Later on that night…..
While MJ was sleeping he was woken up by a strange sound. He sat up quickly and turned on his light and looked over at his sister. He noticed she was having trouble breathing. He pushed the emergency call button to alert the nurses. The nurses and Jesse came in and started to work on Katie. Jesse had one of the nurses take MJ out of the room. MJ sat and sat and sat until Jesse came out to alert him that Katie would be going into the OR because her lung collapsed.
"I'll have one of the nurses call your family. MJ I will be in there with her and I will fix this." Jesse said getting up and running to follow Katie's gurney.
Fifteen minutes later Steve and Mark came in.
"MJ!" Steve called running down the hallway.
MJ stood up and said, "Dad she was having trouble breathing and….and then Uncle Jesse said her lung collapsed. Is she going to die?"
"No MJ she's not." Mark said looking at him.
"Are you sure?" MJ asked sitting down.
"Yes MJ I'm sure." Mark smiled at him.
Mark then went down to the OR to get more information on his granddaughter. MJ just sat there in the chair staring into space.
"MJ she's going to be fine. Uncle Jesse is with her." Steve said putting a hand on his shoulder.
MJ looked over at his Dad and asked, "Did anybody find those guys that shot her?"
"Not yet." Steve said.
"Well what the hell is taking them so long? My sister is in the operating room for the second time! And no one gives a damn!" He then went back into the room.
Steve walked in to the room and said, "MJ the police is working on it. I'm working on it with them."
Mark then walked into the room and said, "She's stable. Jesse raised her lung. She'll be in intensive care."
"Grandpa can I at least see her, please?" MJ asked with a worried look on his face.
"Not tonight MJ. You better let your Dad take you home." Mark said hugging him.
"But I promised her I'd stay here." MJ said.
"I know. I know. But you can see her in the morning." Mark said handing MJ his clothes.
Mark and Steve left MJ to get dressed. Amanda came running down the hall.
"Steve. Mark. I just heard. How is she?"
"She's in intensive care. MJ was with her when it happened. Jesse lifted the lung." Mark said.
"Oh thank god." She said hugging them.
MJ then came out of the room dressed.
"MJ I'm sorry." Amanda said hugging him.
"Me too Aunt Amanda." Then he went down the hall.
Just as MJ was exiting, an ambulance pulled up and brought a guy in who was shot. Mark and Amanda went running over to help out.
"He took a bullet to the chest and two more in his legs." The paramedic said.
MJ happened to glance over at the gun shot victim and noticed that he looked familiar.
"Dad! Dad!" MJ called to him.
"What is it MJ?"
"That guy they just brought in. It's him! It's him!" MJ said looking at his father.
"It's who?"
"It's one of the guys that shot Katie!" MJ said following the gurney.
"MJ! Wait!" Steve yelled running after him.
"Sorry no is allowed beyond this point." The nurse said to MJ.
MJ watched behind the closed window doors. Steve caught up with him.
"MJ are you sure that's the guy?" Steve asked out of breath.
MJ looked over at his father with angry eyes and said, "I'm positive." He then walked over to the chairs and sat down. Fifteen minutes later Mark and Amanda came out of the room.
"Grandpa how is he?" MJ asked looking at Mark and then at the door.
"He's fine. He's going to the OR to get the bullet out of his chest and legs." Mark said looking at his grandson.
"Are you going to operate on him grandpa?" MJ asked looking at Mark.
"Yes. MJ do you know him?" Mark asked.
MJ walked over to the window of the room and said, "That's the bastard that shot Katie."
Mark looked over at Steve and then back to MJ. Mark went to say something when a page interrupted him. He went over to the phone and picked it up.
"Dr. Sloan…Yes…Ok thanks." He then hung up.
He looked over at Steve and said, "Katie is a wake. She's asking for you and MJ."
"What room is she in?" Steve asked.
"Her old room." Mark said looking over at his son.
Steve and MJ headed down the hall to the elevators. Neither one of them said a word to each other, but Steve could tell that MJ was angry and bitter by all of this. When the elevator opened up MJ quickly got out and went to his sister's room. He took a deep breath and then walked in.
