The Boscorelli Bloodline - Part Deuce
From the desk of Laurie Lasagna: Hey everyone, I'm back with some more. The reviews are awesome so PLEASE keep them coming, you don't know how much I appreciate them! I appreciate even more the patience you all have, because I know I haven't been updating as quickly as you probably want me to. This one is a little longer for ya…enjoy! -LL
Thanks to: My usual crew of editors, hehe.
Chapter 7 - My Sunshine
A few hours away from Manhattan, a small girl trembled in fear and continued to cry. She sat in the backseat of a strange car, with the mean man, who hurt her Aunt Max.
"You'll understand soon, Madison, I promise," Steve said from the front seat. He looked at her through the rear view mirror, "Ok?"
"No!" She cried.
"You need to stop crying honey. You're going to live with me now, and you're going to have a lot of fun ok?"
"NO!" She shouted louder, "I WANT MY MOMMY AND I WANT AUNT MAX!"
"But don't you want a Daddy?" He asked.
"I WANT AUNT MAX AND MOMMY!"
At a red light, Steve turned around and faced the little girl. There was still a few spots of dried blood from the river of it that had poured from his nose earlier, "You'll get to see them again real soon ok?"
Madison crossed her arms, "You hurt Aunt Max."
"No I didn't, she was pretending."
"NU UH!" She shouted.
Horns from behind were heard, making Steve realize that the light was green. He turned around and started to drive again, "We'll have lots of fun Madison."
"I want Aunt Max…" She continued to cry.
Steve pulled up to a mini mart-gas station and turned to face her, "Are you hungry?"
"No!" She sobbed.
He had to think for a second. He needed to get cash out of the ATM or he was screwed. They'd trace his credit card transactions, he knew that much. If he pulled out money now, by the time they got that far, he'd be long gone. But, if he brought the hysterical toddler inside the mart with him, that would throw up a red flag to anyone within 10 miles of her screaming ability.
"Ok, stop crying. If you stop crying while I go get us food, I'll take you back to Aunt Max ok?" He reasoned with the child.
Madison was young, but not stupid. She knew that sneer look. It was the one that Unckie Bosco used to try and jokingly trick her into something. Slowly she nodded, then watched him climb out of the car and walk away.
This was wrong. All wrong. Madison knew it. Even if he did say he was taking her back to Aunt Max, it was still wrong. She wasn't in her car seat. She was all alone in the car. She wasn't allowed to do either. The lap belt was so big it went across her chest, and she easily slid under it. The lock clicked open with force from her small fingers, as did the door.
"Thanks." Steve said politely, after the cashier finished his transaction. The cashier then raised his eyebrow, and the looked down at the blood on Steve's shirt. Steve caught on to this and cleared his throat, "Uh, cut myself shaving."
"Shaving what?" The cashier replied slyly, "You look like you just went 4 rounds with Rocky Balboa."
Steve could only glare, while he picked up the small bag full of snack food, and headed back out to his car. Upon arriving, his jaw dropped, and panic took over his body. Quickly scanning the area, reality took him over, "Oh…shit."
The precinct doors practically exploded open when Bosco and Connor stormed through them. Everyone who wasn't out searching, stopped what they were doing to watch both men head straight for the steps. Bosco didn't look at anyone, he didn't want to see a single sympathetic glance.
Lt. Swersky saw them coming and was halfway up from his desk when they entered, "What's the scoop?" Connor asked, closing the door behind him.
"How's Max?" Swersky asked, folding his arms tight to his chest and looking at Bosco.
"She's tough." Bosco replied.
"You know you can't be here Bosco."
"I'll take all responsibility for him Lieu." Connor spoke up.
"Which means crap, because that's basically letting me turn my back and allowing him to do his own hunt for this shit head." Swersky replied.
"Ya know what Boss?" Bosco started, gritting his teeth a little to hold back his emotions, "Max woke up, screaming and crying when she realized what was going on. The only thing she kept telling me was to go find the baby, she MADE me leave boss. I just wanna find that little girl."
Swersky let out a sigh, wondering how much of what Bosco was feeding him was the truth and how much was bullshit. He wasn't convinced until Connor added, "I was there boss, he wouldn't have left Max ya know? All she kept saying was for us to find the baby."
