His First Tree

A/N : I want to wish all the wonderful writers and readers here at the SOSF Fandom a very Happy New Year and I hope you all had a lovely Christmas surrounded by the ones you love. I also want to apologize for my long absence from the site and my failure to post here with any great regularity. I'm afraid that my health and real life are such at the minute that I am still not in a position to return fully yet and although I have been avidly reading the wonderful stories that are being posted at present I apologize for my lack of feedback. Please know that I have enjoyed the many tales here of late and am currently enjoying the ones still being updated and hope to get back to fully participating here as soon as I am able to. Here is just a short five chapter story I managed to write over the quiet Christmas period and I am posting it here in full as a thank you for all your patience with my current situation and also to thank all those who are entertaining us so well at present spinning their wonderful stories. I wish you all good health and good luck for 2017!

Chapter 1:

Bryant Street: 6:15pm : 17th December :

Steve was typing furiously, anxious to finish the final report of the day as quickly as possible, looking forward to his date with the lovely Melanie. He had been asking her out for practically two weeks now and much to his delight she had finally agreed. He had booked the restaurant, bought the flowers at lunchtime which were under his desk and he had his best suit laid out on his bed at home ready to put on. Nothing was going to ruin his plans, especially not cumbersome paperwork and so he was determined to get his reports all typed and ready to go before he left. As he typed the last line and pulled the page from the machine he grinned and sighed with relief as his watch revealed he was right on schedule.

Mike was watching his young partner from his office and couldn't help but grin to himself. The boy had been on cloud nine all day and Mike shook his head at the thought of a new girlfriend's name to have to get used to. He never could seem to keep up with the long list and sometimes it frustrated him at how flighty and temporary Steve's relationships usually were. He had told him many times that he needed to find the right girl and commit to the one relationship but in fairness to the young man, each girl he dated never seemed to be" the one" and within weeks one or the other had decided to part ways. Mike had seen both the highs and the lows of every one of them. From the ladies in question agreeing to go out with the young man, the excitement and delight at the prospect like today and then the steady dates that followed including the many late nights and fuzzy heads he had to contend with after them down to the inevitable awkward phone calls, the definite mood swings and sometimes the phone calls that usually sent the young man into one of his "extra quiet" moods for several days before the bizarre ritual started again.

To Mike's dismay, Steve never seemed to have much luck where relationships were concerned. From the insane Connie, to the distracted but harmless Mo and many more besides. This latest girl was a new waitress at their local coffee shop haunt and Mike had on this occasion seen first hand how smitten Steve had been the first time he had laid eyes on her. He had been unable to drag his eyes away from the young lady as she had passed by him numerous times, delivering food to other tables and taking orders and when she had approached their table the first time, Steve's face had visibly reddened and his usual, easy, charming banter had seemed to fail him for the first time ever that Mike had witnessed. He had stuttered and stammered out his order and Mike had been forced to intervene and rescue him. The young waitress in question had seemed to find his uneasiness in her presence amusing and yet despite various attempts by Steve on subsequent visits to elicit a date from the young woman, she had played hard to get and had only agreed after much cajoling and Mike felt some pleading on the young man's part.

Steve gathered the final report together, pinning it immaculately as always into its cardboard binder and pushing his chair back he brought it into Mike's Office and dropped it proudly down on Mike's desk, his grin a little wider than usual. Mike looked up and removed his glasses as he studied his young partner in amusement.

"Is that the Dickinson report?"

"Yeah, all done and dusted. You ah ... need me for anything else this evening?" Steve asked very tentatively, hoping despite his question that the answer would be a definitive "no".

Mike was tempted to string the young man along a little but couldn't find the heart to do it so instead he shook his head kindly.

"No, I think that's about everything. Besides ... I don't want to hold you up from your date with the lovely Melanie. That's tonight ... Isn't it?"

Steve's smile seemed to widen even more at Mike's words and he nodded and fingered the corner of Mike's desk almost self-consciously.

"Yeah ... yeah it's tonight alright."

"I suppose you've got a table booked at that fancy restaurant of yours?"

Steve tilted his head and smiled at Mike's perceptiveness.

"Ah ... you know me too well Michael, you know that?"

