Thanks for being patient. And for the lovely reviews. Its been tough lately trying to get the Muses on the same page together. One tugs and yells, "Oh wow, look at that!", and the other spins in a chair laughing like a hyena while he drinks Pina Coladas. (knew I shouldn't have let them come on Vac/Work trip with us) But its done, and they both are finally happy. So, Enjoy! M.
Rules and Broken Trust
Chapter 27
"What the hell went wrong?" Hampton was yelling at Brown and Mason as Lawson the groups Medic worked on Bosco and Vinny. "How could you shoot him in the chest with the fucking canister? Didn't you check first for placement?"
"He's breathing sir," Lawson looked up, "somebody hand me that oxygen canister, now! And make sure that fire is out in the fireplace. That's all we need, flames and boom. SHIT how the hell did he manage this." Bosco lay on the floor still in the same position he'd landed in. Vinny only a few feet from him, handcuffed, was still unconscious. One of the other agents moved to douse the coals in the fireplace fully.
Lawson placed the mask over Bosco's mouth, turning the canister on, as Faith, Swersky and the others came racing into the cabin.
Seeing only the bodies standing around behind and to the side of the couch, staring down at the floor, hearing Hampton raising hell and the medic asking for assistance, Faith halted at the edge of the dining table. Sully charged forward coming to a stop as one of the agents turning saw him and held out his arm to block his progress. Shaking his head at them, "Wait, let him work."
"Oh dear god," Ty moaned out seeing Bosco's arm outstretched on the floor, the medic working on him. Bending at the waist his hands on his knees to brace himself, Ty took a deep breath, "Oh shit, no, no."
"What happened," Swersky was looking to Hampton for answers, receiving only a simple head shake and Hampton turning back to Brown and Mason.
"That's what I'm waiting to find out," glaring at them both he also waited, "they're both alive though, but Boscorelli was hit with the canister, right before it blew in his face!"
Brown stepped forward, she and Mason having come through the broken windows were as fast on the scene as had been the others through the doorway. Brown had been in shock at the sight of Boscorelli at the left side of the coffeetable, in front of the chair. Now she tried to explain to them what had happened, or at least what she'd done.
"Sir," she began, "I checked before I fired the canister in. Vetresco was to the left of the window, in front of the stereo," pointing, "there." She turned back, "Boscorelli was standing next to the coffee table, between the fireplace and the end of the table," pointing again, "there. I moved back, signaled you and Mason and swung back and fired the canister. He must have walked out or been walking when I saw him, and I didn't realize it at the time." She glanced over to where Bosco lay on the floor, "I'm so sorry, sir."
The others realizing what she was saying exchanged glances, Faith finally finding her voice, moving forward, "Bosco? You hit him in the chest? How, uh, how close was he?" Shoving the agent aside who tried to block her way, she stopped when she saw Bosco's face, her hand flying to her mouth, "Bosco? No! Oh god."
Brown her eyes moving from Bosco to the ceiling sighed, "I fired before I could register he was actually standing there, the grenade hit him in the chest, landed at his feet. Vetresco yelled his name, made a dive for him, I looked away when the canister went off.. Boscorelli was right on top of it. I don't think he even realized what it was, or, what was happening."
Shock keeping everyone silent for the moment, no one paid attention to Vinny's regaining consciousness. A low moan from his direction drew the Sully's eyes to him.
"You sorry son of a bitch!" Sully heading over to him restrained by two agents, Swersky yelling out, "SULLIVAN, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF, NOW!" Stepping between Vinny and him, Dave put his hand up, "He didn't do this, it was an accident. Stop or I'll have you in cuffs."
Sully blinking at him, "Lieu? If it weren't for him, Bosco wouldn't have had an ACCIDENT in the first PLACE!" Jerking from the grip of the agents he stormed away finding himself in the kitchen.
The sounds of the hissing oxygen canister, Vetresco's groans and the low voices of the Medic and another agent carrying to him, Sully gripped the counters edge, praying Bosco would make it. The thought that after surviving whatever the hell had gone on here, to die being rescued, killed by the very people sent to do so, blinding him with anger.
Faith stood looking down at her partners prone body. His blackened face covered partially with the mask, the blood running from several cuts on his cheeks and forehead, she was feeling sick. Her eyes running over him, she didn't recognize the clothing he was wearing, but figured since she hadn't seen him in many more months than he'd been missing, she probably wouldn't anyway.
He looked thinner to her, but again unsure if it was his clothing or if Vetresco had starved him she tried not to think about it yet.
Tears started as she again noticed the blood seeping from cuts on his face, the skin red and raw looking, and to her ever growing horror more blood leaking from his right ear. Knowing how powerful a stun grenade could be if it went off too close, Faith knew he could be in a bad way without the canister being fired into him. The tee-shirt and sweatpants he was wearing stippled with black streaking she was numb when Swersky touched her arm, "Faith." His simple inquiry forcing her tears to spill, voice shaky, unconvincing, she replied, "I'm fine."