"Hey you." He smiled at her.
"Hey back to you." She smiled at him.
"You ok?" He asked looking at her.
"Yeah. Just sore. Thanks for getting help." She said looking up at him.
MJ sat hard in the chair and started to cry. Katie reached over with her hand, placed it on his shoulder and said,
"MJ please don't cry. Everything is going to be ok. I promise."
He looked over at her and smiled. Steve was standing in the doorway listening to them. No matter how much the twins disagreed with each other they were always there for each other. Steve admired them for that. He then composed himself and walked over to them.
"Hi."
"Hi daddy." Katie said looking over at him and smiling.
"MJ you ok?" Steve asked looking at him.
"Yeah." He said looking at his Dad.
Steve looked at his watch and noticed it was 1am.
"Come on MJ let's go home." Steve said looking between the kids.
"No. I'm staying here. I promised Katie that I would stay with her and that's what I'm going to do." He said.
"MJ I'm going to be fine. You need rest and you won't get it here with the nurses coming in and checking me out." Katie said looking over at him.
He looked over at her and said, "FINE! I thought you wanted me to stay! Now you want me to leave!"
"MJ! That's not what I'm saying. I just want you to have a good night's rest. That's all." She said looking at him.
"Forget it! Come on Dad let's go!" MJ said grabbing his jacket and leaving the room.
Katie put her hands up to her face and sighed heavily.
"It's ok Katie. He's just tired." Steve said kissing her on the head.
"Ok. Kiss Kasey Lynn for me and tell her I love her. By the way where is she?" Katie asked looking at her Dad.
"She's down in the doctor's lounge sleeping. See you in the morning." Steve said leaving.
When Steve left Katie's room he found MJ holding Kasey Lynn.
"Ready?" Steve asked looking over at them.
"Yes." MJ hissed.
They got into the car and headed home. When they pulled up, MJ got out and carried Kasey Lynn in and up to her bedroom. He kissed her good night and went into his room to get undressed. He looked over and noticed his answering machine was blinking so he played the messages.
"Hi MJ. It's Kristen. Missed you at the party. Sorry to hear about Katie. Hope she's ok. Bye."
"Yo! MJ! It's CJ. What's up? How's Katie feeling? Let me know so Dion and I can see her. The party was ok. Dion and Rachel got into a fight again. Things between them have gotten worse. Gotta go. Bye."
MJ just shook his head at the last message. There was a knock on his door.
"Come in."
"MJ why did you talk to Katie like that? She just wanted you to get a decent night sleep."
"I don't know. I'm angry that she's in the hospital, Mom's there and now grandpa is going to save that jerk who shot Katie." MJ said looking at his Dad.
"You are definitely sure that's the guy?" Steve asked sitting next to him.
"Yes. I'll never forget that 'devil' tattoo." He said looking at his Dad.
"Ok. I'll let Captain Newman know. Now get some rest." Steve said patting him on the back before he left.
Steve walked into his bedroom turned on the light and started to get undress. He looked over at the empty bed and sighed. He took off his watch and put it on the nightstand next to his bed. He looked over at Kit's picture, picked it up and said,
"I love you and I can't wait for you to come home." He put the picture down and laid down on the bed and fell into an exhausted sleep.
He was then woken by his alarm clock. He reached over and shut it off. He got up and sat on the edge of the bed. The phone then rang.
"Hello." He said groggily.
"Hey babe. Did I wake you?" Kit asked.
"No I was just getting up." He said.
"Are you coming by before I go for the operation?" She asked.
"Do you want me to?"
"Please. Bring MJ and Kasey Lynn too." She said.
"I will."
"Steve is everything ok?"
"Yeah. Just tired. I'll see you in about an hour. Ok?"
"Ok. I love you always and forever."
He laughed and said, "I know. I love you too." Then he hung up the phone.
He got up and dragged himself into the bathroom and put on the shower water. After his shower he got dressed. He walked out of his bedroom and heard talking.
