Chapter 8
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.
I've taken the liberty of editing this story, as it was written on the fly when it was originally posted. Some of the chapters will be merged or changed slightly in the hope of enhancing the story.
Thanks for your wonderful reviews.
TW~TW~TW
He's floating, drifting out of nothingness, awakening slowly from this darkness that envelopes him. The first thing he's aware of is the low, distant voices that surround him. Their words are lost before they reach his ears but he can still make out the concern behind them. He thinks he should be afraid but he doesn't know why.
He can't see a thing and he can't tell if it's because there's something wrong with his eyes or because they're not open. He doesn't like this place. He wants to go back to where he was if only he could remember...
Fear and confusion cause his heart to beat faster. He feels it pounding painfully as he tries to come out of this other world and back to reality but he's no longer connected to his body. His muscles feel like Jell-O and he's unable to make them move.
He strains to listen to the voices; they are his only connection to the other world.
They are getting louder, angrier. He fights to open his eyes, but all he sees is fog.
A piercing scream jolts him back to reality. Oh God, what's happening? He hears them arguing, yelling, threatening each other. He has to stop it. He won't let it happen again.
He feels the area around him vibrating in rhythm with a thumping noise. For the first time, he realizes he's lying on the floor. He feels footsteps all around and he can make out male voices arguing. He realizes that he's not at home. But who are these people? Where is he? Who the hell is crying incessantly?
He's completely disoriented.
He finally makes some headway with seeing. Colours and shapes spin in and out of his narrow line of vision forcing him to swallow down the bile in his mouth. He squeezes his eyes shut to try and stop the sensation of riding ocean waves.
He hears his name being called and he wants to tell them it's too hot, and that he needs them to stop screaming. He wants them to understand that he doesn't feel right. But he can't speak, or motion to them and all he wants is for someone to help him.
TW~TW~TW
"Stay," Sully yells as he clicks the handcuffs on the husband then pushes him down into a sitting position on the floor. "55-Charlie, Officer down, need a bus and back-up at our location," Sully huffs worriedly into his mike.
The husband continues to berate his wife as Sully makes the call. He turns to eye the husband and ensure he doesn't try to take advantage of the situation again. "Shut-up," he yells out at him. When he's satisfied that he won't move from his position he turns towards the woman.
"Take care of that baby for God's sake," he barks out at her as she stares dumbly at Bosco. She obeys Sully's command, taking the baby out of his crib to try to quiet him. Sully takes a sideways glance at the husband before kneeling next to Bosco.
"Bosco?" Sully doesn't get a reaction so instinctively checks for a pulse although there is no need because he can see Bosco breathing rapidly.
Bosco's pulse is rapid and his face is ghostly in pallor.
"Shit," he mumbles. Sully looks back at the husband who has started to chatter threateningly with his wife. "Shut-up. Everybody just shut the hell up," he bellows in frustration.
For a brief moment, the room falls silent, even the baby stops crying.
Finally, Sully feels like he can think again instead of just reacting to everything that's happening. He starts to loosen Bosco's collar, and unfastens the gun belt. Bosco is still on his side; the same position Sully put him in when he broke his fall.
Sully puts his hand on Bosco's shoulder. "Bosco, can you hear me?" he waits for a sign, some movement that will confirm whether Bosco can at least hear him. A few moments, later, Bosco's breathing starts slow down and even out.
"Take it easy Bosco. Help is on the way. Just hold on." Sully murmurs gently.
Sully grabs his mike. "Central, this is 55 Charlie. Advise ETA for the bus."
"55 Charlie, ETA for the bus is 2 minutes."
Sully clips his mike again. "Hear that Bosco, they'll be hear any minute."
TW~TW~TW
Sully. Yes, it's definitely Sully who somehow manages to make everything quiet again. Thank God for small mercies. Bosco only wishes he could tell him how much he appreciates him stopping that terrible noise.
Sully keeps calling him, talking to him, and although he sounds like he's underwater, Bosco can still hear the worry in his voice.
He wants to open his eyes, or at least attempt it to appease his worry. But he feels like the floor beneath him is rolling, moving. He wishes he would just hit the ground to make it stop. He feels himself twirling in two different directions at once causing his stomach to turn itself inside out. God, he hates this feeling as he clamps his mouth shut in an effort to prevent the contents of his stomach from making a grand exit.
