Thank you for all your kind reviews. I would like to answer one in
particular - I would have answered it privately, but there was no email
address. The question was asked about the previous stories in the series.
They are called 'Only Time Can Tell' and 'The Fall Out'. They tell how
Mark's attack, amnesia, disappearance and his subsequent re-appearance
twenty years later. The second story concentrates on the immediate
aftermath of Mark's disappearance on Steve.
Steve's Return contd...
Cheryl sat at her desk staring at the screen in front of her, tracking down a set of fingerprints from the AFIS database. Set after set of fingerprints ran across the screen and whilst she waited for the programme to finish Cheryl allowed her mind to wander. She thought about the detective that Captain Newman had partnered her with since Steve had announced his intention to leave the force. Detective John Symons was a competent officer and they had begun to build a good working relationship. Cheryl sighed inwardly, however good John Symons was - there was something missing. She felt it for some while, but it was only whilst she was eating breakfast that morning that she figured out what it was. He just wasn't Steve.
Cheryl and Steve had always had an excellent working relationship that had, on occasion, teetered on the brink of something personal. It was only bad timing and professionalism that kept it platonic. Sometimes, in the wee small hours when she couldn't sleep, Cheryl's thoughts turned to the numerous women she had watched parade in and out of Steve's life. She wondered what it would be like to fix her with that smouldering look from those deep, blue eyes, to have his arms wrap around her and for that gorgeous mouth to begin descending towards hers.......It was always at that point that Cheryl stopped fantasising. However much she might like the idea of pursuing a relationship with Steve, she didn't want to run the risk of losing him as a friend and partner. It was only the sound of her computer signalling that they had found a match that brought her back to the present. However, the thought remained tucked away in the back of her mind for future reference.
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Steve sat sprawled across one of the sun loungers that he and Jesse had put out earlier that morning to take advantage of the beautiful day that beckoned. Both men had the day off and they were both determined to make the most of it. In the weeks following his return to the beach house and becoming a private citizen again Steve's health had improved in leaps and bounds. He had, gradually, taken on more and more of the responsibility of running Bobs which gave Jesse more time for himself. This was something that was very important to Steve because he felt that this was a tangible way in which he could show Jesse how grateful he was for everything he had done whilst he was unwell.
Picking up a tall glass full of chilled beer from the table next to him Steve took a long, thirst quenching drink. He looked out over the ocean and sighed contentedly. Jesse looked across at his friend and smiled, it was really good to see Steve as happy and relaxed as this. In fact, Jesse mused, he wasn't sure that he had ever seen Steve this relaxed. In all the years that Jesse had been an 'unofficial Sloan' Steve had never seemed like he was ever able to totally relax. It was like he was always on amber alert.
Becoming aware of Jesse's scrutiny Steve smiled and said, "What is it Jess?"
"I was just thinking how relaxed you are now Steve," he replied, "I can't remember when I have ever seen you like this." Steve thought for a moment before he answered.
"You're probably right Jess. Being a police officer meant that I could never fully relax. Even when I was off duty I was always, subconsciously, always on the alert in case something happened."
"What about now?" Jesse wanted to know, "You were a cop for so long, how can those instincts have just suddenly turned off?"
"I don't know Jess." Steve replied thoughtfully, "When I became ill everything shut down. My thought processes, my emotions, my awareness of danger, everything. As I began to get better things gradually switched back on again, even my 'danger' antennae. I think I will always be more aware than a lot of people about danger, but I'm not in the look-out for it all the time now. Does that make sense?"
"Total sense Steve," Jesse replied before grinning wickedly and continuing, "and that worries me."
He quickly ducked as Steve shot out a hand in an attempt to cuff him round the head.
"Come on brainless," he chuckled getting up from his seat, "Let's go and get the boards out, the sea looks good."
