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 and huge thanx to Angie, Helena, Juls, DreamLoveBreathe (still workin' on the 55David thang!), Winterwolf, Lifesaver55, Kate Anderson (how's the toe babe?), Ljae, and Deliani (welcome and wow! Thank you so much!) for taking the time to review so kindly - please forgive me if I've missed anyone. And to everyone else who's enjoying this as much as I am writing it - Cheers!!
MY APOLOGIES that this one took a while - I'm starting to get back to work after an extended holiday, and earning money needs to take priority over having fun writing - damn!!
------
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 14
"C'mon Lieu - Bos and me together like that? Could you think of anything scarier?"
Swersky eyed Faith carefully. "The boy's mother claims you all but jumped each other and started ripping each others clothes off."
"We pretended to jump each other," Bosco smirked. "But I don't remember Faith ripping my clothes off. I think I would remember something like that Lieu." He nudged his partner and in a loud stage whisper said: "Hey, if you ever fancy the real thing, you've got my number."
Lt Swersky watched as Faith rolled her eyes.
"We did it 'cos we knew Tubby would freak out and spill - he's a good kid."
"Yeah, and his mother wants him to stay that way..."
"She should shoot the brother then," Bosco mumbled.
"...so putting on an act like that for the benefit of minors, or anyone else for that matter, is out, OK?" The Lieutenant eyed them both sternly.
"Trust me, Lieu. It won't happen again," said Faith adamantly.
Bosco looked at her, appalled.
"How ELSE are we gonna scare information out of children?"
"We'll think of something," she murmured, trying hard to keep a straight face.
"Just make sure it DOESN'T involve the removal of any part of your uniforms, alright?" Swerskey growled.
"Where's the fun in that?" Bosco whined.
"When the hell did police work involve having fun, Boscorelli? Now get out, the both of you."
Faith was trying not to smile as they made their way downstairs.
"The little squealer," Bosco muttered. "I'm gonna kick Tubby's ass next time I see him."
"I told you corrupting minors was a bad idea."
Bosco came to a dead halt on the landing. "It was your idea!" he exclaimed.
She grabbed his arm and tugged him forward. "And you're a bad influence on me, Boscorelli."
"I'M the bad influence? Oh man, is that ever the pot calling the kettle black. You ever wondered why we're such a good team? It's 'cos we're a lot alike."
"Who says we're a good team?"
Bosco smirked at her. "You have to ask after this morning?"
She flicked him a wicked grin as they headed outside.
"You're evil, you know that Yokas? I don't know what I see in you."
"I have a great ass," she said over her shoulder.
"Evil with great ass. That's gotta be it. Or maybe I'm just drawn to scary women," he chuckled, "and you're one scary dame when you take your mind to be."
"There you go with the irresistible charm again," she smirked, then noticed he was lagging behind. "Are you checkin' out my ass?" She stopped and caught his answer in the form of a wide grin that seemed to go on forever.
"Quit it," she said, casting a quick look around to see who was about.
"Faith's ass is mine," he stage-whispered as he passed her, then leaned back on the RMP and watched her approach.
"Man, Tubby would have died of heart failure if he saw us this morning. That was one good scaring we had today, Faith."
"It was one of the better ones, wasn't it?" she murmured.
He watched her, the look of affection in his eyes plain and clear. "You're the best."
"We've got a job to do," she smiled.
"AND we've got to keep all our clothes on to do it," he smirked.
"Just you remember that."
"Can I help it if you find me irresistible?" Bosco watched her smile and shake her head. "I know that means yes."
From across the road he watched them. His heart ached as he witnessed the ease of their interaction, how readily Faith smiled and how comfortable they seemed in each other's presence. To him there seemed no doubt they were a couple.
He tried to ignore the small twinge in his chest.
Something caught Faith's eye and she turned to gaze across the street. Bosco let his eyes follow hers and watched, slightly wary, as Fred walked towards them, his face a picture of desolation.
"Fred? When did you get back? Where's Emily? Did you find her?"
"Emily's fine, I guess," he murmured.
"You guess?" Faith said, frowning. "Fred, where is she?"
"Florida, somewhere. Maybe."
Faith stared at him. "You didn't bring her back?"
