Over The Edge
A/N: This is a fully completed 19 chapter story. I am going to try and get all chapters fully posted as soon as possible but it will take me a while to get so many uploaded so please just watch this space for further updates. I hope you enjoy it and to those readers who perhaps aren't too keen on Steve Whump, a quick word of warning : There is quite a bit of that in this story ... :-) I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Now on to the story ...
Chapter 1
As Mike pushed open the heavy wooden door of the seedy pool hall in the Tenderloin district and emerged out into the late morning sunshine, he winced as his eyes slowly adjusted to the glaring brightness after the dark, subdued lighting he had just come from. Rubbing his eyes, he held the door open for Steve who emerged just after him, noting that his young partner almost backed out of the door, keeping close tabs on the array of dubious characters that were watching their exit with unnerving interest. Even when he had fully exited out onto the sidewalk and the heavy door had slammed shut with a loud bang behind them, Mike noted that Steve still threw furtive glances back at the closed door as they walked back towards the Ford Galaxy together, side by side.
"Nice place, huh?" Mike asked with a wide grin to try and break through the tension he felt palpably coursing through his young partner as they walked.
The question drew Steve's nervous gaze and a faint smile replaced the anxious frown momentarily as the young man nodded in his direction as they then parted ways and went either side of the car and opening their respective doors, they sat in.
"There was a fair assortment of ex cons in there. Looked like a few of them weren't exactly happy to see us Mike." Steve finally elaborated from the safety of the driver's seat as Mike chuckled in response.
"That's because I've put quite a few of them away Buddy boy. Wait until you're on the force as long as I am and you'll see a lot of familiar faces in similar circumstances, mark my words." Mike stated with mild amusement as he saw the visible relief cross Steve's face at the fact that they had survived the encounter unscathed.
"That aside, what did you make of our little interview with the inimitable Charlie Parker, huh?"
Steve's new found ease left him again briefly as he stared nervously across at the older man from the driver's side and carefully measured his response without answering which caused Mike to laugh again before continuing.
"Relax Buddy boy. It wasn't a loaded question. I'm not testing you. I just want your opinion that's all. How long have we been partners now, huh?"
Steve relaxed again and grinned as he answered in a humorous tone.
"Eleven months, 23 days and ... almost three hours."
Another loud cackle of laughter erupted from the older man in the passenger seat.
"It's been that memorable, huh?" he asked between chuckles.
Steve nodded and laughed as well, finally dispelling the last of his pent up anxiety after their unnerving brush with the wrong side of society they had just come from.
"Well in all that time you've seen how I operate, haven't you? You know I rely on my gut instinct for most things. "
"Yeah ..."
"So I want to hear what YOUR gut is telling you about good old Charlie Parker. Despite his very shaky alibi, do you think he's innocent? Or ... is he lying?"
Steve smiled but still remained quiet as he wondered if he should share his point of view or not or if there was a catch to the question his partner was asking him. In the early months of their partnership Mike had caught him out regularly on different aspects of different cases much to the older man's delight but in the last few months Steve was starting to bat a good average and was proving to be quite a lot more difficult to catch out but that fact didn't seem to stop Mike from trying all the same Finally feeling confident, he spoke bravely.
"Ok ... I think he's lying and he's guilty as hell."
Mike smiled again at the audible confidence behind Steve's answer and so nudged him a little further.
"Sounds confident. And what are you basing that feeling on, huh Buddy Boy?"
Steve had anticipated the question and turned slightly to face his partner as he explained further.
"Well for one, despite the fact that he acted cool as a cucumber when you were questioning him, he was sweating and he kept turning his pool cue ever so slightly around and around in his left hand in a nervous fashion as he answered your questions ... "
Mike belly laughed.
"Oh you noticed that did you? Well I am impressed Buddy boy. I guess you were paying attention in psychology class, huh?"
Steve laughed and blushed as he turned back towards the steering wheel and shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"What? You think he's telling the truth?"
"No, Buddy boy. I happen to agree with you but as well as all those signs you picked up which ... I did pick up on too by the way, he also slipped up in his initial answers ..."
Mike let that fact hang between them for a while and he smiled at the confusion in Steve's face and the slight discomfort that was palpable between them which only served to confirm for Mike that Steve hadn't noticed the slip in question.
"You didn't catch that, did you? I figured you were a little too occupied with the guys that were starting to circle around us in there."
Steve blushed redder as he inwardly cursed the fact that Mike had caught him out again as he flustered again in his own defense.
"Well we were a little outnumbered in there Michael ... "
"I know, I know, I'm not faulting what you were doing but what you missed is that when I asked about the victim he immediately said he didn't know her."
