Chapter 2
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
Faith watches as Bosco runs into the locker room a few minutes before roll call. She's already dressed as are most of the other officers. Sully adjusts his jacket and brushes past her.
"Hey Boscorelli, you better not be late today or we'll have to review the code book instead of patrolling." Sully laughs then walks out of the room.
Faith approaches thinking she sees the smirk on Bosco's face as he races to get his uniform on.
"Bosco, I saw you outside half an hour ago. I know you didn't just get here, so what are you plotting." Her eyes light up mischievously.
He smiles back, replying with mock hurt in his voice. "Why Faith, I don't know what you're talking about." He winks as he pulls on his shirt.
Faith glances at the clock on the wall. "You better move it. You have less than a minute."
Bosco grabs his gun belt and shuts his locker. "Let's go."
Roll call ends and Bosco rushes to get his jacket and retrieve the radios. Not wanting to miss the fun, he races towards his vehicle, running right into Sully as he turns the corner. Bosco bounces off his partner, dropping the radios with a loud clattering sound while everyone stops to watch. Bosco looks down and then back up at Sully sheepishly.
Sully rams his fists into his pockets, rolls his eyes and sighs loudly. "I swear, a ten-year old is better than this any day."
"Sorry, Sul. I didn't see you and I didn't want us to be late getting out on the street." Bosco bends to retrieve the radios.
"Just get in the damn car, Boscorelli." Sully rubs his temple. "How come I always feel a headache coming on when I gotta work with you?" Sully asks rhetorically, opening his door. He slides into the driver side seat and is instantly crushed against the steering wheel as the seat is too far forward.
Bosco gets in on his side. "Whoa, that's a little tight there isn't it Sul?"
"Who the hell used the RMP last, a midget?" Sully barks out.
He reaches down, reaching for the lever to move the seat back. His head is turned and his chin is resting against the steering wheel and he starts to grunt at the effort.
Bosco watches, trying to keep himself from laughing out loud. He glances out the window so Sully won't see him just as Faith walks by. She stares at a red faced Sully. Bosco winks at her as she stifles a laugh.
Sully is huffing as he tries to extricate himself from the seat. "I'm gonna...kill the idiot...that moved the seat up..." Sully stops suddenly, turning menacingly towards Bosco.
"What?" Bosco yells out defensively. "Why is it always my fault?"
"Because – it is. Now get down there and move the seat back." Sully wiggles around to get the steering wheel off his abdomen.
"Why do I have to do all the dirty work?" whines Bosco.
"Bosco – now!" Sully's patience is wearing thin.
Bosco scoots down, reaches down under the seat with his left hand until he feels the lever. He grabs on to it and chuckles to himself before giving it a tug.
"Well, move it," Sully pants out. His face is reddening as he tries to push himself away from the steering wheel.
"It's stuck, Sul." Bosco gives it another hard jerk but he's fixed it so it won't budge. He gets back into his seat and looks at Sully. "Yep, it's stuck. But, you know what? I'm pretty sure I'll be able to drive, no problem."
"YOU ARE NOT DRIVING," Sully yells then wriggles to remove himself from the tight spot he's in.
A couple of officers stop to watch the scene before them.
Bosco jumps out of the vehicle and in his most concerned voice says asks Sully, "Do you need me to call the firefighters?"
Sully turns and stares angrily at him as the officers begin to laugh.
"You know, they have the 'jaws of life.' They could help you get out. It'll only take them a couple of minutes."
A few more officers join the group, watching as Bosco runs over to Sully's side and grabs his arm. "Here, let me help." He braces his leg against the side of the car and heaves mightily in an effort to extricate Sully.
Sully accidentally presses on the horn and the accompanying beeping causes everyone to laugh out loud.
Bosco doesn't miss the opportunity to rub it in. "Sul, I warned you to lay-off the baker's dozen special at Dunkin' Donuts yesterday."
Sully yanks his arm away from Bosco's grasp and after a couple of attempts manages to ease himself out of the car painfully. He eyes Bosco angrily then turns to the other officers. "The show is over. Get to work."
The crowd disperses slowly, some still laughing others just smiling.
"And you." Sully turns slowly to face Bosco. "You are in serious trouble my friend."
"What? Why am I in trouble?"
"I'm writing you up on this one." Sully turns to walk towards the station.
"Go ahead, write me up. I'd love to see the report when you're done." Bosco rubs his chin pensively. "Let me see." He slowly raps his fingers on his chin. "I was trapped in the RMP because the seat wouldn't move back and let's face it I'm a little too big. My partner did everything in his power to get me out before I died of embarrassment."
