A/N Thanks to Briroch for checking this story over for me. I appreciate it more than she will ever know.
Disclaimer I do not profit from the characters from "The Streets Of San Francisco" I am not the creator of the series, that is Quinn Martin.
Sudden Death
Case duty had been really heavy recently and Mike Stone had another problem besides the job.
His daughter Jeannie was home for school break and he had promised to take her to the tennis courts.
He had a meeting with the commissioner and mayor and Rudy Olsen at the same time. Lost in thought he looked out his office window at his young partner typing up a report. Steve felt eyes locked on him from Mike's direction. He finished the report then double checked it and took it to Mike's office.
"Okay, Mike let's have it, what do you want?" Steve suspected his partner wanted something, as he handed the report to him.
"What are you talking about?" Mike said, sounding confused.
"You were watching me, Mike. If it's about that meeting with the commissioner and mayor forget it. You know I don't do well with them, at least not as good as you." Steve pleaded.
"Now, would I do that to you?" Mike asked innocently.
Mike got up and draped his arm around Steve's shoulders in buddy style. Steve gave him a suspicious look, then glanced at Mike's arm then thought: here it comes.
"Mike, spill it. You want something. I've known you too long to think it's nothing." Steve said seriously.
"Well you are right in a way it does concern the meeting. Not in the way you think though. I had told Jeannie I would take her to the tennis courts at same time. Could..."Mike asked hopefully when Steve interrupted.
"Take Jeannie, of course, Mike. Be glad to." Steve was happy to oblige.
"I have called Jeannie already. So she is waiting for you. She wanted to watch ASU play they are in town for a game or two." Mike explained casually.
"So I don't need tennis clothes, just casual dress then, good." Steve was relieved.
"Don't worry this time Jeannie doesn't want to clean your clock, at least not today." Mike teased with a smile. "You better go change or she will be calling giving the third degree."
Steve hurried out and dropped by his place to change to casual clothes. Later he would regret that he chose to leave his gun home locked away. After he picked up Jeannie, they found a place in stands to watch the matches.
As they were talking quietly, catching up on all their news, until the matches started. A male voice called out to Jeannie. Steve's head jerked, to see who was calling her and saw a guy a little bit older than Jeannie. Jeannie waved at him then got up telling Steve she would be back and got down to go talk to the guy.
"Hi,Stan. How is the coach trainee doing?" Jeannie greeted him cheerfully.
"It's going great! I saw that you were in the stands, so thought would say hi to you, before things started. Say who is that guy you were talking with?" Stan asked curiously.
"Steve, he's my dad's partner." Jeannie responded casually. "Why do you ask?"
"Because maybe I am wrong, but when you got down to come talk to me he seemed put out or maybe jealous. Just was curious what he was to you. You two are close I guess." Stan inquired as discreetly as possible.
"Yes, very close. What you saw though was probably him just wondering who you really are. He is very protective." Jeannie explained smiling.
"Probably protective but bet he is very jealous of you too. He just hasn't let on to you." Stan voiced his hunch ."I better get going, it won't be long. I am glad you were able to make it."
They gave each other a friendly hug then separated. Steve had averted his eyes and pretended to be watching a girl near the court in tennis gear. Jeannie sat back beside Steve with a small smile that made him wonder.
"Friend of yours, Jeannie?" Steve asked, trying hard to sound nonchalant.
"Steve, did you know you're even cuter when you're jealous?" Jeannie remarked softly.
"Jealous? Me? What made you..." Steve stammered, all flustered.
Jeannie looked at him and grinned. he blushed and ducked his head. Jeannie started thinking that Stan might have hit the nail on the head.
"His name is Stan. He's a friend from ASU, he is one of the assistants for the tennis team." Jeannie informed Steve, kindly ending his distress. "Steve, honest he's just a friend, nothing for you to worry about.
Steve cleared his throat realizing he had displayed a tiny bit of jealousy for Jeannie to comment like that. His mind was in a whirlwind thinking I have to stop showing any emotion.
He realized Jeannie had been speaking and came out of his daze feeling bad for not answering.
"Sorry,Jeannie. What did you say?" Steve asked guiltily.
"I said what is going on in your head, you looked like you were a million miles away. Look, Steve, if you bringing me here has interrupted plans you had with someone, I can get home on my own. You don't have to stay, I mean. I just thought when Mike said you were going to be taking me, well that you were free." Jeannie felt she needed to clear the air.
"Jeannie, I had no plans. I was just lost in thought, that's all. I just sort of went off into a daze. I didn't mean to blank out. But truly I want to be here with you." Steve reassured her.
She smiled softly and put one arm around him, Steve hugged her back the same way. They continued their interrupted conversation, but abruptly broke it off when the match started. Steve was torn between ASU because of Jeannie and Cal. He wished ASU was playing some other school as he wanted to support Jeannie's school all the way.
About halfway through, Steve's attention was distracted by some movement on the left of the stand, where the players were watching their teammates play. Bedlam broke out as the ASU players that were not on the court were kidnapped right in front of the eyes of everyone there. Jeannie seeing some of her friends about to be taken that way darted from the stands before Steve could stop her.
She ran toward the area where they were and one of the kidnappers turned and fired. Steve was hurrying to go stop Jeannie when he saw that someone fired a shot at her and she went down.