Bosco was desperately trying to find Cruz. She was nowhere in sight. He checked her office, ACU, beat, narcotics and he stillcouldn't find her. It was just as if she had vanished off the face of the earth. He was damn sure that she should be in the precinct now, they started shift together and she was on the roll call. He was running from one unit to another like a crazy and nothing. He needed her to sign some reports that should be handed in yesterday and well, he would be in dire straits if she wouldn't show up somewhere soon. Now he was standing at the bottom of the stairs and thinking which piece of the puzzle he missed.

"Hey Bosco, what are you doing, preparing yourself for the NY marathon?"- Monroe teased him. His cheeks were burning and he was gasping for air.

"No, just looking for Cruz, kinda similar."- he answered, he needed a few more minutes to get his breath back.

"Lieu said she is on her lunch break."- Monroe said slyly. For Bosco there was no point in continuing this talk. Now his mind raced, trying to think of a way out of the situation. The soft option would be putting file on her desk and then pass the buck on her. It was either she or patrol sergeant he would run into problem with. But he wasn't sure he could handle her wrath path. For the time being he decided to put it on her desk and hope not to run into patrol sergeant. He could easily keep out of his way for an hour. He turned around and took the stairs two at a time, heading for her office.

"Guess with who."-Monroe added innocently. Bosco turned around to face her and made this typical wry grimace. Then he took a few heavy steps down, passed her and turned around so that they switched the round. She was still standing on the stairs, the very first one and he was standing on the floor. He could now see everybody that was going down the stairs, leaving the precinct turmoil behind his back.

"Mixture of Mr. Smarty Pants and I-am-helpless-and-can't-tie-my-shoelace?"- he retorted.

"What's wrong with him that makes you hate his guts so much? "- Monroe asked a bit baffled by Bosco behaviour.

"Everything. You know how vulnerable Cruz can be after, you know, the thing that happened and he is now probably manipulating her into something she would regret later. He is using that she is suffering and defenseless."- he hissed, not wanting to give away Cruz's secret.

"I don't believe you. He is such a nice and sweet guy, he just took her for a cappuccino not for therapy session."- Monroe replied bluntly.

"So he got to you with his psycho-bubble. What did he told you, huh?"- he said, now pretty pissed.

"That you are a classic case of jealous ex-boyfriend syndrome. Totally incurable."- Monroe answered.

"He really said that!"- Bosco shouted, now he was furious. And was making a scene in front of the station.

"No, but you are acting like a one. Sour grapes sucks, doesn't it, Bosco?"- Monroe tempted him. Bosco tried to calm his nerves a bit and to keep his anger at bay. Controlling his temper wasn't an easy task. He took a deep breath and tried to reason with her.

"Cruz is sort of a friend to me as much as to you. I don't want to see her suffer, no matter what she did to me. Brotherly concern, that's all. No hidden agendas."- he said quite calmly.

"You know that incest is penal act?"- Monroe asked him ironically. She wouldn't let it go so easily. But this time she provoked him for good.

"Get over it Monroe. Everything between Cruz and me is, thank God, finished. It was the worst thing that happened to me. And…"-he was talking as if he had to vent all emotions that were mounting since shooting in hotel room and were suppressed inside him.

"Bos…"- Monroe started uneasy but he didn't listen.

"And I won't make the same mistake twice. No way in hell, been there done that, never intend on going back. It's just that I don't like him."- he finished and then heard something that made his blood froze in veins.

"But she likes him."-a voice behind his back said evenly but neither Monroe nor Bosco were mislead by her tone. A storm was brewing. A tremendous one. "Boscorelli, it's time to make your last wish."- he thought as he plucked up some courage to turn around and face Cruz.

"And SHE would be grateful if you two would stop prying and meddling into HER affairs. And eventually screw everything up. Because SHE can take care of herself and more importantly it's none of your DAMN BUSINESS. Or maybe they added "mess with your superior's personal life you gonna get a reward" chapter to the patrol guide?"- Cruz's voice was hard and dangerous with a hint of irony. When she was speaking she was giving them dirty looks as if she was daring them to stand up to her. But they were standing patiently, waiting for her to end, none of them having death wish. Even Bosco suppressed the overwhelming urge to answer back.

She stared coldly at Bosco for a moment, her eyes flashed with hurt. Then she snatched the files he was holding and quickly made for her office.