Bosco's phone rang at 7:30 the next morning. He jolted out of bed and searched for it on his floor, finally finding the phone under his bed. He quickly pressed the 'talk' button.
"Hello?"
"Maurice, hey!" Jenna's perky voice was on the other line.
He switched the phone from his left ear to his right. "Hey girl. You home now?" He forgot about his shoulder and moved it, sending a sharp pain through his body. He winced.
"Yeah, got home around 6:30 this morning. How are you doing?"
He yawned. "Okay I guess. Come over, I need to see you."
"Okay, be there in fifteen minutes."
~~
Bosco had barely gotten out of the shower when he heard her knock on the door. He quickly put on some boxers and a tank top and opened the door. "Hey Jenna." He pulled her in for a soft, deep kiss. "I missed you."
She kissed him back and walked into the messy living room. "I missed you too." She looked around the room. "Looks like you could use a house keeper." She giggled.
"Yeah well, I've had a bad couple of days. Cleaning the house was the last thing on my priority list."
"Oh? Everything okay now?" She noticed a bandage on his left shoulder. "Something happen to your arm?"
"Bullet nicked me. I'm okay though so don't worry. And yes, everything is fine."
She sat down on the couch and kicked some empty beer bottles out of the way. "So, what happened?"
He sat down on the floor beside her legs and kissed one gently. "The day before yesterday we had a pretty bad call. A 10-car wreck. Only two people survived it, well, actually one for sure that I know of. The other one is in critical condition still."
She ran her fingers over his semi-wet hair. "Yeah, I heard something about that on the news. I didn't know you were on the scene though."
He nodded. "Yeah, I was." He kissed her leg again. "Yesterday a medic got shot. They were waiting to be able to work on this guy that got hurt. They couldn't until we cleared the building. We rushed in, the perp got away, shot him as he was running by."
"You know this medic?"
"Yeah, we've gone for drinks and stuff. Works across the street from me."
"I'm sorry to hear that Maurice."
He stood up and got up on the couch beside her. "No need to be sorry. That's what happens with the uniform. Anyway, enough with the bad stuff. What did you do on your trip?"
"Daddy wants to meet you." She giggled and held his hand tightly.
Bosco scoffed. "Meet me huh? Is he into those troubled, no life men that are from white trash families?"
"Don't say that. You aren't like that."
"You haven't met the other Boscorelli's yet either." A sarcastic laugh erupted from his lips. "Does he know I don't make good money?"
"What does that have to do with anything Maurice?"
He leaned forward and rubbed his eyes. "Nothing. Never mind. I'm sorry."
~~
"So, how's Carlos doing?" Bosco picked some cheese off of his pizza. "No one called me last night."
"Nothing has changed. He's still in critical." She watched a couple jog by them. "Look Boz, no matter what you say, it wasn't your fault."
He rolled his eyes. "And no matter what you say, I'll always think it is okay? Could we just change the stupid subject? I'm tired of this!"
She licked her spoon, getting the last reasonable amount of ice cream off of the utensil. "Rumor has it that we are going to be required to go to department counseling."
"What?"
"I heard some of the guys talking. They were talking about how our watch has had it pretty bad and Swersky teamed up with Johnson. They think we've seen enough trouble and that we need to clear our minds."
"I'm not going to counseling." Bosco retorted.
"If it is required you will."
"Whatever."
~~
Kim and Doc stood at Carlos' bedside and watched as the ventilator moved his chest up and down. Kim felt guilty. The bullet that hit Carlos was really aimed at her, she ducked just in time for it to hit him. But it was human reaction right? What was she supposed to do, just sit there and watch as it entered her? She wanted to believe that but her mind kept telling her that it wasn't so.
"You okay?" Doc handed her a cup of coffee.
She wiped her nose with a Kleenex and greatly accepted the hot liquid. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about some stuff. Thanks for the coffee."
"No problem." He looked at Carlos' monitors. "Doctor says his vitals are stronger. He should wake up soon. He just told me that these next couple of hours are the most vital."
