A Promise Kept
Chapter 29
Mike and Rita raced over to Steve as the young man closed his eyes and seemed to be trying in vain to lift his head off the pillow. He wasn't managing very well and a cold shiver went down Mike's spine as he remembered Jeannie's earlier revelation about how weak he had become from not eating the last time. He placed his hand on Steve's forehead effectively stopping his efforts and was alarmed by how clammy the young man's skin felt. Steve's eyes struggled open again and his green eyes looked unfocused and glazed.
"Mi ... ke? Is ... that you?" he stammered, his words slurred in patches but more coherent than before as his hand lifted unsteadily and sought out contact with the older man now so close to him.
As if worrying that he was seeing things, his hand found Mike's cheekbone and his trembling fingers traveled it's length. Mike grasped his hand, stilling his movement, instead pressing Steve's hand to the side of his face as he smiled warmly.
"Well? Does it feel like me?"
Mike studied Steve and swore he saw a brief wry smile cross the young man's face.
"Yeah ... But you need ... a shave" he added with an attempt at humor as he felt the distinct stubble under his hand.
Mike chuckled and brought Steve's hand back down to the bed still clasped in his.
"Yes, you're right. I do ... You ok?"
Steve didn't answer at first and Mike worryingly saw Steve's eyes roll briefly before returning to try and focus on the older man.
"Head ... feels heavy. Like ... it's made of ... lead " Steve murmured unsteadily as his eyes closed again and his bottom lip visibly quivered.
Mike looked up at Rita and the worry that was clearly etched across his brow line, shook her to the core. She edged forward and lifted Steve's other wrist and proceeded to take his pulse as her voice spoke in a soothing tone.
"Steve? It's Rita dear. You had a bad reaction to the last does of Morphine. It's making you feel sluggish but it will wear off over the next few hours. The best thing you can do is sleep for now Honey."
Those words and the touch on his other wrist, brought a new agitation to the young man in the bed and his eyes forced open again and his breathing labored a little.
"NO! ... Don't wanna ... sleep ... anymore. "
Mike quickly intervened, his other hand this time seeking out Steve's cheek instead and pulling his face back to look at him.
"Alright. Don't get uneasy now. Rita's right. Until those drugs leave your system, you're better off sleeping them off. "
A brief look of terror, fleeting though it was, flickered in the depths of the two green eyes now desperately trying to focus on Mike's face as he spoke and Mike's heart felt like it sank in his chest. He stroked Steve's cheek and spoke comfortingly.
"Have you been having those nightmares again?"
Steve's nod was barely discernible but the moisture that suddenly began to flood Steve's eyes wasn't.
"Ok, ok now. I know. It's going to be alright" Mike uttered quietly, trying to keep his voice calm and soothing despite the inner turmoil Steve's revelation had caused and the confirmation of his worst fears from his arrival back here earlier, that Steve had been stuck in his nightmare unable to escape from it until he had heard Jeannie's reassurances that he was safe.
Steve's eyes seemed to focus a little better but now remained staring unnervingly at the older man.
"Mike? Need ... to tell you ... Something? Can't ... think straight."
Remembering what Rita had told him that Steve had wanted to say earlier he quickly intervened.
"Hey, hey now. There's nothing you need to tell me Buddy boy."
But even as the words left Mike's lips, a certain startled look appeared on Steve's face as if he had remembered what he had been trying to and he became agitated again, his hand gripping Mike's with a new found strength and a tear escaping from his left eye and trailing down his cheek as he spoke emotionally.
"MIKE! I'm sorry ..."
Mike placed his hand gently on Steve's lips and interrupted him as he watched painfully as a second tear trailed after the first.
"Hey! Shush now. You don't have to be sorry about anything. Me and Jeannie are the ones who should be sorry to you. We shouldn't have argued like that in front of you. None of it was your fault. NONE OF IT! You hear me now? I'm sorry ... Buddy boy that you witnessed that."
