After breakfast, at about nine 'o' clock, Bosco and Maritza set out for Angel Of Mercy Hospital. Bosco's mind wasn't on driving, Maritza noticed. She could tell since he didn't curse or yell at any of the other drivers. It seemed he was dreading the explanations he would most likely have to give.

"Are you ready?" He asked, turning to her. They were just outside the entrance to the hospital, and Bosco pulled his favorite baseball cap down low over his eyes.

" As ready as I'll ever be," She replied, giving him a small smile.

Taking her hand, they entered the hospital together. Everything was so familiar. Bosco felt like his heart was going so fast it would beat right out of his chest.

Maritza led him past the nurses' station, ignoring the curious glances they were getting. Bosco's jacket collar was turned up, and his hat was pulled low over his eyes, so most, if not all, of his face was covered. A few nurses looked like they might say something, but none did.

Once inside the elevator, Bosco released a pent-up breath. His insides felt like jelly, and his knees had turned to mush. He leaned back against the wall. Maritza squeezed his hand for reassurance.

" Don't worry Bos," She whispered," It'll be all right."

Bosco nodded feebly," Thanks Ritza."

The elevator doors swished open. Maritza led him down the hall, and into his room. Bosco paused in the doorway. The sight of his mother nearly rent his heart in two. There were bags underneath red, puffy eyes.

" Ma," He croaked out.

Rose looked up to see a friend of her son's, the name escaped her at the moment, and man who looked familiar. Who could it be? He was wearing her baby's favorite baseball cap.

" Danny, you can stop being me now man," Bosco tried to keep his voice steady.

The form on the bed sat up suddenly, "'Bout time you showed up."

Rose shrieked. Maritza reached up and snatched the ball cap off Bosco's head.

" Ma-aurice?" Rose whispered. Bosco nodded, and swallowed hard. Both mother and son had tears in their eyes. Rose reached foreword, placing a hand on his cheek," My baby."

Bosco pulled his mother into his arms, and hugged her fiercely. Rose burst into wild sobs, and clung to him.

" Ma," Bosco rocked her and whispered," I love you."

"My baby," Rose cried," My baby."

'Danny' looked at Maritza through his one unbandaged eye.

Rose pushed Bosco back just barely enough to see his face, " Maurice? I don't, I don't understand. What happened?"

Explanations flowed out of Bosco like water. Maritza stood close by, occasionally touching Bosco's arm.

Finally Bosco had explained the; who, what, where, when and the how. Rose sank back into her chair, no longer able to stand. She couldn't believe all the information thrust at her. Her baby had been shot four times, just not as bad as the white coats thought. How could that be her baby standing in front of her?

"Why Maurice?"

Bosco sighed, he still felt as if the entire room could hear his heart beating. " I was the easiest one to get out at the time. Plus Mann seemed intent on messing with me."

"Michael," Rose gasped.

"Yeah," Bosco felt like his insides had revolted and decided they would prefer to be his outsides. Thankfully Maritza had slipped an arm around him. He remembered her ribs, and kept his weight off of her.

After a long moment of silence, Danny muttered," Can someone unwrap me? And unhook these things?"

He lifted an arm, showcasing an array of wires taped to him. Then he glanced at each of them with his uncovered eye.

Bosco broke into a grin, Maritza noticed, for the first time in hours.

" Call for a nurse Danny," Bosco told him.

" Oh," Danny reached over, and repeatedly pushed the nurse call button.

Nurse Mary Procter and Nurse Jenny Springston entered the room moments later. They looked from Bosco, to Maritza, to Rose, to Danny, his head wrapped in bandages.

" Oh boy," Bosco muttered," Here we go again."

It was nearly two-thirty when they finally got out of the hospital. Before they left, Danny pulled Bosco aside,

" You're a lucky man Boscorelli."

Bosco nodded," I know."

" You had all these people visiting you, and crying," Danny sighed," A few times, you'd never guess how much I wanted to tell your mother you were okay."

" Thanks man," Bosco extended his hand, and Danny shook it,

" No problem. Be careful out there."

" Will do."

" One down," Bosco mumbled as he climbed into the truck. Maritza got in the passenger side,

" You're doing good," She smiled at him.

He gave her a half-hearted smile back," How's your ribs?"

" Alright," Maritza replied," Those meds are still working."

" Let me know when they start to hurt," Bosco patted her knee," I've got the meds in my pocket."

