TITLE: Shattered

AUTHOR: Liquid Thalassa

E-MAIL: liquidthalassa@yahoo.com

RATING: PG-13 (due to references of rape) and swear words here and there.

SPOILERS: 10-31's Eppy "Good Bye to All of That"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm back with some more chapters! Whoo-hoo! *Sorry* for such the long wait!! And I hope interested wasn't lost in that time. I've read through this Chapter a few times and it seems good to me (but what would I know, lol) I hope you guys like it! Let me know what you think (hint, hint: Review! Lol)

Here's the story:

PART FOUR: Reaching for Normalcy

Bosco knew it wasn't a question of if Cruz was going to seek vengeance but when. Watch her, like a hawk, Lieu told him. And Bosco was. Thoroughly. When she came into the locker room she had a far away look in her eyes, distant. Calculating. She seemed dead set on getting into uniform and getting the hell out of there. She didn't look at anyone. Not even Bosco. It gave him a chill. That fire was still there, burning with endless fuel of pain and anger.

Great, Bosco thought. Great.

"Sergeant?" Bosco said coming up next to her. She was in uniform, just standing there looking at her open locker. She looked over at him, her hair up in a tight bun, Bobby-pins keeping the loose strands in place. He smiled inwardly. "Are you sure you're up for this?" He asked.

"I'm fine." She said quickly, holstering her gun.

"Maritza, you can't fool me. I can see it in your eyes." He told her quietly, not wanting Sully and Davis up in his- and her- business.

"Oh really. Then you know. Don't get in my way." She said, closing the locker with finality. Please Bosco, don't get in the way, she thought to herself. Please don't.

"You can't keep doing this, Maritza." He yelled to her, just before she left the locker room.

Damn. This was going to be fun- not.

Sully and Davis looked up. "What the hell are you two looking at?" Bosco spat and walked off.

***

Today was the day. She could feel it. It made her nervous, sick with anxiousness. Revenge. It was a vicious cycle. One she didn't know she would ever be able to stop. Bosco looked over at her from the driver's seat of 5- 5 David. She didn't want him here. He was worried, disappointed, edgy. She didn't want him to be like this. And not because of her.

"Look, Bosco I'm fine." She offered knowing it would do no good.

"You shouldn't be on the street." He said flatly. "How did you manage to fool the shrink, to talk Lieu into letting you come back?"

"You know me by now. I have my ways." She replied just the same.

The silence of the patrol car came once again. Bosco didn't know what to do. But his thoughts were broken by the crackle of the radio.

"5-5 David this is Central. Domestic on 148th and 9th. Over."

Cruz reached for her radio, "Central this is 5-5 David. We're on our way. Over"

***

Patrol. Some things at least stayed the same. Maritza Cruz rolled her eyes. How could people be so stupid, she asked herself looking at the couple before her and Bosco.

"What is the problem, sir?" She asked curtly. Domestics always pissed her off. Always. She watched the man, his head was bleeding, and she looked at the woman mascara staining her cheeks. Classic domestic.

"That bitch hit me with a frying pan!" The man yelled pointing to the woman. His wife.

"He's been cheating on me, I found out today!" She yelled back.

"She tried to kill me!"

"Sir- do you want to file a complaint?" She asked loudly over their bickering.

"No." He replied in a quieter tone, almost like she was crazy for even asking.

"Well there's not much we can do then." She said curtly.

"Look, you called us." Bosco said stepping in. "You can either place a report or work it out amongst yourselves."

"But she tried to kill me!" The man yelled.

"Look, Mister. Being hit over the head with a frying pan does not constitute attempted murder. Hell, I would've done the same." Cruz told him glancing over at Bosco. "Or worse."

Bosco didn't doubt that. He smiled. "Do you want an ambulance sent over here, to look at your head?" Bosco asked.

"No." The man said calmer then before.

This was a dead end. Cruz was fed up of this call.

***

They walked down the street to the small diner for lunch/dinner. So far the day had been alright. A domestic. A fender-bender. An illegal parking. Some tickets here and there. Baby stuff. For that Bosco was glad. Baby stuff was what she needed. It made things a lot easier.

They sat down in a booth facing each other. She met his gaze briefly only to look away at the sight of a waitress.

"I got my test results today." She said after the waitress left.

He looked up from the menu of specials and met her gaze. He tried to read her but couldn't.

"Is everything alright?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah. Everything is fine." She replied with a smile, only he could see the feelings hidden beneath. Everything was not fine. She should be talking to a shrink, or on desk duty Bosco knew. But to turn her in now would make everything worse. Hell hath no fury like Maritza scorned.

"I'm glad to hear that." He said sincerely.

The waitress came back and asked for their orders. Bosco ordered a sandwich with fries and Cruz a diet Pepsi.

"That's all?" Bosco asked her. "A diet Pepsi?"