The rest of the day was taken up with surfing, sunbathing and, as Jesse so delicately put it, 'scoping out the chicks'.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Dr. Jack Stewart put his pen down and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, rolling his head around in an attempt to ease the ached that sat there like a lump of lead. The next second he almost jumped out of his seat as he felt two soft hands take the place of his on his neck.
"Relax Jack," a gentle voice breathed in his ear, "it's only me."
"Shona honey, you just scared five years off of me," Jack said, leaning into those hand that were performing miracles on his neck.
"You were so busy Jack, you didn't hear me come in," replied Shona, Jack's secretary and girlfriend, continuing to work at the knot of tension in his neck, "why don't you give it a rest for the day and let's get something to eat?"
Pushing the papers he was working on to one side Jack agreed, "Come on, let's grab some ribs at Bob's, Steve and Jesse are both on tonight. I've been so busy lately that I haven't seen much of them."
"Hmph," Shona grumbled as she moved away, "you haven't seen much of me either."
She was stopped in her tracks as a strong pair of hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down onto his lap.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Jack murmured against her lips sometime later, "Things have been crazy around here later."
"I forgive you," Shona answered, returning Jack's kiss.
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"Two rib specials and two beers please Jess," Jack ordered sometime later.
"Coming right up," Jesse answered, "Good to see you both, it seems like ages since we all got together."
"Maybe we can all get together at the beach house at the weekend," Steve had come up behind Jesse.
"Great idea Steve," Jack answered with a grin, "a little sun, a little sea, a little Shona. Just what the doctor ordered."
"We'll do the food," Jesse replied, "you guys can bring the beer and wine."
"Will do," Jack replied.
A short time later Jack and Shona were tucking into their meal when a shadow moved across their table.
"Hi guys," a voice said, "mind if I join you?"
"Sure Cheryl," Shona answered, leaning across and pushing a chair out for Cheryl to sit down on.
Sinking onto the blue cushioned seat Cheryl said, "Boy, am I hungry! I could eat a horse."
"No horse on the menu here," Steve joked coming up behind them, "How about a plate of ribs and some fries?"
Shona happened to be looking at Cheryl as Steve spoke and her eyes widened a little at what she saw. Cheryl looked up at Steve and the look in her eyes and the faint blush that suffused her cheeks caused Shona to totally re-evaluate her friend's feelings.
When she spoke, though, Cheryl's voice was completely composed, "Thanks Steve, that would be great."
After that the three friends ate their meal, the conversation flowing easily between them. Plates cleared, they sat back in their seats sipping their coffee and chatting quietly. Placing his mug down onto the table and said, "Excuse me ladies, I'll be back in a while."
Almost before he was out of earshot Shona had rounded on Cheryl.
'Okay Cheryl. Give! What's with the goo-goo eyes and the blushing? I thought that you and Steve were just friends?"
"We were...we are," Cheryl stammered a little, "It's just that...lately.."
"You've been seeing him in a different light," Shona finished for her, "When did it start?"
"I don't know, it sort of sneaked up on me. One minute he was simply a friend and colleague then, suddenly, everything changed. You don't think he noticed do you" Cheryl was suddenly horrified.
"Nah," Shona assured her, "he's a man isn't he? I almost had to hit Jack over the head with his stethoscope to get him to notice me. I do think you ought to say something to Steve though."
"No," Cheryl was adamant, "Steve is a good friend and I don't want him to feel uncomfortable around me if he doesn't feel the same way."
"You might be pleasantly surprised," Shona persisted.
Cheryl was unconvinced but as Jack arrived back at that moment she didn't have the chance to answer.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Contrary to Shona's conviction that Steve had not noticed anything, he had been very aware of Cheryl's facial expression and the blush. He hadn't reached his present age and experience without recognising the signs of female attraction.