Ty seeing and feeling much the same things as the others, found himself standing side by side with Faith. Exchanging looks, he put his hand on her shoulder, and with the others waited while the medic continued to assess his injuries.
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His first glimmers of consciousness bringing a headache like nothing he'd ever known, Vinny slowly opened his eyes. A groan of pain escaping him, he could only faintly hear yelling beyond him. Trying to focus, he found his vision filled with dancing black and white blotches. The yelling stopping, he tried to pull his arms around to his chest, as he was finding it hard to breathe. He found them pinned behind him. Recognizing after a moment of struggling against the bindings that he was wearing cuffs, he tried instead to roll to his back. Only again to find himself restrained, this time by hands forcing him to stay on his stomach.
Voices near him, fuzzy and confusing, someone was in his face asking him something, or telling him something, what he had no idea. Swallowing the bile his stomach was forcing to his throat, its bitter taste adding to his misery, he began to cough. The raspy thick sound finally making someone to his right call out instructions and he found himself now being pulled up onto his side.
Drawing his knees up to his stomach a coughing spasm took him over. His mind jumbled he only knew he couldn't catch his breath. Hands again on him, as again a voice called out loudly, and suddenly he felt something being slipped over his face, cold sweet oxygen now flowing from it his coughing eased after a minute.
A light, painful and sharp, flashing into his eyes, as the roaring in his ears began to slowly dissipate. Sounds becoming sharper, voices a bit more clear as he lay on the hard floor. How much time passed he was unaware, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion.
Trying to ask a question as the memory of an explosion flitted through his mind, he found someone in his face again, this time pulling the mask away for a moment. Voice raspy, hoarse he asked, "Maurice?" The hand's attached face asking him to repeat himself, Vinny tried to speak louder, "Maurice, where?" Someone beyond him spoke again, and Vinny felt panic overtaking him, trying to fight the mask he begged, "Help him, please. Went off in his face, he didn't know, didn't see what..." Violently coughing again, he felt the hand shove the mask back onto his face, refusing to answer his question.
Hot tears stung his eyes spilling down as he angled his head backwards and saw the most horrifying sight he'd ever seen. Not even Denver going over the edge of the rock formation sent a chill through his heart as the sight of Maurice on the ground with two people working on him did. Unable to see what they were doing, weeping with frustration and fear, "No, no, no." His voice muffled with the mask on his face, he turned back to the body kneeling next to him, trying to explain, "He's sick, he's ill, chest..." Coughing again, he felt hands on him again, pulling him into a sitting position.
"What do you mean sick?" The voice now having a face, squatting in front of him now, "Sick? Sick how?" Yanking the mask down, waiting for Vinny's reply.
"I don't know, what, chest thing. Fever, coughing, both of us, he's worse." Vinny pleaded with the man, hearing other voices raising after he spoke, still too fuzzy for him to make out. Looking over trying to focus he saw several people standing around the couch and beyond. Unable to settle his sight on anyone in particular with the light behind them from the kitchen, he returned his focus to Maurice on the floor.
"When did he get sick?" The face again asking, this time forcefully turning his face to look at him, the voice raised, "Look at me man, when did he get sick? How did it start?"
"Um, about four days ago I guess," Vinny replied, coughing again, "fever, and coughing, not sure, um, ache all over." Trying to again focus on the particulars of the face in front of him, his hearing still not sharp beyond a couple of feet away, he asked, "Who are you? Why'd you do that to him? What do you want?" Mind still not focusing beyond the fact that Maurice was in danger, and needed help, Vinny stared at the man in front of him.
Another body dropped down in front of him, set a bag down and opening it took things out. Holding his face still they began to wipe it with something, a stinging sensation causing him to inhale sharply and attempt to jerk away.
"Its okay," a woman's voice loudly replied, "I'm just cleaning the residue off and cleaning up a few cuts. I know it stings, but it has to be done."
Vinny tried to be still, trying to see over where Maurice still lay, he heard the woman say, "Oh thank God."
Turning back to her, eyes wide he frowned, trying to focus enough to see her facial expression. Panic in his voice, "What? What's happening?" Beginning to shiver in the cold of the room, as the wind blew steadily into the broken window, Vinny stared at her.
Seeing his gaze, hearing him, she commented, "He's starting to come too." She went back to cleaning his face, "Do you know where you are?"
Tilting his head at her, Vinny answered, "Yea, our cabin."
The woman gave him a quick look, "What's your name?" Wiping again, she was also watching someone behind him.
"Vincent," he answered softly, a cough interrupting, "Vinny, Vinny Vetresco."
The person standing behind him spoke, loudly so as to make sure he could hear, "Vincent Vetresco, you're under arrest for the drugging and kidnapping of Maurice Boscorelli. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to ..."
