I was so hurt, so shocked, so disappointed, so angry the day Faith told me I wasn't the father of her baby. I was so set on being a father, I mean the realization of it all finally settled in and then she goes and tells me I'm not the father. Things only got worse when she told me that she got drunk one night and ended up taking home some random guy from a bar. This supposed one night stand occurred a week before Fred took off. It's completely bogus because I was with her day and night, but she still goes on saying that it was one night when I wasn't with her. I don't think I've ever been that angry at Faith for no particular reason other than the fact that I wasn't the father of her baby.
At first I didn't believe her, but then I figured, why would she lie about this? Why would she lie about me not being the father of her baby? Does she not trust me? Does she think I'd make a horrible father? Then the more I thought about it; the more I accepted it. It was too much to hope for I guess. But I don't remember ever loving someone so quickly the way I loved that baby the moment I found out Faith was pregnant. I would've been a great father, but I guess I'll have to settle for 'Uncle B' again. I can't believe some jagoff who got lucky with Faith is this kid's biological father. That just makes me even angrier at Faith. How can she bring a baby into this world without a father? I know she didn't mean to get pregnant, but at least with me she'd get an endless amount of support. She doesn't even know the jagoff's name that did this to her.
Faith started to ignore me after that day when she told me I wasn't going to be a father. I don't know if it was because she was embarrassed or if she was angry, but every time I called she'd hang up as soon as she heard my voice, and every time I knocked on her door, she pretended not to be home. She even went as far as to change her locks so that the key I have for her apartment is useless. After six weeks of that shit, I got fed up. Well, it so happens a week after I decided I was never going to speak to Faith again she calls me up, apologizing for the way she's been acting. I was so pissed for being given the cold shoulder for weeks that I wouldn't have any of it. Then I did something I never thought I'd ever do to Faith, I hung up on her. And, well, when it comes to Faith, the truth is, no matter how angry I can get with her, I can never stay angry for long. In the short conversation I had on the phone with her that day, I realized how much I really miss her. I miss hearing her voice and I miss seeing her every day. It's nice being partnered with Monroe, but she's not Faith. She never will be. It's been two months already and not once have I seen or really talked to Faith. The only way I know she's still alive is through the weekly phone calls I beg Sully to make or the weekly visits I send Monroe to do. It's my only way to check up on her.
How'd my life become so complicated? The more I think about the answer to that question the more I realize that it all started the night me and Faith decided to cross the line of our friendship. Maybe, sleeping together wasn't the best thing to do considering that it lead us here. If we hadn't slept together, then there wouldn't have been any possibility of me being the father of her kid. If we hadn't slept together, I wouldn't have been completely crushed the day she told me I wasn't gonna be a father. And I was the jagoff who thought sleeping with my best friend wouldn't make life complicated.
"Bosco." Monroe's voice pulls me from my thoughts and I turn my head to see her standing a few feet away from me.
"What?" I ask.
"Where were you? You completely missed roll call." Her expression is complete shock and amazement. I look straight ahead and realize I'm still sitting in front of my locker, half dressed in uniform.
"I missed—." I cut myself off, still shocked at her news.
"Bosco, when I left you were sitting there. Why aren't you dressed yet? Lieu wants to see you in his office." I can't believe I missed roll call, I don't think I've got a good enough excuse for Monroe. I was so distracted, thinking about Faith; I didn't even realize how much time had gone by. I stand up and start to finish getting into uniform while trying to ignore the concerned look Monroe's giving me, "you okay Bosco? You seem—."
"I'm fine. I was just—."
"Thinking about Faith." She finishes for me and I give her a look. Is it that obvious?
"No—."
"It's no biggy if you were, Bosco. It's only natural."
"I wasn't, okay. Drop it—go wait in the car or something."
"Oh, about that—Lieu's having you work the desk today since you missed roll call, I'm riding with Ty." She tells me, and on reflex I kick my locker.
"That's just great. You takin' 55-David? You drive, I don't want Davis behind the wheel of my car when I'm not there." I warn. Okay, so I'm possessive when it comes to my squad. It's just that Faith and I have rode in it for so long, it's precious to me, a lot of good memories happened in that car. The best and most memorable conversations I've had with Faith happened in 55-David. Can't blame me for being protective.
"Sure." I'm grateful that she doesn't argue with me on this one. She's ridden with me enough times to understand what 55-David means to me. So I'll trust her to take it out for a day. I just can't believe Lieu's gonna make me ride the desk just because I missed roll call. I don't know, I should just go and talk to him. "Well—have a nice day, Bosco."
