Thanks for the reviews! I really as always appreciate all of them. Lots of Bosco angst in this one, plus more from that bad girl Em. LOL

Oh and please remember...this is only Fan Fiction. Lets not trash the 'real TW' Em. she'd never do something like this to Bosco. Even if she is mad at Faith and Fred. She's basically a good kid. So, on with the AU Emily Yokas....lol Malinda

Truth or Lies Chapter 4

The Day after the attack:

Pain, the entire world consisted of nothing but darkness and pain. Waking only confirmed that view. Unable to open his eyes, his left hand strapped to the beds rail, he raised his right instead. Soft moan becoming loud groan as he lifted his arm to touch his face, trying to figure out why he couldn't see. The hugely swollen inflamed flesh he touched felt alien, and extremely tender making him jerk his hand away in fear. A sharp cry escaped him as the fear of the unknown reason for this bore down on him. Someone now at his side, making soothing sounds in an attempt to calm him. "Shush, Maurice it's okay son, rest easy," Dave put his hand on Bosco's right arm, gently encouraging him to lower it again, "Don't touch your face, you got pretty beat up. Can you hear me?"

Voice rough, tired, and weakened, "Yea, wa happen, wreak?" Tongue attempting to moisten his lips he groaned again as the tender raw flesh protested the acidic saliva's caress, "uugghh, damn."

"No," Dave had been told by the Dr. he might have no memory at first of the beating, "you were attacked. But you're in the hospital now. And you're going to be okay, soon." He didn't add 'what' hospital. That could wait. He glanced over at the chair on the otherside of the bed, Rose Boscorelli was asleep having been here most of the night and day since he'd been found and Sully had gone to get her. Letting her sleep for now Dave asked, "Maurice, the Dr. will be back in a few minutes, he's checking on another patient. Are you in much pain? I can get him now if you need him." A slight shake of his head, rough whisper, "Some, why can't see? Is Faith k...? They didn't' get..." He was less concerned with the fierce throbbing in his head than the ones in his eyes and face.

"Both of your eyes are swollen shut, but the Dr. says you should be able to see fine in about a week when it goes down fully. Right now don't try to open them, just let them rest and heal. And no, Faith wasn't there. You weren't on shift. She's fine." Dave looked around as he saw him again try to wet his swollen lips, "You want water? Doc says you can have some if you don't drink too much right away." Nodding Bosco turned his head as he felt the small straw touch his mouth. He could barely open his jaw, and realized he couldn't suck on it. "Can't, hurts too much." Rolling his head back to the ceiling he was beginning to feel the rest of his injuries now, his right arm coming up and reaching over his chest to his left. Touching the black fiberglass cast on his wrist, and feeling the restraint he dropped his arm again. "Lieu," at his gasp of pain as he called Dave's title out, Dave stopped him. "Maurice, I'll get the Doc, be right back." Then Bosco was alone in the darkness. The pain bringing him under again before Swersky could return with the Dr. in tow.

Rose stirred in her chair as she heard the louder voices. Sitting straight remembering where she was, she stood quickly crossing the short distance to her son's side. "What's going on? Did something happen?" Dave and the Dr. looked at her, Dave answering first, "He woke up for a couple of minutes. But when I went to get the Doc here, he must have passed back out again."

Nodding, Rose held Bosco's casted hands fingers gently in hers, rubbing them with her own, as she asked, "Did he remember anything? Does he know where he is?" Dave shook his head no at her, "And I didn't tell him. I don't really think that would help him right now."

"No, I don't think so either," Dr. Sommers agreed, "best just to let him come all the way back before we spring that one on him." He was checking his vitals, though the monitors gave him good news, he always felt better to do a hands on inspection of his patients. Stepping back finally, "Lets let him sleep now. He's not as deep under as he was, he's actually simply sleeping right now. I'll increase his pain medication though, make sure he rests easy. I'm changing it from Morphine though, I never like to do that more than 24 hours unless its absolutely necessary. This new one should do the trick and let him wake when he wants to." He wrote a new order on the chart, then rehung it again on the bed. Himself making the actual physical changes, and hanging a new IV bag up after. Before he left the room, he made one last check inside Bosco's mouth, nodding at what he saw, commenting as he gently wiped a salve on his dry damaged lips, "Dentist did good work, and doing it while he was under from morphine was good also. Until we tell him, I don't really think he'll realize he has four caps on his front teeth. What do you think Mrs. Boscorelli?" Rose having inspected his teeth as the Dr. checked them.