As the man behind him told him his rights, Vinny turned again to Maurice lying on the floor. Watching the people working on him, his vision slowly clearing he saw a mask like he was wearing, on Maurice's face. Vinny tuned the voices out., he focused only on the sight of Maurice's chest rising and falling. Nothing else mattered except that he was still alive.
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Pushing past the agents, dropping down beside her partner, Faith waited as Bosco began to cough and fight the mask. His moans as he regained consciousness growing into painful groaning. "What's wrong?" She worriedly asked the Medic Lawson, "Help him!"
"Faith, I am," Lawson glanced up a moment, "for now he just needs to wake up. He's going to be in a lot of pain, both eardrums were ruptured." Raising his head he caught Hampton's eye, "Sir, everyone needs to try to be quiet. He won't be able to hear, but loud noises are going to cause him a lot of pain right now." Hampton nodded glancing around seeing everyone understood. "Also, he's blinded from the flash. Burns on both eyes, most of his face. He's got some nose hairs singed, but that's probably the extent of it. Grenade flashes aren't like fire, they hurt like hell, but mostly its for stunning, not maiming. He was just unlucky that it went off basically in his face. About a week or so he'll be back to normal, except maybe for his hearing. But for now, he won't be able to see more than just bright light and shadows, if that. And he won't be able to understand you. I doubt he'll even be able to distinguish voices from white noise for a while." Pausing as he searched for something, he added, "and he's probably got a cracked rib. The area the canister hit him in has a laceration, and already some significant bruising. I'll wrap his chest just to be on the safe side when I'm done with his face."
Lawson working on placing a medication in Bosco's eyes, another on the surrounding damaged tissues, beginning the process of patching them closed, was pulling the first strip of tape when he noticed looking up, how pale Faith had gone. "Faith, you okay?" He reached over Bosco and tapped her on her leg, "Maybe you could hand me that wrap?" Seeing she was about to lose it he made sure she became involved before she freaked on him.
"Sure Al, sure," Faith taking the gauze wrap from the case next to her handed it over, taking a deep breath, "what else can I help with."
Lawson seeing she was again under control smiled, "Get some more of that saline wash out, we need to clean these cuts before he comes too. I'm not looking forward to how he's going to react, what with not knowing what's happening to him and all." His words acting like catalysts as Bosco pushed his hands up, forcing Lawson to drop the wrap and try to stop him.
Again fighting the mask, Bosco raised his hands away from his face and pushed Lawson away, a cry of, "Uuhhhhhggg noooooo!" from him, and the mask was off, flung away as he slowly came more out of it.
Still mostly unaware of what was happening, he tried to roll to his side, calling out, "Vinny! Aaaahhhhhhhhhgggggdddd....." Grabbing his ears he rolled completely up and onto his hip and leg before they could stop him. A coughing spasm overtook him, and he was grabbing his chest with one hand, holding one ear with the other, a cry of pain escaping through the coughing fit.
'what,' Bosco's thoughts were confused, 'did the fireplace blow?' Everything smelled like burned wood, or paper, 'why can't I see?' Pain in his head, ears, excruciating as he held his head in his hands, 'god, what was that? Vinn...oh shit, Vin...' Calling out louder than he thought he was, "VINNY!!! VINNY WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? WHER.....AAAHHHHSSHIIITTT!!"
All hell broke loose in the small confined area, when both Faith and Lawson along with the Agent assisting Lawson tried to restrain him, to keep him from gaining his feet. As soon as their hands touched him, Bosco went berserk on them.
His calling to Vinny turning to screaming in fear, "SON OF A BITCH!!!" he flung himself away from them. Scrambling away across the floor he first swung his right arm out wildly, tossing a hard left as he tried to avoid a groping set of hands. His desperate punch connecting with Faith's temple, he dropped her where she knelt.
Lawson going after him seeing the punch connect backed off but not before Bosco caught him across the mouth, busting his lip. Instantly understanding that Boscorelli would not go down without a serious fight, yelled at the other Agent to cease his actions, "STOP, STOP, HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON! JEFFERSON, BACK OFF!" Immediately he was at Faith's side, "Faith are you okay?"
The others having moved forward as Bosco began screaming and swinging, stopped as Lawson held up his hand, "NO! Stop, he'll only get more injured, leave him a minute, he'll calm down," leaning back down to Faith she was staring at him in shock, "you okay?" Moving her hair off of her face, he touched her temple where she'd been struck.
"Yea," she gave a moaning groan, rising carefully, "I'm okay, just stunned me. Your lip is bleeding." Ty at her side, helped her to her feet. Sully coming from the kitchen made her sit on the couch as they watched Lawson getting up. Swersky stood behind the couch eyes on Bosco not believing what he was seeing, or hearing.
Lawson stood up, moving towards Bosco now, carefully, "I'm okay, everybody just keep quiet and leave him alone. He's going to have enough problems without that rib cracking all the way through."
