Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Characters of Third Watch.

Author's Note: Wow...you're reviews are great, thanks so much. I know this is what you've been waiting for so let's get right to it. And please, let me know what ya think.

"Understanding Steven"

~Chapter Seven~

Bosco comes out of the store and slides into the driver's seat. He pulls away from the curb and starts to drive away. Suddenly, before he realizes what is happening, something drops over his head, wraps tightly across his neck, and snaps his head back hard against the head rest cutting off his air supply.

The car swerves dangerously back and forth down the road, as he reaches for the thing wrapped around his neck. He slams on his brakes, unable to control his vehicle, but he is more worried about the fact that he can not breathe. His eyes dart to the rearview mirror. He can make out only a dark image, leaning close to his head from the back seat.

Then a voice whispers into his ear. "Don't stop. Keep driving and I'll give you some air."

Bosco is gasping hard for air and he can feel his vision starting to blur. His attempts at sliding his fingers under the object around his neck have failed. It seems to be some sort of towel, and it is being held tightly by someone behind his seat. He takes his foot off the brake and touches the gas pedal causing the car to lurch forward.

"That's right. Do as you're instructed." The voice says.

The pressure around his neck releases, and he takes a big gulp of air. He finally gets enough air in his lungs to speak. "What the hell do you want? If you want the car...just take it. Let me out here..."

"Shut up. Just keep driving."

Bosco tries speaking again. "Look...I won't resist...just take what..."

His words are cut off by the towel around his throat tightening. "I said shut up. Drive where I tell you." The voice orders. After a few seconds, he loosens the grip around Bosco's neck again so he can drive.

Bosco's mind is racing, trying to think of what he can do to save himself. He has a gun strapped to his right ankle, but there is no way he can reach it. He searches the road for a police car he can try and signal. Hell, he'll drive right into it, but there are no other vehicles on the road. He follows the directions his assailant is telling him to take, and he is making Bosco drive to a very isolated part of the city. They turn onto a street, that has no lights and is surrounded by dilapidated buildings. They are all abandoned factories and warehouses.

He is ordered to turn into an alley and stop the car. The towel is pulled away from his neck and he feels the cold metal of a gun barrel against his temple, as he is given his next set of instructions. The gun suddenly leaves his temple and swings upward at the dome light, smashing it.

"Open the door and step out slowly. Try to run and you're dead. And don't turn around...just put your hands on top of your head."

Bosco complies, stepping slowly out of the car and stands next to it. He takes a peek back, as the assailant climbs out of the back, all the while pressing the gun against Bosco's lower back. "You can have the car. Take my wallet. I can't identify you. Just take what you want and go."

Gusler strikes him hard in the back of his head with the gun butt. "I said shut up!" He barks.

Bosco drops to his knees from the force of the blow. A hand grabs him forcefully by the back of his shirt and lifts him to his feet again and pushes him against the car. He steadies himself with his left hand on the roof of the car and grabs his injured head with his right. He suddenly feels the clasp of a handcuff wrap around his right wrist and his arm is jerked viciously down to his back. He falls face first against the car as his left hand is pulled behind him also. His hands are now cuffed behind his back before he even has a chance to wriggle away.

He feels himself being frisked. His wallet is pulled from his back pocket. Gusler opens it, revealing Bosco's badge. He removes it and places it in his pocket, then throws the wallet on the ground. The hands run down his leg, lifting his pant leg to expose his hidden gun. Gusler pulls the gun from it's holster, and slips it into his coat pocket as well. He then pulls Bosco away from the car and drops him face down on the ground.

"Don't move." He orders, as he leans in the car and grabs the keys from the ignition. He then leans in farther and opens the glove box and rummages through it. He finds a flashlight, which he takes with him. He pulls Bosco to his feet and orders him to start walking. They walk to an abandoned factory, and go inside.

Bosco is scared now. He can't figure out why this guy just doesn't take the car and go. He says, "Look...just leave me here. You don't have to kill me. I won't..."

"Shut up you asshole! Haven't you figured this out yet Boscorelli...I don't want your fuckin car."

Bosco tries to turn around, but Gusler shoves him forward, causing him to stumble. "What the hell do you want? Who are you?"

