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Rules and Broken Trust

Chapter 25

Rangers Station:

"Ty if you don't get away from me, I'm going to handcuff you to the bed in that room over there!" Sully growled as he sipped his mug of chocolate. It was day 4 and Cabin Fever had long ago set in. Everyone was restless and frustrated, with the continuing storm. None more than Ty, cooped up with nothing to do but play games, gossip and drive each other nuts, he was now attempting to 'talk' about life with Sully.

"Damn Sullivan," FBI Agent Brown, blue eyes laughing winked at Faith who was grinning, "Showing us that kinky side we've heard so much about are you?" Faith snickered as she watched Sully's ears redden, "Ty you better watch out, I think he's about to explode."

Glaring at her, and Agent Brown, Sully stood up from the table, "Comedians, everybody thinks they could do standup." A slight smile on his own face as he headed out of the kitchen, he nevertheless narrowed his eyes at Ty, commanding, "STAY!"

Faith laughed outloud at Ty's hurt look, "Ty, I think you better leave Sul alone for awhile. Before you do end up handcuffed to something. Want to play checkers? I've played enough games in the last four days to give you a decent game." Like a small child Ty grinned, immediately getting up from the table to go and set up the board. She watched him leave, then turned back to Agent Brown, her smile leaving as if the previous light minutes had not happened.

Agent Amanda Brown gave her a sympathetic look, "Faith, you don't have to be the cheerleader you know. Its okay if you just ignore them." Swirling her cup around, watching the light foam on top of the chocolate pattern into spirals, Faith nodded, "But then I'd have to think. And thinking about what we might or might not find when this stops is NOT something I really want to deal with. Plus I miss my kids and husband. Playing checkers with Ty is kind of like having Charlie and Fred here all at once." She smirked, "Ty plays like Fred, but loses like Charlie." Winking at Amanda she stood up, "Could be worse though, he could play like Charlie and lose like Bosco. Checkers flying everywhere."

In the livingroom Sully was talking to another one of the agents, giving quick glances over to Ty adding an eyeroll as they were obviously discussing additions needed to this Rangers Station. Something to keep a group of 12 people from killing each other during a blizzard might be a good idea, the agreed upon topic.

"So," Dave rubbing his hands together as he exited the Rangers small office, "looks like we have a few more days of this. Anyone need to get a message out, Keith's about to get on the radio." Several headed in the direction of the office as he walked over and picked up a checker from the board, "Another game Davis? By the time you get out of here, you should know how to beat half the group in here!" Shaking his head as Ty smirked up at him, "Sully at least Lieu! And maybe Faith if she keeps offering to take me off of Sully's hands." Dave laughed quietly as he saw her approaching, "Faith, Keith's about to do a radio call again if you're interested."

"Thanks Lieu," she shook her head, "Fred's not expecting to hear from me for another day. I don't want to worry him with an unexpected call." Sitting down she missed the look Sully and Ty exchanged, and the winks. It had been decided between the two of them to keep her busy, and if that meant a little monkey business at Ty or Sully's expense, then so be it.

Cabin:

"You feeling okay?" Bosco leaning against the counter finishing off a package of ding-dongs asked as Vinny walked out of the hallway. Watching him cross the dining area he noticed him touch the table for balance before continuing to the sink. Vinny took a plate down before answering him, "It's hot in here, I'm just a little lightheaded. Man this place could use an open window, its getting hot in here to you?" Bosco shook his head watching him as he crossed over to the fridge, "No, in fact I'm finding it kind of cold, was debating getting some more wood off the side porch to start the fireplace up. You sure you're feeling okay Vin? You look like you're drunk or something."

Digging in the fridge, Vinny pulled out a bowl, "How old is this stuff?" Looking inside, he grimaced, "What IS this stuff?" Holding it out to Bosco who laughed, "Um, not sure, is that your beef stew? Or oh my God, no, I think that's suppose to be...hell I don't remember. Throw it away before one of us gets poisoned or something." Vinny grinned handing it to him, "Uh uh, I'm not touching it, you do something with it." Bosco gingerly held the bowl, "Man is that something growing in there?"