Bosco was in the middle of the floor, swaying, arms swinging wildly, yelling, "STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!!!" His face a mask of pain and fear he turned swinging out, at anything trying to keep any rear attacks off, "VINNY, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Unaware yet that his hearing was gone, Bosco only knowing he was blinded, was furious, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM? WHO ARE YOU, WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
Lawson motioned to Ty to come to him, "Lets just try and see if we can get him to understand we want to help," as Ty reached his side. Bosco gasping for air, stood still as they approached him, having quieted for a few seconds. He was beginning like Vinny already to shake with cold, bringing his arms in he wrapped them across his chest, coughing again. The wind from the window slamming into his left ear, he brought his hand up covering it, "Aaaaaggdddddd, Vinny..." Lawson carefully put his hand out and laid it on Bosco's arm, Ty doing the same to his shoulder. Bosco reacted as if he'd been burned again. Screaming at them, he lashed out, staggering backwards. Lawson instantly put his hands up and backed off, "No, he's too agitated still. Back off Ty, just let him be." Both men backed off, watching him, making sure he didn't fall as he continued now with the wild swinging and yelling for them to leave him alone.
Lawson noticing Bosco's reaction to the wind, and realizing he was only in a tee-shirt and sweatpants called back, "Sir, we need to get these windows covered, Now. Before he freezes to death. And get a blanket on Vetresco too." Hampton motioned for two of the agents to do as Lawson instructed, "Go look in that room off the kitchen, see if you can find something, hell blankets if nothing else." They nodded, heading off to do as told.
Stopping a moment Bosco swayed again, then seemed to fight back his weakness, again reaching out his hands caught the TV, moving along it, he was calling out, "WHERE IS HE? VINNY!! OH GOD, VINNY ARE YOU OKAY? ANSWER ME, ANSWER ME!!!" The wind blowing directly into his face now, he was trying to block it with his arm, as well as protect himself from further attack by the unknown assailants in the room. Bosco was thinking that the only reason they'd not dropped him yet, was they figured a blind injured man to be no threat. His main concern now was finding Vinny.
The others stood in shock at his completely unexpected response to Lawson and Faiths attempts to help him. And now Lawson and Ty's. His yelling in rage at those he believed to be his attackers, turning to fearful yelling for the man who'd kidnapped him.
Vinny tried to go to Bosco. Finding himself again on the floor as the Agents over him instantly controlled his movements, one telling him in no uncertain terms, "Stop, before you get hurt."
Bosco's reactions so far confusing the Agents and his friends, he stunned them now, "Vinny, man please, come on, don't do this okay?" His voice lower, he began to realize he couldn't hear along with not being able to see his attackers, "Vin, you gotta be okay, I need you, come on please, I'm scared here man, please be okay..." New tears of pain and fright flowing freer now, adding to the already near constant flow caused by the burns. The wind drying them as fast as they fell, some were beginning as the agents returned to block the window, to freeze on his cheeks.
He'd by now lost the patch bandages Lawson had placed over his eyes as he'd not allowed Lawson to complete what he'd been doing by waking as he did. Rubbing at his eyes, as the burning and stinging from the cold air finally registered, Bosco began to fully panic, before what had been fear of a fire in the cabin, having turned to both fear and anger believing them to have been attacked. Grabbing at his chest, he began to pant, the icy air causing his chest to tighten, 'oh shit, not now...' gasping out, "Vinn....I can't breathe..."
Faith recognized the look on his face, as did Sully, "No, oh no, Bosco..." She rose from the couch, "Al, he's having a panic attack! Do something!"
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Hampton standing back and watching in as much shock as the others now, didn't see a man who'd been kidnapped in front of him. He was seeing a man very much afraid and in serious trouble as Bosco fell backwards against the TV set. Making a snap decision, he hoped he wouldn't regret it.
"Brown!" he called over to her, as she knelt beside Vetresco, "Cut him loose, now!" As Swersky and the others turned to him in shock, he added, "The rest of my team, out, go on, out. That man doesn't need an audience, he needs help." Without argument his team began to vacate, "Start searching the place outside, check that shed. Maybe we can get this figured out. Sam, you take that room off the kitchen, pick someone or hell two someone's and get it done."
"You have to be kidding me!" Dave walked towards him, "you can't cut him loose! What the hell are you thinking Keith?" Furious, he wasn't wanting to kill anyone as Sully had been, but he sure as hell didn't want Vetresco anywhere loose around Bosco.
Cutting his eyes at Dave a moment, he then turned and stared Brown down and watched her begin the removal of the cuffs. He calmly but firmly stated, "I'm thinking that Boscorelli is scared shitless and I'm thinking that if any one of us tries to touch him again, somebody's going to get injured. And considering the already injured state he's in, I'm not willing to take a chance it's NOT him." His stare coming off of Brown to rest on Dave, and in turn on Sullivan, "He's obviously not afraid of the man, Dave, hell he's searching for him. If Vetresco can get him to calm down, by letting him know he's okay, so we can help him, let him do it. We'll be right here."
