Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters or places.
Collision Course, Chapter 53
Monday 12:40 PM, Day 24
Here I am again at the last minute trying to figure out what the quack wants me to say in this therapeutic writing crap. He came by on Saturday afternoon looking like he had been out playing golf or something. We had a long talk about my medications. Well at least he had a long talk. I didn't have much to say. In the end, he cut the doses back some, so at least now I don't feel like a zombie all the time. Anyway he told me to write down my feelings about what Dr. Poole had told me and we would discuss it on Monday afternoon. So here I am trying to explain how I feel about me supposedly not being able to be a beat cop anymore. How does the idiot think I feel? I hate it! I feel like my whole life has been taken away by one man's stupid decision. What right does he have? No. I won't accept it. I can't accept it, you see. Because that would mean that my worst fear has come true.
All of my life people have told me that I was useless. It started with my dad telling me that I was worthless, stupid, a mistake, a disappointment, useless. So I did everything I could to prove that he was wrong. That's why I became a cop, to prove to my dad that I wasn't useless. I wasn't very good at the book stuff or paper work, so I pushed myself that much harder on the streets. There was a time when perps didn't even run from me, because they knew that they couldn't escape. I was fast and relentless. I'd chase someone fifteen blocks if I had to. And when I caught them, I'd make them pay for every block that I'd run.
Still, that wasn't enough. That's why I wanted to get into ESU so bad. To prove to my dad and everyone else, that I could do it, that I could be more than just a beat cop. Then that fell through, but a chance at anticrime came along. Faith was out with Fred after his heart attack and I couldn't pass up the opportunity. I went after it full force, even though it almost cost me one of the few true friendships I've ever had. Then Faith was shot and I thought at first that I would loose my job. So I learned to be satisfied with just being on the beat. I actually started to play by the rules and found out that I was a good cop. I was happy with my life, well except for the fact that Faith still wouldn't speak to me. And now, Dr. Poole says that I can't work the beat anymore. Who made him God?
Why is it that every time I feel like my life is going good, someone comes along and knocks me down again? Why can't I just be allowed a little happiness? Father O'Reilly came by yesterday to talk to me. He said that maybe it was God's will. I almost laughed in his face. How can it be God's will for me to loose the one thing that I love? The one thing that makes me feel like I'm not a failure? How?
Then he said that maybe something better would come out of it. Maybe I could go back to school? Yeah, fat chance of that. If it hadn't been for Faith, I'd have never made it through the Academy. Don't get me wrong. I'm not dumb. But, honestly, I think I'm a little dyslexic. I struggled enough through high school to know that I'd never make it through two years of college in order to join the NYPD. That's why I joined the Army. And I know that there's no way I could get through college now.
So I guess my dad was right. I am useless. Faith said it herself that night at the hospital when Fred took his heart attack. Faith, the one person who had always stood by me. Fat chance of any of them standing by me now. Oh, they say it doesn't matter whether I'm a beat cop or not. They won't think any different of me. But I can already tell by the way they act around me. Ma, Faith, even Ritza, have all been walking on egg shells around me for the past two days. Giving each other looks. And staring at me. I'm sure they pity me right now. Poor pitiful Maurice. And that's bad enough. But soon enough they'll all be thinking the same thing. Useless.
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters or places.
Collision Course, Chapter 54
Day 24, 1:10 PM
Bosco looked up when the door opened to see Rose enter with a smile on her face.
Great. It's not bad enough that she's having breakfast with Sully almost every day, but now she's started having lunch with Dad and comes back grinning from ear to ear. It's sickening.
"Hey baby" Rose greeted him. "I brought you a piece of double fudge pie."
Bosco nodded his head and Rose continued, "Your Dad said to tell you hello."
"Good for him." Bosco grumbled.
"Maurice, he really is trying. He's stopped drinking. He's helping Mikey out, even got him a job with the cab company."
Bosco busied himself with the double fudge pie.
