Hey ya'll. Well, I don't know how long it has been since I last updated this story. I have to wonder if those who read it all that time ago are even still checking this site. But, this story keeps calling me and I just thought I'd update even though my school work is screaming my name. Stupid me for going to Grad School..grr. Well, enjoy.

Bosco walked up to the door to his mother's house. He was nervous. Today was the day she was going to find out about Meg. She was still mad at him over Mikey and she was sure to get even angrier once she found out how long he had kept Meg's existence from her. He took a deep breath then knocked before entering. Rose was sitting at the kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee and looked up in annoyance at her son.

"Mikey in jail again?"

"No, this isn't about him." He sat down next to her.

"Is it about that little girl you want to adopt? You know, I was pretty surprised when the people from social services stopped by," she said sadly. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Everything happened so fast and I didn't have time to think about anything else."

"You didn't have time to tell your own mother she might become a grandmother?" She reached for his hand. "You can thank Faith for the fact I'm not angry with you."

"Faith?"

"She called and told me what was going on."

"I'm sorry Ma," he apologized.

"Don't apologize," she said. "Just so you know I told the lady who interviewed me that you'd be the best daddy to that little girl." She stood up and started walking down the hall to her room. "There's something I thought you might want."

"What?" He watched as she pulled a box down from her top shelf in her closet.

His breath caught as he read the name on it. In messy handwriting one name stood out against the brown of the cardboard. He hadn't seen that box since the day he told his mother to keep it safe for him. Rose set the box on her bed and reached for her son's hand. Why was she doing this now? How was this helpful? He would only become a wreck once she opened it.

"Ma," he warned as he lowered himself to the bed.

"No, Maurice. You need to." Rose gently touched his face. "I know you packed all this stuff up because of the sadness it brought you, but maybe now it will remind you of all the good times. Maybe this can help Meg."

"Tina's things can't help Meg." Bosco traced Tina's name on the box.

"Yes, they can." She stood up. "From everything Faith has told me, Meg's life up until you was exactly like Tina's. And until you acknowledge you had no way of stopping what happened to Tina you can't be free. Her death haunts you. I know because it haunts me. I see her beautiful little face staring at mine begging for help I was too scared to give."

"How is this box going to help?"

"That's for you to find out, Maurice. Maybe you just need to remember the good instead of the bad. If she hadn't died you two would be friends to this day, that I'm positive on." She moved to her dresser and pulled out a necklace from her jewelry box and sat back down.

"How'd you get that?" He stared at the cross necklace. "Her mom was looking for that for her to be buried with."

"I know." She put the necklace in his hand. "She found it the day she was moving out. We kept in touch after she moved away and she mailed it to me when you joined the Army. She wanted you to have it. I wore it everyday you were gone and right before you came home I lost it. I was so upset that I didn't tell you. Two months ago I found it in my pajama drawer."

"Why didn't you tell me about it then?"

"I don't know. I think Tina wanted me to find it once you found Meg. Maybe she wants Megan to have it."

Bosco looked at his mother like she was insane. She was talking like Tina had hidden the cross all these years only put it somewhere to be found just recently. Tina was dead. She was in heaven, not a ghost who had nothing better to do than mess with his mother's head. It was crazy. He clasped his hand around the cold metal and smiled thinking of how Tina never took that necklace off and the faith she had. No matter how bad her life was she always believed in the power of something higher.

"Tina wants Megan to have her necklace?"

"Yes." Rose smiled. "She's always with you. You have to know that." She patted him on the leg. "I'll leave you alone for a bit." With that she turned around and left Bosco alone.

He stared at the box for a good ten minutes. Now was not the time to bring up old memories. He just came over to talk to his mother then he had to meet with Davis. From the sound of Davis' voice it was important and he needed to be calm and collected. Opening up his hand he took one last look at the necklace then put it in his pocket. Then he lifted the box up and walked out of the room. Bosco stopped long enough to say goodbye to Rose then was out the door.

"Where's Meg?" Davis asked once Bosco opened the door.

"With Faith. You said it was important, what is it?" Bosco looked past Davis and saw Carlos. "He's part of this?"

