Let the Sun Shine Through

Part 4

*****

OK, so I'm warning you now…this isn't the best chapter I've ever written, but I still hope you like it! Keep in mind…I'm new at this shipper stuff! (and I'm still kinda setting it up!)

 

*****

"Hi," whispered Faith as she sat up in the bed, she brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Bosco rolled over so he was facing here. She hung her head. "I'm so sorry," she apologized without looking at him.

 

"For what?" he asked. His voice was soft and gentle.

 

"I didn't realize…I thought…I mean," she stumbled over her words. "I woke up and I was so close to you. I had my arm around y---"

 

Bosco put up a hand to silence her. "It's OK Faith."

 

"No it's not. I invaded your personal space. I'm really sorry."

 

"Don't be sorry." He shook his head. "Actually, I haven't slept that well since…hell, I don't think I've ever slept that well." He smiled at her. "We should sleep like that more often." He laughed then turned red as he realized what he was saying.

 

"So you aren't upset?"

 

"Why would I be?"

 

She shrugged. "Because it was me sleeping next to you and not some leggy blonde."

 

He got out of bed. "Leggy blondes are overrated." He grabbed the sweats he had worn the day before and pulled them over his shorts. "I'm going to see what they have for breakfast. You comin'?"

 

"I think I'm going to hop in the shower."

 

"OK," he headed out the door.

 

Faith leaned back against the headboard. "Oh wow," she said. "He sure is cute in the morning with his hair sticking up in every direction." She grinned. "I can't believe I just said that. This is Bosco." But she couldn't stop smiling.

 

Bosco closed the door to their room, and leaned against it. "Whoa. I never thought having Faith so close to me could feel so good, so right," he thought. "But she's kinda on the rebound. I'm sure it didn't mean anything, but damn it felt good."

 

Faith was already out of the shower and dressed by the time Bosco came back. "Took you long enough. Did you have to milk the cow yourself?"

 

"No," he laughed. "But I had to find someone to make more coffee. It took forever." He handed her a cup. "They had bagels and doughnuts. Take your pick." Bosco set the plate down on the dresser.

 

"How about half of each?"

 

"Works for me." Bosco plopped down on the foot of the bed with the television remote, and turned it to SportsCenter. He looked at Faith. "You don't mind do you?"

 

"No, I don't mind. I like SportsCenter."

 

He laughed. "You what?! I didn't think you liked sports."

 

"Oh, I like sports. It's just that my life doesn't revolve around them like yours does."

 

"Hey! I got other things in my life besides sports," he defended himself.

 

"Yeah? Name one." He opened his mouth to speak, but Faith stopped him. "One thing *other* than your job."

 

"Uh, well, uh."

 

"That's what I thought," she laughed.

 

"Give me a chance to think."

 

"You shouldn't have to think Bosco."

 

He gave her his best hurt look, but all she did was laugh harder. Bosco stretched out on the bed as he ate his breakfast. He looked over at Faith as she continued to laugh at him. Their eyes met and they smiled. For the first time since this trip started a little over twenty-four hours ago Faith and Bosco were at ease, and there was no awkward tension.

*****

 

Bosco put the last of the bags in the trunk, closed it, and then leaned against the car as he waited for Faith. She appeared soon after. He called to her from across the parking lot. "Hey! I'm not stopping a hundred times for you to go to the bathroom today. So I suggest you go before we leave."

 

Faith looked around to see if anyone else had heard his comment. "I'll have you know I just went *dad*." She approached him. "And correct me if I’m wrong, but weren't *you* the one who needed all the pit stops?"

 

"I couldn't help it. That Mountain Dew went right through me."

 

"Come on. Let's go," she headed for the passenger's side of the classic car.

 

"Faith."

 

She stopped. "Yeah."

 

"You wanna drive?"

 

"Come again."

 

He held up the keys and nodded toward the car. "I asked if you wanted to drive."

 

"Are you serious?"

 

He nodded.

 

"But you don't let anybody drive your car."

 

"Yeah well, you aren't just anybody. So, you want to?"

 

"Sure," she hurried over and grabbed the keys from him before he had a chance to change his mind. Faith felt like a kid in a candy store. She had never told Bosco, but she had always loved his car.

 

"Just be careful!"

