I guess it is time to get going again. Kitty has been put to sleep. Really am starting to sound like Steve here. I told people yesterday that I'd hoped after all the critters I put to sleep, that making this call would get easier. Seems to in fact get harder. Damn fur critters. At any rate, enjoy the next few chapters. I had a blast writing them. Oh Steve…
Steve had rushed through the ER doors with enough force that they nearly slammed back into his face, missing him by mere inches, as he steered toward the entrance area, the eyes of the two security guards and each medical personnel on him, as he fished for the badge in his rear pocket.
"Inspector Stephen Keller…", he announced terribly out of breath, his voice trembling as he flashed his credentials to the head nurse, "I am here for Lieutenant Mike Stone. Where is he? How is he?"
"He figured you'd lose your mind once dispatch finally got a hold of you.", came a voice from the side corridor, belonging to Doctor Joe Ford, Mike's longtime friend and ER Physician at Franklin Hospital.
Bent over a wheel-tray of various medications, the blonde man glanced up at him empathetically, as he pointed at a few of the vials for the nearby nurse to grab, before joining him in the lounge.
"How is he?", Steve asked impatiently and darted down the hallway to meet him, the overwhelming fear for his partner's uncertain fate making his knees shake.
"Pretty banged up.", Joe explained with an even voice once the young Inspector arrived by his side, "Did you ever try to explain to him that he's getting a little old for this nonsense?...Anyways, I've put a few stitches in him and he's got some sore ribs, concussion too. If it was anybody else, I'd recommend a night's stay in the hospital for observation, but I won't open that Pandora's Box with Mike. I would however sleep better if he takes it easy for a day or so. Think you can manage that temper of his and hold down the fort for a bit, my young friend?"
Clenching his strong jaws, Steve nodded absent-mindedly, his body language urgent enough that Joe pointed his chin toward the back corridor.
"I've got all his paperwork signed off and he's ready to get out of here, if you want to help him get dressed. He's got a lot of blood on his shirt and jacket though. He might want to take a shower when he gets home, it'll help wash the rest of the grime off and also relax his sore muscles a bit."
As they walked down the hallway, Steve could hear his breaths coming in short gasps, the fear and terror of receiving the transmission about the unprovoked attack on his partner and best friend sending him into a heightened state of duress.
On the seemingly endless drive over to Franklin, he'd repeatedly beat on the steering wheel of the mint-green Galaxy, cursing himself for heading out, a plan that undoubtedly had led to Mike visiting the cemetery to pass the time.
Your partner needs you.
Heck, even Andrea had said it, and yet he'd bypassed all those warnings for some misguided selfish agenda.
There was no telling how things would have unfolded if those thugs had been given a few more minutes to beat the daylights out of Lieutenant, before a nearby patrol car took notice.
"Here. He's right in here.", came the quiet command, the tall doctors' warm hand on his back gently steering him toward the white curtain ahead, and the cantankerous mumbling hiding behind it.
Steve held his breath, as Joe pulled the curtain back, his eyes instantly meeting Mike's, causing the Lieutenant to fall quiet.
With scrapes across his cheek, a partial black eye and some stitches in his temple, he looked decidedly horrible, the mere sight causing tears of guilt to well up in Steve's eyes. Dressed in the blue and white hospital gown and covered in gauze pads, there was a distinct vulnerability exuding from his cherished partner that tore his heart to shreds.
Noticing his emotional turmoil, Mike's eyes turned warm and welcoming, as he gestured toward the foot of the bed.
"Sit down. You look like you're about to pass out."
"Well yeah. The message I got from dispatch almost gave me a heart attack. Are you alright?", Steve countered, nodding at Joe in gratitude, before yielding Mike's request to sit by him, "Sergeant Andrews said they just jumped you at the cemetery?"
With a faint nod, the Lieutenant sat up straighter in bed, groaning in pain as he did so.
"John…ugh…John and I were talking about the Hendricks/Johnson case causing racial tension. I guess it was my turn to take one for the team."
Between his guilt of being away from his partner's side during the attack, and the complacency with which Mike approached the matter, Steve found himself growing furious, shaking hands clenched to tight fists, as he readied himself to stand up again.