Kim nodded. "He's strong." She heard footsteps behind her and quickly turned around, noticing it was Bosco and Faith. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Brought in some kid that was complaining of dehydration." Faith replied.
"Which is bullshit, he was just wanting to get out of an arrest." Bosco went to the opposite side of the bed and stared down at Carlos' face. "So, what's the verdict?" He glanced at Doc and then back down at Carlos.
Doc said, "We'll know in a few hours."
"Give me a call, let me know what's going on okay?" Bosco began to walk out. "I'm sorry this happened guys."
Doc patted him on the back. "No need to be sorry Boz."
Kim watched them leave and then stared back down at Carlos. She wasn't used to this, Carlos was always loud and cocky and here he was, vulnerable and almost dead. She never knew she could care so much for the guy. It was sad that it would take something like this for her to realize it.
~~
"So, is Jenna back today?" Faith hated the awkward silence in the car so she decided to make small talk with Bosco. She could tell she caught his attention but he still wasn't that talkative.
"Yeah." He nodded and kept his eyes on the road.
"Have you seen her yet?" She took a long sip of coffee, wishing Bosco would talk. For some reason she felt like he was mad at her about something.
He glared at her. "Yeah, I saw her this morning. Do you need the exact times and what we did to?" He shook his head with disgust. "If you are wondering Faith, I'm fine. There's no need to ask questions."
Her stomach dropped. Why was he so touchy about her asking about Jenna? She knew something was bothering him but she didn't want to push it anymore. She leaned her head against the window and watched as the rain sprinkled the glass, making small shiny drops. "Boz, I know you are fine. I was just asking about Jenna. You seem happy with her."
He tapped the steering wheel with the beat of the windshield wipers. "I am happy with her." His voice was almost a whisper as he heard the three monotone beeps from the radio erupt.
"5-5 David, possible suicide attempt at 8-5-1 Buckley and King. Respond to apartment 455."
Bosco flicked the light bar on. "Here we go again, my favorite kind of call." He paused and spoke, "5-5 David, 8-5-1 Buckley and King." He stared at Faith, and then drew his attention back to the road.
~~
They climbed up four flights of stairs before they reached their destination. Bosco's lungs burnt from the climb. He stared at the number on the door and sighed. "You ready?" He slowly grabbed the doorknob, dreading every second of what was to come. Suicides were not his favorite. He hated how he had to act like the person's best friend when he barely even knew their first name.
"Ready." Faith nodded, her hand over her gun, ready for anything.
He turned the knob and opened the door slowly, a long, eerie creek erupting from the hinges. The apartment was silent and dark. He walked through the threshold, not wanting to make a huge entrance.
"You are finally here!" A short, chubby woman showed in the kitchen, worry across her face and a glass full of liquor in one hand. "What the hell took you so long?"
Bosco's heart jumped. "We got a call for a suicide attempt."
The woman groaned. "I didn't ask you why you were here. I asked what the hell took so long. Do you not understand English?" She spoke in a sarcastic tone, her eyes rolling with every word.
Faith noticed Bosco's irritability and spoke up. "Ma'am, we got here as soon as we got the call. Now, what is going on?"
"My boyfriend, he's in the bathroom. He's got a shotgun to his temple. He won't put it down!" Her voice grew whiney as she approached them. "Please help him!"
Faith placed her right hand on the lady, keeping her back. "Woah, woah, settle down. Do you have any idea why he's doing this?"
They began to walk to the bathroom. Bosco couldn't fight off what he was thinking. "Probably couldn't handle being with her anymore." He muttered under his breath as the lady opened the bathroom door to a panicked, angry young man, a deer rifle pointed right at his forehead.
Faith pushed the lady back. "Just stay out in the hallway. We don't need him more upset."
The lady nodded and waited.
Bosco and Faith approached him. Bosco stood back a little and allowed Faith to take the situation over. He'd probably end up saying something stupid and shoot the guy himself.
The man's face was covered in sweat and he was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes stared at them but the glare was blank like he had no idea where he was. He cocked the hammer back on the shotgun and gripped it tighter.