He stood in the kitchen at the beach house washing up his supper things, staring out of the window thinking about earlier that day. Although he had recognised the look in Cheryl's eyes he had been surprised to see it there. It was true that, sometimes, when they had been partners there had been the occasion frisson between them but neither of them had taken it any further and over time they had settled for friendship, or so Steve had thought. Putting the final dish away in the cupboard Steve moved into the living room and sat down on the large sofa. Picking up the remote he pressed a button and the television flickered into life. Five minutes of channel surfing later Steve settled on a documentary about the London Underground and for the next hour he was lost in the gradual build up of subterranean London. Finding himself yawning as the programme came to an end, Steve decided to have an early night so switching off the television he went to bed.
Steve's subconscious mind must have been working overtime, for his dreams that night were vivid and varied, mostly about Cheryl. In fact, and he blushed to admit it even to himself, some of them were borderline X-rated. Like most people Steve was usually able to shake off his dreams very quickly. Sometimes, like today, the dreams hung around like an extra layer of clothing and when Cheryl entered Bob's for breakfast, Steve was hard pressed not to sweep her into his arms and carry on where his dreams left off. In fact, he actually did move to take a step towards her, realised what he was about to do, turned on his heels and walked away, disappearing into the kitchen.
Cheryl saw the look on Steve's face as he turned away from her and came to totally the wrong conclusion. She assumed that Steve had seen her reaction yesterday and had decided to avoid her. An embarrassed flush suffused her face and she, too, did a 180 degree turn and left the restaurant.
Jesse, who was also doing a shift that morning witnessed the wordless, almost Tati-esque, ballet between two of his friends and determined to tackle Steve about it later. The breakfast period that morning was extremely busy and it wasn't until nearly ten thirty that both men had a chance to sit down together with a coffee. For a couple of minutes they sat, simply enjoying the peace and quiet after the rush. Jesse looked across the table and saw that his friend had a deep furrow across his forehead, always a sign that he was perturbed about something.
"Are you alright Steve?" Jesse asked tentatively.
"Hmm?" Steve refocused his eyes, from where he was staring into the middle distance, so that he could look at Jesse.
"I couldn't help noticing what happened earlier on between you and Cheryl," he began, "and I wondered what is going on."
Steve briefly explained the previous days incident and about his dreams.
"Phew!" Jesses whistled softly, "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know Jess," Steve murmured, "I'm worried that I may have misread everything."
"Why don't you talk to her?" Jesse probed.
"And run the risk that I was wrong and losing her friendship? I don't think so Jess." Steve was adamant.
"So basically," Jesse said, "You are going to bury your head in the sand and pretend that everything is normal?"
"Works for me," Steve grinned for the first time that day, rising from his chair to take the two coffee cups to the kitchen.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Over the next few weeks Amanda, Jesse and Jack watched as Steve and Cheryl danced around each other mentally, physically and emotionally. They didn't avoid each other, neither did they seek each other out. Cheryl continued to eat at Bobs and she was always included whenever they all got together at the beach house. It was as if there was an invisible wall between the two of them that neither seemed inclined, or indeed able, to penetrate.
Finally, Amanda had had enough. Along with Jesse and Jack she 'persuaded' Steve to open up the beach house for another get together.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Amanda?" Jesse asked, the night before as they sat in one of the many doctors lounges at Community General, for he had vivid memories of being on the receiving end of Steve's anger in the past when they had attempted to interfere in his love life.
"Yes I am Jess," Amanda was sure, "neither of them can keep going the way they have been. I feel like I am walking on eggshells when they are both in the same room. It is patently obvious that they have feelings for each other. Even if it doesn't ultimately work out they will at least have given it a try. Surely that is better than not knowing at all?"
"Yeah, you're right Amanda," Jesse conceded, "It's just that I'm not sure I want to be around if it all goes pear shaped, don't forget I am still living at the beach house."
"Coward!" jeered Amanda.
"Damn right!" answered Jesse, rising to place his coffee cup in the sink, "I have become used to having my head attached to my shoulders and I'd very much like it to stay there."
