Hey, I'm back, and I'm soooo sorry it took me so long to update…. WAIT…Oh jeez, would you please put those torches down…Please, nice and easy…. Thank you!

Now on with the story….

9-Confesions

All his senses seemed to leave him as Jack's words hit him full force. No longer did the nauseating scent of hospital disinfectant bother Marcus, and the sound of doctors telling nurses the next treatment for a patient was instantly beyond his comprehension. He stared at the four people in front of him as if they had just told him his Great Aunt Mimi had risen from the grave, though that in itself was nowhere near as shocking as there previous, yet somehow impossible, statement. The look on their face told him that it was no joke, and somehow, that one line had made him finally believe that all this was no dream, but he realized then, that he had awakened that morning, to a nightmare.

Mark was ready to step forward and catch the young medic, for he seemed ready to pass out right in front of him. The color had drained from his face, leaving it at an extremely similar tone as the bleak white hospital walls. Glancing around, he saw the Jack had already moved closer, noticing the same thing he had. Looking at Marcus, Mark saw him gulp with more force then necessary, and the older physician began to worry slightly before Marcus spoke up.

" May…May I please have to water?" He asked shakily, barely trusting his own voice in fear the he would again lose all self-control. Taking in a deep breath, he and Amanda made there way to the doctor's lounge, leaving Jack, Mark, and Steve, the difficult task of telling Jesse. The three men looked uneasily at each other, yet, in their normal manly fashion, managed to look unscathed by the whole thing. They didn't fool anyone.

Peering inside the room, Jack heaved a sigh of relief when he found that Jesse was sound asleep. It would put off the confrontation for a little while, and gave them some more time to memorize word for word what they were going to school. In that instant, both Jack and Steve felt like schoolboys, studying for a test, and Mark, in their eyes, somehow maintained a cool image. But inside, it was the same thing for him as his son. The idea of telling someone that after having his life saved, that it was in danger once more, didn't seem very appealing.

Jack moved closer to the bed to check his patient's chart while simultaneously trying to figure out how childish it would seem if he ran at the speed of light toward the door when Jesse woke up. He knew Steve was doing the same, and they both decided that it was too immature for men their age. That thought alone sounded like a five-year olds' statement to his father that he could handle a 'grown up's' responsibility. It was very disheartening. They had all had their non-too pleasant encounters with Jesse since he had come to CGH, and wondered briefly if it would be the same now. Each man came up with a yes.

Steve found it impossible to stand comfortably in the room. Although he had practically grown up in the hospital, and had been in patient's rooms countless times, he had never before been there to tell someone he knew, relatively, something so intense. Mark and Jack looked perfectly content, and their hospital coats made the whole scene in front of Steve think of a picture he had seen in a medical journal while waiting impatiently for his father to finish his shift. He was about to suggest that they come back later when they all spotted movement from the bed, and each man prepared himself for the inevitable outburst.

Steve, despite himself, pushed into cop mode and instantly lost all traces of apprehension. Both Jack and Mark followed the example and went into doctor mode. It almost didn't last when they saw a small smile filter across Jesse's face for the first time.

" Hey" It was a raspy whisper more then anything else, but it almost sounded like magic. None of them had heard a seemingly cheerful sound come from Dr. Jesse Travis since he had arrived at the hospital. Steve was tempted to just keep the whole issue from him just to have Jesse maintain that slight sparkle in his eyes. But he couldn't, for he knew what hade to be done, but was disgusted with it all the same.

" Jesse, I have some bad news for you." Steve started, but stopped as he saw Jesse's smile fade away. It was inevitable and he knew it, but it seemed such a shame that Jack wasn't the one doing the talking. He was the doctor, and was much better trained to handle emotional breakdowns then him. But then again, it really didn't matter, for Steve had two doctors behind him to handle the situation if Jesse were to go into shock from the information.

The young man whispered his response, " You sound like you're about to tell me your father's going to sign my death warrant." The statement sent shivers down all their backs, frightened at how real that comparison was. Though it was true, Steve sighed, knowing he had put this off for far too long, although it had only been a few minutes since they had come into the room.

"Jesse, I'm sorry, but, the man that did this to you, he got away.." Steve trailed off, not quite sure if he should say anything else.

"What... But how, that.... No." Fear registered plainly in the young man's eyes as he looked between the three men, trying to figure out if he was in the hands of competent people. His trust level at that point in his life was drastically depleted, and wasn't sure what to do. Though, deep inside him, Jesse knew that he couldn't blame them, for they had actually captured the man, which was more then Jesse could say for the other stated in which the man had murdered.

Mark decided it was about time he finally spoke up " When we catch him, you know that you're going to have to testify against him" he said, knowing fully well that the young patient had no intention of doing that, based plainly on the look he passed toward the older doctor, saying plainly 'you've got to be crazy.'