Fred's sad eyes scanned the pavement at his feet. "I found where they were living. When she saw me she just...laughed. When I told her I wanted her to come back home with me she abused me and slammed the door in my face. I went back the next day and the neighbour told me they'd loaded up their car and cleared out early that morning."
He looked up and saw the way Faith was looking at him. "What? What was I supposed to do Faith? Get her in a headlock and drag her screaming to the plane? Do you seriously think she'd just hang around home being perfect daughter after that?"
Faith shook her head.
"Em's a smart kid, Faith," Bosco said. "When the idiot dumps her she'll be on the phone so fast asking for money and a plane ticket home it'll make your head spin."
They both looked at him for a moment. He shrugged. "But who cares what I think, huh?"
"Bos..." Faith began.
"Faith, we really need to talk about...things...," Fred murmured.
Faith saw Bosco visibly tense. "When I get home from work Fred, we'll talk, OK?"
Fred nodded, glancing once at Bosco. "It's important Faith. Don't forget."
"I won't", she said.
She watched her husband walk away, his head down, his shoulders hunched. When she turned back to her partner she was disturbed to see a small frown of worry creasing his brow.
During the shift, neither one speculated on what might transpire that evening. But Faith couldn't help notice the quiet note of tension that hung in the air between them.
-----
That night after the shift was over, Fred sat hunched disconsolately in his accustomed spot on the couch. He stood as Faith entered their apartment and slowly approached him. With a small, nervous smile on his face, Fred leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
"How was your day?"
Faith studied him for a moment and shrugged. "The usual," she replied.
They stood in awkward silence for some time.
"So are we gonna talk or what?" she asked finally.
Fred took her hand suddenly and led her to the couch. Settling down, he sat and gazed at her for a moment before speaking.
"I've been giving this a lot of thought, Faith," he began, fixing his eyes intently on hers. "About us and the way things are. And about where we go from here..."
She waited quietly as he grappled with what he wanted to say.
"I've been an idiot, Faith," he blurted suddenly.
Faith couldn't mask the look of surprise that sprang to her face.
"You mean everything to me Faith, you always have," he said quickly, "and I've treated you like crap these past months. I let my pride get in the way of what's most important, and what's important is the fact that I love you. I always have, and I probably always will."
As she watched she saw tears begin to brim his eyes.
"I should have been more forgiving, I know I should," he continued, "but I...my pride was hurt, and I didn't know how to deal with it better. I was angry and I was worried about Em..." He began to flounder for words.
Reaching over he took her hands in his. "I want us to be together, as a family. All we've done lately is hurt each other and Charlie too and it's wrong. I want to try and make it work - I'll do anything Faith, I swear. Just please say you forgive me."
Faith stared at him, momentarily lost for words. She looked away, his plea for forgiveness ringing in her ears.
"Maybe it's you who should be forgiving me," she mumbled finally.
Fred touched his hand to her cheek. "I do. I forgive you Faith," he murmured tenderly, "for whatever it is you've done or think you've done. I know you were only acting out of hurt because of the way I treated you..."
The burden of guilt Faith had shouldered suddenly intensified further.
"I love you Faith. Charlie needs you. I need you. The only way I'm gonna handle this thing with Emily is if we're together." He shrugged. "You've always been the strong one Faith - I need that in my life." He searched her eyes for any positive sign that his words were having an effect.
Faith got up suddenly and paced the floor. Fred watched her in anxious silence.
"You don't have to give me your answer now," he murmured softly as she cast a despairing look his way. "I want you to think about it, really think about it. I want you to make whatever decision you feel is right for you, because I want to see you happy, Faith, I honestly do. If that's with me, great - you'll make Charlie and me the two happiest people on the planet, I'm not kidding. But if you feel you would rather have your freedom..." he paused. "...I'll understand."
He stood then, his eyes never leaving hers for a moment. "I mean it Faith."
Fred watched her nod an acknowledgment, then retired from the room and left her alone with her thoughts.
------
"I won't be coming over today."
There was silence on the other end of the line for some time before Bosco spoke. "Got something else on?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "There's just something I need to...think about."
Awkward silence tortured them both.
"Will we be working together today?"
Faith felt her throat constrict a little. "Probably not."