Again a brief look of confusion crossed Steve's face as he tried to figure out the significance of that statement. Mike leaned across and playfully tapped the young man's temple.
"Come on Buddy boy. Will you use all that energy you've got up there. "
Steve laughed and then his face changed as realization suddenly dawned.
"Oh I get it. You never mentioned the gender of the victim! So how did he know it was a "her" Right ... RIGHT!" he exclaimed, banging the steering wheel for effect as he inwardly cursed his earlier lack of attention to the interview.
Mike had been right as well as the way the pool hall had circled around them HAD diverted his attention and set his nerves on edge. As he shook his head and smiled in embarrassment, Mike slapped his shoulder playfully and spoke humorously.
"May I be the first to congratulate you ... "
Steve laughed again.
"So what now? Back to Bryant street or do you want to check out his alibi first?"
"No, we'll check out his alibi later. Besides, I have a feeling we're going to have a tough time finding anyone to corroborate his story about a late night walk for some fresh air, don't you? No, first we're taking a little detour. Head towards the Golden Gate Bridge will you?"
Steve's face blanked again as he placed the key in the ignition and stared across at Mike incredulously.
"The Golden Gate bridge? Why are we heading in that direction?"
Mike shifted in his seat and sent an exasperated look across at his young partner.
"Do you always have to ask so many questions? Just DRIVE will you?"
Steve chuckled and raised his hands briefly in surrender before returning his right hand to the key and having started the car, he drove out into the late morning traffic as he playfully added to Mike's disgust.
"Yes Sir!"
They drove on in silence until Steve approached the Bridge fifteen minutes later and Mike saw him glancing across sideways at him, awaiting further instructions and directions. He enjoyed keeping the young man in suspense sometimes. It added to the fun and often broke up the tedium of their everyday routine and as such, he had decided to eek out the surprise for a bit longer. Grinning broadly he merely gestured with his hand straight ahead and spoke a single sentence, inwardly awaiting Steve's even more puzzled reply.
"Drive across it ..."
Steve's head whipped sideways again in confusion and Mike saw it out of the corner of his eye and held back the chuckle that threatened to erupt.
"Across it. What? To Sausalito? What's in Sausalito that we need to investigate on the case?"
"Steve, all will be revealed in good time. Just do as I tell you for now, will you?"
Then in an appeasing tone he added with genuine sincerity. "Please?"
Steve shook his head in exasperation and followed the flow of traffic out onto the Golden Gate Bridge, stopping mid traffic to wind up his window as the chilly Bay winds whipped through the partially opened window as they headed out onto the exposed part of the Bridge. He watched as Mike did the same, pulling his overcoat closer around his neck at the same time. He threw another sideways glance surreptitiously at his older partner and shook his head. Mike was in one of his strange, secretive moods today and when he was in one of THOSE moods it was usually best to just go along and let him have his fun.
The drive across the Golden Gate Bridge was a pleasant one as the San Francisco skyline stood out in the rear view mirror and Alcatraz shimmered off to the right in the late morning haze. Mike barked out more brief instructions to take the Alexander Avenue exit and to turn then left onto Alexander Avenue and then the first right onto Conzelman Road. He drove then along a winding road which having been here a couple of times before, he knew led to the parking lot up at Battery Spencer and the popular tourist viewing point for the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. He had absolutely NO idea what could be up here that would assist them with their case against Charlie Parker but he was playing along anyway and as the parking lot came into view, Mike told him to park the car. Pulling into an empty spot which they had been lucky enough to find considering the lot was busy and seemed to be swarming with afternoon tourists Steve turned off the engine and turned to stare incredulously at Mike who ignored his confused look and still grinning, exited the car and spoke back into him briefly.
"Pop the trunk will you?"
Feeling even more in the dark than ever, Steve did as he was requested to and then hopped out quickly and stood at the driver's side door as he watched Mike open the trunk and disappear momentarily behind it. The winds were very strong coming off the Bay and despite the late morning sunshine, the sea breeze was still particularly chilling. Steve pulled his trench coat collar up around his neck and brushed a hand through his hair that was now being blown wildly out of shape much to his annoyance by the unforgiving sea breeze as he waited to see what Mike had in store for them next. He didn't have to wait long as the trunk closed with a bang and Mike held up a brown paper bag and wearing a huge grin he finally revealed all with a simple, single word.
"Lunch."
Steve's jaw dropped and he shook his head incredulously.
"You brought us all the way across the Bay to Sausalito just to have lunch?"
Mike laughed and nodded agreeably.