*****

Faith drove the whole day, and enjoyed every second of it. Even when Bosco was freaking out that she was driving too fast or getting too close to other cars. They spent the day talking and laughing. Learning things about each other that they had never known. Bosco learned that Faith loved to write, and she learned that he was an excellent singer as he belted out song after song that came over the radio.

 

They pulled into their hotel in Melbourne, Florida, around eight o'clock that night. Bosco looked at his watch. "We made pretty good time."

 

"Yeah we did," agreed Faith.

 

"I'll go check us in."

 

After Bosco got the room key they carried their bags inside. As soon as Faith was inside the door she dropped her bag on the floor. Her jaw joined it shortly after. She stood there wide-eyed as she took in the site. "Wow," she said as she walked further into the room. "I've never seen a hotel room this big." She turned back to see Bosco grinning at her.

 

"Yeah." He nodded. "It is pretty big."

 

They were standing in a large living room area that had a desk, couch, recliner and a huge television. Off to the left was a kitchen and to the right were the bedroom (with two beds) and the bathroom.

 

Bosco walked toward the large window. "And you haven't seen the best part yet." He pulled the curtain back to reveal not a window, but a sliding glass door with a patio on the other side. He opened the door letting in the sound of crashing waves.

 

"Oh my God. Is that the ocean?!"

 

Bosco nodded. "We can walk right down to the beach."

 

"Wait a second. Can we afford this place?"

 

He grinned. "That's the best part. You remember my cousin Vinnie?" She nodded. "He knows the guy who owns the place. We got a great deal!"

*****

"NO. STOP. DON'T HURT HER!" Bosco was fighting something or someone in his sleep. He thrashed around in his bed. His cries growing louder.

 

Faith woke with a start and quickly looked toward the bed next to her. She flipped on the light and saw her partner frantically moving about. In one swift motion she threw back the covers, and was by his side.

 

"NO! NO! STOP!"

 

She grabbed his shoulder to hold him still. "Bosco. Bos." Gently she shook him, but it didn't work. "BOSCO WAKE UP!" She shook him harder. "BOSCO! It's a bad dream!"

 

His eyes shot open, he sat up and frantically looked around.

 

"Bos it's me. Faith."

 

He looked at her with wide eyes. His body drenched in sweat. "What?! Why?!"

 

"You had a nightmare."

 

Bosco eased himself back down and took a deep breath. "Sorry I woke you." He turned his head to the side so he couldn't she her face. These nightmares had plagued him for years, but this was the first time someone had actually witnessed him having one. He knew that he always woke up from them sweating and exhausted, and he was always thankful there was never anyone around.

 

"Are you OK?" Her voice was full of concern.

 

"I'm fine," his reply was almost inaudible.

 

"You want to talk about it?" He shook his head. She didn't want to push him. "Ok, well, goodnight." She climbed back into her own bed and reached up to shut off the light.

 

"Faith," he said quickly.

 

"Yeah."

 

"Can we keep the light on?" he asked softly.

 

"Sure Bos."

 

A SHORT TIME LATER

"NO! NO DON'T! PLEASE." Bosco's nightmare had continued almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes.

 

Once again Faith shot out of bed and was by his side. This time he woke up sooner, and without the blank look in his eyes. He looked up at Faith and swallowed hard. "Another one?" he asked with a sigh.

 

"'fraid so."

 

"Damn. I guess last night was just a fluke."

 

"You have a lot of nightmares?"

 

"They're a nightly occurrence." He sat up. "Last night was the first time in ages that I slept through the whole night."

 

"Really?" He nodded. "What are they about?"

 

"I don't want to talk about it."

 

She frowned. "Well," she put her hand on his knee and brushed a strand of hair off his forehead. "I'm here if you need me."

 

"Thanks."

 

Faith went to push herself off the bed, and noticed how wet it was. "Bosco. You're dripping with sweat. Why don't you change your clothes, and we can share the other bed."

 

"No, that's all right."

 

"Bosco," she said sternly.

 

"OK. OK. You win."

 

After he changed he climbed into bed with Faith and shut the light off. "You don't want the light on anymore?"

 

"Nah, I'm pretty sure I’m safe here."

 

Faith decided to make a bold move. She wasn't really sure why she did it, but she did. Slowly she inched toward him, and then put her arm around him. "Is this OK with you?" she asked softly.

 

Bosco grinned. "Yeah," he covered her arm with his, and soon they were asleep.