Chapter Two
Unknown Friends
December 18, 1992
Some where in the recesses of his mind Steve knew what he was doing to himself, that he was sinking into a depression like state, but he didn't care, all he could really think of was the pain of losing his father. It had been a little under a month and so far there was no sight, word of indication that Mark Sloan, resident doctor and well known man was still alive. Amanda had attempted just get past the pain, and Jack had helped her with that, as well as little Mandie, but he and Jesse only had each other, they didn't have anyone. Mark had been that someone to help them whenever they were down. Both were so deep in depression they didn't try and cheer the other one up.
Every moment Steve was off duty he would spend looking for his father, he had been every where he could think of, but no one had seen him or heard of him. Twice he had been asked to come to a murder scene, to identify someone, neither had been his father, thank god. Steve was jogging down the beach remembering how he had been on his way into Captain Newman's office to ask for some down time when he had met him at the door to strongly suggest the same thing. In fact, his exact words had been,
"I don't want to see your face around here again until Monday morning." Steve supposed he should be glad, since today was only Thursday and he hadn't had any vacation time in months. He had been putting in some long hours, partly because of his caseload and partly because of the disappearance of his father, and even he knew that if he didn't slow down it would cause burnout and the last thing Steve needed was that to deal with. His crystal eyes darkened to a somber troubled blue to match his thoughts. There had been no living with him lately; he knew that. The minute his father disappeared he had become something of a jerk, irritable and desperate to find him, it was unlike Steve, but at the same time he supposed a lot of it had to do with the fact that the person most important in his life wasn't there right now and was probably never coming back no matter how long he searched for him
He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and began to run a little faster, hoping to burn some of his energy to the point he would collapse and fall asleep in his bed. His father had always said that Steve didn't know how to relax, he only knew how to run himself ragged and then sleep. Steve knew his father was right, no matter how often he tried to deny it, and now that his father was gone that thought seemed to grate even more on his nerves, the thought that he may never see his dad again really hurt, but what hurt twice as much was that there was nothing he could do about it. As far as anyone knew nothing in the line of foul play had occurred, Mark had just disappeared, Steve had tried to begin an investigation, but there was no evidence leading to anything, they didn't know where to start.
Steve wasn't paying attention so when he felt something hit him hard and cause him to nearly lose his balance he was surprised out of his thoughts. Looking down at the person lying on his back he hurried over to her.
The woman's eyes were wide open but fixed in a glassy stare, her mouth emitting small wheezing noises.
"Oh, my God, are you all right? I am so sorry! I didn't see you! Are you hurt? Can you talk?" Steve's words tumbled over one another in his distress over injuring this woman. He cast about in his mind, frantically trying to remember things his father had taught him about first aid. From what he could remember, as long as the accident victim was alive and breathing, he should just leave her alone.
He gently stroked the soft sandy blond hair and talked to her quietly as she continued to take deep breaths.
She closed her eyes while her mouth gasped uselessly, unable to draw in any air. For several long, agonizing seconds, there was no sound at all except Steve's heart thundering in his chest blood pumping loudly through his ears.
"Oh, please, are you all right? Can you move? Can you talk? Oh, God, I am so sorry!" She suddenly gave a short gasp, and then another, and finally her eyes opened again. The glassy look was gone, and awareness was beginning to flicker again as she kept drawing in small gulps of air. Steve suddenly stared in fascination at the extraordinary color of her eyes.
'What the hell color are they? Blue? green? Sea green?' He snapped back to the present when she spoke to him.
"Help...me...up...," she panted with difficulty.
"No-no, you need to lie still. You-you-you could be badly hurt." "Wind...knocked...out," she wheezed painfully. "Like falling...off...horse." Her breaths grew fuller and steadier as time passed. Steve continued to kneel by her side, encouraged by the fact she could talk, but he still feared he had caused a major injury. The woman started to gather herself to her hands and knees on her own before Steve went ahead and helped her to her feet. She swayed dizzily before resting her forehead against his chest. He held her arms tightly to keep her from falling. She steadied herself for a moment before mumbling something that was muffled by his coat.
"What did you say?" he asked in concern, "Are you ok? Do you need to lie down?" He felt her shake her head against him and he just held on, comforted that at least she seemed to be moving all right and could talk to him.