"You better believe it ..." Mike joked back just as the phone on Steve's desk rang out loudly.

Steve frowned as he heard it and mumbled disconcertingly as he hurried to answer it.

"This better not be a crime scene call ... That would be just my luck ..."

Mike laughed at his words and returned his glasses to continue to study the statistics report he was looking over for Olsen. He heard Steve's voice answer his phone and a few mumbled words after but something in their downhearted tone drew his attention. Looking up from his file he discarded the glasses a second time as he watched Steve almost sink into his desk chair despondently, noticing that Steve cradled the phone and had started speaking lower so that perhaps Mike couldn't hear. The conversation took merely a few more seconds and Mike disliked the length of time that Steve took to replace the phone back on the hook. He could see Steve's shoulders visibly slumped and stood up quickly, walking towards his Office door as an uneasy feeling washed over him. He reached the door and saw that Steve had barely moved but was still staring at the phone uneasily.

"Hey Buddy boy, what's up? Was it a call out? Because if it was I can handle it for now on my own. I know how much this evening ..."

"No ... No Mike. It was Melanie. She ah ... just cancelled on me ..."

Mike had witnessed Steve being stood up and let down many times before by women during their three year partnership but something about the level of despondency in his partner's voice this time chilled Mike and made him even more sorry for the young man. Trying to find the right words to provide comfort, Mike asked tentatively.

"Well ... I'm sorry Buddy boy. Did she ... say why?"

Steve let out a heavy sigh before answering.

"She ah ... said she was called into work at the last minute ... "

"Well she probably was Steve. I mean it's almost Christmas. The silly season. And that coffee shop gets a fair bit of trade being right in the heart of the shopping district. If she's reliant on that job she could hardly refuse, now could she?" Mike added in an upbeat tone, trying desperately to bolster Steve's rapidly and visibly sinking spirits but to his further dismay Steve merely shook his head.

"No ... No, that was a change of mind call. I don't think I'll be hearing from her again ..."

Mike really didn't like the level of disappointment he read in Steve's words and again he tried to rally the young man around.

"Oh you can't be sure of that. Don't you think you're reading a little too much into that call? Maybe it was genuine? I mean she seems a very down to earth sort of a girl to me. I don't think she'd just lie like that just to get out of a date. If that were the case I think she would have been straight with you, Buddy boy."

Steve didn't respond straight away but merely got slowly to his feet and grabbing his jacket he started putting it on as he finally answered Mike in a defeatist tone.

"Mike, I've made enough calls just like that myself over the years to know a brush off when I hear one ... Listen if it's ok with you, I'm just going to head home, alright?"

"Head home? Well hold on a few minutes and I'll drop you home on my way. I'm almost finished checking over that report on my desk."

"No, no it's ok. It's a nice evening. I think I'll walk ..."

Mike's face fell.

"Walk? You've never walked home from work in all the time I've known you. That's some walk Buddy boy."

Steve forced a smile.

"Well maybe I should more often. It's good for the soul Michael."

Then rubbing his stomach he added playfully, hoping his attempted jovial tone would fool the older man enough not to arouse suspicion.

"Besides ... All those home cooked meals of Jeannie are starting to show. The walk will do me good. I'll see you tomorrow Mike."

Steve started to walk towards the door and then as if remembering something he wheeled around and headed back to his desk, and bending down he reached beneath it and retrieved the beautiful bouquet that had rested on the floor.

"I almost forgot. Here. Give these to Jeannie for me will ya? Just ah ... maybe don't tell her they were ah ... recycled, ok? Someone might as well get some pleasure from them."

Mike took the stunning bunch of flowers from Steve and nodded sadly. They must have cost the young man a pretty penny by the looks of them and it somehow made the latest development all the more upsetting.

"Sure ... Sure ... She'll love them. Thanks."

Steve half smiled and nodded before turning to leave again but something about Steve's downhearted demeanor made Mike call out as he did.

"Listen Steve ... Look I know it's not exactly your favorite time of year and all but well ... Me and Jean are going to pick our Christmas tree later and well ... you know trim it and well you're welcome to join us ... you know, if you'd like to ... seeing as your other plans have ah ... fallen through."