"You could at least give him a chance, Maurice." Rose admonished.
Bosco just looked at her with a scowl on his face. Placing the lid back on the pie container, he pushed it away. "I've suddenly lost my appetite."
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3:40 PM
Cruz stared at the computer screen in front of her, growing angrier by the second. After printing the pages that she had been looking at, she jumped to her feet and headed towards the front desk.
"YOKAS! Come with me!" She shouted and headed for the door.
Faith rolled her eyes, but followed. She had to jog to keep up with Cruz and when they reached their car, Cruz jumped into the driver's side.
A confused Faith got in on the passenger side. "I thought that I was supposed to be driving you, Sarg?"
"Just get in, Yokas!" Cruz snapped.
"Ok, then." Faith replied. "Do you mind if I ask where we're going in such a hurry?"
"We're going to pay that lying witch, Natalie, a visit." Cruz growled.
"What's she done now?" Faith quizzed.
"What's she done now? What's she done now?" Cruz half-laughed. "I'll tell you what she's done, Yokas. She failed to tell us that her father is the owner of the largest Jewish newspaper in New York! Did she tell you that?" Cruz snapped.
Faith looked at her confused, "She's Jewish?"
"What? No! Not that she's Jewish. That her father owns a newspaper. And she just graduated with a degree in journalism. Journalism, Yokas! She works for the Times!" Cruz shouted as she flung the papers containing Natalie's background check into Faith's lap.
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Bosco rolled over onto his right side and pulled the covers up almost over his head. He had had a very long and exhausting session with the psychiatrist. Dr. Scanlan had tried to keep their discussion focused on Bosco's relationship with his father and Bosco had tried every way possible to escape that topic. After 45 minutes Bosco had finally snapped, going into a long tirade of all the reasons he hated his father. Dr. Scanlan sat in shocked silence as Bosco called his father every foul name he could think of and then some. Having been in the Navy himself, the doctor could honestly say that he'd never heard a sailor curse like that. When Bosco finally stopped to catch his breath, Dr. Scanlan was more than happy to call an end to the session, saying that he'd come back tomorrow afternoon to check on him. That was over an hour ago and Bosco still hadn't fully composed himself. He let out a shaky breath as silent tears trickled down his cheeks.
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Faith struggled to keep up with Maritza Cruz, even in her pregnant state, as the sergeant bounded up the steps to the apartment building two at a time. "They have elevators you know." She grumbled.
Cruz wasn't listening. She was bent on confronting Natalie.
When they reached the apartment on the fourth floor, Cruz pounded on the door.
"Sarg, calm down." Faith pleaded. "At least let her explain herself."
"Oh, she's going to explain herself alright." Cruz growled, pounding on the door once more.
The door opened half-way and Natalie stared at them in shock. "Sergeant Cruz, Officer Yokas." She whispered, knowing that Jacob was napping on a pallet in front of the couch. "What's wrong?"
"I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S WRONG!" Cruz shouted as she pushed the door fully open and entered the apartment with Natalie back-peddling before her. "THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG!" Cruz screeched as she shoved the report of the background check into Natalie's hand.
Natalie glanced at the papers, then back at Cruz and Faith. "You ran a background check on me?"
"WHAT? YOU DIDN'T THINK WE'D FIND YOU OUT. DID YOU?" Cruz hissed. "DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD PASS THAT KID OFF AS BOSCO'S SO YOU COULD GET A STORY?"
"Sarg." Faith interrupted, trying to calm Cruz down.
"I can explain this, Sergeant Cruz, if you'll just lower your voice. Jacob is asleep." Natalie assured her.
"Oh, you're going to explain it? Explain why you didn't mention that your father is the owner of the largest Jewish newspaper in New York and why you failed to mention that you work for the Times? This I gotta hear." Cruz stood with her hands on her hips, scowling at Natalie.
