Chapter 2

I woke up in the early morning, with the sun streaming through the blinds, and directly into my eyes....it was 8:00 in the morning, and I looked around as I suddenly remembered I was not at home. I had stayed at Bosco's last night to be there in case he needed me.

Bosco was still asleep beside me. One arm thrown over me. He looked so peaceful there, that I didn't want to wake him.

I wriggled free of him, and made my way into the bathroom. When I came out again, Bosco was awake, sitting up looking out the window. He turned to face me when I came back into the room, and smiled.

"You stayed all night?" he asked.

"I couldn't leave you alone Boz, not at a time like this." I said.

"Thanks Faith, you really are the best." He said.

"Don't mention it." I replied.

Bosco leaned over and picked up a picture of him and Mikey that had been taken when they were kids.... He stared at it for the longest time, and I wondered what was going to happen next.

My heart broke as I noticed a single tear rolling down his cheek. He was thinking of the old times, the times he and Mikey had shared as kids, and it was making him think that their life together was over, because it was....Bosco sobbed a small sob, and I rushed over to comfort him.

"Boz...there was nothing you could have done." I said "You tried to help him, you called the paramedics, and you rode with him in the ambulance...there was just nothing else you could have done." I tried to reassure him.

"Oh Faith!" he sobbed, burying his face in my shoulder.

"So, I guess you had better call your mom, right?" I asked.

"Yea, I will a little later on." He replied. "That's going to suck."

"Ma? It's Mo." He said. "I got some news for you.... you better sit down.... Ma its Mikey, he was shot last night, and well, the doctors did everything they could to save him, but it was too late, and he died."

My heart broke into a thousand pieces as I sat there and listened to Bosco give his mom the devastating news. He told her that he had already made some of the arrangements for Mikey's funeral. He told her that she could come and help him with the rest if she wanted, or he would do it, and she could see him at the funeral.

After he got off the phone, he told me that she had been pretty upset and taken it rather hard.... I guess so; it's her own son. He also told me that she would be helping him to make the arrangements for Mikey's burial.

Later on, when I left, Bosco seemed to be in good spirits, I made him promise to call if he needed anything, and then I left to go home and check on my kids.

When I arrived home, I shouted out for Christina.

"I told her to go home." Said Fred's voice from somewhere in the dark.

I jumped, SHIT! He'd scared me almost to death.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm here to take the kids." He said. When I stepped closer to him, I could smell Whiskey on his breath. There was no way he was driving anywhere with my kids if he was drunk.

"This weekend is my weekend." I said.

"No Faith, I'm here to take the kids, permanently...imagine my surprise when I came here this afternoon, and found them here with some woman, and where were you? you were with Bosco. I was so mad I wanted to puke." He said.

"Fred, Bosco had a rough night last night, his brother was shot and killed." I explained.

"And of course, you just drop everything and run to him, don't you Faith?" he accused.

"Yes Fred, Bosco is my partner, He's a very important part of my life, and well we have a bond...we know when something's not right with the other, we go to the other when something is happening, and we're close...." I said.... why was I trying to justify myself to him...he's the one who walked out on me for that little home wrecker."

"The judge awarded me custody Fred." I reminded him.

"Well, then I'll get in touch with my attorney, and have him start proceedings to have that overturned." He said.

"Good Luck." I mumbled, and walked away from him to check on the kids.

Emily was passed out in bed sleeping....Her little TV on her bedside table was on and I reached over and shut it off. I pulled the blankets up over her, and kissed her forehead. I then went over to check on Charlie. He was fast asleep, clutching his teddy bear against him. I kissed his cheek and then went back out into the living room.

"They're sleeping right now." I said, "I'm not gonna wake them."

"Then I will." Said Fred. "EM! CHARLIE! WAKE UP!"

"Shut up Fred....it's the middle of the night....they need their sleep for school tomorrow." I hissed.

"Mommy?" asked Charlie, standing there half asleep, rubbing his eyes.

"It's okay sweetie, go back to bed." I said, turning him back toward his room.

"Heya Champ!" said Fred.

"Dad?" asked Charlie.

"Yeah buddy, I'm here. Say you wanna come home with me tonight?" he asked.

"Fred Yokas! I'm giving you exactly to the count of ten to get out of here, and leave us alone, or I'm calling the cops." I said picturing the fun they would have with him.

"1....2....3....4....5....6...7...8...9...10....fine have it your way." I said.

I grabbed my cell phone from out of my purse, and hit 1 and then "Send"

"55 Precinct, this is dispatch, how can I help you?"

"Hi there, this is Faith Yokas...can you send an officer over to my apartment?" I asked.

"What seems to be the problem?" asked Dispatch.

"My ex-husband is here. I came home and found him here in the middle of the night. He's trying to take my children away from me, and I have full custody." I said.

Just then, Fred reached over and grabbed my phone out of my hand. He told dispatch that it wouldn't be necessary, and he then proceeded to throw my phone on the floor and smash it to bits by stomping on it with his boots.

That was it! I was furious.

Just then the house phone rang, and Fred picked it up.

"Yokas residence." He answered..."Hello...hello? Speak! Your dime."

Fred hung up the phone and turned to me.

"You know Faith, as long as the kids are with you, I'm not happy." Said Fred.

"And why's that?" I asked.

"Because I don't want them around Bosco....He was the one who was responsible for when you got shot Faith." He replied. He had some nerve.

Just then there was a knock at the door.

"Faith!Faith! It's me Bosco!"

"Great, the last person I wanted to see right now." Said Fred.

"Faith, come on sweetie, open up!" said Bosco.

"Get lost Boscorelli!" roared Fred "This doesn't concern you!"