Concrete Angel Part 8

Note: Sorry for taking so long getting this chapter out. This chapter focuses more on Jayme so I hope that doesn't cause anyone to stop reading. I'll get back into the Meg/Bosco relationship and everything real soon. I promise. Anyway, I hope ya'll enjoy. Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed last chapter. Oh, and thanks to CCA for all her help.

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Bosco felt his chest tighten. The muscles in his face felt like they were tensing as well. Grown men don't cry, then again not many witnessed the heartbreaking scene he had. Meg cried herself to sleep all the while clinging on to Jayme. He felt like an intruder so he slipped out.

He had called Faith and told her not to bring Emily by because Meg was exhausted. She made him promise that he'd be at work. Now, he sat outside Meg's room thinking. Bosco felt terrible for thinking it, but he almost wished Meg didn't have a sister. Jayme had the power to take her away.

"I must have fallen asleep with her," Jayme said interrupting his thoughts. "You're still here."

"I don't work for a few more hours."

"Know of any good places for me to stay?" She took the seat next to Bosco.

"A few. You staying long?"

"No, not at first. I have finals next week. I can't blow them off. After that I'll look for a place here. Dr. Kost said Meg will have to stay for a few weeks. I should have a place by then." Jayme sighed. "God give me courage," she whispered.

"What was that?"

"I hope I can take care of her. I won't let her be shipped off to live a foster family. Two years for me was enough. She can't . . . I won't let her go through that."

"She won't have to," Bosco said.

"I want to see him."

"Your father?"

"Yeah, him." Jayme got up. "Can you take me?"

"Sure." Bosco stood a as well. "Grab your stuff. I'll take you."

"Meg's bruised and broken and he's got maybe a few red knuckles. What I wouldn't give to see him in pain."

Bosco didn't say anything. He led Jayme out the hospital and to his car and packed her stuff in his trunk. He didn't know if he should tell her what condition her father would be in. He doubted she'd be upset, but he still decided to let her see it for herself. The ride to lock up was silent, with neither Bosco nor Jayme making a sound.

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"Officer Boscorelli, 55 Precinct. I'm here to see Peter Hargrove. This is his daughter." Bosco flashed his badge.

"Sign here," the officer behind the desk said.

Jayme looked around nervously. She had never been in a jail. So, it wasn't really jail. Close enough. Her insides were tumbling around. Her mind screamed to stay put while her heart screamed to run away. Bosco began to move so she followed.

"They have him behind bars so he can't hurt you." Bosco walked in front of her then stopped. A guard opened a door and they were walking down a short hall.

"What do you want?"

She froze at the sound of his voice. Bosco was in her way blocking her view from her father. She prayed he wouldn't move. When he did begin to move, Jayme grabbed his shirt to stay hidden. Thankfully, he must have realized her current state because he stopped moving towards the cell.

"I asked you a question. You can't take my kid away! Hear me!"

"Too late!" Bosco growled.

"You're just like my ex. Thinking you know what's best. She took my oldest away from me before I could raise her right. Children only learn one way. Meg wasn't as bad as the other. I didn't need to go to such extremes with her. If the state gave the brat back to me they'll let me keep Megan. You'll see. Then I'll kick you scrawny butt. We'll see how tough you are."

"Try your worst. Your bruises show just how well you can kick my scrawny butt, you jag off," Bosco said.

"Raise me right?" Jayme finally got her voice. She slowly crept out from behind Bosco. "Raise me right?"

"Who's that?" Peter Hargrove demanded.

"Forgot me already? Let me refresh your memory," she hissed. Jayme tilted her head back to reveal her scar. "I'm the brat you went to extremes to raise me right. More like the daughter you tried to kill."

"Jayme?"

"Wow. You remembered my name. How about all the things you did?" Her eyes watered.

"You always were the drama queen. You can drop the false tears."

"Meg will never be back with you. I'll die before you get to hurt her again."

"You'll have to forgive Jayme. She tends to be overdramatic. That and manic depressive. Better keep the razors and prescription drugs away from her." He grinned wickedly. "Ooops, that was her mom. You know a pill or two and a few slices."

"Son of a . . .," Jayme cried out as she lunged for her father. She felt someone pull her back. "Shut up! Don't talk about her. It's your fault. The things you did to me she couldn't forget."

"Save the sob story for someone who actually cares. I hated your mother. I say good riddance."

"Watch it buddy," Bosco warned through clenched teeth.

"I'll kill you one day. I will." Jayme began to calm down a bit. "You think Officer Boscorelli would like to hear all the things you did to me? I'm sure a judge would. I'll see to it you stay locked up." Jayme turned to Bosco. "He run into a wall?"

"Yeah. Me."

"Good. I like the purple look on him." Jayme turned to her father on last time. "Don't think about getting your friends to help you. I know one who's life would be destroyed if a certain event leaked out. One that I have documented proof of. Thank mom for that one." She turned back to Bosco. "Let's go."