"Well why not? Beats lunch in the car any day. Besides it's beautiful here and the view up above is spectacular. Come on."
"MIKE? It's a little breezy here don't ya think? You seriously want us to eat lunch and get blown away at the same time? Can't we at least eat in the car and admire the view from here huh?"
Mike made his way around the car to Steve and draping an arm around his partner's shoulders he closed the driver's door with the other.
"Oh come on. Where's your sense of adventure Buddy boy, huh?"
With an equally mischievous grin, he answered playfully.
"It's in the car where it's warm. That's where it is. MIKE, it's FREEZING here."
"Nice try Buddy boy but we ALWAYS eat in the car. Today we're going to eat somewhere different. You know your trouble don't you?"
As he was reluctantly steered against his will up the steep slope to Battery Spenser, Steve shivered and spoke downheartedly.
"No ... but I'm sure you're going to tell me."
"That's right. You don't have enough meat on your bones. That's why you're always cold."
"Aw Mike ... Come on ... "
"It's true and on top of all that you don't wear the right clothes ... "
Steve laughed and almost choked on his sudden laughter.
"WHAT? ..."
"That's right Buddy Boy. All those designer clothes and their flimsy fabrics. You need a nice warm suit like mine and a nice woolen pullover like this. It keeps the cold Bay winds from chilling you, let me tell you ..."
Steve couldn't stop the chuckles that followed as he listened to Mike's clothing advice and stuttered in reply.
"Oh Mike ... I don't know ... I really don't know ..."
"What? You don't like what I wear? Is that it? You have something against pullovers?"
Steve's chuckles died instantly at Mike's hurt tone and he flustered in defense.
"No ... No it's not that. I mean it ah ... well that look suits you Mike but ah ... for me? I just don't think so. Besides ... I happen to like what I wear thank you very much ..."
Mike had enjoyed the playful banter and knew it had succeeded in distracting the younger man sufficiently as they had walked up towards the crest of the hill where they now stood overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge in all its glory. Steering him towards a vacant bench, he sat down and pulled the younger man down alongside him as he then placed the brown paper bag down beside them and gestured his hand dramatically at the view with one hand and grasped the back of Steve's neck affectionately with the other.
"Just get a load of that view Buddy boy. Now where else could you get a view like that while eating lunch, huh?"
Steve smiled at Mike's enthusiastic tone and looking out over the expanse of the Golden Gate Bridge, he couldn't help but agree with the older man about the beauty of the sight before him. It was breathtaking and peaceful. Nodding his head, he replied in an honest and quiet, awestruck tone.
"Yeah, it's beautiful alright. I have to give you that but Mike ... it's COLD" he added again playfully, pulling the collar of his trench coat around his neck and holding it there with one hand as the strong winds felt like they were blowing straight through him.
Mike chuckled as he heard Steve's teeth chatter involuntarily and loosening the hold on the back of his partner's neck, he slapped his shoulder playfully instead and reaching down he produced a metal flask from the bag and opening the top he began to pour strong black liquid into a metal cup before placing it in Steve's hand.
"Here ...This will sort you out. Hot and black. Get it down you."
Steve let go of his collar and wrapped both hands around the cup now emanating warmth gratefully and allowed himself a smile before savoring the first mouthful of his coffee. Mike chuckled again at the delight that briefly crossed Steve's face.
"Well? How was that? You feeling warmer now?"
Feeling the excellent coffee warming the back of his throat and feeling it almost warm a path straight to his stomach, Steve merely nodded before taking another indulgent mouthful of coffee as he watched Mike then produce two wrapped sandwich packets from the bag and hand one across to him.
"Here, eat up. It's been a long morning. You must be as hungry as I am. "
Mike watched in amusement as Steve placed the sandwich packet down on the bench to open it, refusing to let the warm coffee cup out of his other hand and he couldn't resist another chuckle at the young man's expense. Hearing the laughter, Steve's eyes caught Mike's and he looked curiously at him for a second or two.
"WHAT? ... What's so funny how?"
"YOU ..." Mike managed to get out between chuckles. "You're holding that coffee cup like it's the only thing left in the world between you and hypothermia."
"That's because it IS" Steve retorted defensively but couldn't resist giving in to Mike's infectious laughter then as he finally joined in.
"Just breathe that fresh sea air into your lungs Buddy boy. It's good for what ails you, you know? Clears out the lungs ... and clears the head. You just need to come here more often. You'd get used to it. "
Steve shook his head as the wind picked up and he had to grab at the sandwich wrapper to stop it taking his lunch off with the breeze.
"Is that right?"
