Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Third Watch. And any opinions expressed by them in this story are in no way a reflection of the people that do own them.
Author's Note: This is the final chapter. I want to thank every one who stuck with me through the confusion and those who took the time to review.
Previously in this story: Bosco and Cruz, use the information they stole from Faith, Sully and Davis, to bust who they believe is Buford along with his financial backers for his drug cartel. However, the information was bogus, and they ended up arresting a police officer and his fiancé at their engagement party, along with all their wealthy family and friends, who among them are a police commissioner and a police chief from another city. Faith and her cohorts, purposefully gave them the wrong information, in retaliation for the misdeeds that Cruz plotted against them: Getting Faith suspended, Framing Sully for a bribe that didn't happen, and Planting drugs on Davis' girlfriend, getting her busted. Bosco...trying to be loyal to Cruz, turned his back on his partner and friends, and is caught in the middle.
~Chapter fourteen~
Faith walks down the hallway towards her apartment carrying a laundry basket full of clothes. She stops when she notices the familiar figure standing at her door with his back to her. His hands are in his jean pockets, his shoulders are slumped inside his black leather coat and his head is hanging down, looking towards the floor.
As she slowly walks towards him again, trying to decide what she plans to say to him, and whether or not she even wants to say anything to him, he knocks softly on her door and says to it, "C'mon Faith...if you're in there...just open the door. I need to talk to you."
"I'm not." She says softly. He spins around in surprise, looking embarrassed. "I was in the laundry room."
"Oh...I thought..." He doesn't finish the sentence.
After standing in an awkward silence for a moment, she says, 'Well...could you open the door for me?"
"Sure." He turns the knob and pushes it open, then steps aside to let her pass, and waits for her to invite him in. She doesn't...so he stands there for a moment longer and says, "Is it alright if I come in for a minute?"
She sets the basket down and looks at him sternly. "This is my home Bosco. I won't have you attacking me with accusations here. If you have something to say about what happened...you can say it later...down at the precinct."
"I won't be there. I've been suspended." He watches her to see her reaction. "I'm not here to fight with you. I came to...I came to apologize. I never intended to fight with you. I mean before...the last time we spoke. I don't know why I said those things, I didn't mean any of it." He steps in the doorway, intending to inch his way in if he has to. He isn't going to leave without saying what he came to say.
"Is that all? That's the only thing you're apologizing for?"
"No...can I come in?"
"Alright...but leave the door open." As he walks in, she backs away, keeping a good distance between them.
"What are you doing...are you afraid of me?"
"Not afraid...I just don't trust you. I don't know what you really want. Did Cruz send you here?"
"Cruz? She's in jail. Commissioner Ellicott insisted she be locked up...with no bail. He's pressing charges against her. So is Chief Braddock and Hector...oh hell they all are. Even Sully and Davis' girlfriend. They've been processing her all night. And IAB is investigating her too. Every bust she's ever made. Every illegal thing she's ever done. She'll be gone for a long time. You don't have to be afraid of her any more."
"I was never afraid of her. I knew she was the enemy. My mistake was thinking that you had my back. That's how she got me...you sold me out to her. You were the enemy I didn't see coming and I won't make that mistake again. So tell me...is there something more she needs you to do? Are you here to avenge her?"
"God Faith." He drops down on the couch and looks at her like he wants to cry. "I know you're pissed...I know you hate me...and I don't blame you. I know I've been a real shit...and I even expected that you would toss me out...but I...I never thought that you would ever feel that I was a threat to you." He puts his hands up to his mouth. "What have I done...I'm so sorry. For everything. I didn't realize how much I hurt you." His eyes tear up and he blinks it away quickly, trying to think of what he should say next. "You're right...you have no reason to trust me...and I don't know how I can fix that."
Faith is taken by surprise at his outburst. She thought at first, that he was here to yell at her for what they did. But then she could tell by his demeanor that he wanted to make up. She expected maybe he would give her a half ass apology to get his butt out of the fire, but she didn't expect him to be emotional. She walks over and shuts the door, then sits on the edge of the chair next to him. "So...Cruz is finished, huh? That's good. Are you in a lot of trouble?"
"Not as much as I could be I guess. I did a lot of underhanded things for her. Against people that I care about."
