Title: The Venomous Vacation.
Summery: Jesse has worked himself into the ground and is under orders from Mark to take it easy for a while. When staying with Mark and Steve at the beach house, Jesse encounters a creepy critter but doesn't realise what has happened until the crawler's self defence mechanism has set in…
Rating: PG-13 for distress
Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing, if I did own the characters of Diagnosis Murder well…that would be a different story ;)
AN: A huge thank you to everyone who reviewed, your comments mean a lot and really encourage me to continue with the story. I have come up with a (terrible) title but at least it isn't untitled anymore. I have also made some changes and corrections (I hope they improve the quality, if it needs more work let me know). Next chapter is on the way and as ever feedback is always appreciated.
The Venomous Vacation
By
R L Woe
The sun was shining, the surf was up and the sound of the waves hitting the soft white sand on the beach was just delicious. As Dr Jesse Travis stood on the edge of the ocean, gripping his surfboard tightly, he stopped and took a look around. Kids playing in the sand at a safe distance from their parents, a swimming group further up the coast away from the large waves crashing over each other in front of him and a couple of ladies in very small, very revealing bathing suits sunbathing together. This was a perfect day to be free from work and Jesse was going to make sure he enjoyed every moment of his vacation.
Having been given a whole week to him self to do whatever he pleased, Jesse intended to make the most of it. It had been so long since his last break from work that he could hardly remember when the last one was. His boss had insisted he take some time off to relax and unwind for a few days at least, and when your boss is Dr Mark Sloan there is no point in try to argue.
Jesse had begun to feel the effects of working himself into the ground and was starting to feel more and more depleted. His usually cheerful and bubbly personality had become listless and irritable which worried his friends profusely. Jesse had quickly wormed his way into the close little family and he couldn't imagine not having them around. With his boyish charm, kind heart and lively soul Jesse had come to mean a lot to them too. When his personality slowly began to change due to long, hard shifts, heavy workload and extra stress from co-running a BBQ restaurant, Mark decided to make Jesse an offer he couldn't refuse. A chance to relax with his friends and get the rest he needed while enjoying himself.
Just a few days later Jesse was standing on the beach in front of the Sloan men's house gripping his surfboard and watching the waves roll in. The invitation to stay there, so that he would not have to worry about being on his own or having any potential temptation work to do at his apartment, was a long-standing one and both Mark and his son Steve had managed to convince Jesse to stay at their place for a couple of days at least. An invitation to their final group member had eased some of Jesse's worry of imposing and soon Amanda had joined them putting an end to any protests.
Jesse walked confidently into the ocean's cool blue water and then expertly pulled himself up onto his surfboard. He began paddling out over the waves clinging on as the waves became larger and more powerful. The wave he had been waiting for approached and in no time he was flying over the water twisting and turning, skilfully riding the tide.
Back at the beach house Mark and Amanda watched their young friend cut through the ocean in an impressive dance of agility and flexibility. It was easy to forget that behind the accomplished surgeon was a young man who just loved to throw himself into life and enjoy it; Amanda smiled as she watched him.
"You know I think this is exactly what Jesse needed, a little down time with his favourite hobby and his friends." She slowly stretched on her chair and turned her gaze to Mark who nodded at her in agreement with a small, knowing smile on his face.
"I just wish he would pay more attention to what he needs more often." Mark's smile turned into a very slight frown as he thought about how Jesse had run himself down trying to please everyone else. "Sometimes selflessness isn't always such a good thing".
Shaking his head slightly, Mark turned back to watch the young man he now considered to be almost like a second son to him, Mark began to think of Jesse's parents and just what they had missed by not being there for him when they should have been. Jesse had turned out to be such a warm, giving person that Mark wondered just how he had managed to stay so happy and not get clouded with bitterness.
While contemplating all of this, Steve jogged up the driveway in his grey running shorts and shirt finishing his afternoon run in front of their home. He was also taking a well-deserved break and had decided to take a run along the beach. He had missed the scenery, particularly the women decorating the sand, and the opportunity to think or relax his mind as he ran. The feel of his heart racing for another reason aside from the danger of his job was a welcome feeling. Steve slowed to a stop flashing his father and Amanda a genuine smile, his run putting him in a good mood.
"Hey Steve, have a good run this morning?" Amanda asked, looking up from her cool glass of lemonade and returning his smile. She reached out to the table to pour another glass for him. Steve gratefully accepted the glass and took a seat on a nearby sun bed.