A soft smile revealing her pain that he'd had to have it done in the first place she replied, "They look just right, but I do think he'll notice. I have a couple Dr. Sommers and they feel different from my other teeth. But they do look like his, he always had such beautiful teeth,..." she stopped tearing up a moment. Studying Bosco's face she tried to find her son under all the damage. Only the dark curly hair that he complained about so much as being unable to do anything with told her it was truly him.

Dave saw her struggle to remain solid for Bosco. "Rose," his voice gentle, "how about we get some coffee and let him sleep? I could do with something to eat, and if I didn't make you eat too, well, we know what he'd do if he thought I let you be neglected." Moving around the bed he put his hand on her back. "How about it? I'm sure Doc wouldn't mind us using his lounge?"

"No, of course not," Dr. Sommers quickly moved to the phone in the room, "just let me call the dining room and I'll have a meal brought up for you both. I should have thought of that sooner, I'm sorry. And don't worry, I can have one of the orderlies sit with him while you're gone."

His mistake of not keeping Bosco in the infirmary or checking on him during the night, was haunting him. And he was determined not to let anything else happen to him on his watch.

Both Rose and Dave thanked him, and followed him as he led them from the room. "The lounge is just three doors on your right, down that way. And please, feel free to use it anytime you wish. No one is allowed in this wing without my express permission, and now not without a guard escort. So you will be quite safe here. The warden has made a special concession Mrs. Boscorelli for you to be here with your son. We are all very sorry for what happened to him, I hope you know just how much." Rose nodded a soft "Thank you, Dr." all she said, but she knew from the others enough of what had happened to know the man was near groveling for forgiveness. Something she wasn't ready to give.

Late that same day:

"Sul, you talk to Swersky yet? He tell you if Bosco's awake?" Sasha stood next to his locker watching him. Ty had told her that morning what had happened to Bosco at the prison. Nodding, Sully slammed his locker door closed, "Yea, he did wake up. Couple times today. Last I checked he was asking to go home. Doc won't let him leave the infirmary. And they still haven't told him where he is. Lieu says he's still too out of it to remember much. Does remember Fred pounding on him. Lieu told me Bosco thinks Fred did all of it. But he has no memory yet of why Fred would attack him. Doc wants to let it come back slow, see if he can get it together without them 'making up memories' for him. Something about it being important if they find the other bastards who did that to him."

"Hey, guys," Ty walked in on the last of Sully's comments. As they greeted him, he opened his locker, anger deepening his voice, "I hope to hell he does remember who caused this. I want a piece of those bastards myself." Sully standing a moment before going to rollcall slapped him on the shoulder, "Yea Ty, me too. Pretty sure Lieu feels the same way. Those skells better not get back out on the street anytime soon. Going to be some sorry sons of bitch's if they do."

"Damn straight on that one guys," Sasha left them staring after her as she exited the room. Ty leaned over watching her leave, a hard grin on his face as he turned to Sully, "Glad I'm not the one she's pissed at. Never even heard her curse before." Sully stared at him a moment before leaving, "Going to be lots more like her when this hits the house good. Pay backs a bitch, son!"

Sighing as he searched the bottom of his locker for a better pair of socks, Ty had to agree with both of them. The streets were going to get tense real quick if those guys got back on them anytime soon.

Second morning after the attack in the prison:

"Lieu, please," Bosco lisped as he struggled to make himself understood, "she shouldn't be here. I don't want her to see me like this. She's been through enough." Not able still to see, he was frustrated that no one was listening to him. He'd asked for the leather restraint to be removed, and been refused. The Dr. had told him it was to keep him from injuring his face in his sleep with the cast. And since he was drifting in and out, it was hard to know when it should be on and when it could be off. A lie of course, it was a rule of the prison, he wasn't in the usual secure areas for prisoners so he had to remain 'cuffed' even if it was leather. But they refrained from that as he still was fuzzy on the situation.

