Chapter 4

Mark paced the floor outside the consulting room as Amanda and Jesse looked on. Cheryl hovered at the other end of the corridor, a pay phone receiver pressed against her ear.

"How did he do?" Mark snapped at the white-coated man as he exited the room.

"His responses in the NCV were generally quite slow and the EMG results were as we expected. In some cases both the nerves and muscles in an are severely effected. I'll check on his blood tests and I'll be right back."

Mark looked back to Amanda and Jesse

"I explained it to your son, you can go in and see him now if you like" the doctor prompted, before turning to leave.

Mark pushed past him into the room where Steve sat in a white hospital gown, propped up in bed. He was surrounded by all manner of equipment and looked highly agitated. The male nurse beside him turned and left the room as Amanda and Jesse stood in the doorway.

"How do you feel?" Mark asked a slight tremor in his voice.

"Like I've been electrocuted for 30 minutes then used as a pin cushion" Steve replied and Jesse smiled from the doorway. "Dr Evil out there said it wouldn't hurt, do you all lie to your patients like that?"

Mark knew Steve was attempting to lighten the mood, but he wanted to reassure him that the tests were necessary in forming a diagnosis.

"I know, I know" Steve continued before his father could speak "this electro-my-o-thingy"

"electromyogram" Amanda corrected him

"EMG" Jesse added.

Steve smiled "this EMG and NCV tells them a lot about what's going on but…"

"But what?" Mark asked sharply.

"How long 'til they work this out. Surely there are a certain amount of known diseases or disorders in this world, the number of doctors in a place like this, surely one of them knows what's up"

Mark smiled "that's why we're getting different consultants to take a look at you."

"Can't you just broadcast my symptoms on the PA, tell everyone there's a free meal at BBQ Bobs for the first correct answer."

They all smiled at the suggestion, but Steve's nonchalant expression was wearing thin.

Movement in the doorway caught Steve's eye. Amanda turned as Cheryl lightly tapped her shoulder and the two women moved out into the empty corridor.

"They're still running test's" Amanda informed her "Could be a while before we know anything." Cheryl nodded, and Amanda noticed how red her eyes were. "He'll be OK" she assured her, not knowing for sure if that was the truth.

"Hope you aren't talking about me!" Steve croaked, barely loud enough for them to hear, both women smiled.

"I've got to go, I'll call back later" Cheryl said, peering round the doorframe. Steve hesitated, glanced at his father and then called out to her.

"No, hang on."

Amanda gestured to Jesse that he should join her in the corridor, and Cheryl filled the gap made by his departure. "I'll be right outside" Mark assured Steve, closing the door as he left.

Cheryl stood awkwardly, trying not to stare at her partner lying helplessly in the hospital bed.

Steve's eyebrows formed a 'V' as he tried to think what it was he wanted to say to the woman who stood before him. He knew that his present condition did nothing to simplify their situation.

"Anything I can do?" Cheryl asked, her voice straining and her arms wrapping around herself defensively.

"C'm here" Steve replied, managing only to turn one hand palm up on the bed beside him as way of a gesture. Cheryl moved closer and took his fingertips lightly in her own.

"Did you tell your father?" she asked gently, referring to the photo's they'd received. His look answered her question better than words could. "I know" she continued "but you've got to be careful, it could be some kind of poison or.."

"I've thought of that, and if these tests don't show anything then maybe I'll mention it. But I just didn't want dad to worry, though I have a feeling that he may have overheard something already, when Masters came over this morning."

"So much for it being hush-hush"

Steve thought for a moment. "It's not his style, our 'voodoo' guy. He's not into poisoning, he's far more direct, brutal."

"But sending photos in advance isn't in his usual routine either" she pointed out "I just think you should be careful, until we know what we're dealing with."

"Until we know what's wrong with me, or until we know who this guy is?"

"Both" she shrugged "I know how silly it sounds, but I just want to make sure you're OK"

"And I want to be sure you're alright too" Steve responded "Like you say, until we're sure, we have to be careful. I don't think you staying alone in your apartment is a good idea"

Cheryl smiled, remembering how she hadn't actually spent the last few nights alone for a change.

"Even if they release me tonight" he added, knowing how unlikely that outcome was "I'll have to go home, I couldn't stay with y….."

"It's OK" she assured him "just you worry about yourself, and I'll take care of me."

"No", his response had more strength than he'd intended. He knew what her reaction would be to his next statement, but he let it out anyhow. "I think you should stay at the beach house for a while."

Cheryl paused deliberately before answering "I can see why you'd say that but…"

"Please" he began, his interruption throwing her slightly "If I'm here I can't do anything. Hell!" he laughed "even at home I'd be worse than useless. What if this guy does come looking for me, finds dad there alone?"

Cheryl knew Steve's concern for his father was genuine, but she also knew how conveniently it fitted his plan to have Mark take care of her too. There was no way for her to refuse, her friend needed a favour and she had to agree.

