While Mike headed back to homicide, Steve was sitting at Jeannie's bedside, telling her all he couldn't say with Mike there. While he was there, Jeannie woke up and heard his voice but panicked when she could not see him. He grasped her hand trying to calm her.
"Shhhhh Jeannie you're having a bad dream, relax." Steve was trying to sound calm, while pressing down on the call button.
"No, Steve. I can't see!" Jeannie exclaimed, her panic rising.
The nurse came in and realized Jeannie had gotten agitated and went and paged the doctor. Steve held Jeannie close, silently cursing her shooter for doing this to Mike's daughter. The doctor rushed in, having already been alerted of the situation. He asked Steve to get Mike there before he explained this to Jeannie he was going to give her a mild sedative to calm her.
"Jeannie, I will be right back. I just need to go make a call." Steve explained.
"Don't leave." Jeannie almost pleaded
"I promise. I will be back 2 or 3 minutes tops." Steve assured her
Steve left and went to a pay phone in the lobby for privacy. Putting in call to Mike's office, he hoped to find his friend there. The phone rang three times, before it was jerked up and he heard the gruff voice of his partner sounding agitated and worried, but trying to sound professional.
"Homicide Stone! " Mike barked.
"Mike, it's me Steve. Listen..." Steve started.
"Where the hell did you go?! Do you know I have looked all over the place for you?! What do you have to say for yourself, hot shot?! " Mike asked angrily.
"Mike, please would you shut up and listen?! It's Jeannie; you need to get to the hospital. She realized she can't see. The doctor wants you here when he explains the situation to her." Steve snapped.
"I'll be right there! "
After hanging up, Steve hurried back to Jeannie's room. He informed the doctor Mike was on his way and sat holding Jeannie, feeling her clinging tight to him. He tried his best to soothe her agitation, but found it hard as he was sure she could feel his own agitation. Mike rushed in fifteen minutes later, he went over and sat holding Jeannie's hand. Jeannie held tight to a hand of each man and they all waited for the doctor's explanation to Jeannie.
"Now, Jeannie first off this vision impairment might not be permanent try to bear that in mind. When you were shot it affected the side of your brain that controls your vision. The x-ray showed a small blood clot pressurizing the optic nerve. There are two options, we can wait and see what happens as the pressure might alleviate itself with the steroid medicines we have been giving through IV or we can do surgery to relieve the pressure build up." The doctor explained calmly.
"Who would do the surgery? I mean would it be you or a specialist?" Mike inquired
"I would be in there, but there is a woman I know who is tops in this field, who I highly recommend. Why don't you two or three discuss this and I will be back. I will at least put in a call to her to tell her of the situation and if you decide you want surgery rather than wait you can meet her." The doctor recommended,
"Thank you." Jeannie spoke softly
The doctor left and Steve started feeling like he should wait outside, so stood up after giving Jeannie's hand a tender squeeze. Steve had a plan in his mind that he had not shared with Mike and Jeannie and thought he would be able to carry it out while they talked. He did not count on their close relationship impeding his plans.
"I'll wait in the waiting area so you and Jeannie can talk privately," Steve said.
"No, I don't want you to go Steve. Please stay." Jeannie pleaded.
"You heard the lady buddy boy. Besides you are family and more, I think and your voice counts with us." Mike stated
They all sat close together on her bed and discussed the options. All knew there was a risk with the surgery, but also that it was the faster option for her eyesight to be restored. Jeannie was understandably scared and worried as were Mike and Steve. Between the three of them, they finally decided she would have the surgery and prayed their choice was not the wrong one. Steve had gone to find the doctor to inform him, while Mike and Jeannie visited together. Once he found the doctor and delivered the message he decided now was the time to put his plans from earlier into action. The doctor was surprised to see Steve heading out the exit door, rather than going back to Jeannie's room after they had spoken.