In a few moments, when her breathing was more regular and less strained, she pushed away from him and shook her head a few times, "I said you're one hell of a runner," she said. He chuckled lightly and looked at her, her body was trim and tanned. She had an athlete's body, and she was beautiful, of everything thought it was her eyes that captivated him the most.
"Do you want to sit down? Do you hurt anywhere? Do you need a paramedic?" Steve's questions ran over one another. She pushed away from him, shaking her head to clear away the last of the cobwebs.
"No, yes, and no." She let go with one hand and made a move to pull away. Steve kept hold of her arm with his right hand and circled his left arm around her waist. She nodded a thanks as he helped her over to a nearby log, he could tell she was limping, she could tell he felt like an idiot.
"I'm really sorry," he whispered as he helped her get the left shoe off. He looked at the ankle and winced.
"I wasn't paying attention," he said again, finally she held up a hand and smiled softly.
"Don't worry, people run along beaches and get hurt sometimes, I think my ankle is sprained," she said as she rubbed it.
"I'll call an ambulance."
"No, I've been injured before, it's nothing more than usual," she said.
"Look you have two choices here, I'll call for an ambulance or let me take you to the hospital myself, you obviously hurt yourself and I'm not exactly a good pad to run into. It would make me feel better, please," he said. She looked at him, seeing she wouldn't win this fight she nodded solemnly.
"Fine, would you help me up?" She said. He nodded and slowly helped her to her feet.
"I can carry you," he said.
"No, I can walk," she said.
"Doesn't look like it," he replied. She glared at him somewhat annoyed.
"All right, just as long as you don't decide to hurt me," she said.
"I've already done that, and don't worry I wouldn't hurt you," he said getting ready to lift her into his arms.
"You're right, I'd call the cops on you," she answered.
"No use in doing that, I am a cop," he said as he carried her back towards his beach house that he usually shared with his father. He got her in the truck with ease and noticed a few more things about her, she was in a lose tank top and shorts, he sighed and hurried into his house, bringing out an extra pair of jeans his sister usually wore, she had left them last time she visited.
"What's that for?"
"Well, I thought they might be a little more comfortable for you," he said handing them to her and shifting his truck into gear and headed towards Community General. They rode in silence for several minutes when the woman finally spoke up.
"My name is Jennifer Katherine O'Connell, I figure we each have a right to know since we're on such wonderful terms." He smirked slightly.
"Steve Sloan," he said.
"Steven or Stevie?"
"Nope just Steve, what do I call you?" He asked.
"Most people call me Jenny or Jen, my daddy calls me Jenny Kate and everyone at work either calls me O'Connell or JK for kicks, except my friends they call me Jen," she said.
"You've got friends," he said. She looked at him, she could tell they hadn't made a very good first impressions upon one another.
"Sorry, that was wrong," he whispered.
"Don't worry about it, look I'm sorry," she whispered. He shrugged it off.
"So, where do you work?" He asked her.
"Community General, I'm an ER nurse there," she said, "is that where we're headed?" she inquired.
"Yep, I've gotten to know that place all too well in the past forty years," he said. She paused and looked at him.
"You're not THE Steve Sloan…are you?"
"What exactly do you mean by that?" He asked.
"There's this patient then when he comes in he gives all people a hard time, he hates needles drives some nurses up a wall, but everyone seems to love him because of his personality," she said.
"I hate hospitals. Yes, I'm THE Steve Sloan, and for the record most of those nurses have been saying those same words since I was a day old so they are remembering me when I used to run around the hospital just to get attention. I haven't done that for years." He said softly.
"Dr. Travis talks about you fondly, like a big brother almost, and Dr. Sloan, he's your dad isn't he?" Steve sighed and nodded.
"Yeah, but we haven't seen him for a month," Steve whispered.
"I should have known, you look just like him," she said staring at him.
"Thanks," Steve whispered. She could tell she had hit a sore spot, sighing she was quiet for the rest of the ride. She went to get out only to have Steve lift her into his arms again.
"If you're anything like me, you hate wheelchairs, so let's go find Jess and get you in there," he said. She nodded and watched as he carried her through the doors. Jesse and Amanda were standing at the nurses station when Steve carried her in.
"Steve! Jenny? What are you doing here?" Amanda asked as she grabbed a wheelchair and helped Steve lower her into it.
"I ran into Steve and he knocked the wind out of me, anyway I think I twisted my ankle, it's no big deal," Amanda looked at Steve and touched his hand.
"Thanks Steve, we'll take care of her," she said. Steve nodded and watched Amanda wheel her into Exam room 1.