Vinny snickered as he dug again in the fridge, "Looked like a whole colony to me." As he pulled another container out, looking inside he laughed, "Hey, look we got a village here." Reaching back he handed this container to Bosco who started shaking his head, "Okay, time for clean out, cause I remember we did this two weeks ago. Man this is gross, not to mention a waste!"

Vinny stood up stretching his back, "Naa, there's only a couple like that, everything else is fresh." Closing the door putting two more containers on the cabinet next to Bosco he stood leaning on the cabinet a short ways off, watching Bosco empty the bowls out into the small trash container. As he began to wash them, pouring water into the sink from a bucket on the floor, adding dish detergent to the sink he swirled his hand in the cool water, making suds, dumping the bowls and lids in.

The water was still frozen in the pipes and they'd melted snow from the porch for the sink and toilets and for bathing. Bosco had joked that at least they didn't have to go far for it. The snow had piled up against the door until they'd been forced to clear a path or have it blocked in completely. Locked inside was bad enough but to be snowed in, well that wasn't something he could stand.

Vinny and he had shoveled it into the sink, a couple of buckets and carried loads into the bathroom dumping it into the tub and shower enclosures to melt. Finally they'd cleared enough to be able to see the blizzard starting up yet again. It's 6 hour break over. They'd done this now for the last three days to keep the door clear and to get fresh water for the necessities. Drinking water not a problem with the stored bottle water in the pantry.

Bosco rinsing the second bowl, turned to look at him, seeing him just leaning there, "I thought you were hungry?" Vinny yawned, "Na, not really, just bored." Turning back to the sink, "Oh so you thought you'd just come in here and give me something to do because you're bored?" Rolling his eyes as he gave a light laugh.

Vinny pushed off the cabinet, "Yep, and now I'm not bored anymore." He snickered as he headed into the livingroom. Bosco growled like a cat, "You dirty..." turning around to go after him, his hands full of suds.

Hearing him, Vinny laughed, "Don't threaten me Maurice, I didn't let that stuff go to waste by myself you know, besides its your turn to wash dishes tonight. I just wanted to make sure it was gone before its my turn." Glancing back he saw him coming at him with the handfuls of soap.

Quickly heading to the livingroom, Vinny was moving fast, but not fast enough. Bosco caught him as he rounded the couch. Laughing Bosco pulled him to him, smearing the suds on his shirt, "You think you're sneaky don't you?" Vinny looking down at him grinned tiredly, wiping some of the suds off, "No, I know I am." Reaching a hand up, he brushed the hair off of his forehead, "Damn it's hot in here."

Bosco frowned, "Vin, it's not hot, hell we don't even have the fireplace going yet." His hands still holding his arms, he frowned harder, "The rooms not hot, you are." Pulling an hand free he put his hand on Vinny's neck, then face, "Crap, you're burning up. Can't you tell the difference between a hot room and a fever?"

Pushing away from him, Vinny declared, "I don't get fevers, hell I don't hardly get sick. It's just hot in here, that's all." Heading to the door, "I'm going outside a minute, get cooled down." He stopped first checking the thermostat, it was the same place it had been earlier when he'd looked. Shaking his head he continued to the door, "Must be something wrong with that thing." His slight stagger as he reached the door causing Bosco to become alarmed, "Vin, what are you..."

Flinging the door open as Bosco watched, he stood, legs wide, raising his shirt up. The freezing outside air instantly sweeping into the cabin around him. Sighing, "Now that's what I call air-conditioning!"

Bosco getting an instant shiver from the same air, exclaiming behind him, "NO, Vin, that's called pneumonia waiting to happen! Close that damn door!" Rushing to it, already chilled from the blown in snow and wind, he pushed it closed.

Turning to him, as Vinny began to protest, Bosco grabbed his arm, "Vin look at me." Taking his face in his hands, looking into his eyes, "Vinny, you have a fever. I'll get the first aid kit. Do we have a thermometer in there?" Vinny held on to him, "I'm not sick. I'm just hot, that's all. I don't get sick remember. Now, let me get cooled off." He let go again, heading again to the door.

