The Most Blessed Man in L.A.
"Good morning Son,"
"Good morning Dad,"
"Are you ready for your last day on the job?" Doctor Mark Sloan asked his son Lt. Steve Sloan as they were eating breakfast and drinking coffee.
"Yea, I guess so I never imagined that twenty-five years could go by so fast." Lt. Sloan said as he was putting on his jacket to head out the door to work at the LAPD for the very last time.
Just as he was heading out the door and looked at his dad who was clearing the table getting ready to wash the dishes.
"Dad how have you done it?"
"How have I done what?" The Former Doctor and Chief of Staff at Community General asked his son.
"How have you gotten used to not working? I mean I know you have been retired now for a few years, but do you ever miss it?"
The former doctor looked at his son and chuckled light-heartedly.
"Son, I miss it every single day, I miss just getting up knowing I have something to do. I miss going to the hospital. I miss the patients and everyone that works at the hospital."
Lt. Sloan then shut the door and walked back inside the house he shared with his dad overlooking the ocean on Long Beach, California. As he sat down, he started ringing his hands and just seeming fidgety.
Mark Sloan reached for his cup of coffee and took a seat across from his son. Gathering his thoughts, he then looked at his son then he began slowly.
"Son, it will be an adjustment, you can count on that I promise you, but you have earned this day. Now I may be somewhat prejudice, but I think you have been the best darn Lieutenant that the Department has ever had."
"Thanks Dad, it means a lot to hear you say that."
"Your mother would be so proud of you, but I don't have to tell you that now do I?" his dad said with a smile.
"No dad you don't, she would be. I have to admit though I have many times thought I would have let her down with the quick decisions I have made through the years."
"Have you heard from Carol Dad?" Steve asked the look on his face was hopeful.
"Not in the last few weeks." He LIED to his son
"Oh well, I just pray to God she's ok."
"Oh, I'm sure she is! Remembering she showed them how capable she is to take care of herself when she was here last summer."
Steve just had to laugh, "Yep I remember I thought I might become one of her victims!"
With that statement Steve Sloan walked out the door for the final day on the Job. For Mark Sloan though his work had just begun. You see he was planning a surprise Retirement Party for his son, oh and Carol was going to be there!
As Lt. Sloan got out of his truck, he stood in front of the police department before walking in as a member of the police department for the last time.
Opening the door, he turned, and the office was deserted. Standing around seeing absolutely no one he was starting to flip out.
"Gee, a man works at the same job for twenty-five years, and this is the thanks he gets No one, and I mean No one is around to wish him well on his last day."
Turning the doorknob on his office door for the last time. He had to admit he had a sad feeling overwhelm him, but he knew he had to proceed as if it was any other day. Just as he turned on the light.
"SURPRISE" came shouts from every corner of his office.
All Steve could do was stand there in total shock. And Speechless.
"You guys look like a can of sardines all crammed in here."
"oh, and I didn't plan on having a heart attack today neither." He chuckled while shaking hands and giving hugs.
"you guys are the best, now we have work to do let's get this day started."
So, everyone at the P.D. went about their day.
Meanwhile at the hospital Mark Sloan went by to see Jessie and Amanda to make sure that they and a few others from the hospital were ready to throw Steve "The Best Retirement Party in LA." Although if you were to ask Steve the Retirement party that was in his dad's honor was the best in LA. However, his dad wanted to outdo that one. And believe me he knew just how he could pull it off.
After saying goodbye to his former co-workers and second family he was headed to the Airport. Airport you might ask, ah that is where the biggest surprise of all was waiting for Steve. Carol was coming home to surprise her big brother.
As the end of the workday came Steve made his way home thinking about his last day as many memorable times over the past twenty-five years flooded his mind. He was so lost in thought that he almost missed the turn into the driveway.
Slamming his foot on the break then turning into his drive-way walking through the door he called out to his dad.
"Dad, hey dad are you here?"
"Oh, no not you too ole man." Steve could not help but chuckle
So instead of really searching for his dad he settled down in his easy chair to read the days newspaper. As he made himself comfortable, he looked at the front page. And staring back at him he saw his picture.
"One of LAPD's Best Lays his Badge down."
"Oh man I must have not shaved that day." Chuckling again he continued to read the newspaper."
Steve did not know what was happening to him all he knew is that he was being shaken possibly attacked. and he thought someone had possibly broke into his home. Then suddenly, he got his wits about him that is when he saw his dad trying to wake him up.
"Ah Hi dad I only meant to read the newspaper; Not fall asleep." He said still trying to wake up.
"Oh, don't worry about it say, how would you like to Barbecue on the Beach tonight?"
"Yea, sure that's sounds great, but are you planning something?" he asked cautiously
"Who me?" Mark tried to act serious.
"Yes, you I just have a feeling you have something up your sleeve."
"oh no not really, however I did ask Jessie and Amanda to come by tonight."
"OK I will let you by this time, but only this time. I have had two heart attacks today I do not need a third one.
"Fine, Fine. I sure don't want you to have a heart attack either." Mark Sloan said while trying not to hide the happiness in his voice for tonight he would have both of his children near him for the first time in about four years.
He giddily went outside to prepare for the "little Party."
7:00 was the time that Mark Sloan had asked Jessie and Amanda to arrive at the Sloan's Beach house. Carol however she was at Steve's apartment hiding out just praying that her brother would not happen to come and find her. Truth be told she was a nervous wreck. She looked up to her big brother more than he would ever know she knew that. She also knew that she had let him as well as their father down. And that is something that she had tried so desperately to make up for.
But now she had to put those feelings of guilt aside she had a big brother to surprise at his retirement party.
Her time to arrive was to be 7:05.
The time now was 7:04 and Mark was trying his best not to show his emotions, but he was counting down the seconds to when brother and sister would see each other. He knew the range of emotions were going to be enormous, but it was not until Steve saw his little sister that the true tale of the events would unfold.
"Carol!" Steve said trying to breathe.
"Hey there Big Brother!"
As Steve started to walk towards his sister his legs just fell out from under him. And he started to Sob uncontrollably.
"My Sis is home!" "My Sis is home!" he kept saying repeatedly until finally his dad and Jessie helped him to his feet.
When he finally gained a little composure, he found his sister standing right in front of him.
"Don't I get a hug Big Brother?" she said with a tear and twinkle in her eye.
"Don't ask me a thing like that." Steve grabbed her and pulled her to him and they both wept. Not only them but all that witnessed the love between the two siblings.
"Hey Kids, I hate to break up the hug fest, but the ribs will get cold, oh and I'm hungry." Their dad smiled.
"I'm hungry too" quipped Jessie,
"you're always hungry!" Amanda, Mark & Steve said at once Laughing heartily.
So, after Dr. Mark Sloan said Grace before they ate Carol reached over to kiss her big brother.
"I love you Steve."
"I love you too Carol thank you for being here."
"I wouldn't dream of being anywhere else."
Then they hugged again before they started eating then Amanda asked him.
"So, Steve how does it feel to be retired now?"
"well I hadn't given it much thought, give it some time then I'll find a hobby or something but for now." He then took in a deep breath and let it out Very Slowly.
"I have my family, and my friends around me. So, I just count myself as the Most Blessed Man in LA."