"STAY BACK!" He raised his voice and moved slightly in the bathtub.
Faith rubbed her nose and bit her bottom lip, not really sure what to say to him. "Sir, we are here to help. What's going on, what has you so upset?"
He glared at her, then back at Bosco, his face turning evil, almost out of a horror movie. "You, what is your name?" The man pointed at Bosco with his free hand.
Bosco jumped back, keeping his eyes on the man's hand. He licked his lips and lifted his eyes toward Faith. "My name?" He licked his lips again. His mind went blank. "My name is Bosco."
The man laughed. "Did your mom hate you or something? What the hell kind of name is Bosco?"
Faith stood between Bosco and the man, not sure what was about to take place. "Why don't you tell us your name?"
This time the man giggled like a little girl. "You wanna know my name huh? Just call me 'Lost'." He shifted his weight from one hip to the other and put his attention back on Bosco. "So Bosco, your future doesn't look to bright. You look like someone that is facing heartbreak and depression. You think so Bosco?"
Bosco kept his back against the wall. Why was this man so interested in him? His palms were cold and clammy. "Look man, what is wrong? Anything we can do?" Bosco kept his voice low.
"No." The man shook his head quickly. "I'll see you in hell Bosco. It won't be long that you'll be in your own little hell." With that comment the man pulled the trigger, blood flying everywhere, even on Bosco and Faith. The room grew silent as they stared at his lifeless body on the cold porcelain.
Bosco glanced at his girlfriend in the hallway, small cries erupting from her lips. "Why didn't you people help him?! That is your job!!!"
~~
Sully watched as Bosco washed away the blood from his face and arms. He couldn't believe the bad curse that the 55th had been enduring lately. He could remember bad calls from every year, but this year was even worse. They seemed to be getting worse with every call.
Bosco felt Sully's eyes on him. "Take a picture Sul, it'll last longer." He wiped away the luke warm water from his face with a white towel on the side of the sink.
"Carlos is in stable condition now. He's still in a coma but the doctor says he should wake up soon." Sully walked to his locker. "Just wanted to let you know Boz."
Bosco unbuttoned his uniform and sniffed. "That's good, that's real good." He rinsed it out and watched the ring of water wash down the drain, a light shade of red mixed in from the blood that accumulated on his shirt. "We could use some good news around here."
Sully smiled, "I agree."
~~
Bosco knocked on Jenna's door at 12:30 that night. He was in desperate need to talk to someone and wasn't in the mood for his mother right now. She always had some sarcastic thing to say to him. He noticed he had woken her up when she came to the door. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were still have shut.
"Oh, I'm sorry Jenna, did I wake you?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but that's okay. Come on in."
He shuffled his feet as he stood in the middle of her living room. He noticed a small picture of them together, smiling. He hadn't smiled like that in so long, he almost forgot what it felt like. She lifted his face with her fingers under his chin.
"What's wrong Maurice?"
Tears filled his eyes. He didn't want to cry in front of her but there was no stopping them. The floodgates were opened. He sat down on the couch. "Jenna, I had another bad call today. Guys brains were all over me."
She squeezed his hand tightly. "How did that happen?"
"He blew his brains out." He wiped away a few tears that had fallen down his cheek. "I've had suicide calls before but this one really bothered me." He leaned back on the soft couch cushions. "Look Jenna, I don't wanna burden you with this. I usually don't talk about it anyway."
"Oh hush Maurice. You aren't burdening me with this. It helps to talk." She kissed his forehead. "How did this one bother you?"
He looked at her. "He told me I was about to be in my own hell. It's like he knew me or something."
"It's just crazy talk. I mean, anyone who is lead to suicide is pretty crazy. Don't worry about it."
He nodded. "Yeah, you are right." He closed his eyes and saw the man's eyes on him. Somehow not thinking about it was easier said than done. The look, the sound of the man's voice would be embedded in his memory forever. For some reason he agreed with the man.
'I'll see you in hell Bosco. It won't be long that you'll be in your own little hell.' He could even hear the shotgun echo and feel the warm blood cover him. It was haunting.