Steve stalked around the waiting room impatiently, wanting to know how his newly acquired friend was, when suddenly he saw Jack walking out with her, "and last but not least, I don't want to see you anywhere near here until Tuesday." He said smiling at her.
"Hi Steve," Jack said as he helped Jenny, who was now on crutches, towards him.
"Hey Jack, so how much damage did I do to your nurse?" Jack smiled softly.
"She'll be fine with a little rest, she's still stubborn which means she's not hurting to badly. Take care of yourself all right Jen," he said looking at her.
"Always Jack," she said smiling.
"Good girl, how are you Steve?" Jack asked looking at his friend.
"I'm fine," he whispered.
"Yeah, I don't believe you but okay," he said.
"Thanks Jack," Jack nodded and patted Jenny on the back and left.
"So, you're going to live?" He asked.
"Looks like it," she said smiling.
"I feel really bad, and I wish there was something I could do to make it up to you," he said.
"Look just take me home and we'll call it even okay," she said. He nodded and slowly they got into the truck. However something inside Steve was dying to get to know this woman better, she wasn't like Amanda or his sister, she was different. He looked over to say something and they laughed as they both met eyes to say something.
"I'm sorry, you go first," he said. She smiled softly.
"I know how you can repay me," she whispered, "would you be my friend? I don't have many, other than Jesse, Jack, Amanda and maybe one other person, I don't have a lot of people. The nurses don't really like me because I came in and immediately asked by Jesse to help him with his cases…my family lives in Cleveland, Ohio and…sometimes I feel alone, just alone and I would really like a friend," she said blushing. He smiled and reached out to touch her hand.
"I was just thinking about how much I would love to be your friend," he said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, listen I haven't eaten today, and you probably haven't either, so what do you say to a little Bar-B-Q?" He asked. She smiled.
"Sounds great, but will it be open?"
"Are you kidding, I own the place, doesn't close unless I say its okay," Steve said smiling.
"Um, while that sounds lovely, I'd really like a nice hot shower, when was the last time you had a good old fashioned home cooked meal?" she asked him. He smiled slightly.
"Long time ago, dad and I weren't very great cooks, periodically we would cook something good, but I don't know, not lately," he said.
"Well then I'd be happy to cook something good," she said.
Jesse was standing by a nearby nurses station working on a patient's chart when a young woman, in her early to mid twenties. She had long blond hair and deep brown eyes. He looked at her.
"May I help you?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm Allison McDaniels, I'm the new nurse here," she said quietly. He smiled and nodded.
"Welcome, I'm Jesse Travis," he said calmly. She nodded and he quickly took her off to the doctor's lounge. Jesse and Allison entered the lounge, where Amanda, Jack and a few other doctors were lurking.
"Amanda, Jack, this is our new nurse, Allison McDaniels," he said smiling. She nodded at them.
"Hi Allison, I'm Amanda Bentley and this is Jack Stewart, why don't you let me show you around?" She asked. The younger nurse nodded and smiled as Amanda led her off on a tour of the hospital.
"She pretty," Jack said behind Jesse, who was staring at the young woman.
"Hey, back off you've got Amanda," Jesse said. Jack looked at him, and for the first time in a month since Jack had arrived they laughed, hard. Jack stuck his hand out and instantly Jesse took it, each calling a silent but well spoken truce.
Jennifer smiled as she watched Steve get into his truck, she didn't understand why she felt like she had just been on a date with him. After a nice quiet dinner she had been surprised at how charming, nice, and friendly he had been with her, not like what some of the nurses said. They had discussed memories for hours, talking about his father, and her family, she had learned more about him in the past three hours than many of his friends had learned in three years. She had to admit he was very handsome, and there was something about him she liked.
"Thanks for the ride," she whispered looking at him, his deep blue eyes almost seemed to be begging for her not to leave. Begging her not to go and leave him all alone again.
"No problem, I have the day off tomorrow, so I'm going to be gone," he said calmly, but she could tell he seemed to be begging for her to almost come with him.
"Where are you going?" He answered almost immediately.
"Looking," he said. Jennifer had to stop and silently will herself to calm down.
"For your father?" She inquired.
"Yes," he answered.
"Would you like company?" He looked at her, 'down boy' he whispered through his mind. There was no possible way she thought of him like that, then again he wouldn't have bet he'd have fallen in love with a woman the day he met her. Was he falling in love?
