A/N ~ A huge thanks for the reviews and private messages, love you for it!
***Special thanks to Sullyfan for sticking with me (you inspired rewrite to include a scene with your fave character here) and to WIWJ for planting a seed. xOx
Despite the pounding of his heart against his rib cage, the slow uncomfortable trickle of sweat creeping down his back and the overwhelming urge to run Bosco stayed steadfast, his gaze never left Kennedy's eyes. This kid might be able to shoot his friend in the ass but it's a different ballgame shooting when they're staring you in the face. Bosco thought to himself, working on maintaining his Zen exterior…this wasn't a situation that he fell into every day. Sure it was a possibility every time he put on his uniform to serve and protect there was a chance he'd be killed performing the job he loved. Nor was this wasn't the first time Bosco had had a gun pointed at him but it was never expected and no matter what the veterans said, it never got any easier, you just compartmentalized better. Bosco took a slow controlled breath, his finger tightening on his Glock's trigger ever so slightly.
"Kennedy, you need to put the gun down – now." Bosco instructed, his voice even, calm reassuring – he wasn't sure how he managed to make it sound so he was truly panicked inside.
Of all the stupid things you gotta go and do today Bosco, you decide to follow two moron school kids into a sports shop without back up…even after you'd heard the report of shots fired in the vicinity you still went in…what is wrong with you Boscorelli! If you do get shot you'll have no one to blame but your own dumb ass self! Faith isn't here to protect you this time…no one is. You get shot here, you could die with just this punk kid's fat assed friend as your farewell party…Get a grip Bosco CONCENTRATE!
Bosco began to slowly edge his weight towards Kennedy, he immediately realized the irony of heading closer to the one thing in the room that could kill you…he needed to disarm Kennedy that was the most important issue. He also needed to make sure that his buddy didn't bleed to death while Bosco pissed around with negotiating. He didn't need that in his jacket, didn't need another death on his conscience.
Kennedy stood rooted to the spot, sweat breaking out across his brow, sliding into his eyes. His muddy brown eyes remained locked on the barrel of Bosco's handgun – he was fixated he couldn't look away. If Bosco had backup this would be the moment where they fought the gun away from the pipsqueak but no Bosco had to be the hero today, had to go in with no one to cover his ass. Bosco gave the kid props for having made it this far with out wetting his pants – he'd seen many more career professionals lose it once a cop had them in the crosshairs, this kid didn't even flinch.
Do I risk tackling him? What are my chances of taking the gun safely? Sure I could over power the little runt, no question about it…I'd just rather do it with out getting shot!
He settled for once more ordering Kennedy to drop his gun and end the standoff.
"Put the gun down! Kennedy, don't make me shoot you, you little bastard! Put down it now!" Bosco growled moving still closer to the youth.
From the floor below Turps groaned again in agony. He lay on the ground, curled in a fetal position, still clutching his meaty buttocks tightly in his hands – whimpering pathetically blood oozing between his fingers staining the hideous orange carpet crimson. He tried to make eye contact with the police officer, he just wanted to get out of there – if truth be told he just wanted to go home to his Mom.
"Couldn't keep your fat mouth shut could you moron, serves you right getting shot in your fat ass." Bosco spat angrily, momentarily letting his calm demeanor slip and reveal a tiny sample of just how pissed off he was feeling about the whole situation. That one tiny moment was all Kennedy needed – it broke him from his reverie his eyes moved from the barrel of Bosco's gun to the young officer's face. He could see the determined set of Bosco's steely blue eyes, the muscles clenched at his jaw the shallow regular movement of his ribcage. There was nothing else for it now – he'd gone too far…there was no way he could find a way out of this mess now…he clenched his teeth in anger, frustration…in desperation and raised his gun higher determined to end this.
2:43am Friday
Bosco missed the slight movement in Kennedy's demeanor, was completely unaware that the tables had been turned. Had he not caught the sight of flashing blue and red lights out of the corner of his eye and made the stupid mistake of turning his head further to get a better look at who had come to his aid he might have prevented what came next. In those precious few seconds Kennedy made his move. The instant Bosco's eyes left his he sprang forward, his pistol gripped tightly as he raised the weapon and brought it crashing down, smashing the butt of the gun into Bosco's head once – twice with al the force he could muster.