Swersky's nostrils flared a little bit, mostly because of the thought of Max being in that state. He knew that he was leaving his better judgment behind when he spoke, "You aren't around for any interviews if there's suspects brought in. You stay with Connor, but if he leaves this building you STAY PUT," he growled, before pointing to Connor, "And if he does leave, your badge is mine. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir." They both replied.
"Get to work."
Bridgette had herself braced for the worst, while she trekked into the Emergency Room of Mercy. Trying her best to hide her shakiness, she walked up to the counter to ask where to find her best friend.
"Bridgette!" A voice called.
She turned her head, to see DK walking towards her.
"Oh my God…" she said, doing a face paced walk right into his arms, "Where is she!"
"Up the hall, Tommy's with her, she's sleeping." He answered, giving her a quick squeeze.
"Is she ok?" Bridgette asked, as tears began to fall down her face.
"She's got a lot of bruises, and stitches on her face, and her wrist is broken…" DK stopped when Bridgette burst into a fit of sobs, and walked a few feet away.
"That son of a bitch!" She screamed, causing a few people from the ER to look her way.
Mary Proctor peaked up from the nurse's station and gave Bridgette a sympathetic look. She stood up and started walking over to her, but not before giving some of the staring bystanders a piece of her mind, "Excuse me! Don't you have more important things to do than stare at a young lady who's concerned about her friend!"
The people scattered, as Mary made it to Bridgette, "Come on sugar, just try and relax."
"Is she gonna be ok?" Bridgette cried, sitting down on a bench with Mary and DK.
"She'll be ok," Mary reassured her, "They're admitting her overnight just to keep an eye out though ok?"
She nodded, then tried to calm her nerves some.
"What about Lexi?" DK asked quietly.
"How do you think she is?" She cried, "She absolutely lost it, her parents called her doctor to get her something to calm her down. She's totally out of it right now."
He sighed, "I think it's better that she's out of it, so she doesn't remember a lot of what's going on."
Mary looked at Bridgette, "Max is right down the hallway, you can go in for however long you want, ok?"
"Thanks." She replied quietly, before Mary stood up and headed back to the nurse's station.
DK swallowed, "Is this really happening?"
"I've been asking myself that since my dad called me today," She replied, wiping her eyes, "How's Tommy?"
"Being eaten alive," He sighed, before running his hand over his hair, "I thought he was going to pass out for awhile. Now I keep looking in, just to make sure he's still there, and he doesn't try and go after that prick bastard himself."
"He's not going anywhere," She sniffled, "Not unless she's with him."
"Yeah…" DK said, bouncing the back of his heel off the bench leg, "You wanna go in?"
Bridgette nodded, "Yeah."
They both stood up, and slowly headed up the hallway. Bridgette's mind was going in 100 different directions, as she walked. When they got to her room, she froze at the door, "Oh man…" She whispered.
"You don't have to go in." DK said.
Bridgette shook her head, and walked inside slowly. Tommy was sitting in a chair, on the right side of Max's bed, holding her hand, and staring up at her, completely lost. If he wasn't in another realm, he would have noticed both Bridgette and DK, but he didn't until Bridgette gave his shoulders a squeeze.
"Hey…" She whispered, trying to keep herself together at the sight of her best friend.
Tommy sat up slowly, "Hey…"
"How is she?"
"She's been in and out since her brother left," He started, looking at his watch, "That was like 4 hours ago."
"It's better for her to sleep. Same with Lexi I think."
"Anything yet?" Tommy asked, hopeful.
"No," She replied, "Bosco calls every hour or so, but nothing."
He closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead, "Can I wake up yet? I mean seriously."
"I keep saying the same thing."
"Hey…" DK said, motioning to the bed where Max was.
Tommy's head snapped around to see her stirring some, "Hey…" he whispered, leaning over some so she could see him.
Like before, her right eye opened slowly, then her left one only halfway because of the bruising and swelling. She swallowed hard, "Hey…."
"Don't cry ok?" Tommy said, rubbing the side of her head gently, "Just try and relax alright?"
Bridgette leaned over, "Hey sunshine."
"Did they…..find her?" Max winced.
"Not yet," Bridgette replied, "But your brother's looking ok? He'll find her."
