Chapter 5:
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 was previously posted on another Third Watch site but I was encouraged to post it here by Joey and Orison.
Thanks for your wonderful reviews.
TW~TW~TW
Sully glances up at the clock. It's 10 minutes to roll call and still no sign of Bosco. Maybe the kid decided to take another day off. He folds his clothes neatly, placing them on the shelf in his locker when he hears the female rookie, Faith, speak up.
What the hell happened to you?" she approaches Bosco, giving him the once over with her eyes.
Bosco moves stiffly towards his locker. Sully notices he's already dressed for work.
"I fell down some stairs in my apartment building. Damn bastards, didn't fix a broken step. I should think about suing them." He shakes his head slowly for effect.
"Are you okay to work?" Faith asks worriedly, checking the bruises under his eyes.
"Yeah, doctor said I was fine." Bosco opens his locker.
"Well, I can't believe this," she blurts our seriously.
Bosco turns to her with a worried look on his face.
Sully sees the look on Bosco's face and he hollers out, "What's not to believe? He's the clumsiest cop I've ever worked with. I'm surprised he hasn't fallen out of the RMP yet."
Bosco turns to look at Sully, not sure whether he should be angry at his comments or thankful for his attempt to bail him out. But Faith doesn't think Sully's comments are unusual and Bosco is grateful for that.
"No, I meant, I can't believe Bosco's dressed and ready for roll call and," she glances at their watch, "he's got 8 minutes to spare." She smiles playfully at Bosco.
Bosco feels a sense of relief wash over him. "Yeah, well don't get use to it. The only reason I'm in early is 'cause I got a ride today." Bosco drops off a few items in his locker before closing it. He looks around the room discreetly, letting out a breath when he doesn't see Michaels or Giambetti around.
He notices Sully watching him but avoids his gaze before turning and walking out of the room.
Bosco makes his way to the roll call room early, giving himself time to ease into a chair without the peanut galley watching and especially Lieutenant Swersky. The rest of the officers file in within the next few minutes and most of them have a comment for Bosco.
"Hey, look what the cat dragged in...Boscorelli, what did she look like... I hope you got the license of that truck..."
Sully enters and sits close to Bosco.
Bosco ignores the taunts and waits for the briefing to begin. The door swings open and Michaels and Giambetti walk in. They both search out Bosco with their eyes and snicker at him. Bosco looks down and stares at the back of his hands. Sully gives both of them a murderous glare and they quietly make their way to the back of the room.
Lieutenant Swersky enters, placing his notes on the desk at the front of the room. He looks around at his men, his eyes stopping on Boscorelli. He pauses then begins his briefing to the team. A few minutes later he dismisses the group but not before barking out. "Boscorelli, I need to speak to you."
Bosco stays behind but doesn't get up from the chair in fact he slouches a little further down fearing that he'll have to spend the day on the desk. Sully decides to hang back as well.
Swersky is still jotting down some notes. "Do you have something to tell me?" He asks without raising his eyes from the paperwork in front of him.
Bosco swallows hard. "No."
"Are you sure?" He lifts his eyes and stares at Bosco.
Bosco just nods his head.
"What happened?"
"I fell," he replies as confidently as he can.
"Are you sure?" Swersky leans his elbow on the desk and intertwines his fingers together. He reminds Bosco of a school principal.
"Pretty sure. I think I should know since I was there," replies Bosco with a hint of irritation.
"Were you there too, Sullivan?"
Sully looks a little surprised but manages to get himself together quickly. "Yeah, it was just a stupid accident," he replies.
"Are you good to go?" Swersky turns his eyes back to Bosco.
"No problem, Lieutenant." Bosco sits up a little straighter in his chair.
"I need the clearance form from the doctor."
"Lieu, there was so much confusion over at the clinic that night that they forgot to give us one," Sully replies quickly.
Swersky eyes the both of them suspiciously but neither of them flinches. "Alright," he says before leaving.
"I'll get the radios." Sully volunteers then exits the room.
Bosco makes his way to the RMP as Sully catches up.
"Feel up to driving?" Sully asks as he tosses the keys over to Bosco.
Bosco isn't prepared and he doesn't react as the keys sail by. They land a few feet away and he eyes them for a second before slowly leaning over to pick them up. He turns them over in his hand before tossing them back to Sully. "No," he replies tersely.
TW~TW~TW
Sully sits alone at the counter of his favourite diner with his supper before him. He is deep in thought as Grady approaches and taps him on the shoulder.
"Hey, Sul. I saw your partner sitting by his lonesome in the RMP."
Sully looks at his plate pensively. "Yeah, he doesn't want to sit with me."