Brown stepped back as Vinny carefully and slowly rose to his feet. He first glanced around the room, trying to focus on each face, trying to show he was calm and no threat. The sound of Bosco's cries for him, and for help bringing him back away from them, he went to him.
Faith and Sully both stepped forward but a quick comment from Swersky stopped them, "Wait, Davis, you stay over there, Brown and Marcus you also. Vetresco if you so much as sneeze hard you're going down." His hand on Sully's arm, "Not you Sul, you're too angry. Faith sit, you need to get looked at." He could see the large purple area beginning on her face.
The others again moved towards Bosco who was now on his knees as Vinny wrapped in a blanket now, reaching him dropped down beside him.
Faith had to look away, she was so angry all she wanted to do was beat this man until his head caved in. Sully stared at Vetresco's back, trying to decide exactly where to place the knife.
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"Don't you dare try anything," Ty in a calm fierce voice warned Vinny as he stood beside him, "I'm ready this time." Vinny gave him one quick look, then dismissed him.
"Maurice," Vinny's voice was low, Bosco's pained gasping breaths cutting right through him.
"He can't hear you," Lawson put his hand on Vinny's shoulder, "I'm not sure he won't just go nuts again, but you have to make him know its you. That you're okay, so we can help him." He moved to block the view of the others, unsure what Vinny would do, but knowing that whatever it would be, Boscorelli's friends would not like it. He heard Ty's ragged breathing and gave him a look of warning. Ty accepted it, and nodded.
Vinny nodded, "I know."
"Vinn...." Bosco's cries tearing through the others, holding his ears again, pleading, "wher....pleas...don't leave...need you..."
Not hesitating, praying it would be the right thing for once in his time with Bosco, Vinny simply reached out and wrapped his arms around him, wrapping him into the blanket with him. Bosco stiffening, "AAHHNNNOOOO!!!" He tried to pull back, but Vinny pulled him in close, one hand reaching up to the back of his hair holding him to him. "It's okay, love," Vinny's whisper unheard by the others, except those standing closest, "I'm okay, shush, calm down baby." Vinny knew Bosco couldn't hear him, but the words came involuntarily to him.
Bosco somehow knew it was Vinny, the faint odor of his cologne lingering on the shirt he was wearing. The way he stroked his hair, he knew it was Vinny. "OH god," Bosco grabbed hold of him, his breathing out of control, he was gasping in pain, his chest on fire.
Stroking his back, Vinny felt him collapse against him, felt his chest heaving as he tried to breath. Tried to calm himself, "you're alive? Vin," Bosco was suddenly clinging to him, his hands grabbing onto the front of Vinny's shirt, "god, oh god I thought you were dead!" Crying now, he sat with Vinny holding him, on the floor, unable to hear the reactions around them. No idea still what had happened to them. Vinny rocked him, continuing to stroke his back as his breathing began to come under control. Ragged gasps punctuated with sobs as he turned his face into Vinny's shoulder, seeking warmth and shelter now. Hands releasing the front of Vinny's shirt he slipped his arms around Vinny and held on tightly. His voice filled with fear and pain, "I can't see, Vinny I can't see. My head..ears, god it hurts so much."
Ty stood watching for several disbelieving seconds, sick to his stomach, then began to stare out of the window focusing on the agents sealing it up. His face set in stone. Ripping Vinny's head from his shoulders something he was seriously considering right now.
Faith on the couch felt more confusion and fear than she'd thought possible, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, "What, Sully how...what the hell is going on?" Only getting shot and thinking Fred would die during his heart attack were worse.
Sully looked as though someone had punched him in the gut as he watched Bosco break down in Vetresco's arms. His face red enough with fury to make Brown who was looking away from Boscorelli concerned for his blood pressure.
Dave lowered his head, hands grasping the back of the couch as Vinny continued to talk, and Bosco pleaded with him to help him. Unable to think, at how the hell this had come to be.
Hampton watching the scene unfold rubbed his forehead, closing his eyes quietly commented, "What the hell did we do here?"
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Lawson retrieving his medics bag squatted down next to Vinny and Bosco, "I need to treat his injuries," touching Vinny on his shoulder to get his attention. Lawson knew that both men were in a kind of shock from the 'attack' and tried not to take the stand that Vetresco was a criminal, but instead another injured needing attention. Boscorelli's reaction to Vetresco's presence lending weight in his mind to just that, "is there someplace we can take him?" He didn't want to say a place with not so many eyes, but that's what he was thinking. Lawson knew that if the situation were different all of the people in this room would not be allowed in an Exam room.
"Yes," Vinny nodded, "bedroom." Glancing towards the hallway, he gave a chin toss in its direction, "through there. There's a bathroom attached, but the water froze a couple days after the last storm began, so no running water. We have plenty of bottle water though."
