Chapter 2

Mike smiled as he turned off the radio that sat next to his recliner. Just like the old days, he thought as he looked around the quiet living room. I remember listening to the games when we were kids. Alex and I always fought over who would set the radio dial. Funny what brothers do…

Mike noted the time on the clock. He knew the game had been a fast paced pitchers' duel. Just after ten, so that means Steve and Jeannie should be home before eleven. Maybe they'll stop somewhere for coffee…at the very latest, I can't imagine them being much later than midnight.

He smiled at himself wondering how the 'first date' went. It made all the sense in the world. The two people to whom he felt closest for years – indeed, they were his world – could find happiness with each other.

The timing was right, too. Mike now had Dan as his new partner and their relationship had improved steadily in the last few months. What was a rocky start changed once Mike accepted the fact that Dan was his own man and not a pale imitation of his 'Buddy boy'. Since that revelation, they quickly formed a closer bond in the year since the Tannanger trial first brought them together.

And then he had Irene. Sometimes. But that was another story.

Not wanting to be the overbearing father sitting in the living room just waiting for their return, he got ready for bed. As he passed the dining table, he saw the note Jeannie had left for him. He read it again and smiled.

Mike – Pie and casserole are in the oven. Be home later. Love, Jeannie

Recalling the pie mentioned in her note, Mike made a quick detour into the kitchen for late night snack before turning out the lights on the main floor.

As he looked over to the clock on the nightstand, Mike realized he dozed off. 12:30 – they must have made it back by now. Surprised I didn't hear them. Wanting to see for himself, Mike rose and looked down the stairway. No lights. Total darkness. He turned to check Jeannie's room to see if she was already in bed. The door was open and the bed was still made from the morning. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to bed.

Mike was usually a heavy sleeper, but tonight he would feel unsettled until they made it home. He rolled over, cracked open his eyes and saw that it was now 1:30 in the morning. Surely she is home by now. Mike retraced his steps to the stairway and Jeannie's room. No change. He returned to his bedroom with a frown on this face.

Now unable go back to sleep, Mike tossed and turned. He was alternately worried and annoyed. It was a work night. Steve would need to be at Berkeley in the morning. Mike could not imagine that his academic friend would be out all night when he had class in only a few hours. Had something happened to them? Or perhaps was Dan right? Mr. Romeo. Enough women to line up across the Golden Gate Bridge, has he? The thought took center stage in his mind.

2:45 am. They are grown adults. It's none of my business, Mike reasoned to himself. But then he continued to wonder if he had created a situation that would damage the relationships he cherished most.

"Should have stayed out of it," Mike said aloud. Exhaustion finally caught up with him and he drifted to sleep.

Forty-five minutes later.

"Are you sure you'll be okay here?" Jeannie whispered. The lights were low as they tried to be quiet after returning to the Stone residence at such a late hour.

"Sure, I'll be fine on your couch," Steve whispered back. "With the pain medication the hospital gave me, I'm starting to lose it anyway. I could fall asleep standing up."

"Okay, I'll get you a blanket and a pillow," she answered as she touched his healthy arm. "I'm just so sorry this happened. Mike is going to flip when he sees that you dislocated your shoulder."

"He had to have been drunk," Steve growled. "It was like an avalanche. The guy went for the foul ball and fell over, knocking over the two people in front of him. They fell over and knocked over the people in front of them. It didn't stop until they got to the front row of the section."

"You pushed me out of the way and took the brunt of it," she said sweetly as she brushed away strands of hair from her rescuer's forehead. Despite the room being dim, he could see the crystal blue in her eyes and now a glow around her face.

The glow. He had heard about 'the glow' from some of his male friends when they spoke about their wives. He even recalled Mike talking about the glow around Helen when he realized they were in love. Now he saw it for himself. He wasn't surprised. He had known for some time that she was the one. Steve shifted his gaze to her eyes but then realized he had been too long without speaking. He feared he created an awkward moment. He pulled back and cleared his throat.

Indeed. She too looked into his eyes, anticipating his next move. After all they had gone through that evening – and really, all the years before – she knew he felt for her as she felt for him. "Steve," she began.

Steve interrupted as he knew that this was the time. "Jeannie, I never want to see you hurt. I would do anything to protect you, you know that?"

Jeannie whispered, "I know".

"If I'm out of line here, Jeannie, remember I'm on pain medication," he laughed nervously. He said nothing more, but leaned forward and gave her one simple kiss.

Leaning back, he smiled, because no matter what, the truth was out. It was almost a relief.

Jeannie felt a burning flush come over her cheeks. "It's a good thing the lights are low," she laughed. "I must be beet red."

"Oh, is it okay?" This was unfamiliar territory for him. Most of the women Steve had initiated a relationship with quickly dispensed with the 'first kiss' for more adult activity. But this time, it was different.

"It's definitely okay." She leaned forward and returned a kiss of her own, but this time it was longer and deeper.

When they finished, the only thing they could do was laugh nervously. But then Steve turned serious. "I meant what I said, babe," he began. "I don't ever want to see you hurt. I would never suggest we get together if I thought it would jeopardize our friendship. It's just that over the years…" He then paused to yawn. Despite his better efforts, his fatigue knew no boundaries.