Steve stood and smiled at his older partner. He knew Mike's heart was in the right place and he was trying to cheer him up by including him in his family's plans as he did on a regular basis but somehow tonight Steve felt he needed to be alone and so he flustered gratefully.

"I appreciate the offer Mike, really I do but ah ... I don't think so ... I ah ... I'm a little tired. I'll see you tomorrow ok. Give Jeannie my love. Bye."

"Ok, sure. I understand. See you tomorrow." Mike added dolefully as he watched his younger partner turn and leave the bullpen, his steps a little heavier than usual.

De Haro Street : 8:05 pm :

"What do you think Mike? Does Mom's favorite ornament look better here or up here? What do you think?" Jeannie asked sincerely as she held the glass snow globe ornament in both places for Mike's opinion.

When no opinion was forthcoming, Jeannie turned and looked at Mike who was staring at the flowers that he had brought home for her from Steve earlier before they had gone to pick their tree. She had placed them in her Mother's favorite vase and had given the stunning display pride of place in the middle of the dining table. Mike had been awfully distracted since he had come home from work earlier and so far had participated very little in both the tree picking and trimming, merely nodding his approval at Jeannie's choices on both counts. Jeannie had had enough and it was time to get to the bottom of her Father's strange mood. Stepping down off the chair she had been standing on to trim the tree she clapped her hands together loudly which succeeded in drawing Mike's startled attention.

"Alright. That's enough! What's eating you Mike? Is it something to do with work? Only your heart and head have NOT been with me this evening at all. "

Mike blushed and seemed genuinely remorseful at his daughter's words. Stepping towards her, he enveloped her in a fatherly hug and spoke regretfully.

"You're absolutely right. I'm sorry Honey. I have been a little distracted, haven't I?"

" A LITTLE? " Jeannie added playfully as she felt Mike's hands squeeze her tightly and worried a little more. "What is it? Is it a case?"

Mike finally pulled away a little and forced a smile as he shook his head.

"No, no it's not a case. Actually it's nothing. Nothing at all. Now what were you asking me about again? This time you have my full attention, I promise."

Jeannie pulled back farther and sighed at Mike's attempts to stonewall her.

"OH NO ... No, you don't Mike Stone. You are NOT going to change the subject so easily this time. Now you've had something on your mind ever since you got home. You were unusually quiet through dinner and then when we went to pick the tree and you've been practically staring at those flowers ever since we started decorating it. I wanna know what's on your mind Mike. Please, don't shut me out. I'm a big girl now you know? Isn't it time you let me in on what ever bothers you?"

Mike smiled at his daughter lovingly. She was becoming more like Helen every day. Her perception and her ability to read him and to get him to open up were about on par now with his late wife's and somehow he drew great comfort and consolation from that fact. She was right. She wasn't his little girl anymore and she had a right to be told what was going on in his head especially as he had unintentionally succeeded in spoiling their special evening together by his worry over Steve. Throwing his hands in the air in mock surrender, he smiled and then clasped one of her hands lovingly as he pulled her gently towards the couch where they both then sat down.

"Ok, you're right! You got me. I have been a little distracted this evening but it's nothing to worry about and for once it's not a case or the job. I'm ... well to be honest I'm just a little worried about Steve."

"STEVE? Why? Has something happened? He wasn't hurt was he?"

Mike clasped her hand a bit tighter and smiled at Jeannie's panicked concern.

"No, no he's hasn't been hurt ... At least not physically ..."

"Oh well thank God for that. Wait a minute ...What do you mean by ... not physically?"

Mike paused a minute before continuing. He disliked discussing Steve's relationships with his younger daughter. After all Steve's record wasn't exactly the best example of how to find the perfect someone and he didn't want his young impressionable daughter thinking that Steve's methods were "the norm" either but well ... she had asked. Jeannie was waiting patiently albeit perhaps a little nervously for Mike's response so he decided to just come out with it for both their sakes.

"Steve asked a young lady out on a special date tonight. I mean he's been on cloud nine all day looking forward to it and well ... she cancelled on him at the last minute ..." Mike explained in a worried voice.

To Mike's utmost surprise Jeannie burst out laughing at his words.

"JEANNIE it's NOT funny ..." Mike admonished as a look of disappointment lit up his facial reaction and he let go of her hand in disgust.

