It Only Hurts When I Laugh
Chapter 4 – Positive Resolution?
"Mike, is this how you want your son to remember you?" Mark asked. They had all moved back into the dining area of Bob's. He, Jesse and Amanda had formed a protective shield around Steve. The look in Stan's eyes indicated further revenge for Jay's death and they were determined to prevent that.
"What do you mean?" Mike asked.
"I mean, do you want him to remember you as the man who killed four innocent people?" Mark explained calmly.
"Doc, like I said before, you seem like a real decent guy, but you really have no idea about the relationship between me and my son. You are living the American dream, you don't know about struggles and sadness," Mike replied.
"You're wrong, Mike, I worked two jobs to pay my way through medical school. For years I thought my father had abandoned me. It was only recently that I learned he had actually been murdered. I lost my soul mate, my wife Katherine to cancer, my daughter Carol was murdered and I very nearly lost my son a few years ago. I may not know your life and your struggles and sorrows but I most certainly know mine, and they are no less tragic than yours," Mark stated with a touch of anger in his voice. "We can all use our life experiences in a positive or a negative way, the choice to make the right decision resides within each individual."
Mike lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I stand corrected, Doc, I'm sorry."
~~****~~
"So, what are we going to do?" Cheryl asked.
"We'll pretend that we are honoring their requests. I'll have sharpshooters in position to take them out when they exit the building. Hopefully, we will get to talk with Lieutenant Sloan or his father again and give them a heads up," Simon explained.
"I don't like it, you know they are probably going to want to take Steve with them and that puts him directly in the line of fire," Cheryl stated.
"Detective Banks, with what I have heard about Lieutenant Sloan he would prefer that it be him rather than one of the others. I have also made plans for the SWAT team to move in the rear door as the robbers move out the front. That way we can prevent their re-entry back into the restaurant," Simon replied.
"So, you are drawing a line in the sand that you know they are going to cross. You are forcing a violent conclusion," was Cheryl's irritated response.
"Detective Banks, they have already shot one officer, from what we have been told Lieutenant Sloan is wounded as is Doctor Bentley. I think we crossed the line in the sand sometime ago," Simon responded.
Cheryl knew he was right, and she also knew their options were limited. It still didn't make her comfortable with the situation they were being forced into.
~~****~~
"Dad?"
Mark moved his chair closer to the one that held his slumping son. "Yes?"
"We don't have much longer, you have to get yourself, Jesse and Amanda out of here," Steve pleaded. "If I make a move on them, can you guys get to the kitchen and out the back door?"
Mark smiled sadly. "Steve, I won't leave you. Stan can't wait to get his hands on you and I'm not going to allow that to happen."
"Dad, you have to do it for Jesse and Amanda. Think of CJ and Dion," Steve responded.
"If I can get them out of here, I will, but I will be staying. I don't think Mike will hurt me," Mark replied.
"Dad, just because you have had a couple of conversations with him it doesn't mean you have reformed him. For someone who has lived as long as you have, and been involved in the cases that you have you are still a kid at heart and incredibly naïve," Steve explained. Steve took note of the hurt expression that crossed his father's face. "Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have you any other way. You keep me from becoming completely cynical, but you try to find something good in everyone and sometimes that's just not the case."
Mark carefully considered his son's words before responding. "If we stick together the chances are better of all of us getting out of here alive. I will talk with Mike and see if he will let Amanda leave, but I will not, under any circumstances, be leaving without you by my side."
"Mark's right, Steve, as a team we have always been unstoppable, I don't think we should break up a good thing now," Jesse added with a lopsided smile.
Steve took in the three faces that observed him. He saw affection and determination reflected there. He smiled at them and resigned himself to the fact that he was not going to be able to persuade them to leave. "You win, I give up," Steve responded.
~~****~~
Cheryl felt like she could hear each tick of her watch. Each second sounded like someone hitting a kettle drum. Each movement of the second hand brought them closer to a situation she felt was destined to end in tragedy. She longed to hear Steve's voice again, to hear his laughter, and that special way his eyes would shine when he smiled. He had to be ok; there were things they had both ignored. Things she intended to remedy as soon as he was out of there. "Steve, please be ok," she whispered as a lone tear slid down her face.
~~****~~
"Mike, do you have a minute?" Mark inquired.
"Sure Doc, what's up?" Mike asked.
"Doctor Bentley, has two young sons, she is a single parent, I would hate to see anything happen to her," Mark informed him.
