Going Home

A/N Continued heartfelt thanks to all those who are still following, reading and reviewing this story. Your kind words mean an awful lot to me and I really do appreciate those who take the time to tell me what you think! You have my sincerest gratitude.

Here is chapter 25 in which my muse is being cruel to Steve again and Mike has a chance encounter with someone! I promise I will stop whumping Steve soon and let him recover!... ;-)

Chapter 25

Mike jumped from his seat and rushed forward as Steve had raised himself up and made his protest about Mike ever going to see Henry. The protest had been ill-advised as the sudden movement had caused Steve's stomach to go into spasm and after his heartfelt plea he had practically doubled over clutching at his sore stomach and breathing in gasps. Mike became alarmed and attempted to calm the young man down, feeling guilty that he might have caused this latest bout of suffering.

"Ok, ok, Steve! Take it easy! Lie back down! Try to relax!"

The hot water bottle had fallen on the floor during his attempt to get up so having laid him back down, Mike retrieved it and placed it back against Steve's stomach but Steve was almost white in the face and knew he was in trouble! He could barely speak with the spasms of pain that were tearing through his poor stomach in waves and in desperation he spoke in broken gasps.

"Mike ... get ... the ... Doctor ..."

That was all he managed to say as another particularly bad spasm took hold and he shut his eyes tight and almost held his breath to ride out the wave of pain. Mike wasted no time and shouted loudly.

"DR. FOGARTY! BETTY !"

Now Mike was beside himself with worry. The fact that Steve wanted the Doctor was never a good sign. It was also an indication of how bad he was feeling and how bad the pain was! Thankfully within seconds, the Doctor and Betty raced from the kitchen looking startled by Mike's panicked shout. Seeing Steve writhing in agony, Dr. Fogarty raced to his patient and knelt down beside him.

"Dear God! What happened?" he turned and asked Mike as he attended to Steve.

"He tried to sit up and ... the next thing I knew he was like that and asking for you! He said his stomach was hurting after the exam!"

The Doctor looked at Mike with concern in his eyes briefly and then turned back to Steve.

"Steve! How bad is the pain? "

"Very ... " was all he could say and the Doctor could see he was holding his breath with the agony he was in.

"Steve! I know you're in a lot of pain! But you must try to breathe as normally as you can! I'm going to get you something for the pain now. Ok?"

He moved slightly sideways and looked at Mike and without the need to issue verbal instructions Mike knew what he needed him to do. Kneeling back beside his partner, he started to talk soothingly to the young man, stroking his forehead as he did.

"Steve! Listen to me now! Come on look at me too! The Doctor's going to give you something for the pain but I need you to breathe slowly with me. Ok? Come on now! I know you can do it!"

"Hurts ..." was all Steve said as two green, pain and fear filled eyes opened and looked at his partner.

"I know Steve! But just breathe ... nice and slowly... That's it, in and out!"

Mike breathed purposefully and Steve bravely tried his best to do what he was asked. Steve's breaths were a little more forced and ragged than Mike's but he was managing to keep them at the same pace so Mike beamed at him proudly.

The Doctor lifted Steve's hand and placed a hand on Steve's stomach and could feel the tightness of the muscles as the spasms took hold. Steve visibly jumped even from the light touch of the Doctor's hand on his stomach which was sore to the touch. Turning to Betty, he asked.

"Betty! Is he due painkillers? "

"They're due in the next half hour but Dan! I could only give him paracetamol the last time because his stomach was so bad and he was taking them orally!"

The Doctor nodded his head as if he suddenly understood what was happening or at least Mike hoped that was what his gesture meant. He waited anxiously for the Doctor to speak while he assisted Steve at the same time.

"The paracetamol isn't strong enough Betty for an infection this bad but I understand why you gave it to him. I don't think his stomach can handle the meds orally yet either! We're going to have to find another vein to put another cannula in!"

Mike quickly glanced at Steve knowing what his reaction would be to that but thankfully, trying to breathe slower and deal with the stomach spasms was taking all his effort and attention at the minute so he hadn't seemed to even hear what the Doctor had said.