Bosco crumpled, stars bursting in front of his eyes as he crashed side ways into the display of hockey gear. Kennedy watched in horror as blood bloomed from the site, immediately flowing down the fallen officers face, trickling into the collar of his shirt and disappearing. The officer was still, blood trickling, no groaning, not movement - Kennedy couldn't tell if he was even still breathing.
There was nothing left for it now…he'd killed him, he was going to jail just like his father had. His mother was right he truly was a rotten, criminal bastard just like his father. Kennedy, suddenly realizing the magnitude of his actions dropped the gun, bolting towards the side entry to the store, his wet jeans cool against his skin. Between the lack of lighting and the adrenaline coursing through his veins Kennedy never saw who it was the he ran directly into – before he could comprehend what was happening he was face down in the carpet, handcuffs being roughly fitted to his skinny wrists.
Bosco was still sprawled out across the floor, his head pounding, a growing stream of blood soaking slowly into his uniform. He managed to open his eyes as he groaned dazed and some what confused as another officer entered the building casually.
"God damned Bosco, what the hell have you done this time?" A booming, familiar voice sounded from above.
"You took your sweet assed time Sullivan!" Bosco bitched wincing at the feeling of his own voice reverberating inside his head. He touched his head gingerly his fingers came away sticky, he didn't need to look at them to know it was blood. The wetness he could feel at his neck suddenly made more sense. He groaned again, leaning back against the shelving trying to squash the queasy feeling he felt brewing as Sullivan boomed across the airwaves
"55-Charlie to Central, can I get a bus on a rush to Edgerton Sporting goods on West 138th. I have a gunshot victim and an assaulted officer with a head wound." Sully smiled smugly into his mike waiting calmly for a reply.
"Tell me Bosco which kid smacked you in the head – the one with the bullet in his ass or the skinny assed tweaker kid that ran right into Davis?"
Bosco could only muster a glare in reply the throbbing in his head and sudden nauseous feeling the only thing preventing him from getting up and dropping Officer Sully on his spongy ass.
3:11am Friday
Seraphina looked up as a burst of static escaped from the radio. She was bone tired; she'd gotten back on track with her regular obs and medications and was contemplating whether she could disappear for half an hour for a nap when the radio burst to life. She gave it a contemptuous glare…one of these days she'd actually throw the damn thingout into the ambulance bay, but not tonight.
"55-Able to Mercy. We're bringing in two casualties from a B&E. One is a 14 year old male with a non-critical gunshot wound to his ass. The other is a 30 year old officer with a head contusion, suspected concussion, GSC is 11. ETA is about 3 minutes."
"We'll be waiting for you 55-Able." Sera sighed immediately picking up the phone to dial medical imaging to let them know they were going to need an x-ray and possibly a CT scan within 15 minutes. Half sliding half falling off her stool Sera began the process of organizing the ER for her newest victims.
Sera was gloved and gowned waiting in the ambulance bay with two doctors and nurses for 55-Able's arrival. She hung back whilst the first casualty was unloaded, judging from his position on the gurney that had to be the GSW to the butt. She watched as Kim and Carlos helped an officer make his way, albeit a wobbly way, out of the bus. Sera moved forwards with a wheelchair and was met with a scornful glare from Bosco. She said nothing just gestured defiantly at the chair her hands firmly on hips not giving any room for argument.
"Go gotta be kidding me…I'm perfectly fine to walk myself into the ER." Bosco muttered under his breath. Kim looked across at Sera their eyes met and Sera nodded slightly. Kim let go of Bosco, everyone watched as like magic he began to lean heavily to the left without her support – Kim waited until just before he lost his balance before righting him again. She helped Bosco forwards into the awaiting chair. "Right, I knew you'd see things my way." Sera grinned behind Bosco's head as she wheeled him inside.
3:37am Friday
"Well Officer Boscorelli you'll be happy to know that you don't have a skull fracture – however you do have a nasty concussion. We're gonna need you to stay in for a few hours to keep an eye on you, make sure your condition doesn't deteriorate." Dr Tasan broke the happy news to Bosco quickly waving about an x-ray film and smiling broadly before waltzing back out of the room. Sera looked across at Bosco knowing he was still quite dazed. He'd managed to sit perfectly still and allowed her to clean his head wound without any fuss and minimal swearing. Sera was certain this wasn't usual behavior for him.
