Going Home

by dublin writer

This is a follow up sequel to my other story Going Under. While it can be read on its own, knowledge of that story is necessary to fully understand this one. It details Steve and Mike's trip to Modesto to help Steve come to terms with his tragic past. Disclaimer: The characters of SOSF belong to their creators, I merely borrow them for my enjoyment and hopefully those of others.

35. Chapter 35

Going Home

A/N: Apologies, I had hoped to update this sooner but real life had other ideas. Anyway finally here is the update. Apologies to anyone who was disturbed by the violence of my last chapter. I did feel it was necessary though. There is a little more in this one. Be warned. And thank you again to all those who left such kind words on my last chapter and who took the time to read it and who remain supportive of me and my stories. :-)

Chapter 35

The passing seconds felt like an eternity to Steve as he waited for Mikey to do his worst, but Mikey seemed to be enjoying dragging out the tortuous moment purposely. Opening his eyes Steve couldn't look to see where the needle was poised as Mikey still had a firm hand on the side of his face and was holding his head down on the grass with vicious force. He heard sniggering laughter and threw a sideways glance upwards and saw Ray and Doug enjoying Mikey's delayed torment routine. Then a movement behind them caught his eye again. It was definitely a person and whoever it was seemed to be moving closer and yet still no-one else seemed to have noticed but him. Steve's left arm was by now throbbing badly and he could feel his shirt sleeve and jacket slick with blood and felt it running down to his hand which remained alarmingly numb. He figured it was probably the loss of blood or the over exertion but he was feeling decidedly weak and his vision was becoming questionable. From his very poor vantage point he couldn't make out who or what it was and all he could see was a brown blur, an outline that looked human to him anyway.

With few details to go on, he studied the outline carefully, the poised needle temporarily forgotten in his need to know what or who the blur was. The stature was bulky and definitely male but the height was wrong for Mike and there was definitely no sign of a hat of any sort. That ruled out a police officer or indeed Mike's fedora and for a fleeting moment, disappointment filled his heart. He heard Mikey shouting again.

"DAMN YOU. Beg I tell you. " he screamed and this time Steve distinctly felt the point of something sharp against his neck.

Steve held his breath almost afraid to move an inch for fear of impaling himself on the deadly syringe but there was no way he was going to beg for his life. He would not give Mikey that satisfaction and if Mikey was hell bent on extracting some form of display of fear from him, he figured that withholding it for as long as he was able, might just buy him some time however short, in the vain hope of rescue. Not the best plan he ever thought up, he surmised silently to himself, but in Mikey's current mental state it might just work.

Again the slow movement straight ahead distracted him much to Mikey's increasing annoyance that his cousin was not showing greater fear at his predicament. Steve couldn't understand why none of the others were not noticing it and then began to wonder if it was in fact an hallucination. Maybe Mikey had already administered some of the toxic substance into him without him feeling it and this was the beginning of the end, but again he discounted that theory. Apart from his heart which was almost threatening to pound out of his chest and his lightheadedness, he didn't feel any different. Anyway, the figure and movement seemed so real.

Steve blinked his eyes a couple of times to try and clear his vision while still being careful not to move too suddenly and tried to focus on the blurry figure. Other frightening thoughts came to the front of his mind as time seemed to stand still and seemed to have stuck him in this harrowing moment mercilessly. What if it was a well meaning elderly neighbor? With Mikey and the Baker brothers, the poor guy wouldn't stand a chance and would most probably end up in the same boat or worse than he was in. He hoped against all hope that theory was wrong. He would have preferred if someone just called the police instead.

Then he had an eerie thought. Maybe it was Harry or even his father coming to get him, waiting for him just out of reach. That would explain the fact that only he appeared to notice it but yet he wasn't feeling a comforting presence around him but instead he felt a foreboding, an overwhelming sense that something bad was going to happen. More shouts brought him back to the present moment.