Jeannie could see her laughter had upset the older man and tried to regain her composure and explain her outburst.

"Oh Mike, I'm sorry. It's just that I thought it was something serious ... Mike, Steve asks out girls all the time. He's a serial dater. I'm sure he'll have gotten over whatever her name was by the morning and find someone else to take her place. I really don't think it's something you should be worried about."

Jeannie's answer shocked Mike all the more. Not only was she painfully aware of Steve's unsuccessful love life she obviously found it quite normal and somewhat amusing. What was wrong with the younger generation these days? he thought to himself. Weren't they aware that feelings were fragile things that shouldn't be treated so lightly. That hearts were not there just to be broken or toyed with but to be nurtured and cherished? Feeling even more aggrieved by his daughter's response, he reprimanded her further in a hurt tone.

"Well I'm glad you find it all so amusing young lady but for your information I think ... well I happen to think this young lady was different. I ... well I think he really had ... FEELINGS for her. There I've said it!"

Again a faint chuckle burst uncontrollably from Jeannie's lips as she continued much to Mike's disdain.

"Oh I'll bet he had FEELINGS for her alright! Most men do but I think he'll get over it Mike."

"Not THOSE kind of feelings for your information. " Mike added in disgust. " I think he really ... you know LIKED her ..."

Jeannie looked confused at first and then when she understood she couldn't help laughing a little more.

"WHAT? You mean you think he was in LOVE with this girl he's never even dated before? Oh Mike! This is STEVE! I think you're barking up the wrong tree. You're worrying over nothing. Steve doesn't just fall in love that lightly. At least not the Steve I know."

"Not the Steve you know huh? What? The guy you spend time once a month with when you come home from college for the weekend or at holiday time, huh? Is that the Steve you know because let me tell you this. I think I know him a lot better. I spend days on end with the guy, night shifts and let me tell you, you get to know a hell of a lot about a guy working a night shift when there's nothing else to do to keep awake except drink coffee and talk! Not to mention when we go bowling together or to the movies. I'm TELLING you this girl was different! And ... and I'm sorry I even told you about it now!" he added, turning his back on his daughter in annoyance.

Jeannie hadn't expected the sudden outburst and could clearly tell that she had really annoyed Mike by her reaction and so she decided an apology was in order. Leaning closer Jeannie placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and spoke apologetically.

"Oh Daddy, I didn't mean to make light of whatever you were worrying about. It's just that Steve dates a lot and I guess I find it hard to believe that he feels that way about someone he hasn't even really spent time with yet. I didn't mean to offend you or Steve. You're right. Of course you know him better than me. Please don't be mad at me."

Jeannie's words sounded sincere and they succeeded in quelling Mike's annoyance at her initial reaction. He felt Jeannie lay her head on his shoulder like she always did on the rare occasions that they had a falling out and the soft curls that touched his cheek melted any last shred of upset that her words had caused him. Turning back around and placing an arm around her shoulder, he pulled her close and spoke softly into the soft curls.

"Don't worry. I'm not mad at you. But ... I felt that way about your mother the first time I saw her you know and I hadn't spent anytime with her at that stage either. It does happen you know? Sometimes out of the blue and well quite frankly ... when you least expect it."

Mike felt Jeannie snuggle close and heard her words this time softer but still holding a faint tone of disbelief.

"And you really think Steve feels that way for this girl ah ..."

"Melanie ... Yes, yes I do."

"Well did he say anything?"

It was Mike's turn to chuckle heartily.

"Jeannie this is STEVE we're talking about, remember? Of course he didn't SAY it in actual words but ... well I think I saw it and I feel it in my gut. He was really devastated when she cancelled on him and I've never seen him quite that disturbed about being stood up before. He even walked home from Bryant Street ..."

"WALKED HOME? Well why didn't you tell me that? Now that IS unusual."

"See I told you. "

" I'm sorry Mike ... Truly I am. If you say he feels different about this girl then I believe you, ok? But well if she cancelled ... She obviously doesn't exactly feel the same way about him. Maybe it's better for him that he found out now before he got too involved with her, right? I mean he could have gotten even more hurt then, isn't that true?"

Mike smiled down at his daughter's youthful wisdom.