Bosco blocked the door with his body, "No, damn it Vin, just go sit down. Take your shirts off and you'll be cooler. I'll get the kit." He pushed him in the direction of the couch, heading to the pantry door, "Oh and strip those jeans off too, my Mom always made us just wear our shorts when we had fever. Keeps you cooler."

He was in the room when he heard the front door bang open again. The loud whine of the storms winds whipping through the cabin again. Rushing out he didn't see Vinny in the doorway. Moving quickly, Bosco stood a moment in the doorway, looking out into the dark trying to see where he was.

"VINNY! GET YOUR ASS BACK IN THIS CABIN! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF?" Vinny was down the steps and into the deep snow of the front yard. Rapidly heading to nowhere fast but was now waist deep in the soft white drift he'd plunged into.

"CRAP!" Bosco bitched as he snatched a coat from the hook next to the door. Looking down he moaned as he saw his boots were not where he'd left them, "Damn it him and his picking shit up all the time." Running back into the pantry he grabbed the nearest pair he saw, slipping them on quickly, "What the hell is it with people always wanting to run off in the damn snow? Sullivan did it, now Vin. Crap on this! I hate the fucking cold!"

Grabbing a flashlight in case Vinny managed to make his way further than he'd seen him last, he again hurried out the door after him.

Casting the light from his flashlight over the snow drifts, Bosco spotted the narrow path Vinny had made. Calling to him, dragging his jacket hood up over his head, he started off after him. "VINNY WHERE ARE YOU?"

Plunging into the empty space created when Vinny moved through the drift, Bosco found it almost to his chest in depth, "Son of a bitch, I hope there's no drop off!" Trying to remember the landscape of the yard leading to the trees in this direction, he carefully made his way, finding the snow deepening then becoming shallow in areas as the ground dipped and rose.

Quickly becoming wet and colder, he continued to call out to Vinny. Suddenly he tripped, falling face down unable to catch himself in the soft snow. The sides of the drift collapsed down on him, leaving him cursing loudly as he struggled out from under it. Regaining his feet, he realized he'd dropped the light, now having to get back down, he dug around under the wet clinging whiteness for it. His hands already red and stiffening as he searched. His fingers finally closing over the rubber and plastic body of it. Relieved to find it still worked, he lurched to his feet again.

Swinging the light behind him, yelling again against the wind, "VINNY GOT DAMN IT COME ON! THIS IS CRAZY! I'M GONNA FREEZE MY FUCKING BALLS OFF OUT HERE!" Not hearing an answer, he plunged on, angry, as well as scared that he would not find him now. The storm was yet again picking up, the snow falling faster, the wind beginning to howl in its fury.

The Rangers Station:

"So, you whupped him again did you?" Dave glanced up from his crossword puzzle, eyeing Faith as she picked up the cards Ty had tossed down before storming off. He was trying not to laugh as she peeked up from under her hair, a smile of triumph on her face, "Yep, that's three games of checkers, two games of Rummy...oh and Sully's right you have to watch him, he cheats, and he doesn't know the rules. And five hands of Seven Card Stud."

Standing up she put the cards back on the small table, moving to sit on the couch next to Dave, "I know what he and Sully are doing. But don't let them know I know." She smiled in their direction, as Ty gave her a pretend glare. Sully bowing to her made her giggle, "They're great guys Lieu."

Dave patted her on the knee, "Yes Faith they sure are. And is it working? Keeping your mind busy?" Going back to his puzzle he waited while she observed his work in progress.

"That one's Miracle." She pointed to Seven down, "And yea, for the most part, I guess so. And if it weren't I wouldn't tell them." He lifted his head, turning to look her in the face, "And that's what makes you a good friend. So, its your turn to cook. What are you feeding us?" He grinned at her look of shocked outrage, she laughed, "ME? Cook?"

Ty came over just then, "Hey, yea, its Faith's turn, what are you feeding us?" He looked like any other starving 27 year old. She gave a fake smile, standing up, "I don't know Ty, but I'm sure as soon as you put that apron on to help me I'll be able to decide."

Heading to the kitchen, he exclaimed, "ME? But I helped at breakfast and lunch!" Sully clapped him on the back, "And I appreciated the help Partner."

