When Terror Takes Its Toll
Chapter 4
Later that afternoon, Steve was forcing a brown stew like substance on a spoon into his mouth, grimacing as he did while Mike watched from the visitor's chair. So far he hadn't complained and Mike was enjoying the new cooperative patient Steve for a change.
"I must admit Steve, I really didn't think you'd keep up your half of the deal Buddy boy. I'm really impressed."
Steve swallowed the offending substance and fought back a gag as it slid down his throat before answering.
"Don't push your luck Mike."
Mike laughed and leaned over to see how much of Steve's dinner was left in the bowl.
"You're almost there Steve ... Only about two spoons left ... "
Steve scowled across at the older man as he then scooped up another spoonful and shuddered at the mere prospect of putting it in his mouth but knowing he had made a deal and had to fulfill it, he shoved it in and chewed it hurriedly, swallowing it just as quickly as he gagged again and muttered under his breath.
"God I hope Warren appreciates this and I haven't just suffered through this for nothing."
As he scooped up the last spoonful and felt his stomach churn, the door opened and Gerry O'Brien walked in, causing Steve to sigh with relief and drop the spoon back into the bowl.
"Hey guys. I came as quick as I could. How are you feeling Steve? You look good."
"Yeah ... I'm coming along, thanks Gerry and thanks for coming."
Then turning to smile at Mike, he added playfully.
"Saved by the ADA .."
"Ah, ah ... We had a deal ... Last spoon. Come on now. Down the hatch ... "
Gerry watched with amusement as Steve scowled at the older man and then reluctantly picked up his spoon again and scooped up the rapidly congealing brown substance once more. He leaned over and made a face as he saw what Steve was having to eat.
"UGH! ... What IS that?"
"Beef stew according to the Catering Lady" Mike replied.
"HORRIBLE ... that's what it is ... " Steve answered automatically as he forced the final spoon into his mouth and chewed in such a way that both men in the room sympathized with his ordeal.
Swallowing hard, he then opened his mouth to show Mike that it was gone before speaking with annoyance in his tone.
"THERE ... You happy?"
"Very ... Good man ..." Mike added, deciding that Steve had more than fulfilled his side of the bargain for this afternoon having eaten the full unrecognizable meal and earlier having allowed a bulky male nurse to give him an undignified sponge bath and by not complaining once while the day nurse had drawn two large vials of blood from his arm despite the look of torture written all over his face during its extraction.
He stood up and removed the tray away from Steve's sight and then returned as Gerry pulled another chair over and sat down beside Steve's bed.
"So? What's this meeting about, huh?"
"Warren ... Charles Warren ..." Steve answered seriously as he watched O'Brien's face fall.
"Ah ... Yes, I thought it might be. Look guys I don't like prosecuting this man anymore than you do but he broke the Law, interfered with a Police Operation and killed someone."
Mike cleared his throat and intervened while Steve was still visibly struggling to keep his recently consumed food where he had put it.
"Gerry, we have more information now relating to that as it happens."
Gerry turned towards Mike and raised his eyebrows in interest.
"Ok, you have my full attention. Go on ..."
Mike looked across at his partner and could see that he seemed to be winning the war with his stomach and so spoke softly in his direction.
"I'll let Steve tell you ... Go ahead Steve. Tell the man what happened."
Steve spent the next fifteen minutes regaling Gerry with what had actually happened in those few fatal minutes on the boat and when he had finished, he watched as Gerry rose from his seat and paced towards the window.
"Well that certainly changes things a little. He could plead not guilty to the charge of murder and guilty to involuntary manslaughter and it could mitigate his sentence, perhaps even get him off the charges if a Judge sympathized with his case. But Steve ... You'd have to testify on his behalf and we'd have to have your version of events corroborated and verified by some of the other hostages too. Were there other witnesses? And are you willing to do that?"
"Absolutely ... and yes, the other two male hostages witnessed it, I'm sure."
"Ok, well the arraignment should be the day after tomorrow. In very exceptional circumstances, we can ask the Judge to listen to a witness statement where the testimony is detrimental to the case and the charges brought against the accused. In this case your testimony proves that he acted in your defense. I'm meeting with his defense team tomorrow morning to discuss the charges. Will you be out of here by the day after tomorrow?"
