AUTHOR: trista groulx (the dustytiger)
DISCLAIMER: kim, faith, fred, joey, bobby, jimmy, bosco, davis, sully, none of these characters are mine, i'm just borowing them to play with them for a little while, they belong to their creator and the actors and actresses who portray them, i promise i'll be gentle, don't sue
RATING: PG-13 tops currently
CONTENT: kim/faith friendship, fred/faith divorce, kim/bobby r, faith/bosco sex/ust
SPOILERS: 32 bullets and a broken heart (missing scene/continuation)
SUMMARY: Kim and Faith become friends after they share their heartaches that Valintines day.
AUTHORS NOTES: we've got some faith bosco ust in here, as well as some kim angst, you'll see, i'm a little bit ahead and i have also started an epilogue (this way i can't cop out and not finish the fic cause i have the end written laugh) i'm really hoping ppl are digging where this is at what's coming 'round the bend reviews are always lovely
It had been about a week since Katri had arrived. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, and that night Katri was planning on making a meat pie, and Faith knew the kids would not try if she didn't.
She had arranged to take her meal time a little earlier then usual, so that she and Bosco could join them for supper. She hadn't really wanted to introduce Bosco to Katri, but she didn't have much of a choice.
Also the kids were asking why they hadn't been seeing Bosco as much. So it killed two birds with one stone. Bosco pulled up in front of Faith's new apartment, and realized he had not seen inside yet.
She wasn't even sure she had given him the new address. She felt like things had been strange between them since the night she had slept with him. Though, she knew that it was probably her fault.
Just because they had silently agreed not to bring it up, didn't mean she didn't think about it, a lot. She wanted to bring it up, but she just didn't know how. So instead of being an adult she was being a child and avoided the conversation.
Bosco had tried to bring it up, but she always made some excuse to change the subject, and he had given up on it. While she wanted to know what it really meant, she still wasn't ready to see if he had been serious.
She still wasn't really over what had happened with Fred, and she knew that if anything did happen with Bosco then it would make things far worse. So they just left the subject alone, and it was becoming like a pendulum swinging above their heads.
"So you're finally letting me see your new place," Bosco laughed.
"I couldn't very well keep it hidden from you forever," she replied.
"I guess not. So what does this nanny look like, she hot?"
Faith shook her head. "You try anything with my au pair and I'll stop feeding you."
He chuckled, nervously. "Come on Faith, how old is she?"
"Twenty."
"It's legal anyway. I can't promise I wont hit on her, but I won't deflower her."
Faith shook her head. "You know, one of these days you're gonna be a dirty old man sitting in a bar checking out all the young 'uns coming in."
He shook his head. "You don't know that I won't calm down one of these days."
"I'll see it when I believe it."
"You don't know that I won't settle down you know. I even might want a couple of kids some day."
Faith laughed. "Right, and you're gonna find a blue eyed blonde with long legs and big breasts who wants to settle down? There's an impossible dream."
He shook his head. "Who said she had to be a blue eye blonde?"
"That's the kind of girls you like to go after."
"If you must know I see myself settling down with a nice red head with a killer smile who actually looks healthy."
"Sure, whatever. You like 'em looking like rakes!."
"I hate it when I'm with a girl and I can see every rib on the rack. I like someone who takes care of herself. I'd also like it if she happened to have enough boobs to actually have fun with, of course."
She shook her head. "How about we drop this?"
He shrugged, and the continued up the stairs. Faith couldn't help but think that she fit the description he had just given her. She needed to stop the conversation before they went too far, again.
Part of her wanted to go back to when he'd only talk about the bimbos he said he was dating. Instead of him bringing up this vague dream woman who shared some attributes with her.
She chased the thought away as quickly as it had popped into her mind, there was no way that Bosco would want to settle down with her. Her and Bosco had been a one night thing, and it seemed that that's what they both wanted.
They entered the apartment. Katri was just setting the table, wearing another summer dress. Faith glanced at Bosco, who was trying to pick his jaw up off the floor.
"God! Why didn't I get babysitters like that when I was kid?" he grumbled.
"What happened to not liking blue eyed blondes?" she asked.
"I like 'em just fine, they're fun to nail. But I'm not gonna settle down with one of 'em I already know what kind of woman I wanna settle down with."
Faith shook her head. "Right. I'm serious Bosco, you do anything wrong, you're not coming back here while she's living with us."
Bosco gave her a puppy dog look. "That hurts."
"Bos, I wouldn't know about your reputation if you didn't brag about it all the time."
He laughed nervously, then the kids came out of their room to greet him. They each gave him a hug. He smiled seeing them, it had been much too long since their last visit.
