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: Things start to get a little sticky as Mark and Steve are at odds with each other. Mark is upset at the way Steve is handling his affairs, and Steve feels like everyone is treating him like a child, especially his father and Captain Robert Hernandez.

THE CHRONICLES OF A TROUBLED MAN

Chapter Two – Captain Hernandez' Observation Of Lt. Steve Sloan

As Mark thought about where Steve could have gotten off to, he called Captain Robert Hernandez to get his take on the missing Lieutenant.

Captain Hernandez picked up on the third ring.

"Captain Hernandez here." Captain Hernandez replied.

"Hi, Bob, has Steve been in contact with you?" Mark asked, hoping that Captain Hernandez would know his son's whereabouts.

"No, he hasn't, why?" Captain Hernandez asked, concern evident in his voice. "He has taken a few days off and isn't due back until Tuesday morning."

"Oh, I hadn't realized that," Mark began, getting more worried by the minute.

"I'm surprised that he hadn't let you know that he had taken a few days off." Captain Hernandez replied. "That sure isn't like Steve."

"That isn't like Steve at all," Mark began, "I just don't understand it."

"Neither do I," Captain Hernandez replied.

"Bob, how has Steve been coping at the precinct?" Mark asked, anxious to know Steve's mental state.

"What do you mean, Mark?" Captain Hernandez asked.

"Steve has been extremely moody," Mark began by way of explaining his question to Captain Hernandez. "He's been snapping at everyone at the drop of the hat. We can't even asking him a simple question without him trying to bite our heads off."

"Yep, that's been our Lieutenant Sloan of late." Captain Hernandez replied. "He even accused me of treating him like a child. Mark, I told Steve that I wasn't trying to treat him like a child. But he didn't buy that at all."

"That's okay, Bob," Mark began, "I'm going to have to talk to Steve to know his true mental state of being."

"Good luck," Captain Hernandez replied.

"What's that supposed to mean, Bob," Mark began, testily.

"No need to get snippy about it, Mark," Captain Hernandez began, hurt at Mark's accusatory tone. "It just that Steve's been known to hide his true feelings and he gets upset when anyone tries to unlock the door to his little 'box'."

"Bob, I know that and I didn't mean to get snippy," Mark began in an apologetic tone. "Bob, I know you only want to help Steve and I apologize for snapping at you. Thanks so much for watching out for Steve and for caring for his well being."

"No problem, Mark," Captain Hernandez began, "please let me know when Steve gets back, okay?"

"Sure thing, Bob," Mark began, "You'll be the first person I call."

"Thanks. Goodbye, Mark." Captain Hernandez replied.

"Bye, Bob." Mark replied as he and Captain Hernandez disconnected their call.

On Venice Beach

Steve sat on a large rock on Venice Beach, watching the waves crash against shoreline. He was so lost in his thoughts, as he missed the sidelong glances that the female passersby were casting his way. Some of the women attempted to make passes at Steve while they were on the arms of their male friends, causing the men to cast evil glances Steve's way, which he missed, being so lost in his thoughts.

While Steve sat on the rock, watching the waves, his thoughts were taken back to a conversation he had with Dr. Eugene Prescott, the department psychiatrist.

A Year And Two Weeks Ago

Dr. Prescott sat in his office trying to get Steve to take more time off during this time of grief, but Steve wouldn't have it.

"Lt. Sloan," Dr. Prescott began in exhausted exasperation, "You know you need more time to grieve. The job will still be there. You're one of Captain Hernandez' best detectives, he won't let you go."

"Look, Dr. Prescott," Steve began angrily, "I truly appreciate all that you've done for me..." Steve would have continued on, but Dr. Prescott interrupted him.

"That's just it, Son," Dr. Prescott began truly exasperated, "I haven't been able to do anything for you, because you wouldn't allow me to."

"Sir," Steve began a little calmer, "You've done all you could, there's nothing more for you to do. Besides, you can't hold me or treat me against my will."

"Okay, okay, Lt. Sloan," Dr. Prescott began, "you win. You're, right, I can't treat you against your will. You're an adult and it's your call."

"So, Dr. Prescott, are you gonna certify me fit for duty?" Steve asked, as he was anxious to get back to work. "I'm ready to go back to work. I'm beginning to get stir crazy."

"Son, you've only been out of work for all of two weeks," Dr. Prescott began, disappointed that Steve turned down counseling. "Lt. Sloan, here's my card, just in case you feel the need to talk with someone."

"Thanks, Dr. Prescott," Steve replied as he took the psychiatrist's card, knowing that he had no plans of contacting Dr. Prescott."