Jayme made it all the way outside before falling to her knees. She couldn't hold it in and began to dry heave seeing as she hadn't eaten anything. Bosco was by her side. Her whole body began to shake as she cried. She could feel his arms around her waist trying to raise her.

"Do you need a doctor?"

"No. I . . . I'll be fine. I just need to . . . to breath," she gasped between tears. "No doctor."

"Can you breath ok?" He moved her towards his car.

"Yeah," she managed. "Sort of." She gasped for a large breath. "No."

"I'm taking you to a doctor." He put her in the passenger side then went on to the drivers side.

"No. It's just the stupid crying."

"Yeah sure." Bosco flipped open his phone and began to dial.

Jayme tried to take deep breaths but the sobbing made that difficult. She couldn't concentrate on much. Her fathers face kept flashing in her mind. Through her cries she could hear Bosco talking to someone.

"I don't know. Can Taylor? Nieto? You live with him? I guess. She won't go to a doctor. Thanks man."

"Sorry," she barely got out.

"Just concentrate on breathing. We're almost there." Bosco finally pulled off the road. "Can you walk?"

"My head feels funny," she moaned before passing out.

"Great. Nieto better be home," he grumbled as he carried Jayme.

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"Davis, it's me." Bosco kicked at the door.

"What happened?" He opened the door and helped Bosco get Jayme to the couch. "Alex?" he called.

"Like I said on the phone. This is Meg's sister, Jayme. I don't know what's wrong with her. She just started crying and shaking then passed out not two minutes ago." Bosco looked at Alex with a questioning look. "I thought she wasn't here."

"I am now."

Bosco watched as Alex looked her over. Jayme had been gasping for air which scared him. He couldn't tell if it was shock, panic attack, or something else. She didn't want a doctor so was Alex was his next best shot.

"Her vitals are normal. It's probably just stress. Shock maybe. Let her sleep." Alex draped a blanket over Jayme.

"Thanks, Ty. Alex."

"It's for Meg. I promised to help." Ty shifted uncomfortably. "You can leave her since she's fast asleep."

"I can't just leave her here."

"If she wakes up I'll call you. I've got the night off. I'll be here. You have work." He turned to his girlfriend. "So do you, Alex. Carlos should be back soon. We'll cover things here."

"Thanks again."

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"Davis?" Carlos screamed. He stood in the middle of the living room looking down at Jayme.

"Shh," Ty said as he came out of his room.

"Why is there someone sleeping on our couch?"

"She's a friend of Bosco's."

"The one in the hospital?"

"The sister."

Jayme heard voices. She moved her arm and it fell to the floor. Then she rolled over and her whole body fell to the floor. The voices grew closer as she struggled to open her eyes. When she did, she came face to face with two men.

"Stay away," she cried. She began to crawl away.

"It's ok. Bosco left you here. I'm a cop too." Ty tried to reason with her. "I'm Ty, this is . . .," he trailed off as Jayme started to speak.

"Dumbo ears," Jayme said looking at Carlos.

"Excuse me?" Carlos glared at her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I have no idea where that came from." Jayme slowly got up off the floor.

"Yeah, well. Me either. My ears are perfectly normal," Carlos defended.

"I don't know, Carlos. Jayme here brought up a good point." Ty laughed as he sat down.

"Whatever," he mumbled as he walked to his room.

"Carlos! Get back here! What did I tell you?"

"Yeah, yeah. Better do what Alex says." Carlos walked back into the room and stood near Jayme. "I need to check your pulse and stuff."

"Huh?"

"Ty's girlfriend, Alex, said when you woke up to check your vitals. So . . . come on." Carlos sat down.

"Don't mind him, he's a jerk in training. Wait he doesn't need training, he already is." Ty laughed as he looked over at Carlos. "I'm sorry, he's a paramedic. That better?"

"Like I said, I'm sorry about the Dumbo ears thing." Jayme watched Carlos as he took her vitals. Something about him was very familiar and she couldn't place why. "Can I use the phone to call a cab?"

"Why?" Ty stayed put.

"I need to go see my sister." Jayme got up. "Where's my stuff?"

"Oh, ah I think it's still in Bosco's car," Ty answered. "You need something?"

"No. I just want to go see my sister." Jayme tried to stand up but started to sway. Carlos caught her before she could fall.

"When was the last time you ate?"

"I don't know."

"Sit," Carlos grumbled as he walked into the kitchen.

"Don't mind his lack of people skills. I think he was raised by a pack of wolves."

Jayme laughed at Ty's comment but kept her eyes fixed on Carlos. She watched as he moved about the kitchen. There was something about him. It was like she knew him from somewhere. She wondered if that was possible. Before she could think any further, he came out with a plate of food.

"Here. Tuna fish. Oh, and some Doritos." Carlos handed her the plate.