"Maurice," Rose spoke up, seeing him jump slightly, "baby, I'm going NO WHERE! Do you understand that? Now stop, before you get sick again. Do you want something to eat? You can have Jell-O or even ice-cream if you want. And Dr. Sommers said soup is fine as long as there is no meat in it. Doesn't want you 'chewing' too much." Without his facial expressions it was hard to gauge his reactions to her words. There wasn't much movement to his muscles at the moment. The tissues still to stiff from the swelling to show emotions. But his body language left no doubt as to his anger.

"I WANT," he tried to shout, but dropped his head back with a moan, headache flaring to fireworks, he jerked his left arm hard in the restraint, voice lower, "get out of...this! Not...food!" Turning his head toward her in frustration, "Ma, please, make them take it off? Go home, get rest. I'm fine, please..." Rose again took his fingers in her left hand, "Maurice, I can't. If I do they will just put it back on again. You have got to calm down before you cause yourself more harm. Do you want to throw up again? You didn't seem to enjoy that much. Keep making yourself so upset over this restraint and my being here and you'll be begging for that pain medication again."

His earlier bout of sickness brought on when he first woke up and realized she was there, and he couldn't get free, coupled with the concussion's headache left him gasping after several minutes of being ill in a small pan. The Dr. had given him a shot to control the vomiting, and for a boost to the pain medication. Rose was terrified he'd start again.

Dr. Sommers walking in on this scene, intervened on Rose's behalf. He loudly proclaimed, firmly and leaving no doubt as to his sincerity in his words, "Mr. Boscorelli, your mother is right. We will NOT take that restraint off, so stop this NOW. And stop giving your mother a hard time over being here. There is nothing you can do to prevent it, except upset her and yourself. Now, do I have to sedate you or can you control your temper?"

At his hard voice, Bosco froze. Seconds later his hands started a tremor that quickly spread to his torso. A memory vague during his previous awakenings now coming to the surface rapidly. Dr. Sommers instantly seeing his physical reaction to his voice motioned Rose to back off. As she did so he stepped closer to the bed.

"Mr. Boscorelli," his voice softer now, "don't fight it, just relax and let it come. You're safe now, nothing can harm you here. Tell me, what are you remembering?" He kept his hands to himself, not wanting to startle him. Rose searched the Dr.'s face but kept silent.

Hand now clenching and unclenching in the blankets, Bosco gave a short moan, gasping out as the memory surfaced fully, "No, no more, please, stop, STOP!" His right hand flying up now from the bed to shield his face from the memory of the attack. Head rolling to the left he cried out again. Rose clamped her hand over her mouth at the sight. Tears falling as she saw her son's terror surface.

Gasping for air, the memory became just that, a memory, and he was back in the hospital bed, but suddenly he was in a panic attack, clasping his chest and panting for air. Short high sounds escaping him as he struggled. Rose having never been witness to one before was horrified.

"Maurice," Dr. Sommers switched to his given name, his voice gentle but firm as he lay his hand on Bosco's shoulder, "its okay, its over. Breathe, Maurice take a deep breath and let it out slowly. I know its hard, but you're going to start remembering more of what happened as the days pass. It may come all at once, or bit by bit. And that's why you need to stay here, restrained, and have someone with you at all times. Now, again, relax, deep breath, that's it. Okay, now lie back. I know you have attacks like this. And that you haven't had one in a long time. They should stop as you gain control over the memories of the attack. Again, another breath, in...out. Use the calming method that your Dr. gave you." They continued this way for several more minutes until he was lying exhausted and sweat soaked but calm again among the sheets and blanket.

Rose stepped forward again, gently taking his hand in hers. "Maurice, baby, I'm not going anywhere. Alright?" Bosco gave a slow nod, grasping her fingers as best he could, "Okay Mom, okay." She pulled her chair close again, sitting beside him. Rubbing his shoulder as the Dr. asked him to tell him what the memory had been of. He refused at first with Rose in the room, but she quietly convinced him that she would find out anyway, so he slowly described the part of the beating he'd remembered to Dr. Sommers. When it was over, Dr. Sommers patted him on his other shoulder, "You did just fine Maurice. I'm going to have something sent in for you to eat. Don't worry, your mother already told us what you don't like to eat. So rest assured while it won't be the best thing you've eaten it won't be Brussels sprouts either." At Bosco's small snort he smiled and exited the room, telling them he'd check back later to see how his meal had gone.

