Diagnosis-Revenge-- 10
Mark Sloan woke to near darkness and slowly peeled his eyelids open. The room was quiet, except for the soft sounds emanating from his room mate. He slowly sat up and slid his legs over the edge of the bed before holding onto the IV pole and making his way to the second bed. The meager light from the partially open curtains bathed Steve's pale features in a golden halo that gave his skin an almost translucent appearance.
Mark took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he thought of his son's job and the dangers he faced every day. Steve had landed in the hospital more times than he cared to count, but at least those times had been while in the process of doing his job. That was not the case this time…Steve's injuries were a direct result of his being related to Mark. Damian had gone after the one thing that meant more than life itself to Mark Sloan, and he'd nearly taken that away from him.
"God, Steve, I'm sorry," Mark whispered and reached out to touch his son's cheek. There was still a hint of fever, but it wasn't the raging fire it had been when they'd first been brought to Community General. Deep down, Mark knew no one blamed him, especially not Steve, but looking at his son's injuries felt like someone was driving a spike through his heart. It hurt more than the physical wounds he'd received.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Son…you're supposed to be sleeping," Mark mock scolded.
"I am…I was, but I need to go to the bathroom," Steve said and shifted as if trying to get out of the bed.
"Stay where you are, Steve, and I'll get the nurse…"
"I can do it, Dad," the younger man interrupted.
"Oh, really, and who's going to pick you up when you fall flat on your face?" Mark asked.
"I…oh…damn," Steve cursed softly and realized exactly what his father meant…hating that he was right again.
"Glad you see things my way," the physician said and pressed the button pinned to Steve's bed.
"Can I help you?" the nurse asked.
"Yes, we need some help in here," Mark answered.
"I'll send your nurse right in," the voice assured them.
Mark watched his son closely, turning when the door opened and a familiar form stood framed in the light from the hallway. There was no doubt he was in for a scolding, but he tried to divert her attention before she zeroed in on him. "Steve needs…"
"I'm sure Steve can speak for himself, Mark, but you should be in your bed!" Anna Downey scolded, hands on her hips as she walked toward him.
"You're busted, Dad," Steve teased tiredly.
"Yes, he is…back to bed, Dr. Sloan!" Downey ordered, emphasis on the title as she marched him the short distance to his bed and waited for him to lie back and pull the blankets up over him. She turned to the other patient and any hint of sternness disappeared as she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Now, Steve, is there something I can help you with?"
"I need to…ah, you know…I need to go…"
"Why is it men have such trouble forming coherent sentences when they…"
"He needs a urinal, Anna," Mark finished for his son.
"I thought so," Downey said and made her way to the bathroom, returning with the item and pulling the curtains across to allow the younger man some privacy. "Now, Steve…"
"I can do it," the injured man told her.
"I'm sure you can, but do you realize I'll have to change the sheets and your bandages if you spill any…hmm…"
"I guess men aren't the only ones who have problems expressing themselves," Mark said, a hint of humor in his voice. He lay back against his pillows and listened as the nurse helped his son take care of things. Anna Downey was a wonderful nurse and he looked forward to learning more about her once he was released from the hospital. He heard her go into the bathroom and flush the toilet and knew his son was probably blushing because of his weakness right now.
"All right, Steve, if there's anything else you need just hit the button," Downey told him.
"Thanks, Anna, I will," the younger Sloan said as the woman opened the curtains. He turned to look at his father and managed a weak smile before his eyes closed.
Mark studied his son's face for several minutes until he was sure Steve was sleeping. He checked the monitors, relieved to see everything was within normal parameters and finally closed his eyes.
Anna Downey checked in on her patients ten minutes later, smiling when she noted both men were sleeping and had turned so that the first thing they saw upon waking was their roommate. Easing the door closed, Anna walked back to the desk and reached for the steaming cup of coffee she'd placed there.
DMDMDMDMDMDMDM
Jesse Travis pushed open the door and walked in to find Mark Sloan seated in a chair beside the window watching over his sleeping son. "Good morning, Mark."
"Morning, Jesse," Sloan greeted his younger colleague. "How d you feel?"
"Better," Mark answered honestly. "When can I get out of here?"
"I just checked your chart and you should be able to go home tomorrow morning," Jesse answered and watched as his friends shoulders slumped. "I thought you'd be happy with that news."
"I am, Jesse, but…"
"You don't like the idea of leaving Steve here alone?"
"Am I that easy to read?"
"When it comes to Steve…yes," Travis answered. "Mark, there'll be an officer outside his door at all times. I'm pretty certain you'll have the same thing when you go home, but…"
"But what?"
"I was wondering if you'd like some company for a few days?"
"I'm a grown man, Jesse, I can handle myself."
"I know, but my place is being fumigated and I just…"
"Wanted an excuse to watch out for me," Sloan stated with an easy smile.
"You could say that," Jesse said. "So can I crash at your place?"
"I guess so," the older man said and watched as his son's eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.
"Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty," Travis said with a smile.
"They don't pay me enough to do this," Steve mumbled.
"Perhaps it's time you looked at getting an easier job," Jesse suggested.
"Not what I meant…was talking about waking up and first thing I see is…you," the policeman told him.
"Very funny, Steve," Travis said, glancing at the injured man's file. "Seriously, Steve, how do you feel this morning?"
"Sore," Sloan answered.
"I'd say that's an understatement if I ever heard one," Travis said, shaking his head as he realized father and son were so much alike. "Well, Steve, the latest test results are much better than I expected…"
"So I can get out of here?"