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Cheryl opened her wardrobe door and stood there looking, indecision written all over her face. Finally she tutted in irritation. For goodness sake, she thought to herself, I am only going for a barbeque at Steve's. Why on earth am I fussing about what I am going to wear, she snorted, Steve won't notice. He hasn't noticed anything about me for the past few weeks. Aw, what the heck, she thought, dragging out a pair of khaki safari shorts and a salmon pink tee shirt. Pulling them on Cheryl then rummaged in the bottom of the wardrobe for a pair of sneakers and put them on. She was just about to walk out of the door when she remembered that Amanda had mentioned swimming, so she stuffed her new two piece and a large towel into a bag and carried that down to her car.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
CJ and Dion were playing happily on the beach when Cheryl arrived. Ringing the doorbell, she waited until she saw Jesse bound down the inner stairs towards her.
"Hi Cheryl," he said, "good to see you. Come on through. You can drop your bag in the lounge. We're going to eat first and then swim later."
"Okay Jess, thanks," Cheryl replied, following him up the stairs and dropping her bag where he had indicated then asked, as nonchalantly as she could, "Steve here?" Hiding a grin Jesse answered, "Yeah he's outside, cranking up the barbeque. We made a special batch of sauce this morning for the ribs. Amanda is outside putting out the salads and cold meats."
"Thanks Jess. I've brought some bits as well. I'll take them out to her," Cheryl responded and made her way out onto the deck to greet Amanda.
The afternoon that followed ran along exactly the same lines as many others. Amanda, when she wasn't checking on her boys, watched Steve and Cheryl be very polite to each other but not say anything to each other that went very far below the surface. Amanda felt herself getting more and more frustrated until there was one superficial comment too many and she snapped.
"That's it! I have had enough!"
The silence that followed her outburst was total.
"Jack. Jesse. Can you take CJ and Dion down to the beach please? I want to have a talk with Steve and Cheryl." Amanda spoke, her tone clipped.
Raising their eyebrows Jack and Jesse immediately complied taking the two boys, who were agog with interest, down onto the beach. They had barely set foot on the beach before Steve began to speak.
"Amanda..." he began.
Amanda turned from where she was watching her boys and she snapped, "Don't say anything Steve, or you Cheryl. It's my turn to talk."
For a few seconds she paced back and forth across the decking before stopping and fixing them both with her angry stare.
"I have just about had it with the two of you. For the last few weeks you have danced around each other, not saying anything that could be in any way construed as real and you are driving the rest of us NUTS! For goodness sake the pair of you, wake up and smell the romance! I know that you are both afraid of losing the friendship that you have. Well, I am here to tell you that if you don't do something you are going to lose that friendship anyway. Give yourselves a chance guys."
Again there was silence.
"Well?" Amanda demanded.
Steve looked across at Cheryl and a ghost of a grin crossed his face.
"Can you leave us alone Amanda?" he asked.
"I'll catch Jesse, Jack and the boys up," she said, almost skipping across the wooden floor and down the steps.
Steve turned to face Cheryl and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"So?"
"So what?" Cheryl countered, not sure about how she ought to respond to Amanda's download.
"Amanda is right you know," Steve answered moving from where he was to sit next to Cheryl and, looking her straight in the eyes, "we have been dancing around each other."
"But you hadn't thought about me like that until I blushed." Cheryl protested.
"True," Steve admitted, "but having thought about it and trust me I have done a lot of thinking these past few weeks, that blush was obviously the catalyst to bringing my feelings for you to the surface."
"But what if it doesn't work?" Cheryl wanted to know.
Standing, Steve reached down and pulled Cheryl to her feet and into his arms.
"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm willing to give it a go, how about you?"
In answer Cheryl simply reached up and pulled Steve's head downwards until his lips met hers. For a long time afterwards there was no conversation at all.
A few minutes later the silence was pierced by the sound of two young voices calling out, "Uncle Steve! Uncle Steve!"
