Cruz was sitting in her office in ACU more than pleased. She was back in ACU and nothing could spoil her joy. Even the fact that Monroe was meddling into her investigation and got these two boys muddled up. Come hell or high water or so she thought. But when the initial euphoria over being back in Anti- Crime faded Cruz had to face the unpleasant truth about what was waiting for her today. Paperwork. A stack of files awaited her on her desk. She was kicking her heels because she was partnerless. She was going to settle accounts with them, she promised that herself. These slackers knew pretty well when to get sick. They couldn't get what dedication was about. Nothing could ever stop her from coming to work. And they left her hanging today.

"What have I done this time?"- Bosco asked Lieu. He was told that Swersky wanted to see him just after the roll call. And usually when your Lieutenant wanted to see you it meant that either you got praised/ promoted or punished/demoted. Judging from his experience it was surely the second option.

"Actually it's something good."- Swersky answered matter-of-factly.

"Good?"- Bosco was taken aback and unsure whether somebody wasn't playing a joke on him. If so pigs might actually fly.

"I am shocked myself."- Lieu retorted mockingly.

"If you and Monroe hadn't figured it out, this murder case would stay unsolved. The one with dopey guy."- Swersky added seeing that Bosco didn't take it in.

"Cruz told you about this?"- Bosco said with dismay.

"Yeah, she wanted to put you in for a commendation on this. But she said you dismissed the idea."- he sounded puzzled and maybe a bit disappointed.

"Look, I am going to tell you the same thing I told her. I don't want to remember this job Lieu."- Bosco replied apprehensively. He felt his stomach turned as memories of slaughtered body, hundreds of stab wounds, Jeremy's slashed throat came flooding back. No matter how hard he tried to leave it behind and forget, all horrible images were etched on his mind. He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself.

"Your choice. But Bosco, good job."- Swersky said with a pleased smile. It was also a sign that their talk was finished.

Then a sudden thought came to Bosco. He decided to go while the going was good.

"I heard that Anti- Crime is short- staffed. Stomach bug, right?"-his tone seemed to be nothing but curious.

"Half of the unit is laid up with it. Cruz is back but I don't think they will manage without somebody being sent there."-he replied flatly.

"Maybe I could help?"- Bosco asked innocently as if it was a standard, ordinary question of a polite, supportive police officer when he was accompanying an old lady across the street.

"No way."- Lieu raised his head and drawled.

"Oh come, it won't hurt."- he tried to persuade Swersky to let him in there.

"It did last time."- Swersky bit back.

"This time it won't."- Bosco declared confidently.

"How can you be so sure?"- Swersky didn't like that idea at all. He wasn't convinced andsomething about itwas confusing him. Few weeks ago Bosco said that he didn't want to be involved in anything she had touched and now he was desperately trying to find a way in. Something was brewing, something that would result in troubles.

" Because this time it would end in another place, possibly more cozy and intimate."- Bosco thought and a self-satisfied smirk appeared on his lips.

"Lieu, I promise you won't regret it."- he said after a while. Swersky scrutinized him carefully. His look was sceptical. He trusted Bosco and his was starting to put some confidence in Cruz but when these two were working together it was beyond him.

"You are pushing it."- he said and turn his eyes to a bundle of papers, lying on his desk.

"It was you who said that they need a hand badly. And I will keep an eye on Cruz. See how is she doing andthen maybe report to you?"- Bosco was tempting. And he knew which string to pull.

"I won't run into problems."- he reassured quickly.

"O.K. Bosco. You are assigned to ACU. But only TEMPORARILY, clear? Slight mishap and you are back in the beat and typing or retyping every possible report in the house."- Lieu warned him.

"Thanks boss, you won't…"- he started but was interrupted.

"I have serious misgivings about that."- Swersky cut in. He made it crystal clear that he was doing it reluctantly.

Bosco stood up and headed toward door. As he was reaching for the knob something stopped him.

"Oh and Bosco, keep it to yourself. If she ever finds out…"- Swersky said and paused.

"She will kill us."- Bosco added and left.

"What the hell are you doing here?"- so much of a warm, friendly welcome that he hoped for. He didn't expect her to cling onto him, kiss him on cheeks or squeal with delight but she could feign some zest. A hello would be nicer to start with.

"Hi partner."- he said dryly and gave her a smug, cheeky grin.

" Tell me you are kidding."- apparently she was distraught by what she heard.

"Swersky's order."- Bosco answered, sat in the free chair standing at the other side of her desk and made himself comfortable.

This day couldn't really get any better. She asked Lieu for somebody but from that somebody Bosco was automatically excluded. Or so she assumed. Apparently wrongly. And it was second time today. Swersky had to be out of his mind or suffer from temporary amnesia if he had agreed on this.

"Nice flowers, let me guess, Mr. Bubbly Personality?"- Bosco noticed a bunch of red roses on her desk. Those were beautiful flowers, delicate, sweet- smelling and carefully but simply arranged. The guy knew how to encircle her and wouldn't let her slip away so easily. And it didn't even dawned on her that she became a prey. She thought she was controlling it. Poor Cruz. But Bosco had something in mind, something that would effectively queer his pitch and discourage him easily.

"He knows how to treat a woman."- Cruz bit back. He deserved that little remark. Because his words were still haunting her.

"Maritza, I am truly …."- he would take back those words if only it was possible. But as always it was too late.

"Spare me."- she glared at him coldly. And it would stay this way but the phone started to ring. She picked it up and answered.

"Cruz…you sure, O.K. I…. WE will be in 5 minutes."- she placed special stress on the personal pronoun and meaningfully looked at him.

Then she grabbed her jacket, hanging over the back of her chair and speedily left office. After a moment she came back.

"Hey buster, you waiting for a special invitation or what?"-he always admired her wit. In fact none of the women he met before her could ever amuse him so much. Cruz looked expectantly at him. He jumped up from his chair, got to his feet and hurried after her.