It was a bright, warm and sunny morning, and he swung the forest green Galaxie to the curb with a grateful smile, pocketing the keys as he sprinted across the street and took the steps two at a time. He opened the front door quietly, freezing when the smell of fresh coffee and warm oatmeal assaulted his senses in the best possible way. He closed the door with a confused but pleased smile and crossed to the kitchen entrance.

Jeannie was standing at the stove and she greeted him with a warm smile. "I was wondering where you disappeared to so early."

As Steve shrugged out of his jacket, he stepped deeper into the kitchen. "I went to the Hall to get a car." He dropped the jacket on the back of a chair.

She frowned as she took a mug out of an upper cupboard and picked up the percolator. "But we're not sure they're going to let Mike out today…"

He smiled. "I know. But I'm feeling optimistic."

She chuckled. "Your lips…" she whispered as she poured the strong black coffee into the cup. "I made us some oatmeal."

"I see that. It smells great. I love oatmeal." He circled her to the sink, rolling up his sleeves to wash his hands. She put the cup of coffee on the table then pulled the bowls on the counter closer to the stove and picked up the saucepan.

As he reached for the towel on the stove rack, he glanced at his watch. "Visiting hours start in a half hour."

She smiled. "We'll get there on time."

He watched her as he dropped into a chair and she put the bowls of steaming oatmeal on the table then sat, reaching for the milk carton. She studiously avoided meeting his eyes, and he knew she wasn't about to mention what had happened the night before. Nodding to himself, he picked up the bowl of brown sugar, more than content to let her lead the way for now when it came to how she wanted to handle the crisis she was going through.

# # # # #

She pushed the heavy wooden door open almost hesitantly, her eyes widening with joy when she saw her father staring at her from the upraised bed, a smile lighting his entire face. "I was hoping it was you two," he chuckled as she moved deeper into the room, a grinning and very relieved Steve on her heels.

"Oh, Daddy, you look so much better," she gushed as she got closer to the bed, putting the overnight bag she had been carrying on the floor as she leaned over him and gave him a kiss. "How are you feeling?" Steve asked.

Mike looked at him as he took his daughter's hand. "Not too bad actually. I'm still sore, especially where they put that needle in," he grimaced as he gestured vaguely at his left side, "and they told me to expect that for the next few days, but they've given me some Tylenol and it's not too bad right now." He pulled the front of the hospital gown down slightly with his other hand. "I'm all taped up and they want me to leave it on for the next few days." He smiled at his daughter. "But… they said I can go home."

"This morning?" she asked excitedly.

"Uhm-humh," he nodded, "I just have to wait to be discharged. Dr. Baldwin said he'd be back in a bit with the paperwork."

Jeannie glanced over her shoulder at Steve and shook her head with a happy chuckle. "You were right."

Steve nodded with a grin. "Umh-humh."

Mike looked at both of them with a curious frown. "What's that all about?"

His daughter laughed. "Steve went to the office first thing this morning to borrow a bigger car 'cause he said he was sure they were going to let you out."

"And you didn't think so? Don't you want me to get out?" Mike asked facetiously, his brow furrowing even more in amused skepticism.

"Of course I want you to get out," she laughed happily. "I just thought, with the luck we've been having lately, that they were going to keep you in a lot longer."

"Well," Mike said softly, "I kinda think our luck started to turn around when Steve tracked us down in Eldred… don't you?" He looked at his daughter expectantly.

She stared at him for a long second then nodded almost imperceptibly. She turned to look at the younger man standing behind her and smiled at him warmly. She reached back with her free hand and touched his arm. "I'm really glad you were right."

He laughed. "So am I."

"So am I," Mike added, chuckling. He pulled his daughter closer and gave her a kiss then looked at his partner. "So, Swami, did you see far enough into the future to bring me a change of clothes?"

Laughing, Steve bent down and picked up the overnight bag, waving it in the air. "Ta-da! And even better, they don't smell of fish."

Mike laughed, then let go of Jeannie and pressed his right hand against his chest, wincing slightly.

She frowned worriedly. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Still smiling, he nodded. "Umh-humh. Don't worry, the tape and the drugs are working wonders. I've just got to be careful for awhile, that's all." He stared at her as if waiting for a rebuttal. She stared at him fiercely for a long beat then looked away with a capitulating sigh. He reached out and gently took her hand again. "Sweetheart, you could do me a big favor by trying to find Dr. Baldwin for me and asking him when I can get leave. And maybe get the paperwork? And while you're gone, Steve can help me get changed." He glanced at the younger man expectantly and Steve nodded. "What do you say?"

She stared at him for a beat longer then nodded once. "Okay, I'll go find him.

"Thank you," he said warmly, bringing her hand to his lips for a soft kiss before letting her go. They both watched her leave.

Chuckling softly, Steve studied the older man. "How are you feeling, really?"

