Sully had just handed Faith a bottle of water when they heard the shot. The plastic bottle fell from her hand, the lid bursting open when it hit the pavement and the liquid spilled out across the concrete. "Oh God," she cried, jumping to her feet.

"Faith," Sully said, grabbing her as she moved to rush passed them.

"Let me go!" she cried.

"Faith, you have to let them handle it," Davis told her.

"That's my partner in there!" she spat. "I can't sit back and do nothing."

"Bosco wouldn't want you to get hurt trying to look after him," Sully told her.

Her body went limp at that, realizing they were right. Bosco would never forgive himself if she got herself or the baby hurt trying to protect him. "I can't lose him now, Ty," she whispered, knowing he'd understand.

"He'll be okay," Davis tried to assure her. "He has a lot to live for."

A tear escaped. "But he doesn't know that. He still thinks I'm getting rid of it."

"Johnson, confirm shots fired?" Walters asked, hurrying past where the three officers were standing.

"Shots confirmed," came the reply through his radio. "We have a 10-13. I repeat, officer is down."

Faith felt like she was going to faint, gripping Sully's arm hard as she stared toward the store. "Oh, God, Bos," she whispered. "Don't you leave me now."

"Do you have a shot?" Walters asked the sharpshooter.

"Negative. Wait, make that a positive. I have a shot."

Walters looked over at Faith and their eyes locked. "Take it."

A shot rang out. "Suspect is down."

"Let's move in!" the Sergeant ordered. He pointed to Faith. "You stay there until it's secure."

Faith watched, barely breathing as the store was stormed by ESU. All she could think of was getting in there and finding Bosco. The door opened and one of the men called for the paramedics. She pulled out of Sully's grip and ran toward the store. If it was safe for the paramedics, then it was safe enough for her. She pushed her way through the door, eyes scanning the store for her partner.

"I said I'm all right."

Faith looked over to a group of ESU members, having heard her partner's voice. They seemed to part before her and she saw him, sitting on the floor, grimacing in pain. But he was alive and well enough to do his 'I'm fine' routine. Her heart soared with relief.

Doc and Carlos pushed passed her on their way to help her partner, but Bosco waved them off. "You need to help Rita," he said. "She's in labor."

"What about you?" Doc asked.

Bosco seemed to sense her presence then and he looked up, eyes locking with hers. "I'm okay." He looked back to Doc. "It got me in the vest."

Doc nodded. "Okay, but get Kim and Alex to check you out. They're outside. You could have a broken rib."

Bosco nodded. "Just help Rita."

Faith hadn't noticed the woman sitting on the floor beside him until she grunted in pain and he turned to her. "Rita, these are my friends," he told her. "They're gonna take good care of you."

"Bosco, I'm scared."

He moved, turning his body to face her fully. Faith saw that he grimaced at the movement. "It'll be okay now. I'm gonna have someone call your husband and get him to meet you at the hospital." He smiled softly. "You're gonna get your wish, Rita. You'll have this baby at the hospital with all the doctors, nurses and drugs you could want."

She smiled through her tears. "Will you be there?" she asked.

They'd obviously developed a bond during their ordeal, but Faith was surprised that Bosco didn't look uncomfortable by it. "You think I'd miss out on seeing this kid? I didn't let you almost break my hand for nothing."

The woman laughed then groaned, clutching at her stomach.

"Okay, we need to move," Doc said.

Faith watched as Doc and Carlos loaded up the pregnant woman and then headed out of the store. She saw Davis and Sully come through the door, their worried faces clearing when they spotted Bosco sitting on the floor.

"You okay, man?" Davis asked.

"Never better," Bosco replied, but made no move to get up.

"You need a hand?" Sully asked.

He shook his head and slowly started to get up. He grimaced and let out a small groan of pain. Faith was at his side in an instant, Davis on the other side as they helped him to his feet. "Come on," Faith said. "Let's get you out to Kim and Alex."

They walked slowly out of the store, Faith only sparing a passing glance at the body of the gunman, which was now lying under a white sheet. Sully cleared the way to the bus and she and Davis helped him sit down on the back. They both stepped back as Alex swept in, offering her new patient a smile.

"How are you feeling, Bosco?" she asked.

"Like I was shot in the back of my vest," he grumbled in reply.

She nodded and reached out for his shirt, unbuttoning it. "Let's get these off and see what we have."

"Always knew you were just itching to undress me," Bosco smirked.

Alex laughed as she started on his vest. "Shame the bullet didn't deflate that ego any."

"Ah, you love me, Taylor, admit it."

Alex grinned, but didn't reply, passing his vest off to Faith before looking back at him. "How do you want to do this?" she asked, pointing to his undershirt. "I can cut it-"

"You're not cuttin' my shirt," Bosco interrupted. He reached for the hem and started to tug it up.

Faith couldn't help but look as his abs were exposed. She was instantly transported back to that night. The night they'd made a baby. Bosco paused, his shirt half way up his body, and cursed. "Oh crap, that hurts!"

"Bosco-" Alex started to say, but stopped when he quickly finished removing the garment. He was pale when he removed the shirt from over his head and Faith could see he'd started sweating.

"Take it easy," Alex soothed, rubbing a hand over his bare shoulder. "Just breathe easy, Bosco."

