Title: Turned Loose 1?

Author: Mandi

Disclaimer: They're not mine.

Characters: Faith, Cruz, Bosco, etc.

AN1: This is a follow up series to Behind Bars in which Faith and Cruz were in prison. This series still centers around Faith and Cruz but also have them dealing with the other people in their lives. I started it in the beginning of the 6th season so I had no clue what was in store for the whole CT Finney stuff.

AN2: I apologize how Behind Bars ended, it was abrupt I know. But I really had no clue where to go with that fic so I ended it and started this one. And unlike Behind Bars, this series has a little bit more drama in it. A darker piece than that of Faith and Cruz causing mayhem.

AN3: and there was one part in this I had to take out just b/c I regretted writing it when I first started this series. I initially had the confrontation between Faith/Miller end in a heated kiss, but then I totally didn't like where that was leading so I had to take that out.

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Faith and Cruz were out of prison in no time after Cruz went to Swersky with allegations that Finney Sr. was indeed directly involved in having her nearly beaten to death. And with Faith's help in persuading the women, forced and threatened by Finney to beat Cruz, Finney had no where to go when Swersky confronted him with the allegations. Faith, Cruz, Swersky, and the fellow inmates had backed Finney so far into a corner, he had no choice but to give both Faith and Cruz full immunity. This angered Finney beyond words, but he still held his fixation on putting Cruz behind bars. The reason behind Finney's complete hatred of Cruz was still unknown, even to Cruz herself, but now the IAB Captain couldn't touch her. Or so she thought.

It's been two and a half months since Faith and Cruz were finally released from prison and cleared for duty. Faith went back to being a Detective while Cruz returned to her Anti-Crime Unit. Faith and Cruz talked every now and then, but their relationship still bordered somewhere between a mutual toleration and an actual friendship. Both still hesitant to admit that they were indeed pass all the crap that happened years back because both in their minds weren't willing to admit that they actually could stand one another. Still, they decided to keep their distance, to co-exist harmoniously in the precinct, and for the pass two and a half months, it's worked out fine.

Faith Yokas scanned through a case file in her hand as she made her way up to the Anti-Crime Offices. Cruz had dumped a case on her because of Anti-Crime's sudden back load of work and Faith had accepted it without question. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Faith was very grateful to Cruz for keeping her mouth shut about what really happened on Mann's roof top. Faith learned soon enough, that Cruz didn't actually do it for her, but only because Cruz just did not rat on other cops. Regardless, of their history, Cruz would never have given Faith up. Never. And it was that fact that Faith found a level of respect and appreciation with Cruz.

"Can I help you?" A familiar voice questioned, but Faith was too engrossed with the file in hand that she didn't bother to look up.

"Yeah—I'm looking for Sergeant Cruz." She replied numbly.

"She's not here."

"Where—," Faith's words got caught in her throat when she looked up for the first time since she arrived in the Anti-Crime Unit. She met a familiar pair of light blue eyes, "Lieutenant Miller—."

"John—call me John, Faith." He greeted with a slight smile on his lips.

"Of course—John."

"It's been a while—how've you been?"

"Can't complain—," she eyed him suspiciously, "Cruz never mentioned you were back at the 55." Faith couldn't help the silly smile that spread across her features. She was surprised at how happy seeing him again made her feel.

"Now why would the good Sergeant want to keep lil old me a secret? I've been here at least a week already, since the captain decided to transfer me to the 55, permanently. I think he just wants to get rid of me all together—wash his hands of me." he informed her, a twinkle in his eyes. Faith's smile widened. Though, Cruz didn't get along with him, Faith sure did. She and Miller had worked a case together before he had left the 55 the first time and she was arrested. He had been really great to her and she was quite fond of him. And he of her.

"So now you're permanently here to keep an eye on Cruz?" Faith joked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Don't remind me," Miller said, rolling his eyes and starting away from her. Faith followed him into his office and took a seat on the edge of his desk as he took a seat behind it. He looked up at her as he leaned back in his chair, "so—what brings you up to Anti-Crime?"

"Um—," Faith looked down at the file in her hands, "I need to speak with Sergeant Cruz—there's this case she wanted me to—."

"Let me see," Miller said taking the file from Faith before she could consider protesting. He opened it and quickly scanned the contents, his soft gaze hardening as he returned his attention back to Faith. "I gave Sergeant Cruz this case—why do you have it?"

"She's overworked with cases right now—she thought that I could—."

"—help her out?" He interrupted. Faith was taken aback by the harshness of his voice. He had never spoken to her in that tone before. He closed the file and slammed it down on his desk, "taking hand-me-downs from the Anti-Crime Sergeant isn't your job, Detective. I don't want you helping her out, giving her a hand, making her life easier—I give her the assignment, I expect her to handle it, not pass it on to someone else! You got that?"

