Decisions and Donuts

Disclaimer: The characters of Diagnosis Murder do not belong to me. They are only borrowed for the purpose of this fiction. No profit is made from this story.

A/N: I found a special treasure in my beta reader. I truly appreciate her and the infamous red pen. Thanks so much for your help.

Chapter 1

Jesse made his way to the ER knowing full well he wasn't going to like what he would find down there. It had been all of two days since he had let this guy go home with strict orders to take it easy and get lots of rest. He was pretty sure that he had also mentioned that going back to work at this time was totally out of the question. He was also sure he had mentioned to this particular patient that if he wound up back in the hospital before he had completely healed from his current injuries, his chances of being placed into restraints were probably more than just good. Jesse felt equally sure the patient's father would back him up and agree with anything he felt was necessary to keep him from becoming a menace to himself.

Jesse charged through the doors of the exam room and, sure enough, there on the gurney looking rather sheepish at his predicament lay Lieutenant Steve Sloan. He opened his mouth to try and explain what had happened when Jesse looked at him with total exasperation and said, "Save it. I've heard them all by now. Just lay still and be quiet. Oh, and before you ask, I have told your dad and he is on his way down here right now. You, my friend, are in big trouble."

The three nurses and the EMT's, who were still hovering, exchanged knowing glances among themselves. This seemed to becoming a frequent habit of the unfortunate police detective.

Jesse ordered several tests as he made an inventory of the damage Steve had done to himself. Jesse noticed that the sutures he had so carefully placed on Steve's right side were all but mangled. Dirt covered the entire site. In fact Steve seemed to be covered from head to toe in similar dirt and some other foreign substance that he was certain he would rather remain a mystery. Jesse noticed the Lieutenant was having difficulty breathing giving him cause to believe that Steve had cracked one of his very bruised ribs. He also noticed that his friend seemed to be holding his arm across his mid section and after removing the remainder of his shirt he realized that Steve had received a severe beating to his stomach and back. This just added to the tests that he had already planned for the unfortunate Lieutenant.

"Jesse, this isn't what it looks like." Steve tried a feeble attempt at making some excuse for being here.

"I see. You are wearing a jacket with a pair of jeans. Your badge is clipped to your belt as is your gun. I believe the report said that you were found in an alley wallowing around on the ground. On second thought I think I would like to hear what you have to say because this should be pretty good." Jesse smiled down at his friend waiting for what should be quite an entertaining tale.

Just then Mark Sloan came rushing into the room. After a quick examination of his son, he finally let out the breath he had been holding. Relief soon turned to anger as Mark realized that Steve had definitely not been at home recuperating, as per doctor's orders. Keeping his voice even and steady he pinned Steve with a glare and began interrogating his son.

"Steven Michael Sloan, what on earth were you doing?" Before Steve could open his mouth to explain Mark once again pounced on his infuriating son.

"Hush. I am not in the mood to hear any of your excuses. Can't you, just for once, try to do as you are told?" Once again Mark cut off his son when he looked like he might try to answer his father.

"I told you to be quiet. Two-year-olds mind better than you do. What excuse do you have for not being at home resting?" Once again Steve tried to explain when his father launched into him again.

"Don't interrupt me when I'm talking to you. There is no excuse for this young man. Jesse is your doctor and he decides when you can go back to work. Not you. I know you heard him when he said at least until the stitches come out. Well let me tell you, my friend, as your father I plan to see to it that you do exactly as you are told. I had better not hear one word come out of your mouth about when you can go home. Your doctor and I will decide that and I promise that all the whining and fussing will do you no good. Do you understand me?" Steve, not sure what to do, just lay there afraid to speak.

"Answer me, young man. I asked you a question and I expect a response." Bellowed Mark.

"I understand." Steve said, flustered by his father's obvious frustration with him.

Steve felt a little guilty about the whole thing but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He let his breath out sighing, causing pain to radiate through his entire mid section. This caught the attention of his father.

"What?" Marked pinned Steve with a glare.

"Nothing. I'm just glad you didn't threaten to restrain me that's all." Steve looked relieved for a short moment.

"That is still a possibility. It will depend on how well you conduct yourself while you are here. You give anyone so much as a cross word and I'll have you trussed up so tight you won't be able to move an inch."

The orderlies came before Steve could reply to take him to x-ray. While he was gone, Jesse and Mark put their heads together and decided that for the sake of the staff and for his own good they would need to come up with a way to keep Steve in line.

"He's going to needed full time watching. He seems to forget he's recovering the minute he starts to feel a little better." Mark sighed with a frustrated look all over his face.

"You know there is only one person who can handle the job. He's not going to like it though." Jesse looked at Mark with the same frustration on his own face.

"I know but I don't see how we can get around it. You know it's the best thing for him. He has really given us no choice." Mark couldn't help the grin that was beginning to spread across his face.

"You want to make the call or should I?" Jesse couldn't help but smile as he joined in the fun.

"Oh let me do it. I think I need to have a little talk with her and fill her in on everything so that she will be ready for him when she gets here." Mark smiled at the thought of his son's reaction when he saw his nurse.