Faith watched him with the kids, and wondered if maybe he could be the male role model they now needed. He smiled at her, and then started to play with the kids. She watched him, glad to see her kids so happy.
He seemed so natural with them too, almost like he was family. He had always been there for them. She always thought he was like an uncle, but she realized that he was more like their big brother sometimes.
"You like him?" Katri asked
Faith hadn't even noticed Katri come up behind her. When she spoke Faith nearly jumped out of her skin, she was startled. That was one thing about the young woman, she was very light on her feet, and she never heard her coming.
Katri probably thought Faith was a skittish as a barn cat, because she almost always jumped when she stated talking. It was just she was quiet, and she never heard Katri coming, and it always startled her.
"Who?" Faith asked.
"Your policeman friend. Do you like him?"
Faith laughed, nervously. "He's my partner, there's nothing between us."
"You look at him like you think he is beautiful."
"He's what I'd called eye candy."
"Eye candy?"
"Fun too look at."
"He is that, but there's something bad about him."
"You're right about that. He's certainly got his charms, I guess. But he's my partner, besides he's not the kind of guy you start liking."
"A heart breaker, that's the word?"
"Yeah, that's the word, and yes it would suit Bosco very much."
"Bosco?" Katri repeated. "That does not sound American."
Bosco appeared in front of her and shook her hand. "It's Italian, and it's a nickname."
"Nickname?"
"Just what people call me. My full name is Maurice Boscorelli."
Bosco flashed his killer smile, the one that could make about any woman drop to his feet, as he brought his hand out. She shook his hand, and smiled at him, nervously.
He had decided to pour the charm on extra thick, partly to get to his partner. He knew that it would bug her. Even as he was trying flirting with the young woman his gaze went to Faith for a moment.
Katri was still smiling nervously at him, when she let go of his hand.. "I know boys like you in Finland. Thinking they named Romeo. Saying oh, everyone calls me this but you say that you're special."
Bosco looked surprised. Most of the time that worked on foreign girls, and he'd have her eating out of the palm of his hand. But she seemed smart, or someone had warned her about him.
"You don't even know me, yet. What did Faith tell you about me?" he asked, trying to still be charming.
"You are her partner. I am not stupid girl, Bosco, I see many boys like you."
"Boys like me?"
"Yes, pretty boys who know they are beautiful, but bad. They get girls to think they special, so they can go to bed."
Bosco, smiled nervously, and glanced as his partner, hoping she would defend him. He knew that she knew that he was one of those guys, but some kind of backup would have been nice.
"But I go get supper out," Katri said, before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Rejected," Faith laughed.
"But, on the upside, you still have to feed me," he reminded his partner.
"You did hit on her."
"How do you know I didn't do that just to make you jealous?"
"Jealous of what?"
She wanted to act casual, but was fairly certain that her expression gave her away. She shook her head, and then went into the kitchen to eat supper with her kids.
XX
Kim was sitting at the table in the firehouse, pocking at the meal the was in front of her, not really eating.
"I'm not that bad of a cook am I?" Doc asked.
"No, no, it's not that," Kim assured him.
"Not hungry or are you pregnant again?" DK chuckled, looking at Kim's plate.
Bobby's jaw dropped, and all the conversation in the room stopped. All eyes were on Kim, with an occasional glance at Bobby.
"No!" Kim snapped. "I'm just not feeling well."
Jimmy started laughing. "That's what you said for weeks before you told me about Joey."
Kim shook her head. "It's not that kind of sick, Jimmy. It doesn't feel like with Joey, besides I'm not getting sick like with Joey. I probably just have a stomach flu or something."
"Yeah, um, right."
"So you're not pregnant?" Doc asked, concerned
"No, I'm not pregnant!"
Doc left the room, to go work on some paperwork.
"Jesus Christ, you find out I'm having sex and all of a sudden I have to get pregnant," Kim complained, annoyed.
"That's how it happened with Jimmy," Walsh reminded her.
Kim shook her head. "That's cause I believed Jimmy when he said, aw Baby, trust me and there won't be any problems." There was a roar of laughter.
"You believed him?"
"I don't who was stupider, really, him for saying it, or me for believing it."
"You're not funny, Kimmy," Jimmy said, shaking his head.
"I've learned my lesson, not that Bobby's that stupid anyway."
"Oh! Jimmy you gonna let her talk about you that way?" laughed Lombardo.
"You're awfully moody," Jimmy commented trying to push her buttons.
"I'm not feeling well! Fuck off!"
"Ouch, that hurts Kimmy."
"Don't call me that! If anything's got me in a bad mood it's the lack of estrogen around here! If you're all so sure that I'm pregnant pitch in and buy a damn test, and I'll prove to you I'm not."