Reluctantly pulling himself free Steve called out, "Coming!"
He and Cheryl hands still firmly entwined made their way down the steps to meet their friends who, on seeing them, smiled happily.
Steve's Return contd...
Cheryl sat at her desk staring at the screen in front of her, tracking down a set of fingerprints from the AFIS database. Set after set of fingerprints ran across the screen and whilst she waited for the programme to finish Cheryl allowed her mind to wander. She thought about the detective that Captain Newman had partnered her with since Steve had announced his intention to leave the force. Detective John Symons was a competent officer and they had begun to build a good working relationship. Cheryl sighed inwardly, however good John Symons was - there was something missing. She felt it for some while, but it was only whilst she was eating breakfast that morning that she figured out what it was. He just wasn't Steve.
Cheryl and Steve had always had an excellent working relationship that had, on occasion, teetered on the brink of something personal. It was only bad timing and professionalism that kept it platonic. Sometimes, in the wee small hours when she couldn't sleep, Cheryl's thoughts turned to the numerous women she had watched parade in and out of Steve's life. She wondered what it would be like to fix her with that smouldering look from those deep, blue eyes, to have his arms wrap around her and for that gorgeous mouth to begin descending towards hers.......It was always at that point that Cheryl stopped fantasising. However much she might like the idea of pursuing a relationship with Steve, she didn't want to run the risk of losing him as a friend and partner. It was only the sound of her computer signalling that they had found a match that brought her back to the present. However, the thought remained tucked away in the back of her mind for future reference.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Steve sat sprawled across one of the sun loungers that he and Jesse had put out earlier that morning to take advantage of the beautiful day that beckoned. Both men had the day off and they were both determined to make the most of it. In the weeks following his return to the beach house and becoming a private citizen again Steve's health had improved in leaps and bounds. He had, gradually, taken on more and more of the responsibility of running Bobs which gave Jesse more time for himself. This was something that was very important to Steve because he felt that this was a tangible way in which he could show Jesse how grateful he was for everything he had done whilst he was unwell.
Picking up a tall glass full of chilled beer from the table next to him Steve took a long, thirst quenching drink. He looked out over the ocean and sighed contentedly. Jesse looked across at his friend and smiled, it was really good to see Steve as happy and relaxed as this. In fact, Jesse mused, he wasn't sure that he had ever seen Steve this relaxed. In all the years that Jesse had been an 'unofficial Sloan' Steve had never seemed like he was ever able to totally relax. It was like he was always on amber alert.
Becoming aware of Jesse's scrutiny Steve smiled and said, "What is it Jess?"
"I was just thinking how relaxed you are now Steve," he replied, "I can't remember when I have ever seen you like this." Steve thought for a moment before he answered.
"You're probably right Jess. Being a police officer meant that I could never fully relax. Even when I was off duty I was always, subconsciously, always on the alert in case something happened."
"What about now?" Jesse wanted to know, "You were a cop for so long, how can those instincts have just suddenly turned off?"
"I don't know Jess." Steve replied thoughtfully, "When I became ill everything shut down. My thought processes, my emotions, my awareness of danger, everything. As I began to get better things gradually switched back on again, even my 'danger' antennae. I think I will always be more aware than a lot of people about danger, but I'm not in the look-out for it all the time now. Does that make sense?"
"Total sense Steve," Jesse replied before grinning wickedly and continuing, "and that worries me."
He quickly ducked as Steve shot out a hand in an attempt to cuff him round the head.
"Come on brainless," he chuckled getting up from his seat, "Let's go and get the boards out, the sea looks good."
The rest of the day was taken up with surfing, sunbathing and, as Jesse so delicately put it, 'scoping out the chicks'.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Dr. Jack Stewart put his pen down and rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, rolling his head around in an attempt to ease the ached that sat there like a lump of lead. The next second he almost jumped out of his seat as he felt two soft hands take the place of his on his neck.