"Damn right I am," Carlos growled as he brushed past Davis and into the apartment. "I need an address and a gun."

"Excuse me?" Bosco laughed.

"I'm not kidding. I can't find this guy anywhere. I need his address then I'm going to kill him."

Bosco looked into Carlos' eyes and knew he was not kidding. They were cold and angry. Bosco pitied the poor fool who got on Nieto's bad side. He waited for Davis to enter then shut the door. Carlos was pacing by the couch like a mad man. Davis on the other hand stood back and appeared to be calm, but one look in his eyes and they showed the same emotions as his roommate's.

"Who's this guy?"

"Matthew Westmore." Carlos stopped moving. "And I don't want to hear how his daddy is rich and powerful. He is a dead man."

"No," Bosco shook his head. "Son of a . . .," he trailed off. "His father made a visit to Jayme's father in jail."

"Apparently their fathers go back. So do they. And it's not pretty," Davis said in a harsh voice. "Once you hear this, you'll want to hand Carlos your gun and point him in the right direction." Davis sat down on the couch. "Sit down, Carlos. You're making me nervous."

"What did this kid do to Jayme?" Bosco sat across from Ty.

"You saw it." Carlos remained standing. "He beat the crap out of her and nearly raped her the night we left her school. He carved the word 'slut' into her back."

"He's gonna . . .," Bosco started.

"If anyone kills him it will be me." Carlos finally sat down. "There's more."

Bosco listened in horror as Carlos retold the story Jayme had told. His blood boiled at the thought of what Matthew Westmore had done to Jayme. No wonder Jayme had retreated within herself the last few days. Her worst nightmare was coming true again. Images of Jayme in the hospital room the day she told him he could be Meg's guardian flashed in his mind. As Carlos talked he got up and walked to his bedroom.

"Like I said, I need an address and a gun," Carlos said as Bosco reappeared with two lock boxes.

"Bosco?" Davis questioned.

"I'm getting Nieto his gun." He popped open the first box and pulled out a gun and tried to hand it to Carlos but Davis snatched it first.

"No. We are not going vigilante. We are NYPD Bosco. You can't do this. Carlos will kill him." Davis grabbed the other box from Bosco.

"I know he will."

"Now that it's established what I plan on doing with it, give me the gun Davis," Carlos hissed.

"You think Jayme wants you in jail? We need to think rationally about this. Meg and Jayme need justice, but not this kind of justice." Davis stood up. "We get rid of him, then what? His dad still has power to help Peter Hargrove. This isn't something that is going to be solved with a bullet between the eyes."

"Davis, don't try to reason with me. You don't know her. She was just an innocent kid. She didn't deserve what happened to her. You don't think he's done with her, do you? Come on man, he's pretty much claimed her by those carvings on her back. I won't let him near her again." Carlos dropped his head. "I won't let it happen."

Davis was right as much as Bosco hated to admit it. They couldn't go off and kill a man no matter how satisfying it would be. They couldn't let any of them get away with what they had done to Jayme and Meg. It wouldn't happen. So long as the Westmore's were walking the street the two girls were in danger and no man in that room were willing to risk their safety. Bosco couldn't let either of them get hurt.

"Technically there is nothing we can do. Jayme refuses to press charges so there is nothing to hold the son on. His dad can't be linked to anything and Jayme's dad is already in jail," Davis stated.

"You better believe something will be done," Carlos huffed as he turned to leave. "You watch that little girl with all you have Boscorelli, because I have no doubt that sicko would use her to get to Jay." He started out the door then hissed, "you coming Davis?"

"I'll call you later Bosco," Davis called as he joined Carlos.

Bosco shut the door after they left then picked up his phone. He was supposed to go back to work tomorrow and no there was no way he was going to do that. It was Megan's first day back at school and he had it all set up for the girl across the hall to watch her until he got off work. Meg was not going to be out of his sight. He talked to Lt. Swersky and cursed once he was told there was no more time off to be had and if he didn't come in there was no other choice but to put him on suspension.

"Boscorelli, you need to be back at work tomorrow," Swersky said before he ended the call.

