Chapter Eight
Steve took the back way out of the precinct and quickly made his way to his car that the police department made available to him while doing police business. He decided too borrow it tonight in hopes of escaping the reporters that were camped out at his truck. He quickly got in and started for home.
He pretty much made it to the Beach House with out any further problems but once he turned into the driveway he was once again attacked by the press all wanting to know what he was going to do about the Rooftop Bandit. For crying out loud, they were giving this idiot a name now. Steve got out of the car and fought his way through the crowd of reporters and photographers. He refrained from answering any questions and concentrated on the front door. This was definitely getting way out of hand. His father was anxiously waiting for him at the door and held it open for him as he slipped inside. Mark shut and locked the door behind them and ushered Steve up into the living room. He guided his son down onto the couch and watched him for a second trying to gage his reactions to the latest crisis.
Steve didn't say anything at first but when he did it broke Mark's heart. "Why are they doing this to me Dad? I don't understand." Steve looked up at his Dad and Mark saw pain. The kind of pain that only hurts your soul.
"I don't know son. They remind me of sharks circling their prey. Once their victim shows any sign of a struggle they move in for the kill. It'll be ok. I know you don't believe that right now but it will pass and they'll go feed on someone else."
Steve knew his Dad was right but it still didn't make it any easier to swallow. He had to get this guy and soon. Before Mark and Steve had anytime to discuss the riot outside any further they heard Jesse at the door begging to be let in. When Mark opened the door he quickly grabbed Jesse and pulled him in and shut the door. Someone started pounding and shouting at the door before he could latch it. He once again opened the door and there stood Amanda looking quite upset. He once again reached out and pulled in another one of his kids through the door.
"What is going on out there? Did you win the lottery or something?" Amanda asked with a very shaky voice while she straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair back.
"It's my fault." The voice was soft and the pain was evident in the statement.
Every one turned and looked at the figure that sat slumped on the sofa.
"It is not your fault Steve and I will not let you sit there and blame yourself for any of this." Mark refused to let his son wallow around in self-pity. He looked at Jesse and Amanda and explained about the news leaking out about one of the police officers being afraid of heights and allowing the thief to escape over the roofs.
"It is my fault. If I didn't balk every time I got two feet off the ground none of this would be happening. Edwards would be behind bars instead of laughing his head off at me, and the front of our house wouldn't look like a summer camp for reporters out there." Steve was almost shouting at this point.
"How did they find out it was you?" Jesse asked.
"I have no idea. But I know it didn't come from my precinct. Those guys are just as upset as I am." Steve continued to sit and study the carpet between his feet.
"I don't see why a phobia from a police officer should be front page news." Amanda declared hotly.
"It's news if an officer fails to make an arrest because he has a fear of heights. I feel like a piece of meat waiting to be skewered so that I can be barbecued." Steve added dejectedly.
Mark sat down on the coffee table in front of Steve. "Look at me son." Steve continued to study the carpet unable to look at anyone at the moment.
"I said look at me." Mark reached up and gently moved his son's face until he was looking at his dad in the eye. "None of this is your fault. If anything it's the publics fault. We the public thrive on this kind of journalism. We feed on it. They are only giving us what we continuously ask for every day. Somebody has to be the focus of our sick pleasures and right now that's you. But like I said earlier it will all blow over because somewhere out there somebody is going to prove to be even more interesting and more pathetic than you are right now."
"Well gee, Dad. Thanks. I know that I can always count on you to make me feel better when things get tough." Steve saw the smile in his father's eyes and new that he was trying to show his son just how ridiculous the press could be in their pursuit of the most sought after story.
Mark smiled at his son and said, "Well that's what we Dads are here for. Now come on you guys let's get supper ready and eat. I'm starving aren't you."
Steve could only groan at the prospects of what his dad was going to present to them for supper. He had left the plate that Maggie had fixed up for him at the station in his haste to get out of there and get home away from the onslaught of reporters and photographers. Now it looked like he had no other choice but to eat whatever concoction his little family whipped up.
It had been a warm night but the four had decided to eat inside instead of the deck since the reporters were likely to be everywhere. Much to Steve's relief he had been able to tolerate most of the meal and he needed the company of the other three to help keep his mind off of the nightmare that was trying it's best to suck him in.
By the time Amanda and Jesse got ready to go home the crowd of reporters had disappeared thanks to the efforts of the patrolman assigned to keep an eye on the beach house. After the two younger doctors had left, Steve went about the house checking the doors and windows to be sure that every thing was locked up tight for the night. Mark watched his son as he methodically reached out to all the windows making sure that nothing was left unchecked. It worried him that Steve seemed so uneasy about the house being secure. He went to question him but Steve saw him coming and explained quickly.
"I just don't want to wake up and have some reporter sticking a microphone in my face when I get up in the morning. Don't worry Dad I'm fine. I am tired so I think I'll just go to bed." Steve turned and headed for the stairs that led to his apartment.
Once Steve disappeared Mark sat down at the table and picked up the file that his son had brought home. He waded through the report thoroughly and then started over it again. Something was bothering him but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was getting late and Mark knew that if he were going to help his son then he would have to get some rest. He would be no good to anyone if he let himself get run down. He felt certain that tomorrow was going to prove to be a difficult day at best.
A/N: I just want to thank everyone who is so faithful to review. They mean a lot to me and I am so glad that so far I haven't disappointed. I want to thank my good friend who inspires me with her wonderful story ideas and her emails that encourage me. I have made some good friends since starting to do this and I cherish each and every one of you. My hats off to all who write fanfiction. It brings joy to all of us. So Thanks again.