"Hello?"
"Maurice, hey!" Jenna's perky voice was on the other line.
He switched the phone from his left ear to his right. "Hey girl. You home now?" He forgot about his shoulder and moved it, sending a sharp pain through his body. He winced.
"Yeah, got home around 6:30 this morning. How are you doing?"
He yawned. "Okay I guess. Come over, I need to see you."
"Okay, be there in fifteen minutes."
~~
Bosco had barely gotten out of the shower when he heard her knock on the door. He quickly put on some boxers and a tank top and opened the door. "Hey Jenna." He pulled her in for a soft, deep kiss. "I missed you."
She kissed him back and walked into the messy living room. "I missed you too." She looked around the room. "Looks like you could use a house keeper." She giggled.
"Yeah well, I've had a bad couple of days. Cleaning the house was the last thing on my priority list."
"Oh? Everything okay now?" She noticed a bandage on his left shoulder. "Something happen to your arm?"
"Bullet nicked me. I'm okay though so don't worry. And yes, everything is fine."
She sat down on the couch and kicked some empty beer bottles out of the way. "So, what happened?"
He sat down on the floor beside her legs and kissed one gently. "The day before yesterday we had a pretty bad call. A 10-car wreck. Only two people survived it, well, actually one for sure that I know of. The other one is in critical condition still."
She ran her fingers over his semi-wet hair. "Yeah, I heard something about that on the news. I didn't know you were on the scene though."
He nodded. "Yeah, I was." He kissed her leg again. "Yesterday a medic got shot. They were waiting to be able to work on this guy that got hurt. They couldn't until we cleared the building. We rushed in, the perp got away, shot him as he was running by."
"You know this medic?"
"Yeah, we've gone for drinks and stuff. Works across the street from me."
"I'm sorry to hear that Maurice."
He stood up and got up on the couch beside her. "No need to be sorry. That's what happens with the uniform. Anyway, enough with the bad stuff. What did you do on your trip?"
"Daddy wants to meet you." She giggled and held his hand tightly.
Bosco scoffed. "Meet me huh? Is he into those troubled, no life men that are from white trash families?"
"Don't say that. You aren't like that."
"You haven't met the other Boscorelli's yet either." A sarcastic laugh erupted from his lips. "Does he know I don't make good money?"
"What does that have to do with anything Maurice?"
He leaned forward and rubbed his eyes. "Nothing. Never mind. I'm sorry."
~~
"So, how's Carlos doing?" Bosco picked some cheese off of his pizza. "No one called me last night."
"Nothing has changed. He's still in critical." She watched a couple jog by them. "Look Boz, no matter what you say, it wasn't your fault."
He rolled his eyes. "And no matter what you say, I'll always think it is okay? Could we just change the stupid subject? I'm tired of this!"
She licked her spoon, getting the last reasonable amount of ice cream off of the utensil. "Rumor has it that we are going to be required to go to department counseling."
"What?"
"I heard some of the guys talking. They were talking about how our watch has had it pretty bad and Swersky teamed up with Johnson. They think we've seen enough trouble and that we need to clear our minds."
"I'm not going to counseling." Bosco retorted.
"If it is required you will."
"Whatever."
~~
Kim and Doc stood at Carlos' bedside and watched as the ventilator moved his chest up and down. Kim felt guilty. The bullet that hit Carlos was really aimed at her, she ducked just in time for it to hit him. But it was human reaction right? What was she supposed to do, just sit there and watch as it entered her? She wanted to believe that but her mind kept telling her that it wasn't so.
"You okay?" Doc handed her a cup of coffee.
She wiped her nose with a Kleenex and greatly accepted the hot liquid. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just thinking about some stuff. Thanks for the coffee."
"No problem." He looked at Carlos' monitors. "Doctor says his vitals are stronger. He should wake up soon. He just told me that these next couple of hours are the most vital."
Kim nodded. "He's strong." She heard footsteps behind her and quickly turned around, noticing it was Bosco and Faith. "Hey guys, what's up?"