Lieu looked up at him, "And I did too Officer. Now go help Yokas. You want something to keep you busy, so I now declare you the official kitchen help."

Ty's mouth dropped open, about to protest then pausing, getting that 'light bulb' look, smirked, "Cool, cause that according to the rules you guys set up: the cooks don't wash dishes; means I don't have to wash dishes for the rest of the time we are here!" He quickly followed Faith, leaving Sully to slap his palm against his forehead, while Swersky dropped his head down laughing. Sully groaned, "What did we just do?"

Dave replied, "Got suckered in John. Think he planned that?" Sully laughed as he sat down on the couch, "Probably." Glancing at the puzzle, "Seven down is Miracle." Dave cut his eyes at him, sarcastically remarking, "Gee why didn't I see that."

The Cabin:

Vinny plunged onward, oblivious as yet to the cold surrounding him. The high fever raging in his body making him delirious now. Fighting against the snow like the ocean waters surrounding him, he began to grow tired. Pausing he tried to get his bearings. His mind not in the moment he was searching for someone. Calling out to him, "DENVER!! DENVER, I'M SORRY, PLEASE COME ON I DIDN'T MEAN IT! I WAS JUST ANGRY!!!" Another few minutes of this and he was sitting on the ground, the snow deep around him. Sobbing in frustration at not being able to save his partner and friend. At letting him drown. "I'm sorry, oh god please forgive me, I'm so sorry..."

Bosco following the broken snow trail, found him nearly unconscious as the cold finally was taking control of Vinny. Kneeling, saying a silent prayer for finding him at all, Bosco touched him, "Vin, Vin, come on man. You're just sick that's all, come on we need to get back to the cabin."

He found himself suddenly gripped tightly in Vin's hands as he startled up, staring blindly into Bosco's face, "I tried, I tried to find you! I did, I looked for hours, but I couldn't find you...I'm sorry Denver." Bosco nodded, "I know man, just come on okay? Lets get back inside where its warm. I'm freezing my ass off out here, and I really don't have that much ass to freeze off you know?" He was attempting to get Vinny's mind forward to where he really was and away from what had happened. Sensing that if he didn't, he'd never get him back to the cabin.

"No, no you don't understand," Vinny cried out, "I have to keep looking. I have to find you so you know I didn't mean it!" Reaching up and taking Bosco's face in both of his hands, "Please, please Denver, you have to help me find you!" Bosco reached up, taking Vinny's hands in his, at first at a lost as to how to make him cooperate. The desperate pleas and look in Vinny's eyes breaking his heart. He knew how he'd felt when Faith had gotten shot, just as desperate for her to live, and to forgive him. And she still had not, after all the time that had passed. Still wouldn't take his call or accept his apology or help.

Vinny sobbed, calling to Denver to forgive him, to help him, again. Bosco nodded, setting his feet he pulled him up, "Its okay, you found me Vin. See, I'm okay now. Just a little cold. Can we go back to the cabin and get that fire going? Please?" Holding on to him, arms around his chest, he pulled on him to get him walking, "Come on Vin, I'm okay now, lets go."

He was jerked to a stop as Vinny grabbed at him, looking into his face, "Denver? Denver?" Bosco lowered his eyes slightly, knowing the dramatic difference the eye color would make in the flashlight's glow. Vinny had his hand tight, the light shining up between them, "Yea, its me. I told you. You found me, lets go home now, okay?" He was hugged tightly to Vinny's chest, Vinny crying out, "Oh God, Oh God Denver. I thought, I thought I'd killed you." Wild laughter of relief coming from him as he kissed Bosco's face, hugging him again, "You're alive, Denver you're okay?"

Smiling at him, "Yea, I'm okay, now come on." Bosco suddenly found a very eager Vinny cooperating with him as he moved forward. He could feel the heat still radiating from him as he held him around his back with one arm, while he used the flashlight to guide him along the path. Fear set in as he started to realize just how hot Vinny really was. Himself, he was shivering with cold now, wet, miserable with only the 15 minutes he figured he'd been out here.

