Revenge
Chapter 55
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Faith walked into the empty hospital room to find the room cleaned and made up for the next patient. She walked out into the hallway and saw Bosco's nurse coming toward her.
"Hey, Marie. Where's Bosco?" she asked her as the nurse reached her.
"He was discharged this morning. He's doing really well," the nurse told her.
"Oh," Faith said with surprise. "Thanks. Bye," she said as the nurse said good-bye and walked down the hallway.
"Wow," Faith said out loud. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Bosco's number. Getting the machine, she left a message as she remembered that he was going to be staying at Trisha's. She had that number written down at home, so she called hoping that Emily would be home from school.
"Hey, Em," Faith said, as her call was answered. "How was school today?"
She listened as Emily told her the gossip from the day. "Okay. Charlie's home?"
"Okay, well get going on homework and I'll be home in a little bit. Hey, Em. Look on the pad of paper next to the phone and see if the number for Bosco's girlfriend, Trisha, is still there," she asked. Emily read off the number to her and then reminded Faith that she wanted to go to the high school football game tonight. "Yeah, I know - there's a football game tonight, but you don't go if homework isn't completely done," Faith warned and was rewarded with an exaggerated response. She hung up the phone, laughing to herself at her daughter's dramatics.
She dialed the number and after a few rings, the phone was answered by Bosco. "Hey! How are you?" she asked him, noticing that he sounded tired - or something.
"I'm okay," he answered quietly.
"Oh, well, is it okay if I come over for a few minutes? I wanted to see how you were doing and Charlie drew you a picture. I also need to ask you something," she said.
"Yeah, sure," he said, giving her the address and apartment number.
"Bos? You sure you're up to a visit, because if you're too tired that's okay," Faith told him.
"Nah. It's fine. As a matter of fact, I want you to come over," he said, trying to sound brighter as he looked at the book that lay on the table in front of him, still trying to make sense out of it.
"Okay. I'll see you in a few minutes. You need anything while I'm on my way?" she asked him.
"No. Trisha's at the pharmacy now. She'll be home soon," he said, quiet again.
"Okay," she said, wondering what was going on. "Bos, you're sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, Faith. I'm fine. See you in a bit," he said, hanging up the phone and staring back at the picture of the man that had beaten, tortured and almost killed him and Faith.
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Bosco heard the lock on the door open and then swing open. He watched Trisha look at the couch, get a panicked look on her face and then charge down the hallway - no doubt in search of him to make sure that he was okay. When she didn't find him in the bedroom, she came back up the hallway. He saw the look on her face when she saw him sitting at the table, the photo album open in front of him. She dropped the bag of medication on the floor, unaware that she'd done so.
He looked at the book and then back to Trisha, trying unsuccessfully to hide the confusion and hurt he was feeling. He saw her pale at the sight of him. "What the hell is this?" he asked her in almost a whisper, unable to make the words come out any louder.
"Maurice?" she said, tears coming to her eyes. She was unable to move her feet and she leaned against the corner of the hallway wall for support. "Are you alright?"
Bosco shook his head, the sick feeling in his stomach worsening. "You knew this guy?" he asked, glancing at the photo album and then back to Trisha, disbelief all over his face. "I don't understand," he said, slowly standing up.
"Maurice," Trisha repeated, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I...," she said, unable to make any words come out. He walked toward her and reached her just as her knees buckled. He reached out and grabbed onto her so she didn't fall.
"Trish. I need to know what this guy was to you," he said, this time feeling tears sting his eyes.
He helped her over to the chair and she sat down, wringing her hands from nervousness.
"I'm sorry, Maurice. I'm so sorry," she said, unable to go on.
Bosco lowered himself into the chair across from her, still unable to comprehend what was going on. "You're sorry," was all he said, a hardness to his voice - the wall going back up around himself. It had taken her so long to get that wall down and only a matter of moments for it to build back up.
"I'll explain it all," Trisha told him, resignation in her voice. "But first, it's time for your medicine," she said, standing up and walking to where she'd dropped the bag and then toward the kitchen, feeling his eyes on her as she moved.
"No. I don't want the pain pill. It makes me tired and I don't want to sleep right now," he said sharply.
"Okay, just the antibiotic then," she said, returning with a glass of water and the pill. She noticed that he took the glass and pill from her, careful not to touch her in the process. A shiver ran through her at the coldness in the room. He took the pill and put the glass down on the table alongside his chair.
She stood over him and he wouldn't look up at her. She reached out and put a hand on the top of his head in a show of affection. He moved away from her and she felt her heart break. She sat across from him again and waited for him to speak.
