Faith let go of Bosco and looked straight into his eyes wiping away her tears.
"I'm sorry Bosco; I didn't mean to break down like this. I didn't mean to dump my problems all over you." She stood up and grabbed a bottle of water.
"It's okay Faith, don't be sorry. I want to help you get through this. I mean we're training partners right? We have each others back." He lifted her chin with his hand. "And you trust me right Faith?"
She smiled at him "Of course I do, But I really need to go home and cook dinner for my kids. He is working 12 hour shifts so I will be okay."
"Can I at least offer you a ride home? I want to make sure you get there safe"
"That'd be great, Thanks Bosco." She leaned over to grab her bag but Bosco beat her to it.
"Here let me get that for you, C'mon Faith I'll take you home."
"Thank you."
They reached the parking garage and walked over to Bosco's mustang.
"Wow this is your car?"
"Yeah it's my baby. You like it?"
"I love it, glad I'm going for a ride in it." she smirked she went to open the door when Bosco quickly beat her to it and opened the door for her put her inside and closed the door.
"Where's your apartment?"
"It's on Mcgarther Ave in the Garden Apartment Estates Apt. 4D."
"I know where it is" He started up his engine and pulled away from the curb. It was 6 when Faith reached home. Faith started to get out of the car when Bosco placed his hand on her her shoulder.
"You want me to walk you up?"
"No I'll be fine, I troubled you enough."
"It's no trouble I want to make sure you are safe."
"Okay as long as it's no trouble.
"
"Trust me it's not." He followed her up to the apartment. As they came around the corner Emily and Charlie were just leaving closing the door behind them.
"Mommy!" Charlie ran to his mothers arm.
"Hey baby where you guys going?"
"Hi Em" she kissed her daughter
"Oh we're going to a movie and then for a slice of pizza we will be back at 8:30." Emily smiled.
"Okay well don't be too late. Come here I want you to meet someone. Emily, Charlie, this is my partner from work Bosco. Bosco these are my children Emily and Charlie."
"Hi, it's nice to meet you." Emily said as she shook his hand.
"You're going to be a police officer like my mommy?" Charlie said.
"That's right."
"Will you get to ride in a police car?"
"Eventually, I'll take you for a ride sometime and let you play with the sirens."
"I like that Bosco, it's nice to meet you." He gave Bosco a hug.
"Bye Mommy."
"Bye Guys have fun." She watched as her kids turned the corner to go to the elevator.
"Looks like my son took a good liking to you; He never hugs people he just meets."
"I guess I have that charm." he smiled.
"Thank you Bosco for everything."
"You're welcome, anytime."
"I'll see ya on Monday." She started to turn the key to her apartment.
"Hey here is my number, if you need anything, anything at all just call me okay."
"I will thanks" she took the piece of paper and put it in her jacket. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight Faith."
Faith opened her apartment door and closed the door and locked it. She went to turn on the lights when she realized she was not alone. The whole room was lit with candles and the table was set for two with a vase of dozen white roses."
"I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show."
She turned around and saw Fred sitting at the table.
"Fred?" She squinted.
"Yeah Baby it's me."
"You did all this?"
"With the help of Emily, I hope you like it."
"Fred, this is nice but I'm really exhausted and tired."
"But wait I made your favorite dish Chicken Alfredo with whine sauce."
She couldn't help but take in all the good smells. He moved slowly to her and got on his knees and started to cry.
"Faith I'm so sorry Faith for everything. I hurt you and took advantage of you. I want to change. I need you in my life. I can't loose you. I love you. Will you accept my apology? Help me change. I will do anything you want including going to those AA meetings."
"Oh Fred! I love you too" she cried as she put her arms around him "I've been waiting to hear you say that. I want us to be okay again and to be a family again."
He hugged her tightly back "I never meant to hurt you, please forgive me, I promise no more alcohol."
"It's okay Fred, Come on let's eat before it gets cold" She stood up. Fred raised his hand out to her and she took his hand and led her to the table where for the first time they had a normal meal together as husband and wife.
The next day Faith decided to take the kids over for a sleepover at Mary and Jim's. It had been a while since she had seen them and wanted to talk to them about her exciting career change. She had told Fred his dinner was in the refrigerator and that she would be back later. She kissed her husband and left. Fred was watching a ballgame on TV when there was a knock on the door. He hated being disturbed when watching the game. He got off the couch and opened the door.
"Hi can I help you?" he questioned
"Is Faith here?"
"No she went and took the kids to a sleepover at my parent's house. Who the hell are you and what do you want?"
"Maurice Boscorelli" He shook his hand.
"What do you want with her Mr. Boscorelli?"
"Please call me Bosco."
"Okay Bosco again what do you want with my wife?"
"You're her husband Fred aren't you?"
"Yeah how do you know her?"
"She's my partner at work."
"I see."
