A/N Thank you to everyone for their continued support on not just this story but my other stories as well. I appreciate your time you have taken to read.

Steve's eyes met the shooter's eyes as the criminal turned to rush to catch up with the other kidnappers. Steve despite his state of emotion right then and knowing it was most likely a stolen vehicle managed to get the plate and make of vehicle.

"I can't believe he just shot her like that!" a spectator said to Steve anxiously.

Steve knelt by Jeannie checking her. He ran the gamut of emotions from anger and guilt to worry and fear. He had heard someone say they had called the ambulance and police. Once the ambulance got there and got Jeannie ready to go, Steve reluctantly let them take her without being able to go with her. He knew he had to tell the team sent what he had seen and what happened before he could leave. His temper was short and he answered the questions snappishly, doing his best to control himself. Finally he headed to the hospital after using the police radio in the black and white to get dispatch to contact Mike urgently.

He was waiting in the hallway when Mike rushed in looking like the scared father he was. He saw the same expression on Steve's face as well and barrelled toward Steve where he spoke before thinking.

"What were you doing when she was shot?!" Mike snapped angrily. "Why didn't you watch out for her?!"

"Mike, I hurried after her fast as I could. She took off like lightening when those people grabbed the tennis team." Steve explained as calm as he could. "I'm sorry, I'm honestly sorry. You know I would not want anything happening to Jeannie!"

Mike gave Steve a withering look. Steve sighed and decided to give up the fight and chalk it up to Mike being scared for his only child. They both paced waiting for word on Jeannie. Steve had been told she was in surgery by the time he arrived. Those words scared him to death as he knew if they had not waited it was more serious than he first thought.

Steve saw some other officers coming their way and went to meet them.

"Steve, this was dropped off at the newspaper office. The problem is the delivery was made by an old wino. He couldn't give a good description of the person who paid him to deliver the message." Officer Black informed Steve without showing much emotion.

Steve read the message and went pale at the name of the writer and uttered a low curse.

"So they didn't pull any fingerprints of this?" Steve inquired with false calm and saw heads shake. "Okay, thanks guys. I'll show this to Mike once we know about Jeannie."

"How is she, have you heard anything at all?" Officer Black asked concerned.

"They already had her in surgery when I got here, so far no more word. I hope we get some news soon." Steve was worried

After a few minutes more they left and Steve returned to where he had left Mike. When he arrived, he saw Mike in conversation with the surgeon and stood quietly listening. What he heard did not make him happy even though Jeannie was pretty much out of danger.

Mike and Steve waited after the surgeon had left so they could see Jeannie for a minute once she was out of recovery. Steve knew now was not the time to show Mike the message even though the more time lapsed the harder it would be for apprehension.

"I hope she doesn't realize what is going on right away." Mike said sadly.

"Mike, he said she could get it back. This could be a temporary thing, not could… it will be, it has to be! Jeannie will beat this, Mike, believe that." Steve exclaimed anxiously.

"I hope you're right buddy boy. I want whoever did this, Steve. I mean that." Mike growled.

"That makes two of us, Mike." Steve sounded determined.