TITLE: THE ONE CONSTANT
AUTHOR: MINN
DISCLAIMER: I STILL don't own nothin' - mores the pity - just playing. No character was really harmed during the typing of this nonsense. The creators of Third Watch are, of course, gods. And so are the actors who portray the characters!
I'M STILL foreign, so cut me some slack if I use a phrase or two that don't make no sense.
GREETINGS ALL! Thank you to those sticking with this little epic and taking the time to stroke the author's ego with kind words - very, very much appreciated, let me assure you.
-----
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 12
Faith never intended to make it a regular occurrence.
That morning she and Bosco had made love for hours, the same passion and intensity that had characterised their first time together just as evident the second time, if not more so. Both agreed that the comfort and warmth of a nice roomy bed made the experience just that little bit more...pleasurable.
For Faith it had felt so good to be made love to so wholly, so willingly, as if she alone were the only woman, the only thing in the world that mattered to him. He had a way of making her feel as if she was his one and only even though Faith knew damn well that was not the case. But somehow that didn't matter. He could make her cry out loud and no one had done that for a very long time.
Fred was waiting up for her that night after the shift was over. He didn't look at his wife as she entered their apartment.
"Where'd you go last night Faith?" he asked.
"Stayed at a friends," she answered.
He nodded and regarded the television for a while longer. "Its just Charlie was asking where you were this morning and I didn't know what to tell him."
"I should have called. I'm sorry. It won't happen again Fred."
Fred rose from the couch and flicked the TV off.
"You do what you want Faith," he murmured as he walked past and headed for their room. "It doesn't matter any more."
She barely slept that night. The following morning she was up early to greet Charlie and apologise to him for not being there the day before. Fred behaved as if there was nothing at all wrong between them, but threw her a look that said the exact opposite as he ushered their son out the door for school.
Faith went back to bed and tried to sleep but around ten found herself dialling Bosco's number. And so began what was to become an almost daily ritual.
-----
The door to the locker room exploded open to admit a murderous looking Sgt Cruz.
Faith watched as the woman stormed over to where Bosco stood readying himself for the shift to come.
"Where the HELL were you this morning?"
"This mor...?" Bosco closed his eyes and tipped his head back in consternation. "Dammit! I forgot..."
"You FORGOT?" The expression on Cruz's face darkened another shade. "Where the hell is your head lately, Boscorelli?"
He glowered at her in stubborn silence.
"So where were you?" she demanded.
"At home - asleep."
Cruz's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who with?"
Bosco's eyes darted to the floor. "No one."
Cruz leaned forward threateningly and in a voice only he could hear hissed: "You're a lying, two-timing little son of a bitch."
He looked up sharply. "You don't own me."
"Have you forgotten what's at stake here?"
"What do you think?" he snarled.
"What do I think? I think you'd better get rid of whatever or whoever is distracting you, Boscorelli, 'cos until you do, you're useless to me. Understand?"
Faith frowned as she watched the ACU Sgt depart.
"What was that about?" she asked quietly.
"I forgot I had a meeting with her this morning," he replied. "Had...other things on my mind."
Faith felt a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes flicked over to where Ty stood watching them. "She must be something special to make you forget an important meeting like that."
A look of confusion crossed Bosco's face. "Who?"
"This new girlfriend of yours."
Bosco's eyebrows just about disappeared into his hairline.
"How long you been seein' her?" Faith continued, aware that both Davis and Sully were now taking a keen interest in their conversation.
"'bout 3 weeks now," he replied, casting a quick glance at their audience.
"Three weeks," she mused. "Wow. Must be serious."
"Bet I can guess what her most appealing attributes are," Sully growled.
"Good in bed is she?" Faith inquired lightly, struggling to keep a straight face.
Bosco eyed her fondly. "The best ever."
"Yeah?" Faith's surprise was genuine.
"The best ever," he reiterated, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Bosco's in lurve," Ty drawled sardonically.
"God help us all," Sully snorted.
"So when do we get to meet her?" Ty inquired.
"You don't," Bosco replied. "I'm keeping this one to myself."
"A married chick," Ty mused disapprovingly. "You're a dog, you know that Boscorelli?"
"Better watch her husband doesn't come kick your ass," said Sully.
"Yeah Bos," Faith agreed earnestly. "He might be way bigger than you."
The look Bosco gave her was priceless. "I can take care of myself," he replied with a smirk.
"Sure you can," she murmured.