Betty looked concerned.

"Dan his veins are very bad. The hand vein is too sore and traumatized and his other arm is still badly bruised and traumatized by the hospital IV back in San Francisco!" she spoke urgently, dreading where he would find a vein that wasn't totally traumatic to use!

"What about his left arm? Have you checked that?"

"Yes! I couldn't find a viable one and Mike said they had trouble finding one there back in San Francisco General too!"

Dan Fogarty pulled up Steve's left shirt sleeve and applied a tight tourniquet to the top of his arm. He pressed and poked at the crook of Steve's elbow almost praying a vein would pop up for him to use. Steve looked at where the Doctor was pressing and looked panicked at Mike. But Mike saw him panic and quickly reassured him.

"Now, now it's ok. I know you hate needles but you want to get rid of that awful pain don't you? Just let the Doctor do what he has to and everything will be ok! Concentrate on your breathing now and just keep looking at me, no matter what! You hear me? Concentrate on this handsome face of mine! " Mike added trying to lighten the serious mood and Steve in all fairness did try to smile at that line but with the pain he was in, his smile was short-lived. He did to his credit, continue to look at Mike and did try to ignore the ministrations of Dr. Fogarty.

Betty was watching Dr. Fogarty closely. He was highly skilled when it came to needles and Betty had seen him find veins, for her patients in the clinic that she had thought impossible so in this instance she was so glad that he was in attendance, and responsible for finding one now. Almost as she was thinking it, Dan looked at her and smiled.

"There is one, a very strong one but it's deep under the skin. If I can get it, we shouldn't have any more problems giving him his meds but I'll have to go in blind!"

"Blind?" Mike questioned not liking how that sounded.

Betty sought to explain.

"It just means the vein isn't visible to the naked eye so you have to insert the needle first and then move it carefully until you get the vein you want. It's harder than getting a visible one but I've seen Dan here do it at least fifty times successfully. He's good at what he does Mike! We have to trust him!"

"Don't build me up too much Betty! " Dan added smiling as he prepped the needle site with an alcohol swab. "I'm under enough pressure here! But I'm confident I can get it. Ok? Here goes! Hopefully first time lucky! Betty hold his arm steady! Mike, keep him distracted please!"

Dr. Fogarty positioned the needle and feeling very carefully for the vein that he was aiming for, he inserted it carefully and felt Steve tense up.

Steve gasped, his slow breathing temporarily forgotten as he sucked in another breath and shut his eyes tight as he felt the needle pierce his skin.

"Mike! ..." he gasped as he felt the needle moving.

"Easy now buddy boy! It's almost done!" Mike coaxed as he continued to stroke Steve's forehead soothingly.

Dan Fogarty felt the pressure as a cold sweat broke out on his forehead but he was confident that he could do it! He could feel the vein pulsing deep within Steve's arm and knew he had to trust his instincts. He moved the needle twice very slowly, the first time showed nothing but the second time he pushed it very slowly and carefully and was rewarded as red blood seeped to the surface.

"Yes! We're in!" Dan said unable to hide both the sense of triumph and relief in his voice and used his sleeve to wipe his brow.

Smiling proudly at her colleague, Betty stepped forward and helped him prep the vein and attach the cannula. Flushing it once successfully, Dan Fogarty went on to administer three shots into the arm, a strong painkiller, his next antibiotic dose and a mild sedative. Knowing what the first two were, Betty queried the third.

"What's in the third one Dan?"

"I'm giving him a mild sedative. He needs to get some rest! Now that we have a new cannula in you can still give him his meds whether he's asleep or not! But he really is exhausted. He needs a good sleep to allow his stomach time to heal!"

Mike heard them discussing the sedative and couldn't help but agree that sleep was what the young man desperately needed. His eyes were almost in the back of his head and dark circles had started to become more apparent around his eyes and with his mind racing as he had admitted to Mike that it was earlier, enforced rest was all the rest he would get for the time being.

