Chapter Nine
Unable to sleep very well Steve was up early. He decided to go ahead and get ready for work. He chose to skip breakfast risking a lecture from his dad later. He went straight to the station in hopes of avoiding a date with the press. Once inside, Steve went to work on some of his paper work in hopes of maybe catching up before anyone noticed how far behind his case files were. He was surprised when the Chief walked up to his desk and requested that he join him in his office.
Once inside he motioned for Steve to have a seat and he looked the detective in the eye trying to read the emotions that might be there. But he wasn't surprised when he saw that Steve had his emotional shield up. The one thing that he was certain of was that no matter how this mess was affecting Steve if he didn't want you to know then you wouldn't. He had already run into that brick wall before. Steve rarely showed his emotions on the job unless it became personal, involving his family or close friends. Then it was 'Katy bar the door.'
"I would ask you how all of this is making you feel but I know what your answer is. So let's just get right to it. I think you should take a couple of days off until the vultures start circling their next victim." Even as he said this he knew how Steve would react.
"No thank you. I can handle this. It isn't the first time I've been targeted by the press and it won't be the last time." Steve was firm with his response.
"I'm sure that you can handle it Steve. But you don't have too. You should at least think about it. I understand that your Dad has requested that you ride your desk for awhile anyway." The Chief appeared to be thinking this to be an incentive to take a couple of days off.
"Well, Captain Newman let me go out on a couple of minor calls with some stipulations involved." Steve told the Chief.
"That is rescinded as of right now. You will stay at your desk and take no more calls no matter how minor they are." The Chief was very firm but Steve had to protest
"But sir I…" He got no further.
"If you won't protect yourself from this journalism lynching then I will. Have I made myself clear Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir. Will that be all sir." Steve was not happy about his orders but he also knew not to question his superior or he could wind up taking a couple of days off weather he wanted to or not.
"Yes that will be all for the time being Lieutenant." Chief Masters looked over at Steve with a look that clearly said that this would not be the end if he felt it necessary to intervene again. As the detective left his office Masters smiled to himself. He knew Steve was walking an emotional fine line. Masters wanted his detective close so that he could keep an eye on him and maybe ward off a potential explosion.
Steve made his way back to his desk and settled down for what he knew would be a very long day.
Mark and Jesse walked down the halls of Community General discussing a problem that Jesse was having with one of his patients when Mark's pager went off. He excused himself from the younger doctor and made his way towards the nurse's desk to answer his page. It was a number that he didn't recognize and he was a little curious to whom it would be that was calling him.
When Mark heard the line pick up on the other end he was surprised when the voice immediately addressed him. "Dr. Sloan. How very nice of you to return my page so quickly."
"Who is this?" Mark was suspicious at once when he heard the voice on the other end.
"I am your son's nightmare. Does he wake up screaming at night thinking about me? Do you have to go and comfort him? I bet you have to sit and hold his hand while he tries to go back to sleep." The voice was taunting and vicious.
"What do you want?" The contempt was evident in Marks voice.
"I want your son to get exactly what he deserves. The recognition that he so rightly has earned. I want all of Los Angeles to know just how brave he is. He can't even catch a fly if he has to leave the ground to do it." Lenny was laughing at the doctor by now.
"Why are you doing this?" Mark demanded from the thief.
"Why that's simple. Because I can. I'll be talking you to you later doctor. Or at least to the press. Bye." Lenny hung up and Mark just stood there looking at the receiver as if it could give him a clue as to where he could find the little parasite.
Mark never heard Jesse walk up to him. He was startled when Jesse placed his hand on Mark's shoulder. "Hey. Are you alright?"
"What? Oh yea. I'm fine." Mark continued to stare at the phone.
"Mark come on. I think you need a cup of coffee." Jesse took the older doctor by the arm and led him into the doctor's lounge and poured two cups of coffee sitting one of them down in front of Mark.
"Now you want to tell me what all of that was about?" Jesse placed a calming hand on Marks arm.
Mark looked up into his friend's eyes and said, "That was Lenny Edwards on the phone."
"What? You mean the guy who is causing Steve all of this trouble. What did he want with you?" Jesse asked with obvious concern.
"I really don't know. I guess he just wanted to taunt me. He is threatening to make more trouble for Steve though." Mark looked at Jesse with troubled eyes.
"How?" Jesse asked
"He's going to the press again. I don't know what to do. I need to tell someone but not Steve." Mark looked lost not knowing exactly what to do.