"Look you have to wear that." MJ signed to Kasey Lynn.
"No!" She signed back.
"Why not?"
"I hate it! I makes me itchy."
"UGH! Ok then what do you want to wear?"
Kasey Lynn went into her closet and pulled out a fancy dress, which she loved to wear.
"Pick something else. You're not wearing that." He signed.
"Why not? I think it's pretty."
"Yeah if you're going to church." He signed to her.
She made a face at him.
"Don't make that face at me." He said grabbing her and flopping her on the bed.
Kasey Lynn let out a scream of laughter. MJ was tickling her. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." MJ said pinning Kasey Lynn down.
"Let's go you two. I told Mom that we'd be at the hospital before the operation." Steve smiled at them.
"Ok." MJ said letting Kasey Lynn go.
Kasey Lynn got off her bed and ran over to her Dad. He picked her up and planted lots and lots of kisses on her. She giggled when he did that. He then put her down and told her to hurry and get dressed. Steve and MJ left Kasey Lynn to get dress.
"You sleep ok?" Steve asked as they went downstairs.
"So-So. You? MJ asked.
"Yeah." Steve said as they entered the kitchen.
Steve and MJ sat down to their breakfast when Kasey Lynn walked in wearing her fancy dress.
"I told you, you have to wear something else. That's too fancy for the hospital." MJ said signing at her.
"I want to wear it. Can I wear it daddy? Please! I want to look pretty for mommy."
"MJ is right. I think mommy would prefer you in your jeans, sneakers and T-shirt." Steve signed to her.
"But I want to wear it!"
"How about this. When mommy is ready to come home from the hospital you can wear the fancy dress. I'll wear my navy blue suit; Dad can wear his navy blue suit too and if Katie's home she'll wear her flower sundress. Ok?" MJ said.
"Ok."
"Now let's go you two mommy is going to think that we are not coming." Steve said to them.
The three headed to the hospital twenty minutes before Kit was going in for her operation.
"Hi. Sorry we were late. A little fashion problem this morning." Steve said kissing Kit.
"That's ok babe." She smiled at him.
Steve noticed that Kit was not too with it. Amanda, Mark and Jesse came in to wish Kit good luck.
"Thank you." She smiled and then drifted off.
Dr. Spencer, an orderly and a nurse wheeled Kit out of her room. Steve watched and then he excused himself from the room.
"Dr. Spencer can you wait just a sec?" Steve asked.
"Only for a second Steve."
Steve walked over to Kit's bed leaned down and kissed Kit gently on the lips. He rested his head on her head and whispered; "Good luck and I'll be here waiting for you."
"Steve we have to go." Dr. Spencer said.
Amanda came out and took Steve back into Kit's room. He walked over to the window and looked out. Mark went over to him and said,
"Everything is going be fine. Dr. Spencer caught this in time."
Steve looked over at his father and said, "I never felt this afraid in all my life. Mom never got a second chance at life. Dad I don't want to loose her." His tears started to fall.
"Come on. Let's go see Katie." Mark said looking sadly at his son.
Mark prayed that Steve would not go through what he had to go through when his beloved Katherine died. Mark doesn't remember Steve ever letting his feelings show before he met Kit. Mark and Steve then left the room and headed to Katie's. They walked in and found MJ, Kasey Lynn and Katie sitting around talking and laughing along with Dion, CJ, Liz and Patty. Steve just stood there looking at the seven friends. He remembered the day that Katie came home from kindergarten so excited that she met two cousins who liked her a lot. Katie was happy that she finally got her own friends. The three girls from that day on were inseparable. The same went with MJ and his two best buds, as he likes to call them. But the ones that are 'true best friends' are Katie and MJ. He is so proud of his three kids. Two teenagers who turned out to be good kids and an eight-year-old who doesn't let anyone or anything stand in her way.
Katie then noticed her father and grandpa standing there.
"Hi daddy! Hi grandpa! Daddy did you get to see mommy?" She asked looking at him with those beautiful blue eyes and that stunning smile.
