The ambulance screeched to a halt outside Community General. Sirens still blaring, the flashing blue lights cast an unearthly hue on the paramedics who swiftly disembarked. Their actions were calm, efficient and as mechanical as clockwork. In cases like this, time was of the essence – seconds could cost lives. Ignoring the rain, they moved as one, smoothly transferring their charge to a gurney headed straight to the ER. Beside them and struggling to keep pace, Tanis Archer, her face etched with worry, spoke urgently into her cell. She was covered in dust and grime and was bleeding from multiple abrasions to her face and neck, but she didn't seem to notice or care.
'Tanis!' a voice called out to her, frantic, insistent and demanding attention.
She turned and upon seeing who it was abruptly terminated her call. Mark Sloan, silver hair slick with rain, white coat flapping behind him, ran straight to her, gripping her almost painfully by the shoulders.
'Steve?' he asked urgently, eyes raking her face, begging for information.
Tanis swallowed 'Mark, he's ….'
'Right here' a familiar voice interrupted from behind them.
Mark spun; eyes wide with relief. From the second ambulance, Steve climbed painfully to the ground and offered his father a weak smile. He looked pale and tired, a ghost of his usual strong and solid presence, but he was alive. Mark let out the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.
'I'm a little slow on my feet but I'm still in one piece' Steve said wearily.
He swayed slightly, reaching for the door of the ambulance for support. Mark rushed forward, his chest tightening in alarm, but Steve waved his father off.
'I'm fine Dad, I'll be alright' he said.
Mark shook his head 'Let me be the judge of that' he said. 'Here' he indicated the step into the ambulance 'sit down here for a minute while I take a look at you'.
'Dad, I don't need to …' Steve began, but one look from his father was enough. Gingerly he lowered himself into a sitting position and leant his head against the door of the ambulance. The cool metal against his forehead felt wonderful.
Tanis shook her head 'And who told you, you could get up?' she said, her disapproval evident.
'Hey' Steve said weakly 'I'm really fine honestly'.
'You're not fine, you're bleeding!' Mark said reaching for his son's shirt to investigate further.
'You know that's what I told him' Tanis said dryly 'And yet for some reason he didn't wanna listen to me'.
Steve winced and tightened his grip on the ambulance door, as his father gently probed his injured side 'Okay, so maybe I'm not quite in one piece, but considering I was in a bomb blast tonight, I'm not doing so bad'.
'You know this wound is gonna need stitching' Mark said 'And you're gonna need to lay down for a while, you've lost quite a lot of blood'.
'See?' Tanis said 'Maybe you'll listen now?'
'Okay, okay' Steve said wearily 'Just don't all gang up on me alright?'
Mark and Tanis looked at each other and exchanged smiles
'You know it's nice to have someone on my side for a change' Mark said 'Perhaps you'll be able to persuade him to get some rest'.
Tanis rolled her eyes 'Don't count on it, from what I've heard I may need to use restraints'.
'Hey now that sounds like an idea' Steve said, giving her a wicked smile.
Tanis groaned 'Sounds like somebody's feeling better' she said.
Steve shrugged sheepishly, but was saved from replying by a frantic shout from the main door of the hospital.
'Steve! What happened? Are you okay?'
All three looked up to see Amanda Bentley running towards them. She held a clip board over her head in a vain attempt to keep off the rain.
'He's okay' Mark shouted. He looked at Steve and Tanis 'I promised I'd call her as soon as I knew anything, but it completely slipped my mind'. He smiled sheepishly 'Boy am I in trouble now'.
'Steve, thank god you're alright' Amanda said, as she came to a breathless halt beside them 'And why didn't you call me' she said turning indignantly to Mark 'have you any idea how worried I've been?'
'I'm sorry honey' Mark said apologetically 'I was just about to call, honestly'.
'Mmmh' she said folding her arms and giving him one of her stern looks.
Mark sighed – obviously he wasn't gonna get off the hook that easily.
A twinge of pain caused Steve to groan out loud and immediately Amanda rushed to him.
'Are you sure you're okay' she said suspiciously 'you know I've seen corpses with more colour than you have right now'.
'I'm fine Amanda' he said giving her hand a squeeze 'Just a little sore that's all. I just need some sleep and I'll be as good as new'.
She smiled at him and returned the pressure on his hand before releasing it. Then she turned to Tanis 'So what did happen tonight?' she asked.
'We got lucky that's what happened' Tanis said with a shudder, eyeing the second gurney about to enter the ER.
'You sure did' Amanda echoed gravely. 'Jesse is operating right now on that guy they just brought in and it doesn't look good'. She turned to Mark placing a hand on his shoulder 'You know he could probably do with your help if you're done here?'
Mark nodded 'I'll get right over there as soon as I've finished checking over Steve'.
