Behind Him All The Way

A/N: I dedicate this chapter to Sylvia Elaine :-) And also want to thank all those who remain patient and supportive of my slow updates. I wish I could manage to update quicker but with my kids on Summer break now for the next eight weeks that situation shows no signs of improving anytime soon. Sincere apologies to the readers ... I will promise to update as soon as I am able to. :-)

Chapter 2

Two Days Later :

Mike picked up the ringing phone and placed the receiver to his ear as he studied their latest case file carefully.

"Homicide. Stone. Oh, I see. Ok ... Thanks for letting me know Lenny. Yes, I'll keep an eye on him. Sure. Bye."

He hung up the phone and sighed heavily, dropping the file back onto the desk and removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose in a tired fashion. It had been a tough few days since the shooting and despite his constant reassurances that he was fine, Mike knew that his young partner was anything but "fine". The dark circles beneath his eyes had grown larger and his temper had grown shorter. He was quieter than usual and barely spoke unless he was spoken to or to discuss cases and as far as Mike could tell he wasn't eating very well either. Yesterday's session with Lenny had gone ok by all accounts but from the phone call he had just received, today's hadn't gone as well. He had known there was going to be a tough road ahead of them to get Steve over what had happened but he had hoped for a little more improvement by now. Just as he was mulling over how unfair life could be, the outer bullpen door opened and a rather annoyed looking Steve Keller entered the office at a fast stride.

Mike watched as he approached his desk and yanked out the chair underneath it with a loud bang that caused every other detective to stop what they were doing momentarily to look in his direction. He removed his jacket and placed it haphazardly over the back of it before dragging it with a squeaking sound out and then sitting down heavily onto it, dragging his tie down away from his neck as he did and proceeding to unbutton his shirt sleeves and roll them up as well. He looked like hell and Mike tentatively stood up and went outside to the coffee table under the pretense of getting himself a cup of coffee.

Approaching the percolator, he poured his coffee and threw a surreptitious sideways glance at his young partner. Steve wasn't even watching him. He had retrieved his notebook and had opened it angrily and was now rummaging for paper in his drawer to place into the typewriter with a fury that was almost scary to witness. Mike noticed that most of the other detectives seemed to be keeping tabs on him also, again as surreptitiously as Mike was. Deciding to break the silence for better or worse, Mike spoke.

"Steve? You want a coffee? My treat!"

Steve never even looked around but grunted instead in a frustrated tone.

"No thanks."

"Are you sure? " Mike persisted but the stark and irritated response sounded back.

"YES! I'm ... SURE."

Mike studied the back of Steve's head from where he still stood outside his office and noticed that the young man's hair was damp. It had been damp when he had gotten to work this morning as well and Mike had assumed he had perhaps slept it out and left the house after a quick shower. The weather in San Francisco was quite foggy and misty this morning and it was sufficiently cold with it, that it wouldn't have dried on his way to work but he was sure that it would have dried during the hour and a half session that he was up with Lenny but yet it looked almost newly soaked. He looked towards his window to see if perhaps it had been raining but saw no sign and then glanced at Steve's jacket and saw that it was bone dry too.

Feeling he had to do something, Mike approached Steve's desk but even before he got near, Steve's voice barked back at him without turning.

"I DON'T want to talk about it Mike, OK?"

The tone held a level of angst and upset that perhaps only Mike could detect beneath the anger and frustration and it worried the older man greatly. Not being put off, he sat on the edge of Steve's desk and was sure he heard Steve sigh heavily as he did. He took a sip of his coffee and spoke again sympathetically.

"Sure ... That's ok. Fine by me. Is that the Haskin's case you're about to type up?"

Steve stopped what he was doing as Mike mentioned the name and he took a while to answer. He remained motionless as Mike watched him closely. After a few seconds he seemed to come alive again and spoke in a shaky voice.

"Yeah ... It has to be done ..."

Mike placed a hand on Steve's shoulder and felt the young man tense up as he did. He spoke in a quiet voice.

"I can type that up for you ... If you like?"