"Who was he?" he asked again, this time looking her in the eye. She saw the distrust in his eyes.
"I love you, Maurice. Please know that first," she said.
"Who - was - he?" he repeated in measured words.
"He's..., he was my stepbrother," she said quietly. "He was much older than me and raised me after my mother was killed. She was killed by a drunk driver. I told you that before. What I didn't tell you is that my stepfather was driving the car that she was in. He was drunk and he crashed the car. I was in the backseat and somehow I didn't get hurt. I remember the heavy rain on the roof of the car as I sat in the dark, waiting for someone to come. I listened to them both take their last breaths," she said, crying openly now at the memory.
Bosco wanted to reach out to her, the pain she was feeling so real. But, something prevented him.
"Then I saw headlights and it was my stepbrother, Paul. He was coming home from work and passed the accident. He recognized the car. He tried to help them, but knew it was too late. He took me out of the car and put me in his car as the police arrived. He didn't want me to have to be in the middle of an investigation, so he told them who they were and what had probably happened. He took care of me from then on. He raised me, made sure I had anything I ever needed or wanted. But, he had a drinking problem of his own. He couldn't escape the curse of being an alcoholic. He came to believe that it was hereditary and no matter what I tried to do, I couldn't help him," she relayed, stopping to see if he had any questions so far. It hurt her to look into his eyes, but she felt she deserved that hurt.
She continued, her voice very quiet. "Then he met his wife and they had two little girls of their own. I was 15 then and we were one big happy family. But, the drinking started again. None of us knew why - maybe it WAS hereditary. I don't know, but we couldn't stop him. It would get really bad and then improve. We hoped each time it improved, that it'd last - but it never did. And then, it happened. The accident - the one with you and Faith. Almost his whole family was wiped out and he had only himself to blame. He couldn't accept that. He was never the same after that. He couldn't let go of it," she said.
Bosco stood up and walked around the room, both to try and get the stiffness out of his body and to try to absorb what she was telling him. She watched him.
"Do you want to rest? I'll tell you the whole thing, I swear, but I don't want you to overdo it," Trisha said, standing and wanting to go to him, but she knew he didn't want to be near her right now. He'd probably never want to be near her again.
He only shook his head. "Go on," he told her, looking in her direction, but unable to look her in the eye.
She took in a deep breath and continued. "He wouldn't let go of it. It just festered and then this plan began to take shape. I didn't know anything about it at first, but then he started confiding in me - telling me he needed my help. So, I agreed. I thought maybe if he started, he'd realize that it was crazy - that he was going too far. But, it just snowballed. He made me meet you, try to get close to you," she said, starting to sob.
"Only, I fell in love with you. Maurice, I do love you with all my heart. I'm sorry for all of it. I thought I could stop it. I didn't know he'd gone so far, I swear," she said through her tears. There was a knock on the door and they both jumped.
Trisha looked at him. "That's Faith," he said, almost in a whisper. Trisha went down the hallway to the bedroom, not wanting Faith to see her so upset. She listened as Bosco went to the door and opened it.
"C'mon in," he said so quietly Trisha could barely hear him.
"Bos? What is it?" Faith asked, seeing the look on his face. She knew instantly that it was more than being tired or in pain. She'd seen him like THAT plenty of times. This was something more - much more.
"Can you give me a ride over to my place? I want to stay there tonight," he said.
"Of course, but who's going to be with you? You can't be by yourself yet. Where's Trisha, Bosco?" Faith asked, touching his shoulder.
Bosco walked away from her touch, not unnoticed by Faith. "She's lying down. She still doesn't feel well. She's afraid I'll catch whatever she's got," he liked. "I called my Mom. She's coming over right after work," he said, looking around the room for his coat and finding it on the back of the chair where his whole world seemed to come apart. He walked over slowly and took it, reaching over and closing the photo album at the same time.
"Are you sure?" Faith said. "Did you tell Trisha that you were going? Maybe I should check on her," she offered.
"No," Bosco said. "She knows I'm going. I told her I'd have you drive me home. Can you grab that bag," he said, indicating the bag on the counter. "It has my medicine in it. I just want to go home, take a pain pill, and get some rest," he finished, walking toward the door.
"Okay - let's go," Faith said, picking up the bag and following him out, helping him to her car.
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"This says you should take this with food. Did you have dinner yet?" she asked him as he walked over and sat on the couch. He shook his head no.
"I'm not hungry," he said.
"Well, how about some soup. Just something in your stomach. You don't want to to take this pain pill and start throwing up with that stomach wound," she said, opening the cabinet and finding some chicken soup.