With the new cannula in and the shots administered, all that was left was for the new cannula to be bandaged up and Betty set to work on that immediately. The Doctor continued to take Steve's vital signs and Mike continued to talk soothingly to Steve until the pain meds could take effect. After twenty minutes which felt longer to Mike, Steve visibly started to relax. Checking Steve's stomach once more, Dan noticed that the tension had eased and with Steve's breathing normalizing and his pulse and heart rate slowing, he knew that the pain meds and sedative were starting to do their job. Steve was opening and closing his eyes now, as if he was struggling to keep them open and Mike smiled at his persistence.

"Steve! The Doc here gave you something to help you get some well needed rest. Do me a favour and stop fighting it will you? Close your eyes now and let yourself drift off! Ok?"

Steve pushed his eyelids open one more time and struggled to keep them focussed. He grabbed almost blindly at Mike's sleeve with his good hand and spoke softly but with a slight slur as the drugs took effect.

"Mike ... promise me you won't try to see ... Henry! ... Please promise ... me!"

Mike felt Steve's heartfelt plea and agitation and placing his hand over Steve's he answered reassuringly.

"Now, now! I never said I was going to ... did I? So stop worrying! If it makes you feel better! I promise ok? Now will you please, do what I asked you and try to sleep buddy boy!"

Steve closed his eyes unable to keep them open a second longer and half smiled as Mike's words eased his anxiety a great deal. Then without having much choice as he felt a strange sensation washing over him and blackness settle around him, he drifted off into a drug induced sleep. The hand that had gripped Mike's sleeve went limp and fell against the side of the couch and Steve finally appeared to settle. Mike felt relief and fatigue wash over him. He hated seeing Steve in pain like that and having to suffer the needles that he knew he dreaded. And he still felt partly responsible for this latest pain filled episode as he remembered how agitated he had become at the thoughts of Mike attempting to make contact with his Uncle Henry.

Part of Mike wondered why Steve was so against the idea. Was Steve afraid that he would upset his Aunt, or was he afraid that he wouldn't be able to keep his feelings out of the way and his fists in his pocket if he did, knowing some of the awful things he had inflicted on Steve as a child! The more he thought about it he felt that he understood Steve's trepidation as he realized that he wasn't really sure himself if he would be able to avoid losing his temper if he was faced with the man who he had grown to despise as a bully and a child abuser!

A touch on his arm pulled him from his thoughts as he turned and saw Betty standing just behind him.

"Mike, he's asleep now. He's going to be out for a good few hours! I'm just going to see Dan out and I'll be right back. Ok?"

Realizing that he had been lost in his thoughts, he cleared his throat and nodded at Betty and saw Dr. Fogarty standing just behind her. Standing up quickly he reached out and shook the Doctor's hand.

"I can't tell you how glad I am that you were here when that happened! Thanks for looking after him so well. But I must admit I am a little worried. He seems to be getting worse instead of better! Should his stomach be as sore as it is?"

"With an infection like Steve has, it can get a little worse before it gets better. It's just the bacteria fighting against the antibiotics. We should see a marked improvement by tomorrow though! Betty here will keep me posted."

"Doc, we were supposed to be heading home tomorrow evening because he was supposed to be back to work Wednesday morning! I take it that's not going to be happening? "

"Definitely not! He won't be able for work until next Monday at the earliest and I wouldn't rush him into a long car journey too soon either. If I were you I'd wait until at least Thursday or Friday before you consider taking him back to San Francisco."

"Ok, thanks for the advice. I'll ring our Boss and let him know! Good evening and thanks again!"

"Glad I could help! And please try not to worry! I know that was distressing to watch but he's on better painkillers now. They should keep him more comfortable until we see an improvement."

Mike nodded and watched as Betty followed the young man out into the hall then turning he headed back towards Steve. Sitting down heavily in the arm-chair he laid his head back against the back of it and sighed heavily, the shock and worry of what had just happened evident on his face. He watched the peaceful rise and fall of Steve's chest and found it somehow calming and reassuring. With his left arm bandaged now as well as his hand, Mike couldn't help but sympathize with his partner. Reaching out and placing a hand on the back of Steve's head he quietly whispered.