Mike was sure he felt a slight tremble from where he held him and waited patiently for an answer. It came quite quickly.

"No ... Thanks but ... I can do it ..."

With that, he grabbed a piece of paper and went to place it into the machine in front of him but he suddenly swore under his breath and grabbed his left hand as simultaneously red drops of blood started to drip from his left index finger and onto his desk. Mike quickly put his coffee cup down and reached over and grabbed Steve's hand and saw the gaping paper cut running down along the side of the young man's finger and reaching into his trouser pocket he quickly produced his handkerchief and wrapped it around the oozing cut.

"Ooh ... That's a doozy of a paper cut you've got there Buddy Boy. Come on into my office and we'll get you a plaster for it." Mike cajoled, maintaining pressure on the finger to try and stop the bleeding but Steve never moved or answered.

In fact he was staring at the growing bloodstain in horror, almost as if he was frozen to the one spot. Mike felt a niggling and uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he watched Steve's strange reaction and leaning in closer to Steve he spoke firmly.

"Steve? STEVE!"

Steve suddenly startled and looked up at the older man as if he had just come out of a trance and he stuttered alarmingly.

"What? ... What ... did you say?"

Mike dry swallowed and spoke in a more compassionate tone.

'I SAID come into my office and we'll get that paper cut seen to Steve ..."

Steve looked back at the bloodied handkerchief and then in usual Keller style brushed off Mike's concern.

"It's ALRIGHT Mike ... It's just a paper cut for crying out loud. "

The frustration and uneasiness was palpable in Steve's tone as he tried to pull his hand out of Mike's grip but on this occasion Mike was not backing down. Tightening his grip on the bloodied finger instead of loosening it, he spoke firmly to the young man in a tone of his own that left no room for argument.

"That wasn't a request Buddy boy. Now get your duff into my Office Inspector!"

Steve almost recoiled at the last formally spoken word and felt every eye in the bullpen now momentarily focused in his direction. As Mike released his hand and gestured for him to go ahead of him, he looked with embarrassment around at the other detectives and not feeling up to causing a scene, he slowly and awkwardly got up and walked resignedly into Mike's office. Mike followed him and Steve heard him closing the door behind him as he entered. Steve stood in front of Mike's desk, holding the handkerchief around his by now throbbing finger and stared straight ahead out of Mike's Office window dejectedly. Mike watched him from behind and worried more about his demeanor. Cautiously picking up the chair from the far wall he placed it behind Steve where he stood and then coming around behind his desk he spoke in the same authoritative voice, feeling in the moment that it would be the only one Steve would respond readily to.

"Sit down Steve."

Steve glanced from the window to Mike and the look his face held chilled Mike to the bone. It was a look he had seen on many cop's faces over his years on the force but not one he ever recalled seeing on his new partner's face or in fact ever wished to. There was a lifelessness in the young man's eyes. A horror that seemed to be eating away at him. He stayed reluctantly staring the young man into submission and was relieved that after only mere seconds, Steve broke the stare and slowly glanced behind him and sat down into the chair that Mike had provided for him.

Only when Steve had settled quietly into the chair, did Mike turn and bend down to rummage in the bottom cabinet under his desk. Producing the first aid box and placing it on his desk, he opened it and leaned across the desk, issuing more firm instructions that couldn't be argued with.

"Let me see the finger ..."

Steve sighed heavily and reached his left hand over and placed it onto the desk without further complaint and Mike started carefully unwrapping the handkerchief from around the offending cut. He felt Steve pull his hand back instinctively as the cut pulled a little as he did but he kept a firm grip on it. Then he reached for the antiseptic and started to clean the cut, dabbing it with cotton wool as he did. Again he heard Steve hiss as the antiseptic stung but he continued regardless until the plaster was in place and the finger was covered sufficiently. They hadn't spoken while the first aid had taken place but now that the deed was done, Mike spoke in a more friendly tone.

"There we go. All done. Although I wouldn't use that finger to type just yet Buddy boy."