"Yeah, whatever," he said.
"You sure you're okay, Bos?" Faith said, opening the can and pouring it into a pan.
"Great," he said without energy.
"So, what time's your Mom coming over?"
"After work - around 11:00," he answered, the pain from his wounds starting to take over the pain from the truth.
Faith looked at her watch and realized how late it was. Emily wanted to go to the game and Fred was working overtime so it was up to her to get her there. She didn't want to let her down again. "Oh, damn!" she said.
Bosco turned quickly, thinking that she'd burned herself or something. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just.... I was supposed to bring Emily to the football game tonight. It starts in a half hour," she explained.
"Go. I'll be fine. Tell Emily I said to have a good time," he said. "But, tell her to be careful. Don't let anyone take advantage of her."
Faith gave him a puzzled look behind his back. "Well, the soup's done. I'll just get you a bowl and your medicine. You want to have it back in your room so you can lie down?"
"Nah. I'll go to bed when Ma gets here. I'll just doze here on the couch and watch some TV," he said as she walked around to him with the soup, his medicine and a glass of water.
"Okay. Bos, call me if you need anything before your Mom gets here, okay?" Faith said, worried about her partner. He nodded.
"I'll be fine. Go take Em to the game," he said, waving her toward the door.
"Okay, but call me if you need anything. It doesn't matter what time it is," Faith said, putting on her coat.
"Thanks, Faith," he said, reaching for the bag with his medicine in it as Faith pulled the door shut behind her. She pushed the door open quickly and stuck her head in.
"Hey, Detective Thompson wanted me to ask you if the name Linda Watkins meant anything to you - in connection with Peterson?" she asked him.
He thought for a moment, the fatigue starting to take over him. "Nope. Doesn't sound familiar," he told her.
"Okay. G'night," she said, pulling the door closed.
Bosco reached into the bag and pulled out one of three bottles of medicine, not noticing that one of the bottles remaining in the bag had a label that read 'pre-natal vitamins.' He read the instructions for the pain pills - 'One capsule every four hours as needed, not to exceed three capsules in a 24-hour period.'
He disregarded the instructions and took two capsules, washing it down with the water and eating some of the crackers that Faith had put on the plate beside his soup.
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TBC...
Chapter 55
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Faith walked into the empty hospital room to find the room cleaned and made up for the next patient. She walked out into the hallway and saw Bosco's nurse coming toward her.
"Hey, Marie. Where's Bosco?" she asked her as the nurse reached her.
"He was discharged this morning. He's doing really well," the nurse told her.
"Oh," Faith said with surprise. "Thanks. Bye," she said as the nurse said good-bye and walked down the hallway.
"Wow," Faith said out loud. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Bosco's number. Getting the machine, she left a message as she remembered that he was going to be staying at Trisha's. She had that number written down at home, so she called hoping that Emily would be home from school.
"Hey, Em," Faith said, as her call was answered. "How was school today?"
She listened as Emily told her the gossip from the day. "Okay. Charlie's home?"
"Okay, well get going on homework and I'll be home in a little bit. Hey, Em. Look on the pad of paper next to the phone and see if the number for Bosco's girlfriend, Trisha, is still there," she asked. Emily read off the number to her and then reminded Faith that she wanted to go to the high school football game tonight. "Yeah, I know - there's a football game tonight, but you don't go if homework isn't completely done," Faith warned and was rewarded with an exaggerated response. She hung up the phone, laughing to herself at her daughter's dramatics.
She dialed the number and after a few rings, the phone was answered by Bosco. "Hey! How are you?" she asked him, noticing that he sounded tired - or something.
"I'm okay," he answered quietly.
"Oh, well, is it okay if I come over for a few minutes? I wanted to see how you were doing and Charlie drew you a picture. I also need to ask you something," she said.
"Yeah, sure," he said, giving her the address and apartment number.
"Bos? You sure you're up to a visit, because if you're too tired that's okay," Faith told him.
"Nah. It's fine. As a matter of fact, I want you to come over," he said, trying to sound brighter as he looked at the book that lay on the table in front of him, still trying to make sense out of it.
"Okay. I'll see you in a few minutes. You need anything while I'm on my way?" she asked him.
"No. Trisha's at the pharmacy now. She'll be home soon," he said, quiet again.
"Okay," she said, wondering what was going on. "Bos, you're sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, Faith. I'm fine. See you in a bit," he said, hanging up the phone and staring back at the picture of the man that had beaten, tortured and almost killed him and Faith.