"Get it over with Mikey. Just do it will you? Stick the pig!" Doug roared unconscionably .

Steve felt fear grip his heart even tighter but yet he refused to let it show on the outside. The last thing he needed was for Mikey to be egged on by Doug. Mikey was rapidly losing patience with Steve's defiance and Steve knew his time was running out. Mikey scraped the sharp needle along Steve's throat and Steve felt the skin tear and felt an ooze of blood start to trickle from the resulting cut. He tensed and shut his eyes tight as he waited for the sudden jab that was sure to follow but instead he heard more urgent movement and the unmistakeable sound of a bolt action rifle being engaged, followed by a shout.

"GET OFF HIM. "

Steve's eyes flew open at the sound of that voice. He would never mistake that bellow. It was HENRY. He blinked several times to clear his vision and saw the brown figure more clearly. Standing a little way off he had his old hunting rifle pointed at Mikey and the Baker brothers. Steve could hardly believe it. He remembered seeing the rifle locked in it's cabinet many times while he lived there and knew that his Uncle took great care of the weapon. He had seen him cleaning it on many occasions but had never seen him use it. He wondered what Henry's agenda was. His Uncle had aged considerably since the last time Steve had the misfortune of seeing him. His hairline had receded more and what was left seemed a lot greyer than it had been. His face was showing signs of age too and Steve wasn't sure if it was his eyes or not but the hands holding the gun appeared to be shaking. Steve's breathing again quickened as he waited for Mikey's reaction to this latest turn of events, extra fearful of the fact that if Mikey felt that his father was siding with his cousin, it could be the final straw that would send the needle violently into his neck for sure. The Baker brothers had wheeled around alarmed at the sound the rifle had made.

"Put that thing down and get back in the house OLD MAN. This ISN'T your concern." Mikey shouted seemingly unperturbed by the weapon pointing in his direction, letting up the pressure on Steve's face and for a brief moment of much needed respite for Steve, he waved the needle menacingly in his father's direction .

Steve used the fact that the needle wasn't pressed against his neck for the time being to swallow dryly and to recover his composure a little as he deemed it safer to remain silent and watch the scene play out for now.

"NO. Not this time. GET OFF HIM and you throw that filthy thing AWAY. You hear me boy? You've gone too far this time. Don't force me to use this ... son."

There was a distinct waver in Henry's voice and knowing how his Uncle blindly idolized Mikey, Steve knew how difficult this was for him but also couldn't quite get his head around the fact that on this occasion, for the first time ever, his Uncle was taking his side in anything. He only hoped there wasn't an ulterior motive involved. Compassion was not normally associated with Henry. Being able to turn his head now that Mikey was distracted, Steve looked around and studied his cousin's facial expression. At first it remained unreadable, cold and heartless but there was a definite hurt visible at this latest change in circumstance. His father, the one he had tried to poison against Steve was now turning against him too. Steve feared that he was even more dangerous now with that knowledge and looked around desperately for anything near his right hand that he could use defensively while Mikey was off guard. To his dismay they were in the middle of the lawn and there was nothing tangible within reach. He tried to remember his training and the moves he could use to get an assailant off him but while he racked his rapidly fogging brain, to Steve's astonishment Mikey laughed. A degrading laugh meant to humiliate .

"Don't make me laugh Daddy dearest." Mikey spat out viciously." Besides you've done a lot worse to him over the years or don't you remember? Now go back inside and stop bothering us."

Steve watched as his Uncle's face filled with anger. A sight that even after a long passage of time still had the innate ability to strike fear into his heart and yet there was another emotion on his face. One Steve hadn't seen before but he couldn't quite read what it was. The Baker brothers shifted, as if they were deciding if they should try to disarm Mikey's father but Henry saw them and Steve watched as the old man redirected the rifle towards the Bakers who had been like Steve, remaining silent, allowing the father and son to resolve things between them. As the gun turned on them, Steve noticed their panicked movements and couldn't help but smile at their sudden cowardice when someone else had the upper hand.