"Well...confession's good for the soul." She says softly.
"Yah...Ok." He turns and looks her in the eye. "I lied to you. When I said that I talked to the Lieutenant about your suspension...I lied. I never talked to him. Not because I didn't want to...but, because I'm an idiot. I was just so busy trying to impress Cruz that...I forgot...and when I did remember, it was too late. So I lied...so that you wouldn't be mad."
"I know." She says bluntly.
Bosco looks away nervously. "And I also lied when I told you that Sully asked me to help you find Buford. But...you already knew that too, huh."
"Yah."
He purses his lips and nods his head yes, as he glances down at the floor. "I guess the thing I feel the worst about is that I spied on you guys for her. I was sneaking information from you and running to her with it. We had a bug in Sully's apartment...and honest to God I felt guilty about it...but, we listened to him in his apartment. We eavesdropped on Sully's conversations with Davis...and with you."
"I know."
"You knew?" He thinks about it for a second. "Of course you knew...the Chlamydia. I knew it...I told them. Then I guess you knew that you were being bugged in the restaurant too."
"We were hoping you would. That's why we let you know we were going there."
"So you know that I was the one who stole that file from you. I actually felt bad...the look on yours and Davis' face when it came up missing..."
"We were playing you. You did exactly what we thought you would do."
He nods. "How did you guys come up with Hector Pinaro?"
"Davis went through the academy with him. He's a rich kid that never had to work for anything. With his money and connections, they just pushed him through and promoted him up. When Davis heard that he was coming to town to announce his engagement, we figured he was someone that had enough power to take care of Cruz if she messed with him. But we never expected it to go that far. We never 'gave' you or Cruz the information that she acted on. If the information had not been obtained in a devious way...if Cruz ever went through the proper channels before she acted...that whole thing would never have happened."
"So she hung herself with her own actions. That file you made...it was unbelievable. Where did you get all that information?"
"I never said that information was real. I just made it all up. Then I placed all the other files inside with it. The real ones, that proved what she had done to us. And if she tries to use the tape from the restaurant against me...she still can't prove..."
"She did try to use that tape to implicate you. But she screwed herself with that too. She never did the paper work or got the warrant for the bug. It was all done illegally, so Glen denied placing the bug to save his ass. He said the tape doesn't exist. They haven't asked me about it yet...but I'm gonna deny that it exists, too. For your sake and for Glen's."
"Well, you lied 'against' me...don't think I'm gonna talk you out of lying 'for' me."
"Ya know...the funny thing is, I tried to give you credit for all the work you did on that file. I felt bad that you'd worked so hard on it, and we were getting all the credit. Cruz stopped me from bringing you into it...she actually did you a favor."
"I'll bet that's burning her ass now." She says happily.
"So...when I followed that guy from Pennsylvania all around New Jersey for nothing... you planned for me find that paper and make a fool of myself in front of Cruz?"
"Yah."
"And the guy named William that I was looking for at the Pink Parrot...don't exist?"
"Right."
"And Allen from the bar, the guy that hit on me...he was a plant?"
"No...actually he was real. He really had the hots for you."
He grins at her. "Of course he did...look at me."
She lets out a laugh and looks away smiling. "You're an ass."
"Faith...look at me."
She looks back and his face is suddenly serious...and sincere.
"I hate that you feel threatened by me. I understand it...and I can handle you being mad at me...but I can't have you think that I would ever do anything to hurt you. I didn't know what Cruz had done. I never would have gone along with it. You have to believe that. I found out what she did in the restaurant listening to you, and by then there was nothing I could do to change it. And I was too ambitious to walk away from nailing Buford. But I would never let you be in danger, and I will never let anyone intentionally hurt you. No matter how much of a jerk I may be, or how involved I am in something else, or even if we're fighting...I will always protect you. That's what I came here to say. That...and I'm truly sorry."
She glances away from his gaze, and says softly, "I believe you."
The two sit for a while talking, like they haven't done in a long time. Like old friends...like partners. They had stretched the bounds of their friendship, and maybe the marks will always be there as a reminder, but there is a certain bond between partners that is hard to break.
They don't talk about work anymore...they don't discuss whether or not they will be partners again. They just catch up on things, helping to heal the wounds, and hoping to hide the scars.
