Chapter 1:
Summary: My take on why Bosco and Sully don't get along. Takes place shortly after Bosco graduates from the Police Academy
Disclaimer: I don't own Third Watch or any of its characters.
A/N: This story previously posted on another Third Watch site but I was encouraged to post it here as well by Joey and Orison. Enjoy.
TW~TW~TW
"The little bastard is driving me crazy," Sully says with disgust.
His fellow officer, George Grady looks back at him with a bemused look. It's a late autumn day and they're both wearing their jackets, taking advantage of the piping hot coffee to warm their hands as they lean against a park bench.
"Sul, he's not bad, just..."
"Just what?" Sully eyes Grady suspiciously.
"Just a pain in the ass," Grady smirks. "Give him a break," he huffs smugly. "He's fresh out of the Academy and anyway, you've got what, three more months to mold him?"
"If I don't kill him before then."
A sudden screech of tires is heard as an RMP rounds the corner quickly.
Sully sighs with exasperation then looks back at Grady. "How the hell am I supposed to mold that?"
The RMP comes to a shrieking halt. A young, fresh faced officer leans down and looks out towards the two waiting slowly saunters over to the RMP, taps his fingers lazily on the passenger side window, and wait for it to lower before leaning down.
"Boscorelli, you're not supposed to be speeding. That's exactly why I don't let you drive," he says loud enough for Grady to hear.
"But Sul, I thought you said it was an emergency," the young officer replies with false sincerity, fishing for something inside a paper bag then handing his partner a danish.
Sully gives him an angry look, snatching the pastry out of his hand. Grady begins to laugh and Sully quickly turns to glare at him too. The anger in Sully's eyes is enough to convince Grady to take his leave.
"I'd love to stay and chat with you fellows, but my partner is waiting for me." He nods his goodbyes to Sully and Bosco then walks in the opposite direction.
Sully turns to see the self-satisfied smirk on Bosco's face."Get out. I'm driving," he growls.
"But Sul, you never let me drive. You won't let me do anything, except the damn paperwork." Bosco's voice has a whiny edge to it, like a child wanting his toy.
"Get out!" Sully yells.
"Fat ass," Bosco mutters lowly.
Sully crosses his arms and taps his fingers over his stripes. "What did you say?"
"I said fat chance I'll ever drive this damn car," Bosco snarls back as he slams the driver side door.
"You need a real attitude adjustment, my friend and you better not forget who's gonna submit a report at the end of your six month probation." Sully makes sure to emphasize the word probation as Bosco walks by him to the passenger side of the vehicle.
Bosco in turn makes a face and mouths the word probation when Sully is behind him. A small boy sees the exchange and giggles. Bosco sticks out his tongue, puts his thumbs in his ears and wiggles his fingers at the boy.
Sully frowns as he watches this exchange. "For God's sake Bosco, just try acting your age for once." He gets into the RMP awkwardly as he tries to balance his danish on his coffee.
Bosco just smiles and winks at the kid who is being hauled around by his mother. "I know exactly how you feel kid," he says to no one in particular.
Sully places the coffee between the two front seats as Bosco flops into the vehicle. Both officers watch as the brown liquid swishes around the cup before it comes splashing out. This earns Bosco another annoyed stare from Sully.
"I swear Bosco, riding with you is like riding with a ten year-old. Can't you do anything without causing a ruckus?"
"Sorry Sully." Bosco puts his head down and digs through the glove compartment for napkins. A small smile makes its way onto his face when he's sure his partner isn't watching.
Suddenly, the radio comes to life. "Central to 55-Charlie, respond to 10-34 at 565 King St."
Bosco jumps on the mike. "Copy Central. 55-Charlie responding to 10-34 at 565 King St."
Sully puts the car in gear quickly and speeds towards the address given to them by Central.
TW~TW~TW
"I ain't talking to you, Humpty Dumpty," the taller of the two black men yells. He's obviously agitated as he paces in front of the two officers standing between him and the victim.
Bosco takes a step towards him placing his hand on his nightstick. "Hey jag-off, you better apologize to Officer Sullivan on that crack you just made."
The tall black man stops pacing and looks down at Bosco from about three feet away. "Or what?" he sneers.
Bosco starts to pull out his night stick and Sully moves between them. "Alright, everybody calm down.".
Bosco never takes his eyes off the perp. "Oh, I'm calm but I think my friend here needs to apologize to you."
"Like hell I will. First of all, I want to press charges against that son of a bitch right there," he says pointing to the victim. "He tried to steal my woman."