Rita grabbed the blood pressure cuff and wrapped it around Steve's right upper arm, listening to their sorrowful interaction as she proceeded to take his readings. Despite the tightness around Steve's arm caused by the cuff inflating, Rita noticed that he kept his attention focused the whole time on Mike. She heard Mike's voice breaking slightly and she studied him as she saw his eyes moisten too. She watched as he moved his hand and wiped Steve's tears away with his finger as Steve stammered gut wrenchingly again, his words coming out between heaving gasps.
"No Mike ... I'm sorry for ... all the trouble ... I caused ..."
Mike's face froze as he once more regretted the words he had used earlier and he saw how badly they had affected Steve.
"No Steve! You haven't caused any trouble and I had no right to say that you had. If anything you're in this mess because you were trying so hard NOT to cause anyone any trouble. I don't even know why I said it. It was just ... I don't know ... in the heat of the argument I guess ... I never meant it. PLEASE ... please forgive me for saying it and believe me it wasn't true ..."
Steve's eyes met his and his bottom lip wobbled again.
"I ... HAD to call her Mike ... I know I shouldn't have but I ... NEEDED to ..."
That revelation caused Mike's voice to fail him and he merely smiled at Steve through tear filled eyes and stroked the young man's forehead soothingly as he fought to regain the use of his voice. Clearing his throat he finally managed two short sentences.
"I know you did. And it's alright Steve. "
Steve wasn't sure he heard the last part right but a sudden dread filled him and his grip on Mike's hand tightened again in blind panic.
"Did ... Did you send her back?"
Mike knew he needed visual reassurance and so he gently turned Steve's head to his right once more as Rita stood aside.
"No Steve. Look ... She's right over there. She wouldn't leave you Buddy boy."
Steve visibly blinked the tears away to focus better on what Mike was showing him and his eyes lit on Jeannie's sleeping form in the chair.
The sight of her asleep in the chair reminded him of the many times he had seen her that way at his bedside both here in this same room and back at Union Street since the shooting and his emotions rushed to overwhelm him. Now desperately trying to hold back the wracking sobs that were stuck in his throat he heaved and gasped in a heart breaking manner and his reaction at seeing Jeannie sent Mike's emotions over the edge too. Rita watched as Mike covered his mouth with his hand and seemed to struggle to speak and seeing both of them upset, Rita knew she had to intervene. She reached over and cupped Steve's cheek and spoke compassionately.
"No Steve, don't get upset. She's right here. We're all here for you now and everything's going to be fine. I know you're feeling bad right now but tomorrow will be better I promise you. You're doing really well. Your wounds are clear and your vital signs are getting stronger. You kept down that last Nutrition shake and Dr. Lowell is happy with how you're coming along. Things aren't as bad as you think they are. Do you hear me?"
Steve nodded but she could see the upset still burning in his eyes. Knowing that it was Mike's reassurances he really needed to hear, she reached across and touched Mike's shoulder, almost hoping the simple touch would be enough to give him the strength he needed to pull himself together. It worked as Mike caught her eye and he saw her incline her head towards Steve in a wordless entreaty for him to help encourage the young man. Mike cleared his throat but it still took a few seconds for him to get his voice to work as he wanted it to.
"Hey Buddy Boy ... Rita's right ... We're all here for you now Steve. One hundred percent. Whatever you need. You don't have to worry anymore. Jeannie's not going back to Arizona for a week or two. That's good ... isn't it?"
That statement sunk in as Steve finally managed to tear his eyes from Jeannie and he turned his head with great effort back to look at Mike. Still speaking in a distressed manner though, he stammered.
"What about ... her exams Mike?"
Mike smiled proudly at his concern for his daughter's well being.
"Don't worry about those. I should have trusted her. You know Jeannie as well as I do. She has it all worked out and everything under control. She'll study here and then go back and take the exam. She has it all arranged."
"So ... she's staying?"
"Yes Steve ... She's staying."
Steve seemed to contemplate that news for a while before once more questioning Mike.
