The next day came, along with another one of Bosco's now famous headaches he had been sporting around for quite awhile. He looked at his alarm clock, it was 10:15. Faith's funeral was in four hours, and he wasn't ready in the least bit. What he thought he needed was a drink, but his body wouldn't move, it wouldn't even let him roll over.

He just stared at the wall, listening to some pigeons outside his bedroom window. He stared at the red numbers coming from the alarm clock and thought about Jenna. He wanted to see her so bad but knowing her she'd have nothing to do with him. He didn't blame her though, he was a fool for doing what he did. He sat up and decided to go over to her place, he'd never know what she'd say unless he made a move.

~~

He knocked on her door and waited. She peered through the crack in the door and frowned. "What do you want Maurice?" She noticed he looked even worse than the last time she had seen him.

"Can we talk, please?" He watched as she opened the door wider.

"What do you want?" She put her left hand on her hip and cocked her head to the side. He knew she wasn't happy about him just showing up like this.

He licked his lips. "Faith's funeral is today."

"Look, Maurice. You can't just show up like this. I don't want you around anymore. You hit me. I'm not going to stick around for something like that. I'm not one of those types of women that just roll over and take it. I wasn't raised that way."

He sighed. "I know. I would apologize but you wouldn't accept it anyway. I can see you are still pissed."

She threw her hands in the air. "Of course I'm still pissed. You hit me. Do you not understand that?"

He knew what he had done, but for some reason he didn't really comprehend what she was saying. His mind was so messed up right now that he really didn't understand much of anything.

"Jen, I came over to ask you if you would be there. For Faith at least."

She could see the sincerity in his eyes. She couldn't tell if this was a desperate attempt to get her back or a silent cry for help. Either way she was more than likely going to show up, but she didn't want to give him a definite answer just yet. "For Faith?"

He nodded. "Yeah, she really did like you. So, are you gonna be there or no?"

She raised her eyebrows. "We'll see." She shut the door, not even giving him a chance to even say okay or anything.

He stared at the door that was now shut in his face. It was official, she didn't want anything to do with him anymore. He didn't want to give her up, but he didn't feel like fighting for it right now. He just felt like he should walk around aimlessly, not having a destination or purpose at the moment.

Jenna went to her couch, lay down, and just cried like a baby. She wanted him back so bad but him being the way he was just told her to run away. She didn't want his self-destruction to bring her down with him, but she had a love deep inside for him. She just couldn't let go.

~~

Rose stared at Bosco as he approached her, dressed in his dress uniform and clean-shaven. She couldn't help but notice how great he looked, even though he still looked like he hadn't slept in days. He sat down on a bar stool and gave her half of a smile, though he really wasn't feeling any happiness.

"Maurice, what are you doing here?"

He ran his hands over the smooth surface of the bar. "Thought I'd stop by and see you before I go and bury my friend."

She lit a cigarette and stared into his bloodshot eyes. "You didn't come to see me, you want a drink."

"Just a couple, I don't wanna go drunk but I need something to relax me." He poured his own glass of Jack Daniel's and sipped on it.

"When was the last time you have eaten?"

He clanked the glass down hard on the bar. "What?"

She exhaled heavy. "Someone from the hospital called, told me about you having to go in to get your stomach pumped. They said you had a huge drop in weight. When was the last time you had a real meal?"

He drank down the rest of the alcohol and stood up. "Who the hell called you? That's supposed to be private."

"Not when you are putting yourself in danger like this. Maurice, if you don't watch out you are going to kill your liver. I hate to tell you this but you are becoming your father." She knew that would flare his anger so she backed away from the bar, not really sure what he would do next.

He clenched his fists, fighting the urge to hit her too. "That is the worst thing you could say to me Ma."

"Yeah well, you need to know before you take it too far."

He lowered his eyes to the floor and rubbed his nose. "I already have taken it too far."

"How? It's never too far. Get help."

He didn't raise his eyes and spoke, "I hit Jenna the other night." His voice was a light whisper.

"Oh my. This is coming from someone who has seen it before, get help Maurice. Do it for the sake of yourself. You don't wanna end up like your father. Please, just take my advice for once in your life."

He looked up at her. "Why didn't you do that for yourself? Leave dad or get him help?"

"Stupidity. I know you aren't stupid, so I know you'll do the right thing."

He didn't acknowledge her. "Nah, I'll be okay. I gotta go, I gotta go bury my friend." He walked out and headed to the cemetery where Faith would be laid to rest for eternity.