"So what's her name, Bosco?" Ty asked, "Or is that giving away state secrets?"
"Candy," said Faith quickly in her best bimbo voice.
"Candy??" Ty and Sully dissolved into gales of laughter.
"What the hell's so funny about that?" Bosco yelled.
"What is she? A stripper or a porn star?" Sully chuckled.
Bosco eyed Faith with a wicked smile. "Oh, she definitely has talent as a stripper. I'm still workin' on the porn thing..."
Faith feigned a look of absolute disgust. "Just don't bore us all with the details, OK?"
"When have my details bored you Yokas? Just lately, I mean?" he smirked.
She rolled her eyes and followed Ty and Sully out as they headed for role call, flicking a wicked glance back at Bosco as she departed.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" he called.
"More than you would think," she answered back, a wide grin lighting her face.
The shift proved to be nothing out of the ordinary. They sat awaiting the next call, talking.
"So what was the meeting with Cruz supposed to be about?" Faith asked.
Bosco shrugged. "Something she's got a bee up her ass about."
"Like what?"
He shrugged again. "ACU stuff I've decided I don't wanna be involved in."
"Since when?"
"Since about three weeks ago," he said, casting her a quick smile. "There's this really hot married stripper called Candy that I know..."
Faith started to laugh. "That was fun."
Bosco watched her enjoy the moment. "I can't believe you're so relaxed about all this," he said after a while.
She frowned slightly. "About what?"
"About us," he murmured. "I thought you'd be all uptight about it...you know, 'cos it's...awkward..."
"Awkward? Like when your husband calls on the mobile just as you have a handful of your lover's private parts?"
"Oh my god," he grinned, shaking his head.
Faith regarded him quietly for a while. "I don't know that 'relaxed' is the word I'd use," she said finally. "Reconciled to being a cheating adulterous bitch would be more how I'd describe it."
A small shadow of hurt traversed Bosco's face.
"It's an affair, Bosco. Like you once told me, neither of us are covering ourselves in glory here."
He watched his partner carefully. "Any regrets?"
"Too many," she murmured.
He considered her answer for a moment. "You want out?"
Faith turned to him, her eyes scanning his face intently. "Do you?"
"I asked you first."
That strange mixture of bravado and little boy vulnerability she sometimes glimpsed in him presented itself before her. Leaning over, Faith placed a kiss upon him that left him in no possible doubt where she stood on the matter.
"I thought you said the moment the uniform goes on it's all business, no exceptions?" he teased.
Faith just smiled.
-----
She had suspected as much.
He had been in too much of a hurry to fob her off after his shift ended last night for her not to get the impression that something was going on. For some time now she had harboured the idea there was something or someone else on his mind, and now the proof to confirm her suspicions lay before her in a tangle of limbs and soiled bed sheets.
It was early still, not yet fully light. She sat in the chair in the corner of his room and studied his muscular back, noting how he clung to his lover in an almost protective way, as if letting go was more than he could bear. She had no idea who the woman was, but she was patient. She could wait for that revelation.
As thin morning sunlight began to seep through the bedroom windows she saw him stir. She watched as he lifted his head sleepily from the pillow the lovers shared and propped himself up on one arm. He remained gazing down at his companion for a long time, every so often leaning forward to place a soft kiss upon her shoulder. One hand began to flow fondly over her body, long tender strokes that spoke volumes for the delight her closeness brought him.
She didn't remember ever receiving such attentive appreciation from him and as much as she tried to resist the image, she could just imagine a look of adoration on his face. He never looked at her like that.
His lover began to stir.
She watched him, saw how his eyes never left the woman as she rolled over to gaze up at him. Reaching out her hand to the hand that stroked her body, his lover silently entwined her fingers in his.
Nothing was said. They remained gazing at each other in perfect silence for a long while. From where she sat she still could not see the woman's face, and the fact was starting to irritate her.
When he finally spoke, his voice soft and full of admiration. "You're incredible, you know that?"
She strained to hear the barely audible reply.
"You're not too bad yourself."
The voice seemed familiar.
"Thought I'd cook us some breakfast," he murmured.
Their visitor's mood darkened further. He'd never offered to do that for her.
"Are you trying to impress me?" the lover asked.
Very familiar voice, but damned if she could place it.
He laughed. "If I was trying to impress you, cooking you breakfast would be the last thing I'd do."
"You're not exactly selling me on the idea, Bos."
"I thought you might find it cute," he murmured.