"And ... you're ... ok with that?"
"Yes Steve. We sorted everything out. I'm just as happy to have her home as you are. Now will you PLEASE stop worrying? You're going to give yourself gray hairs and you're still a bit young to get those just yet, huh?" Mike spoke humorously trying to get Steve to cheer up but it didn't work as he wanted it to.
He could still see the upset churning inside the young man and wasn't sure what was causing it. He exchanged a worried look with Rita who shrugged her shoulders equally at a loss as to what was causing the level of angst he was displaying but seriously considering that the drugs might be causing it. Perhaps he was just sick and tired of the whole situation and fed up of being ill but Mike still felt there was something else going on in the young man's head that he wasn't fully sharing for some reason. Another tear fell and trailed down Steve's cheek as he tore his eyes from Mike and stared at the ceiling.
"Hey, hey come on now Buddy boy. If you don't stop you're going to start ME off too and that would NOT be a pretty sight, let me tell you. What's going on Steve? ... What's upsetting you?"
Steve didn't answer and Mike was getting more worried by the second.
"STEVE? If you don't tell us we can't help you. Come on ... Look at me ..."
Steve dragged his eyes back to Mike and dry swallowed.
"I ... I CAN'T tell you Mike ..."
Mike was stunned by Steve's admission and more than a little perturbed.
"STEVE! It's ME ... You can tell me anything ..."
Steve just stayed staring dolefully at him and he didn't respond but he was breathing fast and remained very upset.
Mike looked back up at Rita briefly and she still looked none the wiser either. Trying to decide how to proceed, Mike moved tactfully along.
"Ok ... Well ... Can you tell Jeannie what's the matter?"
Steve's eyes widened in horror and he shook his head vehemently.
Mike tilted his head and raised an eyebrow in surprise. He didn't want to push him to talk and risk upsetting him even more but the fact that he was not willing to share whatever was bothering him with either himself or Jeannie troubled him greatly.
"Not ... even Jeannie, huh? Steve, well you've got to give me something to work with here. Can you tell me anything at all about what's bothering you?"
Steve closed his eyes and seemed to take an extra long deep breath. Then he turned to Mike and spoke in a wavering voice.
"I ... I don't want ... to lose you Mike ..."
It was Mike's turn to look horrified and he noticed Rita watching his reaction from the corner of his eye. Leaning closer to Steve he placed his hand on Steve's forehead again and spoke firmly.
"HEY! Hey where did that come from all of a sudden? You're not going to lose me. I'm not going anywhere Buddy boy. We're the ones who almost lost you, remember? What made you think that you were going to lose me? Huh?"
"I ... I need you with me ... to get through this Mike ..."
I know you do Steve. And I'm here for you. Every step of the way. You might need me but not as much as I've needed you these last four years. You've become one of my very best friends Steve and well ... like a son to me. You must know that by now. I'm in this friendship for the long haul. You got that?"
Steve nodded, his breathing easing slightly but there was still something eating him that he wasn't sharing. Mike could both sense it and see it. Desperately trying to boost the young man's spirits he suddenly remembered his earlier phone call and grabbed Steve's arm excitedly.
"Hey! I almost forgot! I was talking to Professor Powell a while ago."
Steve's face fell and instead of looking pleased he looked really worried about hearing the result of that conversation. Mike noted the look and quickly reassured him.
"No, no Steve. It's NOT bad news. He was really sorry to hear about what happened and he said you're not to worry about it and to take as much time as you need to get back on your feet and that he's going to get a substitute teacher in to teach your class until you're able to start. He also said that he'd make sure that the substitute coordinated with you on what gets taught. See that's great news isn't it?"
"Did he ... really say that?"
"Yes Steve. He did ... So you don't have to worry about the job. It's going to be fine and you're going to be a great teacher Steve."
On hearing those words Steve stared unnervingly again at Mike.
"But I ... I thought you didn't approve of me teaching ... You said ..."
