The next day in the patrol car Faith could tell that something was bothering Bosco.
"Bosco…" she started.
"What." he snapped. He started. "I'm sorry, Faith. Let's try again. What?"
"You know that you can tell me anything. If you want to tell me what's bothering you, you know that I'll listen." She tried to speak as gently as possible.
"Yeah, I know, Faith. I know." His voice sounded lost…like a child. Faith fought the maternal instincts rising in her because she knew that Bosco did not appreciate them…or maybe he did. Maybe he just didn't want her to know that he was glad she cared so much.
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"Faith, can I ask you something?" Bosco said hesitantly. He stuffed his things into his locker.
Faith looked up from the sneaker she was tying. "Sure, Bos, anything." Thank God, she thought. She hated it when Bos brooded, rather than asking for help or just opening up to her.
"Yeah, it's like this." He paused. Faith said nothing. She just nodded. "If someone did something illegal, like lie about someone or set someone up, but the person being set up deserves to be in jail, is that wrong? Should I just let it go? I hate the thought of her breaking the law, but it's a good thing in the end. They can't hurt anyone else this way." He looked at her. Waiting.
"Bos…" She didn't know what to say. Her mouth was dry. "Bos, if you're asking me this, you already know the answer."
"Yeah." He looked down. "I know."
"Excuse, me, Boscorelli?" It was Officer Thomas.
"Yeah? Can't you see I'm busy here?" Bosco snapped. Faith hid a grin.
"It's about Sergeant Cruz. She had something for me to tell you."
"Alright."
Faith frowned. He had backed down awful fast.
"Faith, can you give us a minute?"
"Bos…"
"Please, Faith. I'll see you tomorrow, ok? Bye." She knew him well enough to realize he was serious.
"Ok, Bos, tomorrow." She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, but she shoved it down. He's a grown man, Faith. He's not your son.
"Yeah, Thomas, what do you want?" He was nervous. "What about Cruz? Why would I know anything about her?"
"Well, aside from the fact that she told me you guys had a 'thing'," Thomas paused as Bosco's face darkened, "I know about her too."
Bosco frowned. "Yeah? Really? What the hell does that mean? What the hell are you playing at?"
"Nothing." Thomas hurried to explain. "I heard you talking to Yokas and I knew who you were talking about."
"How would you know that?" Bosco scoffed. But he believed Thomas.
"Come on, Boscorelli. I'm her partner. I overheard her saying something about the framings. It's wrong and she needs to be stopped. Right? Do you agree with me?" He looked sincere. What's not to believe?
"Yeah. I do. I surprise my own self, but I do. Those guys are bastards and belong in jail, but how can I enforce the law and break it at the same time? I may be a lot of things, but I ain't no hypocrite. God - why the hell am I telling you this?"
"Would you do me a favor, sir?" Thomas paused. "Let me be the one."
"What? The who?"
"Let me be the one to report this…I'm her partner, after all." He waited, inner self anxious for Bosco's reponse.
"Are you sure? 'Cause I can do it for you, ya know. Hell, I'll do it. You've only been here one day and you already gotta turn your partner in…it's not right. Let me take this for ya." He offered. He felt sorry for this guy. Felt sorry for Cruz, although he sure as hell was not gonna admit to that.
"No!" Easy now, he reminded himself sharply. "Please…I need to do this myself, please understand."
Bosco thought. Poor kid. Poor Cruz. What a mess. He looked up. "All right. Have it your way, kid. Good luck." He started to walk away, then turned. "Hey, kid. If you need anything, you know you can look me up. Anytime. I mean it."
"Yeah, thanks…Bosco."
"Sure, kid. See ya."
Thomas waited until Bosco was out of sight. He pulled out a cell phone. Dialed. "It's me. Listen, Boscorelli knows. About you and me…How the hell would I know? I find out he knows and I'm gonna ask him how he found out? I don't think so. No, he didn't tell anyone else. He was talking to Yokas but he didn't say anything about you specifically…no, he was just general. He asked her if he should turn in someone doing something illegal for a good cause or some crap like that.. I told him I would report it…You want me to do what? No way in hell! Hey…calm down…ok…yeah, give me his name. I'll talk to him and see if he's up for the job. Ok, got it. No, I didn't write it down." He crumbled the piece of paper. "Ok, by-" He grimaced as he hit the end button. He shook his head. "God, I hate this."
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Cruz fingered the vest. She smiled. Too bad for Boscorelli.
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This is my first fic so be kind!! Please r&r!!