Faith had an irrational burst of jealousy as she watched Alex touching her partner. She gave herself a mental slap. Beside the fact that she was pretty sure Taylor and Davis were back on, even if she had decided to keep the baby, she had no claim over the child's father.

"You want some oxygen?" Kim called, from inside the bus.

Bosco shook his head. "I'll be okay," he replied, a touch breathlessly.

"Damn, Bosco."

Faith looked up at Kim's words, seeing she'd moved to the back of the bus and was looking at Bosco's back. Alex peered around the right side of him, while Faith moved closer and looked around his left.

"What?" he asked.

"If that had been an inch to the right then you could have cracked a vertebra," Kim told him.

She was right. There was a red mark and a bruise had already started to form just to the left of his spine. Faith felt faint at the implications. He could have easily been paralyzed tonight, all because she'd been feeling sick.

"Faith?" She focused on him, seeing the look of concern in his eyes. "I'm okay," he assured her.

She nodded, feeling a lump in her throat and then impulsively drew him into a hug. She buried her face in his neck, hiding the tears that refused to stay away. They stayed that way for several minutes and it seemed to her that the rest of the world had left them alone. The warmth of his skin seeped into her soul and she relished the fact that she was in his arms and that he was going to be okay.

Eventually she pulled back, quickly wiping at her eyes and cursing her neediness. She and Bosco didn't do the touching thing and now everyone would be suspicious. "Sorry," she muttered. "Damn hormones."

He didn't say anything, just smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Uh, we should get going," Sully said, reminding her that they weren't alone. "You need us to get the RMP back to the house?" he asked.

Faith nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great, Sul. Just be careful of all the glass from the window." She felt Bosco squeeze her hand tighter at the mention of the blown out window, but she just gave him a reassuring smile.

"You take care, man," Davis said to Bosco, giving him a light tap on the arm. "I'll talk to you later." He smiled at Faith. "You take care as well," he told her.

"Thanks, Davis," she replied.

He nodded and threw an affectionate look at Alex, before following his partner back over to where the RMP's were.

"Okay, Bosco, let's get you over to Mercy for some X-rays," Alex said.

"Do I have to? Can't we just catch up to Davis and get him to take me in the RMP?"

Alex grinned. "Come on, I've got you half naked, you think I'm gonna let you go?"

Bosco laughed, but it ended in a grimace. "Faith, you got your weapon right? I may need some protection."

"Are you sure she'd be able to keep her hands to herself, what with you being so irresistible and all?" Alex asked, smirking.

Faith felt her heart skip and her eyes flew up to meet Bosco's. The look he gave her was intense and she just knew she was blushing. "I'll just go and tell Swersky what's going on," she murmured, and turned on her heel.

"Did I say something wrong?" Alex asked.

Faith heard Bosco sigh. "No, of course not."

Bosco watched Faith hurry off for a moment and then turned to Alex. "I think I need to lay down," he murmured.

He saw Alex give Kim a questioning look, but didn't comment. He felt like shit and he was pretty sure if he didn't lie down he was either gonna throw up or pass out.

"Okay, Bosco," Alex said. "Do you think you can get up in the bus by yourself?"

He nodded and gingerly pushed himself up. As he straightened, his head spun and he staggered. "Easy," Kim called, grabbing him to stop him from falling. She eased him down on the gurney, helping him to lie down as his back protested at the movement.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," he muttered, screwing his eyes shut.

"It's okay, Bosco," Kim soothed. "Just try and breathe easy. I'm gonna give you some oxygen."

He felt her place the mask on his face, but didn't open his eyes. He tried to breathe deeply, but that was a difficult task considering his back felt like it was gonna snap in two.

"I'm just gonna cover you with a blanket, okay?" Alex asked, though he felt the blanket over him before he'd even acknowledged her.

"What's going on?"

Bosco opened his eyes as he heard Faith's worried voice. She was staring at him, her eyes only leaving him for a second to flick to Alex and Kim, before returning to him.

"He's fine, Faith," Kim assured her. "Just a bit of shock." She smiled down at him. "I guess playing the hero has its drawbacks, huh?"

He grunted his agreement, but didn't reply. He figured if he didn't move then maybe he would keep his lunch down.

"What do you mean 'hero'?" Faith asked, stepping into the bus.

"Haven't you heard?" Kim asked, as Alex jumped out of the bus and closed the doors. "All the ESU guys are talking about it. Bosco jumped in front of the pregnant woman as that guy tried to shoot her."

Her eyes turned to him as she sat down beside him, her face showing her shock. He shrugged, trying to play down the incident. "I guess I have a soft spot for pregnant women right now," he murmured, through the mask.

"If you're not careful, you're gonna give yourself a good name, Bosco," Kim teased.

"Never gonna happen," he retorted.

Kim smiled. "You feeling any better?" she asked.

He nodded and reached for the mask, but Kim batted his hand away. "Just until we get to the hospital, okay?" she told him.

"I'm okay," he groused, annoyed at his own weakness.

"Bos, please?" Faith asked.

He looked at her and saw her concern for him in her face. Her eyes were pleading with him to allow them to make sure he was okay and he found he couldn't deny her. He nodded and closed his eyes with a sigh.

TBC