Disclaimer: I still own nothing officially Third Watch, everything else is my own.

To my faithful reviewers Sullyfan & WIWJ you ladies seriously rock! Thanks for the love...Enjoy!

"Central to 55-David"

"55-David to central go ahead."

"55-David, request you attend a robbery in progress. West 117th."

"55-David to Central, West 117th 10-4."

Faith reached across the dash and flicked on the lights and siren muttering, "It's begun already."

Bosco nodded grimly "It's gonna be one of those days." Although he didn't seem too perturbed about their call out. Before now they'd spent the majority of the shift just cruising. At least now they had some action to keep them going even just for half an hour – it was better than nothing.

Faith gripped her twisted seatbelt as Bosco swerved around a corner sharply throwing him a stern glare which he chose to ignore. So far today his driving had been pretty tame today but even then Faith had the urge to pray that they'd arrive at their call out in one piece, preferably alive. Bosco could feel her glare linger on him longer than usual and taking his eyes of the road returned the favour.

"You got a problem Yokas?"

"You got a death wish?" She bit as he slipped into an impossibly small gap between two other vehicles.

"Not today." He grinned cheekily flicking off the siren as they pulled up on the scene.

Bosco pulled their RMP to a stop out of view from the tobacconist. Both officers exited the car quickly making their way to the building they crouched down on either side of the doorway and peered inside. Bosco could see three people inside; the shop assistant and two customers – he looked across at Faith quickly signally he couldn't see the perps. From her angle Faith could only see the one assistant, and one customer. She picked up a sudden movement in the shadows in the far corner of the shop. Two young guys, about seventeen were arguing; one of them was waving around a cloth moneybag and gesticulating wildly. Faith leant against the wall of the building to see if she could get a better look.

To Bosco she whispered, "I see two of them, no apparent weapons, close to the counter. One assistant behind the counter and one customer just your side of the door."

Bosco nodded, "Okay, I've got the two scumbags, second is moving to the back of the store."

They turned their attention back to the interior of the store before they turned to each other and nodded. Faith reached up to the door handle and rose so that she was nearly standing, just to the right of the door. Noticing some movement within the store, Bosco waved his hand at Faith urgently motioning for her to stop.

Bosco jumped to his feet, ready to move whether he and Faith were going into the building or chasing after the men coming out of the store. Suddenly the door was thrown backwards into Bosco; he faltered but didn't fall. The bigger assailant however ran directly into Faith, and she fell to the ground winded. Bosco found his feet again and started to move towards Faith who was on her hands and knees on the ground gasping raggedly for air.

"Go after them … I'm fine Boz. Go!" She yelled, boaco didn't wait to be told twice, he ran off after the two fleeing thieves.

"Two eighteen year old white males running down East 117, being pursued on foot." Faith yelled into her radio as she got up off the floor and began to run after Bosco and the perps. She'd lost sight of them halfway down the block they' turned down an alley but she couldn't be sure which.

"Bosco where are you?" No reply. Damn-it this is no time to ignore me Bosco!

"Bosco? Where are you?" Faith was beginning to panic. There were plenty of side streets they could have gone down, but she didn't want to just pick one and lose them completely.

"Second alley." Came Bosco's breathless static filled response. Faith had already passed one alley so it had to be the next one, turning she narrowly avoided skidding on a patch of wet garbage as she rounded the corner.

Faith bolted into the mouth of the alley in time to see the two perps corner Bosco in the back of the alley. One of the perps started to turn towards the mouth of the alley just as Faith slid behind an evil smelling dumpster. The perp turned back towards Bosco, deciding what to do with him now. Over the shoulder of the smaller perp Bosco could see Faith peering around the corner of the dumpster. She flashed her gun at him, silently asking which one he wanted her to take. Bosco motioned slightly with his hand, gesturing to the larger perp, the one who had knocked her down. Faith started moving silently down the twenty feet that separated her from the perp. Bosco knew that he had to keep their attention on him so that they wouldn't notice Faith sneaking up on them.

"So what do you jag-offs think you're gonna do now? You've cornered me sure, but you heard my partner radio for back up. Are you just gonna stand there waiting till they arrive? Man this will be the easiest arrest I've ever made." Bosco taunted laughing at the guys.

"Pretty hard to arrest us if you're dead, hey amigo." The shorter perp cockily quipped – his eyes were too bright and unfocused; he was obviously high on something.