"I know ... I know what I said but I was wrong Buddy boy. Very, very wrong. Seems to me I've said a lot of dumb things over the last few weeks but not anymore. I'm behind you on this decision Steve ... All the way. You have my total support. "
"I ... do?"
"Yes you do. So try to cheer up huh?"
Steve forced a smile and nodded reluctantly. His throat felt dry and scratchy and he found himself coughing.
Rita noticed and leaned forward.
"Steve, are you ok?"
"My throat is really dry ... "
Mike reached for the water jug behind him and poured a glass of water and held it out for him to drink.
"Here Buddy boy. Take a few sips of this."
Steve stared at him miserably without moving.
"Mike, I don't think I can lift my head ..."
Mike remembered Jeannie's words from earlier and felt the lump rise again in his throat. Reaching forward he placed his right hand in under the back of Steve's neck and helped raise his head forward a little.
"That's ok Steve. I've ... I've got you " he stated emotionally as he then raised the glass to his lips with his other hand.
As the first cool mouthfuls of water slid down his parched throat, Steve gulped greedily from the glass but Mike pulled it back slightly and made sure he took it a lot slower.
"Hey, hey easy now! Take it slowly Steve ... That's it ..."
Steve took more than half the glass and then seemed to slump back away from the glass.
"You done?"
Steve nodded as Mike laid his head back against the pillows.
"Thanks Mike ..."
He closed his eyes and felt drained, the heavy headed feeling returning with a vengeance as the extreme tiredness consumed him. He stifled a yawn which was noted by Mike.
"Uh, oh ... Someone's getting tired." Mike stated lightheartedly as he watched Steve's eyes open to meet his again.
"I know you said you didn't want to sleep anymore but I think it's probably best that you try and sleep off the rest of that Morphine. What do you say? Huh? Will you try and go back to sleep?"
Steve's eyes were refusing to stay open any longer anyway. The draining emotions, the underlying worry he still held to himself, the effort of trying to stay awake when his body hadn't been physically able to just yet, were all taking their toll and he knew that he had little other choice but to do as Mike asked. He didn't want to talk anymore anyway. He merely nodded as he finally let his eyelids close and stay that way. His breathing took a little longer to settle and Rita remained beside him, monitoring him closely until he seemed to finally slip back to sleep. Once more the tight grip he had on Mike's hand loosened and Mike laid his hand back down on the bed and reaching over he brushed a few stray hairs from Steve's face and wiped very gently at his tear streaked cheek. After several emotional minutes, Mike finally managed to drag his eyes away from Steve and he looked up at Rita.
"I wonder what that was all about?"
Seeing how worried he was, Rita came back around to Mike's side and coming behind him she laid a supportive hand on his shoulder.
"Mike, sometimes the drugs can affect their emotions. Especially the Morphine. Hopefully that's all it was. I'm sure he'll pick up in the morning when he's had a chance to sleep it off and he has you and Jeannie here with him. He did have quite a day yesterday. Sometimes the whole thing can cause an emotional overload. "
Mike looked up at Rita from where he sat and smiled at her attempted encouragement.
"Have you witnessed that before? ... I mean a patient getting upset for apparently nothing?"
"I've witnessed all kinds of things here Mike but we'll just have to wait and see how he is tomorrow. You look tired yourself Mike. Why don't you try to catch forty winks yourself? I'll be in and out all night and I'll keep a close eye on him, don't worry."
Mike reached up and clasped her hand that lay on his shoulder.
"Maybe in a little while but ... not right now. I ... I have a lot to think about ... Sometimes the early hours of the morning can prove to be my best thinking time. You're right. It has been quite a day ..."
"Alright ... Well then can I at least get you a coffee?"
Mike smiled warmly.
"Oh yes, that would be nice thank you ... Just make it thick and black. I think I'm going to need it!"
Rita laughed and patting his shoulder, she turned to leave, calling back as she did
"Do you want sugar in that Mike?"
"No ... No I'm sweet enough" he joked back referring to earlier and then added " But if your shift gets quiet ... ah ...a little company would be nice. "
Rita smiled again and headed back towards him.