"Great. Just great."

"Your lunch is in your book bag," Bosco said as he handed the pink bag to Meg. "Alexa from across the hall will be here soon."

"I can walk myself to school." Meg plopped down on the couch.

"I know you can, but you're school isn't far from hers and she offered." Bosco jumped when he heard a knock at the door. He opened it and was greeted by the smiling round face of Alexa Conway, the sixteen year old who moved into Meg's old apartment. "Come in."

"Good morning Mr. Boscorelli." She walked in and sat down next to Meg. "Hey."

"Meg's a little upset about not being able to walk to school alone." Bosco offered.

"You're doing me a favor. I hate walking alone. Come on, we'll be late." She stood up and waited for Meg.

"Thanks for offering to do this. I know a kid your age has better things to do after school than baby-sit." Bosco walked the girls to the door.

"Actually, this kid doesn't." She laughed. "Besides, the money's good. I need to start saving for a car," she smiled. "Have a good day."

Bosco waved as the two girls walked down the hall. Alexa was a good kid. Her dad was a math teacher and her mother was a nurse at a retirement home. Neither job paid well but they were so giving that they told Bosco that Alexa would watch Megan after school and she could come over to their house for dinner and whenever the girls got lonely. And when he got off work Alexa would just walk down the hall to her own house. It paid having a teenage neighbor who refused to go to bed before midnight.

They already discussed Meg's hesitance in entering her old apartment. Bosco himself had walked through it and the new family had done so many changes to it that it did not look like the same place Meg once lived. Besides, Alexa wasn't going to watch Meg every night. Rose would when she didn't work. Bosco had informed the Conway's to call him or the police if any suspicious people came around.

Before Bosco knew it was time to go to work. He gathered his things and glanced at the clock. Once at the station house he hurriedly threw on his uniform. His mind was on Meg and how her first day back at school went. He and Faith walked to the squad and Bosco saw Carlos across the street arguing with Jayme. It didn't really seem strange to him that she was there. In fact he assumed that Carlos made her come with him so he could keep an eye on her.

"Carlos, I'm not staying all shift. I have better things to do," Jayme growled.

"Like?" He questioned as he loaded up the bus.

"Like not being here!"

"Nieto, lay off the kid," D.K. said as he walked by.

"Mind your own business," Carlos said.

"And I'm not a kid."

"Are you ready yet?" Doc asked as he approached.

"Almost." He dropped his bag and reached for Jayme's arm. "Please just stay here."

"What am I going to do? Twiddle my thumbs?"

"Nieto!" Bosco approached the pair. "What's going on?"

"Hey Bosco, nice to see you too," Carlos huffed.

"Mr. Protective is making me stay here all shift." Jayme crossed her arms across her chest.

"You should," Bosco agreed with Carlos.

"You know what, fine. I'll go upstairs and die from boredom." Jayme turned and stalked away.

"She know I know?" Bosco asked.

"Not a clue. Doc's getting angry. Gotta go."

"Yeah, we do too. Keep an eye on her." Bosco walked back to the car and got in the passenger side. He looked at Faith and noticed the irritation on her face. "What?"

"Nothing."

"Faith…," he started.

"Locking her up in the firehouse isn't going to stop Westmore."

Bosco didn't respond. He didn't know how to. He knew Jayme and Meg couldn't be locked up. Even if it did make him feel better. There was no doubt in his mind that Carlos would come back and Jayme would be gone. She still hadn't completely come out of her shell since she came back from school but she still was stubborn as hell. Glancing over at Faith he decided that for the rest of his shift he would concentrate on her.

"So, I was thinking maybe Emily and Charlie could come over one night while we went on a date. They could keep Meg company." He smiled as he looked at her.

"A real date? You mean one where it is all about you and me and no one else?" She grinned.

"Yup. That kind of date." He looked at the red light Faith had stopped at. "So?"

"I think you're on." She looked over at him and quickly planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Oh, you so did not just kiss your partner on the job." He laughed.

"Oh, but I did."

"You are gonna get it later," he said as the light changed green.