Bosco knew that Faith had almost reached her target she just needed them distracted a moment later. The larger perp turned to speak to the other, faith stopped stock still not daring to even breathe, her gun cocked and held tightly to her side.

"Detail, I didn't sign on for no cop killin' bro'."

"Did you hear that 'amigo'? Your pal here ain't big on your plans. Give it up so I can bust your ass down to the precinct and then get back to work. You two are wasting my time."

Bosco took a step towards the smaller, stoned perp as he spoke, trying to hold his attention firmly on him. It worked, the perp also moved towards Bosco there was less than a metre between the pair. Faith saw her chance and she took it. She swung her pistol up and firmly pressed the muzzle into the tender skin behind the big guys ear.

"NYPD! Freeze! Both of you!" Faith shouted confidently. The big guy froze in shock his eyes practically bulging out of his head at the feeling of Faith's gun behind his ear. He didn't make a peep and cooperated fully as Faith started to cuff him. Faith's perp was kneeling on the floor, cuffed when she saw the commotion with Bosco. She knocked her perp to the floor lightly. He fell on his shoulder not his face and then rolled onto his stomach as Faith yelled, "Move and I will shot you boy!" The perp lay perfectly still as he nodded his head and replied, "Yes ma'am."

The little guy Detail, pulled something from his jacket and lunged at Bosco but Bosco was just as quick and perhaps more agile than his drugged counter part. Bosco avoided whatever it was that Detail lunged with the first blow but caught a second glancing blow to his right shoulder. He let out a sharp expletive and was till struggling with Detail about eight feet from Faith when they all heard the sirens approaching.

"It's over." Faith yelled over the wailing, "Give it up and I won't let my partner kick your sorry ass!"

Detail again lashed out at Bosco before turning and striking Faith in the face with his closed fist. Bosco's blood boiled. He grabbed Detail by the scruff of his neck and spun him around, punching him once in the face and kneeing him in the stomach before spinning him back around and slamming him down into the cold hard alley pavement. Bosco knelt his whole weight between Detail's shoulders whilst he cuffed him. He looked up from his prisoner in time to see Sully and Davis running down the alley, weapons drawn.

"Everything okay here?" Sully called down the alley.

"You missed the action again boys." Bosco called out sarcastically grinning like an idiot as he practically sat on top of Detail. Faith was standing across the alley shaking her head slightly, attempting to shake off the sting of the right hook she'd just received. She bit down a curse as heat spread through her cheek.

"We're good. This one's ready to go." She said nodding towards her cuffed perp still lying as she had left him.

Sully and Davis holstered their weapons and moved towards Faith's perp. Faith turned to see where Bosco had got to; she caught his eye silently pleading him not to do something stupid. Bosco's jaw clench as Faith's eyes met his – he could see the area where Detail's fist had slammed into her face at great speed. As much as he tried to tamp down his temper he found himself pushing Detail's head roughly into the pavement while he whispered venomously to him.

"You ever hit another woman again, I'll know about it and your life won't be worth living. Have you got me 'Amigo'?" Bosco harshly threatened Detail, giving him one forceful more push before getting off him and jerking him roughly to his feet.

"Was that really necessary?" Davis asked Bosco; his tone implying that he didn't think Bosco's rough treatment was warranted. Bosco's blue eyes flamed in fury.

"This crack-head just assaulted Faith, so yeah it was necessary." Bosco spat angrily.

Davis nodded needing no further evidence that Bosco wasn't acting out of turn. Faith was Bosco's partner, out here on the streets their lives were in each others hands – he knew that if someone tried to rough up Sully, he'd be at the big guys defence before the perp could blink. He and jerked Detail around a bit more roughly grinning mischievously.

"Well in that case, we might just have to take you the long way to the precinct. And if you piss me off I'll let Officer Sullivan have a few moments alone with you. You know he really hates people who beat up on cops, but you wanna know what he hates it worse than that? People beat up on women. You don't wanna let him see you doing that, it's only gonna end in tears and they won't be his."

Detail paled a little as Sully stepped up to him his large bulky frame standing heads and shoulders above the youth, his face twisted into a savage snarl. Davis expected the kid to back off immediately but he actually leant towards Sully still maintaining his cocky attitude. Walking him around the RMP Davis added, "You see my partner hasn't had a good day and he's aching to bust some heads. You wanna piss him off some more go right ahead." Sully barked out a gruff laugh as Ty shoved a rather pale Detail in the back of their RMP.

"Gustler and Price will take the other one?" Sully told Bosco.