There was more tense silence before Faith heard his voice once more.
"That's fine," he said quietly. "I'll see you 'round, Faith."
"Yeah." She felt tears well in her eyes as she heard him hang up quickly without uttering another word.
-----
While he didn't go out of his way to avoid her, Bosco didn't exactly greet her with open arms whenever he saw her that week. He was courteous, he was professional, but there was nothing at all warm or inviting about their interaction. Faith tried hard to hide the depth of the pain she felt over such a sudden cooling in their relationship, and spent the week's shifts mired in tense preoccupation.
At home Fred went out of his way to be accommodating and welcoming of her and Faith was touched by how serious he appeared to be about wanting them to be together. His attentiveness stirred in her memories of happier times.
Without exception Fred was sweet, honest, and understanding. When Faith looked into his eyes all she could see was unwavering affection, no pity or hurt, and above all, no blame.
As they spent nights talking things over and reminiscing, they delved into the recesses of their shared memories as a couple, enjoying the good times, lamenting the not so good. In the process Faith discovered Fred could still make her laugh, could still make her feel safe and wanted, and loved. Feelings of warmth still existed in her heart for him, and, she realised finally, had always been there. Her love for him was still alive and well, in spite of everything that had happened.
She and Fred had history as a couple, hard won years of shared experience that had created a mostly comfortable familiarity between them. What they had, while at times not pretty, was very real. Their relationship was no mystery. All romantic notions had been stripped away through years of day to day struggle, struggle that had created something which, on its good days, was solid and dependable.
With Bosco, however, it all lay ahead of them.
What worried her most was the inevitable collapse of the myth of enduring romance under the weight of the daily toil required to be two people trying to build a workable unit. The thought of what that struggle could entail troubled Faith deeply. She had been through it all with Fred and they had barely survived.
Niggling at the back of her consciousness was the question of whether Bosco was even looking for anything other than a good time. They had never discussed the future. For all she knew, Bosco was content to let things carry on as they had indefinitely. Even Faith had to admit to herself she had been living for the moment, paying thoughts of the future little or no heed.
Bosco was Bosco, a damaged and unpredictable human being trying his best not to let his past overwhelm him. Though it pained her to acknowledge it, deep in her heart Faith knew the passion between them would not be enough to overcome the obstacles that lay before them, would not be enough to weather the storms. When all was said and done, Bosco's past and her own largely unacknowledged shadows had the sad potential to create a living nightmare for them both.
He had been right; they were a lot alike. In all the most destructive ways.
And then there was Charlie.
Having sensed a change in the weather between his parents, Charlie had gone from living in a state of tense withdrawal to displaying a renewed enthusiasm for life, one Faith had feared she might never see in her son again. She knew then that she didn't need to consider the question any further. She knew as she saw happiness lighting her son's face once more what her decision had to be.
In the early hours of one rainy morning Faith lay in the dark beside her husband and let quiet tears of loss stain her pillow.
------
Bosco's face was a mixture of surprise and wariness when he opened the door to find her there.
Faith took a deep steadying breath in as she crossed the threshold and turned to face him.
"Fred and me...we're gonna try and work things out," she murmured.
Bosco nodded mutely and his gaze dipped sharply to the floor.
Faith felt her chest tighten at the sight. She moved closer and the abject misery evident on his face as he lifted his head devastated her.
"Bos..." she began, but words failed her.
Wordlessly he slipped his arms around her and held her tightly to him.
"Bos, I'm sorry..."
She felt him shrug. With barely any hesitation she pressed her lips urgently to his and revelled in the passion as he responded to her with heartbreaking intensity.
-----
Bosco sat on the end of the bed and watched as Faith slowly gathered her clothes together and slipped them back on. She took her time, flicking small, almost anguished glances his way.
Nothing was said.
When she approached him he stood and took her in his arms for the final time.
They finally parted after minutes of shared but silent anguish. Bosco could see the gleam of tears in her eyes, saw her chin tremble as she fought them. He felt his own throat constrict painfully.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Faith," he whispered, watching helplessly as her tears spilled.
Unable to trust herself with words, Faith turned and silently walked away.
----
TBC - dang. I hate Fr*d...