Sully stops. He knows Bosco's right- it would be too embarrassing to explain. Bosco crosses him arms and leans against the RMP, waiting for Sully to turn around and make his way back. To his surprise, Sully continues on towards the house.
"Damn, the fat bastard does have balls," he murmurs to himself. Then realizes the implications of Sully's report and hangs his head. "I'm totally screwed."
TW~TW~TW
"Geez, it's only 9 o'clock," Bosco moans. "It feels like tonight is never gonna end."
Sully doesn't reply or look at him. They've barely spoken during the shift unless absolutely necessary. Bosco was expecting to be called into the office to explain what happened to 55-Charlie but Sully just came back out with the keys to 55-Frank.
Bosco looks at Sully, but he's still ignoring him.
Not being able to talk is driving Bosco crazy and he starts to play the bongo drums on his thighs while humming a tune.
Sully sighs deeply, closes his eyes, and rubs his temple. Then, without a word, he pulls over, parks the RMP, opens his door and heads out towards a coffee shop.
Bosco stares stupidly as Sully walks away then turns to the empty driver's seat. "Bosco, would you like a coffee?" he asks himself out loud. "Why that would be splendid, Officer Sullivan," he responds cordially.
Bosco pulls open his door and jogs after Sully. He stays a few steps behind not wanting to upset the older officer even more. Suddenly, a man comes running out of the coffee shop.
"Stop. Stop, you thief," Yells the shop owner, right behind.
"Hey you..." yells out Sully. "You- stop," he orders chasing after the perp.
Bosco gives chase, easily passing Sully, who knows he won't be able to keep up.
"I'll get the RMP and follow," he shouts then watches as Bosco runs after the perp. The older officer slows down, leans over to catch his breath before turning back towards the shop owner. "Good job, Manny. That was perfect, just perfect."
They both laugh as they walk back to the shop where Sully picks up a coffee before heading back to the RMP. He's not expecting to see his partner for a while so he gets comfortable with his coffee and prepares to enjoy the peace and quiet of being alone again.
TW~TW~TW
Bosco chases the perp across 7 city blocks. The whole time looking for any sign of Sully. He can't understand why his partner isn't here yet. He grabs his mike and huffs into the radio. "Sully...I'm on Lexington...just west of King..."
"Copy you Bosco, I'm on my way."
Bosco follows the perp into an alleyway and smiles when he realizes there's no way out. He slows to a jog and pulls his gun out. "Turn around... put your hands... against the wall," Bosco yells while trying to catch his breath.
"Man...they didn't tell me...you're a fast bugger," laughs the perp.
"Put your hands up against the wall, jag-off."
The perp instantly puts his hands up over his head. "Whoa, buddy...no need for that."
"Move it." Bosco waves his gun towards the wall. The perp moves over and leans his hands against the bricks as Bosco holsters his weapon.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" A couple of officers walk into the alley.
Bosco recognizes Officers Michaels and Giambetti."I've been chasing this jag-off since 102nd and Arthur," he explains. "Hey, have you seen Sully? He's supposed to be following me."
"Funny you should ask about Sully. He's the one that asked us to check up on you." Giambetti leers at Bosco.
"Hey kid." Michaels nods towards the perp, "here's your money, now get lost." He holds out some cash as the perp moves away from the wall and takes it greedily before running off.
"What are you guys doing?" Bosco asks incredulously.
"We just wanted to have a good laugh at your expense Boscorelli," Michaels snickers as he approaches Bosco. "He's no perp. Sully just set it up to look that way."
"Oh wait, let me take notes because that is soooo damn hilarious," Bosco replies sarcastically then tilts his head slightly and cups his ear. "Do you hear that?"
Michaels and Giambetti look at each other questioningly.
"I'm laughing so hard on the inside that I'm splitting my gut," Bosco snorts in disgust and walks towards the entrance of the alley.
"Oh, I see. You can dish it out, but you can't take it." Michaels steps in front of Bosco and Giambetti moves in from the side.
"No, I can take it. But I've been had by pre-schoolers who were more creative than you guys."
"This guy's a real smart ass, hey Giambi?" Michaels looks knowingly at Giambetti.
"Yeah, and you guys are a couple of morons." Bosco tries to push past them but Giambetti grabs him from behind. "What the..." Bosco never finishes because Michaels leans into him and knees him hard in the groin.
