A/N Lombard Street is supposed to be the most crooked street in San Francisco, California. That was why it was my choice for Steve driving it as though it was a race track in this chapter.

Chapter Five

Repeated encounters with Doug Sanders over time had led Steve and Jeannie to decide to finally accept an invitation from him. The day that they were to have dinner with him and his date, Tina Farmer, Steve ended up having another unpleasant encounter with Meg Sawyer.

Their discussion ended up making Steve late to pick up Jeannie. She called Doug Sanders right before Steve showed up making the apologetic excuse that Steve had been held up and they would be a tiny bit late.

"Not a problem, Jeannie. I tell you what you and Steve meet us at the restaurant just tell the Maitre 'd you are with the Sanders party."

"Thanks, Doug we will see you both soon as we can get there." Jeannie hung up having heard a knock.

Steve helped her on with her wrap and they left hurriedly. She informed him they were to just go to the restaurant. He drove silently, only having offered her an apology for being late but not an explanation. They got to the restaurant in record time and were led to the table Doug Sanders and his date were at. He stood, offering Steve a handshake and Jeannie a light kiss on the cheek.

Jeannie and Steve went over the menus as Doug's date came back from the ladies' room. Steve and Doug both rose from table as she approached. When all were seated again the menus were decided on and Doug signalled a waiter. Doug poured glasses of wine for the latecomers as conversation flowed between the table's occupants, well at least three quarters of the occupants. Steve contributed a bit here and there but mostly seemed out of sorts to Jeannie as well as to Doug Sanders and his date.

"You get caught up by work, Steve? I mean I just knew many times a case might hold you and Jeannie's father up at times."

"Something like that, Doug. Nothing major; just a little annoyance that had to be dealt with. I really am sorry for us being late because of it."

"Nothing to be sorry for, things happen, it can't be helped. You actually made it in better time than I expected when Jeannie called. You must have just got there after we hung up."

Steve shot Jeannie a curious look wondering what Doug had meant about her calling. She explained to Steve without hesitation.

"When you weren't there by the time we had arranged and a few minutes more had gone by I called Doug to say we would be a tiny bit late that you had been held up. You knocked just as I was hanging up with him."

"Yeah, sorry I couldn't call and let you know, Jeannie."

After that the conversation included more from Steve. He and Jeannie actually found themselves having enjoyed the time spent with Doug Sanders and Tina Farmer.

Where Steve's car was parked that night was not the best lit space, having been in such a hurry to just get parked so they would not be too late. An unknown person had followed at a safe distance and was now making a minor adjustment to Steve's car after they had been inside a while. Once they were done they left as quietly as they had been there. When the evening was over and the bills had been paid, as Steve insisted on paying for his and Jeannie's, Doug and Tina walked Steve and Jeannie to Steve's car. They stood talking a few minutes before Doug and Tina headed to his car.

Once Steve and Jeannie were on their way she waited a minute or two for an explanation from him. She finally looked over at him and spoke up as she felt it was past time he told what had caused him to be late.

"Well we are alone now, Steve. What really did make you late tonight? I mean you apologized for it but you never told what the reason was."

"I ran into Meg Sawyer not long before I was supposed to pick you up. That was what made me late."

"Steve, why didn't you say something? I mean I could have called Doug back and cancelled. I would have understood you not feeling up to a night out tonight after having dealt with her again. I could tell from the way you were something had happened just was not sure what."

"I'm sorry, Jeannie. I know I was not the best company tonight. I should have done better about covering it up."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Steve, truly. Are you alright? I mean I know it had to be a bad time for you, if she was anything like she was the time in the squad room."

Steve squeezed Jeannie's hand tenderly at her concern.

"I am okay, Jeannie, thanks. I love you. I hope you never have reason to doubt that."

"I love you, too, Steve and I know I never will doubt your love. I hope you never doubt mine either."

"That would never happen, of that have no fear."

"Did this encounter happen at your apartment?"

"Yeah, she pretty much blocked my car and I considered just hailing a taxi to get you. I didn't want to chance leaving my car and something happening to it again so I stayed and had it out with her again."

"Wait what do you mean again?"

"Well I was counting what happened with her at the squad room so thought having it out with her this..."

"No, Steve you definitely said you didn't want to chance leaving your car and something happening to it again. What have you not told me? What has Mike not told me I bet, too?"

When they arrived back at Mike's he held her close for a few moments before he spoke.

"One day when I came out to head to work, my car windshield had been shattered and tires were slashed. I don't know who did it but Meg was one suspect. Please don't come down hard on Mike about this, Jeannie. I wasn't even going to tell him but he could tell something had happened."

"How long ago did this happen?"

"A couple of weeks after the squad room incident."

"Steve, you need to get a restraining order against her in case she was the guilty party and you probably need to anyway I think. Seriously you do."

"I know, Jeannie. Mike said the same thing basically."

"Well, two Stones can't be wrong." Jeannie grinned making Steve chuckle.

Steve walked her to the door where they stood for a brief moment or two. She finally released him and went inside. Once he heard the door lock he headed back to his car. As he drove off he was unaware that he would soon have more car troubles. Being too keyed up to sleep but not really having felt like more conversation he drove around.

Considering the time of night it was he thought Lombard Street might be less busy so Steve drove there. He knew he shouldn't but he drove it as though he were on a race track at very high speed.

Afterwards he headed out to an area he would usually go to when he needed to release some stress through fast driving. He put his car through the paces as he always did. He always thought any trouble that came along he could handle it. Then he headed down the steepest incline of the area - that was when he found out he had no brakes!