"Yes I did." He said walking over to her and leaning over Kasey Lynn to kiss Katie on the head.
Katie looked at her Dad and noticed that he seemed upset.
"Hey guys can you do me a favor?" Katie asked looking at everyone.
They all looked at her. "Could you give me a couple of minutes alone with my Dad?"
"Sure." They all said.
Everyone left the room.
"Katie you didn't have to let them leave. We could have talked after visiting hours." Steve said sitting down on her bed.
She looked at him and said, "It's ok. They understand."
He then looked down and tears started to fall once again. Katie reached up and wiped them away and said,
"Daddy. Mommy is going to be fine. She's a fighter like us." Katie smiled at him.
"I know she is. You see when I was your age and your Aunt Carol was thirteen grandma died of cancer. Aunt Carol was crushed. Me I dealt with it in my own way. It was the wrong way but it was the only way I knew how to deal with it. I got myself into a lot of trouble until I met this guy who helped me out of trouble. He was the reason why I became a cop instead of someone who had a record. What I'm trying to say is I don't want you kids to go through what I went through." He said looking at her.
Katie was surprised that her Dad opened up to her like that. She never knew the real reason why her Dad became a cop. Steve and Katie talked some more.
"Daddy you think Mom wants a party right away?" Katie asked looking at him.
"No. I think we should wait on that." He said smiling at her.
"Ok. Are we going away as a family to the cabin or just you and Mom?" She asked.
"I was thinking in about a couple of weeks we can all go as a family up to the cabin and then after that I'm going to take your Mom away for a nice long peaceful weekend." Steve smiled at her.
Mark came into Katie's room. Steve got up quickly when he saw his Dad come in.
"Kit is out of surgery." Mark said.
"When can I see her?" Steve asked looking at his Dad.
"You can see her now." Mark smiled at him.
Steve looked over at Katie and Katie said with a smile,
"Go on Dad. I'll be ok. MJ and the gang should be coming back in soon."
Steve kissed Katie and was out the door in a flash. Katie laughed to herself about her father's reaction.
"After all these years your Dad still acts like this is the first time they are dating." Mark said looking at Katie.
"I know what you mean grandpa. They are nothing like my friend's parents. Nothing at all like them." Katie smiled.
Steve arrived at Kit's room. He walked in quietly, pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down. He looked over at her and took a hold of her hand. Again he got that warm sensation going through his body. Kit then woke up.
"Hey babe." She said groggily.
"Hi." He smiled trying to hold back his tears.
"How's Katie?"
"She's doing great." He said looking at her.
"Oh thank god. When can she go home?" Kit asked drifting off to sleep.
Steve watched her sleep and then he fell asleep. Fifteen minutes later MJ showed up.
"Dad." MJ said quietly waking up his Dad.
"Hmm. Hey pal. What's wrong?" Steve asked sitting up.
"Nothing. I just wanted you to know that I'm going home with CJ and Dion for dinner." MJ whispered.
"Oh ok." Steve said looking over at Kit sleeping.
Kit then woke up.
"Hi Mom." MJ said with a smile.
"Hi honey. How are you?" She asked looking at him.
"I'm ok. How are you feeling?"
"Sore but ok." She smiled again.
He went over to his Mom and gave her a kiss and a gentle hug. Then he told his Mom that he's going to grab a bite to eat at CJ and Dion's and will be back afterwards.
"Where's Kasey Lynn?" Kit asked.
"She'll be here in a minute. She said she had to do something." MJ said.
Steve looked at MJ and asked, "What did she have to do?"
"I don't know Dad. You know how she gets when she's on a mission." MJ laughed.
"Oh yeah do I know." Steve laughed.
Kit then started to laugh too. The door to Kit's room opened and in came Kasey Lynn holding a balloon and a teddy bear. She walked over to her Mom and handed the balloon and bear to her.
"Oh honey these are just beautiful." Kit signed to her.
"You're welcome." Kasey Lynn signed back.
