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 no longer available there. I was encouraged to post it here by Joey and Orison.
Thanks for your wonderful reviews.
I see my hand shaking as I bring the cigarette towards my mouth. I'd like to think it's due to the cold but I know better. I take a puff as I watch Stevie walk away and back towards the train station.
As he disappears from view, I hope that I'll never see him again. I know this sounds terribly selfish especially after everything he's done for me.
I met Stevie on my first day in the Rangers. We went through boot camp together and became inseparable. He was my only true friend in the unit. I don't think I would have lasted that long without him there.
We served during several tours together but nothing could have prepared us for Somalia. Nothing.
He was the only one who sat with me for five days while I was in that field hospital. He was the only one who got through to me while I lay in that bed unable to remember, unable to speak. He was the only one who spoke to my mom and reassured her I would be okay.
And now, he's the last link I have to that godforsaken place. He's the one person who threatens to make the memories resurface even though he wasn't with me that day. No one was. No one knows what really happened.
Ma means well but she doesn't understand. She doesn't understand why I don't want help, why I don't want to remember.
Whatever happened back there is lost to my brain but not to my soul. The wound is so wide and so deep that it threatens to tear me apart. No one has any understanding of the depth of the darkness and the untold evil that I know will suffocate me if I'm forced to go back and remember.
I look up from my trance when I notice 55 Charlie pulling up. "What the f-ck," I mutter out loud. I feel like I'm on 24-hour watch between the doctors, the nurses, my mom, Mikey, Stevie and now this.
I get up and walk away quickly, hoping somehow I could just disappear into thin air, but no such luck. I hear Sully chasing after me.
"Hey, Bosco. Hold up a minute." He jogs up beside me but I don't bother slowing down because we are not gonna have this conversation.
"Hey, hold up. Faith and I wanted to say hello and see how you were doing," he pants.
Fatso's got my attention now. I stop suddenly and turn to look for Faith. She's sitting in the RMP. She gives me a small wave and I nod back at her.
I turn back to glower at Sully. "What?" I snap. Damn right I'm taking this out on him because he's definitely the last straw for me today.
"Hey, what crawled up your ass and died?" He scowls at me angrily.
"The whole f-ckin' world," I yell back.
I feel like the entire street's gone silent and is staring at us. Pedestrians walking by give me a dirty look and I realize I'm in my civvies mouthing off to a police officer in uniform. I wouldn't blame Sully if he just threw me against a car and cuffed me for showing him up in front of everyone. I feel like an ass but I can't apologize because I'm wound too f-ckin' tight right now. I puff angrily at my cigarette as I try to melt into the puddle underneath my feet.
Sully stares back at me and then his eyes widen as he remarks, "Hell, I'd be upset too if the whole f-ckin' world crawled up my ass and died."
That line just kinda dissolves some of my anger. "What the f-ck do you want?" I half laugh at him because I find it impossible to keep a straight face.
"I don't f-ckin' want anything from a skinny, little runt like you." Sully shoots back jokingly.
I take one last, long drag and then toss the cigarette aside. An awkward silence replaces the banter between us.
Sully shifts nervously but to his credit doesn't dare ask me how I'm doing.
"You want a ride," he says as he watches me shaking from being out in the cold for the last half hour. "Faith's waiting in the RMP," he adds, knowing full well she's the bait that's gonna get me in there.
"Yeah, sure," I say as I feel my teeth chatter lightly.
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Mikey picks up he phone on the second ring. "Hello," he says expectantly. He turns to Rose and nods his head yes as he covers the receiver and mouths 'Steve'. "How did it go?"
Rose stands and approaches her youngest son. She crosses her arms across her chest and watches his every expression.
His eyes dart back and forth from her face to some other point in the room as he listens carefully. "Does he remember?"
Rose tenses at these words. She doesn't know whether to pray that Bosco recalls whatever he's suppressed or not.
"Yeah, I understand." Mikey says softly and shakes his head slowly.
Rose sighs and turns away. She knows that Steve couldn't get through to him. She sits back on the couch dejectedly.
