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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"Bosco – Bosco," I yell at the top of my lungs, but I might as well be a million miles away.

"Oh God," I moan as I try to keep up with Bosco. We're on the chase again. How does he manage to find all these losers seemingly waiting for us to come by and bust them?

Bosco's quickly gaining ground but the perp is still too far ahead for Bosco to try anything. We're running northbound and the fact that there are lots of pedestrians isn't helping. I lean over breathlessly. I'm too damn old for this shit. I stand and keep moving as quickly as I can. I watch the scene unfold from my vantage point.

The perp starts to cut across the intersection. He's knocking people down and running right into the oncoming traffic.

"Shit, shit, shit.... BOSCO...NO."

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This son-of-a-bitch is gonna get it good when I get a hold of him. I'm gonna kick his ass and then I'm gonna kick it again.

"Hey jag-off... stop - Police." I must have called out to him at least six times. But he seems to have a slight hearing problem. Well, not to worry, two can play that game and I might not hear his screams of pain when I'm beating the crap outta him.

"You better run...jag-off...I'm catching up..." I shout to him. He never bothers to look back because he knows his ass is toast.

The idiot is running right into traffic, and almost gets hit by a car. Damn, he just knocked over that kid. Oh God, the car, the car, it won't stop...

I keep moving even as time stands still and speeds up all at the same time. The boy rolls into the intersection. The driver slams on the brakes and braces for something terrible. I stop between the both of them, facing the oncoming car hurtling towards us. The sound of the screeching tires drowns out everything and I hold my hands out in front of me, pushing against the inevitable.

Stop...Oh God, please make it stop...MAKE IT STOP.

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The car seems unstoppable as it hurtles towards Bosco.

I can't scream or move or even look away. I'm frozen in place, watching in horrified fascination. Suddenly, everything looks and feels different. Like a light bulb has finally been turned on and illuminates the world around me until I have to admit I've never seen it like this before.

There are no sounds. The quiet is unsettling, like the mute button being activated on the TV remote. I can tell the car is squealing wildly, the lady on the street is screaming, and Bosco is shouting at the top of his lungs.

I feel the thumping of my heart counting out the seconds. Each one seems to take forever before the next one is felt and yet even forever doesn't afford me enough time to act.

I am acutely aware of my breathing because it makes me feel everything. Every breath is cleansing, stripping away all the layers of protection built up through the years, until I feel the fear of losing my partner, again. I wonder how can I feel this alive while Bosco is trying to hold back 1000 pounds of steel?

I fight to keep my eyes open as I watch the car shuddering as it swerves to avoid hitting Bosco and the kid. I see a plume of white smoke rising as the rubber from the tires burns. I imagine the driver forcing his foot into the brake just as my own leg is jamming down hard.

I hold my breath as I watch it happening.

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Everything comes to a stop.

I allow my hands to rest on the side of the car, leaning against it for support as I swallow down hard. Everything outside of me has stopped but internally, I'm running at twice the regular speed.

It stopped. I made it stop.

"Bosco?" I hear Sully whisper from behind me.

I keep my hands out in front of me and I turn to face him. Sully calling me but he's not behind me. He's on the other side of the street.

"Bosco?" In the blink of an eye Sully materializes beside me. He doesn't look good. He's as white as a sheet. I see the beads of sweat pooling on his upper lip. I think he needs help. I lay my hands on his chest. I feel his fear through his coat.

"I can make it stop." I tell him but I can hardly hear my own voice.

He looks at me like I'm crazy except he seems angry. "Yeah, you almost made my heart stop. What the hell were you thinking? Did you really need to chase that idiot? Look at what you did." Sully shouts and pushes me back into the stopped vehicle causing me to sit on the car.

"Can't you see?" I ask confused. Am I the only one that sees this? I show him my hands. "I made it stop."

He grabs me by the collar and shakes me hard. "What the hell is the matter with you? All I saw is that you almost got yourself killed today. Don't you ever do that again," he growls and then shoves me back once again before turning to help the kid.

I regain my balance and watch Sully move away. 'It's okay,' I tell myself. He can't know what this means to me. He can't understand that I've found a way to redeem myself for all the pain I caused those people.

I know now how to make it stop and although I don't know how long it will take or how many lives I need to save, I know which direction I'm heading in. Before, I was stopping crime to keep myself busy, but not anymore. I have a mission. I need to stop people from getting robbed, and hurt and killed. I need to do it to atone for my mistakes. I need to stop bad things from happening.

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Bang-bang-bang. The shots ring out in the darkness. I run and run and run but I'm not getting anywhere. I turn the corner and freeze immediately. I know this place.