She heard the woman giggle. "Yeah, indigestion - too cute."
His hand had begun to explore the curves of her body once more and found her to be very receptive to his touch.
She coughed. There were just some things in life the third party felt she didn't need to see.
Bosco whipped around to face the intruder, the expression on his face flying from startled to thunderous in an instant.
Cruz attempted to cover the look of astonishment that graced her own face when she finally saw whom Bosco was with.
"Yokas?!"
Bosco gathered up a sheet and protectively handed it to Faith.
How sweet, Cruz thought, noting however that Yokas defiantly refused to cover herself.
Cruz fixed Bosco with an acid stare. "You're screwing Mama Bear?"
Yokas' face darkened to murderous. "Mama Bear??"
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Bosco yelled, in a tone that left her in no doubt he meant business. "And how the hell did you get in?"
Cruz held up the spare keys Bosco had recently noted were missing from the dish on the bench in the kitchen.
"You gave her a key?"
Bosco turned to Faith and stared earnestly into her beautiful eyes. "She took them Faith. I never gave them to her," he said softly.
Cruz watched, irritated to the core as Faith's expression softened. "HER?" she exploded suddenly. "SHE'S the reason you're willing to throw away the chance of a lifetime?"
Bosco glared at her.
"Well I guess I should have expected this from the likes of a no-hoper like you, Boscorelli," Cruz spat, "But you?" She fixed Faith with a look of pure disdain.
"Get out," Bosco murmured.
Cruz remained where she was.
"Which part of the phrase 'Get out' are you having a problem with - Sarge?"
The look Cruz gave him was one of pure venom.
"Did you hear me? I want you to leave." There was something dangerous in the look Bosco was giving her. Faith seemed to sense it and moved closer to him, placing a calming hand upon his arm.
"Bos," she said softly. "C'mon. It's OK."
Cruz noted how quickly he relaxed under Faith's gentle touch and her mood dipped even further into shadow.
Faith and Bosco watched as Cruz slowly unfurled herself from the chair she sat in and threw the keys onto the bed in front of them. Without another word she left, casting a look their way that caused them both to feel a creeping sense of disquiet.
-------
TBC - nothing so dangerous as The Anti Cruz screwed...
AUTHOR: MINN
DISCLAIMER: I STILL don't own nothin' - mores the pity - just playing. No character was really harmed during the typing of this nonsense. The creators of Third Watch are, of course, gods. And so are the actors who portray the characters!
I'M STILL foreign, so cut me some slack if I use a phrase or two that don't make no sense.
GREETINGS ALL! Thank you to those sticking with this little epic and taking the time to stroke the author's ego with kind words - very, very much appreciated, let me assure you.
-----
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 12
Faith never intended to make it a regular occurrence.
That morning she and Bosco had made love for hours, the same passion and intensity that had characterised their first time together just as evident the second time, if not more so. Both agreed that the comfort and warmth of a nice roomy bed made the experience just that little bit more...pleasurable.
For Faith it had felt so good to be made love to so wholly, so willingly, as if she alone were the only woman, the only thing in the world that mattered to him. He had a way of making her feel as if she was his one and only even though Faith knew damn well that was not the case. But somehow that didn't matter. He could make her cry out loud and no one had done that for a very long time.
Fred was waiting up for her that night after the shift was over. He didn't look at his wife as she entered their apartment.
"Where'd you go last night Faith?" he asked.
"Stayed at a friends," she answered.
He nodded and regarded the television for a while longer. "Its just Charlie was asking where you were this morning and I didn't know what to tell him."
"I should have called. I'm sorry. It won't happen again Fred."
Fred rose from the couch and flicked the TV off.
"You do what you want Faith," he murmured as he walked past and headed for their room. "It doesn't matter any more."
She barely slept that night. The following morning she was up early to greet Charlie and apologise to him for not being there the day before. Fred behaved as if there was nothing at all wrong between them, but threw her a look that said the exact opposite as he ushered their son out the door for school.
Faith went back to bed and tried to sleep but around ten found herself dialling Bosco's number. And so began what was to become an almost daily ritual.
-----
The door to the locker room exploded open to admit a murderous looking Sgt Cruz.
Faith watched as the woman stormed over to where Bosco stood readying himself for the shift to come.
"Where the HELL were you this morning?"
"This mor...?" Bosco closed his eyes and tipped his head back in consternation. "Dammit! I forgot..."