By the time they reached the cabin, Bosco was beyond cold. He felt frozen stiff. His face and hands hurt, his feet numb. Vinny was leaning on him now, and it was all he could do to get him into the cabin's warmth. Only the cabin wasn't warm anymore. When he'd left, the door had not shut completely and had swung open. Snow dusted the floor wet and melting rivulets of water from it spreading out in the further areas of the room. Kicking the door closed he nearly slipped and fell with Vinny on top of him as he fought his way under his partners weight to the couch to sit him down.

Getting Vinny to let him go was not as easy as he'd thought. It took nearly 5 minutes of convincing him he would not disappear on him again before he could disentangle himself. "Vin, I have to start a fire and get us dry clothes. We're going to die from frostbite or just plain damn cold if I don't now, come on, I'm not leaving, just trying to get warm. I'll be right here."

Vinny finally nodded sleepily, again Bosco felt fear gripping him, "Don't you go to sleep Vin! Come on, stay awake okay? I'll be right back." He let go of Vinny's hands having gotten him to let him go, he put them in Vinny's lap, "I'm just starting a fire. Talk to me okay?"

Quickly grabbing the kindling Bosco stuffed the fireplace and lit it. As it began to blaze up he kept a rambling dialogue going, "Hey, you remember that idiot we almost lost off the top of the bank building first day we worked together? Man that guy had to be on crack or something. I thought you were going off after him! What did you tell him again?"

He glanced back as he put the first of the small logs on, knowing he would have to go and get larger ones from the side porch in just a few minutes. Vinny was smiling, "Um, Denver we didn't pull anyone off a bank building the first day we worked together. That was Maurice and I did that. How did you know about it?"

Bosco sighed, "Guess somebody must have told me about it Vin." He stood up, his legs stinging still from the cold dampness of his jeans, "I'm going change now, I'll be right back with some dry clothes for you. You just sit there and enjoy the fire." Moving quickly he kicked off the wet boots before entering the hallway, glancing back only to make sure Vinny was still sitting where he'd left him. In the bedroom, he pulled dry clothes from the dresser, throwing them on the bed as he stripped the wet, and now dripping socks and jeans off. Shivering he called out to Vinny, trying to keep him talking, if only to know where he was, "Sooo, what did we do our first day? Do you remember?" Dragging on a warm pair of sweats, woolen socks following, he felt a harder shiver as his body started to warm again. Talking low to himself, "I swear the next time somebody runs off into the damn snow, their ass is just going to freeze to death!" Stripping his shirt off, he tugged on a tee-shirt, then a sweatshirt. "Oh my god, I'm cold!" Rubbing his arms, he could hear Vinny talking in the livingroom but could not understand what he was saying. "Well at least this time I know where he is." Quickly grabbing two towels from the bathroom, he got Vinny a set of sweats from the dresser, heading out of the room to get him started changing.

Vinny was talking about something that had happened on the job, but Bosco couldn't tell if it was Denver or him he was talking about. Checking the fireplace, he saw he still had a few minutes at least before he had to go back out the door. Grateful for small favors, he set about getting Vinny changed. Not an easy task, as Vinny kept grabbing his hands, wanting to tell him something about the 'case' they'd done. Again, Bosco couldn't make out everything he was saying as the fever was rising again. "It's okay, Vin, here, get this on." Soon he had a dry sweatshirt on him, now the hard part. "Come on, lift up Vin," Bosco was trying to get the wet jeans off of him, instead of Vinny lifting up like he asked, he instead suddenly slumped to his side.

"No, no, no, no, come on man don't do this to me..." Bosco groaned, as he realized he was unconscious now. Pushing him all the way over, a struggle ensued as he fought the wet clothing. Finally panting it was done, now he just had to get him dressed again. First he used the towel to dry his legs and feet. That's when he realized Vinny had no shoes on, only wet socks. "Oh God..."

Carefully pulling the socks off he saw white patches on Vinny's toes and the tops of his feet. Checking beneath he saw they were wet wrinkled like he'd been in water too long. "Okay, Vin you really need to wake up now, cause I don't know what the hell frostbite looks like, or what to do about it." Gently slapping him in the face, Bosco found him unresponsive. "Oh shit, come on man, please Vin." After several minutes with no results he gave up. Sitting on the coffeetable head in his hands he was overcome by anger and fear. Grabbing the first thing he found, a paperweight he threw it against the front door, "SON OF A BITCH! GOT DAMN IT!"

