The weather was perfect for them. They set up camp by a little after one o'clock at the water's edge. Fifty feet away was a waterfall that added even more beauty to their surroundings.
Tyler stood taking in the scenery, "This is absolutely gorgeous guys!"
Steve smiled saying simply, "Paradise baby…paradise"
Danny of course had to chime in, "It's hot, we're going to get eaten alive by bugs and I won't sleep a wink here, this is not my idea of paradise Steven"
Gracie looked on and rolling her eyes she said, "Oh Danno….."
Steve held out his hand and Gracie gave him a high-five as Danny added, "Tyler…..can you believe it? MY daughter, my daughter and my best friend! They gang up on me all the time like this!"

They all laughed at the feigned outrage from the blonde detective.
Tyler asked, "Danny you really don't like it here?"
"No Tyler, I don't. I like cities and traffic, big crowds and wonderful Italian Restaurants…..I love and miss New Jersey. I hate Oceans, I hate the heat and I hate pineapple"
"Why do you think you won't sleep?"
"The sounds, the NOISE….the constant NOISE!"
Tyler looked around appearing puzzled, "What noise? The birds?"

Danny stated, "Are you kidding? You can't hear that?" Tyler put his hands in the air questioningly as Danny continued, "The waterfall buddy. The constant sound of…..the water…..hitting the rocks"

Tyler responded, "Are you kidding? That's peaceful"
Steve laughed as he turned to Tyler, "Danno can't sleep with any noise. He doesn't like the sound of waves either"
Tyler shook his head, saying softly "Wow"
Steve laughed loudly nudging Tyler in the ribs as he moved past him towards the tent to grab the hiking supplies.

He returned looking at Danny, "How are you feeling partner? You sure you're up to this?"
"Yes. I'm feeling great. What do you have planned?"
"It's a steady climb for a little more than two miles. It's not steep at all, Gracie you should be fine but you can hop on mine or Tyler's back if you get tired okay"
She jumped up and down excitedly, "Okay…let's go!"

Steve and Tyler carried the backpacks with Steve leading and Tyler pulling up the rear. They stopped a couple of times for Danny to rest and to drink some water but overall he did very well.

They reached their destination about three thirty. And even Danny had to admit that this was gorgeous. They were on a cliff overlooking endless miles of beautiful green forest.
Gracie spoke first, "Isn't it pretty Danno?"
He placed his arm on her shoulders "I have to admit it is pretty, very pretty" He turned to Steve, "Can I have a water buddy?"

Steve set down his pack and pulled out four bottles of water. He looked closely at his partner, asking "Are you okay Danno. You look kind of flushed?"
"I'm good, just a little tired. I am hot though….." Danny then pulled his shirt over his head and Steve noticed a look of shock on Tyler's face as he saw for the first time the numerous fresh violent scars on Danny's chest and the long, vicious scar on his back.

Steve would have to tell Tyler everything about Becca's attacks on Danny and Shauna but now was not the time. He turned his attention back to Danny, "You're not feverish are you partner?"

"Steve…..no….don't worry so much okay. I'm fine. I haven't had much, hell any exercise in weeks. I'm just hot and tired, that's all. I promise"

"Well with you admitting this place is paradise, I thought you must be feverish"
"I did NOT say this was paradise my friend. I said it was pretty….…just pretty"

They all chuckled and went about exploring the area. Gracie had taken Danny's hand and they had run closer to the edge of the cliff for a better view.
As Steve began to move towards them Tyler grabbed his arm, stopping him, "Steve….those scars. What in the hell happened to him?"
"I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. He was stabbed eight times just a few weeks ago" Steve's voice shook slightly as he continued "We almost lost him. He's been recovering at my place but he just got the okay yesterday to come back to work in a week"

Tyler saw it in Steve's eyes, the pain…the guilt….."Steve, did Becca do this?"
Steve's jaw tightened as he said softly, "Yes….."
That one word shook Tyler to his core, "Oh my God…she was a monster"
"No Tyler, she wasn't. She was sick in the head son…It doesn't excuse what she did, but she was sick"
"Was this all because of me Steve?"

"Tyler no…..oh God no…you were an innocent child in this. You are no more to blame than I am. Let's go sit down and talk okay?" Steve placed a strong arm around Tyler's shoulders and they turned moving away from Danny and Gracie.
Danny looked back and noting Steve's guiding arm he wondered what was being said.

50505050505050505050505050

The men moved to a rock formation and they sat facing each other. Tyler had become very pale and it was obvious that he did not have a clue as to the depths of Becca's mental illness.
"Tyler, I don't know how much your Mom told you. I promise you I wasn't keeping anything from you. We just haven't had the time alone. Tyler please believe me…I truly did love Becca and she was a wonderful, kind and sensitive girl… I'm going to tell you everything I know….everything I've learned over the last few weeks. You're an adult and I'm going to treat like one"

Steve took a deep breath and he started to tell his son everything he knew about Becca. He told him of the good times, of their young love and of the pain caused by their being torn apart. He told Tyler of Becca's family and what he had found out recently from her Mother and siblings regarding the abusive actions of Ray Whitfield. He explained what he had been told about how she descended into mental illness starting with being isolated during her pregnancy. She was kept from her family…..and she was kept from him. He talked of how Ray had lied to her by telling her that he had talked to Steve, stating that Steve no longer wanted to talk to her or ever see her again.

"Tyler, I would never have abandoned her…..please believe me. I will regret not trying to re-connect with her forever…" Steve could no longer control the tears as he spoke of Tyler being taking from his birth Mother's arms shortly after his birth. He told him of her suicide attempts and her time in the institution. He talked of her numerous abusive relationships and of her growing obsession with finding him.

"Tyler, I haven't told you about Catherine yet. She….she is amazing. She is the love of my life and I almost let her go…"
He told of his breakup with Cath because of the secrets he had kept from her, "She saw my secrets as my not trusting her, but I kept the secrets to keep her safe….I'm not going to keep secrets from you Tyler….not ever"

Steve told him about his six year relationship with Cath and as uncomfortable as it was for him, he told the young man about his relationship with Shauna.

"I'm embarrassed to say that I became involved with Shauna after Cath and I broke up. I actually caught her with another man. I cared about her deeply but now I know that it was a rebound relationship and I didn't really love her. A couple of weeks after Shauna and I broke up I was still in a funk and my team convinced me to go out for dinner and drinks one night. That's when I ran into Becca. After talking to her sister I know that she had been stalking me but at the time…..I was so happy to see her Tyler and I let things move fast, much too fast. By the time I realized she was unstable, it was too late. Everything happened quickly, in just days...Tyler….she didn't only attack Danny….she killed Shauna"

"Oh my God no…" Tyler bolted from the rock and ran. Steve raced after him calling his name as Danny and Gracie watched from afar.
Tyler ran and ran…. he couldn't believe what he was hearing. His heart was pounding in his chest and all he could hear was his own sobs. Steve chased him but remained a few strides back. He could hear the young man's tortured sobs and gasps and he too was crying.

After several minutes of running, Tyler stopped and dropped to his knees. He grasped his stomach and tipped his head as he struggled to catch his breath and compose himself.
Steve stood a few feet back and watched. He watched as his son's heart broke...and his heart broke…..

******* MORE TO FOLLOW *******