In The Wrong Place

Chapter 10

"Come in sweetheart! We're ready now..." Mike called out as seriously as he could while trying to stop himself from laughing...

Jeannie came in and looked at the two men who were still grinning from ear to ear...

"What's so funny? See, I knew I'd miss something by waiting in the corridor.."

"It's nothing really...You didn't miss anything at all honey." Mike assured her...

With that the nurse came in wheeling a wheelchair...

"Looks like your transport has arrived buddy boy" Mike said.." You ready to go?"

"Oh yeah... I'm ready..." and with that Mike helped Steve carefully up from his chair and into the wheelchair...Putting his bag on his lap they left the room, went down the corridor, into the elevator, down to the ground floor and across the hospital lobby...Once they were at the main doors, Mike took Steve's bag while Steve got up and thanked the nurse for her help and the three friends left through the double doors out into the morning sunshine...

The first thing Steve saw were the numerous steps down to where the car was parked and he stopped and sighed...Mike and Jeannie exchanged an anxious look between them and Mike took Steve's arm with his free hand while Jeannie stayed close to his other side...

"Just take your time buddy boy ok? One step at a time..."

Steve held his injured side firmly as he had been instructed to do and started down the steps slowly just as Mike had said one at a time... Each time he came down a step it sent a shockwave through his injured side and he sucked in his breath and by the time he reached the pavement he was almost out of breath and his side was throbbing madly...There were beads of sweat on his brow as he walked slowly towards the car... All the way down the steps Mike had kept a firm grip of Steve's arm and had watched him closely...As they reached the car, Mike opened the passenger door and nodded to Jeannie to watch Steve while he put Steve's bag on the back seat... Jeannie placed a gentle hand on Steve's back...

"Are you ok Steve?... Do you need a hand getting in?" Jeannie asked filled with concern at how pale Steve was...

Looking at Jeannie and seeing how worried she was Steve forced a smile and tried to let on that he was fine...

"I'm ok Jeannie...I think I got it"

But try as he did, Steve couldn't lift his leg high enough to get it into the car without his side protesting... Knowing that Mike and Jeannie were watching his every move and starting to feel very frustrated at his inability to do the simplest of things, Steve took a deep breath and forced his leg up high enough to place it in the car but regretted it instantly as it caused a stabbing pain to shoot through his side and the pain was so intense that Steve couldn't stifle the loud groan of pain that escaped his lips... The pain intensified as Steve shut his eyes tight and tried to breathe through the waves of pain that were unmercifully assaulting him...Steve still had one leg in the car and was holding on to the roof with one hand and the car door with the other but as the pain became unbearable Steve felt his grip slipping and would have definitely fallen backwards out onto the kerb only for Mike's quick reflexes... On hearing Steve's groan and seeing he was in trouble,Mike had rushed forward and as Steve fell backwards Mike caught him. Jeannie stifled a scream as she stood watching and also rushed forward to assist...

"Jeannie, get his leg out of the car! But move him slowly ok?"

Mike did what he did best and stayed calm and took control of the situation despite the fact that inside he was anything but calm... Truth was he hated seeing Steve in such pain and was extremely concerned about him. Jeannie hurried forward and reaching into the passenger side of the car took Steve's leg as gently as she could and lifted it up and out of the car...The movement of his leg sent new stabs of pain through Steve's side and another yelp of pain left his lips as he struggled to regain control of his breathing...Hearing Steve's distress , Mike turned his attention back to his daughter...

"Easy Jeannie, easy!"

"I know Mike...I'm trying..." Jeannie replied almost in tears at this stage, knowing that she had caused Steve more pain by her actions..." Will I get some help Mike?" she asked, suddenly thankful that they were still just outside the hospital...

"No, not yet sweetheart...Let's just take it easy and see how he is first ok?" Mike said trying to assess Steve while trying to reassure Jeannie at the same time.

With his leg free, Mike pulled Steve gently upright again and leaned him back against the car holding him firmly all the time...Steve still had his eyes closed, partly because of the pain but also partly because he couldn't face seeing Mike and Jeannie after that embarrassing display of weakness...The pain was starting to fade now that he was free from the car but he could feel himself getting upset from the humiliation and the frustration of not being able to do something as simple as sit into the car...He opened his eyes to see Mike staring straight at him looking worried and turned his face away as he blinked back tears that threatened to form in his eyes..He didn't trust his voice to say anything just yet so he concentrated on slowing down his breathing instead...Anger soon replaced the feeling of upset and he banged the side of the car with his fist ...

