Author's Note: Thanks for all your the reviews. I can't tell you how much they mean to me...and more than that...how much they motivate me. I'm glad you are enjoying this story. I know it took a while for me to get to the exciting part, but I needed to draw a good picture so the rest will make sense, so thanks for sticking around. And please keep the reviews coming...I still haven't come up with an ending yet. Now hold on...lots of angst coming.

"Understanding Steven"

~Chapter Six~

Steve wakes up on his couch. He has an underlying feeling of dread, similar to someone waking with a hangover after a work Christmas party, not remembering what they did the night before, but knowing that they did something they'll regret when they get back to work.

He tries to clear the fog...tries to remember what he did last night after his shift. He notices his uniform laying on the floor. He wore it home and he doesn't remember why. He don't remember even leaving work.

He goes to the kitchen and throws together a pot of coffee. As it starts to brew, he notices the box sitting on the end table. He freezes. It is a large shoe box about twenty years old, that originally held his fathers snow boots. But now it holds objects, that frighten Steve. The last time Steve saw it was when he moved into this apartment. It had been buried away in his closet since he was little. He moved it with all his things, and never dared to look into it before he hid it away again.

He doesn't really understand what is in it, or rather the significance of what is in it, but he does know that he needs to keep it buried. How it got out from beneath all the other boxes of junk and books in the deepest part of his closet, is a mystery to him. He stares at it from across the room as if it may bite him if he touches it. He encircles it, his eyes wide and distressed. Almost fifteen minutes go by and he finally has gotten close enough to touch it.

His hand shakes as he reaches for the lid. He flips it off and stares down at the contents. It all looks vaguely familiar, only because he has done this very same dance around it in the past. Always feeling terrified, remorseful and confused about where the objects came from. Each time he studies the contents, searching for an item that was not there before, and then suffocating in the mystery surrounding it....wanting to understand what it is, yet suppressing the desire to know, and succumbing to the feeling that he is better off hiding it away and pretending it doesn't exist.

The new item in the box this time is a watch. Steve picks it up and looks it over, his mouth open in a scared and puzzled gaze. It is still ticking. On the back is an inscription, "Thanks for always having time for me. Love, Maria."

The only Maria Steve can think of is Martin's partner. She may have given it to Martin, but what is it doing here in his apartment...in his secret box. Steve sits down on the couch, his gaze and his thoughts are far away. Nothing is coming to him. He can think of no explanation for it. But then he never could come up with an explanation for anything that appeared in the box...or even how the box got out of it's hiding spot in the first place.

Steve is slumped way down into his couch rubbing his temple to ease his pounding head with his right hand, and his left, holding the watch up in front of his face as he studies it. He stares at it like a psychic trying to read the aura surrounding it...then suddenly his face breaks out in a big grin.

His face takes on a whole different look as his features turn hard and his eyes get sullen. Steve rubs his thumb over the inscription on the watch and he says out loud, "Well, you two can be partners once again." Then he lets out an malevolence grunt.

His grin turns into a satisfied smile as his mind replays the events from last nights confrontation with Martin in the parking lot. He remembers the smug look on Martin's face when he saw, who he thought was Steve approach him. Of course it wasn't Steve, it was him...Stan. He chuckles under his breath remembering how he punched that look right off Martin's face, changing it to utter shock.

Stan loves the metamorphosis that always takes place in people when he steps in to avenge Steve. It never ceases to amuse him. They look at him with such disregard, until Stan forces them to show respect. But by then it is too late for them. He loves that moment also...the second they try to back pedal out of their punishment. Suddenly sorry for tormenting Steve.

Although Martin didn't even try. He was just a mean son-of-a-bitch, who had no regret for his actions and held that ground until he was dead. Unlike that big dumb jock from high school.

He places the box on the coffee table in front of him. Reaching into the box he picks up a newspaper clipping and the large high school ring. He slips it on and off his finger, noting that it is almost large enough for him to slip two fingers into it. Then he reads the article once again, outlining the untimely death of the high schools biggest, most popular jock, after a pep rally the night before the playoffs. He had gone out drinking with the team, and then went parking with his cheerleader girlfriend, and after dropping her off at home, he was attacked outside his own home, by someone or a group of people, hinting that it may have been a rival football team. But his murder was never solved.

He was beaten so severely with an object, most probably a baseball bat, that they had to identify him with finger prints. He was not only beaten about the head, but also in the back, and the article stated that had his head injuries not been fatal, the back injuries would have left him paralyzed. The article goes on to say that it must have been either numerous people or someone of considerable strength. This makes Stan smile every time he reads it. He gently places them back in the box.