"No way Sullivan these are mine and Yokas' collars." Bosco spat angrily, the pain in his shoulder pissing him off.

"Look Boscorelli you're bleeding and Faith should get her eye checked out." Sully reasoned ignoring the stab about stealing collars.

"I'll take Faith to get looked at but this ain't my blood." He said staring down at his bloodied hands, "The little shit bled all over me." Bosco bitched

Faith appeared beside Bosco, her hand coming to rest on his shoulder.

"Well you did break his nose Boz." She pointed out watching as he flinched at her touch. Faith pulled her hand away, wet blood smearing across her palm and seeping between her fingers. She looked at Bosco with disbelief – when had he gotten injured?

"Wait a second Bosco, let me have a look. Come on, hold still you baby." Faith tugged Bosco's sleeve this way and that before pulling at his collar to expose his shoulder and saw that a large gash across the top of his bicep. Bosco looked down at her with a hangdog expression, hating the worried look she was giving him.

"He had a box cutter." Bosco admitted trying to shrug but wincing in pain instead. Faith shook her head, marvelling at Bosco's stupidity taking on a doped up thief.

"Come on I'll take you to Mercy and get them to fix you up."

As soon as the got to Mercy, Nurse Proctor bound across the ER floor and glared at the both of them and shaking her head in dismay.

"My two best customers back…Again." She clucked her tongue impatiently. "Come on I've only got one exam room free so you'll have to share." Proctor led them inside the curtained cubicle quickly looking them over to make sure there was no severe damage. She handed Bosco a fresh pack of gauze instructing him to apply constant pressure, she threw a cold pack across at Faith and gestured to her eye. "Now you two play nice you hear! No fighting!" Proctor ordered as she left the room to go in search of a doctor.

As Faith turned to face Bosco she folded her free arm across her chest and he knew exactly what she was going to say, but he let her start anyway.

"Boz what you did today was incredibly…"

"Stupid, immature, reckless. You know I get this speech from you all the time Faith."

"You thin maybe on day you might actually pay attention to my bitching and moaning?"

"Maybe…" he joked lightly.

"Maybe?! I should sit you on your ass myself Boz!" Faith threatened exasperated.

Bosco sheepishly looked across at Faith standing next to the bed he sat on, there was a dark purple stain beginning to spread beneath her right eye. Faith reached out to Bosco and rested her hand gently on his uninjured shoulder. Her gesture comforting and motherly.

"You could have got hurt a lot worse than you did today Boz. Don't keep treating me like I'm made of glass. I'm a big girl, I can handle myself. That's why they gave me a badge too." Bosco put his hand over Faith's hand squeezing gently taking his time before he met her eyes again.

"I know that, I do Yokas. It's just that when I saw him take the box cutter and you were behind the dumpster ready to run in. I had this image of him cutting you bad and I couldn't let you get hurt." Boz hung his head and looked at Faith's hand in his.

At that instant, Faith entwined her fingers into Bosco's and gave them a reassuring squeeze. Bosco looked back into Faith's face and mumbled, "I 'spose I didn't do a good job did I, he still hurt you."

Faith took a step closer to him and squeezed his hand again. "You did good today Bosco. You did good." She got up on the bed sitting right next to him she bumped against him gently. He sat still and for a moment Faith thought that he would push her away, she knew Bosco wasn't the world's most affectionate person at the best of times but he occasionally let her comfort him. To her surprise he wrapped his uninjured arm around her shoulders and gave her a firm squeeze. Faith relaxed against him and whispered to him again, "You did good today Boz."

A moment later Dr Tasan walked in and Bosco removed his arm from his partner's shoulder. "Officer Boscorelli I see you're back again. What have you got for me this time?" Tasan asked him brightly. Once Bosco had grudgingly explained he'd been cut across the shoulder, Tasan had him remove his shirt so that he could examine the wound more easily, he cleaned it and covered it with a gauze bandage.

"You are lucky you don't need stitches but you still need a tetanus shot. Nurse Proctor can sort that out for you while I check Officer Yokas out." Faith laughed lightly as she heard Bosco mumble under his breath, "Lucky my ass."

Procter turned her nose up at Bosco. "I have seen more than enough of your lily white ass Boscorelli." She lead him out into another cubicle demanding he 'drop em' so she could give him the shot. Faith suppressed a laugh hearing his curse as the needle pierced his skin.