"DAMN IT!" he yelled and then quickly remembering that Jeannie was with them hung his head and mumbled..."Sorry..."

"Ok...ok buddy boy...Take it easy now...It's alright..." Mike said feeling sorry for the young man in front of him..." Look at me now...Are you ok now?

Steve nodded still not trusting himself to speak just yet..but Mike noticed that he had a firm hold of his injured side...

"Let me look at your side Steve..."

Mike pulled Steve's jacket to one side and pulling up his shirt he lifted Steve's hand and checked for signs of bleeding on the bandage front and back...thankfully there were none..

"It seems ok Steve...Now getting in on your bad side didn't work so let's see if we can't get you in on your good side..ok?"

Steve nodded again and allowed Mike to guide him somewhat shakily around to the other side of the car and he leaned against the trunk as Mike opened the back door behind the driver...

"Now this time I'm helping you and no arguments,ok? Now see can you get your good leg in and then you leave the rest to me."

Steve was too tired and sore to argue but his compliance only served to worry Mike even more.. Steve got his right leg in easily enough and then putting one arm around Steve's lower back and the other under his left knee Mike maneuvered Steve very carefully into the back seat. It worked perfectly and didn't seem to cause him anymore pain. Satisfied that he was ok, Mike gestured for Jeannie to get in and getting in himself he started the car and pulled out into the traffic keeping a close eye on Steve in his rearview mirror...

Steve was lying back slightly with his head resting on the head rest and was looking out his window as they drove along...He didn't seem to be in as much pain anymore and didn't seem distressed but he was still very quiet...too quiet for Mike's liking...

The truth was that tackling all the steps and his painful attempt to get into the car had robbed Steve of the little energy he had and he was feeling very tired...His side still ached a little but the terrible pain had passed...The motion of the car was all it took to cause Steve's eyelids to feel heavy and within minutes he had fallen asleep...

Jeannie was very worried about Steve.. Anxious that she wouldn't have been strong enough to save him if he had fallen on the steps she had left that task to Mike and when he had hurt himself getting into the car she had panicked slightly and again was glad that her father had taken charge of the situation...Seeing Steve in so much pain had upset her more than she had ever imagined it could...She wanted to comfort him and help him but she saw how embarrassed he was for showing weakness in front of her so she had stayed back and let Mike take care of him instead...Stupid male pride! She thought to herself...Why did men think they always had to be brave and macho around women? It was definitely a male trait she would never understand...Glancing back now at Steve she saw that he was sleeping and worry again tore at her heart...

"Oh Mike...He's asleep!...Mike I don't think he's up to going to this meeting...Maybe you should leave him home with me and go into the office yourself...I'll make sure he goes straight to bed and gets the rest he needs...What do you say Mike?"

Mike again checked in his rearview mirror and saw that Steve did seem to be sleeping...For his own piece of mind he watched for the rise and fall of Steve's chest and once he satisfied himself that Steve was breathing peacefully he turned his attention back to Jeannie... He smiled at his daughter who he knew couldn't wait to start fussing over Steve and waiting on him hand and foot...something he knew from personal experience that Steve would hate...He also knew that Jeannie's heart was in the right place and that she just enjoyed looking afer those people she cared about but right now Mike had to make the right decision for everyone involved ...

"Steve will be fine, honey. Don't worry... I'll take good care of him. He's just tired .That's all...As soon as the meeting is over I'll take him home. Ok?"

Having said that, Mike pulled up outside his house. Jeannie looked back at Steve once more and then at her father...

"Ok Mike...But don't let him overdo things...I'll get the spare room ready for when you get back..but if anything happens you'll call me... Won't you?"

"Sure I will...now try not to worry...We'll be back as soon as we can.." and leaning over he gave Jeannie a kiss on the cheek and watched as she got out of the car, went up the steps and into the house,turning to wave as she closed the door...

Mike looked at the steps up to his house and back at a sleeping Steve...and began to worry how he was going to get Steve up all those later but checking his watch and seeing that it was eleven fifteen Mike decided to leave that worry for later as he had to get them both back to the Bureau and ready for the meeting in just forty-five minutes...