"You two get the HELL out of here and off my lawn and drive away in that garbage you call a car or else so help me I'm going to send you both where you belong. I don't want to see you around here again or anywhere near my family. Do you understand me boys? "

Steve watched them react nervously and then nod and he startled himself as Henry bellowed.

"I SAID GO!"

Henry's voice while definitely weaker than he remembered still had an uncanny ability to hold menace of a terrifying nature and so it came as no surprise to Steve that Doug and Ray didn't have to be told twice and in the face of the rifle and the menacing threat, they took off in the direction of their car leaving Mikey yelling curse words after them. Obviously Henry's violent reputation preceded him.

"Get back here you cowards. He's not going to use it. He's just a frail old man."

Mikey's rage increased at the loss of his cronies and he rounded on Steve again and grabbed him viciously by the throat with his free hand, restricting Steve's airway. Steve hadn't expected the move and his right hand came up to try to prize Mikey's hand from his neck. He felt his airway momentarily compromised and felt panic rise within him at the force of Mikey's rage. He managed to pull at Mikey's hand hard enough to stop the downward force of it from doing more damage but knew in his weakened condition he couldn't hold him off for long with one hand.

"MIKEY. STOP! " Henry shouted but Steve could see nothing but determined rage and madness in Mikey's eyes.

"HE is your enemy, not me old man. He hates you. He came back to sneer at how sick you are."

"That's a ... LIE." Steve gasped as loud as he could, which wasn't very loud under the circumstances.

Unsure if his weak voice could even be heard, he prayed that Henry had heard him but Steve's denial only served to anger Mikey more as he put more strength into his chokehold and then brought the needle up in his other hand ready to strike. Steve wished he had the use of his left hand to hold that off too but he could barely feel it at this stage and he turned his head to look desperately at Henry, his last hope before Mikey plunged the needle. He saw Henry shaking and was sure he saw tears flowing down the older man's cheek, something that he had NEVER witnessed and his heart sank as he felt that Henry wouldn't have it in him to harm Mikey. As his strength left him and Mikey's grip tightened, he closed his eyes as the shot rang out.

Time slowed even more as the bullet impacted Mikey's right shoulder, driving him back off Steve and sent him sprawling on the lawn, the needle falling to the grass as he fell. Blood had splattered onto Steve's face as the surreal event unfolded. Steve coughed and gasped and grabbed his neck with his only good hand as he tried to process what had just happened. He looked towards Mikey who seemed stunned that his father had shot him. He was still conscious and was holding his shoulder and once more the maniacal laugh came.

"You shot me. I can't believe you just shot me. Your own SON." he said between nervous bursts of laughter.

Steve attempted to get up. His knee was very sore and unstable and his head was swimming a little and yet with extreme effort, he managed to sit up. He knew from police experience that he had to try and get a handle on the unfolding situation before it deteriorated further. He struggled more onto his good knee and looked up at Henry. The older man looked like his world had crashed down on him and devastation and despair was written all over his face after hearing Mikey's words. Steve suddenly felt strangely guilty. If he hadn't insisted on this confrontation, none of this would have happened. Things hadn't gone as he had planned and he had to try to get things back on track. With Mikey now injured, Steve half knelt and half crawled gingerly towards him to assess how badly he had been hit and to find the fallen needle and get it a safe distance away from his cousin just in case. However before he reached him, a noise behind him made him turn and he saw Henry engaging the rifle again. Then he took a step closer towards them, still looking distraught at what he had been forced to do.

"WHY, MIKEY? Why did you lie to me? Why did you lie about Steve?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Dad. I ... I ... protected you from him. THIS is how you repay me? "

Steve could see anger replacing Henry's upset. He had a strange feeling that things were about to get worse so he tried to stand up but he was sore in so many places that he was having difficulty. Henry took another step closer to his son.