He moves the deflated, rubber kick ball and picks up another article. This one has a lock of golden hair paper-clipped to it. He looks melancholy as he studies the picture of Michelle Feathers. It was her first grade picture and he even remembers that it was a red and black plaid dress she had worn on picture day, even though the article was in black and white.

The article was intended to be sad as it spoke of the freak circumstances surrounding her accidental death. She had fallen out of a tree house in her yard, but the fall alone probably would not have killed her, if the rope hanging through the hole in the floor had not tangled around her, breaking her neck as she fell. How she had gotten tangled in the rope was a mystery, since no one was with her when it happened.

There was some speculation of foul play, because a lock of hair had been cut from her head, but they eventually reasoned that away, since there was no evidence of any other harm such as sexual molestation. "You little bitch." He growls under his breath. He rolls the lock of hair between his fingers as he places it carefully back into the box.

He pulls out the blue bandanna, still tied with a knot to be slipped over Max's head. He sniffs it, and it floods him with memories of Chris and how much he loved that dog Max, and how jealous Steve was over that fact. He remembers all the times Steve cried in his room, because Chris was too busy playing with Max to play with him. He really thought by eliminating the dog, Chris would be a better friend to Steve, but it didn't work. Chris was just not worth Steve's friendship after all.

After placing the bandanna back in the box, Stan picks up the shoe. It has drops of Ross' blood still on it. This one was his favorite 'Get even'. This was the first time he avenged Steve right in front of people...in front of the whole force. When all hell broke loose during that shoot out, and Steve started losing it, Stan jumped in to help him. He also loved being Faith's partner but never got the chance, because when Steve was with her, he didn't need Stan.

But that day was different. It was terrifying even for him. When Faith ran out into the line of fire, he planned to lay down cover for her. When the gunman fell before he could fire, and he saw Ross...right there in his sight, it was too good to be true. Too perfect to pass up. He drew a bead on him and fired, hitting him directly in the head. But then he needed to lay low. He knew that Steve would never be looked at for the murder of an officer, so he left, and let Steve cover for him.

He looks over all the other objects in the box, each has it's own history of victory. Each one gives him strength. He drinks his coffee and contemplates what will happen next. He may need Steve to get through the investigation of Martin's murder, but then he decides that it is time for him to take charge. He really enjoys being a cop, and it really has made it much easier for him to do what he intended from the start...avenge the underdog.

Once the problem of Martin is cleared up, the only obstacle left to remove is Boscorelli.

The phone rings, startling him out of his thoughts. It rings again and he lets the answering machine pick up. After a series of clicks, the voice says. 'This is Steven Gusler...I'm not here right now...leave a message at the tone.' Stan chuckles at the irony of that statement.

"Steve this is Lieutenant Swersky."

Stan doubles over as though he were punched in the stomach, and his body convulses.

Steve suddenly notices the cup of coffee in his hand.

"I need you to come down to the house as soon as you get this message. As soon a possible."

He stares at the phone, as he recognizes the Lieutenant's voice, then his mouth drops open as he spots the Box sitting markedly on the coffee table. His brow furrows and his gaze turns to a stare of shock and horror. He looks quickly to the end table and back. How did the box move from there to here. What the hell is happening. He gets an eerie feeling that someone else was here.

He spills his coffee as he hops up from the couch, and quickly moves away from the box. He looks back and forth from the box to the phone in a panic. Which terror should he address first. He doesn't know why, but he needs to get that box hidden again. But his mind races through different scenarios of what the Lieutenant may want.

Everything he thinks of, points back to the same thing...Martin. Did someone report Martin for his behavior? Is the Lieutenant going to question Steve about it? How can he answer to that without getting a reprimand for not reporting it himself, or worse...a severe beating from Martin. Does it have something to do with the watch? He rushes to his bedroom to get dressed so he can report to the house. His hands shake as he dresses, and his breathing has become fast and labored. It is hitting the fan, and he knows what ever is coming, will be bad.

[He arrives at the precinct]

Steve walks in and heads up to Lieu's office. Halfway there he stops, seeing Faith and Bosco waiting outside the office. They are both in street clothes. They both glance up and give him a sympathetic look.

"What's going on?" he asks as he approaches them.