"Hey, how you doing there Bosco?" she asked him quietly turning off the main light, leaving the room as dimmed as possible.
"I've got the worst headache." Bosco groaned. Leaning back against the pillows, as much as he wanted to fight to be allowed to go home he just didn't have the energy for it. Sera handed Bosco a small tumbler of water and two white pills.
"These are going to help with the pain." She promised watching to make sure he swallowed the pills before making a note in his chart. "Maybe you should take off your Kevlar, you're gonna be here for the next few hours, you might as well get comfortable."
Bosco tried to nod but stopped quickly. Sera let out a small chuckle before gripping Bosco's head gently in her hands keeping it still. Bosco closed his eyes and groaned in agony.
"Keep that up and you'll make yourself nauseous." Sera warned him. Without waiting to be asked she removed his radio and utility belt, helped get him out of his uniform shirt and Kevlar vest which she placed in a neat pile on the chair beside the bed. Bosco tried to give her a grateful smile which in reality looked more like a grimace as he kicked his shoes off and slid under the thin hospital blanket.
"Do you want me to call anyone for you?"
"Nah, I'm good." Bosco murmured drowsily, the drugs she'd given were working quickly - within a few minutes Bosco was fast asleep.
"Hey pumpkin. How's super cop in there?" Sully asked gruffly hitching his utility belt. Seraphina looked at him twice, he hadn't been here when Bosco had brought in she was sure of that.
"Uh, he's gonna be fine."
"At least tell me he's gonna have a splitting headache for the next few days." Sully pleaded wanting for Bosco to be okay but not wanting him to get off without any negative consequences to his unwise actions.
"It's going to feel like he has his own personal jack hammer, hammering away at his skull for a few days but other than that he'll be the same as always."
"Arrogant, cocky little up start that he is great. You can't give him a personality transplant while he's here can ya?"
"No, no we're fresh out sorry. Maybe I could hook you up with a better mood though…You've got to be just about finished with this whole 'cranky at the entire world' deal by now." Sera chided softly. Sully looked down at Sera for a moment, taking in her disheveled appearance, the dark circles beneath her eyes, the coffee stain on the leg of her scrubs and the pen hanging haphazardly from her messy ponytail. His face relaxed into a small smile.
"You doin' okay kid? You look like crap."
"Ah see now there's the Uncle Sully I know & love." She told him sarcastically but trying to catch a glimpse of herself in the glass partition anyway.
"Hey I've spent almost 50 years getting to be how I am now, you've been around for a good deal of that, you should be used to me by now."
"I am, I'm just tired…I get sarcastic when I'm tired." Sera yawned as though to illustrate her point.
"And when you're happy or cranky or hungry or bored or…" Sully trailed off noticing the crabby look Sera was giving him.
"Okay, okay I get the picture! Do I need to kick you out of my ER so I can get some work done?"
"I'm going!"
Sera indulged Sully with a small wave as he moved away from her. With a quick glance at the clock she turned back to her paperwork losing herself in the mundane requirements of her work for a few short minutes. As she turned a page in the file she was working on a heavy shadow fell across the page and the heady aroma of good quality coffee wafted her way. She closed her eyes inhaling deeply waiting for the scent to disappear.
When she opened her eyes she was rewarded with the sight of a takeout coffee cup perched on the counter in front of her. Sera snatched it up taking a slow sip of the scalding fluid – it was hot, Italian and strong just how she liked it. She placed the cup carefully back on the counter and using the bench to lift her weight, lent across it to press a kiss to Sully's full cheek.
"You're welcome kiddo. Take it easy okay." He laughed before heading back out of the hospital.
7: 56am Friday
Sera was sitting behind the station desk, her eyes not moving from the clock – 4 minutes that's all she had until the shift from hell officially came to an end, 4 minutes until she could happily get home crawl between her Egyptian cotton sheets and pass out for the next eight hours straight. Nothing was stopping her from leaving the building – not flood, fire, MVA nor anything else God or the universe could throw at her, she was getting out of here no questions asked.