"Rest easy now buddy boy. You don't have to worry about a thing! Looks like we're going to be sticking around Modesto for longer than we intended to though!"

Then he sat back and waited for Betty's return. He heard the muffled voices fade and the front door close and Betty came in sighing as she did! Walking over to Mike and Steve, she stood and seemed to be observing Steve just as Mike had moments before.

"Well, Thank God, he seems easier now! I feel awful Mike! I should have known the paracetamol wasn't strong enough, but with his stomach so bad earlier I was afraid he wouldn't tolerate anything stronger! "

"Hey, hey now. Don't go trying to blame yourself. You heard the Doc. These type of infections can get worse before they get better. You did what you thought was for the best. No-one is going to blame you for that! The main thing is that he's resting now and that awful pain has eased."

Mike looked at Betty and noticed how tired she looked. He was feeling very tired himself and Betty had been up a good bit last night taking care of Steve too. So he had an idea!

"Say! Why don't I go and get us a take away dinner now and it will save Gerry having to go out again when he gets home! What do you think? Huh? You look as tired as I feel. It was a rough night last night and well ... it will be my treat!" Mike said looking at his watch and seeing that it was just gone five thirty-five pm.

"Ok, thanks Mike! That would be lovely! " Betty said smiling.

Mike asked Betty what take out they normally got and Betty gave him directions to a Chinese take away in Modesto that they used on occasion. She wrote down the order and when Mike had picked what he wanted she also asked him to get some light chicken broth too for Steve as it would be light and yet nutritious. Satisfied that he knew where he was heading he fetched his coat and hat and returning to look at Steve one last time he smiled at Betty and told her he wouldn't be long. As Betty saw him out she placed a hand on his arm.

"Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye on him while you're gone ... that's if you still trust me to?" Betty said sadly.

"Betty, I wouldn't trust him with anyone else!"

Betty smiled and watched as he got into his car and drove off waving as he did.

Then closing the door she returned to where Steve was sleeping. She tidied up the various used medical supplies that were still lying around and when everything was tidied up she sat down in the chair beside him and sighed heavily. She was feeling bad that Steve had been under her care when he took a turn for the worst. She was also kicking herself for not realizing that he needed a stronger painkiller. After sitting for several minutes and satisfying herself that he was indeed peaceful and comfortable, she went to set the table in the dining room so that they could eat where they could keep an eye on Steve again.

Mike drove where Betty had showed him and sure enough there was the restaurant just as she had said. Parking the car he went in and gave the take out order. The place seemed very busy and the young lady behind the counter told him that the order would take at least twenty minutes. Thanking the young lady, Mike went to take a seat to wait by the window but as he went to sit down he looked across the street and saw a large church. Something about the church seemed to call to him and he suddenly felt the need to go over there. Knowing that he had twenty minutes to spare and also realizing that he had missed Sunday mass yesterday, Mike walked back to the young lady at the counter, paid her and told her that he had a small message to do and that he would be back to collect the order shortly. Then exiting the restaurant he crossed the street and went up the many steps to the church.

As he entered the main body of the church he saw a good few people who seemed to be cleaning it. Some were polishing and one woman was arranging flowers up at the altar. Mike walked up the main aisle until he was close to the altar. Blessing himself and genuflecting before the altar he then went into a pew on the left and knelt down. He closed his eyes and joined his hands and proceeded to say a few prayers, mostly for Steve and for a speedy recovery for his partner. Then after around ten minutes he decided to light a candle too. So leaving his seat he walked over and lit a candle and sat back down again.

As he did, the group of people at the front of the church seemed to gather together having finished their work and although they were talking quietly, Mike couldn't help but overhear their conversation. The two ladies on the left seemed to be comforting the one on the right who had been flower arranging. They were sympathizing with her about something and as they said their goodbyes, one of them said.

"Try not to worry Rose! See you next week at the same time!"

