Title: Deep Down

Chapter: Twenty Two of Twenty Three

Author: Kelly

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

"Bosco."

Bosco walked with a purpose, running out the doors and down the marble steps. The traffic was non-existent thanks to the arrival of ambulances; he carried on cross the road and into the building site. Doc and Carlos in pursuit.

"Excuse me sir you can't…" Bosco held up his badge than hung round his beck and pushed his way past the young man who was obviously this place's idea of security. He turned to question the two paramedics who looked after Bosco. "We're with him," Carlos commented hauling the bag with him. They came to a halt at the side of a hole that had been partially filled with dirt; Bosco put his hands on his hips. Looked at the digger than back down to the hole. He shot a glance to security guy. "I wanna speak to your site manager."

The young man quickly spoke into his radio and minutes later; a burly bearded guy wearing a yellow crash hat walked over to him. "I'm Matthew Anderson. Can I help you?" Bosco quickly moved his coat out the way to show him the badge. "What's in here?"

The man stroked his beard thoughtfully then looked at the digger. "This hasn't been scheduled," Anderson responded looking at Bosco. "Officer. Stevie Benson, one of my men has been working in this sector but I certainly didn't order this." He pointed at the hole for emphasis. "You'd have to ask him."

"He here?"

"He hasn't reported in today," Anderson replied folding his arms over his rounded stomach. Bosco didn't want to wait any longer. "Can we get anyone to remove this dirt?"

Anderson nodded and went away to get someone right on it.

Bosco waited just outside the construction site, a car pulled up and Swersky got out. "Heard you might have something."

"Yeah," Bosco said glancing back as the digger got to work. "Price is dead, Cruz shot him. He had an accomplice; he's been identified as Steve Benson. According to the site manager, Benson was one of his boys. Looks like he and Price were working together."

"Why?" Swersky looked beyond him. "What the hell are they doing?" Bosco regarded him with a steady look before saying seriously. "I think this is where Faith's been buried sir." Swersky looked at him in disbelief. "I wanna be here incase she is." Bosco glanced to Doc and Carlos who hadn't left his side, if Faith was buried she may need urgent medical attention. He considered it and nodded then walked into the apartment to report in with Cruz.

Bosco put his hands on his hips and turned back to the excavation work.

Swersky walked in and saw the two bodies; he turned away and looked to Cruz who was being treated by Alex Taylor. A bandage had been wrapped firmly around her left arm, blood pooling up underneath and he heard Cruz protesting very loudly to the blonde paramedic. "Look it's just a scratch."

"It's more than a scratch, the bullet is lodged in pretty deep," Taylor answered professionally, even when dealing with a very difficult patient. Cruz tried her best to deter her.

"I'm fine, go treat someone who needs it."

"You need it."

He found this the best time to intervene, "Ladies." Swersky looked to Taylor, ignoring Cruz. "How's it look?"

"She's lost a fair amount of bloody, we need to remove the bullet before it causes anymore damage." Taylor pulled on the bandage to apply more pressure, causing Cruz to yelp and bare her teeth. Swersky looked to Cruz. "You heard the lady sergeant."

"Boss?"

"You need medical treatment."

"I need to get started on the report," Cruz insisted quietly. "On this Price guy, this Benson guy. Not gonna be an easy write up."

"You don't need to worry about that," Swersky answered. "I'm sure you can assign someone else to do it." Cruz glanced at him, with most people the look would have been considered as threatening but she weren't about to do that with a superior officer. No matter who the hell she thought she was, she was the one who was supposed to write the report and get all the credit. No one else, and instead of voicing her opinion she winced, shrugged and replied. "I can handle it."

Swersky leaned in close to the young anti-crimes sergeant. "That wasn't a request." He looked to Taylor. "She's all yours."