There was a knock on Kit's door. Steve got up to answer it. Liz, Patty, CJ and Dion all came in with one big basket of flowers.
"Hi Mrs. Sloan." Liz said.
"Hi kids." Kit smiled at them.
"We're not staying long Aunt Kit. We just wanted to drop off the flowers in person and then leave." Dion said gently hugging Kit.
"Thank you all. That was very thoughtful." Kit smiled and hugged them all.
Dr. Spencer then walked in and found the room filled with everyone. Patty looked over at Dr. Spencer and said,
"We're just leaving." The kids all got up and left.
"MJ!"
"Yeah Dad."
"Can you take Kasey Lynn with you?"
MJ looked at CJ and Dion. Liz heard what Steve said and said,
"Why don't we take her Mr. Sloan? I think she'll have a better time with us then with the guys." Liz said smiling at him.
"I don't want to put your parents out." Steve said to them.
"You won't be. They'll be thrilled to have her." Liz said.
"Well then ok." He smiled at them.
Steve signed to Kasey Lynn. When she found out that she'd be going with Liz and Patty she was so excited that she let out a scream. Everyone laughed.
"Patty. Liz. I'll pick her up in the morning." Steve said looking at them.
"Ok." The girls said.
"What! What!" Kasey Lynn signed excitedly.
"You're going to sleep over at our house tonight." Patty said smiling at her.
"Noooo! Really!" Kasey Lynn signed excitedly.
The kids then all left. Dr. Spencer pulled up a chair and sat down to talk to Steve and Kit.
"Kit I want you to get a lot of rest. Then tomorrow we are going to start on some arm exercises. This is to make sure that you don't become stiff."
"Ok. Can Steve stay tonight?" Kit asked looking at her.
"No. You need all the rest you can get. Understand." Dr. Spencer said looking at both of them.
"Yes. It will be fine." Steve said looking at Kit.
"Anything you say." Kit said closing her eyes trying not to let them see how upset she was.
"Kit I'm not doing this to make you upset I'm doing this because you need rest." Dr. Spencer said.
Dr. Spencer got up checked on Kit's operation and then left.
"I'll be right back." Steve said looking at Kit.
"I'll be here." She said.
Steve called after Dr. Spencer.
"Dr. Spencer!"
"Yes Steve."
"When will Kit be able to go home?"
"She can go home on Saturday. Is that all right?"
"Yes. I'm asking because Katie is here and I need to work out how to get the two home." He smiled.
"Oh right! How is she doing?" Dr. Spencer asked.
"So far so good." He smiled.
"That's great. I'm going to see Katie in an hour." Dr. Spencer said.
"Katie would love that." He said walking back into Kit's room.
He happened to look over and saw her sleeping. Steve gently took her hand and kissed her on the lips, knowing even after all these years how much he still loved her. Kit then took her hand and gently touched his face. Steve bent down again and kissed her once more.
"Steve when can I go home?" Kit asked looking at him.
"Dr. Spencer said on Saturday." Steve said looking at her.
He wished that she could come home tonight so she wouldn't be away from him anymore, but he knew it was hopeless to think that way, especially after all she had been through.
"Steve."
"Yeah."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I just miss you." He said holding and kissing her hand once again.
"I miss you too. I can't wait to come home."
The announcement of visiting hours was over, came over the intercom. Kit looked over at Steve but he didn't make any attempts to move from her side. They talked and talked some more until Kit fell asleep again. He left her a note telling her that he'll be back tonight to see her. Instead of him going home to an empty house Steve went to the restaurant to eat dinner. His Dad also showed up.
"Hi Steve."
"Hey Dad."
"Have you spoken to Kit's Uncle Jimmy?" Mark asked sitting down at the counter.
"Oh god no. I'll have to call him now." Steve got up and walked into the back room and called Jimmy from the office.
He dialed Jimmy's number. It rang four times until the machine picked up.
"Hi Jimmy its Steve. Kit had her operation today. She's at Community General Hospital Room 625. Please call me here at BBQ Bobs or at home tonight and I'll fill you in on the family. Bye." Steve then hung up.