Mike's head whipped up at the mention of the name but then he scolded himself for being silly. There must a hundred women named Rose in Modesto! What were the chances of meeting Steve's Aunt in a church in Modesto so randomly? Not very high he reckoned. So he dismissed the idea and returned to his prayers. A priest came out of the door at the back of the altar and called to the woman named Rose who had started to walk down towards the back of the church. She was carrying the rest of the leftover flowers in her arms.

"Rose! Have you a minute please?"

The lady turned and walked back up the aisle towards the older priest and while they were still talking quietly, with the silence in the church, Mike could still make out part of the conversation.

"Rose ... how's Henry?"

Mike swallowed hard knowing the odds had just been lowered in his favour! Looking towards the statue on the altar he smiled as if he had been called here for a reason. Under his breath he muttered.

"Boy, you do work in mysterious ways, God!"

He wondered if he should approach her before she left the church and started to think about what he would say if he did. After all he had promised Steve that he wouldn't go to see Henry but he hadn't made the same promise about Rose! And truthfully he hadn't sought her out but had met her purely by accident or perhaps by divine intervention. He kept a close eye on the two people who stood off to the side of where he was sitting.

"Not so good Father!" the woman replied and seemed to get upset. Placing an arm around her shoulders the priest seemed to try to comfort her. Seeing that they were both engrossed in their conversation, Mike took the opportunity to slide himself further along the wooden seat until he was within earshot of the two people he was curious about.

"I presume he hasn't taken it too well then?" the priest asked the now sobbing lady.

"No! It's killing him Father. He refuses to see the Doctor and he's getting sicker by the day. I don't know what to do anymore Father!"

"Now, now my child. Things will work themselves out. They always do. What if I were to go to visit him at the house, huh? Perhaps he'd listen to me?"

"Oh Father! That would be so good of you! But you know Henry ... he's stubborn Father. I don't know if he'd make you welcome or not!"

"Now, you leave that to me, ok Rose? I know what he's like alright and he knows I don't scare off as easy as some do! I'll call over tomorrow after morning mass ok? Now in the meantime you take care of yourself and try not to worry. You're doing everything you can for that family of yours. Be proud Rose and know that God will help you. Bless you Rose and I'll see you tomorrow!"

On hearing this part of the conversation , Mike was sure he had the right Rose alright!

"Thank you Father!" Rose answered and with that the priest returned to the room behind the altar and Rose made her way sadly and quietly down the aisle again.

Hoping he wouldn't regret his next move which was fed off pure gut instinct Mike rose quickly, blessed himself again and headed more quickly down after the retreating woman. Almost catching up with her he spoke a little louder than he had intended to.

"Excuse me Ma'am ..."

The woman wheeled around slightly startled and backed a little away from Mike trying to focus her red rimmed eyes to see if she actually knew this man who had called her. Satisfying herself that she did not, she shakily answered.

"Yes ... can I help you?"

Realizing that he had startled her by her demeanor he instantly apologized.

"Forgive me Ma'am. I didn't mean to startle you! I ... well I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation and well, actually I was just wondering if ... if your maiden name was Rose Keller?"

There he had said it! And there was no going back now! He watched as she startled even more, dropping the flowers she bad been carrying at the unexpected mention of her maiden name!

Mike quickly bent down to help her pick them up and could feel Rose's eyes studying him intensely wondering how he knew her.

"Were you ... one of Harry's friends?" Rose asked nervously.

"No, Ma'am . I'm afraid I never had the pleasure of meeting Harry. Actually my name is Mike Stone. I'm a Lieutenant with San Francisco Police Department and I work in Homicide with your nephew Steve!"

Rose gasped loudly at the mention of Steve's name and for a split second Mike thought she might pass out!

"Ma'am are you ok? "

"Oh my God! He's alright isn't he? Has something happened to him? Is he hurt?"

Realizing what Rose was thinking he kicked himself for not thinking his words out more carefully and quickly moved to reassure her.

"No, Ma'am. Steve is fine! I'm sorry if I worried you! Actually he came down to Modesto with me just this weekend for a fishing trip but well ... unfortunately he took sick and so we're staying with friends of mine on the other side of town."

"Sick? ... What do you mean sick? ... How bad is he?" Rose stammered still trying to process the news that her nephew was currently in Modesto.