'You can go Dad honestly' Steve said 'I'll be alright. Go help someone who really needs it'. He gestured at his father to go, at the same time trying to look healthier than he actually felt.
'Okay, okay I'm going' Mark said giving in 'But you promise me you'll go to triage and let Susan or one of the other nurses look at you properly? You need to get some treatment for that wound.'
Steve nodded tiredly 'Sounds like a plan'.
Tanis stepped up beside him and crossed her arms determinedly 'Don't worry Mark, I'll make sure he gets there' she said firmly. 'Besides I think he's had quite enough adventures for one night, what with trying to diffuse that bomb single-handedly. I mean when I heard he was gonna..'
'I'm sorry what did you just say?' Turning back, with Amanda at his side Mark stopped and turned disbelieving eyes on his son.
Steve shifted awkwardly; his father had an uncanny knack of making him feel like a twelve year old caught dodging study hall. He'd been hoping his 'little adventure' could have been kept under wraps, but he should have known better.
'Relax okay' he said, raising his hands in defence 'I did not do any bomb disposal'.
Mark's eyes narrowed suspiciously 'So what did you do exactly?'
'Oh he just went to see if there were any more unexploded bombs, you know just lying around' Tanis said airily, ignoring the murderous look Steve was shooting her way 'and then when he found what he thought could be a bomb, did he wait for the bomb disposal guys?' she shook her head 'Nope, not Steve. He just jumped right in there and opened the damn case'.
'Please tell me this isn't true' Mark said.
'Well she is exaggerating a little' Steve replied sheepishly.
Mark let out a sigh of relief 'Good, cause I can't believe you'd really be so stupid as to open a ..'
'Oh but he was' Tanis interrupted.
Steve groaned. She really was trying to punish him. Still he guessed he couldn't blame her. Had their situations been reversed and she'd attempted to diffuse a bomb, he'd have been mad as hell. He was actually getting off pretty light and he knew it. Still the sooner they got off this particular topic, the better he'd feel.
'But anyway guys, this conversation is irrelevant as there was no bomb in the case' Steve firmly.
'There wasn't?' Mark said, momentarily distracted.
'Nope' Steve said 'Just this'.
Twisting around painfully, he pulled what looked like a crumpled ball of paper from his pocket and handed it to his father. Mark looked at it curiously and Amanda crowded round him to get a better look.
'What's this?' Mark asked.
Steve shrugged 'Take a look, your guess is as good as mine'.
Carefully Mark opened up the piece of paper. His eyes widened in surprise 'A chess piece?' he said, looking closely at the exquisitely carved ivory chessman in the palm of his hand.
'A white knight' to be exact' Tanis said 'Crazy huh?'
'And it gets worse' Steve said 'Take a look at the note'.
'The note?' Mark said
'The piece of paper in your hand' Steve replied.
Mark looked down at the crumpled piece of paper, noticing for the first time the letters cut from newspaper. Peering over his should Amanda read it out loud 'YOUR MOVE' she said, a puzzled expression on her face.
Mark looked at his son 'Your move?' he echoed.
'He's toying with us Dad' Steve said, anger glinting in his eyes 'Whoever he is, he's playing us. That case was planted for us to find.'
'You know what else it means don't you?' Mark said; his face grave.
Steve nodded grimly 'He's gonna do it again'. He shook his head 'I was right there damn it and I didn't see a thing'. He turned to Mark, his blue eyes steely with determination 'I'm gonna catch this guy Dad, if it's the last thing I do. I'm gonna wipe the smirk off his face'.
'Take it easy' Mark said laying a hand on Steve's shoulder 'Right now you're in no condition to do anything and you won't be until we get you out of this rain and get you patched up'.
'Mmmh' Steve grunted, not willing to be placated.
Mark looked at Amanda and Tanis 'Can you two take him to triage so I can go help Jesse without worrying what he's gonna do next?'
'Very funny Dad' Steve replied, grudgingly allowing Amanda and Tanis to take a side each and support him towards the ER.
Walking ahead of them, to get to Jesse as quickly as possible, Mark looked back over his shoulder and smiled sweetly.
'And son, once you're finished getting patched up' he said 'you and I are gonna have a little talk.'
'We are?' Steve said in confusion 'What about?'
Amanda smirked 'I'll give you one guess' she said.
Steve groaned; he should have known he wouldn't distract his father for long.
'Yeah right' he said resignedly and promptly sneezed.
'You know Steve' Amanda said immediately 'with that cold you really ought to be …'
'in bed' all four finished together.
Steve sighed gloomily 'Yeah, yeah I know'.
Mark sighed, Steve was safe for now, and for that he was grateful, but he knew in his heart of hearts that this was only the beginning.