"Es hört doch jeder nur, was er versteht." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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The next three days passed and nothing unusual happened. Swersky told them in Roll Call about the progress the detectives were making regarding the accident 55-Edward was involved with, which was essentially non-existing and she attended Guslers and Monaghan funeral. It was a good service, not too pompous and it seemed like the whole precinct was there. Her problem with Fred wasn't solved, but at least she could sleep in her bed again. She kept an eye on his behavior around the children and realized that he was a loving and responsible father, something she'd never expected to see happening.

It was only on the forth day that something happened.

She was talking to Davis before roll call stated and Bosco was late, again. Luckily he ran into the room just before Swersky came through the door and only received a frown from the lieutenant.

"I gotta tell you something that you won't believe. Later…" Bosco added as Swersky cleared his throat.

"There was another shooting yesterday," lieu began, "but not in our precinct. A foot patrol of the 53 was attacked at about 5pm by two men matching our description. Again they were dropped of and picked up by a dark Mercedes. There are no additional descriptions available, but apparently the suspects left a note saying they were at war with the police. This may remind some of you of a case a few years ago, but I can assure you that this is a lot more serious. The suspects are well armed and more informed tha the guy a few years ago. So please keep your eyes open. Oh and the two officers of the 53 were not killed, but are both in critical condition. I'll tell you more as I get more information. It was decided to put a task force in charge of the situation, so anything you know you'll have to tell them."

"I don't know about you guys, but I really didn't need any more incentive to hunt down that asshole. We need to get him, fast," Davis said as they went to get their radios.

"Yeah, right? Being a police officer makes you the prime target of a madman, that's what it's come to. There used to be a time when being in the force made you less obvious a target," Sully added before he and Davis left to get their car.

Faith wondered that her partner had not spoken once since roll call started, but now he complained about the radio he got and she was calmed by his reaction.

On their way to the car she asked Bosco:

"You wanted to tell me something?"

"Yeah, you won't believe what my mom did yesterday," he began, "remember that I told you about that chick Kathryn yesterday?"

She nodded: "The one from the fitness club?"

"That's her. Well, we went on a drink together to a bar and then I drove her to my apartment. And just as we were getting it on, you know, I hear someone knocking at the door, but I ignore it and it stopped after a minute or so…"

Faith grinned. She had a suspicion to what might come next.

"An the next thing is that my loving mother stands in my bedroom door."

Now she really had to laugh. It was just too funny imagining Rose Boscorelli standing in her partner's bedroom when he was there with a girl.

"You mean you were caught in the act by your mom? That's so….so…"

But she couldn't find a word do describe it, because she was laughing so hard.

"Don't laugh it's not funny," he said, but she could see that he was fighting a smile. It was too ridiculous to be serious.

"Well, as you can imagine Kathryn was a bit cranky and left. Naturally not without telling me not to call her ever again. It was so embarrassing! And then I find my mum cleaning my kitchen as if nothing happened, and when I ask her what she's doing there she says that she came to check on me and used her key when I didn't open the door. So I was in a really bad mood anyways, even before she told me that she was glad Kathryn had left, because it was time for me to settle down and that girl didn't look like she was the right one for that. Can you imagine that?"

"Yes, Bos, I can. I'm a mother, too you know. She's just worried."

"Worried," he shouted," worried? That doesn't give her the right to judge which girl I'm dating."

"You call that dating? Bosco, you met her two times while you were training. So please don't tell me you'd any serious intentions."

"Maybe," he replied, but his smile betrayed his words.

"So what do you think? About settling down I mean?" Faith asked curiously. She didn't think he had had a girlfriend for more than a month since Nicole, so the idea of Bosco settling down seemed really strange to her.

"I don't know, really," he confessed, "I haven't found the right one, yet. And when I do, how do I know it's her? It's just easier the way it is, and anyway my mom has no right to tell me something like that…"

Faith tried to get more out of him, but all he could do was talking about his mother's insensitivity, so she left it alone. She could try again tomorrow. Or better in four days, because she was the next three days off duty.

The whole day, Faith and Bosco watched out for some clue that could lead them to the killer, but nothing extraordinary happened. They arrested three drug dealers, talked one jumper out of jumping, broke up four fights and took a report on one rape victim. The last case was the worst, because the victim was only 14 years old, and Faith was really depressed when they ended their shift. At 11.30 everyone of the third watch had left the precinct house, only Bosco and Faith were left. The paperwork had taken some time, but now they stepped outside into the cold. Faith headed towards the train station, wondering if Fred would still be up, waiting for her. She'd prefer him sleeping already. She stopped when Bosco called out for her:

"You want a lift? It's too cold to take the train," he offered, gesturing at his car. She thought about it, but she didn't really want to ride home with him. He'd taken her home a lot these past few days and Fred was really getting on her nerves with his suspicions.

So she decided against it.

"No, I'll take the train. It's not that cold. But thanks anyway"

He looked disappointed, but shrugged and waved her goodbye.

"Okay, see you in four days, then."

She watched him getting into the car and waved as he drove off. She continued on her way to the station.

He was really a nice guy, ever since Faith'd accused him of being useless, after Fred's heart attack. She didn't know how often she'd apologized for that, but every time she did, he made it sound like he didn't care and continued to hold open doors for her, offered her a ride and paid their lunch. She had the feeling he was trying to show her that he wasn't useless. Maybe he was trying to do something good. And she appreciated it. He'd finally grown up. Well, maybe not entirely. If he was a four year old one year ago, he was now a 16 year old.

She was so deep in thoughts about him and how he'd changed since she first met him, that she didn't realize she'd walked too far already and was way past the station.

Faith stopped abruptly when she heard a scream. Looking around she became aware of the neighborhood. It was not in the precinct anymore, so she didn't know much about it, but what she knew was very disturbing and the scream confirmed her worst fears. She briefly considered turning around and running away, but then she decided against it. She was a cop for god's sake. She drew her gun and proceeded along the street, towards the alley where she thought the scream had come from.

Fait slowed as she drew nearer and leaned with her back against the wall. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. Maybe she should've opted for running, but now it was too late, because she heard some odd noises. Like someone was tearing at metal. And then it was silent. She took a deep breath, wishing her partner was there to back her up, and glanced around the corner.

There were two people. One was lying on the ground and didn't move, the other was standing above the man. That was all she could discern in the split second she looked around the corner, before she withdrew her head.

What was she going to do, she couldn't leave and call someone and her cell was sitting on the dining table at home. So her only option was to confront the guy all by herself.

Faith leaned round the corner, stared at the man and froze.

There was something odd about him. He was undoubtedly the most beautiful creature she'd ever seen. And creature was the right word for it. He seemed not human, his eyes staring at her intently, like a panther stares at his prey. More animal than man…

And then he parted his lips and snarled at her. Then things kinda became blurry. Like she was dreaming and she could only run in slow motion. Or the monster ran too fast. All she could see was a blur and then feel the impact of a body that tore her to the ground.

Faith's head hit the stone hard and her vision darkened.

The last thing she saw before she blacked out were the teeth, oddly pointed teeth, and the grey eyes of the predator.

Her brain surprised her with a trace of compassion, when she saw blood trickling from a wound on his forehead, but then her head was yanked to the side, the teeth disappeared and she felt a sharp pain in her neck.

Her brain shut down and everything went black.

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Hope you like it. Maybe you can guess by now what kind of story this is gonna be, if not I won't tell you right now.

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