Bosco was leaving for the gym. It was Kim and Bosco's day off, but Bosco
hadn't been spending too much time at home lately. If he wasn't working,
he was going to the gym or going out after work, or pacing at night while
everyone else was sleeping. Kim was pretty worried about him, but despite
her concern for him she had something else on her mind as well. Tomorrow
was the anniversary of Bobby's death and all the memories kept playing over
and over in her mind.
She knew she should talk to Bosco about it, but he had enough on his mind right now. She'd talked to Faith a couple of times because he wasn't talking to Faith. He was still mad at her for going to the Lieutenant behind his back. That, and the fact that she had a couple of days off from the shooting where Ross died and Ty got shot.
"Bos?" Kim said, as he gave Johnny a kiss and grabbed his gym bag before heading for the door.
"Yeah," he said flatly, almost without feeling it seemed. He turned toward her and she got the impression that he was impatient to leave.
"Nothing. Never mind. Have a good workout. You coming home right after?" she asked him, irritated as his lack of concern for their family lately, but understanding it too. She just hoped that what he told her about seeing a doctor and the doctor telling him that he was fine was the truth. She doubted he'd been, but she didn't want to call him a liar.
"I think so. I might stop at my Ma's after the gym," he said, opening the door and pulling it closed behind him.
No sooner had the door closed than the phone rang. She answered it only to hear Jimmy on the other end.
"Jimmy? What's up?" she asked, confused as to why he'd be calling her.
"Um. I wanted to know if it's okay if I pick up Joey after school today and keep him for until Sunday," he said hesitantly.
"But, you're not supposed to have him until the weekend?" she said, more confused now.
"I know, but I've got these tickets for the circus and I've got a couple of days off so I thought we'd make it a longer visit this time. Look, I just want to spend a few days with him. Is that so terrible?" Jimmy asked, getting agitated now. He didn't want to come right out and tell her that he was worried about her dealing with the anniversary of Bobby's death. He'd thought that she'd be okay with Bosco, but he'd heard through the grapevine that something was going on with Bosco and he didn't want him in that situation. The last time he'd talked to Joey, the boy had mentioned that something was going on with Bosco.
"Um, yeah. I guess so. But, if Joey decides he wants to come home early, don't give him a hard time about it, Jimmy," she answered finally.
"No problem," Jimmy said. "I'll pick him up from school so you don't have to worry about it," he said, hanging up.
As soon as she was done with that call, the phone rang again. This time it was her mother, Catherine. "Hi, Mom. What's up?" she asked.
"I was wondering if I could pick up Johnny tonight and keep him for the day tomorrow," Catherine said, trying to sound casual.
"Mom. I'm fine," Kim said, a little irritated.
"I know you're fine, but I want to see my grandson. I haven't spoiled him in days. Besides Mrs. Bianco from next door is coming by tomorrow and I want to show him off," she lied.
Kim thought for a moment and then decided that maybe the extra time alone with Bosco might be good. They talk a few things out and he could help her get through tomorrow. "Alright. I guess it's just me and Bosco tomorrow then," she said.
"What d'you mean, Kim? What about Joey?" Catherine asked.
"Jimmy's taking him after school today through Sunday. I think he's got the same ulterior motives as you," she teased. "I'm fine. It's a sad day, but I'm okay," she reassured her mother.
"Okay. I'll be over in a little bit. Need anything from the store on my way over?" She asked.
"No. I'll run out while Bosco's at the gym. It'll give me some fresh air."
"How're things going with him?" Catherine asked. Kim hadn't told her everything, but enough that she was worried.
"The same. Maybe this will be good that we have a whole day without having to worry about the kids," Kim said.
Kim hung up and started to get Johnny's overnight bag ready. She put in extra diapers and extra food and clothes and Catherine was there before she knew it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco had finished working out at the gym and was driving toward Rose's bar. He was sitting at a red light and watched the wrecking ball smash into the building on the corner. It was an old, burned out building that needed to be torn down so that it didn't fall into the street. He watched as the bricks fell inward and the dust rose.
He suddenly felt himself shaking, the sweat forming and the tightness in his chest. He saw the images of September 11th all over again and was finally brought out of it by the sound of the car horns behind him. The light had turned green and was just about to turn red again. He shook his head and pulled over to try to catch his breath, not looking at the driver's who were displaying their displeasure at him blocking their progress.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kim walked around the apartment waiting for Bosco to come home and trying not to think about Bosco. "He hadn't come home till after 2:00 a.m. last night. So much for going to work out and then stopping off to see his mother quick," she thought to herself. She'd called him on his cell phone and when he answered she could hear music and loud talking in the background. She figured he was still at Rose's place.
"Are you planning on coming home tonight?" she asked, irritated, but trying to keep it out of her voice.