"I...I can't..." Jesse looked down at his bandaged chest, remembering all the letters, and the pictures. If he said he would testify, each and every person in that room would be dead in a matter of hours, or maybe if they got lucky, days.

"Why Jesse, why can't you testify?" Steve asked, waiting for the young man to respond, although he didn't set his hopes too high in getting one. He was right in his interpretation when Jesse did indeed talk, but avoided the question with one of his own.

"How?" His eyes searched those of the occupants of the room, and somehow, thought he already knew the answer. " You've got dirty cops, don't you?" At the slightly surprised looks he received, he figured he was right. A nod from Steve only further proved his suspicions. At that moment he made up his mind to tell them the whole story, to explain his previous rude actions. " I'll do it, I'll testify at the trial." A sigh of relief swept over the room, but it was short lived when Jesse spoke up again. " Don't rejoice yet. I'll explain everything to you, as to why I couldn't talk to you before. But first, would you please get Dr. Bentley and Marcus in here, they should hear this too."

Jack nodded and paged Amanda, and only had to wait a few minutes, which felt to a time very close to eternity, for the two people to arrive.

" What is it Jack?" Amanda asked in a hurry, frightened that something horrible had happened in her absence. Looking around, she saw Jesse was awake, and Marcus had moved to his friend's side, having regained his composure wile trying not to gag at the hospital coffee, although it had helped.

" Jesse's going to testify, but first he's going to explain to us about the history of his actions here." Jack looked solemn. Somehow it seemed that this adventure had just reached it peak, and it wasn't a very pleasant looking view below them. Looking at Jesse, he saw the young doctor sigh, and felt compassion for him, knowing how hard this was going to be.

" Well, first off, I owe you all an apology. I know I was rude and everything, but right now, I'm going to explain why. See, a few months ago, I was on my way to get some groceries, and that's when everything started. It was a pretty crowded street, but something caught my eye, and turned just in time to see this guy clobber a woman over the head. It was the guy you arrested. Although there were a lot of people, I think that's why nobody saw it, we were all trying to concentrate on getting through more then anything else. Well, I guess he saw that I had just witness him kill someone. I found it odd that he didn't chase after me, especially when I realized that this was the serial killer on the news.

" I got scared, and on my way to the cops, he intercepted me. Had a bunch of his cronies with him. They didn't do anything to me, but they sure did scare the hell out of me" Jesse gave a small laugh at this. " Anyway, it turns out they were pretty quick in getting information, so they already knew who I was and were I lived. I still can't figure out how they did that. They said they wouldn't touch me, but they would go after my family. That's why I stayed quit; I wasn't about to have my family pay for my misfortune. Shortly after that, I started getting threats, like in the mail. I'd have pictures of friends, but mostly family, sent to me, with a note warning me not to tell anyone.

" After a while, I decided to move to LA, maybe throw them off my back, at least for a little while. That's when you guys come in. See, the thing is Dr. Stewart; you found me in the bathroom pucking my guts out because I was drugged. That was one of their wonderful methods of reminding me. I was surprised that they had found me so fast, but I wanted to make sure they wouldn't do anything, so I kept my mouth shut. Now, all of you are in danger, mainly because they probably already know everything about you."

Steve's cop instincts and curiosity finally decided to burst, so he asked. " How, and why, would they know everything about us?" It seemed highly improbable, as well as unreasonable.

" Because, you have something to do with me. You remember that car accident victim?" At receiving a nod from Mark, he continued, " Well, he was also a warning. I was being warned because I had been seen with the famous Dr. Mark Sloan and Detective Steve Sloan. Not a good thing when you're trying to avoid the cops. As for how they get their information so quickly, I don't have the slightest idea." Jesse sighed as he felt the weight of the world finally lift off his shoulders. It was a good feeling; one he hadn't had since this whole thing began.

" I think I know how they did it." Jack spoke up as all eyes turned to him. "See, crooks have businesses, just like you and me, except they're illegal. One of them happens to be an information line. Extremely secret. Only your average criminal mastermind can get this. It's very risky, and so, is very expensive."

" Jack, you're no criminal master mind." Stated Steve, " So how do you know this?"

" Well, a cousin of mine knows a few people, who know some people." Jack said firmly, although he knew that Steve was only joking with him.

" Well, " Mark spoke up, annoyance evident in his voice. " We know who did this, we have a witness, and enough evidence to put the guy away for life. There are only two things that are preventing us from finishing this case. No motive, which I doubt we need, but would be helpful, and no crook to put away."

Everyone looked down at this, each now knowing fully well the danger they were all in.

It's a miracle… I actually got another chapter done and posted! Please tell me what you think of it, and again, I'm sorry for taking so long to update.