Mikey follows her with his eyes. "Okay. Thanks Steve. We'll keep in touch. Yeah, I know. Bye." He sets the receiver back in the cradle before walking up to his mother.
"Ma, he says Mo's not ready yet...he didn't want to push him too hard today." He sits next to her and puts his hand over hers. "Ma, please...don't be like that. I'll do whatever it takes. Okay?"
Rose turns and looks at him lovingly. She pats his hand appreciatively. "I know you will. You're such a good boy. You both are."
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We arrive in front of Ma's and Sully parks the RMP. He stares at me in the rear view mirror as I try to get my courage up to face Ma and Mikey.
He raises his eyebrows questioningly at me as he reads my expression. "You wanna us to take you home. You look kinda tired."
My silence causes Faith to turn around. She eyes me suspiciously but doesn't question me any further.
"Ma's expectin' me... I better get going." I explain.
Faith gets out of the RMP and then pulls open my door to let me out.
"Thanks, Sul." I mutter before exiting the vehicle. He reminds me of Ma when he gives me one of his looks.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Faith asks as she stands beside me.
"Yeah, sure."
I turn and jog up the stairs although I'm in no hurry to get up there. I just want to get this whole thing over with.
I knock lightly on the door. Mikey answers and looks relieved at seeing me here, as if he wasn't expecting me to on in..." he gestures for me to enter. "Ma, Mo's back," he shouts over his shoulder, towards the kitchen.
All I hear is the water running, but she doesn't respond.
"She probably didn't hear..." Mikey tries to cover for her.
I just stand there, not sure if I should be here or not. I don't remove my jacket and I suddenly feel the urge to leave. I don't want to do this now. I turn back towards the door.
"Mo...where you going?"
I don't bother answering. No one wants to hear what I really want to say, they just wait for me to tell them what they wanna hear. But, it ain't gonna happen.
Mikey quickly steps between the door and me, effectively blocking my escape route.
"Mo, what is it?" He asks softly so Ma won't hear.
"Didn't you get a report from your little spy?" I ask angrily.
"Stevie's just trying to help," he says without backing away from me.
"I don't remember asking for any help."
"Maybe you didn't ask for any, but you sure needed it last night."
I stare at him for a minute until he turns away. He didn't have to throw that back in my face.
"Get out of my way." I say through clenched teeth. I feel the rage boiling up just below the surface.
"Why are you doing this to Ma?" He asks trying to hit me where it hurts the most.
"No, you tell me why you're doing this to me? Huh? Why are doing this to ME?" I shout, as I get right in his face. "You can't make me go back there. I won't...I can't...you can't make me remember..."
"Mo, calm down, please, just calm down for a second. Alright?" Mikey stands his ground.
"No, it's not alright. Don't you f-ckin' get it?" I feel my chest tightening and my head spinning. I'm having trouble controlling my breathing.
"Maurice?" I hear Ma calling to me from a million miles away. "Maurice, don't talk to your brother like that. He's only trying to help."
I turn to face her. "Well, you're not helping...no one here is helping me...I want you all to leave me the F-CK ALONE." I push Mikey aside and grab the door handle more for support than anything else. I feel my world narrowing as I struggle to get the door open.
Nothing makes sense anymore. I don't know how to unlock the door. My hands fumble with the knobs until I give up and try to yank the door open on sheer force alone.
My breaths come in small gasps as I feel the walls closing in on me. I can't seem to get enough air. I lean back against the door and grab Mikey's arm as he stands watching.
"Open...it" I wheeze out. I feel trapped.
I close my eyes to stop the spinning and I see them, the rebels. They're coming towards the village. I realize too late that my weapon is still in the jeep. I didn't think I would need it while I made a quick stop to drop off some chocolate for the kids. The bastards must have followed me. I grab the children and push them behind me. I should have never come back here. They're all in danger because of me.
I open my eyes with a start and see Mikey staring down at me. His eyes wide, his face filled with concern. He looks at me and then across the room.
"Let him go." Ma says to Mikey.
I watch him as he turns the lock and removes the deadbolt. I swallow hard as I grab the door and swing it open. I run. I run as hard as I can and I don't look back.
TBC...