Jesse could hardly believe his ears as the nurse told him Steve had started to regain consciousness. If anyone had told him earlier that day that Steve would be trying to come out of the coma, he would have told them they were nuts.
"What is it Jesse?" Mark asked frightened. "Is it Steve?"
"Yes!" Jesse said with a slight grin. "He's waking up, Mark!"
"Thank God!" Mark replied in relief before a sudden realization hit him. "And, I wasn't there!"
"I don't think Steve's going to remember that, Mark," Amanda said reassuringly. "The important thing now is just to make sure he's alright."
"That's right," Jesse agreed.
"You're right of course," Mark said as they pulled in front of the hospital.
Jesse quickly handed his keys off to one of the intern's as they rushed into the elevator and took it to the floor the ICU was located on. Arriving at Steve's door, the nurse on duty rattled off his vital signs as the police offer stepped aside to let them in.
Mark headed straight for Steve's bedside as Jesse watched the machines surrounding his best friend.
"Steve," Mark said gently before taking his son's hand in his. "I'm here, son."
Steve visibly relaxed at the sound of his father's voice. "Tired," he whispered without opening his eyes as Mark gently squeezed his hand.
"I know, son," Mark replied quietly. "I just need to know one thing and then you can rest. Did you see who shot you?"
"Yeah," Steve replied dreamily as Mark nodded.
"Sleep now," he said patting Steve's hand. "We'll talk later."
Jesse and Amanda were all smiles as they watched Mark step away from Steve's bed. "He doesn't seem to have any amnesia," Jesse said thoughtfully as the door opened and Chief Masters along with Cheryl stepped inside.
"What happened?" Cheryl asked worriedly with a sideways glance aimed at her partner.
"He woke up," Mark said softly.
"Did he say anything about the shooter?" Masters asked as Mark nodded.
"He saw who shot him!"
"That's good news," Masters said eagerly. "Try to get a description from him the next time he comes around. Cheryl and I will be at the station."
Mark nodded before he returned to the chair beside Steve's bed. The TV droned on in the background as he watch his son sleeping peacefully. It had been a good idea in theory to make the world think he had perished in the sniper attack but he had to wonder what Steve would think about it once he awoke.
Jesse was entering some notes into his Steve's chart at the nurse's station when Susan got off the elevator behind him. "Hey, you," she said quietly before putting a gentle hand on his arm. "How's he doing?"
"He's stable at the moment," Jesse said closing up the chart. "Are you off?"
"Yeah," Susan replied with a sigh. "I was thinking we could grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria if you're feeling up to it."
"Yeah, sure," Jesse said checking the time. "I could bring Mark back a sandwich and some coffee."
"Good idea," Susan said with a nod. "Let's go."
Mark didn't realize it till later but the TV screen was showing images from Steve's fake memorial service when his son started to regain consciousness again. He sat up as Steve's eyes opened and then darted quickly around the room only to focus behind him. "Steve, son," Mark said gently as he started to hyperventilate. "It's alright," Mark said soothingly as the medical equipment started to sound the alarm. "You need to calm down!"
Jesse heard the alarms going off from Steve's room as he and Susan returned from the cafeteria. He put the sandwich and coffee he brought back for Mark on the table before heading to Steve's side. "Mark, what happened?"
"I don't know," his mentor said looking up. "He just got really agitated!"
That's when Jesse realized the TV in the background was showing scenes from the memorial and Steve was looking directly at it. "Damn! It's the TV, Mark," Jesse muttered as he grabbed the remote and turned it off.
"It's fake, son," Mark said evenly as he directed Steve to look at him. "It's just for your protection!"
Jesse watch as the man who was like a brother to him, seem to melt into the bed at his father's words. "That's it," he said with a slight smile. "Just relax and everything's going to be okay."
Mark sighed in relief when Steve's breathing and heart rate dropped back to regular levels. "I didn't even think about how that would affect him."
"I really didn't either," Jesse replied thoughtfully. "We'll have to be more careful next time he wakes up."
"I agree," Mark said putting his hands into his pockets as Jesse moved toward the door where Susan was waiting.
"I'm going to stay here a little longer if you want to head home," he said as Susan nodded.
"Call me later?"
"Yeah," Jesse replied leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Bye."
"Bye," she replied smiling.
Mark pretended not to hear the conversation going on behind him. He'd known about Jesse's budding romance with nurse Susan Hilliard and while the hospital didn't exactly encourage the doctor's and nurses to date, they didn't try to stop it either and Mark personally didn't see a problem with it unless it interfered with their work.
"I brought you something to eat and some coffee," Jesse said as Susan left the room.
"Thank you But I'm not hungry," Mark replied as he watch Steve sleep.
"You need to think about yourself, Mark," Jesse said adamantly pressing the sandwich into his hand. "I'm not taking no for an answer."
"You're a good friend, Jesse," Mark said with a slight smile. "And, I hope things work out between you and Susan. She's a nice girl."
"Yeah," Jesse said blushing slightly. "She's terrific!"
Mark grinned as he realized, Jesse and Susan's relationship was more than just an infatuation.