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 and huge thanx to Angie, Helena, Juls, DreamLoveBreathe (still workin' on the 55David thang!), Winterwolf, Lifesaver55, Kate Anderson (how's the toe babe?), Ljae, and Deliani (welcome and wow! Thank you so much!) for taking the time to review so kindly - please forgive me if I've missed anyone. And to everyone else who's enjoying this as much as I am writing it - Cheers!!
MY APOLOGIES that this one took a while - I'm starting to get back to work after an extended holiday, and earning money needs to take priority over having fun writing - damn!!
------
THE ONE CONSTANT
PART 14
"C'mon Lieu - Bos and me together like that? Could you think of anything scarier?"
Swersky eyed Faith carefully. "The boy's mother claims you all but jumped each other and started ripping each others clothes off."
"We pretended to jump each other," Bosco smirked. "But I don't remember Faith ripping my clothes off. I think I would remember something like that Lieu." He nudged his partner and in a loud stage whisper said: "Hey, if you ever fancy the real thing, you've got my number."
Lt Swersky watched as Faith rolled her eyes.
"We did it 'cos we knew Tubby would freak out and spill - he's a good kid."
"Yeah, and his mother wants him to stay that way..."
"She should shoot the brother then," Bosco mumbled.
"...so putting on an act like that for the benefit of minors, or anyone else for that matter, is out, OK?" The Lieutenant eyed them both sternly.
"Trust me, Lieu. It won't happen again," said Faith adamantly.
Bosco looked at her, appalled.
"How ELSE are we gonna scare information out of children?"
"We'll think of something," she murmured, trying hard to keep a straight face.
"Just make sure it DOESN'T involve the removal of any part of your uniforms, alright?" Swerskey growled.
"Where's the fun in that?" Bosco whined.
"When the hell did police work involve having fun, Boscorelli? Now get out, the both of you."
Faith was trying not to smile as they made their way downstairs.
"The little squealer," Bosco muttered. "I'm gonna kick Tubby's ass next time I see him."
"I told you corrupting minors was a bad idea."
Bosco came to a dead halt on the landing. "It was your idea!" he exclaimed.
She grabbed his arm and tugged him forward. "And you're a bad influence on me, Boscorelli."
"I'M the bad influence? Oh man, is that ever the pot calling the kettle black. You ever wondered why we're such a good team? It's 'cos we're a lot alike."
"Who says we're a good team?"
Bosco smirked at her. "You have to ask after this morning?"
She flicked him a wicked grin as they headed outside.
"You're evil, you know that Yokas? I don't know what I see in you."
"I have a great ass," she said over her shoulder.
"Evil with great ass. That's gotta be it. Or maybe I'm just drawn to scary women," he chuckled, "and you're one scary dame when you take your mind to be."
"There you go with the irresistible charm again," she smirked, then noticed he was lagging behind. "Are you checkin' out my ass?" She stopped and caught his answer in the form of a wide grin that seemed to go on forever.
"Quit it," she said, casting a quick look around to see who was about.
"Faith's ass is mine," he stage-whispered as he passed her, then leaned back on the RMP and watched her approach.
"Man, Tubby would have died of heart failure if he saw us this morning. That was one good scaring we had today, Faith."
"It was one of the better ones, wasn't it?" she murmured.
He watched her, the look of affection in his eyes plain and clear. "You're the best."
"We've got a job to do," she smiled.
"AND we've got to keep all our clothes on to do it," he smirked.
"Just you remember that."
"Can I help it if you find me irresistible?" Bosco watched her smile and shake her head. "I know that means yes."
From across the road he watched them. His heart ached as he witnessed the ease of their interaction, how readily Faith smiled and how comfortable they seemed in each other's presence. To him there seemed no doubt they were a couple.
He tried to ignore the small twinge in his chest.
Something caught Faith's eye and she turned to gaze across the street. Bosco let his eyes follow hers and watched, slightly wary, as Fred walked towards them, his face a picture of desolation.
"Fred? When did you get back? Where's Emily? Did you find her?"
"Emily's fine, I guess," he murmured.
"You guess?" Faith said, frowning. "Fred, where is she?"
"Florida, somewhere. Maybe."
Faith stared at him. "You didn't bring her back?"