"I think you should call the Chief. Let him know what happened. He can decide how best to deal with all of this."
"Yea. I think that maybe you're right. I'll call him now and see what he thinks. Edwards did indicate that he might try to contact me again." Mark headed for the phone to make his call.
Steve sat and looked at the soggy sandwich that had been ordered for his lunch by the Chief. He became very disappointed when the greasy sack had been placed in front of him telling him that he would be required to remain at his desk during lunch to monitor the phones. Steve knew that it was just a ploy to keep him hear until time to go home. His superiors were giving him no chance to run into any reporters. He had hoped that maybe he could go to the hospital and talk his dad into buying him lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
Steve picked at the sandwich for a while and then just gave up and went in search of a candy bar or maybe some donuts that had been left over from the morning. When he got back to his desk with his stash he was surprised to see his father waiting for him. Mark looked at the goodies in his son's hands and raised an eyebrow at the obvious diet that Steve had chosen to indulge in.
"You know that I don't approve of that kind of stuff for a meal Steve." Mark was about to launch into one of his dad speeches but Steve interrupted before he could begin.
"Well if you could see what I had earlier you would understand why I am eating this. Besides I have all the food groups represented here. There are peanuts in my candy bar for protein. The donut is for the bread and grain group. There's cream in my coffee so there is the dairy group, and least but not last I have a banana for the fruit and vegetable group. So see I have basically come up with a well balanced meal here." Steve stood and smiled at is Dad proud of his getting around the lecture that he was sure he was about to get.
Mark just smiled and shook his head. It had been a long time since Steve had tried to talk his self out of trouble, and he had not lost his ability to do it. Mark motioned for Steve to sit down and enjoy his 'well balanced meal' before it got 'cold.'
After Steve had eaten half the candy bar that he had picked up from the vending machine in the break room he looked at his father and asked.
"So what are you doing here? I know it wasn't to see if I was eating properly."
"Well no I didn't. But after seeing this maybe I should come and check up on you more often. Actually I came to see the Chief."
Steve looked up at his father and stopped chewing. "Why?"
"I think that I will let him explain that to you when he gets here. Son don't swallow that without chewing it up properly."
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Steve looked dejected.
"You don't know that. Just because I am here doesn't mean that it's necessarily bad news. By the way, don't think that I didn't notice that you skipped breakfast this morning. " Mark gave Steve one of those I don't approve looks that Steve knew meant that they would discuss it further later.
"Is it good news?" Steve pinned his father with a look.
"Uh… uh. Well actually son, no it isn't. But it could be very good. It just depends on how you look at. Now don't do that." Mark stammered around.
Steve was shaking his head and starting to pace around his desk. This could not be good. He could just feel it. He knew that what ever brought his dad down here was not going to make him happy. Mark was concerned as he watched Steve pace faster. He could see the storm building up inside of him again and before his son could bring more harm onto himself he stood up and forced Steve back into his chair.
"You need to just settle down young man. Now I told you that this could be good. Now eat your banana and wait nicely for the Chief to get here."
Mark reached out and took the banana and started to peel it for his son when he realized what he was doing. He smiled sheepishly at Steve and handed him the peeled banana and apologized. Steve reluctantly took the peeled banana and offered half to his father. Mark took it and both Sloans just sat there munching on the fruit until the Chief strolled in requesting that both men join him in his office.
Steve was reluctant to follow but curiosity finally got the better of him. The Chief made sure that Mark and especially Steve were settled before he got to the point of the meeting.
"Steve, your father was contacted by Edwards earlier today." Before the Chief was able to continue Steve shot out of his chair.
"What. You mean you sat out there all that time criticizing my lunch and you never thought to mention to me that this punk called you. Dad this is not a good thing." Steve was pacing and ranting by this time.
Mark stood up and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You need to calm down, NOW. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you."
"What makes you think that I would be upset?"
Mark just looked at the Chief and shook his head. His son had resumed his pacing around the floor once again mumbling about the dangers of getting involved in this case. Masters watched the detective for a minute and decided that he would have to step in.
"Lieutenant sit down." Steve stopped and looked at his Chief for a second and then at his father. Masters stood up and started around the desk but Steve just threw up his hands and sat down abruptly not at all happy about the latest turn of events in this case.
