I did this one over at another site. Thought you guys might enjoy it. Was a special request from one of the 500 Gangs leaders...lmao......In case you hadn't been over there, I almost always write for Bosco, but I love ALL the characters and that INCLUDES Fred. And in this fic as in my heart....FRED IS NOT A CHEATER!!! This was written before the season ending, and I only changed 'where' a certain event happened, not that it happened. Nothing else was changed in this story from when I first wrote it.

So, hope you like this one. Bosco Angst...as always...hehehe ENJOY!!! Please read and review!

The Basement.....Chapter One

"How the hell did I get talked into this?" Fred Yokas was not a happy man, Faith his wife of 18 years watched him closely, but she knew he had to come to the final decision on his own. This was at her suggestion and she knew it wasn't easy for him. But, she also knew her sweet husband, if he'd decided to do this, he would do it and it would be okay.

"I swore I would never let him in this house around my family again! Now here I am going to a damn ballgame with him! Faith, don't give me that look, you know I'm gonna do it cause I promised you I'd try to forgive him, but I don't have to be happy about it just yet!" He downed the last of his coffee, smacking the cup into the sink. Grinning behind her cup Faith muttered, "Of course not Fred, but thank you, if only for Charlie's sake." Giving her a sideways glance he couldn't keep up his grump, a small smirk on his mouth, "Yeah, I guess. Never thought I say it but I kinda miss having him come around like he use too. You know before he got stupider than usual." "FRED!" Faith pretended to be offended but he could see the laughter in her eyes, "He's not stupid, just gullible." "Yeah," Fred turned to look at her, "And explain that to me why don't you, how the hell can a 34 year old man, NYPD, raised the way he was be so damn gullible!? It's like he falls for EVERY sob story out there while he's knocking the same heads together! I just don't get your partner Faith, or should I say, ex-partner. Now that you're his Sergeant why don't you try to hook him up with someone who can 'educate' him some?"
Laughing outloud now at Fred's exasperation with Bosco, "I don't know if there is someone out there like that Fred! He doesn't mean any harm, he just always seems to find the worst people to trust! Except for Sasha and myself of course." "Oh of course," Fred shook his head, 'well we better get going, we're picking him up at 5 o'clock," yelling down the hallway, "COME ON CHARLIE TIME TO GO! DON'T FORGET YOUR GLOVE!" "Oh did he ever answer when you called?" she asked watching him take their coats out of the closet. "No, but I talked to him yesterday evening, he said he'd be ready, was going to try to find an old baseball or something for Charlie in the basement storage, I don't know I guess something he got when he was a kid," Fred turned from the closet, "must be his way of making up with Charlie." "See," she smiled at him, "I told you he was trying. And I'm proud of you for trying too Fred."
Quickly kissing Faith, he looked down at her, "The things I do for you!"
"Yeah, but you love me right?" She giggled as he slapped her rear playfully. "Yeah babe, I love you, if I didn't, I wouldn't be doing this that's for damn sure!" Fred met Charlie at the door, "Got your glove? Get your coat on its cold out there tonight! Crazy weather! Hot yesterday, cold tonight, freak storm, I heard it snowed upstate, almost 2 inches!" "Wow dad!" Charlie exclaimed, "I heard it was 10 inches! Boy I wish that would happen here, snow day!" "Yeah, who you been talking too," Fred slipped his jacket on, then lightly pushed Charlie out the door into the hall, "10 inches, snow day, YOU WISH!"
"I do wish, boy do I wish!" Charlies voice faded as Fred closed the door behind them.

Faith sat on the couch a huge smile on her face, since she'd finally made up with Bosco, she'd slowly worked Fred around. Getting him to ask Bosco to go to a ballgame with him and Charlie had been a major accomplishment. Charlie had been asking to see his Uncle B for awhile now, ever since he realized that she and Bosco were talking again. Now she just prayed that neither one would say anything to piss the other off. Although when she thought about it, until she and Bosco started having problems, Fred and Bosco had been really good friends. Ballgames, hanging out, Fred always made sure when she came home for dinner that there was enough for Bosco too. Working on the cars together sometimes, and that Truck, for awhile they acted like she didn't exist, it was all about the truck. That brought a smile to her face again, that damn truck contest. Giggling at the memory of Bosco's face when she threatened him if he didn't get his ass on the other side she would come after him. Him taking off for the other side, convinced she would do just that. Fred coming home and telling her he'd won it, okay now that brought up another happy memory, of her and Fred christening that truck....

