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.
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Sully
spots me as I lift weights. "C'mon little man. You can do it -
one more."
I look up at his upside grin
as I strain to lift the bar over my head. He knows I hate it when he
calls me 'little man'. I'll show him. I push hard, I can feel
the muscles in my arms shaking as I bite down on my lower lip. I huff
as I put all my effort in getting the bar all the way up.
Sully
smiles down at me as he grabs it and guides it into the holder. "A
new Boscorelli record," he beams proudly.
I
allow my arms to fall to the side, as I lie there spent.
"Your...turn...dough boy." I pant at him.
For
the last month or so, Sully and I have been working out everyday
before our shift. He comes over and picks me up. We grab a bite to
eat and then head for the gym.
Sully
thought I needed more physical activity to use up all my excess
energy; I guess I was starting to drive him crazy again. I told him I
would do it on the condition that he joins me. He didn't realize
how hard I would be on him. And it seems to be paying off; he looks
like he's lost 10 pounds already.
It's
his turn on the bar so I spot him. I have my back to the door so I
don't notice who walks into the gym.
"Boys,
I'm baaack." I feel the hair on my neck rise as I hear Michaels
call out to his friends.
There's a
brief smattering of talk before the room falls silent. I can feel his
eyes on me. I exhale slowly, trying to stay in control.
"Well,
well, well, if it isn't rat boy," his voice is dripping with
contempt.
Sully replaces the bar and sits
up quickly as I turn to face Michaels.
"What
the hell do you want?" Sully spits out.
"Oh,
seeing it's my first day back after my suspension, I wanted to see
how my friend here was doin'," he says hatefully, his eyes
burning holes through me.
Sully moves in
between the two of us. "Are you lookin' for another suspension,
moron?"
Michaels doesn't back away.
"Well, I know I can count on rat boy to go cryin' to Lieu if I
hurt his feelings." He sticks out his lower lip in an exaggerated
pout and makes a face like he's about to cry. He turns and laughs
at his cronies. "Boscorelli, you gonna stop hidin' behind your
partner and Lieu and stand up like a real man," he says mockingly.
"You mean a real man like you. It took
two of you to take me on last time," I say calmly.
His
laughter stops suddenly and he narrows his eyes menacingly. "How
about we settle this once and for all, man to man, one on one?"
"Fine with me." I glare back at him
without flinching.
He motions to the
boxing ring in the corner.
"Pick on
someone your own size, Michaels." Sully replies.
I
feel the heat rising in my cheeks at Sully's comments because
Maurice Boscorelli doesn't back down from anyone.
"How
about tonight, after the shift." I say.
Sully
spins around to face me; his eyes speak volumes. He doesn't want me
to go through with this but I'm not afraid of this idiot and I'm
not gonna let Michaels question my manhood in front of the rest of
these jerks and get away with it.
"Hear
that boys?' He turns towards his cronies. "Come and watch, 'cause
tonight, I'm gonna teach this rat a lesson."
-----------------------------------------
"Grady,
talk to him." Sully says imploringly as we sit at the counter for
our dinner break.
Sully's
been trying to talk me out of this boxing match since we got into the
RMP.
"Bosco, you don't have to do it.
It isn't a fair fight." Grady says.
I
glare back at him defensively. "Yeah, it's not fair 'cause I'm
gonna bash his brains in."
"See what
I have to deal with." Sully throws his hands in the air in
frustration.
Grady takes another crack at
it. "Bosco, they guy has about 5 inches and 60 pounds on you."
"More like 3 inches and 70 pounds," I
mutter. "Any way, I've taken on bigger guys," Sully looks at me
incredulously, "and won," I add triumphantly.
"Won
what?" Faith chimes in as she spots us.
"Fights
– Epic battles of the fist." I announce.
"Oh...am
I interrupting a meeting of the macho boy's club." She says as
she rolls her eyes.
"No. Bosco here is
gonna take on Michaels in a boxing match tonight after the shift."
Sully huffs irately.
"Yeah, that's
what I said," she quips, "the macho boy's club. So what's the
big deal?"
"There, finally, someone
on my side." I put my hand up to high five her, but she ignores me
as she scrunches her face in irritation.
"Uh,
uh, I'm not on your side. I just mean, you guys are gonna use each
other as punching bags, then you'll go drinking and carousing and
eventually you'll go home happy and all will be right with the
world again."
"And what's wrong
with that?" I ask stupidly.
"Nothing.
That's the way it's always been, and apparently, that's the way
it's gonna be tonight." She picks at the fries on my plate.
