Bye Bye Baby

A/N: Sadly due to Real Life proving difficult and recurring health issues causing me problems, I have decided to take another lengthy break from the site so I decided to post the rest of this story this morning in full rather than leave it hanging so there are three new chapters going up now. I want to thank Briroch especially for allowing me to post this story on the site as it was her Birthday gift and was written especially for her. I also want to thank all those who read it, followed it and left feedback. Special words of thanks to those who reviewed tirelessly: keller12917, Sylvia Elaine and Helenem, but also to those who I know have lots going on in their lives right now and yet still managed to get on and review intermittently. meixel, Tanith2011, EKWTSM9 and RealLifeJoanWilder. To my reviewers attyboy and Lynn's Reruns, thank you for your support and very kind words as well and to all the numerous guest reviewers, including Smithy and Amanda England, thank you for taking the time. I loved writing this story and very much enjoyed sharing it with you and must admit to being sad that it has reached the end. I hope you have all enjoyed it too and thank you for taking the journey with me. I wish you all the very best until I am able to return.x

Chapter 22 : Epilogue : Part two

Steve swallowed hard at that news

"Well that sounds ominous ... Is this about the Russians?"

"He didn't really say but I take it that it has something to do with it ,yes. Are you ... well are you up to that?"

Steve nodded agreeably keeping his nerves and misgivings very close to his chest as per usual.

"Yeah ... Of course I am ... Let's go ..."

The bullpen was much quieter now with most of the detectives out and about except for Bill who was at his desk making phone calls and Art Sekulovich who was pinning new notices to the noticeboard. In his anxiety, Steve took his bad leg off the stool and stood up a little too fast and his sore thigh spasmed painfully. He tried to suppress the loud scream of pain that demanded to be released but a low whimper escaped involuntarily. With the bullpen as quiet as it was, all three men present noticed it and were now looking anxiously at him. Desperate to draw attention away from himself, he cleared his throat and ignoring the contracting muscle as best he could, he quickly hobbled towards the door, calling back almost breathlessly.

"Ok, let's go Mike ... Gerry's waiting ... "

Mike hurried after him and tried to get him to slow up, having seen the pain etched clearly on his partner's face moments before and knowing only too well that the young man was attempting to hide the fact.

"Steve, slow down ... STEVE!"

But Steve just wanted to get this meeting over with and to get away from the questions he knew he'd be asked and so was limping painfully down the corridor with absolutely no intention of slowing down anytime soon. Mike was practically jogging to keep up as the muscle spasmed even more painfully and Steve grabbed the wall to stop himself falling as the leg threatened to buckle. He bent over and groaned in agony as Mike rushed forward to assist.

"STEVE? Are you OK? What's wrong? STEVE! Talk to me."

"It's ok ... Mike ... " Steve struggled to say as the pain bombarded him for several seconds. "It's just a muscle spasm ... It happens sometimes ..."

Mike leaned forward, feeling helpless.

"Do you need me to rub it for you?"

Before he could go near it, Steve practically yelled.

"NO! ... No, don't touch it., Mike ... That's the worse thing you can do."

"Well what DO we have to do then?"

"I ... I have to walk it off ... Just ... just give me a minute ..."

"Walk it OFF? Are you sure that's what you're supposed to do when you get one? Is that not going to make it worse?"

"No, it's ok. Trust me. This isn't the first one I've had ... " he insisted as he started to hobble again forward, purposely putting a little extra weight on the sore leg but still keeping a hand on the wall for support as he continued down the corridor valiantly.

The leg felt very weak, like it might buckle under him as he persisted in putting weight on it despite the added pain that was causing. As he tried desperately to stop the muscle from painfully contracting, he spoke back to Mike pleadingly.

"Mike ... You have my permission to hover now ... please?"

Hearing Steve's words and knowing they weren't said lightly, Mike stepped forward and stayed close in case he was needed but didn't like seeing the tortured expression that crossed Steve's face with every painful step forward.

