Beauty Can Be Deadly

Chapter 15

Steve woke to the familiar feel of a bed beneath him.  I have been tied up way too long.  I am so stiff and sore I don't think I can move.  His attempt to shift positions caused an angry flare of pain from multiple body points and he heard his name spoken in a distressed tone.

"Steve, don't try and move," came the familiar voice of his father.

Steve immediately relaxed at the sound of the familiar voice and concentrated on opening his eyes.  He managed to force them open and slightly turned his head.  "Dad?" he croaked.  Mark's face spread into a pleased smile.

"Welcome back."

"Thanks," Steve responded with an attempt at a smile.  His split lip made it a little difficult.  "So?"

Mark knew exactly what that single word meant.  "Well you'll have a few more scars to add to your collection but overall it's not that bad."

"And?"

Mark again knew instinctively what his son meant.  "I don't know yet.  Cheryl hasn't been back by.  She was finishing up at the scene and then I'm sure there was a lot of paperwork," Mark finished with a grin.

Steve nodded his agreement at Mark's answer.  "So, when do I get out of here?"

Mark chuckled affectionately.  "Can we at least wait for the anesthesia to wear completely off before we discuss that?"

Though feeling decidedly groggy, Steve made a second attempt at a smile.  "Sure, Dad, wake me if Cheryl comes by, ok?"

"You got it," Mark assured the fading man in the bed.  "For right now you just rest."

~~****~~

"Has he been awake yet?" Jesse voiced quietly.

"He woke up briefly about 2 hours ago.  Asked when he could go home then drifted back off," Mark responded with a smile.

"That's our boy," Jesse smilingly responded.  "I've been doing some checking and we have some of the Aldridge's as patients."

"Who?" Mark asked.

"The father, Arlen, the sister, Ashley and a brother, Andrew.  The others are under Amanda's care in the morgue," was Jesse's response.

"It didn't have to end that way," came a weak voice from the bed.

"What do you mean, Son?" Mark asked.

"Savannah seemed to have them under a spell.  I've never seen anything like it," Steve had more that he wanted to say but he found that his damaged lungs and ribs had different ideas.  His brief comments had left him panting for breath.

"Steve," Jesse admonished.  "Take it easy, you're pretty banged up and I don't want you getting over excited."

Steve took slow shallow breaths in an effort to both control his ragged breathing and minimize the pain.  After a few difficult minutes during which he received gentle encouragement from his father and Jesse, Steve felt able to talk again.  "Even the parents did whatever she said.  Has Cheryl been back by?  I wonder what she has been able to dig up on them?  What did people who knew……," Steve stopped when his father laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Steve, the only question I can answer is about Cheryl.  She hasn't been back yet," Mark responded.  "Please, let this go for now.  All of your questions will get answered."

"Dad, she killed those other women because of me.  She viewed them as a threat for my affections.  I need to understand why that happened.  I never made any advances towards her."

"Steve, some of the information we uncovered while we were looking for you shows that she had a pattern of doing this.  She would always focus on someone who was involved in the pageant she was competing in.  At the last pageant it was the host," Mark informed him."

Steve lay quietly considering what his father had told him.  He hated that three women had died.  That thought brought back the memory of the woman that had survived.  "How is Katelyn Edwards?"

"Much better," Jesse responded.  "She is conscious and we have a much better prognosis for her recovery than we had at first.  She is really a fighter."

"That's great, Jesse," Steve responded with a yawn.

"Ok, that's it, you're going back to sleep," Jesse informed his still yawning patient.

"Jesse, I just woke up." Steve argued.

"Yes, I know you did.  But even though none of your injuries individually are life threatening, combined they are dangerous.  Your body needs rest and as your doctor I'm telling you to sleep."

Steve mumbled something incoherent under his breath.

"What was that, Son?  I couldn't quite catch what you said," Mark inquired.

"I said I couldn't wait to go to sleep," Steve replied with a completely insincere grin.

"Well with that kind of enthusiasm, you'll be asleep in no time," Jesse added cheerfully.

The look directed his way would have been scary if the fatigue heavy eyelids had not been dropping to cover the equally tired eyes

~~****~~

When Steve woke again he turned his head looking for the familiar image of his father.  He blinked at the figure he saw slumped in the chair and then smiled.  "Cheryl," he called softly.  She stirred slightly but didn't wake up.  "Cheryl," he said slightly louder.  She sighed and stretched like a lithe graceful feline but still her eyes remained closed.  "Cheryl," his attempt was louder and took more air.  He paid for his efforts with a cough that branded his side with pain.  Cheryl practically jumped out of the chair.