Quiet whisper, "Sorry Mom." At his words Rose frowned, "Baby, what are you sorry for? You didn't do anything to be sorry for." She knew what he'd been accused of, and could not for the life of her understand how Faith could believe he'd do such a thing. Even knowing she'd take Maurice's word on anything it was hard to accept that Faith would think he'd harm her daughter like that.

"Sorry, you had to see me like this. I never wanted you to see," his soft voice racked with shame, "I'm spose take care of you. Arm's not hurting, is it?" Rose gripped his fingers tighter, "Maurice Louis, don't you ever feel ashamed of me seeing you like this. I only wish I'd been able to help you through them before. And I'm going to be here to help you now. I know you have some crazy idea of how you have to protect me from the world. And I know its my fault that you feel that way. But now its my turn baby, to protect and help you. So never say you're sorry for not being as strong as you want to be. Like I've tried to explain to you before, we all need someone to take care of us sometimes. You just have to start letting me when you need it. And my arm is fine. Really baby, its not hurting, and when I need help they are more than happy to help me. Dave even dotes on me." A smile in her voice now, "You know that Lieu of yours is a fine man, shame he's married huh?"

Hot salty tears stung his eyes and face as they rolled down into his hairline, his voice catching with a laughing sob, "MOM!" Rose chuckled at his reaction, then sobered as he continued, softly, "I love you Mom. I'm sorry I yelled, stay with me tonight?" He stopped short of telling her how scared he was, but as most mothers understand the 'unspoken' things their children 'say' Rose heard him.

"I'm here baby, I'm here. And I love you too sweetheart." Standing up her left hand crossing over to rest on the top of his hair, leaning down to gently kiss the top of his head, nearly the only place on him that wasn't bruised or damaged. Bosco raised his right hand to touch her face softly, stoking her cheek as she stood holding him in the only way possible right now. Soon he was out of it again. She wasn't sure if it was sleep that claimed him, or the pain medications, but she was glad he was resting finally.

For the next two days, he was in and out constantly. His memories slowly filling in. Finally on the third day after he was beaten, due to a newly scheduled court date, they could wait no longer and told him where he was. It did not go well, but when Dave explained about the bail hearing, to their surprise and dismay he insisted on going. Dr. Sommers tried to dissuade him, telling him he could have it moved easily. But Bosco remained firm, his need to show them he was innocent of such a thing overriding his fear of facing Faith and Fred like this. Rose commented to the Dr. of his continuing confusion. Something she'd been told would fade as his recovery progressed. Sometimes he knew where he was, and who he was talking to, sometimes he had to be reminded of both. She was afraid he'd forget where he was, or have a panic attack. Each new memory of the actual attack, including the two attacks being mingled in his memory right now had set off additional panic reactions.

But despite their best objections, his stubborn side won out. Bosco was going to court tomorrow come hell or high water. And in his mind, the record would be set straight and he was going home. What would come after, he had no clue how to fix, or if it could be fixed. To everyone's continuing surprise he'd managed to convey finally to them, "If it was MY child, I'd have done the same damn thing! I'm not mad at Fred or Faith. I'd have used my gun though, not my fists. Now I just have to figure out why Emily said what she did." That long speech, his most clear to date since he'd first woken, had nearly undone him. His mouth was on fire as he struggled to get it out and when he was done, he was done. "Well, Maurice," Dave stood up from his chair, "you're not going in alone. I'll be there with you. Seems to me you're not really thinking straight right now, so somebody's going to have to make sure you don't end up in prison for the rest of your life." He was angry, but knew his officer and there would be no stopping him, so best try to help if he could.

He didn't clue them in about what actually happened, he wanted to talk to his lawyer first. See if they could arrange a meeting with Fred and Faith so he could tell them what Had happened that day. A few minutes later he fell asleep on them, and was left to himself as they talked about the best plan of action.

What he wasn't aware of, was a search had taken place at his home as well as his locker at work. And his car. And in one of those places, something was found. Something that would seal his fate unless Emily stepped forward and told the truth.