" You got it Doc," She teased.

Bosco rolled his eyes," You want to stop by your place, pick up a change of clothes?"

" No thanks," Maritza shook her head," I've got clothes in my locker."

" Alright."

Just before they entered the precinct house, Bosco adjusted his ball cap,

" Screw this," He grumbled," I'm not hiding anymore."

" Good," Maritza took his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed back, and interlaced his fingers with her's,

" It's good to have you back."

Bosco took a deep breath to calm himself. His heart revved up, and it pounded in his chest. Pushing open the door, he took note of all the familiarities. All the hurrying and rushing. People getting booked, lawyers, witness, and cops everywhere. This is where he should have been for the past few months. Maritza's hand still in his, he faced the eyes, the many questioning eyes that turned to gaze at him.

Newly promoted Detective Yokas was on her way down the stairs. When she saw him, she froze. It couldn't be. Bosco was in a hospital bed, barely able to breathe on his own, let alone walk, or be standing in front of her now.

" Hey Faith," Lieutenant John Miller came up behind her," Faith? Are you all right?" He tapped her shoulder. He noticed the direction she was gazing and looked that way himself.

" Boscorelli," John announced," It's about time."

Bosco looked over to where John was standing and saw Faith. His eyes smiled and he gave her a grin,

" Hey Yokas, that's some outfit."

Faith's face unfroze and she managed a quiet," Bosco?"

Maritza released his hand as he crossed to the bottom of the stairs. Faith hurried down to him, and flung her arms around his neck, sobbing.

" It's okay," Bosco rocked her and whispered," I'm right here."

" How? When? What, what happened?" Faith sputtered, wiping her eyes.

The other officers stayed off to the side. All was quiet, until roll call let out.

Maritza stepped closer to Bosco, and John joined the group too. Lieutenant Swersky rounded the corner, followed by Ty, Sully, Sasha, and Brendan Finney.

" What's going on?" Swersky asked loudly.

Bosco turned towards him, a smirk on his face," Hey Lieu. Sorry I'm late."

Faith rolled her eyes. Maritza took a deep breath, while Bosco tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

" Boscorelli? What are you?" Swersky stuttered. Sully looked shock-shelled, his eyes wide. Ty rubbed his eyes to make sure he was seeing right. Brendan looked confused, while Sasha croaked out,

" Bos-co? Is that you?"

Grinning, Bosco replied," Yeah Sash, it's me. And no, you don't need glasses Ty."

Lieu took Bosco into his office to sort things through. While he was gone, Faith and the others turned to Maritza,

" You knew?" Faith asked.

" No," Maritza shook her head," I just found out yesterday."

" When did you get out of, well, um, you know?" Sasha asked nervously.

" Yesterday," Maritza answered.

They all had questions. Maritza didn't have all the answers. They would all have to wait until Swersky released Bosco from the belly of the beast, Lieu's office in the center of the building.

Inside Swersky's office, Bosco gave the same explanation he had given Maritza the day before. With a few alterations. Swersky mulled this over, Bosco working with the FBI. That was something he never had expected to happen.

" So, you've been out of the hospital for a while now huh?" Lieu raised an eyebrow.

" For a little while," Bosco was seated in a chair that had become familiar to him over the years. He had had many lectures delivered at him, or more likely thrown at him, while he occupied this particular chair,

" Sooner than I should have, according to Mary."

Swersky chuckled, " I'll bet she chewed you out royally."

Bosco nodded, chuckling along with him.

When he had sobered, Swersky began," But seriously Bosco, the boys downtown are thinking of promoting you."

" What," This was something he hadn't expected, " You serious?"

" When am I not?" Swersky flipped open a manila file folder and scanned through it, " They got a hold of your file, and after they saw the work you did on the Beuford case, the case with Animal, the murder you solved all in one shift, the rapists disguised as police that you and Cruz caught, and the," Swersky sighed,

" The way you showed no regard for your own safety and jumped in front of four bullets for your partner."

Bosco was silent. Rare occurrence, he thought.

" But what really surprises me is what, they're promoting you to," Swersky closed the folder, tossed it on

his desk.

" What?" Bosco found his voice, " To what?"

Swersky took a deep breath, and what he said nearly shocked poor Bosco out of his chair,

" Lieutenant."

Sorry this took so long, I had some technical difficulties. Thanks for all the reviews!