"I am going to have Tanner put out an ABP on these guys. Norm and Dan offered to case the neighborhood. We're going to nail them with attempted murder, or 1st degree manslaughter, I don't care which, but I will be calling Gerry here in a second to get the ball rolling. I have seen enough of this nonsense. The only reason it's happening is because the court system has been making some startlingly bad decisions in their rulings lately, encouraging bad behavior and ridiculing those who go by the book. No…I have had it. Let's put these thugs in prison and throw away the key."
The moment he shifted his weight to stand back up again, a strong hand grasped his upper arm, clenching it so tightly that it hurt.
"Hold it, easy now, Buddyboy. Take it easy. Turning this into a vendetta of cops against blacks won't solve anything. You know that."
Meeting his partner's stern blue eyes, Steve froze in his spot, then drew in a deep breath before answering.
"Then what exactly is this, mhm? Four thugs against one, claiming that the cops started a racial war, and as an act of retaliation they beat you to a pulp?! That's acceptable? They could have killed you, for crying out loud."
"Calm down.", came the repeated command, this time stern, "Since when are you letting a situation like this wear on your nerves, hm? Don't forget about that badge in your pocket and the requirement of self-control that comes with it. Just…just settle down."
With the hand on his arm moving to Steve's back and rubbing it gently in an effort to ease the anger quickly filling the small hospital room, Mike sighed quietly.
"I know you are all worked up about this, Buddyboy…ready to walk the streets and bust these guys. But we have a case to solve in the meantime, and that should be our priority. I've filed a report with Sergeant Andrews and they will follow up and find those who are responsible. And it will be by the book. And it will be without any sort of emotional agenda. Let them do their job, while we do ours."
"Yeah, and I am sure if things go the way they have been, these thugs will be out again in no time, possibly looking for you for revenge. Did you ever think of that?"
Steve had hissed these words through gritted teeth, a reaction that made Mike reach for the back of his neck and force him to glance back over at him.
"Now, I don't think I like what's going around in your head right now, Steve. And I don't think you're in any position to condemn Gerry for what he's trying to do either. I don't think many could last working a job as frustrating and difficult as his."
When Steve didn't answer right away, only staring at him blankly, unwilling to argue and rebut at the same time, Mike tightened his grasp, shaking him slightly.
"It's been a long day, and we're both tired. Let's get out of here and see if we can unwind you for a bit. I need to take a shower, I am smelling of graveside flowers and disinfectants, how about you help me with that and keep Jeanie off my back for a few hours? That ought to take the edge off your temper for the night."
"Why'd you go to the cemetery?"
With his green eyes staring back at Mike in guarded neutrality, trying so hard to hide the guilt and anger that made the sides of his neck flush, Steve swallowed hard, knowing the answer all too well.
"Why'd you go back to see that Psych Reader lady?"
The counter question made him flinch, Mike's hand on his neck noticing it too. At a lack of words, Steve looked down at his partner's lap, unable to maintain eye contact.
"I made the connection when I smelled her perfume on you again just now.", the Lieutenant then explained with a warm smile, "That's what made you late this morning, and that's where you were heading when I was meeting with John."
"I thought it was a viable lead. And I knew you didn't believe her."
Drawing in a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Steve looked back up, his mind and body growing tired from an emotionally charged day that had turned into a rollercoaster of events, challenging all his senses beyond tolerable limits.
"And this…this investigation was the only reason you saw her, right?"
Appreciating Mike's gentle nudging in the right direction, Steve nodded, feeling relieved when the hand on his neck disappeared.
"Well then, how about we get out of here and you can tell me what all you learned from that spiritual plane on our way home?"
Unable to hide a thankful chuckle, Steve got off the bed and reached for the plastic bag containing his best friend's clothes, when another thought struck his mind.
"Does Jeanie even know about any of this yet?"
"No…not really. I didn't have the heart to scare her and I certainly didn't want her driving across town in sheer panic."
"Wh…what do you mean? You did it to me."
The feign disappointment in his voice was quickly met by a knowing smile coming from the other end of the room.
"You had it coming. Call it a…not so subtle reminder of what is important and why you should keep your eye on the ball. Besides, I need your help to calm her down and stop her from fussing when I get home. Come on now, get moving, Buddyboy, I want to get out of here."