Steve took the back way out of the precinct and quickly made his way to his car that the police department made available to him while doing police business. He decided too borrow it tonight in hopes of escaping the reporters that were camped out at his truck. He quickly got in and started for home.
He pretty much made it to the Beach House with out any further problems but once he turned into the driveway he was once again attacked by the press all wanting to know what he was going to do about the Rooftop Bandit. For crying out loud, they were giving this idiot a name now. Steve got out of the car and fought his way through the crowd of reporters and photographers. He refrained from answering any questions and concentrated on the front door. This was definitely getting way out of hand. His father was anxiously waiting for him at the door and held it open for him as he slipped inside. Mark shut and locked the door behind them and ushered Steve up into the living room. He guided his son down onto the couch and watched him for a second trying to gage his reactions to the latest crisis.
Steve didn't say anything at first but when he did it broke Mark's heart. "Why are they doing this to me Dad? I don't understand." Steve looked up at his Dad and Mark saw pain. The kind of pain that only hurts your soul.
"I don't know son. They remind me of sharks circling their prey. Once their victim shows any sign of a struggle they move in for the kill. It'll be ok. I know you don't believe that right now but it will pass and they'll go feed on someone else."
Steve knew his Dad was right but it still didn't make it any easier to swallow. He had to get this guy and soon. Before Mark and Steve had anytime to discuss the riot outside any further they heard Jesse at the door begging to be let in. When Mark opened the door he quickly grabbed Jesse and pulled him in and shut the door. Someone started pounding and shouting at the door before he could latch it. He once again opened the door and there stood Amanda looking quite upset. He once again reached out and pulled in another one of his kids through the door.
"What is going on out there? Did you win the lottery or something?" Amanda asked with a very shaky voice while she straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair back.
"It's my fault." The voice was soft and the pain was evident in the statement.
Every one turned and looked at the figure that sat slumped on the sofa.
"It is not your fault Steve and I will not let you sit there and blame yourself for any of this." Mark refused to let his son wallow around in self-pity. He looked at Jesse and Amanda and explained about the news leaking out about one of the police officers being afraid of heights and allowing the thief to escape over the roofs.
"It is my fault. If I didn't balk every time I got two feet off the ground none of this would be happening. Edwards would be behind bars instead of laughing his head off at me, and the front of our house wouldn't look like a summer camp for reporters out there." Steve was almost shouting at this point.
"How did they find out it was you?" Jesse asked.
"I have no idea. But I know it didn't come from my precinct. Those guys are just as upset as I am." Steve continued to sit and study the carpet between his feet.
"I don't see why a phobia from a police officer should be front page news." Amanda declared hotly.
"It's news if an officer fails to make an arrest because he has a fear of heights. I feel like a piece of meat waiting to be skewered so that I can be barbecued." Steve added dejectedly.
Mark sat down on the coffee table in front of Steve. "Look at me son." Steve continued to study the carpet unable to look at anyone at the moment.
"I said look at me." Mark reached up and gently moved his son's face until he was looking at his dad in the eye. "None of this is your fault. If anything it's the publics fault. We the public thrive on this kind of journalism. We feed on it. They are only giving us what we continuously ask for every day. Somebody has to be the focus of our sick pleasures and right now that's you. But like I said earlier it will all blow over because somewhere out there somebody is going to prove to be even more interesting and more pathetic than you are right now."
"Well gee, Dad. Thanks. I know that I can always count on you to make me feel better when things get tough." Steve saw the smile in his father's eyes and new that he was trying to show his son just how ridiculous the press could be in their pursuit of the most sought after story.
Mark smiled at his son and said, "Well that's what we Dads are here for. Now come on you guys let's get supper ready and eat. I'm starving aren't you."
Steve could only groan at the prospects of what his dad was going to present to them for supper. He had left the plate that Maggie had fixed up for him at the station in his haste to get out of there and get home away from the onslaught of reporters and photographers. Now it looked like he had no other choice but to eat whatever concoction his little family whipped up.
It had been a warm night but the four had decided to eat inside instead of the deck since the reporters were likely to be everywhere. Much to Steve's relief he had been able to tolerate most of the meal and he needed the company of the other three to help keep his mind off of the nightmare that was trying it's best to suck him in.
By the time Amanda and Jesse got ready to go home the crowd of reporters had disappeared thanks to the efforts of the patrolman assigned to keep an eye on the beach house. After the two younger doctors had left, Steve went about the house checking the doors and windows to be sure that every thing was locked up tight for the night. Mark watched his son as he methodically reached out to all the windows making sure that nothing was left unchecked. It worried him that Steve seemed so uneasy about the house being secure. He went to question him but Steve saw him coming and explained quickly.
"I just don't want to wake up and have some reporter sticking a microphone in my face when I get up in the morning. Don't worry Dad I'm fine. I am tired so I think I'll just go to bed." Steve turned and headed for the stairs that led to his apartment.
Once Steve disappeared Mark sat down at the table and picked up the file that his son had brought home. He waded through the report thoroughly and then started over it again. Something was bothering him but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was getting late and Mark knew that if he were going to help his son then he would have to get some rest. He would be no good to anyone if he let himself get run down. He felt certain that tomorrow was going to prove to be a difficult day at best.
A/N: I just want to thank everyone who is so faithful to review. They mean a lot to me and I am so glad that so far I haven't disappointed. I want to thank my good friend who inspires me with her wonderful story ideas and her emails that encourage me. I have made some good friends since starting to do this and I cherish each and every one of you. My hats off to all who write fanfiction. It brings joy to all of us. So Thanks again.