"Yeah. You too." I reply. Damn, this belt buckle. It's bad enough that I have to work behind the desk today without my uniform giving me problems. After I finally adjust my belt I slam my locker shut and head out. I open the door, and run right into the person coming into the locker room.
"Sorry, I didn't see—." I stop myself when I find that I'm looking into a pair of familiar big, round eyes. "Faith."
She looks at me, her eyes wide, but she says nothing. I realize why when she pushes pass me and straight to the open stall, not even bothering to close the door behind her. I soon hear the unpleasant sound of her breakfast making it's way into the toilet bowl. I didn't know she still got morning sickness. I walk over to her as she finishes, walking unsteadily to the sink. I make a move to help her, but then I hesitate, remembering the fact that we haven't talked in months. She makes it on her own to the sink and starts to splash water on her face.
"You're staring." She says as she dabs her face with a paper towel. Faith's right. I haven't taken my eyes off of her since she entered the locker room. This is the first time I've seen her in months, it's still sinking in that she's actually standing in front of me. She turns to me for the first time since she came in, and it's then that I finally notice the roundness of her midsection. She's showing. It hasn't hit me till now that she's almost five months pregnant already. I can't believe I've missed out on two months already because of our non-communication. I'm willing to forget everything that happened in the last two months if she is. I can't stand to be distant from her.
"Sorry—you okay?" I finally ask, breaking eye contact when my eyes meet hers.
"I'm better." She replies. She actually gives me a smile of gratitude. Or at least I think it's gratitude and not annoyance. I can't really stand to be this near to her right now, because the temptation to just throw my arms around her and never let go is very strong. So I settle for looking down at my feet.
"Boz—," She starts, and I see her feet come into view as I look down at mine. That can't be a good sign, that only means she's gotten closer, real close. My suspicions are confirmed when I look up and once again meet her eyes. She's only inches away from me. The way she looks at me, I'm expecting her to break down or something right now, but she surprises the hell out of me when she goes on saying in the most professional voice she can pull off, "Lieu's waiting for you outside."
Now, she's just toying with me. Faith let's a small smile pass over her lips before she breezes pass me and out of the room. I shake my head as I follow after her. When I get outside, sure enough, Lieu's waiting. When he sees me, a stern expression crosses his face.
"Missed roll call, Boscorelli." He tells me.
"I know, sir. I don't know—." I try to explain as I follow him toward the front desk.
"Save the excuses, Bosco. I'm not in the mood to hear them right now." He cuts me off, and I suck in a frustrated breath. Okay, so Lieu's still angry with me for what happened last week, when I got into yet another argument with Cruz. But this time we were arguing in front of the Chief of Police and he came down pretty hard on Lieu for not being able to control his own House.
"Boss—." I try again, but he's not having it.
"You're on desk duty today, Boscorelli. Now get to work." He orders and walks away. What work? Desk duty is no work at all. I head to the desk and instantly notice Faith. Of course she's working desk duty, stupid me for not realizing sooner. I feel like kicking Lieu in his shins right now for putting me behind the desk right along side my dear ol' partner. Ex-partner, I think, if Faith would have her way again. She's ended things between us before, I wouldn't put it pass her if she were able to do it again. I suck in a much needed breath of air and approach her, standing on the opposite side of the somewhat circular front desk.
After a few minutes she still doesn't notice me. What's her problem? Maybe she doesn't know I'm here, her back's been to me since I arrived. So I decide to get her attention by faking a cough, but when I bring my hand up to muffle my cough, my elbow ends up knocking over the cup of coffee sitting next to me on the desk. The hot contents of the coffee mug spills over a few scattered papers laid out on the desk and Faith turns just as the coffee starts to spill over onto the floor. I curse as I quickly grab the paper towel roll in from one of the cabinets and start to clean up the mess I so stupidly made. I don't even want to look at Faith's face right now, she probably thinks I'm the biggest, clumsiest idiot in the world right now.
"That was graceful." She comments, standing over me. I force a smile as I throw the soaked paper towels in the trash. I finish my humiliating job of cleaning up my mess and then I turn around and finally face her. I'm surprised because she's not looking at me like I'm an idiot at all, she actually looks like she's amused, a hint of laughter in her eyes. Well, I can't blame her, seeing some jagoff spill coffee everywhere would amuse the hell out of me too.
"I didn't see—," I start, referring to the coffee mug, but she already knows what I'm talking about because she nods.