"Are you gonna come and watch?" I ask
hopefully.
"What you beating up Michael's?"
Faith winks at me. "Wouldn't miss it for the world."
---------------------------------------------
Sully laces up my gloves and straightens my headgear as I watch Michaels step into the ring with his 'entourage', including Giambetti. Michaels lifts his arms in mock victory and hops on the balls of his feet to show me he's ready to go.
"Keep your hands up, you hear?" Sully looks like he's about to cry.
"Sully, really I'm gonna be okay. You need to worry about Michaels."
"He sure is a cocky like SOB, isn't he?" Grady adds from behind. We both turn and glare at him.
"Hey, can I get a little support here from my own corner." I say exasperated.
I see Faith waving as she takes a seat behind my corner. "Bosco. Whoop his ass," she hollers.
I turn back with a grin on my face and throw Faith's remark back in Sully's face. "At least someone believes in me."
He glares at me with a look of hurt in his eyes. "She's not the only one...I...just ...nothing." He fiddles with the laces on my gloves.
I didn't mean for Sully to take it that way and I lower my eyes and stare at my gloves to avoid the hurt look in his eyes. I pound my gloves together to test them out and I'm glad Sully's on my side and just looking out for me. "You did them up perfectly Sul. Thanks."
"Boxers to the center," bellows Washington. He's gonna officiate the match for us.
Sully, Michaels, Giambetti and myself make our way to the middle of the ring.
"Alright gentlemen, there will be three, three minutes rounds." Washington holds up three fingers on each hand and waves them at us for effect. "I want you to fight fair. No punches to the back of the head, no hitting when the opponent is down, no hitting below the belt. You'll go to a neutral corner if there is a count and you will break when I tell you to do so. Any questions?" He looks at each of us in turn, but no one makes a sound.
"Alright, good luck to both of you. Touch gloves."
Michaels pounds his gloves into mine. "Hey rat boy, do you want me to call the medics now, or after I beat you to a pulp."
"You know what?" I smile back at him. "You better do it now 'cause it'll be kinda hard for you to dial when you're kissin' my ass."
Michaels lunges at me, and suddenly the four of us are wrapped up in a loveless embrace. Washington pushes his way in between and shoves us towards our respective corners. "Break it up, you morons," he yells as the crowd hollers.
Sully grabs me by the arm and hauls me back to my corner. I twist my head around to keep my eye on Michaels.
"I swear, I've never seen anyone piss people off as much as you," he says.
"What can I say, it's a gift. Anyway, he started it," I whine.
Sully gives me the same look my mom gives me when I say something stupid.
"Okay, focus Bosco." He directs my gaze back to him. "Alright, remember, keep your hands up. He's bigger, but you're faster. Don't let him get on top of you or grab you. He's gonna try to tire you out. Keep moving and you'll be okay." He gives me a nod and secures my mouth guard for me.
I look back at Faith and Grady; both are smiling and shouting out encouragements.
I hear the bell sound to announce the start of the match.
We approach each other warily, dancing gingerly on the balls of our feet. I try to heed Sully's words to keep moving 'cause I know Michaels is gonna pound me if I try to go toe to toe with him.
I throw a couple of jabs and Michaels lands some glancing blows but neither of us wants to open up this early in the match.
"Maybe I should call you 'chicken boy' Boscorelli, you gonna dance all night, or are you gonna fight," he mumbles through his mouth guard.
He lunges at me and grabs my arms. We stumble into the ropes.
"Hey Michaels, you better go back to your corner and change your shorts, I think I smell crap in them." I mumble back at him.
He grunts and tries to connect with a wide swing. I duck down and punch him in the gut. He doubles over and I move in ready with another punch. I hit him with a left jab before he gets his gloves up and blocks a couple of punches.
"C'mon big man... show me what you got." I taunt him.
He straightens up and I can hear Sully shouting from the corner "Stop yapping, keep moving." I look back and see Sully motioning for me to keep my gloves up.
I feel the perspiration dripping off me already. I move around in a semi-circle to try and keep Michaels away from me. He fakes a few moves and gets close enough to push me into the corner and throw his weight on me, pinning me. I strain against him, unable to move.
"Hey ref, break it up," Sully hollers. The crowd voices their opinion too as Washington moves in.
Michaels shoves me harder into the corner and takes a few cheap shots, hitting me while pinning my arms with his body. I'm momentarily stunned but Washington intervenes before Michaels can cause any real damage.