"Good," Lawson stood up, "lets get him moved, then patched up." He stood back as Vinny began to get himself and Bosco to their feet. Lifting him up, Vinny wrapped his arm around him, helping him stand. As they started forward, Bosco moving easily where Vinny led him, Sully again cut loose.
"HE'S NOT TAKING HIM ANYWHERE!" Sully came around the couch again, blocking their way, "NO DAMN WAY IS HE TAKING HIM OFF ANYWHERE!"
Bosco cringed at the painful noise, hands flying up to his ears again, he cried out. Lawson turned back to him, then seeing Vinny cover him more with the blanket, addressed Sully and the group. "ENOUGH," he stated. "We're not taking him outside, no one is going to get away, or do anything to harm him!" Holding his hand up in front of him, "But, he's entitled to privacy, and not to have to put on a show for anyone. This man has No idea you are here. No idea he's not in danger from whoever did this to him. And no say so if he has an audience, so I'm saying for him. He needs quiet and privacy, not you or anyone else yelling about it." Glancing down at Faith on the couch, "Why don't you come too, I can look at your head," turning to Ty, "Davis you too. Make everybody happy, okay?"
Nodding, Ty who was already standing next to Vinny answered, his voice low and threatening, "Oh I'm coming," placing his hand on Vinny's shoulder he was a bit surprised to see Vinny simply look to him, nodding in agreement, instead of arguing, "you try anything I'll take you down. Understand?" Hand on his gun, he stared Vinny down.
Returning the stare, "I understand Davis," Vinny nodded slowly, "no worries. I just want to get him help." Moving Bosco forward he followed Lawson as Faith stood up and joined them walking to the hallway. Before they reached the bedroom doorway, Ty could hear Sully arguing vehemently with both Swersky and Hampton about the situation.
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Vinny lowered Bosco into a sitting position on the bed in their room, moving to the side he watched as Lawson placed his bag on the bed next to Bosco. Feeling the movement on the bed instantly Bosco was on the defensive, grabbing at Vinny's arm as he moved away, "No, Vinny don't leave me!" Shaking his head hard, he gave a moan, one hand holding his ear again.
Gripping his shoulders, Vinny tried to let him know he was still there, as Faith and Ty moved to stand near. Faith watched Bosco's reactions to Vinny, glancing up at the large man hovering over her partner. She thought this had to be some freakish dream as she glancing back took the chair another agent had brought into the room for her. He moved to stand out of the way near the doorway, out of sight, but she felt better knowing he was there for backup. Just in case.
Other Agents were just beginning to cover the window in the bedroom, working swiftly to finish.
Bosco must have to her mind thought that he and Vinny were now alone, or perhaps had been 'put' in the bedroom by whomever 'had' them. When he started talking to Vinny her heart sank.
"Vin," Bosco groaned out, "what do they want? How many of them are there?" Another moan from him as he dipped his head raising his hands again to his head. Vinny glancing at Lawson, "Can you give him something for the pain?" Rubbing Bosco on his shoulder and upper back he pulled the comforter on the bed loose, placing it around Bosco as Lawson searched his bag.
"Sure," Lawson replied, "but I'm not sure he's going to cooperate enough to let me give it to him." Studying Vinny a moment, he added, "Can you hold him? I mean still? He feels this alcohol he's not going to be happy with me. Hell he won't even let us near him."
"I'll hold him," Vinny sat next to Bosco, "you just make it fast." Taking him into his arms, he felt him stiffen, then relax again. Sliding the blanket off of Bosco's shoulder, Vinny rubbed his arm through the tee-shirts sleeve as Faith and Ty watched. When Lawson nodded, the syringe and alcohol rub ready, Vinny shoved Bosco's sleeve up, and tightened his grip quickly.
Bosco sensing someone else near him, was distracted as Vinny 'worked him' but as soon as Vinny tightened he knew something was up. When the cold wetness touched his arm, he cried out, "NOOOOOO!" trying to pull away as he attempted to raise his hands to stop them. Ty moved in quickly taking his hands in his. Holding him down, they watched as Lawson injected him with the sedative and painkiller. Bosco yelled at them all in anger, this time not excluding Vinny in his ire, "BASTARD! BASTARDS! NOOOOO! Why, Vinny why?" Before he could make sense of what was going on he began to droop forward. Vinny still holding him, Ty having stepped back, Bosco in only a couple of minutes was limp.
Standing carefully, Vinny, with Lawson's help placed Bosco in the bed, covering him up with the comforter. The room was quiet for a long time as Lawson completed his medical treatment of Bosco, with Vinny's help.
Faith sat in the chair, watching helplessly as Vinny went to a dresser drawer. Ty instantly on alert at his side, as Vinny removed a sweatshirt from the third drawer. Showing it to Ty, who nodded he returned to Bosco. Lawson helped him place it over Bosco's head and arms and pull it into place before recovering him. The room was still very cold from the broken window, and the combination of sedative and painkillers wasn't helping him stay warm.
