Disclaimer: ALL characters belong to Viacom, Paramount and CBS. No infringement is intended, as this story is written for fun only. The characters, Detectives Mike Rogers and Tom Larkin belong to Ofelia Reveles. The characters, Katherine Lena (Katie) Sloan and Lena's mom (I gave Lena's mom a name – Eunice Fournay) belong to Emma Gentz. I also borrowed some of Emma's story content regarding the events in Steve and Lena's marriage, Katie's birth, Lena's death, and Steve and Ellen's romance. I however added a new spin: Steve and Ellen have a devastating break-up.

Summary: The events of this story take place before my first DM fanfic "Steve Meets A New Love Interest". This story begins with Steve coming back to work a little sooner than Dr. Mark Sloan or Captain Robert Hernandez would have expected, given the severity of Steve's troubling experience.

THE CHRONICLES OF A TROUBLED MAN

Chapter One – Back to Work Already? (One Year Ago)

It was a bright and sunny day in the Metro Division of the LAPD. Detective Lieutenant Steve Sloan sat at his desk looking over some police reports from the previous two weeks.

As Steve finished up his paper work, Captain Robert Hernandez stepped out of his office and stopped in total disbelief. He was absolutely shocked to see his prized Lieutenant back to work so soon after the devastating loss of his wife, Lena Fournay Sloan.

"Sloan, why are you back so soon?" Captain Hernandez asked, surprised to see Steve back at work so soon after Lena's death. "How did you manage to wrangle a return to work from old Dr. Eugene Prescott?"

"I DID NOT wrangle anything from Dr. Prescott," Steve began a bit snippy, "Dr. Prescott certified me fit for duty, if that's all right with you."

"Well, Sloan," Captain Hernandez began, "You don't have to get snippy about it. I was just surprised to see you back so soon after Lena's death, is all."

"I'm sorry, Cap," Steve began sadly, "it's just that I'm so tired of everyone getting on my case. Everyone seems to be treating me like a helpless child."

"Son, no one's treating you like a helpless child," Captain Hernandez began in a soothing, fatherly tone. "It's just that we want to make sure that you've given yourself ample time to grieve. It's only been a month since Lena's death. Are you sure you've given yourself enough time to grieve?"

"Yeah, Cap," Steve replied, "I have."

"Okay, Son," Captain Hernandez began, "if you say so. But, if you feel the need to talk things over, no matter the time of day, you know that I'm here for you. Muriel also said you can call on her anytime. Okay?"

"Sure thing," Steve lied, knowing he truly planned to lock everything away in his little 'box'. "If I need you, I'll call on you."

Present Date in Venice, California

Little Katie woke up early in the morning in her beautiful Barbie Doll decked bedroom. It was about 7:30 am in the morning. Katie was gurgling happily as she played with her toes and her feet. Carol heard the happy gurgling and went in to Katie's bedroom and picked her up and greeted her beautiful niece cheerfully.

"Hi there, my little Princess," Carol began happily. "Happy Birthday, Sweetie. We're going to have a great celebration for you."

On the other side of the apartment, Steve is laying awake on his bed, deciding whether or not he should get out of bed today. This should be a happy day in the apartment he shared with his baby daughter, but her birth brought back the painful reality of losing his beautiful wife, Lena Fournay Sloan.

"Let's go wake up your Daddy, okay Sweetie?" Carol asked her giggling and gurgling niece. "Let's see what Daddy wants for breakfast."

Carol knocked on Steve's bedroom door, and when she didn't get a response from him, she opened the door cautiously. As she opened the door, she was surprised to see how dark Steve's bedroom was. She knew something was wrong with Steve, as she knew he loved the ocean views from his windows and the smell of the salty ocean.

"Steve, is everything all right with you?" Carol asked tentatively, knowing how surly her brother became when anyone questioned his state of mind. "I mean, you have all of the blinds drawn and it's so dark in here. It's a beautiful day."

"When did you get your psychology degree, Dr. Carol?" Steve asked in a brutally sarcastic tone. "Did Dad send you in here to pick my mind?"

"Steve, I was just concerned," Carol began, hurt that her brother snapped at her. "I was just wondering if you wanted any breakfast. And, no, Dad didn't put me up to make an inquiry of your state of mind."

"I'm sorry, Carol," Steve began sadly, "I just get so tired of everyone treating me like a child. I am a grown man; in fact, I'll be 33 years old next month. I think I'm capable of handling my affairs without any help from you or Dad."

Carol just shook her head sadly and took little Katie and put her in the playpen while she prepared breakfast for everyone. She and her Dad, Dr. Mark Sloan, invited Eunice Fournay, Drs. Jesse Travis, Amanda Bentley and her new beau, FBI Agent Ron Wagner, to breakfast.