"STOP LYING, DAMN IT. I heard you. I heard everything. I BELIEVED you. I did unspeakable things because of your vicious lies. You made me hate him for NOTHING. And now you've KILLED someone! With that poison you use and sell. How COULD you?"

Again Mikey laughed.

"I did what I had to do for ME. No-one ever had time for me. I did what I had to and I'd do it AGAIN. " Mikey barked viciously.

Mikey was bleeding badly and started coughing. Henry advanced angrily, his weapon raised towards his prone son.

"I should have done this a long time ago. You're evil Mikey. I should have stopped you before this." he shouted, his voice full of heartwrenching emotion.

Those words were enough to give Steve the extra motivation he needed and he pushed himself painfully upright, his weight leaning heavily on his left leg. He hobbled sideways blocking Henry's view of Mikey and put up his right hand which was now shaking uncontrollably.

"NO. NO HENRY! That's not the answer. Put down the gun, ok? Just give it to me now PLEASE?" Steve pleaded, not quite believing how things were turning out.

Never in his wildest dreams would he have predicted this but strangely it was the last thing he wanted to see happen. Even though these were the two people who had made his three years with them a living hell, he didn't want things to end like this. It went against everything he was trained for, everything his Grandfather and Mike had taught him. He couldn't let it happen.

"Steve, get out of the way."

"I can't do that. Now give me the gun."

"Why should you care? He tried to KILL you. He killed your friend. He was responsible for all the things I ... God forgive me ... now get out of the way. I won't let him lie to or kill anyone else EVER again!"

Henry was waving the rifle angrily and the fact that it was now pointed at him was not helping Steve's nervousness. His Uncle was distraught and clearly not thinking straight and also visibly shaking and a simple mistaken pull of the trigger and Steve would be history but he had to disarm him. He just HAD to.

"My Grandfather taught me that two wrongs don't make a right Henry. He'll pay for what he did but not this way. Now I'm not moving so you're going to have to shoot me first to get to him."

Steve couldn't quite believe those words had left his lips and began to wonder if he was right risking his life for someone as clearly deranged and remorseless as Mikey but it was inbred in him. His Grandfather's teaching "Do no harm". His Police training "To serve and protect". They made up who he was and revenge didn't come into it anymore. He just knew that it was the right thing to do.

Henry looked shocked at Steve's insistence on protecting Mikey and couldn't comprehend how Steve could, after everything Mikey had put him through. He started to lower his rifle much to Steve's relief but then raised it again quickly and yelled.

"STEVE, GET DOWN!"

Steve turned and saw Mikey rising unsteadily, the needle poised to strike into his back. Steve pitched forward desperately, to avoid the blow, landing heavily on his left arm and hand as he did and wrenching the right knee agonizingly, causing the world to fade in and out as blackness threatened. As he waited for Mikey to strike, another shot rang out and he heard a sickening thud behind him on the lawn. Then he heard nothing but sobs of despair and a departing footfall.

Face down on the grass, Steve fought the urge to pass out and shook his head to clear the dizziness. He moved onto his side as the blinding pain from various parts of his body caused bile to rise in his throat. Once more he fought the urge to throw up as he swallowed it back down and opening his eyes he tried to take in the scene around him. His vision swam and through blurry eyes he could just about make out Mikey lying flat out on the lawn. Steve blinked and rubbed at his eyes with his right hand and thought he saw his cousin's chest still rising and falling albeit somewhat erratically. He turned to see where Henry was but couldn't see him anywhere. His heart raced. He still had the gun and the sobs must have been his. He had a very bad feeling. He needed to get up and get help but found he was lacking the strength. He tried to get up on his good knee as he had before but this time his right arm wouldn't support him and he fell back onto the grass heavily and cursed his weakness. He needed to rest, to close his eyes for just a few seconds but as he did he heard tires screeching, car doors opening and hurried footsteps approaching. He tried to open his eyes and see who was coming. What if it was the Baker brothers returning with back up? But just as worry started to fill his heart, he heard a woman's piercing scream and then a familiar voice followed frantically after it.

