Chasing the Clouds Away
Part 6

******
I still don't own any of the TW characters, but my fingers are crossed LOL!

This is story #3 in the Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain Series
Story #1 Let the Sun Shine Through
Story #2 Rainy Season

Remember I know NOTHING about divorce procedures or custody hearings. I make it all up because as you know this is fiction :)
*****
Faith and Bosco were met in the hallway by Mike Wilson; Faith's lawyer. He put his hand on her shoulder. "How you holding up Faith?"

"Well, I think I'm beyond the freaking out stage, but I'm nervous."

"Understandable, but remember, we've been over this and over this. Everything lines up in your favor." Mike pointed at the room they would soon enter. "Now we just have to show them."

"Right," she nodded. Bosco squeezed her hand, and she looked at him. "Oh, I'm sorry. Mike this is Maurice Boscorelli."

The two men shook hands. "It's nice to finally meet you Maurice. You ready for this?"

"Uh, I don't know. Should I even be here? I mean is this gonna look bad with Faith all ready in a new relationship?"

"No, that's perfectly OK. Don't worry about that. It will definitely be discussed, but from what I've heard Fred is also seeing someone new." Bosco looked at Faith, and she just shrugged. It didn't matter to her what Fred did with his life now. "All right. Time for us to head inside."

Bosco looked at Faith again, and smiled reassuringly. He quickly kissed her on the cheek. She smiled.

*****
Faith, Bosco and Mike sat on one side of the rectangular table. Fred, his lawyer and the woman Bosco and Faith were assuming was Fred's girlfriend were sitting on the other side of the table. A female judge and a woman from Children's Services sat at the head of the table.

"Good afternoon I'm Judge Maher, and this is Mrs. Westerholm from Children's Services. As you all know this is a custody hearing regarding the placement of Emily Yokas and Charles Yokas."

Faith inwardly cringed at the word 'placement'. It was too nice of a word. Who would the children be *placed* with? It was more like who would they be *ripped* away from? Who would they be *forced* to live with?

She wanted more than anything to get custody of her kids. They were the two most important things in her life. Without them her life would be reduced to nothing. Sure she had Bosco, but he wasn't her flesh and blood. Besides who really knew how long he'd stick around? She mentally kicked herself for questioning Bosco. He showed no signs of wanting to leave her and this wasn't the time to be thinking about her relationship with him anyway.

As the judge continued to explain the process Faith stared down at her hands. She didn't know who to look at or what to do so she just examined her finger nail polish. While she sat there she couldn't help but think about Fred. How was all of this affecting him? Did he feel the same as her? Would his life lose meaning without the kids? Faith wanted to know. She took a deep breath and forced herself to look at him. Fred was glaring at her with ice-cold eyes. There was no love, no remorse for how he'd treated her, no forgiveness, no understanding; just pure hatred. For a brief second she thought about glaring back at him, but deep down she knew that wouldn't help, so instead she smiled softly as she thought to herself "There's no way in hell I'm going to let that asshole raise *my* kids."

"Mr. Yokas, we'll start with you." Fred turned to the judge and nodded. "Please tell us what you do for a living?"

"I'm in the package delivery business," Fred replied. Bosco had to hold back a snicker. "I uh," Fred scratched his baldhead. "I make deliveries mostly," he added quietly.

"And what is your yearly salary?"

"Uh, $26,000," he quickly sat up straighter. "But I'm up for a promotion so in a few months it would be 27."

"What hours do you work?"

"8:30 to 4:30. The days vary."

"Any overtime?"

"Occasionally. If deliveries are running behind or I can sometimes pick up an extra shift."

"How would you pick up the children after school?"

"Uh, well on afternoons I don't work I'd pick them up, but on days I work I'd be relying on my girlfriend, Sarah," he indicated the woman sitting next to him.

"How well do your children know Sarah?"

"They've met a couple times."
*****

The judge had questioned Fred for almost forty-five minutes, and had then given everyone a fifteen-minute recess. Bosco looked at Faith. "I can't believe Fred's got a girlfriend." He laughed. "I mean the girl's obviously a nut job if she's dating him."

"Bosco! I was married to him!"

"No Faith. He was different back then. Even I used to like Fred. You married a completely different guy." She didn't say anything as she took a sip of the coffee Bosco bought her. He looked at her with concern etched on his face. "Hey you doin' OK?" He asked softly as he gently brushed her hair off her shoulder and let his hand linger.

"I'm next. She's going to start asking me questions now."

"You'll be fine."

"I'm nervous."

"I know, but trust me. You'll be fine." They sat down on a bench in the hallway. There was still a little over ten minutes left in their break. Bosco put his arm around Faith's shoulders and she leaned into him. He put his coffee down on the seat next to him, and took hold of Faith's hand. He bowed his head, and closed his eyes. "Hey God, remember me? Maurice Boscorelli. I'm not real good at this kinda stuff so I'll keep it short. I uh, well I just pray that Faith gets custody of the kids. She's a great mom; she really is. Please protect her, and help her through this. Thanks. Amen." When he finished his silent prayer he opened his eyes, and kissed the top of Faith's head.
*****

"Officer Yokas," the judge looked at Faith. "Obviously by the title I know what you do for a living, but just for the record could you please state your occupation?"

"I'm a police officer with the 55^th Precinct of the NYPD. I work the day shift, 7 to 3. I usually work four days on and two days off."

"Any overtime?"

"Double shifts once in a while, but there is advanced notice for those. Otherwise we have to stay a little later once in a while if a call goes longer than expected."

"Who do you have to pick up the children after school?"

