco grinned as he dropped down in the seat beside Davis at Haggerty's. Now that he knew Faith was going to be fine, he felt much better. He was still a little concerned because he had noticed a hint of anxiety in her tone when she'd asked him to come straight home and said they needed to talk. But he reassured himself that as long as Faith was fine and healthy, he could deal with anything else that came along.

Davis grinned at him. "Word gets around fast. But you heard right."

"So you finally asked her?"

"Yep. Figured it was time."

"Congratulations, man." Bosco shook his hand.

"Thanks." Davis studied him. "You and Faith are happy together, aren't you?"

"Very," he agreed, nodding.

"Good."

Sully returned to the table, carrying two glasses of water. "Bosco." He nodded to him.

"Sullivan." It still amazed Bosco that he and Sully seemed to have reached a mutual respect that even bordered on friendship from time to time. He supposed it was due mostly to Faith--and from the secret the four officers shared about what had really happened almost two years ago.

The serial rapist that had attacked Faith had escaped capture for months. Then one day in a twist of fate, Bosco and Faith had stopped at a little cafe for lunch during one of their shifts and had literally run into the son of a bitch. More accurately, Faith had--Bosco had gone to the restroom before they ordered. When he returned, he had found Faith missing. She'd run off in pursuit of her own attacker, refusing to let him escape despite the fact she had no back up. She had chased him into an empty parking garage and held him at gun point until Bosco had shown up, Sully and Davis arriving shortly there after.

The bastard had taunted them--Faith in particular. He'd pointed out that he would never be convicted because his brother had confessed to all the rapes. The DNA evidence would have been too close. It would have placed reasonable doubt in the mind of the jurors, if the D.A. had pursued the case at all in the first place. And Richards would have walked. Would have been free to attack and harm whoever he wanted. He would have been free to go after Faith again.

And Bosco wasn't going to let that happen.

It hadn't taken much time to decide there was only one way to make sure he could never harm anyone, Faith included, again.

So Bosco had shot him.

Faith and Sully and Davis all told Lt. Swersky and Captain Stick that it had been an act of self-defense. And that had been the end of that. Case closed.

Bosco had never regretted his actions.

"You guys order yet?"

He glanced up to see Carlos and Doc sitting down at the table.

"Yeah, a few minutes ago."

"Good, that means we can order now too. I'm starving," Carlos announced.

"I thought Alex was making dinner." Davis glanced down the table.

Doc hid a smile, while Carlos raised his eyebrows. "Don't get me wrong--I think it's great about the two of you and all, but your fiancee is much better at putting out fires than she is at cooking food over them." He shook his head. "And no offense, but your cookin' isn't much better. You guys are gonna starve."

Sully chuckled and looked at his partner. "He has you pegged."

Bosco grinned. "And here comes your bride-to-be now."

Davis instantly looked toward the door, a smile on his face. He stood up and kissed her cheek when she walked over to him.

Everyone at the table said, "Aww."

"Cute. That's...very cute," Davis replied, rolling his eyes at the childishness of his friends and co-workers.

Kim grinned at him as she sat down beside Doc and across from Carlos. "Better get used to it. You think these guys are bad? Wait until you start hanging out with D.K., Walsh and Lombardo. Believe me, Alex has it way harder than you."

"Oh, come on, they're not that bad," Jimmy defended as he walked over and sat down at the end of the table.

Kim simply raised her eyebrows.

"Okay, okay. They are that bad. But it's all in good fun. Taylor knows that." He grinned.

The waitress came over and took everyone else's orders. Dinner was relaxed and fun. Bosco just wished Faith was there to enjoy it with him.

* * *

Faith finished setting the table as she waited for the lasagna she'd made to cool enough to be placed in the refrigerator. It was one of Bosco's favorite meals and even though she preferred the way he made it, he always said he loved her cooking.