"Brought in some kid that was complaining of dehydration." Faith replied.
"Which is bullshit, he was just wanting to get out of an arrest." Bosco went to the opposite side of the bed and stared down at Carlos' face. "So, what's the verdict?" He glanced at Doc and then back down at Carlos.
Doc said, "We'll know in a few hours."
"Give me a call, let me know what's going on okay?" Bosco began to walk out. "I'm sorry this happened guys."
Doc patted him on the back. "No need to be sorry Boz."
Kim watched them leave and then stared back down at Carlos. She wasn't used to this, Carlos was always loud and cocky and here he was, vulnerable and almost dead. She never knew she could care so much for the guy. It was sad that it would take something like this for her to realize it.
~~
"So, is Jenna back today?" Faith hated the awkward silence in the car so she decided to make small talk with Bosco. She could tell she caught his attention but he still wasn't that talkative.
"Yeah." He nodded and kept his eyes on the road.
"Have you seen her yet?" She took a long sip of coffee, wishing Bosco would talk. For some reason she felt like he was mad at her about something.
He glared at her. "Yeah, I saw her this morning. Do you need the exact times and what we did to?" He shook his head with disgust. "If you are wondering Faith, I'm fine. There's no need to ask questions."
Her stomach dropped. Why was he so touchy about her asking about Jenna? She knew something was bothering him but she didn't want to push it anymore. She leaned her head against the window and watched as the rain sprinkled the glass, making small shiny drops. "Boz, I know you are fine. I was just asking about Jenna. You seem happy with her."
He tapped the steering wheel with the beat of the windshield wipers. "I am happy with her." His voice was almost a whisper as he heard the three monotone beeps from the radio erupt.
"5-5 David, possible suicide attempt at 8-5-1 Buckley and King. Respond to apartment 455."
Bosco flicked the light bar on. "Here we go again, my favorite kind of call." He paused and spoke, "5-5 David, 8-5-1 Buckley and King." He stared at Faith, and then drew his attention back to the road.
~~
They climbed up four flights of stairs before they reached their destination. Bosco's lungs burnt from the climb. He stared at the number on the door and sighed. "You ready?" He slowly grabbed the doorknob, dreading every second of what was to come. Suicides were not his favorite. He hated how he had to act like the person's best friend when he barely even knew their first name.
"Ready." Faith nodded, her hand over her gun, ready for anything.
He turned the knob and opened the door slowly, a long, eerie creek erupting from the hinges. The apartment was silent and dark. He walked through the threshold, not wanting to make a huge entrance.
"You are finally here!" A short, chubby woman showed in the kitchen, worry across her face and a glass full of liquor in one hand. "What the hell took you so long?"
Bosco's heart jumped. "We got a call for a suicide attempt."
The woman groaned. "I didn't ask you why you were here. I asked what the hell took so long. Do you not understand English?" She spoke in a sarcastic tone, her eyes rolling with every word.
Faith noticed Bosco's irritability and spoke up. "Ma'am, we got here as soon as we got the call. Now, what is going on?"
"My boyfriend, he's in the bathroom. He's got a shotgun to his temple. He won't put it down!" Her voice grew whiney as she approached them. "Please help him!"
Faith placed her right hand on the lady, keeping her back. "Woah, woah, settle down. Do you have any idea why he's doing this?"
They began to walk to the bathroom. Bosco couldn't fight off what he was thinking. "Probably couldn't handle being with her anymore." He muttered under his breath as the lady opened the bathroom door to a panicked, angry young man, a deer rifle pointed right at his forehead.
Faith pushed the lady back. "Just stay out in the hallway. We don't need him more upset."
The lady nodded and waited.
Bosco and Faith approached him. Bosco stood back a little and allowed Faith to take the situation over. He'd probably end up saying something stupid and shoot the guy himself.
The man's face was covered in sweat and he was shaking uncontrollably. His eyes stared at them but the glare was blank like he had no idea where he was. He cocked the hammer back on the shotgun and gripped it tighter.
"STAY BACK!" He raised his voice and moved slightly in the bathtub.