"Steve, that doesn't look like it's working. Why don't you try and sit it out instead, huh?

"NO Mike ... It's FINE ... I've got this ..." he lied as he pushed forward again but the pain peaked and bent him over again as it stole his breath for a few seconds.

Between Steve's frustration at his slow recovery and the pain that he was sick of putting up with, the added uncertainty of Gerry's meeting hanging over him caused an unexpected implosion.

"DAMN IT ... DAMN IT! " he yelled unexpectedly as he began to hit his sore leg with a fisted hand in frustration, ignoring the extra pain he was causing by his actions as Mike grabbed his hand away and pulled it away from the added self harm he was inflicting on it.

"STEVE! STOP THAT ..."

A group of three or four people appeared at the other end of the corridor and seeing that two of them were Rudy Olsen and Lenny Murchison, Steve covered his face and muttered heartwrenchingly.

"Oh God no ..."

Mike could hear the distraught tone and knew the young man was not in any state to meet either of the two men in his current condition, so seeing what door they were now standing beside, he reached across and sighed with relief as it opened freely and then he bundled Steve unceremoniously inside and quickly followed him, closing the door shut behind them and flicking the light switch on in one swift movement as he did. Standing now in an illuminated cleaner's closet, Steve stammered incredulously.

"Mike, what the hell are you doing?"

Listening at the door he whispered back impatiently to his partner.

"Saving YOUR blushes that's what I'm DOING! Now will you keep your voice down."

Steve reddened at Mike's words and he held his breath as he heard the distinctive voices of Olsen and Murchison in loud conversation passing outside the door they were behind. As the voices gradually faded, Mike opened the door a crack and peered out before closing it again just as quick.

"Ok ... They're gone."

Steve swallowed hard and yet refused to meet Mike's questioning glare.

"Ok ... Thanks Mike ..." he mumbled shamefully as he went to grab the door handle but Mike stopped him and stood in front of the door, blocking his escape purposefully.

"Oh No! No, you're not getting away that easy, Buddy boy. You're going to take a minute and tell me what THAT was all about?"

Steve groaned at Mike's persistence.

"Aw come on Mike ... Gerry's waiting. We can talk later."

"Let HIM WAIT! We'll talk right now. "

"DAMN IT MIKE! Why do you have to be so stubborn? My leg was hurting that's ALL. I'm sick of it, OK? You happy now?"

NO! No, I'm not happy and that's NOT ALL! There's something else and you're not leaving this ... this ..."

"Cleaner's closet ..." Steve stated sarcastically.

Mike scowled at the sarcasm and spoke with more determination than ever.

"That's right! This CLEANER'S CLOSET until you get what's bugging you off your chest. Now it's got something to do with this meeting, hasn't it? Well? HASN'T IT?"

Steve made another determined effort to open the door but having managed to get it open a crack, Mike slammed it back closed, much to Steve's growing frustration.

"MIKE. OPEN the damn door."

"NO!"

Steve shifted on his sore leg, the spasms subsiding and being successfully ignored now anyway as he tried in vain to reason with the older man. Mike could see the fight waning in his young partner and spoke this time more compassionately.

"It's this meeting that's freaking you out, ... isn't it Buddy boy?"

Steve leaned back against a shelf behind him and steadied himself as he nodded resignedly, knowing when he was beaten.

"What are you worried about, Steve?"

Steve finally met Mike's stare and spoke in a low and anguished tone.

"Do you ... think Balashov will be there ... at this meeting?"

Mike shook his head.

"No, no I don't think so. Gerry would have warned you ... You're still struggling with this one, aren't you? "

Again Steve merely nodded.

"Is that why Lenny only signed you back for light duties?"

"Yeah ... But Mike, you don't have to worry, ok? I'm still seeing him. I just ... I just thought today would be easier, you know? I thought I could just get back to work and ... put it all behind me. But everyone keeps reminding me and details about it keep ..."

"... rearing their ugly head, huh? Like this meeting?"

"Yeah ..." Steve admitted in a defeated tone and Mike reached out and grabbed Steve's shoulder in a supportive gesture.