"My neighbors, Jim and Irene Hanson. They are a retired couple that lives in the apartment next door, and they've been watching the kids just about every day this summer since we moved into the building."

"And your income?"

"Roughly $37,000."

Faith answered all of the judge's questions with ease. It had only taken a few seconds for the butterflies in her stomach to calm down. Plus Bosco was by her side, and she was truly thankful for that. As soon as the judge started questioning Faith he had shifted in his chair so he could look at her. He held her right hand in his. He gave her the strength she needed.
*****

Fred's girlfriend Sarah was questioned next. Turns out that the two of them were living together after only having known each other for a short time. She was a bartender that Fred had picked up one night;  which told Faith that he was drinking again even though earlier he had sworn he wasn't. Sarah wasn't the most intelligent girl, and wasn't able to answer any of the questions the judge asked about the kids. Faith couldn't believe Fred brought her to the hearing because she obviously wasn't helping.
*****

Then it was Bosco's turn. "Officer Boscorelli, how long have you been in a relationship with Officer Yokas?"

He swallowed hard. "Well we've been dating for a few weeks, but we've been working together for almost eight years."

"What are your living arrangements?"

Bosco knew that Sarah had been asked the same question, but he was still a little shocked. "We have separate apartments about fifteen minutes from each other." He paused and looked at Faith then back at the judge. "And I've spent two nights at her apartment." He didn't know if that information was needed, but he had a feeling that if he didn't share the information it would just come up later.

"Have you ever taken care of the Yokas children or spent time alone with them?"

"Sure, lots of times. I'd baby-sit once in a while when Fred and Faith would go out, and just a few days or so ago I stayed with them overnight when everyone else was out of town. I've known Emily and Lil' Charlie most of their lives."

The questioning continued until almost 8pm. The woman from Children's Services hadn't said much, but she had taken a lot of notes. Judge Maher took her glasses off and placed them on the table. She then clasped her hands. "Well, that is the end of our questioning. I feel that we have collected enough information to make our decision. The decision will be made, and we will meet here again on Thursday at four o'clock, but before we adjourn is there anything either party would like to add? Anything that you feel may have been overlooked?"

Faith and Bosco looked at Mike Wilson who shook his head. "No your honor."

Then they looked at Fred's lawyer who was whispering something to his client. Fred nodded his head in agreement. "Yes your honor. I'd like to bring to your attention that Officer Yokas's work partner and significant other, Maurice Boscorelli, is currently seeing a domestic abuse counselor and has been known to be unstable."

"What?!" exclaimed an exasperated Faith.

"It's supposed to be confidential." Bosco said in a panic, more to himself than anyone else.

"We feel that it would be in the children's best interest to keep them away from him, and since Officer Boscorelli is Officer Yokas's partner we feel strongly that the only way to successfully do that is to grant Fred Yokas custody."

Mike stood up. "Your honor. I don't feel that Officer Boscorelli's counseling or behavior is relevant to whether or not the children should be placed with their mother. Besides, that information is confidential police business and should be stricken from the record."

Judge Maher looked at Fred's lawyer. "That is true. Mr. Hawkins that is confidential. Where did you get your information?"

"I cannot reveal my source."

"Mr. Hawkins let me remind you that this custody hearing is a legal procedure and you are in contempt if you do not supply us with your informant. I will fine you severely if you don't reveal your source."

Bosco sat dumbfounded. He was in a panic. His secret was out.

"Sergeant Christopher at the 55^th Precinct."

Bosco looked at Hawkins. "Jason Christopher?!" He looked at Faith. His eyes wide with fear. If Christopher knew that meant it was only a matter of time before everyone knew. Bosco was so enraged he couldn't move or speak.

Judge Maher stood up. "I'll have my decision for you on Thursday at 4pm."
*****

Everyone had left the room except Faith and Bosco. Fred had sneered and laughed as he walked out, Sarah the idiot blonde had said it was nice to meet them, and Mike had told them not to worry because the information Hawkins had wouldn't be taken into account and things were still in their favor.

Bosco was still in a panic. His chest was tight and his breathing was coming in quick gasps. He quickly loosened his tie to try and open up his airway. He wiped the sweat from his forehead. Faith swiveled his chair so he was facing her. She put her hands on his knees. "Shhhhh. It's OK. Just breathe. It's OK."

"That bastard," Bosco managed to say between gasps for air.

"Shhhhh baby it's OK." She put her hand on his cheek. He hadn't had an attack like this in months. The fact that he was having one now really frightened her. "Relax Reese. It's OK. You need to calm down. Just slow down. Take a deep breath. Everything's OK."

Bosco did his best to take deep breaths, and he eventually calmed back down. "I'm sorry," he said softly when he finally got his wits back.

She ran her hand down his arm until it was holding his hand. "Are you feeling better?"

He swallowed hard. "I ruined everything. It was going so well and I screwed it all up."

"You did no such thing. That's confidential information, and the judge isn't going to use it. She can't."

Bosco stood up and yelled. "But it's all ready in her head! Don't you see?! It worked! They got what they wanted! That bastard planted it in her head that the kids aren't safe with me around!"

She stood up next to him and spoke softly. "But she knows that you've known the kids for years and you babysat them. Nothing has ever happened."

"But now, now there's that big 'what if' hanging out there." He looked at her, his eyes full of sorrow. "I'm so sorry Faith."

She shook her head. "It isn't your fault."

Bosco's eyes quickly filled with rage. "Let's go," he said in a low growl.

"Where?" she asked, surprised by his quick change in mood.

"To see Christopher!"