"Absolutely Buddy boy. Now eat up. The quicker you eat lunch, the quicker we can get your cold duff back to the warmth of the car, alright?" Mike added playfully, chuckling again at his partner's expense.
Steve watched as Mike took a bite of his sandwich and marveled at how the cold winds didn't seem to be even bothering the older man and also wondered how it hadn't managed to whip the fedora off his partner's head, the way it was whipping around them so strongly. Finally realizing that Mike's last words rang true and that the quicker he ate what Mike had brought, the quicker he could get back to the warm car, he picked up the sandwich to take a bite but something in the middle of it made him frown and he placed the coffee cup down much to Mike's surprise and opened the two slices of bread before letting out an exasperated sigh.
"What? What's the matter with your sandwich Buddy boy?"
Steve looked accusingly over at Mike and spoke in dismay.
"Aw Mike ... You got these in Eddie's deli again, didn't you?"
"Yes ... Of course I did. I always get them from Eddie's deli, you know that. Why?"
"Mike I told you before. Eddie is getting ... well ... on in years and he doesn't see too well these days and ... he keeps mixing up the orders Mike. "
"Well you can't fault the man for getting old Buddy boy. Happens to all of us. Besides ... he's only mixed them up a little of late ..."
"A little huh? The last seven times Mike actually. I like Eddie as much as you do but he needs to get some younger help ..."
"Oh I think you're being a little harsh Buddy boy. Eddie still makes the best sandwiches in ..."
" ... All of San Francisco, I know Mike. You always say that. Anyway it doesn't matter. I wasn't that hungry anyway ... " Steve finally admitted as he placed the sandwich back down untouched on the bench in disgust.
"Well what's the matter with it? You like Reuben sandwiches, don't you? "
"Yeah ... Yeah I do but that's not a Reubens Mike. It's baloney. I HATE baloney almost as much as I HATE anchovies. "
Mike smiled at the childish, sulky tone Steve was using. If his plan worked right he might now finally get to the bottom of Steve's change in demeanor these last few days since the Alison Drew case began. Mike knew it had affected Steve more than he was letting on but so far in true Keller style he was refusing to talk about it or admit it. Mike hoped that this unexpected and unusual trip to Battery Spenser and the breathtaking view might finally make him fess up and talk about what was bothering him. His twenty years on the force gave him experience enough to know that bottling things up where cases were concerned was NOT a healthy thing to do and he was determined to help his young partner whether he wanted him to or not.
Picking up Steve's discarded sandwich, Mike cast a surreptitious glance across at Steve who was now staring out at the bridge with the same uncharacteristic frown pasted on his wind blown features that had seemed to plague him of late. The same frown that had worried Mike and had elicited this impromptu lunch in the first place. Steve's hair was blowing wildly out of its normal well coiffured style as every now and then Mike watched him try to tame it unsuccessfully with a hand brushed through it before seemingly giving up on the impossible task and shivering again palpably. Mike watched him stuff his hands under his arms as if to try and warm them back to life and appeared to be in deep thought and it bothered Mike greatly to see the normally jovial young man in such a state of inner turmoil.
Mike reached out and nudged him purposefully with his elbow as he handed him his untouched Reuben's sandwich with the other
"Here ... Stop complaining will you? I'll make sure I check them the next time I use Eddie's deli and this is a Reubens, ok? I'LL eat the baloney ones alright?"
For a brief moment, Steve looked contritely across at Mike and Mike was sure he saw a slight blush tint the young man's cheeks but after the awkward moment had passed Steve suddenly shook his head and politely declined the generous offer.
"No ... No thanks Mike. You eat it. I'm alright ... I'm ... I'm really not that hungry anyway ..."
This time it was Mike's turn to frown as Steve's distinct and unusual lack of appetite only served to confirm what he had already feared. Placing both sandwiches back down and slightly behind him to guard from the forceful winds, he decided it was time to tackle the situation head on. Pussy footing around things had never been Mike's strong point anyway.
"Look Steve ... don't you think you've seethed in silence long enough, huh?"
Steve's head whipped around at the unexpected question and this time his blush was clearly visible as he flustered audibly.
"What? ... What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about Buddy boy. It's this case, isn't it? It's really gotten to you ... Don't you think it's time you let me in on what's bothering you? "
Mike watched as a whole range of emotions seemed to flicker across the young man's face in a matter of seconds and he knew Steve hadn't expected the sudden interrogation. He could see Steve's spirit almost visibly rise to the challenge of denial but then watched in dismay as something seemed to change his mind and he slumped visibly where he sat and his gaze wandered back out towards the Bay as a distinct melancholy settled over him at the same time.