Faith rubbed her nose and bit her bottom lip, not really sure what to say to him. "Sir, we are here to help. What's going on, what has you so upset?"
He glared at her, then back at Bosco, his face turning evil, almost out of a horror movie. "You, what is your name?" The man pointed at Bosco with his free hand.
Bosco jumped back, keeping his eyes on the man's hand. He licked his lips and lifted his eyes toward Faith. "My name?" He licked his lips again. His mind went blank. "My name is Bosco."
The man laughed. "Did your mom hate you or something? What the hell kind of name is Bosco?"
Faith stood between Bosco and the man, not sure what was about to take place. "Why don't you tell us your name?"
This time the man giggled like a little girl. "You wanna know my name huh? Just call me 'Lost'." He shifted his weight from one hip to the other and put his attention back on Bosco. "So Bosco, your future doesn't look to bright. You look like someone that is facing heartbreak and depression. You think so Bosco?"
Bosco kept his back against the wall. Why was this man so interested in him? His palms were cold and clammy. "Look man, what is wrong? Anything we can do?" Bosco kept his voice low.
"No." The man shook his head quickly. "I'll see you in hell Bosco. It won't be long that you'll be in your own little hell." With that comment the man pulled the trigger, blood flying everywhere, even on Bosco and Faith. The room grew silent as they stared at his lifeless body on the cold porcelain.
Bosco glanced at his girlfriend in the hallway, small cries erupting from her lips. "Why didn't you people help him?! That is your job!!!"
~~
Sully watched as Bosco washed away the blood from his face and arms. He couldn't believe the bad curse that the 55th had been enduring lately. He could remember bad calls from every year, but this year was even worse. They seemed to be getting worse with every call.
Bosco felt Sully's eyes on him. "Take a picture Sul, it'll last longer." He wiped away the luke warm water from his face with a white towel on the side of the sink.
"Carlos is in stable condition now. He's still in a coma but the doctor says he should wake up soon." Sully walked to his locker. "Just wanted to let you know Boz."
Bosco unbuttoned his uniform and sniffed. "That's good, that's real good." He rinsed it out and watched the ring of water wash down the drain, a light shade of red mixed in from the blood that accumulated on his shirt. "We could use some good news around here."
Sully smiled, "I agree."
~~
Bosco knocked on Jenna's door at 12:30 that night. He was in desperate need to talk to someone and wasn't in the mood for his mother right now. She always had some sarcastic thing to say to him. He noticed he had woken her up when she came to the door. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were still have shut.
"Oh, I'm sorry Jenna, did I wake you?"
She nodded. "Yeah, but that's okay. Come on in."
He shuffled his feet as he stood in the middle of her living room. He noticed a small picture of them together, smiling. He hadn't smiled like that in so long, he almost forgot what it felt like. She lifted his face with her fingers under his chin.
"What's wrong Maurice?"
Tears filled his eyes. He didn't want to cry in front of her but there was no stopping them. The floodgates were opened. He sat down on the couch. "Jenna, I had another bad call today. Guys brains were all over me."
She squeezed his hand tightly. "How did that happen?"
"He blew his brains out." He wiped away a few tears that had fallen down his cheek. "I've had suicide calls before but this one really bothered me." He leaned back on the soft couch cushions. "Look Jenna, I don't wanna burden you with this. I usually don't talk about it anyway."
"Oh hush Maurice. You aren't burdening me with this. It helps to talk." She kissed his forehead. "How did this one bother you?"
He looked at her. "He told me I was about to be in my own hell. It's like he knew me or something."
"It's just crazy talk. I mean, anyone who is lead to suicide is pretty crazy. Don't worry about it."
He nodded. "Yeah, you are right." He closed his eyes and saw the man's eyes on him. Somehow not thinking about it was easier said than done. The look, the sound of the man's voice would be embedded in his memory forever. For some reason he agreed with the man.
'I'll see you in hell Bosco. It won't be long that you'll be in your own little hell.' He could even hear the shotgun echo and feel the warm blood cover him. It was haunting.
