"Jeannie it's me, Steve." Steve saw the curtain open wider and her surprised look and then she opened the window.
"What are you doing? Get in here. Hurry," Jeannie urged
Jeannie helped him inside and hurriedly closed and locked the window. She grabbed him in a bear hug thrilled to see him as much as he was to see her. He held her tight against him and wished he never had to leave her ever again not even for a second.
"I've missed you," Steve spoke his voice husky with emotion.
"I've missed you too, babe. You don't know how happy I am to see you right now." Jeannie was all smiles for a minute then recalled his letter and pushed away from him. "WAIT A MINUTE!"
"What ,Jeannie? What's wrong?" Steve asked a bit confused then saw her eyes sparking fire. "Jeannie?"
"You've got some explaining to do, mister!" Jeannie snapped and retrieved the letter from the nightstand. "What were you thinking Steve? You made a decision like this without even calling me to talk to me about it! You could have at least called and told me what was going on so I'd know they wanted you to work undercover."
"Jeannie I..." Steve tried to start but the look in her eyes and face made him go quiet.
"You what? You knew I wouldn't be for it so you just gave them an answer and thought you could leave me with a letter? And about this letter, Steve if you thought you were going to get off the hook by talking about our relationship you've got another think coming!" Jeannie's tone was extremely terse.
Just then the front door opened and they heard hurried footsteps coming toward Jeannie's room. Jeannie turned her scowl toward the doorway as Mike appeared. He looked at his daughter than the young man who stood there looking as though he almost thought coming was a bad idea after all. Mike took a step forward as recognition hit him.
"Steve?" Mike inquired and saw Steve nod his head. "Buddy boy, how did you manage to get away?"
Mike hugged Steve tightly as Steve returned it without hesitation. After a minute the hug was broken. Mike still found himself amazed at the transformation of his normally clean-cut partner.
"I waited until after dark and snuck away. I had to see you and Jeannie. I'm sorry, I guess it wasn't the best idea. I was really careful though and made sure I wasn't followed," Steve explained.
"I'm real happy to see you. You don't know how much we've missed you. I'll let you two finish your conversation and I'll get washed up for dinner. Jeannie, please try to keep it down to a dull roar. I could hear you coming up the stairs." Mike kissed his daughter then left them alone closing Jeannie's door.
"I'm sorry, Jeannie truly I am. You're right I should have talked it over with you. I knew that and I apologize deeply for not doing so. You deserved more consideration than I gave when they asked me to do this. I'll go ahead and take off. I'm really sorry." Steve was sincerely contrite.
"I don't want you to go, babe. I just was angry and hurt and upset and I'm scared, Steve. I don't want anything happening to you I couldn't live without you don't you know that?" Jeannie had unshed tears. Steve held her extra close.
"I know, Jeannie. I feel the same about you." Steve kissed the top of her head very tenderly then let out a sigh. "I wasn't trying to get off the hook when I talked about us. I was trying to comfort myself, angel face. I'm not exactly making it through this without some fear, Jeannie and thoughts of you comfort me."
Jeannie kissed him deeply then. Steve returned the kiss without hesitation. They finally broke it off after a couple of minutes. She caressed his face lovingly. They finally went out of her room hand in hand and headed to the bathroom to wash up. After they'd washed up they headed to the kitchen. Mike smiled as his two kids came in they returned the smile.
"Everything okay now, kids?" Mike questioned and Jeannie nodded.
"It's okay now. It would be better if he would just stay home instead of going back though." Jeannie spoke very seriously.
"Jeannie, I'm afraid he's probably in too deep now for just walking away. We both want him here with us but if he doesn't go back it might mean signing his death warrant. He'll be back with us as soon as he can." Mike tried to sound reassuring but there was a tinge of fear.
They sat down together at the table and Mike had them all hold hands as he said grace. He wanted to ask God to watch over Steve for him and Jeannie while he was away from them. Steve was touched by the love and concern for him from these two people. He had them tell about their trip to Napa. He wanted normalcy and memories to store away for while he was away from them. Mike suggested that when Steve was done with this that he thought it would be a good idea for the next time Jeannie came home for a visit that maybe the two kids go to Napa. Steve looked at Mike then Jeannie and back to Mike his eyes sparkling brightly as he teased.
"Alone? What about you, Mike? I mean you didn't mean just us two alone. You know us kids need to be chaperoned," Steve teased with a smile.
"Sometimes you do but sometimes you kids deserve some alone time. I think a trip off for a few days together might be what you two need later when you both have time." Mike smiled warmly. "Of course, I'll be glad to chaperone if you want a family trip."