Fred's sad eyes scanned the pavement at his feet. "I found where they were living. When she saw me she just...laughed. When I told her I wanted her to come back home with me she abused me and slammed the door in my face. I went back the next day and the neighbour told me they'd loaded up their car and cleared out early that morning."
He looked up and saw the way Faith was looking at him. "What? What was I supposed to do Faith? Get her in a headlock and drag her screaming to the plane? Do you seriously think she'd just hang around home being perfect daughter after that?"
Faith shook her head.
"Em's a smart kid, Faith," Bosco said. "When the idiot dumps her she'll be on the phone so fast asking for money and a plane ticket home it'll make your head spin."
They both looked at him for a moment. He shrugged. "But who cares what I think, huh?"
"Bos..." Faith began.
"Faith, we really need to talk about...things...," Fred murmured.
Faith saw Bosco visibly tense. "When I get home from work Fred, we'll talk, OK?"
Fred nodded, glancing once at Bosco. "It's important Faith. Don't forget."
"I won't", she said.
She watched her husband walk away, his head down, his shoulders hunched. When she turned back to her partner she was disturbed to see a small frown of worry creasing his brow.
During the shift, neither one speculated on what might transpire that evening. But Faith couldn't help notice the quiet note of tension that hung in the air between them.
-----
That night after the shift was over, Fred sat hunched disconsolately in his accustomed spot on the couch. He stood as Faith entered their apartment and slowly approached him. With a small, nervous smile on his face, Fred leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
"How was your day?"
Faith studied him for a moment and shrugged. "The usual," she replied.
They stood in awkward silence for some time.
"So are we gonna talk or what?" she asked finally.
Fred took her hand suddenly and led her to the couch. Settling down, he sat and gazed at her for a moment before speaking.
"I've been giving this a lot of thought, Faith," he began, fixing his eyes intently on hers. "About us and the way things are. And about where we go from here..."
She waited quietly as he grappled with what he wanted to say.
"I've been an idiot, Faith," he blurted suddenly.
Faith couldn't mask the look of surprise that sprang to her face.
"You mean everything to me Faith, you always have," he said quickly, "and I've treated you like crap these past months. I let my pride get in the way of what's most important, and what's important is the fact that I love you. I always have, and I probably always will."
As she watched she saw tears begin to brim his eyes.
"I should have been more forgiving, I know I should," he continued, "but I...my pride was hurt, and I didn't know how to deal with it better. I was angry and I was worried about Em..." He began to flounder for words.
Reaching over he took her hands in his. "I want us to be together, as a family. All we've done lately is hurt each other and Charlie too and it's wrong. I want to try and make it work - I'll do anything Faith, I swear. Just please say you forgive me."
Faith stared at him, momentarily lost for words. She looked away, his plea for forgiveness ringing in her ears.
"Maybe it's you who should be forgiving me," she mumbled finally.
Fred touched his hand to her cheek. "I do. I forgive you Faith," he murmured tenderly, "for whatever it is you've done or think you've done. I know you were only acting out of hurt because of the way I treated you..."
The burden of guilt Faith had shouldered suddenly intensified further.
"I love you Faith. Charlie needs you. I need you. The only way I'm gonna handle this thing with Emily is if we're together." He shrugged. "You've always been the strong one Faith - I need that in my life." He searched her eyes for any positive sign that his words were having an effect.
Faith got up suddenly and paced the floor. Fred watched her in anxious silence.
"You don't have to give me your answer now," he murmured softly as she cast a despairing look his way. "I want you to think about it, really think about it. I want you to make whatever decision you feel is right for you, because I want to see you happy, Faith, I honestly do. If that's with me, great - you'll make Charlie and me the two happiest people on the planet, I'm not kidding. But if you feel you would rather have your freedom..." he paused. "...I'll understand."
He stood then, his eyes never leaving hers for a moment. "I mean it Faith."
Fred watched her nod an acknowledgment, then retired from the room and left her alone with her thoughts.
------
"I won't be coming over today."
There was silence on the other end of the line for some time before Bosco spoke. "Got something else on?"
"Yeah," she murmured. "There's just something I need to...think about."
Awkward silence tortured them both.
"Will we be working together today?"