He wonders if Sully's still here, wonder if he needs him. What the hell is he thinking? Of course, he needs him. He needs all the help he can get right now. He strains to listen, to call to him, to let Sully know he's still here.
He senses something solid resting on his shoulder and thinks Sully's holding him down. Yeah, it's definitely Sully and it feels like his only point of reference, anchoring him against the sensation of being at sea.
Suddenly, things don't feel so out of control. He tries to slow down his breathing as he chances a small peek at the world, cautiously slitting his eyes open. Although he can't tell what he's looking at, at least the world isn't spinning diabolically.
TW~TW~TW
The radio comes to life again. "55 Edward on the scene for back-up."
Sully breathes a sigh of relief and grabs his mike. "55 Edward, okay to proceed to scene."
"Copy."
Sully feels better. He smiles weakly at Bosco. "Back-up is here." He suddenly remembers the call and turns quickly to check on the husband. He's still sitting quietly on the floor on the other side of the room.
The door swings open and Grady and Dubois walk in quickly.
"What happened here?" Grady asks as he sees Bosco down on the floor.
"He just passed out all of a sudden." Sully says as he looks at back at Grady. "I need you guys to take care of the call. It's a domestic." He motions with his chin towards to husband.
Dubois is already standing over the man. "I'll take him down," he says as he hauls him up to his feet.
"I didn't do anything, man. That bitch is the problem. She's just acting like a victim, but let me tell you, she ain't innocent in all of this. What about what she did to me?"
"Get him out of here, Rich." Grady says to his partner then moves over to the woman. "Ma'am, are you okay?"
She nods her head imperceptibly as she watches Sully. She holds her baby closer and looks up at Grady with imploring eyes.
Grady tries to reassure her. "You don't have to worry he's gone now." Grady casts his eyes towards the baby who seems unhurt although he's quite frightened.
"His name is Brian." She says in a quivering voice.
"Alright, you sit here with Brian and I'm gonna help the other officer. Okay?"
She nods her head again. "He told me to stop...you know, he was trying to tell me...to stop..." she says guiltily, not daring to look at Grady.
"Okay, just sit here for me." Grady turns back to Sully and sees the worry etched in his features. "How far out is the bus?"
"Any minute now," Sully says unconvincingly.
Bosco tries to roll over on his back.
"Whoa, there Bosco. Just stay down. The paramedics will check you out in a few minutes."
Bosco makes an attempt at speaking but only manages a weak, "nah." He tries to steady his breathing enough to try again. "S'kay."
Sully doesn't bother to try and convince him that he's not okay. He knows he's got the upper hand and Bosco isn't going anywhere before the bus arrives.
"I know Bosco. Just relax." Sully says encouragingly as the siren from the bus becomes audible outside their window.
TW~TW~TW
"Doc, how is he?" Sully approaches the doctor quickly as he exits the examining room.
"Well, we'll have to run some tests but he seems to be getting back to normal slowly. He has some injuries that seem to be a few days old. Are you aware of these?" The doctor looks at Sully questioningly.
Sully nods and looks away from the doctor's prying eyes.
"Well, he has a concussion that as far as I can tell, went undiagnosed and untreated. That could have caused the symptoms he experienced today. But, I'll know more when I run some tests."
"Can I see him?" Sully averts his eyes again from the doctor.
"Just for a few minutes."
Sully turns quickly and makes his way into the room. Bosco is still positioned on the backboard, the cervical collar still on and the O2 mask situated on his face. Half his clothes are strewn over the floor. Automatically Sully's eyes make their way down to the large bruising on Bosco's side.
Bosco blinks his eyes open and catches Sully looking at the thing he wants most to hide. He moves his hand to try and cover the area as much as possible.
Sully watches him struggle to accomplish this task. "It's a little cold in here," he says as he meets Bosco's eyes. He grabs the edge of the sheet beneath Bosco, pulling it up to cover him as best he can before looking away.
Sully looks towards the next bed when he hears a prolonged hacking cough by one of the other patients. He turns back to find Bosco cringing at the sound of the wet, guttural cough. "I'll stay with you, okay?" Sully asks cautiously.
Bosco looks up gratefully. "Sure," he whispers and closes his eyes to rest.
TBC...