"You and that tuna and Doritos. I swear you are the only person I know . . .," Ty trailed off once he saw Jayme place the chips inside the sandwich then crunch it down. "Ok, so now there are two people I know who do that. Gross."

"What?" Jayme asked as she was about to eat her sandwich. "Don't knock it till you try it. My foster brother made me try it. Now, I don't eat tuna without it."

"Foster brother?" Carlos questioned.

"Yeah? So? I spent two years in foster care. No biggie. I didn't turn out bad or anything."

"Why would you? I spend my whole life in the system."

"Bet you had tons of foster brothers and sisters. I went through a few of them." Jayme sat back. "Oh, my. Nah. It couldn't be."

"Couldn't be what?" Ty sat up.

"Nothing." Jayme started to eat the sandwich.

"Yeah, well. I'm going to study. If you need anything, you know . . .," Carlos trailed off as he walked away.

"What's his last name?" Jayme asked.

"Nieto."

"Carlos Nieto," she said under her breath. When her sandwich was finished she turned to Ty. "Can I please go see my sister now?"

"Sure. I'll take you." Ty got up. "Yo, Carlos. We're going to the hospital."

"Great! Good for you!" came his reply.

"Like I said. Raised by a pack of wolves."

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"And my sister Jayme came by. I didn't realize how much I missed her. Then again, Daddy had me believing bad things about her that weren't true," Meg rambled on to Miss Sellers.

"So you are glad she's here then?"

"Yeah. I am."

Meg smiled at Miss Sellers. She had woken up to find her sister and Bosco gone. A few hours later Miss Sellers stopped by. They had talked about all kinds of things. Mostly Mr. Bosco and her sister. The questions she was being asked seemed stupid. Of course she liked Mr. Bosco. Of course she really wanted to live with him. Why did she have to keep on answering all those dumb questions.

"Miss Sellers. I want Bosco to be my dad," Meg said. "I know you are asking all these questions because of it. I know what I want. Can't you just let me have something good?"

"Honey, it's not that I don't want to let you have something good. We just need to see what is in your best interest."

"My best interest? I'm a kid. I know that. But I should have a say in this. I knew kids at school that lived in foster homes. Why should I have to go to one when someone wants me."

"What about Jayme?"

"What about her?" Meg reached for her juice box.

"Don't you want to live with her?"

"I never thought about it." Meg set the juice box down and played with her blanket. "I don't really know her. I mean I want her to still be my sister, but she can't be my mom and my sister. Does that make sense?"
"Yes. She can be your sister and your guardian, though. Everything a parent would do, just she wouldn't be your mom."

Meg sat there staring at Miss Sellers. That must have been why she was asking all those questions. She loved her sister, but she didn't want to live with her. Mr. Bosco was supposed to be her dad. She was told today that she would only need to be in the hospital one more week, tops, then she could leave. She always assumed it would be with Bosco.

"I only want Jayme to be my sister. That's all. I want Bosco to be my dad. Don't you get it?" Meg nearly yelled.

"Megan, calm down. We don't need to talk about this anymore. Why don't I leave and let you rest."

"Yeah, ok." Meg crossed her arms. "Just remember, I won't go with anyone

but . . . ."

"Bosco. I know." Miss Sellers smiled then left.

"Stupid lady!" Meg yelled at the empty room. She jumped up when the door opened.

"Hi," Jayme said.

"Hi." Meg looked past Jayme and saw Ty. "Ty!"
"How ya doing?" Ty followed Jayme into the room.

"Ok. Remember that favor I asked of you? Please keep it. No matter what."

"Favor?" Jayme questioned.

"It's nothing," Meg lied.

"Well, I'm gonna let you two talk." Ty backed up. "I'll be outside."

"Your doctor said you get to leave soon."

"Yeah."

"Hopefully, I'll have a place set up for us here. If not we might have to go back to where I'm from for awhile." Jayme fumbled with her hands. "I have to go back to school for a few days. I don't want to leave you. Not now."

"I'll be fine. Go."

"I'm not leaving for good. Just a few days."

"Can you . . . nevermind," Meg said.

"What?"

"It's nothing. I'm glad you are back."

"Yeah, me too. I doubt you remember me much though. You were just four."

"Bits and pieces."

Meg remembered going to see Jayme in the hospital a few times. The most vivid memory was a little bit before Jayme left. She didn't look good at all, but all Jayme did was try to make Meg laugh. Then Meg remembered he dad got hurt then too.

"Meg?"

"I was just thinking. I was real little so Momma didn't say much, but right before you left, you and daddy got hurt. What happened?"

"A bad man hurt me." Jayme rubbed her scar.

"He do that? With a knife?"

"Yeah. Don't worry about it. It's in the past." Jayme shrugged.

"Ok."

"You know what, I'm gonna let you sleep. I'll be by later to see you."