"Mom, are you ready?" Emily asked standing next to the couch, her coat already on, "We're gonna be late!" "Oh sure," Faith replied jumping up from the couch, "just need to grab my purse and coat and we are out of here!" Walking downstairs, "So, do you think that Daddy and Uncle B are going to get along tonight?" Emily asked a slightly worried expression on her face. "Oh I'm sure they will," Faith smiled at her, "if only cause Charlie is there, you know neither one would do anything in front of Charlie to upset him Em." "Yeah, you're right," Emily nodded, "So what movie are we seeing, did you decide?" "I was thinking about Mystic River, heard it was really good," Faith replied, "won a lot of awards." "Sure I was thinking about that one too," Emily said opening the door to the building, "Amanda says her mom loved it." "Hum," Faith grabbed her coat around her tighter, "damn it is cold out here isn't it." They headed to the car, walking quickly.

The night before:

Hanging up with Fred, Bosco sat down to eat dinner. Reading the latest Car and Driver to come in the mail, he was also watching the news. Having two nights off in a row especially the weekend was a rare treat. Tonight he was going to relax and take it easy, catch up on some sleep, watch TV and vegge out. He wanted to go to a car show tomorrow morning, but except for the ballgame with Fred and Charlie he didn't have any plans. In fact in a few minutes he was taking his phone off the hook just to be sure he was not called back to work, or some other thing that would mess up his sleeping and relaxing. He had considered calling one of the women he had been seeing recently but decided against it. Too much trouble to get dressed up and go anywhere, that alone told him that he needed some down time alone. Sleep, that's what he really wanted to do, and as soon as he retrieved that ball from the basement, that was what he was going to do. Pulling doubles all last week had finally caught up to him, so starting to yawn already, he dropped the magazine onto the table. Picking up his half finished plate of food, he walked to the sink and set it in. Living alone had its advantages, leaving a plate of food in the sink wasn't going to get him yelled at. At least not until he himself had to scrape that dried stuff off tomorrow anyway.
Stretching, he yawned again, then grabbed his keys, heading out the door. Locking his apartment door behind him, Bosco walked slowly down the hallway. He could hear his neighbors as they went about their evenings tasks. 'Okay, TV loud enough?' he thought as he passed Old Mr. O'Malleys door, 'guys deafer than a doornail.' Then he could hear the young couple who'd moved in a few months ago fighting, 'Ah, wedded bliss, remind me again how that is NOT what I want to do anytime soon.' Shaking his head as they became louder, he headed through the stairway door, taking the emergency stairs, if only to prevent having to listen to anymore of the neighbors bliss.

Reaching the bottom, he exited into the hallway, heading right going to the basement door. Removing his keys from his pocket, finding the basement door key, he put it in the lock, frowning, he checked it again, "yeah, that's the one," tried it again, "damn what's wrong with this thing?" The key wouldn't turn, about that time he heard, "Hey, there Maurice, that key won't work anymore, here let me." Turning he saw the Super coming, stepping aside as Mr. Scott unlocked the door for him, "I just had the locks changed on all the doors down here, couple of the tenants have been mugged recently, got their keys stolen. Both idiots had their address's on the rings, so..." He unlocked the door finally, opening it. "You know you would think people would be smarter than that wouldn't you," Bosco shook his head, "but I should know better, I haven't seen it much out there." "No, I don't suppose you do," Mr. Scott laughed, "but then you aren't in the position to be dealing with the best of us are you Maurice?" Laughing, "No, I guess not, thanks, I probably will be here awhile, looking for a ball I got when I was a kid, going to give it to a friend of mines boy. We're going to the ballgame tomorrow night." "Nice of you," Mr. Scott replied, "Oh and don't worry about locking the door, I got them to put in the kind that locks when you close it behind you, so just take your time Maurice, no hurry. Oh and I'll have all the new keys ready by Monday for you folks, just come by the office when you're ready to pick it up, Mary will have them." "Thanks, I will," Bosco entered the door, "Goodnight Mr. Scott." "Goodnight Maurice," Mr. Scott nodded, "Oh and did you hear, that storm is suppose to be bad, might get 5 or 6 inches of rain with high winds tonight! And cold to boot! Glad my furnace is working!" "Yeah, me too! I hate cold weather and being wet! Glad I got tonight off!" Bosco laughed as Mr. Scott went back down the hall. He closed the door behind him, going to the back of the basement storage area to his bin.

