AN: As promised, this update is for you - my readers. Not sure when the next update will be but hopefully it won't be as long a wait as it was between the previous chapter to this one.

Regarding Steve striking a fellow officer in my previous chapter, while that was a fun scene to write, I hope it didn't come across as too AU or over-the-top.

Thanks for all your support and your feedback :-)

Many thanks also goes to my beta!

Tanith

ACT 4 Part 1:

University on Mission Street, SF

Waiting outside the locker room of the local college, Steve stood admiring the trophies encased in the glass cabinet along the wall. As his eyes roamed over the collection, he noticed the framed photographs from the wall behind him were reflected off the glass. He turned around and crossed the floor to get a closer look at them. Below each photo he read the names listed in print. One name stood out above all the rest. Troy Hartman. Moving his eyes further across, Steve found a photo of Troy and Zachary Evans looking like they were celebrating a victory. Troy had an arm draped around Zach's shoulders and the two of them looked like they could be friends off the field. Steve's attention was diverted to the locker room door when it swung open and a group of college boys filed out, boisterously. He approached the group, flipped open his badge case and identified himself. "I'm looking for Troy Hartman. I was told by his coach that he'd be here."

The boys all looked at each other before the tallest replied, "He took off early, probably to be with some chick. What's this about, Inspector?"

"I just needed to ask him a few questions in relation to a case I'm working on. Do you know where I can find him? You know, where he usually hangs out?" Steve continued to question the youth in a casual manner.

The young man shook his head. "No, but you could ask Evans."

"Who?"

"Zach Evans. They're pretty tight and hang out quite a bit."

"Thanks…"

"Austin. Kyle Austin."

"Thank you Austin. You've been a big help," Steve thanked Austin then over the youth's shoulder he saw the door swing open once again and a familiar looking young man stepped out. He stopped, looked at Steve then tried to avoid him by walking the other way. "Zach?" Steve called out as he walked around Austin and his entourage.

Panic started to grip Zach Evans when for a brief moment his eyes locked on the cop's. He turned on his heel and quickened his pace then he rounded the corner and took off at a run.

Steve knew the instant their eyes met what the youth was going to do. He'd seen in too many times. He followed Evans and when he turned the corner, he saw him running down the hall toward the exit. Steve sprinted after the college student. "Police! Hold it!" He yelled out.

Evans ignored the cop and kept running. He knows! I am not going to jail!

Slamming through the double doors, Evans ran out of the building and across the campus toward parking lot with the detective hot on his heels.

Steve pushed himself harder and called out to the young man once more but found he was forced to pursue him.

Evans didn't slow down as his car came into view. He dug into his jeans pocket and pulled out his keys. He knew he only had seconds to open the car door, start up the ignition and hit the road before the cop chasing him would try to stop him. In his haste and nervous state, he skidded to a halt, almost crashing into the car door then fumbled to insert the right key into the lock.

Got ya. Steve was confident he'd reach Zach before the kid made a getaway. His judgement told him he was close enough to make a grab and he acted on it.

Evans felt himself pushed up against the car as strong hands grabbed the loose folds of his letter jacket from behind and held him firmly in place. He cursed and struggled but the cop held fast.

"Easy, just take it easy! I just need to ask you a few questions," Steve told the college student breathlessly.

Evans' continued to struggle and managed to twist himself free from the detective.

Although Steve had lost his hold on the young man's jacket, he predicted Zach's next move and was ready for it. Sure enough, the youth took a wild swing aimed at his face. Steve ducked easily, allowed Evans' momentum to do all the work, then grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. He swung the uncooperative person of interest up against the car once more then secured a pair of hand cuffs around his wrists before turning him around to face him. "Zach Evans, you're under arrest!"

"I didn't do anything!" Evans protested.

"Oh yeah? Then why were you running?" Steve countered.

Zach turned his head away and kept silent.

"Alright, I'll tell you what: I won't lay assault charges if you tell me where I can find your friend, Troy Hartman," Steve bargained.

Evans shrugged, avoiding eye contact with the detective. "Look, I don't keep tabs on him!"

"Maybe you'll recall where your buddy is back at the station," Steve said sternly as he gripped Evans' upper arm and led him to his car.

…..

SFPD, Bureau of Inspectors, 850 Bryant Street

As he poured some coffee into a mug, Steve rubbed the back of his neck in frustration and from the tension that filled his day. A tap on the shoulder caused him to wheel around, spilling coffee on his shirt.

"Hard day? Wanna talk about it?" Mike asked his jumpy partner sympathetically.

Steve felt himself relax at first but then he remembered hat Mike had been avoiding him since Olsen took him off the case, and his relief turned to annoyance. "So now you're talking to me?"

"Okay, I deserved that. I'm sorry I acted like a jerk. Rudy was right to take me off the case," Mike admitted with a degree of difficulty as his pride gave way to humility. He could see that Steve was tightly wound up and clearly upset over something. "You know, drowning yourself in that stuff won't help you." Wrinkling his nose at the coffee stain on Steve's shirt, Mike allowed a small smile to cross his face.

Steve exhaled heavily and wiped his shirt with some napkins.

Mike noticed the discoloration of Steve's knuckles on his hand as the young man unsuccessfully tried to remove the stains. "What happened to your hand?"

Steve stopped, threw the soggy napkins in the waste paper basket and tried to brush off Mike's question. "Nothing. I don't want to talk about it." He started to walk to his desk but Mike gently held him by his upper arm and willed Steve to look into his eyes.

"I heard about Hartman. Jeannie told me. She's with IA right now." Mike decided the time to stall was over.

Steve finally looked up into Mike's eyes and found himself unable to stay annoyed at Mike any longer. "Jeannie must've been pretty upset."

"You could say that. By the time she finished telling me about Hartman she was making threats on how her new frying pan was going to find the slime-ball's face." Mike paused for effect before adding with a wink, "you beat her to it."

Steve gave a small chuckle and imagined Jeannie chasing Hartman with a frying pan. The thought brought a smirk to form on his face and his spirits lifted a little. "I know I shouldn't have hit him. That was a pretty stupid thing to do."

"We all make mistakes. The trick is to learn from them." Mike placed his hand on Steve's shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. "I need to see Rudy about happened between Hartman and Jeannie. I heard you brought someone in?"

"Yeah," Steve replied, running his hand through his wavy hair. "He's in for questioning. I just needed a moment to cool off. It's been a long day."

Mike nodded. "I know, buddy boy, I know." He watched Steve head toward his desk to pick up a file then disappear into one of the interview rooms. Although he disapproved of Steve hitting another fellow officer, he was proud of the way Steve acknowledged he had acted inappropriately and recklessly. It was just another quality he liked about the younger detective. I'll make a Lieutenant out of you one day, buddy boy.