Author's note: Thank you so much for the lovely reviews on the previous chapter – really helped me to keep going. Sorry for the delay in postings, things have been hectic. I'm also hoping to catch up on my reading and reviewing soon!
'Damn it' Mark cursed, dropping the dish to the floor with a crash and sucking on the fingers he'd just burnt. He shook his head ruefully, as a medical consultant you'd think he'd know better than to pick up a hot dish with his bare hands.
'Mark are you okay?' Amanda called from the living room, her voice filled with concern.
'I'm fine honey' he said a little sheepishly 'The dish was just a little hotter than I expected is all'.
Putting down the magazine she'd been flipping through, she joined him in the kitchen 'Are you sure there isn't anything I can do to help?' she offered.
He looked exhausted. The worry about Steve, the sleepless nights, they were obviously beginning to take their toll. She smiled ruefully; it was easy to forget that Mark was in his seventies, he was always so vibrant, so alive. They were all guilty of taking his energy and stamina for granted, but getting him to take things easy? She sighed, it was all too apparent where Steve got his stubborn streak from. Mark was a great doctor, but a little less good at taking his own advice.
He smiled at her affectionately 'I think I've got everything covered, you just sit down and relax, you've been on your feet all day'.
Settling herself on a stool at the kitchen counter, Amanda picked up a knife and began chopping the carrots Mark had started and subsequently abandoned. She grinned at him defiantly. Resignedly Mark grinned back. He should have known he wouldn't get away that easily. Reaching for the oven gloves he retrieved the pot from the floor – no damage done, the meatloaf was sizzling away nicely, the aroma so tantalising he could almost taste it already. Humming cheerfully to himself, he replaced the dish in the oven, and taking a seat next to Amanda, he turned his attention to the green beans.
'So' she said eagerly, helping herself to a piece of carrot 'How do you think Jesse is doing on his date?'
Mark looked at his watch and smiled 'It's been what half an hour?' Amanda nodded. He winked at her 'I think she'll have fallen for his charms by now'.
Amanda snorted 'That's if he got to the restaurant on time, he was running awfully late by the time we left the path lab'. She sighed 'If I know Jesse he'll turn up at 'Pierre's' with his shirt hanging out, his tie at half mast and his hair looking like he's had electro shock!'
Mark sighed good-naturedly, she was right, he could just imagine Jesse tearing up to the smartest restaurant in town, in a state of complete disarray, half dressed and probably having left his wallet on the kitchen table.
'But you know I think that's part of his appeal' he said astutely 'Admit it Amanda, what woman could resist those puppy dog eyes, that little boy lost act'.
'You're right' she groaned 'When he turns that boyish charm on me, I find myself agreeing to all sorts of things I didn't mean to'.
'I presume you're talking about me' a familiar voice interrupted them.
Ditching his jacket Steve dropped heavily onto a stool beside her. He gave them both a lopsided grin 'I've been told I'm well known at the station for my boyish charm' he joked.
Amanda smiled and leant over to give him an affectionate peck on the cheek 'You'd better believe it'.
'Thanks', he groaned gratefully 'I needed that!'
'Tough day?' Mark asked tentatively. He looked at his son appraisingly, trying to read his mood. Steve seemed in reasonably good spirits, but certainly not high spirits. As such it seemed likely that Vicky Harris had, as Mark had suspected, turned out to be a red herring. He crossed his fingers that he was wrong, but in his heart of hearts he knew that had Steve caught the killer they'd all be in 'Bob's' right now celebrating with a bucket load of prime ribs and a crate of cold beer.
Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair 'Pretty tough, yeah'.
'Things didn't go so well with Vicky Harris huh?' Mark said gently, looking at his son with ill disguised concern.
Steve rubbed his temples wearily 'No, you were right about that' he admitted. 'Maggie Taylor corroborated her story, and we didn't have enough to hold her'. He sighed 'we had to let her go'.