Later That Evening At The Beach House

"Hi, Son," Mark began cheerfully, "How was your counseling session with Dr. Prescott? When's you next session with him?"

"Well, er, um," Steve began as he stumbled over his words, "Dad, I'm going back to work Monday."

"You what?" Mark asked Steve incredulously.

"I'm going back work on Monday." Steve replied rather smugly. "Dr. Prescott certified me fit for duty."

"How did you manage to pull that one off, huh?" Mark asked, shaking his head in total disbelief. "What kind of sob story to give Dr. Prescott?"

"Dad, c'mon," Steve began in exasperation. "I DID NOT give Dr. Prescott a 'sob story', as you put it. You of all people should know, you being the head of internal medicine at Community General Hospital, that you can't treat an adult without their consent."

"What did you do, Son?" Mark asked, trying to calm himself down and not be to hard on Steve. "You know you need more time to grieve."

"I told Dr. Prescott that I felt that I was ready to go back to work, is all." Steve replied to a stunned Dr. Sloan. "I'm an adult that's capable of making my own decisions."

"No matter how bad or stupid, huh, Son?" Mark asked, sarcastically. "No matter the cost to your mental health, right, Son?"

"Yeah, Dad," Steve began in an equally sarcastic tone. "No matter how bad or how stupid, as you put it. Don't I have that right as an adult, Dad? I'm not a child anymore, Dad."

"Yes, Son, you do," Mark began smiling slightly, realizing that Steve had a point. "Son, I do realize that you're an adult, but I just don't want to see you hurt. It's hard for me to stop being a parent. Please be patient with me, okay, Son. I love you and Carol, and I'll do everything in my power to see to it that you aren't hurt in any way."

"Okay, Dad," Steve replied reluctantly. "I'll try to be patient. Dad, I love you, too. I know I can be difficult sometimes, so you'll have to be patient with me, too. Okay, Dad?"

"That's a deal, Son" Mark began, knowing that it would be hard for him to stop being a concerned parent. "I guess I'll have to respect your decision to end your counseling sessions and going back to work sooner than you should. I just want you to know that it's going to be hard for me to that, you know that, Son, don't you?"

"Yeah, Dad," Steve began, sadly knowing that what he was asking Mark to do would hard. "Dad, I'll be alright, and I'll be sure to come to you whenever I need you. Dad, always remember that I love you."

"I love you too, Son." Mark replied, eyes glistening with unshed tears, "Son, it's going to be hard for me not being able to look out for you. I know, I know, you're an adult that's more than able to handle your own affairs."

Steve just smiled ever so sweetly at his Dad.

Steve was suddenly shaken from his reverie and suddenly realized that he had been on the beach for over an hour. He knew his father, Mark would be past worried, on his way to filing a missing person report with the LAPD. Even though he was an adult, the thought of Mark being upset with him made him shudder. He hurried back to the apartment he shared with Katie in Venice, California.

"Boy is Dad gonna kill me." Steve thought to himself as he ran as fast as he could back to his apartment. "Everybody's probably sitting at the breakfast table waiting for me. Oh boy, am I in some mad trouble. I'll see if I can sneak in unnoticed.

In Steve's Apartment

Steve's plan to sneak in unnoticed fell through as Mark had been watching Steve running towards the apartment. As Soon as Steve came in the door, Mark greeted him.

"Hi, Son," Mark began rather sarcastically, "glad you could join us for your daughter's birthday breakfast. Are you planning to join us her afternoon birthday get together?"

"Dad," Steve began, mortified that Mark scolded him in front of their breakfast guests. "I was just out on the beach doing some thinking. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong."

"Steve, I just thought it was rather rude of you to leave without letting me or Carol know that you were leaving." Mark replied rather taken aback by Steve's attitude toward him. "You could have told us that you were going out for a jog on the beach."

"Dad," Steve began rather testily, "I do believe I AM an adult. Why don't you treat me like an adult."

"Well, Son," Mark began, trying not to be too hard on Steve. "If you want to be treated like an adult, Son, you have to act like an adult."

Steve was so angry, that he chose not to respond to his father, so as not to show any disrespect to Mark. Steve instead opted to take a shower and cool down his temper before joining the gang for breakfast.

Carol stared at Mark, sadly realizing that Mark failed to take heed to her suggestion of not being to harsh with Steve with the anniversary of Lena's death coming in two weeks. She hated to Mark and Steve at odds with each other, but she especially loathed the fact that Mark shot Steve down in front of their friends. She loved them both dearly and wanted things to be back to normal soon. She excused herself to check on her 'big brother'.