"Well ... it's kind of a long story but he has a stomach infection. But he's seen a Doctor, he's on antibiotics so he'll just be laid up for a few days that's all!"

"Thank God! Has he been doing ok in San Francisco? I ... I ... haven't spoken to him for quite a while. We lost touch a little ... I've been meaning to call him ... but ... my husband hasn't been well and ... you know come to think of it I ... do remember Steve mentioning you. Mr. Stone wasn't it?"

"Yes, that's right!"

"You're his partner aren't you?"

Mike nodded.

"Yes! He told me lots about you! He said you were very good to him! He mentioned your daughter too! Emmmm ... Joan. No Jeannie! Yes Jeannie, that was the name. He said that you both have him round for dinner quite a bit and that you look out for him!"

Mike swallowed hard, touched that Steve had spoken so highly of him and Jeannie to his Aunt.

"He said that?"

"Yes, he spoke very highly of you both the last time we spoke! Thank you Mr. Stone ... for watching out for him for us! I ... Do you think it would be possible for me to ... see him? There are things I need to ... talk to him about."

Mike recoiled somewhat knowing that Steve mightn't be too keen on such a meeting so he stalled a little.

"Well, it's just that he's quite ill at the moment! I ... don't think he's up to visitors just yet but ... maybe before we head back, we can arrange something!"

Rose sensed something from what Mike had said but hoped that she had been wrong.

"I see ... my husband would like to see him too. He hasn't been well and he's been talking about Steve and asking about him a lot lately."

Mike could feel his anger rise at that statement. The gall of the man! Probably a guilty conscience eating away at him now that he was poorly and facing his own mortality ! He desperately tried to control his anger at the man but the things he had heard over the last few days were still too fresh in his mind to be able to control his pent-up frustration.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry that your husband isn't too well ..." Mike said politely with as much false sincerity as he could muster, almost choking on his words as he really felt that anything Henry had coming to him was well deserved. " but ... I don't think Steve will want to see your husband ..."

Mike trailed off and looked away from Rose, not quite knowing how to put it into words better without alerting Steve's Aunt to what had happened all those years ago. He knew that Steve was under the impression that Rose was oblivious to what went on and even though, he himself wasn't as convinced of it, he knew that Steve wouldn't want him to say anything about it just in case and he felt bound to respect Steve's wishes in this instance whether he agreed with them or not!

But without warning, Rose swayed slightly and looked upset. Grabbing her elbow, Mike guided her to a pew and got her to sit down. From his firm grip on her arm, he could feel her trembling and wondered what had caused such a drastic reaction but he didn't have to wait long to find out! Placing a hand over her mouth she let out a muffled gasp and stammered nervously, while tears were visibly forming in her eyes.

"Oh my God! You know don't you?"

Mike was taken aback but still kept his cool until he could find out what it was she felt he knew!

"Know what Ma'am ?" he asked cautiously.

"You know about Henry and ... Steve? Don't you? He ... told you didn't he?"

Mike felt himself getting a little rattled. Again her statements were very vague.. he needed to know clearly what she meant before he answered honestly.

"You've lost me Ma'am ! Know what about Steve and your husband? If you're talking about the Thanksgiving incident, then yes he told me but I have a feeling you're not talking about that are you? You're asking me if I knew about what happened before that aren't you?"

Mike decided to show his hand and draw out a sufficient answer from the shaken lady in front of him. He had been too long interrogating suspects not to have learned to use those skills wisely in other areas of his life and this time those skills might just come in handy. At Mike's last statement, Rose gasped less audibly and tears started to flow down her cheeks. She nodded feebly and Mike's heart sank. Alarm bells went off inside his head as he began to sense that she had known about Henry's abusive behaviour towards Steve! His first thought was of his partner. He knew that Steve was very fond of his Aunt and that he believed her to be an innocent party in what happened! If she had known, it would tear Steve apart to know that she had allowed it to happen! He felt his anger return and as he stared disbelievingly at the sobbing lady in front of him, he chose his next words very carefully!