"Yeah. I'll be home in a little bit. Some of the guys stopped in after work and we were just talking," he said and Kim noticed the slur in his words. He was doing more drinking than talking.
"Bosco. Are you okay?" she asked him. "Do you want me to come get you?"
"No. I'm fine, Kim. Can't I just have a couple of drinks with the guys?" he said, hanging up the phone.
"Yeah, great," Kim thought to herself. She walked over to the window and stared out. Soon her thoughts were on Bobby again. She finally went to bed and heard Bosco come in. She heard him walk unsteadily down the hallway, stopping at Johnny's and then Joey's rooms. He called out to her.
"Kim? Where's the kids?" he asked as he made it to their room.
"Joey's with Jimmy and Johnny is with my Mom. I think they were both worried about..." she didn't get to finish because Bosco suddenly turned and ran toward the bathroom and began throwing up.
After a few minutes, he managed to make it to the bedroom and flopped on the bed, instantly falling asleep. That seemed to be the only way he could sleep lately - when he'd had too much to drink. Something needed to be done. She knew he wasn't going to work that way, because Faith would have called her on that. "But, something has to happen soon," she thought, watching him sleep, always with a frown on his face lately.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco just kind of moped around the house and did a few projects - some minor repairs that had to be done. He didn't seem to notice that Kim was awfully quiet today too or he would have asked her and then he would have realized what she was dealing with.
He left at 2:00 to head for work, giving her a light kiss.
"Be careful," she called after him. He simply put his hand up without turning around and walked out the door. He didn't see the tears forming in her eyes as she was left alone with her memories again.
Kim was sitting on the front steps of the apartment building, her coat pulled tightly around her against he cold winter air. She didn't even hear her come up alongside her until she spoke.
"Hey, Kim," Alex said, starling Kim.
"Hi Alex. What're you doing here?" she asked, and then got scared. "Is Bosco okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine as far as I know. I'm not working today," she said, looking at the tired face before her.
"Oh," Kim said absently. "How's Ty doing?"
"Okay, I guess. I don't see him too much anymore," Alex said simply.
"I'm sorry," Kim said, looking at her friend. "I haven't been paying too much to what's going on around me lately."
"It's okay," Alex said. After a moment she continued. "I'll go with you if you want."
Kim looked at her. "Where?"
"The cemetery. I mean if you want me to. If you need me to go with you. It's time, don't you think?"
Kim thought for a moment and then looked back up at her. "Yeah. I think you're right. Thanks, Alex."
"No problem. I need to say good-bye to him too," Alex said. Kim invited Alex upstairs while she got ready to go say her good-bye to Bobby.
She knew she should talk to Bosco about it, but he had enough on his mind right now. She'd talked to Faith a couple of times because he wasn't talking to Faith. He was still mad at her for going to the Lieutenant behind his back. That, and the fact that she had a couple of days off from the shooting where Ross died and Ty got shot.
"Bos?" Kim said, as he gave Johnny a kiss and grabbed his gym bag before heading for the door.
"Yeah," he said flatly, almost without feeling it seemed. He turned toward her and she got the impression that he was impatient to leave.
"Nothing. Never mind. Have a good workout. You coming home right after?" she asked him, irritated as his lack of concern for their family lately, but understanding it too. She just hoped that what he told her about seeing a doctor and the doctor telling him that he was fine was the truth. She doubted he'd been, but she didn't want to call him a liar.
"I think so. I might stop at my Ma's after the gym," he said, opening the door and pulling it closed behind him.
No sooner had the door closed than the phone rang. She answered it only to hear Jimmy on the other end.
"Jimmy? What's up?" she asked, confused as to why he'd be calling her.
"Um. I wanted to know if it's okay if I pick up Joey after school today and keep him for until Sunday," he said hesitantly.
"But, you're not supposed to have him until the weekend?" she said, more confused now.
"I know, but I've got these tickets for the circus and I've got a couple of days off so I thought we'd make it a longer visit this time. Look, I just want to spend a few days with him. Is that so terrible?" Jimmy asked, getting agitated now. He didn't want to come right out and tell her that he was worried about her dealing with the anniversary of Bobby's death. He'd thought that she'd be okay with Bosco, but he'd heard through the grapevine that something was going on with Bosco and he didn't want him in that situation. The last time he'd talked to Joey, the boy had mentioned that something was going on with Bosco.
"Um, yeah. I guess so. But, if Joey decides he wants to come home early, don't give him a hard time about it, Jimmy," she answered finally.
"No problem," Jimmy said. "I'll pick him up from school so you don't have to worry about it," he said, hanging up.
As soon as she was done with that call, the phone rang again. This time it was her mother, Catherine. "Hi, Mom. What's up?" she asked.
"I was wondering if I could pick up Johnny tonight and keep him for the day tomorrow," Catherine said, trying to sound casual.
