Title: Deep Down

Chapter: Twenty One?

Author: Kelly

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Price stared at the officer a moment, then immediately recognised him as Maurice Boscorelli, Faith Yokas' partner. The one had been in contact with when he informed them of her capture. This guy was as bigger an idiot as his peers made him out to be. His own partner hadn't been like that; partner's meant one more person to look out for. His own partner, Stephanie Tyler had been murdered to prove a point.

"We can talk this through," Bosco said in a gentle tone. "Just tell me where Faith is and we'll give you whatever you want."

"Don't try and give him a pep talk son," Price shouted bitterly, keeping the revolver trained on him. "I know how it works. You know what it's for in the end? Huh?" His anger was increasing by the second, memories hitting him full force. Price's time in the force, his partner and basically his whole life. "Do you?"

Bosco had to remain diplomatic, even though he was resisting the urge to grab this guy and bitch slap him back to Timbuktu. "I'm sure I have no idea…"

"It wasn't a question," Price said edging closer but staying just far away from Bosco, just enough so he couldn't wrestle the weapon from his grasp. He was smarter than that, much smarter than this man it seemed. "I'll tell you what it amounts down to kid. Sweet FA!"

Oh man, this guy was a jag off. Bosco would have loved nothing more than to shut him up. He glanced to see Cruz's guys staring at him, moving closer and he looked back to Price. "Where's Yokas?"

"Is that all I'm going to get out of you," Price snapped once more. Bosco took his eyes off Price and past him to the living room, he saw a hell of a lot of blood. And a kid lying on the floor, clearly shot through the head. He looked no more than what? Twenty-four? Twenty-five? Bosco finally looked at Price.

"Why? You gonna shoot me like him?" Bosco indicated Benson's body. Price didn't have to look at Benson to know whom he was talking about, besides he wasn't going to risk taking his eyes off the cop. He remained silent and stoic. "Or bury me like Faith you twisted fuck!"

"Don't call me twisted," Price finally said, his face going red. "Try looking at your precious department. I worked my ass off for years, making a difference. Those things they accused me of." He shook his head slowly. "None of it was true. I was set up. Framed." He gave him a dangerous look yet there was truthfulness in his eyes. Desperation.

Bosco held his own and stood his ground. "Bet there's no mention in my files of the execution of my partner, the bastards killed her. In cold blood." Price blinked back hot tears. "I tried to help her, God I tried but the blood." He released the gun with one hand and looked at the hands as if they were stained. "There was so much blood." Bosco risked a step forward; Price remained his grasp on the weapon and held it up at him. "Stay back."

Bosco raised his hands once more as he watched the guy. "I want to help Michael." And in some part of him, Bosco meant that entirely. Even though this guy had taken Faith harmed her and buried her. He lowered his hands and took a step forward, holding out his hand. "Just tell me where Faith is… we'll get these people."

Price looked beyond him and cocked the gun… the next thing he knew a shot rang throughout Bosco's ears. Deafening him temporarily and instinctively he shielded his eyes with his arm. Disorientated. He felt a presence and saw Cruz standing next to him; he looked down where she was holding her weapon in the other hand. It was smoking. Bosco looked over to Price who had fallen blood seeping from a wound near his shoulder, eyes wide open. He ran over to him, knocking the weapon out his hand and checking his pulse. From the looks of it, Cruz had hit him square in the chest and Bosco's eyes narrowed. No pulse. He was dead.

"Why the hell did you do that?" Bosco shouted angrily, getting back to his feet and approaching the petite woman. Injured or not. She held his gaze with a steely one of her own. "He was going to shoot you."

"How do you know that?"

"Were you willing to find out?" Cruz answered quietly, pushing past him with her good arm. Her other one injured, so she'd taken a bullet to the arm. She'd gotten off lightly, unlike Price. She got on the radio. He interrupted her. "Just how the hell are we supposed to find Faith now?" Cruz didn't answer him. Bosco walked over to the window and stared out, he could make out Doc and Carlos getting out one of the ambulances. Hear sirens. So close and yet so far.

He leaned heavily against the window frame, cursing himself. He had handled it well and it ended like this. How the hell were they supposed to find Faith now, Bosco found his eyes wandering and they came to a stop. Resting on the building site, then to a yellow digger or something.

"The building site," he whispered to himself, turned round then walked out the door without a word to Cruz or anyone. On his way out, Doc and Carlos passed him by. He stopped. "You two, with me." They looked at each other with utter confusion. Cruz would be fine. You could shoot her a dozen times and she didn't seem to die.

"We heard there was an officer down."

"She's fine," Bosco said impatiently. "There's someone else who is gonna need your help." Another look between the two, Bosco tightened his grip on his weapon. "That wasn't a request."