Chapter 11: Always
Sully watched his daughter sleep. They had to hold her down to give her a seditive. She had been livid when Bosco left. Holding back the tears. Trying to be strong. He watched Bosco walk down the hall. Trying to hold back his pain. Sully just shook his head. Relationships were just not worth the pain. He knew that now. He heard the door open and looked up to see Faith. He looked at his daughter one last time and then went into the hall.

"How's the dog?"

"Good. Bosco met me at the vet and he's taking him home." Faith looked at Sully's tiered eyes. "You need some sleep."

"Yeah. Maybe tomorrow."

"Bosco can take a shift."

"They had a fight Faith. He won't be back."

"A fight?"

"Yeah. She told him to take a hike."

"Poor Bosco. He didn't say anything to me. How's she holding up?"

"It wasn't Dan that attacked her but I'm betting he knows who did."

"God that man is more trouble then he's worth."

"Wish she would saw that coming."

"You think that's why she's pushing Bosco away?" Faith knew how Bosco felt about Randi. He was falling in love with her. She could see it in his eyes.

"Who knows." He looked at his daughter peacfully sleeping. "I need some coffee. Want to join me or are you in a hurry to get home?"

"No. Let's go." They headed down to the caffiteria.
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Sully kept walking. Bosco tried to get the big dog to turn around twice but he wouldn't go back the way the came.

"I miss her too boy, but we have to go home and go to bed." Bosco checked his watch. "It's three in the moring....we've been walking for an hour. That means an hour back......." Bosoc looked up and saw the lights of Mercy. "You know what dog? Your too damn smart." They headed for the ER door. Mary Proctor sat behind the desk.

"Boscorelli you can't bring that dog in here."

"He kinda broght me. He's a police dog Mary."

"Yeah right Bosco."

"Wanna see his badge and vest?"

"That's Mallony's partner?"

"Yeah. Can we see her?"

"Yeah. She's in 120. "

"Thanks Mary." He smiled and headed up to Randi's room.
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She felt Sully's wet nose on her hand. She pushed him away and tried to find the warmth of the man who had been sharing her bed most nights but he wasn't there. Then she remembered she had pushed Bosco and her father away. Told them she didn't need them. Now she was alone in the hospital. And afaid for the first time in a very long time. She felt Sully push at her again but it couldn't be him. He was somewhere. Faith and Bosco had brought him to the vet. She opened her eyes to see his big black and tan face staring at her.

"What are your doing here?" He wined a responce. "You ok?" He looked at her with all the love a non human could give. "I'm sorry I didn't have your back boy." The dog put his paw on the bed in understanding. "I'm so sorry." Tears fell down her cheeks. She had to learn to be strong but tonight she needed to let go.

"He dragged me here all the way from the apartment." She heard Bosco's soft voice coming from the door.

"When he gets his mind set on something, he does that."

"Takes after you."

"I'm sorry Bosco. Sorry for everything. I just never lost a fight before. I was scared."

"You were out numbered and out smarted. We all have to bare that sometimes. The vet found a mild tranc in Sully's system. He was taken out before you were attacked." Bosco sat on the chair by the bed. "You scared the hell out of me tonight Mallony."

"This thing is going to fast Bosco. I need to get rid of one problem in my life before I can get on with it."

"We'll take care of Dan together." Bosco took her hand. Randi looked into his eyes and saw the trust she needed.

"Thank you Bosco."

"Anytime." Sully jumped in the bed and curlled up next to Randi. They both smiled. Bosco laid his head on the side of the bed and the three of them fell asleep.
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"I don't know who snores louder Bosco or the dog." Sully looked at the three sleeping.

"Strange how your gone for ten minutes and all becomes right in the world." Faith smiled. "Hey why don't I drive you home. It seems like Bosco has things under control here."

"Yeah." Sully smiled. His daughter was making things right with her life. He hoped he could do the same.