Chapter Two-My Protector
Steve sighed as he leaned back into the chair at BBQ Bob's, the restaurant he owned with his father and best friend Jesse Travis. It had been a rough couple days for Steve and his friends. They had been busy with the latest case involving a serial killer and rapist. The court date was set and until then the four friends would relax. Steve had been given two days from work, seeing as his need for sleep was growing by the hour. Jesse was thrilled to be going out of town to visit his father for awhile, and Amanda would be helping Mark at the hospital. Jesse brought out a large plate of four steak dinners.
"Now this is good food," Steve said smiling as Jesse sat down beside him.
"I'm just glad this case is over," Mark said eyeing his son wearily.
"Finally we'll get some real sleep tonight," Amanda said smiling. The talk continued like that for nearly twenty minutes, when suddenly the dinner was interrupted by a burst of the door flying open and a man in a black ski mask and black clothes stormed in, a AK47 in his hands.
"Everyone on their knees now!" He yelled. Steve looked at his father, fear etched in their eyes. Everyone in the restaurant slowly knelt down.
"Hands above your heads!" He continued to yell.
"Just take it easy mister," Steve began, suddenly the gun man pointed his gun right at Steve's face.
"Don't patronize me asshole," the gunman said. Steve's eyes moved to Jesse, Mark and Amanda. They're faces white with fear.
"I'm sorry, I just don't want you to make a stupid decision, look I own this place, these are my friends and customers, I just want them all to leave alive," he said calmly.
"Get up, go over to the cash registrar and give me all the money!" He yelled. Steve nodded, he began to remove his hands from his head when suddenly a flash of blinding pain hit him.
"STEVE!" Amanda and Mark yelled. Steve slowly lifted himself from the floor, touching his head where a large bruise and blood was.
"Keep your hands where I can see them," Steve placed his hands back on his head and slowly hobbled over towards the registrar, not wanting to get this guy's goat, but at the same time having a lot of trouble focusing.
"Hurry up dammit!" He yelled. Steve opened the drawer and began to remove the money. The gunman took the cash from him and then ushered him back towards the table. He began to walk towards the door, when he saw Steve's reflection in the window, as Steve was reaching for his gun. Mark saw both things happen at once.
"NO!" He yelled loudly as the gunman turned around again, within moments a gun shot was heard and both Sloan men's bodies went down as Mark dove at his son to shield him from the oncoming bullet. There was silence, the gunmen quickly ran out of the building. Amanda looked at Jesse.
"Call 911, I'll check them," she said. She slowly rolled Mark over onto her back and saw the gaping bleeding wound in his chest, he was dying. Steve slowly sat up, untouched except the mark on his head.
"Dad!" He cried, he leaned over and began looked around for something to apply to the wound.
"Steve…" Mark asked in a pained voice, pink froth coming from the corners of his mouth.
"Don't talk dad, save your strength. What the hell were you thinking," Steve said, trying to keep the mood light as Jesse joined them. Neither Amanda nor Jesse said anything, knowing they're friend would die.
"You," Mark whispered as he withered under a wave of pain.
"I'm the cop dad, it's my job to get shot," Steve whispered.
"I couldn't… he would have…kil…led you…" Mark said as Steve gripped his hand tightly. Steve shook his head.
"Hold on dad, you're strong, the ambulance is on its way," he said, looking around he was trying not to panic.
"WHERE THE HELL IS THAT AMBULANCE!" He yelled. Mark looked at them, pain taking over his body, then he saw her, standing only inches away, smiling. She came over beside his head and smiled.
"Hello Mark," she said.
"Katie?" He asked in a haze. Steve looked at Jesse and Amanda.
"It's almost time Mark, I know it hurts, but it won't for much longer," she said.
"Can… I say….bye…" he asked pain ripping through his body again.
"Of course," she said touching his forehead. He looked over at Amanda and Jesse, with all his strength he touched they're hands.
"Love you…" he said, coughing. Steve tried to control his running emotions as his father's coughed up blood.
"Dad please, you're going to be fine," Steve said, pulling his father into his arms he held him close.
"St….eve….i….love….you…so….much…" he whimpered as the pain began to ebb away and turn into warmth.
"No, dad, please hold on," Steve said running a hand through Mark's hair. Mark looked over Steve's shoulder at Katherine's spirit, she smiled and touched Steve's shoulder.
"It's time Mark," she whispered. Mark slowly took in a deep breath, and let it out, going limp in his son's arms.
"No..no…no dad, please!" Steve yelled. Shaking his father gently. Jesse reached over and removed Mark from Steve's grasp.
"Come on buddy, he's gone," Jesse whispered in a choked voice. His own heart breaking into a million pieces as he had just watched his friend die. Steve shook his head, under normal circumstances Steve would have easily been able to push Jesse aside, but his concussion along with the sudden loss he was rendered weak.
"Jess, the ambulance is here," Amanda said.
"Okay, tell them we need a…we need them," she nodded.
~~~~~~
Steve sat in the hospital bed, feeling utterly numb, he couldn't believe his father was dead, it didn't feel right, but he was. The door opened slightly, as Jesse walked in, his face stained with tears.
"Hey Steve, how are you feeling?" He asked. Steve didn't respond, but continued to stare ahead.
"Well, I'm going to release you, I'm giving you some sleeping pills, I'll be by in the morning to check on you, um, Amanda will drive you home," Jesse said. Again Steve said nothing.
"Look, Steve buddy, I know how hard this is…" Steve suddenly glared at him.
"Your father is still alive," he hissed. Jesse sighed, the truth was Jesse had lost a father in Mark, one he had always wanted.
"We all loved him Steve," Jesse said and walked out of the room. Amanda entered a few minutes later, she didn't say anything, simply helped him get dressed.
"I won't ask if you're okay, since I know the answer already, if you need anything Steve, call me," she said as she helped him into her car. The ride to the beach house was silent. Amanda pulled up to the house and looked at it, she then looked over at Steve and saw the tears welling in his eyes.
"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" He shook his head slightly, causing the world to spin slightly.
"I'll be by in the morning, try and call your sister some time, don't worry about anything else. We already talked to Captain Newman, you have undetermined time off," Steve nodded numbly again and slowly opened the car door.
"Steve," she called gently, he stuck his head back in. She had to admit he looked like shit.
"We'll get through this, I promise," he simply nodded and headed towards his house. She watched him close the door behind him self and slowly pulled her car away from the house, her own heart breaking.
Steve slowly walked through the house, as though he were in a haze, any second he expected his father to come around the corner and talk to him, but he knew it wouldn't happen. He walked over to their leather couch and sunk down into it, not wanting to cry, but afraid that he wasn't feeling anything. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the bottle of sleeping pills. Sighing he tossed the on the coffee table and headed over to the fridge, sighing he quickly grabbed a six pack and made his way over towards the couch.