"I'd love some, if you don't mind going," he whispered.
"I wouldn't mind," she responded.
"I'll pick you up at eight?" She nodded and gently closed the door. He watched her walk towards her door, smiling at the way her body seemed so perfect.
Steve walked into his apartment and for the first time since the disappearance of his father he didn't feel sad, or down. He felt elated, excited and happy. He didn't feel alone, he felt full, like something had been touched by Jennifer.
"I must be going insane," he whispered as he changed quickly and headed upstairs. He sighed and looked at the Christmas tree sitting in the living room, it was decorated and looking beautiful. Jack and Mandie had offered to help him with the chore, at the time he had found it pointless, not feeling much like celebrating anything, let alone Christmas.
Mandie had started calling him Uncle Steve, and was just starting to like Jesse, Amanda was mommy, which Steve found incredibly ironic.
"Uncle Steve," the two year old called as she toddled over to him. He lifted her up and smiled as sixteen year old Alexandra Parker walked into the living room as well. Jack had hired the girl almost instantly as a babysitter.
"Hey there beautiful, Hi Alex," Steve said. He liked the teenager that brought home the toddler from daycare everyday.
"Hi Steve, I'll head home now that you're home, tell Jack that I'm on vacation all next week and free most of the time if he needs me," she said. Steve nodded and pulled up some money from his pocket.
"Thanks Alex," he said. The girl nodded and left. Steve sighed and looked at the tree again as he held the two year old toddler in his arms.
"Chrismas," the baby said. Steve smiled and kissed her head.
"Yep, a start of a new year, and many other things," Steve admitted.
"Uncle Steve sad," the girl whispered touching his cheek with a small finger. Steve smiled at the young innocence.
"Yeah, I guess he is sweetheart," he said calmly as he walked over and sat her down on the couch.
"Daddy get sad too?" She asked. Steve chuckled and kissed the girl's head.
"No, Daddy is fine baby."
"Daddy is home," Jack's voice called as if right on cue. Steve smiled as the small toddler managed to get herself off the couch and hurl her small body into his strong arms.
"Hey, how's my baby girl," he said. Steve smiled and pulled out a beer for Jack as well as himself.
"Hey Jack," Steve said lightly. Jack smiled, accepting the beer.
"Hi Steve," he said.
"What's happening at the hospital?"
"A new nurse came today right after you left with Jen, I think Jess has the hot's for her," Jack said chuckling.
"Wouldn't surprise me," Steve said, Jack smiled.
"You hungry?" Steve asked, Jack nodded.
Jennifer sighed early the next morning as she looked at herself in the mirror, she wanted to be perfect for Steve, she didn't know why, but something inside of her said be there for him. She would be there for him any time he needed her. She could tell he was hurting, and she just wanted to help him, she prayed he knew that. A knock on the door jerked her from her thoughts, looking up she realized Steve must be here, quickly she walked towards the door and pulled it open. Steve was dressed in a tight pair of blue jeans, and a nice dark blue polo shirt, which brought out his eyes twice as much as any other color.
Steve looked at Jennifer and smiled, she was dressed in a comfortable pair of boot legged jeans, comfortable looking shoes, and a flannel green shirt, bringing out her eyes as well.
"Hi," he finally managed, she smiled and blushed lightly.
"Hi, um, I guess I'm ready," she whispered.
"Great, uh let's go," she locked her door behind her and they got into his truck. Steve sighed as they drove slowly down the road, she looked at him, he seemed tense, almost worried, and she wondered if and when he would give up and maybe accept his father was gone.
"Steve," she began.
"I can't," he whispered.
"Can't what?"
"I can't believe he's dead Jen," he looked at her, seeing his eyes so blue made her want to cry for him. He seemed to be in so much pain, and she just wanted to stop it for him.
"Steve, I'm not asking you to believe he's dead, but more just accept he's gone. I'm not saying you won't ever see him again, because you probably will, something inside of me is sure you will, but something else inside of me is saying it won't be for awhile. You can't spend the next twenty or thirty years of your life searching for your father. I'm not trying to be critical, or even mean, I'm trying to help you. Believe me Steve, I want to help you, I want the chance to be here for you. I just met you, but I can't explain my feelings. You're different, I feel that if I'm here for you now, we can both be there for each other later. I will help you search for him, but not for the rest of your life," she said calmly. He looked at her. He slowly pulled the car over and looked into her green eyes.