Day of the Hearing:

"Faith," Fred turned from the fridge, "are you going to the hearing today with me?" Pouring a glass of water he eyed her carefully. She was still mad he'd gotten arrested, but she told him it was over the bail money fee and not that he'd hit Bosco.

"Yes Fred," she glanced up from the paperwork for the physiologist she was filling out on Emily, "of course I am. I want to make sure of what the prosecutor says too you know. They're not dragging our daughter through the mud if I can help it." Finishing she signed her name, setting the papers aside for later. Taking a deep breath she stood, "I'm going shower and change. Do you need anything pressed?" Fred smiled at her, "Babe, you don't touch that iron. You know all you can do is scorch stuff." Nodding with a sad grin she replied, "True, well then, do I need anything pressed?" Fred shook his head at her, losing his smile some, "Faith, Em's going to be ok, we're going to make sure of that. Together right?"

Instead of heading to the bedroom to gather her things for the shower, she ended up in his arms with his head on top of hers, "Fred, how could I have been so blind as to trust him again? Please tell me we're going to make it through today? I'm not sure I can stand to look at him, but I want to let him see me, let him know I'm not afraid to face him."

Lifting her chin to look into her eyes, he first kissed her forehead, brushing the stray hairs from her face, "Faith, he can't hurt anyone. He's going to be in cuffs, and you are strong enough to face him and make him know he's going to pay for this." Hugging her again, "You didn't cause this babe. None of this is our fault. He did this, not Em and not you." Nodding she reached up and quickly kissed him then headed off to get ready.

Emily stood just inside her bedroom doorway, the door nearly closed. Listening to her parents. Smiling to herself, she considered her mission to both hurt them and make them give her what she wanted half done. Now to make sure Bosco never got out of prison, her next goal. She knew because Faith had 'reassured her' that she would not have to testify about what had happened in open court. So if all she had to do was look into a camera in a closed session in some little private room, she'd make sure that it was the best acting job anyone had ever done. Maybe they'd even give him the death penalty by the time she was done! Closing her door fully now, she returned to her desk to finish cutting out pictures from the latest YM magazine. She wanted to make her friend Amanda a poster of all the cute guys she liked. Smiling as she worked, it never occurred to her that the pain she was bringing would rip them all apart more fully than the shredded pieces of the magazine lying all over the desk now.

Courthouse Prisoner Dropoff Area:

"Bosco," Swersky greeted him as the Van he'd been brought to the courthouse in moved away from the curb, "how are you feeling?" If looks alone were any indication it wouldn't be a positive answer.

Bosco sat in the wheelchair, looking somewhat confused as he sought out the voice speaking to him. Both eyes still swollen though now he had a slit of an opening, but it still caused his vision to be hazy. The medication the Dr. had put in them not helping him to see any better. Dave put a hand on his shoulder and instantly removed it as he flinched violently away from him, a involuntary gasp escaping him. A soft painful groan following the quick movement. "Hey, Maurice, its just me Dave Swersky, take it easy.

Dave could have kicked himself for not letting him know it was him before touching him. It had been over four days since the attack, and while the Dr. had wanted to get the hearing postpone for another week at least, Bosco had insisted he wanted it over as soon as possible. He was hoping for bail so he could go home.

"Lieu?" Bosco whispered, his voice hoarse and unsteady, "What are you doing here?" He still had no real memory of them actually finding him. He could remember most of both attacks, but not all. And he still couldn't make out faces enough to tell them who had done it besides Angel and Marcus Howard. The others unless someone broke, would go unpunished until he recovered more. He remembered of course that Dave had been to see him, but with the pain meds again in his system after a bad morning, he'd forgotten that he'd promised to be here for him today.

"Well, I did tell you I would be here, remember?" Looking at the continued confusion on his face Dave began to be concerned whether he would be able to understand what would go on in the court. Sometimes he felt that Bosco zoned out just in Roll Call and even when it was important. Glad now he'd made sure to clear his calendar and be here. He just might need someone besides the Attorney appointed by the Union on his side. "Maurice, do you remember me telling you I'd be here?"