Faith felt her throat constrict a little. "Probably not."
There was more tense silence before Faith heard his voice once more.
"That's fine," he said quietly. "I'll see you 'round, Faith."
"Yeah." She felt tears well in her eyes as she heard him hang up quickly without uttering another word.
-----
While he didn't go out of his way to avoid her, Bosco didn't exactly greet her with open arms whenever he saw her that week. He was courteous, he was professional, but there was nothing at all warm or inviting about their interaction. Faith tried hard to hide the depth of the pain she felt over such a sudden cooling in their relationship, and spent the week's shifts mired in tense preoccupation.
At home Fred went out of his way to be accommodating and welcoming of her and Faith was touched by how serious he appeared to be about wanting them to be together. His attentiveness stirred in her memories of happier times.
Without exception Fred was sweet, honest, and understanding. When Faith looked into his eyes all she could see was unwavering affection, no pity or hurt, and above all, no blame.
As they spent nights talking things over and reminiscing, they delved into the recesses of their shared memories as a couple, enjoying the good times, lamenting the not so good. In the process Faith discovered Fred could still make her laugh, could still make her feel safe and wanted, and loved. Feelings of warmth still existed in her heart for him, and, she realised finally, had always been there. Her love for him was still alive and well, in spite of everything that had happened.
She and Fred had history as a couple, hard won years of shared experience that had created a mostly comfortable familiarity between them. What they had, while at times not pretty, was very real. Their relationship was no mystery. All romantic notions had been stripped away through years of day to day struggle, struggle that had created something which, on its good days, was solid and dependable.
With Bosco, however, it all lay ahead of them.
What worried her most was the inevitable collapse of the myth of enduring romance under the weight of the daily toil required to be two people trying to build a workable unit. The thought of what that struggle could entail troubled Faith deeply. She had been through it all with Fred and they had barely survived.
Niggling at the back of her consciousness was the question of whether Bosco was even looking for anything other than a good time. They had never discussed the future. For all she knew, Bosco was content to let things carry on as they had indefinitely. Even Faith had to admit to herself she had been living for the moment, paying thoughts of the future little or no heed.
Bosco was Bosco, a damaged and unpredictable human being trying his best not to let his past overwhelm him. Though it pained her to acknowledge it, deep in her heart Faith knew the passion between them would not be enough to overcome the obstacles that lay before them, would not be enough to weather the storms. When all was said and done, Bosco's past and her own largely unacknowledged shadows had the sad potential to create a living nightmare for them both.
He had been right; they were a lot alike. In all the most destructive ways.
And then there was Charlie.
Having sensed a change in the weather between his parents, Charlie had gone from living in a state of tense withdrawal to displaying a renewed enthusiasm for life, one Faith had feared she might never see in her son again. She knew then that she didn't need to consider the question any further. She knew as she saw happiness lighting her son's face once more what her decision had to be.
In the early hours of one rainy morning Faith lay in the dark beside her husband and let quiet tears of loss stain her pillow.
------
Bosco's face was a mixture of surprise and wariness when he opened the door to find her there.
Faith took a deep steadying breath in as she crossed the threshold and turned to face him.
"Fred and me...we're gonna try and work things out," she murmured.
Bosco nodded mutely and his gaze dipped sharply to the floor.
Faith felt her chest tighten at the sight. She moved closer and the abject misery evident on his face as he lifted his head devastated her.
"Bos..." she began, but words failed her.
Wordlessly he slipped his arms around her and held her tightly to him.
"Bos, I'm sorry..."
She felt him shrug. With barely any hesitation she pressed her lips urgently to his and revelled in the passion as he responded to her with heartbreaking intensity.
-----
Bosco sat on the end of the bed and watched as Faith slowly gathered her clothes together and slipped them back on. She took her time, flicking small, almost anguished glances his way.
Nothing was said.
When she approached him he stood and took her in his arms for the final time.
They finally parted after minutes of shared but silent anguish. Bosco could see the gleam of tears in her eyes, saw her chin tremble as she fought them. He felt his own throat constrict painfully.
"You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Faith," he whispered, watching helplessly as her tears spilled.
Unable to trust herself with words, Faith turned and silently walked away.
----
TBC - dang. I hate Fr*d...