He went back out to join his Dad.
"What did Jimmy say?" Mark asked.
"He wasn't home. I left a message." Steve said sadly.
"You ok son?"
"No Dad I'm not." Steve said looking at him.
"What's wrong?"
"Kit asked Dr. Spencer if I can stay with her and Dr. Spencer said no. Dad I really don't want to go home tonight. I would like to stay with my wife." Steve said looking at his Dad and then at his food.
"Did Dr. Spencer say why you couldn't stay?"
"She wants Kit to rest."
"Hey Steve! You got a call!" Phil called from the kitchen.
Steve got up and took the call.
"Hi Steve. It's Jimmy."
"Hi Jimmy."
"How's Kit doing? Is she ok?" Jimmy asked nervously.
"Yes. I'm going back tonight to see her.
"I got a call the other night from MJ. Katie was shot? Who did it? Why?" At this point Jimmy was upset and a little angry that Steve and Kit didn't call him.
Steve sensed that Jimmy was angry. He and Kit didn't mean to hurt him.
"Yes it's true that Katie's in the hospital. I'm sorry Jimmy that I didn't call you sooner. It wasn't done intentionally.
"I know Steve. I'm sorry that I came across angry. It is rough when everything comes down on you like this. You have to remember I'm always here to help you and your family." Jimmy said.
"Thanks Jimmy. I'll see you tonight?"
"Yes you will. Bye."
After dinner at BBQ Bob's Steve went home took a shower and headed back to the hospital. Before he arrived at the hospital he stopped off at the florist and picked up a dozen red roses for Kit. When he got back into his car his cell phone rang.
"Shit!" He said opening it up.
"Sloan here….Hi Captain.
"Lieutenant I need you to come to the station right now." Captain Newman said.
"Captain I'm on my way to see Kit and Katie in the hospital."
"I need you at the station now."
"Now? Ok. I'll be by in fifteen minutes." He then hung up the phone.
Steve turned his car around and headed to the station. When he arrived Captain Newman called him into the meeting room. When he entered he saw Cheryl and Chief Masters waiting for him. He then sat down.
"Sloan we arrested the other guy that was involved with shooting Katie." Captain Newman said looking at Steve.
"He happens to attend your children's High School." Chief Masters said.
"Really? Who is he?" Steve asked looking at everyone.
"His name is Brad Martin." Cheryl said looking at Steve.
"Brad Martin! That can't be. He's a nice boy. I know him. Kit knows him. He dated Katie. Why would he be involved in the shooting?" Steve said looking at everyone once again.
"He won't talk to us. He wants to talk to you Steve." Chief Masters said.
"Steve do you want to talk to him?" Captain Newman asked.
Steve looked at the Captain and said, "Yes."
Everyone then got up and went to the interrogation room where Brad was sitting. Cheryl walked in then Steve. Chief Masters and Captain Newman went into the other room to listen. Steve sat across from Brad while Cheryl stood by the door. Brad and Steve made eye contact.
"Brad why?" Steve asked looking at him.
"It wasn't supposed to happen that way Mr. Sloan. Honest. My cousin Tony wanted to go in there to rob the place for drug money. He was shaking so much that when Katie came in he shot her. We panicked and then left." Brad said looking at Steve.
"You didn't even bother to find out if she was alive or dead!" Steve said getting angry.
"I called the hospital to find out about her. They told me she was in surgery. I called the next day and they said that she was resting." Brad said looking down at the table.
"You went out with her for a month! What the hell did she do to you that you had to go into MY restaurant and rob the place! Let alone allow your cousin to shoot her!" Steve said leaning over the table and grabbing Brad.
Cheryl grabbed Steve away from Brad.
"I'm sorry Mr. Sloan. I'm really sorry." Brad said crying.
"Sorry? Sorry isn't going to cut it with me! I'm going to make sure that you and your cousin are put away for the rest of your lives!" Steve said pulling himself away from Cheryl and storming out of the interrogation room.