"Steve ... I know you feel this is taking a long time to get over and I know that this last three weeks have probably felt like a lifetime to you but Steve you went through a horrific ordeal. It's going to take time and in real terms three weeks isn't that long at all. You've got to give yourself time to heal and what's even more important, is that you've got to start confiding in me. We're PARTNERS Steve. Haven't we talked about this before? You don't have to hide every ache and worry from me. I need to hear about them so I can help you. I WANT to help you Buddy boy. LET ME ... please?"

Steve knew the heartfelt words were genuine and he felt guilty for not letting Mike in on his concerns earlier.

"Ok ... Ok, I will. Now can we please leave this closet Mike? I'm getting a little claustrophobic in here ..."

Hearing Steve's admission and plea, Mike chuckled and grabbed the back of Steve's neck playfully.

"Yes, we can leave the closet now BUT ... give me any further cause and you'll find yourself back in HERE! Have you got that hotshot?"

That made Steve laugh and he nodded agreeably. Mike cautiously opened the door and seeing the corridor empty he pulled Steve out behind him gently. Steve was still visibly favoring the left leg and so letting Steve lead the pace towards the elevators Mike asked softly.

"How's the leg now?"

"It's ok ... It's easing up. "

"How many times a day do you get those muscle cramps?"

"A couple ... It depends ..."

Both men stepped into the elevator and Mike pressed the appropriate button before he spoke again.

"Have you asked Dr. Morrow about them?"

"Mike ... please?"

"I'm just curious that's all ... If you don't want to tell me then fine!"

Steve glanced sideways sheepishly at Mike and felt guilty for not answering. As the elevator descended and Steve's stomach was starting to churn from nerves, he sighed and answered reluctantly.

"Alright! He said they were normal for now ... while it's healing but that I ah ... I may still get an odd twinge when it's better. They won't know yet. It's ... it's a waiting game Mike."

Mike turned and smiled at Steve and studied his young partner closely.

"Are you worried about that?"

"What do you think? I'm not going to pass the medical if this leg continues to act up, now am I?"

Mike turned suddenly and caught Steve off guard as he grasped his shoulders and spoke with pure Stone conviction.

"Now WAIT just a minute Buddy boy ... You're getting a little ahead of yourself there now, aren't you? Don't go thinking the worst yet. Mark my words ... in another couple of weeks you'll be chasing down the bad guys as well as you always have ... But in the meantime you need to stay more positive about the whole thing Steve. Ok?"

Steve smiled at the heartfelt concern in the older man's voice and found himself wondering how he had ever managed without Mike's pearls of wisdom and solid advice before he met the infamous Mike Stone. He took a deep breath and tilted his head.

"Ok, I'll try ... but it's not as easy as you make it sound Mike ..."

Patting the young man's two shoulders, he nodded.

"I know that ... but it's easier if you share the load. Remember that." he added with a gentle pat on Steve's cheek as the elevator doors opened and the two men headed down the long corridor towards Gerry O'Brien's office.

That corridor had always seemed long but today it seemed to Steve to be noticeably shorter. The further they walked and the nearer to Gerry's Office they got, the more anxious Steve became. He had felt sure that morning that he had been as ready as ever to return to work. The sessions with Lenny had been helping. He was sleeping better now and the nightmares weren't as frequent so why was this meeting having such an effect on him? He could feel his breathing quicken and his stomach was now churning violently as he suddenly regretted all the cake he had consumed earlier as it threatened to return.

As Gerry's Outer Office door came into sight about three doors away, Steve's feet stopped moving as they passed a restroom on the right. He stood rooted to the spot and Mike who had been following closely behind and at this stage could sense the palpable tension coming off his young partner, came around to face him.

"Steve? What's wrong? Why have you stopped?"

Steve chest was visibly heaving and Mike feared that he was having some sort of a panic attack. Steve's eyes were fixed on Gerry's Office door but his mind seemed to be elsewhere. He didn't answer Mike straight away and Mike's worry increased.