"STEVE!"

Within seconds, he felt gentle fingers on his neck and then equally gentle hands were on his back and were turning him over carefully. Someone was kneeling, cradling his head on their lap as he heard a loud intake of breath. As he forced his eyes open he looked up into two piercing blue eyes. Steve had never been so relieved to see those particular blue eyes. He didn't know how Mike had found him but in that moment he only knew he was eternally grateful that he had.

Moments earlier :

Gerry had used every shortcut he knew to get them to Alameda Drive as quickly as he could. Nobody spoke in the car and the tension was palpable. All the occupants were well aware that a confrontation between Mikey and Steve would most probably not end well and were anxious to prevent it at all costs. As they turned off Elm Street, a gunshot was distinctly heard. Gerry turned and glanced anxiously at Mike who returned the look with terror in his eyes. Gerry drove faster and as they rounded the corner onto the Drive, all three occupants recoiled as they saw the scene of carnage in front of them. Rose gasped and started to sob as Gerry screeched to a halt and before the vehicle had fully stopped, Mike had exited the car and was heading towards the two prone bodies on the Ryan's lawn, one of whom was easily recognizable as his partner.

Rose exited next and on seeing her son Mikey and her nephew, she screamed hysterically and raced after Mike. Gerry could be heard talking loudly on the radio.

"Adam, come in. Over."

As another voice erupted over the airways in response, Gerry spoke urgently.

"Adam, we have an urgent situation on Alameda Drive. There's been a shooting. We need local law enforcement back up and paramedics asap, Repeat, we need Police and Medical assistance. Over."

Mike reached Mikey first and paused to assess him briefly. Two penetrating gunshot wounds were visible. One to the right shoulder and one to the chest. His nose also appeared to be broken and was a bloody mess. While his eyes were closed and his pulse was thready he was still alive and in need of urgent medical assistance. Rose reached him next and was crying inconsolably as she stroked her son's cheek and cradled his head in her arms.

"Is that your son Mikey?" Mike asked Rose who merely nodded through her pained cries.

Gerry arrived next and Mike asked him to put pressure on both wounds while he checked on Steve and Gerry dutifully obliged.

As Mike reached Steve his heart sank. He was lying face down in the grass and wasn't moving. From the back he couldn't see any penetrating trauma, something he was grateful for, but he didn't let out the breath he was holding until his fingers felt a steady pulse at Steve's neck. However, withdrawing his fingers he saw blood on them and his heart almost stopped. He quickly glanced around to see if the shooter was still present or indeed for anything out of order that would indicate that their lives were still in danger, seeing as exposed as they were in the middle of the lawn. He wished in that moment that he had brought his Police special with him on this trip as he knew he would have felt much safer and more able to protect his partner if he had it holstered inside his jacket.

Seeing nothing suspicious around, he quickly turned his attention back to Steve and as gently as he could he placed his hand on Steve's back and turned the young man over. He wasn't prepared for what he saw and sucked in a deep shock filled breath as he took in the condition of his fallen partner. There was an array of blood spatters over his face and chest and an oozing cut on his neck for starters. There was visible mild bruising around his throat and a growing purple bruise on his cheek where it appeared he had been viciously struck. But the most worrying sight was the fresh blood that seemed to be running down his arm and had filled the bandage that had been on his hand, now coloring it a deep crimson. The hand beneath the now red colored bandages appeared visibly more swollen than before and looked like it was straining to free itself from its covering. And they were just the visible injuries. Mike didn't even know where to start assessing him when Steve's two green eyes opened slowly and looked straight up at him.

"M ... M ... Mike" he stammered emotionally, his throat feeling hoarse and dry.