I straighten my headgear and move out of the corner slowly. Hell, I'm already feeling tired so I can imagine what that outta shape fat ass is feeling. I approach him slowly. This might be a good time to attack. I duck and fake until I see an opening and connect with a left-right combination. Michaels staggers back into the ropes and holds on to them for support. I move in quickly and land a few more punches. He swings wildly and misses but connects on his the follow through punch, a left jab.
I stumble backwards into the corner and fat boy decides to try and flatten me. Again he throws all of his weight into me. I grunt with the effort of trying to push him off and keep myself covered in case he tries the cheap shots again. Fat boy doesn't move until the ref pulls him off of me.
My gloves are starting to feel 20 pounds heavier than when we started the match, and I'm panting from the effort of trying to move that elephant.
We square off again in the center of the ring, eyeing each other, looking for any weaknesses. I decide to make a move when Michaels least expects it. I step forward and straight in on him. I swing and jab until I start to connect, once twice, three times.
The crowd is on its feet, shouting, and jeering as the round comes to an end.
I raise my arm up as I walk back to my corner. I hear the crowd gasp and I turn in time to see Michaels running full throttle towards me. I brace for impact as he tackles me to the mat.
Sully, Giambetti and Washington all jump in to try and separate us as we roll around on the floor.
"That's enough." Washington shouts. He lifts me by the trunks and shoves me towards my corner. He warns Michaels to head over to his.
I drop down heavily on the stool as Sully removes my mouth guard and pours water over my head and into my mouth. Grady stands before me, waving a towel to cool me off.
"Did...you ...see ...what ...he did?" I wheeze out.
"Don't talk, Bosco. Just take some deep breaths." Sully rinses out my mouth guard. "He's trying to tire you out by throwing his weight around. Try not to get caught in the corners."
"Easier...said...than...done." I huff.
"Hey – hey," Sully waits to get my attention, "you're doing a great job. You should've seen the look on his face when you got him the last time."
"Told...you...I ...could...take ...his fat ass."
"Damn right you can," Sully shouts confidently.
The bell rings to announce round two. Sully shoves the mouth guard into my mouth and hurriedly exits the ring. Michaels is already half way across and he looks pretty pissed.
I jump up quickly and dance to my left. He advances straight on as I continue to move away from him. I stop and move in the other direction, he comes on strong and instead of swinging, he reaches out to shove me hard. I stumble backwards. I see him lunging at me and I try to twist away but I fall and fat boy falls on top of me.
Shit, it feels like I've got a truck sitting on me. He reaches out, grabs my head and tries to ram it into the mat as I lie helplessly beneath him.
"Hey ref, this is boxing not wrestling," I hear Sully shouting.
"Michaels I'm warning you," Washington tells him as he pulls him off of me.
I lie there stunned, sore and breathless before getting on all fours and holding on to the ropes to get myself up.
I can hardly breathe but I can't help shouting to Michaels. "Is...that the...best...you...can ...do? Try to kill...me with ...your lard ass."
"You tell him, Bosco." Faith shouts. I can't help but smile.
We both face off in the middle of the ring. I swipe at the perspiration dripping into my eyes and I watch as Michaels huffs with every move. I try to keep moving and keep my hands up. Michaels maintains his position, trying to save his strength. If I don't get him moving again, he's gonna get his second wind.
He stops and stands still. "Come get... some of this..." he punches his gloves together, "...rat boy."
"Come over here...and... give me some." I sneer as I motion for him to advance.
He moves in towards me and throws a couple of jabs; I manage to bob and duck away from them. He reaches out and fakes me out with a right and then connects with a left, square on my nose. I feel my eyes water and blood trickling down through my nostrils. I stumble slightly but manage to get away from him.
Washington grabs my head and looks me over. "I'm...fine." I huff as I push his hands away. I swipe at blood dribbling down my face.
The crowd gets excited at the site of the blood and so does Michaels. He redoubles his efforts to get to me. I back away and circle to my left. I find it harder to breathe, so I suck in air through my mouth. I continue to swipe at my face as the blood drips faster and faster. I see a red stain developing on my top.
Michaels starts to swing wildly, feeling that he's got the upper hand. I keep back peddling away from him. Soon I feel like I'm running outta air and outta room. Michaels sees his opportunity as I tire considerably. He doesn't waste any time and he comes at me fast and hard. He doesn't swing but grabs a hold of me. I struggle to get him off. I have both my arms up to protect my face when he rears back and connects with a hard hit to my gut.
