Chapter Six
Steve entered the precinct just before seven the next morning. He couldn't decide if he was relieved or more apprehensive about the guys he worked with finding out about his phobia of heights. He didn't have to wait long. There on his desk he found a safety rope and a net with a note attached on its uses. Steve looked around and saw the faces of his friends and realized for the first time that he wasn't being laughed at but that they were laughing with him. "Cute guys. Real cute." All during the day small jokes were cracked at his expense but nothing malicious. Before the end of the day he knew about at least ten different phobias that his colleagues were suffering from and he had never even known. After some serious discussions and lighthearted bantering Steve realized that he had been very foolish not acknowledging his problem in the first place. He left at the end of the day feeling much better than he had in months.
When he got to the house Jesse and Amanda were already there helping prepare supper. He walked in smiling and looking very relaxed which didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"What's up with you?" Jesse asked.
"What makes you think anything is up with me." Steve smiled pleasantly at his friend.
"Well that goofy grin on your face for starters. You look like you just won a date with one of the Baywatch Babes." As Amanda walked by she smacked Jesse up side the head for his latest comment.
Looking towards Amanda Jesse addressed his next line to her. "You know you keep doing that and I'm going to get the feeling you don't love me anymore."
"It's because I love you that I do that. You need to watch what you say." Amanda breezed past him again heading to the kitchen.
Looking back at Steve confusion all over his face he asked, "What did I say?"
"Jesse is right though son. You do seem to be a little more cheerful than I expected." Mark walked in and looked at his son smiling.
"Oh. And how is that?" Steve asked his father.
"Well you usually come in growling after you have had to ride your desk all day. So you want to tell me what all that smiling is about big guy?" Jesse looked at Steve puzzled at his extremely happy mood.
"I am sure I don't know what you are talking about. I got a lot of work done today. I had a chance to visit with some of the guys at the station and as a whole I had a rather nice day. Something wrong with that?" Steve all but beamed at Jesse.
"Well I guess after the last two days I just never thought that you would be in such a jovial mood with your little problem and all. I mean I don't think that it's a problem. I know you did and I just figured that you would have had a hard time today. Not that I thought you had anything to worry about. But you know you did seem pretty low and all and I just thought….Well anyway, I'm glad you took my advice and snapped out of it. You can't go around moping about these things and all." By this time Jesse was pretty much up to his neck in mud and Steve was enjoying watching him role around in it. Luckily for Jesse, Amanda flew into the room and rescued him. Giving Steve a peck on the cheek she looked at him and smiled saying. "I told you that it would be ok. But I have to admit that I didn't think you would be in such a good mood myself."
"Why is that so hard to believe. I had a very productive day and I managed to get most of my solved cases signed off and filed away . I don't understand your attitudes about my coming home in a good mood." Steve looked at his father and two friends questioningly.
"Well Son you tend to get a little moody when you get stuck behind your desk for any length of time. And I know you were worried about the others ribbing you when they found out about the phobia you have. I kind of have to go along with them. You really do seem to be in a good mood for someone who was all but biting our heads off for the last two days." Mark gave Steve a puzzled look wondering if he were hiding something.
"I'm fine dad. I know that look. It's just that yes everyone found out about the height thing and yes I got teased about it. But they were actually very decent about it. Seems that I'm not the only one with fears. Several of them have problems with different things and to tell you the truth mine looks pretty good compared to some of theirs." Steve informed them.
"Well I'm glad things turned out better than you thought they would. Did anything get worked out about how you all are going to go after this Lenny character yet?" Asked Jesse.
"No not yet, but we still have a little time. He usually waits about a month before he strikes another store. I think Newman is working with a couple of the task force guys on this. I'll probably be told something in a day or two. Anyway thanks to my Dad here I have been told that I will be getting well acquainted with my desk for the next two weeks. Those orders came down today. I just want to thank you so much for the personal touch dad. It means so much to know I can always count on you to see to it that my superiors are always informed of my abilities. " Steve gave his father a rather sarcastic smile and a look that clearly read 'I'm a big boy now.'
Mark just smugly returned with, "I only want what's best for you son. Now how about we go sit down and eat. I'm sure that you have managed to work up a tremendous appetite pushing all of those papers around and having to put all of those files away."
Everyone sat around the table enjoying small talk and each other's company. Mark had been thoughtful enough to fix a meal that didn't require the use of both hands so Steve was able to manage without having to receive any help from his family. The whole evening passed pleasantly and without any incident. Little did anyone know that Steve was about to come face to face with another hurdle.