"Listen Mike ..."
"Wait ... ah... before you say it. I know I'm probably rushing you a little and like you said you hardly know me and ... well earlier before Steve woke up I thought that maybe we were going to ... That maybe you didn't mind if I ... Oh boy ... this really isn't coming out the way I wanted it to but if you want me to ... well ... back off a bit then I ... well I understand that's all ..."
Rita cupped his cheek again in a loving gesture and smiled once more at his endearing rambling.
"Oh Mike ... You really are a gentleman and yes, if Steve hadn't woken up when he did I think we actually might have but ... well ... it was probably for the best. I can't afford to get distracted when I'm on duty Mike. Not here in CCU. People's lives depend on me and that includes that very special young man over there." she added, inclining her head towards her now peacefully sleeping patient.
Mike blushed and flustered a little.
"Yes, you're absolutely right. No more distractions from me. I promise. At least ... " Mike paused and swallowed hard before adding nervously, hoping he wasn't crossing a line he shouldn't but feeling it was worth the risk anyway " not ... while you're on duty ..."
Rita laughed and without warning bent down and kissed him on the cheek. Slightly startled by the sudden unexpected gesture, Mike smiled wider and beamed at her, grateful that she hadn't been perturbed by his intimation.
"Well what was that for?"
"That was because you really ARE sweet enough Mike. Now I'm going to go and get you that coffee."
Mike continued smiling as he watched her leave and reaching up, he touched his cheek where she had kissed him and then placed his hand against his chest and felt his heart pounding a little faster than normal. He hadn't felt that affected by someone since his beloved Helen and he was only beginning to realize how much he missed the feeling. It made him feel young again and strangely invigorated and he couldn't quite believe that at his age there just might be a second chance at happiness with someone else. He had never even considered the possibility until now and suddenly the future seemed a whole lot brighter.
Looking across at Jeannie he noticed that she hadn't budged and then looking back at Steve, he settled back into his chair and began to try and make some sense of yesterday's events. He wondered if perhaps Steve had seen what had been about to transpire between him and Rita earlier when he had woken up and yet Steve had still seemed very disoriented and probably hadn't registered such an unforeseen event anyway. He frowned as he wondered what they would both make of the development. He wasn't as concerned about Steve somehow. Steve was quite understanding about such things and he really believed that Steve would be happy for him but he wasn't as sure about Jeannie. After their many recent conversations about Helen, he worried that she might think the whole idea was highly inappropriate and a betrayal of sorts. He scolded himself for thinking that far ahead and for once more worrying about something that hadn't even happened yet and decided that for now he would just enjoy the moment for what it was. A wonderful second chance at happiness.
Studying Steve, he found himself wondering also what would happen ultimately between him and Jeannie. If he felt the same way as she did, then he couldn't see any reason why they couldn't work things out and be very happy together but if he didn't then things could get a little awkward and problematic. He then frowned as he remembered that there was something bugging the young man that he wouldn't speak about. For the life of him he couldn't think of anything that could be so terrible that he wouldn't discuss it with Mike or Jeannie. Over the four years of their friendship and partnership, Steve had often confided in him about personal matters to do with various relationships he was involved in and on other occasions concerning his health after several injuries incurred during the line of duty. He had never felt up to now that there was anything Steve would feel uncomfortable sharing with him and his curiosity and anxiety about that fact made him now worry all the more.
The rest of the night passed quite smoothly. Steve had remained sleeping with no more disruptions and thankfully no signs of any nightmares returning. Jeannie had fidgeted once or twice, changing positions in the uncomfortable chair she was attempting to sleep in but again never woke fully, the day's events and the long bus trip having taken its toll on her too. Rita had returned with his coffee a few minutes after she had left but had been run off her feet for the remainder of the night as a new patient had arrived in the CCU and from the shouts and distressing sounds he heard from inside Room Five on and off, Rita had had her work cut out for her, settling the new patient down. Mike dozed in his chair a couple of times but never fully managed to fall into a deep sleep as each time he tried, strange sounds from outside had managed to wake him. At just before five thirty, the door to Room five opened and Mike looked up to see Rita entering and she looked fit to drop.