Mark placed a hand on Steve's shoulder and gave it a quick squeeze 'I'm sorry son; I was really hoping you'd caught the killer'.
Steve shrugged 'Me too'.
'So what now?' Amanda asked.
'Well' Steve let out a breath and helped himself to some of the carrot Amanda had chopped 'Tanis wants to talk to Natasha Summers. We've arranged a meeting at her office tonight'.
'David's wife?' Mark frowned thoughtfully.
'That's right' Steve replied through a mouthful of carrot. He raised his eyebrows 'It seems that David Summers and Vicky Harris were having an affair'.
'Nooo!' Amanda exclaimed, her eyes wide.
'Oh yeah' he replied 'And according to Vicky, Natasha found out about them too'. He paused meaningfully 'She said that if they didn't end it, she would'.
'Really!' Mark said 'Now that is interesting'.
Helping himself to more carrot Steve eyed his father warily 'What are ya thinking Dad? You've got that look'.
'I do?' Mark said innocently.
Amanda peered at him 'He's right, you do'. She winked 'So Mark, do you think Natasha is the killer?'
'Well' Mark let out a breath 'You know I was just thinking that she is an archaeologist, so she would fit the profile'. He paused contemplatively 'I'm sure there's something else too ..'
He frowned in frustration, it was no good, the thought eluded him 'there's definitely something … I just can't put my finger on it' He tapped himself on the head lightly, as if the action would somehow jar his memory 'Now what was it?' he asked, thinking out loud.
Steve and Amanda exchanged glances, as Mark continued to gaze unseeingly into the distance, his face a picture of preoccupation. Amanda smiled sympathetically, placing a hand on his shoulder 'Give yourself a break Mark, you're exhausted'. She pushed the carrots towards him, slapping Steve's hand away as he attempted to swipe some. Steve pulled a face and helped himself to some green beans instead.
'Here' Amanda said indicating the carrots 'concentrate on the dinner instead. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll come back to you when you're least expecting it'.
Mark sighed 'You know honey I'm sure you're right'.
'Er … guys' Steve sniffed loudly 'Is it me or can anyone else smell burning?
'The meat loaf' Mark groaned dropping his head into his hands 'I'll bet it's ruined'.
'Don't worry Mark' Amanda smiled 'I know a great recipe for a sauce to go with the meat loaf; I promise we'll never notice the difference'. Reaching forward she gripped his arm firmly and began to pull him up from his chair 'Now you go into the lounge and put your feet up, while I get to work'.
Mark opened his mouth to protest, but one look at the set of her chin and her determined hands on hips stance told him he'd be wasting his time. He looked to Steve for support, but his son shrugged 'Sorry Dad, but I'm with Amanda'.
Raising his hands in a gesture of defeat Mark allowed himself to be hauled up from the stool and wandered genially into the lounge in search of his glasses and the evening paper.
As the door shut behind him Amanda turned to Steve 'You know your father is getting too old to be up half the night chasing after criminals' she said sternly.
Steve sighed 'I know Amanda, but trying telling him that'.
She shook her head in frustration 'And you're not helping matters. Do you know how worried he is about you?'
Steve shifted guiltily 'I'm fine' he protested
'You're not' she admonished 'Your bloods came back showing elevated levels of carbonic enzymes'. He looked at her blankly 'which indicates' she continued 'your response to the compounds found on the victims' bodies is the early stages of carbon poisoning'.
She took hold of his hand 'Look Steve, you need to be taking it easy. Your body isn't breaking down the carbon as quickly as it should and the only way to solve that is for you to take better care of yourself'. She looked at him; her brown eyes serious 'Promise me you will'.
He grinned at her and shrugged his shoulders, hoping to lighten the atmosphere 'Hey, I'm home for dinner aren't I?'
Tossing her the chef's apron hanging by the oven he winked 'Now where's this sauce you promised, cause I'm starving!'
Rolling her eyes Amanda sighed, they were incorrigible, both of them.