"OK, I'll stop by home on my way to the station, get some things together. When I'm finished, I'll come back here, I shouldn't be long. Sure it's alright with your dad?"

"Of course"

"I know how your mind works Sloan" she warned him as a guilty look crept over his face.

"One more thing" he said as she gently let go of his hand. "You know that this isn't my way of putting pressure on, y'know for there to be another type of 'we'"

"I know" she smiled, and turned towards the door. "Just watching each others backs". Steve closed his eyes as she turned to leave. Cheryl stopped and glanced over her shoulder towards him. She hovered with her fingers wrapped lightly around the door handle. Letting them drop down to her sides again she walked back over to the bed. Steve's eyes shot open as he sensed her approaching, Cheryl placed one palm flat on his cheek, fingers curling around his strong jaw, her other hand braced against the pillow at the side of Steve's head. Swiftly, without doubt or hesitation she pressed her lips firmly to his, allowing them to stay there, she thought to herself, for a few seconds longer than she should. She straightened up and let her hand run down his cheek.

"Thank You" he whispered, and the embarrassment shone in both their eyes.

"I'll be back soon"

"I'm not going anywhere." The joke was flat, and Cheryl's eyes began to well with tears as she again turned and left the room.

Steve heard a muffled exchange outside, and suddenly seemed aware of his surroundings again. It was as if his exchange with Cheryl, though very brief, had been enough to take his mind off his situation. Now the feeling of being trapped in his own failing body entered his head again and he had to consciously control his breathing.

Mark was again at Steve's bedside before he noticed it, confirming that Cheryl had a key to the beach house and would be staying for a while. He continued to talk but Steve wasn't really listening, a fact that Mark noticed after a short moment.

"Steve, Steve, are you OK?" he asked frantically.

"Uh-huh" was the absent-minded response he administered without thinking.

"Did you hear what I said?" Steve looked at his father blankly. "They want to take you downstairs and perform a lumbar puncture."

Mark braced himself for Steve's response but was greeted with silence.

"I've got a stupid question" Steve admitted sheepishly, the change of topic raising confused looks between the three visitors in the room.

"Go on" Mark replied

"That first doctor, the one who came to the ER and did the blood tests"

"Yes"

"He was asking all those questions, medical history I suppose, and one of the things he asked was about exposure to toxins like pesticides and stuff."

There was a hush for while, then Jesse moved forward from the doorway "You want to know if you missed something out, something you want us to mention now?"

Steve looked embarrassed, but Mark's stare was angry, confused. "Whatever it is, tell us"

"It's stupid" he continued.

"Steve, any information you may have…."

"That's the trouble, I don't have any information, it's just….." When Steve tailed off nobody spoke, and he knew they were all waiting for him to continue. "I received what you might call a 'threat' the other day, but it was after the onset of the symptoms so…."

"What type of threat?" Amanda prompted gently,

Mark already knew the answers "photographs, Chief Masters was talking about them with you this morning"

Steve attempted to nod, but even that appeared to be almost beyond his control now.

"These photos, are they the same as the crime scene ones?" Jesse asked.

"Not exactly, no dissection just…." Steve couldn't stop the wide beaming smile that crept across his face.

"What?" Mark prompted him impatiently

"The dolls in the photos were tied up, unable to move, get it?"

Nobody laughed.

"Dolls plural" Mark said "Cheryl?"

"That's why I don't like the idea of her being alone in her apartment, that's our guys general MO, woman in the house alone, guess he didn't figure Hazel Bennett would be much use defending her mother, if he knew about her in the first place"

"And you think he might have somehow enacted this…this…" Jesse flapped his arms around stumbling over his words. "You think somehow he poisoned you to create the scene in his photo?"

"It's possible" Amanda replied "but highly unlikely. The tox-screens all came back negative. In fact the blood work in general was in order."

Mark nodded in confirmation.

"OK, stupid question but I had to ask right?" Steve rolled his eyes.

"I'll mention it just in case" Mark reassured him. "Anything else?"

"The questions the ER guy asked, did they give you guys any clues what he was thinking."

Amanda shook her head "standard medical history. Recent infections, illnesses, any vaccinations, other symptoms, substance abuse, contact with toxins, family history of nerve diseases."

"There's no family history, right?" he asked Mark calmly.

"Nothing like this."

"My last tetanus jab was last month but he thought it was unlikely to have anything to do with it."

"You mentioned that bad throat you had a couple of weeks back?" Mark asked

"Yeah, you think that's important?"

"I'm sorry son, the best I can say for now is that you've got good people looking into this. The best in fact, I wouldn't have it any other way. I wish I had answers for you but I don't. This is out of my field I'm afraid."

"I know dad, I'm sorry for hassling you, it's just frustrating lying here, waiting for the verdict."

"I know son, but just be patient, be patient."

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