"Difficult shift ... or difficult patient?" he asked warmly as she smiled and came forward to check on Steve.
"Both! " she answered wearily and then seeing Mike's warm smile aimed in her direction her exhaustion seemed to ease a little.
Having made sure Steve was ok, she made her way back around to Mike's side of the bed and once more leaned against the bed to face him.
"Has he moved much?"
"Hardly at all ... "
"Well that's a good sign. Hopefully he'll feel a little better when he wakes up. Although he's due painkillers soon. The Doctor restitched his wrist and chest last night. They might be a little bit sore this morning ."
"Will they affect him that badly again?" Mike asked with concern.
"No, the dose is much lower now. It shouldn't have as bad an effect on him. But we'll be keeping a close eye on him all the same. I'm sorry I never got back to keep you company. That poor man came down from major heart surgery. He was in a lot of pain but we have him settled now and his wife is in with him too now which helps."
"Oh that's ok. I understand. I even managed to doze myself a little bit."
Mike watched as she ran a weary hand across the back of her neck and winced as she did.
"You sore?"
"Just my shoulders ... Getting old is an unpleasant thing Mike."
Mike chuckled.
"Who are you telling? "
With that he stood up and going behind Rita, he placed his hands on her shoulders and spoke a little nervously.
"Will you allow me to help? I'm pretty good at this stuff ..." he said softly and as Rita nodded her permission, he started to gently but efficiently massage her shoulders expertly.
Rita squirmed slightly under his touch but spoke gratefully.
"Ooh ... You really are good at that. You know I could do with a massage like that at the end of every night shift ... These old shoulders get tied up in knots sometimes ..." she added softly as Mike's ministrations seemed to melt away all the stress of the last four hours.
"Well if you're advertising for that particular job, I might just apply for the position" Mike joked, which made Rita laugh.
Feeling Rita finally relax and the tension leave her shoulder muscles, Mike let go of her shoulders and went to return to his chair but as he moved sideways, his dodgy knee clicked the wrong way and he yelped with the sudden pang of pain that shot up his leg as he reached down to rub it.
"MIKE? What's wrong?"
Biting his bottom lip to stave off the pain as it peaked and then slowly abated, he waved his hand to ward off her concern.
"Oh it's nothing Rita. Just my knee gives me some trouble from time to time. Nothing to be concerned about."
"Your knee? Here sit down and let me take a look."
Horrified at the mere suggestion, Mike merely hobbled over to the chair and sat down heavily and flustered even more.
"No, no really. It'll be fine. Don't worry. I'm used to it by now."
But Rita was not taking any notice and as he sat down, she knelt down and started to roll up his trouser leg.
Stopping her with his hand he spoke in an embarrassed voice, trying to keep his voice down to avoid waking the two other sleeping occupants.
"RITA! ... What are you doing? "
Rita smiled at his over the top reaction and spoke firmly.
"Relax Mike ... I'm just going to take a look at your knee ... I AM a nurse, you know and I can see you're in pain with it. "
Mike flustered a little more as he felt Rita's hand brush along his leg.
"Rita please, there's really no need to fuss. I just tweaked it earlier when Steve fell and as I caught him ... well we kind of ended up on the floor and my knee just locked for a while, that's all. A couple of days and I'm sure it will have worked itself out again."
Rita looked up at him horrified.
"Just tweaked it a little. Mike! You could have damaged it. Will you please just let me look at it?"
Looking back up at Jeannie and Steve to check if they were close to waking up or not he spoke in an embarrassed sounding whisper.
"Well ... what if they ... you know ... wake up and see us?"
Rita laughed.
"See us doing what? MIKE! I'm only checking your knee. Please stop being difficult and let me take a look, ok?"