"Steve? STEVE? Talk to me."

"I ... I can't do it Mike ... I mean I ... thought I could but I ... I can't ... I'm sorry Mike ... "

"Alright. Alright now. Calm down. Just try to relax. You're breathing too fast Buddy boy. It's just anxiety Steve, that's all. Just take a minute ..."

"No ... No, it's not just anxiety Mike. I ... I thought I was ready to come back but ... I'm obviously not ... "

"Don't say that. You ARE ready. Even Lenny thought you were. HE signed you back for light duties. It's just a little too soon for having to deal with something like this, that's all. The memories of what happened are still a little too raw Buddy boy ... Look ... I'll talk to Gerry ... We'll postpone whatever this is about for another time, ok?"

Steve never answered as bile began to rise in his throat and he felt a cold sweat wash over him as he knew what was about to happen. Mike noticed the drastic change in the young man's demeanor.

"Steve ... what is it?"

"Oh God Mike ... I'm gonna ... be sick ..." he announced as he turned and pushed the restroom door open hastily and hurried inside as fast as his injured leg would allow. Mike made a grab for his elbow but missed and pushed the door open to follow when a shout came from three doors up.

"MIKE! There you are. What's going on? WHERE'S Steve?"

Mike turned, his hand still on the door as he heard the horrific sound of Steve's retching coming from within and saw Gerry O'Brien heading towards him. Torn between needing to go check if Steve was alright and answering Gerry, he made his decision as anger and frustration started to get the better of him. Letting the door close again he headed towards Gerry with a Stone glare fixed on his face.

"You want to know where Steve is, huh?"

Gerry looked curiously at Mike and nodded casually.

"Yeah ... Is he with you?"

"Well he WAS ... But NOW he's in that restroom over there chucking his guts up thanks to this little impromptu meeting of yours!"

"What?" Gerry stammered in concern.

"That's RIGHT! I mean what were you THINKING? It's his first day back Gerry. Do you have ANY idea what he went through? Well do YOU? Did you even know that they cut a piece of his hair and scalp to send to us as a message or that they almost blew his head off back on the floor of my living room. Huh? Well DID YOU? I mean. Couldn't you have at the very least told us what this was about instead of making him worry himself literally sick all the way up here? Why all the cloak and dagger secrecy huh? I mean was it necessary? WAS it?"

Mike finished his rant and Gerry sighed heavily. He knew Mike was upset and felt bad that his actions had caused increased suffering for the young Officer he had come to respect and admire but he had had no other choice and he had to make Mike see that.

"Look Mike. I do know ALL those things and I understand you being mad and I'm SORRY that's it's had a bad effect on Steve but yes the cloak and dagger stuff WAS necessary as it happens ..."

Mike stood breathing heavily, still trying to get a handle on the anger he was feeling.

"Why? Is Balashov in there?"

Gerry's jaw dropped and he spoke defensively.

"NO! Of course not. God, is that what he thought? I never would have ... I mean you know me better than that Mike? I would have warned you about that."

"Well then what is it? And don't give me the runaround anymore because he's not setting foot in there until you tell me what this meeting is all about."

Gerry lowered his eyes and sighed this time in frustration. He had known Mike for a long time and knew that the man meant every word. With little other choice Gerry looked up and down the corridor surreptitiously and then leaning in he spoke in a whispered tone.

"Ok, ok you win ... Elena Roscoff is in my office with two federal agents. They're going to take her to start her new life and she insisted on seeing Steve first. No-one is supposed to know she's even here. I had no choice but to keep this meeting as secret as I could Mike."

On hearing that news Mike looked back at the restroom doorway briefly wondering how Steve would take that news but then as another realization suddenly dawned, he turned back to glare at Gerry again and this time his tone was one of concern.

"Now wait just a minute ... I thought Elena wasn't going into the witness protection program until AFTER the trial?"

Gerry flushed visibly at that question and looked down at the floor briefly before returning his gaze back to Mike, his demeanor suddenly palpably more ill at ease.

