Kim's shift was over but she and Bobby hadn't clocked out yet. They were heading back to the house from Mercy after bringing in a possible M.I. that had taken forever because the guy was old and senile and just plain annoying.

"How was your date last night?" Bobby asked.

"You actually wanna know?"

"Just leave out any physical stuff." Bobby said with a grin.

"It was nice. We went out to dinner. We danced and then we went back to his place."

"Enough said."

Kim nodded. "Fair warning. I'm telling Jimmy about Bosco and me within the next few hours."

"Why?"

"Cause, I'm sick of hiding it and I don't think he'll be that pissed."

"Why do you say that?"

"Cause I met his girlfriend last night."

"Yeah?"

"Yep. Her name's Brooke and get this. She's a cop with the 2-5 out in Brooklyn."

"Really?"

"Yep. They've been seeing each other for a while and he wants to introduce her to Joey. So I figure since he's got someone in his life, this would be a good time to let him know that for the last six months I've had someone in my life."

"Difference is that you don't see Brooke on a daily basis."

"What difference does that make?"

"Kim, you and Bosco see Jimmy every day. You've been acting like nothing's going on for six months. So in essence you've been lying to him for a very long time. Think what you like, he's gonna be pissed."

"Bobby, I'd like your support on this."

"You have it. Bosco know you're spilling the beans?"

"Yeah I told him this morning. He promised to stick around and drive me home after I was done talking to Jimmy."

"When you gonna tell Joey?"

"Next weekend. Jimmy has him this weekend. While Joey's at Jimmy's we're gonna have dinner with my mom and let her in on the news."

"You meet Bosco's mom yet?"

"Not yet. I want to but she works the same time we do and she sleeps the same hours we do."

"What does she do?"

"She owns a bar." Kim nodded.

"Cool."

(#(#(#(#(#(#(#(#(

When Kim finished changing she went down to the kitchen. "Hey Lombardo, where's Jimmy?"

"Downstairs Kim."

"He alone?"

"Yeah, I think he's practicing his jump shot."

"Thanks."

"Sure."

Kim went down to where the basketball net was set up and found Jimmy. Her stomach was tight and her palms were sweaty. She snorted a little as she thought of the last time she'd been this nervous before a conversation with Jimmy. It was when she was about to tell him she was pregnant with Joey.

"Uh, Jimmy?" Kim said.

"Hey Kimmy, what's up?" He said sinking the ball before he turned to face her. "You okay? You look weird."

"I need to tell you something."

"What's up? Is it Joey?"

"No. Joey's fine. Look, since you have him this weekend and you want him to meet Brooke and you asked my permission before you just sprung her on him, I thought it the decent thing to do as well."

"What?"

"Next weekend, when I have him, I'd like to introduce him to someone I've been seeing for a while now."

"I didn't know you were seeing someone."

"Yeah. No one does."

"So do I get to meet him?" Jimmy asked.

"You know him actually." Kim admitted.

"I do? What, did Bobby finally get up the balls to ask you out?"

"It's not Bobby. He's a cop."

"Where?"

"Across the street."

"What?" Jimmy stared.

"Yeah."

"Is it Davis?"

"No, it's not Davis." Kim took a deep breath. "It's Bosco."

"What?"

"I'm going out with Bosco."

Jimmy started to laugh. "That's a good one Kim."

"I'm not joking Jimmy."

"Are you nuts?"

"No. Why do I have to be nuts to wanna go out with Bosco?"

"Why?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because he's an ass."

"No he's not. Okay he can be but he's not to me."

"How long?"

"How long what?"

"How long have you two been seeing each other?"

"Since August." Kim admitted quietly.

"August?" Jimmy shouted.

"Yes. Would you lower your voice? You're gonna have the whole house down here in another couple of minutes, not to mention most of the cops."

"You've been going out with Boscorelli since August and you're just now getting around to telling me?"

"Yeah."

"Unbelievable. Six months and you didn't once think that maybe you should clue in the father of your child about the fact that you were seeing someone?"

"Look, it didn't start out as some big conspiracy to keep everyone in the dark it just happened."

"It just happened? Colds just happen Kim. Charlie horses just happen. A secret relationship does not just happen."

"Look, I just wanted to let you know. I'm going home now. Goodnight."

"We're not finished."

Kim faced him. "Jimmy, I did not tell you so I could ask your permission. I told you because I wanna tell Joey and my mother and I didn't want you to hear it from one of them."

"He is not allowed around my son."

"Our son, jackass." Kim corrected. "And yes he is."

"He's a bad influence and he's got a lousy temper. I don't want that around Joey."

"You are a hell of a person to talk about bad influences and lousy tempers."

"Why Bosco? Of all the people in this city you pick him?"

"He picked me. He asked me out and I said yes."

"You doing this to get back at me or something? A guy I hate asks you out and you say yes."

"This isn't about you. Newsflash Jimmy: My life ceased to revolve around you about the time you crawled into bed with Melanie."

"Don't bring that into this."

"I will bring whatever the hell I want to into this. You are a self- centered, self-indulgent little boy who thinks that because a woman was once in love with you she has to pine away for you for the rest of her life even though you've clearly moved on. Get over yourself Jimmy. I did." With that Kim stormed out of the firehouse into the night.