A few tears fell down Max's face, "I know."
"Just relax baby ok?" Tommy said, giving her hand a squeeze.
She sniffled, then looked over to see DK standing behind them, "Hey Deeks."
He smirked a little then leaned over, "You alright in there?"
"A little."
He gave her a small grin, then asked, "Should I go get Proctor?"
"Yeah." Tommy replied.
"Lexi?" Max asked.
"They knocked her out." Bridgette replied quietly.
"Tell her I'm sorry, ok?"
"Sorry for what!" Bridgette asked, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I let him take…"
"No, no you didn't." Tommy said sternly, interrupting her, "You didn't let him do anything."
"How ya feeling honey?" Mary Proctor asked, walking in with Dr. Fields behind her.
Max groaned, "Tired."
"Anything hurt?" Dr. Fields asked.
"It's all numb." She answered.
He nodded, and looked over her chart then started to explain, "This is what's going on Max. You have a LOT of bruising, mostly to your face, neck and arms. The only break is in your wrist though, none in your face, but you do have a concussion and we're going to keep you overnight for observation."
"Can I stay up for awhile?" She asked.
"Sure," He smiled, "Are you sure you're not in any pain, or discomfort?"
"No," she answered, "But I know you have me on something."
"We need to keep you calm honey." Mary replied.
"I feel like I can't think right."
"Like you need to be reacting differently, but you're just very relaxed, right?" Dr. Fields asked.
"Yeah."
"Then it's working," he replied, "Just let us know if you start feeling any pain again, ok?"
"Ok."
Dr. Fields cleared his throat, "Connor needs to talk to you about what happened. Not until you're ready though. We told him we'd give him a call whenever you're ready."
"No. Not yet."
"Not a problem. I'll be back in a little while to check in, ok?" He asked.
She nodded very slowly because of the pain in her neck, "Yeah."
He left the room with Proctor, then Bridgette asked, "Do you want me to bring you anything?"
At the time, Max couldn't really think of anything, and the urge to close her eyes kicked in, "Just Maddy…"
"Your brother will bring her later." Tommy replied, rubbing her hand.
Bridgette felt a little torn. She wasn't sure if Max needed her more, or if Lexi did. She did know, that there was only one way to find out, "Max, do you want me to hang here or should I go back with Lex?"
Max opened her eyes back up, "She probably needs you more."
Bridgette nodded a little, "I don't know…are you sure? I'll stay…."
"Bridge, it's fine."
She sighed, then leaned over and kissed the top of Max's head, "I'll call you later on ok?"
"Yeah." Max answered.
"I'll walk you out Bridge." DK said. She gave him a small nod,and they left the room.
"Oh Jesus," Max said, "Please tell me that my mom DOESN'T know."
Tommy smirked a little, "That was one of the first things your brother said, 'Tommy, don't call my mother.'."
She let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. Angela Rose was currently on a cruise with her sister, "Last thing she needs….is this interrupting her martini swigging with Aunt Betty."
"In the middle of Jamaica somewhere." Tommy said, giving her a small smile. His smile faded when he saw the tears streaking down her face, "Hey…" he said softly, reaching up and giving her hand a squeeze, "Just relax ok?"
Max sniffled and nodded a little, even though it hurt some. She opened her eyes and looked at him, "Tommy they have to find her."
"I know," he said, giving her a reassuring look, "They will. You KNOW they will. Your brother will find her, ok?"
"Yeah," she answered, closing her eyes, "I feel sleepy again."
"Concussions do that," he replied, adjusting himself so he could lean up and rest his face on her shoulder. He kissed it a couple of times, and looked up at her, "I love you baby. Get some sleep ok?"
"Working on it." She replied, with a few tears still streaming down.
"Hey.." he smirked.
She opened her eyes to see his smirk which took her mind off of the pain, "What?"
"You are my sunshine…" he whispered.
Max could only give him a small grin back, and close her eyes, while he continued, "My only sunshine…."
Tommy waited a couple of minutes until she relaxed more, "You make me happy, when skies are gray."
By this time, Max had gone out cold. Tommy tried to hold back a few tears, watching her sleep, and wishing it was him laying there instead of her, "You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take….my sunshine….away…."