"Sure, I'll pick him up," Bosco said on the phone. He listened for a moment and then replied, "Kim, it's not a problem for me as long as it's okay with him. The school will let me take him, right?"

He listened to her response and then said, "Okay, just don't forget to call them. I don't feel like getting carted off to jail for kidnapping," he joked. "Three o'clock, right? Okay, bye."

Bosco hung up the phone and looked at his watch. It was his day off, but Kim had gotten stuck working a shift for someone she owed. She had swapped a day so that they could go away for a weekend and now that person needed a payback. Kim had called because it Jimmy was stuck on overtime at a really heavy fire and she couldn't reach her Mom. So, Bosco was to pick Joey up from school, bring him to Kim's, get him something to eat and have him start on his homework. Jimmy would come over to relieve him when he got off work. He suddenly had a thought and dialed the phone.

"Hello?" came the familiar voice from the other end.

"Faith, it's me," Bosco said into the phone. "You gotta help me," he said, desperation in his voice.

"Bosco? What's the matter?" Faith asked with concern at the sound of his voice.

"I've gotta pick up Joey because Kim's working and Doherty's stuck at a fire. What the hell does a kid eat?" he asked her.

After she got done laughing for a minute, she replied, "Bosco, you're just a big kid. What do you like to eat?"

"Very funny, Faith. I dunno- Pizza, McDonald's, stuff like that," he replied, sounding insulted.

"There you go. He'll love either of those things," she said to him.

"Okay, if you're sure. Hey, is Fred gonna be home tonight?" he asked, another thought popping into his head.

"Yeah, why?" Faith replied.

"Well, I've gotta get him started on his homework and what if I don't know how to do something?" he said.

"Bosco, he's in like 3rd grade, right? How hard could it be?" she said to him.

"Just in case, make sure Emily stays off the phone."

"Bosco, relax. You'll be fine. But, we'll be home if you need us," she assured him.

"Okay, bye," he said.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Bosco pulled up in front of the school at about 2:50. He parked the car and walked in the front door and followed the sign to the office.

"Can I help you, Sir?" asked the elderly woman behind the desk.

"Uh, I hope so. My name is Maurice Boscorelli. I'm here to pick up Joey Doherty from school. His mom, Kim Zambrano, was supposed to call you. She's working and Joey's Dad is stuck working overtime at a fire," Bosco explained.

"Oh, yes, Mr. Boscorelli. I have the note right here," the woman smiled. "We advised Joey's teacher to have him come to the office to meet you so you don't miss each other in the shuffle of the hallways when school lets out."

Bosco nodded and said, "Thanks. I'll just sit over here, then."

"That's fine," the woman said, giving him another smile.

Bosco took a seat and waited about five minutes when he heard the final bell ring and the sounds of children being set free from their confines.

After a couple of minutes, Joey walked into the office with his teacher. Bosco stood up as Joey caught sight of him.

"Hey, buddy. How was your day?" he asked the boy.

"Good. How come you're here and I'm not taking the bus home? Is my Mom and Dad okay?" he asked, a worried look coming over his face.

"Yeah, absolutely fine, Joey. Mom's working and your Dad's working overtime at a big fire, so your Mom called and asked me to pick you up. Is that okay?" Bosco asked, not knowing what he'd do if the boy said no.

"Cool," he said. Joey looked up at his teacher and said, "This is my Mom's boyfriend. He's a cop." Joey stood there with a proud look on his face.

"Well, you certainly have a wonderful group of people around you. They all have very important jobs. You have a good night Joey and I'll see you tomorrow," his teacher replied and then looked over at Bosco.

"You look a little nervous. Are you okay?" she asked him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. No problem," he said. She smiled and nodded her head.

"Okay, but just in case he lets it "slip" his mind, he has a math test tomorrow that he needs to study for," she warned him.

"Math? Okay, thanks for letting me know," Bosco said, looking down at Joey.

"Let's hit it big guy," Bosco said as the two turned and walked out the front door of the school.

The teacher turned to the elderly woman in the office and said, "Is it me or did that man have that 'deer in the headlights' look?"

"Oh, yeah. He's in serious trouble. Kids smell fear," replied the woman with a smile.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Bosco had just gotten Joey down to sleep and was sleepily watching the ball game when the phone rang. He reached to grab it before it woke up Joey, glancing at his watch at the same time. It was 9:30 and there was no sign of Jimmy yet.

"Hello?" he answered and heard Kim's voice on the other end.

"Hey. Sorry I didn't call you sooner. How are things going there? I'm really sorry you've been stuck there all night," she said apologetically.

"No problem. It was fun," he said, only half lying. He actually had gotten a kick out of spending the time with Joey. "Everything okay? I haven't heard from Jimmy."

"Yeah, well, that's because the idiot had a ceiling collapse on him and he's at Mercy with D.K. and Billy Walsh, who were with him," Kim said.

"Ouch. A little compassion woman. Is everyone okay?" Bosco asked.

"Yeah, they're just getting checked out. If anything, maybe it knocked a little sense into the three of them," she said. "Tell Joey it's time for bed and I'll be home as soon as I can."

"No problem. He's already in bed. He had dinner, did his homework, took a shower and it's lights out. He's sound asleep," Bosco said proudly.

"Wow! Will you marry me?" Kim said, teasing him. Bosco didn't say anything, thinking back to the conversation he'd had with Faith about that very topic.

"Yeah, you wish," he said finally. "I don't come cheap you know."

"So I've heard," she said jokingly. "I'm really sorry, Bosco. I'll get there as soon as I can," she said, apologizing again.

"Kim. It's not a problem. I'm just watching the game, which is what I'd be doing at home anyway. Don't worry about it. Be careful and I'll see you when you get home," he said.