"Yes that's right but ... but there were complications Mike ..."

"Complications ... What complications?" Mike announced, his patience audibly wearing thin and his volume increasing as Gerry flustered even more.

"Mike will you calm down and keep your voice down. There were ... problems."

"Don't tell ME about problems Gerry. I KNOW about problems! But what has that got to do with the trial?"

"Mike ... Look I don't like this anymore than you do but ... there isn't going to be a trial ..."

"There isn't going to be a trial ..." Mike repeated incredulously as his anger flared once more. "What are you talking about? WHY isn't there going to be a trial? After what he did to Steve and that baby ... Don't you think they deserve some justice and resolution to all this? Or maybe that's not too high on your priority list, HUH?"

"Now LISTEN Mike! ..." Gerry yelled back before checking his own volume again and continuing in a lower voice. "I told you ... I don't like this anymore than you do but this went above my head ... Decisions were made at a higher level than mine and ... they agreed to extradite him back to Moscow to stand trial over there ... He'll get his comeuppance just not on our soil that's all."

Mike scoffed loudly and by now was almost red in the face.

"I don't believe you people ... I really don't. The man abducts one of our own and tortures him and you just hand him back to Russia like some present, all wrapped up and ready to go!"

"It WASN'T like that Mike! " Gerry yelled again finding it hard to maintain his quiet voice with Mike in his current offensive mood. Taking a deep breath to try and steady his own nerves, once more Gerry tried to reason quietly with the older man.

"It wasn't a present Mike ... It was a trade off ... Elena has a sister ..."

Mike's facial expression changed and his glare softened.

"A sister? ..."

"Yes. Back in Moscow. Sixteen years old. Damacov was threatening her. "

"That's why Elena was forced to stay with him. She was afraid for her younger sister back home?"

"Yes ... He had her right where he wanted her ... If she tried to leave him, he'd have her sister killed. "

Mike's facial expression changed to one of disgust and anger and then softened again as he fully resigned himself to the facts.

"So in order to get Elena's sister out you ah ... had to trade off Balashov. Is that it?"

Gerry nodded reluctantly.

"Yes ..."

"But ... if there's not going to be a trial then how come they're still allowing Elena to enter the witness protection program? I mean she's not testifying now."

"Mike, we're not sure if Damacov's gang were fully wiped out yet. If he still has men somewhere in San Francisco then Elena may still be under threat from retaliation if they find out she sold him out so ... that's why they've agreed to give her a new name and a new life to go with it. Her and her sister. She helped save one of our own and well frankly it's the least we can do. Everyone is in full agreement about THAT even if we're not in every other aspect of this situation."

"Has her sister's safety been secured yet?"

"Yes, they flew her in this morning. They're going to pick her up from the safe house as soon as they leave here ... Look Mike, I fully admit the situation was not ideal but Balashov's wanted for worse crimes in his own country and he won't get away lightly. Right now, that's what we have to settle for ... I'm sorry ..."

"I see ... And ah ... I suppose you expect ME to break all this to Steve, huh?"

Gerry flustered again and shifted uncomfortably where he stood, his gaze alighting briefly on the closed rest room door as he did.

"I think it would be better for HIM if it ... came from you but I don't mind telling him if you want me to ... It's your call Mike."

Mike scowled again at Gerry and then sighed heavily. He knew Gerry was right and that Steve probably would take the news better from him than anyone else so he spoke resignedly.

"Trapped by the truth! You're right. I'll do it. Just ... just let me make sure he's ok first and go in and stall for a few minutes until I can get him in there. I think that's the least you can do for us Gerry ... all things considered." Mike added, making sure Gerry knew by his words that the man was NOT totally off the hook as far as Mike was concerned.

Gerry nodded agreeably.

"Sure ... Of course. Take your time. I'll stall for as long as I can. Just knock and come in when you're ready and ... I really am sorry Mike. I wish things could have turned out differently where Balashov was concerned. Sometimes in this job we ... well we don't always get what we want. Sometimes we have to accept the best we can get."