"Yeah, yeah I should be ..." Steve replied but Mike quickly cut across him.
"Hey, now wait a minute Buddy boy. That's when the Doctor said he might release you. You can't go straight from here to a Court house. You're supposed to be taking it easy, remember?"
"It's just an arraignment Mike. It won't take long. This is a man's life we're talking about! It won't be that grueling, will it Gerry?"
"No, no it will just mean him taking the stand for around ten minutes, Mike. "
"See? ..."
Mike scowled as he looked between the two expectant faces and then he threw his hands in the air in mock surrender.
"Ok, ok ... I can't fight you both ... "
"Great, well I'll talk to his attorney tomorrow and I'll talk to you Steve before the arraignment. Listen you take care, ok? You know, everyone down at Bryant Street is glad you're ok Steve."
"Thanks... Gerry? Do you really think he has a chance of getting off lightly?"
"With your testimony, I'd say he has a good chance. The man has suffered enough. I'll be in touch. I'll see ya ..."
"Ok, see ya..." Steve answered, sinking back into the pillows, suddenly feeling tired and deflated and watching as Gerry exited his room and the Catering Lady entered at the same time carrying a small bowl.
"Oh you've done such a good job with your dinner Mr. Keller, that I brought you some lovely rice pudding for dessert." she beamed as Mike chuckled from the corner and Steve groaned loudly in the bed.
Two days later, a fully dressed Steve was pacing uncomfortably up and down the small corridor outside Court Number five, leaning heavily on a wooden cane in his right hand as he took each step forward and rolling his eyes up to heaven as he heard Mike begin the same rant for the third time in the last hour.
"Won't be too gruelling he said ... Piece of cake he said ...No trouble at all he said ..."
"Ok, ok Mike ... I KNOW, alright? There must have been some delay. I'm sure that Gerry will let us know what's happening as soon as he can ..."
"Well then where the hell is he, huh? We've been here now for just over an hour."
"I don't know Mike ... Just relax, will ya? You're not making this waiting any easier, you know?"
Mike quietened for several seconds and Steve sighed gratefully but as he turned and paced back the other way again, Mike began again.
"This is ridiculous Steve ... You're only out of Hospital ... You're SUPPOSED to be home resting as per Doctor's orders ..."
Steve could feel his temper starting to flare along with the burning pain is his lower back.
"Damn it Mike ... I KNOW ... We just have to wait for Gerry to let us know what's going on ... "
Ignoring Steve's angered tone, Mike noticed Steve's increased discomfort and pleaded with him instead.
"Well will you PLEASE at least sit down and take the weight off your side. That cane is only going to take so much weight off it, you know?"
"I TOLD you Mike, sitting on that hard chair just hurts my back even more. It's easier when I walk ..."
"But you're just going to tire yourself out that way ... You know we had a deal that you were to follow Doctor's orders, remember? And the Doctor said you were to go straight home to BED Steve."
"I only agreed to that stupid deal so I could do this in the first PLACE ..." Steve yelled, losing his temper completely as he turned towards Mike a little too fast and was hit by a a back spasm that temporarily robbed him of breath and made him sway where he stood.
Mike stood up and raced to his side and steadied him with an arm on his elbow. The security man outside Court Number five raced towards them too looking concerned.
"Mike? Steve? Is everything alright?"
"No, Paul, it's not. Steve here is just out of Hospital this morning. You couldn't find us a more comfortable chair for him, could you? He has a sore back."
"Sure ... Yeah I think so ... Hang on ..."
Mike watched as Paul raced off before looking down at a decidedly paler Steve.
"You ok? ... I'm sorry Buddy boy. I guess I WAS being a little over bearing, huh?"
"No ... no, it wasn't you. I'M sorry. I'm just getting a little sore and cranky that's all. I didn't mean to yell at you ... I just NEED to do this Mike. "
"Ok, ok ... I know ..."
Before either man could say any more, Paul arrived back with a comfy looking, padded leather chair and placed it against the wall.
"That's the best I could do ... I hope it's ok?"
Mike lowered Steve slowly into it and watched as Steve adjusted himself into it gingerly. Steve let out a sigh of relief and his smile returned briefly.