"Hey – hey, the only one who's gonna get charged is you, for assault. You can't go around hitting people," Sully explains. He turns and points to the victim. "Hey you. Get over here."
The victim eyes Sully suspiciously but takes a couple of steps in his direction.
"Do you want to press charges?"
The victim shrugs his shoulders and looks down. In a barely audible voice he responds no.
"Okay, then get the hell out of here." Sully watches as he walks away quickly and then turns his attention back to the tall one.
"You, I don't want to have to come back for you again. Stay away from him and behave. 'Cause the next time I'm gonna throw you in jail myself."
"You gonna let this jag-off get away with a warning?" Bosco questions.
"Well what do you want me to do, Maurice?" Sully quips back.
"Maurice? Hah, what kind of a stupid name is that?"
Bosco blushes, staring back at Sully.
The perp continues in on both of them. "I've got Laurel and Hardy here trying to figure out what to do. Don't they have any real cops working in New York?" He doubles over laughing.
Bosco pulls his nightstick out and takes a step forward. Sully moves quickly to intercept him before he can take a swing.
"Hey, get the hell out of here," Sully shouts. The perp takes his cue and jogs away from the two officers still laughing loudly.
Bosco paces nervously in front of Sully, the muscles in his jaw quivering and his hands clenching and unclenching.
Sully crosses his arms, watching for a few seconds before speaking up. "Boscorelli, you can't go around popping people because they insult you. You're gonna end up with a charge of police brutality on your file."
Bosco stops and turns towards Sully angrily. "You didn't have to do that, Sully." He continues to pace. "He was laughing at us. We looked like a couple of idiots who couldn't get our act together."
"No, you looked like an idiot trying to get him to apologize to me. That's not what we're out here to do. We're here to solve problems."
"Well, we can't solve any problems if they're all laughing at us, Sully. We need to show them whose boss. They have to know they can't get away with that crap with us." He shakes his head and looks away.
"Listen to me kid. You are not in Rangers here. You are a New York City policeman. Your job is to serve and protect." Sully points to the motto stamped on the RMP. "This is not a war zone and you can't treat everyone like the enemy."
"This is a war zone Sully. Can't you see that? That jag-off wouldn't hesitate to pop either one of us if he had the chance."
Sully puts his hand up. "Boscorelli, not everyone is out to get us. Get over your paranoia." He turns and walks back to the RMP.
Bosco stands there for a few seconds before kicking a can viciously. "Son of a bitch," he mutters then breathes deeply before making his way to the RMP.
TW~TW~TW
The locker room is nearly empty when Bosco storms in and moves to his locker. Faith watches him as he turns the combination lock, opening the locker viciously causing it to bang onto the opposing grill. Hearing the loud metallic noise only incites him to take his anger out on the locker. He slams the door shut several times before kicking it once for good measure.
Faith walks towards him and leans on the adjoining lockers. "Rough day?"
Bosco notices her for the first time since entering the room. His embarrassment is evident as he stares into his locker, ripping his clothes off the hooks and throwing them onto the bench.
"Okay, you don't have to talk to me about it." Faith tilts her head to get a better view of his face but otherwise doesn't move.
"Not now, Faith. I'm not in the mood." He undoes the buttons on his shirt roughly then yanks hard on his belt buckle to get it open, all the while refusing to look at her.
Voices are heard approaching the locker. There is raucous laughter and barely audible words.
Bosco lowers his head and closes his eyes. "Son of a bitch," he yells out.
He grabs his locker and slams it again. Faith watches as the door swings back and forth a few times. Bosco gets up , goes to the washroom and Faith hears the unmistakable sound of the bathroom stall slamming.
Sully, Grady and a couple of the other senior officers walk into the locker room, ignoring her.
"...And then he says, 'what kind of a stupid name is Maurice?' The look on Boscorelli's face was priceless. I wanted to laugh so badly." They all roar with laughter.
Faith looks towards the washroom but knows he won't be coming out any time soon. She moves back to her locker and finishes changing all the while listening to Sully recounting the events of their evening.
Once everyone has left she makes her way back to the washroom but before she can even speak out, Bosco yells out. "Leave me alone, Faith."
She waits a few seconds, unsure of what to do next. When there is no sign of life within the stall she decides to leave well enough alone. She's seen him upset like this before. He has quite the temper and she knows he just needs time alone.
She turns to leave but not before calling out, "Goodnight Boz."
She doesn't expect a response and doesn't get one.
TBC...