A/N: Well how did you like last chapter? Hmm things wont get any better really, with the injuries and all. Mostly Ashley based, with a little Bosco thrown in.
Her chest burned, her eyes on fire, her head aching and it hurt more with every breath she took. The noise slowly came back to her telling her that she was no longer in the streets, waiting for help. She didn't know what had happened to her, the last thing she could remember was asking Cruz if she could hear her, then blackness, everywhere choking her.
She saw white bright lights and wondering if she was dead but then heard the beeping of a machine and figured she was for now in the hospital, the extent of her injuries she didn't know, they hurt her, badly.
Her vision came back too, slowly at first all she saw was black and white then slowly colour by colour came back until she understood that she was in a pale yellow room, light blue blanket covering her and the rest she didn't care. She had to know if Cruz was ok.
She tried to sit up, bad mistake on her part, intense pain shot through every bone in her body. She knew nothing was broken; her limbs weren't heavy from the weight a cast, so that was good. Sleep kept calling her name, but she refused to close her eyes again, her eyes lids kept drooping shut and each time it grew harder for her to keep them open for a long period of time, she finally gave in as unconscious claimed her once again.
When she awoke the second time a nurse was hovering above her, scaring her a bit, but the nurse's smile calmed her back down. The nurse checked her vitals and soon left promising a doctor to come talk to her within minutes.
"You suffered a very mild concussion, a contusion on the back of the head, and three cracked ribs, and a fat lip" that explained why it hurt like hell to move, or even breathe for that matter.
She'd waited long enough, time to find out if she was a murderer, if Cruz had died it was her fault, of all the times she didn't listen she chose this time to listen.
"How is Sgt Cruz?" her voice came out, in a scratchy non-human tone, she didn't even recognize as her own.
"I'm afraid the news isn't good" she was a murderer, the guilt already starting to set in, Bosco would never speak to her again, others would blame her for letting Cruz die, she didn't know if she could take it
"With her its touch and go, the bullet nicked a lung and her heart, right now she's in a coma, she'll be lucky if she ever wakes again" that was almost as bad as saying she had died. How could she have been so stupid? She should have run after her, catching up with her, maybe then she could monitor the words being said, somehow prevented or even stopped it from all going down.
"Is Officer Boscorelli here?" the doctor had no clue what she was talking about
"He's about 5'9 shaggy brown hair, and thinks he's gods gift to women"
"Oh him, he's with Sgt Cruz right now" that was a relief, but she woke up alone, had no one to see if she was alright and that hurt her.
She threw the covers off her, and started moving to get out of bed, cursing under her breathe, she didn't think the pain would be this bad.
"You have three cracked ribs, what in god's name do you think you're doing?" she looked to the doctor.
"I am going to see how my friend is, you can help me or let me do it on my own, either way I'm going. You helping will cause me a lot less pain"
The pain so intense that she saw white lines shooting across her vision, she blinked and they were gone. The doctor helped her the rest of the way and into her robe, he offered his arm to her so she didn't have to depend on herself, in which she was grateful. The moment she had tried to get out of bed she'd regretted moving. She wasn't about to let that stop her though, her friend needed her.
They were at the door, leading into the rest of the hospital when Hayden came barreling in almost knocking her down and saying a few well chosen words a little louder than a whisper.
"What do you think your doing?" he looked from her to the doctor
"Going to see Bosco, he needs a friend right now"
"He does but, not one who's half dead herself, get back into bed right now" if he thought he could control her, he had another thing coming.
"Bite me" she motioned the doctor to go; they made very little progress before Hayden took over the doctor's position.
"Here let me do that" he kept her close to his side, trying to ease the pain. Nothing seemed to ease the pain. It got worse with every step she took and knew that if she wanted to get better she was going to have to keep moving, even if it momentarily killed her.
"I came as soon as I got Bosco's call" maybe she did have someone there for her
"He called you?" not really believing him
"Ya right after he left you" "Told me if I really cared to get my ass here and quick"
She held back tears not really knowing where they come from.