Bosco doubles over in pain as all the air is knocked out of his lungs and his hands instinctively move down.
Giambetti grabs Bosco's arms and pulls them behind his back. "Get the tape. Hurry," he orders.
Michaels grabs the roll of duct tape he has in the back of his belt and tears of a good sized strip and slaps it over Bosco's mouth. "There, that should keep that smart mouth of yours shut for a while."
Bosco's eyes are closed tightly as he fights the nausea and pain. Forced to breathe through his nose only, his breaths comes harshly.
"Pull his arms back further," barks Michaels.
Giambetti pulls Bosco elbows as close together as his body will allow. Bosco groans loudly as the pressure on his shoulders becomes unbearable. Michaels winds the tape around Bosco's elbows, keeping them forced together in an unnatural position.
Giambetti lets go of Bosco who drops to his knees. He leans his head down to the ground to try and ease the pressure off his shoulders and protect himself from another blow to the groin. Michaels grabs his hands roughly and tapes them together as well.
He looks over at Giambetti and motions with his head. "Get the car."
As Giambetti jogs away, Michaels pushes Bosco roughly on his back.
Bosco groans from the pain in his shoulders now that all his weight is on his arms. He tries to roll to the side but not before Michaels puts his foot on his chest to keep him on his back.
"I think we should spend some quality time together, Boscorelli. What do you think?" Michaels puts more of his weight on Bosco's chest.
Bosco twists his head and tries to roll away, his strangled words comprehensible only in their desperation.
"So, you're gonna give me trouble tonight, huh?" Michaels growls then rears back and kicks Bosco in the side just below the protection offered by his vest.
Bosco's knees come up reflexively and he curls into a ball as he desperately tries to draw oxygen into his lungs. Michaels eyes his handiwork for a second before yanking Bosco's radio from his belt.
The RMP is now beside him and Giambetti walks to the rear and opens up the trunk. Michaels grabs Bosco roughly by the arms and hauls him up ignoring Bosco's laboured efforts to breathe with the tape over his mouth.
"You're gonna ride with us tonight Boscorelli, 'cause your partner is sick of you," laughs Giambetti.
Michaels pushes Bosco towards the trunk but Bosco digs his feet into the ground to stop the forward movement.
"Ah, I see he's still got some fight left in him." Michaels continues to push Bosco from behind until he's right by the car trunk.
Giambetti grabs Bosco by the collar and tries to push his head down into trunk. Bosco braces himself against the car in an effort to stave off the inevitable.
Michaels takes this opportunity to retrieve his nightstick and swings it hard behind Bosco knee causing him to stumble and fall forward into the trunk. Giambetti grabs his legs and throws him in all the way. They both slam the trunk shut and high five each other before getting into the RMP and driving off.
TW~TW~TW
Sully puts down his paper and eyes his watch. It's almost 10:30. Grady must be doing a great job of keeping Bosco folds the paper neatly and throws it on to the passenger side seat. He turns the key in the ignition and drives eastward. A small smile makes its way onto his face and he starts to hum. He can't remember the last time he felt so relaxed.
Sully notices 55-Edward parked in front of the diner where they usually stop. He pulls over, checking inside the RMP before making his way into the diner where he spots Grady and his partner Dubois sitting at the counter.
Sully makes his way towards them and waves off the waitress who is about to pour a coffee for him. "I can't right now, Edna. Thanks."
Grady turns when he hears Sully's voice. He is mid-bite into his turkey sandwich but motions for Sully to sit.
Sully shakes his head and remains standing. "Hey, I was waiting for your call. I was on my way to the bridge." He looks around but doesn't see Bosco in the diner. "Where's Bosco?"
Grady chews his sandwich quickly and grabs his napkin to wipe his chin. "Sorry, Sul. We got stuck on a call so Michaels and Giambetti volunteered to keep him busy."
"What?" Sully tenses suddenly. He checks his watch again. "Michaels and Giambetti? Crap. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Sorry Sul, I didn't know it made a difference," Grady says apologetically.
"Yeah, well Bosco has a talent for getting under people's skin, and he got under Michaels skin in his first week. There's no telling what they'll do to him."
"Sul, don't you think you're over reacting here?"
"No." Sully works his way back towards the entrance then turns back to Grady. "If you hear anything, let me know ASAP."
Grady nods and waves him off as he takes another bite of his sandwich.
Sully jogs towards the RMP, quickly puts the car in gear and speeds off in search of
55-D.
TBC...