*** The End ***
Author's Note: This is the final chapter. I want to thank every one who stuck with me through the confusion and those who took the time to review.
Previously in this story: Bosco and Cruz, use the information they stole from Faith, Sully and Davis, to bust who they believe is Buford along with his financial backers for his drug cartel. However, the information was bogus, and they ended up arresting a police officer and his fiancé at their engagement party, along with all their wealthy family and friends, who among them are a police commissioner and a police chief from another city. Faith and her cohorts, purposefully gave them the wrong information, in retaliation for the misdeeds that Cruz plotted against them: Getting Faith suspended, Framing Sully for a bribe that didn't happen, and Planting drugs on Davis' girlfriend, getting her busted. Bosco...trying to be loyal to Cruz, turned his back on his partner and friends, and is caught in the middle.
~Chapter fourteen~
Faith walks down the hallway towards her apartment carrying a laundry basket full of clothes. She stops when she notices the familiar figure standing at her door with his back to her. His hands are in his jean pockets, his shoulders are slumped inside his black leather coat and his head is hanging down, looking towards the floor.
As she slowly walks towards him again, trying to decide what she plans to say to him, and whether or not she even wants to say anything to him, he knocks softly on her door and says to it, "C'mon Faith...if you're in there...just open the door. I need to talk to you."
"I'm not." She says softly. He spins around in surprise, looking embarrassed. "I was in the laundry room."
"Oh...I thought..." He doesn't finish the sentence.
After standing in an awkward silence for a moment, she says, 'Well...could you open the door for me?"
"Sure." He turns the knob and pushes it open, then steps aside to let her pass, and waits for her to invite him in. She doesn't...so he stands there for a moment longer and says, "Is it alright if I come in for a minute?"
She sets the basket down and looks at him sternly. "This is my home Bosco. I won't have you attacking me with accusations here. If you have something to say about what happened...you can say it later...down at the precinct."
"I won't be there. I've been suspended." He watches her to see her reaction. "I'm not here to fight with you. I came to...I came to apologize. I never intended to fight with you. I mean before...the last time we spoke. I don't know why I said those things, I didn't mean any of it." He steps in the doorway, intending to inch his way in if he has to. He isn't going to leave without saying what he came to say.
"Is that all? That's the only thing you're apologizing for?"
"No...can I come in?"
"Alright...but leave the door open." As he walks in, she backs away, keeping a good distance between them.
"What are you doing...are you afraid of me?"
"Not afraid...I just don't trust you. I don't know what you really want. Did Cruz send you here?"
"Cruz? She's in jail. Commissioner Ellicott insisted she be locked up...with no bail. He's pressing charges against her. So is Chief Braddock and Hector...oh hell they all are. Even Sully and Davis' girlfriend. They've been processing her all night. And IAB is investigating her too. Every bust she's ever made. Every illegal thing she's ever done. She'll be gone for a long time. You don't have to be afraid of her any more."
"I was never afraid of her. I knew she was the enemy. My mistake was thinking that you had my back. That's how she got me...you sold me out to her. You were the enemy I didn't see coming and I won't make that mistake again. So tell me...is there something more she needs you to do? Are you here to avenge her?"
"God Faith." He drops down on the couch and looks at her like he wants to cry. "I know you're pissed...I know you hate me...and I don't blame you. I know I've been a real shit...and I even expected that you would toss me out...but I...I never thought that you would ever feel that I was a threat to you." He puts his hands up to his mouth. "What have I done...I'm so sorry. For everything. I didn't realize how much I hurt you." His eyes tear up and he blinks it away quickly, trying to think of what he should say next. "You're right...you have no reason to trust me...and I don't know how I can fix that."
Faith is taken by surprise at his outburst. She thought at first, that he was here to yell at her for what they did. But then she could tell by his demeanor that he wanted to make up. She expected maybe he would give her a half ass apology to get his butt out of the fire, but she didn't expect him to be emotional. She walks over and shuts the door, then sits on the edge of the chair next to him. "So...Cruz is finished, huh? That's good. Are you in a lot of trouble?"
"Not as much as I could be I guess. I did a lot of underhanded things for her. Against people that I care about."
"Well...confession's good for the soul." She says softly.