The little air I have in my lungs rushes and I drop down to my hands and knees as my diaphragm contracts with the effort of trying to pull in some air. I struggle to breathe. The crowd shouts louder but their screams only seem to fade as oxygen fails to enter my lungs.
I try to get up but my legs shake and wobble. I list to one side and need to let my right knee drop back down on the mat to prevent from falling over.
I gasp frantically. I watch as my mouth guard falls out and onto the mat, followed by drops of blood still streaming from my nose.
Washington pushes Michaels away and starts to count me down.
One.
The only thing I'm aware of is the gurgling sound I make as I try to breathe. I'm on my back and my mouth is full of mud and water. I'm too weak to spit it out so I swallow. The sandy mud slides down my throat and chokes me. I try to turn but all I can do is allow my head loll to one side. I tremble uncontrollably like a newborn trying to breathe for the first time.
Two.
I hear someone approach and I force my eyes open. I blink into the sunlight as I catch sight of the gap tooth bastard looming over me. He shouts angrily and I try to think of what I could have done to piss him off. I cough weakly and close my eyes again. That's when I remember how he almost drown me. I reach out and grab on to his ankle, trying to topple him over. He laughs at my effort as he rears back with his other leg and kicks me viciously in the side.
I'm blinded by the fire and light that explode like a lightening bolt through my body. I gasp for air, but all I can do is swallow the remaining water and mud in my mouth. My body contracts violently and everything in my stomach rushes up and I vomit harshly. I continue to heave until the metallic taste of blood invades my mouth and surges out into the ground. My body feels like its dead weight and I lie helplessly in my own vomit.
Three.
I don't know how long before I'm finally able to take some shallow breaths to ease the fire in my lungs. My recovery is short lived as the bastard bends down next to me. I don't move, not because I don't want to but because I can't. He gazes down a t me and starts to talk gently; explaining something to me that I can't even begin to understand. He smoothes back the hair from my forehead and I shudder violently. I try to lift my arm to stop him but find myself unable to command by body.
"Don't..." I whisper through bloodied lips.
He smiles and continues speaking. He reaches down and takes my left wrist in his hand. His touch infuriates me and I try to pull my arm away from his grasp. I see the smile fade from his lips as he twists my wrist brutally. I cry out pitifully, weakly.
He speaks, but his tone is harsher now and although, his words are incomprehensible, they frighten me to the core because he doesn't want to kill me; he wants to make me suffer. I shake uncontrollably from the fear and the pain coursing through me and I beg. "Please...no..."
He pulls my left arm over my head as he stands. I hiss from the fiery pain in my side as every muscle and bone in my arm and chest is pulled to its limit. I try to twist away but he doesn't let go. He starts to walk, dragging me behind him. I cry out as the searing pain from my side intensifies with each step. My battered ribs scrape painfully across the ground.
"No...please...no..."I mouth wordlessly as he hauls me back to the river.
Four.
He pulls me up by the collar as we enter the water. I laugh at the idea that he doesn't want me to drown prematurely.
I pray this is the end. Oh God, I can't go through this again. I feel my body shake, and my teeth chatter as the fear only serves to strengthen the pain; a stabbing fire in my chest punctuates each shuddering breath.
He stops and reaches down and takes my head in his hands. I let my eyes flutter open but I refuse to look at his face. I grab weakly at his hands to try and fight him off, to anger him into killing me.
Five.
As my eyes begin to focus I see a beautiful blue sky covering me. I want it to be the last thing I see. I stare up and hold on to its beauty as I allow my arms to fall limply into the water.
He wraps his hands around my throat and turns my head so I can see the villagers lining the shore, their eyes wide, and their faces emotionless. He laughs as he shoves my head below the water and smiles as he tightens his grip around my neck.
I bat away Washington's hands as he holds my head and asks me something. I blink my eyes into focus as I look around for that gap tooth bastard. All I see is Michaels laughing at me as he stands waiting in the corner.
I realize I'm not breathing and need to grab onto the ropes as I open my mouth and inhale. Washington holds up my mouth guard and tries to shove it back into my mouth. I swat at it and push him out of the way as I lunge for Michaels.
That gap tooth bastard is gonna pay for what he did to me. I advance on him before he has a chance to react and I connect with a series of punches to the face and abdomen. I continue to flail away and in my anger I don't hear the bell.
Washington grabs me from behind and pushes me into my corner. Sully takes over as I try to get back at Michaels.
"Whoa, little man." He pushes me down into the stool.
I double over instantly. I can't seem to catch my breath and my head starts to swim from the lack of oxygen. I can barely make out what Sully is saying to me.