"Relax Jack," a gentle voice breathed in his ear, "it's only me."
"Shona honey, you just scared five years off of me," Jack said, leaning into those hand that were performing miracles on his neck.
"You were so busy Jack, you didn't hear me come in," replied Shona, Jack's secretary and girlfriend, continuing to work at the knot of tension in his neck, "why don't you give it a rest for the day and let's get something to eat?"
Pushing the papers he was working on to one side Jack agreed, "Come on, let's grab some ribs at Bob's, Steve and Jesse are both on tonight. I've been so busy lately that I haven't seen much of them."
"Hmph," Shona grumbled as she moved away, "you haven't seen much of me either."
She was stopped in her tracks as a strong pair of hands grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down onto his lap.
"I'm sorry sweetheart," Jack murmured against her lips sometime later, "Things have been crazy around here later."
"I forgive you," Shona answered, returning Jack's kiss.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
"Two rib specials and two beers please Jess," Jack ordered sometime later.
"Coming right up," Jesse answered, "Good to see you both, it seems like ages since we all got together."
"Maybe we can all get together at the beach house at the weekend," Steve had come up behind Jesse.
"Great idea Steve," Jack answered with a grin, "a little sun, a little sea, a little Shona. Just what the doctor ordered."
"We'll do the food," Jesse replied, "you guys can bring the beer and wine."
"Will do," Jack replied.
A short time later Jack and Shona were tucking into their meal when a shadow moved across their table.
"Hi guys," a voice said, "mind if I join you?"
"Sure Cheryl," Shona answered, leaning across and pushing a chair out for Cheryl to sit down on.
Sinking onto the blue cushioned seat Cheryl said, "Boy, am I hungry! I could eat a horse."
"No horse on the menu here," Steve joked coming up behind them, "How about a plate of ribs and some fries?"
Shona happened to be looking at Cheryl as Steve spoke and her eyes widened a little at what she saw. Cheryl looked up at Steve and the look in her eyes and the faint blush that suffused her cheeks caused Shona to totally re-evaluate her friend's feelings.
When she spoke, though, Cheryl's voice was completely composed, "Thanks Steve, that would be great."
After that the three friends ate their meal, the conversation flowing easily between them. Plates cleared, they sat back in their seats sipping their coffee and chatting quietly. Placing his mug down onto the table and said, "Excuse me ladies, I'll be back in a while."
Almost before he was out of earshot Shona had rounded on Cheryl.
'Okay Cheryl. Give! What's with the goo-goo eyes and the blushing? I thought that you and Steve were just friends?"
"We were...we are," Cheryl stammered a little, "It's just that...lately.."
"You've been seeing him in a different light," Shona finished for her, "When did it start?"
"I don't know, it sort of sneaked up on me. One minute he was simply a friend and colleague then, suddenly, everything changed. You don't think he noticed do you" Cheryl was suddenly horrified.
"Nah," Shona assured her, "he's a man isn't he? I almost had to hit Jack over the head with his stethoscope to get him to notice me. I do think you ought to say something to Steve though."
"No," Cheryl was adamant, "Steve is a good friend and I don't want him to feel uncomfortable around me if he doesn't feel the same way."
"You might be pleasantly surprised," Shona persisted.
Cheryl was unconvinced but as Jack arrived back at that moment she didn't have the chance to answer.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Contrary to Shona's conviction that Steve had not noticed anything, he had been very aware of Cheryl's facial expression and the blush. He hadn't reached his present age and experience without recognising the signs of female attraction.
He stood in the kitchen at the beach house washing up his supper things, staring out of the window thinking about earlier that day. Although he had recognised the look in Cheryl's eyes he had been surprised to see it there. It was true that, sometimes, when they had been partners there had been the occasion frisson between them but neither of them had taken it any further and over time they had settled for friendship, or so Steve had thought. Putting the final dish away in the cupboard Steve moved into the living room and sat down on the large sofa. Picking up the remote he pressed a button and the television flickered into life. Five minutes of channel surfing later Steve settled on a documentary about the London Underground and for the next hour he was lost in the gradual build up of subterranean London. Finding himself yawning as the programme came to an end, Steve decided to have an early night so switching off the television he went to bed.