"I can't wait to hear how this could be a good thing dad. Would you please tell me because I fail to see how." Steve's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Mark had just about had enough of his son's attitude so with his own brand of sarcasm he leveled his son with a look of parental displeasure and proceeded to tell him. "For your information Steven, we have now made verbal contact. This could be to our advantage. And you might just remember who you are speaking to young man."
Steve realized that he had been out of line with his father and so with the look of a properly chastised child he offered an apology. "I'm sorry Dad. I didn't mean to show any disrespect. It's just that I don't like him contacting you. It's me he has a beef with. I don't want you getting hurt."
Master's had been watching the exchange between father and son without saying anything. But at this point he felt that Dr. Sloan deserved his own back up. "Your father is right about the contact. It is something that we should be able to work to our advantage. By him contacting your dad it could be the break that we needed. It was a bad mistake on his part and you know it."
Steve looked at his Chief and then his father. He knew what Masters said was true. If anyone could turn this mess around it would be his father. Mark had talents that went beyond any training manual the police academy ever thought of publishing. He sighed and nodded his head in agreement.
"OK. But I want someone close to him all the time. I can take care of him while we are at home. But I want someone around him while he's at the hospital." Steve was very firm about this.
Masters nodded in agreement. "I'll take care of it. Now you go and get ready to leave with your father."
"Why? I still have two hours left on my shift." Steve looked puzzled.
"You need to come with me so I can look at your hand. I want to make sure it's healing properly and that there is no infection beginning. Besides, I thought we could go to Bob's and have dinner tonight. My treat." Mark smiled at the light that went on in his son's eyes.
"After last nights dinner there is no way I'm going to turn down an offer like that." Steve looked at his Chief and winked.
"What do you mean after last nights dinner. I have you know that I got that recipe off of the gourmet web site. What was wrong with it?"
"Oh nothing if you don't mind eating parts of animals that you can't recognize." Steve answered.
Mark followed his son out the door still fussing about his lack of taste when it came to food.
Masters watched the two men leave smiling at the good natured bantering going on between them. He decided that maybe since Edwards knew how to contact the doctor at the hospital that he should just have a car stake out in front of the Sloan's house twenty four hours a day until something broke in this case.
Unable to sleep very well Steve was up early. He decided to go ahead and get ready for work. He chose to skip breakfast risking a lecture from his dad later. He went straight to the station in hopes of avoiding a date with the press. Once inside, Steve went to work on some of his paper work in hopes of maybe catching up before anyone noticed how far behind his case files were. He was surprised when the Chief walked up to his desk and requested that he join him in his office.
Once inside he motioned for Steve to have a seat and he looked the detective in the eye trying to read the emotions that might be there. But he wasn't surprised when he saw that Steve had his emotional shield up. The one thing that he was certain of was that no matter how this mess was affecting Steve if he didn't want you to know then you wouldn't. He had already run into that brick wall before. Steve rarely showed his emotions on the job unless it became personal, involving his family or close friends. Then it was 'Katy bar the door.'
"I would ask you how all of this is making you feel but I know what your answer is. So let's just get right to it. I think you should take a couple of days off until the vultures start circling their next victim." Even as he said this he knew how Steve would react.
"No thank you. I can handle this. It isn't the first time I've been targeted by the press and it won't be the last time." Steve was firm with his response.
"I'm sure that you can handle it Steve. But you don't have too. You should at least think about it. I understand that your Dad has requested that you ride your desk for awhile anyway." The Chief appeared to be thinking this to be an incentive to take a couple of days off.
"Well, Captain Newman let me go out on a couple of minor calls with some stipulations involved." Steve told the Chief.
"That is rescinded as of right now. You will stay at your desk and take no more calls no matter how minor they are." The Chief was very firm but Steve had to protest
"But sir I…" He got no further.
"If you won't protect yourself from this journalism lynching then I will. Have I made myself clear Lieutenant?"
"Yes sir. Will that be all sir." Steve was not happy about his orders but he also knew not to question his superior or he could wind up taking a couple of days off weather he wanted to or not.
"Yes that will be all for the time being Lieutenant." Chief Masters looked over at Steve with a look that clearly said that this would not be the end if he felt it necessary to intervene again. As the detective left his office Masters smiled to himself. He knew Steve was walking an emotional fine line. Masters wanted his detective close so that he could keep an eye on him and maybe ward off a potential explosion.
Steve made his way back to his desk and settled down for what he knew would be a very long day.