"Take it easy, Bosco. You're not gonna have anything left for the next round." He looks down at me worriedly as he wipes the blood and sweat off my face. I gasp frantically, unable to speak.
"Keep your head down. It'll help your breathing." He grabs me by the back of the neck and pushes my head lower.
His touch brings me back to the river and I rise so quickly that I knock over the stool. I lean back into the corner and grab the ropes with my gloves. I hear my frightened groans and drop my head to ease my breathing.
"Bosco?"
I look up but Sully seems distorted, his words stretch like some horrifying sound effect. The noise from the crowd fades, their faces change to those of the villagers. I tilt my head back as I look up through the water.
I don't even try to hold my breath. I want death to come. I open my mouth and let the water flow into my body. Pain rips through me as my lungs cry for oxygen. I feel me tenuous hold on consciousness slipping, but I keep my eyes fixed on the sky above. I hold on to its colour and I pray for mercy as my body fills with water, pain and terror. A small sing-songy voice comes to my ears. Soft chocolate eyes stare down at me. It's Squirt. I try to reach out for her.
I'm yanked up viciously and held there. I don't even have the strength to try and breathe on my own, I convulse weakly as my lungs and stomach instinctively try to expel the water. My body throbs relentlessly from the pain.
The gap tooth bastard grabs Squirt by the arm and he struggles to drag us both back to the shore.
I hear her small whimpering words as she fights to try and save me. I'm dropped unceremoniously to the ground. My body struggles to take in air and I jerk involuntarily as water spills out of my nose and mouth.
I feel a small hand on my face, and gentle words in my ear; they comfort me in my most agonizing moments. Though my throat is raw and my mouth is cut and swollen I manage to call out to her, "Squirt..."
She is cruelly snatched away from me. I hear her father and mother begging, pleading with these monsters but it's her small, frightened screams that mobilize me into action.
I muster all the strength in my body to lift my head. I grunt and groan just to push myself onto my stomach. I try to call out, to distract the bastard, but my voice is too weak. I claw my way towards them. I don't feel my own pain any longer but I focus on making that monster let her go. I swear to God, I'll kill him with my bare hands if he hurts her.
The bell sounds and Sully grabs me and shakes me back to my senses before I push past him, and into the ring.
I feel a fury growing within me and I ignore Washington's instructions as I lunge crazily for Michaels. I don't bother to keep my hands up because I'm on the attack.
I don't hold back. I ram my gloves into every part of his body. I grunt with exertion, as my fists become my weapons. I don't care if I hit him in the body or the head. He's too stunned by the ferociousness of my attack to try and fight back. He manages to block most of my punches with his arms as he retreats into the ropes. I am merciless...I want him to let her go.
The terror in Squirt's screams causes me to move faster. Gap tooth shakes her by the arm and swings her down onto the ground. He yells at her menacingly as he pulls up his rifle.
The villagers shout and cry for Squirt's forgiveness.
My breath hitches in my throat as I freeze in fear. Only the sound of the safety shakes me out of my paralysis. "Nooo," I yell out.
An eerie silence envelops us. Gap tooth turns around to look at me. He smiles that evil grin of his and I shudder to think he's gonna take his frustrations out on me. I glance over at Squirt and see her cowering on the ground below the barrel of his gun.
He grabs her roughly and walks towards me slowly. She's whimpering and begging him, but he ignores her words. He motions to the rebels and they grab me and haul me up to my knees. My chest expands and contracts as I try to breathe. Each movement causes a burning, stabbing pain to cut right through and I have to fight to remain conscious.
Gap tooth yanks my head back and I'm forced to swallow hard. I can barely breathe with my head this far back; slowly he brings it to a more natural position when he notices my distress. The bastard wants to make sure I remain alive a little longer.
I try to make my plea for Squirt's life. I look up at him and try to point to myself. "Me..." I mouth weakly.
He looks up towards the villagers; no one dares to speak.
He looks down and starts talking to me. The bastard is talking to me like I have a clue what he's babbling about. I don't give a shit about him; I don't give a shit about me anymore. I hear myself begin to cry softly, "...me..." I repeat.
The bastard's face gets serious and he rears back and backhands me hard.
My eyes roll around in their sockets from the impact as I let my head drop down. He barks out some orders and I hear the village women begin to scream and shout. I'm dragged to a spot next to Squirt and thrown on the ground. I'm forced to watch as one of the rebels holds her arms back and she screams in utter terror. I try to reach for the rebel holding her, but gap tooth is on me instantly, yanking me back and forcing me to look at what the rebel is doing to her.
