Maritza awoke in a coughing fit. Burying her face in the pillow she clutched, she muffled the sound so as not to wake Bosco. She figured he had dozed off on the couch. By the time she finished coughing, her ribs felt as if they were on fire. Where had Bosco put the meds the doctor had told him to give her? On the coffee table?

She couldn't believe he was all right, and that he had been all right all this time. His poor mother. And Yokas too. And Monroe, and Davis, and Sullivan. They had all been worried about him, even Lieutenant Swersky. How had he gotten this apartment, and his new truck? Where would he get the money for that?

She started to cough again. She burrowed her face into the pillow. All she could smell was Bosco. It was his bed after all. But why was he taking care of her? Why did he take her from Rikers?

Gentle footsteps could be heard padding down the hall. The door opened, and Bosco entered. He was carrying a little cup, with a red-ish liquid in it in one hand, and in the other he carried a brown paper bag. He also wasn't wearing a shirt. She could see the jagged scars on his stomach, his arms, and his chest.

" Sit up" He said, when he came close to the bed" I could hear you coughing all the way down the hall."

" Sorry" She pulled herself into a sitting position. He passed her the cup" What is this"

" Cough medicine" Bosco set the paper bag on the night stand, and switched on the lamp" Drink it."

Quickly, Maritza did. It didn't taste so bad" Cherry flavored"

He nodded" How's the ribs"

" Still there" She replied. He touched her side, and she winced.

" You want the painkillers"

Maritza nodded" Can I take the painkillers, and the cough syrup"

This time Bosco nodded" Yep. The doc told me to give you them."

" Alright."

Bosco took the bag and fished through it till he grasped a small container of pills. He sat on the side of the bed, and leaned close to the lamp to read the label" Two every eight hours for pain."

Maritza was watching the muscles in his back as he moved. She was darn near mesmerized when he turned his front to her, and passed her two chalky looking pills. It wasn't a bad front either. Maritza took the pills from him, and swallowed them dry, before he had time to ask her if she wanted some water to wash them down. She concentrated on him as she worked the indeed chalky pills down her throat.

Bosco shook his head, and continued to read the label of the pill bottle" Says here may cause drowsiness. That's all right, you need to sleep anyway."

Swallowing the last of the pills, Maritza nodded" How did you get this place" She really wanted to ask about why he had taken such an interest in her all of the sudden, but decided to go the less-confrontational route. She knew there had to be more to it than what he had said before. Just wanted to be friends?

" A buddy of mine from the Rangers owns the building" Bosco had opened the paper bag, and dropped the bottle back into it" He wanted to move to the Island, so he lets me stay here if I watch the place for him."

" Oh, nice setup. What about the truck"

" The FBI lent it to me. They said I'd need something to get around in" Bosco sighed, looking like he wanted to ask her something. Finally he did" How's my mother"

" Alright" Maritza said" But she sits by 'your' bedside every day. Only, you're not in it."

" I know" Bosco shrugged" But I'm clearing that up in the morning. No more hiding out."

" You mean it"

" Yes" He glanced at his watch" Or rather, later this morning."

Maritza glanced at her own watch. It was about 5:30am" Sorry I woke you."

" Don't worry about it" He grinned, and her breath caught in her throat. That it was actually he, sitting right in front of her, perched on the edge of the bed, still hadn't registered yet.

Bosco sat still knowing that she was watching him. It was a lot to take in. He had been completely disorientated when he woke up in Philly with a couple of suit wearing Feds, and an unrecognizable nurse was staring back at him. Then they had told him where the heck he was, and why he was there. When they had found out Mann had been killed, they decided to keep him around. He knew the people; he knew what they were dealing with. They had moved him into the apartment, one that he had already had lined up, but nobody knew about. He was grateful for that. Free movers. And the truck was cool too, but he couldn't wait to get his Mustang back. Or to go back to work. You've never experienced boredom until you've been banished from work, a job you love, and all the people you love, for a little over two months.

Maritza glanced at him. He was in another world by the looks of it. His eyes had a far-away look to them, and he stared off at the wall. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she couldn't hold her head up. Sinking back onto the pillow, she yawned widely. Man, does that stuff ever work fast, she thought.

The last thing she heard before dozing back off was,

" Sleep tight Ritza." Bosco brushed her hair back, and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

Author's Note: Hey! Didn't take near as long with this one did it? I'm not sure about including Maritza's mysterious illness. It could depend on what it is. Let me know in the reviews what you think. Until then;

Reviews:

T: You better -

Detective Faith Boscorelli: I know you're trying to tell me something, I know it. I just can't figure out what it is. :p

Phelipa: Another chapter, here you go. Hope you enjoy it.

Caz-10-5: I'm glad you love it.

quacksd: I'm glad I seem to be holding your attention. More is coming!

flannelsanddramaqueens: I'm not trying to show Cruz as weak, I was thinking more like dependant, or maybe a little weak. She just spent two weeks in prison.

Dagmar: I'm not sure about Cruz's illness. But, Cruz and Bosco are the best in my books anyway!