Standard disclaimers applied.

Author's Note: As mentioned at the end of Part IV, I'm thinking of doing this as a Third Watch crossover. I'm just going to be incorporate a few characters from TW because a lot of the themes such as marriage, friendship, commitment are common in this story and the original storyline.

Don't worry for those who are not familiar with the TW series, I would try to write it in such a way that won't leave you guys confused. Those who read some of my other fics, will know that I like doing crossovers and mixing up the sequence of events. ;) Of course, Third Watch doesn't belong to me either.

Rating: K+

VII. The New Chief Resident

Officer Maurice Boscorelli, "Bosco" was definitely not in the mood. The entire shift started horribly. He was late, no news there, but the fact that he had to face a verbal reprimand in Lieu's office with a not-too-subtle warning that his pay check was going to take a steep dive if he didn't get his act together. Whatever got Lieu all riled seemed to contagious, because the first call that 55-David responded to was a domestic violence. He hated those calls, where no-good-husbands went around beating their wives or girlfriends. Along with his partner, Officer Faith Yokas, they went up to the stated address on the corner of Chesterfield and Woodward.

They knocked, but received no answer. One strategic kick brought the door down. A woman was bleeding profusely on the living room floor and a man was seen running out of the house. Bosco gave chase as Faith put in the call for a bus. The man was fast but Bosco was faster with the will of adrenalin and ego pushing him forth. Still, the man put up a struggle, taking an utility knife out as Bosco cornered him to a dead end.

"Freeze, jagoff! Drop your weapon and put your hands behind your back."

The man was proven to be persistent or extremely foolish as he made a mad dash towards the officer, waving his weapon. He got a lucky slash at Bosco's left arm before he was forced face-down on the ground and his rights read to him.

Of course, Bosco's day didn't end there when Faith found out that he had been injured during the apprehension of the perp. "Bosco, you're bleeding."

"It'll clot, Faith. I don't need to go to the hospital."

"Yeah, you do. You'll probably need to get stitches."

"You're not a doctor."

"Last I checked, you weren't either. Lets go."

55-David met up with 55-Edward outside Mercy Hospital. They were just coming in from a traffic accident. Bosco was ushered in, being a frequent visitors to the ER. Most were already immune to his complaining and weren't affected by his denials that he needed medical treatment.

-o-o-

Jing-Mei started her first shift at Angel of Mercy Hospital that morning, set through meeting upon meeting for administrative work and then toured the hospital. They were all tedious work but necessary. A lot of the setup was the same, and she got a feel of the staff. Most were welcoming. Others were wary, but overall, they were just glad that the position was filled by somebody. Mary Proctor was the head nurse, who shook her hand warmly, though Jing-Mei could still sense the other woman's apprehension.

Jing-Mei was determined, after all, medicine was still medicine. ER was still ER, no matter where you were. She got into the swing of things when a couple of traumas pulled into emergency bay. She put in orders for CBC, CT scans and urinalysis as she did on any case. She signed her name with a flourish as she handed the chart back to the waiting nurse. There was a bit of a commotion when she headed back to the desk, but she paid no mind to it. The sight of police officers, and EMS crew were familiar to her. She could not help the rolling of eyes and knowing glances that the nurses exchanged. Like in County, she didn't doubt for a moment that a rumor mill existed here at Mercy as well.

She grabbed the nearest chart before skimming the history of the patient. Her eyebrows shot up briefly at the extensive description of injuries and surgeries. Taking a moment to compose herself, she opened the door to Room 1 and introduced herself to one, Maurice Boscorelli.

-o-o-

It was no secret that he hated hospitals. He never had good experiences with them and it was a pain in the butt that Faith made him go see a doctor. He heard the door to admit the doctor and Bosco prepared himself to argue with the customary Dr. Fields. However instead of the regular ER doctor, a Chinese woman stood at the entrance.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Jing-Mei Chen and I would be your doctor for today. You must be Officer Boscorelli."

"Don't tell me that they send some rookie medical student to give a suture."

Whatever Jing-Mei expected her patient to say, it certainly wasn't this from some police officer that she had just met. For someone who take pride in her work and her profession, she could not help but feel insulted. Glancing at his chart, she merely scoffed and said, "Sorry Officer Boscorelli, but you are stuck with me for the next few minutes while I take a look at your wound."

"Listen doc. I don't give a care of what some medical student has to say about my wound and I certainly don't need for you poking at me like some guinea pig."

"And, I will have you know that I am the current Chief Resident of Mercy Hospital and my days as a medical student has long been put behind me. However, you are right about one thing. You certainly don't need to be poked around like some guinea pig because I am already finished. Just sign the discharge papers on your way out, Officer."

This was one of the few times in his life that Maurice Boscorelli was rendered speechless by somebody other than his partner, Officer Faith Yokas. He was surprised to walk out of the exam room with fresh set of stitches and minimal pain.

-o-o-

"So who is this new doctor that they have around here."

"A Dr. Chen, I think. Mary Proctor was just telling me about her. It seems that she just started."

"Is she any good, Faith?"

"Don't know, Sul. Dr. Fields isn't available right now, but I heard that Dr. Chen is the new Chief Resident."

"So, some rooky is in there with Bosco, right now."

"Mary was saying that the new doc has some really good credentials, but I don't know how I feel about having somebody new treating Bosco. You know how he is."

"Yes, I know how Bosco - one of these days, he's going to piss off every single doctor and nurse within a three mile radius."

Faith could only roll her eyes, because she was by now, used to the comments made by Officer John Sullivan, better known as Sully. She shared a look with Sully's partner, Officer Tyrone Davis, Jr. Davis smiled knowingly at Faith because they both know that beneath the tough demeanor, Sully cared about the people that he worked with.

"I don't think I like her," Sully insisted after a moment of silence.

Davis looked up from the report that he was working on and said, "Who?"

"The new doc."

"How can you say you not like somebody if you haven't met her? Who knows she may be hot."

"Who knows she may be fresh out of med school."

Sully retorted and he had enough spared energy leftover to roll his eyes but before he could chide his younger partner, Bosco came out of the exam room. The two officers from the 55-Edward and Faith tried to read his expression. "You ready to go?" he asked Faith.

"What you don't need any tests? Blood work?"

"No. It was only a mild slash wound."

"Did you get a shot or something?"

"Only stitches."

"And you have no complaints?"

"No. Geez Faith, this isn't twenty questions."

"And you have no complaints about the new doc?"

"No ..."

"She just cleared you just like that?" Faith asked incredulously.

"I'm not dignified to answer that. I'm going to meet you in the car."

The three remaining officers watched as Bosco made his way over to the admission desk. Sully spoke for all of them, "Somebody who could put up with Bosco with minimal fuss, I think I like this new doc already."

End of Part VII

AN: For those who may be confused about the characters from Third Watch, here is a just a breakdown as they are being introduced.

NYPD

Officer Tyrone 'Ty' Davis and Officer John 'Sully' Sullivan are partners and share the car, 55-Edward.

Officer Faith Yokas and Officer Maurice 'Bosco' Boscorelli are partners and share the car, 55-David.

Lieutenant 'Lieu' Swersky