He won't let me look away; he wants me to see what I've brought down on this village, he wants me to know the true face of evil.
The rebels touch her and hurt her and make her scream. I see her small hands being held down and jerking as she tries to get away.
I vomit, over and over again with every taunt and jeer from the rebels, with every desperate cry from the villagers, and with every heart-wrenching wail from Squirt as the rebels move over her and rape her.
I open my eyes and see Washington and Michaels moving in slow motion in front of me. The crowd stands but I don't hear them. Sully is motioning to me to keep my hands up. Faith is on her feet silently shouting at me.
All I hear are Squirt's desperate cries. My eyes dart around the room but I can't seem to spot her. I grab hold of my head to make it stop. I try to call her, "Squirt."
Washington gives me a concerned look and grabs at my gloves. I back away from him and turn to face Michaels. Squirt's screams pierce my brain and I can't take this much longer.
Michaels appears in front of me, within my reach and I grab on to him. "Where...is...she?" I question him as we grapple against the ropes.
He laughs. I see a gap tooth laugh. I lose all sense of reality as I swing my arms and lash out at him over and over again. I'm gonna beat the living crap outta him if he doesn't make them stop. Washington tries to pull me off Michaels but I'm beside myself with rage. I keep pummelling him until he falls to the mat, blood spurting from his nose.
I stagger back into the ropes and hold on for dear life. My breathing is so ragged that my heart threatens to explode out of my chest. And still, even with gap tooth bastard down on the mat, Squirt's screams are relentless. I can't make them stop.
I turn in every direction, searching for her. Oh God, I can't make them stop. I feel my breath hitching as my chest constricts painfully. Squirt is yelling for me at the top of her lungs. I stumble around the ring like a drunk trying to find a way to make it stop.
Michaels gets up and staggers to his corner. I see Washington giving him an eight count. The screaming in my head intensifies to an unbearable level and I lurch towards Michaels.
That's when I see a way to make it stop.
I fall into Michaels as he tries to get his bearings. Washington pushes me back and away from him. "You, get back in you corner," he orders me.
I lean into the ropes and close my eyes as her shrieks become more desperate.
Michaels comes out of his corner tentatively. His legs are wobbly and his eyes unfocused. I immediately approach him and latch on to him. We stumble crazily and I beg him, "please...hit ...me."
He looks down at me and mumbles, "you're crazy."
I spin away from him and fall back on the ropes. My hopelessness increases as my heart feels like its being ripped out of my chest with every scream.
The room starts to spin and the bile rises forcefully into my throat. I gag and wheeze because he won't help me make it stop.
I hear myself moan desperately as the memories run through my brain like a freight train...his evil gap tooth grin...the feel of Squirt's hand on my face...the colour of the sky...the agony of breathing...the taste of my blood...the horror of this evil...the terror of his touch...the cries of her mother...the hardness of their eyes...the screams...the jerking of her small hand...her screams...her screams...her screams...the horror...I can't make it stop...I can't make it stop...I can't make it stop...stop...stop.
I open my eyes as Michaels advances and I hear myself pray...'hit me...hit me...hit me...hit me...make it stop'.
I mouth the words to him, "hit me...fat ass," and motion to him that I'm ready to fight. He takes the bait as I see a flash of anger in his eyes; he thinks I'm taunting him...'hit me...hit me...it's what I want, what I need...hit me...oh God, hit me...hit me'...finally, I feel an overwhelming sense of relief as he comes for me.
I feel my body relax. I don't blink, or flinch as I watch him pull back his right arm with all the strength he can muster; his face contorts with the sheer effort of his actions. Squirt's agony becomes my own; the shrieks in my head rip through my soul and resound in my ears until I think my eardrums will burst. I watch the trajectory of his glove as it cuts through the air, cuts through her terrified screams, her bloody clothes, and her lifeless, battered body. The images leave me gasping and swaying and I'm afraid I may fall before Michaels strikes.
Mercifully, I'm wrong; I manage to remain upright until the perfect moment...the moment when I need to lower my gloves to remove the last obstacle to my deliverance.
The impact of the punch is bone jarring; my head snaps back violently. My body topples over backwards and I feel myself falling endlessly as the world drifts away from me.
Even before I hit the mat, my eyes roll back into my head, and I reflexively look for blue sky.
The last sensation I have is the comfort of her touch as I plunge into the blessed silence of oblivion.
TBC...