Chapter 5.
Mark had just made it back to his office when he was paged to go down to the ER. At first he didn't think it was anything to bad until he heard the second page for Rachel, with a sinking feeling he headed down. It seemed to take an age for the elevator to reach the ground floor. When he finally arrived the first people he saw was Jesse talking with Cheryl, he quickly moved forward.
"Jesse ?" He said anxiously. Jesse looked towards Mark and gave a reassuring smile.
"Its okay," He said quickly coming to the older mans side. " Thankfully the bullet has just grazed him," Mark sighed with relief, "and A few stitches and he'll be fine,"
"Mark! Jesse!" Mark turned to see Rachel heading towards them her face pale and anxious, Mark quickly moved forward and took hold of her arms, he could feel the woman shaking under his hands.
"He's fine," He told her reassuringly. Rachel looked from him towards Jesse who had come up behind Mark.
"He's just been grazed, "He told her, "As I was just telling Mark a few stitches and he'll be fine," Relief passed over her face.
"Where is he?" She asked. She wanted to confirm with her own eyes that what Jesse said were true. Jesse gave a smile.
"Exam 2," He answered. She turned and left the three of them together and went into the room.
Mark watched her leave and then turned to Cheryl.
"What happened?" He asked her, deciding that Steve and Rachel should have a little time alone.
"We were meeting an informant," She told him choosing her words carefully. "He'd just arrived when someone started shooting, both he and Steve dropped, by the time I got to where the shooter was they were long gone," Mark turned to Jesse,
"What about the other man," He asked. Jesse shook his head sadly.
"He was DOA," He told him.
"Dose Steve know?" Mark questioned him, Jesse nodded.
"Yeah," He sighed. "He spent most of the time after I told him inventing colourful words,"
When Rachel entered the room Steve was sitting on the exam table with his back to her with a nurse putting a dressing on the wound. She moved forward.
"I'll take over," She said to her. The nurse turned to her and gave a smile,
"Of course," She said and turned and left them alone, She moved round the table and carried on putting the dressing on, neither said a word until she had finished. Once she had secured the dressing Steve's arms went around her and pulled her to him. Slowly she began to relax, Steve's hand went up to her hair and slowly began to stroke it, and kissed her forehead.
"Its okay," He said softly. He felt the shudder that ran through her body. Pulling away from him she looked up at him,
"What happened?" She asked. Steve sighed.
"We where meeting with an informant said he had some information on Stewart,"
"Did he manage to tell you what?" She asked. Steve shook his head.
"No he was shot before he could tell me," He sighed. "He died on the way here according to Jesse,"
They both looked up as the door opened and Mark entered. On face there was a slightly puzzled expression, looking at Rachel.
"Chief Masters and Captain Newman are here," He said. Rachel felt Steve stiffen slightly. "They want to talk with Rachel for a few minutes;" Rachel looked at Steve and noticed his worried expression, which he quickly hid. "They're in the doctor's lounge," Rachel nodded and pulled away from Steve and began to wonder exactly what they wanted with her. Steve moved forward slightly and whispered close to her ear.
"Don't worry it will be fine," He assured her. She smiled at him then turned to leave. Mark watched her go, then turned to his son.
"What is going on?" He asked. His expression was serious. He was starting to get a little irritated at Steve's lack of communication. Normally they talked over any problems especially any that could result in an attempt on Steve's life. Steve realised this.
"They weren't after me," He said smoothly. "It was Joe Reynolds;" He slipped off the exam table, "He was trying to give me some information on the case I'm on,"
"And did he manage it?" He asked him.
"No," He said with genuine regret. What information he had must have been important, important enough to have him killed to prevent him from telling him, Steve had a feeling that he was going to have to find out what it was.
Rachel left the room and despite Steve's assurances she still felt nervous.
"Hey Rachel," Jesse called her, she turned to face the young doctor. "Tell Masters to hurry it up I've got a break in five minutes," He then flashed her a quick grin then entered the exam room she had just left, carrying a fresh shirt for Steve.
She entered the doctor's lounge and closed the door behind her.
"You wanted to see me?" Rachel said.
Chief Masters and Captain Newman looked up at her,
"Yes," Masters said. Looking at both grim faced men, she began to wonder if she had done anything wrong, "Please sit down," He pointed at one of the spare chairs in the doctors lounge. "Lt Sloan has told you what this is all about?"
"Some of it," She replied. "All he asked me to do was keep an eye on Jack Stewart when he starts here next week," Both men nodded.
"That's all he has told you," Newman asked. Rachel nodded. Masters looked at her shrewdly.
"But you've guessed that there is more to it than that," Again Rachel nodded.
"Right ," He said, "There is more, but I will not give you any details, but we do need your co-operation," Rachel swallowed hard, trying to keep the sense of dread that was building up in her stomach from over-whelming her. "If either my self or Captain Newman here calls you and gives you a code word lion, you're to drop everything you are doing, whether your at home or work and go straight to this address," He handed her a piece of paper with an address wrote on it.
"Can I ask why?" She said handing the paper back to him.
"Let's just say that both yours and Steve's life may depend on you doing exactly what you are told,"
"What about Mark?" She asked realising what they were saying.
"Separate arrangements are being made for Dr Sloan;" He looked up at the young woman, his expression serious. "I can't convey enough how dangerous things could get;" She took a deep breath and nodded. She stood up. "With luck we won't have do what we have planned for,"
There was a knocking at the door and Steve entered now wearing a new shirt, his arm slipped around her waist, she leaned against him.
"All is arranged," Newman told Steve. He nodded his expression grim. "Lets all hope that it won't go that far,"
"The only people that know what is going on are those in this room," Masters said seriously. "Let's keep that way,"
Steve sighed and nodded. Some how he got the feeling that things where going to get a whole lot worse before they got better.