Steve nodded gratefully but started to get up at the same time.

"Thanks ... Can I GO now?"

"Just hold on a minute will you? Look we ... we need to talk Buddy boy ..."

Steve sat back down reluctantly but his face darkened.

"Mike, I TOLD YOU ..."

"I know, I know. You don't want to talk about whatever happened up with Lenny this morning and I said that was OK" Mike interrupted." But ... well ... you're not TALKING about ANYTHING ... Steve it's not healthy to try and deal with what happened like this and then there's all the other things too."

Steve's head whipped up and eyed Mike defiantly.

"What are you talking about Mike. What ... what OTHER things? Just because I haven't been joking around and pretending everything's ok, you don't have to get on my case Mike. You wanted me to go see Lenny and I AM ... even though it's NOT helping one bit. All he does is ask question after question and even when I don't have the answers Mike, he still ... expects me to come up with them ..."

Steve stopped his rant as he realized he had almost said too much in his moment of discomfort and he blushed visibly and looked back down at his newly plastered finger and cleared his throat. Mike sat back in his chair and remained studying the young man closely.

"Ah! ... So that's it, huh? He's asking too many uncomfortable questions for your liking. Is it? Steve, asking uncomfortable questions is what Murchison gets paid to do. It's how he'll help you get over this but you have to go along with it otherwise it WON'T help you. You can't just storm out whenever his questions don't appeal to you."

That statement sparked Steve's annoyance again as he looked back up crossly.

"I did NOT storm out! Our ... our session was over and ... I answered his DAMN questions ... as best I could ..."

Realizing that he had hit a sore point, Mike nodded and then probed further, tentatively.

"Ok, ok, tell me this then. Why is your hair wet?"

Steve's face reddened and he automatically brushed a hand through his damp locks as he stammered awkwardly.

"What? ..."

"Your hair. It was wet this morning when you came in and it's still as wet as it was then. How come it hasn't dried?"

Steve snorted derisively and spoke sarcastically.

"What are you now Mike? Inspector of Hair? So I showered this morning ... Is that a crime too now?"

Mike grinned at Steve's comment, purposefully not rising to the sarcasm and responded calmly.

"No it's not a crime and your cleanliness is to be applauded and even appreciated too when we spend such a lot of hours in each others close proximity but it still doesn't explain why your hair hasn't dried since you came into work this morning . What did you do? Stick your head under the tap after you came out of Lenny's Office to cool off?"

Steve's face fell and he appeared to fluster. He started rubbing his right hand across his mouth and seemed at a loss for an answer. His actions perturbed Mike and so the older man leaned across the desk and spoke compassionately.

"Steve? Is that what you did?"

Steve looked back up and Mike saw him swallowing hard. He shook his head and then seemed to find his voice albeit a slightly shakier one.

"No ... Not exactly ... It was hot up in Lenny's Office. His air con was on the blink so I ... I had a quick shower before I came back here ... That's all. I ... I needed a change of shirt and that's why my hair is still wet. Ok? Are you happy now. Can I please get back to work now?"

Mike heard the almost pleading tone in his partner's voice. He stared unnervingly at the younger man and something about his answer set alarm bells ringing in his head. Two showers in the space of four hours. Steve was acting agitated and very ill at ease and Mike was wondering if he should just send the young man home when the phone on his desk rang loudly and interrupted their conversation. Mike picked it up never taking his eyes off his young partner as he did and watched while Steve got up and started pacing uncomfortably back and forth as he spoke into the mouthpiece.

"Homicide, Stone. Oh hi Rudy ... Yes ... yes he's here with me now in fact. Sure ... Sure I'll tell him ... Ok. Thanks."

As Steve heard Mike's words he stopped pacing and stood with his hands on his hips, his face darkening more by the second. As Mike replaced the receiver, Steve shook his head nervously.

"Please don't tell me the Captain wants to see me now, Mike."

Mike looked apologetically at the young man.

"I'm afraid so. He wants you up there now. Look ... It mightn't even be about what happened and if it is ... well it mightn't be as bad as you think."