"Not today or tomorrow or the day after that," Jesse warned.
"So in three days…"
"I give up," Travis said exasperatedly. "Ask me again in a week."
"A week…"
"That's a very conservative number, Son," the elder Sloan observed. "Besides you'll soon be put on a regular diet and we both know how much you enjoy hospital food."
"I never thought of that," Steve said and turned to Jesse. "Any chance the kitchen is making meatloaf?"
"Steve, that brown substance should never be called meatloaf," Travis said, disgust evident in the way he wrinkled his nose.
"Don't knock it…besides I thought the hospital was supposed to serve nutritious meals."
"They are…it just doesn't mean it tastes good," Jesse told him, watching Steve closely as he showed signs of pain and exhaustion. "Steve, you're hooked up to a PCA and I want you to use it when you need it."
"I will…"
"I'll believe that when I see it," Mark observed, surprised when his son's hand pressed down on the box and delivered the medication.
"Steve, Captain Newman has been asking when he can question you…"
"Is he here?" the younger Sloan asked.
"No, I told him I'd call when you feel up to it," Travis advised.
"I should…"
"Steve, he knows who's responsible and they have APBs out on them, so your statement can wait until you're strong enough to stay awake longer than fifteen minutes at a time," Mark said sternly.
"I am a little tired…"
"A little?" Mark asked skeptically, but there was no answer from his son.
"He's sleeping, Mark," Travis observed.
"Good, he needs to rest."
"You both do. Why don't you get some rest and maybe I'll bring you a sandwich from that little deli across the street," Travis offered.
"Corned beef on rye with Dijon mustard?"
"Of course," Jesse said. He waited until his colleague climbed into bed and left the two men alone. Jesse greeted the cop standing outside the door before moving to the nurse's desk and speaking with the woman seated there. Once he was sure they understood his orders he left to get Mark the promised sandwich.
DMDMDMDMDMDMDMDM
Mark Sloan had never been so happy to be home and even the police officers assigned to protect him didn't even dampen his mood. It had been hard leaving the hospital while Steve was still a patient, but if things continued to improve his son would be home in a few days and they could recover together.
The police had finally taken Steve's statement, but there was nothing Steve could add to what Mark had already told them. Damian and Tatiana were still out there, but Mark refused to live his life hidden away from the people he cared about. Jesse had prescribed a mild pain medication, and he shook two of the pills into his hand before downing them with a glass of water.
"Mark, are you in here?"
"I'm here, Amanda," Sloan answered, touching the cold glass against his forehead as the woman joined him in the living room.
"How are you feeling, Mark?" Amanda Bentley asked upon entering the room.
"Tired and sore, but glad to be home."
"I bet you are. I brought coffee and sandwiches," Bentley told him and passed the older man a Starbuck's cup.
"Thanks," Sloan said. "Did you see Steve today?"
"I stopped in before I left, but he was sleeping. Connie Evans was there with him…she suits him."
"Yes, she does. I'm hoping Steve will invite her to dinner once he's home," Sloan said and sipped the hot beverage. "This is good."
"Thanks…Ham or turkey?"
"Ham," the physician answered, smiling when she also placed a bowl of chicken vegetable soup in front of him.
"I figured you'd like this as well," Bentley said.
"I do," Sloan assured her. "Amanda, how would you like to help me with a little detective work?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"I keep thinking there has to be some way to trace Damian and Tatiana. El Diablo is well known in the streets, but no one seems to know where the gang leader hides when the heat is on. We could use the internet and try to find out if there's a place in the city where they could be holed up."
"We could, but you need to rest so why don't I start checking while you finish your lunch and get some sleep?"
"I should help…"
"You will be by sleeping because then I won't be worrying about you," Amanda told him. She smiled as he finished his lunch and headed for his bedroom while she booted up his laptop and began searching for friends or relatives who might hide Damian and Tatiana.
DMDMDMDMDMDM
Connie Evans reached over the rail and took Steve's hand in her own as his eyelids fluttered and finally opened. She smiled as he seemed to focus on her and reached over to brush back the hair from his forehead. "Hi," she said softly.
"Hi, when did you get here?" Sloan asked, raising the head of his bed.
"Not long ago…"
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"Because you're supposed to be resting," Evans answered and brushed her lips against his. "God, Steve, I've been so worried."
"I'm okay, Connie," Sloan assured her, but could see by the frown she didn't believe him. "Connie, we both know how dangerous my job is…"
"I know, but that doesn't make it any easier seeing you like this. When Captain Newman called me and asked for my help I thought…I thought you were going to die, Steve. God, I had to fight to keep my emotions in check when I went to your house," she whispered.
"I'm sorry, Connie…"
"It's not your fault, Steve…it's those animals who think they can just take what they want and to hell with everyone else! They could have killed you and your father and they're still out there!" Connie spat.
"Captain Newman will find them," Steve said seriously.
"I hope so and I hope they spend the rest of their lives behind bars." Tears sprang to her eyes and she turned away, but Steve managed to reach over the rail and grab her hand.
"Don't go…it'll be okay," Sloan told her.
"I'm not going anywhere, Steve," Evans vowed and lowered the rail so she could sit on the edge of the bed. She looked into his eyes and knew she could easily lose herself in the emotive eyes. "I think I'm falling in love with you Steve Sloan."
"I hope so, Connie, because I'd like to think we have a future together," Steve told her, closing his eyes and sighing tiredly before giving in to his body's need for sleep.
TBC