"Steve, what on earth are you doing?  You're supposed to be resting," Cheryl chastised.

"Apparently I'm not the only one who should be resting.  That was the third time I had called you.  Have you had any sleep?" Steve asked.

"I've been a little busy doing the work of two.  My partner was off being someone's love slave," was her slightly irritated response.

Steve arched an eyebrow and her.  "You do know I didn't go by choice, right?"

Cheryl sighed.  "Yes, I know you didn't go by choice.  I'm sorry it's just been a little stressful.  Between looking for you and keeping your dad under control, I've had my hands full.  Do you know how difficult he can be?"

Steve chuckled.  "Yes, I know how difficult he can be.  Welcome to my world."

"So how are you feeling?" Cheryl inquired.

"Not too bad, a little rough around the edges but I should be back at work in a couple of days," Steve answered.

His response was greeted by a snort from the door.  "Fat chance," was Jesse's response.

"Jesse, you said I could go home soon," Steve answered.

"Home yes, work no.  You have some recovering to do and that won't happen at work," Jesse replied.

Steve's mouth settled into a pout.  "I'm fine.  If I promise to take it easy, can I go to work?"

"No, and if you push the issue, I'll just keep you here and not let you go home."

"You can't do that," Steve exclaimed.

"Oh, but I can.  If you mess with me to much I'll see if we can't get you into a pretty little blue hospital gown to match that little blue number you had on when they brought you in," Jesse responded.

At Steve's answering glare, Cheryl couldn't suppress the giggle that burst from her lips.  He carefully crossed his arms across his chest.  "Ok, you win, when can I go home?"

"Let me take a look at you and then we will decide that," Jesse answered.

"I need to be going, Partner.  I'll be sure and save some of the paperwork for you," she informed him with a grin.

As Cheryl left the room, Steve fixed Jesse with an annoyed stare.  "So?"

"Let's take a look at your back first," Jesse instructed as he started to slide Steve's gown off his shoulders.  When the gown stopped at the elbows Jesse sighed.  "This would be a lot easier if you would cooperate and uncross your arms."

"Fine," was Steve's terse response.

"Lean forward, it's going to hurt a little so be prepared," Jesse warned.

As Steve leaned forward he couldn't stop the grasp that escaped his lips.  "Still feeling gung ho about that work thing?" Jesse asked.

"Jesse, I'm in enough pain without having to hear a lecture, just get this over with," Steve gasped.

"You're looking pretty good back here.  How about you lean back and let me take a look at your ribs and incision?" Jesse requested.  As Steve complied rather slowly, Jesse slid the gown down the rest of the way.  His gaze traveled over the colorful bruises on Steve's chest and then down to the heavily bruised rib area.  "Things are healing nicely here as well.  You know, Steve, the one thing I can depend on from you is the variety of injuries you get.  You really are like a human box of chocolates.  You just give a doctor a fine assortment of things to treat."

"Jesse," Steve got no further as the door was pushed open and a white moustache and sparkling blue eyes announced his father's presence.  "Oh, hi, Dad."

Mark noticed the light of anger in his son's eyes and the glint of mischief in Jesse's.  He shook his head and grinned.  "What have you boys been up to?"

"Oh, not much, I've just been being tortured by Doctor Dolittle over there," he said as he gestured in Jesse's direction.

Jesse's grin deepened at the look of anger that was thrown his way.  "I wish that were true, if I could talk with the animals I might have an easier time dealing with you," he responded with a glib smile.

Steve attempted to push himself up and immediately regretted it.  He didn't know which hurt more his back or his ribs.  When Jesse saw him grimace in pain he instantly regretted his teasing.

"Steve, easy, I plan on sending you home in a couple of days, if you continue to do well.  You need to take it easy and I'll see you later," was Jesse chastised comment.

With a nod to Mark, Jesse left father and son alone.

Mark moved the chair over close to the bed and silently observed his son.  He was still pale but the familiar brightness was back in his eyes.  Those eyes often hid so much, but to Mark they were the window to his son's thoughts and emotions.  Katherine had been the same way.  Her outward personality was quiet and introspective but her eyes spoke volumes.  The fond memories brought a smile to his face as he gazed at Steve.

"What?" came the slightly disgruntled question from the bed.

"Nothing, I was just thinking," Mark responded.

"About?" Steve inquired.

"Just about how lucky I am.  I have my health, I have a job I truly find rewarding and most importantly I have you to share my life with."

Steve looked slightly shocked, and the eyes that Mark could read so well looked suddenly wet then a smile that would have put the sun to shame spread across his face.