"Take it easy now buddy boy. Helps on the way. Just lie still." Mike soothed, as he pushed a stray hair back off his partner's face.

Then seeing the young man awake and as he was still worrying about the amount of blood covering him, he asked in a panicked, excitable tone.

"Were you shot anywhere, buddy boy?"

"No ... Just Mikey... Is he ...? "

"No, he's alive but he's in a bad way. Who did it Steve? Was it the Baker brothers?"

"They were here ... but no. It was ... It was Henry, Mike."

Steve could see the visible shock on Mike's face as he imparted that news and saw Mike swallow hard and heard Rose shriek louder at the thought of what her husband had just done. As she clung to Mikey, desperate to keep him with her,she raised a tearful face.

"Mr Stone, how is Steve? Is he ... alright? Has he been shot too?"

Mike shook his head. "No, but he's hurt. How bad I'm not sure yet."

Rose sobbed again and started hysterically mumbling as she cradled Mikey.

"NO! Dear God no. He couldn't have done all this. He just couldn't have ... "

Mike marveled at the fact that she continued to deny Henry's failings and then looked back at Steve, his face still filled with concern.

On seeing Mike's worried face, Steve shifted in Mike's arms.

"I'm ... ok Mike " Steve stammered again and shuddered violently as the trauma of the past hour hit home.

"Sure you are ... Steve you're covered in blood. Now just lie still and take it easy until the medics get here."

"No Mike, besides, most of it is Mikey's not mine. Mike, we've got to find ... Henry. He probably went ... into the house. "

Then lowering his voice so that Rose wouldn't overhear, enough that Mike had to lean over to hear what Steve was saying, he continued.

"He's still got the gun Mike and as far as I can tell he has one round left. I'm worried ... Mike I think he might ... "

Steve couldn't bring himself to voice his concerns but Mike read his worried expression and knew what he was thinking. He thought about whether a man of Henry's capabilities would consider such a drastic move and somehow doubted it but he also trusted his partner and saw the genuine concern on his face.

"I don't know Steve. I don't think he would. But if it makes you feel better I'll go find him. What type of gun did he have?"

"A bolt action hunting rifle. A Winchester, I think."

"Ok, you lie here and don't move. We don't know how badly you're hurt yet."

But as Mike laid Steve's head gently down on the grass and went to get up, Steve grabbed his arm tightly.

"NO! Mike I have to go with you. Just help me up. I have to talk to him. Mike, PLEASE. Let me go with you. "

"Steve, you're HURT. You can't just go walking around. Be sensible for once and listen to me will you? "

"I'm ok Mike ... I just need help to walk, that's all."

That admission floored Mike. With all the visible injuries he had already counted he couldn't believe that now there was something wrong with the young man's ability to walk as well.

"Why can't you walk? Where are you hurt? Now you tell me the truth, buddy boy, you hear me now?" Mike said exasperated by his partner's reluctant admissions.

Steve knew he had lied to Mike enough for one day and so he admitted sheepishly.

"I have a sore right knee, ok? Now Mike, look we don't have time to discuss it further. Please just help me up will you? There's no time to lose."

Mike studied Steve and didn't like what he saw. He was afraid that Steve was hiding more serious injuries and wasn't a bit happy about letting Steve come with him but he could see the desperation in his partner's eyes and knew that if he left him behind he would more than likely try to follow him anyway and do more damage to himself. Besides Mike figured that if Steve was right and Henry was a danger to himself, then Steve might just be right. Who better to talk him around than the one person Henry desperately needed and wanted forgiveness from. So reluctantly, Mike agreed.

Standing up quickly, Mike reached down and with his hands under Steve's arms from behind, he helped him up to his feet. Steve wobbled and swayed on one leg and Mike steadied him. Gerry saw Mike moving Steve and wondered what was going on.

"Mike, I don't think you should move him until the paramedics get here."

Mike knew Gerry was right but couldn't explain with Rose beside him, not wanting to upset the woman anymore than she already was.