"Look, I'm not doing this for a story. I just wanted Jacob to know his father. As for my father's newspaper, he doesn't even talk to me anymore. He couldn't forgive me for getting…. knocked up by an Italian Catholic cop. So you have no worries there. And my job at the Times, I'm a secretarial assistant in the editing department. And I'm in such a low position, I'll be lucky to get anything published ever. It wasn't exactly easy to finish school with high grades with a baby to take care of. I'm extremely lucky to have found the job I have…."
The remainder of the conversation between Cruz and Natalie was lost to Faith when she looked up to see Jacob peeking over the back of the couch at them. He seemed a bit tentative about the whole situation, but also seemed curious. When his brilliant blue eyes met Faith's, he hesitated a moment then the corners of his mouth turned up into a soft smile. Faith couldn't help but smile back. Jacob was a beautiful child.
Faith forgot all about Cruz and Natalie, as she grinned at Jacob. She was totally captivated by his sweet, innocent face. Not wanting to draw attention, yet wanting to interact with him, she wiggled her nose at him. She had to hold back a laugh when Jacob tried to wiggle his nose back at her. His whole face scrunched up. When he seemed to grow tired of that, Faith winked at him. In his attempt to wink back, Jacob blinked both eyes, batting his long eyelashes at Faith. Again she held back a laugh. Growing tired of the winking, Jacob took the initiative. Placing one hand over each eye, he first raised one and then the other in a game of peep-eye. Faith couldn't stop herself from joining him, placing both hands over her eyes then removing them.
Their fun was short lived as Cruz's gruff voice filled the air. "YOKAS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? WE DIDN'T COME HERE TO PLAY TIDDLYWINKS!"
Jacob jumped at the sound of her voice and started to cry.
Motherly instincts kicking in, Faith rushed to him and picked him up, patting his back. "It's ok, baby, don't cry." Faith soothed, until Natalie came over and snatched Jacob from her arms. "I'm sorry." Faith apologized as Natalie glared at her.
Turning her attention to Jacob, Natalie placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "It's ok, Jay. It's ok, sweetheart. Don't cry."
Jacob leaned over and whispered something in Natalie's ear, then glared at Maritza. "No, baby. The police lady's not mean. She's just a little upset." Natalie replied, as Jacob rested his head on her shoulder.
Faith looked at Cruz, who at least had the decency to look ashamed for scaring the little boy. Clearing her throat, she spoke. "We should get back to the house, Sarg."
Cruz glared at Faith and then turned back to Natalie. "This isn't over."
"That's where you're wrong, Sergeant. It is over. Maurice is going to know about his son. And there's nothing that you can do about it. If you or his mother want to tell him that's fine, but if you don't I will."
Cruz glared at Natalie hatefully, then turned and stalked towards the door.
"I'm really sorry." Faith apologized again before turning to follow Cruz.
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Disclaimer # 2: I do not own the Times. Don't sue.
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the original characters or places.
Collision Course, Chapter 55
Rose shook her head sadly as she watched her son pick at his dinner. She had the night off from the bar and had returned after running a few errands to find Maurice in worse shape mentally than when she had left him. She didn't know what had happened during his session with the psychiatrist, but it couldn't have been good. She had never seen him this depressed before. And who knew how he was going to react when he found out about this girl, Natalie, and her son.
On the one hand, Rose was almost certain that the child was her grandson. And she wanted a grandchild badly. But then again, none of them knew this girl, so Rose was hesitant to get her hopes up. The boy might not be Maurice's. And even if he was, that might not turn out to be a good thing. She had never really heard Maurice talk about wanting children. And the boy's mother might still be untrustworthy. Maybe that's why she hadn't pressed the issue of meeting Natalie and Jacob when Maritza Cruz had suggested that Rose give her a few days to find out more about them.