~~

Bosco walked slowly up to the front by where Faith's casket lay. He spotted her parents sitting down, tissues in hand and tears soaking down their face. He didn't say anything to them and sat two chairs down, keeping his eyes on her casket the whole time.

An American flag was draped over the top along with her badge and hat. He looked to one side and saw all of his watch standing there, ready for the ceremony. He showed no emotions across his face as he listened to the eulogy begin. He looked behind him and noticed Jenna in the back. That made him feel somewhat better, knowing she came. He didn't think she would show.

He slouched in his chair as the eulogy progressed. He wasn't comfortable at all, he felt as if all his comrades standing near him were just staring at him. He could feel their eyes looking him up and down. He felt like crying but he held it in. He didn't want them to have something else to talk about behind his back. His eyes grew watery as the speaker spoke of her life and how she was a great person and cop.

Memories flashed before his eyes of conversations they had in the past. The fry incident when he ate both bags not even thinking she might want some. Fred and him competing to win a Harley Davidson edition truck. The night he showed up at her apartment, unannounced, crying on her shoulder about September 11th. She had been there for him. They had their arguments and fights but that was normal. They were more than partners, he considered her one of his best friends. But like the saying went, all good things must come to an end.

His thoughts were interrupted by the 21-gun salute that rang through the cemetery. He watched as they presented the flag to her parents, and he listened as TAPS was being played on a trumpet. The precinct saluted and Bosco watched as they did, his knees feeling weak.

The funeral was over, Faith was laid to rest. He walked out of the cemetery and towards his home when Jenna stopped him on the sidewalk just outside the entrance of the rest yard.

"I came. I'm sorry this happened to her." She moved some hair out of her face.

Bosco wasn't sure what to say to her. It was too awkward for him. "Thanks for coming." He turned to walk away. She didn't act like she wanted to talk so he didn't want to waste her time.

Jenna watched as Bosco walked away. Something deep inside of her told her to run after him, stop him, hug him tightly and never let him go. Then there came her other side. The side that just wouldn't let her forget what happened that night. Her stubborn side.

She found herself outside of Rose's bar. She needed to talk to someone about it, and who was better than Rose Boscorelli, his mother that knew almost everything about him.

She slowly opened the door and looked around, thankful Bosco wasn't there. She didn't want him around, not right now. She needed to get some information and find out about him. Rose gave a small wave and tended to the few customers that were present at the bar.

"Hey Jenna. I see you went to the funeral." Rose noticed her wardrobe of almost all black.

"Yeah, just left the cemetery." She ran her hands over her shirt and sat down at the bar.

Rose wiped down the smooth surface. "How did Maurice take it?"

"Hardly showed emotion but I could tell he was hurting. I could just tell."

Rose nodded, understanding exactly what Jenna was saying. "Maurice has never been one to let his feelings show. He does every now and then, mainly his anger though." Rose paused and hesitated. "He told me he hit you."

Jenna's eyes fell to the floor. "Yeah, he did. Last night."

Rose didn't look too concerned as she tended to a man that already looked three sheets to the wind and it was only 4:30 in the afternoon. "His father used to hit me. Then the violence moved to Maurice. Let's just say he didn't have a good childhood."

Jenna chewed on her thumbnail as she listened to Rose speak. Bosco had never mentioned anything like that to her, but like Rose said, he could hide things well. "He was all messed up that night Rose. He nearly cried when I poured his booze down the drain. He had this look in his eye that just wasn't normal."

Rose's eyes widened. "He needs help. Deep down I think he knows that but he's so hard headed. I think he needs you Jenna, now more than ever. I think he'll listen to you."

Jenna couldn't hold her tears in as they began to soak her face. She wiped a few away but more began to fall. "But he hit me Rose. What if he does that again? I can't live around that, it's not me."

Rose nodded. It was like déjà vu, just this time she was giving the advice. If only she would have listened so long ago. "Get him help. Be beside him as he goes through, support him. Maurice is a good man, it's just a shit load came down on him all at once. He made a mistake, he's only human.

A thousand questions raced through Jenna's mind. So many that needed answering. "But you said his father was abusive, what if it reflects on Maurice?"

Rose thought for a second. That was a very good question, but as always, she had a direct answer about her son. "Take it from me Jenna, he's nothing like his father. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he needs help. He just has no idea of how to ask for it."

Jenna sighed. So much stress but she was finally realizing what rose was saying. He NEEDED someone around. There was always room for help. "Do you think Maurice will let me help him?"

Rose shook her head. "Probably not right off but keep trying. I know you can do it. I've never seen him so crazy about a girl like he is with you. If he's smart he'll listen."

Jenna stood up and smiled. "If he hits me again I'm gone."