"You FORGOT?" The expression on Cruz's face darkened another shade. "Where the hell is your head lately, Boscorelli?"
He glowered at her in stubborn silence.
"So where were you?" she demanded.
"At home - asleep."
Cruz's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who with?"
Bosco's eyes darted to the floor. "No one."
Cruz leaned forward threateningly and in a voice only he could hear hissed: "You're a lying, two-timing little son of a bitch."
He looked up sharply. "You don't own me."
"Have you forgotten what's at stake here?"
"What do you think?" he snarled.
"What do I think? I think you'd better get rid of whatever or whoever is distracting you, Boscorelli, 'cos until you do, you're useless to me. Understand?"
Faith frowned as she watched the ACU Sgt depart.
"What was that about?" she asked quietly.
"I forgot I had a meeting with her this morning," he replied. "Had...other things on my mind."
Faith felt a small smile tug at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes flicked over to where Ty stood watching them. "She must be something special to make you forget an important meeting like that."
A look of confusion crossed Bosco's face. "Who?"
"This new girlfriend of yours."
Bosco's eyebrows just about disappeared into his hairline.
"How long you been seein' her?" Faith continued, aware that both Davis and Sully were now taking a keen interest in their conversation.
"'bout 3 weeks now," he replied, casting a quick glance at their audience.
"Three weeks," she mused. "Wow. Must be serious."
"Bet I can guess what her most appealing attributes are," Sully growled.
"Good in bed is she?" Faith inquired lightly, struggling to keep a straight face.
Bosco eyed her fondly. "The best ever."
"Yeah?" Faith's surprise was genuine.
"The best ever," he reiterated, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Bosco's in lurve," Ty drawled sardonically.
"God help us all," Sully snorted.
"So when do we get to meet her?" Ty inquired.
"You don't," Bosco replied. "I'm keeping this one to myself."
"A married chick," Ty mused disapprovingly. "You're a dog, you know that Boscorelli?"
"Better watch her husband doesn't come kick your ass," said Sully.
"Yeah Bos," Faith agreed earnestly. "He might be way bigger than you."
The look Bosco gave her was priceless. "I can take care of myself," he replied with a smirk.
"Sure you can," she murmured.
"So what's her name, Bosco?" Ty asked, "Or is that giving away state secrets?"
"Candy," said Faith quickly in her best bimbo voice.
"Candy??" Ty and Sully dissolved into gales of laughter.
"What the hell's so funny about that?" Bosco yelled.
"What is she? A stripper or a porn star?" Sully chuckled.
Bosco eyed Faith with a wicked smile. "Oh, she definitely has talent as a stripper. I'm still workin' on the porn thing..."
Faith feigned a look of absolute disgust. "Just don't bore us all with the details, OK?"
"When have my details bored you Yokas? Just lately, I mean?" he smirked.
She rolled her eyes and followed Ty and Sully out as they headed for role call, flicking a wicked glance back at Bosco as she departed.
"You're enjoying this aren't you?" he called.
"More than you would think," she answered back, a wide grin lighting her face.
The shift proved to be nothing out of the ordinary. They sat awaiting the next call, talking.
"So what was the meeting with Cruz supposed to be about?" Faith asked.
Bosco shrugged. "Something she's got a bee up her ass about."
"Like what?"
He shrugged again. "ACU stuff I've decided I don't wanna be involved in."
"Since when?"
"Since about three weeks ago," he said, casting her a quick smile. "There's this really hot married stripper called Candy that I know..."
Faith started to laugh. "That was fun."
Bosco watched her enjoy the moment. "I can't believe you're so relaxed about all this," he said after a while.
She frowned slightly. "About what?"
"About us," he murmured. "I thought you'd be all uptight about it...you know, 'cos it's...awkward..."
"Awkward? Like when your husband calls on the mobile just as you have a handful of your lover's private parts?"
"Oh my god," he grinned, shaking his head.
Faith regarded him quietly for a while. "I don't know that 'relaxed' is the word I'd use," she said finally. "Reconciled to being a cheating adulterous bitch would be more how I'd describe it."
A small shadow of hurt traversed Bosco's face.
"It's an affair, Bosco. Like you once told me, neither of us are covering ourselves in glory here."
He watched his partner carefully. "Any regrets?"
"Too many," she murmured.
He considered her answer for a moment. "You want out?"
Faith turned to him, her eyes scanning his face intently. "Do you?"
"I asked you first."