Standing shaking, tears of frustration on his face, he grabbed up the sweats and forced them onto Vinny, the socks following. Covering him up with the blanket off the back of the couch, he sat again on the coffeetable near his head, "I don't know what to do Vin. I've never had to take care of someone who's sick. You picked the wrong person to do this with. I'm sorry. I really am useless unless I have a gun in my hand or a wrench, Vin. Please you have to wake up and tell me what to do here." Hearing the fire crackle, he turned, "Oh crap!" Dressing Vinny had taken longer than the few minutes he'd thought he'd have. The fire was nearly out again. Jumping over to it, he threw more of the small logs onto it, then ran to the side door to retrieve some of the larger pieces.

Several minutes later, the fireplace roaring finally, he was forcing aspirin down Vinny, the first attempt not successful as Vinny had choked on the pills and spit them out. Bosco rousing him enough finally to get him to drink, now made sure he'd swallowed the small white pills before allowing him to lie back again. Placing a pillow under Vinny's head he was himself sitting against the couch, near Vinny's head. His knees pulled up, a blanket wrapped around him now. Having remembered what his mother had done, he'd pulled the blanket from Vinny, and removed the sweatpants he'd just placed on him prior to the aspirin attempts. Afraid to sleep, in case Vinny woke up and tried for another 'rescue' trip outside, he blinked sleepily at the fire, wondering how serious this illness was. Glancing back to make sure he was still okay, Bosco saw his eyes open.

"Hey," he said a half smile on his face, "NOW you're awake?" He quickly realized Vinny's eyes were not focused, then heard him start to mumble again. Reaching up he felt his forehead, finding he was hotter than before, not cooler. Vinny grabbed his wrist in his, his grip like an iron band, "Maurice, run! Get out! He's got a gun!" Bosco turned and getting onto his knees, tried to pry Vinny's fingers from his wrist while attempting to soothe him, "No, its alright. You made him give it up Vin. You took his gun away remember?" Vinny blinked a few times, his grip tightening, making Bosco wince, "I have it?" His confusion evident as his memory was not in sync with what Bosco was telling him. "Yea," Bosco continued, "You grabbed it and threw it over into the other room remember? Let go of my wrist Vin, you're hurting me, man."

Vinny looked at their hands, his grip slowly releasing, "I threw it away? I didn't mean to hurt you, sorry..." He finally let go as Bosco sat back rubbing his wrist, "Its ok, no harm done Vin. Do you know who I am?" Searching his face, trying to decide if he was actually awake or dreaming.

"Maurice?" Vinny's confusion melting for the moment, "What happened?" Bosco reached out, brushing his hair back, "Not much, you just have a fever, decided to take a stroll outside. In the snow. I had to go after you, bring you back. You do know how much I hate cold right Vin?" Blinking at him, Vinny took in their clothing, the fire, "I did? Sorry. Its really hot in here Maurice, I don't feel so good now." Bosco, his arm and hand on Vinny's chest, smiled slightly, "No, I don't guess you do feel 'good' right now. Your fever's pretty high, I gave you aspirin, but Vin, I think you might have frostbite on your feet and I don't know what to do." Vinny nodded, asking hoarsely, "How long?" As he took Bosco's left hand in his.

Bosco pulled the blanket around him tighter with his right hand, as hot as Vinny was, he found the room still very cold, "You were outside about 20 or 30 minutes Vin, but we've been inside at least that long now, maybe longer?" Vinny looked at him, "Doesn't matter now. What's done is done. I think I'm going to sleep now, okay?" His eyes closed as he was speaking leaving Bosco again alone, not knowing what he meant by 'what's done is done'.

Watching him for several long minutes, Bosco again sighing faced the fire, only now he was sideways to the couch. His hand still held in Vinny's, he lay his head down onto his again drawn up knees, watching the fire jump and blaze. "Vin, don't you fucking die on me... please..."

TBC...