"Yah...Ok." He turns and looks her in the eye. "I lied to you. When I said that I talked to the Lieutenant about your suspension...I lied. I never talked to him. Not because I didn't want to...but, because I'm an idiot. I was just so busy trying to impress Cruz that...I forgot...and when I did remember, it was too late. So I lied...so that you wouldn't be mad."
"I know." She says bluntly.
Bosco looks away nervously. "And I also lied when I told you that Sully asked me to help you find Buford. But...you already knew that too, huh."
"Yah."
He purses his lips and nods his head yes, as he glances down at the floor. "I guess the thing I feel the worst about is that I spied on you guys for her. I was sneaking information from you and running to her with it. We had a bug in Sully's apartment...and honest to God I felt guilty about it...but, we listened to him in his apartment. We eavesdropped on Sully's conversations with Davis...and with you."
"I know."
"You knew?" He thinks about it for a second. "Of course you knew...the Chlamydia. I knew it...I told them. Then I guess you knew that you were being bugged in the restaurant too."
"We were hoping you would. That's why we let you know we were going there."
"So you know that I was the one who stole that file from you. I actually felt bad...the look on yours and Davis' face when it came up missing..."
"We were playing you. You did exactly what we thought you would do."
He nods. "How did you guys come up with Hector Pinaro?"
"Davis went through the academy with him. He's a rich kid that never had to work for anything. With his money and connections, they just pushed him through and promoted him up. When Davis heard that he was coming to town to announce his engagement, we figured he was someone that had enough power to take care of Cruz if she messed with him. But we never expected it to go that far. We never 'gave' you or Cruz the information that she acted on. If the information had not been obtained in a devious way...if Cruz ever went through the proper channels before she acted...that whole thing would never have happened."
"So she hung herself with her own actions. That file you made...it was unbelievable. Where did you get all that information?"
"I never said that information was real. I just made it all up. Then I placed all the other files inside with it. The real ones, that proved what she had done to us. And if she tries to use the tape from the restaurant against me...she still can't prove..."
"She did try to use that tape to implicate you. But she screwed herself with that too. She never did the paper work or got the warrant for the bug. It was all done illegally, so Glen denied placing the bug to save his ass. He said the tape doesn't exist. They haven't asked me about it yet...but I'm gonna deny that it exists, too. For your sake and for Glen's."
"Well, you lied 'against' me...don't think I'm gonna talk you out of lying 'for' me."
"Ya know...the funny thing is, I tried to give you credit for all the work you did on that file. I felt bad that you'd worked so hard on it, and we were getting all the credit. Cruz stopped me from bringing you into it...she actually did you a favor."
"I'll bet that's burning her ass now." She says happily.
"So...when I followed that guy from Pennsylvania all around New Jersey for nothing... you planned for me find that paper and make a fool of myself in front of Cruz?"
"Yah."
"And the guy named William that I was looking for at the Pink Parrot...don't exist?"
"Right."
"And Allen from the bar, the guy that hit on me...he was a plant?"
"No...actually he was real. He really had the hots for you."
He grins at her. "Of course he did...look at me."
She lets out a laugh and looks away smiling. "You're an ass."
"Faith...look at me."
She looks back and his face is suddenly serious...and sincere.
"I hate that you feel threatened by me. I understand it...and I can handle you being mad at me...but I can't have you think that I would ever do anything to hurt you. I didn't know what Cruz had done. I never would have gone along with it. You have to believe that. I found out what she did in the restaurant listening to you, and by then there was nothing I could do to change it. And I was too ambitious to walk away from nailing Buford. But I would never let you be in danger, and I will never let anyone intentionally hurt you. No matter how much of a jerk I may be, or how involved I am in something else, or even if we're fighting...I will always protect you. That's what I came here to say. That...and I'm truly sorry."
She glances away from his gaze, and says softly, "I believe you."
The two sit for a while talking, like they haven't done in a long time. Like old friends...like partners. They had stretched the bounds of their friendship, and maybe the marks will always be there as a reminder, but there is a certain bond between partners that is hard to break.
They don't talk about work anymore...they don't discuss whether or not they will be partners again. They just catch up on things, helping to heal the wounds, and hoping to hide the scars.
*** The End ***