Dr Tasan removed from Faith's eye the ice pack that Proctor had given her. Faith's right eye looked like half an eggplant had been squashed over her cheek. Dr Tasan gently probed Faith's face, his slender fingers tenderly checking for fractures to her cheekbone. He frowned at her sternly, "You were lucky Faith you haven't broken anything but the swelling is just beginning. This will be a beauty in the morning." Faith nodded softly she could feel a monster headache building behind her eye. "It may swell shut but all you can do is ice it and rest. Take some Tylenol to take the edge off the pain." Dr Tasan continued.

"I heard you two were here again. Anything major this time?" Sera asked seriously leaning over the nurse's station to grab a patient file. Bosco and Faith both flashed their injuries at her causing her to laugh heartily.

"Somebody's got to teach you how to either duck or block girl. That looks awful." She chided looking closely at the bruise blooming on Faith's cheek.

"So what you're saying is that purple just isn't my colour?" Faith asked sardonically. Seraphina laughed harder and Faith swatted her half-heartedly.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Try to stay outta trouble out there okay." She called out moving swiftly down the corridor back to her waiting patient.

Bosco and Yokas had barely returned to the precinct house when Captain Swersky bellowed out their names, beckoning them up to his office. As they sat waiting outside his office, Bosco started fidgeting restlessly.

"He probably just wants to know what happened out there today." Faith said soothingly, placing her hand on Bosco's tense forearm.

He shook his head dejectedly, "No, he wants to assess the damage and then chew me out for being heavy with that doped up little scumbag." Bosco was getting really agitated, Faith could feel the tension rolling off him in waves, could see it in the way his jaw clenched and the muscle of his forearm twitched uncontrollably. Faith tenderly rubbed his arm, trying to calm down.

Bosco hung his head, "What was I supposed to do? Let him hit you again? No way. I did what I had to."

Bosco looked at Faith, his eyes full of conviction. She knew he'd done the right thing but before she could say anything to try to ease his temper, Captain Swersky ordered them into his office.

"Does somebody wanna tell me what the hell happened out there today?" he asked his voice calm, his face unreadable. Bosco and Faith both spoke at the same time but Faith took a step forward and raised her voice above Bosco's until he shut up. She recapped what happened, playing down Bosco's arrest of Detail. Swersky nodded once she'd finished and stepped back in line with Bosco.

"You know that Detail was responsible for a spate of burglaries in the 6-3?" He began, still speaking calmly, his voice low. "Their captain is grateful for your help, apparently he's quite a pain in the ass over there." The captain paused as if deciding what to say next.

Bosco physically tensed next to Faith and she could tell he was getting ready to defend himself against what he thought was coming next. Faith wanted to grab him, reassure him that he did the right thing but she couldn't so instead she settled for looking at him pleadingly. Her eyes were imploring him Don't make a scene Bosco. Don't make this worse than it has to be.

Finally Swersky sighed, "Nice bust today kids. And Bosco…" He turned to face the young officer and Bosco's clenched jaw went into overdrive, he opened his mouth to protest what Swersky had yet to say but was silenced by the looks both Faith and Swersky shot at him. "You showed good control today. I can see that you assessed the situation and handled it well. You protected your partner and got Detail. I'm impressed." Bosco looked ultimately confused but he visibly relaxed. The Captain is praising me? That's gotta be a first. Swersky walked in front of Bosco and lowered his voice conspiratorially, "I would have done the same in your position." He said nodding as he reached behind Bosco to open the door.

"I didn't mean for you to get hurt today." Bosco looked across at Faith cautiously, expecting her to finally be angry with him. It was after shift had finished, they were standing out front of the station house. Bosco had his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, his jacket zipped up against the chilly late autumn breeze. Faith indulged him in a sincere grin as she reached out and tugged on his scarf.

"I could have been much worse Boz, but this time it wasn't. It couldn't be helped. However, I can't say I'm too impressed with the week of desk duty I've got to do because of this eye." She swatted him with his own scarf and laughed. Bosco grinned back.

"Want me to drive you home?" he asked.

Faith looked slightly disappointed, "I already rang Fred, he's on his way." Bosco nodded waiting around with her until Fred arrived. He was so grateful that Faith had only received a black eye from today – he knew it could have been much worse; exactly how bad he shuddered to imagine. He pulled nudged Faith again, relieved that she was okay. As if sensing his thoughts, Faith looked up at him, bumped him with her hip and said, "You did good today."

Bosco beamed cheekily "Nah, we did good today Yokas. We did good."

A/N So readers what did you think? Stop by the review page and leave me some love or something... xOx