"I know," she answered sweetly. "Me, too." With one more kiss, she rose to get the blanket and pillow.

Mike woke again, but this time it was to the sound of giggling. 3:30 in the morning? What the… He could hear footsteps up the stairs, the hall closet door opening and closing, and then footsteps back down.

Curiosity got the best of Mike Stone. He had to see what was going on. And while everyone in the home was well over 21, he was not above making a smart remark about how late it was - no, sir. He rose from the bed, grabbed his robe and marched downstairs.

After placing the pillow at the end of the couch, Jeannie quickly unfolded the blanket and placed it over Steve as he reclined.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" Jeannie asked as she sat on the edge of the sofa.

"Right now, I'm fine," he answered honestly. She reached over for a kiss goodnight. "I guess we have a lot of things to talk about," he added, "but that will wait until tomorrow. The best thing we can both do is get some sleep. I'm beat."

Just then, the lights came on and Mike was standing at the foot of the stairs. "I thought I heard something," he said unemotionally as he took in the sight of his former partner and daughter.

"Sorry, Mike. We didn't want to wake you." Jeannie said apologetically while keeping her spot by Steve.

"It's awfully late, sweetheart," Mike asked as he looked at Jeannie and then to Steve, not fully grasping that he was an injured man. "And you're staying over?"

"Yeah, well, if you don't mind. I had a bit of an accident tonight. We've been at the hospital."

"What?" This was not the explanation Mike thought he would get. He hurried around the couch and only then saw Steve's shoulder immobilized. "What happened to you?"

"A long story, but basically this idiot fan knocked several of us over going for a foul ball. I was on the end of domino trail and hit my shoulder on the railing that was in front of our seats."

"Ow," was Mike's only comment. He walked closer to his houseguest to get a better view. "Buddy boy, I'm sorry."

"Not your fault," Steve responded with a degree of macho.

"And you're okay?" Mike asked his daughter.

"Thanks to Steve. He stepped in and pushed me out of the line of falling bodies. I walked away without a scratch."

Mike nodded. "I'm sorry. If Dan and I had been there, it might have gone differently."

"Ah, yes. Police protection for the professor, eh? Well, just so you know, I'll be fine, as long as you don't mind me crashing on your couch tonight."

"I don't mind." Mike shook his head as he turned around and walked around the sofa. "So that's what took you so long. You two went to the ballgame and you end up at the hospital."

"Well, we did have adventure getting back here. Steve didn't want his beloved Porsche sitting by its lonesome at the ballpark, so we took a cab back to the parking lot. Of course, it's a stick shift and you never showed me how to drive a stick," Jeannie added with an accusatory tone. "So with Steve's shoulder wrapped, we sort of shared duties. He operated the foot pedals and steered with his good arm. I shifted when he told me to." She giggled as she mimicked how she shifted.

"You should have called me." Mike scolded. He couldn't hide the disappointment. His plan to bring them together apparently not only didn't work, but it ended up getting Steve hurt.

"But we thought you and Dan were working a double shift? When did you get home, anyway?" Steve asked.

Caught off guard with the question, Mike stumbled initially with his response. "Oh, we were able to knock off earlier than I thought." He could feel the heat in his cheeks. Lying was not his forte.

"Well anyway, we managed," Steve answered and then winked at Jeannie.

Mike nodded his head. "Well, sorry it was a bad night. I thought you two kids would have fun together."

The couple nodded, but then Jeannie gave Mike another puzzled look. "How did you know we were together?"

Mike answered quickly and defensively. "I saw your note."

"Yes, but I just said where to find dinner and that I'd be back later. I didn't tell you where I went," Jeannie commented.

"Well, I just figured that you two went out, that's all. Umm, since Dan and I couldn't go. Look, it's getting late and it's time for us to get to bed." He couldn't wait to leave the room. The night had been a failure.

"Well, there is one thing. But maybe we can talk about that in the morning," Steve added with a mischievous grin. "I'm just too tired."

Mike stopped in his tracks. Jeannie was beaming from ear to ear.

"What?"

Jeannie and Steve looked at each other and smiled again. He raised his uninjured arm and grabbed her hand, squeezing in tightly. Looking back towards his partner, he joked. "If I say now, you might dislocate my other shoulder."

It quickly sank in what had happened with the pair. "Is it what I'm thinking?"

"I have no idea what you're thinking, but if you could tolerate me being around here more often and taking your daughter out…"

Mike paused for a moment, feeling much relief and finally in control. He gave his former partner his most innocent look. "I didn't expect this, but all right." Then shifting his stance and look to pure intimidation, Mike added, "Let me tell you this: if you do one thing to hurt my daughter, so help me, I'll dislocate parts of your body you didn't even know existed. Got me?"

Steve's eyes grew wide and the fatigue he felt seconds earlier suddenly evaporated. His only response was a short one. "Yes, sir."

"Good." Mike's severe expression melted into a wide smile as he wrapped his arm around his daughter. He planted a kiss on her cheek and winked at his friend. "I couldn't be any happier. "

And wait until I tell Dan. He thought the old man was crazy, but I called it like I saw it. If he doesn't watch out, I'll set him up, too. He won't know what hit him…