"I know. Sorry, I should have moved that. Sully left it there on his way out." She apologizes and I can't help but notice how beautiful she is. Not seeing her for so long, I've gained a greater appreciation for the way she looks. Or is it true what they say about pregnant women? That they seem to glow and stuff. "What are you doing here, Bosco?"
"What? Working the desk?"
She nods.
"I missed roll call. Lieu's punishing me." I inform her, willing my cheeks not to turn red with embarrassment. I was humiliated enough with the coffee incident.
"It's good to see you." Faith says, smiling weakly. I can tell her statement's genuine as she stares back at me. She breaks eye contact first, before I can reply, and turns back to her pile of papers she was organizing earlier. I open my mouth to say something to her, but think better of it when I see Cruz making her way to us. I sit back on the stool behind me and start to occupy myself with the tape dispenser in front of me.
"Sarge." Faith greets, looking up from her paper work and at Cruz.
"Yokas." Cruz replies. I don't miss the nasty look she throws my way before turning her attention back to Faith. She's still pissed off about our little argument. I haven't really gotten over it either. "You got my papers?"
"Yeah, they're right—," Faith turns toward me and stops, looking at something next to me. I follow her eyes until my own land on the pile of coffee stained papers to my right. Oh, that's not good, don't tell me those are the papers Cruz is referring to. I meet Faith's eyes and she closes hers, clearly disappointed. She reaches pass me and grabs the tinted colored papers. After a few seconds she turns back to Cruz.
"Sorry, but I—well—I sort of spilt coffee on them." Faith lies, handing them sheepishly to Cruz. I stand up to protest her act of selflessness, but she gives me a look of warning and I sit back down. She doesn't have to do this, I can handle Cruz fine on my own, I really don't need anyone's help. But then again, I know she's only taking the blame because she doesn't want me to get into any more trouble with Lieu.
"You've got to be kidding me." Cruz says, taking the papers from Faith. She stares at them for a moment, obviously not knowing how to react. Then out of nowhere she lets out a small chuckle and actually smiles at Faith, "I can't believe this."
"I'm really sorry—I—," Faith starts, but then notices too, that Cruz doesn't look angry at all.
"I was actually hopin' they got lost in the mail, but coffee stained is the next best thing." Cruz says, tucking the papers away in a folder she was already holding. "You got lucky this time, Boscorelli. Let's just hope you spill coffee on really important documents next time." Okay, so Faith has to improve on her lying skills, but Cruz didn't have to actually come out and admit she knew Faith was covering up for me. Cruz gives me a sly smirk before she turns and heads back up to her office.
"I tried." Faith says, when Cruz vanishes from view. I shrug.
"Thanks, anyway. For sticking up for me like that."
"Well, I already got an ear full from Lieu about what happened between you and Cruz. He's still pretty ticked off about it."
"Why do you think I'm working the desk?"
Faith and I talked non-stop for eight hours. She told me Em and Charlie email her every other day. She seemed really happy about that, but then she told me she didn't tell them about her being pregnant. She wasn't sure how to explain the circumstances of her becoming pregnant. I completely understand that. We even discussed briefly how foolish we both were for not speaking to one another for two months. I went on to admit that I missed her and I missed seeing her and she admitted to the same thing. Then I told her I was still with Grace and the mood slightly changed after that for some reason. Maybe it just surprised her that I'm still committed to a relationship and it's been over a month. I drove Faith home after our shift was done. She said she'd invite me in, but that she was too tired. I accepted her excuse and left her apartment, feeling quite pleased with myself. I'm glad Faith and I are once again on the same page. Two months of complete chaos is finally over.
I walk into my apartment and find it illuminated with dozens of white candles placed everywhere around my living room and bedroom. Red rose petals are sprinkled over my bed and I'm totally taken in the romance of the moment. Especially when I see Grace, walking slowly toward me in nothing but her awfully revealing Victoria Secret night gown. She gives me that sexy smile of hers and grabs me roughly by my collar, kissing me hard. I respond just as strong as I move us to the bed. Grace rolls us over and I starts nibbling at my neck. She sure knows how to satisfy a man.
"I was—thinking—about—you all day." Grace says between kisses. I reverse our positions again, taking a moment to just gaze into her beautiful face. I push her hair back, away from her face. As I kiss her, I realize I've never really felt this way before, I've never really let myself feel this way before. Grace is different, what I have with her is something I've never had with anyone, I can't lose that.
Before I can stop myself I come out and say, "marry me."
I'm only hit with the reality of my words after Grace smiles and says 'yes.'