Lightning Strikes

Chapter 1B

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OK so this follows DIRECTLY after the "Lightning Strikes---Prologue"

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm gonna do something a little different with this story. We all know that there are a couple things that could happen when Faith walks out the door, and leaves Bosco. I'm going to write TWO, yes TWO different versions for each chapter :) Wish me luck!

If you haven't read the other stories in this series I suggest you go back and do so.

#1 Let the Sun Shine Through

#2 Rainy Season

#3 Chasing the Clouds Away

#4 Weathering the Storm

#5 Lightning Strikes

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Remember this is the alternative chapter, so there are MANY things that are the SAME as chapter 1A, HOWEVER there are things that are DIFFERENT as well!

The door slammed behind Faith, and she stopped dead in her tracks. She heard Bosco calling for her. Begging her not to leave him, but how could she stay. He had lied to her, and not just about the pills. There was so much more to it. Why didn't he just talk to her about what was going on? She would have understood. She would have *helped* him make it better, and if *she* couldn't make it better she would have found someone who could.

She stood there, frozen outside his door. "Faith?!" She heard the hurt in his voice, and it broke her heart.

*****

Bosco stood staring at the door; waiting for it to open, and for Faith to come back. How could she do this to him? How could she just walk out like that? Couldn't she see that he was hurting, and that he needed her? He would do anything for her, and he had always thought she would do the same in return. "Faith?!" He called again in hopes that she could hear him, and that she would come back. He needed her now more than ever.

His body continued to shake, gradually getting worse. As he stood there the dizziness began to overwhelm him, but the urge to vomit was even more powerful. He carefully made his way to the bathroom, and knelt in front of the porcelain God as he emptied what little was in his stomach and finished with dry heaves.

"Bosco?" Faith called out as she heard him getting sick in the bathroom. She found him kneeling on the floor. Without hesitation she grabbed a washrag off the shelf, and wet it with cold water.

Bosco sank down to the floor, and put his head in his shaky hands. His body hurt. He was dizzy, nauseous and tired. His stomach was killing him, and he couldn't stop his body from shaking. Faith knelt down in front of him, and pulled his trembling hands away from his face. She wiped his mouth with the washrag, and then folded it over and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You came back," he said in a whisper.

She nodded. "I'm not happy with what you did," she said softly. "But I couldn't leave you like this. For a second I wanted to, but I couldn't." Faith leaned forward, and placed a tender kiss on his cheek.

"I really am sorry Faith."

She didn't know what to say to that, so she said nothing about it. Right now she was just going to try and avoid anything other than helping him get through this physically. Emotional healing and forgiveness would come later…much later. "Come on. Let's get you off the floor." Faith helped him stand up, and walked with him down the hall. Bosco stopped, and leaned against the wall. "What's wrong?" she asked with concern.

"I'm getting a cramp," he said as he braced himself for the pain. When it was over he looked at Faith, and she could see the pain in his eyes. "It hurts. I need something Faith. There's gotta be something that'll make it stop."

"Reese I don't know what to do for you. I need time to think." He nodded as they continued the slow walk to the couch. Faith sat with her back against the arm of the couch, allowing Bosco to stretch out his legs, and rest his back against her as she wrapped her arms around his shaking body.

Bosco was in pure agony. He went from hot to cold as he lay there battling cramp after cramp and wave after wave of nausea. Faith held him tightly and felt every twitch, tremor and cramp right along with him. When she knew the pain was really bad she'd run her hand through his hair hoping to provide a little comfort or at least a small distraction for the pain.

When things would calm down for a few minutes she would gently rock him back and forth trying to soothe his mind. He felt terrible physically, and emotionally he was beating himself up. All he had wanted to do was make the nightmares stop. He couldn't handle them, and the counseling didn't work. The pills were the easiest solution. They were the quickest fix. Deep down he knew they could cause problems, but he hadn't given it much thought other than he'd deal with it later.

"I'm sorry Faith," he whispered again as he took her hand in his.

"Quit saying that OK?," she whispered back. "We'll talk about it later."

He nodded. "I can't stop…I can't stop shaking."

"I know." She ran her hand down his arm. "I can feel it too." Bosco tried to shift positions. He was restless and uncomfortable. "Hey maybe we should get you into bed."

"OK."

Faith helped push him to a sitting position, then taking his hands in hers she stood up, and pulled him with her. They made it into the bedroom, and she helped ease him down on the bed. "How you doing?"

He swallowed hard. "Not good," he said softly. "I'm hot."

She nodded. "OK, lets get your shirt off, and then I'll find you something else to change into." Faith helped him pull his shirt over his head, and then began rummaging through his dresser trying to find something for him to wear. She found a pair of shorts, and walked back over to him. "Here put these on. I'm gonna go get a few things that we might need. Do you remember if the pharmacist gave you any information on the pills?"

Bosco nodded. "It's in a drawer in the kitchen."

Faith put her hand on his shoulder. "I'll be right back." A few minutes later Faith came back into the room with a bowl of water, a washrag, a bottle of water, and the information about the pills. She handed Bosco the bottle of water. "Drink some of this." He took a few drinks of the water, and handed it back to her. Faith placed the bottle on the nightstand as Bosco laid down on the bed.

She sat next to him on the bed. "Reese, I read some of the information. This is going to get worse before it gets better." She took his hand, and looked into his eyes. "The best thing for you would be to go to the hospital, and let them help you."

"No!" He shook his head, and ran a hand through his short hair. "I can't go there. Everybody will find out if I go there!"

"Honey it's the best thing for you. I can't do anything for you," a tear rolled down her cheek. "I can't do anything to make the pain stop. All I'm doing is watching you suffer."

"Faith I can't," he said softly. "I can't."

She nodded. "All right," she said in an almost defeated tone. She knew that he needed help. The withdrawals weren't going to be pretty. He was going to have one hell of a night, and she didn't think the next few days would be a whole lot better. He had taken 35 pills in a short amount of time. This was going to be bad. Faith stood up slowly. "I'll back OK?" He nodded.

A few minutes later she came back with the trashcan from the bathroom, and placed it on the floor next to the bed. Before he could question her she explained herself. "It's just in case you have to throw up. No point in killing yourself trying to make it to the bathroom."

Faith dipped the washrag in the bowl of water she had brought in earlier, and began to cool off his forehead, and then his chest. "It's gonna be OK Reese," she whispered as she watched him close his eyes as he tried to fight the pain. "You'll get through this."

She knew that he would win this battle. It was going to be a long struggle, but he was tough. As the night went on she continued to try and keep him cool with the washrag. She was there with him holding his hand, and whispering words of reassurance throughout the night. Every time he felt sick she held the trashcan for him.

Bosco had screwed up. He had made a huge mistake, but she knew that he was suffering enough as it was. He didn't need her making things worse for him.

Faith brought his hand to her lips, and kissed it. She then put the back of his hand against her cheek as she looked at him. He was looking at her, and she could see the fear, the pain and the uncertainty in his eyes. His eyes were questioning her. She smiled reassuringly. "I still love you."