"Think...who have you pissed off?" Then he laughs. "The list is never ending, huh? You piss off every one you come in contact with."

The voice sounds vaguely familiar, yet it sounds as though the person is talking deeper to disguise himself. He tries to remember who he has arrested recently, but no one he thinks of has the same small build as this guy. "Why don't you just tell me what the hell this is all about?"

"Oh I will...it wouldn't be fun for me if you didn't know." He points the light to a set of stairs, leading to the second floor. "Take those." he orders him.

"No way. They won't hold. This place is falling apart."

Gusler shoves him and he falls onto the steps. He lifts him up by the back of his shirt and orders him again to start climbing. Bosco does as he's told, with Gusler right behind him. The stairs move unsteadily as they walk. They sway more with each step. Bosco stops about halfway up to steady himself on the moving steps. There is a loud groan of fatiguing metal. Gusler grabs the rail and waits for the swaying to stop, then he urges Bosco on.

They reach the second floor and Gusler shines the light towards the far corner. "Go over there." He shoves Bosco in the direction of the flashlight.

Ahead of them, there are boarded up windows, and an opening into the room from the outer wall. Through the opening, a conveyor protrudes from the ground outside, all the way up into the room. It sticks in about four feet, and hangs over a large empty silo that is about eight feet wide in diameter. It stands on the ground floor but is several feet taller than the second story floor.

Gusler walks Bosco over to it and shines the light down in, exposing the tall empty container. Bosco steps away from the edge. He is now beginning to panic about his fate.

"Why are you doing this...what did I do to you?" He asks, trying to hide the terror in his voice. His captor allows him to turn around, and Bosco recognizes him. "Gusler? Steve? What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm not Steve." Gusler says laughing. "But I am here on behalf of Steve. See I don't like the way you push him around."

"What the hell are you talking about...I didn't do anything to you?"

His voice is deep and angry. "You make fun of him, belittle him in front of the other officers. You shove him around like he's nobody." As he says this he gives Bosco a little shove backwards. Bosco stumbles back and quickly regains his balance.

"You treat your partner like shit. You have no respect for any one. And for your actions...there is a punishment." Then he gives him another small shove.

Bosco stumbles back against the wall. "No...I stuck up for you. I went to the Lieutenant about Martin. He's the one that treated you like shit."

"I've already taken care of him. It's your turn now." He grabs Bosco by the front of his shirt, and spins him so his back is towards the empty silo, then walks him backwards towards it.

The silo wall hits the back of Bosco's legs and Gusler holds him as he leans dangerously over the edge. His eyes grow wide, as he peeks down into the black hole behind him. His mind races for something to say. "Gusler...Steve...I don't get this. What the hell did I do? I want to understand. Please."

Stan smiles and lets out a low growl of a laugh. "Here it comes...my favorite part." He talks in a whinny voice as he says, "I don't understand. Please tell me what I did wrong. I'm sorry I picked on Steve." He laughs out loud. "You're all the same. Big fuckin tough guys until someone stands up to you."

"All right I get it. I ran into you the other day when I was late, right? I shoved you aside..."

"NO!" he yells. "Not me...Steve. You shoved Steve. He is afraid of you and you take advantage of that. Every fuckin day. You push him aside, you interrupt while he's talking like he isn't even there. He is like a bug to you that you just swat aside. You don't even notice him he's so insignificant to you."

"He's not my partner. I have no reason to..."

"Right...Faith is your partner, and you treat her like shit too. You have the balls to act like she is beneath you. You boss her around. You're always talking trash in front of her. You have no respect. But I'm going to teach you some today."

He leans Bosco backwards a little more. "How does this feel, Boscorelli? Huh...tell me what you're feeling right now."

"I'm scared. Is that what you want me to be? Scared of you? You have my hands behind my back, so now you're the big tough guy. And yah...I'm scared."

"That's good." He pulls Bosco forward, away from the edge, and punches him in the stomach.

Bosco doubles over, unprepared for the hit. The air rushes out of his body and he can't seem to get any back in. He feels a wave of nausea roll through his gut and his legs give out. As he drops to his knees, he feels Gusler grab him from behind and straighten him up by wrapping his arm around Bosco's neck.