Steve entered the precinct just before seven the next morning. He couldn't decide if he was relieved or more apprehensive about the guys he worked with finding out about his phobia of heights. He didn't have to wait long. There on his desk he found a safety rope and a net with a note attached on its uses. Steve looked around and saw the faces of his friends and realized for the first time that he wasn't being laughed at but that they were laughing with him. "Cute guys. Real cute." All during the day small jokes were cracked at his expense but nothing malicious. Before the end of the day he knew about at least ten different phobias that his colleagues were suffering from and he had never even known. After some serious discussions and lighthearted bantering Steve realized that he had been very foolish not acknowledging his problem in the first place. He left at the end of the day feeling much better than he had in months.
When he got to the house Jesse and Amanda were already there helping prepare supper. He walked in smiling and looking very relaxed which didn't go unnoticed by the others.
"What's up with you?" Jesse asked.
"What makes you think anything is up with me." Steve smiled pleasantly at his friend.
"Well that goofy grin on your face for starters. You look like you just won a date with one of the Baywatch Babes." As Amanda walked by she smacked Jesse up side the head for his latest comment.
Looking towards Amanda Jesse addressed his next line to her. "You know you keep doing that and I'm going to get the feeling you don't love me anymore."
"It's because I love you that I do that. You need to watch what you say." Amanda breezed past him again heading to the kitchen.
Looking back at Steve confusion all over his face he asked, "What did I say?"
"Jesse is right though son. You do seem to be a little more cheerful than I expected." Mark walked in and looked at his son smiling.
"Oh. And how is that?" Steve asked his father.
"Well you usually come in growling after you have had to ride your desk all day. So you want to tell me what all that smiling is about big guy?" Jesse looked at Steve puzzled at his extremely happy mood.
"I am sure I don't know what you are talking about. I got a lot of work done today. I had a chance to visit with some of the guys at the station and as a whole I had a rather nice day. Something wrong with that?" Steve all but beamed at Jesse.
"Well I guess after the last two days I just never thought that you would be in such a jovial mood with your little problem and all. I mean I don't think that it's a problem. I know you did and I just figured that you would have had a hard time today. Not that I thought you had anything to worry about. But you know you did seem pretty low and all and I just thought….Well anyway, I'm glad you took my advice and snapped out of it. You can't go around moping about these things and all." By this time Jesse was pretty much up to his neck in mud and Steve was enjoying watching him role around in it. Luckily for Jesse, Amanda flew into the room and rescued him. Giving Steve a peck on the cheek she looked at him and smiled saying. "I told you that it would be ok. But I have to admit that I didn't think you would be in such a good mood myself."
"Why is that so hard to believe. I had a very productive day and I managed to get most of my solved cases signed off and filed away . I don't understand your attitudes about my coming home in a good mood." Steve looked at his father and two friends questioningly.
"Well Son you tend to get a little moody when you get stuck behind your desk for any length of time. And I know you were worried about the others ribbing you when they found out about the phobia you have. I kind of have to go along with them. You really do seem to be in a good mood for someone who was all but biting our heads off for the last two days." Mark gave Steve a puzzled look wondering if he were hiding something.
"I'm fine dad. I know that look. It's just that yes everyone found out about the height thing and yes I got teased about it. But they were actually very decent about it. Seems that I'm not the only one with fears. Several of them have problems with different things and to tell you the truth mine looks pretty good compared to some of theirs." Steve informed them.
"Well I'm glad things turned out better than you thought they would. Did anything get worked out about how you all are going to go after this Lenny character yet?" Asked Jesse.
"No not yet, but we still have a little time. He usually waits about a month before he strikes another store. I think Newman is working with a couple of the task force guys on this. I'll probably be told something in a day or two. Anyway thanks to my Dad here I have been told that I will be getting well acquainted with my desk for the next two weeks. Those orders came down today. I just want to thank you so much for the personal touch dad. It means so much to know I can always count on you to see to it that my superiors are always informed of my abilities. " Steve gave his father a rather sarcastic smile and a look that clearly read 'I'm a big boy now.'
Mark just smugly returned with, "I only want what's best for you son. Now how about we go sit down and eat. I'm sure that you have managed to work up a tremendous appetite pushing all of those papers around and having to put all of those files away."
Everyone sat around the table enjoying small talk and each other's company. Mark had been thoughtful enough to fix a meal that didn't require the use of both hands so Steve was able to manage without having to receive any help from his family. The whole evening passed pleasantly and without any incident. Little did anyone know that Steve was about to come face to face with another hurdle.