Concrete Angel Part 2

Disclaimer: Don't own a darn thing except non-TW characters.

Authors Note: I orginally posted this story on the 55-David message board. I posted the first chapter then stopped. Thanks to Laura and Dina from 55-David, I've decided to continue with this and keep it going. For all of you who are reading this you have those two to thank for it :) Thanks to all you fanfiction.net reviewers.

Feedback: You know I want it. I crave it.

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Bosco and Faith were getting ready to go to work when a knock at his door stopped them. Bosco stalked to the door and found Meg's dad. Bosco tried to hide his shock. The man never attempted to meet the neighbor his daughter spent so much time with.

"You this Mr. Bosco my Meg talks so much about?"

"Yeah."

"You like my kid?"

"What do you mean? She's a good kid. Seems lonely to me." Bosco stood tall, instantly not liking the man.

"Yeah, well. Her Mom died a year ago and it's just us. Kid ain't got friends, well but you." He stopped and looked at Bosco long and hard. "Need a favor."

"Like?"

"Watch her for me? I drive a truck sometimes and I got a job other side of the state. Her sitter can watch her until midnight tonight then can't come back until after school. I'd leave the kid by herself, but I suppose that's not the best thing, now is it Officer."

"No, it's not." Bosco glanced back at Faith who looked upset by the man's words. "I'll watch her. Can the sitter wait a little if I'm late? I get off at 11 but sometimes paperwork takes longer."

"Sure." With that he retreated back to his apartment.

"Jag off." Bosco shut his own door and turned to Faith who shared an equally upset expression. "He's got this great kid and doesn't even know it."

"Calm down," she whispered.

"Calm down? That man is willing to leave his daughter with a man he doesn't even know. Probably seriously considered leaving her alone too." He dropped down on the couch. "When I have kids . . . .," he began but saw the look on Faith. "You think I didn't want kids?"

"No, it's just you never really . . . it's just . . . yeah," she gave up. "I always assumed you were too scared you'd end up like your father, you said so yourself."

"Yeah, I know. But, I would kill myself before I laid a hand on a child or woman. I want kids, who doesn't? Mr. Wonderful across the hall?" He hung his head. "I will be the best dad I can be. I'll protect my child with all I am. I won't be like my dad or Meg's."

"You'll be a great dad."

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"What do you mean you're leaving? Mr. Bosco isn't home yet and it's only 9." Meg followed on her sitter's heal. "You said you wouldn't leave until Mr. Bosco got home."

"Meg, that was before Johnny Harrison asked me out on a date. You want me to have a good time, don't you?" the teenaged girl asked. "You'll be fine. I'll leave you my cell phone number if you need anything. It's not the first time, Meg."

"I know. I just don't like being alone."

"Deal with it kid. I'll see you tomorrow after school and I'll tell you all about my date. I'll even take you to McDonald's. How's that?"

"Just leave." Her blue eyes began to water.

"Don't cry."

"I don't cry."

"Fine, Meg. Whatever. I'll see you."

Meg shut the door behind her sitter. Carly was always leaving early and her dad didn't seem to care. Why would this be any different. At least this time she would be with Mr. Bosco and not alone. She locked the door then went to her room where she locked that door as well. Gently she pulled off the dirty dress. Thankfully Carly did some laundry for Meg so she could put on clean pajamas.

"Oww oww owww," she hissed at the movement. "Eww, gross." She looked down at her arms and the bruises. "Better wear long sleeved."

Once her pajamas were on she crawled into her bed and opened a little notebook. She began to write. She liked to call the book 'Letters to Momma'. It wasn't a diary, they were letters to her mom. This was the only time she let loose and said everything that needed to be said.

"Momma. I miss you," she said out loud as wrote. "Daddy won't stop hurting me. He hates me. I used to think it was just when he got angry, but it's every day Momma. He's got it all planned out, I think. Mr. Bosco is a cop and Daddy's afraid he'll find out so he only hits me when Mr. Bosco isn't around. I try not to cry too loud but the others have to hear it. Daddy's so loud. I wish I were never born, Momma. At night, when I'm alone and sad, I think of where you are. Somewhere happy and warm. I bet you have the house we always wanted and the puppy I could never have. One day I'll be with you. And Daddy won't be allowed to come with us." She closed the book and wiped a stray tear. "I don't cry. Crying is a weakness. Daddy doesn't like weakness."