Mark and Jesse walked down the halls of Community General discussing a problem that Jesse was having with one of his patients when Mark's pager went off. He excused himself from the younger doctor and made his way towards the nurse's desk to answer his page. It was a number that he didn't recognize and he was a little curious to whom it would be that was calling him.
When Mark heard the line pick up on the other end he was surprised when the voice immediately addressed him. "Dr. Sloan. How very nice of you to return my page so quickly."
"Who is this?" Mark was suspicious at once when he heard the voice on the other end.
"I am your son's nightmare. Does he wake up screaming at night thinking about me? Do you have to go and comfort him? I bet you have to sit and hold his hand while he tries to go back to sleep." The voice was taunting and vicious.
"What do you want?" The contempt was evident in Marks voice.
"I want your son to get exactly what he deserves. The recognition that he so rightly has earned. I want all of Los Angeles to know just how brave he is. He can't even catch a fly if he has to leave the ground to do it." Lenny was laughing at the doctor by now.
"Why are you doing this?" Mark demanded from the thief.
"Why that's simple. Because I can. I'll be talking you to you later doctor. Or at least to the press. Bye." Lenny hung up and Mark just stood there looking at the receiver as if it could give him a clue as to where he could find the little parasite.
Mark never heard Jesse walk up to him. He was startled when Jesse placed his hand on Mark's shoulder. "Hey. Are you alright?"
"What? Oh yea. I'm fine." Mark continued to stare at the phone.
"Mark come on. I think you need a cup of coffee." Jesse took the older doctor by the arm and led him into the doctor's lounge and poured two cups of coffee sitting one of them down in front of Mark.
"Now you want to tell me what all of that was about?" Jesse placed a calming hand on Marks arm.
Mark looked up into his friend's eyes and said, "That was Lenny Edwards on the phone."
"What? You mean the guy who is causing Steve all of this trouble. What did he want with you?" Jesse asked with obvious concern.
"I really don't know. I guess he just wanted to taunt me. He is threatening to make more trouble for Steve though." Mark looked at Jesse with troubled eyes.
"How?" Jesse asked
"He's going to the press again. I don't know what to do. I need to tell someone but not Steve." Mark looked lost not knowing exactly what to do.
"I think you should call the Chief. Let him know what happened. He can decide how best to deal with all of this."
"Yea. I think that maybe you're right. I'll call him now and see what he thinks. Edwards did indicate that he might try to contact me again." Mark headed for the phone to make his call.
Steve sat and looked at the soggy sandwich that had been ordered for his lunch by the Chief. He became very disappointed when the greasy sack had been placed in front of him telling him that he would be required to remain at his desk during lunch to monitor the phones. Steve knew that it was just a ploy to keep him hear until time to go home. His superiors were giving him no chance to run into any reporters. He had hoped that maybe he could go to the hospital and talk his dad into buying him lunch in the hospital cafeteria.
Steve picked at the sandwich for a while and then just gave up and went in search of a candy bar or maybe some donuts that had been left over from the morning. When he got back to his desk with his stash he was surprised to see his father waiting for him. Mark looked at the goodies in his son's hands and raised an eyebrow at the obvious diet that Steve had chosen to indulge in.
"You know that I don't approve of that kind of stuff for a meal Steve." Mark was about to launch into one of his dad speeches but Steve interrupted before he could begin.
"Well if you could see what I had earlier you would understand why I am eating this. Besides I have all the food groups represented here. There are peanuts in my candy bar for protein. The donut is for the bread and grain group. There's cream in my coffee so there is the dairy group, and least but not last I have a banana for the fruit and vegetable group. So see I have basically come up with a well balanced meal here." Steve stood and smiled at is Dad proud of his getting around the lecture that he was sure he was about to get.
Mark just smiled and shook his head. It had been a long time since Steve had tried to talk his self out of trouble, and he had not lost his ability to do it. Mark motioned for Steve to sit down and enjoy his 'well balanced meal' before it got 'cold.'
After Steve had eaten half the candy bar that he had picked up from the vending machine in the break room he looked at his father and asked.
"So what are you doing here? I know it wasn't to see if I was eating properly."
"Well no I didn't. But after seeing this maybe I should come and check up on you more often. Actually I came to see the Chief."
Steve looked up at his father and stopped chewing. "Why?"
"I think that I will let him explain that to you when he gets here. Son don't swallow that without chewing it up properly."