"It was great. With the sun on my face, the wind in my hair…"
"The girls decorating your running path…" Jesse cut in as he trudged up the sandy path leading up to the Sloan residence. While climbing back on to his board after being knocked off by an over powerful wave, Jesse had watched Steve join his two friends on the beach and decided to follow suit. He came in through the gate and threw his board down in front of Mark, Steve and Amanda and then sat on it heavily, tired from the mornings surf session. Cool drops of water trickled down the back of his neck from his damp, golden hair and the feel of the sun chasing them away with it's bright rays brought a bigger grin to his already smiling face.
"Hey Jess, how's the water?" Steve replied smirking just a little at his best friend's comment.
"Great, there are some perfect waves out there today if I wasn't so beat I would of stayed out there longer." The young man leaned back until he was laying flat on his surf board, careful not to touch the soft, dry sand underneath and end up covered in it. He closed his eyes and sighed contently unaware of the three pairs of eyes watching him, glad that they were gaining their old Jesse back.
Mark stood up from his chair and stretched his back lazily before turning and heading towards the house. "What say we get some lunch underway? If I know you two, and I do, you must be starving."
At the mention of food Jesse's head turned in Mark's direction and his eyebrows raised inquisitively. "Did I head you mention lunch?" The young doctor's question was answered by a chorus of soft laughter as the rest of them made their way into the house to get out of the hot sun and offer any help if it would re required.
Jesse slowly pulled himself up and moved his surfboard to the fence post where it could dry off. As he followed his friends into the house, which was like a home away from home, he couldn't stop thinking about how lucky he was, how fortunate he was to have such great friends who cared about him enough to notice and appreciate him. They were willing to put up with him for a whole week just so he could take a break and pull him self back together. It was true that just a short while ago he had been little like him self at all. He found himself tired and irritated all the time, the smallest of faults or annoyances magnified to him and he had even begun to snap at his friends when they tried to help him. Jesse knew that that was not like him and he certainly wanted his friends to know that it wasn't him but the pressure to excel and succeed. In short he didn't want to let anyone down. To his relief his friends had been very understanding, so much so that he was starting to think they knew how he was feeling better than he did.
"Jesse if you feel like taking a shower you're more than welcome to use mine upstairs". Mark's kind voice interrupted his thoughts, it was then Jesse realised that he was standing in the middle of the kitchen still dressed in his wetsuit. "I think Steve just beat you to the one downstairs. Lunch won't be ready for a while yet, why don't you shower and change. Amanda and I can handle everything".
Mark's suggestion sounded like a wonderful one and Jesse smiled at his mentor appreciatively. "Yeah…yeah that sounds great. Thanks Mark."
The older man shook his head, donned a slight smile as he watched Jesse leave the kitchen to go upstairs and thought about the amount of times the boy thanked him. Boy, he thought with a good-humoured chuckle, that 'boy' is a grown man. Still, he thought of Steve as his boy though and supposed he always would, the difference with his two 'boys' being that one he had brought into the world and watched him grow up, the other he wished he could have brought up. Jesse had mentioned little about his childhood but his bitterness towards his 'real' father and lack of enthusiasm about the subject told Mark that it probably could have been better. That could have been part of the reason Jesse was so eager to please. Mark had a feeling that the young doctor wasn't thanking him so often just out of politeness but because he really believed he owed them something. Mark, on the other hand, was more than happy to have Jesse staying with them for a while, their work was important and often got busy meaning that some days he barely saw the young man. Mark saw this as the perfect opportunity to spend some time with his children, surrogate or otherwise. He had made sure that they managed to get a little time off to remind themselves there was more to life than work, Mark's idea of course. Demanding shifts had been hard to switch but he was able to pull a few strings and had managed to arrange time off for himself and Jesse at the same time as Steve's paid leave. Amanda had also built up a healthy amount of holiday time and decided to take it while the opportunity to spend time with her friends and her family was there.
As Jesse finished up in the shower he turned off the water and reached out for the towel he had left on the rail. He stepped out carefully, so as not to slip on the cool tiles beneath his feet, and wrapped the material around his waist, using a smaller towel to run over his hair. The warm water had done wonders for his tired body and mind and he now felt fresh and alert, ready for whatever delicacy that awaited him in the kitchen. Padding quietly to the guest room Jesse quickly found a pair of comfy black pants and a cool shirt to wear from his suite case, which he hadn't bothered to unpack just yet. The weather was hot and he had been far to excited about the activities he had planned. He could unpack the case tomorrow.