That strange mixture of bravado and little boy vulnerability she sometimes glimpsed in him presented itself before her. Leaning over, Faith placed a kiss upon him that left him in no possible doubt where she stood on the matter.
"I thought you said the moment the uniform goes on it's all business, no exceptions?" he teased.
Faith just smiled.
-----
She had suspected as much.
He had been in too much of a hurry to fob her off after his shift ended last night for her not to get the impression that something was going on. For some time now she had harboured the idea there was something or someone else on his mind, and now the proof to confirm her suspicions lay before her in a tangle of limbs and soiled bed sheets.
It was early still, not yet fully light. She sat in the chair in the corner of his room and studied his muscular back, noting how he clung to his lover in an almost protective way, as if letting go was more than he could bear. She had no idea who the woman was, but she was patient. She could wait for that revelation.
As thin morning sunlight began to seep through the bedroom windows she saw him stir. She watched as he lifted his head sleepily from the pillow the lovers shared and propped himself up on one arm. He remained gazing down at his companion for a long time, every so often leaning forward to place a soft kiss upon her shoulder. One hand began to flow fondly over her body, long tender strokes that spoke volumes for the delight her closeness brought him.
She didn't remember ever receiving such attentive appreciation from him and as much as she tried to resist the image, she could just imagine a look of adoration on his face. He never looked at her like that.
His lover began to stir.
She watched him, saw how his eyes never left the woman as she rolled over to gaze up at him. Reaching out her hand to the hand that stroked her body, his lover silently entwined her fingers in his.
Nothing was said. They remained gazing at each other in perfect silence for a long while. From where she sat she still could not see the woman's face, and the fact was starting to irritate her.
When he finally spoke, his voice soft and full of admiration. "You're incredible, you know that?"
She strained to hear the barely audible reply.
"You're not too bad yourself."
The voice seemed familiar.
"Thought I'd cook us some breakfast," he murmured.
Their visitor's mood darkened further. He'd never offered to do that for her.
"Are you trying to impress me?" the lover asked.
Very familiar voice, but damned if she could place it.
He laughed. "If I was trying to impress you, cooking you breakfast would be the last thing I'd do."
"You're not exactly selling me on the idea, Bos."
"I thought you might find it cute," he murmured.
She heard the woman giggle. "Yeah, indigestion - too cute."
His hand had begun to explore the curves of her body once more and found her to be very receptive to his touch.
She coughed. There were just some things in life the third party felt she didn't need to see.
Bosco whipped around to face the intruder, the expression on his face flying from startled to thunderous in an instant.
Cruz attempted to cover the look of astonishment that graced her own face when she finally saw whom Bosco was with.
"Yokas?!"
Bosco gathered up a sheet and protectively handed it to Faith.
How sweet, Cruz thought, noting however that Yokas defiantly refused to cover herself.
Cruz fixed Bosco with an acid stare. "You're screwing Mama Bear?"
Yokas' face darkened to murderous. "Mama Bear??"
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Bosco yelled, in a tone that left her in no doubt he meant business. "And how the hell did you get in?"
Cruz held up the spare keys Bosco had recently noted were missing from the dish on the bench in the kitchen.
"You gave her a key?"
Bosco turned to Faith and stared earnestly into her beautiful eyes. "She took them Faith. I never gave them to her," he said softly.
Cruz watched, irritated to the core as Faith's expression softened. "HER?" she exploded suddenly. "SHE'S the reason you're willing to throw away the chance of a lifetime?"
Bosco glared at her.
"Well I guess I should have expected this from the likes of a no-hoper like you, Boscorelli," Cruz spat, "But you?" She fixed Faith with a look of pure disdain.
"Get out," Bosco murmured.
Cruz remained where she was.
"Which part of the phrase 'Get out' are you having a problem with - Sarge?"
The look Cruz gave him was one of pure venom.
"Did you hear me? I want you to leave." There was something dangerous in the look Bosco was giving her. Faith seemed to sense it and moved closer to him, placing a calming hand upon his arm.
"Bos," she said softly. "C'mon. It's OK."
Cruz noted how quickly he relaxed under Faith's gentle touch and her mood dipped even further into shadow.
Faith and Bosco watched as Cruz slowly unfurled herself from the chair she sat in and threw the keys onto the bed in front of them. Without another word she left, casting a look their way that caused them both to feel a creeping sense of disquiet.
-------
TBC - nothing so dangerous as The Anti Cruz screwed...