"Yes, I guess you're right. I hadn't thought about that. Maybe you're right! But I can't help worrying about him all the same. I even asked him if he'd like to come and pick our tree with us but he politely refused. "

"Well Steve isn't really a fan of Christmas Mike you know that and maybe he just wants to be alone tonight to ... oh I don't know ... lick his wounds or whatever you men do when you've been jilted. You'll see. He'll be more upbeat tomorrow. Now what do you say we finish the tree, huh?"

"Ok Sweetheart but afterwards why don't we head over there and see how he's doing, huh? We'll surprise him. What do you say?"

"Oh I can't Mike. I'm meeting Mary and Paul at nine thirty. Remember I told you? I haven't seen them in ages. I can't let them down. I'm sorry."

Mike patted Jeannie's arm gently.

"Oh of course! I completely forgot. Of course you have to meet with your friends. Is ah ... that David fellow coming along too?" Mike added tentatively, suspecting there had been a foursome date arranged for the theater that evening.

Jeannie reddened and flustered where she stood. She had hoped Mike wouldn't ask that question but now that he had, she felt she had to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. After all she was twenty years old now and quite entitled to go on a date once in a while and she happened to like David. "

"Yes, yes he's coming too but don't you go interrogating him or intimidating him when he comes to pick me up, do you hear me? David is a perfect gentleman."

Mike's jaw dropped in disgust.

"I don't interrogate your boyfriends!"

"Oh yeah? What about poor George who you made answer forty questions about where he came from, who his parents were and what his intentions were then, huh?"

Mike flustered where he stood and mumbled almost incoherently.

"George was different. He looked like a hippy AND he had SHIFTY eyes!"

"He did NOT! Anyway you soon scared him off and then there was Rod. Remember Rod?"

"I never interrogated Rod" Mike answered defensively.

"OH NO ...You didn't have to, did you? Not when you had Tanner doing a background check on him for you!"

Again Mike flustered.

"Well weren't you glad I DID? He had a record."

"Joyriding when he was sixteen doesn't exactly make him a hardened criminal you know? But you had to scare him off too, didn't you?"

"Well he wasn't good enough for you Sweetheart."

"Hmmmm ... So YOU said. Look David is nice Daddy. He's sweet and he doesn't have shifty eyes AND he comes from a respectable family. Please be nice to him, will you? I really like him Daddy. Don't spoil this one for me, ok?"

Mike smiled sweetly and hugged his daughter once more.

"Ok, ok you win. I'll be nice to David. Alright?"

"Thanks Daddy" Jeannie beamed as Mike released her."Oh and you don't have to worry. He doesn't have a record. "

Grinning suddenly from ear to ear, Mike added playfully.

"I know. I checked!"

"Why YOU ... " Jeannie added humorously as she swatted Mike's backside as he headed back towards the half decorated Christmas Tree, laughing heartily.

As they resumed decorating it together and their laughter subsided, Jeannie spoke sincerely.

"I'm sorry I can't go to Steve's with you ..."

"Oh don't worry. That's alright. I'll go over there myself and you know what?" Mike said suddenly very dramatically. "I'm going to bring him a tree for his apartment. Not as big as ours of course, but a smaller one. It will cheer him up. " Mike added with a huge grin.

"Oh Mike, I don't think that's a good idea. Steve never puts a tree up in his apartment. I don't think he'll appreciate it Mike. "

"Don't you worry now, you just leave that to me. Now let's just sort out this tree of ours."

Jeannie shook her head at Mike's crazy idea and could almost see the look of absolute disgust on Steve's face when Mike showed up with a tree on his door stoop. As she watched Mike gain a new lease of life grabbing tinsel and wrapping it around some of the branches, she spotted the beautiful flowers on the table and realized in that moment who they had been initially intended for. They were quite an expensive bouquet for a first date and a little expensive for Steve's budget. Maybe there was something to Mike's theory. Turning towards her father she decided to ask tentatively.

"Mike? "

"Yeah?"

"Those flowers that Steve sent home for me ..."

Hearing Jeannie's words Mike swallowed hard and quickly interrupted her sentence.

"You know I think your Mother's ornament does look better up here where we can see it, don't you?"