"Jasper you look like shit." Dr Tasan greeted her cheerfully from the far side of the desk. He leant in towards her, his fingers toying with an errant curl from her ponytail twirling it carelessly around his long finger. He got perverse enjoyment out of the annoyed glare Sera threw him.
"Yes well unlike you I don't get to just wander off to the on-call room and grab an hours sleep – no I'm tireless soldier dealing with vitals and vomit and blood and other bodily fluids I don't feel the need to mention this early in the morning. So yes I look like shit but unlike you in four, no sorry three minutes I get to go home crawl into my bed and collapse. You still have how many hours left? 15? Oh poor baby." Sera laughed heartily giving the handsome doctor's chiseled cheek a gentle pat. Tasan feigned a pout before passing her a file.
"Before you head off can you discharge Officer Boscorelli please? His GSC is back up to 15, he's had no further visual disturbances or nausea and vomiting so he's good to go. Just make sure he gets someone to collect him and keep an eye on him for the next few hours."
Sear groaned but took the file, "Only because you asked so nicely – you said please and everything."
"You think I was actually asking?" He teased dropping a kiss to her cheek.
"You want some company in that big old bed of yours later?" he offered, his lips skimming the tender skin of her cheek.
"A booty call? You old charmer Josh." She laughed softly not caring who in the ER could see her flirting. She pulled away slowly, purposefully not answering his question before moving away to discharge her patient.
"A little less of the old thanks Nurse." He chastised watching her hips sway as she walked down the hall.
Sera walked into exam cubicle 5 and found Bosco sitting up on the edge of the bed rubbing his face vigorously, his jaw lightly stubbled, his hair disheveled.
"Good morning Officer. How are you feeling?" She asked brightly.
"Like some punk assed kid cold cocked me with a pistol."
"That could possibly be because that's actually what happened." She laughed reaching over to grasp his wrist gently. Her fingers swiftly found his radial pulse which she measured before reaching for her penlight and checking his pupils one final time.
"I've got good news for you Boscorelli – apparently you've done no major damage to that hard head of yours. Dr Tasan has decided you can go home…on one condition."
"I'm not going to like this am I?"
"You need someone to come and collect you and keep an eye on you for the next few hours."
"What?!"
"It's either that or you get to stay in until this afternoon. Personally I'd go home, they're serving the strange yellow jello today." She shuddered comically.
Bosco sat on the edge of the bed pouting for a long moment – he wanted to go home but he didn't really have anyone to call. There was no way he was calling his mother – he'd never hear the end of it…Faith was at home with Charlie, there was no way Sully would pick up the phone - Davis might but Bosco really wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone else right now. Suddenly he looked across at Sera a brilliant idea forming.
"What are you up to for the next few hours Sera?" he asked, his blue eyes pleading. Sera suppressed a giggle.
"Sorry Bosco, that's cheating…I'm your nurse only when you're actually inside the building. Besides I have a dress fitting this morning so unless you wanna tag along to that and get dragged through a dozen boutiques today…" Sera trailed off knowing Bosco wouldn't go for that.
"Can you call Faith for me…Officer Yokas, I have her number here." He passed Sera the scrap of paper watching as she headed out to the station to call.
8:17am Friday
"Sorry it took me so long to get here! What the hell has he done to himself now?" Faith asked to no one in particular as she strode straight into Bosco's room. She took one look at the dressing haphazardly stuck to the side of his head and clucked her tongue in motherly fashion.
"I leave you alone for one shift Boz, one measly shift…eight hours and you manage to get yourself a head wound. I tell you I can't take my eyes off you for a second!" Faith ranted as she gripped Bosco's head checking him over herself as if to ensure that the medical team hadn't missed anything. Bosco scowled at her crankily.
"Hey, it's not like I asked for this to happen. Do you mind keeping your voice down, my skull is pounding." He whined. Faith rolled her eyes heavily throwing a knowing glance at Seraphina.
"Has he been a pain in the ass all night? Don't answer that, there's really no need – of course he has. Come on Boz, I suppose we'd better stop by the station house and sign back in your crap – I picked you up a change of clothes, you can shower back at my place."
