EPILOGUE
Later that evening, they gathered at Franklin Hospital's ICU waiting room, hoping to tie together the last pieces of a puzzle that had ended in the most dramatic way of all.
It had taken them several hours to clear the scene and gather evidence at the house, before returning to San Francisco and the temporary shelter that the Bryant Street Bureau of Inspectors offered from the news piranhas and relentless gapers.
Freshly stitched up and wearing a clean shirt and vest that smelled a lot better than Roberts' cheap bourbon, Mike had been patiently standing by the beverage machine, watching the occasional nurse or doctor walk by and hoping that news about Luther's condition would arrive soon.
On the bench next to him, Steve was sprawled out spread eagle, his freshly stitched and bandaged leg resting on a stack of magazines to keep it elevated, the exhaustion caused by the events of the previous few days slowly getting the better of him.
With his eyes closed, an unsuspecting passerby would think the young Inspector was fast asleep, but Mike could tell from the tense muscles along his jaw line that his partner was wide awake, merely resting.
The doctor had called them a couple hours ago, informing them that Luther was out of surgery and would survive the internal injuries caused by his father's fury. Through some gentle nudging, and a tiny bit of prying, Mike had been able to convince the doctor to let them see Luther once he came out of anesthesia, hoping to get answers to some of the pertinent questions burning in the back of his mind.
Playing with the empty Styrofoam cup in his hand once again, Mike drew in a deep breath, trying not to let the somber atmosphere of the ICU ward get the better of him. At the very least, he was thankful that neither one of them were at the other side of those opaque doors after the turbulent turns their case had taken.
He had just gotten up and reached into his pant pocket for more midnight coffee change, when he heard footsteps from one of the back corridors. Glancing up, Mike saw an older nurse approach their corner of the waiting area, her gray hair hidden beneath a surgery cap.
"I knew it had to be you guys when I was told two homicide detectives are outside waiting!"
The cheery voice echoed through the otherwise deserted area, and caused Steve to rise from the dead.
"Lydia!"
Taking a step aside to watch the rekindling from a neutral observers' point of view, Mike rested his elbow on the beverage machine, surprised at the gentle tone in his partner's voice.
"Sweetie, you look run down. Is this…is this your partner?"
At the mentioning, Steve nodded and straightened out against the uncomfortable bench, before gesturing toward Mike.
"Lydia DeGrossa, this is Lieutenant Michael Stone. Mike, this is Lydia, my neighbor. She's a nurse up here in ICU."
Shaking hands with the petite lady who had a surprisingly strong grasp, Mike nodded cordially, before leaning against the beverage machine again.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss DeGrossa. Say, I don't suppose you came here to tell us Luther is ready for questioning?"
Mike knew the answer from the shadow of regret that flooded her features.
"I am afraid not yet. He's starting to slowly come around but it will take a bit yet. Believe me, you wouldn't get anything useful out of him at this point. Give him maybe another hour."
Nodding in understanding, Mike checked his wristwatch, dreadfully realizing what time it was.
"I just came out here because Steve hadn't been home in a couple of days. I was beginning to worry. You both look a bit under the weather."
"We're alright.", the young Inspector insisted, trying to ward off his friend's worry for the time being, "It was just a…a challenging case is all."
"Well, if you say so. I heard about it on the radio this afternoon. I am glad you both walked away from that shooting mostly…unscathed."
Steve froze in place when he felt Lydia's eyes scan him top to bottom, noting his injured leg and the awkward position he kept it in to reduce pain, then looking over at Mike to see the large bandage on his temple, and the colorful bruises appearing along with it.
"Is this your guy's last check for the day? Because if it isn't, it should be."
Appreciating the motherly doting Lydia had bestowed upon both of them, Mike smiled in deep gratitude and nodded, trying not to reignite the terrible headache that had been following him home from Oakland.
"It is, Miss DeGrossa. We just want to ask Luther a few questions, then finish up our case tomorrow. It's been along few days, but there are still a several things we'd like to know before calling it quits, if you know what I mean?"
"I sure do, Lieutenant, believe me.", Lydia breathed and returned the smile, before glancing back down at Steve, her warm gaze resting on him for several seconds before she spoke up again, "Just…just call it a night afterward. I have spent my life watching people push their limits and end up in our care over foolish things like pride, passion…and devotion to their jobs. Don't you guys be one of those people."
"It would never occur to us...", Steve said cheekily, thoroughly enjoying his company, "As a matter of fact, Mike still owes me dinner after fishing the keys out of the bay the day before yesterday. I think I ought to have him buy me a nice filet mignon over at Marty's, what do you think?"
"I think you are still a bit loopy from all the meds Jules forced into you.", Mike interrupted and tapped his temple, "You ought to buy me dinner for all the gray hairs you caused me. Can't even walk a straight line without stepping into a bear trap."
"Walk a straight line?! What do you mean, Lieutenant?! We were out in the middle of nowhere, all on our own. Wilderness and danger everywhere. It's a miracle we didn't get eaten alive by some forest creature."
Chuckling at the friendly banter going on, Lydia put a hand on Steve's shoulder, squeezing it tightly as if to settle him down, before pulling it back again, but not without touching his cheek along the way.
Noting the subtle and affectionate gesture, Mike smiled. For once it felt good to know that his partner was taken care of even when he wasn't under his watchful eye.
"I have a better idea."
Turning toward the ICU doors, Lydia put her hands in the pockets of her light blue scrubs, ready to leave.
"We've got some leftover pizza at the nurse's station. How about I bring some of it out so you can put something in your bellies beside this…this concoction they call coffee around here. You two just sit here and wait, I've got you covered."