Bosco saw Cruz literally stagger out of the apartment, aided with Alex Taylor who quickly helped her into the back of an ambulance. So someone had finally got it through to her that she needed medical attention, they deserved a medal. The whole thing had happened so fast, and Bosco still didn't believe Cruz's accusations that Price was going to shoot him. Was she hiding something? Did he have something on her? No, that was ridiculous and Bosco couldn't go around making accusations of his own without any evidence to back up the allegations. But something was definitely up with the situation.

"Officer Boscorelli."

Bosco turned to see that guy, the site manager, Anderson. Clipboard in hand and an extremely puzzled look on his face, he hadn't told them what he expected to find it but from his manner. Bosco guessed they had. "Faith," he whispered running over to them and looking into the deep hole. "Is that…" Anderson swallowed slightly as he addressed the cop. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Damn right it is," Bosco said happily. "How long will it take to get it out of there?"

"We need to set up a…" Too damn long, Bosco stripped off his coat and climbed down into the hole. Landing on top of the capsule with a hard thud.

Faith Yokas shifted in her bed as her eyes opened; no it weren't her bed. Still the same old capsule, she could've sworn she heard a thud or a bang or something but she suspected that it was the isolation and silence getting to her. Faith dismissed it and closed her eyes once more.

"Faith!"

Her eyes shot open, that sounded like Bosco's voice. That was impossible? Great, now she was hallucinating, just what had these bastards put in her water to cause this kind of effect? Now Bosco's voice was accompanied by the sound of something banging on top of the capsule.

Bosco leaned down and looked at the box, it had pipes running into the top. He tapped the top and put his ear to it, trying to find a hollow space in the box, he ran his hand down each side, clambering over it and pulling at the sides. It wouldn't budge or lift. He looked up to Anderson; "Get those two paramedics here." He carried on searching with his hands; he hit something metal and hard. Bosco adjusted his body to get a better luck, a damn padlock. Getting to his feet, he upholstered his gun and aimed at the padlock, intending to shoot it off to gain access.

Fear shot through Faith's body, which was a sound she'd recognise anywhere. The sound of a gunshot was undeniable and all too real. Her kidnappers had shot Bosco and now she faced the same fate, she listened more carefully as the banging carried on once more. How the hell was she going to get away from them if they were armed? Without thinking, she moved her hands down her body and around the capsule that had become her home. Searching for a weapon, her hands clasped the water, the candy, and the tranquillisers. All completely useless, her hands struck her waste bucket. It was heavy but not too heavy so she couldn't lift it. What other choice did she have?

Faith manoeuvred her body and took a firm grasp of the bucket, whoever opened it was about to get a very nasty surprise indeed.

Bosco watched as the lock shot off into two pieces and disappeared down the side of the hole, all he cared about was getting to the woman who was trapped inside. "Please Faith," he whispered gently as he tugged on the top. "Be all right." He embedded his fingers into the crevice and pulled, the lid shifting ever so slightly.

"Open the fucking lid," she muttered, growing more and more impatient. Her bucket was no match for a bullet but she hoped to get some serious payback. Faith moved herself into the nearest position to a crouch she could muster, willing her muscles to move and her calm to remain. She heard a rustling sound, then a soft creak before the harsh light of day. She pushed herself up, lifting the lid and colliding with someone's stomach. Closing her eyes to shield them from the sun, she shoved the bucket into their gut and heard a masculine groan. "Take that you bastard," she cried out, tears in her eyes and her voice hoarse.

"Faith." A hand stopped the bucket from hitting him further, his hands moving round and resting on her own. The touch was so gentle; he moved the bucket away from her, rendering her defenceless. "Faith, it's me."

Faith opened her eyes ever so slightly, even though the sun burned them due to lack of exposure. "Bosco," she said softly, trying not to cry. "I'm alive."

"You're alive Faith," Bosco took her into his arms to comfort her. To shield her from any harm. Glancing up to Doc and Carlos who were eager to get her out of there and checked out, he looked down at her and took her face between his hands and smiled.

"You're safe."