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Bosco heard the lock on the door open and then swing open. He watched Trisha look at the couch, get a panicked look on her face and then charge down the hallway - no doubt in search of him to make sure that he was okay. When she didn't find him in the bedroom, she came back up the hallway. He saw the look on her face when she saw him sitting at the table, the photo album open in front of him. She dropped the bag of medication on the floor, unaware that she'd done so.
He looked at the book and then back to Trisha, trying unsuccessfully to hide the confusion and hurt he was feeling. He saw her pale at the sight of him. "What the hell is this?" he asked her in almost a whisper, unable to make the words come out any louder.
"Maurice?" she said, tears coming to her eyes. She was unable to move her feet and she leaned against the corner of the hallway wall for support. "Are you alright?"
Bosco shook his head, the sick feeling in his stomach worsening. "You knew this guy?" he asked, glancing at the photo album and then back to Trisha, disbelief all over his face. "I don't understand," he said, slowly standing up.
"Maurice," Trisha repeated, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I...," she said, unable to make any words come out. He walked toward her and reached her just as her knees buckled. He reached out and grabbed onto her so she didn't fall.
"Trish. I need to know what this guy was to you," he said, this time feeling tears sting his eyes.
He helped her over to the chair and she sat down, wringing her hands from nervousness.
"I'm sorry, Maurice. I'm so sorry," she said, unable to go on.
Bosco lowered himself into the chair across from her, still unable to comprehend what was going on. "You're sorry," was all he said, a hardness to his voice - the wall going back up around himself. It had taken her so long to get that wall down and only a matter of moments for it to build back up.
"I'll explain it all," Trisha told him, resignation in her voice. "But first, it's time for your medicine," she said, standing up and walking to where she'd dropped the bag and then toward the kitchen, feeling his eyes on her as she moved.
"No. I don't want the pain pill. It makes me tired and I don't want to sleep right now," he said sharply.
"Okay, just the antibiotic then," she said, returning with a glass of water and the pill. She noticed that he took the glass and pill from her, careful not to touch her in the process. A shiver ran through her at the coldness in the room. He took the pill and put the glass down on the table alongside his chair.
She stood over him and he wouldn't look up at her. She reached out and put a hand on the top of his head in a show of affection. He moved away from her and she felt her heart break. She sat across from him again and waited for him to speak.
"Who was he?" he asked again, this time looking her in the eye. She saw the distrust in his eyes.
"I love you, Maurice. Please know that first," she said.
"Who - was - he?" he repeated in measured words.
"He's..., he was my stepbrother," she said quietly. "He was much older than me and raised me after my mother was killed. She was killed by a drunk driver. I told you that before. What I didn't tell you is that my stepfather was driving the car that she was in. He was drunk and he crashed the car. I was in the backseat and somehow I didn't get hurt. I remember the heavy rain on the roof of the car as I sat in the dark, waiting for someone to come. I listened to them both take their last breaths," she said, crying openly now at the memory.
Bosco wanted to reach out to her, the pain she was feeling so real. But, something prevented him.
"Then I saw headlights and it was my stepbrother, Paul. He was coming home from work and passed the accident. He recognized the car. He tried to help them, but knew it was too late. He took me out of the car and put me in his car as the police arrived. He didn't want me to have to be in the middle of an investigation, so he told them who they were and what had probably happened. He took care of me from then on. He raised me, made sure I had anything I ever needed or wanted. But, he had a drinking problem of his own. He couldn't escape the curse of being an alcoholic. He came to believe that it was hereditary and no matter what I tried to do, I couldn't help him," she relayed, stopping to see if he had any questions so far. It hurt her to look into his eyes, but she felt she deserved that hurt.
She continued, her voice very quiet. "Then he met his wife and they had two little girls of their own. I was 15 then and we were one big happy family. But, the drinking started again. None of us knew why - maybe it WAS hereditary. I don't know, but we couldn't stop him. It would get really bad and then improve. We hoped each time it improved, that it'd last - but it never did. And then, it happened. The accident - the one with you and Faith. Almost his whole family was wiped out and he had only himself to blame. He couldn't accept that. He was never the same after that. He couldn't let go of it," she said.
Bosco stood up and walked around the room, both to try and get the stiffness out of his body and to try to absorb what she was telling him. She watched him.
"Do you want to rest? I'll tell you the whole thing, I swear, but I don't want you to overdo it," Trisha said, standing and wanting to go to him, but she knew he didn't want to be near her right now. He'd probably never want to be near her again.
He only shook his head. "Go on," he told her, looking in her direction, but unable to look her in the eye.