Once Lawson was satisfied that he'd done all he could he turned now to Faith. "Let me see that head of yours," taking her chin in his hand he tilted her face.
"I'm fine," Faith softly replied, pain in her voice not from her headache, "maybe a couple of aspirin's all I need." Lawson nodded, "Its a pretty good bruise already, but your eyes look okay. Just let me know if you get dizzy or sick to your stomach, okay?" Faith nodded, eyes watching Bosco sleep as Vinny having moved around the other side of the bed, sat down. She stiffened in response, sitting forward.
"No, oh hell no, up!" Ty quietly but firmly ordered him, "Off, now, and don't make me, make you!"
Vinny stood up, staring him down, and spoke for the first time since they'd entered the room and he'd spoken to Lawson, "Fine. But I'm not leaving him alone. So you decide where you want me, but its going to be in this room."
Ty stood unsure now what to do, until Faith spoke up, "How about sitting in a chair? Like that one in the corner? But Ty's right, don't sit on that bed with him again, I'll shoot you myself if you do."
Blinking at her in surprise, Vinny asked, "Who are you?" Then it hit him, "Faith? Faith Yokas?"
"Yes," Faith stood up, "Faith Yokas, his partner. Now chair or floor, you pick."
Vinny stared at her a moment longer, before taking the chair and moving it around to Bosco's side of the bed, almost in defiance of them all. Placing it within reaching distance of Bosco, Vinny sat down, eyes on Faith, "You mean his 'ex' partner don't you? Last time he heard you wanted nothing to do with him. In fact, didn't Fred, that's your husband right? Didn't he tell Maurice if he ever came near you or his family again he'd kill him? So what are you doing here? Breaking into his home, nearly killing him. What the hell are any of you doing here?" Seeing the shocked looks of outrage on their faces, he continued, unrelenting, "Don't look so shocked folks, Maurice told me all about it. How you treat him. Like he's nothing, a kid who needs handling. Making fun of him, disregarding his abilities as a cop. Oh I know a lot of what went on, a lot more than you probably think I do. Nearly ostracizing him in the last months he was on the job, to the point he was depressed and ready to quit. Now, what? You're 'rescuing' him? From me? For what? Well guess what? You wasted your time, and again, he's hurt. Had that storm not come along we'd have already been home. Back in New York. We were leaving the day it hit."
Having sat in silent disregard of Vinny's, to their minds, ramblings, Faith and Ty both now were in doubt. Glancing at one another, attempting to decide how much was horsecrap and how much was truth, both were stung by his 'accusations' on their treatments of Bosco. Ty the only one who actually didn't fit into Vinny's comments, he spoke, "And we're just suppose to believe that Bosco came up here on his own? With you? To get away from the rest of us?" Leaning forward, "Vetresco, we have a witness that told us Bosco was drugged. That you took him out of that restaurant, AFTER, you tried to kill me in the damn locker room! Man," Ty held himself back from slamming his fist into Vinny's face, "you save that shit for the jury, cause that's the only ones you stand a chance of convincing of that crap!"
"Whatever," Vinny smirked not in laughter but in frustration, leaning back in the chair, "I might have done that to him, but whatever I did? Trust me, it pales in comparison to what his so called 'friends and family' has done to him over the years. And you're right Ty, I probably will have to tell it to a jury, but at least I'll know why. You people haven't a clue about what you made him feel. How much you hurt him," staring at Faith now, "Bosco, hell you can't even say his name. He told me why everyone started calling him Bosco. You ever tell Ty that story, Yokas?"
Her mouth opening in slight shock, Faith couldn't believe Vinny had been told that story.
Speaking up, Ty was growing angrier, "Man, lay off, he hates his first name. Everyone knows that. And Bosco is what he introduces himself as."
Faith remained silent, staring at her hands now. Vinny shook his head no at Ty, "No, Davis, its not. MAURICE, introduces himself as Maurice Boscorelli, not Bosco. I've heard him do it time and time again on the street. To women, to shop keepers, hell to everyone. He has Never in my presence said his name was Bosco. Only the people he works with call him that. Why don't you tell him why Faith." Eyes back on her now, Vinny waited. Ty looked confused at first, as if he were trying to think of a time he'd heard different from what Vinny had just said.
"Not in the mood Yokas?" Vinny looked sad as he turned away from her, "Or just not willing to admit what you did?" Ty cut his eyes at her, seeing her refusal to look up.
Frowning he remarked, "Enough Vetresco, whatever it was its over. Done, and none of our business. Bosco seems fine with it, hell most of us use our last names on the job anyway. Let it go."
"It was just a joke," Faith's voice near a whisper as she spoke, "it wasn't meant to hurt anyone." Glancing up she looked both angry and sad, "I can't believe he told you this."