After they'd had dinner and the dishes were washed, Jeannie went out to get them some kind of dessert. While she was gone Steve filled Mike in on everything about the undercover operation. He had been worried Mike wasn't being kept filled in on what was going on and wanted him to know each and every detail for the most part. When Jeannie returned, they had ice cream and cake. Later Jeannie sat by Steve on the couch holding his hand. She was feeling a mixture of emotions as the three were back together. The only thing that Steve told of life undercover in front of Jeannie was that he was a full member of the Vagos. He also told how it came about.
"That's how you got that black eye," Jeannie stated tersely and Steve nodded. "What were you thinking, Steve? I mean why did you have to take part in a barroom brawl between two motorcycle gangs?"
"Jeannie, I couldn't blow my cover by not taking part in it. I know it wasn't the safest thing to do but I had no real choice at the minute it happened," Steve tried to explain.
"Sweetheart, I'm sure if there was any way out of it Steve would take it. He knows we both worry about him." Mike tried his best to smooth things over for Steve with Jeannie as he had seen the scowl she wore.
"Did you even bother to get checked? I bet you didn't." Jeannie guessed correctly. "What are we going to do with you, babe?"
"Nothing was broken honest," Steve reassured her and Mike both.
They talked another hour or so then Mike hugged both kids and told them he was going to get some sleep. When he had went into his room closing the door, Steve and Jeannie sat holding hands. Steve was feeling shy with Jeannie. It was a strange feeling for him because he hadn't felt shy around her in the longest time but now he was. After a few minutes he caressed her face lovingly then they just held each other. Jeannie finally pulled away a bit and Steve looked confused. He waited to see if she would explain.
"Steve, I don't like this undercover business. I want you out of it. I don't want you to go back," Jeannie stated lowly.
"I wish I could just bail out on it. You heard Mike and he's right. If I don't go back, they or their friends would be hunting me. Worse than that they might try to get to me through the people that mean the most to me. I can't risk you and Mike being hurt or worse." Steve's voice was emotional and serious.
"I don't want you there, Steve. It's not fair, babe." Jeannie didn't hide her fear.
She didn't care if she sounded selfish; she was terrified of what could happen. Steve and Jeannie tried to talk low so as not to disturb Mike. Finally, they decided to go out in the back yard to talk a while before they had to get to bed. After Jeannie and he had talked a bit, Steve started to kiss Jeannie, but she turned her head away. Steve almost just decided to give up and go take a shower. Instead though he held her tighter until he knew she wasn't as upset. Finally, he felt she was more open to his words and he spoke.
"It shouldn't be much longer, Jeannie." Steve tried to sound more confident than he felt.
Jeannie traced Steve's beard and moustache with her fingers as they sat together. She laid her head on his chest pressed against him and prayed he'd be extra careful when he went back. They enjoyed being there together but knew soon they needed to get some sleep.
"Steve, do I have any say in your life at all? I mean where police work's concerned," Jeannie asked quietly.
"Of course, you do. Sometimes I have no choice in what they want me to do but yes you have a huge say." Steve hugged her extra tight. "You have a say in every aspect of my life. What are you thinking that you want to say?"
"Just wanted to make sure. That way I know in the future I could voice my opposition if I think something you are asked to do is too dangerous." Jeannie's tone was defiant.
Steve kissed her in answer and Jeannie answered his kiss without hesitation As they were out there they heard what sounded like a howling noise that turned into a growl. The sound made the hair on the back of Steve's neck stand up. They finally went back inside. She made sure Steve had enough covers in the spare room. When they said good night, it was already close to 1:30 in the morning. They were sound asleep when Mike came the next morning to check on them. He headed to fix all of them breakfast. As the food was cooking the smell got to Steve and Jeannie. They both woke up and went to see what Mike had fixed. He and Steve hugged just as tight as Mike hugged Jeannie.
"If you kids chance going out anywhere today be extra careful. I don't want anything happening to either of you." Mike spoke warmly.
"I think we'll just stay in. I mean since Steve's still undercover that would probably be the safest choice," Jeannie answered decisively.
"That makes good sense. I'm not sure I'll be able to make it home for lunch. Roy was supposed to find out if the lunch meeting with the mayor and himself and each lieutenant was set for today. If it is I'll have to be at that I'll call and let you kids know," Mike promised.
When they finished breakfast Steve and Jeannie did the dishes while Mike went to finish getting ready. Once he hugged each of them they headed to get out of their sleep clothes and dress. Mike was pulling on his overcoat when he heard a knock at the door. He answered it and saw a neighbor standing there by the name of Walt Findlay.