"Mom. I'm fine," Kim said, a little irritated.
"I know you're fine, but I want to see my grandson. I haven't spoiled him in days. Besides Mrs. Bianco from next door is coming by tomorrow and I want to show him off," she lied.
Kim thought for a moment and then decided that maybe the extra time alone with Bosco might be good. They talk a few things out and he could help her get through tomorrow. "Alright. I guess it's just me and Bosco tomorrow then," she said.
"What d'you mean, Kim? What about Joey?" Catherine asked.
"Jimmy's taking him after school today through Sunday. I think he's got the same ulterior motives as you," she teased. "I'm fine. It's a sad day, but I'm okay," she reassured her mother.
"Okay. I'll be over in a little bit. Need anything from the store on my way over?" She asked.
"No. I'll run out while Bosco's at the gym. It'll give me some fresh air."
"How're things going with him?" Catherine asked. Kim hadn't told her everything, but enough that she was worried.
"The same. Maybe this will be good that we have a whole day without having to worry about the kids," Kim said.
Kim hung up and started to get Johnny's overnight bag ready. She put in extra diapers and extra food and clothes and Catherine was there before she knew it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco had finished working out at the gym and was driving toward Rose's bar. He was sitting at a red light and watched the wrecking ball smash into the building on the corner. It was an old, burned out building that needed to be torn down so that it didn't fall into the street. He watched as the bricks fell inward and the dust rose.
He suddenly felt himself shaking, the sweat forming and the tightness in his chest. He saw the images of September 11th all over again and was finally brought out of it by the sound of the car horns behind him. The light had turned green and was just about to turn red again. He shook his head and pulled over to try to catch his breath, not looking at the driver's who were displaying their displeasure at him blocking their progress.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kim walked around the apartment waiting for Bosco to come home and trying not to think about Bosco. "He hadn't come home till after 2:00 a.m. last night. So much for going to work out and then stopping off to see his mother quick," she thought to herself. She'd called him on his cell phone and when he answered she could hear music and loud talking in the background. She figured he was still at Rose's place.
"Are you planning on coming home tonight?" she asked, irritated, but trying to keep it out of her voice.
"Yeah. I'll be home in a little bit. Some of the guys stopped in after work and we were just talking," he said and Kim noticed the slur in his words. He was doing more drinking than talking.
"Bosco. Are you okay?" she asked him. "Do you want me to come get you?"
"No. I'm fine, Kim. Can't I just have a couple of drinks with the guys?" he said, hanging up the phone.
"Yeah, great," Kim thought to herself. She walked over to the window and stared out. Soon her thoughts were on Bobby again. She finally went to bed and heard Bosco come in. She heard him walk unsteadily down the hallway, stopping at Johnny's and then Joey's rooms. He called out to her.
"Kim? Where's the kids?" he asked as he made it to their room.
"Joey's with Jimmy and Johnny is with my Mom. I think they were both worried about..." she didn't get to finish because Bosco suddenly turned and ran toward the bathroom and began throwing up.
After a few minutes, he managed to make it to the bedroom and flopped on the bed, instantly falling asleep. That seemed to be the only way he could sleep lately - when he'd had too much to drink. Something needed to be done. She knew he wasn't going to work that way, because Faith would have called her on that. "But, something has to happen soon," she thought, watching him sleep, always with a frown on his face lately.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bosco just kind of moped around the house and did a few projects - some minor repairs that had to be done. He didn't seem to notice that Kim was awfully quiet today too or he would have asked her and then he would have realized what she was dealing with.
He left at 2:00 to head for work, giving her a light kiss.
"Be careful," she called after him. He simply put his hand up without turning around and walked out the door. He didn't see the tears forming in her eyes as she was left alone with her memories again.
Kim was sitting on the front steps of the apartment building, her coat pulled tightly around her against he cold winter air. She didn't even hear her come up alongside her until she spoke.
"Hey, Kim," Alex said, starling Kim.
"Hi Alex. What're you doing here?" she asked, and then got scared. "Is Bosco okay?"
"Yeah, he's fine as far as I know. I'm not working today," she said, looking at the tired face before her.
"Oh," Kim said absently. "How's Ty doing?"
"Okay, I guess. I don't see him too much anymore," Alex said simply.
"I'm sorry," Kim said, looking at her friend. "I haven't been paying too much to what's going on around me lately."
"It's okay," Alex said. After a moment she continued. "I'll go with you if you want."
Kim looked at her. "Where?"
"The cemetery. I mean if you want me to. If you need me to go with you. It's time, don't you think?"
Kim thought for a moment and then looked back up at her. "Yeah. I think you're right. Thanks, Alex."
"No problem. I need to say good-bye to him too," Alex said. Kim invited Alex upstairs while she got ready to go say her good-bye to Bobby.