Steve started pacing again and brushing his hair with his hand as he spoke sarcastically again .

"Oh yeah right. It's probably just a social call. He probably just wants to congratulate me on the world's largest paper cut!"

Mike couldn't help but laugh at Steve's words and Steve even managed a small smile at Mike's reaction to his sarcasm. But then he sighed heavily again and spoke this time more resignedly.

"Ok ... I better not keep him waiting. This day just keeps getting better and better you know that?"

He stood and pushed his tie back up into place and started rolling back down his sleeves and re-buttoning them as Mike stood and came around to help him as the right one proved tricky with the plastered finger.

"Here let me get that one for you."

Steve allowed Mike to button his right sleeve and then Mike grabbed his shoulders and spoke sympathetically.

"Look you don't even know what it's all about yet. Go up there with an open mind and an even temperament. Got that Hotshot? No flying off the handle or sarcasm with the Captain. I can take it. HE on the other hand will bust your chops for it. Ok?"

Steve smirked again.

"BUST my CHOPS? " he half giggled.

"Yes Wiseguy ... So behave. Go on. You know how he hates to be kept waiting."

Steve sighed again but didn't move, his face laced with worry so Mike once more squeezed his right shoulder and spoke softly.

"You ah ... you want me to go up there with you?"

At Mike's words Steve looked back up at him and inclined his head to the side, his facial expression changing to one Mike couldn't quite read.

"Mike, how would that look, huh? "

Mike smiled and nodded knowingly.

"Yeah ... yeah you're right! It wouldn't look good. Ok, go on so and you can tell me what he wanted when you get back."

Steve nodded but his worried face quickly returned as he nodded his goodbye and left the office, calling back as he did.

"Ok, wish me luck."

"Good luck!" Mike shouted after him and watched anxiously as Steve left the bullpen.

If Lenny had called Rudy as well as him this morning he worried about what Rudy's conversation with Steve would be and also how Steve would react to it.

Steve walked the short distance to the stairwell and then up the two flights of stairs towards Olsen's office much slower than he normally would. Anytime he normally made this journey of late Mike would also be with him and the older man normally did most of the talking to the Captain. The last time he had a one on one with Olsen in his Office was the day he had been reassigned to Homicide from Vice. After a short but amicable conversation, the Captain had then brought him down personally to introduce him to Mike and he remembered their first meeting as well as if it were only yesterday. He had felt very nervous. His colleagues in Vice had teased him about the gruff but fair Lieutenant that he was to be partnered with and had already put him on his guard. He remembered Mike's face when he first set eyes on him and distinctly saw the older man eye him up and down, seeming to take in his whole appearance and process it into a first impression in mere seconds.

"So this is the Wonder boy Rudy ..." had been his first words and Steve had smiled at the casual description as the older man had gripped his hand in a vice-like grip and shook it warmly.

"Good strong handshake Keller. Well first things first we better assign you a desk, hadn't we? So what about that one just outside my Office Hotshot. That way I can keep a close eye on you and you won't have far to go to make the coffee ... " had been his second retort and Steve remembered feeling just about ready to melt into the floor.

He had also felt that perhaps the Lieutenant was testing his mettle as to how he would react to being assigned a menial task and so he had purposefully answered.

"Sounds ok to me Sir." Steve had replied and he had quickly heard Mike's very quick answer.

"There's no" Sirs" in this Department, Buddy boy. Just call me Mike, do what you're told to and follow the rules and we'll get along just fine."

Steve sucked in a deep breath as he recalled the first time Mike had addressed him as Buddy boy. It had deeply irritated him at first and had taken him a while to get used to but once he had come to realize that it was being used as a term of endearment and not a condescending nickname over the course of the last six months he had become accustomed to the phrase and while he wouldn't tolerate anyone else calling him it, he kind of liked Mike's use of it. Steve came out of his reminiscences quickly as he arrived at the outer door to Olsen's Office. Taking an extra long steadying breath he pushed open the door and entered quickly before he had a chance to change his mind.