She set the little alarm Carly had bought her for 11 and closed her eyes. She was exhausted and wanted to dream of her mom and their special place.

~ "Through the wind and the rain
She stands hard as a stone
In a world that she can't rise above
But her dreams give her wings
And she flies to a place where she's loved
Concrete Angel" ~

The alarm started to buzz and Meg jumped up. She wrapped her blanket around her and grabbed her stuffed puppy dog and walked to the front door. She made herself comfortable near the door to wait for Mr. Bosco to come home. She glanced over at the two small bags on the floor. One contained the clothes Carly packed for her, the other her school bag.

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"Man, it's late," Bosco said as he looked at his watch. It was 12:30.

"Yeah, that MVA took longer than I thought, and that paperwork. I'll get the pull out bed ready while you get Meg," Faith threw as she walked ahead of Bosco to his apartment.

"Deal." He walked up to Meg's door and knocked.

"Hi," she barely made out. "I fell asleep. Carly had to leave a few minutes ago." Meg slowly went for her bags.

"You still half asleep?" Bosco looked at the girl who was apparently going on auto pilot.

"Kinda, I think."

"Well, let me get these," he said picking up the bags with one hand. "And I'll carry you. How's that sound?"

"Yeah, cereal's good." She struggled to keep her eyes open.

"Cereal?" Bosco shook his head then scooped the little girl in his arms and shut her door behind him. Once in his apartment he set Meg in the pull out coach Faith had set up for her. "Stupid sitter left her alone."

"Ah, poor kid." Faith pulled the covers up to Meg's chin. "She's such a sweet kid. Perfect kid, blonde hair, blue eyes. Looks like an angel sleeping like that."

Meg heard them talking then the voices left and she was alone. Maybe she could tell them. Maybe they'd get her dad to stop hurting her. No, she couldn't tell anyone. She loved her dad. How could she get him in trouble when she loved him so much.

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"Something's going on at Meg's." Bosco tied up his shoes. He looked to Faith. They were the last ones in the locker room.

"Like what? I just see a lonely little girl with a dad who seems to do what he can." Faith sat down next to Bosco. "I don't like it either, but we can't do anything."

"There has to be something."

"I love that you care so much," Faith whispered. "This is the side of you that I love."

"Really now?"

"Really." Faith inched in and met her lips with Bosco's.

"Ahem," a voice broke them out of their kiss.

"Ah man," Bosco said under his breath.

"I thought something was going on with you two."

"It's not what it looks like, Davis," Bosco said to the younger officer, Ty Davis.

"Oh, it looks like you two got something going."

"We want to keep it quiet," Faith said.

"My mouth's shut." Davis turned to his locker. "Just forgot something. You two better hurry though."

"Thanks." Faith got up.

"You think he'll tell?" Bosco asked as he watched Davis leave.

"Nah."

Bosco followed Faith to roll call. He had too much on his mind to worry about Davis letting it out that he and Faith were a couple. He wanted people to know. The only drawback would be that they more than likely wouldn't be able to continue to be partners. He could handle that as long as Faith was still in his life.

"What's so special about this place, Bosco?" Faith asked when Bosco pulled up to an apartment building.

"Huh?"

"I asked what is so special about this place. You always drive us past here."

"Just something that's in the past. It creeps up on me sometimes, that's all."

He pulled away from the apartment and the old memories. Tonight would be a bad night. This day every year was a bad night. Same thing every time. Except, Faith would be at his place. He prayed he wouldn't have one of those dreams that caused him to wake up sweating and crying.

After their shift ended Bosco and Faith went back to his place. Fred had the kids for the last few nights and it was their last night together for awhile. The whole night Bosco tried to keep his mind off of what would be tomorrow and all the memories that would come to him in his sleep. Sure enough, the dream came.

"Hey, Tina," little Maurice called out.

"Maurice," the little girl cried.

"What happened? Why is your face purple like that?"

"I asked what I was getting for my birthday and that's what Daddy gave me." Tina sat on the steps of the apartment building next to Maurice. "I heard your Mommy and Daddy fighting."