"It's ok Gerry. We just need to go into the house for a minute. "

While his words didn't give a lot away, the look he gave Gerry said lots more and he only hoped that Gerry could read the angst behind them. Gerry looked puzzled at first but then seemed to understand as he nodded and mouthed the words" be careful." Mike nodded back and then turned back to Steve who was looking decidedly the worst for wear.

"Steve, can you put weight on that leg?"

Steve was breathing heavily, the small effort it had taken to just get up, drained him already. He shook his head again to clear it and answered Mike.

" I ... think so. A little maybe. "

"Ok, put your arm around my shoulders and see if you can."

Steve did as he was told and took one painful step forward. He couldn't lean on it for long so he ended up limping awkwardly with Mike's help. Each step sent waves of pain up his leg but his focus was on getting inside to get that gun safely away from his Uncle and so the focus helped him to walk through it. As they reached the front door, Mike leaned Steve temporarily against the side wall and then tried the handle slowly. It opened and Mike swung it carefully over. He went to enter but Steve reached over carefully with his right hand and gently pushed Mike back over to the side of the door. Mike looked puzzled at Steve who in a low voice explained his actions.

"Mike, he doesn't know you and he's got a rifle. I have to go first."

"No way! I'm not sending you in there first. It's too dangerous."

"Mike listen to me. If he wanted to shoot me, he had ample opportunity out on the lawn before you came ... I'm going first."

Steve really wished Mike would stop arguing as he didn't have the energy to keep it up. He really needed whatever last reserves he had for dealing with Henry. Mike seemed to be mulling over Steve's last sentence and then with defiance he stated.

"We go TOGETHER. And that's final. Now come on."

Mike took hold of Steve again and together they entered the hall which was empty. It was hard for Steve to be quiet, hobbling as he was on the tiled hall floor. Mike whispered.

"Well buddy boy, you know the house and him. Where would he go?"

"The living room. He spent his days in there, looking out the window mostly. I think he'd go there. First door on the right."

Mike could feel Steve shaking and worried if he was up to whatever they were facing into. Glancing sideways he was alarmed to see that as they went, Steve was leaving droplets of blood from his left arm which was hanging loosely by his other side. Whispering again he addressed Steve.

"Steve, stop for a second. Your arm is bleeding badly. How was it hurt?"

Steve looked sheepishly away and Mike remembered that was the arm with the cannula and a bad feeling washed over him at Steve's marked response to his question.

"Steve, tell me that the blood is not coming from where the cannula used to be."

Steve again just looked anxiously back at him knowing that was something he couldn't tell him and his silence gave Mike his answer.

"Steve!" was all the older man said as they reached the closed living room door and he leaned Steve again beside the door frame.

"We need to tie that arm off to stop the bleeding." Mike said anxiously not really wanting to know the gruesome circumstances behind the loss of the cannula and went to remove his tie to use as a tourniquet but Steve stopped him.

"Mike not now. There's no TIME. We need to get in there." Steve answered desperately and grabbed the door handle and turned it before Mike could stop him.

To Steve's added horror it was locked and he banged on the door with his right hand and shouted.

"HENRY. It's Steve. Open the door. Henry. I know you're in there. PLEASE, open the door."

At first there was silence and then just as Steve was going to yell again, a shaky voice answered.

"Please go away. There's nothing you can do. I'M SORRY STEVE. God forgive me ..."

Silence fell again and a very bad feeling developed in the pit of Steve's stomach. He banged louder and shouted more desperately.

"HENRY. Don't do anything stupid."

The distinct sound of the bolt action engaging on the rifle sent a frozen chill down both men's spines as Steve let out a blood curdling yell.

"KICK IT IN MIKE."

A/N: Sorry for leaving you with another cliffhanger. I leave you with the question, will he or won't he? Again I can't promise but will do my best to update as quickly as I can.