I look down and notice a trail of blood. My body moves forward against my will. I can't stop myself even though I know what I will find. I move forward without walking, the buildings and posts rushing by me until I come to a sudden stop.

Davis lies in a pool of his own blood. I reach down and grab his shoulder. I know he's dead but I have to look. I pull him back slowly and his limp body rolls back effortlessly.

The eyes staring back at me are not his; the face is not his. A name catches in my throat as these lifeless eyes stare back at me. I'm only able to whisper – "Bosco."

I feel my body shooting straight up in bed as my breaths come in harsh gasps. My hands wrap themselves around something soft as my eyes try to adjust to the darkness. Relief invades my body as I realize I'm in bed and this was just a dream.

I slump back into the pillows and swallow hard as I turn to stare at the clock on the nightstand; it flashes 3:42. My heart beats relentlessly at the thought of this nightmare playing itself out in real life. I can't go through that again. I clutch at my chest as the pain increases steadily. I swallow hard once again to ease the dryness in my mouth and allow myself to breathe deeply to try and regain my composure. I stare back at the clock and although it's too early to get up I know I won't be going back to sleep tonight. I won't let myself.

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Grady rubs his hands together in an effort to keep warm. The cold snap that's been covering most of the east coast continues for the third consecutive week. He can't recall a winter ever being this cold as he hurries to enter the building.

He pulls the door of the diner open and sees Sully sitting in the corner. Bosco is nowhere to be found. Grady turns and looks out the window but doesn't see 55-Charlie parked out front.

He pulls his hat and gloves off and walks over to the booth. Sully is nursing a cold cup of coffee.

"Sul," he calls out before sitting down.

"Hey Grady," Sully replies, looking up briefly.

The waitress comes by with a pot of coffee. Grady motions he'd like one and then points to Sully's cup signalling her to oblige him with a refill. The waitress pours for the both of them before smiling at Grady and silently moving away.

Grady wraps his hands around the cup to warm his hands and peers back at Sully who seems lost in his own thoughts. The only time he remembers seeing Sully this lost was when Davis was killed. Obviously something is bothering him.

"Sul, what's going on?"

Sully rubs his temple pensively. "I wish I knew," he says then shrugs dejectedly.

"You sleeping ok?" Grady asks as he notices the dark circles under Sully's eyes.

Sully ignores the question and stares out the window at the pedestrians rushing to get to where they are going. Everybody seems to be moving faster than usual. He turns back to Grady and speaks lowly. "He can't stop...he's always running and chasing...he won't stop."

Grady purses his lips and narrows his eyes. "Sul, are you talking about Bosco?"

Sully looks down into his cup. "I thought I was ready, to take on that kind of responsibility and all the risks that come with it, but I'm not sure."

Grady waits but no further explanation is provided. He wants to speak, to ask his friend how he can help but instead asks, "Where's Bosco?"

Sully looks at Grady in exasperation. "I told you, he can't stop. He's out there," Sully waves his hand towards the window, "patrolling during our break 'cause he...he can't stop. I can't keep up with him. I just can't..."

Suddenly the radio crackles to life. "Sul, let's go, break's over."

The RMP comes cruising around the corner, visible from inside the diner. Grady watches as Bosco pulls up next to the front door.

Sully sighs and pushes his cup away from him. "I gotta go," he says as he grabs his gloves and hat and pulls the zipper of his coat up to his neck.

"Sul, maybe you should talk to someone." Grady suggests.

But before Sully can answer, the radio comes to life again. "Sul, are you coming?"

Grady can feel Sully's weariness as he trudges towards the door without looking back.

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Rose stands in front of her son's apartment. She's debated over and over again whether she should come and check on him herself. She sent Mikey last week, but Bosco refused all help. It was bad enough he wasn't returning any of her calls but then John Sullivan called her. He had basically told her that Bosco needs help and he needs it now.

Rose looks back at Steve nervously. He nods and urges her to knock on the door. It's almost 12:30 in the afternoon and John assured her Bosco would probably still be in his apartment at this time.

She knocks loudly and waits. A minute later the door opens without the sound of the chain or the deadbolt being removed.

Bosco opens the door and leans on it for support. He looks like he just woke up except for the fact that he's wearing clothes. Rose assumes he fell asleep on the couch, fully clothed, as was his habit even when he was living at home.

He rubs his eyes and groans in frustration when he recognizes them. "Sorry, not interested in buying what you're selling," he rasps out and tries to close the door.

"Bosco," Steve moves forward and places his foot against the bottom of the door to stop its forward movement.

"Stevie," Bosco replies mockingly as he stares down at Stevie's foot.

"Can we talk?"

"I'd love to," Bosco replies sarcastically, "but I need to get to get ready for work."