"If I quit looking than I'm giving up on him," Steve said.
"No, you're doing what he would want, you're moving on. I'm not asking you to give up now, I'm asking you to not spend your entire life for the next twenty years looking," she said. He looked at her and touched her cheek.
"Will you really help me?" He asked. She touched the hand on her cheek.
"I know this sounds weird, but I would go to the ends of the earth if you asked me to. I want to be here Steve," she said. He leaned across her seat, and gently his lips met her's. It was a slow kiss, which quickly built up passion.
Suddenly she pulled away and looked into his eyes, shaking her head she faced the window.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. He looked at her and touched her shoulder.
"You've lost someone haven't you?" He asked.
"I had a boyfriend, a fireman, he was killed. I can't lose someone else, I just can't," she whispered. Steve looked at this woman, she wasn't weak in any way or form, she seemed to be so strong, such a survivor.
"If you promise to let go of your boyfriend, I will slowly let go of my father, not forever but I will accept he's probably gone," he whispered. She nodded.
"Thank you," he whispered looking at her.
"Anything," she said softly.
Steve sat at his desk at the precinct, when Jenny came up to him, a smiled wide on her young face she held out two beautifully wrapped boxes. She was wearing a red sweatshirt with little trees and ornaments knitted into it. He looked at her as she handed it to him.
"What's this?" He asked.
"You're Christmas present, I'm on my way to Ohio to see my mom and daddy, but I just wanted to give you your Christmas present now. You can't open it till Christmas morning though. Steve smiled slightly as he looked at the two brightly wrapped gifts. He reached down and opened the bottom left hand drawer in his desk and pulled out his own two small wrapped gifts.
"I couldn't resist, same goes for you, no opening until Christmas," he said smiling at her. She looked at him and smiled.
"Bye Steve, have a great Christmas," she said. Steve chuckled lightly.
"I'm going to be alone, but I'll do my best," he said.
"Merry Christmas Sloan," she said walking towards the door.
"Merry Christmas, Jen," she nodded and waved. He looked down at the gifts she had handed him and shook his head with a smile.
Jack sat with Amanda, CJ, Mandie, and Dion in Amanda's living room on Christmas morning, Mandie sitting between Dion and CJ as they helped her open presents. Jack sat next to Amanda on the couch, a camera in hand and a smile planted upon their faces. Amanda smiled gently as Dion showed Mandie how to use the squirt gun she had received from Steve. She slipped her hand into Jack's and smiled as he gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders, it was as though two lovers were slowly falling back in love.
Steve was sitting in his living room looking at the two gifts, he could open them, but he didn't know if he wanted to, it would mean he was missing the one person he wanted here second most, Jennifer. Suddenly a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts of Jenny and his father. Getting up he opened the door to see a very wet, but happy Jennifer standing in the door way with a basket of wine and food.
"Aren't you supposed to be on a plane to Ohio?" He asked as she walked in and handed him the basket and taking her coat off.
"Well, yes, but I've seen my family every year since I was a kid, and it's time for me to be myself, besides this is the season of miracles and I can't leave you all alone, now why don't we go open up those presents?" She said. He smiled and nodded.
Jesse rushed the man into the ER, two nurses and EMTs by their sides, he yelled out commands quickly. He worked hard on the man, never wondering or stopping to think that today was Christmas, when suddenly a hand fell on top of his. Looking up he met Allison's bright, glittering eyes.
"Merry Christmas Jesse," she said. He smiled slightly and looked down at the man who was barely alive.
"Merry Christmas Allie," he responded, and everything faded as the whirring, beeping, bleeping and chirping of various machines dulled. Outside the light rain turned into a light snow. Each person happy to a certain extent.
Allie351-Thanks for the review, I'm glad you like it, as well as the last one, I love to write and don't worry the ending is a long way off, you'll be so tide up in each chapter you won't remember Mark's being gone, well okay you'll remember but you won't have much time to think about it.
Sandra-Thanks for the review, I'm glad you're enjoying it, please stay tuned for more
Dante-Thank you for all the wonderful comments, I enjoy writing and believe it or not I like Jesse more as well, but I wanted all of them to be here, and I think you'll like Jack more when this is all over, at least I do.
A/N: If you'd like to read more of my stories feel free to visit my website www.geocities.com/ActingOutLife05 and please if you get the chance sign the guest book so I can email you and thank you!