"You'd take it?" DK asked.
"If it would shut you morons up, gladly."
"Kim," Bobby warned, breaking his silence.
"I know my own body."
"Then I'll go buy the test," Jimmy offered, smiling.
"Go right ahead."
Jimmy went out the door, to find the closest pharmacy. The rest of the guys were laughing, nervously. Bobby still looked stunned by the whole situation. While Kim didn't even seem care.
It wasn't long before the guys started to go in different directions. At least until Jimmy got back. Finally Bobby moved, to go to the bunks, and Kim followed him. He sat down, and she sat down next to him, and took his hand.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"What if you're wrong?" he queried.
"I'm not."
"If you are I don't want to find out I'm going to be a father while you're trying to prove to a bunch of idiots that they're wrong."
She nodded, then kissed him lightly. "Trust me."
He half smiled at her. "I do trust you, I just think it's not the best idea."
"All right, but I'm telling you if I even thought it was a remote possibility you'd be first to know."
He smiled and kissed her lightly. "Thank you."
She pulled him back toward her, into a deeper kiss. He reached around with one hand, and took her hair out of its ponytail, and began to run his fingers through it. She sighed into the kiss, she always liked it when he had his hands in her hair.
"God, get a room," Lombardo laughed, coming up the stairs.
"What do we need a room for, when we've already got the bed?" Bobby asked.
Lombardo high fived Bobby. "Good one!" He laughed.
Lombardo went on his way, leaving Bobby and Kim alone. She took his hand.
"Look, Bobby, I know I'm not pregnant," she told him.
"How?" he asked
"When I was sick this morning that's the first thing I thought. So I already took a test, it came back negative."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She shrugged. "I'm not pregnant, it's just a stomach bug or something. I didn't think I was, really either, I just wanted to make sure. I don't feel the same as when I was pregnant with Joey."
"What do you mean?"
"I know my body, and this isn't the same at all. It feels like the flu, a little, I don't know. My stomach's been cramping up a lot of late, and I don't know. I was sick this morning, and I just needed to eliminate being pregnant. But I never really thought it was that, it doesn't feel right for that."
"So you're sure it's not that you're pregnant?"
She nodded. "Positive, it's just a stomach bug I'm sure."
He kissed her temple. "All right. You know it'd be worth it to see Jimmy's face if you were."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You shouldn't be like that."
"I know, but he was never good for you."
"I don't need you to defend me, you know?"
"I know, but I like to."
She kissed him lightly. "All right."
"But, Kim, you have to promise me if you don't feel better soon, you'll see a doctor?"
"Yeah, I will."
He kissed her lightly again. "You're good to work today?"
"I'll be fine."
XX
At Faith's everyone was finishing up their meals.
"That was really good, Katri," Bosco told the young woman. "I need someone around who can cook like you."
Katri smiled. "It's not hard to learn."
Bosco shrugged. "Never really felt the need. I get by."
"Or you mooch," Faith laughed.
Faith helped Katri to clear the table. She knew she had to go though, so she then gave each of her kids a hug and kiss.
"I'll say goodnight when I come in," she told them. "Love you."
"Love you, Mom, bye," said Emily, she then gave Bosco a hug. "Later, Bosco."
"Yeah, love you Mom, come back soon, Bosco," Charlie told him.
"All right, I hope to see you two soon," Bosco told them, before leaving.
The two of them left the apartment, and went back to their car.
"Wow, she's hot and she can cook," Bosco laughed. "I feel like I missed out on something as a kid!"
Faith shook her head. "Who knew that you could have live in care givers who weren't little old ladies, right?"
He laughed. "Something like that. Don't worry, I'm just going to admire her, I don't think she likes me very much."
"What might have given you that idea?"
He shook his head. "I think it was someone that gave her the idea."
"I didn't say anything bad about you, Bos. She's smarter then the ones you like to go after."
"Not all of 'em are stupid, you know?"
"Name one."
"Name one what?"
"One who wasn't stupid?"
He grinned mischievously at her. "You."
She smacked him, half playfully. "I don't count."
"Why not?"
"I was hardly one of your little quests. I was upset and you charmed me."
He gave an odd look. "Quests? I wasn't trying to charm you, I actually really-"
"Five-five David," crackled the radio.
Faith quickly picked up the call needed the subject changed, as fast as possible. It was a domestic situation, and they were soon speeding to the scene.
The conversation had been dropped, and Bosco knew better then to bring it up again for a long while.
XX
Back the firehouse Jimmy had returned with the pregnancy test. Kim had already done what she had to do, it was just a matter of waiting for the result, which she already knew. Part of her hoped for an inconclusive reading, just to mess with the guys.