"OH ... that's much better. Thanks Paul."
"Sure thing ..." the young man uttered proudly before returning to his post.
Steve settled back into the chair and then rubbed at his back carefully as Mike looked on worried.
"You sure that feels better?"
"Yeah ... But I'd kill for a soft cushion that I could put behind my back though."
Before the words had finished leaving Steve's lips, the young man looked on confused as Mike took off his overcoat and rolled it up into a ball then gently pulling Steve forward slightly, he placed the coat at his partner's lower back and pushed him gently back against it.
"There ... How's that? Any better?"
Steve smiled warmly at the older man.
"Yeah ... That's better. Thanks Mike ... Look I'm really sorry for yelling at you."
"Forget it ... I know I can get a little fussy sometimes but it's not that I don't care about what happens to Charles Warren. I want you to know that ... It's just that well ... I care MORE about what happens to you Buddy boy ..."
Steve grinned wider and nodded gratefully.
"I know Mike ..."
"Listen I'd kill for a cup of coffee, right about now. Do you want one, Steve?"
"Yeah, yeah that would be nice ..."
"Ok, stay put will you? If you're not careful you're going to start off that kidney bleeding again and neither of us want that, right?"
"NO ... We most certainly do not ... Ok, point taken ... I'll behave ... "
Mike smiled and headed off in search of a vending machine, rifling through his trouser pocket as he went, looking for loose change.
Another twenty minutes went by and the two empty polystyrene coffee cups had long since been tossed into the trash can. Steve was leaned back, his head resting on the back of the chair with his eyes closed. Mike was sitting on the hard chair opposite him. He hadn't figured out yet if the young man had actually fallen asleep but he knew Steve was getting more tired and sore as the morning wore on and he was rapidly losing patience with the absence of Gerry O'Brien. He stood up and walked quietly towards the unmoving young man and smiled as he heard the low, soft snore emanating from his partner. He turned and headed up the corridor more out of boredom than anything else and spotted the security man Paul from earlier coming out of Courtroom four. Catching his attention, he asked curiously.
"Hey Paul? Have you idea what's going on here this morning with the delays?"
"Judge Samuels didn't show apparently. The arraignments are backing up as a result. But I think the Warren case is up soon. That's Steve's one isn't it?"
Mike smiled at the young man's knowledge.
"That's right. "
"That was the hostage siege at the Pier wasn't it? Steve was taken wasn't he?"
Mike swallowed hard, not wanting to even think let alone have to remember that fact too much.
"Yes, yes he was ... I take it you followed it on the news, huh?"
"Yeah ... Most people did. It was the talk of work the next day. That poor man's daughter. Really scary to think that you just never know what's around the next corner, eh Mike?"
"Yeah ... You're right. It's pretty scary alright. You just never know ..."
Looking down at Steve's prone form in the leather chair, Paul asked hesitantly.
"Is he ok?"
"Oh yeah, he's ok ... He's just asleep ... He just got out of Hospital this morning. He SHOULD be home resting ..."
With that, a door opened further down the corridor and a flustered looking Gerry O'Brien came out of it and began heading towards him hurriedly. Mike sent a famous Stone glare in his direction and Gerry having seen it, spoke apologetically as he approached the obviously annoyed older man.
"Mike I am SO SORRY ... One of the judges never showed and the arraignments are all over the place. I haven't been able to get away until now to let you know. How's Steve? Is he fed up waiting?"
"He's asleep ... That's how he is. And SORE! ... Gerry you said this wouldn't be an ordeal for him and it's already become one."
"I know ... I KNOW Mike and I said I'm SORRY. These things happen but the Warren case is up next in Courtroom Five. I've told the Judge and he knows Steve is just out of Hospital and that he's been waiting a long time so he's going to call him to the stand first. "
With that explanation, both men turned and headed for where Steve was sitting, and sleeping. Gerry knew better than to take the lead so he pulled back as they approached and allowed Mike to step in and rouse the sleeping, young detective.
"Steve? ... Wake up ... Steve?" Mike cajoled gently as Steve startled awake and snapped his head up, rubbing his eyes and struggling momentarily to get his bearings.