"I would hate that too, Doc, I guess that means you better make sure your son's colleagues do as I ask, now doesn't it?" Mike responded.
Mark dropped his head. Steve had been right, he hadn't reached Mike. He had really thought he could get Amanda out of this mess, but he had been wrong. He looked at his watch. They only had twenty more minutes, and one way or another it would be over.
~~****~~
As Cheryl observed the sharpshooters take their positions she saw the SWAT team move towards the back of Bob's and everything… appeared to be moving in slow motion. TICK! Her watch seemed to scream. TICK! Everything was going to be alright. TICK! It had to be. TICK! The sound seemed to mock her.
~~****~~
"Stan, go take a look out the window and see if they've moved a car up yet," Mike ordered.
Stan broke the intense stare that had been directed at Steve since they had moved back into the dining area. He walked towards the door and stopped just to the left of the frame and cautiously peered through the glass. "I don't see nothing."
"I really hope they don't disappoint me," Mike informed his captive audience. "Ok, here's how it's going to work. The cop and the lady doctor will be accompanying us."
"No," was the chorused response to his plan.
Despite his weakness Steve won out over the other voices. "You don't need her, all you need is me."
"Steve, no," Mark cried.
"Dad, please, leave this to me," Steve replied.
"Mike, look, they wouldn't dare harm you if you have one of their own for protection," Steve explained.
Mark looked at him sharply. He knew that the truth was actually the exact opposite of what Steve said. They would try and protect Steve, but their main goal would be to protect civilians.
"Take me instead of Amanda," Jesse volunteered.
"The decision has been made, I would suggest you stop wasting your breath on trying to change my mind, and make sure Lieutenant Sloan is fit to walk," Mike replied.
Mark took a deep breath stood up and moved close to his son. "Steve, I want to check your bandages."
"Alright, Dad," Steve responded.
Before Mark could even ask he felt Jesse at his elbow. They proceeded to remove the bandage from Steve's arm and then his abdomen and clean and redress his wounds. Steve submitted to their ministrations with barely concealed pain and patience. He couldn't allow Amanda to leave with him. If they followed proper procedure there would be sharpshooters waiting to take out the two robbers. He also suspected that there would be some kind of attempted entry from the back of the restaurant. As they finished redressing his wounds Steve glanced to find Mike and Stan engrossed in what was going on outside the restaurant, he then motioned the other's closer.
"Listen, I'm pretty sure they will have sharpshooters ready out front, I also think they will send officers in through the rear of the building. When we start to walk through the door, I am going to try and shove Amanda back through, I want one of you to be there to lock us outside," Steve told the two shocked doctors.
"Steve….," Mark started.
"Dad," Steve interrupted. "This is about Amanda, we need to keep her safe, agreed?"
Mark knew he was right, he knew his son was doing what came naturally to him. It was his second nature to protect people and that's what made him such a good police officer.
"Alright, Son, but please don't forget to look after yourself as well, ok?" Mark replied with a heavy voice.
"Mike, they just pulled a car up," Stan relayed.
"It's time," Mike said.
Mark gazed intently in his son's eyes and the look they shared conveyed more than most people could exchange in a conversation. Their relationship was both so simple and so complicated that a single look spoke more than a thousand words. Their shared moment was interrupted when Steve was jerked from his chair by Stan. Steve winced in pain and tried to regain his balance as Stan propelled him towards the counter making sure his injured side impacted the edge. Steve gasped and felt his knees begin to buckle. He heard the angry reactions from his father, Jesse and Amanda. It took everything he had to pull himself back under control and right himself. He stiffened his shoulders, stood up straight, turned and looked Stan in the eyes. Though the man in front of him was badly wounded, and had his hands cuffed behind his back Stan still quelled from the look in those eyes. They seemed to bore into his soul and for a moment he felt like the captive instead of the captor. Those eyes seemed to promise retribution for his actions. He quickly looked away and hooked Steve under the arm and headed towards the door. Mike followed him with Amanda in tow. As they neared the door, Steve spared one last glance towards his father and Jesse. His father stood looking back, and he seemed to have aged twenty years in the last few minutes. Jesse's eyes glistened with tears, and then the angel-like smile that only Jesse was capable of spread across his face. Steve felt his face break into a responding smile that encompassed both Jesse and his father. He felt fresh air as the door was opened and then found himself stepping across the threshold.