Steve's subconscious mind must have been working overtime, for his dreams that night were vivid and varied, mostly about Cheryl. In fact, and he blushed to admit it even to himself, some of them were borderline X-rated. Like most people Steve was usually able to shake off his dreams very quickly. Sometimes, like today, the dreams hung around like an extra layer of clothing and when Cheryl entered Bob's for breakfast, Steve was hard pressed not to sweep her into his arms and carry on where his dreams left off. In fact, he actually did move to take a step towards her, realised what he was about to do, turned on his heels and walked away, disappearing into the kitchen.
Cheryl saw the look on Steve's face as he turned away from her and came to totally the wrong conclusion. She assumed that Steve had seen her reaction yesterday and had decided to avoid her. An embarrassed flush suffused her face and she, too, did a 180 degree turn and left the restaurant.
Jesse, who was also doing a shift that morning witnessed the wordless, almost Tati-esque, ballet between two of his friends and determined to tackle Steve about it later. The breakfast period that morning was extremely busy and it wasn't until nearly ten thirty that both men had a chance to sit down together with a coffee. For a couple of minutes they sat, simply enjoying the peace and quiet after the rush. Jesse looked across the table and saw that his friend had a deep furrow across his forehead, always a sign that he was perturbed about something.
"Are you alright Steve?" Jesse asked tentatively.
"Hmm?" Steve refocused his eyes, from where he was staring into the middle distance, so that he could look at Jesse.
"I couldn't help noticing what happened earlier on between you and Cheryl," he began, "and I wondered what is going on."
Steve briefly explained the previous days incident and about his dreams.
"Phew!" Jesses whistled softly, "What are you going to do?"
"I don't know Jess," Steve murmured, "I'm worried that I may have misread everything."
"Why don't you talk to her?" Jesse probed.
"And run the risk that I was wrong and losing her friendship? I don't think so Jess." Steve was adamant.
"So basically," Jesse said, "You are going to bury your head in the sand and pretend that everything is normal?"
"Works for me," Steve grinned for the first time that day, rising from his chair to take the two coffee cups to the kitchen.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Over the next few weeks Amanda, Jesse and Jack watched as Steve and Cheryl danced around each other mentally, physically and emotionally. They didn't avoid each other, neither did they seek each other out. Cheryl continued to eat at Bobs and she was always included whenever they all got together at the beach house. It was as if there was an invisible wall between the two of them that neither seemed inclined, or indeed able, to penetrate.
Finally, Amanda had had enough. Along with Jesse and Jack she 'persuaded' Steve to open up the beach house for another get together.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Amanda?" Jesse asked, the night before as they sat in one of the many doctors lounges at Community General, for he had vivid memories of being on the receiving end of Steve's anger in the past when they had attempted to interfere in his love life.
"Yes I am Jess," Amanda was sure, "neither of them can keep going the way they have been. I feel like I am walking on eggshells when they are both in the same room. It is patently obvious that they have feelings for each other. Even if it doesn't ultimately work out they will at least have given it a try. Surely that is better than not knowing at all?"
"Yeah, you're right Amanda," Jesse conceded, "It's just that I'm not sure I want to be around if it all goes pear shaped, don't forget I am still living at the beach house."
"Coward!" jeered Amanda.
"Damn right!" answered Jesse, rising to place his coffee cup in the sink, "I have become used to having my head attached to my shoulders and I'd very much like it to stay there."