Giving a small shake of his head he whispered, "No, but thanks Lieu. I have to meet my lawyer, and um..." He sat silently waiting, but for what he wasn't sure. He knew he'd known when they left the hospital, but now he was having trouble again. The Dr. had said it would pass as his concussion healed and he could decrease the medications, but right now he really couldn't remember where he was or why he was there, other than the lawyer thing. He knew it was important though, and that he'd insisted on it. If Lieu was here whatever it was it would be okay. "Maurice," again the hand touched his shoulder, but he managed not to jerk away this time. Raising his face to the voice, "Yea?" Dave swallowed, Bosco's continued silence and stillness not giving him much comfort about the coming proceedings, "You ready to go inside? Your lawyer should be in the conference room. He wants to brief you before the Hearing."

Like a fist slammed into him, he was back in the present. Court. He was here because he raped Emily, right? NO, he didn't, did he? No, he wanted to talk to Faith. Right? Shaking his head slightly to clear it he tried to focus on what Lieu was telling him, answering more confidently than he felt, "Yea, sure, lets go in."

Dave stayed the guard who began to push the wheelchair onto the ramp, "One second." Leaning down, he asked, "Maurice, you don't have to do this today. You can postpone it until next week when you're better. When you're heads more clear. Why don't you let me talk to your lawyer, get it moved back." Bosco put his un-casted hand on top of Dave's as it sat on his shoulder again, "No, want to do this today. Go home." His words coming broken as his jaw was still to sore and stiff for him to make complete conversation for more than a few minutes yet. Unless he was angry enough to override the pain.

Dave suddenly felt like a parent looking at his damaged face. Hearing his stuttered sentences. His face so swollen still it was hard to imagine the handsome man underneath the black and blue bruises. Red angry patches where the skin had not actually been hit but the broken capillaries had leaked over into. He looked like some insane child had colored outside the lines of bruising. Butterfly stitches closed one of the cuts on his eye. The other was covered with a small bandage to protect the stitches of a deeper cut. Again his cheek bandaged to do the same to a set of sewn in stitches. The white causing the darker colors to stand out even more if that was possible. Actual knuckle marks showed along his jaw line, red and black now instead of the blue and white from the night he'd been found. His lips still swollen, also causing his speaking to be affected, a matching deep cut on top and bottom looking like one continuous line. Bruises along his collarbone where the orange jumpsuit lay open along his throat hinting at the additional damage as it disappeared beneath the collar of the suit. His left hand lay in his lap, black cast holding his damaged wrist rigid beneath its hardness.

Dave couldn't help notice in the instants his eyes took all this in again, that his right wrist as he held Dave's hand was still deep purple where the bastards who did this to him had held him to the floor.

He didn't let Bosco feel his anger or pity, instead patting his hand, in a voice steadier than he felt, "Ok, then lets go do this and get you home."

"Lieu," Bosco whispered again, "is my Mom here? I don't want her here. Don't want her to hear them say..." Grabbing Dave's hand tight, "Didn't Boss. Never hurt someone like that." His desperate plea, brought tears that Dave was glad he couldn't see.

"I know, I know Maurice, we're gonna figure this out, trust me on that. And I don't know if your Mothers here. But I'll check and do my best to keep her from being in the hearing. But son, I'm not sure I can withstand Rose Boscorelli if she wants to be here for you," he gave a slight chuckle to relieve the tension, "I'm not that tough a man, no matter what I try to make you guys think."

He was rewarded with an answering snort of suppressed laughter from Bosco as he held his ribs, his memory of why he was here now focused again. "Nobody is Lieu. Just please not the hearing, okay?" Patting him again, "I'll do my best."

Nodding to the guard now, he followed as Bosco was taken out of the open air drop off and into the Court house to meet his Attorney for the first time. Lieu tried to ignore the jingling sound of the ankle cuffs as the chair made a slight bounce over the joint that brought the ramp onto the upper level of the courthouse rear steps. Ankle cuffs, that made sure he would not try to escape from the guard escort, the chains leading from them joining another longer chain in the middle that locked into a leather 'belt' around his waist. A locked leather restraint was around his cast, this attached on its opposite end to the chair itself.

'Jackasses,' Dave gripped internally, 'where the hell they think he's going to get to in that condition. Can barely remember his own damn name! Can't even stand up, how the hell he's going to escape?'

TBC...