"Look Fred it's time you and I had a chat."
"About?"
"You know what about."
"I'm sorry Bosco I have no idea what you are talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm walking about Fred, I suggest you let me in." He stared at him angrily.
"I'm not letting you in; we can talk fine from here."
"Are you sure Fred?"
"Yeah I'm sure Bosco."
"I'm sure the neighbors would be very interested in knowing that you beat and rape your wife."
"Get in here." Bosco followed him in
"Look I don't know what my wife told you sometimes things get out of hand you know?"
"I'm here to tell you that you hurt her for the last time. She doesn't need that kind of lifestyle."
"What are you talking about? I would never hurt Faith I love her and who are you to make accusations against me?"
"I'm warning you Fred, stay away from her if you know what's good for you."
"You threatening me now?"
"I don't threaten, I promise."
"Look we have had our ups and downs but so does every marriage. We are doing just fine. Now I like you to leave."
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the truth."
"What truth?"
"Come on Fred, how did it feel to know that you hurt your wife? To know that she was crying and hurting on the inside as well as on the outside?"
Fred was growing angrier.
"Who do you think you are accusing me of beating my wife? This is none of your business please leave."
Bosco shook his head. "No."
The apartment door opened slowly and Faith was horrified to find Bosco in her apartment.
"Bosco? What are you doing here?
He walked over to her "I came to see you. I wanted to make sure you were alright."
"I'm fine. Bosco it's late I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Faith I'm not going to let you live here with this jag off."
Fred moved across the room towards Bosco.
"Who are you calling a Jag off?"
"You defiantly you!"
"I told you once I'm not going to tell you again- Get Out before I throw you out!"
"No."
Fred took a swing at him but missed and Bosco punched him fully across the jaw. Fred landed on the couch as Bosco shook his hand off. It was swelling from the blow to the jaw.
Faith ran to Fred's aid "Fred..Fred…" He was unresponsive. "Bosco why did you do that?"
"He swung at me first."
"What is the matter with you? He's overweight and has heart condition you could have killed him."
"Would that be so bad?"
"Ohhh, Get out Bosco."
"Whose side are you on anyways?"
Faith just looked at him.
"Bosco I'm inviting you to leave. Please just go, this is none of your business."
"You came to me and told me your husband was hitting you and raping you at the same time. You cried on my shoulder. I felt bad for you. I wanted to help and now you are going to take his side and throw me out?"
"Things are different now Bosco, He apologized and he wants to work on things and go to AA Meetings."
"He told you that?"
"Yes!"
"And let me guess you believed him right?"
"What's that suppose to mean? He's my husband and I love him he promised me it wouldn't happen again."
"Right you keep telling yourself that, don't do this Faith. Once a guy hits it will happen again. Let me take care of you."
'I don't want you to, Please just go."
"You don't mean that Faith."
"I do. JUST GO!"
Bosco turned around and walked out the door. He turned around once more to catch a glimpse of Faith putting a pillow behind Fred's head. It looked like he was coming to.
"I will go Faith."
"Please just go, I can't do this right now."
"I offer my help, my advice, and guidance and you don't take it. You keep saying he will change but he will never change."
"Leave please!"
"Fine if that's what you want, don't be crying to me tomorrow when you realize I was right."
She hesitantly looked at Bosco. She wanted to believe him but she also wanted to believe that Fred was going to change.
"You want me gone? I will disappear okay?" Bosco was hurt about Faith's choice.
"Bosco Please I can't fight with you right now. Why are you still here? You keep telling me you're going to go but you don't leave."
"I'm leaving.."
"Bosco I am not your responsibility."
"I care about what happens to you Faith whether you believe it or not."
"Just go. I don't need your help I can do fine by myself."
"Fine-You're on your own from now on!" and with that Bosco slammed the door to the apartment. He pushed the elevator and got inside. He replayed the conversation he had just had with Faith. Even though he told her she was on her own he couldn't just turn his back on her like that.
Fred's eyes started to open and he came to
"Fred…Fred you okay? Here stand up." He stood on both feet and walked over to the desk. She was happy that Bosco didn't do too much damage.
"Thank god you're okay" She hugged him and kissed his forehead. She pulled back and looked into his eyes and so something there that wasn't before. Anger. He pulled her close to him "You are in so much trouble. How dare you tell him about what I did to you, about our marriage? That was private. Now I will have to teach you a lesson that you will not forget." He picked her up and carried her into the bedroom. He roughly threw her on the bed and got on top of her.
"No..Don't."
"Shut up Faith. Just shut up…I am going to make sure you never talk about this again. He covered her mouth as he started to ripped her blouse off. She bit his hand and was able to get free but he only pulled her back. She noticed that her cell was on her night stand and desperately tried to reach for it and was successful. She flipped open the lid and pressed and held 1...as it dialed Bosco's cell.