Standard disclaimers applied.

Author's Note: The rating is up to a T for this chapter because of mature themes. You have been warned.

Also, since it has been a while that I have seen Third Watch, I had taken a lot of poetic license in regards to the sequence of events in the series. Hopefully, it will still make sense by the end.

Part XIV My Achilles Heel

Forgive me my weakness, but I don't know why.
Without you it's hard to survive.

Cascada - Every Time We Touch

Bosco had been hurt, more than he would admit at Faith's rejection. He had been scared to know that she and Emily had been one of the hostages in a bank robbery. She blamed him for the wedge that tore her marriage with Fred apart. He was immature, brash, and too hot-headed. He said things that more often than not, pushed all the wrong buttons and provoked somebody. He had faced rejections many times in his life. One of which was when he found out that Faith kept from him the fact that she was battling cancer. However, there were other childhood scars that he didn't need to dwell upon, but losing Faith this time around, for him literally meant losing faith in the world.

That's why he turned to Anti-Crime. He thought that he could just forget nearly ten years of partnership in the 55-David. Cruz was more than willing to share his bed. They were fierce and rough and at least, during the night, he didn't have to remember. But by morning, everything was still the same.

Cruz had a reputation. She caught the worst out of the bad guys, led some of the biggest drug bust. Some of NYC notorious gang crackdowns had her name attached to it. Bosco knew why and loathed it. She struck deals with those lower in the hierarchy, smudged some reports and then waited and baited. She was shady in every sense of the word but didn't bat an eyelash. It was all part of the bigger picture was what she told him. She made a lot of enemies along the way, but she reined them all in with the flaunt of her body and piercing smoky eyes.

However, the one that she wanted was David Mann who personified the rich and powerful. He was allegedly linked to a series of murders, drug dealings and human trafficking. Yet in true form, the law couldn't touch him for the lack of evidence, which did not provide enough basis to grant a court-issued warrant. With a few choice words from high-paid lawyers, Mann was often released before the cops could even utter, "You're under arrest."

Cruz had a personal vendetta with Mann. Her sister, had been killed by one of his thugs, after she spent years hooked on heroin that Mann and his minions were smuggling into the country. Cruz consequently, brought Bosco into her world, because his signature were on every report that were submitted. She pressured him with the promises that Anti-Crime was going to bring him fame and glory. She knew how to boost his ego but in order to do so, he had to do exactly what she ordered. In the general scheme of things, she was still sergeant and he wasn't.

-o-o-

She had passed the Sergeant's Exam, with one of the top ten marks out of those who had taken it. Tonight had been her night for the ceremonies. She scanned the crowd for the familiar faces of her family but was disappointed. Fred had not bring the kids. The divorce had been finalized and she heard from Emily that Fred was already seeing somebody new. "She's not you, mom."

Hearing from Emily had been comforting, especially now, she was sharing custody with Fred. Charlie was on a school field trip, so she couldn't talk to him. Though there was some consolation in the fact that Sully and Davis were in attendance. Lieu was also there, very proud of the fact that somebody from his force was going to walking across the podium. Jing-Mei was also there and she was clapping just as loudly from her seat beside Davis.

Sergeant Faith Mitchell, she had gone back with her maiden name since the divorce. She was sorry that Bosco could not be there for tonight. She would have given up everything if it meant that she could go back to the 55-David with him. However tonight, he was set off to pull one of the biggest bust on Mann since his presence was known in NYC. Cruz had gotten, what she called an anonymous tip and built a compelling case before the courts. She had gotten the necessary search warrants which gave the green light for various units from the Anti-Crime to conduct simultaneous raids in the city.

After the congratulatory remarks, Faith was left outside in the New York night chill. Jing-Mei had an early start to the morning, so she was going back to the apartment to sleep. 55-Edward were going to finish what's left on their patrol, after giving Lieu a ride back to the station. She had declined their offer for a ride, but as she started for the direction of the subway, she was surprised by the familiar voice coming from behind. "Faith."

Turning to the source, she said, "Why are you here, Bosco?"

To him, the answer was so simple, "Because, I have nobody else."

From the moment that he called out her name, she knew that she could never turn him away. No matter how much they fought, or what words were exchanged, he was her weakness. Still, she had to try, "Please Bosco, don't do this."

"Faith, just help me with this. Then, I won't bother you ever again. I would even transfer to another precinct for goodness sakes!"

She never knew how much of a foil she was to Bosco's existence, but from that sentence alone, she had glimpse of what he would do for her happiness. So looking up to meet his eyes, she told him the inevitable.

End of Part XIV

AN: Sorry, this was a short chapter. The lyrics used were from Cascada's song, "Every Time We Touch," which doesn't belong to me.