"When you pick on Steve, it's like you're picking on a guy with his hands tied behind his back. Do you see where we are now? Are we on the same page?"

Bosco spits out, "Yes. I get it."

Gusler tightens his arm around Bosco's neck and says, "What do you have to say for your behavior?"

Bosco struggles hard to inhale a breath. His stomach is queasy and tight. He grimaces as he speaks. "I'm sorry...I didn't realize you felt that way."

Gusler removes his grip on Bosco's neck and steps around in front of him. For a moment Bosco is relieved. He thinks he's said the right thing to get Gusler to back off, so he continues talking. "I'm really sorry. I wish you'd told me how you felt. I would have backed..."

Gusler shuts him up by slamming his fist into Bosco's left cheek. His teeth clack together, and his head snaps to the right, and his body follows. He falls hard to the floor.

"You disappoint me Boscorelli. I thought you'd keep that smart ass attitude to the end. I never figured you to be the sniveling coward." He grabs Bosco under his arms and drags him to the edge of the silo, and tries pulling him up. "Get up! Get on your knees."

"No." Bosco growls. "This isn't right." Even in his dazed state, he knows that Martin was beaten to death, and never in his wildest dreams would he have thought Gusler was capable of doing it...but here he is...getting his ass kicked, maybe to death. All he can do is make himself be dead weight so Steve can't toss him into the empty vat.

Gusler struggles to lift him, but Bosco resists, so Stan kicks him in the stomach. Bosco cries out in pain. His mind searches frantically for something to say that will stop this.

He tries to remember what Faith said about Steve. He was gentle. Yah...if only she could see her boy now. He definitely has snapped. But somewhere inside of this lunatic...is gentle Steve, and Bosco needs to reach him.

Gusler finally gets him to his knees and bends him over the silo. Bosco is now balancing precariously on his stomach, teetering over the edge, looking down into the darkness below.

In desperation he says, "Gusler...please. Don't do this. I'm sorry. I know I've been an asshole but I'm not heartless. I didn't know I was upsetting you... I mean upsetting Steve. God...I'm sorry. Give me another chance."

"This is getting good." Stan says grinning. He pulls Bosco back to solid ground, and stands him up. "Keep talking I'm listening."

"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry. I realize now, how I've made you...how I make everyone feel. You may not believe this but...I honestly feel terrible about it. No one should feel this way. I'm sorry."

"I want to hear you beg me to let you go. Like I've had to hear Steve do a million times, to a million different fuckers just like you."

Bosco shakes his head and looks sadly at Gusler. "I had no idea he's had such a rough time. I'm sorry....truly sorry."

"Yah...you said that." He grabs Bosco's shirt. "That's not begging."

"Don't! Please. I'm begging you...ok? I'm begging. Please...let me go and I'll change."

Gusler moves him backwards towards the silo. Bosco is gripped with fear now. He can't tell if he's reaching this nut or not. "Please...don't do this. Let me go and I'll never pick on anyone again." As he feels the edge against his legs, he starts talking quicker. His voice takes on a desperate, pleading tone. "Oh God please. Don't. Please. I'll stick up for Steve from now on. Please don't kill me."

Gusler leans him backwards over the edge. Bosco is hanging precariously over the top of the large silo, while Gusler holds tightly to his shirt with both hands. Then he says softly. "Now don't you feel humiliated having said all that..." Bosco looks at him confused. "...for nothing?"

Bosco looks into Gusler's eyes and they are cold and merciless. Then he lets go of Bosco's shirt.

There is a look of terror in Bosco's eyes for the split second before he falls over backwards into the container, and it makes Gusler smile.

Bosco yells out as he tumbles through the dark. There is the sound of a slam against the side, and then the heavy thud of Bosco hitting the bottom. Then silence. Stan shines the light down inside, showing Bosco laying on his left side, arms still bound behind his back, one leg out stretched, the other bent. He is not moving or making any sounds.

Stan can't tell if he is breathing or not, but it doesn't matter. No one will ever find him here. If he isn't dead, he will be soon enough. All he needs to do now, is dump the Mustang in the river, and presto...Bosco disappears for good.

*****