"With all due respect, Lieutenant—I'll take the case if I want the case. Jelly's handling our workload as is and he told me not to worry about them and focus on this one." Faith retorted, tearing the file from his desk, "—and if you weren't so busy trying to make Cruz's life a living hell by giving her more than any normal person can handle, then I wouldn't be holding this case file right now. So don't stand there and tell me what I can and can't do. " She angrily finished and started out the door. Miller gained his feet quickly and reached for her, grabbing hold of her arm and pulling her back, gently but firmly.

Faith turned around to find herself in close proximity with a now fuming Lieutenant Miller, his face inches from hers, his breath hot against her skin, "who are you to talk down to me? I'm not the bad guy here, Detective. I give Sergeant Cruz what I think she can handle and I expect her to earn my respect—I expect her to do her job—do it well, and make mine a hell of a lot easier."

"Let go of me, John" Faith warned, trying to shake free from his grasp. She glared at him, trying not to notice the fact that if she leaned her head a little forward, she would be able to kiss him.

A few long seconds ticked by before he released his hold, his eyes dropping to the ground. Weeks of crap-taking from his bosses was getting to him and he was unintentionally taking it out on his co-workers. He shook his head, ashamed with himself, "I'm sorry…"

"I gotta go. We'll talk later," she stated, picking the file from the ground that had slipped out of her hand when he grabbed her. Faith opened the door and just when she was about to walk out he spoke up again.

"She's at Mercy." Miller uttered barely above a whisper. Faith looked back at him, confusion creasing her features.

"Who?"

"Cruz—she was called in to Mercy Hospital about 10 minutes before you came up here." Miller explained, looking down at a small post-it on his desk, "an Officer Maurice Boscorelli requested her presence."

A sudden fear gripped Faith's heart, her eyes widening when she looked back at Miller. The only explanation she could come with for Bosco's sudden need to see Cruz is that he wanted to know the truth about what happened with Donald Mann. Since the first time she spoke with him after getting out of prison and everyday after that, she's been keeping the truth a secret. Trying to find the right time to tell him, but truth was, she didn't know how to tell him she had shot and killed a handcuffed Mann all because she had thought he killed Bosco.

"10 minutes you say?" Faith questioned.

Miller nodded, finally looking back at her, studying her grief-stricken features, "what's wrong? You know him?"

Faith nodded, barely hearing his question, "he's my partner—well, was my partner before the promotion. We rode together for 12 years before—ah, he was shot."

"Is he one of the Officer's gunned down at Mercy?" He asked, his tone bordering on concern. Faith simply nodded, "any reason why he'd wanna speak to Cruz and not you?"

Faith looked down at her hands, not sure if she could lie to his face, "No—not that I can think of. Look, I really should go."

"Yeah—of course—but Faith!" He called after her, she glanced at him over her shoulder, "I am---truly sorry for my behavior. I'll make it up to you." He offered, his eyes once again soft and friendly, "Well, you should go, have a nice day, Detective."

Faith forced a smile.

"You too, Lieutenant." She replied before finally exiting his office.

The only thing now on Faith's mind was booking it to Mercy as quickly as possible. She had to figure out what to do about Cruz and Bosco. She knew Cruz wasn't strong against Bosco like she was against everyone else. With Bosco, Faith knew Cruz still withheld a twinge of guilt over Michael Boscorelli's death. Sharing in the blame for what happened to Bosco's brother even though Cruz, Faith, as well as Bosco, knew that she wasn't the one at fault or to blame for Mikey's death. Still, Cruz was vulnerable when it came to that sore subject. So getting the truth from Cruz wouldn't be too hard for Bosco. Faith prayed she wouldn't get there too late. She knew the truth needed to come out.

But she was the one that wanted to be the one to tell him. Not Cruz.

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Maritza Cruz slowly turned the doorknob to Bosco's room, pushing the door open slightly and popping her head in. Her eyes quickly scanned the room until it fell on Bosco's still form standing weakly against the opposite wall, staring out the window silently. She pushed the door open all the way before stepping in and closing it gently behind her.

"Bosco?" She whispered, calling out slightly to him, trying to catch his attention. After a few silent moments, Bosco turned toward her, his eyes dark, masking a rage within him. Cruz's eyes lingered on the bandage still covering a small portion of the right side of his face. "You called—the House—you wanted to see me?"

Bosco nodded, saying nothing as he sat down on a chair next to the window. Cruz approached him cautiously, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. They just stared at one another for a long moment, both daring the other to look away first. Cruz was the one to break the awkward silence first.

"What's this about, Bosco?" She asked, almost impatiently.

"Faith's keeping something from me—and I want you to tell me what it is."