She took in a deep breath and continued. "He wouldn't let go of it. It just festered and then this plan began to take shape. I didn't know anything about it at first, but then he started confiding in me - telling me he needed my help. So, I agreed. I thought maybe if he started, he'd realize that it was crazy - that he was going too far. But, it just snowballed. He made me meet you, try to get close to you," she said, starting to sob.
"Only, I fell in love with you. Maurice, I do love you with all my heart. I'm sorry for all of it. I thought I could stop it. I didn't know he'd gone so far, I swear," she said through her tears. There was a knock on the door and they both jumped.
Trisha looked at him. "That's Faith," he said, almost in a whisper. Trisha went down the hallway to the bedroom, not wanting Faith to see her so upset. She listened as Bosco went to the door and opened it.
"C'mon in," he said so quietly Trisha could barely hear him.
"Bos? What is it?" Faith asked, seeing the look on his face. She knew instantly that it was more than being tired or in pain. She'd seen him like THAT plenty of times. This was something more - much more.
"Can you give me a ride over to my place? I want to stay there tonight," he said.
"Of course, but who's going to be with you? You can't be by yourself yet. Where's Trisha, Bosco?" Faith asked, touching his shoulder.
Bosco walked away from her touch, not unnoticed by Faith. "She's lying down. She still doesn't feel well. She's afraid I'll catch whatever she's got," he liked. "I called my Mom. She's coming over right after work," he said, looking around the room for his coat and finding it on the back of the chair where his whole world seemed to come apart. He walked over slowly and took it, reaching over and closing the photo album at the same time.
"Are you sure?" Faith said. "Did you tell Trisha that you were going? Maybe I should check on her," she offered.
"No," Bosco said. "She knows I'm going. I told her I'd have you drive me home. Can you grab that bag," he said, indicating the bag on the counter. "It has my medicine in it. I just want to go home, take a pain pill, and get some rest," he finished, walking toward the door.
"Okay - let's go," Faith said, picking up the bag and following him out, helping him to her car.
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"This says you should take this with food. Did you have dinner yet?" she asked him as he walked over and sat on the couch. He shook his head no.
"I'm not hungry," he said.
"Well, how about some soup. Just something in your stomach. You don't want to to take this pain pill and start throwing up with that stomach wound," she said, opening the cabinet and finding some chicken soup.
"Yeah, whatever," he said.
"You sure you're okay, Bos?" Faith said, opening the can and pouring it into a pan.
"Great," he said without energy.
"So, what time's your Mom coming over?"
"After work - around 11:00," he answered, the pain from his wounds starting to take over the pain from the truth.
Faith looked at her watch and realized how late it was. Emily wanted to go to the game and Fred was working overtime so it was up to her to get her there. She didn't want to let her down again. "Oh, damn!" she said.
Bosco turned quickly, thinking that she'd burned herself or something. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I just.... I was supposed to bring Emily to the football game tonight. It starts in a half hour," she explained.
"Go. I'll be fine. Tell Emily I said to have a good time," he said. "But, tell her to be careful. Don't let anyone take advantage of her."
Faith gave him a puzzled look behind his back. "Well, the soup's done. I'll just get you a bowl and your medicine. You want to have it back in your room so you can lie down?"
"Nah. I'll go to bed when Ma gets here. I'll just doze here on the couch and watch some TV," he said as she walked around to him with the soup, his medicine and a glass of water.
"Okay. Bos, call me if you need anything before your Mom gets here, okay?" Faith said, worried about her partner. He nodded.
"I'll be fine. Go take Em to the game," he said, waving her toward the door.
"Okay, but call me if you need anything. It doesn't matter what time it is," Faith said, putting on her coat.
"Thanks, Faith," he said, reaching for the bag with his medicine in it as Faith pulled the door shut behind her. She pushed the door open quickly and stuck her head in.
"Hey, Detective Thompson wanted me to ask you if the name Linda Watkins meant anything to you - in connection with Peterson?" she asked him.
He thought for a moment, the fatigue starting to take over him. "Nope. Doesn't sound familiar," he told her.
"Okay. G'night," she said, pulling the door closed.
Bosco reached into the bag and pulled out one of three bottles of medicine, not noticing that one of the bottles remaining in the bag had a label that read 'pre-natal vitamins.' He read the instructions for the pain pills - 'One capsule every four hours as needed, not to exceed three capsules in a 24-hour period.'
He disregarded the instructions and took two capsules, washing it down with the water and eating some of the crackers that Faith had put on the plate beside his soup.
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TBC...