Title: Deep Down

Chapter: Nineteen?

Author: Kelly

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Cruz was still in her office when Bosco knocked lightly on the door. She seemed to be going over last minute checks, her weapon out and her radio on the chair. "Sergeant." Cruz looked up at him in annoyance, for some reason seeing the gun in her hand was an unnerving sight and the glint in her eye didn't help. Bosco held his own.

"What can I do, Officer Boscorelli?"

Never one to tiptoe around a subject, he walked into the office further and closed the door behind him and approached her. Closing off the space between them. "I want to go with you."

"No."

"No," Bosco said raising his voice ever so slightly. "Just blow me off like that?"

Cruz gave him a harsh look. "I said no," she repeated as she carried on shoving the gun back in its holster. "No means no."

"Please," Bosco carried on. He was already in her debt and he knew it. She knew it. One more favour wouldn't hurt hell she'd probably get some sadistic pleasure out of it.

"This is my case."

"This isn't just a case," Bosco replied lowering his voice and his gaze. "It's Faith."

Cruz considered it for a moment and no more as she slipped the holster into place and shoved on her leather jacket. The slim lined jacket accentuating her figure as she buttoned it up, Bosco realised he was staring and forced himself to look into her eyes. "You really do care about your partner that much huh?"

"She's my best friend," Bosco answered seriously in a gentle voice. He was hoping for some kind of emotion to register on her face as he searched her eyes, a sign that any of this was getting through to her and his appeal would amount to something. Instead all he got was a blank expression. "I owe it to her to do this. To help find her." Once again, swallowing that damn pride was turning out to be a reoccurrence. "Please."

Cruz didn't know how much more of this light-hearted shit she could take from him. Anymore and she wouldn't be able to resist from shoving her fingers down her throat and being violently sick from the sentiment. Although, she couldn't fault him. The guy genuinely cared about his partner, perhaps a little too much and this was only Faith Yokas he was talking about. "You need to speak with Swersky."

"Already spoke with him," Bosco answered. "He's cool with it."

"You'd better not be lying," she said leaning her closer, her face mere inches from his own. "I am not getting into trouble for your…"

"I'm telling ya," Bosco repeated raising his voice, feeling a lot bolder and less intimidated by her. "I spoke with him and he granted me permission as long as it was okay with you." He only hoped she weren't about to change her mind as he saw it at work.

"Get ready to move out in five minutes."

Bosco rode with Faith as they steadily made their way to the address in Queens. During that time, he took it upon himself to read up on Michael Price and it was hard to believe that one of their own could be capable of this. The guy was obviously a jag-off so it didn't come too much as a shock. "So this Price guy," Bosco finally spoke up glancing to Cruz who was concentrating on her driving. "Ever met him?"

"No."

"Why'd you pick him out?" Now it was starting to feel like an interrogation. "I mean you said you'd found his file when Sully and Davis turned up."

"You read the file yourself," Cruz answered not taking her eyes off the road. "He's got a sound motive and if you note in his records he visited the 55th precinct recently in his time."

"So how'd he single Faith out? And why?"

"Yokas is a solid cop," Cruz replied matter-of-factly. "Doesn't step out of line, follows orders. The kind of golden child the NYPD looks for. I figure Price picked her as it would definitely motivate her people to pay the ransom."

"But burying her?"

"Who said his approach had to be rational," Cruz said glancing to him and taking a right.

"The guy'll be in for some world of pain if he's hurt her."

"Save your macho act for when we get there." Cruz slammed on the breaks, threw her arm over the back of Bosco's headrest and reversed. He had to reached forward and brace his hands on the dashboard to prevent himself flying forward and head first into the windscreen.

"What the hell are you doing?" Bosco asked annoyed. Cruz killed the engine and looked up.

"This is the place," Cruz reached into her pocket.

Bosco looked round, it weren't a busy area for Queens. He recognised the apartment from his vantage point; it was exactly as it had been described. Bosco glanced round the street and noticed an open area of land; it was a building site. Some kind of housing development going on according to the sign posted outside.

Cruz reached into her holster, pulling out her gun then looked to Bosco. "You ready?" The honest answer that she was looking for would have been a very direct "No" instead he settled for a firm nod as he pulled out his own gun.

"All teams in place." Came the response over the radio.

"This is 55 anti-crimes sergeant, get ready to move on my word."