"He looks like he ran into a brick wall," Grady says. He sits and motions to the waitress that he'd like some coffee. "That have anything to do with Michaels and Giambetti?" he asks awkwardly.
"He says he fell down some stairs."
"And you believe him?" Grady says with a note of surprise in his voice.
"Yeah, maybe I believe he was pushed down those stairs." Sully looks at Grady angrily. "He won't tell me what happened. He won't even speak to me," he mutters as he pushes the plate away.
"Sul, I'm sorry. I knew those bozos were always involved in breaking in the rookies but it's never gone that far."
Sully doesn't acknowledge Grady's comments just sits and stares straight ahead with a faraway look in his eyes.
"What is it?" Grady asks worriedly.
"Maybe, I need to start thinking about someone other than myself. Maybe I need to start thinking about getting a partner and stop riding solo. It's been three years now...since Davis." Sully concentrates on wiping his hands clean.
Grady nods knowingly then looks down at his coffee. It's the first time since Davis' death that Sully has spoken about him, or about getting another partner.
"I've been so afraid, you know ..." Sully says softly, tossing his napkin into the plate. He stops and gets up slowly. "I think it's time for me to move on and start acting like a partner again," he says quietly, leaving some money on the counter.
Grady smiles to himself as Sully leaves.
TW~TW~TW
Sully gets into the RMP and is greeted by a wall of silence. Bosco is blowing on the passenger window and drawing figures on the misty haze created by his breath.
"Here, I got you some water." Sully holds out a bottle for him. "I noticed you were pretty thirsty today so I figured that this was better than coffee."
Bosco runs his sleeve over the window erasing his latest drawing.
Sully waits but doesn't get any acknowledgement from Bosco. He places the bottle between the seats. "Can we talk?"
Bosco blows more air on the window. "No," he responds coldly.
Sully thinks for a moment. "Okay, then I'll talk."
Bosco doesn't look at Sully but makes a face to show his disapproval and annoyance.
"I know I've been a jerk and I wanted you to know that it has nothing to do with you," Sully says hesitatingly.
"I don't want to talk about this," Bosco cries out angrily.
"I'm trying to apologize and explain," Sully says uncomfortably.
Bosco lets out a breath as he shakes his head in disbelief, turning to stare out the passenger window. "Save it, Sully, I've heard it all before."
"Why won't you let me apologize?" Sully barks out in frustration.
Bosco turns back to Sully. "You think you're any different than all the others, huh?"
The hurt and anger in Bosco's eyes is clear and Sully decides to keep his mouth shut and let Bosco talk.
"Let me guess. You're real sorry about what happened and you never meant for it to go that far. But you know what? You couldn't stand riding with me and you sure as hell couldn't wait to get rid of me." Bosco's voice rises as he works himself up. "And the best part is that now, you're gonna explain it all away by saying it wasn't about me. And after you explain it, you're gonna drop the big one on me about how we can't be partners anymore, but you'll tell me it's okay because it has nothing to do with me." Bosco lowers his eyes and turns away from Sully. "It never does..." he says so softly that Sully isn't sure if he heard it or imagined it.
"Well, you know what? That's not what I was about to say, I'm not looking to change partners," Sully says seriously.
"Yeah, whatever," Bosco says under his breath.
"Hey, we both acted like a couple of jerks and I..."
"Is that supposed to make you feel better?" Bosco asks bitterly. "Is that how you rationalize it in your mind? Bosco's a jerk, so it's okay to dump him?"
"That's not what I meant." Sully says in frustration. "And why do you do that huh?"
"Do what?" Bosco yells out defensively.
"Why do act like a jerk and push people away?" Sully looks at him angrily.
Bosco purses his lips and folds his arms over his chest. "Oh, you think you're so damn smart? You think you know me?" Bosco glares at Sully. "Well, you don't know me. You don't know anything about me. You think I try to push people away? Well, from where I sit, must be the same damn reason you do," he yells at him.
Sully stares at him for a second before glancing up at the rear view mirror. He sees the same vulnerability in his own reflection that he sees in Bosco right now. He realizes they are two kindred spirits burned by what life has thrown at them, neither of them capable of getting out of their ruts by themselves. He turns the key in the ignition and looks over at Bosco who refuses to look back at him.
"Because everyone leaves," he says softly then watches as Bosco closes his eyes and turns away.
Bosco swallows down the lump in his throat. "Because everyone leaves," he repeats and turns to glare at Sully, "and I'd rather it was sooner than later. There, satisfied?" He asks furiously.
Sully looks down. Yes, two kindred spirits he thinks to himself as he drives off.
TBC...