In The Wrong Place
Chapter 4
Mike followed the doctor down the corridor and into one of the examining rooms. Steve was sitting up a little and looked very pale. He was hooked up to various drips. Mike noticed that he had tubes sticking out of both arms...One had a bag of blood feeding into his arm and the other side seemed to hold the IV...He wore a hospital issued top and trousers and where the neck drooped down at the top Mike could see monitors attached to Steve's chest and he seemed to have a permanent blood pressure cuff attached to his upper right arm...which was being checked regularly ...He also had a nasal cannula of oxygen under his nose and he looked utterly miserable. There were so many nurses and staff buzzing around him that he didn't see Mike come in at first until the older man came in close and placed a hand gently on his arm...
"Now, haven't we talked before about this desire you have to always be the centre of attention, buddy boy..?'" Mike chided knowing full well that the centre of attention was the last place Steve ever wanted to be...
Steve's face visibly brightened when he saw his partner and he laughed tentatively at Mike's comment...knowing full well that Mike was well aware of his hatred of fuss...
"Hey Mike, I wondered how long it would be before you used that old Stone charm to charm your way in here.."
Steve really did hate being fussed over like this and all the prodding and poking had started to get to him so he was hugely relieved to see Mike come in and secretly hoped that the older detective would be allowed to stay for a while..
"How are you feeling buddy boy?"...Mike asked more seriously patting Steve's arm paternally careful not to disturb the many tubes and wires that were emanating from it...
"I'm ok Mike.." Steve started out but seeing his partners face change to a questioning glare realized it would be in his better interests to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth...
"A little sore...a little queasy..." Steve admitted not catching Mike's eye.
"Queasy?..." Mike directed his question to Dr. Armstrong ...not even attempting to hide the worry from his face..
"A combination of the painkillers and the local anesthetic ..." the doctor explained..." It should wear off soon..."
"Oh yeah, ...that'll get you every time buddy boy..."
"Did you tell Olsen about Landers Mike? "
"Yes, he knows..He's launching an investigation into the incident. He's hopping mad I can tell you..."...
"You know Joe's out of control don't you Mike?...He's dangerous..He never shouted out a warning Mike..You know what that means don't you? "
Mike swallowed hard realizing in that moment exactly what it meant...He made eye contact with Steve silently conveying to his partner that he knew what he was thinking...
"He had no intention of bringing Graves in...He planned to kill him! You still reckon Landers was holding the gun when Mel was killed...Don't you buddy boy?..."
" Yeah, I do Mike...I just wish we had Graves to confirm it..."
"We'll get him buddy boy, don't you worry.. You just concentrate on getting better...Ok?"
"Mike..." Steve continued..."Do you think Joe's been drinking heavily for long?..."
It was the question that they had both been pondering but Steve was the first one to verbalize it...
"I don't know buddy boy... but he's sure showing all the signs of being an alcoholic...You know it's a sickness Steve...for some a coping mechanism ...I could name many fine officers that have turned to alcohol to block out the awful things we see everyday doing our jobs..." and Mike went silent, lost in his thoughts about the many friends he had seen suffer due to their addiction to alcohol...
Steve noticed that Mike was reminiscing and that he looked forlorn...so reaching out his hand he touched Mike's arm...
"Mike...you ok?"
Steve's touch brought him out of his memories and he patted Steve's hand and smiled at the pale young man in the bed...
"Oh yeah...I'm fine...and anyway isn't that what I'm supposed to be asking you?...I guess we'll just have to ask Nina Shaffer about Joe's drinking..."
"I guess... " Steve said smiling back but then as if he suddenly thought of something he looked questioningly at Mike..."What date is it today ?"
"It's the twenty fourth...Why? What do you want to know the date for buddy boy?"
"Didn't you tell me that Jeannie was coming to visit you on the twenty-fifth for a week, some sort of college break...?"
Mike looked at Steve and his jaw dropped.
"Dear God, buddy boy you're right! You know in all the fuss today I almost forgot all about it...Jeannie wouldn't have been happy if I'd stood her up at the bus depot tomorrow afternoon...Thanks buddy boy for the reminder but you do know I would have remembered myself if you hadn't scared me out of five years of my life today that I can't afford to lose!" Mike teased...and then as if as a second thought he continued...
"How did you remember that anyway?"
The truth was that as soon as Mike had announced it last week he had started looking forward to seeing Jeannie and had been secretly counting down the days until she came home but not wanting to admit that to Mike instead he flustered...
"Well, you know me Mike, I've always had a knack of remembering dates and numbers and stuff like that..."
Steve felt his cheeks becoming warm as he struggled to change the subject under the scrutinising glare of his mentor.
"Oh you do huh?" Mike asked smiling at Steve but his smile changed quickly as he saw Steve wincing and closing his eyes as though he was suddenly in a whole lot of pain...
Steve was getting very uncomfortable ...His side was starting to hurt bad and the continuous tightening on his arm was getting on his nerves...But worse than all that the needles in his arms were starting to irritate him and he started subconsciously rubbing at them...Mike noticed and grabbed both of Steve's hands gently...
"Don't scratch at them buddy boy ...you'll pull them out..."
"They're itching me Mike"...Steve complained and Mike noticed that Steve was becoming very uneasy...He glanced up at the doctor and realized that the doctor had noticed Steve's discomfort too...
"I think it's time you got some rest Steve..." the doctor stated." I'm going to give you a sedative to help you sleep...Hopefully by the time you wake up we'll have you off all these machines and you'll feel lots better..I'm sorry Mike. I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Steve needs to get some rest.."
"Ok Doc..." Mike answered and turning to Steve he placed one hand on his shoulder and wagged his finger at the young man with the other.."You do what the Doc tells you now...You hear me buddy boy? And don't be messing with those wires...Ok? I'll be back in the morning to check on you...Get some rest..."
Steve smiled at how protective Mike was of him..."Ok ... I'll be good Momma"...Steve joked and laughed as best he could considering the pain he was now in as Mike swatted at him playfully for his sarcasm...
"Oh you think that's funny...huh.. Momma?...I'll see you..."and laughing he turned and left the room looking back just one more time as he reached the door and saw Dr Armstrong administer the needle that would make sure Steve got the healing rest he needed...