Gerry's words held a genuine regret and Mike's facial expression softened. He nodded and then watched as Gerry turned and headed back into his office and waited until he had disappeared through his doorway before turning and steeling himself for the onerous task ahead. He was uncertain how Steve would react to the news he had to give him especially considering that he seemed to be at a low point already. The anxiety and the subsequent sickness were going to have taken their toll even before he would now hear that he was to face Elena again and the dire fact that no justice would be done where Balashov was concerned either.

Taking an extra deep and steadying breath, Mike grabbed the door handle and quickly entered the restroom, stopping unexpectedly when he saw Steve just inside the door at the sink throwing cold water over his face with both hands as he entered. Steve purposefully didn't look Mike's way but Mike knew that embarrassment over his sudden and recent vomiting was the most likely cause for that, so he stepped in and closing the door behind him, he studied Steve for several seconds before finally walking over behind him and asking with concern evident in his voice.

"You ok?"

Steve grabbed some paper towels and started drying his face with them as he met Mike's eyes in the mirror.

"Yeah ... yeah I think so. I ah ... guess you were right. I ... shouldn't have eaten all that chocolate cake, huh?"

Mike smiled at his partner's nervous attempt at humorous deflection and placed both hands on Steve's shoulders before squeezing lightly.

"Well it ... wasn't one of your better ideas, no."

Steve threw the paper towels in the waste paper bin to his left and then taking some hand soap he started to wash his hands under the running water as he asked without catching Mike's eye.

"Was that Gerry you were talking to outside?"

Mike's smile faded fast but keeping his hands where they were for added support he decided the direct approach was probably best under the circumstances.

"Yeah, yeah it was ... Listen Steve, he gave me some news and ... well there's no easy way to tell you this so ... so I'm just going to say it. There's not going to be a trial. They've reached a deal that hands Balashov over to the Russians ..."

Steve never looked up but Mike felt the palpable reaction to the news from where he held Steve's shoulders and he watched as Steve continued wringing his hands under the water in an excessive and almost therapeutic action of over cleansing them.

"Yeah, I ah ... I know. I ... heard you two talking ..."

"Oh I see ... I'm sorry Steve ..."

Mike didn't say anymore but allowed Steve to process the news in his own time and way, merely watching for signs that he would need extra words of comfort to deal with the unexpected blow. He watched helplessly as after another few tortuous seconds of hand cleaning, Steve finally turned off the tap and reached up to grab more paper towels and started drying his hands just as thoroughly without comment. When the second set of used towels hit the waste paper bin, Steve palpably shuddered and he leaned forward holding the sink tightly with both hands and dropped his head to his chest as a loud and heavy sigh escaped his lips.

Mike feared that at best he was reacting badly to the news and at worst he was perhaps feeling sick again so he held Steve's shoulders more firmly and spoke compassionately.

"Look Steve, I KNOW! It isn't fair ... You deserved more from this and ...

" ... No! No it's ok ... It's ok Mike ... I'm glad ... "

Mike thought he had heard wrong and stepped sideways, trying to study Steve's down turned face as he did.

"You're ... GLAD? "

Steve finally looked up and Mike saw a look of utter relief cross Steve's face as he heard the young man release another heavy sigh.

"Yeah ... Mike. You have no idea how glad I am. That ... trial was hanging over me like ... a ton weight and I didn't want to have to go through it all again. The testifying and the media attention and everything being dragged up again and being questioned and cross examined. Look Mike, I know you wanted this trial and I know you don't want to hear this but ... but that's the best outcome I could have dared hoped for."

Steve turned to face Mike briefly and saw the strange look on his partner's face.

"Mike I know you think that crucifying Balashov would somehow help me get over this whole ordeal and get me some kind of imaginary justice but you're wrong Mike. Sure ... Balashov was involved. He was there and yeah ... he helped hold me down and silence me while they ... tortured me but ... the two who did all the real damage. Well they ... they died in that Warehouse and ... that's the only justice I need. The Russians can have him. He'll fare worse in their prisons anyway than he ever would in ours and if Elena and her sister get to live a fear free life as a result well then it's all the better ... There I've said it ... and I'm sorry if that disappoints you."

