Recovery

Diagnosis Murder

Steve Sloan/Mark Sloan

Family/Hurt Comfort

Spoilers: Retribution Parts One and Two

Steve recovers from being shot and Mark is on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Who is taking care of a badly injured Steve and house sitting the Sloan family beach house?

Disclaimer: I don't own Diagnosis Murder.

A/N: This is my first Diagnosis Murder fanfiction story, please go easy on me!

The Visitor

Lieutenant Steve Sloan lay in his hospital bed after he was brought back there after being permitted to see his father's verdict. He was sitting in a wheelchair being wheeled into the courtroom by Amanda and Jesse. As he heard the verdict and sentence, he was stunned since he felt he couldn't do anything to help his dad. Also, he had to put aside any pain from his gunshot wounds to focus any reaction from this travesty of justice Mark had to endure. Right now, he was exhausted and the medication that was supposed to alleviate any pain had started to wear off. He gladly welcomed any sleep, even if it was medicated.

A few hours later, Steve woke up to find a familiar woman sitting by his side on the visitors' chair. She looked at him with a furrowed brow of concern. He responded to her look with a look of rare helplessness.

"Carol, when did you get here?" Steve groaned when he recognized his sister. "I thought you were in Portland."

"Steve, I just got here," Carol explained. "I will answer the question that I know you'll ask, Jesse Travis contacted me and told me that dad had just been sentenced to death for killing two people. I had to drop everything to house sit the beach house and to take care of you when you get out of the hospital."

"Dad didn't kill those people, he was framed."

"I know."

"I want whoever killed those people to be caught and convicted. If I hadn't been shot, I would have found the son of a bitch and killed him or her myself."

"Steve, you know that won't help dad. You have to let your colleagues figure it out."

"Carol, I just hate feeling helpless!"

"Nobody likes that feeling."

"When did you get so philosophical?"

"I guess it had to do with mom and dad. Also, being married to Bruce Hilton had something do with it."

Steve smiled at his sister and refrained from laughing since he didn't want to end up on an operating table repairing Jesse's handy work after busting up his stitches. Instead, he gave her a thumbs up with a soft chuckle and Carol understood.

"Who brought you from the airport?" Steve asked. "Did they bring you straight to the beach house or directly here?"

"Amanda Bentley picked me up from the airport and brought me here," Carol replied. "She brought me here first and told me this is where I am needed."

"Are you going to visit dad?"

"I plan to visit him in a few hours, but I will see him and let him know how you are doing. Finally, I am going to the beach house. Amanda gave me the keys, so don't worry about it."

A nurse entered Steve's room to check on his vitals, change the bandages and clean the incisions. He winced when the bandages were removed and hissed after feeling stinging sensations as an antiseptic solution was applied to his wounds. He would think that after being in the hospital for a few weeks recuperating from his gunshot wounds that he'd be used to this treatment. Time did lessen the stinging sensation, but it would be some time before it is completely gone. He sighed in relief when she put fresh bandages to the healing wounds. The nurse observed that he yawned and saw the woman sitting on the chair.

"Ma'am, I have to ask you to leave," the nurse told Carol. "Mr. Sloan needs his rest."

"Leeann, it's okay," Steve said. "This is my sister Carol; she is a nurse in Portland, Oregon."

"Steve, I really should get going and visit dad," Carol said. "How about I give you a call later and tell you how dad is faring?"

"I am going to hold you to that!"

"I will see you tomorrow or tonight if there are still visitor hours by the time I get back. I will stay at the beach house. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

Carol gave her brother a quick kiss on the cheek and he gave her one in return. She gave the nurse a slight glare. Steve wished that Carol could have stayed longer with him. It would have been that way if their father hadn't been unjustly sentenced to death for two murders he didn't commit. Right now, Carol would have to make the trek to the prison where Mark now made his home. After seeing his sister leave his hospital room, Steve drifted off into a fitful slumber that would be filled with 'what if' scenarios in his head.

TBC