Mike looked at him from under raised brows. "Really, I'm feeling pretty good. And I wasn't just saying that for Jeannie's sake." He ran his right hand over the left side of his chest. "The tape really helps… and the Tylenol. But I want to go home…"

Steve smiled warmly. "Yeah, I bet you do. Okay, well, let's get you dressed."

# # # # #

They had arrived back at the De Haro house just before noon. Mike had taken his time climbing the steps, finally crossing the threshold into his living room with a relieved and heartfelt sigh. He stood just inside the door and looked slowly around the room, grateful to be home, well aware that if Captain Hogan's plan had worked, he might never have seen this room again, at least not for a long, long time.

True to the promise made to his daughter when they left the hospital, and without a contentious word, Mike started up the stairs to the second floor, Steve in tow. "I'll make us some lunch and bring it up as soon as I can," Jeannie called after them as they disappeared into Mike's bedroom.

Steve pushed the door closed behind him as Mike crossed to the bed. The older man turned around with a frown. "I appreciate the concern, but if I take my time I'm quite capable of getting into my pajamas and getting into bed on my own."

With a soft smile, Steve chuckled. "I know… but that's not why I'm here." He glanced over his shoulder at the door then gestured at the bed with his chin. "Have a seat for a second."

Worried, Mike lowered himself to the bed. "What's going on?"

Steve took a few steps closer. "Listen, uh, I don't know if you're aware of it or not, but Jeannie's having a hard time coming to grips with what happened last week… to you and to her… especially what happened at the gas station. I mean not only was she almost raped… but she saw you getting shot. And then everything that happened after that - the accident and both of you getting charged with the murder…" He shrugged slightly with a worried sigh.

Mike had lowered his head and he was nodding slowly. "I know… but I haven't been in a position to help her…" he said softly. He looked up, his expression almost distraught. "And I don't know what to do to help her…"

Steve stepped to the bed and sat beside his partner. "I know. I feel the same way. I want to help but I don't really know how. But I have an idea… and I want to know what you think…"

# # # # #

Mike was in his pajamas and lying in the bed when Jeannie pushed the door open with her foot and entered with a large serving tray. "Lunch is served," she announced as she crossed to one of the TV trays she's ordered Steve to set up, and put the tray down. She glanced up at her father. "There's no food in the house so Steve and I are going to go to the grocery store this afternoon while you take a nap," she emphasized the last two words and punctuated them with a glare.

Mike pulled back slightly with a comical flinch. "Duly noted," he said with feigned gravity, and Steve chuckled.

She looked at Steve. "Did you find the bed tray?"

He reached down beside the bedtable and picked it up. "Right here," he announced as he unfolded the legs and set it on the bed over its occupant.

Jeannie picked up one of the bowls of soup and put it on the tray, then handed her father a spoon. "All we have in the house is soup." She sounded almost accusatory and Mike pretended to cower even more.

"Soup's fine," he said in a small voice and both father and daughter could hear Steve sniggering behind them. Her head snapped around to glare at him then caught herself and laughed. She looked at her father apologetically.

"I'm sorry… I'm just worried about you," she said softly, sitting on the side of the bed.

Mike put the spoon down and stared at her with a warm smile. "I know you are, sweetheart, and I appreciate that. And I promise I will do what the doctor wants and get lots of rest in the next couple of days." He picked up her hand. "Now what can I do for you?"

Steve felt the back of his throat constrict as he watched Jeannie stare at her father silently for a couple of long seconds then she smiled sadly. "I'm okay, Daddy, you don't have to worry about me."

"Are you sure?"

Her lips pressed together, she smiled. "Umh-humh."

He stared at her again, knowing that she was trying to reassure him, and he played along, though he knew better. "Okay," he said softly, squeezing her hand and then letting it go.

She moved to one of the chairs and TV tables Steve had set up; he had already set out her bowl, spoon and napkin. She glanced at him gratefully as she sat, and they started to eat in silence. Eventually she said, "So, if we can get back from the store with enough time, are you two in the mood for a nice pot roast dinner?"

Mike's eyes lit up and he turned to his daughter so fast he almost spilled the soup in the spoon that was halfway to his mouth. "Do you… feel up to it?" he asked hopefully.

She smiled. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't feel up to it."

Mike looked from his daughter to his partner and back again, looking for all the world like a kid in a candy store. "You won't get an argument from me."

"Me neither," Steve concurred with a nod.

With a smile of her own, Jeannie looked down at the bowl on the tray in front of her. Mike's eyes found his partner's and narrowed with worry. He felt powerless to help his only child through the atrocity she was now forced to deal with and his growing despair was easy to see. Steve nodded reassuringly with a soft smile. Mike's face softened slightly and he returned the nod, hoping that the plan his young partner had put into action would yield the results they both wanted. If it didn't, he was worried that the sparkle in her eyes would never return and he would lose his vivacious daughter forever.