"C'mon on now little darlin don't cry" noticing a few tears running down her cheeks. He stopped her and ran his thumbs across her cheeks to wipe away the tears. She smiled through her tears; her stomach did a flip-flop when he touched her, even if the contact was minimal. Soon his thumbs became his whole hand as he placed them on her cheeks and brought her head forward and kissed her forehead. That should have been enough but it wasn't she wanted to taste his lips on hers. She ignored the pain as she brought an arm up to his neck and pulled his head down to hers, their lips carelessly touching. He pulled her to him seeking more than just a peck, his body heating up quickly, the sharp intake of breath cooled him right off. He let go of her immediately, her face winced in pain.
"I am so sorry" how could he have been so careless?
"It's ok" her hand over her stomach, trying to ease the pain.
"No its not I got carried away, when I shouldn't have" he ran a hand through his hair, leaving it sticking up. He looked really cute, like that but her injuries wouldn't allow her to act on that.
"I'm fine don't blame yourself" He took her arm again allowing her to walk a little faster.
Why did this have to happen? Why when he just got her back? He didn't even know what happened. But somehow knew that she got them both involved, always the fighter. Never the peacekeeper, her being a peacekeeper, them both peacekeeper now that was a funny thought.
Somehow they made it to his room, without her keeling over in pain, and the scene before her broke her heart, he was bent over her bed holding her lifeless hand. A machine doing the task of breathing, she couldn't help but feel responsible for this, if only she had gone with her or refused to take her.
Hayden helped her walk over to him, him unaware that she was even in the room, she placed her hands on his shoulders, the only thing she could do that wouldn't hurt her. Letting him know that she was there for him, like he was her.
"It's going to be ok Bos, she's going to wake up soon" he cried for the first time he knew her, he turned to wrap his arms around her waist and she held him letting him cry for everything. She couldn't help but cry too.
Neither knew how long they stood like that, unaware of everything, just being there for each other. Soon his eyes dried and no came out, he let go of her.
"Ashley I gotta go, a verdict just came in on one of my cases"
"Go, thank you"
"You don't have to thank me"
Bosco stood up and shook Hayden's hand surprising them both.
"I am thanking you for being with Ashley, when I couldn't"
"I was just lucky you called me. I'll see you all later" he kissed Ashley on the forehead and walked out.
"He's a nice man" this day was full of surprises
"What do you want Bosco?"
"Now why do you think I want something?"
"Because you do will you just tell me what you want" she would try her hardest to get it for him, even if she died trying.
"Will you please tell me everything that happened, and don't sugar coat it" when she said she would do anything she meant everything but that. He didn't need the truth.
"What have you been told?" so she knew what she had to go on.
"That you were beaten up, and she was shot" not much to more to say really
"Well that's basically what happened" she tried her hardest not to look at him; she had a habit of looking directly at the person when she was lying. She risked a glance at him, giving herself away.
"Please Ashley, I need to know" he had a right to know but it didn't make this any easier in deciding whether or not to tell him.
The pain was coming back again, telling her the painkillers were wearing off. This could be her chance to leave telling him she needed pain medication, he would understand, would have to understand. But she remained there, standing in front of him as he held his Ritza's hand, never letting go.
"Whose fault was it?" she couldn't put blame on anyone but herself
"It was mine, she wasn't in the store when you called she was talking to the Gorilla's alone by herself, I was at the entrance to the park, talking to you"
"She pulled one over one me, and I fell for it, I don't know how she did it but she must of called you while we were arguing, I don't know the details but you called me giving her time to get out of the car and half way to them before I got to the opening, if I went up to her, they would have done something, so I stayed back"
"If I had known that she would have done this from the start I wouldn't have drove her. I'm soo sorry Bosco" tears threatened to come out once again, she didn't want them to but they spilled over her eyes and down her cheeks.
She didn't know if she could handle it if, he said he never wanted to see her again, but she would have to, she had been through worse things then this. He wasn't saying anything, and she desperately needed medicine. She didn't know what else to say so she left, she would have liked to get out of there quicker but she was pushing it going as quick as she could.
Why was she so stupid, she was better off not letting anyone in that way they wouldn't hurt her. She didn't need anyone to help her, anything that needed doing she could get it done by herself.
She just wished she could convince herself that.
A/N: I havent decided whether or not i want the relationship between Ashley and Bosco to end, or become at a stand still. Let me know!