After dressing himself and running a comb through his damp hair, Jesse trotted back down the stairs and walked happily into the kitchen where a place had been laid for him at the table. A portable fan had been set up beside the table where it blew a welcome breeze around the kitchen. Just as he sat down Steve appeared, dressed comfortably much like him self, after finishing his shower. He leaned against the counter trying to get a look in at what was being prepared for them to eat. This earned his hands a gentle slap from Amanda who was preparing a very refreshing looking salad.
"Hands off, you'll get it soon enough". She smiled and nodded to fridge "Would you mind getting the drinks? That's all that is left to do…"
"Sure thing". Steve made his way to the fridge and took out two jugs full of cold ice tea; he set them on the counter and then grabbed some glasses from the cupboard nearby. Noticing his best friend sitting alone at the table staring out of the window at the sunny day, Steve set the drinks and glasses on a tray and carried them over to the table asking for silent assistance in pouring them out. Jesse reluctantly tore his gaze from the window and the beautiful day outside and smiled taking one jug of heavenly cold drink off of the tray.
"Jess I was thinking of washing the cars later, maybe waxing them too while the weather is good, think you could lend me a hand?" The detective looked up from his job of pouring the same amount into each glass and was rewarded by a beaming smile from the young doctor.
"Yeah sure, no problem. You got your hose reel fixed though, right? I don't feel like hauling buckets of soapy water around on a day like this". Blue eyes squinted in distaste at the thought and he wiped his brow as if to make his point.
"Hose reel not only fixed but brand new and awaiting use. I got a new one fitted right after that dog belonging to the neighbours went missing. Apparent cause for the leaks in the old reel was teeth marks, my guess is that the owners weren't leaving enough water out for Rover and he came looking for his own privet drinking fountain".
"You know those people didn't deserve that dog, they treated him poorly and he deserved a better home. Mr Osborne will appreciate him much mo…" Mark's voice filtered into the conversation but when he realised everyone had stopped what he or she was doing to look at him he smiled sheepishly and shrugged.
"You are responsible for the disappearance of the Durst's dog? You dog-napped it and gave it to Mr Osborne!" The incredulous reply from Steve and the look his son was giving him was enough to paint Mark's face with an immense smile and a raise of his eyebrows in an innocent and unknowing gesture. "You know dad, I could book you for that…"
"What? For helping a poor defenceless creature from cruelty? The Dursts never appreciated or cared for that dog and now he's in a good home with a deserving owner who needs the company much more than they do. Besides I couldn't help it if the gate lock somehow undid itself and the dog chose to look for a more suitable residence…"
Mark joined Steve and Jesse at the table, placing a large, freshly cooked lasagne in the centre, which was followed by Amanda and her crisp, cool salad. They ate together sharing light conversation, content to finally spend some time together that wasn't centred on criminals of cases.
After they had finished their meal Amanda called her mother who was watching her young son CJ for a couple of days. Once satisfied that he was ok and enjoying himself as his grandma's, she helped Mark clear the table and wash up while Jesse and Steve made their way out to the cars parked out front. Steve opened the garage door and brought out two buckets and some sponges.
"Jesse, grab the hose reel would you? It's down by the tap in the wall…"
Jesse walked over to the outside tap and sitting there, connected to the tap, was the hose reel tied together with fine wire. Reaching inside to find the knot to untie the fine wire, Jesse felt around under the reel and in the spaces between each coil. Just as he was pulling his hand out of the centre of the reel he felt a sharp pinprick on the inside of his wrist and yelped in surprise. He whipped his hand out of the reel rapidly and sat back on his heels rubbing his wrist. In the back of his mind he knew he should inspect the skin first but he was after all human and instinct set in first.
Steve, having heard Jesse's surprised yowl, put down the sponges and poked his head around the end of the his car, where he knelt to begin wiping the lights. "Jesse? What is it?" The detective looked at him puzzled waiting for an answer.
Jesse looked at his arm closely, his forehead creased in confusion as he stopped rubbing his wrist. There was nothing there. The skin was a little red where he had been rubbing it but at a glance there was nothing else.
"I…uh…guess that wire is sharper that I thought. It must have scratched me when I put my hand inside to untie it. Sorry." He gave a small humorous huff and smiled running a hand through his hair sheepishly. Steve clapped him on the shoulder and stood up with a slightly relieved look on his face, glad that his friend was ok.
Jesse pushed himself up off the ground shaking his head and swiftly picking up the hose reel deciding to take it with him to use wire cutters to take off the wire and unravel the long flexible pipe. What Jesse didn't notice as he walked away holding the tubing was the small black spider that dropped off of the reel and scampered away into the garage in search of a new home.
(Next part coming soon!)
