This is a work of fan fiction, written by Rochelle Theresa Brown for entertainment purposes only, and not for profit. It is inspired by, and very loosely based on, the final episode of Season Four of THIRD WATCH, "The Price of Nobility", written by Edward Allen Bernero and Brooke Kennedy. Amy Carlson told her mother NOT to watch that episode.

THIRD WATCH website

Characters in this story are from ANOTHER WORLD, and are the sole property of Procter and Gamble Productions.

WARNING! This story contains some graphic, albeit mild, violence. Although there is no sexual content,it is not suitable for children.

This work is under copyright.

CAR BOMB: Version 3b
This story shows the events in CAR BOMB, Version 3, from Joe's viewpoint.

There are times when being a police captain is not easy. Captain Joe Carlino of the 23rd Precinct in Bay City, Illinois, knew all about those times. Just a few weeks ago, he'd had to put one of his best cops, Detective Josie Sinclair, on desk duty as a punishment for disobeying orders. Joe always hated disciplining his officers, especially Josie. She wasn't just a cop who served under him; she and her husband, Gary, were two of his dearest friends.

"Well," Joe thought, "Josie's time will be up tomorrow."

That's when the call came.

"Carlino," Joe said.

"A bomb has been planted in a car on Avenue M." The caller hung up.

Joe radioed some of his officers who were out in patrol cars. "I just got word that a bomb's been planted in a car on Avenue M. You know what to do. Just clear the area. Don't go looking for the bomb. Let the Bomb Squad handle that."

And then, Joe saw Josie jump out of her seat and race out the door. "Oh, no!" he yelled, running after her. "Please, God," he prayed, "let the Bomb Squad get there before Josie does."

Joe and Josie arrived on the scene at the same time. The Bomb Squad wasn't there yet. And then, Joe was horrified to see Josie approach the first car, and start looking for the bomb.

"Sinclair," Joe said, "get away from there right now! That's an order!"

"I know what I'm doing," Josie said.

Joe knew that there was no use talking when Josie was being stubborn. He had to act, and fast. There was no telling if that actually was the car where the bomb had been planted, or even if the call had been a hoax, but Joe couldn't take any chances. He moved quickly up to the car, picked Josie up, threw her over his shoulder, and started running. Joe decided to treat Josie the same way he'd treat his son, Dante, if a similar situation arose. He had already made up his mind to keep her on desk duty for two more weeks. He would still do that, but something more drastic was needed in addition, something he had never thought he would do.

"Put me down!" Josie yelled furiously. "Put me down!"

And then the explosion came. It turned out that it was the car Josie had been on, but there had been no target. The car had been picked at random in a senseless act. But just then Joe didn't know that. He only knew that he had to deal with Josie's senseless act. Joe stopped at a building with a bench in front, said,"Now, Josie, this is for your own good. You are going to learn once and for all not to disobey orders, not to act on your own, and especially not to place yourself in unnecessary danger!""

Then, swiftly, he sat down on the bench, turned Josie face-down over his lap, and brought his hand down,

WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! on the seat of her pants.

"Hey!" Josie yelled, "What are you"

Joe went right on with the paddling.

"OWWWWW!!! OWWWWW!!! OWWWWW!!! OWWWWW!!!" Josie yowled at the top of her lungs. Joe was sure they could hear her in Chicago.

Josie began to cry. Joe had to brush his hand across his eyes before he could go on.

"OWWWWW!!! OWWWWW!!!!" Josie wailed. "OWWWWW!!! OWWWWW!!!"

And then, Joe couldn't stand it any more. "Okay, Josie," he said, "it's over."

He helped her to her feet. They stood facing each other. Josie rubbed the seat of her pants and glared at him. Joe could see that she was burning in more ways than one over the spanking.

"Believe me, Josie, that hurt me a lot more than it did you. I hate making you cry, but if anything happened to you, everyone in the department would cry."

"Including you?"

"Especially me."

Joe saw Josie's face soften. He knew she wasn't angry about the spanking any more, but she was still crying. He took her in his arms, and held her close. She nestled her head on his shoulder and sobbed.

"There, now," Joe said. He stroked Josie's hair, and rubbed her back and shoulders. "There, now, honey. It's okay now."

He hoped to God that he would never have to spank Dante.

Version 1
Version 2
Version 3
(The same events as in Version 3b, but from Josie's viewpoint.)
Version 4