"So what'll you do if it's positive?" Jimmy asked Bobby.
"I'd be really happy to be a father," Bobby replied.
"I was not that calm when I found out about Joey."
"You're not me."
"All right, children," Kim said, laughing, "that's enough. I keep telling you I'm not pregnant, so it doesn't really matter does it?"
"If you're so sure about it, why are you taking the test?" Jimmy asked her.
"To shut you all up, and get you off my back."
"What if the joke's on you?" asked DK.
She shrugged. "I guess we'll see if that happens, won't we?" She looked at her watch. "If you'll excuse me."
She went into the bathroom, to see what the strip read. Sure enough it was negative, and just like that morning it proved she was not pregnant.
She was just about to leave the bathroom, when she suddenly got a stomach cramp. That had been happening a lot of late, she realized. She held her stomach, not that it would help, and shut her eyes, trying to hold back a scream, and tears.
The pain soon passed, and she suddenly felt sick, and threw up in the toilet. She flushed the toilet, and she did feel a little bitter. That was the other thing that made her know she wasn't pregnant, she always felt better after being sick.
Her stomach was still cramped, but she thought that had to do with the lack of food. She knew she should try to eat again, but she just didn't feel like it.
She took the testing strip out of the bathroom, and showed it to the guys who were now crowded around.
"You can breathe again, Bobby," Jimmy laughed. "You're not going to be a father."
Bobby shook his head. "I believed her the whole time," he said.
"You would, Prince Charming," laughed Lombardo.
"Kim, you're looking a little pale," Doc said, coming back down, having missed everything.
"I'm told you I'm not feeling well," she explained.
"She has the test to prove she's not pregnant," Walsh added.
"Are you feeling up to working?" Doc asked, ignoring the firefighter.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Kim replied.
"Are you contagious?"
"If she were contagious loverboy over there would be sick too," laughed Lombardo.
"He make a good point. Maybe you should see a doctor see what the problem might be?"
"I will if this keeps up, but right now I'm sure it's nothing, nerves maybe, or something I ate," Kim assured Doc.
Kim knew had a point, if it was just a bug Bobby would have been sick. She didn't want to tell anyone that she had been feeling ill for the last month or so. She decided that if she didn't see any kind of improvement soon, she'd see her doctor.
She didn't think that there was anything seriously wrong with her, but she figured that if it lasted any longer she should get some kind of treatment.
She also knew that in her line of work she should know better then to let anything go, and to just bite the bullet and see a doctor. The worst they could say is that you just have to live with the pain.
She went to the fridge to get a bottle of water, and started drinking it. She took a huge gulp, and all of sudden a wave of nausea came over her, again. She ran to the bathroom.
"She sure is acting pregnant," Jimmy said.
"You saw the results of that test too," Bobby reminded him.
"They're wrong sometimes," Doc reminded them.
"Twice in the same day?"
"What?" asked Doc.
Bobby nodded. "Yeah, she told me before she did one this morning."
"How did you miss that, bro?" asked Walsh.
"I don't know! All I know is she's hardly been eating, and been getting sick more and more often," Bobby commented.
"Talk to her about it."
Jimmy laughed. "Yeah, right, I'd be surprised if Prince Charming here could get anything outta her."
Bobby nodded. "Yeah, when I try to talk to her, she just tells me it's something she ate."
"Like she thinks you don't know what she's had to eat?"
"Yeah, I just hope it's not something too serious."
"Try the Joey card, it usually works. If not it's just a matter of letting her come to her senses." Jimmy suggested.
"I know. You'd notice this, have you noticed that she's been losing weight?"
"I'd have to see her naked." He laughed, trying to piss Bobby off..
"I'm serious."
Jimmy looked at the floor. "Yeah, I've noticed that she's skinny even for Kimmy."
Bobby's eyes dropped. "I just wish I could make her go to the doctor and see what's wrong with her."
"Try not to worry so much," Doc tried to assure them. "I'm sure it's just stress, it can do really strange things to a person. If it's not that, it's probably something minor, and she'll be back to herself within a few days."
Bobby nodded. "Yeah, you're probably right, Doc"
"Right about what?" Kim asked appearing behind them, startling them.
"That you're probably just stressed out, and that's why your stomach's upset," Doc lied.
She nodded. "I never thought of that, thank you Doc."
"But, if you think it could be something else, go see a real doc."
Kim laughed. "I will, but I don't think it's much to worry about."
"I really hope you're right."
Just then the fire bell went off. Everyone started going to where they had to go to respond to the call.
tbc...
end notes: so what's wrong with kim? stayed tuned to find out (i really hope i don't over do it), oh the drama and angst you'll love, and what about faith and bosco? hmm stayed tuned to find out!