Dr. Mark Sloan entered Steve's apartment in Venice, California, as Steve had given him a key to his apartment. When Carol saw Mark's pleasant smile, she shook off the sadness of her encounter with Steve. She was genuinely happy to see her father, as he brought much joy to her life and the lives of his friends, patients and colleagues.

"Hi, Dad!" Carol squealed with delight. "It's great to see you. How was your night?"

"Very busy," Mark began, "I was on call at the hospital last night. It was soooo busy, I thought the night would never end. It eventually ended at 3:30 am this morning."

"Wow!" Carol replied. "Why was it so busy last night?"

"A drunk driver cut in front of a Greyhound Bus, causing the bus driver to careen down a small embankment. The passengers on the bus were very fortunate only to have small cuts and bruises. The drunk driver was fortunate as well, considering he wasn't hurt at all, but he was arrested at the hospital."

"That's good to hear," Carol began, trying to keep up her cheerful appearance. "Dad, I need you to make you Eggs Benedict dish for us."

"Sure thing, Honey." Mark replied, not fooled by Carol's cheery mask. "Carol, Sweetie, is everything all right? How's Steve and why isn't he up yet?"

"Dad?" Carol began in a questioning tone, "how do you do it?"

"Do what, Honey?" Mark asked his daughter, truly puzzled.

"Know when something's wrong, even if we don't say anything thing?" Carol asked with a puzzling look that matched her Dad's.

"Oh, Carol," Mark began, "it's called parental wisdom and it's a gift that God has given to all parents, though some choose not to use it. It's just that you had such a look of sadness on your face. I always knew when something was wrong with you and your brother."

"Well, Dad," Carol began sadly, "Steve seems to think that we're trying to run his life. He even went as far as to say that everyone seems to be treating him like a child."

"Carol," Mark began, truly concerned about his son's mental state, "I don't know what seems to have gotten into your brother, but we're going to have to put it in check before it gets the best of him. Let me see if I can talk some sense into him."

"Dad, just don't be too hard on Steve," Carol began, concerned that Mark can be a little rough on Steve at times. "You'll need to tread lightly, his feelings seem so frail of late."

"Carol," Mark began a little testily, "I know how to handle my son."

"Well, Dad," Carol began sadly, "sometimes, you can be a little harsh with Steve."

Mark's thoughts went back immediately to Steve's teenage years and how he practically drove Steve to register for the Arm Forces, which in turn landed him a stint in Vietnam. Mark quickly gathered his wits about himself as he replied to Carol's comment thoughtfully:

"Point is well taken, Carol, Sweetie," Mark replied smiling sheepishly. "Even in his 30's, Steve is still able to pull my strings. Well, I'll still need to speak with him about his surly attitude. Your Mom and I raised both of you better than that."

"I know, Dad," Carol began, encouraging Mark. "But we have to remember that two weeks will mark the anniversary of Lena's death. We'll have to be extremely careful how we talk to Steve."

"Okay, Sweetie." Mark replied, realizing that they would have to walk on eggshells around Steve during the anniversary of Lena's death. "I'll get the Eggs Benedict dish ready. Amanda said she made a spinach quiche. I tried it and it's absolutely divine,"

"Well, Dad," Carol began laughing a little, an act that had been missing from the Sloan family for quite some time. "I don't think Steve will be partaking of the quiche. He said that real men don't eat quiche."

"Well, Carol," Mark began, "we'll have to see about that. Steve will eat anything, just so long as it doesn't bite him back. Speaking of Steve, what's keeping him? I'm going to check up on him to make sure he's okay."

"Remember what I said, Dad?" Carol asked concern evident in her voice. "Be careful not to overdo it, okay?"

"Yes, Sweetie," Mark began, eyes twinkling. "I won't be harsh with Steve."

With that, Mark headed off in the direction of Steve's bedroom. Upon opening the door to Steve's bedroom, Mark was surprised not only by the uncharacteristic darkness in Steve's bedroom (all the shades were drawn, keeping the beautiful rays of sunshine out). Mark was astonished to find that Steve was nowhere to be found. It seems that Steve had slipped out of the apartment unnoticed by Mark and Carol, as they were busily preparing for Katie's birthday breakfast and the get together later that afternoon.

"Where on earth could Steve be?" Mark asked himself. "Why would he just sneak off and not let anyone know he was stepping out? This is so unlike Steve, leaving without so much as a note. Something must have happened to cause him to snap at everyone. I'll have to call Captain Hernandez to see if he can possibly shed some light on the subject of his Lieutenant."