"They do that a lot. At least Dad didn't put Mikey and I in the closet this time. I want to hurt him as much as he hurts my Ma." He looked to the little girl. "I asked Mr. Donnelly yesterday if my ma and dad were loud. He just says, not as loud as Tina's dad is. I wish he would get off his fat butt and help us. No one believes me. Ma just says its an accident."

"My mom says the same thing. I swear I'll never be like my parents."

"Me too."

"I have to go. I'll come by when your dad leaves. I know he doesn't like it when I come by. Me being a girl and all." Tina stood up.

"You're my bestest friend, Tina."

"You're mine too, I'll always watch out for you. I promise. What else is being older good for?"

"You better go, your dad is gonna get mad." Maurice watched as she walked into the building.

He wished he could help Tina, but his dad said it wasn't their business. Besides, he was only in third grade. What could he do? That night, he heard Tina's dad start up. His mom and dad were already asleep so he snuck out of his bed and went to the front door. Tina's cries filled the whole building. They were louder and more pleading.

Maurice wanted to throw up. He couldn't handle her cries. It was too much. His mother had woken up and ushered him back to bed. There in the dark he prayed for Tina. Somewhere deep down he feared she wouldn't come out of this beating like she had all the others. He couldn't take it. Throwing his covers off he stormed out of the apartment and pounded on Tina's door.

"Go home, boy!" Tina's dad yelled.

"I want to see Tina." Maurice tried to stand tall and show no fear.

"Tina ain't coming to the door. Go on home, I'm sure your daddy would like to give ya beating for getting in my business."

"Not until I see Tina! TINA!" he yelled into the apartment.

Maurice gasped as Tina appeared. Her face bloody. Her body slouched. She came to the door hesitantly. He looked at her father with pure hatred and reached for Tina.

"Now, go home."

"Tina? You ok?" Maurice ignored Tina's dad.

"Go home, Maurice. I'll be fine," Tina whispered. She turned to her dad then back to Maurice. She gave him the biggest hug she could. "Thanks, but you gotta go. Your dad's gonna get mad. We don't need two of us looking like crap." She pulled back.

"No! Stop hurting Tina!" He refused to let go of Tina.

"Boscorelli! Get out here!"

"What's going on?" Maurice's dad came out into the hallway. "In the house now, Maurice."

"No!"

"Yes!" He grabbed his son's arm and yanked him into the house.

"You don't understand," he cried as he was dragged into the house. He could hear Tina's dad begin and looked to his dad knowing he was going to get it.

"You don't understand. It's their business. Not yours!"

"He shouldn't hurt her like that. Neither should you!" Maurice screamed.

"Don't talk to me like that."

Next thing little Maurice was curled up in his bed trying to block out the pain from the slight beating he got. It wasn't as bad as most, mainly in part to the fact that his mom had intervened and had taken a blow or two in his place. He could feel his mom gently wake him.

"Honey, there's something I need to tell you."

"What Ma?" he asked groggily.

"Last night, I mean this morning. It's just that, Tina she ah . . .," she stopped.

"No." Maurice tried to hold in his tears.

"Little Tina, she ah died last night."

~Somebody cries in the middle of the night
The neighbors hear, but they turn out the lights
A fragile soul caught in the hands of fate
When morning comes it'll be too late~

"Why didn't anyone help her!? Dad wouldn't. No one would help her!" He screamed.

Bosco jolted out of his sleep. The sweat dripped down his face and soaked his shirt. He couldn't breath and there were hot tears streaming down his face. Faith was at his side trying to talk to him, but he wasn't hearing. All he could hear were his mom's words all those years ago.

"Bosco?" Faith pulled his face towards her. "Talk to me."

"I'm sorry I woke you." He tried to move from her.

"Talk to me."

"What time is it?"

"Eleven in the morning."

"I gotta go somewhere." He jumped out of bed and rushed to shower. When he was done he turned to Faith. "I gotta go."

"Can I come with you?" She straightened her shirt.

"It's personal." He walked to the door.

"If we are in the kind of relationship that we are, I think you should let me in. I want to help you."

"Fine." Bosco opened the door and waited for Faith to follow. She had woken up before he had and was ready before he had woke from his dream.