She put a lid on the pan and placed it in the fridge so it didn't spoil. Her gaze flickered to the clock. It was only 8:30. He wouldn't be home for at least three hours.

She ran a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the counter. She was starting to wish she'd asked him to come by on his dinner break. She dismissed the thought quickly. She wanted them to have time to talk after she gave him the news, not be rushed because he had to get back to work. She just needed to try and relax, find something to occupy herself for the next few hours.

Faith took a deep breath, then shut off the kitchen light and walked slowly into the living room. She laid down on the sofa and stared up at the ceiling for a long time.

Then, placing a protective hand on her stomach, she drifted off to sleep.

* * *

She was a beautiful woman. Her features weren't delicate and he knew she was no porcelain doll. But she was beautiful. She was strong and smart and full of courage and will to live.

Even from where he stood, without actually touching her, he could tell how smooth and soft her fair-colored skin was. Soft like the pretty violet pajamas she was wearing as she slept peacefully on the couch. He longed to undress her, to be inside her and possess her completely. But that would have to wait a little while longer.

He had other things to do first. "Soon," he whispered as he brushed a kiss against her forehead. She never even stirred.

* * *

"Been a quiet night." Davis' voice broke the comfortable silence that had fallen in 55-Charlie.

"Don't say that."

"Don't say...what?"

"That it's been a quiet night."

"Well, it has."

Sully sighed. "Yeah and now you've jinxed us."

"Lighten up, Sul. It's 10:30. Shift's almost over. Nothing's going to--"

"Central to 55-Charlie."

Sully gave him his patented 'I told you so' look before keying the button on his radio. "55-Charlie. Go ahead, Central."

"55-Charlie, have you been in contact with 55-David?"

Davis frowned.

"Not since our 10-63, Central."

"What's going on?"

Sully keyed his radio once more. "What's the problem, Central?"

"We've lost radio contact with him, Charlie."

The partners exchanged a look.

"Maybe he's just layin' low for the rest of the shift."

"He doesn't do that much anymore," Davis answered, feeling unsettled.

"Yeah, when Faith's around. You know as well as I do that the guy has a history of duckin' calls."

"Except there haven't been any calls."

Sully frowned and gazed at him for a moment. "You think he's in trouble?"

"I think we need to go check his sector," Davis responded, fastening his seatbelt.

His partner started the car. "Yeah. With any luck he just fell asleep or somethin'."

"Hopefully."

* * *

She dreamt.

She was walking along a path in the woods, fog all around her. She could feel its sticky dampness against her skin. She couldn't see anything. She shivered against the chilly breeze and pulled her jacket around her more tightly. "Hello?" she called, her voice getting lost in the enveloping fog.

No one answered her.

She took a few tentative steps forward.

"Soon," a voice whispered, brushing against her mind.

She stopped moving, turning to see who had spoken, but ther was no one around. "Soon what?"

Again there was no answer.

Shivering more, she started to walk. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, goosebumps appearing on her flesh.

And then a voice broke the silence.

"Faith! Faith! Help me!"

Faith sat up suddenly, sucking in a lung full of air, her heart pounding hard against her chest. She looked around, feeling frightened and disoriented. She could hear Bosco's screams for help echoing in her mind.

She reached out to turn on the lamp beside the sofa. The bulb sparked and she remained in darkness. She was sweating. She wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her silk pajamas and took a deep breath.

Something wasn't right.

Something was missing.

She felt strangely lost, like she was still wandering around the fog in her dream.

The telephone rang.

Her gaze flickered to the clock on the VCR. 12:51. It was late. Very, very late. Her eyes drifted back to the phone on the coffee table and for a moment, she simply stared at it, as though it were a foreign object. A sense of dread filled her as she picked it up and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Sully's voice, quiet. Full of tension. "Something's happened."

Her heart stopped for a moment. Then the phone slipped silently from her hand and clattered to the floor, the sound echoing loudly in the hollow room, mingling with her husband's voice calling her for help.

Go to Part 7

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