Rose smiled with her. "He won't. I could tell he regretted it from the moment he did it."

Jenna walked out and headed on a quest to help Bosco. She knew he was counting on her. She just wanted the old Bosco back.

~~

Bosco sat on his couch, a cold beer in hand and a bag of potato chips in the other. He hadn't even attempted to change out of his dress uniform yet. He just didn't feel like it. He kicked his boots off and watched as they fell to the floor, one after the other.

Jenna slowly walked up to his door, rubbing her sweaty palms across her skirt before she even raised her hand to knock. She was too nervous about this, Bosco was so unpredictable lately. She didn't hear anything from behind the door, and that had her worried some. Maybe he wasn't even home right now. Only one way to find out she thought, so she knocked hard, hearing the echo coming from under her fist.

Bosco nearly jumped out of his seat. He slowly made his way to his door and peaked through the small hole, seeing Jenna standing on the other side. He opened the door and clenched the beer bottle that was now in his left hand. He didn't speak, but let her make the first move.

"Maurice.." Her eyes fell to the dark bottle and then back up to his face. "Can I come in?"

He moved aside and allowed her to come in. He again waited for her voice to break the silence that was between them.

"I came to talk to you. Sit down, I'm not here to fight with you."

Bosco didn't argue and sat down on the couch. He wanted to know what she wanted.

"I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times before but, you need help. And I'm here to help you." She stared back at him, thankful she let that out but somehow noticing her words hit Bosco hard. "I'm not saying this to put you down, I'm saying this because I love you and I want to help you."

Bosco leaned back, keeping his eyes on her, as he comprehended what was coming out of her mouth. Deep down he knew he was in trouble and he was thankful that she was here but something inside of him was telling him to push her away. He didn't really want help. "Jenna, I'm fine. I mean, Faith died. I had a rough week but I'm fine."

She shook her head no. "You aren't fine. Drinking, not eating, I can see it in your eyes. It isn't normal. Just please, let me help you. I'm not going to give up on you. You mean too much to me. I can't see you go down like this."

He stood up and drank down the rest of his beer. "The last thing I need right now is someone standing here, telling me what I need. I know my needs, and getting help isn't one of them. I appreciate you caring like this, but I assure you I'm fine. I'm not going to say it again."

She didn't want to leave, not yet. She wanted to put up a fight with him. "What is it going to take for me to get you to understand what I'm saying to you?"

He threw his hands up. "How would you even know about stuff like this? You and your perfect life. You've probably never even seen half the shit I have. You are the one that doesn't understand Jenna!"

Her eyes widened and her anger flared. "I work in a nursing home for Christ's sake! I hear old men talking all the time about how they ruined their lives by turning to alcohol. Maurice, my grandfather and father were both alcoholics. My father got help, my grandfather didn't. I've been around it."

"And I supposed your father beat you like a rented mule too, right?" He rolled his eyes as he drank down the last few drops of his beer and threw the bottle on the floor along with the others.

Her eyes dropped to the floor. "What?"

He shrugged her off. "Nothing, forget that I even mentioned that."

She sat beside him on the couch, but he moved down so he wouldn't be near her. "Are you telling me your father hit you?"

He leaned forward. "So what if he did. That's over and that's not what is wrong now."

"Something is wrong? I thought you said this was just a bad week and you are fine now." She knew she caught him but he was stubborn so he wouldn't give up just with that.

He scoffed. "Just leave me alone for now okay? You are just pissing me off right now and when I'm pissed I shut myself off."

She stood back up. "Okay."

Jenna made her way to the door. She remembered what Rose had told her. He wouldn't accept right off, but keep working with him. She didn't want to piss him off so she quit while she was ahead. She opened the door and looked back at him. "I'll be back Maurice. I gotta go clear my head. Think about this okay? For me." She walked out into the hallway and shut the door, hoping her words hit home to him.

He stared at the door. The apartment fell silent again and he was lost in his thoughts. Getting help was something he didn't do often. He stared up at the ceiling and closed his eyes, hoping he could convince himself.

Nick Cave

Let it Be

When I find myself in times of trouble

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom

Let it be

And in my hour of darkness

She is standing words of wisdom

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom

Let it be

And when the broken hearted people

Living in the world agree

There will be an answer

Let it be

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Yeah, there will be an answer,

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

Whisper words of wisdom

Let it be

And when the night is cloudy

There is still a light that shines on me

Shine until tomorrow

Let it be

I wake up to the sound of music

Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

There will be an answer

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

There will be an answer

Let it be

Let it be, let it be

Let it be, let it be

There will be an answer

Let it be