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Faith was relieved when Maritza Cruz disappeared into her office to do paperwork. The sergeant had been on the warpath since they had left Natalie's apartment. Traces of the old Cruz were definitely showing through tonight. Although she had tried to pass it off as protecting Bosco, Faith was beginning to wonder if Cruz was acting the way she was because she was jealous of Natalie and Jacob. That thought might have worried Faith, if Bosco had not assured her that he and Maritza were just friends, nothing more. Faith glanced around again to make sure that the coast was clear before dialing Rose Boscorelli's cell number.
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Rose's dreary thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone.
"Hello, Faith" Rose greeted when she recognized the other cell number.
"Hi Rose. I hope I'm not disturbing your work." Faith replied.
"Oh, no dear. I had the night off. I'm at the hospital visiting with Maurice."
"Oh. How is he tonight?" Faith questioned.
"Not very good." Rose said softly.
Faith could hear Rose in the background telling Bosco that she was going to go downstairs to get some coffee. After a few moments, Rose spoke again. "He's very depressed tonight, Faith. I don't know what to do. I can't stand to see him like this."
"I'm sorry to hear that Rose. I'm afraid that I don't have very good news either." Faith went on to tell Rose what had happened earlier in the day between Natalie and Cruz, not excluding Natalie's employment situation or the fact that she was Jewish.
"Oh, dear." Rose mumbled.
"I'm afraid that we're going to have to tell Bosco soon, Rose, before Natalie does it herself. How do you think he'll handle it?" Faith asked with obvious concern.
"Well, I don't know how things could get much worse, Faith. Besides, Maurice will be furious if we continue to keep this from him and he finds out about it." Rose answered.
"Yeah, I've thought about that too."
There was a pause in the conversation before Rose finally spoke. "Maybe I should go and meet Miss Natalie Goldsberry and my grandson."
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Rose hesitated briefly, then reached up to knock on the apartment door. After a few moments she heard the shuffling of feet. After another few moments, the door opened to reveal a dark haired girl with a slightly large nose. Rose couldn't help but think that she didn't seem to be Maurice's type.
"Can I help you?" the girl asked.
Rose cleared her throat. "I hope you can. I'm Rose Boscorelli."
A look of surprise crossed the girl's face.
"I'm Maurice's mother." Rose explained further.
"Oh" Natalie replied and stared at Rose with a dumbfounded look.
"Can I come in?" Rose questioned.
"Oh, of course. I'm sorry, Mrs. Boscorelli." Natalie apologized as she moved back to let Rose enter. "I wasn't expecting you. I mean… how did you find me?"
"Officer Yokas gave me your address." Rose replied.
The two women stared at each other, both uncertain of how to approach the other. Finally a loud bang from the kitchen caught both of their attention.
"Excuse me just a minute." Natalie muttered, then turned to see what her son was up to.
As she entered the kitchen, she saw Jacob's sippy cup on the floor and a mischievous grin on the boy's face.
"Uh oh... Jacob drop." The boy said innocently.
"Jacob Goldsberry, what did I tell you about throwing things?" Natalie fussed, as she squatted down to clean up the mess. She couldn't leave the boy alone for long or he would find some way to get her attention. Throwing things was a favorite.
Rose followed Natalie into the kitchen out of curiosity. She stopped at the doorway and stared at the toddler sitting in his highchair with food all over the tray, as well as, his face.
Natalie placed the sippy cup in the sink and moved back to Jacob's side. "Look at you." she said as she tried to wipe the squirming child's face and hands with a hand towel. Glancing back at Rose, she began to apologize. "I'm sorry for the mess. He doesn't like for me to help him eat. He's too independent."
Just like his father. Rose thought. "That's ok, dear. Maurice used to make the biggest messes eating. Anthony would get upset over it, but I didn't care as long as he would eat."
Natalie looked back at Rose and their eyes locked for a long moment. "Would you like to sit down, Mrs. Boscorelli? I can make some coffee and we can get to know each other better."
"I'd like that." Rose replied quietly as she took a seat across the table from her grandson.