Realizing how childish he was being, he finally gave in and let go of her hand.
"Ok, ok you can take a look ..."
Rita smiled at Mike's visible discomfort and carefully rolled up his trouser leg until his left knee was fully exposed. Mike squirmed a couple of times at the sensations Rita was causing.
"Mike, are you always so jumpy when people touch your leg?" Rita asked humorously as she started to examine it.
"Not usually ... no. But then it has been quite a while since a woman touched my leg ..." Mike joked back and they both chuckled a little until Rita saw the lengthy scar behind his knee and gasped audibly.
"Dear God Mike! That's some scar. Did it happen on duty?"
"No ... Iwo Jima ..."
Rita's head snapped up at that statement and she saw his smile fade a little.
"You fought in Iwo Jima?"
"Yes ... I guess I'm a glutton for punishment, huh? First fighting for my country and then a Lieutenant with the SFPD."
"Was it a bullet Mike?"
"No ... shrapnel ... Big piece too. They said I was lucky at the time that the nerves weren't damaged more than they were. It doesn't give me too much trouble normally. I guess maybe I just wrenched it the wrong way yesterday."
Rita started massaging the muscle and Mike winced a few times but then he felt it ease a little and he smiled and spoke breathlessly.
"Hey ... You're not so bad ... at that yourself. You know I think ... it feels a little better. "
As he sat and watched Rita massage his knee a little more, he couldn't help the sounds of relief that left his lips as the pain eased under her healing hands.
"Oh that feels good ... Much better ... Thank you ..."
To his horror he looked up and saw Steve's eyes open and he was staring at them in a curious manner. Pulling his leg out of Rita's grip hastily he flustered as he pushed the material back down his leg and nudged a confused looking Rita as he then turned to speak in a highly flustered manner to the young man in the bed as Rita stood up from her kneeling position on the floor.
"Well ... Good morning Buddy boy. Boy. You ah ... You sure slept well ..."
Mike wasn't sure if Steve was actually fully awake or not as he continued to stare at Mike and Rita with a blank and confused look on his face.
"What's the matter Steve? "
Steve finally shifted his gaze from their faces as he saw Mike blushing red and looked down at Mike's leg where the trouser leg now lay half up and half down in his haste to fix it. Realizing now that he had witnessed the incident, Mike flustered even more.
"Oh that! Rita was just looking at my sore knee for me that's all. You remember I hurt it yesterday when it locked up? Say ah ... How are you feeling this morning, huh? Any clearer?" Mike asked, trying desperately to change the subject away from his mortification at being caught in such a strange looking situation.
Steve finally half smiled in his direction, an unreadable look in his eyes that Mike feared meant that it wasn't the last he was going to hear about what Steve had just witnessed. Mike then watched as the young man attempted to cough to clear his throat before replying in a hoarse, raspy voice.
"Yeah ... yeah I feel ok I think. Still a little woozy though. "
He shifted in the bed and then winced as he felt a distinct soreness in the middle of his scar and at his wrist. He looked down at where his chest was hurting and to his horror saw his scar fully exposed with no dressing covering it. He grabbed at the material of his top and pulled it across to shield it from view as his gaze rose and met Rita's.
"Rita ... Why ... why is the dressing gone?"
Mike watched as Rita came forward and covered Steve's hand with hers and spoke compassionately.
"Steve listen to me. Dr. Lowell wanted the dressing off to let the air heal it better. It's ok. You have to stop covering it Steve. " she said softly as she gently removed his hand from his top and opened the material away from the scar again.
She saw his eyes turn to look at Jeannie's sleeping form and then look back up at her with a certain uneasiness showing in their green depths. Feeling she understood his concern she leaned over and spoke in a whisper.
"She's not going to mind seeing it. I promise you Steve."
A/N: Hopefully I am being overly pessimistic but I'm having a return of some health issues the last few days and this may affect my updates. Hopefully it won't but if they are delayed you will at least know and hopefully understand why ... :-(