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Cheryl opened her wardrobe door and stood there looking, indecision written all over her face. Finally she tutted in irritation. For goodness sake, she thought to herself, I am only going for a barbeque at Steve's. Why on earth am I fussing about what I am going to wear, she snorted, Steve won't notice. He hasn't noticed anything about me for the past few weeks. Aw, what the heck, she thought, dragging out a pair of khaki safari shorts and a salmon pink tee shirt. Pulling them on Cheryl then rummaged in the bottom of the wardrobe for a pair of sneakers and put them on. She was just about to walk out of the door when she remembered that Amanda had mentioned swimming, so she stuffed her new two piece and a large towel into a bag and carried that down to her car.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
CJ and Dion were playing happily on the beach when Cheryl arrived. Ringing the doorbell, she waited until she saw Jesse bound down the inner stairs towards her.
"Hi Cheryl," he said, "good to see you. Come on through. You can drop your bag in the lounge. We're going to eat first and then swim later."
"Okay Jess, thanks," Cheryl replied, following him up the stairs and dropping her bag where he had indicated then asked, as nonchalantly as she could, "Steve here?" Hiding a grin Jesse answered, "Yeah he's outside, cranking up the barbeque. We made a special batch of sauce this morning for the ribs. Amanda is outside putting out the salads and cold meats."
"Thanks Jess. I've brought some bits as well. I'll take them out to her," Cheryl responded and made her way out onto the deck to greet Amanda.
The afternoon that followed ran along exactly the same lines as many others. Amanda, when she wasn't checking on her boys, watched Steve and Cheryl be very polite to each other but not say anything to each other that went very far below the surface. Amanda felt herself getting more and more frustrated until there was one superficial comment too many and she snapped.
"That's it! I have had enough!"
The silence that followed her outburst was total.
"Jack. Jesse. Can you take CJ and Dion down to the beach please? I want to have a talk with Steve and Cheryl." Amanda spoke, her tone clipped.
Raising their eyebrows Jack and Jesse immediately complied taking the two boys, who were agog with interest, down onto the beach. They had barely set foot on the beach before Steve began to speak.
"Amanda..." he began.
Amanda turned from where she was watching her boys and she snapped, "Don't say anything Steve, or you Cheryl. It's my turn to talk."
For a few seconds she paced back and forth across the decking before stopping and fixing them both with her angry stare.
"I have just about had it with the two of you. For the last few weeks you have danced around each other, not saying anything that could be in any way construed as real and you are driving the rest of us NUTS! For goodness sake the pair of you, wake up and smell the romance! I know that you are both afraid of losing the friendship that you have. Well, I am here to tell you that if you don't do something you are going to lose that friendship anyway. Give yourselves a chance guys."
Again there was silence.
"Well?" Amanda demanded.
Steve looked across at Cheryl and a ghost of a grin crossed his face.
"Can you leave us alone Amanda?" he asked.
"I'll catch Jesse, Jack and the boys up," she said, almost skipping across the wooden floor and down the steps.
Steve turned to face Cheryl and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
"So?"
"So what?" Cheryl countered, not sure about how she ought to respond to Amanda's download.
"Amanda is right you know," Steve answered moving from where he was to sit next to Cheryl and, looking her straight in the eyes, "we have been dancing around each other."
"But you hadn't thought about me like that until I blushed." Cheryl protested.
"True," Steve admitted, "but having thought about it and trust me I have done a lot of thinking these past few weeks, that blush was obviously the catalyst to bringing my feelings for you to the surface."
"But what if it doesn't work?" Cheryl wanted to know.
Standing, Steve reached down and pulled Cheryl to her feet and into his arms.
"Then we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm willing to give it a go, how about you?"
In answer Cheryl simply reached up and pulled Steve's head downwards until his lips met hers. For a long time afterwards there was no conversation at all.
A few minutes later the silence was pierced by the sound of two young voices calling out, "Uncle Steve! Uncle Steve!"
Reluctantly pulling himself free Steve called out, "Coming!"
He and Cheryl hands still firmly entwined made their way down the steps to meet their friends who, on seeing them, smiled happily.