"Yeah, I'm not hungry." She said defensively.

He looked at her incredulously. Right.

His order came and with a smile he dug in. Cruz watched him amused as he stuffed his face.

"You look like you've never eaten, Bosco."

He looked up. "You've seen my fridge, there's nothing in it!"

"It's called a store." She laughed.

"Ha ha." He dipped his fries.

She leaned back and took a deep breath. So far nothing, no hint of what he gut told her. Today was the day. It had to be. She looked at her watch, four hours to go. Anything could happen.

***

It was dark out. And chilly. They sat in the patrol car with the heat up waiting for another call. She closed her eyes.

"So you liked them?" Bosco asked quietly.

"What?"

"The bobby pins."

She turned her head and took at him, half his face in the darkness. "Yes, I liked them." She paused. "That was sweet of you. No one's ever..." She stopped and turned abruptly away. No one's ever done something like that before- not a guy at least and not little sweet things like that.

He put his hand on her shoulder lightly. "Hey, are you alright?" He asked in a whisper.

She couldn't handle it anymore. She felt sick, her whole body pulled and twisted in knots. Rage, hate, fear, revenge, nervousness. It ate at her. She couldn't handle it. She was strong but not that strong. She wiped a tear off of her cheek.

"I'm fine." She managed.

"Maritza." He said quietly. "You're not fine."

"Damn it Bosco! I'm fine." She yelled.

Bosco shook his head and leaned back. He had no idea what to do or what was going on with her and that scared him. She was a loose cannon and it was only time before she exploded. But he couldn't bare seeing her like this.

Silently he started the engine all the way and looked over at her. She was biting her lip.

"I'm sorry. I- I never..." She said reaching out and touching his hand.

He looked up slightly perplexed but understood. "It's alright." It wasn't her fault. Not really.

She pulled her hand away and began to search around for something. "What are you looking for?" He asked her.

"A mirror. I bet I look like a hooker now don't I?"

He remained silent- knowing it was better he kept his mouth shut. No woman wanted to be called a slut. She did- look like a hooker that is- beneath her pretty eyes were lines of black. "Do you have a napkin?" he said instead.

She rummaged the car and found a small travel box. She held it out and he took them. "What are you doing?" She complained.

"I'm going to clean you up. Or do you want to without a mirror?"

She remained silent. He took that for an okay and gently began to wipe her cheeks. She watched him closely. Her eyes falling to his lips. God, she thought, how could I even think of anything like that now? She couldn't help but lick her lips. He was close, really close. He looked at her. A flicker of fire in his cool eyes. Did he feel the same she wondered?

"All done." He whispered. But his hand lingered on her cheek, bringing a dose of warmth.

"Thank you." She managed to get out.

Dios, she thought, Bosco is a good man, not a man to be tainted by the likes of me. Though unlike everyone else he seemed to care, to understand and for that she was grateful.

They held each others gaze, gauging the others feelings. Bosco leaned closer. I can't believe I'm doing this, he thought knowing he should pull back. He could feel her shallow breaths warm and smelling like strawberry chap stick on his cheek. He looked back up into her eyes and she looked down. And then, before any thoughts entered his mind she pulled him closer. Their lips meet gently, tenderly. He took her other cheek in his hand and she rested hers on his chest deepening their embrace. It felt different than before. Gentler, sweeter than that night they shared before.

For the first time in a long time Maritza Cruz felt at peace.

"5-5 David this is Central." The radio screeched loudly.

Damn thing, Bosco thought. "Ignore it." She whispered against his mouth.

"5-5 David this is Central. Suspect A-23 is been sighted in a bar. 26th and 9th. Over"

Cruz's heart stopped for a second and she pulled away from Bosco, a wild look in her eyes. A-23. Her rapist.

"Sonofabitch!" She said. I knew it would happen, she told herself, tonight's the night. "Central. 5-5 David responding Code 3. Over."

She looked at Bosco, who was waiting to turn into traffic. "Go, go!" She said anxiously.

Pressing the accelerator, narrowly missing a fender bender they tore out of there lights and sirens. So this was it, he thought. Tonight was the night.

He ran and light and looked over at her. She already had her gun out. Jesus Christ, he thought. Silently he prayed that everything would turn out alright, but he couldn't help feel the sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach.

TO BE CONTINUED (he he he)

A/N: So ok, That was chapter 4, the real chapter 4- not the author's note. I'm going to dedicate this chapter to snowflakeangel01 ;). Cause I know you've been dying for more chapters and love Bosco-Cruz Shippage. Hopefully everything makes sense (as in the kissing "scene")...I hope that wasn't too awkward! (cause that would suck) But I have an idea of where I'm going to take it, so never fear, I'll be writing the next part tomorrow! Thanks and review.

~LiquidThalassa~