"What? ... What's ... going on?"
Mike smiled and laid a gentle hand on the young man's arm.
"You fell asleep ... Gerry's here ... AT LAST! ... " he added with another purposeful glare back at the Assistant DA.
Steve shifted slowly, prevented from moving too fast anyway by Mike's well placed hand.
"Oh ... Hi Gerry ... What's happening?"
Gerry moved in closer and got down on his hunkers beside Steve's chair, ignoring Mike's glare for now.
"Steve, I'm really sorry. The arraignment schedule was messed up his morning. They're only starting the Warren case now in Courtroom Five, just across the Hall there. Now, the Judge knows you've come straight from the Hospital and that you've been waiting a long time so he's going to call you to the stand first, ok? Are you ready?"
Steve rubbed a hand down his face to expel the last of the sleepiness he was feeling and nodded unconvincingly, but before he could formulate a verbal response, Mike had spoken first.
"Gerry, he was READY an hour and a half ago. NOW ... he's tired and he's in pain."
"MIKE? ... It's NOT Gerry's fault. Cool it, will ya?" Steve piped up as Gerry spoke next.
"He does have a valid point though Steve. Are you sure you're going to be up to this after the lengthy delay?"
Steve looked across into Gerry's concerned face and forced a smile.
"Yeah ... I'll be fine ... I'm just a little sore that's all ... Don't worry, I'm ready ..."
"Ok ... But if you don't feel right in there, the Judge is aware of the situation. Just tell us, ok?"
"Yeah, ok ..."
"Right I'll go in and as soon as the Judge calls you to the stand, I'll come and get you, ok? It will probably be about ten minutes."
Steve nodded and watched as Gerry departed and he felt the first flutter of nerves hit and send a strange sensation through his empty stomach. He straightened himself up and smoothed down his jacket as he looked up at Mike.
"How do I look? ... Ok?"
Mike looked with concern down at his sickly pale partner and noted that his complexion was not far off the colour of his crisp, white shirt.
"You mean apart from the fact that your face currently is the same colour as your shirt, Buddy boy?"
Steve frowned and proceeded to straighten his red tie, pushing it up into place having loosened it earlier for comfort's sake while waiting. Mike felt a pang of regret for his lack of encouragement and so stepped forward to assist him. Taking the tie in his own hands he adjusted it and spoke in a more upbeat tone.
"You look fine Steve ... I just wish I could go in with you."
"It's a closed court Mike, you know that? Because of the Terrorist element. Besides I'll be fine. Gerry will take care for me."
"He BETTER ..." Mike responded menacingly which made Steve chuckle.
"Oh you better throw a comb through your hair. It's sticking up where you were asleep a minute ago."
Horrified at that thought, Steve quickly fished a comb from his inside jacket pocket and combed his locks into place much to Mike's added amusement and then asked the older man seriously.
"How's that? Is it back in place?"
"Yes ... Looks like you're ready to go Buddy Boy. Why are you so concerned about your looks anyway?"
Steve's cheeky grin widened and he answered in a low voice.
"Because Stacey Harwood is the stenographer today. I checked ..."
Mike's face fell and he shook his head from side to side, incredulously.
"You are incorrigible, you know that?"
Steve shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
"What? I might as well get something extra out of all this ... even if it's just a sympathetic date with the lovely Stacey ..."
"Unbelievable ..." Mike added just as Gerry popped his head out and called over softly.
"You're up Steve ..."
Steve took a deep steadying breath and then attempted to stand, feeling the pain flare in his lower back as he sucked in a hiss of pain. Mike and Gerry both winced in sympathy as Mike reached down to assist and helped the young man up on his feet and handed him the wooden cane.
"Take it easy now ... You're probably going to be a little stiff after all the waiting ..."
Steve nodded but didn't verbally respond which worried both men present as he started taking slow, careful steps, his limp much more pronounced than before. Having escorted him as far as Gerry, Gerry took Steve's arm and looked back at Mike's worried face.
"Don't worry Mike ... I'll keep an eye on him."
"You DO that."
Steve reached the door to the Courtroom and turned to send a nervous glance back at his older partner.
"Wish me luck ..."
"Good luck ..."