"Maurice," Rose exclaims in embarrassment, "we just want to talk for a few minutes. Please."

Bosco looks down but doesn't allow them access to his apartment. "Leave," he whispers.

"No." Stevie replies forcefully. "I need to talk you."

"Let us in Maurice." Rose reaches for him but he moves back and away refusing her touch. She notices how much he's deteriorated since the last time she saw him. He's unshaven and dishevelled. He seems thinner and his anger can't conceal the fatigue in his face.

"Fine have it your way. We'll talk right here," Stevie says not backing down, he pauses for a moment before starting in a low voice. "We flew over the village late in the afternoon. The smoke from the houses was visible for more than a mile."

"Shut the f-ck up." Bosco says angrily as he tries to shut the door.

Stevie holds it back with his foot and his arm. "I'm not leaving, Bosco," he huffs.

"But you promised..." Bosco croaks out weakly, pain etched on his features.

"I'm sorry Bosco," Stevie says gently. "You need to hear this."

"No I don't," Bosco replies furiously. He backs into his apartment, letting go of the door. He spins away and searches frantically for his coat.

Rose and Stevie both enter and close the door behind them. Rose sees the litter of beer bottles all over the apartment. She turns her attention back to her son who is tearing around looking for his jacket. She approaches him tentatively. "Maurice, please give Steve a chance to explain." She tries to reach out for him but she sees how agitated he is and decides to stop.

"I don't need any explanations," he shouts desperately, grabbing his jacket and putting it on roughly.

Stevie stands with his back to the door, blocking it. Bosco stops in front of him breathing heavily. He tries to stare Stevie down but all he sees is stony resolve in his friend's eyes.

"Like I said," Stevie continues, "we flew over late in the afternoon. The village had been burned down. We landed to see if we could help the villagers or find you."

Bosco jams his hands over his ears and tries to block out Stevie. He steps back and starts to pace inside the apartment as he mutters to himself.

"Bosco, I didn't tell you the truth when I said there were no bodies. They were burned in their homes. We found lots of empty shells. They must have shot them all and then burned the bodies."

Bosco strides over to Stevie and grabs him by the collar as he tries to move him away from the door. "STOP," he shouts and more weakly, "please...stop."

Stevie stands his ground and takes hold of Bosco's trembling arms before continuing. "I don't think they suffered Bosco. Maybe they were all dead by the time you got there. It must have been quick. Maybe they didn't suffer."

Bosco pants heavily and grips Stevie even tighter. His face is a portrait in disbelief. "They didn't suffer," he says incredulously. "What the f-ck do you know?" He screams. "What the f-ck do you know?" He repeats, his voice breaking.

Stevie swallows hard but doesn't let go of Bosco. "You made me promise never to tell you what I saw. I'm sorry I broke that promise Bosco. But what I just told you, that's all I know. Tell me why you made me promise. Please Bosco, tell me what happened."

Bosco shivers and closes his eyes. "Don't...please...don't..."

"Bosco, I want to help. Let me help you," Stevie whispers. Bosco tries to pull away but Stevie holds on to him.

"I made you promise because I thought you were my friend, and I needed..."

Stevie tightens his grip on Bosco and brings him closer. "Tell me," he asks softly.

Bosco chokes back a sob and bites down on his lip. He takes in a few shuddering breaths before speaking again. "Because...I didn't want that bastard to win..." he manages to eke out before closing his eyes again and turning away.

"Tell me," Stevie begs, his eyes displaying untold compassion.

Bosco shaks his head no before he springs into action and pushes away from Stevie. "I told you, I don't want that bastard to win," he yells hoarsely. "Get out of my way." When Stevie doesn't move, he turns looking for another way out, his eyes darting around the room.

"Maurice, please calm down, we can talk about this, please..." Rose pleads with him frightened by the state he's in right now.

Bosco stands between them, shivering and trembling, eyes closed. He brings his hands up to cover his face. Slowly, he emerges from his daze and looks at Stevie first.

His voice quivers as he speaks. "I wish...I had never gone there. I wish I had never...seen that village. I wish they had never laid eyes on me...and most of all...I wish I had never met you," he spits out venomously to Stevie.

"Maurice," Rose yells out in a scolding tone.

Bosco turns on her next. "And that's not all," he shouts angrily, hot tears threatening to spill over, "I wish I had never been born."

Rose gasps slightly and tries to respond. "Maurice –"

Bosco cuts her off. "Did you hear me? Did you? Everyone would have been better off if I'd never been born."

With that, Bosco turns quickly, grabs Stevie and throws him to the floor. He yanks the door open and runs into the corridor and down the stairs. He has no idea where he's going, just that he needs to get away from here.

TBC...