They share a glance and Bosco looks down to the floor. Faith stands up and puts her hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Steve. I have some bad news. There's been a...an accident. Maybe it's not my place to tell you...but...but Martin's dead." She looks at him with sad eyes, and waits for his reaction.

He takes a step back, and shifting his gaze to the floor, he reaches his left hand out and grabs the arm of the bench for support. Several thoughts seize him at once.

Faith takes his right arm. "Here...sit down." She sits with him on the bench. "Are you ok?"

"What did...how did...how was he killed? Was it a car accident?" he asks, looking to be on the verge of losing it.

"Do ya need some water or I can get you a coffee if ya want." Bosco offers, feeling awkward, yet wanting to be helpful.

"No...just...what happened?"

"I don't really know the details. They called me to come in. I think they want to question me." She says.

"Were you there? Did you find him?"

"No Steve." She gives Bosco a nervous look. "Steve...I heard...I don't know for sure...but I heard he was murdered. I think that's why I'm here, so they can question me about the fight we had yesterday. In the locker room."

He looks at her in shock. "Why? He threatened you, not the other way..." He glances at Bosco then back to her. "What do you want me to say? I'll tell them whatever..."

"No...don't worry about that. I did nothing wrong. I'm ok. I'm just gonna answer their questions."

The door to Lieu's office opens and Sully and Davis come walking out. They look around nervously. Sully speaks quietly. "Faith...they want to see you next. Don't worry...we set 'em straight about yesterday."

Davis pats Gusler on the shoulder and says, "Hey man...I'm sorry 'bout your partner."

Faith went in and explained her side of the altercation with Martin, which confirmed what Sully and Davis had already told him. Bosco went in after her, and explained further, about the night that Gusler had been taken to the hospital, and how Martin had been drinking on the job. And then Gusler went in, feeling confident now that Martin could no longer hurt him, and poured his guts out about Martin's behavior since he had returned to work.

After questioning all the officers, the detective on the case and the Lieutenant, come to the conclusion that Martin was a loaded gun waiting to go off. He must have pissed someone off, maybe in the bar. But he had only been back to work for a few days, and none of the officers really saw enough of him to have developed a hatred for him strong enough to want to kill him. Except maybe Gusler...and based on what Gusler had told them, he would have been the main suspect in the case, however they both agreed that Steve did not have the demeanor to be able to commit this crime. And his distraught reaction added to the assumption of his innocence.

[Later in the day-just after roll call]

Steve has been stationed back on the desk. The relief he feels from not having to ride with Martin overshadows the boredom of handing out ticket books, filing reports and processing suspects. For the first time all week, he finally feels relaxed about the job, yet it's in a disheartening kind of way. He feels like he is back where he belongs, but not really where he longs to be.

He has come to accept the fact that he just can't cut it as a police officer. His dreams of helping the little guy, were just idealistic and naïve. The few times he actually did get to work on the street, it was a roller coaster ride of terror. He wonders how he ever even got the nerve to go to the academy in the first place. But he got this far...and someone has to do this part of the job, it may as well be him.

The officers have started filing out past the desk after signing out their equipment. Steve tries to look busy as they meander by, talking and joking with each other. He sees Faith walk by, with Bosco following close behind spewing out some smart ass bullshit. He can tell because Faith is trying to ignore him. She rolls her eyes, with an annoyed turn of her head.

A sudden feeling of nausea grabs is stomach, and he almost doubles over. His hands shake for a moment then his expression changes to anger. He glares at Bosco. He has the sudden urge to throw the reports he is holding, hop the counter, and pull Bosco away from her. That pig, always making sorted comments around Faith. Never showing her any respect. He can't wait to see that look in Bosco's face when he beats Bosco down to size, and makes him realize that there is punishment for his behavior. That time will be soon. He will not put up with this for much longer.

When the shift ends, Gusler changes quickly before the other officers return, and heads out to his car. He parks near Bosco's blue Mustang and waits for him to leave for the night. He plans to follow him home and then he can come up with a plan on how to eliminate him.

Finally he spots Faith walk out with Bosco right behind her. They exchange goodnights. Faith turns and walks away down the street, and Bosco walks to his car and climbs in. As he pulls away, Gusler pulls out behind him and follows from a safe distance.

They drive for about fifteen minutes when Bosco pulls over in front of an all night deli. Gusler pulls over and parks a few car lengths away, and after grabbing a few items to take with him, he goes over to Bosco's car. Finding it unlocked, he climbs into the back seat, crouches down and waits for him to return.

*****