"I'm not going to like this am I?" Steve looked dejected.
"You don't know that. Just because I am here doesn't mean that it's necessarily bad news. By the way, don't think that I didn't notice that you skipped breakfast this morning. " Mark gave Steve one of those I don't approve looks that Steve knew meant that they would discuss it further later.
"Is it good news?" Steve pinned his father with a look.
"Uh… uh. Well actually son, no it isn't. But it could be very good. It just depends on how you look at. Now don't do that." Mark stammered around.
Steve was shaking his head and starting to pace around his desk. This could not be good. He could just feel it. He knew that what ever brought his dad down here was not going to make him happy. Mark was concerned as he watched Steve pace faster. He could see the storm building up inside of him again and before his son could bring more harm onto himself he stood up and forced Steve back into his chair.
"You need to just settle down young man. Now I told you that this could be good. Now eat your banana and wait nicely for the Chief to get here."
Mark reached out and took the banana and started to peel it for his son when he realized what he was doing. He smiled sheepishly at Steve and handed him the peeled banana and apologized. Steve reluctantly took the peeled banana and offered half to his father. Mark took it and both Sloans just sat there munching on the fruit until the Chief strolled in requesting that both men join him in his office.
Steve was reluctant to follow but curiosity finally got the better of him. The Chief made sure that Mark and especially Steve were settled before he got to the point of the meeting.
"Steve, your father was contacted by Edwards earlier today." Before the Chief was able to continue Steve shot out of his chair.
"What. You mean you sat out there all that time criticizing my lunch and you never thought to mention to me that this punk called you. Dad this is not a good thing." Steve was pacing and ranting by this time.
Mark stood up and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "You need to calm down, NOW. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to upset you."
"What makes you think that I would be upset?"
Mark just looked at the Chief and shook his head. His son had resumed his pacing around the floor once again mumbling about the dangers of getting involved in this case. Masters watched the detective for a minute and decided that he would have to step in.
"Lieutenant sit down." Steve stopped and looked at his Chief for a second and then at his father. Masters stood up and started around the desk but Steve just threw up his hands and sat down abruptly not at all happy about the latest turn of events in this case.
"I can't wait to hear how this could be a good thing dad. Would you please tell me because I fail to see how." Steve's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Mark had just about had enough of his son's attitude so with his own brand of sarcasm he leveled his son with a look of parental displeasure and proceeded to tell him. "For your information Steven, we have now made verbal contact. This could be to our advantage. And you might just remember who you are speaking to young man."
Steve realized that he had been out of line with his father and so with the look of a properly chastised child he offered an apology. "I'm sorry Dad. I didn't mean to show any disrespect. It's just that I don't like him contacting you. It's me he has a beef with. I don't want you getting hurt."
Master's had been watching the exchange between father and son without saying anything. But at this point he felt that Dr. Sloan deserved his own back up. "Your father is right about the contact. It is something that we should be able to work to our advantage. By him contacting your dad it could be the break that we needed. It was a bad mistake on his part and you know it."
Steve looked at his Chief and then his father. He knew what Masters said was true. If anyone could turn this mess around it would be his father. Mark had talents that went beyond any training manual the police academy ever thought of publishing. He sighed and nodded his head in agreement.
"OK. But I want someone close to him all the time. I can take care of him while we are at home. But I want someone around him while he's at the hospital." Steve was very firm about this.
Masters nodded in agreement. "I'll take care of it. Now you go and get ready to leave with your father."
"Why? I still have two hours left on my shift." Steve looked puzzled.
"You need to come with me so I can look at your hand. I want to make sure it's healing properly and that there is no infection beginning. Besides, I thought we could go to Bob's and have dinner tonight. My treat." Mark smiled at the light that went on in his son's eyes.
"After last nights dinner there is no way I'm going to turn down an offer like that." Steve looked at his Chief and winked.
"What do you mean after last nights dinner. I have you know that I got that recipe off of the gourmet web site. What was wrong with it?"
"Oh nothing if you don't mind eating parts of animals that you can't recognize." Steve answered.
Mark followed his son out the door still fussing about his lack of taste when it came to food.
Masters watched the two men leave smiling at the good natured bantering going on between them. He decided that maybe since Edwards knew how to contact the doctor at the hospital that he should just have a car stake out in front of the Sloan's house twenty four hours a day until something broke in this case.