"I can't believe you didn't see how hurt he was by it," Vinny replied softly, "he trusted you, you know. With his life, and you set him up for some 'frat' type prank. Yea, he forgave you, but he never forgot it. How could he, even you still call him Bosco, and he can't remember you ever saying his first name in 12 years unless you were making fun of him over something."
"I never," Faith started, glancing over at Ty she sighed, "never meant to have it go as far as it did. We were rookies, just out of the academy. A couple of the other officers decided to 'get the rookie' Bos, was giving them lip, and a hard time. Really getting on a lot of nerves with his 'gung-ho' attitude, and well, they asked me to help. I made a stupid bet with him as part of it. That he couldn't drink a whole bottle of 'Bosco' syrup, you know that chocolate stuff, like Hershey's?" Davis nodded, wondering what could be so bad about that, hell he'd done it as a kid, his mom had been totally pissed off, but no harm no foul so...
"Anyway," Faith continued, "my 'job' was to get him to do it in front of everyone. And he's always more than willing to 'win' a bet. Only thing was, the other officers replaced the 'Bosco' syrup with a melted chocolate laxative. An old and stupid joke, I know." She was playing with her rings as she spoke. Ty nodded, now understanding why Bosco might not have been happy.
"Only thing was," Faith frowned in memory, "Bosco did drink the entire bottle, pretty fast too. No one had done it before without getting sick, either halfway through, or even before. Its just so sweet and rich. We found out too late he was allergic to the chemical and he ended up in the hospital for almost a week. He was really sick. I thought he'd never speak to me again, but as usual he just blew it off. Everyone covered for me, and the others took a suspension. When he came back to work, everyone started calling him Bosco. He didn't like it at first, he'd tried to get them to call him Maurice or Bos, you know like on his car's tag? But he was stuck with Bosco. I even took to calling him that. He tried a few times to make me stop, but with the others doing it, he finally said whatever and let it go."
Ty sat silently, nodding as Faith finished her story. Before he could say anything, Vinny spoke, "I need the head. Its through there," pointing to the bathroom, "you can check it out first, but I seriously need it now."
The Agent leaning against the wall stood forward, "I'll check it out." Walking around Faith he went into the room, returning in only a minute, "Alright go ahead." Vinny got up, walking around the bed, "His name is Maurice, not Bosco. He only says he hates his first name because everyone he cares about at work makes fun of it. You know, like when Sullivan told everyone he was gay: Had to be with a name like that?" Closing the door behind him, he left them cringing. Even Ty had heard that one, and had laughed about it.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Sitting at the kitchen table, rapping his knuckles on the wooden surface, Sully was glowering at Lawson, "You actually let that animal touch him? Help you treat him? Is everyone here insane? Or just me?" Shoving his chair back, he stood.
"Sit down John," Swersky sighed, rubbing his hands over his face, "everybody's tired and pissed off. We're all worried about this aright?"
"Are we?" Sully replied scornfully taking in Lawson and Hampton as he sat, "seems to me like these two," waving his hand at them, "don't seem to damn worried about it! Hampton thinks its all a big fucking mistake, and Lawson's acting like Vetresco's a 'Mother Theresa' letting him not only 'help' with Bosco, but stay with him too! While they act like we're the enemies here."
"I never said it was all a mistake," Hampton scowled as he poured another cup of coffee, "I said its possible we made a mistake. Has it occurred to anyone that Boscorelli's reaction was a bit 'OFF'? Did that seem like a man scared of his 'kidnapper' or of US? I've been in this job a long damn time, and while I've seen victims have a wide variety of reactions, I have to say, falling into the arms of the kidnapper isn't one of them!" Setting his cup down hard, "Not like that anyway. You saw how he reacted, hell you heard how he reacted when Lawson had to sedate him in there," eyes on Sweresky now, "Dave did that look like a man who was happy for someone else to be here?"
Dave pushed his palms against his eyes, rubbing tiredly, "I don't know what to think Keith. But I'm going to stay on the side of what I think is going on. There's just too much at stake to take a chance we weren't right. Vetresco stays under guard until we can get Boscorelli out of here and to a hospital. If it turns out we were wrong, then he can sue us." Standing up, "I'm beat, your people and Davis have first watch?" seeing Keith's nod, "Good, I'm catching a few winks, Sully I suggest you try too. I've got the couch." Heading into the living room, he glanced at the window, which was now sealed up as tight as they could get it. Settling down onto the couch he grabbed a blanket draped over the cushion. Staring into the fireplace, which was now roaring again, Dave closed his eyes, and was haunted by the returning visions from earlier. He heard a body settle onto the chair, but didn't bother opening his eyes.
The sounds of the Agents still working, quiet as the cabin settled down to a steady rhythm, half asleep, half awake. A scrape of chair later, and Dave heard Keith ordering his people to come in, and get some rest. Day would soon be here, and they already knew from Lawson, Bosco would be going nowhere for at least the next 24 hours.
TBC...