Steve hung his head and felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders in that moment. It had been the one thing he had struggled to talk about both with Lenny and Mike, the upcoming trial and he felt that he had progressed further by the news that the trial was no longer an issue and his feelings about the whole thing had been given a voice. He shifted more weight onto his good leg and watched as Mike reached out and with a gentle finger on his chin, the older man lifted his head to look back at him.

"Have you felt like that all along?"

Steve nodded as a faint blush of embarrassment covered the slightly green tinge that had been on his cheeks beforehand.

"Yeah ..."

"Why didn't you say something before this?"

It was Steve's turn to look uncomfortable and he flustered accordingly.

"I wanted to but ... well you were so hell bent on the trial that I ... well like I said Mike I ... I thought you'd be disappointed."

"I see ... and do you really think that what makes you happy would disappoint me, Buddy boy?"

Steve hadn't expected those words and blushed redder.

"No ... not when you put it like that but ... I know how you feel when bad guys get away with bad things and especially when they're perpetrated against people you care about Mike ... I just thought that ... well that ..."

"Well don't! Don't second guess me. If you're really ok with this whole thing and you really feel that going through with this trial would have caused you even more suffering well then ... then I'm ok with it too Steve. You're right. To hell with Balashov. Let's hope they throw him in the worst rat infested prison they can find ... Now THAT ... that would be true justice!"

That statement caused a wry smile to light up Steve's face and he shook his head incredulously.

"Now you're talking ... Thanks Mike ... You know ... for understanding and ..."

Mike clasped Steve's shoulder and halted his sentence mid-stream.

"No, Buddy boy. Don't thank me. You were right. I have been going on about this trial a lot lately, haven't l?"

Steve tilted his head and forced a smile.

"A little bit ... yeah ..."

"No ... now you're just being nice. It was way more than a little bit, wasn't it?"

Again Steve smiled to cover up his nervousness at the current topic of conversation and he tried a humorous approach again.

"Well ... you were bordering a little on the obsessive side ... I guess yeah ..."

"I'm sorry Buddy boy ... You know the truth is I was so caught up in my own self guilt for leaving you behind without back up and not finding you sooner and with Damacov and Bachorev dead I well ... I guess I focused all my anger and guilt on him instead."

"Mike ... it's ok. Forget it ..."

"No ... no it's not ok Steve. I was so hell bent on him going to trial that I never even stopped to think about ... well ... how you felt about it ... or how it would affect you. That was MY oversight and I'm truly sorry but ... do me a favor will you?"

Steve sensed a lightening of the tension between them and he smiled as he asked.

"What?"

"Next time I go off on a crusade that you have misgivings about ... stop me will you and TALK to me, ok?"

Steve let out a nervous chuckle as Mike grabbed the back of his neck and squeezed playfully.

"Ok ... I will ... "

"Good ... Well? Are you ready to go see Elena now? "

Mike heard Steve inhale sharply and saw him cast a sideways look into the mirror as he answered.

"Just a second ..."

Mike watched as Steve fumbled through his inside pocket and produced a comb and smiled as he watched Steve comb his hair into place, taking extra care to comb some hair over the small but annoying bald patch behind his right ear that Mike knew his young partner was very self conscious about. When he was done, he pocketed the comb again and turned to look at Mike.

"So? ... How do I look?"

"Do you want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth or do you want the little white lie version?"

"Right now I'll settle for the white lie version ..." Steve replied with another nervous chuckle.

"Well in that case you look fine ... Besides Buddy boy, something tells me that either way you look a lot better than the last time she saw you. Am I right?"

"Good point ... ok ... I'm ready."

"You sure?"

"Yeah ... I'm sure ... Let's go."

Mike pulled the restroom door open and held it open.

"After you Buddy boy ... "