Alf-Thank you, I'm very thankful, I like how you explain what I am or aren't doing right, it gives me the chance
To step and look at what I have. However, I suggest you don't guess or you might give something away, I'm not
Saying more than that! The full story should be on my website soon, as my friend and I are working on it together.
Keep the reviews, thanks!
Allie351-Thank you for your beautiful comments, I'm glad my characters are emotionally well done, I do my best
And I like to know that my best is appreciated. Thank you very much, and stay tuned for Not A Day Goes By, which
Is full of emotions! Believe me, I've had to write them and they're tough! Thanks again!
Chapter Five-People Change
Two weeks flew by quickly, Amanda had accepted what happened and was trying to get through it as well, Jack was helping her. Jesse was going through his own grieving process. Steve on the other hand just wasn't facing it. Shortly after the funeral Amanda found Steve seemed to be drinking more and more often, and working longer hours.
They rarely saw him, and while it was bothering her, she just tried to remain on the idea that he was just grieving. However, part of her couldn't stop thinking that something was very wrong with her friend.
Steven sat at his desk, he had been pulled off the streets after he was charged with reckless endangerment. Lately he had been going off at everyone and anyone that even looked at him wrong. The smallest things set him off. Two days earlier he had attacked Jack, and now the younger doctor was steering clear from him for a while.
"Sloan!" He heard the Captain calling him. He heard a couple of snickers. In the past two weeks Steve's reputation had gone down quickly. Many cops knew he had a drinking problem by now, and that the Captain had been keeping him on the squad for reasons only known to him.
"Shut up!" Steve glared at them all. Most of them walked away shaking their heads. Steve slowly got up and headed into the Captain's office.
Jim Newman took a good look at his former best Detective; Sloan now had a rough beginning of a beard, there were bags under his eyes that could qualify as luggage, his eyes were also blood shot red. His hair was mussed up, his clothes weren't as neat as they were with his father around, and in all truth he reeked of alcohol. For a while Captain Newman had put off the signs of alcoholism and placed it on the loss of a loved one and grieving. But as he watched, he could see all the signs sticking out, and he knew this was no longer just about a lost love one. Steve would endanger the lives of any person he was around if he continued this way, and Newman wouldn't have that.
"What happened to you Sloan?" He asked. Steve looked at him.
"What are you talking about? I'm fine?" Steve said. Newman shook his head.
"No Sloan, you're not. Let's be honest here Steve, you've got a problem, and don't tell me you don't, because everyone has seen it. I ignored the problem for awhile, thinking you'd be fine after you got over your father's death, but it's obvious you won't be. So I have to take a course of action."
"What are you talking about?" Steve asked.
"Hand in your badge and gun Lieutenant; I'm suspending you indefinitely, with pay. Sloan, I'm giving you this chance to get your act together, please don't make me fire you. You're my best detective." Steve looked at him.
"I don't have a problem."
"Yes you do Steve, look at yourself! You're a damn mess, I don't even know who you are anymore. I used to look at you as a son, I'm disappointed in you Sloan. Now leave and get yourself better, I won't have a alcoholic on my squad," Steve said nothing but quickly got up and left. Cheryl Banks, his friend and partner watched him all the way out and shook her head.
Cheryl decided as she watched her close friend and partner leave to bring a doctor in on this situation. She sat down at her desk and quickly dialed CGH.
"Dr. Stewart," Jack answered, Cheryl took a deep breath, unlike Steve and Amanda she didn't really know Jack, but she trusted him.
"I need you to watch Steve, he's in real bad shape," she said calmly.
"Cheryl, wait I'm confused, I can't hear you really well, tell me what exactly happened?"
"Steve was just suspended from his duties, he's not going to take it well, it was the only thing he had left Jack, I know it."
"All right, I'll go check on him as soon as I can, don't worry Cheryl. Steve's a strong guy, he'll be fine."
"Jack, he's also really hurting," Cheryl said. Jack sighed, rubbing his temples he thought silently to himself.
"Thanks Cheryl, Amanda and I will go together. I'll call you as soon as I know something," he said calmly.
"Thanks Jack."
"No problem, bye." Jack quickly hung up the phone and pocketed it. Hurrying towards the doctor's lounge he found both Jesse and Amanda talking quietly between each other over some coffee.
"Jack," Amanda said looking at him.
"We've got to go, Steve might be in trouble. Cheryl just called, she said he was just suspended. She thinks he's been drinking, and she's afraid he might do something," both Jesse and Amanda's eyes grew wide. Getting up they grabbed their jackets and headed out to Amanda's car.
Steve slowly walked around the beach house, a bottle of boos in one hand, and in the other a gun. Lamps were all over the floor in pieces, and a picture frame of Mark and Katherine was lying on the floor shattered to fragments. There was blood dripping off Steve's hand, as he quietly muttered to himself. Walking over to the frame he lowered himself to the ground, never feeling the pieces of glass embedding into his legs and knees. He looked at the picture as he slowly brought it up to his chest.
"You left me, how could you!" He yelled at the picture, tears were slowly falling from his face as the anger from the past few weeks resurfaced.
"You left me to die! Left me alone, to be alone, you left me! You saved me and then you left me!" He yelled. Getting back up he began to walk around the house again. He never heard the door open, or saw Jack come in, Amanda and Jesse flanking him.
Steve angrily flung the bottle across the room, watching it smash into a thousand shards all over the floor, dropping to his knees he raised the gun to his temple.
"Steve, don't do it," a voice called. Steve jumped as he looked up and saw Jack standing in front of him, with Amanda and Jesse at his sides.
"He left me! He left me! His only son!" Steve yelled. Jack shook his head.
"No Steve, he saved your life, so that you could go on." Jack said.
"Steve, think about this, you're not alone, you've got Jack, and Jesse and me. What about CJ and Dion? The force needs you too Steve," Amanda said walking a little closer.
"Stay away!" He yelled holding the gun towards her. At first she jumped, but then she realized he wouldn't do it. That wasn't Steve, Jack and Jesse watched her move a little closer.
"You don't want to shoot me do you Steve? And I don't think you really want to shoot yourself. I know it hurts Steve, believe me. But hurting yourself and drinking yourself into oblivion isn't the answer."
"Why isn't! Why shouldn't I drink myself to death! Or shoot myself?" He said angrily.
"Because you're an honorable man, and no honorable man would do that," Amanda moved closer and gently put the gun down.
"You aren't alone in this Steve, and your dad didn't leave you, he loved you enough to give you something back. Your life, don't waste it this way," she said. She saw Steve's resolve slowly breaking, he buried his face in his hands. Amanda knelt down in front of him and gently removed the gun, she handed it to Jack and took Steve into her arms, and held him as he began to sob loudly on her shoulder.
"Shh, it's okay Steve, we'll get there, it's okay," she said as she held him. Jack sighed and gently led Jesse out of the room, leave Steve some dignity.
"Call the hospital, we'll have him admitted."
"Okay," Jesse said.
"Jesse, I haven't known you very long, but, time or not, I want you to know that I'm here for you too. Not just Steve and Amanda. I want us to get along. I know it hurts for you too," Jesse looked at the taller dark doctor.
"Thanks Jack."