Thirty minutes later or so, still looking for the ball in the old boxes in the back of his bin, caught up in just 'looking' at stuff, he heard the winds and rain begin. As it continued the basement started to get colder, a slight shiver brought his attention to the fact that he'd only worn a tee- shirt and jeans. But he'd only expected to be down here a few minutes, hadn't counted on having trouble finding the ball or the reminiscing he'd been doing with all his junk. Now a yawn coming over him again, he put away the box he was opening. Deciding to tell Charlie he'd have to find it later, he locked his bin again, going to the door.
Bosco grabbed the doorknob, turning it. Frowning, he tried again, it wouldn't budge. "Okay, what the hell?" he exclaimed, trying it yet again. Nothing, the door was not opening. Yanking gently on it as he turned, still not opening. "Oh I'm not believing this shit!" Now nothing gentle in his yanking or turning, he began to rap hard on the door as it still wouldn't open, "HEY, HEY MR. SCOTT YOU OUT THERE? HEY ANYBODY OUT THERE? THE DOOR WON'T OPEN!! HEY, HEY, SOMEBODY OPEN THE DOOR!"

No answer, looking down at his watch in the dim light, he saw it was 11 o'clock, much later than he'd imagined it to be. "Damn! I could have sworn I was only down here an hour! CRAP!!" There was seldom anyone out and about when he got home after a shift. His apartment building contained mostly day workers, or older people who'd retired. He was one of only 3 late afternoon or night workers in the building, and the other two started their shifts at 11 o'clock at night. Plus, the basement was below the ground floor and there weren't any apartments there, just the office, laundry, and rec. room. His building was quiet, one of the reasons he'd picked it, in a quiet area too, another reason. Looking over at the small window, covered with bars he got a bad feeling as he saw water moving past it. Walking over to it, his feeling grew worse as he saw debris rushing past in the water. He'd not paid attention to the strength of the rain or wind earlier, but now it was making itself known. Things were banging against the glass now, and it was growing colder in here. Moving back to the door he began to bang again. Calling for someone to open it.

Suddenly the power went out, plunging the entire building and street into black. As the light went out, he froze, immediately beginning to panic. Spending the night in a cold basement was bad enough, in a black as pitch cold basement was just not acceptable in the least. Renewing his banging on the door, trying to keep the fear and panic from his voice, he continued to call out for help. "PLEASE IS SOMEONE OUT THERE? I CAN'T GET THE DOOR OPEN!! HELLO? HELP!" It went unanswered.

Giving up for now, taking deep breaths to keep himself calm, Bosco went to the window again, he knew the floor was clear to walk so it was a quick walk. He couldn't see out as he was below the level of the frame. Feeling around he pulled a box that was sitting to the side under the window, stepping onto it carefully he held on to the bottom frame edge, looking out now to see if anyone was passing.
The water was now a few inches high on the window glass, and more debris flowed past, banging the glass. Without street lights, he was only catching flashes of view as cars passed on the street the apartment buildings front faced, their lights shining briefly on the window.

He caught sight of a car coming down the side street, and the large wave it caused against the glass. What he didn't see was the floating garbage can it hit that it flung against the window, instantly shattering it.
Hands coming off the window frames edge, attempting to cover his face as he felt the burning pain, as the force of rushing water blasting the glass into his face as it exploded through the bars like a bomb going off Bosco was knocked backward off of the box Arms flailing as he toppled Bosco hit the basement floor, striking first with his back, the wind forced from his lungs. His head followed, a sharp thunk sounding out as he was knocked unconscious. Lying on the cold basement floor, the water still rushing into the window, trickles of blood ran from the lacerations the window glass had opened on his forehead and cheeks. Soaked from the initial flow of dirty water Bosco was oblivious to the danger his situation posed as the temperature outside continued to fall along with the rain.

TBC....?