"I need to run through a list of symptoms you need to be aware of before you go – just incase something shows up later." Sera interrupted halting Faith's attempt to exit.
"Disturbed vision, excessive bleeding, auditory disturbance, loss of consciousness, disturbed motor movements, slurred speech…" Faith listed without missing a beat.
"Let's not forget my favorites the nausea and vomiting." Bosco interjected.
"We've done this before." Faith pointed out.
Sera actually did laugh that time handing Bosco a discharge form and a pen. He signed handing it to Faith so she could also sign. She flicked through the paperwork handing Bosco his copies of the relevant forms plus his prescription for pain relief.
"Take it easy Bosco, I've already told you I don't wanna see you back in my E.R." she turned to Faith. "Bring him straight back to the ER if anything hinky happens."
"It's Boz, hinky follows him around like a bad smell."
"No Faith that's KINKY…Kinky follows me around…"
"Can I leave him here?" Faith asked her voice already tainted with annoyance.
"Nah you just signed him out – you'd have to go and come back again."
"Come on wonder-cop, lets get outta here."
Sera headed straight to the locker room to change out of her scrubs into whatever she had lurking in the bottom of her locker – turned out to be a bit of a grungy outfit jeans and a crumpled baby tee along with her favorite Jesus sandals. She scraped her hair back into a haphazard pony tail before sitting on the sofa in the nurse's lounge to tie her shoes on properly. She rested her head back on the sofa and before she knew it she was fast asleep catching some much need rest.
9:29am Friday
Sera woke with a start she glanced at her watch swearing loudly, "Oh crap! I'm late…Hailz is going to kill me!" she flew out of the building waving like a mad woman trying to hail a cab. She reached into her pocket for her cell to call Haylee to let her know she was on her way before she realized her cell was inside her locker, back inside the hospital… "Ah fuck it, she'll just have to deal." Sera resigned as her cab flew towards the first boutique on her list.
10:01am Friday
"Are you kidding me…basically you were late this morning because you decided to have a little grandma nap after you tied your shoes? What kind of an excuse is that?"
"Did you miss the rest of my woeful tale? Did you just have a 'nanna nap' part way through?" Sera demanded indignantly. She hadn't slept in 24 hours and her best friend was giving her sass.
"Chill out kiddo, I'm only kidding. Let's get cracking hey?" Haylee strode over to the rack of dresses flicking through them discarding some perfectly nice dresses Seraphina would have been more than happy to wear.
"Oh how pretty! What about this one?" Haylee asked pulling out what had to be the most hideous dress in the entire history of the boutique. It was fluorescent orange with a drop waist, fell below the knee and was trimmed with feathers and gaudy sequins.
"Honey the eighties called they want their hideous frock back…" Sera laughed but stopped on seeing the look on Haylee's face, her bottom lip quivered slightly her eyes grew glassy…
"You don't like it? I think it's beautiful." Haylee whispered softly turning away from Sera slightly.
"There is no way on God's green earth that I'm wearing that dress Hailz…you'd have to give me a severe concussion to even contemplate trying it on…I'm sorry sweetie but no."
Sera was beginning to wonder if she had over stepped the mark, this was supposed to be fun – she knew that Hailz wanted the whole frou-frou wedding deal. She had seen Haylee's dress already she was going to look like a fairy princess…well maybe what a fairy princess looked like once she'd fallen into a fresh meringue but you get the idea. She decided to try a different track.
"Maybe we should look for something that would suit your dress better..."
Suddenly Haylee burst out into uncontrollable laughter. "You seriously think I'd make you wear this? It's so ugly it's hurting my eyes just looking at it! Honestly Sera get a grip."
"Oh you're so dead when I get the energy to hurt you." Sera threatened half heartedly – here she was panicking that she had actually hurt Haylee's feelings when really she was just being a brat.
"Cheer up sook."
"Bitch." Sera shot back.
"Whore." Haylee countered with a sharp retort.
"Bridezilla." Sera accused effectively ending the parry back and forth as they dissolved into giggles over the other assorted hideous frocks that were lurking in the boutique.
A/N ~ As always fair readers I'd love to hear your thoughts so please take amoment to leave a review xOx